Singles & Downloads

The latest releases reviewed

KEANE
A Bad Dream
Island
**

Punks and indie kids have their anthems, so why not advertising execs? Keane may not exactly start a teen revolution, but if they prompt a few middle-management types to "talk back" to their bosses, well, it's a start, innit?

THE HOURS
Back When You Were Good
A&M
****

Their debut single, Ali in the Jungle, was a roll-call of odds-defying winners; this fine Doves-like tune is a song to a superstar who has lost it. Singer Antony Genn knows Robbie and Pete, but he's not naming names here.

ORDINARY BOYS
I Luv You
B-Unique
*

Another year, another Celebrity Big Brother, another no-mark indie band hoping to grab some glory. Preston's still trying vainly to keep our attention a year later, but the B-side, a horrible version of Can't Take My Eyes Off You, says it all : just don't look.

FALL OUT BOY
This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race
Mercury
**

It's a battle of the bands out there, kids, and only the loudest and fastest win the war. Pete Wentz and his emocore army rally the troops with this anthem, delivered with FOB's usual military precision.

FIELD MUSIC
A House Is Not a Home
Memphis Industries
***

The cleverest band in the north of England are back with a new album, Tones of Town, and you'll need a slide rule to follow this brain-teasing slice of geometric prog. The B-side is called, logically enough, Logic.