Compact Disco: Easter Edition
Writing about Music of late from Hub of Creativity...
It's been four weeks since the last Compact Disco (RaW's weekly music review show – Thursdays 5–7pm) and as its co-host, I miss it – almost as much as Oasis missed the mark with Lyla…or so I gather.
As you know, we, the music team, rate and slate singles many weeks before they are released to you, the public. Obviously, over the holidays, new promo CDs have been stacking up in the radio station, going unheard, so to fill the gap, I'll do a bit of a review of the songs Radio 1 have been playing me over the past month.
I'll start with Razorlight and their new un, Somewhere Else (released next Monday):
Razorlight are doing a classic stopgap single between albums (I'm guessing) in the tradition of the Libertines, Travis and Oasis. I was a massive fan of the album, Up All Night, but I wasn't taken with this offering. I thought, "hey, it'll grow on me", but after heavy rotation, I still wasn't getting it. Then I saw the video and realised "wow, I do actually like it – but for all the wrong reasons, i.e. irony". Imagine Vic Reeves (in happier times, the big drunk) in Club Singer mode, melodramatically crooning
"I met a girl,
She asked me my name,
I told her what it was."
Shocking lyrical effort, Johnny. To be fair, a lot of the songs on the album were verging on the ridiculous, but this song is just a self parody. Razorlight have jumped the shark.
Snoop Dogg ft. JT - Signs:
Sounds a hell of a lot like every other Neptunes production, which I tend to love, and as someone who doesn't buy the records, I don't really have a problem with them peddling the same guff over and over again as long as there's some decent hip hop getting constant airplay.
Lemar - Time To Grow:
Every time I hear the intro, a part of me is filled with the hope that it's Wuthering Heights. But no, it's only the new single from Lemar. What would be acceptable – more than acceptable – would be if he actually did a Futureheads and covered Kate Bush. That would be smoove.
Bloc Party - Banquet:
Amazing song. Buy the album – it's all as good as this.
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.:
Aah, so they weren't a one trick pony! They successfully rip off Beck, the Kinks and Outkast to create this track, and I like it.
The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It:
Wow, another cracking track from the Killers! Their album must be amazing! I must go out and buy it! No, I'm afraid, this is only another song from the first, good half of the album; the other half is a bit arse, particularly Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll.
That's about it. Apologies for the absence, my fans – I've been at the Student Radio Conference in Edinburgh. Perhaps more about that another time…
Daniel Wilson Craw
08 Apr 2005 13:16
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[Skip to the latest comment]Adrienne Cooper
I speak even as a Pharrel devotee – if Banquet doesn't win song of the show, I will go up to the studio and kick you all.
08 Apr 2005, 14:24
It saddens me when Bands re-release songs within such a short period of time, but Banquet is ace
08 Apr 2005, 14:35
Daniel Wilson Craw
And on Radio 1 as I type! The joy!
08 Apr 2005, 14:46
Shalinee Singh
I was poring over The Dudley Chronicle when Banquet was on R1, but yes I enjoy it except that it uses the same riff as Helicopter.
Also yes I forgot to mention Feel Good Inc on my blog. I heard it a couple of times the other day and it's sooooo good. I really REALLY like it.
As for Smile Like You Mean It. My favourite off the album, though I also like Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll…well, most of it, it gets a bit wishy washy in places.
Razorlight: Somewhere Else. Their lyrics aren't any worse than Stereophonics' Dakota (It was June, yeah it was June. Wanky lyrics, catchy tune: their first ever number 1 spot results) but I like this song cos it's not as overproduced as a lot of other Razorlight stuff. Instrumentals are barely there and his awkwardly enticing voice is left just as it is. I like.
08 Apr 2005, 15:30
Lyla is a great song…i really really really like it…so poo to the non likers…maybe it's because i love Soundtrack of our lives…which they've blatantly ripped off at the start!
I really dig Somewhere Else as well…there's a bit in the middle (i think technically it's known as the bridge…but i know chuff all about writing music) with kick ass drumming…really thumping!
Why wont the Killers release Jenny… or On Top…blatantly the two best tracks on the half n album
Oh and it looks like Decent Days and Nights is gearing up for a re-release…there's a new vid and everything
My fave new single has gotta be King Of The Rodeo by the mighty Kings of Leon…chooooonful
08 Apr 2005, 16:01
Mathew Mannion
Jenny… was released ages ago wasn't it? And On Top is a terrible, terrible song, almost as bad as Midnight Show, but Everything Will Be Alright and Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll are good. Also, On Top is on the second half of the album…
08 Apr 2005, 16:57
Daniel Wilson Craw
Shall: hmmm, hadn't noticed the Helicopter/Banquet riff but I see what you mean. And I expect poor lyrics from Stereophonics but not Razorlight. You can tell it's gonna chart high though.
Ben: Crumbs, how did I forget King Of The Rodeo? It rocks.
08 Apr 2005, 19:22
James Lewis
on top and indie rock and roll are two of the best songs i've ever heard. hot fuss is a truly brilliant album
08 Apr 2005, 19:36
Daniel Wilson Craw
Bah. James, would you mind taking a Beige test for us?
08 Apr 2005, 19:46
On Top rubbish?! Are you crazy its a great song, definitely a standout track on the album…Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll is a great song too, great to sing along too…Everyting Will Be Alright…now that's bollocks…I listened to that song once when i bought it and never again!
King of the Rodeo played last night at Ramshackle…sublime…and they played Times Like These…awesome
09 Apr 2005, 16:44
Richard Wallace
I'm fairly sure Jenny was the first single taken from Hot Fuss wasn't it? I do quite like the album but Jenny is the highlight and it's track 1. Go figure.
New Razorlight single – catchy but already overplayed.
Bloc Party – another good song from the album
Heard the new Franz single on Lamacq the other night. Sounds rather good. Not as immediately sing-a-long-able as previous singles but maybe that's a step forward.
I'm just waiting for the Bravery to release Fearless, quite possibly the catchiest son ever written. Not necessarily that great but it'll be in your head for years. If people haven't done so already buy the album it's not the greatest piece of songwriting ever but it's a hell of a lot of fun. Also it'll let you join in the Killers vs the Bravery bitch fight that seems to have sprung up in the pages of NME etc.
13 Apr 2005, 21:28
Daniel Wilson Craw
Correction: Razorlight aren't between albums. The fuckpieces at their record label have re-released Up All Night to include the rubbishly brilliant Somewhere Else. May the capitalist chancers burn in Hell!
17 Apr 2005, 19:48
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