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Single Minded: Portishead, Wu-Tang Clan, The Shackletons, Irreversible and Bow Wow Vs. Omarion

12/11/07, 4:01 pm EST

Every Tuesday Single Minded highlights new tracks hitting stores (or the Web) this week. On Fridays, come back for rarities, remixes, mash-ups and more.

Wu-Tang Clan, “Take it Back” [MySpace]
The new Wu is here, and guess what: it’s great, dark and complex and mystifying. Ghostface and Raekwon: please stick to making records; leave reviewing them to the professionals.

Bow Wow vs. Omarion, “Girlfriend” [Face-Off Site]
Sadly, not an Avril Lavigne cover. On the just-released Face-Off, two R&B heartthrobs with remarkably similar voices pine for a girl who’s thoughtful enough to love them for their “fat jewels.” Then, when they’re done, they cut off their faces, swap them, and engage in a game of international intrigue and espionage. We think at the end of the album, they steal some boats.

The Shackletons, “The Breaks” [MySpace]
So instead of pretending there are a hundred thousand good new releases, instead check out this wild-eyed fusion of Pixies and early White Stripes. The good news: the whole record is this freakish, this thrilling.

Irreversible, “And Beyond the Infinite” [Aversion]
Proof positive the South can be scary: full-on white-knuckle death metal from — wait for it! — Atlanta that’s just as brutal and bracing as their Scandinavian counterparts. Hopefully, all the churches in Georgia are made of aluminum, shaving cream and waterlogged 2×4s.

Portishead, Three New Songs [Deaf Indie Elephants]
We were going to save this for Friday, but we figured we needed some penance for the Bow Wow/Omarion song: Portishead emerge from hiding sounding brasher and better than ever.

J. Edward Keyes

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Comments

Anonymous | 8/1/2008, 2:20 am EST

OOoook, a touch late here. Saw Shackeltons at XPoNential Fest in Camden and now I’m obsessed. The whole album *is* freakish and thrilling but, I really only got how much after seeing them perform. Great f’n band! Forced to take notice, fer sure. The songs kill w/crazed lyrics and absolutely slammin’ melodies. I love Mark’s stories, song or otherwise. What the hell is his deal? Do me a favor, interview these guys. I got a sick crush. I’m all over the web lookin for more about them and by them.

Choncho | 2/3/2008, 10:23 am EST

I saw the Shackleton’s lastnight in Camp Hill, PA for the first time… and they are a very exciting band to watch live. Great energy on stage, and incredible musicianship. Every once in a great while, a band like this emerges and you’re forced to take notice. So if you haven’t seen them yet… do yourself a favor and be entertained by one of the best upcoming bands in Pennsylvania.

Lizzie Lover | 12/16/2007, 2:54 pm EST

The Shackeltons are quite the amazing band, I must say. Thank you guys so much for writing about them. If you could please feature them in the next issue, that would be wonderful. They deserve the coverage more than any other band out there. Thanks again!

Morgan | 12/13/2007, 10:16 pm EST

The Shackeltons played a small show at my college that killed. I’m so glad they are getting more and more recognition.

kelc of chambersburg | 12/13/2007, 5:03 pm EST

The shackeltons have a magic to their preformances.
Every single preformance is unique and memorable.
They make one feel alive.

Ellen LaFramboise | 12/13/2007, 1:06 pm EST

The Shackeltons. What can you say about them, other than they’re auditory cheesecake. What an absolute treat. Their album is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time, but to see them live, is as Michael Jackson put it best, “Divinity in motion.”

Zach | 12/12/2007, 9:02 pm EST

The Shackeltons are an excellently awesome band and their music is wonderfully exquisite and dancey. On top of that, they are nice guys. Yeah Shackeltons!!!

kylie whitman | 12/12/2007, 7:03 pm EST

oh my oh my! you talked about the Shackeltons! they are truly one of the most amazing bands i have ever seen! i saw them in nyc last month and it made me feel so alive! thank you so much for writing about them!!!

Dr. Chicken | 12/12/2007, 1:47 pm EST

you are an idiot, jp. Wu Tang, who had massive influence on Portishead (just ask Geoff Barrows) was just as important.

JP | 12/12/2007, 11:58 am EST

The rest of the list faded with the mere mention of Portishead… It’s been nearly ten years since we’ve heard any new Portishead releases (minus the “doodles” on their MySpace page and the solo projects)… It’s a good week… First Led Zeppelin and now the mighty P emerging… What next? A single by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky Mick and Tich?!?