Single Reviews: March 2009

SINGLE OF THE MONTH

Noisettes - Don't Upset The Rhythmn

After featuring on a Mazda car advert earlier in the year, the Noisettes finally release the instantly catchy Don't Upset The Rhythmn. Though it draws heavily from disco divas like Aimee Stewart and Donna Summer, the track still manages to sound fresh and more surprisingly appropriate for 2009. In any other circumstance it would be laughable to reference a "dog and bone", "paradise" and "something super beautiful", especially all in the same song, but somehow singer Shingai Shoniwa pulls it off with style.
Rating: 5 stars

Released: 23rd March

Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning

It's last-ditch-attempt time for Ladyhawke, aka Phillipa Brown, who was hailed by many as one of the best acts of the last year, but still hasn't managed to shift many discs. And the reason why is clear - The Hawke's pastiche of 80's music draws influence from some of the worst candidates, such as new face of 118 118 Ray Parker Jr. on 3rd single Dusk Til Dawn. The re-release of her 2nd single from last July, Paris Is Burning, is no doubt her catchiest tune to date, yet it's still little more than luke-warm blandness in a music world currently dominated by the vanguard of pop; another Lady - Lady Gaga.

Rating: 3 stars

Released: 2nd March

The Saturdays - Just Can't Get Enough

After the Sugababes vs. Girls Aloud cover of Walk This Way in 2007, it's good to see a Comic Relief song sung by a girlband who aren't taking themselves too seriously. In both the video and on the track, The Saturdays sound like they're having a laugh , and although this is absolute throwaway pop it's a decent cover of the Depeche Mode classic, and after all - it is for a good cause.

Rating: 4 stars

Released: 2nd March

Katy Perry - Thinking Of You

The last thing the public expected Katy Perry to do was to come up with a cracking ballad like this. Perry's vocal is very love or hate on this but it can't be denied - she sings with passion. The theme of the song is little used - the lyrics dealing with breaking up with someone then realising your next partner isn't quite as good, and the honesty of lines like "he kissed my lips, I taste your mouth" is admirable, but it leaves one wondering what fruit-centric gimmick she could use onstage for this track.
Rating: 4 stars
Released: 2nd March

Snow Patrol - If There's A Rocket Tie Me To It

Single 3 from Snow Patrol's 5th album A Hundred Million Suns, and it's yet more drab MOR. With the lyrics mentioning various pieces of anatomy such as pulses, hearts and indeed feet, this not only doesn't sound single-worthy, but doesn't even deserve to be the B-Side of a B-Side. Without Martha Wainwright on support vocals or the backing of a closing scene of Grey's Anatomy, you're left with a track that makes you wish you did indeed have a rocket for Gary Lightbody. And some rope.

Rating: 2 stars
Released: 9th March


Keane - Better Than This
If you get past the obvious Ashes To Ashes rip-off of an intro and put it down to 80's homage, you'll realise frontman Tom Chaplin is singing to himself and not the audience once again. A technique somewhat unique to Keane, it is rather off-putting to hear someone singing to you the line "you can do so much better than this". If I can, then Keane certainly could too. Why they are still releasing singles from flop 3rd album Perfect Symmetry is beyond me.
Rating: 3 stars
Released: 16th March

The Kills - Black Balloon

The Kills, who put one in mind of a moodier Ting Ting's, release single 3 from 3rd album Midnight Boom. Building up from handclaps to a dreamy centre and triumphant ending, Black Balloon is a slow-burning but emotional number that should bring this rising underground band to bigger prominence than tabloid snapshots of guitarist Jamie Hince stepping out with Kate Moss. An unexpected delight.
Rating: 4 stars
Released: 23rd March

Originally published on UKMix.org