Eoin Butler's guide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams
FLEET FOXES
White Winter Hymnal
Sub Pop
****
How to describe the spookiest track from one of the most oddly captivating albums to come along in recent years? My Morning Jacket meets The Everly Brothers meets The Soggy Bottom Boys? No, that doesn't come close, I'm afraid.
SHE & HIM
This Is Not a Test
Merge
***
Actress Zooey Deschanel (She to guitarist Matt Ward's Him) recently crossed our paths starring in that godawful apocalyptic thriller
The Happening. But we can't stay mad with her too long, not when this has a
Benny Hill-style kazoo solo halfway through. Those really are all too rare in alt.rock circles these days.
TEGAN AND SARA
Back in Your Head
Sire
**
These are Canadian indie pop twins whose performance at Dublin's Button Factory earlier this year was rapturously received. On this evidence, I'm guessing you had to be there.
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
Dear God
Warner
*
It would be hard to think of a single instance in modern rock history when a band failed so spectacularly to live up to such an awesome band name. Dude, this barely avenges one-fold here, and
Dear Godis the heavy metal equivalent of saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
YOU'RE ONLY MASSIVE
Grand Theft
Hopkins
***
Waterford D.I.Y techno-pop duo You're Only Massive kick off one of the least likely (hell, possibly only ever) Irish rap/rock feuds with this track, available exclusively on their MySpace page. Ouch, is all I'll say.
www.myspace.com/youreonlymassive
ATTIC LIGHTS FEATURING DAVID GEST
Bring You Down
Island
**
Reality TV staple David Gest channels his inner Vincent Price on this bizarre collaboration with Scottish indie hopefuls Attic Lights. Gest was once married to Liza Minelli. And he aims some hilariously lame disses at his ex-wife here. (Random sample: "Who would ever think a love so bold/Could find a woman so cold.") For the coup de grace, he throws syntax out the window entirely. "When I look into your past." he purrs. "I knew it would never last". Sure David, sure that's why your marriage failed . . .
