Singled Out! with Cut Copy - July 7th 2008

Cut Copy are guest editors of this week's Singled Out! We gave them five releases, all out this week, and they were charged with writing a review. Here's what they thought...

N.E.R.D. - 'Everyone Nose'

Dan: Shit.
Tim: Is this N.E.R.D.? Wow... what an annoying career trajectory.
Ben: They sound like a really bad version of themselves.
Mitchell: With that age-old theme of standing in line for the bathroom.
Dan: Next!

Madonna - 'Give It 2 Me'

T: Is this the Pharrell-produced track? It's okay.
D: Sounds like he's trying to do a Timbaland.
B: It doesn't sound that different to her last album...
D: Do you reckon? I think it sounds pretty different.
B: I mean more the tune...
T: I think it's a step back - on the last record she got Stuart Price to produce it, but going back to Timbaland and N.E.R.D. is nowhere near as forward-thinking.
M: Yeah, when she used her profile alongside Stuart Price it was a really cool combination - he could bring more to it. I don't think working with one of those hit-makers is the best option for her.
D: It's okay though... some alright production going on.

The Long Blondes – 'Guilt'

M: Wow. Major diminished seventh.
T: Very 'indie-dance'. It'll get those indie-dance kids going!
D: They sound a bit bigger on this outing, like someone's produced them...
M: Erol Alkan did I think
T: It's a nice enough tune without blowing my mind
D: Quite a few chord changes in there
M: Yeah, they went to chord school!
T: Something we need to do....
D: Or music school... ha.

Underworld - 'Ring Road (Laidback Luke remix)'

T: Woah. That's some pretty deep minimal.
M: Anyone wanna neck a handful of pingers? [laughs]
D: There's some beat poetry in there too...
T: Sounds very Underworld
D: Yeah, minimal Serge Santiago-type territory... it would work in the right environment, in the right circumstances!

The Last Shadow Puppets - 'Standing Next To Me'

D: Cool. This is the best one so far.
M: Some nice strings in there.
B: It's the guy from Arctic Monkeys isn't it?
T: It's cool... very haunting. It's got a bit of a Burt Bacharach kind of sound.
D: I'm so glad we finally liked one!

What do you think of the band's thoughts? Make yourself heard by posting a comment below...