PICK OF DECEMBER 2006
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Viva Voce - Faster Than A Dead Horse
When I put 'Viva Voce' into an online translator it said that (presuming it's Italian) it means, 'It Lives Voice'. I think something gets lost rather in the translation. Unlike the track itself.
Hailing from the land of psychedelica (The US), Viva Voce are the sort of band that your Dad always told you about - and is the reason that him and Mum sometimes smoke dope. With beautiful lyrics that came in with the last warm breeze of the summer, 'Faster Than A Dead Horse' is a track that is soaked in the richness of folk-rock and pop. Containing drum-beats heaped in resonance and harmonies sewn within the traditions of a dewy-eyed past, this is a track that will bring summer back all on it's own. 9/10 J'ADORE VIVA VOCE
Quinn - The World Is Upside Down
I used to hate 'Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman'. I'm not sure if it was because I was only about 12 when it used to be on and it just seemed amazingly boring. Or if it was the fact that the title was so ridiculous. Obviously, she was a medicine woman, she was a doctor. It would be like having a programme called 'Mechanic Mike: Spanner Turner', or 'Prostitute Lincoln: Cock Sucker'. Saying this though, we could do with a little medicine right now, the entire office has come down with something approaching the plague. Luckily, the Quinn single is a very good antidote.
Right now, I want to be in bed being cared for by a Florence Nightingale figure - fortunately, Quinn manage to replicate this desire through the power of song. With Louise Quinn's voice floating along as if the day is going to go on forever (in a good way) and with such subtle electronica that even The Postal Service would sound rauous in comparison, it makes you feel like you're laying on a cloud. It is beautiful in that wonderfully delirious kind of way, where you're not sure if you're actually in Christina Aguilera's locker-room or simply dreaming it. Thank you Quinn, Medicine Songwriters. 9/10 GORGEOUS...
Idlewild - If It Takes You Home
If Trash Hits were a lesser publication we could start this opening paragraph with a few Womble jokes - but we aren't that immature, are we readers? We'd rather talk about the socialisation process. Or how many acres of rainforest are cut down each day to make way for another house for the Beckhams. Or we could suggest that the 'Wimbledon Common' jibes, that Roddy has obviously had rammed down his throat since birth, have made a man of him.
In a way completely unrelated to the previous paragraph, Idlewild are a funny band. Originally they were a hugely popular punk-rock band, making classics such as 'When I Argue...' along the way. Then they dropped off the radar and reappeared a couple of years later with the 'new-REM' tag. Then, they dropped off the radar again. Just when it seemed that they're harder to keep track of than Bin Laden, they have now reappeared again under the old 'punk-rock' tag. Madness. Fortunately, they do both so well that it really doesn't matter what section of HMV they're currently being stocked in. 8/10 THEIR PUNK ROCK ROOTS SHOW THROUGH ONCE MORE
Fear Of Flying - Three's A Crowd
It says here that Fear Of Flying come from Ealing, London. We're going to let you into a secret here (causing all kinds of security threats as we do so), the Trash Hits offices are based in Ealing too. We may have bumped into them in the Drayton Court, or the North Star. But certainly not The Town House. Christ no. It's also worth pointing that there name is a kind of anagram of Ealing. Taking out the 'Ealing' letters leaves you with: F, R, O, F, F, Y. Which leaves 'Froffy Ealing'. Ha ha! That so sums up Ealing.
Ok, enough wistfulness Trash Hits, what about their music? Well, 'Three's A Crowd' is a funky little number combining the best elements of 'Forward, Russia', 'The Rapture' and 'Gang Of Four'. From Harry McVeigh's vocals right through to Charles Cave's (any relation?) bass, the whole thing just screams urgency - like a female panda on heat. They're not the finished article yet, but there's a lot of promise within these four walls. 7/10 FROFFY EALING CROWD PLEASERS
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"That's it boys. Now lean in and kiss." |
No.1 In December 2006:
Take That - Patience
I know you're all still reeling from the revelation that Backstreet's Back, alright? Well, now you're going to have to take your seat for this next little exclusive from Trash Hits. Take That are back. Alright? Oh, you already knew? How? You say everyone knows? It's all over the place? You can't move for Take That articles and TV appearances? It says 'EXCLUSIVE' on the envelope they sent us. Bastards.
So, it's true, and here's the proof. Not only are Take That touring again, but they're also releasing new material too - managing to hit parallel single and album number ones in the process. Trash Hits will admit to not having heard the album yet - begrudgingly - but from the sound of this single it would seem that only Gary Barlow is back. And he's been listening to a lot of Coldplay and Toploader. Fair enough, it's his best song for quite a while, but nowadays they should really be called 'Gary Barlow feat. Some Of Take That'. Oh yeah, cos Robbie's not involved. Exclusive? No? Bollocks. 7/10 DECENT ENOUGH COMEBACK BALLAD
