Christina Aguilera // Your Body

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Ms Aguilera has been quiet on the music scene since the release of Bionic a few years ago, although she has been been busy on the US version of The Voice and being a mum. But now she's back to offer her first single from new album Lotus, in the form of Your Body

To be honest, we don't feel this track at all. In a general sense, we get a feeling of a slower tempo Can't Hold Us Down but there is something missing. And it seems that she seems to think that the only way to get the song attention is with a chorus that declares all I want to do is f*** your body.

The song gets very tedious very quickly and it's not a song that you can see listening to often. In fact, we'd probably skip the track completely. Our hopes are dashed over what the rest of the album may sound like.

Rating: 1/5

Rihanna // Diamonds

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There are times where Rihanna can bring a great track and then there are other that you can't help think 'why release that?' Diamonds is one of those tracks.

The track itself feels as if it maybe started as a interlude and then some bright spark thought, 'let's add some lyrics' that sadly does nothing for the track. It becomes annoying fast and quite possibly the way she singing diamonds is to blame for it.

Pass it by if you can or make up your own lyrics.

Rating: 1/5

Naughty Boy // Wonder Feat. Emeli Sande

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You probably won’t recognise the name of the main artist here (Naughty Boy) but you should be familiar with the Scots singer/songwriter Emeli Sande. Well, turns out that Naughty Boy produce Sande’s album but now they are ready to start releasing their own music as well. And what better way than with who you’ve just produced an album for?

People may be familiar with the track seeing as it has been featured on the recent Sky promotional trailer showcasing some of their shows. It’s a nice bright & light track and showcases Sande’s vocals brilliantly. And with a catchy chorus that is easily infectious and will have you singing along.

Lovely track with a summery feel released just as the nights are closing in.

Rating: 5/5

Paloma Faith // Never Tear Us Apart

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The John Lewis ads in recent years have featured cover versions of songs in their adverts either by known or in some cases, unknown artists. The latest act to sing on one of their ads is Paloma Faith with a cover version of the INXS song Never Tear Us Apart.

To be fair, it’s not bad version of it. She has managed to stick to the original but at the same time, put her own stamp on it and brought it to a new generation. She has the right sounding vocals for it, dark but still able to bring a little light into it. But let’s be honest, the best version does have to be the original, right?

Nice little cover number from Paloma but fear we might be sick of it after hearing it a number of times on the ad.

Rating: 4/5

Adele // Skyfall

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The 23rd James Bond film is just around the corner so of course that means that there needs to be a brand new theme. And the honour this time falls on Adele.

Skyfall has a familiar Bond-esque feel to it. It’s got the feel of some past themes but has the modern feel. Adele shows a softer side in this track, not the powerful vocals that we’ve been used to in the last few years.

The back to basics approach to this track is fitting for this outing. We wonder if not that previous themes haven’t been good, they’ve just lacked a feeling of true Bond. So far though though, doesn’t seem to have broken the curse of not getting to number one. Maybe when the film is released then…

Rating: 4/5

JLS // Hottest Girl In The World

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Ahead of their fourth album, Evolution, the lead single from it is Hottest Girl In The World.

To be honest we’re not feeling the track. Other’s have said that it feels like a Justin Timberlake track, and to be fair, on a blind listen, we did originally think it was. There is something in the music itself that annoys us and we think it come down to the bleh-whateverelseisthere that is present through the majority of the track. Add to that it seems to be a falsetto off with them seeing who can get higher.

The album title is Evolution and maybe for them it will be but musically it feels like it’s been done and dusted.

Rating: 2/5

SHY & DRS // The Love Is Gone Featuring Sandi Thom

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Well here is something that you don’t hear everyday (or maybe you will from now on). Scottish rap! SHY & DRS hail from the Granite City (aka Aberdeen) and have just released their debut single The Love Is Gone.

It features label companion/boss Sandi Thom and a riff from Marillion’s 1985 song Kayliegh. Because it’s not common to hear Scottish rap, it can feel a little odd listening to it. Though it is likely to be the chorus that gets stuck in your head.

An interesting song from the Aberdonians and hopefully not the last time that they are heard from. Their album, Before Too Long is due out early next year.

Rating: 4/5

Jonathan & Charlotte // Together

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They were finalists in the Britain’s Got Talent (some say that they were the outright winners!) and though a certain member of the panel originally tried to have them split up, they stuck to their guns and stayed together, ultimately winning that panel member over in the end. Now they release their debut album, Together.

Opening with the well known The Prayer a song that they performed but at their audition and in the final, but this time joined with fellow Britain's Got Talent participants Only Boys Aloud. Caruso comes up next followed by Vero Amore (Your Song) . The ever popular Ave Maria comes up next, and somehow you can't help think that the album wouldn't be right without it, and even Jonathan manages to showcase a gentler voice than has been heard up until this point.

A take on Muse's Unintended, entitled Forse follows along with Take That's Rule The World (Ill Mondo e Nostro) (first recorded by Camilla Kerslake. Another operatic track called Canto Della Terra brings it back to the classical side of things before three well known pop songs are given the classical treatment ( Ognuno Soffre (Everybody Hurts), Chi Mai Vivra Per Sempre? (Who Wants To Live Forever) and La Prima Volta (The First Time I Saw Your Face))

The long list is interesting in that whilst there is a selection of pop tracks they aren't just covers. They are given a classical twist so possibly bringing them to another audience. It's hard to believe that these two are only 17 years old. A safe but probably strong song list. Hopefully it's not the only album that the pair get to release, but it would be good to see them not fall into the typical songs expected from someone in their genres.

Rating: 4/5

One Direction // Live While We’re Young

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It seems that 1D fever has swept the world, as the boys can’t seem to do anything wrong (well….almost anything!). Their new single, Live While We’re Young is the first track to be lifted from their forthcoming album, Take Me Home.

We can’t help think that this feels a bit of a hybrid of their previous singles, taking all that is good about them and sticking it into one song. Add to that it also has a touch of a male, Call Me Maybe added in just for good measure.  The age old, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it seems to apply to this track but hopefully there is some signs of progression come the album. Otherwise they really are going in only one direction…

Rating: 2/5

Sandi Thom // Flesh And Blood

 
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Flesh and Blood is the 4^th studio album from singer/songwriter Sandi Thom (and the 2^nd to be released on her own label, Guardian Angels Records).

Opening with the Sonny Boy Williamson track Help Me, whilst it is a cover, Thom makes it her own by making some changes to how it is performed. From upbeat, we come down to the soft yet powerful I Owe You Zero. Flesh And Blood is Thom's way of bringing current issues that she feels strongly about to a wider audience but without really trying to force it down the listeners throat.

Sun Comes Crashing Down was the first track that that many heard from the album as it was given away as a freebie both via Thom's own website and Amazon. It's a nice little track that you'll feel that you've known for a while. In The Pines is one of these tracks that we don't whether to class as a cover or a case of sampling. Thom takes the track but has added verses, bridges and re-arranged it to make it her own. It's not one that jumps straight as you and is probably the one track on the album that will take time for it to grow.

Big Ones Get Away features the original artist, Buffy Sainte-Marie which is just beautiful after what seems an odd start when individual vocals are used but they blend perfectly as the track progresses. We have a little rock in the next track (Stormy Weather) where Thom says herself she was trying to channel her 'inner Stevie Wonder'. We think on some bits, she's managed it. I See The Devil In You is a slowish song that you can feel the emotion through.

After an emotional track, we have an almost acoustic-y track in the form of Rise As One. It's quickly followed up by the beautiful ballad I Love You Like A Lunatic, all about that love that drives you crazy. First wedding dance song anyone? Save Some Mercy For Me demands attention and that is what it gets whilst the final track Lay Your Burden Down brings the (standard) album to a close on a haunting note.

If you head over to iTunes, you can get 3 additional tracks in the form of an acoustic version of the title track Flesh And Blood, You're Not My Man and an acoustic cover of the Guns 'n' Roses track November Rain (one the popular tracks from Thom's acoustic covers sessions that she did before the album was released.

It's an album that has shown progression from Merchant and Thieves and gives an all round showcase of Thom's abilities. Everything's is well balanced in respect of vocals and instrumentation (and that comes down to a great producer) and yes, there are a few covers, but lets be honest, Thom has managed 4 albums before doing so. But the covers are respectful to the originals whilst she makes them her own. Hopefully Thom has now found who she is and will only continue to strengthen that

Rating: 4/5

Leona Lewis // Trouble feat. Childish Gambino

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It’s been almost a year since we heard anything from Leona (Hurt: The EP was released last December while fans awaited the release of Glassheart) but now she’s back with a second offering from the forthcoming 3rd album.

Trouble is dark and brooding, and reminds us a little of Emile Sande….and it’s probably because that she had a hand in co-writing the track. However, that’s about as much as it reminds us. The opening of the song feels as if Lewis is singing right at the top of her range and it’s painful to listen to. Though once that’s over with it’s her usual and familiar tones that are present. It does feel as if the bridge has had it’s melody nicked from Delierium’s Silence though.

Somehow we can’t help thinking that this should be going somewhere else, but it never seems to do that. Not doing anything for us, but no doubt after her performance on this weekend’s X-Factor (and we’re sure that it will be seeing it’s released at the weekend) it will be up in the top 10 somewhere

Rating: 3/5

Lawson // Standing In The Dark

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It seems that band of the moment Lawson can’t do any wrong. The third single to be taken from their upcoming debut album, Chapman Square comes in the form of Standing In The Dark.

There’s a bit of a slower tempo to this compared to the last two (alright it’s not much!) but does show that they are capable of something different. According to the lead singer Andy, the song is about what you feel when you see the ex with someone else. And it definitely comes across as a heartfelt song. All we need now is an acoustic version…

Hopefully this will prove just as popular with fans as the last two and will be joining them in getting a bit of airplay

Rating: 5/5

The Wanted // I Found You

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We've been finding out that the songs from The Wanted always seem to be a bit of a hit or miss. This latest offering seems to be hitting more of a miss .

It's a track that doesn't quite know what it is. I Found You carries a faint scent of Glad You Came but that's about it. On the other hand, it sort of reminds of a cheesy europop tracks. Come the chorus, it reminds us of the Scissor Sisters with high pitched vocals.

It's feels that they're not entirely sure who they are any more and maybe they're needing time to re-find who they are. Not sure how the track will be received but it's not tickling our fancy at all.

Rating: 2/5