The Nite Songs Singles Bar May 2022 (part 1)

 

Yup, it's that time again. Similar to last month, a bit of a bumper crop this month with the Singles Bar meaning we've officially got our first multi-parter of the year with no less than three instalments coming at ya this morning. First bit here and the second bit'll be up in an hour or so. Enjoy...

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Well the obvious big news this month is a new Michael Monroe single and Can't Stop Falling Apart (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗) is a confident comeback from the guy - a mid-paced ode to sticking to your guns and not giving up which builds up to a trademark big Monroe singalong chorus which has a definite hint of the early '70s Stones in there. The frenetic B-side Murder The Summer Of Love is even better with its panic attack vibes and angry message showing a definite nod to Mike's old mucker Stiv Bators. Good stuff - roll on the album!

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Those of you with long memories may recall that the Sweet Things' In Borrowed Shoes On Borrowed Time was the first album we ever reviewed here on Nite Songs many moons ago and I'm pleased to report that these reprobates are back with a new single Ya Know I Don't Mind (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑). It's a bit of a surprise as well, an almost countrified acoustic led number similar to something that the Dogs D'Amour might have done on A Graveyard of Empty Bottles. Not what I was expecting at all but it's to the Sweet Things' credit that it's certainly no worse for it.

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Split single release alert as Swiss ne'er-do-wells Bitch Queens have teamed up with Swedes Scumbag Millionaire for a half and half release. (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) The Bitch Queens' side 2000 & Late is a fine continuation of the form they were on for last year's Custom Dystopia cocking a snook at trendies who are hopelessly stuck in the noughties while the Scumbag Millionaires' Fast Bob is a prime slice of scuzzy Hip Priests style chaos. Absolutely top hole chaps. Bandcamp Link

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It's always good to see some new music by Jim Bob around these parts and the Beach Ready EP (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗) consists of four new songs following from last year's Who Do We Hate Today? album. It's a good effort as well, probably stronger than the album actually with the summer pop rush of the lead off track being balanced out by the claustrophobic angular Angela Hoards, the singalong ode to looking after yourself Step Back, Take A Minute, Breathe and the dark seven minute epic If God Was A CCTV Control Room Operator Called Steve. The sound of Jim Bob at his observant and acerbic best, this comes highly recommended.

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Another Nite Songs favourite with new music out this month is Dead Sheeran whose new single Now And Then (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) sees them eschew their usual angry political rants for a nostalgic look back at early '80s childhood on Youth Club Disco and the claustrophobia of the self-explanatory Midlife In A Small Town. Something a bit different from DS and it definitely works. New album due later this year which will have the political anger very much back and centre apparently. Bandcamp Link

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Here's a name I'd not seen for a bit - US power-pop types The Darts (not to be confused with the late '70s doo-wop group from this side of the Atlantic) are back with a new single Love Tsunami (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑). I could be wrong on this but I'm sure the synths here are something that's been added to the formula since their Cat's Meow album a few years back but it definitely gives this a bit of an edge conjuring up the image of Blondie going post-punk after a couple of pints with the Breeders. The wiry feminist anger of B-side Shitshow is even better and Underground (a comparative epic at nearly four minutes) is a driving slice of slow-fast garage rock which signs this one off nicely. Well worth a look. Bandcamp Link

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Could the Isle of Wight be the next place to be talked about as a musical hotbed in the wake of Wet Leg's success? Well, fellow Wightians (is that a word? It is now) albeit with a Canadian singer Jo-Jo And The Teeth seem to think so with their debut single Don't Get Too Heavy (🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑) being fresh off the press. It's...okay I guess - a driving slice of MOR rock which could almost have come straight outta a mid-'80s Heart album. Although looking at the band's decidedly outlandish image on the cover, I was expecting something a bit...I dunno, edgier than this really? Ah well, maybe they're just teasing us for the killer blow next time out but for the time being I don't think Wet Leg's position as the IoW's premier rock band is under threat to be honest.

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The Subways are certainly one of those bands you could never accuse of not being persistent with You Kill My Cool (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) being the second single off their forthcoming album and I have to say it's one of their better efforts with its driving riff and defiant anger in the lyrics. Who knows, maybe that new album could just be one to watch out for. Bandcamp Link

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Mexican Dogs describe themselves as a garage-punk trio from Liverpool and She Cries Blues (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is their new single (though technically it originally appeared on their self-titled EP last year). It's actually not bad either, a slice of swaggering countrified rock with distorted vocals which brings up the odd image of Tom Petty and The The jamming together. Not bad.

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A couple of releases from Xtra Mile now and Mingle Harde are, as the name suggests, Frank Turner's hardcore punk band Mongol Horde under an alias and Taxi For The Horde (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is exactly the sort of peddle-to-the-metal slice of thrash punk with brutally sarcastic lyrics about scenesters. Good stuff all round. Bandcamp Link (download only)

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Also signed to Xtra Mile, Berries have supported a few bands I like in the last year or so and I was interested to hear what they sound like on record. Wall Of Noise (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is a decent effort, very much harking back to the early to mid-'90s in its sound. Think one part Throwing Muses and one part Lovelife era Lush and you wouldn't be a million miles off. Both bands I used to like so this is alright with me. Bandcamp Link

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Finally, I think the prospect of Dub War reforming was one of the bigger surprises of the last few years in metal especially given the success Benji subsequently had with Skindred but War Inna Babylon (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is a good meaty rocked up cover of the old Max Romeo classic and Blackkk Man on the flip is a scuffed-up bass-heavy slice of anti-racist defiance. It's good to hear Benji back with the fire in his belly after the rather disappointing last Skindred album and hopefully this is a good omen for their forthcoming album. 

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Anyway, quick break as we take that veritable landslide of music in and we'll see you back here shortly for part 2 of our trip through the Singles Bar this month.