EOIN BUTLER's guide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
Bodies
EMI
**
According to the Sun, the former Take That singer gave the first preview hearings of this single from his Reality Killed the Video Staralbum, to "celebrity pals James Corden, Chris Moyles and Phil 'The Power' Taylor". The song is called Bodiesand, by the sounds of that list, it appears that Williams was unusually keen to canvas the opinion of one body-type in particular.
BACKSTREET BOYS
Straight Through My Heart
Jive
*
“It’s hard to believe that 15 years have passed since Backstreet Boys redefined the modern musical landscape,” claims the aging (one of them is clearly bald) boyband’s website. Er, come again guys?
THE NOVELLOS
Not Sure
Sons Ltd
**
If Pixie Lott looks like an American Apparrel ad come to life (see below), The Novellos look like they’ve been dressed by Herman Hermit’s stylist – quiffs, sharp suits, Beatle boots. Alas, their brand of generic, retro Britpop is similarly unoriginal.
JACK WHITE
Fly Farm Blues
Third Man Records
****
The White Stripes (and Raconteurs and Dead Weather) frontman’s debut solo single is a muscular, Beefheart-esque blues number, apparently composed and recorded spontaneously during filming of Davis Guggenheim’s electric guitar documentary It Might Get Loud.
DRAKE FT KANYE WEST, LIL WAYNE & EMINEM
Forever
Interscope
**
Actor/rapper Aubrey Graham (he starred on Canadian TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation) has roped in up some impressive heavyweight collaborators here, but the results fail to sparkle.
PIXIE LOTT
Boys & Girls
Mercury
***
“Lookin’ in the mirror, think I’m likin’ what I see.” An American Apparel ad come to life, 18-yearold Pixie Lott’s ambitions include meeting lots of amazing people, performing in a lot of amazing places and singing forever and ever and ever.