Snap, Crackle (Fizzy) Pop: Weekly Catch Up June 4th (Pt 1) - essential summer albums...(inc Scissor Sisters, Kylie, Adam Tyler)

So after a rather lovely week in rural East Sussex I am so ready for the simple life (not that one)... the city seems so ugh upon return today. Still must stick to the plan - another 3 years here before we buy a house (probably not a very big house) in the country. Twas all very relaxing and slow paced down there, and due to crappy internet connection, I wasn't distracted much by the web at all. Though I was sad to miss Sean and Sarah (above) literally on my doorstep (you can practically see the Pride Stage from my window) last Saturday :/ Their new single is immensicles and magnifico and sounds even better in studio version. Hurrah for their return I say - i mean just look at that dance routine. I stand amazed :P More on the week away tomorrow, but here are some of the books I plowed through while lying laxidaisically on the lounger...

• Rick Riordan ~ Percy Jackson & The Sea of Monsters: Or Percy Jackson & The Golden Fleece as I like to call it. God, I'm really showing my reading age aren't I?!
• Joanna Nadin ~ The Facts of Life: Sixth in Rachel Riley diary series. Still hilarious, though not quite as brilliant as Georgia Nicholson...
• Phillip Pulman ~ The Good Jesus & The Soundrel Christ: Absolutely amazing. Brilliant read

And here are some of the albums I listened to that will be soundtracking your summer very soon...

Essential Summer Albums - 2010 edition:

• Kylie ~ Aphrodite: Out of the three albums I'm writing about today, Kylie is the one I have not heard yet (though some previews from her Splash appearance have leaked online). However there is a phenomenal review in this month's Attitude and All The Lover still remains my number one song (and a song that never gets played just one. I always repeat). Based on their jolly good actually write up, I am probably most excited for the following songs - Get Outta My Way ("big pulsating beat, verses that build and build and a punchy, throw some shapes chorus"), Aphrodite ("underpinned by a Rhythm Nation marching band sound, a classic early 90s piano line before moving into twinkly territory... it's likely to experience the same campaign as Your Disco Needs You to get it released as a single."), Better Than Today (because I love Nerina Pallot and because "is a kitschy retro line dancing number with walk down the high street and feel empowered 'use it/lose it' chorus") and Put Your Hands Up ("straighforward euphoria powered by a fizzy pinball machine effects...like Kylie doing David Guetta"). I didn't think I could be more excited about this album, but Attitude's review has amped up the anticipation factor. Hurrah (plus they used my suggestion of London Nights by London Boys for their night time anthems feature!!)
• Scissor Sisters ~ Night Work: I was lucky enough to get a sneaky peek at this album and it's definitely a consistent solid piece of dirty sleazy trash - and I mean that in the most positive way. The opening (and title) track sets the tone for the record - it's more of a sequel to the debut rather than Ta-Dah. Night Work (the song)is like a progression of Music Is The Victim with it's catchy refrain "night work, gotta do the night work/weekday 9-5 shift is over" and clever lyrics like "I didn't have a penny, no I couldn't cut a cheque with a blade". It's delicious second single material and spicy and spunky with it. Whole New Way continues with a perky pop vibe spliced with some down and dirty lyrics talking about going home with your tail between his legs (and leading into a killer fuzzed up middle 8 that adds some real aggression to the tune). Other than the lead off single, highlights include the marvy Any Which Way (certainly a contender for single 3 or 4) which takes the love of a synth driven tune to new catchy heights. Jake sounds in fine fettle and there is a deliciously purred middle 8 from Ana. It's reminiscent of bathhouse era Bette Midler as she spits out orders to do it "in front of my parents, i don't give a damn baby". Amaze. There's also Running Out which is also a single contender as Jake becomes the living embodiment of a 70s disco era David Bowie and funnels it all into a pulsating, filthy, throbbing groove that hooks into your brain and won't remove itself for love nor money; Skin This Cat is a more vivid Hey Kitty Kitty from S Club and Ana purrs through it like a bustier Alison Goldfrapp (and does it exquisitely beautifully); Sex & Violence has more genius flowing through every beat and chord - it is the type of tune you can't help but wish Erasure were still making and leaves you wanting a little bit of both (sex and violence not Andy and Vince); and of course finally there is White Light - the 'Electrobix' of the album i.e. a rather brilliant slutty disco epic that is part Frankie Goes To Hollywood, part modern day Thriller. Would've worked as glorious first single (but then Fire with Fire wouldn't have worked as that song is only wonderful as single 1) or - in it's rightful place - as scintillating album closer that leaves you gasping breathlessly for more. Solid return with so many single choices it's ridiculous.
• Adam Tyler ~ Lullabies for Rattlesnakes: Brilliant title aside, Adam is fast proving himself as the solid go-to guy for straight up enjoyable pop tunes - and his forthcoming debut album promises to be a doozy. Clips of certain tracks (such as pulsating Friction, naughty word ridden Schizophrenic - both shit and bitch make an appearance, synth sound drenched Masquerade) have shown up on Adam's myspace and prove that he has knack for smart, forward thinking production, memorable melodies and clever lyrics. There's more like that to come - Take It To Extremes is a fast paced, electro ditty, powered forward by a computer game sounding sample that knits the tune together; Another Love takes it midtempo to start with before building into a powerful chorus and Adam's voice shines forward with no studio gimmickery, just pure and pop (and quite lovely); Barefoot In December I was expecting to be a ballad, but is really more of a guy-pop version of Ego (though possibly pre-dates that) mixed with some Blake Lewis Heartbreak on Vinyl; YMO (yours, mine, ours) is an intensely sparse club thumper that will sound just brillopad blasted out loud for the kids on the sweaty dancefloor at 12.02 on an early Sunday morning. Basically, there are lots of pop gems contained within - keep looking for his debut video Friction because it's coming soon...

Be back tomorrow for a video catch-up and the charts...