23rd June, 1997

A fallow week: rereleases and third singles from LPs.

Single of the Week

"Punka" by Kenickie

I want to have all of Kenickie's babies (even Johnny X's). A band as full of energy and vitriol as this deserve nothing short of adulation. Recent LP "At The Club" proved the band to be a surprisingly mature and exciting foursome, with thought-provoking songs and wisdom and bitterness beyond their years. But two fingers to all that adult stuff: "Punka" - a release of a song that sank without trace last year - is a three-minute explosion of trashy guitars, shouted choruses and sarcastic sneery attitude. With its attack on all that is precious and pretentious in indie circles ("if your friends all bitch you're a Punka, if your life is kitsch you're a Punka") the band positively fizz with energy and wake-up-and-smell-the-roses exuberance. Joyriders on the storm.

On the b-side is "Lights Out In A Provincial Town", a new wave-ish slowie written by Johnny with Casio VL-Tone beeps and melancholic lyrics. "Waste You" is another slow number with a haunting tune over which Lauren sings a heartrending lament. Indicative of the band's less disposable side, it is an affecting track.

The b-sides on CD2 are "We Can Dream" - a mellow and gorgeous swelling track once more showcasing the band's less frenetic aspect - and "Brighter Shade Of Blue", Blondie with Sunderland accents.

Rating: 10/10

The Rest

"Shorty" by The Wannadies

Another Wannadies song, another cover depicting an unconscious (or sleeping or comatose) female on the front. Is this the effect that Sweden's finest have on the female of the species? Or is this some deep comment on the use of glamour in advertising? Or are they just bonkers? You decide.

"Shorty" is a guitar thunderstorm of a song, shot through with weird keyboard lightning effects and off-the-wall lyrics about the perils of being too small. A happy bouncealong number, it is nevertheless unlikely to be the song to break The Wannadies into the indie mainstream.

"Short People" on the b-side turns the a-side's theme on its head and is a fairly amusing throwaway song that will anger politically correct and vertically-challenged people with its "short people got no reason to live" refrain. Doesn't bother me - I'm six foot two. Last b-side is a nice slow and low acoustic version of the a-side.

Rating: 8/10

"Julia" by Silver Sun

Silver Sun are a one-trick pony, but fortunately that trick is to produce fantastic turbo-charged power pop so that's ok. I don't care if it's lazy journalism (I'm a lazy journalist), but the band really are the indie Beach Boys. "Julia" is no exception, with it's lazy, hazy summer harmonies. Slower than previous Sun efforts, it is more of a slow burner - one to listen to round the fire on the beach once the sun's gone down.

On the b-side sits "Reasons To Live", a more traditional indie style rock tune in the style of US post-grunge bands like Eels. The last extra track on CD1 is "American Metal", a satire of US overblown rock theatrics. Easy target, boys.

All in all, a pretty run of the mill offering - bands shouldn't be allowed to release singles that are merely ok. And then they moan when they go to number 86 in the charts...sheesh.

Rating: 7/10

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