This guy recorded a song in space. What have you done lately?
The Best of This Week’s Singles: Chris Hadfield, Depeche Mode, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and more!
Published on May 14th, 2013 | Jonny Abrams and Jamie Steiner
This week’s singles were the most tepid bunch Rocksucker has encountered ever since we started encountering them, so thank goodness someone did a song in outer space to liven things up a bit. Here’s that one along with a couple of others that pass muster…
Depeche Mode – “Soothe My Soul”
“Soothe My Soul” may not be one of the strongest tracks from their so-so new album Delta Machine, but what it lacks in interest-sustaining properties it makes up for with an artsy black and white video: snake, emaciated naked chick lying on floor, the works. It’s textbook stuff, really.
Of course, it’s a Depeche Mode song so it’s not without its marks of quality. That’s also part of the problem, though: it’s so resoundingly a Depeche Mode song as to give the impression that they’re not really interested in ever trying anything else.
They should go away and write a big, poppy “Wake Up, Boo!”-type single. Now that would be surprising.
Rocksucker says: Two and a Half Quails out of Five!
The Orb and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – “Ball of Fire”
No great surprises here, which again is enough to see it scrape home as one of this week’s best singles. It may not be amongst either artist’s finest works but it earns brownie points for mercifully withdrawing whenever it threatens to break into a wob wob.
Not that we’d expect either The Orb or Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry to break out the wob wob. It’s just that so many damn songs break out the wob wob these days that we’re fearful of exposure to it at every turn, so much so that it’s assumed a physical form in our subconscious that chases us in our nightmares.
Oh right, the quails.
Rocksucker says: Three Quails out of Five!
Commander Chris Hadfield – “Space Oddity”
NASA is now a record label! This cover of the Dave Bowie classic was recorded by Commander Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station. How can that not get five quails? Perfect ‘tache for that retro gay following, too.
Rocksucker says: Five Quails out of Five!
Yes, that really is it for the best of this week’s singles.
Tune in tomorrow for The Worst of This Week’s Singles!
Related Articles
Interview: The Orb
Review: The Orb feat. Lee Scratch Perry – More Tales from the Orbservatory
Review: Depeche Mode – Delta Machine
About the Authors
Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.
Jamie Steiner A talented musician and songwriter, Jamie is also a passionate and opinionated music and film critic.
