Singles Roundup: Bob Mould, Laurenne/Louhimo, Harem Scarem, & Elton John

Let's dig into the grab-bag today and see what goodies we can find.

Bob Mould – Here We Go Crazy/Neanderthal

Here is one of those artists I should like, but really don't. Mould's thick guitars and shimmering 'pop' overtones are a combination that should hit me pretty hard. Instead, I listen to his music and can't quite get the point of how it's put together. I occasionally put on "Sunshine Rock", and I can hear the pieces of a fun record, even if it doesn't quite work. These songs previewing his upcoming album don't have that feeling anymore. Listening to these, especially "Neanderthal", gives me great pause for what the trend of the day is going to be. That will come up again later. The point is that the mix of the song is a complete detriment to its own success. The guitars are their usual saturated wash, but Mould's voice is put so low in the mix he is barely audible. The pop element is therefore utterly thrown away, leaving the song to be practically nothing but droning guitar chords. That alone is not enough to be interesting, and these two songs prove the point. I don't get it.

Laurenne/Louhimo - Damned

And here is where I question my ears. I liked the first collaborative album these two ladies put together, thinking it was one of the better melodic metal records to showcase such powerful singers in recent times. I was happy to hear a new one is coming, but this first song leaves me in the same position as Bob Mould's singles. I like this song, and I think it fits in well with their previous catchy yet heavy sound. The problem is that the production puts their voices low in the mix, to the point where I feel like I am straining to hear them. For an album named after the singers, and for having two exceptional voices, they need to be the centerpiece. And yet, it seems like several releases in recent times have been turning down the vocals. If that is the trend of this moment in time, I am not happy. The melodies need to be at the front, and this song sounds like two ladies holding themselves back. That's a disappointment.

Harem Scarem – Reliving History

If you ask me what the best melodic rock album of the last ten-ish years is, I'll tell you it was Harem Scarem's latestn, "Change The World". That album is absolutely glorious, with passionate vocals and massive hooks. There isn't word yet if this song is the first tease of a full album, but we can only hope it is. They don't change the formula at all, with the elements of this song sounding possibly too familiar if you've heard their last couple records. Harry Hess delivers a gritty vocal that never veers into sounding forced, the melody is immediately catchy, and the vibe is one of uplifting positivity. There aren't a lot of rock bands whose mere sound is that of a smile, but Harem Scarem of recent years is one of them. This is a little nugget of gold, in that regard.

Elton & Brandi – Who Believes In Angels?

This song is one of those bits that reminds us there is a line where sharing becomes oversharing. Elton John and Brandi Carlisle have made a collaborative album, and this first single announces that in grand fashion. The soaring melodies in the chorus are absolutely lovely, and the core of the song reminds me of my favorite late-career Elton work. The "Songs From The West Coast"/"Peachtree Road"/"The Captain & The Kid" trilogy was as good as anything he had ever done, and this song is ripped from that sense. There is a slight issue with the song running out of steam and ending on a weak note, but that doesn't hold it back much. The bigger issue is the press release mentioning that they set themselves a challenge of making the album in twenty days. I don't know why they would mention that, because it gives us the impression they weren't holding themselves to a standard. If they record happened to take that long, it was a bout of inspiration. By setting it as a limit, it is all they could do in that time. It's a built-in criticism if we wind up thinking the record isn't good enough. That's too easy a target to shoot at.