New Tinchy Stryder Song
Latest Single/Download Music Reviews
KINGS OF LEON - Radioactive
Kings of Leon found that their career had taken an unexpected boost into commercial territory with a rude song about hot sex. Phwoar! However, will everyone cool down a bit with this new single? Well, the KOL boys have slightly returned to their more grittier origins on their latest release, but it is still rammed full of good old-fashioned commercial clout.
Sure, there are faint hints of U2's Pride In The Name Of Love mixed a subtle hint of Red Hot Chilli Pepper funkyness, but it also (sort of) harps back to the original sounds that were heard on Youth & Young Manhood. Not even a slightly cheesy big-lunged gospel bit towards the end or a rubbish video can cause a bad review. It has enough of a foot in both camps to please the majority of both the new and old guard of fans.
Rated 4 out of 5
OUR LOST INFANTRY - Parkin
You may remember that Our Lost Infantry gained an Electric Banana 'Single of the Week' review a few months ago for their superb single The Arsonist. Well, they are back with a "no label, no agent, no studio, no producer" single. Bloody heck!
This new single is another strange indie track, which appears to have about 8 musical styles punching the hell out of each other for your attention. Err...in a good way. It has been available as a 'pay what you like' download since Friday 8th October. Lo-fi indie is alive and well. HURRAH!
Rated 4 out of 5
MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS - Shampain
Marina and the Diamonds has failed to live up to the hype amongst the bewildered record buying public - despite a decent run of catchy singles that Cheryl Cole would literally give her right leg for.
Imagine if Kate Bush was less weird and had embraced ABBA and electro-pop, then you'd pretty much be on the right track with this. The percussion also does have a hint of a slightly faster version of Gorillaz's Stylo, but we doubt the Albarn's lawyers will be called in. However, we have taken a mark off for her woeful attempt at spelling 'champagne'.
Rated 3 out of 5
MORCHEEBA - Blood Like Lemonade
Morcheeba of course were like Massive Attack or Portishead, only not as good or successful. Reunited again with original vocalist Skye Edwards, Morcheeba's Paul and Ross Godfrey have managed to re-locate the band's classic trip-hop chill-out cocktail party vibe.
Instrumentally, it's nice and laidback like a chilled and trip-hopping version of Green Day's Boulevard of Broken Dreams. The lyrics are dark and seductive and it's a fine song to demonstate Skye's vocal prowess. If you liked them back in 1996, then you will probably also like them in 2010. If you didn't like them in 1996, then you probably won't like them in 2010.
Rated 3 out of 5
THE TING TINGS - Hands
Ting Tings singer Katie White has recently revealed (to the News Of The World) a bizarre inspiration behind the duo's comeback single Hands.. cleaning pigeon poo off a studio roof. The "Clap your hands if you work too hard" line relates to that poo-scrubbing past in an 'artist's community' in Salford. But unlike Kings of Leon, the Ting Tings have not benefited from this good quality pigeon droppings experience.
Hands actually kinda leaves you frustrated that you only have two hands. For example, how are we expected to turn this cliched electro racket off when we are using both hands to stick your fingers firmly in your ears? Kylie Minogue has done this electro-pop nonsense a lot better in the not-so-distant past.
Rated 2 out of 5
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS - Don't Want To Leave You
Is that a threat? Please leave us...we beg you! Scouting For Girls are still about as dangerous as being wrapped in bubble wrap. The single is under the name "Silly Song" on the album, but was changed so that it could be found more easily on the old internet.
Silly. Another horribly infectious pop song offering that starts off like James Blunt, goes a bit Take That-esque in the middle, and even drops in Keane into the sickening mix. Actually, perhaps "Ridiculously Pointless Song Featuring Words of Utter Tosh" would have been a more apt and search engine friendly title?
Rated 2 out of 5
PIXIE LOTT - Broken Arrow
Pixie Lott's musical output is sickly sweet and cliche-ridden rubbish, particularly the vile slow numbers, which is aimed at a market that probably doesn't involve 28 year old males. Basically, this is sappy teenage girl music for sappy teenage girls.
Ultimately pointless to most of you then, unless you are secretly one of those mentally deranged females that sings out-of-tune in the shower and thinks that these types of songs "could be written about me". But at least she avoids starting every single sentence starts with the word "baby" like all her other silly songs.
Rated 2 out of 5
TALAY RILEY - Humanoids
Talay Riley is currently updating his very impressive curriculum vitae by writing songs for the likes of Tinchy stryder, JLS, Chipmunk, Justin Beiber, EJ, Jamie Foxx, Tiny Tempah and Lemar. This guy is basically a handsome all-singing, all-writing and all-producing one-man UK urban hit factory with a knack for tickling the general public's buying bone.
Do you remember that episode of (HBO television show) Flight of the Conchords where they record the video for The Humans Are Dead? Well, think of a R&B version of that - but sadly a lot less funny.
Rated 2 out of 5
JOE McELDERRY - Ambitions
Writing single reviews can be a rewarding experience...unless you have to review poor singles that traditionally appear at the foot of Electric Banana's critically acclaimed single reviews page. This week it's X Factor winner Joe McElderry that has made us consider moving into different areas of work.
You can listen to Joe McElderry's single Ambitions and dismiss it as rubbish if you like or you can not listen to Joe EcElderry's single Ambitions at all and dismiss it as rubbish to save time. Electric Banana recommends the latter option.
Rated 1 out of 5
About the Author
Andrew Parker writes the weekly single reviews and music news for Midlands music website Electric Banana.
Tinchy Stryder- Let It Rain (feat. Melanie Fiona)