Good Stuff Released 11th October 2010:
The Joy Formidable – “I Don’t Want to See You Like This”
Hooray! The Joy Formidable are back with their first new track of 2010. They return fresh from their recent signing with Atlantic records, sounding a little bit more polished, but still the same essential band that I know and you will soon love. They have been around doing the gigging circuit since 2008, but have held off from a major label signing for a long time in order to ensure creative control. The video is a bit more direct and straight up than their previous work (which was quite arty), but they maintain their far-scaping sound, complex drums and upbeat melancholy that continues to make them special. The melody is great, and Ritzy Bryan’s vocal style and delivery is unique and passionate. It is perhaps slightly less catchy than previous singles, but still, a pleasing new release.
The Ting Tings – “Hands”
Love them or hate them, the Ting Tings unarguably create catchy upbeat pop music, and I have enjoyed having this track in my head since I first heard it a week ago. The line “Clap your hands if you’re working too hard” will be an obvious club pleaser, and whilst her vox are quite thin and high pitched, the lyrics are ok. This track is decidabley of the moment in that 80s based post-modern style du jour, and sounds quite similar to a few other current acts, including essences of The Hundred in the Hands, The XX and Gaga. The synth timbres are intensely dominant, so if you don’t like synth you will hate this. Personally I think synths can be great though, and here the Ting Tings have nailed each and every part and timbre creating a fresh and vibrant track.
Bad Stuff Released 11th October 2010:
Michael Buble – “Hollywood”
This track is for the most part just typical Buble: simple, dated melodies, soulless delivery, and that annoying voice, with its bizarre vowel pronunciation and smooth arrogance. But coupled with the video, which is simply made up of the song’s lyrics on screen, and you are really made aware of how awful the music Buble churns out is. The video is ridiculously weak in itself, but it also highlights the vacuous lyrics in a way that turns this release into a proper artistic catastrophe. I have a real issue with the lyrics especially, which seem to be essentially saying why bother having ambitions and dreams, when I, Michael Buble, is all you will ever need. Yuk. It will however be popular with the usual Buble crowd (i.e. tasteless mums).
Christian TV – “When She Turns 18”
What an absolute disgrace this track is. That the music itself is pretty weak becomes a rather moot point, for the message of the lyrics and the video here are just so atrociously spoilt and void of any appeal that their despicableness completely dominates this track. You really should watch for yourselves, but a here is a brief synopsis. Spoilt brat gets no attention from daddy who is at work, working, probably to provide the daughter he loves with a nice home and life-style etc. This charming young lady is not happy about the situation and goes on to simulate sex on the copy machine at her dad’s office with Christian TV man. Wow. What Christian TV man fails to address is that he is in a physical relationship with a girl under the age of 18, which makes her below the age of consent in the US. That and the fact that poor old daddy will probably be there to pick up the pieces when he ditches her for not putting out. The only people this track will appeal to is spoilt brats. And Americans.
