Glee:The Music // Volume 4

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The UK might not be seeing Season 2 until January 2011, but over in the US, they've already had 9 episodes (including a special Rocky Horror Picture Show episode especially for Halloween!) Of course each week, the songs from the episode are available to download so what's this CD?

Basically, the album could be the 'highlights' of the season so far. With songs from the likes of Alica Keys, Katy Perry, Celo Green and Bruno Mars, the season has seen it's fair share of new songs along with the mixture of old. There are tracks from all the episodes except The Rocky Horror Glee Show (which was given it's own release)

Sadly though, there are some gems missing that could have done with being here like the renditions of Lady Gaga's Telephone, REM's Losing My Religion and the mash up of Rhianna's Umbrella and the Classic Singin' In The Rain.

If you've been buying all the songs as you've seen them on the show, then there's nothing really here for you. More than likely for those who have been looking for a 'best of' for the season so far

Rating:4/5

Westlife // Gravity

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Gravity is the brand new studio album from Irish boy band Westlife. The title is taken from a song on the album, apparently chosen by a fan on Twitter. This album is also a first with the boys having much more input into the songwriting side of things plus in the way that the songs were recorded. So what's on it?

The opening track, Beautiful Tonight is a bright upbeat song, not too unsimiliar to the Bruno Mars' track Just The Way You Are. Next it's the first single to be taken from the album and where the name of the album comes from. Safe is just about right for this; it's yet another cover. Chances is a slow ballad, can't say much else about it. It doesn't go anywhere, just seems to droll.

I Will Reach You and The Reason is a bit more of the Westlife standard. An upbeat ballad is more along what you might expect from the boys. Inbetween these is Closer, another slow ballad. Tell Me It's Love could be titled My Love Part II as it's very similar in melody to that.

I Get Weak and Before It's Too Late are another two ballads, the latter picking up in power midway. Finally, we come to another upbeat song, this time in the form of No One's Gonna Sleep Tonight. You could almost imagine a dance remix of this. Difference In Me is a lovely little number, decent little pop ballad. The album is brought to a close by a heart felt song called Too Hard To Say Goodbye, which as you can guess, is a ballad.

This is the first album that the boys have had as much input into the album so maybe it's unfair to judge it against what has come before. However, the way the songs are on the album, their attempt to disregard their image of 'ballad stool singers' fails miserably. There's not enough upbeat material here for them to get rid of that image. It mainly feels miserable with a minor injection of excitement which fades as quickly as it was given. If it was a school report it would read must try harder!

Rating:2/5

All Angels // Starlight

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After releasing their latest album, Fly Away at the start of the year, All Angels return with a 5 track EP, titled Starlight.

True Colours (originally by Cyndi Lauper) opens the EP and features the girls and guitar only, although come the second verse, they go a capella and then back to having the guitar accompaniment. Goodnight My Angel is a completely a capella track, showcasing the girls abilities beautifully.

Title track Starlight (originally by Muse) has a slight latino feels with the guitar and you can help but start sway your hips to. Adiemus works beautifully with all the girls voices working together with a little help with a drum and guitar. Finally, Infant Holy/Ding Dong is another little a capella and wonderful of joining up of two Christmas songs

Overall, the EP showcases the girls vocals beautifully, with instrumentation kept to a minimum (in this instance it is only guitar and sometimes drums) so that the vocals are not drowned out. Of course, the instrumentation also compliments the vocals, as it should. This is highly recommended if you are a fan of the girls or even just dipping into their music.

Rating: 5/5

Ellie Goulding // Your Song

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Adverts have always used popular or classic songs in order to promote their goods, either using the original version of the song or getting it brought right up to date with current artists. And in the case of the most recent John Lewis Christmas campaign, that's exactly what's happened.

Elton John's classic track Your Song has been brought up to date by Ellie Goulding. Sadly though, the song feels stripped of all emotion that made the original so loveable. That may have something to do with Ellie flat vocals which may be fine for her own songs but for a song like Your Song, it just seems to be a mismatch.

It is an unfortunate mismatch that neither does anything for the song nor the ad that it is for. It's more of a Christmas turn-off rather than Christmas turn off. Ellie fans will more than likely enjoy but other listeners and fans of the original will cringe

Rating 1/5

Jade Valerie & Brian Joo // Don’t Tell Me I’m Wrong

As 2010's end comes rushing in, one fan was quick to point out that, if there was no release this year, then it would be the first year that Jade Valerie hadn't released anything since 2000.

Well, fans can breathe a sigh of relief. The duet with Fly To The Sky member Brian Joo came out of nowhere (with only a few days between the announcement and release in Korea), although the announcement was heard from Brian...

The song itself is a little rocky number. Unlike the previous duet (You Don't Know Me with Kim Dong Wan), this actually works. Compared to previous works along the same style, you can't help but feel that this song feels a bit more natural for Jade, or at least, she is a bit more settled with the style.

There is one small issue with the track with what seems to be a mixing issue. The vocals at the beginning of the track (specifically Jade's) seem to be a more prominent over the other elements of the songs and yet, seem to be rectified by the second verse. Apart from this, it is a great little track that, has been hinted will feature on Jade's next album.

Rating: 4/5

McFly // Shine A Light (Featuring Taio Cruz)

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Shine A Light is the second single to be taken from the boys forthcoming album, Above The Noise.

It's a great little bright and breeze pop song, a far cry from the dark and rockier Party Girl. What is great about it is that it shows that boys can turn their hands to anything, that which fans would already know. As an added bonus, they've also got Taio Cruz on the single too!

Of the physical releases there are two: a two track (which is the single plus remix) or 4 track (single, Dynamite as performed on BBC's Live Lounge, and two acoustic versions of I'll Be Your Man and The End Of The World). Something for everybody

Rating: 5/5

Take That // The Flood

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After many years apart (too many no doubt for some fans), Take That are finally back together and with that means a new album and tour. But before all that, there is a single to get out the way.

The Flood is the first single that has all five members together since they got back together. On the whole, it seems to follow the general Take That formula that has been heard in previous releases. Yet, at the same time,it's different.

It's a beautiful ballad that will warm even the coldest of hearts and that lyrically and melodically stick in your head. Hopefully a song that will be round for a while and listeners won't tire of

Rating: 5/5

The Saturdays // Higher

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Higher is the latest single to be taken from the girls current album, Headlines (due to be re-released as an extended version just in time for Christmas).

A bit more upbeat than previous single, Missing You, the problem is that there still seems to be something missing, and, as with the last single, appears to go no where. The last few singles have felt like the energy has gone from the group and that the group have gone from boiling to a gentle simmer.

Whilst fans will no doubt lap up this musical offering,, general music fans will probably pass

Rating: 2.5/5