Review: Tape Deck Heart

Tape Deck Heart

'Tape Deck Heart' is the new album from folk punk man Frank Turner.

There is a fine line between Turner's last album, 'England Keep My Bones' and his new work. Largely this is because of the larger proportion of folk that he has injected into his music, and in every track we can hear and acoustic guitar much as if it were by Ed Sheeran or Gabrielle Aplin. We can still hear the punk aggression ('Plain Sailing Weather'), but it takes more of a backseat to the catchy guitar chords found in 'Recovery' and 'The Way I Tend to Be'.

The real thing that people first see in 'Tape Deck Heart' is the fact that is a break up album, with almost all of the songs related to coming back after a relationship. While you can tell that this man's heart was violently broken, he is still singing songs with largely upbeat music. This is impressive given how easy it is to make a heart wrenching, sad break up song (*cough* Adele, Taylor Swift).

 In short, Turner walks a fine line between break up songs, upbeat guitar music, punk rock feel and spirit of youth. Something perfect for a boost of energy on a rainy day when you are feeling down and maybe but not necessarily going through a sad break up.

9/10 

THIS ALBUM IS AVAILABLE IN THE UK AND THE US



Click here to watch the video for his highest charting single 'The Way I Tend To Be'.

Review: #willpower

#willpower

#willpower is the new studio album from the musical wizard with the midas touch, 'will.i.am'.

This album will have people that love it and others that will hate it. However if like me, you are somebody that has been listening to music by the 'Black Eyed Peas' since the dawn of time, you will certainly love this album. The album has an electronic texture that flows heavily through it's veins in songs such as 'Let's Go' and 'Gettin' Dumb' but Will still manages to integrate synthetic and real string instruments into many of his songs such as hit single 'This is Love'. In 'Geekin' I think he even goes as far as to integrate synthetic bagpipes.

As for the lyrics, it is a typical combination from will.i.am of hardcore dance lyrics ("when me and you party together"), and will's amazing ability to sound like a preacher that we should be listening to ("everybody killing like it's 'Platoon'").

Should you be somebody that is interested in all of the music that I have described above, you will love will.i.am's latest effort. While I don't normally buy deluxe versions of albums, I did for this one because of my adoration for will.i.am's music and everything that it stands for.

People who love dance music: 10/10
Everyone else: 7/10

Review: Reincarnated

Reincarnated

'Reincarnated' is the new album by Snoop Dogg's new reggae influenced personality 'Snoop Lion'. Snoop Lion was born after a spiritual journey to Jamaica where a priest supposedly rechristened Snoop Dogg as Snoop Lion.

Despite the strange thoughts that people might associate with a well known rapper such as Snoop Dogg having a complete change in career path at his age, the album works as a reggae-rap fusion. The move was actually quite smart as it's only so easy to be a 41 year old rapper especially in the modern world of hip-hop. The music itself succeeds in sounding like a laid back reggae album with the ability to keep Snoop Lion's ice cool phrasing "We all feel hurt, here's mine".

My dad is a big fan of reggae artists such as Aswad and UB40 and doesn't think that Major Lazer does a superb job at keeping the reggae vibe alive. Myself, I think it gives off the feel of a laid back trip to the beach. The lyrics are very much like those you could find in a reggae album with strong mentioning of smoking marijuna ('Here Comes the King', 'Smoke the Weed'). In addition, the album is backed up by an impressive list of guest appearances including Chris Brown, Akon, Drake, Rita Ora, Miley Cyrus and Busta Rhythms among many others.

In conclusion, the album represents the exploration of new ground on the rap front and is a pioneering effort by Snoop. While it may not totally tickle the fancies of reggae junkies out there, it still works perfectly as an album to put on at the end of a long day, and dream of travelling to the Caribbean for what is a very pleasurable hour.
 9.5/10

THE ALBUM IS AVAILABLE IN THE UK AND THE US
 


Click here to watch the video for his single with Miley Cyrus 'Ashtrays and Heartbreaks'

Catch Up

Being in Edinburgh has been so hectic that I haven't gotten around to keeping my blog up. However, I have some spare time in Bali this summer and so I will try and catch up with all of the entries I need to make including:

• 'Reincarnated' by Snoop Lion
• '#willpower' by will.i.am
• 'Tape Deck Heart' by Frank Turner
• 'Before I Sleep' by Bo Bruce
• 'Heart of Nowhere' by Noah and the Whale
• 'Great Gatsby Soundtrack'
• 'London with the Lights On' by Stooshe
• 'Settle' by Disclosure

In addition I will have a SUPER SONG OF THE SUMMER edition that I am a bit late to the party on, but nonetheless will be able to weigh up the options.

Review: Night Visions

Night Visions

'Night Visions' is the smash hit debut album of Las Vegas alternative rock band 'Imagine Dragons'.

This album was simply a pleasure to listen to. Though the hit 'Radioactive' is a strange song to have on this album, it keeps it well balanced and well thought through. In fact, balance is the thing that I love most about the album, 'It's Time' is very much a different song from the track that comes after it ('Demons'). This group play around with everything, but they manage to make it all amazing.

Not to mention the blessing of a voice that Dan Reynolds (the lead singer) has which makes the band's songs unique. Not for a while have I listened to an album that has the same combination of unique style and voice while still being able to provide a bit of everything for everybody.

Simply put, I would put this album in the same category as 'Torches' by Foster The People, 'Babel' by Mumford and Sons and 'Mylo Xyloto' by Coldplay. Put your computer down, wherever you are and  go out to the shops to buy what will be up there for the best album of 2013.

THIS ALBUM IS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!



Click here to watch the video for their hit single 'It's Time'

Review: Epigrams and Interludes

Epigrams and Interludes

'Epigrams and Interludes' is the debut album from 18 year old English You-tuber Alex Day.

I would like to start my review by giving some background on Alex Day. Alex Day first came to prominence in 2011 when he released 'Forever Yours', the music video garnered 1.5 million views in its first week and the track which was on a campaign for the Christmas #1 spot reached #4. Had it reached #1, he would've been the first unsigned artist to top the UK singles chart.

Since then, he has released two other songs which have charted and 3 other singles that didn't. This is album is a catalogue of songs that allow people to look at this pioneer of an artist.

The album itself has some great stand-out songs but is generally quite a childish attempt at an album. I don't say because I don't think that Alex Day has done the work on this album, I mean that the lyrics are very childish such as "We will not be stopped" and his use of a cover of "Under the Sea".

I honestly think that Alex Day's way of getting his music to the world is something that a lot of budding artists can learn from. I also think that some of his songs are very good, but I think this paticular case has a long way to go before he can start becoming a proper mainstream artist that everybody listens to.

In any case it's available for £3.99 in the UK on itunes, so it's at least a bargain.



  

More to come...

Hi. Not sure if anybody is actually reading this blog, but if you are, CONGRATULATIONS!You are the lucky winner of news of more entries from me.

First a review on the awards predictions where the Brit Awards were a total disappointment. The Grammys however were alright and had some fantastic performances. In any case, I didn't see any obvious errors when I was looking back at my predictions.

Now, the announcement of what is to come in the next few weeks. Tomorrow, Alex Day's Epigrams and Interludes hits the shelves in the UK, Alex Day is a youtuber who holds the record for highest charted single by an unsigned artist, he's also selling his album for £4, a bargain given the kind of prices music is sold at nowadays.

Come April 1, Will.i.am's long awaited #willpower will also be out with global hit singles such as 'Scream and Shout' and 'This is Love' among others. This will for sure be a hit album everywhere. On the same day, Imagine Dragons's new album Night Visions finally reaches the UK, having been everywhere else ages ago.

Beyonce is expected to drop her 5th studio album at some point in April. This is said to include collaborations with Lady Gaga, Justin Timeberlake, Rihanna and her husband Jay-Z among many others.

Finally in May, the festivity that is Eurovision hits TV screens across Europe and I will have a full guide of who to watch out for as a potential winner. Unlike last year, there isn't an obvious front-runner. 

Anyway, best hopes that this easter period will bring loads of good music to talk about.