Zumba ® Fitness (Game)

Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Buy @ HMV.com

If you have haven’t heard of Zumba® before reading this review, where have you been? Zumba is the dance fitness craze that’s been sweeping the world and now you can bring the experience to your living room with the release of Zumba® Fitness: The Video Game.

Okay, so this isn’t the first way to bring Zumba® into your home, there is of course the DVD set that you’ve maybe seen on the late night screenshops. Originally released for Xbox Kinnect, the game then received its ports for the Wii and Playstation 3. Instead of using a camera to track your moves, you get the lovely fitness belt into which you slot your Wii Remote or Playstation Move controller (one fitness belt is provided in the box. Additional belts can be purchased from ZumbawearUK, official Zumbawear stockist in the UK!)

The game features what could probably class as standard Zumba® tracks, some that you may even recognise if you’ve been to any classes. Following the on screen instructors you can work your way through either a single song or a set of varying lengths, depending on how your feeling or what your time allows. The more you move, the more you fill the bar which unlocks more ‘backing dancers’.

There’s one issue that presents itself and that is that the remote only tracks the hip movement meaning that movement from, ‘above the belt’ probably isn’t credited, or at least, credited properly

It is a fun game that takes up to four players allowing for you to hold your own Zumba® party in your living room. With 30 routines, some exclusive to the game, there’s plenty to go through and has routines suited for all skill levels. It’s a good fill in for those between class moments although if you haven’t maybe ventured to a class, you may find this hard to get into. Perseverance is the key here and you’re certain to have fun at the same time, especially if done with friends or family

Wonderland // Wonderland

Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ amazon.co.uk
Buy @ Play.com | Download @ Play.com 
 iTunes

If you haven't heard of Wonderland, then where have you been. If not, then let's give you a brief re-cap; Wonderland are the latest girl band export from Ireland and are managed by Louis Walsh and Kian Egan (yes, Kian of Westlife!). Now we have that out the way, let's look at the album release.

First off, instead of having some fancy title, it's simply a self-titled debut. The first two tracks are the first singles that many have probably heard (Not A Love Song and Starlight) before heading into the beautiful ballad, Nothing Moves Me Anymore. From here it is a cover of the multi-Grammy award winning song by Lady Antebellum, Need You Now, which while it is good, it doesn't hold a light to the original.

Onto a filler track, in the form of In Your Arms. It's a generic girl group track that is likely to drive you crazy with it's chorus (I don't wanna go, wanna go, I don't wanna go/ I don't wanna leave, wanna leave, don't you ever leave/ I just wanna stay, wanna stay, let me lie in your arms tonight) and that's only on the first play. Is It Just Me is another slow before heading into the hauntingly beautiful Why Here Why Now. The next track, another slow number titled Time Has Run Out, feels more like an album closing track rather than it's position on the album.

Fast paced Emergency is next (and has recently been iTunes Single of the Week!) but you can't help being left feeling like there's subliminal advertising in the lyrics (Ibuleave anyone?) and it's just the uptempo track that we've been waiting for. Too soon though it's back to the ballad's with It could Be You. Foot tapping is required for the next track Get Your Boots On before the requirements turn to swaying for When The Stars Turn Blue. The final track is another cover, this time in the form of the Adele hit, Rolling In The Deep, which they again, make a good attempt on, but only really Adele can sing this to it's true potential.

Looking at the album, it feels like he song selection has been a playing safe and leaving no doubt that the girls can sing ballads. The second half of the album feels a little all over the place, alternating between fast and slow. As a debut, it fulfils it's purpose, but it feels like it could have been more. Hopefully this is just a scratching of the surface an that there is much more to be seen. It's just a shame that their potential hasn't been shown fully.

Rating: 3.5/5

Bentley Jones // TRANS//LATION 2

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Buy @ Official Site

It’s been two years since the release of Bentley Jones Japanese debut album, TRANS//LATION and only 6 months since Finally Free was released. But now the singer/songwriter/producer (and we’re pretty sure that he fits kitchen sinks too!) presents his brand new bi-lingual album, TRANS//LATION 2.

First off, let discuss how you can buy the album. It’s available either as a 13 track digital download or as a 14 track limited edition art CD from the official website

Now that’s out the way, here’s the next thing; this album is pretty rock and pretty loud (and you’ll gather that from the aptly named TRANS//LATION 2 introduction track. Another difference is that this album is a fair balance of English and Japanese covers, although a few are 2011 re-workings of previously released tracks ( 素直になれたら~FINAL NIGHT~, Dreams Of An Absolution, GLAMOROUS SKY)

Looking at some of the newer English tracks, they are recognisable classics from the 80s/90s (Word Up, Stay, Running Up That Hill (Deal With God)) and are true to their originals while making them Bentley's own. With regards to the Japanese tracks (JOINT, アメあと, 道～to you all, GLAMOROUS SKY, 素直になれたら), it's apparent that confidence has grown with the pronunciations compared to the debut release, which can only be a good thing.

Overall, it's a strong album with a great balance of tracks. It's more along the lines of Finally Free soundwise rather than the original TRANS//LATION (which was more dance covers and more electronic sounding). If you've maybe not encountered Bentley Jones in the past, then this is probably a good place to start.

Rating: 4/5

Mike + The Mechanics @ Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow 25th May 2011

It’s not often that a group for 25 years, but one such group is Mike + The Mechanics, who return in 2011 with a new album, The Road and a tour, which rolled into Glasgow on the 25th of May.

Supporting the main act was Scarlette Fever, who, for a change in support acts, actually had the same sort of sound as the main act.  Powering through a strong set of songs from her album Medication Time including Crash & Burn, Black & White, Good Day. and Cheating Man For those that wished, there was an opportunity to buy the album and meet the artist at the interval whilst the stage was set up for the main act.

The show opened with the title track from the new album, The Road which introduced the two new vocalists Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar. Mike Rutherford welcomed and introduced himself and the band, before heading  Beggar On A Beach Of Gold which was interesting to hear Tim Howar take lead vocals on, but he did the song proud. This was straight into Get Up, before slowing it down to beautiful version of Try To Save Me which Andrew Roachford on lead vocals and keyboards. From here it was a couple of older songs from the extensive catalogue; Nobody Knows, Another Cup Of Coffee and I Don't Do Love.

If I Were You (from the album, Rewired) is next and Mike explains that when the song was original written, it was done so to be sung as a duet. Andrew takes the male while Tim takes on what would be the female section. There's a slight detour here as Roachford performs one of his own songs, Only To Be With You. From this it's straight into Follow You, Follow Me and I Can't Dance, not Mike + The Mechanics songs but songs from Mike's “other band”, Genesis.

Next is a song that probably everyone knows and maybe one of the most well known Mike + The Mechanics, and that is The Living Years. It doesn't take much for the audience to join in with the backing singing on the chorus. After this was another well known song, being Over My Shoulder and I Need A Miracle. All left the stage and, as is customary, the chanting began to get the group back on stage.
On coming back, Andrew Roachford performs his song Cuddly Toy, that finally got everyone to their feet for a little dance. The night finished with what, Tim Howar explained was a traditional ending to a concert. This is of course, Word Of Mouth, which ended up with lots arm waving and singing along in traditional Scottish behaviour.

Overall it was a fantastic night, let down only by the number of people who turned out for the gig (only the stall appeared to have been sold). For those who hesitated in going, it was their loss. Andrew and Tim, although being new to the group treated the back catalogue with the respect it deserved whilst bring their own unique twist on it to make them theirs, and the new material sounded fantastic live. The one complaint; why does Mike Rutherford make playing the guitar look like a walk in the park? If you get a chance, do get to see them live.

Photos © Vhari Lannigan

Scarlette Fever
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Amazon.co.uk 
Buy @ Play.com | iTunes

Mike + The Mechanics
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Buy @ Play.com | iTunes

Kerry Ellis & Brian May @ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 12th May 2011

Take one West End star and add one rock legend and you get a fantastic pairing. We are of courses talking about Kerry Ellis and Brian May, and to have both on stage on the one night is a chance not to be missed.

In support was new band Vintage Trouble. As a support act, they weren’t bad though it is hard to describe who they sound like. One description that was heard was ‘James Brown on speed’. Powering through a set of several songs, the audience seemed to take to them. After a short interval to allow the setting of the stage, the main act began.

Or at least, so people thought. After a little light show and introductional interlude, the band appeared from either side, before the familiar opening chords of Dangerland on electric guitar from Brian May before being joined by Kerry Ellis. It didn’t take long for Kerry to make her mark on the audience of the concert hall. To follow up the opening number was I’m Not That Girl (taken from the musical Wicked). From here, she thanked the audience for a warm welcome and thanked Dr. Brian May, causing a cheer to go up.

I Can’t Be Your Friend (This Can’t Be Over) followed by the well known Shirley Bassey song Diamonds Are Forever which showcased her range beautifully. Now it was Brian’s turn to address the audience and ask for permission for both him and Kerry to perform a few Queen tracks along the way…as if anyone was going to object! To start off they performed Somebody To Love and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. At the end of this, Kerry disappeared off stage leaving Brian to play a solo piece. He ten swapped electric for acoustic and a stool, to perform a song ‘written by a good friend called Freddie’. He then went onto mention how Freddie may be gone but he would live on through his music, both getting a rousing applause from the audience. Brian then played Love Of My Life ably assisted by the entire audience.

Kerry then returned to perform an acoustic track with Brian called I Loved A Butterfly. From here, Kerry performed the Queen track Save Me, which she admitted that there had been extra lyrics written just for her. Disappearing from stage, Brian now reminisces about how he first met Kerry, the audition for We Will Rock You and how she set the bar for the character of Meat and she had made No One Buy You (Only The Good Die Young) her own. This would be the next song for her to perform followed by You Have To Be There. A quick stage strip and it was onto The Feeling’s I Love It When You Call.

Another quick disappearance and outfit change and she’s back to perform the rocky Defying Gravity. The next two songs would get the audience up on their feet and doing what Glasgow does best; singing along. These songs would be We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions. Kerry, Brian and the band left the stage and the chanting begins. The band returns with Brian personally thanking the audience for welcoming them and reminding him why he loved Glasgow. Kerry comes back on stage to perform Anthem (from Chess), finishing on a high with the Queen classic Tie Your Mother Down.

For many, this may have been the first time that they had seen and heard Kerry live. To see and hear both Kerry and Brian on the same stage was a wonderful experience. Kerry was vocally stunning and lived up to everything and more than you hear on the CD. And Brian showed that he’s still got it…but why does he have to make playing the guitar like a walk in the park? A very enjoyable night and highly recommended night out.

Photos © Vhari Lannigan

Kerry Ellis
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Buy @ the Official Store
Download @ iTunes

Brian May
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

Sweetbox // Diamond Veil

Buy @ CDJapan | Buy @ YesAsia
Buy @ HMV Japan | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Download @ iTunes

Some may have thought that the album may never get released, but finally, studio album no.8 for the group / no. 2 for current front woman Jamie Pineda, Diamond Veil has landed!

Before we go any further, we'd like to apologise. The artwork we're using is actually the Japanese one and not the artwork that comes with the Western download (we just don't like it and we're sure you'll see why and you'll agree!)

As promised, Diamond Veil is slightly more dance orientated than previous release, The Next Generation, though some tracks still maintain the trademark classical sampling. The album opens with the bright, breezy and upbeat Minute By Minute(might have something to do with the classical piece sampled; Morning from the Peer Gynt suite). Keeping with the theme is Bullet Proof (nothing like the a capella clip posted by Jamie months ago) and I Know You’re Not Alone (which features in soon to be released Japanese film Paradise Kiss).

Air Raid raises the bar slightly into dance/R&B territory, kept up again by Under The Influence and Shot Gun. Dizzy & Fever are, to put simply, dance tracks (well you might be Dizzy from a Fever…okay bad joke) although there is a sense of forgottenlyricitius for Fever…Suddenly from nowhere comes the beautiful ballad Nothing ‘bout Nothing followed by the equally beautiful Echo.

Undo This Hurt lulls you into a false sense of a slow ballad before bursting into full pop song. I Don’t Give A Damn comes storming angrily in, being calmed straight afterwards by Once. Dropping the tempo is Indestrucible before closing the album on the ballad Remember This Dance (first single in Japan).

Overall, the album has a different feel to previous albums with more upbeat songs rather than ballads. It feels and plays like a balanced album. There’s no disjointed or awkward moments that can arrive from track order. The samples that were provided by the Japanese label on a special commemorative site of selective tracks (or samples provided by other sites) do not live up to the full tracks potential. And it’s obvious that Jamie has grown more confident vocally from the previous release and that can only be a good thing.

Rating 5/5

Lady Gaga // Edge Of Glory

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

If you’re a ‘Little Monster’, then you’re probably lapping up everything to do with Mother Monster’s upcoming album release. For everyone else, you’re probably sick of it. The release of so many ‘singles’ before the album release makes you wonder why bother with an album.

Of the four ‘singles’ released (Born This Way, Judas, Edge Of Glory and Hair), it’s the third that’s caught this blog’s attention.

Edge Of Glory has a retro 80s feel to the entire song, which, in a way, suits Gaga. It’s easy to catch onto the lyrics and, as a whole, this probably would have been enough for us to rate it 5 out of 5.

Sadly, someone somewhere decided that it would be a good idea to release the song the week of Eurovision in Europe, and at times, you could find yourself drifting to Gaga in Eurovision (let’s be fair, she’d probably fit in quite well!)

So far one of the best tracks from the upcoming album although others will probably disagree.

Rating: 4/5

Clare Maguire // The Shield And The Sword

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Play.com

Clare Maguire returns with the third offering from her debut album, Light After Dark. And it’s a cracker!

The latest oferring is a little more upbeat from the last two singles but the powerful vocals still remain intact. Once more it showcases the range and power of Maguire’s voice and holds the listener from the first to the last note.

Things have appeared to have gone from strength to strength from having a remix of the debut single used featured in an advert for a well known car manufacturer, touring as support for Hurts and The Script as well as completing her first headline UK tour. Hopefully single number three will continue to show what she is capable of and encourage more to check her out.

Rating 4/5

Olly Murs // Busy

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

The 2009 X-Factor runner up (who, incidentally has had better luck than winner Joe McElderry…Murs still has a contract!) returns with latest offering Busy.

Sadly, however, there is still nothing original here. As it starts, you can be forgiven for thinking that it’s the latest offering from Bruno Mars (Lazy) which of course is the opposite. Thought slow to start, the pace soon picks up and feels ‘Busy’

The single comes out as he's on tour so he’s got something to promote. Like previous singles, longevity not guaranteed.

Rating: 2/5

Pete Lawrie // A Little Brighter

Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Buy @ HMV.com | Buy @ Play.com
Download @ iTunes | Download @ iTunes (Deluxe)

Welsh singer/songwriter Pete Lawrie finally gets around to releasing his debut album just a week before going on a joint Highlands tour with Glaswegian Pearl & The Puppets.

The first half of the album sees a nice balance of upbeat, quick tempo and slower, mellow little numbers, opening with the foot tapping, sing along track In The End treated to a new String arrangement opening for the album release. The laid back All That We Keep follows before rousing to the quick paced ramble that is How Can I Complain? Half As Good has a James Blunt-esque feel to, but also feel simple in it’s instrumentation while Fell Into The River brings the first half of the album to a close with a Motown/Soul feel.

The second half of the album feels a little like a ballroom dance with a slow,slow, quick quick, slow slow feel to the song listing. Both Poor Man’s Game and Paperthin show that Lawrie doesn’t need hugely produced tracks and can work easily with the bare essentials. If Not for You and the slight synth tinted Just Dust pick up the pace before dropping it to a more mellow tone with Dance Of Your Own, ultimately ending beautifully on slow piano driven song Jimmy And The Birds On Fire.

Overall, it’s not bad for a debut album. It’s not been over produced, giving the listener a clear distinction between instrument and vocal. It would have been nice if the track listing had followed the same pattern throughout, but this is just a minor issue. If you like your artists to have a honesty and connection with their lyrics, then Pete Lawrie is a recommended listen.

Rating: 4.5/5

KT Tunstall // The Scarlet Tulip EP

Buy @ KT Tunstall Official Shop

The Scarlet Tulip EP is the latest self released EP from Scottish singer songwriter KT Tunstall. Simply KT and a guitar, all 7 tracks on the EP were recorded live in a solar powered studio in England

With it just being KT and a guitar, you can’t help but be reminded of the Throw Me A Rope EP and Eye To The Telescope. It showcases that, despite recording with full band, she’s still got it when it coms to performing alone and that it's not all pop & rock. These 7 little tracks eminate a calm and reflective side that's maybe been missing for a while and has needed to shine.

Being available on three formats (digital, CD and limited edition 10" vinyl), there's something for everyone. Highly recommeded buy for all Tunstall fans, especially those more familiar with the folier side of her

Rating: 5/5

Sweetbox // Remember This Dance

Download @ iTunes Japan

After a lengthy delay, the latest studio album from Sweetbox, Diamond Veil (8th in the group’s history and 2nd for current front woman Jamie Pineda) is set to be released at the end of May in Japan.

In the meantime, the (very quiet) release from the album is the ballad Remember This Dance, a personal favourite of Jamie’s. From the very first vocal note, you are made to feel that there is a connection between singer and lyrics. It’s easy to lose yourself in the song and just start swaying along. You could almost imagine it being used as a first dance at a wedding.

There have been comments that maybe this wasn’t the best song to release given that the song I Know You’re Not Alone is set to appear in the Japanese film Paradise Kiss (Out at the beginning of June). But let’s consider Remember This Dance a gentle re-introduction to Sweetbox given that it has been 2 years since the last album.

Rating: 5/5