This week’s tracks reviewed: The Distillers, Lana Del Rey, Mariah Carey

The Distillers
Man vs Magnet

Nowhere near as scrappy as the Distillers were back in the early 2000s, a time when checkerboard Vans were every wallet-chain wearing teenager’s fantasy (hi, me), the first song from Brody Dalle’s punk rabble in 15 years is a glossy, high-velocity speed-rocker. Think Motörhead at the Oscars or Slayer delivering the midweek address at the Oxford Union. Dalle’s voice however remains the same; a delightfully furious glass-gargling roar. Viva la Distillers.

Lala Lala
Dove

If you’re the kind of utter pervert who regards Katy Perry and Leonard Cohen in equal esteem then the moody bedroom sparkle of Dove will most certainly appeal. Hell, if you’re pretty normal you’ll probably dig it, too. A doomy musing on death it might be, but Chicago’s Lillie West infuses her indie sorrow with a dreamy pop grace. Best listened to as the nights turn shorter and you avoid going to the pub with your co-workers and instead go straight home at 5pm to buy scented candles on Etsy.

Cat Power
Stay

Queen of the cardigan wearers Chan Marshall has only gone and done a stellar version the best Rihanna song. No, not a dive-bar blues rendition of Bitch Better Have My Money but a breathy piano-driven take on ultimate weepie Stay. Making delicious snacks out of other people’s songs for almost two decades now, this is Cat Power at her most magnificent. That tone, man. Ugh, perfection.

Lana Del Rey
Mariners Apartment Complex

Booking yourself some last-minute autumn hols? A cheeky weekend break before the dull ache of winter starts to kick in? Then may we recommend Lana Del Rey’s Mariners Apartment Complex? Just down the road from the Arctic Monkeys’ Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, it’s quite the bargain out of season. Over on TripAdvisor, the reviews rave about the way it’s kind of like an early Oasis acoustic ballad as sung by the creepiest of the Manson family girls.

Mariah Carey
GTFO

Saying less than complimentary things about Mariah Carey should be a criminal offence. The woman is a global treasure, an overly fluffy kitten in a diamante-studded pink collar who has taken human form. With that being said, we shall refrain from saying much about the plodding GTFO apart from what an utter joy it is to hear Mariah delicately sing the word “fuck” 12 times over the course of three-and-a-half minutes.