Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

The inherit problem with music journalism is that one tends to hear so much music, and that so much of it these days tends to be so similar. That's not to say Mirrorkicks are any more or less guilty than any of the other bands I've reviewed in the last week. It just so happens that this afternoon I'm not really in the mood for it to be honest, especially when the singer can't even bloody sing. Mirrorkicks latest single 'Turning Up' could quite accurately described as Weezer-lite or (on a bad day) even Ash-lite. It's gurning, by-numbers indie rock with a production so trebly it makes the Ramones sound like Barry White and a vocalist so bereft of tone and pitch he could make a room of X factor rejects sound like Jeff Buckley.

Of course it's not just the fault of the lack-lustre production and the singers dodgy pipes, the main problem here is that the song is jam-packed full of ideas but none of them are really any good! The standard muted guitar intro gives way to a funky rhythm section and a vocal line that's almost always a semitone off key, this ploughs head-first into a chorus which sounds like it belongs in a different song. Of all the faux pas committed herein though the vocals (sorry to bang on) have got to hold pride of place, it's incredibly hard to focus on the songs positive features (which are few and far between) when they couldn't even get the basics right. It's not even like the guy has a terrible voice, he's just completely out of tune. This would be forgiveable if I were reviewing a demo, but this is a professional release we're talking about here. The aforementioned chorus is not only out of place but poorly constructed too, with the heavy guitars and strained vocals coming across like a poor man's Biffy Clyro.

There are a few notable hooks in the verse but the vocals are so unpleasant they are pretty much null and void. It's a shame as with some serious rearrangement and auto-tuning (as much as I hate the thing) this could have passed for a decent slab of upbeat indie-rock (the climactic closing section is definitely a step in the right direction) but as it stands there's simply nothing here to recommend but a prime examples of how not to record a pop song.

Re: Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

Haha the vocals are pretty tragic on this release, and you can definitely hear a biffy clyro guitar sound in there. Their other tunes are no way near as bad.

Re: Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

Wonder why they chose this as the single then?

Re: Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

I think your review's a bit harsh but I see where you're coming from. I checked out some of their other stuff and it's wierd cus this is the only track that is 'sung' by the guy with the glasses? Why this then as a first release? The other guy has a totally different voice and sings all the rest of their stuff. I reckon that either a) they thought this was so bland it'd be more accessible to a mainstream audience or b) it was so lame that they wanted to get it out of the way before releasing anything else. I actually really like some of their other tracks - 'Lego', 'Anything' and 'You' for example - all totally different to this 'tune'. People seem to be saying they're good live as well??

Re: Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

Why on earth if something is lame would you release it all? Bands need to know when to release something and when to just throw something away because it doesn't work.

BTW your response kind of sounds like you are in the band.

Re: Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

I thought that at first but then I thought they were genuine. The name looks familiar, but then lots of things seem familiar to me.

If they are in the band then they are at least going about replying to a review of their band in the right way, which is a lot more than can be said for some.

Re: Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

"production so trebly it makes the Ramones sound like Barry White and a vocalist so bereft of tone and pitch he could make a room of X factor rejects sound like Jeff Buckley."

Classic!

Re: Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

you know i checked out some of their other stuff as well.... for shits and giggles and your right, everything else is miles ahead of this song.... why they chose to release it as a single is frankly beyond me. i could understand it as a b-side maybe.

Re: Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

Ha! Man, you guys are harsh. I'm serious, I don't think their other stuff is too bad - check their site if you don't believe me Mirrorkicks Homepage - Download your FREE Mirrorkicks track NOW! [tho they have a vid for this single on their home page = MISTAKE]. I'd never even heard of MKs before browsing on this site - intrigued by the low rating - don't know y u think I'm in the band ?! Lol! Maybe I should ask them if i can join and rock things up a bit?... [or maybe I'd rather sleep....]

Re: Mirrorkicks - Turning Up [Single]
 

and the video for their song lego is fucking awesome