Another divine marriage between the Chems' tower block beats and an indie vocalist; this time of the electronic order provided by Mr Bernard Sumner. Not even the pounding bass and synth sounds of Los Bros can stop this from therefore sounding like a New Order track - but this is of course no bad thing, especially seeing as Barney's old band seem to have dried up of late. Probably the closest thing to a traditional song to echo out of the Chemicals' laboratory, "Out Of Control" also features backing vox from everyone's favourite spaced-out little monkey Bobby Gillespie, but these are so low in the mix as to hardly be noticeable. Not a classic single of the week - especially as the main thing it makes me want to do is go and dig out "Technique" - but the best of the crop by far.
"Power Move" follows, a TV cop show style instrumental with extra psychedlic bits, then comes the Sasha remix of "Out Of Control", which adds disappointingly little.
Rating: 8/10
The Rest
Britney, B*Witched, and now Steps - you lucky, lucky people. "After The Love Has Gone" sees Steps emulating Abba even further than they have done in the past - all tinkling pianos and girly harmonies. Then some house-y beats and Claire's supersonic vocals take over and we stand with our feet firmly on Planet Steps once more. Not as immediate as some of their recent efforts, this is still a bitter-sweet pop paean to faded love and teenybop angst. And who are you to say whether that's any less valid than songs about Paranoid Androids, Beetlebums and Wonderwalls (especially that last one)?
The "W.I.P. Mix" follows, rushing the song off on a charter flight to Ibiza for a bit of sand, sangria and snogtastic Euro beats. Then comes "My Best Friend's Girl", showcasing Faye's more diva-esque vocals in a big budget number.
And there's some nice pictures of Lisa on the sleeve too. Now is it just me, or is she giving us the finger in this one...?
Rating: 7/10
Dull and tedious white-boy rap from someone that comes over like a cross between Axl Rose and Eminem, but without the style, wit or dumb-ass koolness of either. The sound of redneck America boorishly trying to drive a beat-up pickup truck into rap territory, and coming across like a pig-squealing, banjo-playing, sister-marrying twat in the process. Avoid.
An LP version of the a-side follows, which is the same but with the sweary words left in. Then "I Am The Bullgod (live)" appears, which at least has the decency to feature a huge big scary metallic riff. Faith No More did it infinitely better though...and they meant it.
Rating: 3/10
An initial salvo from the forthcoming "Fire & Skill" Jam covers tribute album, this is hardly going to set the house ablaze (dull old Jam "joke"). The Buffalo Tom version of "Going Underground" ain't bad, slowing the original down to half-speed and turning it into an REM-ish ballad in the process. A few points there then.
All kudos is lost however by the horrendous hippy-tinged bollocks that is "Carnation", featuring a grating Liam "I Want To Be In The Beatles - Even Though They've Split Up. And Were Shite" Gallagher and unexciting guitar work from Steve "Fanny" Craddock (one of the inexcusable satan spawn that makes up OCS). These men should be executed for countless crimes against music - by Lisa from Steps. Many points deducted.
Me, I want to hear Garbage doing "Butterfly Collector" and Gene's "A Town Called Malice" instead.
Rating: -2/10
|
