Single Reviews
A
Ryan Adams - So Alive
Listening to challenging music can be too much sometimes. There are occasions when you might actually want to listen to something with a melody, that is pretty harmless, and comforting in the background. So Alive does just that. It's nothing remarkable, but it has the right bits in the right places, the soaring bits just before the chorus, the change of key/melodic bit at the end etc.
It's veering towards the dead territory of David Gray, but it does just enough to keep going. At the end of the song you realise it's just been 4 pleasant minutes, and not that alarming or threatening at all.
Ryan Adams - Wonderwall
Great, just what we need. An extra sensitive, acoustic cover of Wonderwall. As if the original wasn't bad enough. Well at least Ryan Adams does add a few of his own characteristics to the song, but it's nothing that other great acoustic acts can't do. Give me the Mike Flowers cover anyday.
Athlete - Westside
There are crackly bits in the background, trying to create a lo-fi sound, but somehow you know that this song was produced in some expensive studio. The singer also, disturbingly, sounds a bit like Sting, and when the guitar kicks in it does sound like the Police. Somehow there is charm in this song, and if they stay this way they could be very adorable indeed.
Athlete - You've Got the Style
Another quirky song from this Deptford based band. They, like quite a few bands around, sound a worryingly bit too close to the Police, but they are still different enough not to find any direct influences. You've Got the Style sounds like the perfect summer song, just laid-back enough, with birds tweeting in the background, and just that little bit of attitude for that indie-hiphop crossover vibe (yes really...)
Athlete - Westside
CHORUS! Westside is the track that makes Athlete stand out againt all those easy to listen to guitar bands. When it was orignially released it showed hope that the band might have gone down an interesting route. But since the song itself hasn't changed, just see the review from the first time round.
Athlete website
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