ISOBELLA-The Little Flames

Isobella-
The Little Flames
Label-Deltasonic
Status-Out as of 2007
Rating-3 feathers

Known around the Liverpool area, The Little Flames released two other singles on the Deltasonic label. With clear influences in The Coral, and a fanbase including Arctic Monkeys, The Little Flames have made somewhat of a name for themselves. Isobella is their 3rd addition to their work. 'Isobella' is an awesome song. Other than the shear power, the first thing you realize is that this song was not specifically written for a woman as in it's not a dumb love song most female singers tend to perform. The whole song never takes a break from beginning to end, and it's generally very well composed. 'Werewolf Rumble' is a huge change from the last, and it's generally not as captivating. It's a bit too simple and the promising groove at the beginning tapers off a bit too quick. 'A Shadow Walks' calm but not overtly. The general tune is a lot better than the previous song's. You can easily picture James Skelly (The Coral) singing this and it could easily be a b-side to Roots and Echoes, which obviously to me is a high comparison. Generally, Isobella wasn't that magnificent. They have huge potential to do something great because their sound is so refined and if they made an album, i'm sure it would be up to the same standards that 'Isobella' exhibited rather than 'Werewolf Rumble'.

"Things changed, as you get older you realise you can go off in whatever direction you please"-Miles Kane

Video for Isobella

The Little Flames Official Website
Note: The Little Flames apparently recorded an album in 2007, but split due to something with Deltasonic. It was apparently leaked, and from what I can imagine, it should be very good. The bassist Joe Edwards, Miles Kane, and the drummer Greg Mighall are now The Rascals. Eva Petersen, the singer, is persuing a solo career. Miles Kane is also known for being in The Last Shadow Puppets. I hope you enjoy! I'll have another review out tomorrow, so watch out.

LEAVE BEFORE THE LIGHTS COME ON-Arctic Monkeys

Leave Before The Lights Come On-
Arctic Monkeys
Status-Out as of 2006
Label-Domino
Rating-3 Feathers

Instead of coming out with another single from the debut, Arctic Monkeys have released a completely new song with two covers and decided to call that a single. ‘Leave Before The Lights Come On’ tells the story of two people who ended up together and don’t know why or how. As usual, Alex Turner has such a captivating way with words. Matt’s drumming is brilliant and the way Alex sings the song adds to the emotional part of a seemingly hopeful sound. It sounds like it could have easily been on ‘Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not’. ‘Put Your Dukes Up John’ is a cover of the song by The Little Flames. Compared to The Little Flames version, it’s much more upbeat sounding and the part where the rest of the band chant ‘Change your tune and change your hair or you’re not going anywhere’ sounds angrier and bit more forceful. Though it sounds similar to original, they still made it their own and gave it an Arctic’s flair. ‘Baby I’m Yours’ is also a cover, but of the song by Barbara Lewis. Featuring the singer of The 747’s Oisin Leech on lead vocals along with Alex, this song has a very soft and fuzzy feel to it. It sounds a lot more clean and slightly over processed compared to the original. The fact that it’s a bunch of young men singing a song sung by a woman shows they’ve got guts. When you first hear it, you think you might have the wrong disc in or something due to the fact that it definitely not what you’d expect. Now, only if you’re a die hard Arctic Monkeys fan would I suggest you buy this album. Being that the title track is the only ‘original’ song, only people with refined tastes would truly appreciate this. To rate it honestly, I'll give it a 3 for that fact that the covers are nothing special and the original stuff isn't anything innovative or new; it's just three sound songs.

“'Leave Before the Lights Come On' feels very much like it could be on the album. So we're going to put that out as a single. I remember it's the last song that I wrote about that sort of time, going out and that. My life's not really like that any more."-Alex Turner

Video for Leave Before The Lights Come On

Arctic Monkeys Official Website
Note: Sorry for my not recent posting and sorry for all the Arctic Monkeys reviews in this blog, I really like them. Someone suggested that I review this so I gave in and did. This'll be one of the few singles reviews I do for the fact that album and EP reviews are much more fun to write. I hope you enjoy, and BTW, isn't the video creepy?