Words and Music
Saint Etienne
Universal
It’s been seven years since this English trio put out a record but it’s been worth the wait – this is an album of classic pastoral pop that is up there with their classics of the early ‘90s. The album opens with lovely twee references to people going to Salsibury to see Peter Gabriel’s house and the excitement of buying records at Woolworths and following the charts on NME. I’ve Got Your Music and Tonight are perfect sing-a-longs. With tracks like Record Doctor, DJ, Haunted Jukebox and The Last Days of Disco – this album has a clear theme.
Graeme Watson
Scissor Sisters
Magic Hour
Polydor
The Scissor Sister’s fourth album Magic Hour is just that; a magical musical journey that’s a bit camp, a bit tongue in cheek and a whole lot of fun. With a great range of songs from pop ballad Only the Horses to dance floor filler Keep Your Shoes On and right back to mellow tunes like San Luis Obispo, Magic Hour has something for everyone. Having been a massive fan of their last album Nightwork I eagerly awaited this installment and it definitely does not disappoint with the fun and downright silly Let’s Have a Kiki the standout track for me.
Troy Treeby
Justin Bieber
Believe
Island
Who would have thought that the easiest way to ensure Justin Bieber stayed relevant was to give him an up-do?! Pure genius really. It’s transformed the late tween stinging singing sensation into a pseudo-rockabilly crooner. All he needs now is a silver Porsche 550 Spyder and some really tight corners, but hey… one can dream. Until then we can just Believe. Nicki Minaj, Drake, Ludacris and Big Sean all stop by to lend credibility, but fail. Hit single Boyfriend is the only highlight, although Die In Your Arms is a reviewer’s secret wish. Until he does, suffer some more.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
Hot Chip
In Our Heads
Domino / EMI
I dunno why I always get excited whenever Hot Chip release something new. Ever since their dismal second release and consequent attempts at recapturing that debut glory, Hot Chip have been more like soggy spuds than anything steaming and gleaming. Sigh. Their apathetic English disco croons sound… like everything else they’ve ever done. Or maybe I’m just being cynical like their lyrics: Motion Sickness is a delightful nausea of noise; Night and Day is atonal off-beat quirk you’ll have on high repeat, day and night; and Ends of the Earth is apocalyptic disco dance. Scott-Patrick Mitchell
Jeremiah Jae
Raw Money Raps
Brainfeeder
Reminiscent of a heroine hazed Tricky, Jeremiah Jae heralds from Chicago and brings with him an amazing back beat fuzz loop of ghetto rap tracks. This has all the guts and drama that the new crop of experimental music making youth are delivering: looped beats, built-in with glitch; vocals apathetic with being cool; the self-destruction these kids make their recreational pastime. Guns Go Off does just that, but with a whimper rather than a bang, Wires is feedback heaven, while Tourist is a k-hole terrain delight. Like rap? This is where it’s at. Get it… and get your ghat.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
