Single Minded 30/01/06

Welcome to another Monday and another batch of singles to distract us until the new Open album comes out... swish...

Conceived - Beth Orton
As inconsitent as anyone, this dreamy lounge indie-pop thankfully falls in the bucket marked 'quality'.A promising indictaion for the forthcoming album. 4/5

A Day In The Life Of A Poolshark - The Idiot Pilots
Opening with a bizarre synth sample and then mutating into a fuzzy, garage rock stomp and back againas interesting a three minutes as 2006 has thrown up. The fact they are close collabrorators with Deftones/Team Sleeps Chino Moreno should tell you what to expect. 4/5

Ladyflash! - The Go! Team
The remastered version from the recent re-release of 2004's Thunder, Lightening, Strike LPwhich sees all the samples taken out to stop the lawyers. As a result the song loses someof its unique atmosphere but is still a joyful romp. 3.5/5

Hustler's Ambition - 50 Cent
Taken from the soundtrack to his new film, this track marks a move towards the more traditionalhip hop of Fiddy's influences. Marks a new less sample-centric move and easily his best releasesince 'In Da Club.' Still hardly Dead Prez or Public Enemy though. 3.5/5

Yard Of Blonde Girls - Micah P. Hinson
Previous to this the only Micah I'd heard of was the Burnley midfielder, Micah Hyde. I mentionthis because he could probably make better than this dreary pomp rock balladerring take on the Jeff Buckley original. 2.5/5

You Spin Me Right Round - Dead Or Alive
Classic 80s pop fodder re-invigorated by Pete Burns being a freak on Celebrity Big Brother (6,000,000 viewers) instead of Nevermind The Buzzcocks (1,000,000 viewers.) Obviously a disco pop classic with the type of 'screws into your brain' chorus every pop act yearns for. 4.5/5
Boyfriend - Ashlee Simpson
Remember when Avril Lavinge was big? Ashless Simpson can, with this sub-pop punk offering a perfect example featuring vocals spookily reminiscent of Vanessa Charlton. Avoid. 1.5/5

Us - Regina Specktor
Whether you can stomach this depends entirely on how you cope with the vocal ticks of Regina. Stick with it and a wonderful Tori Amos-a-like quirky piano ballad shines through. 3.5/5

Far Away -Nickleback
Sounds exactly the same as the last song, which sounded the same as the one before that.Dreadful pop-nu-metal hybrid that is offensive to the ears as the genre suggests. 1/5

Wandering Eye - Fat Freddys Drop
Long jazz influenced funky jam from the 7 piece live Dub/Reggae band from Wellington. As cooland relaxing as the name suggests, harks back to the 'swinging cats' of the 50s. 4/5

When I Think Of You - Lee Ryan
Tryinf his hand at soul tinged pop and failing spectacularly thanks to a weak voice, poor song and lacklustre backing instruments. Utterly vile. 1.5/5

Friend Of The Night - Mogwai
Not the ear-bleeding return that has been promised but nevertheless a stylish and welcome return from Scotland's third best band. Epic, gorgeous, thrilling and as fresh as anything they have ever done. Beautiful piano led melody in their aswell. 4.5/5

Also Out (a sure sign I'm bored of writing long reviews)
Sometimes - Howie Beck Competant Beck-Lite acoustics from Broken Social Scene producer
3.5/5
I Touch Myself - Saucy Monkeys Punk butchering of Devinyls classic 2/5
Reckless - Tilly And The Wells Like Rilo Kiley, just not as good 3/5
Malone - Magick Johnson Couldn't find it on Limewire NA/5
Iwe - Noisettes An interesting mix of rock and blues that isn't as loud as the name suggests 3/5
Five Sunsets In Four Days - Young People Dirty guitar and pounding drums combine to put this US indie rock collective SLIGHTLY ahead of the pack. 3.5/5

SINGLE OF THE WEEK

Mr Beast - Mogwai [Pias Recordings]