The Proclaimers // Spinning Around In The Air

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Scottish duo Charlie & Craig Reed, return after a 3 year break with their newest song, Spinning Around In The Air, first single from their forthcoming album, Like Comedy

Now, they’ve never been one to stick to the norm and the same can be same for their latest offering. Having a bit of a sea shanty feel to it, you can help imagine sitting swinging pints to and fro in rhythmic motion to it. It’s a bright little number that you won’t mind hearing now and again to break up the monotony of many tracks these days

Rating: 3/5

Marlon Roudette // New Age

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 New Age is the debut release from London born Marlon Roudette.

Beginning gently with a simple piano intro, the song gradually builds up through the chorus, verse and bridge before dropping back to just the piano and vocals, but bringing everything together once more for the final 2 choruses.

It’s one of those little treasures that, although sounds simple, is still effective. Should have some longevity and hope that subsequent releases can follow suit.

Rating: 4/5

New Music Friday // Foster The People

We’ve not done this for a few weeks but we couldn’t resist showing you all this. This is Foster The People’s track, Houdini. This week a remix by The Green Children was released.

The reason that we’re showing you is for 2 reasons: one you can download their remix for free (think of it as a Friday Freebie!), two for every 10,000 views this video receives, $100 will be donated to SOS Children's Villages (a maximum donation of $10,000 by passing 1 Million Views!). Oh and we like this over the original (sorry guys)! Check it out below:

Download the track for free here

Jason Mraz // I Won’t Give Up

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We have to admit, we fell in love with this latest offering from Jason Mraz from the first listen.

For the best part of it, I Won’t Give Up is a beautiful guitar driven ballad, that has a gorgeous lullaby feel to it. Despite it’s simple feel, it’s still enough to have you listening to every word that Mraz says and with a chorus that’s easy enough to catch on from the first round, we suspect that there could be singing along and swaying too.

A lovely first release from the album Love Is A Four Letter Word.

Rating: 5/5

Keane // Silenced by the Night

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Keane’s first offering from their forthcoming album Strangelands comes in the form of Silenced by the Night.

In a way, it’s the typical Keane sound, but at the same time, you can’t help feel a sense of calm, a little mysticism from the melody. But at the same time, it maintains that edge of mainstream. It keeps the balance just right for this to hopefully get a suitable amount of airplay. The only criticism we have is that it does feel a little short (though that does seem to be a trend at the moment).

All we can say is a great little number from the guys and interesting start to the new album era.

Rating: 4/5

Far East Movement – Live My Life feat. Justin Bieber

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Well, the last thing we remember from this lot was Like a G6 but now they’re back with their tune Live My Life featuring the one and only Justin Bieber.

Now, if we compare Bieber’s vocals on this to that of his own track, Boyfriend, we much prefer him here. His vocals here are solid and sounds much better, more mature (hint that maybe is should stick to singing than trying to rap?). The song itself isn’t as annoying as Like A G6 in fact, we quiet like it’s catchy melody that does pull you in for a little dance.

Not something that we could listen to on repeat though, but good to break up other songs. Probably will have the people up and dancing.

Rating:3/5

Cover Drive // Sparks

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The third single from the Bajan group comes in the form of Sparks.

To be honest, we’re not really feeling this like we did their previous track, Twilight. Maybe it because it’s at the opposite end of the tempo scale, but it doesn’t get us going. We like the fact that Amanda shares vocals with T-Ray on this though. Don’t get us wrong, it’s a good track but maybe too soon as Twilight is still very fresh in the mind of the listening public.

Rating: 3/5

Marina And The Diamonds // Primadonna

 
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We’ve never really taken much notice of Marina and the Diamonds in the past but the latest single, Primadonna has grabbed our attention.

Starting off sounding very innocent with a music box opening before heading into a full blown electro pop song that wouldn’t look wrong in a Katy Perry song list. The chorus is catchy and you’ll probably be singing along with it by the second rendition. Good little tune that should well do amongst what’s already out there without being overlooked.

Rating: 4/5

Breathe Carolina // Blackout

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We’d never heard of Breathe Carolina until now but we’re pretty sure that we’ve heard the song, Blackout, somewhere (we’re thinking an ad but we don’t know nor can we find anything to confirm or for that fact).

Electro-pop seems to be the trend at the moment and this is another one of those tracks. There is just something that keeps us listening and we’re not sure what it is. We normally don’t like too much ‘electronic’ input on vocals, but it works with this song. The only negative is that despite what we enjoy about it, we don’t think it’s a song that we could listen to as frequently as it’s likely to turn up on some radio stations.

Rating: 4/5

Justin Bieber // Boyfriend

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We’ve never got the whole craze round about Justin Bieber. But can his latest release change our minds about him?

The answer, no. Don’t get us wrong, this new sound to him makes him sound more grown up, more mature. But lyrically, we’re still struggling. The chorus becomes very repetitive and the ‘rap’ sections between….well, everyone’s got to start somewhere. Sadly we were expecting something better. This just seems to trundle along not go anywhere, doesn’t grab the attention.

A bit dull compared to his previous stuff.

Rating: 2/5

Usher // Climax

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We’re struggling to remember the last time Usher released a song as the only one we can spring to right away is D.J Got Us Fallin’ In Love. However, we now have a new single called Climax to listen to.

To be honest, we keep waiting for this song to go somewhere. There’s moments that you expect it to burst into a full blown dance number, but it never comes. The high pitched vocals in the chorus starts to annoy after the second time of hearing them. It feels a little off and not something that you’d probably expect to hear from the artist.

We got a feeling that this is just going to be an anti-climax and not go anywhere.

Rating: 2/5

New Music Friday: Amy Macdonald

Now, we know that Amy Macdonald isn’t a new artist as such, but it’s been two years since the release of A Curious Thing and last night via Twitter it was revealed that her new single, Slow It Down was going to get it’s first airplay in the UK and across Europe. But if you were unfortunate enough not to hear it, check the Youtube video below to hear it. Her new album, Life In A Beautiful Light is released June 11th 2012.

Official Site

Pitbull // Back In Time

So, yes there’s a Men in Black 3. Shockingly though, unlike the previous two films where Will Smith has provided the theme songs, this time the honours fall on Agent A (rmando Pérez) aka Mr. Worldwide aka Pitbull.

It samples the 1956 song ‘Love Is Strange’ which would be fine…if the film was in the 50s but J is supposed to go back to the 1960s! Okay, so we’ll let it slip. It of course references the fact it’s for MiB in the lyrics with references to the black suits, the white shirts, matching black glasses and tie. Reference to the title is made in the lyrics to understand the future we need to go back in time. The song breaks down near the end of the track into a section of dubstep which would probably provide a good crossover point in a mix.

We wonder if there’ll be/is a video for this and what it’s like. For what is for, it’s not a bad track. Plus we can’t stop playing it so there must be something in it!

Rating: 4/5

Scarlette Fever // The Great Expectations EP

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We first heard of Scarlette Fever almost a year ago when she supported Mike & The Mechanics on their UK tour and now she releases The Great Expectations EP.

The EP features 3 live versions of what Scarlette calls ‘the crowd pleasers’, the ones that everyone seems to enjoy live. These are Hour Of Sunshine (which also features as the lead track as a full studio version), Cheatin’ Man and Good Day. They’re stripped back versions to reveal a rockin’ feel to them. Having had the pleasure of hearing Scarlette perform live, these are a fairly good versions of it, but to truly appreciate her to see her live.

It’s a great little offering, particularly if your not familiar with her. And with a rumour that following this there is a re-released, re-recorded deluxe album to follow with new tracks, we have a feeling that she’s one to watch.

Rating: 5/5

Nickelback // Lullaby

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Don’t let the title of this track from Nickelback lull you into a fall sense of security.

Ok, so it sincere number without going all soppy. It’s rocky without going completely ballady. It’s just right and it comes with a sound that the band have sort of become known for recently. Great little tune. Let’s hope it gets the recognition it deserves!

Rating: 4/5

Beyonce // End Of Time

 
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The latest offering from Beyonce current album 4 comes in the form of End Of Time.

With drumming makes it feel very military as does the initial trumpet fanfares, but it soon builds into what could be described as a party beat. Despite it repeated repeat-ivity, it’s quite a catchy tune and will soon have you singing along with at least the chorus. Quite possibly our favourite track to be released from the album!

Rating: 4/5

David Guetta // Turn Me On Feat. Nicki Minaj

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David Guetta seems to be the man at the moment right now. No sooner have we had the fantastic Titanium featuring Sia than we’re presented with the last offering of Turn Me On featuring Nicki Minaj.

Now the thing about these sorts of collaborations is that depending if you like the featured artist is going to affect whether you like the song. We’re not sold on the track itself. It’s not that the track bad but the small rap section detracts rather than adds.

Like we said, it’s not a bad track just not our cup of tea. Still there is Phunkstar remix that we’re looking forward to hearing in full.

Rating: 3/5

Carly Rae Jepsen // Call Me Maybe

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There seems to be no lack of talent coming out from Canada these days as the latest export in the form of singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen.

Her debut comes in the form of the rather catchy Call Me Maybe. It’s maybe not the most brilliantly original song but it’s got a melody and lyrics that you can’t help hum or sing along to. We can imagine dancefloors jumping at remixes of this number. Hopefully the UK will take it to it heart and she won’t just be a one hit wonder here.

Rating:4/5

Cascada // Summer Of Love

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Last year we saw the release of Original Me, the first album from the Germany based outfit not to feature ANY covers. The group’s newest single is the rather infectious Summer of Love.

Now at present, the song doesn’t appear on any album (though we suspect that it might make an appearance on their ‘greatest hits’ album called Return To The Dancefloor) but you can buy the single separately. It’s a great little number and perfect for the summer season. It’s almost like listening to Everytime We Touch all over again. It feels like a more comfortable sound and more of what some might expect.

Hopefully a UK release won’t be too far off….

Rating: 4/5

Gotye // Somebody That I Used To Know (Feat. Kimbra)

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Somebody That I Used To Know is one of those songs that floats around the underground scenes/internet for a while before it reaches the general listening public.

It’s one of those tracks that for some strange reason we find it addictive despite the odd melody. Whilst it has a 60s feel to it, it still seems relevant. The only concern now is how do you follow up such a popular song?

Rating: 5/5