Joe Holyoake’s driving the pop buggy this week, and he’s got SUMMINK TO SAY.
OMG, too many new releases today! Scandi salaciousness from Rebecca & Fiona, pouty party pop from Charli, and a sultry little number from our ultimate fave Duo Lingo! Dylan Jones has got THINGS TO SAY.
The xx – On Hold
There was a quite a long period a couple of years ago when every snog and drifting finger was awkwardly carried out to the restrained and breathy songs of The xx. Well, the millennial foreplay soundtrackers are back with a track off their new album, due to come out in January.
DJ du jour Jamie xx is clearly pulling the strings this time round; it’s out with the glacial guitars and in with the glitchy samples., a barely recognisable loop from the funky Hall and Oates ‘I Can’t Go For That’.
Jamie xx has a pretty good knack of sucking all the joy out of pop songs for his mopey-dance-core, and this time is no different. The lustful female-male singing still works, but otherwise, it’s nothing to ring home about. Honestly, don’t. Save your minutes.
Busted – On What You’re On
Well, this was unexpected. Busted are back together and it isn’t just an embarrassing smash and grab.
They’ve obviously realised that you can’t keep singing about spaffing yourself on an aeroplane or the Thunderbirds. It’d be a bit Blink 182 otherwise.
Instead, they’ve released a GROWN-UP pop song. Yeah, the disco guitar lines and robotic voices are a little sub-Daft Punk, but to expect them to bash out a ‘Get Lucky’ is probably a bit much. And who genuinely doesn’t love a sax solo?
Sean Paul ft. Dua Lipa – No Lie
This is far better than a Sean Paul song released in 2016 has any right to be. It’s got a bouncy EDM-reggaeton feel and is, dare we say it, pretty summery. It’s odd seeing him release a song with his name first.
He’s so known for being a contributing artist on songs that even his wife probably knows him as ‘Featuring Sean Paul’. Our Marriage ft. Sean Paul. Saying that, it’s Dua Lipa who’s the best thing about this song, or any song she’s involved in for that matter.
We can’t wait to hear more of that deep, husky voice in 2017.
PWR BTTM – I Wanna Boi
Ace name, ace band. PWR BTTM are a be-dragged duo from New York who make scuzzy queer punk songs. Their latest album ‘Ugly Cherries’ is a short and energetic journey, brimming with wit and self-deprecation, and is well worth a listen.
And recently, they received the ultimate honour: protesters stopped off outside one of their shows in Mississippi with evangelical, homophobic placards.
When was the last time that happened to Emili Sandé? Yeah, exactly.
