Monday 15th February was a HUGE day for music. Not one, not two but three of my favourite bands and artists released new songs and I was blown away by all three! So, what better way to honour them than to review them side-by-side on Label Online?
The 1975 – Somebody Else
First was The 1975’s new one Somebody Else. These guys are on fire at the moment, with Love Me, UGH! and The Sound all receiving rave reviews. With their epic 17 song album release around the corner (less than two weeks to wait for that one), I couldn’t wait to hear their latest offering. Suffice to say, I was not disappointed. The high tempo jazz of their past three tracks has been toned down slightly for Somebody Else, as frontman Matty sings about a love he has lost to this illusive somebody else. With an undoubtedly retro tune, reminiscent of their recent 70’s inspired tunes, mixed with a hint of a 90’s American boyband love song melody, this is yet another winner. While Matty gifts us with beautiful lines such as “Our love has gone cold, you’re intertwining your soul with somebody else”, there is no denying that this is a heartfelt song, and you can’t help but be won over. Besides, who could deny those curls?
Catfish and the Bottlemen – Soundcheck
Catfish have taken over the indie music world in the past year or so. Having seen them live and met the beautiful Van McCann and his bandmates in person, I felt a certain nervous energy while I waited for Soundcheck to hit the airwaves. But I needn’t have worried. This track is gold and I have no doubt the band is set for another amazing year. With 7 having impressed live audiences all over the nation on their recent tour, Soundcheck is a fantastic follow up sneak peek regarding what we can expect to see on the new album. Again, the lyrics carry you away, with Van singing “I raced through soundcheck / Just to meet you on your fag break / And you convinced me to put life aside / And want you” followed by some guitar riffs that simply make you want to headbang without a care in the world. I am thoroughly impressed by this one, and as I await further tour dates and festival announcements from this band I shall be blasting this new song through my headphones and proudly sporting my ‘You’re Simpatico’ emblazoned merch. This band are on their way to the top, and when Van says this track is made for stadiums he is not wrong. All hail Van McCann.
Jake Bugg – On My One
This one came as a COMPLETE surprise. Having played and played his last two albums to death, I have been patiently waiting for some new material from Jakey, but with two new tracks to listen to today already, I was not expecting this! On My One follows Bugg’s usual winning formula, although is arguably more reminiscent of the slower, melancholy tracks like Someplace and Broken which featured his first, self-titled album, than any from his 2013 ‘Shangri La’ release. This song is evidently about the struggles of being famous, going from being a “poor boy from Nottingham” to spending “three years on the road”, we can perhaps now see why it’s taken so long to bring this music to our attention. Luckily for us though, the issues he had with producing his album are now over and Bugg is treating us to new, class music. This may not make you want to get up and groove like The 1975, or headbang with abandon like Catfish and the Bottlemen, but Jake Bugg’s unique sound and style is one not to be missed, and this track picks up where he left off. If you’re already a fan, you’ll love Bugg’s latest musical venture, and if you’re new to Bugg’s genius, give him a listen, you won’t be disappointed by this authentic, acoustic track. Just get the tissues ready if, like me, you can’t help but feel sorry for Jakey all alone, wishing that his short-lived dalliance with Cara Delevingne had worked out… Sob…
