Cullen Omori Reviews The Singles

Smith Westerns frontman speaks out...

When Smith Westerns finally imploded, the group spawned a myriad of new projects.

Singer Cullen Omori emerged from the wreckage, dusted himself down and began focussing on something different, something new.

Working on solo material, Sub Pop stepped in to show support. After lengthy spells in the studio the singer is now ready to unveil the results, with debut solo album 'New Misery' set to arrive next month.

Due to his ever-outspoken nature Cullen Omori is the perfect candidate to take care of our weekly singles column.

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Courtney Barnett – 'Elevator Operator'

She is really killing it right now and mad famous, but to be honest this is maybe the second or third time I’ve listen to one of her songs from start to finish (victim of the internet age I suppose). Definitely reminds me of a punkier and little bit rawer Sheryl Crow for millennials. See: 'Sweet Rosalyn' by Sheryl Crow to get what I mean.

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Hozier – 'Work Song'

I HATE blue eye soul, Hall & Oates exempted. I think since Eddie Vedder we’ve had to live with this constant reincarnation of the “butt rock” voice in contemporary “rock” music (Bush ,Creed, Chris Daughtry, John Martin) and while I don’t think it’s going away; we do get to experience this new appearance of sad guy millionaire musicians (Sam Smith) doing “soulful” music.

It’s like that asshole with a beanie hanging off his head slapping his acoustic guitar and singing heard Lorde and Alabama Shakes and had a musical awakening (ha!) and made this song. That being said if I could trade places with him I would.

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Jess Glynne – 'Ain’t Got Far To Go'

Why didn’t they just find a sample from actual old music for the hook? Think this song could’ve been much better if they just lifted the instrumental from whatever 70’s soul song they were ripping off. Sounds like instead of paying royalties they decided to just make a cover of whatever they wanted to sample with midi instruments in Logic.

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Izzy Bizu – 'Mad Behaviour'

This is alright. Kinda sounds a little more vanilla than Florence & The Machine (which I like). I think she needs to go move to LA, get strung out, and then get better, bigger producers. It obvious that both Izzy and Hozier both have listened to Beach House.

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Wildhart – 'EP1'

This definitely feels the “realest” of all the tracks but also feels the most “internet-y”. To me all this bleep bloopy music that’s full of space and kinda Beyonce vocals never has done it for me but it seems to get really good reviews from everywhere. So I’ll probably be applying to get on one of their tours as support in the near future.

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Wyvern Lingo – 'Letter To Willow'

Can’t place the song this reminds me of but it’s cool. For some reason it reminds me of 'Ray Of Light' era Madonna. Listened to some of their other songs and the girl harmonies don’t really dazzle me like I know it does other people: maybe it's because I can sing harmonies and it’s not as hard as people think.

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'New Misery' is set to be released on March 18th.

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