New Music Monday #77

ARTPOP

by Lady Gaga (out now)

Where to begin? Lady Gaga’s really done it all in just under six years hasn’t she? A stellar debut record, the monster follow-up (that’s bizarrely considered an EP, despite earning a nomination for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards), the insanely overhyped Born This Way and now her “third” studio release, ARTPOP, have seen Lady Gaga top charts, sell out arenas and win a boat load of awards. She’s gone from the new Princess of Pop to the biggest music star in the planet to… well, I don’t really know what she is now. There’s certainly been a lot of backlash against her in the past couple of years. She’s done everything in her power to shock, awe and, most importantly, entertain her fans. With nothing left to prove, you can hardly hold it against her for marching to the beat of her own drum and ARTPOP is one ridiculously self-indulgent album extraordinaire. Thankfully, it’s also quite good. The last time I did a Track-by-Track review was for Born This Way, so let’s try it ARTPOP style!

AURA

“I’m not a wandering slave, I am a woman of choice.” Truer words have never been spoken as Gaga recruits flavour of the month, Zedd, to produce this convoluted introduction to ARTPOP. It’s all very flashy – a Western themed opening with a Tarantino twist leads into some pretty poptacular dubstep inspired drops that sit behind lyrics that range from borderline insightful to full blown cringe inducing. The track’s as convoluted with ideas as that last sentence, but that last sentence was awesome, so I guess I won’t judge the track too harshly.
Rating: 2/5… or I will?

VENUS


This is a very frustrating track. The opening segment is what you’d expect a show at the Moulin Rouge to be like if the theme was ‘tits out in space’. Welcome to the planet Venus, where all the lady aliens walk around sans clothing and sing about being the goddess of love. For those of you that haven’t taken in a naughty night at the Moulin Rouge, it’s nothing like the movie. There’s a life spoiler for you. What ‘Venus’ does have going for it is killer vocal work from Gaga and the, “when you touch me I die, just a little inside, I wonder if this could be love, this could be love,” moments that will have you involuntarily waving your hands in the air like you just don’t care. ‘Venus’ is also the first track solely produced by our leading lady, so if I was a university lecturer I would give points just for trying. It also doesn’t shy away from substituting Uranus for a derrière mention. Didn’t you know her ass is famous?
Rating: 2.5/5

G.U.Y

Generic. Unintelligent. Yammering? No, not at all. It’s girl under you, silly. Don’t you wish you had a girl come up to you on the dance floor and bluntly tell you that she wants to be under you? Far out… that’s coming on a little strong, love. I WANNA BE ON YOU!! Anyway, this is the first real attention grabbing moment on ARTPOP, where Gaga just blatantly skanks it up and unleashes the pop superstar we all know and love (or loved for some people). Catchy, ready for the floor… it’s like the LGG of days gone by… those were good times.
Rating: 3/5

SEXXX DREAMS

‘Sexxx Dreams’ is the right kind of different with just a little hint of desperation. Like Madonna’s ‘Erotica’. Gasp. It feels like I’m breaking all sorts of taboos by mentioning Gaga and Madonna in the same sentence. Or not. ARTPOP is really starting to find its voice right here. Despite the desperation dig, this is undeniably sexy. Maybe not ‘xxx’ sexy. Just singular ‘x’ sexy. “Heard your boyfriend was away this weekend, wanna meet at my place?” Lezzing it up as usual and being a home wrecker. Don’t judge her… baby, she was born this way! This is the song you want playing at a club at three in the morning when you’re willing to embarrass yourself without a care in the world.
Rating: 4/5

JEWELS N’ DRUGS (ft. T.I., Too Short and Twista)

Remember all the rumours about who would be guesting on this album? Beyoncé, Azealia Banks, Britney Spears, Elvis Presley, 2Pac, Joan of Arc. We got T.I., Too Short and Twista.

Rating: 1/5

MANiCURE

Thank the pop gods… ‘MANiCURE’ is more like it! Forget what I said before about ‘finding a voice’ or whatever. This is just good old fashioned pop fun. And considering how far Gaga has been willing to move away from that radio friendly sound, this is like a breath of fresh air followed by a whiff of perfume you know is going to lead your vision to a scantily clad lady of the night. “Lookin’ serial killer, man is a goner, touch me in the dark, put your hands all over my body parts.” Something about ‘serial killer’ and touching ‘body parts’ should set alarm bells ringing, but just go with it, for we finally have something to really sing WITH Gaga.
Rating: 4/5

DO WHAT U WANT (ft. R Kelly)


We’re on a roll now, so celebrate good times (come on!) and believe that you can fly with Lady Gaga and R Kelly. ‘Do What U Want’ is everything the previous ARTPOP collaboration wasn’t and then some. “I feel good, I walk alone, but then I trip over myself and I fall, I stand up and then I’m ok, but then you print some shit that makes me want to scream.” It’s nothing new for Gaga to address media rumours, but bringing in R Kelly’s silky smooth vocal tones certainly mixes it up. Sure, Gaga’s are sad (eg. she has a schlong) and Kelly’s are more ‘trapped in the closet’ creepy, but that’s neither here nor there. And he was never convicted, right? ‘Do What U Want’ is pop perfection, an album standout and you just try not to sing-along with Kelly as he defiantly lets loose with, “yeah we takin’ these haters and we roughin’ them up, and we layin’ the club like we don’t give a fuuuuuck.” I don’t even want to know what ‘layin’ the club’ would involve. At the very least, this should make people temporarily forget about what R Kelly’s sheets smell like.
Rating: 5/5

ARTPOP

Here we go… the big title track. The explanation of all that is this ARTPOP we’ve heard so much about and not quite understood. Surprise! ARTPOP could mean ANYTHING apparently. Well played, Gaga. ‘Artpop’ the song is like my experiences with most art pieces. I don’t get it, but it’s nice enough. A little paint-by-numbers in terms of the music itself and I can’t stop myself from singing Selena Gomez’s ‘Love You Like A Love Song’ at the start. Not that I know what that song is. Haha. Urgh. A final admission from Gaga that, “I am really laughing, because I just love the music not the bling, music not the bling, free my mind artpop, you make my heart pop,” is both sweet and sad. Is she in on the joke?
Rating: 2/5

 SWINE


I haven’t read Fifty Shades of Grey, but I imagine ‘Swine’ and its squeal piggy themes would be a huge hit with lovers of the book. S&M clubs the world over are adding it to their filthy in-house playlists as we speak. Some of our kinkier readers are sitting at home, using one of their slaves as a footrest while reading this review and shaking their heads at how wrong my concept of what goes on inside the dungeons of an S&M club is. “Talk about the song, bitch!” you scream at me in an authoritative tone. “I have no master, you latex wearing goon!” I shout back. The song’s average.

Rating: 2.5/5


DONATELLA


And we’re back to almost pop perfection. ‘Donatella’ is right in Lady Gaga’s wheelhouse as it’s all about living for the fame, the good life and swigging champagne. It’s the anti-‘Royals’, but what would you expect from a song paying tribute to the iconic Donatella Versace? Snappy lines are thrown right at you, accents are applied and you’re loving every second of it. Again, this is the Lady Gaga that at one time was the undisputed pop champion of the world.
Rating: 3.5/5

FASHION


I had a little… off… feeling about this song. When I think of a song called ‘Fashion’, I think of that weapon of mass destruction that Heidi Montag (who?) released as she poorly attempted to transition into music. Listening to Gaga’s ‘Fashion’ I was getting bad vibes. There just wasn’t something right about it. Who produced it? David Guetta and will.i.am. I blamed will.I.am for Britney’s problems. I’m comfortable blaming him for Gaga’s. Let’s all just enjoy that the song wasn’t called #fashion.

Rating: 2/5

MARY JANE HOLLAND


The constant electro assault has worn me down at this point. I need a breather…
Rating: 2.5/5

 DOPE


Ask and ‘ye shall receive. We finally get a song that showcases how talented the Lady is. Hallelujah! With so few distractions, we can actually enjoy the beautiful melodies, Gaga’s spectacular voice and heartbreaking ability as a storyteller. ‘Dope’ introduces a bit of theatrical flair, adopts an NYC hobo accent and puts the focus on Gaga’s voice and the piano, with some unnecessary ‘lectro clunks in the background. Lyrically, ‘Dope’ is so-so. One minute it’s all simple and powerful, “my heart would break without you, might not awake without you, been hurting low from living high for so long,” and then you arrive at the actual crux of the song and she sings, “I’ll keep on searching for an answer ‘cause I need you more than dope.” And they say romance is dead. The performance is incredible and ‘Dope’ stands out on ARTPOP as the only ballad. The only thing holding it back is the lyrics. 
Rating: 4/5


GYPSY


If, like me, you enjoyed Lady Gaga’s debut of ‘Gypsy’ in Berlin last month (which was a piano/vocal masterpiece), you might be a bit put off by the disco dance album version. Then you’ll get over it and fall in love with Lady Gaga and RedOne letting their powers combine once more. Theirs is a partnership you want to continue forever and ever because it’s just hit after hit. ‘Gypsy’ is definitely the strongest lyrical moment on ARTPOP and comes close to being the best song on the album. Top 3 for sure. You will want to dance. You will want to adopt the nature of a gypsy and roam and pillage and go on British reality television. “Would you go with me, for life, see the world with me.” I would!
Rating: 4.5/5


APPLAUSE


“I stand here waiting for you to bang the gong, to crash the critic saying is it right or is it wrong.” When ‘Applause’ was first released, I found myself slightly underwhelmed. But in the months since its release, the song has grown on me. A lot. ARTPOP ends on an exciting high note with ‘Applause’, which is right up there with Gaga’s best singles. An admission to loving the fame and not a hint of the wanky Born This Way message that has run rampant through the pop landscape.
Rating: 4/5


Whereas Born This Way was Lady Gaga’s most consistent effort, ARTPOP as an album is all over the place. You’ve got a handful of bonafide dance floor anthems, a stellar ballad, an unwise attempt at hip-hopping it up and then a collection of serviceable, but ultimately unforgettable, bangers (not bangerz) that you know you’ll tire of quickly. Trapped behind an endless onslaught of electronic noises are some complex melodies that you almost have to fight to listen to. The lyrics jump from insightful to laugh out loud ridiculous at breakneck speed. But when ARTPOP is good (see ‘Do What U Want’, ‘Sexxx Dreams’ and the final three tracks) it’s very good. Lady Gaga set the bar pretty high with her previous releases and ARTPOP sadly can’t compete. ARTPOP is good, but it’s not great.

Matt Bond gives ARTPOP three Lady Gaga heads out of five…

Matangi 

by M.I.A. (out now)

“My words are my armour and you’re about to meet your karma.”


At this point, you’re either a huge fan of the creative force that is M.I.A or you’re not. The only middle ground is reserved for seventeen year old stoners that think ‘Paper Planes’ is their jam and, quite frankly, they don’t count. For anything. This reviewer falls into the ‘huge fan’ category. Perhaps it’s our shared Sri Lankan-ness (it’s not). Maybe it’s her refusal to conform to what is expected of a female rap/hip-hop act or to any expectations in general (getting warmer). More likely, I am an M.I.A fan because her music is stellar; unusual in all the right ways as it slips in inspiration from the most unlikely of sources (bingo!). Yes, there are also the likely sources – electronic beats mixed into bhangra influenced sounds in such a casually cool way – but it wouldn’t be an M.I.A record without them. And so, after a wait that really was too long, we now have the fourth studio recording from Maya Arulpragasm, Matangi, and though it’s not without fault, it is another entertaining rollercoaster ride from our favourite beacon of self-created controversy.


A solitary “ohm” introduces the listener to both Matangi and ‘Karmageddon’ as a sign of M.I.A’s musical resistance. The track itself is a blink-and-you’ll miss it intro, but a couple of snappy lines and some dangerous beats are all our hostess needs to propel you headfirst into her world. ‘Matangi’ and ‘Only 1 U’ are footstomping booty-shakers for sure, but the former loses points in the originality stakes and the latter treads dangerously close to ‘sweet merciful Zeus I’mma gonna skip this’ territory. Get through it and you’re rewarded with ‘Warriors’ which succeeds in its mission statement that it’s, “puttin’ them in a trance.” It makes me want to tribal dance like Beyonce, even though I know better than to do that to anyone that has functioning vision. ‘Come Walk With Me’ is the joke that M.I.A’s in on. A very ‘pop’ sounding track with lyrics that are so anti-pop (“You ain’t gotta shake it just be with me, you ain’t gotta throw your hands in the air, ‘cos tonight we ain’t acting like we don’t care.”), which evolves into a spectacular M.I.A sensory assault, which does and doesn’t carry through to the beat reliant ‘atention’.

The Weeknd is the lone featured collaborator, teaming up with M.I.A for a reworking of sorts of the guest’s own ‘Lonely Star’. This is a standout moment, a fantasy ride through Zaire and the Red Sea that will leave you breathless and wanting more… but you’ll probably wait until after the ridiculously amazing ‘Bad Girls’. Over a year and half since being unleashed on the world, ‘Bad Girls’ still has that ability to send shocks from your head to your toes that make you want to release the Bollywood star within. “Chain hits my chest when I’m bangin’ on the dashboard, my chain hits my chest when I’m banging.” Dance like nobody’s watching or something. Catch your breath with the ‘Boom (Skit)’ before falling for the aromatic blend of trap and reggae that is ‘Double Bubble Trouble.’ You know where this song would fit in? On one of those Dance Dance Revolution games. Left foot, right foot, up foot (?), down foot (??), left and up feet (???). Are you picking up what I’m putting down? Probably not, so let’s move on…


‘Y.A.L.A’ is a welcome slap in Drake’s face, turning one of the most annoying things in ever (y.o.l.o, for those better at avoiding lame terms than I) with the message that you always live again. Which is probably more wankery than you only live once, but it’s coming from M.I.A and not Drake… so I’m digging it. And she manages to name drop Julianne Moore and that’s just… surprisingly wonderful. You go, Julianne Moore! The second half run of applaud worthy tracks continues with ‘Bring The Noize’, as the ohm is replaced by the adhan and a call to prayer. Look, if there was a church that played ‘Bring The Noize’ over and over again (and featured crazy dancing) I’d answer that call to prayer. This is a real assault to the senses, with quick-witted rhymes just pouring from M.I.A’s mouth as the music replicates the sounds of an automatic machine gun. Fading out to the lines, “freedom’s just another word, choose, nothing left to lose,” is just the icing on the cake that’s probably been blown sky high at this point.

All good things come to an end and ‘Lights’ slows the pace down and just stumbles along before the undeniably average ‘Know It Ain’t Right’ begins to play. After hearing songs that seem so incomparable, these two are so-so, a little too hip-hop standard to compete with what’s come before. Matangi ends with another head-scratcher in ‘Sexodus’ featuring The Weeknd, which is just ‘Exodus’ if ‘Exodus’ wasn’t good. It’s like the B-grade version of ‘Exodus’, a little different, but not enough to stand on its own as a track that makes you take notice. I actually went back to ‘Exodus’ about halfway through ‘Sexodus’ because it’s better. You have a really fancy steak in front of you with nice sauce and a drink you really like and then there’s this slab of meat from the cow’s butt and a glass of Mountain Dew… which one are you going to choose? That’s ‘Exodus’ and ‘Sexodus’ and it’s also me being a bit of a jerk, but why would you put the same song on an album twice?


I said towards the start that Matangi is an entertaining rollercoaster ride and I stand by that because not every moment of being on a rollercoaster is thrilling. There’s the anticipation at the start, you’re excited as you take off and start heading on that steep climb that takes forever and you feel a little bit bored. Then in a flash you’re off and screaming and laughing, having lots of fun going through loops and then you hit that straight patch where you catch your breath and it’s all a bit boring again for a second and then BAM! you’re going backwards and it’s all exciting again and then it’s all over. You enjoyed the momentary rush and you look at your friends and look at the enormous line to do it all again… and you choose to get back in line and do it all again. That’s Matangi. Not every second is exciting, but there are those moments where you completely lose yourself in it and it’s those moments that will have you coming back for more and more. A strange metaphor, but you’re the one that just read the whole thing, so…

Matt Bond gives Matangi three Eminem heads out of five...

Two Moon Love

by Pigeon

When I hit play on the big orange circle on soundcloud to Pigeon's 'Two Moon Love', I forgot that I had the volume turned up full. An indication of what I think of this song is that after the initial shock of noise, I didn't turn my laptop down, because the sounds from this Brisbane based five piece are delicious. They hit you in the best way possible, with a little force but a lot of awesome, they know when to pull sounds back and let the vocal take over and they know when to layer it up good and strong, the sounds are so addictive I can't quite believe this kind of electronic talent is made in my home town. There's a little bit of 80s love in there, there's a little bit of synth genius in there, there's a lot of killer beats in there. In fact, there's nothing not to love in there. I don't even know what the two moon reference is, but I love both of them, whoever or whatever they are.

Jo Michelmore gives 'Two Moon Love' four Presets heads out of five...

Love Me All Night

by Millar Jukes And The Bandits

I think I said “YEAH!” out loud in about 3 seconds after this track started. Pumping harmonica, upbeat driving drums, wailing organ and a 60s inspired guitar riff immediately got my attention and had me bouncing in my seat. I was born after the 60s, but I am a 60s child at heart.


Once the vocals hit me I knew I would be listening to this song again and again and singing along: “Baby don’t you know I love you? Baby don’t you know I care?” Yep. Baby, you know I love this kind of sound.


We are truly in the land of the 60s with images of faded denim, flowers, flares and formidable folk festivals flying before my eyes. All here is very groovy. Yes, I said groovy. I’m bringing that word back. And indeed this track by the talented Millar Jukes is attributing all that I love about the groove of 60s Americana music. It’s fresh and fun and very very listenable. There is a splash of Credence, a dash of The Eagles and a hint of Cream here. I am reminded of Dylan on his better vocal days (because for me, Dylan's vocal capacities were hit and miss).


I was surprised to hear that that Millar Jukes is not from America but Scotland - and now resides in my own town: Melbourne. Lucky me. If I get the chance, I would love to see this band live. The energy and quality of the vocals are just a pure delight. There is no miss here on the delivery. Millar hits the sound square on every time.


Although this song pumps along with an easy-to-sing-along-to chorus like so many 60s classics, it would be a mistake to assume this song is simply a cut and paste job of the era. This is music made well with sophistication and attention to detail. The strong yet smooth female backing vocals that join in throughout the song add a whole other dimension of class to this rocking anthem. I was reminded of Joe Cocker’s full sound here and his regular addition of talented backing vocalists in his music. Again, to see Millar Jukes and The Bandits play live would no doubt be a treat.


This music is rollicking good fun. With it’s feet planted firmly in alternate country rock and it’s playful whimsy flying up to the big blue skies, “Love me All Night” would be a fantastic soundtrack to any road trip that leaves the big smoke behind. I look forward to hearing more from this band.

Lou Endicott gives 'Love Me All Night' five Johnny Cash heads out of five....

Shiver

by Avec Sans

I was on a road trip earlier this year with a friend of mine when, three and a half hours into the drive, Avec Sans popped up on my ipod and the sweet opening notes of 'Heartbreak Hi' poured out of my car's sound system. My friend, who doesn't always share the same musical taste as I, stopped giving me directions, turned the volume up and said to me; "Who is this?" in that urgent way one does when one hears something they can't resist. "Oh, a little duo from the UK. Avec Sans. You wouldn't have heard of them. But they're really, reeeeeeally good, aren't they?" I replied as the next track 'Hold On' began.


'Shiver' is everything and nothing like I expected from Alice Fox and Jack St James. Alice's sweet vocal doesn't just float above the beats and synths, it drives them in the most amazing way and while I'm no musical expert, there's some sounds in there that shouldn't make sense with each other, but somehow they do (see, no musical expert). What I do know is that I thought I'd hear something a little darker from this duo and what I received was some awesome electro pop magic and I LOVE it. I know that at a minute when Alice hits those high notes I smiled and I know at two minutes I had that feeling of knowing I'd found something special and at three minutes when the sounds are stripped back I couldn't wait to hear the next forty seconds. I know that this is a song that makes me want to dance, it makes me want to jump back in my car and drive to fun and I know it's a song that's proven that sometimes, even after only knowing a few other tracks, sometimes it's worth declaring oneself a fan early on in a bands career, because sometimes the talent is obvious from the beginning.


When my friend committed to a "I like this" after he heard Avec Sans in my car that day, I knew they'd found a new fan because my friend doesn't commit to "I like this" very often and I knew I'd be happy with whatever was released next. What I didn't know was just how good they could get. 'Shiver' makes me smile in all the ways electro-pop should, just like taking a road trip does. Hopefully the wait for more Avec Sans won't be as long as the last. Hopefully my next road trip will be as good as the last too...and with a soundtrack like this, how could it not?

Jo Michelmore gives 'Shiver' four and a half Presets heads out of five...

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

Lies

by CHVRCHES

Album: The Bones Of What You Believe (out now)

Here's a truth for you. Let's just make it clear from the beginning. I love this band. If you think you're going to read a non-biased review of this clip, you're reading the wrong blog. Here's another truth for you. I have no idea what's going on in this clip. We have a guy running, from something or to something, who's to say? We have the fabulous trio that is Chvrches, bathed in dramatic light, we have a guy on a phone at a desk, a couple sharing a meal (although technically no food is consumed) in front of a deliciously retro television set and we have someone on a couch, who looks rather unhappy, actually. Poor love. Cheer up! You're in a Chvrches clip.

It's kind of a bit spooky, almost four minutes of imagery that could mean anything, to anyone really. I assume it's some kind of alternate reality, an apocalyptic world, a world I might not like so much except for the fact it has Chvrches in it. Regardless, this clip is exactly for me what Chvrches are, beautiful and spooky and a whole lot of pop over a dark and broody undertone. They make me smile uncomfortably and that's this clip as well, I know somehow it's not really very nice but I love it. (On a side note, the director of this clip is Sing J Lee, who is clearly a very talented individual. If you click on their facebook page, they have 134 likers. Let's just remember that in the world of social media, likes don't equal talent and don't always mean so much.) Whatever, how ever many views or likes this clip receives, it's a clip I love, from a band I have fallen totally in love with this year. Lies? Nope, truth. I'm biased. I love Chvrches. Deal with that.

 Jo Michelmore gives 'Lies' four Presets heads out of five...

I Kill Giants

by The Naked And Famous

Album:  In Rolling Waves (out now)

Maybe it's the week for weird clips, because, like the Chvrches clip, I'm going say I don't really know what's going on in this one, 'I Kill Giants', the latest clip release from The Naked And Famous. It's interpretive dance, I know that, but, as much as I love all forms of art, that's never really been my thing. Regardless, it seems to be a fitting clip for an incredibly sad song with an incredibly uplifting beat. There's something powerful about such a fast and catchy beat underpinning a lyric about an incredibly sad say in the life of Alisa Xayalith, The Naked And Famous' front woman. "On the saddest of days, why couldn't we save you?" is repeated over and over, almost hypnotically, while the two performers dance their hearts out, and while I can't answer the question posed, I can be thankful for a band who is willing to let their singer face her darkest days in song and in turn produce music and clips like this.

Jo Michelmore gives 'I Kill Giants' three and half Florence Welch heads out of five...

Top 25 - 10 November, 2013

Get your Warpaint on!

Songs of the Week, 10/11/13 from itsmykindofscene on 8tracks Radio.

1. Warpaint - Love Is To Die (NEW)





2. Phebe Starr - Tonight (NEW)
 




3. Astrid and The Asteroids - House of Cards





4. Eminem ft. Rihanna - The Monster





5. His Merry Men - Gold (NEW)





6. Major Leagues - Silver Tides (NEW)





7. Abbe May - Perth Girls





8. Ariela Jacobs - The Sound





9. Hayden Calnin - Coward (NEW)





10. Bec Sandridge - Stones





11. Lady Gaga ft. R Kelly - Do What U Want





12. Lady Gaga - Dope (NEW)





13. Say Lou Lou - Beloved (NEW)
 




14. Our Man In Berlin - Airhead





15. Battleships - Take Your Rest





16. Meg Mac - Every Lie





17. Laura Welsh - Undiscovered





18. Soviet X-Ray Record Club - Magnetic North (NEW)
 




19. Harts - Leavn It All Behind





20. M.I.A ft. The Weeknd - Exodus (NEW)





21. Son Lux - Lost It To Trying





22. White Summer - Head In The Sand (NEW)





23. The Naked and Famous - I Kill Giants (NEW)





24. Love Like Hate - Electric Ships





25. Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings - Retreat!
 

Where Is My Mind? - Something I Overheard

 My advice? Never date anyone in a blue velvet jacket, Katy. Never.

And A Little Advice

by Jo Michelmore

When you work amongst the general public, you overhear some interesting conversations. Some conversations are just darn boring, but some are fabulously juicy. This week, I've heard conversations about whose responsibility it is to take in the laundry, what time Jeff finishes work, who is meeting who for dinner tomorrow night and the best, what 'she' said when she saw 'him' with another girl ('she' apparently didn't say much, but went home, cried and drank a bottle of wine instead).

The thing is, when you overhear some conversations, you just want to do one of a couple of things. You either want to tell people to "SHUT UP!", you want to know more (like, where did that girl see her boyfriend? With who? And what were they actually doing?) or the third option, you want to offer some advice. Like, dump that loser, don't waste your nights drowning your sorrows in wine, have some fun, drink some champagne instead and while you're at it, find someone better! 


Last week, it all ended with Taylor Swift and well, I'd have a whole lot of advice for her, because we all know about her long list list of boyfriends. Actually, maybe we don't, but let's just say she's had a few. There'd be a couple I think she might have written this song for, which also happens to be one of my favourite pop songs, like, ever...

...but there's one boyfriend in particular I don't think I can ever forgive ol' Swifty for. If I overheard Swifty talking about this guy, I'd just say it straight out. No. Just no. Like, how could she?

Really, John Mayer? It's pretty simple. That's the trouble with writing questions like this in average songs. Who says you can't get stoned? I do, you're dull enough already and it is a long time since 22, you're 36 dude and you're an old, unattractive and let me say booooring 36 at that. If I overheard your conversation about any of your girlfriends, I'd tell you that you were lucky you found any with that hairstyle. Sort yourself out, get a haircut and stop bothering other pop stars, like...

.... poor Katy Perry seems to see something in John boring Mayer, because as far as I know, they're dating right now. Like, they could be on a date, right at the minute you're reading this. Maybe they're at a film or sharing an ice cream or eating a romantic dinner or...this is making me want to vom. If I overheard any of Katy's conversations about her ex husband, I'd tell her she was a fool, a fool I tell you for letting him go! She should have stuck to kissing girls, or stuck to her ex who's kissed a lot of girls (and boys as well, I think...)

I've never strayed away from the music on my posts, but it was such an easy excuse to post a Russell Brand clip, I just couldn't resist. It's Rock Of Ages, so it's kinda music(al) related, deal with it. There is just something about old Russ I can't resist. It's fine if you don't like him, I understand, you have no taste. Yes, I declare my love for Russell Brand, here, publicly, now. I know, I know, I don't know why I still find him attractive with a mullet and those braces and terrible acting and the awful singing. Actually, is that him singing? I don't care, I still love him. If I overheard Russell talking about any of his girlfriends, I'd probably not be listening anyway, I'd just be staring, probably a little creepy like. But he's Russell Brand, so he should be used to that. Lots of people find him attractive. People like...

Geri Halliwell. Oh Geri. You were one fifth of one of the greatest pop groups ever! You did so well dating Russell, how could you have turned into...this? It's not the worst tune in the world, but the lyrics? The clip? I'm so sorry it's come to this Geri. I may not be able to help much with you with your career, beside giving your youtube account a couple more hits, but if I overheard you talking about your ex, I'd offer you (and a whole bunch of other people) some advice. You're looking for another half? I have some news. There's no such person. They don't exist. You are one whole person, there's no half missing. This might be hard for some people to get and let's face it, I'm getting a little serious now, but I've overheard enough conversations and it's the godamn truth. The minute you stop looking for another half, you'll find a whole and that's much more fun than half a person now, isn't it? 

Next week? More dating advice? Great pop groups? Bad pop groups? People who should dress better when filming their music clips? Geri really could take us anywhere...

The Candy Shop #27

Summertime Sadness...Oh Wait, It's Still Spring

by Nayt Housman

It’s nearing Summer which means it’s nearing the end of the year which means I’m thinking about all the things I set out to do this year yet have not so what do I do about it? I wallow… I wallow in music I know will make me blubber like a child who dropped it’s icecream.

Summertime Sadness

by Lana Del Rey

I’m not ready to cry for you yet Lana because it’s still spring but I’ll play your game (video game?) for now you saucy minx. But I really just included this because of my title.

Chemo Limo 

by Regina Spektor 

Combining her loopy lyrics like “crispy, crispy Benjamin Franklin” with her delicious Brooklyn accent, Regina crafted a song about deciding whether to go on chemo or take a limo to the end of the line. Infectiously heartbreaking, Regina you had me at “crispy”.

Someday Soon 

by The Trouble With Templeton

I really don’t even need to say much about TTWT coz I just keep ranting and ranting on and on and on about how much I love them but I’m gripped every time I hear them and 'Someday Soon' is a real tugger of the emotional strings. So brooding yet uplifting at the same time. Gosh I’m a wreck for this.

Beautiful Calm Driving 

by Sia 

From her incredible album Some People Have Real Problems, Sia delivers her tale about driving in a calm manner, which when described so simply sounds crap but I swear this one bites me deep and the tears start welling uncontrollably. “You turned into another. You turned into a nutter. You turn into another man.” Story of my life.

Mad World 

by Gary Jules 

 

Probably one of the best remakes of a song ever and totally recreated from the original. Gary Jules turns 'Mad World' into a song that connected with every orifice in my beating black heart. Then there’s the video clip! Urrrrrrgh so amazing.

Coming Up For Air 

by Siobhan Donaghy 

Oh that voice, quivering with vulnerability, yet brimming with power. Siobhan has something in her voice that brings me to my knees, so if I’m listening to her just don’t be around me or you’ll be picking me up off the floor.

Crosses Zero 

by 7 ft. Jose Gonzalez 

Brimming with optimism and underpinned with that 'Jose' kind of melancholy his voice effortlessly conveys. The whole album this is from, The Garden (also featuring Sia) pretty much brings me undone and reminds me of both happy and sad times. Gushhhhhhhh.


Now I’m sorry but I have to go and continue to wallow…

New Music Monday #76

The Marshall Mathers LP 2

by Eminem (out November 5, 2013)

Eminem is back with the continuation to his greatest success, The Marshall Mathers LP and you can't help but feel that Eminem really IS back this time around. Finding the needed balance between super serious Recovery era Eminem and comedic, but behind the times Encore era Eminem. In other words, the Eminem we all knew and loved in the late 90s/early 2000s has returned and that means we're all in for a treat with The Marshall Mathers LP 2. 'Bad Guy' is an early knockout, picking up the story of breakthrough hit 'Stan', with a vengeful Matthew Mitchell as the protagonist, taking over for his late brother Stanley (every time I see that name I hear it the way Dido says it in the video). The narrative ends once more with a bridge, before Eminem takes the reigns and admits the symbolism of Matthew and Stan being, "of you not knowing what you had until it's gone." Sure, if he says so. Eminem promises this is the final chapter of the cautionary tale that is the Marshall Mathers story. Again, sure, if he says so. Retirement pledges surround many a rap star and Eminem's made them before, but say this is the last we'll hear from Slim Shady... at least he's going out with a bang. 

'Rhyme or Reason' has a Yoda rap. It's the kind of moment that makes you shake your head and then laugh. For anyone else it would be an unforgivable move. Women's rights activists and... actually just activist groups in general... will work themselves into a frenzy over tracks like 'So Much Better', as the 'ole woman hating Eminem emerges, hating on 'bitches' and confessing, "my life will be so much better if you dropped dead." It all ends with the deux ex machina line, "I'm just playing bitch, you know I love you." Cute. As has always been the case with Eminem's music, he shows he can't really hate on the ladies that much... they always give him hooks that trick listeners into thinking his music is a lot catchier than it is. Liz Rodrigues and Polina Goudieva do wonders for the chorus' of 'Survival' and 'Legacy' respectively, which are pretty standard 'business as usual' Eminem numbers. Bestie, Skylar Grey at least manages to be credited for her admittedly underwhelming appearance on 'Asshole'. Mathers makes up for the increasingly snooze-worthy appearances from the former hot-ticket with a reflection on the reaction to the dick-ish things he's said throughout his career. "I could have stacked my shit list to the ceiling, women dish him but really thinking, if anyone ever talks to one of my little girls like this I would kill him, guess I'm a little bit of a hypocrite." 

MMLP2 hits its stride midway through, with 'Berzerk' and 'Rap God'. Any doubts that Eminem doesn't have that 'it' factor anymore are destroyed, even as you have to remind yourself that he's in the 2000s mindset, dropping one two many f-bombs (and not the one that rhymes with fire truck) for his own good and a censorship challenge to his Columbine references on chapter one's outing. As an artist that hasn't shied away from controversy at, well, any stage of his career really, no one should act too surprised at this point. After the, um, monster success of his last collaboration with Rihanna, 'Love The Way You Lie', it's nice to see the two back together again with 'The Monster', even if it doesn't have the same impact as their prior track. It's actually the first track that feels slightly out of place, but that's probably just the sunny disposition that just naturally follows Rihanna these days. When 'Love The Way You Lie' was released, it was close enough in time to her Chris Brown drama and the song was pretty much the same story. That original magic may be missing, but the song's still ready-for-radio (as is generally the case when two megastars come together) and looks ready to make a chart impact as early as this coming week.

Teaming up with label mate Kendrick Lamar was a smart move, with 'Love Game' (let's have some fun, this beat is sick?) sounding like the most fun either act has had in a long time. And then bam! the fun is gone as that guy from a band that's literally called fun. shows up to suck all of it from the room on 'Headlights'. How this made the album and Sia's effort on 'Beautiful Pain' was relegated to the Deluxe Edition is beyond me. 'Evil Twin' is another one of those reflective moments that borders on whinging, as Mathers laments his lack of battle opportunities. Who can he call out in this day and age? "I just want to hurt you, aim for the skanks, then aim for all these fake Kanye's, Jay's, Wayne's and Drake's. I'm frustrated cause ain't no more N'Sync, now I'm all out of whack, I'm all out of Backstreet Boys to call out attack." He won't even go after Gaga, Bieber or old fave - Xtina. But how will we know who came first, was it Carson Daly or was it Fred Durst?! Thankfully the title's evil twin shows up... to make out of date references aimed at crazy Britney, dearly departed Whitney and OJ Simpson. Playing it safe? 

The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is good. In fact it's really good, but I'm not going to lie to you and tell you it's the BEST THING EVAR OMG EMINEM U DA BEST 4 LYF WERD. It has its ups and downs. If this was 2001 and it just got released maybe I would be fan-girling it up. But it's 2013 and in terms of this year's releases I can tell you it's comfortably better than Jay Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail, a million times more engrossing that anything Drake has done, but probably not quite on the same level as Kanye's Yeezus. It is however the best thing Eminem has released since the original Marshall Mathers album and a must listen for Eminem fans and rap fans in general. But you don't need me to tell you that. The guy's a pop culture phenomenon... you're going to check it out anyway. You too can enjoy the ups and downs, deciding if we're in on the joke that Eminem's playing or if we're not, right until the final lines - "But all bullshit aside I hit a stride, still Shady inside, hair every bit as dyed as it used to be when I first introduced y'all to my skiddish side, and blamed it on him when they tried to criticise, 'cause we are the same, bitch." Sure, if he says so.  

Matt Bond gives The Marshall Mathers LP 2 four Beyonce heads out of five...

You Could Be Happy EP

by Sahara Beck (out now)

It's not often that music makes me embarrassed, but when I heard the first song from Sahara Beck's EP You Could Be Happy, I have to admit, I was a little embarrassed. The reason? I've had the opportunity to see a Sahara Beck gig before, numerous times and there's always been something else going on, a better offer to take up. I've had the chance to press play on Sahara Beck songs in the past and there's always been another song to hear, another clip to watch. When I hit play on this EP for the first time, my embarrassment was immense when I heard those claps, the quick guitar, that fabulous voice and the words, the simple but so effective lyrics "look at all this trouble you cause here, for all these people you hold dear...c'mon man, you're dead and you don't know it yet". Wow. What had I been doing this year? Why hadn't I said yes to one gig, pressed play just that once? I guess I'm just making up for lost time now, with the release of Sahara's EP, You Could Be Happy.

 
The first track ‘C’Mon Man You’re Dead’ is the one that caught my attention immediately, so catchy and so much more than just a little folk song, I found myself tapping along so quickly, the pop sensibility as addictive as the lyrics which are much more than simple pop lyrics. Second track ‘Mary Jane’ deals with issues of addiction in a way well beyond Sahara Beck’s seventeen years, it’s quick pace and repetitive lyric “now I’m all alone come find me” are so affecting, so compelling to hear, I couldn’t help but wonder what could possibly be next, I was totally mesmerised two tracks in, it was difficult to know where she’d take things from there. I still couldn’t quite believe I’d never listened before.
 

What I heard three tracks in grabbed me by the throat, it was the one that got me, the one that made me regret those nights I spent somewhere else instead of at a venue with live music which I love so much. ‘Bang Bang Bang’ is simple; it is acoustic sounds and voice, which is perfect to show off an awesome vocal range. Sahara’s passion in the lyrics “bang bang bang here comes the end” is beyond comparison, this is a song made to adore, to take your breath away. ‘Madman’ mid way through is a nice change, a little heavier than any of the other tracks, this is one I imagine to be extremely powerful live, the beats are so strong it’s nice to hear a little grittiness amongst the gentle of the rest of the EP. Yet again, another regret I hadn’t seen Sahara before.
 

I knew it was bound to happen, After the first four songs I knew there had to be a tear jerker in here somewhere, and there it is, ‘Daisy’. Maybe it was the mesmerising guitar, maybe it was the strings, maybe it was the lyric “death is peaceful, not so sad, I wouldn’t bother getting mad, won’t make a difference either way…I am beautiful but small, never owned a thing at all, I am simple but happy, stay with me Daisy”, but whatever it is, this is the one, songs like this are special and don’t come along on every EP or album, but when they do there’s a ‘wow’ and a breath taken with every listen.
 

After the sigh of ‘Daisy’, the EP’s final track doesn’t disappoint, in fact, it’s the perfect end to a beautiful twenty four minutes. I love an artist who thinks about their work as a whole experience and it’s obvious there’s been a lot of thought as to how Sahara wants her listeners to be left at the end of her six songs, the title track ‘You Could Be Happy’ is a swinging little song full of story and promise, her voice such a delight, her lyrics such an experience and the music so mesmerising, just like ‘You Could Be Happy’ as a whole.
 

So I admit it, I made the mistake of overlooking this unbelievably talented artist until now and it’s a mistake I’m a little embarrassed about. I’m a smart listener though, because now I’ve heard her sound, there’s no turning back, I’m calling myself a fan and ignoring Sahara Beck is a mistake I don’t intend on making again.

 
Jo Michelmore gives the You Could Be Happy EP three and a half Ellie Goulding heads out of five...
 

Holy Infinity
by GOVS

Music is amazing. I know you know that, 'cause you're reading this blog and we all already agree on that, right? But let's talk about the amazing kind of music that has no sense of time, that transports you to a place far away from where you are, music that is immediately comfortable, because, while it doesn't sound like anything else in particular, it sounds like part of your life, it sounds like something you know and you want to know more of. It's completely personal to me, but when I heard GOVS track 'Holy Infinity' for the first time, I was immediately placed in a bar I used to frequent a few years ago, a comfy little corner full of cushions and conversations and cheap champagne. The simple start, the sound of Josiah Birrell's voice and guitar were hypnotic, the riffs lulled me into a sense of comfort like comfortable music does and when the beats were introduced a minute and a half in I was hooked, I was no longer at my laptop, I was in that bar with somewhere with Josiah and the people I loved and the heartache that ensued from them. There’s a sense of desperation somewhere in there and a feeling of something much bigger than a simple song, I guess that’s part of the amazing I talk about when I talk about music. While GOVS is a bedroom project from a clearly very talented boy from the Gold Coast, it's obvious Josiah knows how amazing music is, because his music is far removed from an amateur bedroom sound. It's beautiful and it's moving and mostly, music - it is amazing, isn’t it? 
 

Jo Michelmore gives 'Holy Infinity' four Michael Hutchence heads out of five... 

 

Standing In The Dark

by Matt and Beki

“Sizzled me just like a hot hot pepper” is really all I need to hear from this... Bitch this tune is SICKENING, it has the sound of the Divinyls and Cyndi Lauper if they were whipped up in a blender with fairy floss and glitter then spewed out into a sea of rainbows and neon lights. What I mean by this is I FREAKING LOVE IT. The 80s sound is in the midst of a revival, some are doing it well, some are shit, but Matt and Beki are rocking it.


If you think they sound familiar then you’d be right, but why?? Where have you heard these iconic Australian voices before? Well in the mid 90s there was this effing amazing band called The Mavis’s featuring Matt and Beki and well, now they’re back! Bubblegum pop is the name and owning is the game.


'Standing In The Dark' is a pumping, twitching, booty mover and simply screams “DANCE IN YOUR UNDIES IN THE LOUNGE ROOM” and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me squeal like a camp 14 year old with its sexy rejection lyrics that pump me up like a burn blister in the verses - “Come on baby take my hand, we’ll sneak away after the band.” - and grabs my pining teenage heart strings in the desperate chorus - “Left me standing in the car park, but it’s too late, cut your name into my arm, but it’s too late, come on.”


This is the kind of pop that I like to see swimming around in the ARIA charts and violating the positions of “cookie-cutter-pop” artists who shall remain nameless yet infamous. It’s a great club track (not that I’ve “clubbed” for quite some time) and should be requested anywhere there are pulsing neon lights and eye burning lazers bouncing off mirror balls. Get it, put it in you, and let it take over.

Nayt Housman gives 'Standing In The Dark' four Cyndi Lauper heads out of five...

Perfume

by Britney Spears

Album: Britney Jean (out November 29, 2013)

Some things just create a feeling of uneasiness. A new movie with Lindsay Lohan in it. Just the thought of that puts this look on my face that's not quite scared, not quite constipated... just a little uneasy. In the music world, there's probably nothing that gives people that feeling of uneasiness like hearing 'Britney Spears' and 'ballad' in close enough proximity to each other. 'Sometimes', 'From The Bottom of My Broken Heart', 'I'm Not A Girl (Not Yet A Woman)'. Are you cringing? I am. If you look back, 'ole Britters hasn't really released a ballad as a single since 'Everytime', which was pre-meltdown. That wasn't that bad a song, yeah? Anyway, in this day and age of radio friendly EDM tracks, it's easier to get away with a pop ballad when you don't have the voice of an Adele or Beyonce, because you can just throw some electronic whoomp (there it is) in with a piano line and get Sia to write some words about your boyfriend's wife smelling your cheap perfume. So there's no need to feel uneasy... but there sure as schnitzel ain't no reason to be celebrating. It's not as laugh out loud bad as 'From The Bottom of My Broken Heart', it doesn't hold any glimmer of real emotion like 'Everytime'. 'Perfume' just... is. 

Matt Bond gives 'Perfume' two Ke$ha heads out of five...  

Asleep at the Wheel

by Band of Skulls

I may have had a conversation with Matt this week about how I seem to be the rock/blues lover on this blog, which was a title I was happy to hold, but there’s a lot of music I like. I love pop music, I love folksy music (see my Sahara Beck review above?), I adore a good bit of electronic music at the right time, I got myself tickets to Eminem recently, goddamn I just love all music, alright? Then I pressed play on ‘Asleep At The Wheel’, the new single from the UK’s Band Of Skulls and you know what happened? I got that little feeling at the top of my spine, I got that excited little feeling in my stomach, my head started nodding and suddenly I was smiling. The smashing repetitive guitars made me move my feet and the drums made me close my eyes and the words took me back to the front row at Splendour a couple of years ago and the flashing and the lights and the sweat and the hair and the loud loud loud sounds and…ok, I’m the rock lover on this blog. Goddamn, it’s just so f-ing good though! Rock music! Damn right! If this is only the first single I cannot wait to hear more from one of my fave rock bands.  

Jo Michelmore gives 'Asleep at the Wheel' four Kurt Cobain heads out of five...

Clever Boy

by Justin Hunter

What are you doing on Sunday? No this is not a literal question. What you should be doing is downloading 'Clever Boy', popping it on your iPod and finding a nice spot in a park to spin around in circles whilst looking longingly into the blue sky, smiling and thinking to yourself, “Today is a fucking great day.” That’s exactly the feeling I get when Justin Hunter's new single is rolling out of my speakers. Quite obviously taking its queues from 80s pop, Justin Hunter has created a rather cruisey, Bronski Beat-ish, Duran Duran-ish house/dance track fit for the dance floor or a lazy, dancey Sunday with a bunch of friends out in the back yard with a wading pool and a few cocktails in hand.


“Clever boy, fooling them all, is he the winner, the winner of them all?” Like a bittersweet cocktail of bliss and self doubt, the words of 'Clever Boy' will slowly worm their way into your psyche like a tape worm floating gently through your blood stream into your digestive tract. It’s one of those tunes that get better with each listen as it slowly unfolds *insert poetic flower analogy here*. Maybe it’s Justin’s pacifying vocals (some might say a lil bit monotone) that lull me into an almost meditative state while the pulsing beats and echoing hums keep me from falling asleep as I twitch and jilt in my relaxed state that make this track so delicious? I’m not sure but I don’t really care enough to over analyze it. I just want to lie here and enjoy every morsel of its equally upper/downer quality. Justin Hunter, I like you, you clever boy so keep the good tunes coming.

Nayt Housman gives 'Clever Boy' four Boy George heads out of five...

I Think I Love

by Enerate

Synths that creep up on me? I think I love. Beats I start nodding to immediately? I think I love. A mysterious male vocal? I think I love. Sha la la la? I think I love. Whoa oh oh oh oh oh? I think I love. A cute boy Josh, on vocals and guitars? I think I love. Another whoa oh oh oh oh oh? I think I love. Another cute boy, Matt, on bass? I think I love. One more cute boy, Ben, on percussion? I think I love. One cute girl, Therese, to sing and play synths? I think I love. More whoa oh oh oh oh oh? I think I love. Synth pop with a Sydney accent? I think I love. So easy to sing along to? I think I love. A whoa oh oh oh oh stuck in my head? I think I love. Pop, but with a little meaning? I think I love. New favourite song this week? I think I love. A whistle at the end? Oh stop it, it can't possibly be this good, can it? I think I love? Nope, I KNOW I love. 

Jo Michelmore gives 'I Think I Love' four Lady Gaga heads out of five... 

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS OF THE WEEK:

Perth Girls

by Abbe May

Album: Kiss My Apocalypse (out now)

When I saw on Abbe May's Facey-book page that 'Perth Girls' was getting the video treatment, I was excited. The track is my personal favourite from the doom pop-tacular extravagance that is Kiss My Apocalypse; as sleek and sexy as it is mysterious and dangerous. I knew the video wouldn't disappoint, but to get a beautiful and blonde Abbe in a suit wryly paying tribute to Robert Palmer's 'Simply Irresistible'? Fan-freaking-tastic! How could you not love this? The Perth ladies all dolled up in their pink, orange and purple dresses... bored looks staring into the distance. May herself is cooler than cool throughout. Certainly cooler than Robert Palmer ever was, but that's neither here nor there. She's up for the Best Female Artist award at this year's ARIA's. Not only do I hope she takes out the prize, but they should let her reenact this video live on stage. That would make me watch the ARIA Awards. 

Matt Bond gives the video for 'Perth Girls' five Madonna heads out of five...

Fall Underneath

by Snakadaktal

Album: Sleep In The Water (out now)

I'm not going to pretend I have any idea what's going on story wise in the video, but 'Fall Underneath' is shot beautifully by Dimitri Basil, so it's another video win for Snakadaktal. At first I was afraid the clip would be like the unofficial video for The Knife's 'Full of Fire', which made me want to put a fire out with my face with all the unnecessary repetition, but nay, 'Fall Underneath' is certainly as pleasing a video as the song itself. I like that each butt/face slap is in time with the music. It's the little things... Anyway, it's all very Californian 70s (or Cuban now I guess) with mustard button up shirts, brown leather jackets, pastel swimwear. A lot of thought's been put into the visuals in the clip and it's greatly appreciated. Definitely a video win! 

Matt Bond gives the video for 'Fall Underneath' three and a half Ellie Goulding heads out of five...

Everything's Coming Up Roses

by Dear Plastic (single out now)

Last week I had the pleasure of reviewing Melbourne outfit and electro trip-hop band, Dear Plastic’s new single 'Everything’s Coming up Roses'. So I was over the moon to discover a video clip had been made for this song. I have been singing this over and over in the last week. So I now had an excuse to not only listen to it again and again (not that I needed an excuse!) but I also had a mission to explore the visual world created by this new and exciting band.

 
The film clip for Dear Plastic’s single 'Everything’s Coming up Roses' opens with the band's moniker flashing in and out among a twirl of multi-coloured smoke. This imagery serves not only to introduce the clip but to hint at the sweet yet gentle mind bending clip to follow. The screen then shifts to a profile shot of Scarlette Baccini, the very talented lead singer singing the opening lyrics. There is a beautiful effect here created by dust particles catching light as they fall on the face of Scarlette. At least I THINK it’s dust - it could be computer generated comets, but I am going with dust as I was reminded of those quiet moments in life when a slice of sunshine carves a column of light across a room and the dust particles dance within it, creating galaxies of their own. Simple pleasures. And very fitting for the sentiment of this song. We are then treated to various shots of Scarlette as the particles play around her face. This galactic effect works beautifully to accompany the spacey, dreamy track that is this song.
 

Once we hit the chorus, the slow motion multi-coloured smoke brings us back to the freaky, trippy dreamy sounds that this song embodies. The next verse is a montage of eyes, mouth, ears and what appears to be paper being torn and crumpled. After a spell I turned off the analytical side of my brain, stopped trying to figure out what and how the imagery was made for the clip and just let the hypnotic beat, the visual playfulness and Scarlette’s lovely voice take me for an ethereal ride. Every time her voice dips down to the low notes with an earthy vibrato I get that warm and happy feeling that reflects back to the enjoyment I feel listening to gutsy singers from a bygone era. Vocally speaking, theatricality is the dress code with Dear Plastic’s lead singer Scarlette. This clip is definitely not a narrative. Nor does it try to prescribe a theme or specific concept. The clip (and the music itself) is for those who love their electro pop served with a side of mind bending good old fashioned psychadelia. And I would say that this is the best treatment you could take for a song as quirky and cool as this.

 
Lou Endicott gives the video for 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' four Michael Hutchence heads out of five...       

Top 25 - 3 November, 2013

So Eminem's doing alright for himself...

Songs of the Week, 03/11/13 from itsmykindofscene on 8tracks Radio.

1. Eminem ft. Rihanna - The Monster (NEW)





2. Eminem ft. Sia - Beautiful Pain (NEW)





3. Astrid and The Asteroids - House of Cards





4. Abbe May - Perth Girls (Re-Entry)





5. Bec Sandridge - Stones





6. Lady Gaga ft. R Kelly - Do What U Want
 




7. Our Man In Berlin - Airhead





8. Ariela Jacobs - The Sound (NEW)





9. Harts - Leavn It All Behind
 




10. Laura Welsh - Undiscovered (NEW)





11. Battleships - Take Your Rest (NEW)





12. Meg Mac - Every Lie (NEW)





13. Son Lux - Lost It To Trying





14. Japanese Wallpaper ft. Wafia - Breathe In





15. Snakadaktal - Fall Underneath (Re-Entry)





16. Ella Eyre - Deeper (NEW)





17. Love Like Hate - Electric Ships (NEW)





18. Passerine - Paris Morning





19. Chloe Howl - Paper Heart





20. Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings - Retreat! (NEW)





21. Katy Perry ft. Juicy J - Dark Horse





22. Empress Of - Realize You (NEW)





23. Gossling - Harvest of Gold





24. Client Liaison - Feeling





25. Young The Giant - It's About Time (NEW)