This week's singles reviewed - Tiscali Music News

2003-02-03

Read on for this week's singles. For reviews of all the albums of note out this week, click here

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Sean Paul - Gimme The Light

Already an underground classic (thanks to huge demand despite a very limited release last year), Sean Paul now looks like crossing over with this tough slab of dancehall reggae.

The hip-hop influence of the superb original (present and correct here) has been fine honed with the appearance of Busta Rhymes, in typically raucous form, whilst the beats have been beefed up and the whole vibe toughened for maximum dancefloor effect.

Both formats include the original alongside the new 'Pass The Dro-voisier' mix.

Watch the video for this single here in our Sean Paul feature

Buy this single here

Good Charlotte - Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous

Produced by Eric Valentine (whose previous credits include Third Eye Blind, Smashmouth and Queens of the Stone Age), Good Charlotte's new album heralds a tighter, far more mature sound. And first single, 'Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous', is a perfect little taster of what to expect.

A cutting, straight-to-the-point blast of angry rock'n'roll with power-pop overtones, it's also, beneath the skin anyway, a biting commentary on celebrity and American lifestyle that pulls absolutelyno punches whatsoever.

A band to watch! Both formats include bonus tracks.

Buy this single here

Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River

The second single from Justin Timberlake's brilliant solo debut album, 'Cry Me A River' is all set to cement that 'new Michael Jackson' tag in stone. Oozing slick r'n'b production - from Timbaland, who also supplies backing vocals - around a deeply personal tale of pain and rejection at the hands of an ex (not Britney, apparently), this unique, slick, and subtly funky ballad is arguably one of Timberlake's best singles to-date.

On the remix tip: Basement Jaxx and Deep Dish tackle last single 'Like I Love You' whilst Dirty Vegas, Bill Hamel and Johnny Fiasco remix the single, 'Cry Me A River'.

Buy this single here

Oasis - Songbird

Although they're never far from the headlines, it's still Oasis' music that really matters, and the band's latest (the first incidentally to be penned by Liam Gallagher) finds the tempestuous brothers getting back to their best.

Always regarded as one of the highlights from the band's recent album, 'Songbird', a touching, simple and subtly uplifting ode to Liam's girlfriend Nicole Appleton, finds Oasis at their most John Lennon-esque and subsequently at their best.

All formats also include exclusive new track '(You've Got) A Heart Of A Star' whilst the DVD adds live and interview footage.

Buy this single here

Ed Harcourt - All Of Your Days Will Be Blessed

Ed Harcourt returns after a brief musical hiatus with the first single from his 'long-awaited', forthcoming new album 'From Every Sphere'.

Still steeped in the kind of wildly eclectic rock and folk influences he displayed on his last album, 'All Of Your Days Will Be Blessed' (along with exclusive non-album bonus tracks 'Coal BlackHeart' and 'Blackwoods Back Home') is a rich and musically diverse taster of what to expect on that new album.

On extra cheap, limited CD only.

Check out our Ed Harcourt Special here

Buy this single here

O Town - These Are The Days

They've been fairly quiet of late, but multi platinum-selling boyband O Town return with all guns blazing on 'These Are The Days', the first single from the lads' forthcoming album.

An uplifting and catchy mix of rock and pop, this brilliant new single is a tantalising taster of the five-piece's new, more grown-up direction, and serves notice to all the other boybands out there at the moment.

Also includes bonus tracks 'American Game' and 'Girl Like That' alongside the video for 'These Are The Days'.

Buy this single here

Martinez,Angie: Sacario: Lil Mo - If I Could Go

As an integral part of New York's hip-hop community Angie Martinez has been responsible, both and through her NY radio show, for releasing and breaking some of the scene's finest underground cuts since the mid/late-nineties.

Now finally getting her musical dues, she kick-starts 2003 with a track that's already big on urban dancefloors (and import) and looks like the one that 'could' crossover and make her a star. Slick vocals, smooth beats and guest vocals from Lil Mo and Sacario make 'If I Could Go' a must for fans of r'n'b and hip-hop alike, whilst the bonus tracks/new mixes could see it crossing over even more.

Buy this single here

Grand Po Po Football Club - Each Finger Has An Attitude

At a time when French duos making music with dance influences are in plentiful supply, the two man team of Ariel Wizman and Nicolas Errera are busy proving that there's a vast new world to be explored by Gaelic dance and pop, if only people would have a little look.

Serving as a stop-gap until the full release of their already classic nu-disco gem 'Men Are Not Nice Guys' (due later in March), the 'Each Finger Has An Attitude' EP is an eclectic and wildly contagious mix of house, pop, disco and electronica that'll appeal to anyone that likes their music funky not-to-mention with its tongue planted firmly in its cheek.

Buy this single here

Conjure One - Sleep/Tears From The Moon

The brainchild of former Delerium member Rhys Fulber, 'relative' newcomers Conjure One power into 2003 with a stunning trance double-header on the Nettwerk label that seems as though it's just appeared out of absolutely nowhere.

Both 'Sleep' (sung by unknown vocalist Marie-Claire D'Ubaldo) and 'Tears From The Moon' (sung by Sinead O'Connor) are helped effortlessly to anthem status by an awesome remix package that includes excellent work from the likes of Ian Van Dahl, Tiesto, Hybrid and Max Graham.

With all the mixes already a staple in a variety of top jocks sets, this is absolutely essential for any trance aficionado out there.

Buy this single here

Badfellas Ck - Soc It To Me

Everyone knows that drum & bass returned with a bang during 2002, but Badfellas and Kenyan vocalist CK kick into 2003 with a monster beats and bass onslaught that's already looking like it has the crossover potential of biggies from the likes of Shy FX and DJ Marky.

The infectious drum & bass pressure of 'Soc It To Me' has already built up a huge buzz on the underground and, thanks to awesome remixes from Peshay and the mighty Dillinja, now it looks like crossing over and hitting the mainstream.

All formats of this release include remixes.

Buy this single here

Bandits - On My Way

This might only be their second single (the first being the sorely overlooked 'The Warning'), but The Bandits are already shaping up as one of 2003's 'potential' musical gems. Hailing from Liverpool, this six-piece are right up there with the likes of The Coral at the forefront of the cities musical renaissance and, on the evidence of their latest, it won't be long before they catch up with that motley band of rock scamps. A superb new single from a band to watch!

Buy this single here