Single reviews released 17 May 2004

**tamarisk** · May 15th, 2004, 11:46 PM

by Jenny (London, UK)

RECORD OF THE WEEK
Calling - Our lives After contributing a song for the soundtrack of Daredevil and following the frontman Alex Band's collaboration with the influential latin legend Santana, The Calling is back with a new material of their own, the radio-friendly alternative rock single, 'Our Lives'. It is the first single lifted from the band's album for more or less two years simply named as 'Two' (probably because of two reasons: it is obviously album two; and there are two original The Calling members left in the band). "Our Lives" is the first single to be taken from it and is shaping up to be another huge hit. Written by Aaron and Alex and co-produced by them and Mark Tanner and Cliff Magness, this new album reveals a pronounced artistic maturity.
The song explains the significant things about life such as living it out , enjoying it because it's short, and the like. The guitar-struming beat is pretty good as well as Alex's distinct voice on vocals. I hope it'll better than their debut but I think they must maintain their style which almost all fans love about 'em! (their last album "Camino Palmero" has sold over 2 million copies world-wide, including around 300,000 in the UK alone).

HOT SHOT RECORD
Corrs - Summer Sunshine I first heard this single on the radio. I think it's really good but then I've always liked the Corrs. In my opinion it's one of their better singles to date. It's a catchy tune despite being less than three minutes long and this comeback single by Ireland's finest band is a fantastic pop song, which willinplant itself into our brains and have all their fans singing it all summer!
The video isn't bad either.
However, lead single "Summer Sunshine" is jolly, guitar-driven, 80s pop-rock and, like much of the album, has a few quirky production gimmicks to fill out the verse while the chorus explodes into big drums and meaty guitar hooks. After a long break it's good to have them back!

Barenaked Ladies - Celebrity Amusing and quirky as ever, Barenaked Ladies are the holiday camp red coats of the Canadian rock industry. If you are already familar with the Barenaked Ladies then this single is the first from the new album - a return to form after the slightly disappointing Maroon. Although the wit hasn't run dry and the tunes (often echoing the Cars, XTC and REM in pop mode) remain upliftingly light and engaging, this higher-profile seriousness is jolly good news for all the killjoys in the UK, a country where cynicism seems a highly regarded virtue and where pop bands with brazenly humorous tendencies are hounded out of town.
So, its seems that the Barenaked Ladies have turned their back on trying to crack the UK like many other North-American bands and they are turning to Europe.
Sadly, 'Celebrity' is not the classic that many people were expecting. At times, it becomes dangerously close to naff-pop. But these are minor complaints...

Cassidy feat. R. Kelly - Hotel Cassidy makes a fine debut with the album Split Personality. Backed up bygood production by Swizz Beatz its a promising first showing. The single 'Hotel' with R. Kelly and Can't Go No Better are just 2 reasons whysomeone should listen this newcomer. Cassidys' true talent is exposed through his original and raw simolies and rhymes that occassionally require a rewind. His talent is also apparent through his clear intellectual and cleverness which shines on "Split Personality." Cassidys' flow over the beats is impressiveand shows he has the potential to become a big time player in the rapgame.

Chingy featuring J Weav - One Call Away A very good effort for this young rapper and if he can continue with singles like this in the futre he will become one of the biggestplayas in the game. If you are familiar with the Hip-hop wave, then 'One Call Away' contains everything a new hip hop artist needs to have, style, lyrical talent and amazing beats. It has some excellent fast rapping highlights of the year and the strongest consistent beat. It seems that Chingy tries a lot to be named as 'second rate Nelly Style'. I would only go out and buy this single if you are a devoted fan. But to put it simply, Chingy, with this single will stay in the shadow of his St. Lious compatriot Nelly!

PJ Harvey - The Letter PJ Harvey's seventh album Uh Huh Her, the follow-up to 2001's Mercury Prize-winning Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, is released on May 31. Written, performed, recorded, mixed and produced by Harvey, the album includes the first single "The Letter". We recommend 'The Letter' to anybody who likes rock music!! Even if you dont, check it out, you might be pleasantly surprised!
Can't wait til new album come out, the rock scene just became even more interesting with the emergence of this awesome female!

Story Of The Year - Until The Day I Die To start off, I've already seen these guys live twice. The first time I saw them open for Linkin Park and didnt know who they were. But let me tell you, right after seeing them live that first time i had to buy their CD. These guys just impressed me so much and had so much energy. Their CD is a total hit, and it is worth every penny. Story of the Year blends punk/emo/hardcore together and comes up with a winning combination. Standout track include their mass-hit single "Until the day I die", "anthem of our dying day". They sound like, Lost prophets, in some songs, some songs like Hoobastank, and some songs are just awsome!
'Until The Day I Die' is a catchy track that will probably attract people to this album. Story Of The Year are bound to be a big power in the rock/emo scene in 2004.

OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK

May 17
411 featuring Ghostface Killah - On My Knees
ABBA - Waterloo
Agent Blue - Sex, Drugs And Rocks Through Your Window
ATL - Calling All Girls
Barenaked Ladies - Celebrity
Bikini Atoll - Cheap Trick
Brand New - The Quiet Things That No-One Ever Knows
Calling - Our Lives
Cassidy featuring R Kelly - Hotel
Cherry Falls - All My Sins
Chingy featuring J Weav - One Call Away
Corrs - Summer Sunshine
Cribs - What About Me?
Feist - One Night
Fraud - On To You
Gladiator featuring Izzy - Now We Are Free
Ima Robot - Dynamite
Jaimeson featuring Terri Walker - Common Ground
Jesus Jones - Culture Vulture EP
Kevin Lyttle - Last Drop
Kurt Nilsen - She's So High
Marjorie Fair - Stare
Method Man & Busta Rhymes - What's Happening?
Million Dead - I Gave My Eyes To Stevie Wonder
Millwall FC - Oh Millwall
Miss Kittin - Professional Distortion
Muse - Sing For Absolution
My Red Cell - In A Cage On Prozac
Natalie Williams - Yours Truly
Nick Drake - Magic
NSM - Heat It Up
Others - This Is For The Poor
Pepe Deluxe - Lying Peacefully
PJ Harvey - The Letter
Stands - Outside Your Door
Sting - Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing)
Story Of The Year - Until The Day I Die
System Of Life - Luv Is Cool
Tom Baxter - EP (My Declaration)
Veils - The Tide That I Left
Zena featuring Beenie Man - Been Around The World