EOIN BUTLER's guide to downloads, singles and free audiostreams
GEORGE MICHAEL
White Light
Island/ Universal***
After a near fatal bout of pneumonia last year, the former Wham singer returns. “I’m alive,” Michael rejoices at one point. “And I’ve got so much more that I want to do.” Which is heart-warming. Moments later we’re watching a white BMW drive into a deserted woodland area at night for no obvious reason. No, George, no! Please tell us that’s not what you meant!
GREEN DAY
Oh Love
Reprise
**
Urgh. The Higgs boson would be easier to comprehend than Green Day’s continued multiplatinum success. Oh Love is the first single from their upcoming ¡Uno! ¡Dos! ¡Tré! trilogy of studio albums, set for release between September and the New Year. Vaguely appropriate, given that the song sounds like a pub rock band covering Auld Lang Syne after hearing it once.
NO DOUBT
Settle Down
Interscope***
“What’s your 20? Do you copy?” On their first album of new material in 11 years, Gwen Stefani and crew demonstrate (if nothing else) a keen grasp of 1970s CB radio slang. Now that’s what you call having a finger on the pulse of a generation.
THE ALUSKAS
Skin Bones
Cobweb Recordings***
The Aluskas are a three-piece rock band whose bio says they hail from an unspecified Dublin suburb. (It wouldn’t be Lusk by any chance?) They launch their debut album, Draw!, at the Against the Grain venue in Dublin next Thursday .
CONOR MAYNARD
Vegas Girl
Parlophone**
Nineteen-year-old Conor Maynard is being hailed as the new Justin Bieber. (His fans are called Mayniacs, to Justin’s Beliebers – dear God, how do I know this stuff?) In truth, he looks more like Martin Platt from Coronation Street. His song is rubbish and the video has lots of product placements in it. Oh well.
