The Hidden Cameras - Awoo (Rougth Trade) 02/10/2006

For readers who have already read our review for this band's recent album, it will come as no surprise that these guy's are favourites of our's. Well this is certainly more musical than anything that can be understood without a great deal of exploring. The title track from the recently released album, this follows their line in jaunty pop-songs and has the ability of implanting this musical cult with minimal effort. Pop for pop's sake. 8/10

Nick James

web site

Dirty Pretty Things - Wondering (Vertigo) 25/10/2006

The band's 3rd single to be taken from their debut album "Waterloo To Anywhere" and probably released with their forthcoming 'Live' DVD more in mind. dpt's or maybe loosly described as The Libertines mark 2, can be heard on this number banging out what is their confident swagger, with Carl Barat's vocals flag waving at the front of the marching throng. Briefly brilliant, but in no way as upfront as their last single "Bang Bang You're Dead", almost, but not quite. 6/10

Nick James

web site

Bauer - Bauer EP (Naz Recordings) 25/09/2006

T: You want my honest opinion? This sounds like The Beautiful South being covered by Erasure. But slightly less camp.

N: Oh dear, despite this band's glowing testimonies, they sound almost identical to any number of chart hopefuls these days. It might be better if they called this "Pop By Numbers", your free paintbrush comes with issue one.

T: Ok, let's talk about protractors.

N: Alright then. I always fancies Set Squares, they were far more German in their outlook. I note Kraftwerk as one such instance, but where exactly are we going with this?

T: Well, it's more interesting than discussing the single isn't it? 5/10

web site - myspace

High School Musical - Breaking Free (Walt Disney Records) 25/09/2006

T: Off

N: I take offence to the remark that introduces the press release for this single, that states that this is "taken from the phenomenally successful High School Musical OST", released sometime in the future. My first question is "How do they know?", and my concluding remark, "This is horrible".

T: Off. 0/10

N.B. - the reviews are done chronologically, proving exception to the rule "We've not yet found our turkey".

web site

Dan Sartain - Replacement Man (One Little Indian) 18/09/2006

An artist the NME once christened "the post punk Johnny Cash" and this is a comparison that's easy understood. This american singer/song writer presents lyrics that are quite frank and music that rocks just as much as it rolls. Working with producer Liam Watson (White Stripes, The Kills and The Zutons) on this and his forthcoming album "Join Dan Sartain", this wets suitably the appetite for what is just around the corner (02/10/2006). 7/10

Nick James

web site

Psapp - Hi (Domino) 18/09/2006

T: Impossible to dislike. In my Summer Sundae review I described them as a "frazzled Swing Out Sister". That's less evident when you hear the recorded version, and comes across more like Astrud Gilberto smoking a spliff. Still extremely enjoyable anyway.

N: This "frazzled Swing Out Sister" proved quite compelling. More like a homegrown Stereolab, and that's pretty good to my ears. 8/10

web site

747s - Death of a Star (Ark Recordings) 18/09/2006

N: Can I just say "Richard Hawley"?

T: You can say what you like mate, but don't you think we ought to get on with the review?

N: No, that's what came to mind when the singer strikes in, and now I've got that out of the way, this single is filled with a light international vain. Perhaps nothing to do with the band's make up, but it all helps. A cracking number that sets its stall out early, knows its audience, and should justifiably be a hit.

T: I can only drop my pants in agreement.

N: I'd rather you didn't...ugh...put it away! 8/10

web site

Zox - Can't Look Down (SideOneDummy) 18/09/2006

T: This begins like "Hup" era Wonder Stuff. Somehow it's not quite as instant tough, and while it's a decent enough tune, the press release's assertion that it is akin to Joy Division is way off the mark. The third track here is a horrifying version of Pixies' "Where Is My Mind", which sounds like a very drunk punter trying to sing the song at a badly run karaoke. I'm not just speaking as a bitter fan of the legendary Boston group there - I mean, it's not sour grapes - I gave Grant Lee Phillips credit after all for HIS cover on his recent album, but this is possibly the worst cover I have heard in 10 years. Then again, when you try to improve on perfection, you're going to fall flat on your face, and they clearly did that here.

T: This is certainly unnerving. We have sat down to review today, and we've yet to find the turkey amongst the batch. Zox, a four piece whose music is tinged with folk sensibilities, yet by track three on the single, they attempt the Pixies number in full rock out mode. But still the question remains - where is THEIR mind? And it all started so well... 6/10

web site

The Vitamins - You Got Me Singing (3byk) 11/09/2006

T: Rather like a Donovan track being covered by the White Stripes, with Patti Smith taking lead vocals. Interesting, infectious and very effective. Hmmm...today's reviewing has started rather too well for my liking...

N: The introduction to this single, for me, is a dead ringer for Stephen Duffy, although when the strangulated vocals are introduced, maybe Juliette Lewis is closer to the mark. Undoubtedly breathing energy, this London four piece certainly strike a pose. 8/10

web site - myspace

Five O'clock Heroes - Time On My Hands (Glaze) 11/09/2006

T: Clearly influenced by Costello, and tinged with a Ramones like feel - possibly due to the band's current residence in New York - this sounds like a hybrid of the two, and what better template to work from? As you may well expect, this is an excellent taster for the band's "Bend To The Breaks" album. Top stuff.

N: Without a doubt, a vibrant and colourful band, filled with energy and that certain nod towards the music of the aforementioned Elvis. A CD single filled with three B-sides that refuse to understand the term. What more needs to be said than "a winner"? 9/10

web site

Muse - Starlight (Warner Music) 04/09/2006

Muse, with world domination quite within grasp release what is the lead track to their acclaimed album, "Black Holes and Revelations". Complete with Wakeman'esque symphonic breaks, is a song that is both uplifting, musically, yet quite downcast lyrically. As Matthew Bellamy sings the line..."far away, this ship has taken me far away, far away from the memories, of the people who care if I live or die...." and so it continues, leaving the listener with the question, "Is Matt suffering from the exhaustion of music's lifestyle, or just hinting that he might?"

However this turns out to be answered, this is possibly the band's crowning moment, a moment that has been hinted at previously, but this time affirms what is now certain. A great song, with great sound-scape, quite literally magical. 9/10

Nick James

web site

Albert Hammond Jr. - Everyone Gets A Star (Rough Trade) 04/09/2006

T: It's blatantly obvious that this guy is a member of The Strokes when you hear this track, although his Pavement influence is also evident. Funnily enough - and you might look at me strangely here - it reminds me ultimately of Malcom McLaren's "Double Dutch"...

N: Coming from a band of such weight, the dead cert has never been such a confident bet, and sure enough, Albert reworks what could have easily been a Strokes number. Perhaps a little too slow moving, and weighted, to be truly amongst the greats, but with an album due on the 9th October, we won't have too wait too long for the outcome. 7/10

N.B. Check out this single on the artist's myspace, trust me it's worth it.

myspace