"Happy when I wake and I have a cup of tea"

Hello everyone!

I went to see the rather marvellous Love Is All on Saturday night and I'm still paying for overdoing it on the booze front. I'm too old for this shit. I was going to post a review but I might be writing it for a local magazine. If I don't end up doing that however, I will put it up on here. In the meantime, let's not break from Yer Mam! tradition and do the thing that we do every Monday. Yes, let's have a look at the new singles that are out and proud today, lavishing praise and trinkets on some, whilst pointing and laughing at some others.

SINGLE OF THE WEEK

THE ALIENS - THE HAPPY SONG (Pet Rock/EMI)

Second single from The Aliens and also their second Yer Mam! Single of the Week award (bet they're chuffed!). 'The Happy Song' is an infectious, rambunctious slab of groovy, good-time pop music like what Supergrass used to make before they got 'mature'. The members of The Aliens (Robin and John from The Beta Band and Gordon 'brother of Kenny' Anderson aka Lone Pigeon) are probably older than Dan, Gaz and Mickey, but they're still twelve years-old in the head and for that, I am eternally grateful. "Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy..."

Hear 'The Happy Song' while watching the charmingly shite video here.

The Automatic - Recover (B-Unique)

The continued success of The Automatic completely bugs and baffles me. Does the world really need a Kaiser Chiefs-lite? Their record sales would suggest yes, but everything about them is just so charmless and bland that all I can think to do when I hear one of their songs is stab my eardrums out. Please don't buy this. I beg you. Look in your heart! Look in your heart!!

Bromheads Jacket - Trip To The Golden Arches (Marquis Cha Cha)

Unlike The Automatic, Bromheads Jacket have a bit of bite, wit and tunefulness about them. Okay, so it's nothing that you haven't heard before; it's a little bit Mike Skinner and a whole lot Arctic Monkeys but this ode to losing it on the way to McDonald's at least has a re-listenability that most of these young Brit upstarts don't.

Howling Bells - Setting Sun (Bella Union)

Although something about Howling Bells just screams 'studied cool', they do it quite well. They're still obviously at the potential stage, but maybe an album or two down the line, they might start to get really interesting. More lush darkness like this though will do just fine for now.

Jet - Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is (Atlantic)

Shockingly hackneyed, lumpen bag of hoary rock cliches from these Oz neanderthals. They probably think groping groupies while knocking back JD straight from the bottle is the height of cool. Actually, come to think of it, I wouldn't mind getting me some of that. On second thoughts, I'll stick to a pint of bitter in a grotty backstreet pub. That's my idea of rock 'n' roll. Bit of Motown on the jukebox and you're all set.

The Killers - When You Were Young (Mercury)

Preposterous overblown bollocks though it most definitely is, it's really hard to hate The Killers. You can think they're shite, as well they are, but there's something almost likeable about how seriously they treat the crap that they peddle which is kind of infectious. That Meat Loaf bit is a melodrama too far maybe, but try as I might to ignore the fact, I actually quite like these guys.

Scott Matthews - Elusive (Island)

What's this guy's deal? Does he think that by doing a spot-on facsimile of Jeff Buckley's voice it automatically gets him some cred points? Well, unh-uh, I'm not buying that. No, sirree! Get your own voice, drippy!

New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream (Modular)

Hauty, deadpan vocals over a Tom Tom Club-esque punk-funk backing might sound like so three years ago, but NYPC are an intriguing proposition as you get the feeling that they could possibly transcend their current fashionista status. A knack for a decent pop tune gets you everywhere, regardless of how hot you are right now and that's what NYPC seemingly have in spades.

Sparklehorse - Knives Of Summertime (Parlophone)

More languid beauty from Sparklehorse's upcoming Dreamt For Light Years In The Belly Of A Mountain album. Sparklehorse are one of those bands who you tend to forget about when they're not around, then get reminded just how good they are when they pop up with a new album. This one's no different as this little blinder testifies.

Wolfmother - Love Train (Modular)

See the above Jet review and replace Jet for Wolfmother.

X-Press 2 feat. Rob Harvey - Kill 100 (Skint)

In the ever-changing world of dance music, X-Press 2 can't help but seem a little like anachronistic dinosaurs these days. Which they kind of are, but at least they still knock out a decent tune now and then. 'Kill 100' is just one of those; a patiently building downtempo number with nods to minimal that never really takes the easy route. Could have done without that muppet from The Music spouting nonesensical claptrap over the top but hey, you can't have everything.

The Zutons - Oh Stacey (Look What You've Done) (Deltasonic)

In the spirit of yer mam (not this blog, yer actual mam), if you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. I kid, of course, as regular readers will know that I have a bit of a soft spot for The Zutons. This, however, is not one of their best, so I'm going to have to plead the fifth, just in case I ever meet Abi and she wants to run away with me.

Okay, that's it for this week's singles. Might be back later with another post, but then again, I might not be,

JMx