Rose's Re-Reviews: Ladyhawke, Kings Of Leon, VV Brown, Will Young
- Mar 02, 2009
March is kick-started with a brood of simple pop offerings, the girls and boys of chartdom choosing the start of spring to launch their latest jumps into the fickle world of soundtracking teenage bedrooms. While it is certainly not a vintage week, there is joy to be found in nooks and crannies, snippets of song lifting the selection above the norm, if only for fleeting moments. Have a listen, or take our word for it and read on. Or if you're feeling fruity, go on, do both, we dare you...
Ladyhawke â“ Paris Is Burning
Somehow, this sounds like Gary Numan gone disco and manages to avoid awfulness in the process. MSN enjoys the "endearingly lazy vocal performance", which does suit the shimmering atmosphere of the track. Clash praises its 80s feel, commenting: "A poptastic melody squelches over a thick and filthy bass line." Yahoo awards 7/10 as "there's an unpredictability at work here which is a blessed relief". It stands out among the hordes of 80s-inspied ladies charting currently and, despite lacking a smooth changeover from verse to chorus, is deserving of 7/10.
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Will Young â“ Let It Go
"Will's voice sounds at its vulnerable best, whilst also displaying a strong range for the more powerful moments," states Daily Music Guide, giving it 6/10. However, the mediocrity of the melody is picked up on by AngryApe, which notes that "there is nothing to really jump out and make this an excellent, let alone an exceptional song". Male First is more taken with it calling it "a soulful elegant treat" worth 8/10. It's particularly wet and doesn't provide a platform for his consistently interesting voice to thrive and only receives 5/10.
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Kings of Leon â“ Revelry
The ballad release from Kings of Leon's all-conquering fourth album, this is soaked in stadium-sized soppiness. Digital Spy remarked upon the sweetness that undercuts the band's inherent guffness" and deemed it worth 6/10. Music Dime calls it "more of a mellow song with a great melody" â“ meh. More intriguing is the Mark Ronson mixed B-Side of oldie Pistol of Fire, which NME explains has "a Southern-fried soul feel with a sticky sleaze" â“ but it turns out that is rubbish too. This is their worst ever single and is lucky to get 3/10.
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VV Brown - Leave!
Teenfi manages to use the phrase "doo-wap-de-doo-wap" when describing this 8/10 marked effort, cheering its "perfect blend of 50's pop". Muso Guide calls it "roughed-up pop with a charming twist" and insists it will wrap itself "around your memory like a cocoon". City Life accurately compares it to the Monster Mash and brands it "curious" with a "spunky pop voice". It is by no means her best effort, but its playful bounciness and punchy vocals have hit written all over them. 6/10.
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