Singles
Cuban Boys, Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia
I know what! Let's be thoroughly post-modern and make ironic pop records and sample the most irritating noise ever to have been passed off as music (see www.hamsterdance.com, if you haven't had the pleasure of hearing said sample) and put it with lukewarm Europop/happy hardcore type backing and, and....What started off as a fine bedroom four-track ploy to get played by John Peel has suddenly gone hideously wrong. Do try this at home, kids, but please don't make anyone else listen, especially not EMI.
ir
Longpigs, The Frank Sonata
Songs like this are what made the Longpigs one of the best guitar bands around. Beautiful pace, perfect rhythm and delectable vocals combine with rich, strong instrumentation to make up this gorgeous single. A fantastic follow-up to the equally impressive Blue Skies, this song deserves the huge chart success it is unlikely to receive. Short but very, very sweet, The Frank Sonata reveals a new sound from the Longpigs. Heavier and more meticulous than their earlier material, the band has retained its genius as it reaches maturity. I'm off to buy the album.
HHHHH rds
Remy Zero, Prophecy
The band who were much better than Travis on their UK tour have released a single. Sadly, they are nowhere near as good on record as they are live, a comparison which is even more sharp in this case because Prophecy is one of the best songs in their set. Singer Cinjun Tate (who it must be said is an absolutely charming bloke) sings effortlessly on this track, which, if you didn't have their live performances to compare it with, would be impressive, but somehow it seems less passionate. It's hard to be nasty to a song you like, but memory can be a harsh master, and frankly it's hard to ignore the fact that Remy Zero do not fulfil their live promise on record.
HHHII pw
Supergrass, Mary
The credibility of any band who releases a song titled Mary must surely be open to question, but the Oxford trio just about came up with the answers. Although a bizarre choice of single considering the wealth of far better riches on the album, there's no denying that this is a good song, albeit, like the last Travis offering, one that should have been left to nestle snugly in the middle of the LP. It's standard rock'n'roll, nothing particularly innovative, and unlikely to hit the top 10 in the current chart climate. The weakest single from the album to date, but that is indicative of the album's overall strength rather than any real shortcomings on the part of Mary.
HHHII rd
18th Nov 1999