LONDON, UK
by Jenny (Staff Writer)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Mylo - Destroy Rock & Roll: Destroy Rock & Roll' is exponentially more than the sum of its parts. Mylo may not be quite dance music's Strokes, the new act that will suddenly thrust their music back into the zeitgeist. "Destroy Rock & Roll" is very 80's inspired: the title track is a witty list of some dire (although some are great) artists by some god awful American D.J. who pronounces Bowie as Boo-hee, set to more luscious textured keyboards!
Mylo is 24 year old Myles Macinnes from Scotland and he's produced a fresh warm dance album that while it breaks no new ground whatsoever has a corporeal humanistic touch via the glowing instrumentation and occasional judicious use of samples. Mylo makes the wise decision of not loading the album, with hard-hitting dance numbers, and instead fuses smooth electronica, with upbeat-electro & couple of big-beat/techno tracks.
A great single and a definite buy if you are to remember the dance year that was 2004. (5/5)
HOT SHOT RECORD
Ashanti - Only You: "Only U" is one standout song with its grimy, sinuous rock beat and grinding bass. It's a catchy track with a slightly rock-ish edge, and one that manages to rise above "guilty pleasure." Here, once again shows her new style with the guitar and all, much "harder" than any of her old stuff, good dose of the "Concrete." Although the lead-off single "Only U" has only been met with a mediocre amount of success, that says nothing about the potential of this material to storm up the pop charts. You love it, but I found I got bored of it very fast. It was kind of like DC's "Lose My Breath".
But then the first time I heard both tracks, I listened to them over and over and over: nice rock/hiphop blend. I have to keep in mind though, how much I LOVED this song when I first heard it. The video is also very cool, and different. (4/5)
Ashlee Simpson - LaLa: I'm a big fan of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. I like every song Stevie has ever sang and even sing songs like, "Stand Back" while I make some breakfast in the famous nook in the morning. Ashlee is a breath of fresh air in the smog that is the rock music scene. Ok, she is not a rock singer, she is a pop singer. I wish people could figure that out.
When I picked up this single I was a little skeptical. I had read the bad reviews, but let me tell you, they are just trying to put shame to her (bunch of squares). We need more artist like Ashlee Simpson who know how to make a tune. I do not care if she is Pop / Rock / Country or Hip-hop act, I enjoy to hear 'La La' on my favourite radio station... (3/5)
Elvis Presley - It's Now Or Never: "It's Now Or Never" was almost operatic in its delivery. This was a side of Elvis we had never recognized in any of his previous works, and he showed exactly how good a voice he had to work with. For those of you who grew up hearing these songs being played as the background to the movie of your everyday lives, each brings back some dusty memories.
Simply, the ultimate 'classic' track of this week, the is not any need to rate it!
Hanson - Penny And Me: Penny and Me is a very catchy happy tune! It shows that they can sing live and in tune without having the need of the equipment to make them sound better on just disc. Realy If you want a happy bouncy single this will be the one. Also, it shows how Hanson has grown and matured musically over the years. Great musicianship and the vocals are amazing. This song is one of the highlights on their CD Underneath. It's a great song to listen to while drivig down the road and it was a great song for the 2004 summer. Yes, the single is coming to UK with 10 months delay. So, congratulations to their Label: nobody will buy it because everybody are having it in their collections. At least, Hanson are back and are better than ever! (3/5)
Houston - Ain't Nothing Wrong: Houston may not be breaking any new ground with this record, but he has a nice voice that's used to deliver good songs like "Ain't Nothing Wrong." 'Ain't Nothing Wrong' is an ode to men pressuring women into sex. Prototype?
"Ain't Nothing Wrong" was produced by the Underdoggs in Miami during the VMAs. In a final analysis of Mr. Houston's debut 'It's Already Written' - I have to say 'I Already Have Confessions' by Usher so I don't need this... ever. (1/5)
Lemon Jelly - Shouty Track: The second single taken from the 2005 album '64-95'. The title track is backed with one non-album track 'Nice Weather For Ducks' (live on Jo Whiley's Live Lounge). "'79 AKA The Shouty Track" is an evocation of the kind of post-glam heavy metal that prospered in Britain in the wake of punk: stuff like Judas Priest and maybe even a little bit of Def Leppard.
The Shouty Track" is as simplistic as it sounds - but this is just one big group hug of an LP. (4/5)
Phixx - Strange Love: They may have ended as runners up in the UK Idols' "The Rivals" and they may have hooked up with a trio of boy band luminaries (ex-Westlifer Bryan McFadden, Blue's Lee Ryan and Liberty X's Theo), but Phixx actually sounding like your average reality TV teen pop purveyors.
Savvy fellows that they are, they've tuned into the fact that... retro is always cool. So what worst way to launch your career than with a facsimile set of infectious, hook-laden synth-pop sounds straight out of the 80s? Phixx are looking good on TV, but when the screen monitor leaves someone has to close all others (radio, cd-players, iPod, ect.) SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR SOMETHING DECENT. (0/5)
The Used - Take It Away: It's hard to produce a "5 stars" album, especially when your debut album is already a "5 stars", because of the expectation of the audiences is extremely high. "In Love & Death" is the follow up of the The Used overwhelming self-titled debut, which they pretty much kept their own style, combine style-merging rhythm with emotional energetic vocal.
"Take It Away" starts the albulm off on the right foot. Fast paced, kind of heavy, not too much screaming. The verse is great and has a touch of their older style. I personally enjoy listening to it very much, it deserve a nomination fot the album of next year... (4/5)
X-Zibit - Hey Now (Mean Muggin'): everyones heard this, a tight club tune from Timbaland. The production is solid even with Dre not involved! I have to say each beat is unique from what you might expect in a westcoast single. Xzibit has definitely stepped his game up and I look forward to his future releases of the album 'Weapons of Mass Destruction'. I strongly recommend this single, one of the best 'R&B' tracks albums coming from the west this year. (3/5)
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
Amsterdam - The Journey
Ashanti - Only You
Ashlee Simpson - LaLa
Biffy Clyro - Only One Word Comes To Mind
Breed 77 - Shadows
Buff Medways - I'm A Lie Detector
Butch Cassidy Sound system - Rockers Galore
Ch3vy - Fur Coat, No Knickers
Commander Tom - Attention
Crispin J Glover - This Is Not A Love Song
D:Rail - How Do I Say Goodbye
Editors - Bullets
Elvis Presley - It's Now Or Never
Emanuel - Hey Man/New Violence
Feist - Inside And Out
Freefaller - Do This Do That
Funky G Ft Shauna Jenson - Everytime
HAL - What A Lovely Dance
Hanson - Penny And Me
Hard Fi - Cash Machine
Houston - Ain't Nothing Wrong
Juliet Turner - Vampire
Lemon Jelly - Shouty Track
Little Barrie - Free Salute
Lovefreekz - Shine
Midnight Movies - Mirage
Mylo - Destroy Rock N Roll
One World Project - Grief Never Grows Old
Phixx - Strange Love
Respect Ft Hannah Jones - Young Hearts Run Free
The Used - Take It Away
X-Zibit - Hey Now (Mean Muggin')
Singles Release Schedule
January 31
22-20's - Such A Fool
24 - Longest Day
Autums - Every Sunday Sky
Aventura - Obsesion (Si Es Amor)
Ben Watt - Outspoken Part 1
Bloc Party - So Here We Are
Cam'Ron - Girls
Deeyah - Plan Of My Own
Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden - Almost Here
Demon Summer - Burn
Duran Duran - What Happens Tomorrow
El Presidente - Rocket
Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Eminem - Like Toy Soldiers
Erick Morillo Ft Terra Deva - What Do You Want?
The Flaming Lips - Spongebob & Patrick Consult The Psychic
Ga Gas - Sex
Galaxy Records Star Search Finalists - Guardian Angel
Good Charlotte - I Just Wanna Live
Hammerfall - Blood Bound
Head Automatica - Beating Heart Baby
Heather Small - Proud
Hugh Cornwell - (Under Her) Spell
Jacquii Cann - I Believe In You/I'll Stand By You
Kimberley Locke - Coulda Been
Lil John Ft The East Side Boys - Roll Call/What U Gon' Do
Ludacris - Get Back
Massive Ego - Supernature
Mattafix - 11:30/Dirtiest Trick In Town
Matthew Bayott - Your Favorite Fruit
Mendeed - Ignite The Flames
Narco - Evil Brother
Patrick Wolf - Libertine
Raw T - Where We Live
Soilwork - Stabbing The Drama
Sunshine - Electric Kill Kill EP
The Wedding Present - I'm Further North Than You
Your Code Name Is:Milo - Rapt Dept
February 7
Adam Green - Emily
Alicia Keys - Karma
Alison Krauss and Union Station - Restless/Cluck Old Hen
Amusement Parks On Fire - Venosa/Eighty Eight
Apartment - Everyone Says I'm Paranoid/June July
Beautiful South - This Will Be Our Year
Bright Eyes - Drunk Kid Catholic
Bright Eyes vs. Her Space Holiday - Split Single EP
Daniel Bedingfield - Wrap My Words Around You
Destiny's Child - Soldier
Dizzee Rascal - Graftin'
Doves - Black And White Town
The Duke Spirit - Lion Rip
Elvis Presley - Wooden Heart
Fierce Girl - What Makes A Girl Fierce?
Glitzzi Girls - Be My Baby
Hall & Oates - I Can Dream About It
Immediate - Never Seen/Say This
Josh Rouse - Winter In The Hamptons
Joya - You And Me EP
The Kills - The Good Ones
The Little Flames - Goodbye Little Rose
M83 - Don't Save Us From The Flames
Mando Diao - You Can't Steal My Love
Motiv8 Ft Jocelyn Brown - Riding On The Wings
My Morning Jacket - Sweatbees EP
Noise Next Door - Calendar Girl
Northern State - At The Party
Paddy Casey - Saints And Sinners
Postal Service - We Will Become Silhouettes
Raghav Ft Jucxi & Frankey Maxx - Angeleyes
Rammstein - Keine Lust
Readers Wifes - Scumpop
Roots - Don't Say Nuthin'
Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Breakdown
Sun Connection - Love Me Like A Flower
Tony Christie - Amarillo
U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Wee Phillie Vs DJ Gotti - Bang On The Drum
The Wonder Stuff - Bile Chant/Rubbish Island
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Machine
February 14
Aberfeldy - Love Is An Arrow
Akon - Locked Up
Ambulance Ltd - Stay Where You Are
Angel City - Sunrise
Atomic Kitten - Cradle 2005
Britney Spears - Do Somethin'/Megamix
Cherry Falls - My Drug
Dogs - She's Got A Reason
Ed Harcourt - Loneliness
Elvis Presley - Surrender
Embrace - Looking As You Are
Emiliana Torrini - Sunny Road
House Of Love - Love You Too Much
James Yorkston & The Athletes - Shipwreckers
Jennifer Lopez - Get Right
Kings Of Tomorrow - Thru
LL Cool J - Hush
Low - California
Mark Joseph - Lady Lady
Miss Kitten - Happy Violentine
Nathan - Come Into My Room
New Found Glory - I Don't Wanna Know
New Rhodes - You've Given Me Something That I Can't Get Back
Petey Pablo - Vibrate
Phantom Planets - California
Presidents Of The United States of America - Love Everybody
Rachel Goswell - Coastline/Plucked
Razorlight - Keep The Right Profile
Six By Seven - Ocean/Clouds
Stephen Fretwell - Run
Stereogram - Go
Trick Daddy - Let's Go
Whitey - Non Stop
Willy Mason - Oxygen
Xavier Floyd Firebird - Boss Man You Scare Me
February 21
AB/DC - This Feelin'
Annie - Heartbeat
Charlotte Hatherley - bast*rdo
DT8 Ft Andrea Britton - Winter
The Earlies - Bring It Back Again
Elvis Presley - (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame
The Frames - Fake
Futureheads - Hounds Of Love
Girls Aloud - Wake Me Up
Green Day - Holiday
Groove Cutters - We Close Our Eyes
Idlewild - Love Steals Us From Loneliness
Iron and Wine - Woman King EP
Kaiser Chiefs - Oh My God
Kaptain Black - Drone The Queen Bee/Overeaten
Keisha White Ft Cassidy - Don't Care Who Knows
Knife - You Take My Breath Away
KT Tunstall - Black Horse And The Cherry Tree
LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
Live Ambient Workshop - Nighthawkes EP
LnM Projekt ft. Bonnie Bailey - Everywhere
Maximo Park - Apply Some Pressure
Nelly - Over And Over
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Get Ready For Love
Nine Black Alps - Shot Down
Rakes - Retreat
Ray Lamontagne - Trouble
Simple Plan - Shut Up
Tears For Fears - The Closest Thing To Heaven
Tokyo Dragons - What The Hell
Usher - Caught Up
Verbalicious - Don't Play Nice
February 28
Bjork - Triumph Of The Heart
The Black Velvets - 3345
The Bravery - An Honest Mistake
Brendan Benson - Spit It Out
The Delgados - Girls Of Valour
Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love
The Features - Blow It Out
Fightstar - They Liked You Better When You Were Dead EP
The Glitterati - Back In Power
The Good Life - Lovers Need Lawyers EP
Helene - Marking Time
Il Divo - Mama
The Mad Capsule Markets - Happy Ride
My Chemical Romance - I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
Portobella - Viva La Difference
The Rasmus - Funeral Song (The Resurrection)
Rufus Wainwright - The One You Love
Shania Twain - Don't!
Stereophonics - Dakota
The Thrills - Irish Keep Gate Crashing
Tyler James - Foolish
March 7
50 Cent - Disco Inferno
Agent Blue - Children's Children
Anastacia - Heavy On My Heart/Underground Army
British Sea Power - It Ended On An Oily Stage
The Donnas - I Don't Want To Know
Elvis Presley - Good Luck Charm
Estelle - Go Gone
Hanson - Lost Without Each Other
Lady Sovereign - Random
Mariah Carey - It's Like That
The Mars Volta - Widow
McFly - All About You/You've Got A Friend
New Order - Krafty
March 14
Ana Johnsson - Don't Cry For Pain
Avril Lavigne - He Wasn't
Basement Jaxx - Oh My Gosh
Beverley Knight - Keep This Fire Burning
Brandy - Who Is She 2 U?
Elvis Presley - She's Not You
The Engineers - Forgiveness
Mercury Rev - Across Yer Ocean
Natalie Imbruglia - Shiver
The Paddingtons - Panic Attack
Queens Of The Stone Age - Little Sister
Shaznay Lewis - Nasty Boy/TBA
March 21
Do Me Bad Things - What's Hideous?
Elvis Presley - Return To Sender
Hot Hot Heat - You Owe Me An IOU
I Am Kloot - Over My Shoulder
Jimmy Eat World - Work
Martha Wainwright - Factory
Sophie Ellis Bextor Ft Busface - Circles
March 28
Elvis Presley - (You're The) Devil In Disguise
Garbage - Why Do You Love Me?
Kylie Minogue - Giving You Up
