Results tagged “The Cure” from Birmingham Mail - Blog Rockin' Beats

It's hard to believe but Madonna is 50 years old today! It only feels like yesterday when she was cavorting around singing about holidays and being a virgin. So a very happy birthday to the Material Girl and this week's batch of new singles will be reviewed against the following Madge-related ratings.

***** Like A Prayer
**** Justify My Love
*** Borderline
** 4 Minutes
* Madonna's movies

"She Left me" - Go: Audio
I'm not surprised she ran a million miles if this is the best they can come up with.
Like a poor McFly b-side. And considering McFly's a-sides are crap, that is stinging criticism indeed.
*

"Man-Sized Wreath" - REM
Another superb example of their magnificent return to form with this year's Accelerate album.
Fuzzy guitars, great harmonies - vintage REM and, at just two and a half minutes, it doesn't out stay it's welcome.
*****

"Spiralling" - Keane
Bless 'em, they are still trying. But the harder they try the further down and down and down they go.
This just sounds like an attempt to jazz up their usual style but it only mamages to come across like an 80s cast off.
*

"Mercury" - Bloc Party
This is one of those that you'll either love or hate, so to help I'm going by sitting on the fence.
On one hand, it's a slightly disappointing effort compared with Silent Alarm but on the other hand, it's brooding, dark and awkward, daring to be different. Oh, make your own minds up...
***

"The Perfect Boy" - The Cure
The final of their four "13th" singles which precede the new album out on September 13.
Not a bad single but not as good as the previous three. Still, the new album is set to be a fine addition to the Cure back catalogue.
***

"Keep It Simple" - Delays
This has bugged me pretty much since they released "Long Time Coming" three or four years ago, but Delays are criminally under-rated.
And this gem of a track probably won't propel them into the bigger leagues - because people are dumb.
****

"See You Again (Rock Mafia Remix)" - Miley Cyrus
As you all probably know, her dad is country star Billy Ray Cyrus! And that's probably the most interesting thing about the Hannah Montana star.
Because don't tell my ears, my achy breaky ears to listen to this weak, poor man's version of an Avril Lavigne song ever again.
*

It's that time of the week again and here are a selection of the singles availble to download or from all good record shops and some rubbish ones too. They will be judged against the following ratings:

***** Beck Hanson
**** Jeff Beck
*** Boris Becker
** Becks Beer
* David Beckham

"Can't Go Back" - Primal Scream
I inexplicably omitted this from last week's review but, better late than never and all that. Especially as this single is fantastic.
A very welcome return to their Exterminator (or Xtrmntr as they called it when they were waging a war against vowels) era. Frenetic and fabulous.
*****

"Shut Up And Let Me Go" - The Ting Tings
Not quite as catchy as That's Not My Name but it will no doubt appeal to people who loved that.
I got to admit that I still think they sound like Shampoo. But that's nothing to be ashamed of. Well, not much anyway.
***

"Sleep When I'm Dead" - The Cure
Excellent. A great hook and certainly the best so far of their "13th" singles. It's dark and yet poppy in a classic Cure kind of way.
One more single to be released on August 13 and then the album on Spetember 13 - good times for Cure fans.
****

"Left Behind" - CSS
One of the many hyped beyond belief electro guitar bands returns with the first single off their forthcoming album.
At first I didn't like it but now I have to say, it's grown on me over the past few days.
***

"You Wot!" - DJ Q and MC Bonez
Ha ha ha - this is hilarious. A very silly, comedy grime effort that will initially put a smile on your face.
But I fear it will lead to people using the "You Wot!" catchphrase to death during the summer, like folk who thought they were funny and original when they got in your face and screamed "Wassuuuuup!" a few years back. The fools.
**

"I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me" - Annie
It's bubblegum pop, it has 'text speak' in the title and I know I really should dislike this. But....
***

"One For The Radio" - McFly
Oh great. McFly is back. Whooppee. Where's Biff from the Back To The Future movies when you need him?
And why do all their songs sound the same. This is no different to any other McFly track. Never trust a band whose main influence is Busted. It is one for the radio - if you are deaf.
*

"C'mon C'mon" - Def Leppard
Man, are they still going? Remarkable. Although, I'm afraid to say there isn't anything remarkable about this effort.
It's plodding, tired and sounds as if it is desperately trying to anthemic. But it isn't. By any stretch of the imagination.
*

Here we go again! A review of some of this week's new releases. And they will be judged by the following ratings guide. Do enjoy...

***** Bill Bailey
**** Ricky Gervais
*** Lee Evans
** Graham Norton
* Jim Davidson

"We Are The People" - Feeder
A song that sounds as if it was written to be played at a summer festival - people being hoisted on to the shoulders of others, arms in the air and the chorus belted out.
It's typically big, anthemic and Feeder-esqe. Fans will not be disappointed. Might even win a few new admirers along the way.
***

"Teenage Love Affair" - Alicia Keys.
Alicia Keys is an absolute babe. I know that's not exactly the most PC thing to say in the 21st Century and will probably be frowned upon by the feminists but, find any picture of her and witness the fitness.
And she has a fine voice too, as proved here. So, she has talent, looks and her success would suggest she's not short of a bob or two...I bet she can cook too. What a woman.
****

"Dance Until The Morning Light" - UB40.
At the risk of angering most of Birmingham, I have to say that I've never really been a fan of the Yoobs. And with Ali Campbell gone, I certainly wasn't expecting much from them here.
But it's pretty good. Taking it's beat and melody from Desmond Dekker's "Israelites", it actually works, so fair play to the boys. A good start to life with Maxi Priest.
***

"The Heart Gently Weeps" - Wu-Tang Clan
Hmmm. The Clan rework the George Harrison-penned Beatles classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" here.
But, unlike UB40's effort, this doesn't work as well for me. No, not feeling this one at all.
**

"Gimme That Punk" - Audio Bullys
More Geezer-ish shouting, over a driving, infectious beat, in the Audio Bullys tradition we have grown accustomed too.
But this sees them literally calling to hear more music by the likes of the Sex Pistols, Clash, The Specials, Madness and The Beatles, so they get the thumbs up from me!
***

"The Quest" - Bryn Christopher
Blimey he means this doesn't he?! Check out the sheer passion and determination in his voice as he belts out the chorus.
But what a voice it is, sung brilliantly over an uplifting, soul tune. Chart domination beckons for him.
****

"Handsfree (If You Hold My Hand)" - Sonny J
Ok, call off the search. We have our single of the week. This sweeping, majestic gem is the sound of the summer. Trust me, listen to it and you'll be left with a stupid grin on your face (or maybe that's just me!).
Imagine The Avalanches giving the soundtrack to a Quentin Tarantino movie a makeover, and you'll come close to imagining what this sounds like. Brilliant.
*****

"Gotta Let Go" - A Lee
I knew the good stuff wouldn't last. What is it with most conventional club dance hits these days? Is there a new law stating they must use the same beat and sound the same?
Please, I beg someone, anyone, to please come up with something new.
*

"Freakshow" - The Cure
This is the second of four of The Cure's seven inch single releases on the 13th of the month, as they build up to their new album, which is out on Spetember 13.
And this is fine, quite catchy, toe-tapping song, although the lyrics are as deliciously dark as ever.
****

A decent batch of singles this week which is a shame as I wanted to be nasty. But I can only work with what's put in front of me so, without further ado, here is a selection of the new releases. This week, they'll be judged by the following ratings:

*****Kelly Brook
****Trevor Brooking
***Smallbrook Queensway
**Brooke Hogan
*Steve Brookenstein

"That's Not My Name" - The Ting Tings
One of the bright new things of 2008 (yawn) although I'm not sure of that - especially with lyrics such as "they call me Jane, that's not my name".
But I have to admit that I actually kind of like this. A sort of guilty pleasure, very much like Shampoo's "classic" Trouble in 1994.
***

"The Only One" - The Cure
Jangly guitars, introspective lyrics and Robert Smith's unmistakable whiney vocals means I'm in bliss!
It's classic Cure and to add to the joy, they'll be releasing a single on the 13th of the next three months until the as-yet-untitled new album is released in September.
****

"I Want It" - Chanelle Hayes
I don't. I really don't want this. What was I saying about this week's good singles? It's like the worst Britney Spears song, gone totally wrong.
But what was I expecting from a Big Brother reject, Posh Spice wannabe? Although, to be fair to Chanelle, Mrs Beckham would probably kill to be this "good".
*

"Ghosts" - Ladytron
A killer slice of dark, slightly ghostly, electro indie pop from the Liverpool four-piece.
And, if this fantastic single is anything to go by, their fourth album Velocifero (released next month) will be a new wave corker.
****

"This Is An Emergency" - The Pigeon Detectives
They are either adored by their loyal fanbase or vilified by the indie music press but, to be honest, I can't see how they provoke either reaction.
You see, this is just predictable samey guitar pop and if it was on the radio right now, I probably wouldn't realise it was them.
**

"Bad Kids/Leroy Faster" - Black Lips
What's not to like about Black Lips? They sound like a psychedelic, 60s guitar band but play with their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks.
They can be childish and outrageous, but they are also witty and the fact that they refer to themselves as 'flower punks' means they deserve the single of the week label.
**** (and a half)

"Salute Your Solution" - The Raconteurs
Blues meets garage pop. Led Zeppelin meets punk. Whatever...this is another delightful piece of rock n' roll!
Surely the band deserves to be seen now as more than just a side project for Brendan Benson and Jack White while they take a break from the day job.
****

"Nobody's Diary" - Yazoo
A textbook early 80s, synth pop gem and it still sounds awesome today. It has been remastered and the great melody and superb vocals by Alison Moyet sound as fresh as they did all those years ago.
A box set featuring the band's two albums, along with other goodies, to coincide with a reunion tour are also set to send the UK Yazoo mad.
****