Single Reviews Diary 24 – 16th July 2010

You know the drill by now. This week there are 19 singles. I review them. You comment/give feedback etc.

Single Reviews Diary 24 – 16th July 2010:

01. 30 Seconds To Mars: Closer To The Edge

This is SONIC EARGASM!!! Seriously, if your looking for true depth or subtlety in music by 30 Seconds To Mars, look elsewhere because Jared Leto and co. are making unapologetic stadium rock with massive choruses, crowd chanting and epic sprawling productions. After the brilliant previous single This Is War, I went in and bought the album of the same name last week and I love it from start to finish. This is my favourite track – a fantastic stadium rocker! Jared’s wailing rather ironically brings hope to the listener. This has a real inspirational feel to it. 4.5 STARS

02. Adam Lambert: Whataya Want From Me

Another one who knows how to deliver the sonic eargasms, Glambert (or rather his label) took a bit of a misstep by releasing the dreadful For Your Entertainment as his first proper single. Seriously, not only was the song completely tedious but it just screamed “Look! I’m the male version of Lady GaGa!” Thankfully with his second proper single, Adam delivers the pop rock and that amazing voice we all fell in love with onAmerican Idol. In my opinion anything P!nk writes is dead catchy and this single is exactly that! Starting off brooding and vulnerable, the ballad breaks into an irresistible chorus absolutely dripping with angst and melody. You’ll soon be singing “Just don’t give up/I’m working out/Please don’t give up/I won’t let you down” at the top of your voice although good luck trying to emulate Lambo’s screeching at the end. Despite the misstep of his first single, Adam shows that if he keeps pushing out singles as good as this, us males will have a worthy pop superstar to go against the Lady GaGas, Beyoncés and Rihannas of this World. 4.5 STARS

03. Ash: Summer Snow

First off, I love the title off this track. Only five more A-Z singles after this one, this track is a simple enough pop rock track with crunchy guitars, bass and impassioned vocals from frontman Tim. There’s also a slight folk influence. The chorus is good enough but nothing groundbreaking or dead catchy. Like the majority of singles from this era, a decent but ultimately passable track. Buy it if you’re an Ash fan. 3 STARS

04. Basshunter: Saturday

Basshunter has probably figured out that his breakthrough Now You’re Gone sound has probably started to grate on the public’s nerve so the horny DJ has gone ahead and made music just like everyone else. This is probably Basshunter’s best single but that’s not really saying much considering his past offerings. Comprised of a club beat, catchy uncredited female vocalist(s) and plenty of Auto-Tune with the lyrical theme of partying, Basshunter joins JLS, Usher, Enrique and Taio in the ranks for tired, corporate dance music that is going to be swallowed up by the masses. 2.5 STARS

05. Diana Vickers: The Boy Who Murdered Love

This girl is obsessed with the macabre…perhaps she should see a therapist? Or front an emo band? But Diana’s musical output is at odds with her dark lyrics because this is such a cheery, upbeat song. Diana’s whispery vocals are still intact but used in a more commercial way than her risky debut Once. The chorus is ten times catchier than the aforementioned single, which simply comprised of the word “Once” being repeated over and over again. The song is cute, catchy and 100% pop without sounding manufactured. Plus I’m starting to develop a huge crush on Diana Vickers…almost obsessive! 4 STARS

06. Faithless: Tweak Your Nipple

Faithless seem to have a new single out each week. It’s rather crazy! This new track is lyrically philosophical and intelligent with mind provoking lyrics such as “I see genius in everybody to perceive it in yourself is the difficulty” and “Your individuality overflows with quality, it manifests solidly if you believe”. But do we really want to think while we’re on the dancefloor. I don’t think so. The beat only picks up as we come to the end of the track and the spoken word run of the song is grating. For die hard only Faithless fans. 2 STARS

07. Giggs featuring Shola Ama: Blow ‘Em Away

Another artist just firing out the singles, I think Giggs is fast morphing into the British 50 Cent. The deep and ominous voiced rapper shows plenty of ‘swagga’ (I feel so weird saying that) on this beat heavy track while Shola Ama does her best Keri Hilson impression on the mildly catchy chorus. If you’ve missed 50 Cent during his time relevant, then you should enjoy this. 3 STARS

08. Goldhawks: Keep This Fire

I’d recommend keeping an eye on this band. They definitely show much promise and remind me at times of Arcade Fire or Kings Of Leon. This anthemic indie rock song has Summer appeal and also would make a decent climactic soundtrack song. It has to lose points for a lack of originality though. 3.5 STARS

09. Inna: Amazing

After the surprise Top 10 placing of her previous single Hot, I was hoping Romanian pop tart Inna would disappear as quickly as she came. Not a chance, she’s releasing her second single Amazing and I have a feeling it’s going to be another hit. Amazing it most definitely isn’t but with its Ibiza style production, it certainly miles better than the steaming hot mess that was Hot. This conjures up thoughts of Mediterranean holiday camps, something you’ll gladly dance drunkedly to on a Saturday night. Plus Inna looks good in a bikini. 2.5 STARS

STINKER OF THE WEEK!
10. Jedward: All The Small Things

Basically, to rant about this would be pointless. You’ll either love or hate Jedward or actually find yourself warming to them but I still find them one of the most pointless, idiotic, talentless and manufactured acts to ever grace the music industry. I do not find them funny, I do not find them cute and I do not find them entertaining. Everything from their ridiculous hair to their faux American accents to their blatant lack of originality, brains, vocal and dance ability just annoys me!!! With their cover of Blink-182’s All The Small Things, the gruesome twosome shout over the original instrumentation with some cheap synths added for contemporary effect. You don’t need a good voice to cover this song but you need some singing ability which Jedward clearly lack. If you think the original sounds bad, you should hear their breathless live rendition. I know I’m not the kiddie target market for this duo but if this is what kids grow up listening too then I seriously fear for the future of mankind. No joke. Ooops, looks like I ranted. 1 STAR

11. Kill Krinkle Club: Airport

The Irish/Swedish duo and real life couple Kill Krinkle Club are back with the first single from their forthcoming album Abandon. Much like its official music video, this track is a dreamy slice of experimental electronica. Not exactly a bad tune but I’ve heard this kind of music a hundred times before. The icy beats are nice though. 3 STARS

12. Pendulum: Witchcraft

The Aussie industrial rockers are back with the second single from album Immersion. Don’t let the subdued opening fool you, this is yet another fast paced break neck speed track with some powerful meaty vocals. I’m sure this would sound absolutely immense live. However, it does sound a bit samey doesn’t it. Like they’ve done it all before. Oh well, I’ll let them off this time. 3.5 STARS

13. Placebo: I Feel You

The British more heavier R.E.M. soundalikes Placebo have released their Depeche Mode cover of I Feel You, a track which appears on a bonus disc of their 2003 album Sleeping With Ghosts. It’s a bit strange that the band would go back and release a song from two albums before (even if it is only a special edition) but then when have Placebo been conventional. Instrumentally this is very good. Lead singer Brian Molko’s slithery voice though is another thing altogether. Some find it sexy and addictive; others find it nasal and whiny! I think his voice is better suited to some songs than they are to others. While Molko really makes this his own which is something to be commended, the original trumps this skin crawling version by far. 2.5 STARS

14. Sandi Thom: Gold Dust

The Punk Rocker With Flowers In Her Hair has actually released her third solo album back in May but you’d never know because the Scottish singer was forced out of the limelight as quickly as she came into it back in 2005 when her irritatingly catchy debut was all over the airwaves. With the second single from album Merchants And Thiefs, Thom takes on an American blues feel with her music. In this sultry ballad with some great guitars, the singer actually sounds like a female Dylan albeit a little clichéd. It’s just a shame very few people will hear this. 4 STARS

15. Sarah McLachlan: Loving You Is Easy

The Canadian singer, known best for her large catalogue of miserable piano ballads, decides to up the tempo a little bit for her comeback single, taken from her new album Laws Of Illusion. It’s a nice little pop ditty that should please her fans and keep the AC crowd happy but with its bouncy piano melody and uplifting chorus, it just sounds like a carbon copy of Sarah Bareilles’ Love Song. At least McLachlan looks HOT aged 42. 2.5 STARS

16. Sheryl Crow: Summer Day

All the female folk singers are coming out in their droves this week. To promote her new album 100 Miles From Memphis, Sheryl Crow has ditched the catchy folk she’s more closely associated for relaxed Summer blues music. This song is just sublime. Don’t expect anything as radio friendly as Soak Up The Sun or Everyday Is A Winding Road, with this track, Crow captures that feeling of intense love on a breezy Summer day thanks to an impassioned yet restrained vocal performance and some light guitar backing. A+ for making an effort and succeeding. 5 STARS

17. Usher featuring Pitbull: DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love

The lead single from Usher’s March album Raymond V. Raymond, OMG was a surprise smash hit. Many deemed his career over in the lead up to the release but the atrocity managed to surprise everyone and spend weeks atop the charts across the World for the weeks and even now is still lying about the Top 10. Realising that selling his soul works, Usher has struck while the iron is hot and tacked together a new album EP with another corporate dance track that will get the masses moving but lacks in any real passion or drive. Lyrically this is juvenile and cheesy and would be much better suited to his protégé Justin Bieber. Pitbull spews out more of his tiresome bilingual verses which cashing his $1 million dollar cheque for nothing. It’s the god of pop songwriting Max Martin who is the real star of this song who makes what would be an otherwise tired and boring song decent with some giant pop hooks and a euphoric production. I demand a feature credit. 3 STARS

18. Usher featuring Nicki Minaj: Lil’ Freak

Ush still hasn’t stopped promoting Raymond V. Raymond though. This track acts as a promo single here and it’s a shame it wasn’t put in the place of OMG as lead single from the project. It’s not half as annoying and just as catchy. Much like its accompanying promo clip, it sounds and looks like Nelly Furtado’s Maneater but I guess the wimpy record label feared it would be too urban for the mainstream crowd. Now much like Usher’s recent output, this track is far from perfect. Lyrically it’s as misogynist as many R&B/hip-hop songs these days and Nicki Minaj, normally a scene stealer, has one of the most unbearable rap verses of the year. Seriously, what’s with the Santa’s reindeer rap runthrough in that over-the-top accent for? Still, this track is a more than decent club banger with a minimum backbeat and massive symphonic synths that start up in the chorus, which strangely reminds me of the 1990s movie Men In Black. Something fun and gritty to grind to on the Saturday night dancefloor – or in the house when no-one is looking. 3.5 STARS

TRACK OF THE WEEK!
19. Vanessa Amorosi: I Am Who I Am

Australia answer to a more universally liked Katy Perry releases her debut single over here. It’s pretty sad that this track is unlikely to chart because this is an explosive power pop stomper that sounds like Katy Perry’s Hot ‘N’ Cold meets Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone. Seriously it’s that good! Featuring a stuttering electronic guitar hook, an instantly infectious chorus and a whole lot of grrrl power with witty lyrics, maybe it’s time to start a campaign to get radio to playlist this too. Give it a listen…go on! You’re missing out! 5 STARS

I’ll try and get Diary 25 done before Monday. Not promising though! 😉

Adam, Basshunter, B.o.B., Gorillaz, Inna, Jessie James, Justin, Kat, Katy, Kelis, MGMT, N*E*R*D*, OK Go, Plan B, Snoop and Uffie unleash an onslaught of videos for us!

After Lady GaGa released her much discussed video clip for Alejandro about two weeks or so ago, it looks like some of the other artists in today’s music industry want in on the game and the last two weeks have seen an absolute onslaught of music videos float our way. Seeing as other areas of my life are taking over my blogging (despite me really getting into it lately), I’ve not been able to keep track of them all as soon as they’ve been released. However, never fear because I’ve combined them all into one humungous post. Here are some of the most notable (and not so notable) videos being released recently.

Adam Lambert: If I Had You

After getting off to a disappointing start with his dull as dishwasher ‘proper debut’ single For Your Entertainment, Adam Lambert has been very impressive lately. Not only am I mad about his current UK/Irish single Whataya Want From Me, released this July, but I’m also really loving If I Had You, Adam’s third single in the US (fifth if you count his American Idol runner up song No Boundaries and his soundtrack song Time For Miracles).

While Whataya Want From Me is a brooding P!nk penned rocker, If I Had You is a delightful electropop stomper that is sure to keep America partying all Summer. If I Had You is hugely euphoric, positive and massive and should ensure the larger than live vocalist and artist a massive hit. The video is a simple yet effective affair. Adam and a large group of people go out and party in a forest. The video has some fantastical elements to it with colourful fairies flitting about and Glambert resembling some character from either a sci-fi, fantasy, manga or anime movie/show I’d seen recently, I just can’t put my finger on who. Watch the video below, I hope this is released on these shores soon…although it is essentially a Summer single.

Basshunter: Saturday

The male Natalie Horler, Basshunter is back with a brand new single, Saturday, which will be taken from his currently untitled third album. *groan*

Not a huge groan though. Saturday is a minor improvement on some of the Sweedish DJ’s earlier work although it still remains generic, bland and soulless. Jonas has ditched the cheesy Eurodance for some pure Americanised dance-pop, á la Cascada with Evacuate The Dancefloor. Like Cascada, Jonas has definitely cashed into the Lady GaGa sound as he and some anonymous female vocalist sing over giant club beats. At least he’s ditched the repetitive soap storyline he used for previous videos and has gone for a full out club video.

B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams: Airplanes

After scoring a #1 hit with his Bruno Mars collaboration Nothin’ On You, innovative rapper B.o.B. is back with a new single Airplanes featuring Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams.

While the track is a certified smash and possibly even a future hip-hop classic, I’m a little disappointed with the video. Despite B.o.B.’s success, its clear that the label didn’t throw a huge amount of dollars at the video and I would have liked to see some interaction between B.o.B. and Hayley. Still the flashing lights look good and with a song so epic, with a simple yet effective chorus and having already cracked the Top 20, if not Top 10 across the World, clearly a below par video is the least of B.o.B.’s worries. Plus, I’m glad Hayley’s doing this collaboration. If Paramore ever go on hiatus or split, Hayley has the looks, talent and charisma to embark on a successful pop career, like No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani.

Gorillaz: On Melancholy Hill

Virtual band the Gorillaz have pushed back the release of second single Superfast Jellyfish in favour of new second single On Melancholy Hill. Superfast Jellyfish will be released later in the year, instead.

On Melancholy Hill was originally intended to be the third single from the album and it baffles me why the positions of this and the much more sunnier Superfast Jellyfish were reversed around. I also feel that the underwater theme and the images of jellyfish floating around were originally for a Superfast Jellyfish but the song was changed at the last minute.

That said On Melancholy Hill is one of the highlights from the brilliant Plastic Beach. The video is characteristically stunning, combining 2-D and 3-D seamlessly. My personal favourite parts are where the Gorillaz finally discover Plastic Beach and the cameo from a 2-D Snoop Dogg (who appears in three videos this post).
You can watch the stunning video here.

Inna: Amazing

To inject a little Eurotrash into this post, the trashily sexy Romanian singer Inna is set to release her second UK/Irish single Amazing. As you’d expect, it’s anything but – but at least we get to see her flail around in a bikini and view some stunning Portuguese landscape in the song’s video. Plus the song is much better than her surprise #10 hit Hot which was released a while back.

Jessie James: Boys In Summer

To inject a little country flavour into this post, why not check out the new music video by American singer Jessie James. The sexy Georgian is expected to be country music’s next ‘it’ girl (watch your back, Taylor Swift) and while it’s not being released over here yet, the song is a fun track that almost acts as the country equivalent to Katy Perry’s California Gurls, capturing the sound of the Summer perfectly. The video’s a lot of fun too, showing plenty of eye candy for both men and women. The song is definitely more country than whatever Taylor Swift has put her name to. You can watch the video here.

Justin Bieber featuring Usher: Somebody To Love

Self obsessed lesbian lookalike Justin “I Don’t Know What A German Is” Bieber and his mentor Usher have teamed up for a remix to new single Somebody To Love, which is bound to give Bieber yet another hit.

This time it’s deserved though as the song is a catchy little pop stomper with a stylish video to match. Clearly puberty is getting to young Bieber as his voice could be better on this track but thanks to a little help from Usher and some great choreography, Bieber has actually impressed me for once. Now if only he didn’t come across as a narcissistic little toe-rag pretending to act wholesome, I might actually start to like him.

Kat Deluna featuring Akon: Push Push

Flopstar Kat Deluna is back with her new single Push Push which features chipmunk voiced singer/rapper Akon. The reason why I’m including Kat in my post is because Ms. Deluna is in desperate need of a hit. Deluna has worked with RedOne long before GaGa ever did and while her combination of electropop, R&B and Latin music is extremely infectious, Deluna has never scored a hit. Maybe this song and its stylish video will help…though I doubt it. Shame because this is just ideal for Summer.

Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg: California Gurls

The much anticipated video for Katy Perry’s current US #1 California Gurls has finally surfaced. Rather than go with a literal video, Perry is thinking outside the box with a Candyland board game theme meets The Wizard Of Oz.

It’s no secret that I have a hard soft spot for Katy Perry so I naturally enjoyed this fun, cute video. Katy’s ‘quirkiness’, you’re either going to love or hate, and many will complain about her blatant selling off sex in this video (appearing naked on the cloud, whipped cream gun bra etc.) but as a red-blooded male I have no complaints. My personal highlight of the video is where Katy waves at the walking gummy bears, only for it to show her the middle finger, resulting in a hilariously camp over-exaggerated expression of offence from Ms. Perry. I also think the final scene with Snoop buried in the sand alongside the California Gurls would make a great desktop wallpaper.

Kelis: 4th July (Fireworks)

Kelis is back with the second single from her Flesh Tone album – the US holiday anthem 4th Of July. The video was done on a low budget but like her previous hit Acapella, Kelis does not disappoint, giving us a visually delicious video which displays plenty of the song’s namesake fireworks and explores the four elements of air, earth, fire and water.

While I’m not loving the song or the video as much as Acapella, I’m hoping it will grow on me and become another hit for the deceptively intelligent artist. Who would have known Kelis had so much creative vision when she released Milkshake all them years ago.

MGMT: It’s Working and Congratulations

Before the release of their second LP Congratulations, New York hipster band MGMT had stated that they planned to release no singles from the album as they wanted to stand on its own as its own “collection of work”. Two months on and the band have released music videos for the third and fourth single from the album It’s Working and the title track. Neither songs are exactly mainstream or radio friendly but the videos are a lot of fun so hopefully they get some airplay on the music channels.

N*E*R*D* featuring Nelly Furtado: Hot ‘N’ Fun

Hip-rockers N*E*R*D* make a return to the World of music, with new single Hot ‘N’ Fun from forthcoming album Nothing. Featuring Nelly Furtado, the video was directed by Telephone director Jonas Åkerlund. You can watch the video here, seeing as its being pulled down everywhere else.

While I do enjoy the feel good groove of the song, the video is very reminiscent of Ke$ha’s Your Love Is My Drug video as well as Lady GaGa and Beyoncé driving around a desert in the Pussywagon for Telephone. The blond lady in the Indian headdress, the Californian desert and the animated sequences recall Ke$ha’s most recent single. Not to mention Nelly Furtado being copy and pasted into the music video with some amateurish special effects. This isn’t the first time Ms. Furtado has had to be copy and pasted into a video – having done so already in Timbaland’s Morning After Dark as well as clearly not filming alongside James Morrison in his Broken Strings video. Don’t even get me started on her CGI presence in Flo Rida’s Jump. Surely she isn’t that busy that she can’t show up for a video shoot alongside her co-stars every now and then.

OK Go: End Love

Quirky indie rockers OK Go are also back with another mad video for new single End Love. Depsite its low budget, OK Go have taken their usual DIY approach to making music videos with some genuinely funny shots of them running about, posing with great camera work that speeds up and slows down the video. I love when the goose joins them. I really want these guys to be successful.

Plan B: Prayin’

Following the success of the toe-tapping She Said, rapper/soul singer Plan B continues the gripping storyline from his music videos of imprisoned soul singer Strickland Banks in new single Prayin’.

With the song’s gigantic, expensive and rousing production, I think this should be another hit for the London singer who avoids rapping on this track. The videos which have been a huge draw to this era have me wondering what will happen to our down on his look protagonist next.

Snoop Dogg: Oh Sookie

True Blood mega fan Snoop Dogg is definitely not stopping Alan Ball’s rejection of a Snoop cameo on True Blood without a fight. The pervy California rapper has now released a promo single where he confesses his love – or rather lust – for telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse. Snoop Dogg rapping about my favourite TV show and proclaiming his lust for the show’s stars Anna Paquin and Rutina Wesley suggests we have much more in common than I thought. This video, with its Sookie Stackhouse back-up dancers, isn’t going to sway regular listeners but this is a must see for any True Blood fan.

I think Alan Ball needs to stop being so unfair and fulfill Snoop’s dream of appearing on the show. 😀 Maybe, Snoop could be killed in the True Blood world and come back as a mentally disabled vampire who helps out the Louisiana vampires á la Bubba in the Sookie Stackhouse books (read: Elvis). It would be authentic and if stars like Anna Paquin and Evan Rachel Wood can appear in the show, then why not Snoop.

Uffie featuring Pharrell: ADD (SUV)

Finally, Miami singer/rapper Uffie has teamed up with Pharrell for her first proper single ADD (SUV), the video which surfaced yesterday. The electropop song with an alternative edge is quickly becoming amazing to me but the video seems randomly put together with Uffie and Pharrell driving around the city at night with some animated sequences throwing in, probably as a tribute to her favourite star Ke$ha. 😀 Check it out below.

Phew! Told you there was lots of videos.

Singles Reviews Diary 12 – 23rd April 2010

I know I’m very late with this but I finally have my twelfth singles release diary for singles that were released four days ago. Oh well, college will be finished on Thursday so I should be more up to date with my Singles Reviews Diary by then.

Singles Reviews Diary 12 – 23rd April 2010:

01. Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment
Now before the coach full of Adam Lambert’s fans come along and attack me, I really like Adam Lambert. He was the only reason I watched American Idol last year and I think he’s probably the most powerful singer in today’s music industry on par with rock greats like Alice Cooper and Freddie Mercury. So I really wanted his debut single to be good. Sadly it’s not. Sure it has a catchy chorus and lyrics that would make Lady GaGa blush – which is really revolutionary for an American Idol contestant. ButFor Your Entertainment is just incredibly bland. It doesn’t have the ‘wow factor’. Thankfully, I’ve heard a few songs from Adam’s album of the same name and they are pretty promising. Hopefully, Adam’s follow-up singles will be better and his sophomore album will be more consistent. 2.5 STARS

02. Ash: Mind Control
Another short and sweet pop rock song from Ash’s A-Z To Series. Once again I will lament why the A-Z Series hasn’t got more hype because Ash have never been so consistent with providing enjoyable song – one after the other. 3 STARS

03. The Big Pink: Tonight
The third single from The Big Pink’s A Brief History Of Love doesn’t seem to have gone down well with most people. To be honest, I don’t think it’s that bad. It doesn’t have the big commercial chorus that Dominos had but it’s a big step up from last singleVelvet. I love the electro beats, the chorus is decent enough but can get rather grating like the chorus of Dominos. I do think this band have promise though so…3 STARS

04. Bullet For My Valentine: My Last Fight
Bullet For My Valentine are back with a bang! While many may argue that the metal band are just spitting out the same fast paced angst ridden music that they’ve always brought out, why change it if the fans love it. You can’t deny that huge guitar solo towards the end. 4 STARS

05. Chicane: Come Back
Chicane has been consistently good and I think he’s my new favourite dance act. So this is disappointing following the 5 star single that is Hiding All The Stars. This is pretty much 4 and a half minutes of rather boring house beats with some obscure vocals thrown over it. I don’t even find it that danceable. However, there is a very watchable yet mildly disturbing video to accompany it so I’d recommend checking it out. 2 STARS

06. Courteeners: Take Over The World
I wasn’t exactly bowled over by Courteeners last single You Overdid It Doll but this proves to be a more promising effort from them. Over a beautiful piano melody, Liam Fray’s powerful vocals really stand out. Strings, electro beats and guitars eventually build up when we reach the satisfying climax of the song. It’s official; I’ve been converted to being a fan of The Courteeners. Going to check out more of their stuff now. 4 STARS

07. The Dead Weather: Die By The Drop
Jack White must be the hardest worker in the industry. When he’s not producing for Adele, working with The Raconteurs and The White Stripes, he’s also acting as the frontman for his newest band The Dead Weather. For those of you not in the know, The Dead Weather was formed in 2009 and contains Jack White, Alison Mosshart of the Kills, Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence of The Greenhornes. The music – is very White Stripes. Good old blues and garage rock which I think would be perfect for soundtracking the next Tim Burton film. Mosshart and White’s vocals combine very nicely here and it’s a grower – but lacks any real punch. Perfectly serviceable though.3.5 STARS

08. Fun Lovin’ Criminals: Mister Sun
Oh! Could this join Kid Rock’s All Summer Long as a surprise Summer hit? This definitely sounds like it could be huge if it gets the right airplay; cleverly sampling what I think is a song I heard on Barney all those years ago, only far more funkefied. However, I hated Kid Rock’s All Summer Long and I know I will hate this if it gets heavy airplay. Right now though, it’s a fine listen. 3 STARS

This week in Glee, it’s all about Madonna. And while I think there was a little bit too much brownnosing towards Madonna (Sue and Will going on about how inspirational Madonna is, insisting that her music is played all around the school, Mohawk talking about what a MILF she is, all the guys proclaiming how hot she is, Miss Prim and Proper Ginger Person not being shocked by Madonna’s shocking display of sexuality etc.) but it did remind me that the Plastic Fantastic OAP once was a revolution in pop music and that she once did have a strong catalogue until she made soulless dance music. Here are my Glee reviews for the week.

09. Glee Cast: Express Yourself
The girls go all female empowerment on us in their rendition of Madonna’s 1989 hit. I’m sure for all the girls at home, this was a chance for them to felt all lovely, strong and warm inside but this song is hardly Glee track of the week. 3 STARS

10. Glee Cast: Borderline/Open Your Heart
Lea Michele proves why she is the star of the show with this brilliant mash-up and Cory Monteith doesn’t do so shabbily either. This is pure euphoric ‘80s pop which may be a little cheesy but definitely infectious. 4 STARS

11. Glee Cast: Vogue
Jane Lynch adds an impressive singing voice to her list of talents in one of Madonna’s most iconic hits. Sue Sylvester almost sounds like Madonna in this catwalk influenced pop song. The true power of this song though is in the re-enactment of the Voguevideo and Gleeks will lap up Sue’s proclamation during the rap breakdown “Will Schuester, I hate you!” but this is not the standout song from the episode. 4 STARS

12. Glee Cast: Like A Virgin
Again, this song works better with the storyline of the show where three of the characters set out to lose their virginity. It’s pretty faithful to the original and if you like the original Like A Virgin then you should enjoy this too. 4 STARS

13. Glee Cast: 4 Minutes (To Save The World)
Wahey! The show finally addresses one of its problems and gives Mercedes and Kurt their chance to shine. They cover the last good song Madonna released as a single. Mercedes impresses with her powerhouse vocals as usual but it’s Kurt who really shocks here – who knew that he had such a strong raspy voice. MrsRandomEnigma was even convinced that Kurt is now sexy after singing that so go Kurt I suppose. I love the heavy brass section in this song also. 4.5 STARS

14. Glee Cast: What It Feels Like For A Girl
In what has to be the most contrived moment of the show, the boys realise what jerks they are and put themselves in the high heeled stilettos of a girl by recording this cover of Madonna’s feminist hit. Once the vomit inducing talking bit is out of the way, the song sounds a little funky but falls down at the rather boring chorus. The worst Gleesong this week. 2 STARS

TRACK OF THE WEEK
15. Glee Cast: Like A Prayer
Don’t Stop Believing has a rival for best Glee song ever! The original is already fantastic but I found myself with goosebumps after hearing this choir backed power ballad. Gleeare clearly saving their best songs for the closing moments of the show this season. Amazing stuff. 5 STARS

16. Lady Antebellum: Need You Now
Taken from the Shania Twain quarter of the country music, this has been a Top 10 hit in the US for weeks now. Despite some beautiful piano backed vocals from the band’s male and female vocalist, this is a pretty decent song but as little country as its possible to be while still being classified as country. Watered down for pop radio Taylor Swift could easily have sang this if only she’d give up singing about princesses and fairytales and wasn’t afraid to use lyrics as edgy as “It’s a quarter after one/I’m a little drunk and I need you now”. Why would anyone up that late drinking liquor at that hour? Damnit, I want really good country artists like Jace Everett, Little Big Town and C.C. Adcock to be successful over here but I guess I can accept Lady Antebellum if they don’t recycle this type of song over again. 3 STARS

17. Marina & The Diamonds: I Am Not A Robot
I cannot understand the hype from both critics and fans when it comes to this song. Sure there are many good things about it, Marina’s vocals are beautiful in the verses once they take on this soft simpering sound, I love the message (it makes you want to hug someone) and I love the way Marina says “I’m vun-ripple, I’m vun-ripple, I am not a robot”. Vun-ripple sounds way cooler than vulnerable ya see! However, the chorus is kind of limp and repetitive and the production fast matches will.i.am. in the schizophrenic department but isn’t as annoying ‘cause it’s not as generic electro. So the song is alright but I’m hoping that Shampain is cancelled as the next single and Are You Satisfied? or Mowgli’s Road is chosen instead. 3 STARS

18. The Riptide Movement: Hard To Explain
The fun and bouncy instrumentation is really what makes the song. The gruff, harsh vocals are really off-putting for me but this has a decent chorus so many people should like this. 2.5 STARS

19. Roll Deep featuring Jodie Connor: Good Times
I feel like this samples something and has about as much depth as a box of WeightWatchers food. Yes, I know, bad simile. All generic content aside, this song is a deserved hit because of its winner chorus provided by the sexy voiced Jodie Connor. Also credit goes to Roll Deep for rhyming the hook friendly lines “Late night shopping” and “high street bopping”. 3.5 STARS

STINKER OF THE WEEK!
20. Sidney Samson featuring Lady Bee: Shut Up And Let Me Go
Now that Riverside (Let’s Go) has left the chart, radio airwaves and clubs, it’s up to Samson to show that he’s not going to be a one hit wonder. Sadly for Samson, I think that’s the category he’s going to fall into because this doesn’t have the strong sing a long hook or the big expletive that everyone sang along to on his previous single. I know I’m forever giving club bangers Stinker Of The Week but sadly club bangers just aren’t up to scratch these days. This is just trashy and boring and goes to overdrive with the helium, the only interesting thing about it is the beats which aren’t enough to save the song. 1. 5 STARS

Also, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake officially release Carry Out this week, I reviewed it weeks ago. See somewhere above for my thoughts, the track has grown on me although I still think it’s generic. I realise I love the cowbell and Justin Timberlake’s vocals are really good.

Okay, give me your feedback and thoughts on Monday’s single releases. What are your Winners and Stinkers etc.? All comments are appreciated greatly.