Single Review - Laura Marling 'New Romantic' - Acryllic Tom Tom

Laura Marling – New Romantic

If Kate Nash had a more mature sister, I believe she would be something similar to Laura Marling. The singer-songwriter from Reading encapsulates Nash’s effortless style, relatable lyrics and colloquial vocals. “New Romantic” is taken from Marling’s soon-to-be released debut EP and echoes a tale of a woman’s decision to give up on unfulfilling relationships. Yet lines such as “a guy that I just couldn’t get, cause his girlfriend was pretty fit” inject a light heartedness into the single that makes a potentially rather saddening song, quirky and likeable. It would be easy to dismiss Laura Marling for lacking in innovation as her acoustic folk sound places her in the niche of KT Tunstall, Beth Orton and Kate Nash, but there is something about Marling that enchants. Whether it’s her haunting vocals or pixie-like features; on listening, ‘New Romantic’ hits many nerves whilst pulling gently on your heart strings in a way that is difficult to ignore. In a genre that is populated by predictably similar bands, perhaps Laura Marling is what is needed, and indeed, more like her.

Single Review - The Maccabees 'Toothpaste Kisses' - Acryllic Tom Tom

Brighton based band, The Maccabees, have finally released that single. It’s the single that you hear live that makes the hairs on your forearms stand on end. It’s the single that makes the annoying girl who has been semi-moshing energetically throughout the set and spilling her drink all over you in the process, finally stand still and just listen. It’s the single that proves The Maccabees are not a band to be ignored or forced into a pigeon hole. And most importantly, ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ is the single that proves that anyone who doubted the talents of this skinny jean toting four piece, that they were hugely mistaken. With a sound much more tranquil than what we’ve previously heard from the band and typically likeable lyrics like “I’ll win your heart with a ‘woot woo’”, accompanied by an aptly timed wolf whistle; it is hard not to fall in love with the single.
The fourth release from the band’s debut album and teamed with an animated music video as impressive as its predecessors; ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ is reminiscent of something Jack Penate would have released had he of been raised by Jack Johnson, and it is in fact, brilliant.

Single Review - Hard Fi 'Suburban Knights' - Acryllic Tom Tom

Hard Fi – Suburban Knights
Single Review

“Work til you die, that’s what they teach you at school” Sound familiar? Yes, that’s because Hard Fi are clearly not any more content with their lives than they were living for the weekend back in 2005. Although Hard-Fi left behind their West London minimum wage roots long ago they have disappointingly chosen to play it safe for the new single with lyrics guaranteed to appeal to their proletariat demographic and Kaiser Chief inspired ‘ayyyyy’s and ‘ooohhhs’. Where once narratives of Richard Archer’s Staines hardships were endearing and relatable for countless 9-5 sales assistants, the unsatisfied lyrics have become reminiscent of a grandparent who insists on responding to all questions with a vague reference to World War Two regardless of its relevance. Forgive me for my seemingly apathetic attitude but with debut albums from other self appointed ‘working class heroes’ like The Twang and the Enemy, it would seem yet another bandwagon is sweeping through the alternative music scene.

Single Review- Thirteen 'Pony' - Acryllic Tom Tom

Teenager –‘Pony’- Taken from album ‘Thirteen’

With lyrics like ‘what you want when you drop your knickers to the floor’, dark electronica beats teamed with a somewhat shouty chorus; you would be forgiven for thinking Australian band ‘Teenager’ were the less rebellious lovechild of Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand and Peaches. You would, however, be wrong.
The alternative music scene is ridden with bands keen to jump on the political/ indie/ electronica/ new rave bandwagon and so at a glance, Teenager is not unlike anything you’ve heard before. Whether it’s lacking the believable sexual promiscuity of Peaches or the consistency of similar indie/ electronica bands, it would seem there is once again something missing; innovation.
Yet ‘Pony’ is undeniably one of the songs on the band’s debut album that stands out most with its catchy chorus and Nick Littlemore’s deep vocals. It combines a fundamental darkness with sexually charged lyrics injected with a toe-tapping playfulness. Team this with a music video so dark and arty its reminiscent of those of Tool and it would seem undeniable that Teenager’s hybrid style is a hip and refreshing new addition to alternative music.