Brit Music Scene

The Cribs – ‘Cheat On Me’ Music Video Review

Posted: 02 Sep 2009 07:40 PM PDT

The Cribs made waves on the indie music scene a few years ago with the three Jarman brothers (the British version of the Kings of Leon?) producing brilliant lo-fi rock music which turned them into cult favorites on the British music scene.

The Cribs Cheat On Me Single Cover Artwork

Things then changed when they were joined by former The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. The Cribs are now back with a new single and new album, their first new material since the change in line-up.

The new album, Ignore The Ignorant, is due to be released next week, but it’s preceded by this new single, Cheat On Me. Johnny Marr’s influence on the band and their consequent maturing in sound is instantly clear to see and hear.

It’s not a bad song but for me it’s indistinguishable from all the other average British indie groups currently on the scene. Which isn’t what The Cribs used to or should be about. They were fresh and different, now they’re stale and generic.

The video is also very disappointing. Older songs such as Moving Pictures had interesting promos whereas this is instantly forgettable. Maturity isn’t always a good thing, and The Cribs are currently proving that.

The sad thing is that the new material is much more commercial and radio-friendly so they may now enjoy some mainstream success. It’s just that they may have lost their core values and fans in the process.

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

La Roux Avoid Party Lifestyle – How Rock ‘n’ Roll!

Posted: 02 Sep 2009 12:39 PM PDT

Music has long been associated with a heady lifestyle full of drink, drugs, fights, sex, and throwing television sets out of hotel windows. The British music scene is littered with such displays, from The Who to Oasis to Amy Winehouse. But it seems new retro dance group La Roux cannot be added to that list.

La Roux are one of the groups up for the Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize next week but win or lose the group are unlikely to kick up much of a rock ‘n’ roll fuss. Singer Elly Jackson told The Daily Star:

“We aren’t party animals, more tech animals. We are always on our laptops in the dressing room or on the bus after gigs. I prefer to unwind and take things easy, although we will have the odd late night. Mikey, my keyboard player, is usually responsible for the bad behavior.”

Am I right to be a little disappointed by this mild and entirely well-behaved display of excess? Spending the night on the laptop is activity I’d more associate with geeks such as myself, not musicians who have the world at their feet.

Having said that, The Who ended up losing drummer Keith Moon to the lifestyle, Oasis have now split up because of it, and Amy Winehouse is about as big a mess as you could hope to see this side of the equator. So maybe there’s something to be said for the quiet life.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

Post from: Brit Music Scene