The Dirty Dozen – November 2010

Sparrow and the Workshop – Black to Red (Distiller Records, 1 Nov)
For the first couple of seconds there I thought it was going to be really twee, but I actually quite like it. I’m a bit of a Blondie fan and it’s got that kind of vibe to it. I’d definitely go and check them out. I’m going to give that a four (out of five) just to leave room for something to go one better.

Tricky – Ghetto Stars (Domino, 29 Nov)
Tricky is one of those things where it’s never really that instant for me. You have to really be in the mood but with a few listens I can see me getting quite into this. It’s more of a late night, movie soundtrack kind of thing, but it sounds like a bit of a grower so I’ll give it a three.

Kele – On The Lam (Wichita, 8 Nov)
I’ve got to be quite diplomatic here (Kele’s Bloc Party band-mate Russell Lissack recently joined Ash as a touring guitarist). I could be a total bastard and slag this off so we could steal Russell for good, but I wont. It’s always been something within Bloc Party I guess, but obviously Kele felt he had to do this particular sound on his own to bring it to the fore. I don’t find it at all contrived like some people do, but I’m more of a Bloc Party fan. I think I’ll give that a three as well.

Steve Mason – Boys Outside (Domino, 15 Nov)
This has a three o’clock in the afternoon, having a cup of tea kind of vibe. I think I’d prefer to watch Countdown myself, but only because I really like Countdown. It’s a pretty nice tune but it’s not really exciting me as much as The Beta Band would. I don’t want to slag it off ‘cos it’s not a bad song or anything so I’ll give it a three, again.

We See Lights – A Safer Sound (Unsigned, Out Now)
It’s very Snow Patrol with the production. It’s not really doing anything for me this, I’m afraid. He’s even pronouncing his words like Gary (Lightbody). We’ve already got a Snow Patrol, thanks very much. One’s enough. That’s a two I’m afraid.

Mystery Jets – Show Me the Light (Rough Trade, 1 Nov)
I can take them or leave them to be honest. It’s pretty cheesy-riffic! That bass synth is grating on me a little bit. [Later] Yeah, that’s just doing my head in. It seems to be fighting against itself, like it’s trying to be two things at once and ends up being neither. That’s a two.

Night Noise Team – Burning (Permwhale Recordings, 8 Nov)
I really like the intro, but the verse is a bit melodramatic. It’s sounding like two totally different songs. It’s got some good ideas in it, but the chorus is more like a good verse and then the verse just sounds like a totally different song. It’s ambitious, but it’s not quite working for me. I’ll give it a three.

The Volitains – Lovely Bones (Playground Records, 15 Nov)
It’s not the most dynamic of songs but I reckon they have potential with someone with a great voice like that. I’m kind of expecting something to really explode with that voice but it’s just not happening. It feels like it needs something else just to do this justice. It’s frustrating actually but I’ll give it a three.

Rival Schools – Shot After Shot (Atlantic, 14 Nov)
(Ten seconds in) This could be a contender already. Sounds great; sounds like a driving song. There’s a nice, fat bass on it. It’s not necessarily a single, it’s just a really great track. Great production as well, with a bit of a Swervedriver vibe to it. I’ll be checking them out on the back of this. I’ll give that a four.

The Jim Jones Revue – Shoot First (Pias Recordings, 8 Nov)
It’s kind of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion meets The Beatles. It could be a grower, but the Blues Explosion have done this a lot better. If this is the best they’ve got... it’s not bad, I’ve just heard it done a lot better. I’ll give that a very average two-and-a-half.

Wild Palms – To the Lighthouse/Draw In Light (One Little Indian, 8 Nov)
Little bit of Cocteau Twins in there. It’s definitely interesting. It’s good, I just thought it was going to go down a ‘noise-fest’ there but it’s more interesting. Although it is getting a little more ‘angsty’ in places. Bits of it seem to be thrown in, like it’s trying to be ‘less obvious’, but I think it’d be better off being more obvious really. I’ll give it a three.

Mirrors – Hide and Seek (Skint, 15 Nov)
Couldn’t really be more eighties if it was wearing leggings, could it? I like it though. There’s been so much eighties [revivalist] stuff around recently, it’s just ridiculous, but this is done so well, it’s actually amazing. It’s my favourite, definitely. It doesn’t actually sound like a tribute or a pastiche to the eighties, it just sounds of the eighties. If you didn’t know any better you’d think it was some hidden gem from that decade. I’ll give that a four and, yeah, Single of the Month.