OneRepublic – All the Right Moves
As a writer and producer Ryan Tedder has had great success, and even if you don’t know him by name there’s a very strong possibility that you’ve heard his work at some point or another (Leona Lewis’s hugely popular ‘Bleeding Love’ and Beyonce Knowles’ ‘Halo’ are two shining examples of tracks co-written by Tedder). In 2007 the band that Ryan Tedder has fronted since 2002 rose to fame when hip hop rapper/producer Timbaland remixed the single ‘Apologize’ and included it on his 2007 ‘Shock Value’ album; OneRepublic instantly became a household name and ‘Apologize’ was a massive hit all around the world. Following up with ‘Stop and Stare’ OneRepublic was once again able to show great strength as a band, with each additional release the band seemed to lose further popularity however, with singles ‘Say (All I Need)’ and ‘Mercy’ both failing to enter either the US Billboard Hot 100 or the Official UK Top 40. With fifth single ‘Come Home’ on which the band collaborated Sara Bareilles a return to the Billboard Hot 100 was finally in store, and a second album has now followed with the release of ‘Waking Up’ in November 2009.
‘All the Right Moves’ is the first single taken from the ‘Waking Up’ album and was released in the UK in January 2010. Featuring a fantastically catchy chorus, ‘All the Right Moves’ is an absolutely exceptional first single for OneRepublic to have released from the ‘Waking Up’ album, and with this track OneRepublic has once again shown fantastic strength and ability as a band. Ryan Tedder’s vocal lines are as sweetly sung out as ever, and combined with this there is also an absolutely phenomenal guitar sound that can here be heard. ‘All the Right Moves’ is no ‘Apologize’, and the chances are that OneRepublic never will release anything as good as that again, ‘All the Right Moves’ is certainly still a song that begs to be listened to however and once you’ve listened to the track once you’ll no doubt have the song stuck in your head for a long time to come.
‘All the Right Moves’ is undoubtedly repetitive, its simplistic composition and lyrical structure really does work well though, and despite being somewhat limited the track never seems to become tiresome. Ryan Tedder is a supremely talented singer and songwriter, and ‘All the Right Moves’ is a single that showcases this fantastically well; ‘All the Right Moves’ may not be OneRepublic’s best work, it’s still a very solid piece of music though and a track that truly is well worth listening to.
Label: Interscope
Release Date: January 11th 2010
Rating:
The BRIT Awards 2010 3CD Compilation Review
In celebration of 30 years of the BRIT Awards a 3CD compilation has this year been released, with the first two discs focusing on popular music from the last year whilst the third disc concentrates on some of the biggest BRIT hits from the past 30.
The first disc is quite pure pop focused, with artists such a Cheryl Cole, Robbie Williams, and Mika featuring here, the second disc meanwhile has more of a dance and rock edge about it with Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris, Biffy Clyro, U2, and Kasabian all included. Dependent upon your specific tastes in music you’ll probably have a favourite of these two discs; both CDs have their moments though, with both coming complete with some definite stand outs.
There’s a great deal of variety displayed on the BRIT Awards 2010 compilation, what has to be noted however is that some of these artists are not in line to win a BRIT Award this year and yet have been included on the CD, several others meanwhile are up for awards and have failed to make the cut. Whitney Houston and Jason Mraz are two prime examples of artists included on the album that have not been nominated for any Brit Awards; artists such as Eminem, Leona Lewis, and Bat for Lashes meanwhile are not included on the compilation even though they did receive BRIT Award nominations. The song selections don’t always make sense, despite this though it is still a decent compilation which does feature some of the most popular music to have been released in the last year (BRIT Award nominees or not).
Having been treated to some of the most popular tracks of 2009/early 2010 on the first two discs, this BRIT Awards compilation definitely provides a treat with the third disc as such tracks as Take That’s ‘Patience’, Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, and Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ are showcased. The CD actually kicks off with three lives tracks; Queen and 5ive’s ‘We Will Rock You’ from 2000, Seal and Adamski’s ‘Killer’ from 1991, and the Bee Gees ‘Medley’ from 1997. It’s straight after these three live classics that we’re boomed into Take That’s ‘Patience’, and from there we move on to Duffy’s ‘Warwick Avenue’ and Amy Winehouse’s ‘Rehab’; definitely a cracking way to kick off the CD, and we certainly finish on a high with the third and final disc of the compilation.
All in all there are 60 tracks on the BRIT Awards 2010 compilation (20 on each of the three discs), and regardless of your taste in music you’re sure to find something here that impresses. It’s unlikely that you’ll enjoy all 60, with so much to choose from there’s definitely much to keep you entertained though, and even if you don’t like a few tracks here then that still leaves you with plenty of others to listen to. The inclusion of a third disc this year makes the BRIT Awards annual compilation better value than ever in 2010, and if you’re looking to get your hands on a quality compilation then the BRIT Awards 2010 compilation is most definitely one that’s worth looking into.
Label: Rhino UK
Release Date: February 8th 2010
Rating:
Lostprophets – The Betrayed
After a wait of three and a half years, Lostprophets is back and has released its fourth studio album ‘The Betrayed’. After the release of ‘Liberation Transmission’ in 2006 the band set to work on its fourth studio album in early 2007 with the hope of releasing a new album later that year, recording in LA didn’t quite go to plan however, and with the band unhappy with the material that had been produced, all was scrapped and it was time to start again. Heading back to Wales the band was able to get to work with a fresh head, with bassist Stuart Richardson at the recording desk to take care of the production and mixing duties with the help of Justin Hopfer. ‘The Betrayed’ is the album that Lostprophets has ultimately put together, with the band taken a heavier approach than with previous album ‘Liberation Transmission’.
‘The Betrayed’ kicks into action with ‘If It Wasn’t for Hate, We’d Be Dead by Now’, providing a quality start to the album as the powerful drumming hits you straight away followed by a brilliant dirty guitar sound. Straight away the album grabs you, with the band providing a supremely satisfying opener for the record. Flowing into ‘Dstryr/Dstryr’ the band continues to impress, and after this we’re treated to singles ‘It’s Not the End of the World, But I Can See It from Here’ and ‘Where We Belong’. ‘The Betrayed’ quickly establishes itself as a fantastic return from the band, and throughout the entirety of the album the drumming of Ilan Rubin really does impress. Sadly Ilan Rubin has moved on to join Nine Inch Nails since this album was recorded, he definitely makes a massive impression on this album though, with his incredible drumming technique always coming across to perfection throughout the album.
Aside from the questionable use of the “lalala” in ‘Streets of Nowhere’ there’s little not to like about ‘The Betrayed’, and put down on record here are eleven largely impressive rock tracks. With catchy choruses aplenty, great rock guitars, and powerful drumming throughout, ‘The Betrayed’ has everything you could possibly want from the Lostprophets, and is an album that should impress the vast majority of the bands fans. It’s not quite perfect, tracks such as ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Felon’, ‘A Better Nothing’, and ‘It’s Not the End of the World, But I Can See It from Here’ are sure to have you singing along though, and closing track ‘The Light That Shines Twice as Bright’ is an excellent one to finish with as the band winds things down with one of the album’s highlights.
If Lostprophets’ ‘Start Something’ sits proudly in your collection then ‘The Betrayed’ is most definitely an album that you should be investing in. There’s a lot of absolutely fantastic material here, and Lostprophets has once again pulled it out of the bag with a good solid album. Ian Watkins’ vocals are as impressive here as ever, instrumentally the music always has much to offer, and it just feels as though the band has put a lot of care into putting this album together. ‘The Betrayed’ may not have the rawness of debut album ‘Thefakesoundofprogress’, and was most definitely recorded on a bigger budget; a lot has changed since the release of the band’s debut in 2001 though, and the fact that the band had the luxury of being able to scrap its first draft and start afresh just shows how much this band has moved on since the early days. Much may have changed, Lostprophets still remains a band very capable of recording impressive rock music though, and ‘The Betrayed’ is an album that you should certainly seek to listen to.
Label: Visible Noise
Release Date: January 18th 2010
Rating:
The Standards – Out Of The Fire EP
Whilst a definite 1960s influence is apparent here, The Standards is certainly not a band that is looking to rip off its idols, but instead the influence is taken and fused with a modern spin to provide for a musical treat that is truly delicious.
There’s a lot of fun that comes through in The Standards’ sound, and all three tracks on the ‘Out Of The Fire’ EP have been strongly crafted to provide for a highly satisfying and entertaining listening experience. Title track ‘Out Of The Fire’ kicks things off well, with a highly vibrant feel right from the off, and once the band hooks you in it certainly never lets go. After a couple of listens the band is able to have you singing along, and not a single track on this EP disappoints. From ‘Out Of The Fire’ the band fires onto ’11 Dimensions’, another track with a huge amount to offer, and with closing track ‘Already There’ the band continues to impress with its style.
The Standards is a band with a clear love for its 1960s music, what’s so brilliant about this band though is the way that it’s able to use its influences so well here and put together three truly special tracks. The vocals definitely do a lot to please, instrumentally also The Standards is a band with much to offer however, and in all areas supreme strength is shown here.
The ‘Out Of The Fire’ EP is most definitely one that you should look to add to your collection, and The Standards is without doubt a band to watch out for in the future.
Label: Schnapps House
Release Date: February 8th 2010
Rating:
We Are The Ocean – Look Alive EP
The ‘Look Alive’ EP is the latest release from London based post-hardcore five piece We Are The Ocean, and a very good effort it is from the band too. Lead singer Liam Cromby has an absolutely phenomenal voice, whilst chief screamer Dan Brown also pulls off a fine performance here in all four of these tracks. The contrasting voices of Brown and Cromby complement each other well, and from start to finish the EP is always an absolute treat to listen to. Not just vocally impressive, We Are The Ocean is a band with a great deal to offer instrumentally also, and not one single member of the band fails to impress here.
‘Look Alive’ kicks the EP off in style, and beginning with a bang the quality of this EP never once begins to drop. There’s enough variation here to keep you interested, and ‘Look Alive’, ‘(I’ll Grab You By The) Neck Of The Woods’, ‘Cutting Our Teeth’, and ‘Drag Me Down’ all have something unique to offer.
We Are The Ocean hints at what’s to come with the ‘Look Alive’ EP, and it’ll definitely be interesting to hear what the band serves up with debut album ‘Cutting Our Teeth’ when its released in January 2010. For fans of post-hardcore the ‘Look Alive’ EP is a definite must in the collection, and come January this band will undoubtedly be blowing us away with its first ever full-length release.
Label: Hassle Records
Release Date: November 16th 2009
Rating:
Slade – Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits
Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without hearing Noddy Holder shout ‘It’s Christmas!’, and that’s exactly why everyone should own at least one Slade album. ‘Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits’ is the latest compilation release from Slade, and comes complete with a total of twenty tracks from the band. Kicking off with the massive hit ‘Merry Xmax Everyboday’, the ‘Party Hits’ collection has all the tracks to get you in the mood for Christmas as it continues with ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ and closes with the ‘Okey Cokey’ and ‘Here’s To The New Year’. With plenty of entertaining tracks in between such as ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’, ‘Coz I Love You’, and ‘C’Mon Feel The Noize’, there’s much here to keep you interested and ensure that a very satisfying listening experience is provided.
The ‘Party Hits’ collection from Slade is an excellent album to purchase this Christmas, and if you know of any friends or family members that enjoy the music of Slade then what better Christmas present to provide them with than a copy of the ‘Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits’ album this December 25th. It’s absolutely brilliant value for the 20 tracks that you receive here, and not only does it contain some true Christmas classics but a number of Slade’s other big hits also.
Slade may not be together in its original form anymore, the fact still remains that this band has released a lot of great music throughout the years however, and that’s something that is displayed here with the ‘Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits’ collection.
Brighten up your Christmas with a bit of Slade and definitely do look to invest in this album.
The following is the full track listing for Slade’s 2009 ‘Party Hits’ album:
1. Merry Xmas Everybody
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
4. Let The Good Times Roll / Feel So Fine
5. Coz I Love You
6. Gudbuy T’Jane
7. We’re Really Gonna To Raise The Roof
8. C’Mon Feel The Noize
9. My Baby Left Me
10. Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me
11. Let’s Have A Party
12. Hey Ho Wish You Well
13. Let’s Dance
14. I’m A Rocker
15. My Oh My (Swing Version)
16. Standin’ On The Corner
17. Do You Believe In Miracles
18. All Join Hands
19. Okey Cokey
20. Here’s To The New Year
Label: UMTV
Release Date: November 23rd 2009
Rating:
N-Dubz – I Need You
N-Dubz may not be a group to everyone’s tastes, but they’ve certainly come out with some very catchy singles in recent times. ‘I Need You’ is the latest single to be released by the band, featuring Facebook focused lyrics, an incredibly catchy chorus, and a really rather bouncy beat also.
‘I Need You’ is an absolute fun-packed single from N-Dubz, and whilst listening to this one it really is difficult not to start singing along. N-Dubz once again demonstrates here a great knack for penning a perfect pop song, and this group certainly seems to know what it’s doing when it comes to making the music as infectious as possible.
‘I Need You’ is the latest N-Dubz single to have achieved chart success, and it’s surely only a matter of time before this group is back again with another.
Label: All Around The World
Release Date: November 9th 2009
Rating:
Bowling For Soup – Sorry For Partyin’
The tenth Bowling For Soup studio album to date, ‘Sorry For Partyin’ gets off to an absolutely incredible start with ‘A Really Cool Dance Song’, arguably the very best track on the album. ‘A Really Cool Dance Song’ is such a fun song to start with, and right away the mood of the album is set as you get ready to enjoy another entertaining album from the Texan pop punkers. “ This song sounds like a dance song, cos dance songs are cool now, so get up and shake what your momma gave ya!” sings Bowling For Soup frontman Jaret Riddick, and Bowling For Soup’s “attempt at a dance song” is definitely a massive hit with me.
‘No Hablo Ingles’ is up next, and continues the party atmosphere as another very fun piece of pop music. The same can also be said of third track ‘My Wena’, the first released single from the album, and there are a number of tracks here that really do raise a smile.
Comprising of eighteen tracks in total, there’s plenty to keep you entertained on the ‘Sorry For Partyin’ studio album, with the band proving here that even after all this time it is still able to provide the comedy. There are some tracks here that aren’t so effective as others, the quality of tracks such as ‘I Can’t Stand LA’, ‘BFFF’, and ‘Hooray For Beer’ is sure to please however, and if you’ve been impressed by previous Bowling For Soup albums then you’ll no doubt enjoy listening to this one also.
If you’re up for a bit of light-hearted humour then definitely do give ‘Sorry For Partyin’ a listen, and a very entertaining listening experience is sure to be provided. Bowling For Soup has been around since 1994 now, is still keen to provide the pop punk fun, and so long as the band keeps on churning out the albums I will continue listening.
Label: A&G Records
Release Date: October 12th 2009
Rating:
You Me At Six – Kiss and Tell EP
You Me At Six has done it again, bringing out another very impressive single in the form of ‘Kiss and Tell’. Not only is the main single excellent, but the band has actually included another two tracks here to form an EP, including a hugely impressive cover of Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’.
You Me At Six just seems to be able to reel out hit after hit at the moment, and with ‘Kiss and Tell’ the band has been able to put to record yet another incredibly infectious chorus. It’s a very fun piece of music to listen to, the drumbeat hits hard all throughout the track, and the guitar quality offered by the band here is hugely impressive also. The band is able to pack a lot of power into the music here, and this is something that continues with the ‘Poker Face’ cover also.
Arguably better than the original, You Me At Six is able to give ‘Poker Face’ a real rock feel, and again it is the guitar quality here that stands out strongly about the music. The vocals hit hard, there’s real venom in the guitar though, and this is what really makes the track the powerful piece of sound that it is.
Slowing things down for the final track, You Me At Six decides to treat us to an acoustic version of ‘Kiss and Tell’, and although the speed is slowed here, the quality certainly isn’t lessened. The acoustic nature of the track really does come across nicely here, providing a fittingly fantastic finish to a very impressive EP.
If you’ve been impressed by any of the previous singles that You Me At Six has released then you’re sure to find ‘Kiss and Tell’ incredibly enjoyable also, and if you haven’t already taken the time to give this EP a listen then I’d definitely recommend doing so. You Me At Six has once again been able to provide the goods here, offering up a 3-track EP that I have very much enjoyed listening to.
Label: Epitaph
Release Date: September 7th 2009
Rating:
Cobra Starship – Good Girls Go Bad
Featuring special guest vocals from Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ is the first single from Cobra Starship’s ‘Hot Mess’ studio album, and a very catchy piece of music it is too. Unashamedly cheesy, ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ is an incredibly fun track, and is one that will no doubt get a lot of people dancing. Some Midtown fans may not approve of Gabe Saporta’s Cobra Starship, I for one am most definitely a massive fan of the band however, and have been since first hearing ‘Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)’ back in 2006.
‘Good Girls Go Bad’ may not be the best song ever written, it’s certainly a very catchy piece of pop music however, and the vocals of Leighton Meester here really do work well alongside Gabe Saporta’s. It’s an incredibly upbeat piece of music, fun to dance along to, and everything about this track is just absolutely jam packed full of positivity.
If you’ve heard the music of Cobra Starship before and aren’t already a fan then this is not a track that is likely to change your opinion, if you’ve been a fan of the band’s music in the past or are yet to give Cobra Starship’s music a listen however then I definitely recommend giving this one a go.
Cobra Starship’s ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ will no doubt be blasting out of my speakers for some time to come, and if you too have a soft spot for cheesy pop music then ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ is a track that you really must hear.
Label: Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance Records
Release Date: October 19th 2009
Rating:
