Welcome to the first Singles review of March. No, we won't be offering to match you up with your soul mate, we'll instead be throwing out ill informed, half opinions on the music releases of the week that include the latest from Dog Is Dead, Jakwob, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dot Rotten, We Are Augustines, BIGKids and MMOTHS.
Single of the week? A low key, but certainly deserving, one for MMOTHS and 'Heart'.
Dog Is Dead - Two Devils
First thing's first. As the owner of a dog, I find this band's name in poor taste. I'll try to be an adult and move past it but no guarantees. 'Two Devils' thankfully put thoughts of poor Rex's inevitable demise out of mind with four minutes of moody, indie business that's effective if not entrancing.
Jakwob - Electrify
Jakwob's a bit of an odd name, it jumps around your mouth like popping candy rather than rolling off the tongue. 'Electricity' didn't rally grab me until the wee motif at 1:10 before the retro 'jungle' drums kick in. Other than that its slick, chart targeted stuff.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Look Around
I never bothered to check out the last Chili Peppers' album, lazily assuming I knew exactly what it'd contain. Catching up here with 'Look Around', I wasn't far off the mark. You either like them or not, but that mustache is criminal but at least Ant does that twisty arm thing from the classic 'Give It Away' video.
Dot Rotten - Are You Not Entertained?
Do you reckon his name is meant to make you think of Johhny Rotten? Or just the more obvious Dot Cotton? Why you'd want to bring the cadaverous, perma-smoking laundrette matron to mind is beyond me. More retro breaks here but at least it isn't the pop accepted school of UK rap with at least a bit more bite in the delivery.
We Are Augustines - Chapel Song
Ah yeah, I know this one. A tense build up drops to a two note synth line rather than the expected bombastic indie chorus so bonus points there for WTA. I thought they'd go for it second time around but no, same drop to low key melody and a smidgen of trumpets. The first track of this kind that's strayed from the template for a while.
BIGKids - Drum In Your Chest
I'm always wary of bands who insist of spelling their names with upper or lower case but BIGKids, like the song here, show me (I really should stop going on about my musical prejudices as they are continually showing me up). The video even manages to pull off the 'look we've no money, but good ideas' ultra low budget thing without it looking like it came via a boardroom.
MMOTHS - Heart (feat. Keep Shelly In Athens) (from EP1)
A bit of beauty to end this week as MMOTHS offer an analogue hug from themselves and Keep Shelly In Athens. It's another track that threatens to explode but has the good taste to keep its cards close to its chest making you long for a touch more but happy you're getting what they're serving up.