The best of this week’s singles: Disclosure, Metronomy, Boy George and more!
Published on January 28th, 2014 | Jonny Abrams
The best of this week’s singles aren’t so numerous a bunch as last week’s two-part extravaganza, but give ’em a warm hand anyway as the chosen few are nonetheless ‘did*…
(*Splendid – reckon this will catch on? “That’s well ‘did,” you’d say, and so on…)
Bibio – “Dye the Water Green”
Felty, sepia-tinted ‘folktronica’ – if we’re still allowed to use the term ‘folktronica’ – that falls somewhere in between Tunng and Andrew Bird.
Rocksucker says: Three and a Half Quails out of Five!
Eagulls – “Possessed”
Imagine if Adam Ant, buoyed from “Stand and Deliver”, had gone and hijacked Pixies, not at gunpoint but at ‘shredding top layer of Jesus and Mary Chain distortion’ point.
Yeah, this.
Rocksucker says: Three and a Half Quails out of Five!
The Hold Steady – “I Hope This Whole Thing Didn’t Frighten You”
Words like ‘urgent’, ‘jittery’ and ‘frenetic’ spring to mind upon listening to this commandingly delivered tale of, you know, whatever he’s ranting on about.
Sounds good, whatever it is.
Rocksucker says: Three and a Half Quails out of Five!
Boy George – “My God”
Rocksucker wasn’t really sure what to expect from this, but baggy gospeldelia definitely wasn’t it. There’s even an electric guitar wig-out in its extended outro.
And, by gum, how his voice has matured into such a smoky, velvety baritone! Surprises all round here. Well in.
Rocksucker says: Four Quails out of Five!
Disclosure feat. Mary J Blige – “F for You”
Blige? That’s quite a coup. Decent Disclosure production around it too, opening up a whirring, wibbly portal in the middle of its own dance floor and transporting us from the realms of fairly standard house to, well, some other house entirely.
Rocksucker says: Four Quails out of Five!
Metronomy – “Love Letters”
Appealingly eccentric around its Motown-y core, and with trumpet fluttering sublimely all over its outro. Wholly worthy of its own strut.
Rocksucker says: Four Quails out of Five!
Rotifer – “Black Bag”
Manages to remind Rocksucker of both Blur and Pulp despite sounding more like Hefner and The Auteurs. That’s good going, not that we can really explain why.
Rocksucker says: Four Quails out of Five!
Young Fathers – “Get Up”
We’re virtually at a loss as to how to describe this one, but it’s got a great shuffling rhythm section, a super-assured rap or two and a mix loaded with intrigue. Curiosity well and truly piqued.
Earl Sweatshirt? Chance the Rapper? Those are the closest reference points we can muster for now, anyway.
Single of the week.
Rocksucker says: Four and a Half Quails out of Five!
Those were the best of this week’s singles. Tune in tomorrow for the worst of this week’s singles!