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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LIMITED EDITION CD @ BentleyJones.com | Download @ iTunes

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

Escala // Escala

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Buy @ Amazon.com | Download @ Amazon.com
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Brought to the attention of the British public through Britain’s Got Talent, Escala claimed that there was no like them. Unfortunately, look back a few years and you might find Bond, who were deemed to classical to be pop and too pop to be classical.

But here the similarities end. Escala’s track listing features mainly newer titles and covered songs.  Many of the new songs on the album (e.g. Children and Clubbed To Death) are easily emulated on string instruments and have nothing to seperate them from the original pieces. Some more classical pieces such as Chi Mai, Adagio for Strings and Sarabande are given respect and played beautifully but again, it’s just a generic reproduction. Nothing inspiring.

Sadly the album plays almost like the soundtrack to most of ITV 1’s reality TV programs as many of the songs featured here have appeared in show’s like X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent (which are Simon Cowell’s projects and they are managed by him, so it should make no surprise). There was a gap in the market for a band like this but sadly, it has been misused. With it looking like Bond may once again be rearing their head back into the market, the Escala girls could be facing a fight on their hands unless they come up with something more imaginative to keep the attention focused on them.

Rating: 2.5/5