Single Takes: Viagra Boys, Locate S,1, Free Radicals, Soft Palms, Jazmine Sullivan
Single Take is a Reviler feature where multiple people give a passing glance at some new music and causally rank it somewhere between 1 (Justin Beiber) and 10 (really amazing). Fun, right? Check out the latest installment below and feel free to tell us who stupid and out of touch we are based on our opinions. Arguing on the internet: the greatest of American traditions.
Jon 8/10
This is one of those songs that, once you have seen the video, it’s hard to imagine the song without Sebastian Murphy’s drunken one-man wrecking crew destroying everything in his path. It’s the perfect accompaniment to the sleazy rock chords and saxophone skronk. It’s great music but if I encountered Murphy on the street I’d probably feel safer with a stun gun as well.
Josh 9/10
How scuzzy can you go? I love the fuzzy chaos of both the song and the video, teetering on the edge of breakdown. Scratchy garage rock done right.
Adam 8/10
I’ve been all about VB for a while now, one of the few bands I’d call modern punk I still enjoy. “Ain’t Nice” checks most of the boxes I like about what they do while still keeping things exciting.
Jon 8/10
It’s the shift into the upbeat disco-esque bass workout of a chorus that really sells this tune for me. It’s catchy as hell and turns what could have been an otherwise pretty stoic post punk tune on its head and makes me want to dance.
Josh 4/10
The shimmering side of post-punk. Going for David Lynch vibes with the video, but overall feels like a bit of a swing and miss. Good idea, but not something I would want to revisit.
Adam 8/10
Synth pop with the right amount of drama. Highly recommended album for fans of the genre.
Jon 7/10
Who is D-Ology? I don’t know that he’s a Free Radicals regular and can’t find much detail on him though his discogs page features a link to Myspace so maybe he’s been around for awhile? In any case he’s got an amazing voice. He sounds like a modern day Gil Scott-Heron. The background jazz is just a window dressing to a dizzying rap on the status of society.
Josh 6.5/10
Not sure what to think of this one. On one hand it is the kind of futuristic, slinky funk that I am a total sucker for. On the other hand this song feels a bit like it just doesn’t hit the mark. Maybe it is something that will grow on me, but on first spins it doesn’t land like some of the other Free Radicals stuff I’ve heard.
Adam 6/10
Great beat and flow but never hook me as much as I’d hope.
Jon 6/10
My first impression of this (like Adam) was that it’s essentially the melody from “Gigantic.” That was a big reason the song originally caught my ear but also why I am not sure it will have much staying power. Still, the rest of Soft Palms’ album this year is pretty decent so I’ll probably stay tuned to what they do next.
Josh 5/10
Feels like an outtake from the former local band Buffalo Moon if they were less creative and had less spirit. A do kind of dig the technicolor video, but the song feels half-baked, and not in a good way.
Adam 6/10
Guitar line straight out of the Pixies songbook (sounds like the melody to Gigantic) with dreamy vibes but can’t say that’s a bad thing at all.
Jon 8/10
The state of affairs this year has really had me going for the sad, sad songs (because I guess when I hurt I really like to pour it on). Sullivan’s tune is gorgeous and heartrending. And the fact that it’s served up with little to no window dressing serves to testify for the power of her vocal ability. I could listen to this all day (but probably shouldn’t if I ever want to get out of bed).
Josh 8/10
Dig this. Brings together minimalist, lo-fi R&B with some massive hooks and beautiful melodies. Feels like a beautiful tree grown from the seeds planted over the last decade by Frank Ocean.
Adam 5/10
Great voice but song never really hooks me in with its minimal backing.
