Singles + EPs

Single Review Shorts: 1-8 September

[Artist: Conor Oberst]
[Single: Souled Out]
[Label: Wichita]

‘Souled Out!’ is swimming with country-fied folk guitars - electric licks and plastic acoustic strumming. There’s not necessarily a recognisable pattern to it all and things begin to disintegrate further with a finishing torrent of drum destruction and strange out-of-place whipping delay effects. A redundant release purely to draw attention to the presence of a new album if ever there was one.

For Fans Of: Bright Eyes, Elliot Smith, Frank Turner
Release Date: 1 September
Reviewer: John Skibeat

Band Link: Conor Oberst

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HMV

[Artist: Giant Jr vs. Eartha Kitt]
[Single: I Want To Be Evil]
[Label: Try And Make Me Records]

This single comes from Giant Jr’s new album, apparently a forthcoming series of soundtracks for movies that have yet to be written. A concept that’s odd enough, but what’s Eartha Kitt doing on this? This is a joke right? Apparently not. The mad purring octogenarian has been made even kitscher, even more annoying by having her enunciated vocal style put through a computer and chopped about until you want to rip your own head off. No amount of remixes can rectify the decision to include her in the first place. Luckily, we get to hear Giant Jr without that god awful voice chiming in on the final track here - ‘Iced Rats’. It’s bounding electronica with a touch of that Bond movie cool coming through in all the right places.

For Fans Of: Kraftwerk, Fatboy Slim, Gorillaz
Release Date: 1 September
Reviewer: John Skibeat

Band Link: Giant Jr

[Artist: dEUS]
[Single: Eternal Woman]
[Label: V2 / Co-Op]

This, the second single taken from dEUS’ new album ‘Vantage Point’, is the perfect vehicle to display their soothing, delicate style. Heart-breaking vocals and gentile guitar-strumming suck the listener in to the song with that background orchestral finery giving the whole track a sparkling finish.

For Fans Of: Pixies, Radiohead, Elbow
Release Date: 8 September
Reviewer: John Skibeat

Band Link: dEUS

[Artist: Colbie Caillat]
[Single: Bubbly]
[Label: Island Records]

“Will you count me in?”, innocently enquires Malibu’s Colbie Caillat. That’s Malibu, California: sun, surf and sand… and Colbie manages to conjure up each one of these with her warm, tender vocal style. Think of her as the female Jack Johnson and you’re getting close to what this new track sounds like. With the UK release coming later on than most she has already hit the top spot with it in over 12 countries so you won’t need this review to tell you just how infectious this track or her vocals are.

For Fans Of: Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Joni Mitchell
Release Date: 1 September
Reviewer: John Skibeat

Band Link: Colbie Caillat

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HMV

[Artist: Lana]
[Single: Don’t Call Me Baby]
[Label: Monumental Music Club]

The big rattling double-bass is complemented nicely by a bustling horn section and instantly brings to mind the work of Mark Ronson. Lana’s vocal is full enough to hold the tune but falls short of being the dominant force of, say, an Amy Winehouse. However, where this really all falls down is the songwriting itself which is lacking in variation with no discernible hook and none of the gimmicky remixes on offer can save it.

For Fans Of: Mark Ronson, Martha Wainwright, Angus & Julia Stone
Release Date: 8 September
Reviewer: John Skibeat

Band Link: Lana

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[Artist: Grace Solero]
[Single: Troops]
[Label: Wohone Records]

Sounding like an ice cream aimed at the swan market, Grace Solero are one of those female fronted rock bands. A genre dominated by males is a tough one to break into, and as much as I’d love to rip into this single it’s really not too bad. Grace’s voice is pretty effortless, a bit like a female Maynard and the backing vocal sounds like a schoolboy tribal chant that keeps things flowing. At any rate, it beats Jada Pinkett Smith’s shitty attempt at rock stardom.

For Fans Of: Lacuna Coil, Tool, Evanesence
Release Date: 8 September
Reviewer: Mike Copus

Band Link: Grace Solero

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Amazon US

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