The Dirty Dozen – December 2012

Former Ride vocalist and guitarist Mark Gardener sets about December’s singles along with the issue of overblown chorus syndrome and the repetitious strains of Manc rock

Feature by Darren Carle | 07 Dec 2012

Jacques Caramac & The Sweet Generation – It Takes All Sorts... (Everyday Life, 10 Dec)
There’s a total Velvets vibe straightaway here, which is fine. It’s not offending me and it’s not completely blowing my mind. It seems a little retro but it’s OK. So, I’m gonna do this out of ten and give this a... six.


Avec Sans – The Answer (Self-Release, 10 Dec)
So what does the name mean? Without anything? That gear-change was a little surprising. I like the vibe of the verse a bit more. It’s quite interesting but the chorus is a bit overblown for me. But I can imagine being in a club, listening to this and thinking ‘this is alright.’ It’s another six for me.


Canterbury – Gloria (Self-Release, 3 Dec)
It’s a bit Death Cab For Cutie, which is OK. Hmmm. Again, they’re trying to max [the chorus] out a bit too much. Yeah, it’s losing me now. It started off encouragingly but they’re just trying too hard. So for that, it’s a five. It’s OK, but I’m not amazed by it.


Dog Is Dead – Teenage Daughter (Atlantic, 10 Dec)
This is pretty good. It’s got a nice sound and it’s not so ‘produced.’ It’s more organic and slightly more interesting. I think I could get into this actually. It’s doing the big chorus thing but it’s not too overblown and it’s a nice contrast with the verse. I think I could push up to a seven with this one.


Stereophonics – In A Moment (Stylus Records, 10 Dec)
It’s a bit Depeche Mode and I really like some Depeche Mode. At least they're exploring some new stuff, trying to keep it interesting. There are quite a lot of bands that just repeat the same record time after time. I think Oasis could have taken some chances but then they just weren’t interested in that. I’ll give this a seven. At least they’re keeping it interesting.


SINGLE OF THE MONTH:
Two Fingers – Vengeance Rhythm (Big Dada, 10 Dec)
Yeah, immediately I’m nodding my head which is quite a good sign. It feels like the handbrake’s off with this one. It’s got some real danger about it. The best music for me exists on the fringes and that’s why I really like this. Back in my drug-taking days, this is something I’d like to have on in a room, then just walk in and be completely taken away with it [begins a little sit-down dance]. I won’t do that because I’ve got an acoustic show to play tonight. I’ll give this an eight.


The Child Of Lov – Heal (Domino, 3 Dec)
This has got a nice little drum loop. It’s alright, you’ve picked alright singles so far. I’m not liking it as much as the previous one but it’s picking up well. The only thing that puts me off is the Jack White vocal thing, which I’m a little bit tired of now, but I like the production and I like the groove. I’ll only give it a six because of the vocals but I’d be interested to hear more from them.

Mhr>


Cayucas – Cayucos (Secretly Canadian, 3 Dec)
It's not doing much for me. His vocals are a bit too reverb-y. There’s a bit of a Shins vibe but it doesn’t do much else for me really. I’ll give it a four for effort. I don’t need to hear any more of it – I know what it’s gonna do.


Woodpecker Wooliams – Gull (Robot Elephant Records, 3 Dec)
Fucking hell, what’s that? Woodpecker... Wooliams! I suppose loads of band names have gone so people have to really think now. That’s quite a good one though. It’s got me listening straight away. The voice is a bit odd at the start but I’ve adjusted to it now. Again, I’d be interested to hear more of what’s going on. There’s a bit of Björk in it but it’s not too derivative so that’s OK, but I like Björk anyway. It’s another six from me.


Padded Cell – Guardians of the Night (Different Recordings, 10 Dec)
It’s a bit LCD Soundsystem right away, which I approve of. I like the production but I’m not crazy about the vocals. It’s quite groovy, but I’ll have to give it a five. Everything seems to be around that mark for me. Again, it’s definitely not awful but it’s not blowing my mind either so it’s got to be a mid-range mark.


Balthazar – The Oldest of Sisters (Play It Again Sam, 17 Dec)
This is OK. I like the bass sound and they remind me of a band I sometimes work with, Axel and the Farmers. They’re amazing, but this isn’t doing that much for me really so I’m afraid it’s a five again. Sorry. It’d be nice to get one now that I really hate...


Uberkaboom – She’s A Hurricane (Metric Acorn, 3 Dec)
Immediately this makes me think of Night Boat to Cairo by Madness. Hmmm, OK. I don’t like it. It’s lost me totally already. It’s fresh because I just haven’t heard that style, that ska style, and that beat for a while but, I dunno, I don’t like that 'oi oi oi' vocal thing. It’s not doing anything for me at all. I’ll have to give it a two. As it goes on it’s getting even worse. Can you stop it please?