Category: Rock

STEELE – Follow

“I love how optimistic press releases are.”

Tim: It’s “finally time for STEELE’s new release”, apparently, so here it is combining “cinematic influences along with elements inspired by post-rock music.”

Tom: I love how optimistic press releases are.

Tim: And actually cinematic seems like a good word to describe that, because that’d be one hell of a track to go over the first part of a closing credits.

Tom: That’s true, but let’s not forget there are very few closing-credit songs that make it into the charts. It’s definitely possible, of course: but in most cases it’s the artist cashing in. (Hi there, Fall Out Boy.)

Tim: Further notes from the artist mention a “musical maze that’s full of emotion and passion” which is probably pushing it a bit far because what on earth is a musical maze?

Tom: One that’s confusing, difficult to find your way around, and half way through you realise that you acually just want to skip to the end and get out of there. That’s probably unduly harsh, but get your metaphors right, people.

Tim: Regardless, hell of a dramatic track, and while the voice may well grate with some people, I’m all for this. Now, what film can we fit it to?

Nina Söderquist – Kärlek

“That… that did not go where I expected it to.”

Tim: I won’t spoil this for you, or bore you with details of Nina’s considerable career so far. Instead, just press play, and listen until the thing happens before reading ahead. You’ll know what the thing is.

Tom: That… that did not go where I expected it to. An 80s heavy-rock guitar riff into… is that schlager?

Tim: So it’s schlager, Tom, but not as we know it. It just about manages to hide its true intentions right up until that building pre-chorus wanders on, giving way to a thumping chorus that knows exactly what it is and wants the whole world to know it. And boy, does the world know it by the end of the song, despite that four second freak out it will give listeners who know there’s a key change coming.

Tom: It’s an interesting choice, to be sure, even down to putting the cowbell in there. But then there’s the weird synth bit pre-chorus, and… I… I’m confused. I’m just confused. It’s… okay? I guess? I don’t know!

Tim: As for the lyrics, oh, something to do with love, because that’s what the title means, but do they really matter? Despite the rock leanings, this is one of the finest schlager tracks I’ve heard in a while (though I’m not sure it totally beats Nik P.’s track from last week), and if this is a genre that’s occurring right now, praise be to the musical overlords and I might even forgive them for Meghan Trainor.

The Darkness – Open Fire

“Fans are going to love this.”

Tom: I know, modern glam rock ain’t exactly up our usual street. But this is the Darkness. “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” was my university anthem. And there’s a new single, from their first new album.

Tom: So here’s the thing: the Darkness fans are going to love this. This is brilliant glam rock, and the riff sounds a little like the sounds coming from indie-darlings Public Service Broadcasting.

Tim: Maybe the fans will love it, yes, but it’s not really going to go much further, for the same reason their second album didn’t – for most people, it’s too ordinary.

Tom: It’s not going to hit the pop charts for the same reason: it’s not got the quirky, pop-sensibility of their first album. It sounds like rock.

Tim: Hmm, and not the same camp rock with the high pitched vocals that got them the attention in the first place. Harsh as this may sound, to non-rock fans it’s just generic rock music, with not much to distinguish it from the rest.

Tom: But if their plan was to consolidate their existing fans, show people that they’ve still got it, and make the music they want to make: they have absolutely nailed it.

Tim: That, I can’t deny.