Nerina Pallot // All Bets Are Off

Download @ Amazon.co.uk

The latest single to be lifted from Nerina Pallot’s fourth studio album, Year Of The Wolf (although we see there is a re-release called New Year Of The Wolf but we’ll save discussion of that for another post!), is All Bets Are Off.

This time round we’re going for a nice little ballad with what seems like very simple instrumentation. The only concern that we have is that it seems when it’s playing, it seems rather short. We’re not sure why it feels like that. Maybe it’s because the verse, seems like the chorus in melody just with strings attached. Maybe it’s because the chorus is repeated a few times before it finishes. It’s missing something but we’re not sure what.

Despite it’s negatives though we still like it and we’re sure that fans will too.

Rating:3.5/5

Film Review: The Descendants

Not normally a film that we would go see in the cinema but maybe consider watching if it turned up on TV, The Descendants turned out to better than imagined.

George Clooney plays Mathew King, the trustee to a large expanse of land in Hawaii who's wife suffers injuries after a boating accident. While dealing with that, he's getting to know his daughters, dealing with sale of the land between the cousins and discovers that his wife had an affair. Talk about all your buses coming at once! But throughout it all, it makes him reconsider things, including his own family relationships.

There points through it where you can't help but laugh due to the script or just the on screen antics. There's moments where you can sit and think, 'yeah, been there, gone through that.' It's a great little film for both the boys and the girls.

And one more thing; Isn't George Clooney ageing well?

Rating: 5/5

New Music Friday: Carly Connor // Stay All Night

Let us introduce you to Scot Carly Connor hailing from Easterhouse. She’s signed to Atlantic and presently she’s offering her song, Stay All Night as a free download in return for you signing up to her newsletter. Sounds a little like fellow Scot Amy Macdonald. She’s about to head out on a tour, so check out her official site for details (her Glasgow dates are only £6!!)

Official Site | Facebook| Soundcloud

New Music Friday: Gabriella Cilmi // Vicious Love

Check out the latest offering from Australian Gabriella Cilmi. First new music since 2010!!

Callaghan // Best Year

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

There is definitely a pattern appearing here with releases so far in that they mostly seem to be bright summery tunes. Let’s not complain though as it is winter and we need something to chase the blues away.

Enter Callaghan with her new release, Best Year. In essence, it’s a narrative about how she in the last year she upped sticks and moved to America to chase her dream of recording her album.  We love the little xylophone parts and with a chorus that’s easy to learn, you’ll soon be singing along with it.

Hopefully this will be the year that we do see the album unleashed properly onto the world (it’s been released in limited numbers at shows and via her own website) and that Callghan gets the attention that she so rightfully deserves.

Rating: 4/5

Jessie J // Domino

Download @ Amazon.co.uk

2011 was quite the year for Jessie J and now, in 2012, she kicks things off with new single, Domino.

First thing to notice is that it’s more of a bright, jumpy pop song compared to previous singles. It sounds a little like Katy Perry’s Last Friday Night and sounds a bit like her this time around. It’s still a brilliant little tune and a great dance around the handbag song.

Great little number that should appeal to everyone, fan or not.

Rating: 4/5

Pixie Lott // Kiss The Stars

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Kiss The Stars is the third single to be taken from Pixie Lott’s latest album, Young Happy Foolish.

If you know Pixie, then you can probably guess what the song sounds like. Yes like most of her tracks it’s a pop, dancey round the handbag tune. Except we’re sure we’ve heard this song before…like a song called All About Tonight. Or if we increased tempo and changed key slightly…Gabriella Cilmi’s On A Mission (actually the video does remind us of Ms Cilmi video)

Sadly we’re not impressed by this latest offering. It’s too samey and came too quickly and hence, it loses it’s sparkle very quickly.

Rating: 2/5

Alyssa Reid Feat. Jump Smokers! // Alone Again

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Canadian singer Alyssa Reid releases her debut UK single in the form of Alone Again

When we original heard the snippet, we couldn’t understand why it was called Alone Again when all we’d heard was what sounded like the Heart song Alone (also covered by fellow Canadian, Celine Dion). Well, yes we could have been mistaken for thinking it was a cover but it just in fact samples the famous song. The rest of the lyrics have been especially for the song.

To be fair, we’re really are torn with this song. In one hand we’re liking the the fact that, whilst it samples another song, there is original lyrics, whilst on the other hand, we’re trying to wonder if the song would work if it had the rapping removed from it. Think we’re going to have to sit on the fence with this one but hope that it not the first and last time that we hear from her

Rating: 3/5

Train // Drive By

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

The last time we can remember hearing about Train was when they released the hit Hey, Soul Sister (apparently there has been a few releases inbetween then and now but they seemed to have slipped under the radar). However, now they’re ready to release their new single, Drive By.

Melody wise, it sounds a little like a certain Good Feeling by Flo Rida. Otherwise, it’s a fun, upbeat, foot tapping song that seems does leave you wanting more as it just seems to ‘drive by’ at high speed. Instrumentally, it does sound very simple: guitar, drums and handclaps (not to mention the little piano at the bridge), yet for it being so simple, it does work well.

It feels and sounds like that it very radio friendly and that it should get some attention. You can just imagine playing this tune in the car with the windows down in the sunshine….just maybe not in the middle of January!

Rating: 4/5

Only Men Aloud // In Festive Mood

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Buy @ HMV.com

The winner’s of the BBC’s 2008 talent show, Last Choir Standing, returned at the end of November 2011 with their third studio album/1st album on their on label, titled In Festive Mood.

As you might have guessed from the title and release date, the album brings together a collection of some well known Christmas songs and performed in unique Only Men Aloud style. Opening the album with It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, you are thrown into the Christmas spirit with it’s upbeat and floaty feeling. Traditional hymn O Holy Night follows with Craig Yates taking a solo here. Wham! classic Last Christmas comes next with the group performing purely with vocals with very minor instrumentation.


Drummer Boy comes up next featuring Only Boys Aloud. Moving smoothly into a medley of Stille Nacht (Silent Night) and I'll Be Home For Christmas, with instrumentation only really used for the latter. Sleigh Ride appears with a fun upbeat tune before dropping tempo and mood for In The Bleak Midwinter. Continuing with the slow tempo is Santa Baby which features vocalist Katy Treharne.

The group wouldn’t be holding up their end without covering a classical piece, in this instance is Schubert’s Ave Maria. Next is a medley of songs titled Christmas Bells and includes Carol Of The Bells, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Tua Bethlehem Dref which really give the guys a chance to showcase their vocal talents. Quietening the album again comes the Welsh carol Hwiangerdd Mair (Mary's Lullaby). And to finish the album off is another medley aptly named Rule The World Medley and features Rule The World, Viva La Vida and Everybody Wants To Rule The World, which you know probably shouldn’t work, but it does well.

Overall, it is a great little Christmas album. Although roughly of all the same tempo (with a few exceptions) it seems right for this album. The songs are been well arranged to fully show off the vocal talents of the group. If you’re a fan of them, then this is well worth adding to your collection. Even if your not, it’s a great little addition to the Christmas collection

Rating: 4/5

Beyonce // Love On Top

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

Superstar Beyonce returns to airwaves with her latest single Love On Top.

To be honest, we’re not really feeling anything for this track, It’s just feels like a generic pop song and not of the standard that probably most people would have expected from her. Sadly after hearing this tune a handful of times, it already becomes annoying

Sadly no love on top here but more down in the gutter.

Rating: 1/5

X Factor Finalists 2011 // Wishing On A Star

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 Download @ iTunes

As has become the norm over the last few years, the X Factor finalists have recorded a song with the monies from sales going to charity. 2011 was no different with them recording a cover of the 1978 hit, Wishing On A Star by Rose Royce.

Considering that you have 11 acts to split the song amongst (13 if you include JLS and One Direction who appear at the end), you can’t help feel that the song lends itself more to ‘showcasing’ the individual acts rather than the groups. And why include JLS and One Direction?? The mind boggles…

Alright so it’s a charity single, so maybe to should criticise it too much. Overall, it is a good interpretation of the song and it benefiting a charity (this time around it was Together For Short Lives). Not exactly going to break the bank to purchase it.

Rating: 3/5

Cover Drive // Twilight

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Download @ iTunes

In case you haven’t heard of this group, Cover Drive are a four piece hailing from Barbados who’s debut single, Lick Ya Down, was released the the middle of last year. Now they’re back with follow up single, Twilight.

Described as looking at how a relationship changes from friends to lovers like the day into night, Twilight has had us hooked, particularly the chorus since we heard it live back in September. We find the release date of this a little strange (i.e. the end of the Winter months) as it’s a bright, airy, summery pop tune. Maybe there’s a plan that it will chase the blues away.

We’re preferring this a great deal more that the debut so hopefully this might be the song that gives them the recognition that they deserve.

Rating: 4/5