Single Reviews

January is always a slow time for new releases, but there's at least one gem in this bunch.

Reviewed:
All Time Love - Will Young (5/5)
Check On It - Beyonce (3/5)
Break The Night With Colour - Richard Ashcroft (4/5)
Jimmy Gets High - Daniel Powter (3.5/5)
Dancin' - Aaron Smith Featuring Luvli (3/5)
Something Got Me Started - Simply Red (4/5)
Say Say Say - Hi Tack (2/5)
Fin - Supergrass (2/5/5)

All Time Love - Will Young (rating: 5 out of 5)

It seems Will Young can do no wrong these days. His new album, Keep On, is fabulous, and "All Time Love" is one of its crowning moments--a stately yet understated ballad backed with a classy arrangement of piano and strings. Will himself sounds really good on this track too, restrained when needed, full throttle at other times. The video is quite cool too, although I can't figure out what it's about. This really deserves to be #1. (Out 1/16).

Check On It - Beyonce (Featuring Slim Thug) (3/5)

This is a bit disappointing. It's not bad, but nearly as good as the party strutting singles we got from her in 2003. The rhtyhms are fun, but get grating by the end as they are way too repetitive. It also hardly seems fair that this Beyonce single was included on the Destiny's Child's greatest hits collection without the other girls getting solo tracks as well. (1/16)

Jimmy Gets High - Daniel Powter (3.5/5)

It's not unlike "Bad Day" or "Free Loop," but also not quite as good as either. I know he gets compared to James Blunt a lot, but I think Blunt is much more interesting. It does start off interesting, with the music under his vocals sounding like its coming out of an old radio, but it goes on too long. Once the music really comes in, it's mid-tempo drums, keyboards, and other various glossy production techniques. A bit much, but still enjoyable. (1/16)

Break The Night With Colour - Richard Ashcroft (4/5)

It's balladry again for Richard Ashcroft, who's been going it solo since his band The Verve, made famous by their 1997 hits "Bitter Sweet Symphony" and "The Drugs Don't Work" broke up. This radio friendly release doesn't stray too far from the territory covered by his previous solo hits. It's a minor-keyed plodding melody overlain with electronic effects and some light electric guitar. Good stuff. (1/9)

Dancin' - Aaron Smith Featuring Luvli (3/5)

A couple of fun dance tracks are out to lighten up dreary January a bit. Aaron Smith's is out first. It sounds a bit like Jamiroquai, although not quite as enjoyable. Still, it's not bad--probably sounds great in a club. (1/2)

Say Say Say (Waiting 4 U) - Hi Tack (2/5)

Pretty by the numbers House track. Very repetitive with deep bassy keyboards. Sounds slightly like Stardust, but then again so does half of all house tracks out today. And of course, like Stardust, and Kylie, and countless others, the music fades out and mutes halfway through and gradually comes back. Bland. (1/16)

Something Got Me Started - Simply Red (4/5)

Americans remember Simply Red only for "If You Don't Know Me By Now," but in Britain the band is hugely successful, having scored 30 top 40 hits in their 20 year career. For their latest album, Simplified, the band recorded new acoustic arrangements of some of their greatest hits. I know it sounds kind of Alanis-y, but the results are much better. This Latin-tinged version of "Something Got Me Started," a top 40 hit in 1991, seethes with energy and pep. (1/2)

Fin - Supergrass (2.5/5)

Third single from Supergrass' brilliant Road to Rouen has the lead singer sounding like he's singing through a fishbowl. I guess it's called "Fin" because he's supposed to sound like a fish. Outside the context of the album, this is just a little too mellow to matter. (1/2, 7" only)