The Opinion Canvas

A-Maz - Riding [Single]

2011-12-24T14:05:00.000Z

Riding (Produced by The Untouchables) by A-Maz

Thissong made me angry. How I could have forgotten a song like this from his ‘Sickler’mixtape review is a mystery; I didn’t even mention it ince! For that I amsorry, I just listened to ‘Sicker’ and this is something else compared to theother tracks and that is saying something as the album was good!

Ithink it is a very touching song and has a great message to anyone who listensto it, don’t give up just keep on trying! I am loving the work by your producers‘The Untouchables’, the music is simple but they have struck the right chordwith me by having that balance between the synths and not having the temptationto massively over complicate things. As I said lyrically I love its message andI say to artists to have a catchy chorus and you most certainly have one of those!Anyone would be happy to have that chorus in their song.

Ifthis is a teaser for your new EP, I don’t think you’ll have to worry aboutgetting reviews from me, more like getting reviews from EMPIRE and Q. This songis just sublime I can’t fault it in anyway and I promise you if you were morewell known that would easily be No.1 it has the ingredients, I’d happily payfor it I know other people who would to! Bring on the EP, I can never findanything wrong!

Rating 10/10

Sum up in 5 words –Jaw dropping!

Download Link - http://soundcloud.com/iamamaz/riding

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LegionVA – Battlefield 3 [Sampled]

2011-12-21T13:54:00.000Z

Battlefield 3 feat. LVA by Joseph Giancarlo

Very Different

Ihave yet to find any artist do a song like this…sooo well! I really enjoyedlistening to this song not only was it seamlessly produced and put togetherwith samples and audio bits from many different sources, but I just loved thelyrics! They made me chuckle, not in mockery but in just bemusement and shockas such a random muse for a song! I actually think this is a great sign ofbeing a great word smith. A 2 year old could write the typical love, sex and boozesongs that dominate the mainstream scene; you though did something completely differentand have demonstrated that you have the ability to write a good flowing songabout such a different and I’d imagine hard subject! I wish you lots of luck inmusic!

Rating 8.9/10

Sum up in 5 words –Wiierrrddd!

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Z – Box in The Attic

2011-12-20T20:10:00.003Z

Short sharp and to the point

Iam a fan of the shorter songs! If you are an avid reader you will notice arecurring theme with me always commenting on the length of the songs, but thesongs that I class as songs are of good length and don’t drag on. Admittedlythere are at least 3 that I don’t class as a song as they are more of thelength of a ‘skit’ – or as I call them the padding songs! This unfortunately isa hate of mine. It really gets on my nerves when artists can have 3 good songs(like you) but have an obsession with padding it out with half songs. Youshould have saved the shorter ones and added to them and whack them out as fullsongs, as I think if you had let them grow as songs you could have ended upwith good songs like that of ‘The Box’. I do like the idea of the interludebeing a separate track as you want to have that nice piano but you don’t wantto wasting 1 minutes at the beginning of a song before you get going! It isKanye West esk! You do remind me of Mr West in quite a few ways these songs area lot like some off his earlier works. Just keep going and don’t be scared torelease just 3 songs while you work on new material or wait ‘til it’s ready as Ithink a few of those songs could have been longer and would have probably had a10/10 album!

Rating 8.1/10
Sum up in 5 words –Kanye West watch out!

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Andy Allan – Beautiful You [Single]

2011-12-11T19:32:00.001Z

I’ve been waiting for this!

Wow. I was simply blown away by this song,lyrically it is exquisite. The line ‘Your smile in the dead of night, is theircry on a sunny day’ just gives me shivers down my spine when I think that sucha young man could come up with such a heart felt and touching lyric such asthat! I just can’t wait to hear more.

The music fits perfectly, the guitar it wellwritten and it is there merely to support the song and the words, not to runthe show and drown out the words. Also I don’t think you could have picked abetter instrument to have the lead part, the violin. It just takes a great songand makes it brilliant, showing your variety of skills. It just glues all theparts together and puts a nice big bow on top to finish off.

I’m also glad you have shortened them as I don’tmind longer songs but I just thought before they were too long, just needed aslim down. This song has no extra baggage and it’s now the good healthy size toemphasise and not kill the message. As sometimes if it drags on you just driftand your great lyrics won’t stick in the memory as much, if you make it shortand to the point it’s easier to remember the message and not miss or forgetsomething in the message, which I wouldn’t want to see happen as these lyricsdeserve to be listened to. To be honest thought, if you can write lyrics likethat I would love to hear a song 45 minutes long, I could sit down and listento it for hours

Rarelydo I get this excited about an artist, but I just can’t see you being smalltime for long, there will be many people out there who want to utilise your songwriting skills and your talent at writing bloody good songs and make you a veryrich young man, just one thing to slide in I think you need a bit more bass onthat guitar as it is very ‘twangy’. I am looking forward to there being analbum soon…hopefully!

Rating 9.9/10

Sum up in 5 words (only need one)–Outstanding

Download Link – soonout On iTunes!

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iTunes Links:
UK - http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/beautiful-you-single/id490385408
US - http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-you-single/id490385408
AUS - http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/beautiful-you-single/id490385408

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Tye Banks - Running The Show [Single]

2011-10-09T13:49:00.005+01:00

Link to: Tye Banks

Thiswon’t be a massive review as I am not reviewing a whole album just a single trackfrom this great up and coming hip-hop artist. I love the speed he drops hislyrics as it is obviously faster than the average singer (hence he’s a hip-hopartist!) Fortunately, it has that clear diction and as a result I canunderstand what he is saying very clearly instead of mumbling like my sister whenshe raps!

Thelyrics to these songs are sensational they pack a great punch of emotion andother feelings that he is trying to get across in his music. Also the longverses are great for him because it means that he can build a story and paint apicture. I realise the music doesn’t really vary throughout the song as it isn’tintended to and for the long verses it doesn’t need to as it gives theimpression that it is just one long story that is being told to you in a song.The music riff is effective though and even though it is very repetitive itseems to never get boring, I could listen to it all day. I do worry a bitthought that it may not appeal to many people because the songs that sell unitsstraight off have a stupidly catchy choruses, this however is the sort of songthat doesn’t get instant credit for its intricate skill and detail because youhave to have a good ear and not just one that is tuned into pop pap.

OverallI conclude that this song isn’t the best but I can see from parts of the songthat you have the components to be a fine artist and fit in with what isalready there in the market at the moment. If you can break into the saturatedmarket (and stay there), I believe you can as you seem dedicated and up forworking hard to achieve your goals. I do worry because you don’t really offerthat much different from other artists but I look forward to hearing newmaterial to see if you can change my opinion and completely win me over.

Rating 6.9/10

Sum up in 5 words –No choruses, great for me!

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A-Maz - Sickler

2011-10-02T18:54:00.002+01:00

Eversince I contacted A-Maz about his album I had been eagerly anticipating thisalbum as I had read the track list that detailed the samples that he was using andan all the signs where that he haspicked a good selection of songs to sample that appealed to a wider audience. Iwas looking forward to this album but after a few technical hitches with issueswith the mixtape website I have managed to listen to all of these tunes!

Iobviously won’t be able to review the level of production on this album as ofcourse you didn’t write the music but I feel the songs that you have chosen aregreat and they show versatility and variation instead of just sticking with onetype of song and playing it safe. I think it takes a brave man to sing BrunoMars and I’m undecided whether it was a risk worth taking as I enjoyed the songbut in parts I just felt it was nearing the top end of your vocal range and itjust seemed a bit high but it wasn’t that bad. I love the original of Black andYellow so I worry when a lot of people sample it because I don’t want it to bedestroyed! You did it fantastically I love the Blaq & A-Maz twist on it.For once a person who’s covered it has changed the chorus to their own insteadof sticking with Wiz Khalifa’s version.

Ilook forward to hearing an album of more original material as this is perfectfor a starter because it shows people like me that you aren’t just some bloke, youare a talented music writer who will go far. I hope this isn’t the last and youwill get the backing from people and start to go up in the world and get the recognitionthat I’m sure will be coming your way if you continue in this fashion.

Rating 7.9/10

Sum up in 5 words –Much anticipated, not a disappointment

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Andy Allan - Seashore [Single]

2011-09-24T17:32:00.000+01:00

Seashore by Andyallanmusic

Itis always hard to come back with a second single when the first one was such asuccess and I liked it so much. So let’s see what I thought of it when I gotout my listening ears and dissected the song note by note!

Ireally liked the introduction; the guitar is really soothing and great for thissort of Ballard style song. The guitar throughout the song is verycomplimentary to the song and doesn’t over power it, just serves it purpose tokeep it going and add that twang that you hear in the background and to keepyou focused on listening. I also really enjoyed the harmonies in the backgroundthat just makes the tone of your voice more strong and actually shows off alarger range to your voice than I had imagined in the first place.

Ijust feel that a song of this length is dangerous if there isn’t something wild/differentat the end. Like a solo or key change, I understand a solo may not have been appropriatefor this song but a key change could have been possible just as somethingdifferent to put at the end which sticks in peoples mind and make them thinkdamn, he can write killer music!

Ithink overall this song boosts you as an artist and shows that you aren’t a onetrick pony and you have more than one side to your music. To be honest you havesome of the talents that artist these days could only hope for. The ability towrite songs like this doesn’t just happen you have to be born to do it, and boywere you born to do it!

Rating 9.3/10

Sum up in 5 words –Bieber watch out!

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Andy Allan - All I Need - Single

2011-09-16T19:01:00.000+01:00

All I Need by Andyallanmusic

Iwas impressed. I have known for years that this guy has been into music and I couldsee it flourishing into a career and he hasn’t disappointed with this single. I’mnot going to pretend it is the freshest idea, that is going to shift the earthbut it is great for making progress and really shows your skills as a creator ofmusic.

Ireally enjoyed the second verse where your voice shows that you don’t have theworld largest range but you use what you have and that huskier sound is perfectand is like that of Bruce Springsteen. The lyrics aren’t genius but they get yourmessage across and added to the song. As they didn’t need to be complex as youjust wanted to say that she was ‘All I Need’ nothing extra.

Nearthe end there is a bit of dodgeyness going on with the bass and guitar. They seemto go out of time but I understand that you are going to re-do it as this isjust a sample copy so I expect that to be ironed out when I hear the finalversion!

Sooverall this isn’t going to set the world alight, but then again that wasn’tthe purpose. Personally, I think this is perfect for a starter and you can onlyget better as this is very impressive for someone your age, your writing willonly improve as time goes on and you could still be the next Justin Bieber (if that’sa good thing, if not just a protégé like him!)

Rating 8.9/10

Sum up in 5 words –A great starter for 10

Listens Link - http://bit.ly/oRYw4N

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The Homecoming – One Night in Paris [Single]

2011-09-07T20:21:00.001+01:00

Timeto review something completely different to the previous review that was of a Dubstepartist! I am always up for something different from the previous person. As youguys asked me instead of me asking you I thought I better get straight on withit and I think this is the fastest I have ever produced a review (1 ½ hours!)

Theguitar riff that is over the rhythm guitar is awesome; the repeating pattern isso pleasing on the ear and instantly wins you over when you’re listening. I gotthe feeling that this wasn’t going to be the normal singing with the snippetsof screamo in the introduction. The funny thing that I thought with thescreaming parts was that his voice seems to crack randomly during the part. Itis as if he was an adolescent boy whose voice was breaking and randomlysqueaking when speaking. Unfortunately for this song the thing I really don’t likeabout it is the screaming vocals as the chorus in my eyes is faultless! I couldn’tfind anything wrong about it. To be honest I could listen to the chorus onrepeat without the verse even happening. The screamo does grow on you after awhile I just think this song would benefit from proper singing in the verses asyou have such strong music backing you up!

WhenI read another review I tend to agree that you are an awesome bunch of guys butin my opinion if you do and EP I’d love to hear a couple of songs that don’t haveany screamo because I’d be intrigued to see what you are like without thescreaming and just singing. Just experiment with some other stuff. This songdespite the screaming is awesome and I struggled to find anything wrong, mainlybecause I could sing the chorus for ever and a day plus I’d love to learn thatlead guitar part!

Rating 9.2/10

Sum up in 5 words –Great but not my thing

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SWARE!? - Jody's Cheese [Single]

2011-09-07T19:10:00.000+01:00

Crank it up!!

SWARE?! - Jody's Cheese by SWARE?!

Avery different genre for me to review today compared to that of the norm.Recently I have got into Dubstep thanks to a friend but it is a bit of a lovehate thing for the genre though because some of it is absolutely shocking whilesome is orgasmic to listen to!

Ilike the 2nd heavy bit, how it subtly changes from the previous ‘outburst’ whichwas ok but it seems that there is too much going on. It was a bit over the top.I realise Dubstep is known for over the top synths I just think the line wascrossed with this. The bits where the song breaks down and it is building up, Iwas impressed. Normally Dubstep just keeps coming with the same synth part overand over and over again which can get a bit monotonous! The build-up parts arekey, as they really do offer the contrast and rest between the bits that make yourears bleed.

Dubstepis a great genre and is gradually building up a reputation. With Nero breakinginto the charts at Number 1 and the likes of Chase and Status are really establishingthemselves as a really force. I reckon you have a long way to go before thatthought. Obviously you are missing something key to be like them which isvocals, but not having it makes you different to what is there already. You justneed to have a couple more ideas put in there as unfortunately Dubstep doesbecome repetitive as the ideas do keep repeating.

Rating 7.7/10

Sum up in 5 words –Only good on full volume!

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Hot Vestry - Dust EP

2011-09-06T13:02:00.000+01:00

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://hotvestrymusic.bandcamp.com/album/dust-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Dust EP by Hot Vestry&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Forthree 16 years old you have a pretty impressive résumé, having played gigs allover the place gradually building up a nice little fan base. Also you have wonawards for ‘best teenage group’, so I was expecting great things when I satdown to listen to the EP as you had so much good press!

I’mgoing to be honest what is going on at the beginning of the Dust track it has 2and a half minutes of un-needed song. I admit this must be like an introductionto the album but it just doesn’t need to be so long. The songs are too long as well,they have the sound of a song that should be 3-4minutes absolute maximum not5-6. You have the great guitar and lyrics just too much frilly stuff that doesn’tadd to the album if anything actually takes away from the album.

Theriff in the first song is sensational. It is kind of like the middle 8 to a rapsong as it is just repeated but they have utilised this for rock music verywell. It sticks in the mind as it is just a simple riff that repeats like thatof many popular songs that suck in the public with catchy tunes! Just think it’sa shame that the songs drag on because they are really musically good songsthat start to destroy themselves.

Thinkif you stream line your songs as not many 5 minutes plus song are eversuccessful unless they have a catalogue of previous songs. Musically they are adequatefor success and I do not doubt you will be able to succeed!

Rating 8.4/10

Sum up in 5 words –Something for the future!

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Predicting The Fall – Pull Out And Run

2011-09-04T23:05:00.000+01:00

Their biography is something to behold it is a very odd short story about how they were all genetically altered at birth. It does however tell you everything you need to know in an eccentric fashion instead of a boring biography, it was the most entertaining one yet. I looked forward to this album so much I will do a song by song review! (Aren’t you guys lucky!)

If a Cat Were Horse, We Could Ride Up A Tree

The screamy parts to the song did catch me out a bit as I hadn’t expected it to happen but fortunately when it got to the hook line (the vital bit) it went back to the normal singing so it didn’t leave you sitting there going “eh?”. Unfortunately, the song does seem to drag on a bit which is a shame as it is a solid song because just as you think it has finally reached an end it comes back with a second half!

Suck It ‘Until Your Ears Touch

This song is a lot faster than that of the previous with more prominent, exciting drums. The verses are actually comprehendible in this song, compared to that of the previous song that isn’t so easy to understand due to the screamy nature. The 3 descending chords are a certain winner as they seem to be the tool used in a lot of music at the moment as it gets in people’s minds. The chorus is sometimes hard to distinguish from the rest of it because it is some time a bit of a splurge!

I’ve clapped Twice, Don’e Make It Thrice

This seems to me like a good old fashioned rock song. Short and to the point, no faffing about, just getting on with it and ending with a damn good ending. May not be my favourite song but it doesn’t have anything to offend me which is an advantage of a short song, less likely to do something wrong!

Don’t You Dare Say ‘I Told You So’

This song is very different and unfortunately it’s the song that I look forward to the least because the acoustic songs on rock EPs aren’t worth the memory they’re saved on! I think that I may have come across something different, a group who put effort into their acoustic song instead of just putting it on for the hell of it and not putting enough time and effort in for it to be worth writing!

Smell My Revenge

This song is a bit odd, it sounds like you have got the scores for two songs, found some glue and stuck them together and then recorded it. I like the screaming edge to the songs it is like the vocalist mind is bursting out of him and he is screaming it to the mountain tops.

Overall I love this album and I really look forward to hearing more of your stuff and if a band can pull off the acoustic song well and not infuriate me I think they are doing something right and they really are talented writers who put one hell of a lot of time and effort into their music.

Rating 9.3/10

Sum up in 5 words – Crazy bunch of guys!

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Dave Tamkin & Co – Let Me Here You Scream [Live]

2011-08-31T10:51:00.002+01:00

My first impressions were that you sound like a very good live band; normally bands go into their shells when performing live. You on the other hand are a tight band live and I couldn’t find any flaws in your performances. With the challenging parts I expected a few dodgy bits of timing but it was impeccable. Also I didn’t expect the saxophone to join in, I was expecting the same old sort of band (singer, guitar, bass and drums) the type of band you might hear down your ‘local’ but they are different…which is good. It just added that extra edge to the group.

These guys are one of the most musical talented bunch of guys I have heard. Normally you get one or two big members who can really rock out on their instruments. Like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers with Flea who really is like the corner stone of the group. Whilst I’m talking about the bass, might I say that the slap bass solo is sensational the technical skill that must have gone into it is a sensational part of the song. You have managed the talent very well because normally with groups of such talented people, members get side-lined and as a result rifts are made and arguments occur.

Let’s get to the album and see if there are any bad points! How shall I put this…its bloody good. The songs do some times drag on a bit but in other songs they are long enough but with solos to entertain the listeners so you don’t drift. The brilliant solos and the riffs do make up the chorus but a lot the choruses do their purpose, to break it up but were catchy enough to stick in my head.

I love this band and the album. I fell as if new doors in my listening have been opened with a saxophone being played in normal acoustic rock. The songs do lack the catchiness of pop but this is rock you have to accept it and you admire the skill of the musicians rather than that of a poppy chorus. The lyrics aren’t too bad either. They are clever and full of analogies coupled with similes/metaphor that really help get the messages across.

Rating 8.9/10

Sum up in 5 words – I’m just in awe

iTunes - http://bit.ly/qlbVAr

Group Website - http://www.davetamkin.com/

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22nd Century – Where’s Howie

2011-08-30T22:31:00.001+01:00

These guys are a first for me. They send me a physical copy of their CD, all the way from Canada, that’s some dedication and generosity. I am pleased you sent the CD because it means that I’m more likely to review faster because I can listen to it on a stereo rather than listen on my computer. So sending me the CD was a great idea and I hope other bands can do the same.

The album does take a few songs to get going as to start with I worried it was going to be one of those review where with every will in the world, you struggle to find any positives but it wasn’t that bad. I kept listening to it and eventually they sunk in and after all of this repeating and re-listening, I love Teenage Underwear Model, it sounds like something of Bowling for Soup, the chorus is something that they would be proud of and lyrically is would fit perfectly into to their type of music that they do, like 1987.

Runaway sounds like a song that would have been produced by Guns N’ Roses. The guitar is more technically challenging like that of Slash from GnR. The whole effect of the voice in the song sound like Axel with the longer sustained notes that ring in your ears as it is sung. And as a result you end up with a song that sounds exactly like something they have released before but with 22^nd Century it has a personal edge with the slightly more odd lyrics that make it their own type of song.

Chosen Track – Heard It on the Radio

This is a solid track that has all the components of a great song, a catchy chorus, good riff and no fades out to end (the dark side to many great songs). For me this was the real turning point in the album where it went from okay to great music. I think they found the recipe for a good song and then they stuck with it and didn’t change it, which is good for solid songs but sometimes a drag to listen to.

The end of the album is awesome; the great songs just keep coming thick and fast! They all consist of pretty samey guitar riffs with the same sort of catchy choruses but they got one right so as a result the production line churned out 3 or 4 more songs of the same caliber. So I think you need to find a few more recipes if you are to complete the whole cake!

Rating 7.7/10

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On The Run - Departures

2011-08-23T22:13:00.000+01:00

On The Run - Departures

I’m going to go straight into as I have so much to say! The group sounds a lot like 30 Seconds to Mars, good start. The drums are a very important part to 30STM and this is carried over to OTR. The drums are essential to their music as without it you’d be listening to meaningless music with no structure and lead to it. This is the reason why the drums are so loud in comparison to the rest of the instruments. I do worry though, that the guitarist are trying desperately hard to rock over the top of the drums as at times it is a struggle as the ratio has slightly gone wrong.

In mix tapes of bands that are trying to make it mahoosive, they forget that a key party is to have a catchy chorus that fans want to sing along to when they go and see the band live or when they flying down the road with the roof down in the middle of the summer chanting the chorus. These guys haven’t forgotten. I don’t know if they have had any assistance from people outside the band to write words or music but if it is just the in-house talent I’d be very proud. Any label would happily have them as they don’t need any extra help to produce massive songs that really sound like that of any band of this genre today.

Chosen Track - Drop Off

This song is a different song from the others. It is the acoustic from the EP. I always worry because they are normally the song that is awful and is just put in because they ‘must’ have one! The intro riff of the songs is different and isn’t the normal picked and fiddly type, this is good because it breaks up the monotony of normal acoustic songs that get me down when reviewing.

BUT!

The song made my day and resulting in it being my feature track. What never happens in acoustic songs because people are to scared of being different? Merging types of rock! They get near the end (the point of the song where you want to grate your head) and they rock out! This is the first time I have heard it on the mix tape of this type. I was so happy to hear something original that sticks out from the other mix tapes I hear.

As a new fan I will sure be buying your music as it has all the things that I love about rock music and left me singing this for the rest of my holiday and I could sing it and sit there knowing that I was the only person there that knew about this great album! But putting my critic head on causes me to worry. I worry because the band could get lost amidst all the other bands because unfortunately however good you are you can easily get ignored as there are so many similar bands out there that are like you. I hope you succeed though. You will have to offer something different in the future if you want to continuity succeed but this is a perfect started to get recognised!

Rating 9.6/10

Sum up in 6 words – I hope you survive and succeed

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Wonderland - Wonderland

2011-08-18T16:31:00.000+01:00

Wonderland - Wonderland

I have heard a lot about this band. I did some research and was surprised to read that they have supported Westlife! The band must be doing something right if you can get a gig like that. The even more surprising thing was that they landed this gig with only 1 downloadable track to their name, not bad.

I didn’t even have to look at their Biography to work out their influence, Taylor Swift and coutry. The music is very much like her music and also the vocals are almost as if you have slammed her voice in a photocopier and hit copy! That isn’t a criticism of the group it is just an observation that becomes quite clear throughout the album as you listen.

As a group of 5 beautiful talented ladies, harmonies are going to be a big part of your repertoire. They utilise this skills and they get everyone involved and this is good as it means that everyone in the group is happy; the lead singer does change over the album which is good because otherwise you could cause a rift in the group if one person dominated and disbanded like Girls Aloud and Pussy Cat Dollz.

The songs do have a bit of a samey feel to them. They have the guitar accompanied with the drums that I admit is kind of essential for this genre but the songs do merge a bit. I have found that the earlier songs are very well written and as they are at the beginning they work more because after 5 songs you drift and lose track of the songs that are going on. Weirdly as I wrote that, ‘In Your Arms’ came on and it is somewhat different from the previous songs and stood out from the rest. It had more of a Pop feel to it compared to the more country influenced songs; this was a nice change to separate the songs so they merged a bit ess than previously.

They do some good covers too. They have covered ‘Rolling In The Deep’ the smash hit from Adele. This cover is fantastic the vocal rang that is needed for this song is awesome ad they didn’t shy away when it came the challenging bit. Also as something a bit different they did Rihanna’s ‘Only Girl in the world’ which is surprisingly good for an acoustic song. You would expect the song to need all the synths but the guitar does it justice and sounds perfect and they merged a bit less than previous songs.

In conclusion it is a pretty strong album but did disappoint a bit with the merging of the songs. Overall the album is not bad though it has that feeling to is of that of an album to whom have just won a show like X Factor. It has the feel of being produced to shift units but that’s what it will do, sell a lot of units as that is how it has been written! I take my hats off to you, writing safe music that you know will sell you units

Rating 7.8/10

Sum up in 5 words – Taylor Swift X5 = Wonderland

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BeatSmith – #WordOfMouth

2011-08-14T20:31:00.002+01:00

I looked at the track listing and it looked more like a Twitter/Facebook page with all the @ and # signs that littered the cover. I didn’t know what to expect as a result, it left me wondering. If you are a person who doesn’t use twitter or Facebook then the listings may look like someone has mashed the keyboard when typing it!

Just as a note I’m not going to review Skits as there are numerous skits of near irrelevant length that are only present to fill out the CD and hold it together not for musical needing.

The first few songs do have strong parts. The choruses may not be the catchiest things in the world but they split the verses nicely and stop it merging into one blob. The melodies of these songs are not that of music masters but they are entertaining enough to keep my attention and not take anything away from the lyrics that are the main bit of interest when listening to rap. The sound that is used for the music varies which is always positive as sometimes it can be quite samey and just result in loss of interest. Some even have the sound of mainstream music that you might hear in the charts or by big artists!

5/18 of the songs are skits or interludes, in my mind that is a reasonable amount. 1 skit per 4 songs is the maximum otherwise the album is just full of stuff that actually takes away from the album instead of adding to it unless they are clever/interest skits.

Chosen Track - One Way Road

This song is superb, it did take a few listens but I’m glad I persevered, it’s a corker! To be honest this songs is a lot better than what I was expecting from this sort of album. The change in the music between the verse and chorus is very subtle but it adds the effect that gets the hairs on my neck standing on end! The chorus does lack the catchiness that you can easily sing too but it gets in my head and works a dream.

The length of the songs would normally concern me but I think you may have got it perfectly right as they don’t drag on and as there isn’t big catch lines you don’t have them so it does shorten the songs as you don’t constantly repeat choruses. John Legend is a strong asset to the songs as it leads to stronger choruses because Hip-Hop artists sometimes lack that singing vocal edge to really achieve that great chorus as their skills are more aimed at lyrically getting their message across not singing!

Just before I round up I thought I’d give a mention to ‘Purp and Yellow’, yet another cover of Wiz Khalifa’s song ‘Black and Yellow’. Unlike some covers it does actually have its own chorus were as for example Fearless kept the original; BeatSmith changed it up a bit.

There are some songs that have been put in my top music playlist on my iPod with some of the all-time greats so something is going well! Some songs lack the edge of the more sleek to the point songs and just tail off which is a shame but lots of albums have that on them. So overall the album is a mixed bag some good, some bad but in my eyes it is more positive than negative and I look forward to reviewing ‘Souled Out’ to see if the good work continues.

Rating 7.9/10

Sum up in 5 words – Hard one to call!

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Model Stranger – Dreams & Bones

2011-07-10T21:23:00.000+01:00

This album is very American sounding with the songs that are on it. The first song ‘She Don’t’ sounds very much like a song that you would be well performed live. I have read that you thrive on the stage and that you live for live music so this song is great and I could see it being a very energetic song in the chorus for everyone. The next song is more relaxed and is slower but I really like the part of the song where it has the rolls on the snare drum which subtly changes the mood of the song for that part. In ‘Turn of the Century’ there is a new instrument that hadn’t been used before and it leads to something that is completely different to that from the previous 2 songs. A song or 2 later I came across ‘Carousel’ that could fit perfectly into a set at a live gig. It would be the strong song that breaks up the set with a song that gives the crazy fans a time to chill and get out their Zippos or their iFlames on their phones and wave them about like loonies. In ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ the acoustic guitar is dusted down and rocks out, you may instantly expect a mellow song but it has a faster tempo than you might expect which is a nice surprise. To end you have the title track, so I expect great things. My verdict on this song is…ok. It’s not the great indie song I was hoping for. It holds up the album and is sufficient but I just wasn’t ‘excited’ by it massively.

So overall, I feel this is a good album and has songs that I’d really want to see live and be participating in the singing along as I am pretty sure you can build a good atmosphere at a gig. I look forward to hearing the new material when you write some. I may review an older EP but at the moment I have lots more review to do, so it’s down the list.

Rating 6.9/10

Sum up in 5 words – I wanna see you live!

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Skrillex (Dead Beat DJs Remix) – Fucking Die 1 (Dead Beat DJs Remix)

2011-07-09T23:46:00.001+01:00

Fucking Die 1 (DeadBeatDJs Bootleg) by DeadBeatDJs

Time for something new

Well this is the first DJ remix that I have done so this will be a new type of review for me I am a fan of this genre of music so I am looking forward to this very much. I have danced many an hour away to this sort of music so I have a finely tuned taste for good heavy dance music.

I’m not a massive fan of the beginning, it sounds like a video on YouTube that is struggling to buffer and keeps jerking about and spluttering around. This effect does grow on you as the song develops and different instruments come in making it sound less odd. When it has its drop out and comes back in, I am in heaven. It is everything that I love about heavy synth, faster drums and rawer synth sound for you to gribble over! When it comes back in with the piece from the intro it seems to fit better, I like it a lot more as you have warmed to the bombarding bassy beats. I do like the ambition of the start as it is different and not like too many other DJ’s music that I have heard. I do think thought that it drags on for a bit, you get to the point where you think…BAM! It could end there, but it just drags on for a bit more.

Overall, I think this is a great song for dancing along to in the club probably not too great for just listening to over and over again, as it just keeps coming back! It is very catchy in parts and shows really promise. Keep it up I want to read and review more.

Rating 7.2/10

Sum up in 5 words – Definitely not a dead beat!

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The Beat Geeks - Livin Life Loud (Single)

2011-07-07T01:30:00.002+01:00

Its 1am but it’s worth it!

I didn’t know what to expect but I stayed up until 1am to listen to it so I hoped it was good! My first impressions where very good, the music was really good and coupled with the really catchy chorus the great melody fitted perfectly and married together to produce an absolute gem of a song! I like the female edge to the song, she sounds like a more sophisticated version of Nicki Minaj, the vocal range on her is far better than that of Nicki which is evident with some of the long sustained notes. This song has very quickly become one of my favorites and will be downloaded very quickly to my iPod. My favorite bit was the guitar solo that you wouldn’t normally have in this sort of song as it is more for the club track as opposed to that of a rock guitarist. I am proud to say very well done, well worth the wait until this time of morning. I absolutely love your stuff right now. Bring on more! My First ever 10!

Rating 10/10

Sum up in 5 words – 10! Well worth the wait

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Scorcher - Audio Wave EP

2011-07-06T20:14:00.001+01:00

1. 96 Bars of Revenge – I have only ever heard one good song that doesnn’t has a chorus and that was with multiple MASSIVE names which is one of the reasons it continues to be interesting. Unfortunately although it is a good idea he has just taken on too much and as a result had a bit of a flop.

2. We Ain’t The Same ft Loick Essien – This songs sound so much like something that Wretch 32 would be throwing out there into the musical ether. I really like the chorus too with Loick does. It may be slightly too rude for main stream audiences but I think that it would be widely listen to regardless of that.

3. Hench ft Mercston - It may be a bit cheesy and also the chorus may be very repetitive just saying ‘We’re tryna get hench’. It does have a weird effect on me that sort of draws me in and due to its simplistic nature it sort of gets in my brain.

4. That’s Right ft Sincere – The song continues on the theme of good songs from the rest of the album. It has the simplistic repetitive nature in the melody with the cleaver lyrical skill of the rapper.

5. Right Now – ft Slic Vic – I hate to keep saying but I think Scorcher is Wrech 32 or Giggs in a different body because lyrically they are similar and even his tone of voice is very similar, this song demonstrates that perfectly.

6. We Up – I feel repetitive saying this but it is another good song with all the right elements for a strong song for the album and it reminds me of some of the songs that were on Chipmunks: I AM CHIMPMUNK album.

7. My Last – This was more slow but it still has the emotional punch that he was trying to get over in the song as the focus was more on the skill and feeling of the words than that of the music.

8. My Aura – This song is the opposite of ‘My last’ it is faster and lyrically a lot faster too. The things that I like are when he used lyrics like ‘hash-tagged and now I start trending’. I like when artist use things that are current to express their message.

9. League Of Our Own ft Sadie Ama & Mercston – This song has a great chorus that many of the big names in the world right now would be privileged to have on their albums or even as a leading single.

10. Way Too Far ft Slic Vic – This song is good lyrically and I like the variation in the sound that you’re going for but I worry that the whole song doesn’t really get going. The first time I heard it, it just sounded like a long introduction but on the second time I connected more and changed my mind. You just have to give it a chance.

11. Terms Of Agreement ft Wiley – I was really looking forward to listening to this song as I am a massive fan of Wiley and I was thinking he might have influenced the song. I love the whole song except the chorus that is pretty awful. It’s just not a great catch line for people, talking about ‘Terms Of Agreement’!

Rating 8.5/10

Sum up in 5 words – A Wretch 32 prodigy.

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The Theory Of 6 Degrees – The Theory Of 6 Degrees EP

2011-07-06T16:00:00.000+01:00

It’s hard to review 1 minute of a song

It is a shame that I only get to hear up to a 1:30 sample of 3 of the songs, as the bits that I heard are good but I don’t know what the rest of the song is like. It is hard to give a complete review on an incomplete collection of songs. I’d also like to say I guessed the name of the album because I didn’t find any clues so I made it ‘Self-Titled’.

Aimee (Demo) – From the short sharp extract that I got the privilege of listening to, it was good. The verse was very main stream and the lead into the chorus with a crescendo was very effective and gives you the message that the chorus is coming. You didn’t disappoint at the chorus as it had the catchy hook and musically it was sufficient too.

Can’t See it (Acoustic) – I prefer it in acoustic because it shows them off a bit more as musicians. I know as a player of the guitar that this song isn’t the easiest to play with slightly fiddly lead parts going over the rhythm. Also in this song the singer shows more emotion and variation in his volume compared to in ‘Aimee’, which just lacks that volume change to the singer’s vocals.

Can’t See It (Demo) – This song is good, don’t get me wrong and I like the drums in this compared to the acoustic as it gives it more of an Indie/Rock feel instead of mundane acoustic which is nice to listen to but not for ‘getting into’. But this demo is so short, it had only just started, and it ended. Not giving me the full flavour of the band and the effort they have put into this song.

Come Alive (Demo) – I felt that I got more of the song in this song even though it was just an extra 20 seconds. I got more of a feel to what was trying to be achieved in this song. It had a strong chorus but I feel the way it was mixed meant that the chorus wasn’t as pronounced as I had optimistically hoped. It is not a criticism of the band, more their producer.

So, I am left feeling cheated out of a full album. I can’t wait to hear a full album or even full songs because I think this group has got plenty to give, it’s just not sharing the love and talent to write good music.

Rating 6/10

Sum up in 5 words – Looking forward to full songs

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Young Era - Let 'Em Know (Single)

2011-07-05T22:04:00.000+01:00

I took an instant liking to Ferns’s voice (I’m guessing Ferns has a S, I haven’t a clue though so I’m sorry if I’m wrong) it seemed to fit the song more I am not saying that the other member is not good and lyrically I like his part and think that it is clever and smart. I really like the way that the song is not very musically technical, it majors more on the power of words than that of the music. It has been mixed very nicely and the levels have been worked out to perfection. I personally thought at the beginning that it was just another one of those songs but I feel that this could be a break through song. I don’t think though, the chorus is strong enough for main stream but it isn’t bad. I wouldn’t be disheartened!

Rating 8/10

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Matti Roots - BeatRoots

2011-07-03T22:01:00.002+01:00

Not to be confused with Mr Levi Roots

This album gets lots of kudos from me as it is completely different to most modern music and the only thing that I can try and compare it to at the moment would be Aloe Blacc. They both have mellow laid back tones and melody. They both have that soothing tones to their voice that you get with this genre of music and it really pulls on my heart strings. The instrumentation for these songs is very much like Bluesy R n’ B. I love the trumpet that you put in with the mix of lots of lots of instruments that wouldn’t normally be put together. These songs have a slightly old fashioned edge to them that seems to be coming back into fashion at the moment with peoples taste in music adapting to your more heart felt mature music such as this.

These songs are really from the heart and the genre of music really helps get this across as it shows that they are not reliant on the music to have a good song. You just need to have good lyrics that tell a strong message from the heart and that is what they have done perfectly within this re-emerging genre that is tickling everyone taste buds.

Rating 9.5/10

Sum up in 5 words – Masterful! Enough Said!

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Floral Terrace - The Better Life EP

2011-07-02T08:57:00.000+01:00

What to expect from a band with the name Floral Terrace?

1. Save Me – I like this song as in the choruses it does the opposite to normal songs. It get more mellow for the chorus but the drums have a fast tempo to them so it gives the impression it is faster and also makes it different to other songs, also it makes it stand out like a chorus is.

6/10

2. Hey (Don’t Turn Away) – I loved this song is had all the ingredients for a great pop/rock song. The verses consist of a repetitive strong muted guitar and then the chorus is stronger with lyrics that are nice and catchy and have the easy to sing edge to them. The solo is very different and I liked. It was a bit brief; it could have done with 4 more bars at least. Then is ends on a key change that is perfect for the repeated chorus!

9/10

3. Race The Sun – This song has the different start. It is more acoustic and mellow and fits the words perfectly. Then as I imagined it would build up and get back to the normal sound of rock guitars and his great voice dominating my thoughts getting the message of the song across!

8/10

4. That’s What Hopes Are For – This song is similar with the acoustic to guitar. I liked it and I’m not going to complain. It does have a different edge with more chilled parts during the song which build up the contrast between the parts compared the Race The Sun that was just acoustic then rock this is a variety.

5/10

5. Home With You – This is what rock music is all about. The fast hi-hat really made the verses and gave it a really pleasing to the ear sound. The chorus without the fast hi-hat is good as it is easily distinguishable from the verse. It has all the components that are needed just could do with a bit of tweaking here and there.

7/10

This is a good album and I very much look forward to hearing your future material and think you just need to keep producing music and getting it out there and eventually all your hard work will be worth it trust me.

Rating 7/10

Sum up in 5 words – Not too shabby lads

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The Hunting Accident - The Hunting Accident EP

2011-06-30T20:10:00.001+01:00

Painful At times

Hot Drum – Are you a ‘Scouting for Girls Tribute Band’? This couldn’t have been any more similar if you tried. As a result I disliked it but that is my taste. The song isn’t bad and the repetitive nature could appeal to other people just not me.

3/10

Important – I like this song, especially at the start as it was up tempo and I liked the lyrics as I could relate to them and the simple melody is very easy to remember and tap along to. I like the fact there is a change for the chorus but it still stays similarly to the verse. I worry for the drummer as he could get rather bored with its rolling repetitive nature.

6/10

Jack Trap – The constant piano was like listening to some of the rather odd music from the 80’s. This was okay for parts of the song but it kept coming back and I wasn’t feeling that for 4 minutes. Defiantly the weakest song but I wouldn’t worry as 2 of these songs are very good and could appeal to lots of people.

3/10

Big Mistake – Was the only song that wasn’t completely a mistake. I think the other songs should have stayed as Demos as this song far outstrips the 2 of the previous 3 songs I have heard. I feel this is should be the more direct point you should go in future.

8/10

At times I really wanted to put it down as the repetitive nature left me wanting to die in a hole but there was moments of hope and glory with some really good songs. I just feel that the type of music just didn’t appeal to me. It wasn’t to do with doing anything wrong just for a different audience to me.

Rating 5/10

Sum up in 5 words – Did it because I’m devoted!

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Promise Me Tomorrow - You Haven't Seen The Best Of Me [Single]

2011-06-25T21:50:00.001+01:00

Promise Me Tomorrow – You Haven’t Seen the Best of Me [Single]

A brief but full review

This is a different type of review as it is just of a single off the up and coming album.

The structure of this song is very good and after the chorus it has to re-building from nothing again having already dropped out after the first chorus. I like the more attacking drum patterns. I think it’s the same for everyone; the bass drum is very prominent and appeals to my more bass favouring ear. I like the break after the second chorus as well as it is different to other songs and comes in with group vocals with other members joining then it has a slower tempoed drop out with another build up, to a final chorus. This is a text book song that has followed the rules of nailing a catchy interesting song. I really like the final chorus as it has a very up tempo drum pattern that raises the tempo.

This is a great opening single from the album and I look forward to more songs off the album if they are of the same musical standard.

Rating 8.5/10

Sum up in 5 words – A masterful tune

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The After Party – The After Party EP

2011-06-23T15:39:00.001+01:00

Mother of god!

1. Can’t Stop - The influence of the Producer from the likes of All Time Low is very prominent! The sound is very much like that of All Time Low or the new direction that McFly have taken with a more contemporary version of pop/rock, with synths and keyboards being used

2. Hey Little Miss – This is a more traditional modern rock song that is quite main stream in comparison to that of bands in this genre but lacking that extra edge to attract the mainstream fans

3. Secret Lover – This song has a different start to it. More like Cooler Than Me by Mike Posner but when it hits the chorus it is more like that of a band that is experimenting with more popular ideas in a rock song that would appeal to a large audience.

4. Falling Out Of Love – This song starts off like something that you would hear on a club dance album of any big DJ. The continuous bass drum gives a more clubby feeling which is completely different to that of previous songs. I was just thinking this was one of the best songs I’d ever heard then it faded out!

5. Don’t Wanna Be – This song defiantly couldn’t be a lead single but could be a single that you released after this album goes viral which I expect it could do, easily. As I firmly believe that you could be doing a lot of charting very soon. If not with this album defiantly your next one!

6. Time Bomb – This song is a normal pop/rock masterpiece that is perfect with a good hook line to get stuck in your head but there are interludes that are different and give the rock fact of the song a more popular edge that is more mainstream. Overall a very good and even better, very catchy and it doesn’t fade out!

This album is sensational I think it demonstrates what can be achieve with some effort and support from big producers. I look forward to hearing more as this is a phenomenal album and I would be surprised not to see you going massive very soon.

Rating 9.5/10

Sum up in 5 words – A gem!

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The Sheds - ...And Now For Something Completely Different

2011-06-22T20:11:00.001+01:00

Saxophone + Rock = ??

So can you really combine a saxophone with rock music? Well I think this album will be the answer to that. I am not going to give too much away. You’ll have to read the rest to decide whether it’s should be done again or not! I am not going to lie the saxophone does sound a lot like a trumpet so I don’t know if I have just missed something but I could only find the Saxophone player on your page, so I’m assuming it is always Sax, sorry if it is actually Trumpet.

1. Cycles – The saxophone was utilised and to really tick the boxes they used a solo. This really was good as I love the fact that I’ve never heard it in this kind of band before, it’s a new concept!

2. Roadrash – There was no saxophone as a very pronounced instrument in the song. Also the song has a very aggressive angle to it with the singer starting to shout instead of sing which is a shame as lyrically I quite like this song.

3. Counting Sheep – As I have said I don’t know if there is a trumpet but it sounds as if the Saxophone is more of a brass instrument suggesting it is a trumpet either way it sounds nice to listen to and fits in well.

4. Wrathbone – The saxophone needs to be exploited more with it taking a more important role because it’s more like it’s just an add-on to the band and the songs. It should be exploited more so that they can have something different to some of other bands in this genre of music.

5. Straps – I like the more important role that the saxophone takes in this song. I also like the fact that the song is of a different sound in terms of the fact the verses are less heavy.

6. Slash and Burn – FADE OUT!!!! NO NO NO NO. Why do you have a fade out the song just needs to end? Due to the fact you have the fade out the end is very long winded and repetitive as your waiting for the fade to kick in.

I applaud them for trying something different with the saxophone and I think they should continue but, the saxophone player needs to have more riffs as every time I heard it the riff he is playing is very repetitive and lacked a certain amount of imagination. I think though if they challenge themselves as a group of talented musicians they will be able to strike gold that will really push boundaries as they are definitely unique in your genre of music.

Rating 6/10

Sum up in 5 words – Bring on more sax!

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Show It Off - Turn Off The Lights EP

2011-06-21T22:12:00.000+01:00

The reason that I reviewing new bands!

I was on one of their Fan Pages doing a bit of pre-review research and I saw the word Grime along with Punk and Rock as their genre, so I was intrigued to hear who hey had combined these things together as they aren’t normally put together. Time for the track by track review of this EP.

1. Big City Dreams – My favourite song on the EP and the end chorus with the effect of a crowd joining in is a great touch to a very good song. I also loved the break where there was an electric drum that contrasted to the song and stuck in my memory.

2. Summer Love – The descending guitar chords at the end of the chorus are good it does make it sound the end of the song but the repeated effect makes is good idea and musically is good to listen to. The chorus is pronounced but it just doesn’t have the hook line that I was hoping for, so it doesn’t get stuck in my head like ‘Big City Dreams’. It’s a good song just not one that gets in your head the first few times, you might have to listen a few time to appreciate it fully.

3. Tell Me - The EP contains songs that get in your head and that you could easily sing along to if you heard it at a concert or on a radio station. This song is a great example of the great tunes that engrain themselves in your head.

4. Seventeen – This song sounds exactly like the sort of thing that All Time Low would produce and I can see you guys being like them a lot but with your own twist which is good as you show signs of you evolving as a group but still having the capacity to evolve.

5. Turn Off The Lights – This is a very, very good song with the soft start then a sudden entrance of lots of instruments. It just gives a good effect when it calms down for the verse and then you give it some for the chorus as it helps it to stick in your mind. This song was a winner for me as if you get my foot to tap along you have struck a chord with me.

I am slightly confused why I saw grime on one of your pages. I was disappointed that it wasn’t really there, but, I was more than won over by the album. You really should give this into labels because reckon they would be more than interested. This album is the reason why I do all these reviews, looking for this piece of absolute genius!

Rating 9.2/10

Sum up in 5 words – The reason I love reviewing

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HandGuns – Anywhere But Home

2011-06-20T23:45:00.001+01:00

CRAZY DRUMMER ALERT!

1. My Own Captain – This song is very emotive just blunt in the way it says it, some bands might use metaphors for emotive feeling but these guys are different. But I feel the bluntness helps get your message across.

2. Two Weeks – It’s Blink 182! Well a song like them with the fast tempo style that is like a clone of their genre. It is a good start to the album as it doesn’t hit the craziness I know is coming

3. Pave The Way – This really is a hindrance to the great start to the album. It was just a collection of drumming and singing and guitar strumming thrown together in a very confused fashion. It also gives the impression that the drummer has taken over as he is very prominent.

4. Harbour Water – This is was such a transformation from the previous song it was a better balance and had a certain amount of order about it. It is a great example of what good happens when you reign in the insane drummer and take a chill pill!

5. Last Year – This song won be completely back over after the interesting crazy songs, as it made me think that it was just a dodgy song and that the rest of the album was fine. It’s probably my favourite song on the album as it is a song that has had some thought put in to it.

6. Fingers Crossed – Oh no! He’s back, the craziest drummer to ever drum. It is basically a collection of guitar and singing mixed in with some insane drumming. Basically he has stored up his drumming skill and exploded all over this song!

7. Anywhere But Home – This is a song that is easy to understand and to be honest the title is a bit of a giveaway but it is a song that is sung from experience and the heart.

As long as you control the drummer and let him loose on the songs where it is suitable I can’t see why you won’t sell lots of music. You may have to tinker with some parts so that you keep evolving. Don’t let people tell you that your rubbish and I’m not saying that your drummer should stop his craziness just know when to use it.

Rating 6.8/10

Sum up in 5 words – You need yourself a leash

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Setting Sunrise - Colon Close Parenthesis

2011-06-20T17:42:00.000+01:00

It’s a sunrise that is definitely not setting!

I don’t have much on the background of Setting Sunrise, I just know it’s a one man band that has played guitar for 6 years since he was 16. He sometimes gets his mates along to help out but he is the man in charge of everything. He writes and plays all the music. Time for a track by track!

1. Contagious Love – This song is like James Morrison but on Speed (making it a lot better). It has the emotional tones to it, like some of James’ music but it is faster and a lot better to listen to. It has a more complex guitar part to it that shows the ability that he has on his guitar.

2. Colon Close Parenthesis – This is so much like Owl City it’s scary! The synth sound over the top of the piano in the verse is Owl City esk. Even with its rather odd title he manages to make it fit perfectly and it’s another heart felt song from our man who can really transmit his feeling. That I got stuck in my head and I can easily see it shifting units if it had more coverage on a radio/tv show.

3. Asphalt & Paint Connect Me to You – A very loving song that shows real emotion. The instruments and the production of the song really help to show the feelings he wants to give, not only through this song but all of them as an EP as a whole.

4. Show Me (Your Uke;) – I’m loving the Ukulele sound in this song it just adds a different view to his music. I love the song in terms of instrumentation but I feel it could do a more prominent chorus to stand out from the rest because otherwise you run the risk of the verse merging together with the chorus.

I can see Setting Sunrise being huge as this is like the music that is in the Top 10 at the moment. I can see you wresting it out with the likes of Owl City and Adele for Chart position and being successful if he keeps his music along this road.

P.S. I’d love you to do a proper recording of ‘Kiss Me through the Phone’ because I love the live version but I’d love to hear a studio version.

Rating 7.8/10

Sum up in 5 words – Watch out Owl City

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The New Sea - Self Titled (Sample)

2011-06-17T22:30:00.000+01:00

Wet your taste buds!

This is going to be a brief review as it is just of 2 songs as I became aware of this group on Twitter and thought I’d check them out. I have been told the EP/Album is coming out in the winter period so look out for it but I am reviewing these first to give you a taster of what is to come. A song but song is defintly needed for this sample.

1. Cemetery Bends – I personally don’t like it as it sounds like something that Marilyn Manson would do. But I do like some Marilyn Manson songs and I don’t feel it is a bad song musically just not my cuppa tea but the change in genre is exciting and creates more flexibility to the band

2/5

2. Red Carpet – I like the gradually building sound and the guitar interludes between parts of the verses it’s good and breaks up the song to keep you interested. This song is very different to that of the first song I listened to. It has more of a mainstream sound to it and the chorus is easier to pick out and lyrically is very good compared to the first track which wasn’t as good as this.

5/5

I think this is a good combination of genres I think Red Carpet is better for mainstream as a single but Cemetery Bends could be your different edge that you can go for on an album I just feel it is more for the hard core fans than the general public. Its good just build on it!

Rating 7/10

Sum up in 5 words – Bring on more!

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South Shores - Reality Check EP

2011-06-17T21:11:00.000+01:00

Off To Hospital To Fix My Bleeding Ear Drums!

I am not going to lie there was very little on the internet to find out on the band expect on their band pages. So when I hit play I was going into the obis, I didn’t even know the genre, I had had a guess but I was presently surprised when I hit play and heard the first strum of a guitar! I think I will make this a permanent fixture doing it song by song on short EPs. So let’s get cracking.

1. Scrutinized - This song could easily be something ‘Guns n’ Roses’ would produce. They have a really good lead guitar part that does dominate, but not too much so it sounds bad. It just adds to the extra technical level where it crosses the divide from pop/rock to real rock. The faster sung verses are very like that of ‘Bowling For Soup’ with the solo being something that Slash himself would be pleased to have played!

2. I Think We Should See Other People – This song ain’t too shabby either, it has the edge to it that ‘Bowling For Soup’ had with some of their material. The guitar riff at the beginning sounds like it should be in the first track as it is very similar to the vocal line in the chorus of ‘Scrutinize’ which is a worry but it is a good riff so I’m not complaining.

3. Rest Assured – Now, for the people who have read my other posts I have a hatred for fade outs. You can guess what I’m going say…another fade out! The song is very good just let down by the damned fade out.

4. Highway (It’s No Surprise) - The innocent piano at the beginning, I like this very much because I was wondering what was happening but I was reassured when everyone else joined in. My favourite part of the song is the drop out. I love the re-entry were it builds on itself with the strings, as it continues this effect it sends a shiver down my spine (in a good way)!

Just as a general note. The bass is very over powering, when I played on my more powerful stereo it drowned out the rest. It is fine on my studio headphones (Sennheiser HD 280 Pro) just a bit over the top on my stereo. It just feels it took away from the album because I had to play it quiet because it was so overwhelming for the other instruments. Apart from that I think it is a very positive album that is a great starter and I look forward to hearing more from them and hopefully seeing them break through onto the mainstream stage!

Rating 7.9/10

Sum up in 5 words – Great, Chill the bass though!

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All Time Low - Dirty Work

2011-06-15T22:05:00.002+01:00

A Hard Listen!

It has received mixed reactions from the critics with some saying it is flat and lakes direction I tend to disagree. It isn’t the best album to hit the shelves but it has a collection of songs that are good to listen to and is not that bad if you don’t really read deeply into the songs.

The album took a few listens as it didn’t go in first time as I was seriously worried I’d not got an All Time Low album, I’d got something awful, but it grew on me and now I love some of the songs! The opening song is an example, ‘Do you want me (Dead)’ this is a perfect punk/rock, short song. I love the fact it is like the old so it reassures you they haven’t completely lost it in this album of experimenting. ‘Forget About It’ is another song that has the same feel as the old album but the old is good. I love the song ‘Guts’ as I feel that I am listening to a mash up between 30 Seconds to Mars and Blink 182 which they have pulled off quite well and added new edge to their repertoire. There was a different feel in ‘Time Bomb’, it had a very fast hi-hat roll making it feel it had a faster tempo and also giving it a more clubby song if that is even possible with this sort of rock (they have done it well). There are songs that are of the slower type of song but with a different Hip-Hop twist. ‘That Girl’ is a song that is taking the direction McFly are going with their more modern pop rock that is more appealing to the wider fans.

I listened to this album many times, more than I would normally when reviewing hoping the last few songs would grab my fancy but no. So unfortunately I just plain think that about 2/3 of the album is not up to standard and I understand that this was more of an experimental album which could take a while to catch on but the newer sounding ones are actually quite good it’s the samey style ones that dominate the album.

Rating 6/10

Sum up in 5 words – Give it a chance

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Our Lives In Motion – Salvation in Secrets EP

2011-06-14T16:47:00.001+01:00

Damn I set the bar high!

Well I just did a review on their new EP Stages and they suggested having a butchers at their older EP Salvation In Secrets. I was desperate to see how this compared to the new EP as I loved Stages so much, this album would have to be something special to impress me! I am going to do a song by song analysis again as I only have 5 songs to listen to.

1. Lost Art Of Amnesty – This song lyrically is good and has its moments of musically greatness, I love the guitar that is the lead part over the top of all the instruments. I think it just has production issues with the rhythm guitar not being as pronounced as I had hoped, coming out as more of a collection of sound waves all merging…badly.

2. The Getaway – This song does bring out the rhythm better meaning you can tell chords apart compared to in the previous track. It is an okay to just knock out but the chorus isn’t as obvious as in some other tracks where you can tell where to give it hell!

3. Race Against Time – his is a good song and is pretty strong it just doesn’t have the lyrical catchiness of other songs they have produced. As I feel that instrumentally it is good just missing that bit that you would be singing to yourself for the rest of the day.

4. Salvation In Secrets – I worry that this song is far too long. It is very good and I like the lyrics and I love the drop out where the guitar comes back in because that really does appeal to me. The song just drags on as it gets rather lethargic, the drop out could have done with being a verse earlier.

5. Far From Safe – This is my favourite song on the album and I think it is a great one to end on as it stuck in my mind more. It is very experimental with the off-beat style to it and the extra sound effects that have been added to make it clubbier. I like the gradual drop out at the end of the song as it signals the end of the album but they have managed to have a fade out but make it so that it doesn’t annoy you because they have thought of a creative way of doing it.

This may be slightly harsh this review but I had higher expectations as I listened to Stages first. I am not saying this album is rubbish I think quite the opposite. I feel as a starter for 10 it is ideal for getting yourself going and I am now in awe of the talent you have in your fine group! So the score give the impression of an awful album but I wouldn’t be disheartened by it would just need to be tweaked to get the level you have produced with Stages. I was very impressed with ‘Far From Safe’, it showed that the group is versatile and it will stand them in good stead for the future if they continue to evolve in this way.

Rating 6.5/10

Sum up in 5 words – Close to a high bar

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Our Lives In Motion - Stages EP

2011-06-12T00:28:00.000+01:00

Well This Is One Massive Stage They Have Taken To Success

Well time for me to do another review. I’m going to be honest I hadn’t heard of this band before, but I am so glad I listened to their EP. It is an album that appeals to my taste buds with great guitar riffs and strong vocal performances. The vocalist David Beaudreau has a great sounding voice that really connects with you as a listener to the music. I am going do to something different with this album, I am going to analyse each song one by one and go through them with a fine tooth come.

1. Prelude – This is a nice introduction song that builds on the ideas and elements of the song. They have attempted to get the song to merge into the first real track but I keep listening to just that bit and it doesn’t seem to quite fit, its close just not perfect.

2. Recovery – This is a great song that could easily be being played but any big mainstream artist. The guitar part is very good and catchy and fun to play along to. Also, I like the fact the snare stands out with a punchy electronic sound to it (I’ll assume that sound was meant to be like that) but I like the effect it has on the presence of the drums

3. Strangers of the Night – This is my favourite song on the EP, I like the slight drop out before the chorus giving it more effect on you. I love David’s voice in this song; it really grabs me (I think I am in love with his voice). The drums are there, prominent as normal, which I think is good, shows the drums are taking an important role.

4. Unstoppable – The drums are quite similar in some of the songs but the lead guitar over the top makes them different. Also this is the first song that I managed to hear the bass as the others either didn’t have any bass to hear or more likely that it wasn’t loud enough to be heard over the heavy guitar.

5. Decadence – This song is different, as in the chorus it has a more technical sound with the lead guitar being more upfront and audible. The song does have a different feel with slightly more chilled out verses with a big go for it a bit in the Choruses.

6. The Rescue – This song is different again from the first few songs on the EP that were just guitar with little dynamic change. This one has fast hi hats rolls with less guitar for the verses and heavier for the choruses. Unfortunately, the whole album ends on this song that uses the dreaded…fade out. Why? You didn’t need it in other songs why this one? Fade out is for pop songs that are rubbish bland pap, your more than that!

Overall I love this album, a few things to adjust and re-think and with a few more well thought out tacks this could turn into a big album for the future in getting you singed to a label! I think this won’t be the only review you have coming your way if you keep producing this level of music.

Rating 9/10

Sum up in 5 words – Can’t wait for the full-length

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Wiz Khalifa - Rolling Papers

2011-06-09T19:31:00.000+01:00

Have all the mix tapes paid off for Wiz?

Wiz Khalifa has been around since 2005 throwing out mix tapes for fun and producing independently released albums by the bus load. He then struck gold releasing ‘Kush and Orange Juice’ [a mix tape] which attracted huge amounts of interest from the pundits. With Rick Ross’s label showing huge interest and Drake offering to share his headline tour, he decided he could do better, and singed to Atlantic Records and hasn’t looked back since with the release of Black and Yellow and Roll Up and a massive debut album.

The album was snapped up by the American’s shifting one hell of a lot of units in a few weeks, 441,000 so far in America alone and the lead single ‘Black and Yellow’ now being downloaded over 2,000,000 times and going to number one in America. It wasn’t such a hit in the UK but the lead single sold a lot of units but give the guy a break he can’t conquer both in one go.

The album starts nicely as if it is telling a story and the opening song gradually builds on itself with instruments and voices being added to the structure the more the song progresses. I personally love ‘On my level’ because I have an obsession with the defining thump of the bass, you really do need a stereo with serious bass to appreciate the full song it’s even better if you’re fortunate enough to have a powerful subwoofer. ‘Black & Yellow’ was incredibly catchy as many people agree as it was a huge success on both side of the pond selling way over 2 million downloads between them, with its catchy hook line and musical motifs. ‘Roll Up’ is the second single to be released on the album; this was a song that is a song more from the heart than the street.

The rest of the album is average with nothing of massive interest sticking out and grabbing your attention but they are all songs were you need to listen and they have messages to give. I would give it higher but the singles are the only ones that truly connected and I believe there was areas where it let its self-down so It does seem harsh but Wiz can only get better from hear.

Rating 6.5/10

Sum up in 5 words – Not back for a first go

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Stevie Hoang - Unsigned

2011-06-06T22:36:00.000+01:00

Unsigned I think not!

I think his album title is a bit ironic considering that he is definitely signed to labels. He has sold 100,000 albums independently and then got signed to AVEC (a Japanese label). He is a sensation in Japan and now he is trying to break it in England on the label Mercury. So is this an album to break into England?

The album starts with the song ‘Fight for You’ a song that has been on YouTube for a long time. For the album though it has been slightly changed with a horrible auto-tune effect on the beginning vocal to go over what was already there in the previous unreleased version. Why do you need the auto-tune, it does Stevie’s voice an injustice. The song ‘Text’ has the dreaded auto tune in again, WHY!? ‘Sunlight’ has some more damn auto-tune which is a shame as the song is actually very catchy and gets in your head but the chorus is infested with auto-tune. The good news is in ‘Half a Chance’ shows why he doesn’t need auto-tune hitting note that only dogs can hear.

As soon as I hear this song I grabbed my iPod, trying to remember what song its sounds like. ‘Nobody’ is so much like ‘Dilemma by Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland’ with the casual lyrics and slow meaning full melody. This and ‘Listen To My Head’ are both song that are very like his earlier work with cleaver lyrics and simple musical ideas. ‘I’ll Be Fine’ is the first single off the album, this is the same style song as Addicted, his first ever single and it is just as good with the repeating piano motif and catchy words. Just before the point where the album should end in my opinion, he goes for a different sound with ‘Time’, this has a heavier club anthem feel to it. The same in ‘No Good’ where the club effect synth comes in to overpower the repetitive mundane piano riff.

When it gets to ‘Lottery’ you feel as a listener that it is the beginning of the end, with lots of album fillers one after another. This inevitable problem happens on all the songs that follow except ‘Babies’ that is better but has lines like ‘All those ladies who want to have some babies’ which shows that album really does need to be finished…now! It could have done with finishing after I’ll Be Fine and not destroying what was quite a good album with ‘Lottery’ and the songs to follow.

I don’t think he’s quite there with a whole album ready for the UK but ‘Fight For You’, ‘Nobody’ and ‘I’ll Be Fine’ are signs that he isn’t too far away from nailing it and making it global.

Rating 7.5/10

Sum up in 5 words – Surely doesn’t require auto-tuning

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