THE music, THE subways, frankmusik and more - singles for THE week beginning 9th june!

THE SUGARS / BLACK FRIDAY (BAD SNEAKERS) This stripped down release sits rather at odds with the rest of The Sugars’ catalogue, which is chock full of some excellent blues and swing (think Brian Setzer and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies without all the horns and sleaze). ‘Black Friday’ refuses to fit in with either category, but is a solid single nonetheless. FRANKMUSIK / IN STEP (UNIVERSAL) Frankmusik were responsible for one of the greatest EPs of last year, so it’s pleasing to see they’ve nailed the vital follow-up single. ‘In Step’ retains their slightly camp electro feel, but is so ridiculously infectious that you’ll be visiting the doctor to check your jabs are up to date. Go on, off you go… ROSALITA / WHAT WOULD YOUR MOTHER SAY? (TASTE MEDIA) It’s hard to shake the feeling that this title could’ve been pulled from the pages of the Daily Mail, isn’t it? Rosalita’s inexperience is all too obvious on this track, and vocally it sounds like Frank Spencer singing along to a mixture of The Killers and The Arctic Monkeys - which can never be a good thing. THE SUBWAYS / ALRIGHT (INFECTIOUS) Oh no! The Subways have discovered the power of a good melody and lost their edge in the process! What happened guys? The spiky, jagged riffs from ‘Young For Eternity’ have been smoothed over with some lavish production, leaving this particular single sounding very American. We’re not upset - just disappointed. THE DUKE SPIRIT / MY SUNKEN TREASURE (LOOG) ‘My Sunken Treasure’ may further The Duke Spirit’s evident fascination with all things nautical, but there’s not a whole lot to be plundered from this track. Whilst the piano melody and husky vocal are pleasant on the ears, it really is a weaker effort from an otherwise flawless album. FOALS / RED SOCK PUGIE (TRANSGRESSIVE) This is a rather sedate single which ambles along without doing anything particuarly noteworthy. The echo-heavy guitars become lost in a sea of drum lines and disinterested singing, leaving the single severely lacking in the entertainment department. They may have cornered the E4 market, but will this single win Foals any new fans? Neigh. WE ARE SCIENTISTS / CHICK LIT (VIRGIN) We should all be thankful that this playful, almost disco-like number includes none of the inane subject matter associated with the single’s namesake. Even if the song doesn’t take your fancy, the cowboy themed video which sees Keith and Chris lassoing small dogs is well worth a watch.