This Week's Singles by The Lipster: 02/03/09

An unusually pop-heavy singles column this week, but have you seen the Top 10 these days? Lady GaGa is there. Twice. Still, the Skream remix of La Roux should sort that out, in a balancing-the-cosmos sort of way.

Track Of The Week!

La Roux 'In For The Kill (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Mix)'

The original is out a week on Monday, and it's good, though not as good as 'Quicksand' (and by the way, this La Roux backlash thing is both far too early and completely ridiculous). But this remix is so phenomenal that it's already "gone viral", as Marketing Guy would put it. It's just far, far too short – it ends as soon as it gets massive. (Hype Machine)

Peter Doherty 'Last Of The English Roses' (EMI)

A bizarre choice for a first single from Peter's imminent solo album, because it's one of the worst things on it. Maybe it was picked for its myth-compliant title, or its ode-to-a-girl, which-girl-could-it-be selling point. But it's an ambling, rambling road to nowhere kind of song. And not even in a good way.

Red Light Company 'Arts & Crafts' (La Volta)

"Hello, Big Label Boss here. I've heard these Scripts and Frays, and I want me some of that Tesco money. Know any boys who look good and don't mind giving good stare over musical Nightol? You do? Then come to daddy..."

Roll Deep ft Kivanc 'Moving In Circles' (Roll Deep Recordings)

Popped-up grime's been problematic at best, though the likes of Chipmunk look set to tread where Kano - himself now doing alright in the charts - had previously failed. This probably won't do the same for Roll Deep, however, because it's been scrubbed and polished until all of its shine has worn off. And it's a bit ska.

Starsailor 'Tell Me It's Not Over' (Virgin)

Any review of this warrants the words "Much improved by Brandon Flowers' guest vocals on the alternative version," and nobody wants to have to read that.

Ladyhawke 'Paris Is Burning' (Modular)

Given that this song first came out on the day of Winston Churchill's birth, it seems like a pointless re-release. On the other hand, it's getting far more attention on the all-important radio than it did the first time around, possibly because it's impossible to go into a high-street shop these days without hearing any one Ladyhawke song. Also, it's no less good for being played to death, which is surely a measure of brilliance.

VV Brown 'Leave!' (Island)

It's hard to diss a song so full of good will and gumption, particularly since VV rattles through Bohemian Rhapsody and Shirley Bassey by way of Monster Mash.

Brakes 'Hey Hey' (Fat Cat Records)

Also taking a 1950s tack this week are Brakes, returning for some pre-third-album action with a similarly retro rock&roll riff. It's fine, functional stuff, but you still suspect that if they'd been around in the old days, they'd have been singing doo-wop in matching suits instead of sporting quiffs and flick knives.