Pearl & The Puppets Live in Apple Store, Glasgow (8th July 2010)

Pearl and the Puppets is a band from Kirkintilloch, Scotland and comprise of singer/songwriter Katie Sutherland (aka Pearl) (vocals/guitar/ukulele), Blair McMillan (drums ), Gordon Turner (guitar), Scott Clark (bass) and Michael Abubakar (keyboards). Her songs have already been used by brands like Vodafone (Australia), Orange (Romania) and Victoria’s Secret (US)) long before any release here in the UK.

Tonight short performance to a packed Apple Store (located on Buchanan Street) comprised of 7 songs and lasted for just more than 30 minutes. The evening started with her admitting that she didn’t expect as many people to turn out to see her and recording the occasion with a photo. Then it was straight into the music with Honey before having a small ‘chat’ as she tuned her guitar. Then it was into her debut song, Because I Do getting the fans into a sing along followed by Mango Tree, both of which appeared on the debut EP. She then introduced and announced that Inside Out would be the B-side to her forthcoming single. The song itself has got a nice melody and rhythm that you’ll soon find yourself swaying along to.

Next in line was Kisses where the ukelele comes into play for the first and last time for the night. It’s something odd to see someone playing the ukelele but there is no effort shown. It’s a shame this is the only song with the ukelele. There’s a lovely sound from it. Then we’re into a more upbeat and, as announced, loud song Better Days. The set was rounded off with the new single (or as she’d announced it, the first single) Make Me Smile with the fans once more getting into the swing and clapping along.

All things considered, it was a great little gig, and no complaints can be made seeing as it was free. This may well have been a warm up for the weekend (where they are performing at T in the Park) and if so, then the festival goers are in for a treat. Fingers are crossed that big things are on the horizon for this band.

Photos © Vhari Lannigan

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JLS // The Club Is Alive

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JLS are back with their new single, the first to be taken from their forthcoming album. Sadly though, this could quite be the worst that they’ve released.

There is sadly nothing going for this single to save it. There is the bad play on words and melody for the title (the bad play is on the classic track The Sound Of Music). The style of the song is almost an attempt to try and stay with what is popular at the moment. Add in the use of auto tune to this mixture and you have a song for disaster! The melody and vocals very quickly get boring, repetitive and down right annoying.

The second track, Only Tonight (featuing Chipmunk) is by far the better track here and more of probably what you would expect from the boy band and much more of a summery song

Fans will of course flock to it like moths to a flame but for the casual listener, the main track is likely to be a turn off.

Rating: 2/5

Bentley Jones // Alpha Dog (US Remixes)

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Alpha Dog is the second single release for UK based artist Bentley Jones. Originally appearing as part of the So Much More… EP released earlier this year, the appearance of this as a separate release is thanks to DJ’s across the pond.

Looking at the tracks as whole, it really works out to only being two tracks: the Phunkstar version and the original, both given slightly different workings. If you’ve heard previous Phunkstar remixes ( songs by Beyonce, Britney Spears, Cheryl Cole and Whitney Houston have had the treatment) then you already know what to expect.  The remix simply adds to what is already a great track (whereas some remixes diverge completely).

The release also includes the original version (which you won’t need if you’ve previously bought the So Much More…EP) and an extended version of it.
It’s nice to see Bentley Jones getting some attention although it is a bit of shame that it is across the pond and not his native lands.

Rating: 4.5/5

Enrique Iglesias // I Like It

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On first listen and without details of the songs/artists, you would be forgiven for thinking that it was anyone else but Enrique performing a track like this.

Taken from the forthcoming album Euphoria, I Like It is the first English track to be taken from it. Combining the sounds of Eurodisco and too much electronic vocals sadly gets tiresome quickly. Pitbull should be chained up and do his own thing instead of hijacking in other artist songs.

It has two saving graces however: one is that it will probably do well with the summer clubs. The second is the sampling of the classic Lionel Richie track All Night Long (which depending when you come into the song, you could be forgiven for thinking that All Night Long had been given a modern dance remix.

It’s not  song that you could listen to again and again, constantly on repeat. It’s has a short shelf life and likely to become one song that will fade when Summer turns to Autumn

Rating: 3/5

Lady Gaga // Alejandro

 

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Alejandro is the next single to be taken from The Fame Monster and is quite different from anything that you are likely to associate with the Lady of Gaga

Produced by RedOne (who has also worked with the likes of Alexandra Burke (Broken Heels) and Pixie Lott (Here We Go Again [Album track]) to name a few), this time Gaga has gone for a more Europop approach reminiscent of the 90's group Ace Of Base. It’s not your typical Gaga track (musically that is, the video is questionable) but it is likely to be one that is going to be one of the summer’s big anthems either in it’s original or remixed format.

Rating 5/5

K’naan // Wavin’ Flag

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You may just recognise this song from a certain drinks advert who are supporting the world cup. Yes this lovable little number is currently running on one of Coca Cola’s adverts to do with how goal celebrations began and how players/teams have since created their own throughout the years.

However, we deviate from the point here. This is not your typical football song. In fact, it in a way has nothing to do with football. It’s full of deep meaningful lyrics that read like the tale of Africa , where it has been and where it is going.  It’s a song of hope. Had it not been for the ad, then we might never have got to hear this little treat. It makes a difference from the usual football songs that come up time and time again when events like this show up. It’s probably going to end up being one of the more memorable of the games.

Rating: 5/5

Christina Aguilera // Bionic

 

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Christina Aguilera returns with her latest offering in the form of Bionic. Fans will already have heard Not Myself Tonight, the first single from the album, but what in fact is on this?

The title track, Bionic opens the album and sets the sound for at least the next few tracks with the electronic sounds. Although it could be argued that maybe it would have been better as just an a short opening. Not Myself Tonight and WooHoo continue this electronic, futuristic sound. Glam sounds a little like something that Lady Gaga would release although lyrically it sounds a little Madonna-esque (is this what a Lady Gaga and Madonna child would sound like?). Prima Donna sounds more like the Christina that we know and love, possible cause the vocals haven't been too over produced a computer.

Lift Me Up brings into a series of ballads for the album, with All I Need almost sounding like a lullaby. I Hate Boys raises the tempo back up and brings it back in line with the start of the album, although again, My Girls and Vanity sound like something that Lady Gaga would release.

Overall, fans of Christina will probably be excited to see a release from her after 4 years. For the casual fan though, it may be too drastic a sound. It's sounds too much like the music already out there and doesn't seem to work with her voice. Is this a case of someone trying to hard to regain a position or someone trying to hard to prove that she can rival those who have come through in the time she's been away? Only time will tell how well this album will do and maybe she should do as her last album title suggested and go ‘Back To Basics’.

Rating: 3.5/5

Alphabeat // DJ (I Could Be Dancing)

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DJ (I Could Be Dancing) is the third single to be taken from the group's second album, The Beat Is... and for the purpose of this release has been given a single remix.

The track is a tad different from the heavy electronic sounds of previous singles, but still maintains the sounds that the Danish six piece are known for without deviating too far from their sound. It's a catchy little number and certainly one that you'll sound find yourself singing and dancing along to, even if your not a fan. It's maybe not going to be a great hit, but it's certainly one that will get people on the dance floor

Rating: 4/5

Alexandra Burke // All Night Long

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This latest offering from Alexandra might just be the best so far from the album, Overcome. It’s a great little number with a catchy chorus that is bound to have everyone on the floor dancing along and singing along with the chorus, if not the whole song.

It’s quite possibly the first track NOT to sound like a Eurovision reject and even the casual fan will be able to get into this, even if you haven’t heard anything by her except the debut after winning the X-Factor

Rating: 4/5

Sandi Thom // Merchants & Thieves

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2010 heralds the return of Sandi Thom, as she presents her new album to the world as well as a new style. Released via her own record label (Guardian Angels), Thom retains creative freedom allowing her to make an album that reflect who she is. For Merchants & Thieves, the albums takes on a blues/rock style.

The opening track (Maggie McCall) gets the album underway and delves straight into the new style adopted by Thom for the album. The pace is kept by the following tracks until Let It Stay, a beautiful slow tempo ballad before heading into the album title track which turns out to be a instrumental track (a first for Sandi).

From this point, the album becomes a mix of bag of tempos, kicking off with the first single from this album, This Ol’ World featuring the blues/rock guitarist and vocalist Joe Bonamassa before taking the tempo down slightly for The Sadness.  Heart of Stone brings it back up with what has a highlight of the album. Ghost Town hails another first in which Sandi and backing vocalist Lindsey Clearly sing the track acapella, giving it an appropriate haunting feel. Belly Of The Blues is a track that could have either started or finished the album and settles the album beautifully.

Looking back at what Sandi Thom has done before, there is a feeling that this album is more of what she has been wanting to do and by releasing it on her own label, that is exactly what she has achieved. The style and variation in songs suits her voice and has showcased what she really can achieve and makes for a well rounded album. It is an album of firsts: first release on her own label, first blues/rock inspired album, first instrumental and a capella tracks. The difficulty lies in whether or not that the general music public can put aside it’s pre-conceived ideas regarding her music and realise that she is more than a one track pony and that there is much more that we haven’t seen and quite possibly yet to see.

Rating: 5/5

Amy Macdonald // Spark

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Spark is the second single to be lifted from the current album A Curious Thing. Whilst maybe not the strongest of tracks when compared to the rest of the album, on it’s own, it’s not too bad. The song itself is inspired by those who get on with life after coming through tragedy or difficult times in their life and possibly provide some kind of hope that things will be alright.

The song itself isn’t one of the strongest songs when compared to the rest of the album, however, on it’s own it' isn’t just as bad. Maybe the theme of the song is quite appropriate since we are now entering the season of charity events…

Rating: 4/5

Pearl And The Puppets // Because I Do EP

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Pearl and the Puppets is a band from Kirkintilloch and comprise of singer/songwriter Katie Sutherland (vocals/guitar/ukulele), Blair McMillan (drums ), Gordon Turner (guitar), Scott Clark (bass) and Michael Abubakar (keyboards) and this is the first offering for those in the UK to sample (her songs have been used by Vodafone (Australia), Orange (Romania) and Victoria’s Secret (US))

Because I Do is a fun little acoustic guitar driven song which builds into the chorus and bridges. The song provides a mesmerising melody to go with the equally with the vocals. Girlfriend (track 2) continues this mellowed out feeling. Mango Tree (track 3) wakens the EP up a little but you could see this as a closing track to an album or a song you’d listen to just before nodding off to sleep. The last track, Lower Ground is one of those songs that you could imagine playing at the close of the day

Overall, the EP showcases what Pearl is capable of, and giving a possible tease for what to expect from the album (expected later in the year). A wonderful little gem from Scotland that shouldn’t be overlooked and if possible, be heard live.

Rating: 5/5