The Rifles - She's Got Standards

With its chimey guitars, post-punk rhythm and wry lyrical take on music industry success, it's difficult to see what innovations, if any, The Rifles have to bring to the already over-crowded guitar-pop table with She's Got Standards; one line even references the NME, just in case you weren't getting their shtick. Citing their influences – like everyone else these days – as The Clash and The Jam, The Rifles have failed to invoke the energy or relevance of Strummer, Weller & co in this precursor single to their forthcoming debut LP. In short, derivative and dull. [Nick Mitchell]