Singles Round Up – July 18th

Featuring PJ Harvey, Elephant and more...

Did you miss us?

The singles round up has been away for the past fortnight, with festival obligations taking the team out the office. Essentially we were ‘obligated’ to traipse around fields drinking beer and watching music… hard life.

ANYWAY. That News International lot are a bit creepy. Hope they didn’t hack into my phone, got a lot of important information on there. However if you did Mr Murdoch then I hope you enjoyed reading about how Dundee FC were hard done by last year and when the price of sandwiches in the shop across from ClashMusic HQ went up.

Should’ve put that in your paper.

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Single Of The Week

PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
PJ Harvey is brilliant, her album ‘Let England Shake’ is brilliant and the title track is, predictably, brilliant also. The sheer conception of the album places it in a league of its own this year, with Harvey matching some painstakingly researched lyrics to some wonderful pop music. A career high? Dunno, but ‘Let England Shake’ is definitely top of the pops this week.

PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

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And the rest…

Belle & Sebastian – Come On Sister
In which Stuart Murdoch apparently lives out his homo-erotic fantasies about being a builder, driving a big truck and wearing a fancy neon vest. Seriously, though, what is up with that video? It’s like something Belle & Sebastian would dream up to annoy a bloke such as I. Who is the joke on? From here, it looks like a perpetual student sneering at the working classes through a veiled sense of irony. Bring back Isobel, turns out she had the tunes all along.

Belle & Sebastian – Come On Sister

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Beady Eye – The Beat Goes On
A not-very-memorable single taken from a not-very-memorable album designed to keep the band’s profile high during festival season. Sure, it works live and the fans love it but it’s not for me. Just for kicks, I’ve included the new video of Beady Eye covering ‘Blue Moon’ featuring Liam Gallagher kissing the Man City badge. It’s a lot more surreal than that sounds…

Beady Eye – Blue Moon / The Beat Goes

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Elephant – Actors
Not, in fact, an actual elephant but breathy indie pop on Memphis Industries. Sweet, breezy and definitely affecting this is an intriguing introduction. Could do with a big nose and floppy ears, though…

Glasvegas – Shine Like Stars
For all the splish-splash made by their debut album Glasvegas seem to have caused nary a ripple with the follow up. Perhaps the three-piece ode about coming out alienated them from their lad following, but I rather think it was the sheer lack of CHOONS on the new record. ‘Shine Like Stars’ tries desperately to emote but James Allen fails to break through. An explosion on the launchpad, rather than a flight to the heavens.

The Crookes – Chorus Of Fools
I rather like The Crookes. Sure, everyone is oh-so-modern and listens to retro synth pop now but there will also be a place in my heart for a well crafted indie track. Smart and sassy it even includes a reference to drinking cheap wine – is there any other kind? Lovely.

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