Sandi Thom Feat. Joe Bonamassa // This Ol’ World

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It’s Sandi Thom, but not as you know her.  She’s back with this blues influenced song featuring the blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Joe Bonamassa (with whom she toured as support at the end of last year).

Gone is restraint of what a label wanted and now we’re hearing the sort of thing that she wants to write. It’s a great little number with a fantastic rhythm and great guitar and a great way to introduce the new look musically. It’s the first single to be lifted from the new album, Merchants & Thieves (released 17th May 2010) and sets the style for the whole album.

Hopefully current fans will accept this new style for Sandi as well as attract newer fans and help shrug the ‘I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker’ days aside.

Rating 5/5

Gabriella Cilmi // Ten

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Gabriella Cilmi returns with album number two aptly named, Ten (one reason that has been cited by Gabriella herself is the fact that this year her birthday is 10.10.10). If you’ve heard the debut, Lessons To Be Learned, then Ten is likely to come as shock to the system. In fact, it’s Gabriella, but not as we know her

The opening track is also the first single, On A Mission, which many will know by now has a very retro yet futuristic sound to it. This literally sets out the flavour of the entire album; retro with a modern twist. Hearts Don’t Lie has a Disco feel whilst What If You Knew keeps the pace up with the same sort of style. 

Love Me Cos You Want To continues with the electronics and sounds like something maybe more expected from the Eurythmics and slows the pace a little in time for the first proper ballad, Defender. Superhot again picks up on the disco feel before heading into Boys, which, if it was possible, should be an alternative track for Wii Fit’s step aerobics.

The last three tracks herald back to the feel of Lessons To Be Learned, albeit with an electronic twist, showing that Cilmi hasn’t forgotten that which grabbed the media’s interest. The bonus track is a 2010 remix of Gabriella’s first single, Sweet About Me, and basically brings it up to date with the album style as a whole.

As I said at the start, this is not the Gabriella that we knew from Lessons To Be Learned. Not only has she worked with previous producer Xenomania, she’s also worked with the likes of Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, Little Boots), Dallas Austin (TLC, Gwen Stefani, Michael Jackson) which probably explain the whole sound of the album. She’s matured and ready to take a risk by completely overhauling her sound for the new album.

Whilst maybe not what was expected, the overall sound of the album reflects the current style flooding the music scene at present (with the likes of Lady GaGa, Little Boots etc.) and this may mean that she won’t be as prominent as she was with the release of Lessons To Be Learned. However, in saying that, it’s a solid album that should do well, maybe even attract newer fans. It’s definitely proved that she’s ‘On A Mission’ to show that lessons have been learnt.

Rating: 4/5

Track listing
On A Mission
Hearts Don't Lie
What If You Knew
Love Me Cos You Want To
Defender
Robots
Super Hot
Boys
Invisible Girl
Glue
Let Me Know
Superman
Sweet About Me (Twenty Ten Version)

Amy Macdonald // A Curious Thing

 
Standard Edition
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Vinyl
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Amy Macdonald with what some would describes as the 2nd difficult album, especially after how well the debut, This Is The Life did. Can this second helping from the Scottish singer/songwriter topple this?

Once again, Amy draws on everyday events to inspire her songs and the lyrics reflect this. The opening track and lead single, Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over throws you straight into the album with it’s powerful electric guitar opening and Amy’s powerful lyrics reflecting on how we can change things before it over but how we have to do it for ourselves. No Roots is an odd little track. It starts of acoustic before building into a full scale, multi-instrument track (reminiscent of the song Let’s Start A Band from This Is The Life).

Love Love  could be viewed as Amy’s first attempt at a love song and is purely a fun little number. An Ordinary Life (one of the last songs to be added to the album) was inspired after attending her first film premier and seeing how everyone reacted and being glad that she does have An Ordinary Life. My Only One is a beautiful ballad which is, as Amy has said, about losing people who are close to you.

The tempo and mood are lifted with This Pretty Face, which is a dig at the world being concerned about how people look outward rather than looking at who they are, not what they are. Next Big Thing is another dig at the music industry and how, throughout the year new artists are topped as the next big thing, and most after one song or album fade into obscurity. The closing track (What Happiness Means To Me) rounds the album off beautifully, starting off quietly ballad like building to a climax, leaving the next chapter to be written.

Overall, it is a good album, but some tracks feel a little unfinished or unpolished. This may have been the look they were going for but it just feels slightly awkward. There are a few good tracks but not many that are likely to single material. If feels like a natural progression for her although it may leave some fans divided as it does have a completely different feel from This Is The Life. Only time will tell whether or not it can do any better than the debut.

Rating: 4/5

Gabriella Cilmi // On A Mission

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Gabriella Cilmi is back and is back with a bang! On A Mission has a retro disco kinda feel to it but is full of electronic sounds and a kicking beat. In a nutshell, it feels like she’s telling her critics that she doesn’t care what they have to say, this is her and that is that. And if you think that the song sounds great, you should check out the video!

This is a great comeback track for Cilmi after a year of absence, and shapes things up for when her new album, Ten (Rel. Date 22.03.10) is unleashed to the public.

Rating: 5/5

Nerina Pallot // I Don’t Want To Go Out

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EP 1 iTunes | EP2 iTunes | EP3 iTunes

Described as a joyful revolt against the recession and the joys of the sofa, Nerina Pallot brings us single number 2 from her latest album, The Graduate .  It’s a fun little track which many will be able to relate with the whole credit crunch (then again, the recent weather has provided plenty of reason to stay in!) And with it’s memorable chorus and easy beat, you’ll soon be singing and dancing along.

The release also includes  Buckminster Fuller (a track from the rare Buckminster Fuller EP) which is a lovely little ballad. The final track is the version of I Don’t Want To Go Out taken from the ‘I Digress’ Sessions which Nerina carried out on Youtube in the weeks prior to the album release where she played alternate versions of the songs.

On other versions, there is a previously unreleased track called Girl On A Wire (again, from the Buckminster Fuller EP) which has more of The Graduate feel to it, and one that wouldn’t see out of place had it been on the album.  There is also the video to the single available with this version. Another version of the EP includes a cover of Lily Allen’s single The Fear, in which Nerina brings her own unique vocals to and makes a exceptional cover of it. Included with this is the video to the last single Real Late Starter.

Overall, another lovely little track and definitely one that is required to lift the moods of the country in these testing times (and not only cause of the credit crunch). If you liked this, I highly recommend the album

Rating: 4.5/5

Timbaland Feat. Katy Perry // If We Ever Meet Again

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There’s something about this track that just draws you in. If you’re not attempting to join in with the chorus by the end of the first one, then there’s something wrong. Like previous songs, it’s built on simple beats and melodies and easy lyrics. It’s one of those songs that if it came on at party or in a club people would be up dancing to it.  It’s a fun little track and there’s no issue with the vocals. Both Katy’s and Timbaland’s work well in harmony for the chorus and overall.

Even if you aren’t a fan of either of these artists or maybe have only dabbled in a few of their works, this is a collaboration not to be missed. It is definitely a track that has slipped the radar and should be around for quite a while.

Rating: 4/5

Leona Lewis // I Got You

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Single no. 2 from album number 2 and have to say that from the outset, this is 10 times the single that the depressing and bizzarely named Happy was.

It’s a fun little number more upbeat more pleasant sounding on the ears. The chorus lyrics appear to be broken in to 2 syllable words and where this would normally annoy, this actually works. Gently sung verse lyrics into the broken sounds of the chorus are not an issue. Actually, this might be one of the few good tracks on the album as a whole.

The single is backed with the song Heartbeat, a slower tempo song in contrast to the main track and roughly on the same kinda wavelength subject wise.
Overall this is a great single choice, especially for the time of year and may entice those who struggled with happy back for another listen should they not have bought the album (Echo) Fans may have thought that the next single may have been My Hands, which as gamers will know, is the theme to the English / European version of the latest instalment of Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy XIII. (due to be released 9th March 2010)

Rating:4/5

Jedward // Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)

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Brace yourself! The twins have released a single! Just when you’d thought you’d seen the last of them, they go and release a version of  Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby) as performed on X-Factor. Except this time, they’ve got Vanilla Ice himself on the record. Unfortunately though, doesn’t help them out any. It’s still nails on a chalk board and the video proves that their chorography hasn’t improved either.

It feels as if these boys are being given false hope that they have any chance at a proper career in the music business. They are a novelty act that can only run so long before something more interesting comes along.

Fans will rush out and buy this but anyone with an ounce of sense will avoid this like the plague!

Rating: 0.5/5

Owl City // Fireflies

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Fireflies is one of those songs that you don’t know why you love it. Is it’s relaxing qualities? The fact it can brighten any day? Or the simplicity of it? Most likely it is all of the above. Or maybe it’s something that you can’t put your finger on. Either way this is a lovely track and does get lodged in your head easily with it’s easy lyrics and sway along melody.

The only draw back is that there isn’t much in breaking up the monotony of the melody. It is simply played over and over and over again, so that eventually you may make yourself sick of it.  However, this aside, this is one tune that will probably still be hanging around, if not gaining popularity again as the summer comes back around.

Rating: 4/5

Girls Can’t Catch // Echo

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There’s been a few great songs out the past few weeks and this has to be one of them. Electro-pop seems to be the order of the day at the moment and this tune from Girls Can’t Catch isn’t an exception. An extremely catchy and upbeat tune you will find it “echoing” in your head after only one play. The video for the song is actually very simple and effective which matches the lyrical value. Simply and catchy.

Hopefully this single will be the one to make people sit up and take notice of Girls Can’t Catch and will show them that these girls CAN catch the attention of the listening masses

Rating: 5/5

Bentley Jones // So Much More…

  
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If you’ve been a fan of the Next Gen Consoles version of Sonic The Hedgehog, then you may well already be familiar with this guy.  Dreams of an Absolution (aka Silver’s Theme) was written by him as well as Seven Rings In Hand ~Fairytale in Trance~ (From Sonic and the Black Knight). And now he’s involved with SEGA once again to provide the the theme to the upcoming game, Sonic & SEGA All-Star Racing

If you’ve seen any of the trailers for the game, then the song will fit perfectly. It’s a great upbeat electro-pop track, with lyrics that will have you singing along in no time (even if it is just the chorus). There’s no less than 5 different versions in total on the single including the absolutely gorgeous ballad version, three remixes and the instrumental. Also included on the single is a fun little song called Swing Baby Swing, that was used by the site Gaia Online during their Promagedden event, and two original tracks U Won’t 4get ME ~Theme Of Bentley Jones~ and Alpha Dog (which sounds a little something Taio Cruz…)

Overall, for a first single and first release from BJ on his own record label it’s not a bad little collection. At least you’re getting more than most singles these days…

Rating: 5/5

Track listing:

1. So Much More… (main theme of “Sonic & SEGA All-stars Racing”)
2. U Won’t 4get ME ~theme of Bentley Jones~ (Clean Version)
3. Swing Baby! (from Gaia Online’s “PROMAGEDDON”)
4.So Much More… ~Ballad Version~
5. Alpha Dog
6. So Much More… (Fantazia Projekt Radio Mix)
7. So Much More… (Phunkstar Extended Mix)
8. So Much More… (Fantazia Projekt Remix)
9. So Much More… (Instrumental)

Alexandra Burke // Broken Heels

 
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After the Eurovisionesque Bad Boys, you’d think that it couldn’t possible get much worse. Think again. Once again, it sounds as if Miss Burke is applying for the UK Eurovision and once again does not show the potential that the album has (there are much better tracks on the album than what has already been given). The track feels dated and more over, cheesy. Not exactly something you’d want for a previous X-Factor winner…

Actually, if you were to compare this track to John & Edward, it actually makes them look good! Sure the track is sing-alongable, but that’s about all it’s got going for it. It’s sadly categorised as one of those annoying tracks that after one listen, that’s enough. It doesn’t have any longevity and probably only qualifies as track used to break up monotony. If tracks like this are continued to be released then like Alexandra’s career will be like the typical British Eurovision score: nil point!

Rating:1/5