The last week of October and only a little longer before we can put this US presidential thing behind us. I, for one, will be grateful for all this noise to end. Let’s dive into the Five Songs for the week, shall we?
1. The Cure, A Fragile Thing
Songs of a Lost World (Fiction)
Recommended If You Like: Well, it’s The Cure, innit?
I’m just back from seeing The Cure play a special concert at The Troxy in London on Friday, the day the band’s first album in 16 years was released. The record is uniformly awesome with Cure fans giving it a 5/5 rating and praising it as the best album since Disintegration. Having witnesses everything firsthand, I can say that they are 100% correct.
3. U2, Picture of You (X+Y)
How to Re-assemble an Atomic Bomb (Universal)
RIYL: Well, it’s U2, innit?
Bono and The Edge have long been promising at back-to-basics balls-to-the-wall rock album, but nothing has materialized so far. What we have instead for this Christmas season is a collection of ten songs taken from the original recording sessions of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, which dates to 2003 and 2004. These songs were recently found in the band’s archive and are being made available for the first time. And I daresay this track is getting some decent traction at radio right now.
3. Culture Wars, It Hurts
Single (Pool Toys)
RIYL: Jangly indie pop
Coming from Austin, Texas, this five-piece nabbed a great name for these divisive times, and explores a sound that’s mildly nostalgic. This particular song was inspired by an “intolerably drunk woman” at the bar of the Beverly Hills Hotel. Apparently, she was enough of a sloppy mess as to be unforgettable with the things she said and did. Anyone want to tell her that this song is about her?
4. The Routes, Love Will Tear Us Apart
Surfin’ Pleasures (Topsy-Turvy Records)
RIYL: Second thoughts about new ink
Surf music dates back to the 1950s and has never, ever gone away. The Routes are keeping the tradition alive with what Iggy Pop called “beat-you-to-death surf music.” They’ve already released albums featuring surf versions of material by Kraftwerk and The Buzzcocks. Now they’ve moved on to Joy Division. Oddly, this works. Here are some samples from the album which is due on Friday.
5. Sierra Pilot, Horizons
Single (Independent)
RIYL: Canadian RAWK
I’ve been following these guys for a couple of years now and they just kept getting better. This should be a slam-dunk for an addition to American active rock stations and an immediate add to the playlists of people who like groups such as Three Days Grace. The Kitchener band is currently on an American tour with Pop Evil and Bad Wolves.
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