The last single from the Fab Five before Geri departed for pastures new, "Viva
Forever" is a fitting goodbye, a sweeping widescreen thing that whilst being
more sugary than a Mars Bar factory is still an undeniably beautiful noise.
Spanish guitars, harmonies, lyrics that go "hasta manana" without any hint of irony: all these cliches go by unnoticed as they add up to a whole that
outclasses other similar bands in terms of sultry soulfulness and a chorus
that breaks its banks in irresistible fashion.
Two extra tracks: a laid back hip hop remix and an instrumental of the same - not great
value, but then you do get some photos and the eerily effective video on the
enhanced CD, which is nice.
Say what you like, ver Spices will always matter. Viva Forever, gals...sniff...come back, Geri...sob...(reviewer breaks down...)
Rating: 10/10
The Rest
Ahem. Sometimes, you just got to stop stroking your chin and remember to have fun.
Look up "fun" in an English/Danish dictionary and you'll find Aqua. A cheese-laden
Euro fest with added Nintendo-style jingle bits, "My Oh My" does for Robin Hood
what "Dr Jones" did for Indiana Jones (i.e. took him hostage and fed him disco biscuits til he went a bit funny), and I can imagine the daft dayglo video now, especially Rene dressed up in green tights like Errol Flynn in a 70s porno flick. Admittedly,
this is not as strong (don't laugh) as previous Aqua releases, but it still
says more to me than a million Embrace or Shed Seven songs ever will.
B-sides are both remixes - an extended version and a 70s Disco Mix - the
latter of which is funkin' fantastic.
Rating: 9/10
An unashamed attempt to write the first anthem for the summer, "I Wasn't Built
To Get Up" should also find favour amongst lazy bastard students, even though
it's a rather unimaginative slog through post-Britpop jangly guitar territory.
Similar territory to the likes of Travis, but at least Fran and the boys do it
with passion and feeling, whereas you get the impression The Supernaturals have
merely turned the handle of the Acme Big Hit Sausage Machine™ and hoped for the
best. A weiner, where it should've been a banger.
"Robot Song" follows, and gains points for at least not being a remix, but then
loses them again for being a pretty wimpy strumalong that makes Belle And
Sebastian sound like hard rockin muthas from hell. "I Just Can't Go On Like
This" closes proceedings, an acoustic little ballad that is pleasantly
diverting, like going to sleep in the sun with warm water lapping at your feet. Shoulda made
this one the a-side, boys.
Rating: 6/10
American Britpop - can it be true? Sounds like Supergrass crossed with They
Might Be Giants, except even worse than the mental image that conjures up.
Proof that it's not only the state UK music that the NME should be writing about.
"Wrecking Ball" is much better, an off-centre slowie with whining (but
not grating) vocals and violins that marries REM with Eels and produces a
sound that tries to persuade you the band might not be all that bad. Then they
go and blow it all with "The Ballad Of The Tragic Hero (Pity and Fear)" which
sounds like Supergrass crossed with They Might Be Giants.
Footnote: They Might Be Giants were the worst US band ever inflicted upon humanity. Millions of people to this day still shudder when they hear the words "birdhouse in your soul".
Rating: 4/10
Look up "indie wank" in the dictionary, and you'll find "The Beta Band". Like
Mogwai, Arab Strap and other perpetrators of Emperor's New Clothes syndrome,
The Beta Band specialise in tedious monotonous nonsense masquerading as
"experimental" music. For "experimental" - in the case of "Push It Out" -
read: repetitive jamming that sounds like The Stone Roses on mogodon crossed with Led Zeppelin played at the wrong speed. With a complete personality removal. Inexcusable.
"It's Over" comes next, little relief with its jazz-tinged tedium, and
"Dr. Baker" is as bad, with its...oh fuck it, I can't be bothered with this...some of you may like it. I hate it. I'm off to listen to Aqua again.
Rating: 1/10
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