We are on a green tip here at CD Times at the moment. Not only are we changing our lightbulbs over to energy-efficient versions, we’re also asking record labels to take a long, hard look at their roster and really ask questions of their artists’ short-term carbon footprint.
Can indifferent art still be tolerated? If a song does not truly add to the sum of human contentment, is it worth the scarce resources required to record, press and distribute? We say “No! Think of the unicorns and sea cucumbers!” No more shitty records: only good ones.
To that end, we pit this week’s new singles against classic hits from the past. If they don’t measure up, we demand that drastic measures are taken. Stop the waste. Stop the crap. Save us from mediocrity. Stop releasing songs that aren’t killer. Simple as.
We have, as they say in Denmark, a shit-load of singles to get through this week so without further ado, let’s get this party started.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have some kind of association with Mark Ronson (backing band or something) and “100 Days, 100 Nights” (Daptone Records) has all the cool Motown-isms down pat. Retro with no pretentions otherwise - which is fair enough - but given the new dictat, you are probably as well going to the source rather than encouraging facsimiles. Better than the 1995 re-recording of The Nolans’ “I’m In The Mood For Dancing” - but not better than the 1979 original.
Cats In Paris offer up an intriguing freakout with “Foxes” (Akoustik Anarkhy) with hints of MgMt or perennial weirdoes The Cardiacs in its jazzy breakdowns and prog-rock keyboard chaos. Definitely worth investigating, so here’s their MySpace: Cats In Paris
You know that you’re in trouble when you’re outplayed by a Bowling For Soup record. But that’s the truth, homie. “Girl All The Bad Guys Want” is a better track than “Our Time Now”. Not good enough Plain White T’s. In fact, this sucks like Dyson.

cdtimes.co.uk


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