You may until now not have heard of Cinnamon Girl but throughout Christmas 2011 you are probably going to.
If you think that you’ve heard the song before, you’d be right. It is a cover on the 1995 N-Trance track of the same name. Of course, with it being used in the current Christmas ad for Matalan, it not the dancey version, but more a slow beautiful ballad just perfect for the season.
Rating: 4/5
It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything, but finally, Nickelback are back with the first single from their forthcoming album, Here And Now.
Considering the mundane subject choice of the song (the political ills of the world and how we ignore them), it is,surprisingly, a relevantly upbeat song. With a chorus that starts ‘Hey, yeah, yeah, hey, yeah’ you just know that it’s begging to belted out by fans live at concerts. As a lead single for the new album, it’s hopefully a taster of what is still to come.
Great little number that will soon have you singing along, at least, with the chorus
Rating: 4/5
Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes
Another of last year’s X Factor finalists finally throws their offering into the lion’s den as Rebecca Ferguson release’s her debut single Nothing’s Real But Love.
First off it’s a ballad but we don’t really get any emotion from the track what so ever. Her voice reminds us sort of Adele but with something missing. Maybe it because it feels that the song doesn’t go anywhere and that it seems to be sang in the same, almost monotonous tone.
As a debut, it’s nothing to write home about and except for those that will have supported her in the X Factor, we don’t know if she’ll be drawing in any new fans soon.
Rating:2/5
The second single to be lifted from current album Echoes, Will Young presents us with Come On.
It follows the same sort of theme in sound as Jealousy but at the same time it’s different. It could be considered a little subdued compared to the last single, but it’s probably a good thing to show that he’s not releasing the exact same thing. To be fair, hearing it on the album it doesn’t sound as good as it does as just a single
Maybe not for everyone but still a good little number from Mr Young.
Rating: 4/5
Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes
Hot off the back of his album Classic, Joe is set to release a Christmas album, suitably titled Classic Christmas. Until it’s release though, we’ve having out appetite wetted with the release of Last Christmas.
This little offering brings three of the tracks set for the album a few weeks early. Starting with a cover of the Wham classic, Last Christmas Joe shows that, whilst he embraced the classical side of things, he’s still got pop in his heart. Then to mix it up we’ve given Adeste Fideles (or if you don’t speak Latin it’s O Come All Ye Faithful) in all it’s classical glory. And to top it off he finishes that well known Christmas hymn, Silent Night.
As a taster as to what to come it a nice little sample. Plus with Joe now touring the UK in support of his album Classic, no doubt as he gets closer to the Christmas period that he’ll be performing these. Only thing we have to complain about is the release date…Start of November?? Please!
Rating: 4/5
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk (Standard) | Buy @ Amazon.co.uk (Deluxe)
Download @ Amazon.co.uk (Standard) | Download @ Amazon.co.uk (Deluxe)
Download @ iTunes (Standard) | Download @ iTunes (Deluxe)
(This review is based on the standard edition of the album)
The ever popular The Wanted return this year with their second album offering in the form of Battleground. Given that we weren’t too impressed with the debut, have they learned anything?
Opening with the appropriate Glad You Came with it nice into, it’s straight into the current single Lightening. Warzone drops the tempo slightly into a rocky ballad (and is slated to be the next single from this album early next year) before heading into the building Invincible.
Another ballad in the form of Last To Know and I’ll Be Your Strength (though the latter is piano driven, with tasteful drumbeats thrown in just after midway). Rocket is a nice upbeat pop song whilst I Want It All is piano and guitar driven with some nice harmonies.
The Weekend harks back to the sound of the first track but also reminds of old 90s electronic tracks. Lie To Me has a sort of Take That feel to it and has a sort of odd feeling to it. The album ends with the official Comic Relief single from this year, Gold Forever wrapping everything up quite nicely.
It’s obvious that these guys have paid attention and have grown in a musical sense. There’s much more of a grownup feeling to this album than the debut. With it already boasting 3 top 10 hits, it shows that the boys are determined to make this work.
Rating: 4/5
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Okay, so let us introduce you to The Collective, Gary Barlow’s supergroup comprised of some of today young urban artists (Chipmunk, Dot Rotten, Ed Sheeran, Ms. Dynamite, Mz. Bratt, Tulisa, Rizzle Kicks, Tinchy Stryder, Wretch 32 & Labrinth) in what Gary describes as a serious song with artists that young people are listening to who are bring us 2011 official Children In Need single
The song itself is an interpretation of the 1998 Massive Attack song of the same name, with a combination of images and words that promote what the charity is all about. And with Tulisa taking the chorus like a duck to water, we can’t complain.
For what it’s for, it works. For your £3 (£4 for the CD) you’re getting the normal plus 3 remixes. If you don’t do anything else for Children In Need this year, think of spending just a couple of quid for Charity.
Rating:4/5
Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes
It seems that long time strangers are returning to the music scene and another one to rejoin is Melanie C with her new single, Weak.
It’s a beautiful ballad with building beats in the melody combined with her vocals makes for a haunting track in parts. It’s a song like this that reminds us why she’s been one of the more successful solos from the Spice Girls. And with her just releasing her 5th studio album The Sea (yes, we thought the last album was Northern Star, turns out we were wrong!), it’s definitely not a weak track, but we don’t think it’s strong enough to make waves in the UK charts. Still, we think it’s a track of note!
Rating:4/5
Kelly Clarkson returns to the music scene after a prolonged absence with the first single from her new album (Stronger), Mr Know It All.
You’d think that maybe with the length of time she’s been away that she’d be out to touch with the sound of the times…No, she isn’t. It’s a great little pop song that after a few listens that you’d probably pick up the lyrics very quickly. It’s not a song that you’re going to get sick of quickly. Nice to see Kelly back on the music scene and hopefully more to come.
Rating: 4/5
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Download @ iTunes
They are probably the hottest property in Britain at the moment, with their 2012 tour selling out in a record 30 secs (apparently), but One Direction are back with their new single Gotta Be You
It’s got to be difficult to try and follow up such a successful debut and so they’ve chosen this upbeat soppy ballad. It’s not got the same appeal as the previous release and could take a few listens to get used to. At the same time, all it could take is a few listens to be sick of it.
Their hoards of fans will enjoy but there’s nothing else to see here. Move along please.
Rating: 2/5
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk (Standard) | Buy @ Amazon.co.uk (CD+DVD)
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iTunes
Someone To Watch Over Me is the third studio album from Scottish singer Susan Boyle. Inspired by the letters that she has received from fans from all over the world, the album is a collection of songs that have a special meaning.
Opening with the beautiful yet powerful You Have To Be There from the Swedish musical Kristina från Duvemåla, you immediately brought into the voice of Susan. Dropping the tempo into the haunting tracking Unchained Melody (probably most famous for that scene in Ghost!) before heading into a uniquely slow version of Depeche Mode’s Enjoy The Silence. Still maintaining the slow tempo is the Joni Mitchell track Both Sides Now. Lilac Wine has a sort of uneasy feeling to but is still beautifully performed.
Tear’s For Fears track Mad World is next led in with a solo guitar with the instrumentation kept very simple. Another track where the instrumentation is kept to a minimum is Autumn Leaves. This Will Be The Year follows this and reminds us of Wild Horses from the first album. Return is one of those songs tracks that builds from the moment it starts to it’s crescendo ending. The final track is in fact the title track of the album, Someone To Watch Over Me and is simply just Susan and a piano.
Overall, the instrumentation has been done well, keeping it fairly basic where is needed and full on in other tracks, all the time allow Susan’s voice to ring clearly through though, reminding us why she’s sold so many records worldwide. Yes it is only 10 tracks, but they are 10 tracks full of emotion and it’s something that you don’t get these days and in our opinion, is just the right amount. Beautiful selection of tracks, beautifully performed allowing Susan to bring her own take to the songs.
Rating 5/5
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Olly Murs must be doing something right with this new album. The second single to be lifted from the forthcoming album, In Case You Didn’t Know comes in the form of Dance With Me Tonight
It’s different from Heart Skips a Beat with it’s modern sound. Dance With Me Tonight sounds more Jackie Wilson’s Reet Petite in comparison to the last track. It’s got an infectious beat that you’ll probably find yourself unable to avoid giving a little boogie along to it.
Our only complaint is there are, at times where you’d think that it was a certain Mr Mars (Mars….Murs….Hmmmm….). Definitely a number to look out for in the coming weeks
Rating: 4/5
