The Veronicas // You Ruin Me

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Somewhere in the back of our minds, we seem to recall The Veronicas a number of years ago…so long that actually, we don’t remember the music just the name. However now we have the lead single from their forthcoming self-titled album, and it goes by the name of You Ruin Me.

Melodically, it’s a piano driven track with strings entering just as the vocals start with the chorus. Vocally, it’s full of heartfelt emotion and feel very much like a break-up song with opening lyrics Job well done/ standing ovation. Yeah you got what you wanted/ I guess you won. Looking at it as a whole, the song is minimalistic but that lends to the vulnerability that runs through it.

The question is in a music scene that seems, at time, saturated with ballads, will this stand out? Only time will tell but apart from that, it’s not a bad wee track.

Rating: 5/5

Bentley Jones // Defying Gravity

(Deluxe Edition mp3 cover)
Standard
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Deluxe
Buy @ Official Site (CD/DVD) | Download @ Official Site

It’s been 2 years since Bentley Jones last album release but between then and now we’ve had a sprinkling of single & EPs. And now it finally time to get our hands on the album release that has been teased for months.

The album opens with the first single Evolve before heading into Follow You Down to maintain the pace before we slow things for two uptempo ballads in the form of
Without You (Come Back) & I Have Loved.

Next we have 夢のしずく or the Japanese version of the single Nothing. Everything. Next we make a return to a sound that shows that there is still the naughty streak there (R1D31T) before taking a punt of the title track of the album, a cover of a song from the Wicked musical,  Defying Gravity which we can’t help think sums up Bentley and his career to a t.

Once again we slow it down for One Too Many Goodbyes before it’s back to the more uptemponess with Talk 2 U.  Axiomatis is a bit of an odd track given that it was actually composed between Jones and his fans (known as The TruthST4LK3RZ) and also features them on instruments, backing vocals…pretty much this is their anthem and it’s a bit of feat to have pulled off in what some might determine as a short timeframe.

As almost a reward for buying the physical release we have an additional track.Devil's Cry (Shall Never Surrender) is Bentley take on the theme from Devil May Cry 4, originally planned from a now scrapped project, the song has been given a spit & polish to bring it into line with the rest of the album. The One on the standard edition (read downloadable from other sites) brings the album full circle and end it’s off perfectly.

However, if you’re like us and opted for the deluxe physical edition, then you’ve still got a few tracks to go. 残酷な天使のテーゼ (Theme from "Neon Genesis Evangelion") is a modern taken on the 90s anime theme. Next we’re given the English version of a tracks a few back. Yes we are talking about Nothing.Everything, a track that if we’re honest, we weren’t keen on until hearing the Japanese version. And in closing we have the Japanese version of the album title track Defying Gravity, known here as 自由を求めて.

The accompanying DVD of the deluxe comes with videos for Evolve, I Have Loved, Nothing.Everything, Axiomatis and two tracks previous released on an EP, What Now…? and The Place Where Dreaming Ends. Live ukulele versions of Evolve & Nothing.Everything, a track by track and message from Ben wrap the DVD up.

Looking at the release, there is probably more falsetto here than we were expecting and sometimes it does feel as if he is reaching the top end of his range for it. However, it is probably because it’s not something that we are entirely familiar in hearing from Jones, except in the occasional track. That aside, it feels a very personal album from him but that the imagery constructed from the lyrics may resonate with those listening.

Rating: 4/5

Various Artists // BBC Radio 2 Presents Sounds Of the 80’s

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It was probably only a matter of time before an album was released in…celebration of the revival of BBC Radio 2 show. But this is not the original tracks…as you might have guessed given the tag line: Unique covers of classic hits.

Now when it comes to covers, for us, we like to hear a song respect the original but at the same time be given something that make it’s their. There’s a few example of this with the likes of the The Script’s take on Drive, Ed Sheeran’s Atlantic City, Caro Emerald’s Walk Like An Egyptian, James Blunt’s I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, The Pierces Don’t Give Up.

Then you’ve got the tracks that sound a bit more samey as the original but work for the vocalist like Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can) by Rummer, Smalltown Boy by Dido, Train’s Holding Back The Years & The Overtones take on the Wham! classic Wake Me Up Before You Go. And then at the other end of the scale, you have the tracks that either sound too similar and no imagination like Kian Egan’s Run To You, Boyzone’s Whole Of The Moon & Level 42’s Need You Tonight or you have to wonder what they were thinking at the time (Christina Perri’s Turn Back Time, Birdie’s Lucky Star)

Overall, it’s a bit of mixed bag but the better tracks outweigh what in our opinion is some of the weaker tracks on the double cd release. On the most part, the covers are done well, but some need a good looking at whilst some just need someone to plug them into the National Grid to give them a bit of a jump start.

Rating: 3/5