The new Scissor Sisters single 'Only The Horses' is very good

Just a normal Saturday night at Scissor Towers

Ok so here's the thing.  The Scissor Sisters rock our socks.  There was a time when Calvin Harris did too, but now that everything in the world sounds exactly like a Calvin Harris song, the sock rocking has diminished significantly.

Which presents us with a conundrum.  The amazing Scissor Sisters, who are known for their singular viewpoint and unique take on modern pop, have joined forces with the still-amazing-but-overexposed Calvin Harris who makes everything sound like...well, a Calvin Harris song. 

Is it amazing?  Or is it annoying because the Sisters' sound has been diluted by "the machine" that is radio-friendly pop schlock?  The answer is that in the broader context of "THE STATE OF POP MUSIC" it is a very good version of something we've heard a million times before, albeit with a lot more soul than the usual autotuned garbage that litters the charts.  In isolation, though, when examined on its own musical merits, it is a tremendous feat of pop, and maybe just the thing to rid the Scissors of the stink of failure that still clings to them from their last album.

Plus there are sure to be some stomping remixes so to be completely honest it really doesn't matter how good the song is (even though we have already established that it is, in fact, very good).  Even if it was a hulking pile of absolute shit, the gays would still get some good shirts-off poppers-o-clock discowhistle action out of it, and at the end of the day isn't that what really matters?

The answer, of course, is no, but whatever.

Here's 'Only The Horses.'

Calvin Harris keeps chucking out singles - listen to 'Let's Go' feat. Ne-Yo now

This is Calvin Harris with his hair done.

There was once a time when musical artists would release a song to promote an album, and then actually release an album.  But that time has passed and we are now living in an age where an act can get away with shooting parent-albumless singles out every orifice like some musical Teen Mom nightmare in a Wal*Mart bathroom.  We call these tracks "orphan songs" (sadface) and though most end up on an album sooner or later (even if it is a NOW! collection or some other nonsense) we still feel a bit sorry for them.

Calvin Harris hasn't quite gone that far, as he keeps telling us an actual LP is coming.  But we're now on the fourth (!!) single from his new album and there's not even a release date on the books. 

Not that it seems to matter - all of the singles have done VERY WELL INDEED - 'Feels So Close' and his duet with Kelis, 'Bounce' each barely missed #1 in the UK (they both stalled at #2), and everyone in the world is still humming along to his #1 smash with Rihanna, 'We Found Love.'  So maybe Calvin is on to something here.  Rather than sell an entire album of songs for ten bucks, sell a couple EP's of the same song for 7.99.  With no parent LP eating into later singles' sales, the only way to get each song is to buy the track or remix package, so Calvin's label gets tons of money, the people get their track, and everybody goes home happy not knowing the difference except the people who bought the 7th Heaven Remix EP because SERIOUSLY GUYS, DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR ONCE.

Regardless of the weirdness of the Calvin Harris promo campaign, 'Let's Go' is still a nice little dance romp, though probably only if you like Calvin Harris.  If you don't then you probably will not like it and also probably shouldn't listen to the radio at all for the rest of the year because literally everything that is coming out sounds exactly like this. 

Rihanna/Calvin Harris' 'We Found Love' premiere! Listen now!

Just another day at the office.

So the new Rihanna is here and it is both very good and very disappointing. 

It is very good because, objectively, it is VERY GOOD.  It has a great catchy hook and a punchy beat and bassline that just begs to be shoulder-dipped to. 

It is disappointing because, listened to in context, it is a song we have heard many times before, from an artist who has made a career of being different and somewhat special. 

Of course it will be #1 for two months and, at the very least, make everyone stop talking about Lady Gaga for a precious few moments, but to be honest, Rihanna, WE EXPECTED A BIT MORE FROM YOU.

You can listen to the premiere HERE thanks to some French piracy.

"Needs work; see us after class" etc

Calvin Harris unleashes his 'Awooga' all over the interwebs - watch now!

"If you keep touching yourself you'll grow paint on your hands."

Remember when Calvin Harris was super awesome and popular?

Us either, but apparently he was both of those things at some point.

The hitmaker - who gave us gems like 'Dance Wiv Me' (AMAZING), 'Merrymaking at My Place' (AMAZING) and 'I'm Not Alone' (shit), is back with a new album and a sort of new sound.  He's always been known as a "DJ who sings" but evidently he LOATHED EVERY MINUTE OF THE RESULTING WORLDWIDE FAME AND OBSCENE FORTUNE and has sworn off singing on his own records because, quite simply, he can't be bothered.

Accordingly, Mr. Harris' new album's lead single features no vocals over its thumping beats, but in all fairness isn't as terrible as we were expecting. Still, it's hard to imagine he'll manage another number 1 UK single if he stays this vocal-less course.  Which we don't particularly care about, one way or the other, but we thought it was worth mentioning.

Whatever, he's still hot at least.

Who wants to see the new Calvin Harris video "You Used To Hold Me"?

Us too.


Calvin Harris - You Used To Hold Me

Calvin Harris | MySpace Music Videos

Calvin Harris has a 'Flashback' (video)

Because the 90's ended too soon.

Chart Chat UK, Aug. 16, 2009

A flip-flop at the top this week, and a couple of top tens that are interesting, albeit for wildly different reasons.
Black Eyed Peas return to number 1 with 'I Gotta Feeling,' pushing Tinchy Stryder down to 2. Calvin Harris' new jam debuts at number 3, and while it can't extend to three his string of number 1's, this happy dance track serves as a nice promo for his new album due out next week. One place below and we find a man whose music career has been overshadowed by his tabloid appearances. Peter Andre had a surprisingly healthy run of hits in the 90's as a pin-up, ever-shirtless hottie, before he faded into obscurity, only to be thrust back into the limelight by an appearance on 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' and subsequent marriage to fellow contestant and glamour girl Jordan. Since he re-entered the public eye, Andre's chart fortunes have been mixed, with two top 10's and two also-rans. There always seemed to be a question of whether people were buying his songs because of the music or they hype - especially this time around. This number 4 placing for new single 'Behind Closed Doors' comes on the heels of his very public marriage breakdown and does very little to answer that question. The Ian Carey Project manages to improve on last week's number 10 showing, moving up a place to 9. At number 10 we find the first top 10 for ScopiSat fave Little Boots. 'Remedy' finally gives the hotly-tipped singer a solid hit, with the single's full release still a day away. There's not a lot of action in the rest of the chart, but there are a few tracks to watch. David Guetta's track with Akon bows at 21, right above Noisettes who can't seem to break through the number 20 barrier with 'Never Forget You.' Frankmusik sticks around as well, treading water with his latest, 'Confusion Girl.'

The UK Top Ten:

1 - Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling
2 - Tinchy Stryder ft Amelle: Never Leave You
3 - Calvin Harris: Ready For the Weekend
4 - Peter Andre: Behind Closed Doors
5 - Beyonce: Sweet Dreams
6 - Mr. Hudson ft Kanye West: Supernova
7 - JLS: Beat Again
8 - Pitbull: I Know You Want Me
9 - Ian Carey Project: Get Shaky
10- Little Boots: Remedy

Kylie makes Calvin crap himself

Calvin Harris has revealed that his nerves got the best of him when he worked with Kylie on her last album, 'X', saying that he barely spoke and just 'tried not to offend her.' During the co-writing stage, Calvin was so overwhelmed that he just clammed up, and has terrible memories of Kylie's eyes 'glazing over.' However, Calvin has already said he is planning to work with the pop princess again next year - on a her new album perhaps? And to be fair, Calvin poses a good question: 'What do you do when you're in a room with Kylie?'

Read more here

Calvin Harris touches people up

So we already told you about Calvin Harris' new single and now he has taken to the interwebs to promote it. This is Mr. Harris playing a human synthesizer (no we don't know either, and ScopiSat has sat through the video about five times) and the whole thing serves as solid confirmation of both Calvin's brilliance and complete insanity. Regardless, the whole painty mess is AMAZING.

Calvin Harris has a new single out sometime

ScopiSat is still a little confused about when it's out though... and the video certainly isn't any help is it...



Out now on Sony BMG

Update: at first it sounded a bit crap but it gets better if you stick with it