Girls Can’t Catch // Echo

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There’s been a few great songs out the past few weeks and this has to be one of them. Electro-pop seems to be the order of the day at the moment and this tune from Girls Can’t Catch isn’t an exception. An extremely catchy and upbeat tune you will find it “echoing” in your head after only one play. The video for the song is actually very simple and effective which matches the lyrical value. Simply and catchy.

Hopefully this single will be the one to make people sit up and take notice of Girls Can’t Catch and will show them that these girls CAN catch the attention of the listening masses

Rating: 5/5

Bentley Jones // So Much More…

  
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LIMITED EDITION CD @ BentleyJones.com | Download @ iTunes

If you’ve been a fan of the Next Gen Consoles version of Sonic The Hedgehog, then you may well already be familiar with this guy.  Dreams of an Absolution (aka Silver’s Theme) was written by him as well as Seven Rings In Hand ~Fairytale in Trance~ (From Sonic and the Black Knight). And now he’s involved with SEGA once again to provide the the theme to the upcoming game, Sonic & SEGA All-Star Racing

If you’ve seen any of the trailers for the game, then the song will fit perfectly. It’s a great upbeat electro-pop track, with lyrics that will have you singing along in no time (even if it is just the chorus). There’s no less than 5 different versions in total on the single including the absolutely gorgeous ballad version, three remixes and the instrumental. Also included on the single is a fun little song called Swing Baby Swing, that was used by the site Gaia Online during their Promagedden event, and two original tracks U Won’t 4get ME ~Theme Of Bentley Jones~ and Alpha Dog (which sounds a little something Taio Cruz…)

Overall, for a first single and first release from BJ on his own record label it’s not a bad little collection. At least you’re getting more than most singles these days…

Rating: 5/5

Track listing:

1. So Much More… (main theme of “Sonic & SEGA All-stars Racing”)
2. U Won’t 4get ME ~theme of Bentley Jones~ (Clean Version)
3. Swing Baby! (from Gaia Online’s “PROMAGEDDON”)
4.So Much More… ~Ballad Version~
5. Alpha Dog
6. So Much More… (Fantazia Projekt Radio Mix)
7. So Much More… (Phunkstar Extended Mix)
8. So Much More… (Fantazia Projekt Remix)
9. So Much More… (Instrumental)

Alexandra Burke // Broken Heels

 
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After the Eurovisionesque Bad Boys, you’d think that it couldn’t possible get much worse. Think again. Once again, it sounds as if Miss Burke is applying for the UK Eurovision and once again does not show the potential that the album has (there are much better tracks on the album than what has already been given). The track feels dated and more over, cheesy. Not exactly something you’d want for a previous X-Factor winner…

Actually, if you were to compare this track to John & Edward, it actually makes them look good! Sure the track is sing-alongable, but that’s about all it’s got going for it. It’s sadly categorised as one of those annoying tracks that after one listen, that’s enough. It doesn’t have any longevity and probably only qualifies as track used to break up monotony. If tracks like this are continued to be released then like Alexandra’s career will be like the typical British Eurovision score: nil point!

Rating:1/5

Escala // Escala

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Brought to the attention of the British public through Britain’s Got Talent, Escala claimed that there was no like them. Unfortunately, look back a few years and you might find Bond, who were deemed to classical to be pop and too pop to be classical.

But here the similarities end. Escala’s track listing features mainly newer titles and covered songs.  Many of the new songs on the album (e.g. Children and Clubbed To Death) are easily emulated on string instruments and have nothing to seperate them from the original pieces. Some more classical pieces such as Chi Mai, Adagio for Strings and Sarabande are given respect and played beautifully but again, it’s just a generic reproduction. Nothing inspiring.

Sadly the album plays almost like the soundtrack to most of ITV 1’s reality TV programs as many of the songs featured here have appeared in show’s like X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent (which are Simon Cowell’s projects and they are managed by him, so it should make no surprise). There was a gap in the market for a band like this but sadly, it has been misused. With it looking like Bond may once again be rearing their head back into the market, the Escala girls could be facing a fight on their hands unless they come up with something more imaginative to keep the attention focused on them.

Rating: 2.5/5

The MacDonlad Bros. // Three Cheers for Christmas

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Love them or loathe them, there’s something almost lovable about the brothers from Ayr. The single, Three Cheers For Christmas, was written by the boys and has been now adopted by Cash For Kids as the official Christmas single.

It’s a fun little number that makes a change from the usual Christmas tracks that you here year after year and definately breaks up the monotony of the same tracks over and over and over again. The single also features Ravenwood Primary School choir who won a competition to sing with the boys on their Christmas single. Plus all monies raised from all the downloads is being donated to Cash For Kids.

The only issue is that there is no longevity. It’s not a song you could listen to for long periods but definitely one to slip in now and again.

Rating: 4/5

Red Hot Chilli Pipers // 100 Chilli Pipers

  
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It’s not a misprint or misspelling. They’re the group who have made bagpipes fashionable and accessable. They’ve also managed to create a brand new genre of music: Bagrock

This four track EP brings the pipers into your home as they take you from Christmas to the New Year in 4 tracks but is also a great little introduction to the guys if you haven’t heard of them.

The opening track (100 Chilli Pipers) merges traditional (100 pipers) with rock (Rocking All Over The World) and basically engulfs you into the world of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and what they do. There’s a special rendition of the Christmas track Little Drummer Boy (which was released last year as they’re attempt to get bagrock into the charts!) before ending the album with two great traditional Scottish tracks, Flower of Scotland and the Hogmany favourite Auld Lang Syne.

These guys prove that the bagpipes don’t have to be boring and don’t have to be resigned to the traditional songs heard on trips to Scotland but that they can be turned to almost any song and still make it sound great. A highly recommended release even if it’s just because you’re curious as to what’s the fuss is about them or because you want to see them take on the charts.

Rating: 4/5

Track listing:
100 Pipers
Little Drummer Boy
Flower of Scotland
Auld Lang Syne

Queen & The Muppets // Bohemian Rhapsody

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Take a musical institution and add a TV puppetry institution and what do you get? A version of a fantastic song like you’ve never heard it before.

Those that like their Queen songs intact, look away now. The Muppets have taken it had made their own version of it, to much hilarity! Featuring most of the characters that many will know and love (although I believe there are some that older fans may not recognise) they singing (in the best sense of the word) way through the classic with their own unique twists. After all, nothing the Muppets ever do is ever straight forward.

It’s a fun little number that no doubt will bring a smile to your face. It’s one that you wouldn’t mind hearing at Christmas to break up the mundane repeats of the Christmas songs you’ve been hearing since the end of November. Probably not a number one but one of those daft songs that come out at this time of year.

Rating: 4/5

Joe McElderrry // The Climb

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With the exception of  the whole ‘Jedward’ fiasco, this years X-Factor has been hard to call with some song choices not being suited to the contestants voices and in-judge arguments. However, in the end the one contestant who has performed consistently well throughout the competition came out on top.

Joe appears to have taken the praise and the criticism each week and added to that which already to improve his performance, taking the songs and putting his own mark on them, accumulating in becoming the 2009 show winner.

The Climb is a cover of the Miley Cyrus track from the Hannah Montana movie soundtrack but when compared to the original, Joe brings more passion and emotion to the lyrics than Miley has. The lyrics also fit the situation that Joe has come through: the highs, the lows, the praise and the criticisms.

The CD version also features two songs recorded from the show; Queen track Somebody To Love and George Michael/Elton John track Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, showcasing Joe’s ability to sing live as well as in the studio.

As with all X-factor winners, it’s hard to judge how well that he will be accepted by the British public and a future isn’t always certain. It may well be that this release will follow the same pattern as all X-factor releases: single release and then nothing for months until the time of the album release (currently set for October next year), but hopefully Joe will be one of those winners who will be around for a while and will prove that he deserved the title of X-factor winner

Rating: 4.5/5

Saint Vox // Saint Vox

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Buy @ Yes Asia (Regular) | Buy @ Yes Asia (Limited)

What do you get if you take an upcoming young Japanese violinist and an ex-Sweetbox singer? Well this apparently. For Jade fans this is another name for them to look for her under and it may well be the first time that they have heard the name Emiri Miyamoto too (who, in her own right is a great violinist)

The album opens with the first single Don’t Leave Me This Way –Energy Flow- which is a great opening for the album and showcases what Jade, Emiri and Geo have planned for the album…sort of.  Merry Christmas Mr Lawerance –Rocket Girl- (which if you haven’t guessed from the title, features the well known song by pianist Ryuchi Sakamoto, who also wrote Energy Flow of which the first song is based). The chorus reminds you of Elton John’s Yellow Brick Road whilst the verse leave much to be desired singing wise.

No More Songs is a nice upbeat song that, once we get rid of digitalisation in the voice of the first verse is alright, only for it to turn up in the bridge again. It Won’t Matter -Kaze No Toorimichi- is a downbeat song sampling a song from the Studio Ghibili film My Neighbour Totoro (となりのトトロ, Tonari no Totoro). Electric -Jonetsu Tairiku- is just…well it’s hard to describe it. One thing is that it is the completely wrong style for Jade’s voice. We Fall is the next track and is along the same lines as Merry Christmas Mr Lawerance –Rocket Girl-.

Remember September is one of those lovely little ballads that Jade and Geo are great at composing. Sadly the chorus sounds as if there’s a record jumping with the repetition of “raining was falling”. Apart from that it has a nice little old country feeling to it.  Crashing Down -Mononoke Hime- is a fast paced song but again, in a style that doesn’t suit Jade’s voice. It also sample the theme from Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫, Mononoke-hime).

System Down is another little ballad which is the start of the end of the album. And finally is another little ballad called I’m There which could also have been titled I’ll Be There* Part 2.

Overall, this album doesn’t truly deliver. For it being a collaboration album with someone who is equally a great artist, it doesn’t feel like it. Emiri’s violin only really shines in endings, some bridges and ends, but is usually drowned out by the vocals. The singing styles don’t always suit and make it sound as if they are trying to diversify too much. Sadly more was expected of this album but it hasn’t lived up to expectations

*I’ll Be There featured on the Sweetbox album Adagio

Rating: 3/5

1. Don’t Leave Me This Way -Energy Flow-
2. Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence –Rocket Girl-
3. No More Songs
4. It Won’t Matter -Kaze No Toorimichi-
5. Electric -Jonetsu Tairiku-
6. We Fall
7. Remember September
8. Killa -Sonata In Winter Saisho Kara Imamade-
9. Crashing Down -Mononoke Hime-
10.Take The Night Off
11. System Down
12. I’m There

P!nk // I Don’t Believe You

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The newest single to be lifted from the Funhouse album, I Don’t Believe You is a beautiful, emotional guitar driven ballad, so much so, you may be forgiven to think that it is P!ink. The reason; it’s completely different from what’s previously been released from this album.

Yes she’s released ballads before, but nothing quite like this. The lyrics are heart felt and may just drive you to tears! The second track on the single is a live acoustic version of the track, which just adds to the beauty of the vocals

Overall it’s a cracking wee track to be released from the album and one that everyone, fan or not, should check out

Rating: 5/5

Westlife // What About Now

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Download @ iTunes

It’s been 2 years since the Irish boy band released an album and this is the first single to lifted from it.  And if you think it sounds familiar, well here’s at least two reasons why:

• It’s a cover song. It was originally recorded by US band Daughtry.
• It’s was used in parts of the auditions and boot camp results on the current series of X Facto

Coincidence? Probably not. But what better promotion. Sadly though, while the song suits their voices, it’s just a straight cover, nothing done to really make it their own. And it would appear that the boys have fallen into a trend of releasing a cover song as a leading single with the last couple of albums.

But looking at as a single, it’s a great track to come back with. Long term fans will be pleased to see the boys backs and they may even entice a few new ones. Lets see what else the album brings…

Rating: 4/5

JLS // Everybody In Love

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After appearing on the last series of X Factor they wowed thousands…at least, enough so that when their debut single ‘Beat Again’ was released that it came out of no where to take the number one spot on the iTunes chart. Did we mention that they also won a MOBO this year?

Anyway, we digress from the point. Everybody In Love is the second single to be lifted from the forthcoming self titled album.  Sadly though, the song doesn’t pull you in like Beat Again. It’s repeated bassline and basic melody  of the down tempo ballad will soon become boring and have you reaching for something else. There’s no passion as felt from the debut making you think that this was probably an album track that should have been left for te album and not used as an album promotion.

The question is; has the bar been raised too high too quickly? The song is the opposite end of the first, from brilliant to nearly mediocre. Fans will flock to it, but the occassional listener will turn it off

Rating: 2/5