Singles reviews - 26th January 2004

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Singles released w/c 26th January 2004

Emma - I'll Be There
Emma is finally back with the third single from her highly anticipated second album "Free Me", and what a great song it is. "I'll Be There" follows the same 60s style of her previous two singles, but this time she's gone for something a bit different. This new song starts as a soft ballad with a Latin vibe, but it soon explodes into an extremely catchy chorus that recalls the best days of Motown, completed by Emma's accomplished vocals and a string orchestration. Once again, Ms Bunton has produced a high-quality pop track which should have no problem becoming a huge hit.
(Xevi)
Emma Bunton did something incredible last year when she broke away from the label she's been stuck with since her solo career began some three years ago - middle-of-the-road disease. Proving the critics wrong by releasing two of the finest pop singles of the year, Emma has taken her time before releasing her second album "Free Me". If only she hadn't followed up the genius title track, and "Maybe", with this bland garbage, she could have scored a surprisingly large hit with it. Unfortunately this lacklustre performance is dated, completely boring and a big shame.
(SholasBoy)

Clarkesville - Spinning
It's always nice to see locals getting their necks out there, and what a good job Walsall lad Michael Clarke is doing of it. "Spinning" is Clarkesville's third single, which follows the same format as his others - a harmless, fun piece of guitar music. Although it may not be groundbreaking, and will in no way be a huge hit for him, 2004 may well be the year that sees Clarkesville really take off. One can only hope.
(Twixy)

Tim Deluxe feat. Shahin Badar - Mundaya (The Boy)
The third single from Tim Deluxe's "The Little Ginger Club Kid" album is a track ready to warm up those shores abroad for the summer months. This one was definitely made for the beach, so a January release seems a little peculiar, but nevertheless it's not a bad effort. Sounding slightly like Oakenfold's "Southern Sun", with its tribal vocals and sun-splashed bassline, this unfortunately comes nowhere near the hit that was "It Just Won't Do".
(SholasBoy)

Incubus - Megalomaniac
Brandon, Mike, José, Chris and new member Ben are back with Megalomaniac, the first single from their upcoming fifth album "A Crow Left Of The Murder". This song has the Incubus vibe stamped all over it - intelligent lyrics that poke a stick at those in positions of power who think they're God, alongside crunching rock combined with moments of turntable bliss. Complete with an amazing video that uses political and historical imagery of the past and present, this could just be the song of the times.
(SR)

Jaimeson feat. Angel Blu And CK - Take Control
Jaimeson released two of last year's biggest garage hits ("True", and the summer hit "Complete"), and now he's gearing up for his first release of 2004. "Take Control" features Angel Blu, star of "True", and CK, of "Soc It 2 Me" fame, and what an impact it creates! Its summery, salsa feel is guaranteed to lift the spirits of even the bitterest souls, while its cheery chorus and catchy "ai ai ai's" are bound to stick in your head for a while. Let's hope this results in another smash hit for Jaimeson.
(Twixy)
Here we have a brand new release from the excellent Jaimeson, who returns with his best single to date. From the first moment I heard it, I loved it - it's such a catchy, funky, dance-around-the-room style track. This little treat comes with a remix from Lee-Cabrera, who had a hit last year with "Shake It (Move A Little Closer)". I expect this to go Top 10, although it deserves to hit the top spot!
(flea)

LMC Vs U2 - Take Me To The Clouds Above
Since starting life as a bootleg utilising the original Whitney Houston vocal hook, the demand for this track has just grown and grown. Commercial remixing legends LMC quickly saw the potential of the track and here we are with what will probably be the biggest club hit of early 2004. The group and label have received criticism for ripping off the Mashup Kids, but that track was a logistical nightmare to clear. However, the track remains faithful to the Mashup Kids original production, and with the inclusion of dance legend Rachel MacFarlane on vocals, it has received almost blanket radio and media support. Probably the strongest contender to knock Michelle off the No. 1 spot.
(Dave_2002)
You may remember a bootleg last summer from The Mash Up Kids featuring the vocals from Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know". Well, here's LMC's take on that bootleg, sampling U2's "With Or Without You". Personally, I think this is a wasted release from AATW, who should have released LMC's "Everything U Need", which was clearly ten times better. "Take Me To The Clouds Above" isn't a bad track, but Rachel MacFarlane's vocal is so poor she sounds like she's gasping for breath! Hopefully the remixes can make up for it...
(flea)

Mr On Vs Jungle Brothers - Breathe, Don't Stop
The unofficial splicing together of Q-Tip's "Breathe And Stop" with Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" has always been a favourite among bootleg fans. This idea has been almost sacrilegiously hijacked by Mr On, replacing Q-Tip's vocals with new lyrics by the Jungle Brothers. While the original mixture was by far the better, it'll never see the light of day as an official release, so this is the next best thing. Fortunately it still works well, but might need time to grow on you.
(Amir)

Pink - God Is A DJ
After her phenomenal success in 2002, 2003 was a bit of a letdown for Pink, career-wise. Her third album "Try This" received mixed reviews, and the first single "Trouble" failed to set the charts alight. Judging by the latest release from that album, 2004 is likely to be a much better year. "God Is A DJ" is Pink at her best - pop mixed with attitude, and a kick-ass tune to boot! This is undoubtedly the standout track on her latest album, and the best single she's done in a while. Pink is back on top form with this song, which should soar to the to top end of the charts.
(Dazzle)
This will be a Top 10 hit just because of her name, but Pink really has let herself, and her fans, down with this track. The general tune of the song is passable, but like "Feel Good Time", it sounds like her voice has been put through a mincer and distorted beyond recognition. Not only that, but the lyrics make no sense. Maybe there's some deep message I'm missing, but they seem jumbled up with no meaning. The chorus sounds like a mixture of screaming and shouting, and what could have been catchy verses are ruined by over-production. As a Pink fan I hope there will be less of this and more of "Just Like A Pill".
(Joseph Brothwell)

Snow Patrol - Run
The Belfast band return with a mighty single that should give them a long overdue taste of chart success. The hauntingly deep chorus of the track and its moving delivery are its main strong points. Very few songs around at the minute have the power to emit and instil real emotion, but this is one that does.
(Paul Matthews)

Joss Stone - Fell In Love With A Boy
Joss Stone is getting rave reviews for her reinvention of the soul sound, and what better way to kick off her career than with an inspired cover of the White Stripes classic "Fell In Love With A Girl". Tweaking the lyrics slightly and completely replacing the rock riffs with a soul tune, Joss has been brave with this song, and it pays off. "Fell In Love With A Boy" is amazing, and will no doubt give Joss her first smash hit single. She is definitely the one to watch this year.
(Dazzle)
Is this really the future of UK soul, or just a mere fad? Sadly, the latter appears to be more desirable, as the West Country girl fails to live up to all the hype surrounding her. A poor cover version of a classic White Stripes rock anthem consists of a generic, overused beat, thinly veiled by her predictable vocal talent. Amy Winehouse is obviously the one to watch this year, not Ms Stone.
(D Ranged)

Tube & Berger feat. Chrissie Hynde - Straight Ahead
2004 is already looking to become a huge year for dance music. We've had the Boogie Pimps with "Somebody To Love", and now we have this track from Tube & Berger. The bizarre video features giant divers taking in a little bit of sightseeing around London before bedtime. Chrissie Hynde's husky vocals roll over a thumping bassline, enticing us to demand for more. Having achieved only a limited amount of airplay, this could crash with a resounding clang, but it's still one of the more original tracks in the world of dance.
(David Royce)
Straight Ahead is a funky, catchy number from the Direction label. After a few listens, I found myself so familiar with it that it was almost as though it was the soundtrack to an advert. A lack of airplay will probably mean it won't do very well, maybe Top 40 if they're lucky, but it deserves so much more. Whatever you do, don't miss out on this one.
(flea)

Other singles released this week

Azure Ray - New Resolution
P. Diddy, Loon, Lenny Kravitz & Pharrell Williams - Show Me Your Soul
Engerica - The Smell
The Fallout Trust - EP1
Fight Club feat. Laurent Konrad - Spread Love
Freeland - Supernatural Thing
Jehst - Monotony
Lostprophets - Last Train Home
Modey Lemon - Predator EP
Razorlight - Stumble & Fall
Sheryl Lee Ralph - In The Evening
Surferosa - Neon Commando
Tali - Blazin'
The Veils - The Wild Son

The ratings explained:
 - awful, unbearable!;    - pretty poor effort;     - average, passable;      - good stuff;       - awesome, love it!