Song reviews

In some sort of attempt to distract me from doing proper reviewing, Glasgow’s The Skunnered have tossed me an instrumental called “The Devil Is In The Details”. It’s not in their usual style and, devoid of their good time lyrics, lacks most of their charm. I’d see this song as being part of the soundtrack to a TV movie at best.

Aged Teen are an Italian band, it would seem, and “Self Doubt” walks tall with the confident and emotive vocals of Dario Guarino leading the band through an elegantly constructed and executed rock ballad that sweats style. I like it, yes I do.

“Promises Are Lies” is a by the book rock song with a chorus and riffing guitars. The vocals work well but the rest of those involved lack any sort of bounce or indeed originality thus letting the song fall flat on its face under the weight of its own self importance.

London band Pistols At Dawn take a leisurely run at that literate Britpop feel with “Man.Wolf.Man”. Dan Mclachlan brings the necessary confidence to the vocals and the production just about supports the song’s intention and direction but it has also to be said that the end result is just a bit dull.

“Bouncing Ball” rambles (almost) unforgivably even for a song drawing heavily on folk music influences but our Mr Flett saves the day with the kind of easy going yet world weary vocals that could only have been hewn from deepest darkest mahogany.  A star in the ascendance?

The Skunnered return to display their sensitive side. It is perhaps no surprise therefore that “If You Wanted To Stay Forever” is both mellow and distinctly close to a ballad. The more cynical amongst you could also see this song as a near perfect pastiche of the Irish country song writing style. Only without the white cowboy hats, of course.

A big on riffs low on lyrics song from Swedish melodic metallers Senate of Prevail, ”Open Your Eyes” sounds a bit familiar and  a bit insanely macho in a retro leather trouser wearing kind of way. The insanely macho bit is good. The lack of originality is not. A solid effort, I suppose, but they have done better.

“In Every Sea We Drown” is a clever little song that reminds me of Jason Webley drawing, as it does, on literate Eastern European musical influences with a quality slice of offbeat piano neatly balancing the eloquent female vocals and the positively staccato swaggering of the rest of the band. The wearing of a cardigan may help you better appreciate this song but, nonetheless, this is a good ‘un.

Looped up analog synths sounds drag “Was To Distract” from the shadows into a place located somewhere near the basement dance floor. Laconic female vocals add a bit of spirit, or at least a few shooters, into the mix but the end result is somewhat confused as to whether it was an attempt to communicate with your feet or your mind.

Dance floor and radio friendly slice of electro funk that makes you wonder what happened to Jamiroquai. “Please (Give Me One Chance)” grooves mercilessly like an Isley Brothers disco period song and will no doubt be welcomed on both the better big city dance floors and upmarket cruise ships. One listen and you will believe white stilettos are back in fashion.

It’s simple when you think about it. The modern world does not wish to understand so instead you give them something that doesn’t need to be understood. “Everyone is an Artist” – about half the lyrics in the song are there in the title – is about as simple as it gets with a mantra repeated over (and over and over) a tedious wash of unimaginative synthetic sounds.  The Cubby Preachers are a band (?) that should be drowned in their own irony.

Melodic metal is a timeless thing and this song, “Remnant of a Dying Smile”, by Greek band Seed of Sadness could have come from any time in the last three decades.  As you might expect, this song goes large with massive keyboards swallowing up all before them.  All except for the precisely mannered yet enticing vocals of the delightfully named Stellaria, that is. I could listen to her all night long.