This Week's Single Releases

The Collective - Teardrop (Children In Need)

What do you get if the excellent Gary Barlow produces all the current crop of very talented urban artists on a Massive Attack cover? Possibly the most tedious charity record ever. Not so much rapping as speaking, the song is boring and lumbering and not even what I assume is the BBC Orchestra and a sung chorus can really lift it up, though Tulisa’s vocals are the only ones that can really be complimented, the rest sounding like they were phoned in.

It’s a shame I can’t say anything nicer as it’s for a good cause and the people involved coming together is incredible. However, it really is a dull track in comparison to such BBC highlights of similar collective tracks like 1997’s ‘Perfect Day’.

Give some money to charity and download the original. I expected more from such talent, especially from a combination of Gary Barlow and Labyrinth. Even a pre-born foetus can see that. [3 / 10]



Ed Sheeran - Lego House

Featuring in the abomination of the charity track is Ed Sheeran who is much more at home here actually singing. Though I didn’t like his previous track at all this is a much better track and a vast improvement. Featuring Harry Potter’s own Rupert Grint in the video, it’s a pleasurable laid-back ballad that is perfect to listen to as the nights turn cold, with lyrics that are worth listening to and a stripped back backing track that compliments them. [7 / 10]



Jessie J - Who You Are

As we reach the fifth single of her debut album it’s clear that her label is scraping the barrel for releases. Some artists can sustain such a number of singles but not in this case. It’s a perfectly nice ballad, built around a repeating and atmospheric acoustic guitar and drum track, and her voice is as powerful as ever, but whereas I imagine it slots nicely onto her album it doesn’t really deserve standing on its own like this. Great lyrics and nice ditty but not worthy of a single release. [5 / 10]



Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are

The second cut from the band’s upcoming sixth album doesn’t do anything to drift away from the Snow Patrol formula: a slow, building ballad. What is new is that lead singer Gary Lightbody, surely the coolest name of a singer ever, sounds like he’s been eating marbles with his strange pronunciation of ‘Don't keel over now’ and various other lines. Not understanding the words aside it’s as good a track as ‘Chasing Cars’ and any of their other “big” hits. It features a catchy bridge and chorus, choral backing and heartfelt lyrics, which is surely all you expect from the Patrol? It’s not going to win over any detractors but will definitely please the fans. [7 / 10]



Westlife- Lighthouse

Possibly the last single we’ll see from the uber-successful boyband, it’s taken from their new “Greatest Hits”, dropping “Volume 2” to prove that calling their first “Greatest Hits Volume 1” was, like the Backstreet Boys, slightly presumptuous.

Taking the form of a series of metaphors sung over a typical boy-band choral effect with a peeled-back piano, it’s very Westlife but also very good, if you like this sort of thing. Like the Snow Patrol track they’ve not taken any risks and it’s very much for the fans, the mums and the grans, but it’s a great listen and, though it won’t win any awards for originality or daring, it’s a thumbs up from me. [7.5 / 10]