"A Night to Remember" - Liberty X (3.5/5)
"Song For Lovers" was an odd direction for Liberty X, so it's nice to see them back to form. More "Got to Have Your Love" than "Being Nobody," it's mid-tempo, '70s influenced, and enjoyable. It's also this year's Children in Need charity single, so expect it to chart well--better than it would under normal circumstances (released 11/14).
"Dirty Harry" – Gorillaz (2.5/5)
Not a sequel to the band’s debut two-step single “Clint Eastwood,” as the title might, “Dirty Harry” is more laid back and more hip-hop than (and not as good as) “Feel Good Inc.” and “Dare,” the “group’s” brilliant pop singles released earlier this year. The song is basically a slow hip-hop beat and hand claps interspersed with children singing and synths, with a rap in the second half (released 11/21).
"Biology" - Girls Aloud (2/5)
Not terrible, but nothing compared to what we heard from their last album. By winning Popstars in 2002 by hitting #1 with their debut single, "The Sound of the Underground,"Girls Aloud showed a lot of promise, and they delivered--particularly with their second album. "Love Machine," was a thrilling pop single, and "The Show" and their remake of "I'll Stand By You" were fine too. By comparison, "Biology" is boring, by the numbers, and lacking in spark (out 11/14).
"No Worries" - Simon Webbe (4.5/5)
Another winner from former Blue member Simon Webbe. Soulful, uplifting, and just as good as (maybe even better than) his brilliant debut "Lay Your Hands." It sounds like the second coming of the Lighthouse Family, but that's fine (I miss them). The "sample" that appears in the song is not actually a sample, but a newly recorded vocals by singer Yvonne John Lewis (released 11/7). Certainly kicks anything Lee Ryan could do to the curb.
"Ai No Corrida" - Uniting Nations Featuring Laura More (3.5/5)
8 in 2000. 7 in 2001. 4 in 2002. 3 in 2003. 4 in 2004. and only 1 (so far) in 2005. That's how many dance tracks (and yes, "dance" is a broad term, but bear with me) have topped the UK singles chart since each year since the beginning of the century. Dance is a dying breed. It's popularity in the US exists only in the club, with about a once-a-year ressurection on pop radio that sends House enthusiasts proclaiming that dance is back, only to see it sputter. Dance has always had a more welcome mainstream home in Britain (and all of Europe) than in the US, but these days even the non-Yanks seem to be snubbing their noses at it. "Ai No Corrida" is a fine track, better than Uniting Nation's last ("You and Me"), yet it suffered a miserable #18 debut on the UK singles chart yesterday, following the fate of other fine House tracks. It's upbeat, energetic, and fun, but alas, not what's selling these days (released 11/7).
11/21 is kind of a boring week for singles releases (hence all these reviews of stuff released today and last week), but never fear! 11/28 is a powerhouse (Oasis, David Gray, Kelly Clarkson, The Pussycat Dolls) and 12/5 is mamoth (Charlotte Church, Franz Ferdinand, Sugababes, Gwen Stefani, Kanye West, KT Tunstall, Lucie Silvas, The Strokes, and Shakira). The Christmas run-up is always a feast for hits.
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