Single Minded 23/01/06

A pretty poor week for the singles in my humble onion but onwards we go...

This Time - Starsailor/A Place In Displacement - South
Strange how groups who fall in the same bracket of melancholic rock as the all conquering mega selling behomoth of Coldplay find themselves sidelined as the genre is hitting its commercial peak - what with Kubb and The Feeling and all. Admittedly Starsailor is a slightly rockier take on the sound but is all the better for it. Deserves better than the ignomany that they will be afforded. 3.5/5

Skin Deep - Natasha Thomas
Oh dear god no! The dreaded 'r'n'b ballad' gets its first dreary, self obssessed outing of the year. Sounds like every other attempt at this ever made. Avoid 1.5/5

Analogue - A-Ha
Unfortunately not an Alan Partridge covers band (who doesn't want that Abba medly out on 7") but the return of the 'Take On Me' Swedish popsters. Potent power pop that mizes the wisdom of age with the vitalty of great pop songwriting well, with a rousing chorus. Sort of like a paletable U2 3.5/5

Honesty - Alex Parks
Identi-kit radio friendly pop from winner of the worst of the recent spate of talent shows Fame Academy 1/5

If You Where Mine - Marcos Hernadez
Imagine the smugness of Westlife all combined into one man. Here it is. 0.5/5

Your Enemy - The Hazy Janes
Probably the weeks only essential single, a glorious trashy update of Teenage Fanclub (Star Sign in particular) and all in all the first really promising band to emerge in 2006. 4/5

Flybuzz - Your Vegas
More gutter-rock tripe from England's most over-rated musical 'shire - Yorkshire. 1.5/5

Stop Look And Listen - The Maybes?
7" only debut from the scouse popsters, think a fuzzier take on The Coral's pop psychedelica and you're half way there. Promising. 3.5/5

Eve Of The Battle - The Isles/Good As It Gets - The Lights
Two reviews at once is a great idea, especially when both bands can be described in two words and one score - generic indie. 2.5/5

Move - Sol Peppy
The Beta Band being fronted by The Sunday's Harriet Wheeler without either bands class or energy. Hmmm... 2.5/5

Dance Me In (Optimo Remix) - Sons And Daughters
12" only remix turns lethargic indie by numbers into disco highlight thanks to handclaps and chorus samples. Cool. 4/5

Set It Off - Stereo MC's
Remeber when they where massive? Well they won't get back there with this but a nice entry into their catalogue. Just short of the invention that it needs to really be noticed. 3.5/5

Other Releases I Couldn't Find On Limewire -

We Are Evil -Robyn G Shiels
No Soul - Rumble Stripe

Single Of The Week -

It could only be the lovely



Your Enemy -The Hazy Janes [Measured Records]