P197 $eletext 197 Nov27 22:07:29 HOLIDAY DEALS — S E p200 ——————————————————————————————————————— John Earls's singles reviews THE KILLERS Bones 8/10 Their most traditionally Vegas song, Brandon Flowers sings in the manner of Fat Elvis's most inspired as a properly swinging brass section adds pizazz. A mile away from Somebody (old Me, other than sharing its insistent vitality. INDI FORDE Forever 3/10 A vile ballad that Westlife could cover, what is anyone who ism't an X- Factor contestant doing singing such mawkish piffle? ——————————————————————————————————1/6—— Showbiz news 141-2 Respond by text now cheaper & easier! Matche5 Dating see p391 Cap-Gem an-Sag Pets Fin HolidaysP197 $eletext 197 Nov27 22:02:20 HOLIDAY DEALS — S E p200 ——————————————————————————————————————— John Earls's singles reviews ALBERT HAMMOND JR 101 8/10 Superficially the most Strokes-y song on his solo album, it shares their wistful nostalgia of the slow moments. Yet Albert has an American Graffiti unabashed sentimentality to his vocals that work with his chiming chords. A sweet, Sweller-esque solo life beckons. ROSEMARY Benjamin's Ego 6/10 (im Hill has the exaggerated drawl of Viv Stanshall, there's great handclaps, shame it's the standard garage playing. ——————————————————————————————————2/6—— This week's celebrity horoscope 136 Respond by text now cheaper & easier! Matche5 Dating see p391 Cap-Gem an-Sag Pets Fin HolidaysP197 $eletext 197 Nov27 22:10:13 HOLIDAY DEALS — SEE p200 ——————————————————————————————————————— John Earls's singles reviews DAMIEN RICE 9 Crimes 8/10 Rice's new album 9 is one of the year's best break-up albums. Its first single - all loaded guns and bitter 'Is that alright, dear?' taunting - manages to pack a lot of raw emotion to a simple piano. Fine, mellower B-side to boot. I WAS A UB SCOUT Pink Squares 8/10 Conor Oberst fronts early Killers? Chris Carraba discovers The Knife? No easy way to say how superb this disco melancholia is, but it's wonderful. ——————————————————————————————————3/6—— Singles Charts 349 C4 TV Plus 130 HOW ACE IS POP? p340 C4 Cap-Gem Can-Sag Pets Fin HolidaysP197 Teletext 197 Nov27 22:12:56 HOLIDAY DEALS — SEE p200 ——————————————————————————————————————— John Earls's singles reviews LUPE FIASCO I Gotcha 8/10 (ypical of the inventiveness of his Food & Liquor album, a ticklish piano snakes around Lupe's mellifluous MCing as an accordion buzzes away. Though he eschews gangsta cliches, Lupe has too much fun to be worthy and it could be the crossover smash he richly deserves. THE KBC (est The Water 8/10 Their reliably excellent The Music-ish groove-led guitars are infused with an Interpol dark edge to the vocals. (op. ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— Sports Headlines 400 Big Screen 310 C4 HOW ACE IS POP? p340 C4 ap-Gem an-Sag Pets Fin HolidaysP197 $eletext 197 Nov27 21:27:33 HOLIDAY DEALS — S E p200 ——————————————————————————————————————— John Earls's singles reviews SHAKIRA Illegal 4/10 At least Hips Don't Lie was so barking it was entertaining. This grisly ballad smacks of being written by her record company, desperate to polish away her eccentricities in favour of going for the Mariah vote. Not good at all. DR OC(AGON Trees 8/10 Here's how to do an environmental protest rap - set it to a whirling, camp disco flourish as cartoonish and infectious as any Gorillaz. ——————————————————————————————————5/6—— Win an Oasis dartboard 347 HOW ACE IS POP? p340 C4 ap-Gem an-Sag Pets Fin HolidaysP197 $eletext 197 Nov27 21:22:22 HOLIDAY DEALS — SEE p200 ——————————————————————————————————————— John Earls's singles reviews COLD WAR KIDS We Used To Vacation 8/10 A beguiling mix of stern Jack White vocals, vampish Monster Mash piano and an elegant Alex James loping bass, the LA outfit take their influences to a rarely-explored mix of high art and scurrilousness The Associates mastered. Highly promising. THE HOLD STEADY Chips Ahoy 7/10 Veteran geekpoppers have a Replacements verve and Violent emmes sardonic edge, breezing along with lovely harmonies. ——————————————————————————————————6/6—— News 341-2 Game entral 305 HOW ACE IS POP? p340 C4 ap-Gem Can-Sag Pets Fin Holidays