Paul Gilbody // Eponymoose

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Not familiar with Paul Gilbody? Well, the in the briefest introduction, he’s been a session musician for artists like KT Tunstall, Alex Cornish & Horse, as well as being a founding member of the Scotland’s Gospel Truth Choir, he’s also worked with Ricky Ross and Lorraine Mcintosh, B.A. Robertson and supported Sir Tom Jones! (more details can be found on his official website)

Now that’s done, let’s look at the debut release, Eponymoose. It’s 5 tracks where it’s all him. Yes, all him; vocals, guitar, drums, percussion, beatbox and production. Using the five tracks, Paul showcases different styles, from laid back to upbeat, having something for every one. Sounds particularly good for those long drives.

It’s a great little release and hopefully it won’t be the last solo release that we have from him

Rating: 4/5

Christina Perri // Jar Of Hearts

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Possibly the first time that anyone heard this song was when Lea Michelle as Rachel Berry sang this song on US show Glee. Finally though, the original version has been released for us to download.

It is simple in melody, but it’s this that adds to it’s beauty. It’s a heartfelt ballad, relying solely on vocals, piano and strings, nothing else. There’s very few artist these days that rely of what could be deemed the basics. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

Rating 5/5

Hayley Westenra // World In Union

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In case you didn’t know, it’s the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. And maybe it’s fitting that New Zealander and Classical Crossover artist Hayley Westenra gets to sing this, especially with it being her 10th anniversary in the business and it being her home country hosting the event.

The melody will be familiar to everyone as it is Holts’ Jupiter. There’s two versions on the single. An English version and a Maori version. There is a third version available on the Rugby World Cup album which is a mix of both versions. The lyrics could not be more appropriate for an event and Westenra’s delicate vocals deliver with feeling, no matter the language that it is sung in.

A highly recommended purchase, whether a rugby fan or a fan of Hayley’s!

Rating 5/5

John Barrowman // Tonight’s The Night

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Tonight’s The Night is the name of the Saturday night show hosted by John Barrowman, but it also the name of his latest release.

In essence, this album is in fact a very best of, bringing together tracks from his previously released along with three new tracks. The fist track is I Owe It All To You, which was specifically written for John and, as he had said, he says it as a thank you to his fans. So Close, a duet with Jodie Pregner, is a slow ballad. The last track, Tonight’s The Night, a cover of the Rod Stewart track and ultimately the title track of the album.

There’s two ways to look at the album. If you’ve never heard John singing, then this bring together a nice collection of his songs for you to judge whether or not a) to buy previous releases or b) see him live (he’s touring in November). Then of course there is the fans, who will buy this purely to support John, even though, bar the three new tracks, they’ve already got it all.

Rating: 3.5/5

One Direction // What Makes You Beautiful

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Remember the boy band that Simon Cowell created on last year’s X-Factor? Well, after promoting Pokemon Black & White and the new Pokedex 3D on TV adverts, their debut single is ready to be released to the world.

What Makes You Beautiful is probably the typical young boy band song. It follows suit of the positive nature of songs that have already been released this year (Lady Gaga/Born This Way, Pink/Perfect & Selena Gomez/Who Says). Sadly while trying to be a grown up song, it can’t be helped that there is a cuteness factor to it (the song wouldn’t look or sound out of place on a Disney soundtrack). Maybe that’s the desired effect…

Fans of the group from their time on the reality TV show will more than likely lap it up and more than likely young girls who haven’t heard of them will flock to them. Other than that, nothing to see here…

Rating: 2/5

Alex Cornish // No Shore

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Hot on the heels of the last album, Call Back, No Shore is the third album from singer songwriter Alex Cornish.

Opening with the beautiful Storm To Pass, which we suspect is where the album title comes from (There’s no shelter/ There’s no sound / There’s no shore) we’re introduced to that well known Cornish sound. This follows beautifully into Rely. What is quite possibly the loudest song on the album, Open Your Eyes sounds as if there is a slight mixing error as vocals do sounds a little louder than the instruments, but this may have been the desired effect.

Skyline Of Paris is a beautiful piano driven track before leading onto what seems at first, a violin driven track, Keep Focus but bursting into full colour. Time And Space is a nice slow guitar driven track, which ends on a little ‘hidden’ instrumental of the song on the end. Always A Way is a great little number (and was offered free on his official site…might still be…)

Next we have the another slow, guitar driven song Breathe Slow, which has recently made an appearance at the end of episode 8 of season 2 of The Big C in the US (we think we can see the context that it’s being used in). A change of pace with No Reason before slowing it down for the violin driven This Is The point, that brings the album to the perfect end.

No Shore is another heartfelt album and sounds the same on record as it does live. It would probably surprise people that the album was recorded in 3 weeks and in a little flat (and by recorded, we do mean absolutely everything, right down to the strings section!) but you can’t tell that from the album. It’s another great release from Alex Cornish. A very easy listening and heartfelt album that should be given a listen.

Rating: 5/5

Joe McElderry // Classic

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It's been an interesting time for Joe McElderry. 2009's X-Factor winner was dropped by Simon Cowell's label last year, only to turn up this year on Popstar To Operastar and win. Now signed with Decca, Joe now releases his brand new album, Classic, just six weeks after winning the reality TV show.

Now, if like ourselves, you're diving in without knowing anything about the show, then you're in for a treat. The 12 tracks of Classic are a mixture of some well known songs in the classic standards as well as some show tunes. The opening track of Canto Della Terra is the first showcase what you can expect from the album but with an unseeming ability to go from classic track in Italian to singing once again in English without much effort, you cannot help but be impressed. He's tackled some big songs too (Nessun Dorma both in English and original Italian and Time To Say Goodbye)

There are the show tunes too, such as Solitare, I Dreamed A Dream and Over The Rainbow, as well as a recording of the song that brought him to the attention of the X-Factor massive, Dance With My Father.

Bearing in mind that McElderry is no opera singer, he has obviously taken what he has learned from Popstar To Operastar and incorporated it into this album. Maybe a 6 week turnaround from winning to album release was too quick, and it's likely to be to 'cash in' whilst it's fresh in the public mind, which is probably why it is a safe list of tracks.

Hopefully future album's will give Joe more of a challenge and give him the chance to improve in what seems to be a new direction for the singer from South Shields.

Rating:4/5

Beverley Knight // Cuddly Toy

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Does anyone remember Beverley Knight? We do but can't remember the last thing that she did released.

Anyway, she's back in 2011 with new song Cuddle Toy. Well, it's new for her. It's sadly a cover of Roachford's track. And now we're awaiting for some to say 'Who's Roachford?' Google is your friend! Anyhow, back to the track. It can't be helped that it's a straight sing, no effort to put her own spin on it. It's a good track but only one person can truly sing it properly. And it's not Bev...

Rating 3/5

Pixie Lott// All About Tonight

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Pixie Lott makes a welcome return to the music scene with her new single, All About Tonight.

First thing first. It's an upbeat, dance around the handbag number, which suits Pixie's voice and perfect for her returning as it has that sound that is still her, but has an older edge to it. Fortunately, it's not too far off previous releases which have had a poppy/slight dance edge.

All About Tonight is the perfect club track and no doubt it remixes will be or have been getting spun. It's not too pop yet not too dance. It's just about right and is about what we'd expect for Pixie. Fingers crossed for at least a top 10 placing!

Rating: 5/5

Leona Lewis & Avicii // Collide

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It's been over a year since the release of Leona's 2^nd album, Echo. And at the start of September, the first release from the, as yet unnamed,forthcoming album will be made.

Called Collide, it features an instrumental piece from Swedish DJ Avicii called 'Penguin'. And all good Leona fans will probably know the controversy round the song already. Anyway, onto the song itself. This time around, they're heading in a more dance orientated feel although sadly the mono syllabic words of the verses don't do anything for Lewis' voice and it truth, it is only the final chorus where her voice truly shines.

It probably not the strongest comeback. Will it stick? Well, the fans will probably make sure that it charts somewhere, but whether it's enough to make others take notice is another thing altogether. Hopefully, this is not the slippery slide downwards...

Rating: 2/5

Will Young // Jealousy

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It's been a while since Will Young released anything (although you might have caught him in the Sky Living drama, Bedlam). Well, now he back with his new single, Jealousy, ahead of his new album release, Echoes.

It seems that Mr Young has been using his time well and found what sounds like a new sound. But that always seems to be the way with him when a new album comes out. It's got that definite Will Young sound to it, but, at the same time, it could be classed as someone else's song.

Basing on what's been heard from his and a current freebie from Amazon.co.uk, it sounds like that there is definite change and it seems to be working.

Rating: 4/5

Olly Murs // Heart Skips A Beat

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On the back of a presenting job on ITV2's The Xtra Factor, the new single from Olly Murs isn't actually that bad.

This new track, Heart Skips A Beat sounds as if Olly has shrugged ye olde Balladeer jacket off to venture into something a little more upbeat. More to the point, the sound suits him and seems to be step in the right direction (even if, thanks to a recent interview comment, we can't stop thinking Eastenders when we hear it!)

We know in the past we haven't exactly championed Mr Murs, but if there is more of this style, then we might start taking him more seriously.

Rating: 4/5