Maximo Park
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A bunch of labels still refuse the unedited, half-decently coded MP3 as a mechanism for publicity. It’s a legal problem to an extent, with both recording and publishing copyright issues holding up the suits and ties. Then I happened to be browsing on-line retailer Insound’s download section and found a few freebies from bands on notoriously stingy labels — get them before somebody realizes the mistake.
The Futureheads, “Skip to the End”
(mp3)
Futureheads made a splash with their uptight post-punk debut in 2004, unpredictable rhythm change-ups and close multi-part harmonies at every turn. For their latest, News & Tributes (Vagrant), they write all the big, balladic rockers they were too afraid to commit to the first outing. “Skip to the End” is the best.
Art Brut, “Good Weekend”
(mp3)
I’ve written about “Good Weekend” eight or nine times now; I tried to put aside my infatuation with AB’s ability to take down cliché punk lovesickness simply by outclichéing, out-punking, and out-lovesicking the genre, but here I am downloading it again . . .
Maximo Park, “A19”
(mp3)
The Park have only one proper full-length, the slept-on LP A Certain Trigger, with its early-Devo jitter rock. But Warp pieced together some alternative takes and B-sides for the Newcastle band’s second release, Missing Songs — surprisingly solid given that it’s made of crumbs. “A19” shows MP singer Paul Smith beats his pals at lyrics: “A continent could fall tonight/And it would have no impact on our lives.”
Mylo, “Doctor Pressure”
(mp3)
This tune’s been released like 10 times now in 20 different countries, so I’m relieved that RCA is throwing us a bone, a mash-up between Mylo’s crunchy fuzz-house hit “Drop the Pressure” and the Miami Sound Machine’s “Doctor Beat,” which is my favorite Gloria Estefan song after “1-2-3.” Just in time for the Miami Vice movie.
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