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Chingy
Dem Jeans featuring Jermaine Dupri (Capital)
In 2003 Chingy released what would be his triple-platinum album Jackpot, then later in 2004 he released another platinum album Powerballin’. Now he has released a new single Dem Jeans featuring Jermaine Dupri from his new album Hoodstar. This definitely doesn’t live up to his previous standards. Even though the chorus is catchy, it’s quite boring to listen to as the beat and the pitch of his voice remain the same throughout the whole song. This song would be great for parties, but unless you’re not picky about your rap, I would definitely not recommend buying it.
Melissa Price
Chingy website
Chris Singelton
Get Up, Somebody’s Shoes (Brownpaper)
The beginning of Get Up goes straight into the song, which has a really soft melody. Chris’s vocals are calm, quite relaxing. The lyrics also seem quite ‘real’. Great song for quiet nights in. Somebody’s shoes is very acoustic. Definitely for a laid back day, it makes you feel like time flies by! The bad thing is that you can’t really ‘do’ much with the song, you can’t sing to it, dance to it. Altogether, I think this is a good single, but after a while you might find something else to replace it with.
Maria Fafouti
Chris Singelton website
Coralspin
Demo (Unsigned)
Coralspin, who describe themselves as pop/rock/progressive, are a very different unique Nottingham band and have an unconventional sound. They have something new and different that the music scene is in need of at the moment and although their songs take some getting used to, after you’ve listened to them for a while the songs are new and fresh.
Rhiannon D’Arcy
Coralspin website
Dirty Fuzz
Tell Ya Mama
I love the rhythm to this song and the chorus is lively and upbeat. The opening guitar is brilliant and the base drum really gets your foot tapping. The lyrics are well written and you can easily sing-a-long. Definitely a song you can shake your booty to.
Megan Johnson
Dirty Fuzz website
Fall Out Boy
This ain’t a scene it’s an arms race (Mercury)
New album. New sound. The progression this band is making is phenomenal and the latest single is no exception. Taking influence from R&B and combining it with their signature pop-rock sound is a stroke of genius; the future of punk. If this single is anything to go by, the album will be one worth buying.
Sarah Milton
Fall Out Boy website
Gossip
Standing In The Way of Control (EU)
It’s catchy, got a fabulous base line and an amazing voice to sing the very clever lyrics. The lead singer’s voice is just so unusual. The remixes aren’t anywhere near as good as the normal version but they still keep the same base. The only downfall is all the random “ooohs and yeahs” but if you ignore them you just end up with a really good song.
Megan Johnson
Gossip website
Bowling For Soup
High School Never Ends (Jive)
Another catchy anthem by Bowling for Soup. It’s guaranteed to make you get up and dance. Just, put it on repeat and listen to it over and over again. Accompanied by a very comical video, like all Bowling for Soup singles, it will stay in your head.
Margarita Fafouti
Bowling For Soup website
Kasabian
Me Plus One (Sony)
Kasabian overall are a very different, original band and have a recognisable sound. Their latest release, ‘Me Plus One’ taken from their current album Empire is set be yet another top ten hit. Its good beat and catchy lyrics keep the listener interested and it has the power to make everyone want to get up and dance.
Rhiannon D’Arcy
Kasabian website
Klaxons
Golden Skans (Rinse)
Has an interesting start, sided by a really catchy beat/ tune. You can listen to this song repeatedly, without really getting bored of it. I like the lyrics, even though you can’t always hear them. I think it’s a great song to chill to, while doing homework or just reading. I think it has some really great bits you can sing along to as well. Easy song to listen to, I think most people will like it. You can sing most of it and dance crazy to it!
Maria Fafouti
Kalxons website
Larrikin Love
Well, love does furnish a life (Infectious)
Quirky vocals first suggest that this band have a new infectious sound. Although not as “in your face” as recent Top 40 hit single “Happy As Annie” additional vocals by Jamie T and Lauren Doss give this song the edge it needs to tip the scales from chilled tune to energetic hit.
Sarah Milton
Larrakin Love website
The Noisettes
What’s The Time Mr.Wolf? Sampler (Vertigo)
Noisettes recently supported rock giants Muse on an arena tour, which was no mean feat, considering they only formed in late 2004 and are only now to release an album. Don’t Give up, debut single and first track on this sampler, removes most of the scepticism over their position on the tour. If the three tracks on the sampler are any thing to go by, expect an outrageously insane album.
Daniel Lees
The Noisettes website
Captain Flashback
Crazy Horses (Prehab)
For those who prefer to keep themselves away from the mainstream music, Crazy Horses is just another scenester DJ’s ‘record of the week’ that will pass by, probably, without ever being heard. Although, others will find this song lodges itself deep between the ears because of those two words and a shrieking horse repeating themselves hundreds of times. Daniel Lees
Captain Flashback website
ReCoup
Remind You (Initiate)
The title track Remind You was influenced by the impact humans are having on the Earth, so when it came to producing the CD they chose a much more environmentally friendly and at the same time innovative method of packaging the disc using an old crisp packet. A sombre mood is only broken towards the end with the introduction of a guitar which mould perfectly with the keyboard and samples. When you hear the introduction to track 2 ‘Thunderground’ for the first time you can feel the build up is about to explode into a great electronica dance tune.
Daniel Lees
ReCoup on myspace
Mukul
You Don’t Know Me (Wasted)
Opens with a Howie B remix of the original track which is less eerie in the sense that the low and rather depressing vocals are removed (for the most part anyway), the beat is livelier and lots of interesting samples have been added. The Second track, which is the album version, is very dark and contains a rather bizarre tap dripping noise. His vocals remind me of something in between Tom Waits and Beck and there’s every chance that he could be just as successful if his album Stray, is as good as this single.
Daniel Lees 
The Automatic
Raoul (B-Unique)
With a steady intro and a rebellious message it will get you singing pretty soon, it has a very easy chorus to get in your head and it is brilliant to dance to. When I listen to it, it makes me want to smile.
Margarita Fafouti
The Automatic website
Faithless Ft. Harry Collier
Bombs (Sony)
I am a self professed hater of dance music however after this song I may have to have a rethink. Bombs is fantastic by its sheer simplicity this song is carried by basic yet heartfelt lyrics mixed with Faithless’s trademark dance grooves and driving bass. Its not often three words can summarise a song but for now all I can say is simplicity is brilliance.
Josh Payne
Faithless website
Daor
Demo (Unsigned)
There has always been a lot of metal in Nottingham one of the latest additions is Daor, originally hailing from Gibraltar. They are tight and yes they play their instruments well but there is nothing that new to set them apart from the rest and aren’t helped by their vocalist’s consistent screaming. The final track Dissonance did however show that Daor have the potential to make a name for themselves both in Nottingham and in the UK.
Josh Payne
Daor website
The Ordinary Boys
I Luv U (B-Unique)
This song is addictive. I’ve been listening to it over and over because it’s just so catchy. I’ve already learnt the lyrics after playing it twice because Preston sings them so well. The rhythm of the whole song is great and its “cute yet still Mod” style is top!
Megan Johnson
The Ordinary Boys website
The Tommys
Demo (Unsigned)
The Tommys music is snappy, loud and very energetic! You can tell through their music they really enjoy what they do. At the moment they are touring the UK. Their music puts you in a really fun, jumpy, hyped up mood- there great to listen to when you’re driving! There are a really girl power kinda of band which is great to see!
Sarah Iqbal
The Tommys on myspace
Richard Ashcroft
Why Not Nothing? / Sweet Brother Malcolm (EMI)
Latest effort from Wigan’s ‘stranger’ to rock n’ roll doesn’t go unnoticed. Opening track ‘Why Not Nothing?’ offers immediate heavy rock n’ roll riffage although limited on originality and with a complete lack of variation. Second track ‘Sweet Brother Malcolm’ offers a luscious acoustic odyssey which could bring a tear to the eye of fans of ‘The Verve’ but maybe in a way as if to say ‘why write this?.’ Tone and mood are boosted by orchestral devices yet the song still fails to deliver. Not quite a bitter sweet symphony, but a must have for The Verve obsessive’s, if there are any left.
Rob Milton
Richard Ashcroft website
Ying Yang Twins
Dangerous feat. Wyclef Jean (TVT)
The Ying Yang Twins are a duo from Atlanta and this single is taken from there new album Chemically Imbalanced, which is already in the shops! Dangerous is a really get up and dance kinda song; same goes for Booty On Duty which is already playing in clubs globally- I’m not surprised as it has that edge to it, It really is a great hiphop tune. If you are into Usher, R.Kelly, Diddy, Nelly etc. then you’ll love this!
Sarah Iqbal
Ying Yang Twins website
