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Jack McManus – You Think I Don’t Care

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Jack McManus is a 23 year-old Brit School educated singer/songwriter who has incredibly big hair. ‘You Think I Don’t Care’ is the second single to have been lifted from his debut album ‘Either Side of Midnight’. Like many of his Brit School peers; Jack McManus creates incredibly dull lightweight pop fodder and for most his music is therefore probably best avoided.

‘You Think I Don’t Care’ is a very weak single; it’s the sort of song that if it came on the radio then you probably wouldn’t even notice it was playing. The track is very bland and leaves little of a lasting impression whatsoever. McManus tries to sell the track with its chorus but for me it just doesn’t really work. The tracks chorus is a lot better than its verse; it’s still not very good though and although it provides for pleasant enough background music it lacks the edge to ever be used as anything more than just background sound. It’s the sort of inoffensive music that could be played in a lift; elevator music if you will.

Jack McManus is quite talented and has a nice voice; this track is extremely lacklustre however and despite the fact that he’s obviously quite a talent, his talent is not here being best utilised. If Jack McManus can convince record company Universal Music that he’s worth sticking with for a second album then his second studio album could well be one to watch out for; whether or not McManus will last that long in the fickle business that is music however remains to be seen.

Unless you’re looking for a track to be played in the background whilst performing other activities then Jack McManus ‘You Think I Don’t Care’ single is definitely one to be ignored.

Label: Universal Music
Release Date: July 21st 2008

Rating:
Review StarReview Star

4ft Fingers – New Beginnings Of Old Stories

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4ft Fingers - New Beginnings of Old Stories‘New Beginnings Of Old Stories’ is the fourth studio album from the UK skate punk band that is 4ft Fingers. The album consists of twelve tracks and if you’ve ever heard one of the bands albums in the past then you can expect more of the same from 4ft Fingers here. Never has the band’s sound developed much and always when 4ft Fingers returns with any new material, you always know what to expect; good solid skate punk music.

The album begins with the fairly catchy ‘Where Did All The Legends Go?’, progresses with the punchy ‘Thick As Thieves’, never do you feel here though that the band ever really gets properly into its stride. The album is okay, I don’t feel that it showcases 4ft Fingers at the band’s very best however and always here the energy levels seem to be a little lacking. From start to finish the album is always enjoyable to listen to, having listened to all of the band’s previous albums however I’d have to say that 4ft Fingers has done a lot better than this in the past and that this is the weakest album of the lot.

The tracks always possess an excellent guitar element and fine vocal style also, the tracks lack passion however and always you find here that there is something a little lacking about the music. This is technically a pretty solid album and with tracks such as ‘The Tale Of Benjamin Lloyd’ and ‘Deal Those Cards’ the bands fine skate punk sound is put across incredibly well. The tracks all have excellent choruses and the album is quite interesting to listen to, it definitely lacks edge however and I therefore believe the bands other albums to be of far superior overall quality. All of the bands albums sound quite similar; it’s just that with this one the bands members all seem to be lacking in passion and excitement to record; they’ve done it all before and it just seems to me that they’re getting a little bored of it all.

If you’ve never listened to the music of 4ft Fingers and liked it then you’ll also enjoy this album from the band; it’s a fairly decent skate punk album and always it’s a lot of fun to listen to. The choruses are fantastic to sing along to and there’s a great uplifting quality about the music at all times; comparing these twelve’s tracks to the bands earlier work however and I do feel that the band sounds a little tired here. The music is well put across and in all areas the sound has been strongly constructed; as it’s the bands forth album and they’ve never really changed their style at all though I do feel that 4ft Fingers is here running out of ideas a little.

The band’s sound is quite sturdy throughout here and for the finest sing along moments I’d definitely recommend giving ‘Where Did All The Legends Go?’ and title track ‘New Beginnings Of Old Stories’ a listen. ‘Where Did All The Legends Go?’ is the albums opener and gets the album off to a great start; it’s three minutes and 33 seconds in length and always here the vocals are excellent and the guitar riffs packed full of energy. ‘New Beginnings Of Old Stories’ on the other hand is the albums closing number and is close to four minutes in its length. It brings the album to a fantastic finish and really ends the release nice and tidily. It leaves you excited to hear further 4ft Fingers music in the future, and although the band’s sound is not at its best here for much of this album; I do feel that the future is still potentially quite bright for 4ft Fingers so long as the band can rediscover its enthusiasm.

If you like skate punk music then I’d definitely recommend giving the music of 4ft Fingers a listen; don’t start with this album though as the bands other three are all a lot better than this one. ‘New Beginnings Of Old Stories’ is not a bad album, it’s just a bit average when compared with the bands others and for a better listening experience you should therefore look to the bands earlier albums of ‘At Your Convenience’, ‘From Hero To Zero’, and ‘A Cause For Concern’.

Label: Not On Your Radio
Release Date: April 7th 2008

Rating:
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Dragons – Here are the Roses

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Dragons is a band which takes its influence from the likes of Depeche Mode and Joy Division; Dragons is a band that tries to recreate the exact sound of both of these bands in fact. It’s difficult to listen to any of the ten tracks present on this ‘Here are the Roses’ album without scratching your head and wondering ‘Haven’t I heard these songs before?’ The Answer to that question you ask yourself would probably be no, it’s just that Dragons sound is copied entirely from the two aforementioned artists and the band attempts to put to record nothing in the least bit new or original here. The album has a run time of just over 43 minutes, and unless you want to listen to an inferior Joy Division album then there’s really no reason to put yourself through the whole ordeal of listening to this album.

From opening title track ‘Here Are the Roses’ right through to the closer ‘Forever’ the music always is incredibly weak and never particularly exciting or in fact interesting to listen to. The vocals are depressing in their tone, and the artists sound is clearly heavily influenced here by 80s electronica. The album is bland in its progression and every single track present here possesses the same dreary vocal tone.

If every element of the music wasn’t entirely stolen from other artists then I’d probably enjoy this album a little more than I do; sadly the members of Dragons don’t have an inch of creativity present in their collective bodies however and the music therefore fails miserably here. There are a couple of tracks present here that are reasonably enjoyable to listen to; ‘Obedience’ for instance has a little more about it than much of the rest of the album, and ‘Epiphany’ possesses an absolutely brilliant drum solo in its introduction; much of the album drones along depressingly however and more often than not here Anthony Tombling Jr.’s (lead vocalist) vocal tone sends me half to sleep.

Dragons only formed in 2005 and ‘Here are the Roses’ is the bands début album, I can’t see the band returning for another however and if a second album ever does emerge then Dragons will have to put a lot more into it than this. Dragons blends post-punk elements with 80s electronica also, and were I to compare them to a current modern day band then it’d probably be Editors; Dragons is not as good a band as Editors however and the bands members do I feel lack the talent and creativity to ever be as big a name as Birminhgam’s Editors.

If you’re a big fan of post-punk revival artists then you may well have some sort of an interest in the music of Dragons. Dragons is most definitely not the best post-punk revival act currently in existence however and for a more entertaining listening experience I’d definitely recommend listening to the Editors instead, or maybe even the artists that Dragons is so keen to try and emulate here; Depeche Mode and Joy Division.

Label: OHM
Release Date: June 4th 2007

Rating:
Review StarReview Star

Path Of No Return – The Absinthe Dreams

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Released in 2007 through Burning Heart Records/Epitaph, ‘The Absinthe Dreams’ is the second studio album from the Swedish metalcore band that is Path Of No Return. The album consists of eleven tracks and clocks in at just over 42 minutes in length; it’s a pretty decent album and although not perfect, Path Of No Return is most definitely a band that is good at what it does. Path Of No Return sets out to attempt nothing new here, ‘The Absinthe Dreams’ would not win many marks for originality but what the band lacks in creativity it more than makes up for in talent.

The album gets off to a furious start with ‘Soran’, right from the word go the bands powerful guitar riffs and ferocious vocal tone hit you hard. The bands sound is strong and always here the music is powerful in its progression. ‘Soran’ provides an excellent opening to the album and throughout the release the bands tracks remain consistently strong and excellent to listen to. Due to the fact that the band is so unoriginal this therefore detracts away from the overall listening experience a little at times, for the most part however you tend to forget about this as the music is just so good here.

Title track ‘The Absinthe Dreams’ is most definitely one of my absolute favourites from this album, it’s instrumental to begin with and then at about a minute in the music really begins to explode. There’s the light sound of drumming, a pleasant underlying bass sound, and slight guitar stroke also; at the 45 second mark the vocals begin to roll and build in power as they charge through the track. There are a couple of instrumental sections utilised here, the band gifts you with a nice calm instrumental piece before thrusting you into the full pelt of the vocals and this really is something that works out terrifically well for Path Of No Return here. The calmness of the track breaks the album up nicely and is a nice change from the bands usual full on metalcore antics. ‘The Marriage of Black and White’ is another excellent track from this album with which the band repeats a similar sort of song structure.

It’s almost as though Path Of No Return was saving it’s best until last here however as with closing track ‘The Poet’s Walk’ the bands music actually sounds better than ever. The track provides a fantastic final five minutes for the album and really brings the music to a most magnificent end. The track progresses well, momentum builds powerfully throughout, and always here there is much to be taken from the artists sound. The music is great to listen to and the track really leaves you wanting for more. The band winds it down with about a minute to go and it’s therefore crystal clear that the record is over and the end of the album has been reached. For the final minute of the album atmospheric sound is utilised which slowly fades into the background as the album draws to its end.

‘The Absinthe Dreams’ is not the most original album in the world, it’s still quite a good one to listen to though and if you’re looking to listen to a decent metalcore band then you can’t go far wrong with Path Of No Return. I’d definitely recommend giving this ‘The Absinthe Dreams’ album a go; don’t expect the band to try and reinvent the wheel but do prepare to be impressed. It consists of eleven tracks, and although they’re not all perfect there are a number present here that are most definitely well worth listening to. As far as metalcore goes then you won’t find much finer an album than this, so if the genre floats your boat then most definitely give ‘The Absinthe Dreams’ a listen.

Label: Burning Heart Records/Epitaph
Release Date: August 27th 2007

Rating:
Review StarReview StarReview StarReview Star

The Automatic – Steve McQueen

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It’s odd to listen to the music of The Automatic without the background yelping of Alex Pennie; for album number two that’s what we’ve got to prepare ourselves for however as Pennie is no longer in the band and all new songs are therefore yelpless. ‘Steve McQueen’ is the lead single for the bands second album ‘This Is A Fix’, at first I wasn’t too sure about it but the more I listen to it the more I love it. The lyrics are dreadful, the track is hugely catchy however and the driving guitar riff throughout the track really helps to progress the music and make the bands sound come across incredibly powerfully.

The song structure is very similar to that of ‘Monster’, the bands sound hasn’t progressed much; it hasn’t really changed at all in fact other than the aforementioned lack of screams and screeches. Some may argue that The Automatic without the screams is a far more attractive prospect, others however will complain that Alex Pennie was what made this band so special; what made The Automatic just that little bit different and interesting. Personally I’m undecided as to which side of the bands sound I prefer the most, what I will say on the issue however is that I love both.

If the yelping Pennie put you off with album number one then ‘This Is A Fix’ could well be the album for you on the basis of its title track (which you can download completely for free) and on the evidence of this lead single ‘Steve McQueen’ also. This is a great track, you might not like it too much at first but stick with it and I promise you it’s a grower.

The track has been produced by Butch Walker (Fall Out Boy, American Hi-Fi, The Academy Is…) and his production of the track truly does come across supremely well. There’s a definite Jimmy Eat World feel and clarity about the music here and if you can take the fact that the lyrics here are incredibly bad then you should absolutely love this. Let’s face it though; lyrics have never been a great strength with the music of The Automatic; this is a band that has in the past made choruses out of such lines as ‘Let’s go see Raoul’, and ‘What’s that coming over the hill, is it a monster?’ also – hardly the height of lyrical intelligence.

Expect big things of The Automatic in 2008. Album number one is classified Gold and with ‘This Is A Fix’ The Automatic could well succeed further still and I truly do hope that the bands second album is a huge hit here in the UK and perhaps even stateside too.

Label: B-Unique Records
Release Date: August 18th 2008

Rating:
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Eden Log DVD Review

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‘Eden Log’ is not a film which was made with the intention of ever becoming a box office smash hit; it’s a dark sci-fi thriller with an element of horror thrown into the mix also and its potential target audience is therefore somewhat limited. Sci-Fi is not the most popular movie genre that there is, ‘Eden Log’ is however surely destined to achieve cult status amongst fans of the genre for its fantastic use of cinematography and sound. Script plays little role in the progression of this film; it’s through the dark use of colour, fine use of lighting, and incredible utilisation of sound that this film is furthered and for this ‘Eden Log’ should have you completely compelled.

Tolbiac wakes up in a deep dark cave with no recollection of how he has got here. He’s confused and all he has to guide him through the caves passages is a small dim light. As he makes his way through a number of tunnels and abandoned laboratories, Tolbiac keeps seeing the same logo in a variety of different places; it’s the logo for the Eden Log corporation and as he goes through his travels he is continually finding out more and more about this mysterious organisation. Tolbiac never feels safe here, he has no recollection of who he is, how he has got here, and there are also a number of potentially dangerous obstacles that he must overcome. He’s not the only one trapped here, he feels very alone however and due to his confused state of mind he never quite knows what he must do next; all he knows is that it’s vital that he make his way to the surface and by some means escapes out of here.

The first thing that struck me about ‘Eden Log’ was just how slow it was to get going. For roughly twenty minutes at the start of the film there is nothing really happening and you do start to begin to wonder if it will ever liven up a little. It’s disorientating and you feel for Tolbiac and the great sense of confusion that he currently feels; all we know is what Tolbiac knows also, and at this early stage in the film absolutely nothing is known at all. ‘Eden Log’s introduction provides for incredibly frustrating viewing and at this early stage in the film it’s really quite hard to stick with it, it’s important that you do so however as it really does eventually progress quite powerfully and provide for a hugely entertaining viewing experience at times. The cinematography is stunning, dark and arty and always extremely visually beautiful. The film has a great glossy feel, there’s a fine clash of black and white colour and always here there is a terrific magical atmosphere. The use of sound furthers the magic of the film, the sound is always here equally as stunning as the cinematography itself and these two qualities of the film really are what make ‘Eden Log’ so special.

Clovis Cornillac is the man that plays Tolbiac here, the character with which we spend most of our time and the one that we see things from the perspective of. This is a very restrictive narrative in that we spend all our time with Tolbiac and therefore find things out only as quickly as he does. Cornillac plays his part well, there’s not much of a script and therefore most of his acting work is done here through his facial expressions and his body language also. It’s not possible to relate to Tolbiac though, it’s difficult to side with him and even more so due to his confused state of mind. Never do you feel that you can trust Tolbiac, there’s no warmth to his character and Clovis Cornillac puts this across incredibly well. As we spend most of our time purely with Tolbiac, it was important here that director Franck Vestiel cast someone with enough charisma and talent to really carry the film; Clovis Cornillac was well chosen I feel and really does show himself to be an exceptionally talented actor in his part. Actress Vimala Pons plays alongside him for some of the film also, aside from Clovis Cornillac she is the most we see of anyone here but never is her character given a name. She’s a lot easier to warm to, far more approachable and pleasant; her character seems a lot more honest and open than Clovis Cornillac’s, and although given far more of a minor part within the film; Vimala Pons also plays her role well here. For the most part this is a one man show, full credit must surely go to Vimala Pons though as she is a very talented actress and when called upon here her ability always is shown to be strong.

The mid-section of this film is by far its finest, the introduction is ruined a little by the speed at which it progresses, and the end of the film also is far from perfect. As the film unfolds you’re always expecting a far more powerful ending than what has been achieved here, it doesn’t quite happen though but it’s still easy to admire the film for its sheer visual beauty. With this film Franck Vestiel has tried something different and out there, he’s dared to be innovative and for that reason ‘Eden Log’ stands strong. It’s not the greatest film ever made, it’s very well visually presented however and both the direction and sound design also are stunning in their portrayal here. The film is beautiful, magical in its atmosphere and also in its sound; in this respect it reminded me a little of a Tim Burton film in fact, it’s a hugely atmospheric film and the use of sound is very much central to ‘Eden Log’s success.

‘Eden Log’ was filmed using only handheld cameras, it’s Franck Vestiel’s feature film directorial début, and although not perfect it certainly dares to be different. This is not a conventionally gripping film, at times it is in fact so frustrating that it will have you literally pulling your hair out, it’s always visually remarkable however and it’s through the use of cinematography and sound that ‘Eden Log’ is made so special. It relies on little script, it’s progression is achieved through its sheer visual beauty and fine use of location. Everything looks so visually pleasing, ‘Eden Log’ is incredibly futuristic in its sheer visual glow and always it is aesthetically astounding. Originally filmed in the French language, you’re given a choice here as to whether you wish to watch the film in French or in English; either way makes little difference as there really is very little utilisation of the spoken word here. If you choose to view the film in French then you’ll also have the option of viewing ‘Eden Log’ with or without subtitles; viewing the film in French certainly gives it greater authenticity, it’s a matter of preference though and regardless of what language you view the film in you should still greatly enjoy it.

This will not be everyone’s idea of compelling viewing, if you have a fondness for Sci-Fi however then I’d most definitely recommend giving ‘Eden Log’ a go; it provides for quite a frustrating viewing experience at times but ultimately the film is really quite satisfying to watch. A lot is held back from you here as a viewer, we do only know what Tolbiac knows and it is this that becomes so frustrating; it all comes together in the end though and half the fun of this film is piecing it all together and working out exactly what is going on here. It’s easy to get caught up in the absolute visual glory of ‘Eden Log’, it’s still a very good film though and despite a slow start and a not too great ending; I’d definitely still recommend giving this film a viewing.

Special Features:-

When you first place the DVD disc in the drive, three trailers roll here for other Momentum Pictures feature films. The three films that feature here are the Japanese Sci-Fi animation Vexille, French Sci-Fi thriller ‘Dante 01’, and the American action film ‘Never Back Down’ also. All three of these films look to be excellent, ‘Never Back Down’ appears a little out of place here but with the other two films you can entirely understand the inclusion of these trailers.

As well as the three trailers at the beginning of the DVD, two further bonus features are provided here in the form of a teaser trailer for ‘Eden Log’ and a ‘Making Of’ documentary also. I don’t feel that the teaser trailer really does ‘Eden Log’ justice, it doesn’t make the film appear as visually stunning as it truly is and perhaps isn’t the best ‘teaser’ that could have been created in order to entice viewers to watch the film. Given the films lack of script though I feel that it was perhaps incredibly difficult putting to film a trailer and can therefore understand why this teaser isn’t particularly effective in its approach. The ‘Making Of’ documentary is I feel the finest extra feature that ‘Eden Log’ has to offer. It’s a half hour documentary which is very well worked and always here it provides for an extremely interesting viewing experience. We get to hear from those behind the film such as actors Clovis Cornillac and Vimala Pons, and producer Cédric Jimenez also. We get to hear the perspectives of these three individuals and their thoughts on what the ‘Eden Log’ production process was like. It’s interesting hearing their thoughts and feeling about the whole process, and it’s suggested here by Clovis Cornillac that everyone involved in the film will benefit greatly from this experience. The ‘Making Of’ documentary provides for a great post-viewing experience, it’s excellent to watch the film and then follow this with watching the documentary also; it finishes off the film nicely and is I feel an absolutely excellent bonus inclusion on the DVD.

Rating:

H2O – Nothing to Prove

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‘Nothing to Prove’ is the long awaited fifth studio album from the American hardcore punk band that is H2O. There was a seven year gap between the release of fourth album ‘Go’ and this 2008 Bridge Nine released record that is ‘Nothing to Prove’; the name of the album makes the bands opinion very clear that they have nothing to prove to anyone here, the band has been together since 1995 now and has over the years more than proved its worth as an excellent hardcore punk band. The album consists of 10 tracks and this therefore provides for 29 minutes of music. A number of excellent guest vocalists feature here such as Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba, Gorilla Biscuits main man Anthony Civarelli, and Agnostic Front’s vocalist Roger Miret also amongst others; it’s great to hear the guest contributions here and always the bands music has much to offer throughout this ‘Nothing to Prove’ album.

When H2O released ‘Go’ in 2001 a far poppier edge to the music was showcased, the band was signed to major label MCA Records and it really did show through the more commercial nature of the music that the band released. With ‘Nothing to Prove’ the band has once more returned to what it does best; creating hard hitting hardcore punk music and the sound created here is therefore really rather excellent to listen to. Every track is short, hard, fast, and snappy; the bands sound is very well put across instrumentally and vocally also the H2O sound always has much to offer here. The album is technically 29 minutes long, take away the five minutes of spoken word at the end of the album however and ‘Nothing to Prove’ is a mere 24 minutes long. Despite its short length the band still manages to cram a lot into the album here, from first track ‘1995’ right through to closing anthem ‘What Happened?’ the bands sound always is strong and the music is incredibly powerfully presented.

Right from the very first track here it’s made clear that ‘Nothing to Prove’ is an album with which H20 is attempting to return to its roots. The first track present here is titled ‘1995’; the year that the band formed, and the year before the bands début self-titled album ‘H2O’ emerged. This is a celebratory album from a band still going strong well over a decade after having first formed. The band lyrically declares with this album that it has ‘Nothing to lose’, makes a statement with the track ‘Still Here’ that H2O is still going strong and don’t we all just know it. H2O is a band with much to celebrate, ‘Nothing to Prove’ is a great album and one which is hugely positive in its tone and approach. This is a fifth studio album from a band having a hell of a lot of fun making the music that it is, the bands sound is still as fresh as ever and H2O is a band that do I feel still have a lot more to bring to the wonderful genre of music that is hardcore punk.

There’s a melodic edge to the bands sound at times here, always the guitar riffs are hugely hard hitting however and vocally also this ‘Nothing to Prove’ album possesses much bite. The drumbeats are ever excellent and really do provide an incredible back beat for the music. Vocally I feel is where the bands sound shines most strongly here, this is helped hugely by the guest contributions and most markedly on final track ‘What Happened?’. Sick of It All’s vocalist Lou Koller features here as too does Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba; it’s an incredible piece of music and truly does provide this album with the most perfect of closing tracks. ‘What Happened’ is by far my favourite track from this album, the bands sound is passionately put across and always here the vocals are filled with fury and bite. Matt Skiba’s vocal sound is worked strongly within the track, it contrasts powerfully with the hardcore edge of Lou Koller’s vocals, and in every department here the track truly is incredibly entertaining to listen to.

‘Nothing to Prove’ is an extremely uplifting album to listen to, every guitar riff is incredibly well worked here and vocally the sound always is strong. ‘Unconditional’ is one of the more melodically approached titles from this album, no hardcore can here be found but the music is definitely hugely upbeat in its nature. ‘Unconditional’ is a great sing along punk rock album and one which I’m sure will go down incredibly well at all of the bands future live shows. The track is packed full of energy, the melody is excellent, and never here is there ever a dull moment. This is positive punk rock music at its very finest and another of my absolute favourite tracks from this album.

‘Nothing to Prove’ is a fantastic fifth studio album from H2O and one which always is hugely exciting to listen to. Originally intended as a one-song side project, H2O has turned out to be a lot more than that and over the years has put to record some exquisitely fine punk rock material. The guest collaborations really do come across well here and always there is a great friendly feel about this album in its progression; the hardcore community is one big punk rock family and always one which is happy to help others in the recording of albums. There’s a great feeling of a true punk rock community here, the tracks are fast and fun and always here this ‘Nothing to Prove’ album has much to offer the listener. The lyrics are excellent and the guitar hooks also are supremely well worked throughout the album, the 5 minutes of speech at the end of the album could however be cut off though I feel as this really does add no further quality to the album. The 5 minutes of speech at the end of the album are entirely unnecessary; friends, family, and band members also speak here and you can understand the inclusion of this outro given the great family atmosphere of the record; it detracts a little from the overall quality of the album though I feel and ‘Nothing to Prove’ would definitely benefit were this outro section to be significantly cut back in length/taken off of the album entirely.

For those that love their hardcore punk music then ‘Nothing to Prove’ is an album which is well worth investing in. It took seven years for this album to emerge and I have to say that it was well worth the wait; it’s an exceptional punk rock album from the band and one which has got the bands career right back on track. ‘Nothing to Prove’ has a back to basics feel, the band is here returning a little to its roots and collaborating with its friends; it’s a fine album from H2O and one which is always incredibly positive and uplifting in its approach. There are only 24 minutes of music here, the 24 minutes of music that you receive with this album are however absolutely excellent at all times. Give this album a listen and prepare to be struck by the bands incredible positivity; H2O is a band that is very much still here and still extremely capable of creating a fine punk rock album after over 13 years in the business.

Label: Bridge Nine Records
Release Date: May 27th 2008

Rating:
Review StarReview StarReview StarReview Star

Laura Critchley – Sometimes I

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Laura Critchley is a singer/songwriter from Liverpool, an artist that plays music in the genre of country pop. ‘Sometimes I’ is the artists début album and was released through Big Print Music in November 2007. The album consists of twelve tracks and this therefore provides for 47 minutes of music. It must be said that Laura Critchley has an excellent voice, her vocal tone is very uplifting and always pleasant to listen to. Many of the tracks present here are not hugely striking, one thing that does become apparent when listening to this album however is that Laura Critchley really does have a beautiful voice. There are a lot of filler tracks present here, not many that truly ever stand out, Laura Critchley’s voice is certainly very good however; not too dissimilar to that of LeAnn Rimes in fact. I’ feel it could perhaps be argued that Laura Critchley is little more than a second rate LeAnn Rimes; what I will say of this matter is that if you’re a big fan of LeAnn Rimes then you’ll probably quite like the way that this ‘Sometimes I’ album has been tackled by Laura Critchley.

From first track ‘Today’s Another Day’ right through to closer ‘Lullaby’ the vocals are always very well sung out here. Laura Critchley has a great tone of voice and this therefore provides for an incredibly pleasant listening experience. The problem here however is that although the tracks are pleasant to listen to, they’re never really anything that special; there’s no denying that Laura Critchley has a great voice, it’s just not utilised here to particularly powerful effect. The music lacks edge, there’s a distinct lack of passion present in the sound here and therefore much of the album washes over you without ever leaving much of a lasting impression. The piano sound lacks depth, the choruses are not catchy enough to have you singing along (or even have you remembering the words for that matter), and all in all this record just passes by pleasantly but not particularly spectacularly.

Title track ‘Sometimes I’ is I feel the best track that this album has to offer. Produced by Steve Power who has worked with the likes of Robbie Williams, Klyie, and Delta Goodrem; this is the track that has the most about it from this album. The instrumental section is far harder hitting and the vocals are therefore much more effective also as a result. The problem with a lot of this album is that it lacks life and passion, the extra instrumental oomph here provides this track with that little bit extra required though and ‘Sometimes I’ therefore stands strong as the most powerful track that this album possesses. It’s a finely worked piece of music, hugely melodic and vocally the sound created here is as ever truly stunning.

Laura Critchley is an artist that does I feel potentially hold great potential for the future. Her voice is excellent, her songwriting ability is a little lacking at current however and her tracks therefore lack depth and power. The voice is most definitely there, all that is needed now however is a little bit more in terms of passion and pop power. Other than ‘Sometimes I’, the tracks present on this album do not sound like ones which could perform particularly well commercially; they’re okay, and the singing is strong, they lack that ‘x-factor’ if you will though and this is something that really is holding this singer/songwriter back at current.

Having reached the last 50 in Fame Academy in 2001, and also having toured in the past with the likes of the Sugababes and Ray Quinn (runner-up to Leona Lewis in the X-Factor); it would seem that I am not the only one that believes Laura Critchley to have a cracking voice. The future could be bright for Laura Critchley, whether it is or not depends a certain amount on luck, and also whether or not she can put to record enough power to draw the attention of the masses. Laura Critchley has an excellent voice, at current I just don’t feel that the songwriting ability is quite there though; there are a lot of singer/songwriters out there and on the basis of this début album she just doesn’t quite have it in her to be one of the best. A lot of this ‘Sometimes I’ album is just too unmemorable, it’s not a bad album as such and always the vocal tone taken here is excellent, it’s a pleasant album without ever being hugely hard hitting though and the tracks do I feel lack the power to progress Laura Critchley to the next level of success. Was Laura Critchley to team up with a talented bunch of songwriting individuals then with her voice she could easily be catapulted to the top of the charts; until such a time as that happens however then I fear that the vocal excellence of Laura Critchley will go largely unnoticed by the vast majority of people. She has a very good voice, so do a lot of people though and at current songwriting just doesn’t seem to be Laura Critchley’s forte. Laura Critchley has very much mastered her vocal art, only time shall tell as to whether or not her songwriting skill can be furthered however and what the future holds for this young Liverpudlian I just do not know.

A summer 2008 tour beckons for Laura Critchley in support of Boyzone on their eagerly anticipated reunion tour, will this be enough to significantly raise the profile of this vocally talented singer/songwriter though? Only time shall tell.

Label: Big Print Music
Release Date: November 19th 2007

Rating:
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Hopesfall – Magnetic North

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Hopesfall started out as a Christian hardcore band back in 1998, with album number two in 2002 the band dropped its Christian approach however, and with its third album ‘A-Types’ in 2004 the hardcore was dropped too and the band changed its musical direction entirely. Fourth album ‘Magnetic North’ is a continuation of the bands more straight up rock approach, it could be argued that there is a fair dose of melodic hardcore in the bands sound here but never any full on hardcore. The album consists of fourteen tracks and this therefore provides for just under an hour of music, the album is of a decent length but the problem here is that for the most part the music just isn’t very good.

‘Rx Contender the Pretender’ is the first track here, after quite an atmospheric introduction to the track the band shows off with some powerful guitar work and excellent drumbeats also. The problem with the music of Hopesfall is not in the instrumental section, it’s in the bands vocal sound; vocally this album is incredibly weak and never does the vocal performance of Jay Forrest ever impress on any level here. Lead vocalist Jay Forrest sings out of tune from start to finish here, from the first track right through to the very last his voice is all over the place and really quite unbearable to listen to. Instrumentally the Hopesfall sound has much to offer, the vocal approach ruins this however and it’s therefore very hard to admire the bands instrumental work when the vocal sound is so screechingly out of tune.

Two short tracks from this album are quite impressive to listen to; one of these is entirely instrumental, and with the other the vocal performance of Jay Forrest is slightly more bearable than with the rest of the album. ‘The Canon’ is the instrumental track, a powerful one minute and three seconds of music which sees Hopesfall excel through some fantastic guitar sound and slick drumbeats also. This instrumental track truly does break the album up nicely, leading seamlessly into the next track ‘Devil’s Concubine’ which is then once more ruined by the fairly terrible vocal sound of Jay Forrest. The other short track here is that of ‘I Can Do This on an Island’, this one is one minute and seventeen seconds long and the instrumental sound is very positively put across here. It’s an acoustically executed guitar track and although not perfect; Jay Forrest’s vocal sound does here suit the track really rather well. ‘I Can Do This on an Island’ is a pleasant piece of music to listen to, not hugely hard hitting but most definitely one of the finest tracks that this album has to offer nonetheless.

Was Hopesfall to change its vocalist then the overall sound would I feel be far more effective. The only element of the bands sound which is currently lacking is that of the vocals; instrumentally the music of Hopesfall is often excellent here and this makes the vocal failings of the band all the more frustrating to listen to. The vocal sound ruins here what is otherwise an instrumentally highly competent album, remove Jay Forrest from the Hopesfall equation and this is actually a pretty good album from a hugely talented band; until a new vocalist is acquired however then the Hopesfall sound will always fail I fear.

For the instrumental sound alone this is an album that is well worth listening to, due to the poor approach of the vocals however this ‘Magnetic North’ album is left largely ruined. ‘Magnetic North’ could be an excellent album with the right vocalist, the right vocalist has definitely not here been utilised however and the bands sound therefore fails overall. The rock guitar sound is always powerful, the drumbeat kept by the band here is ever excellent, vocally however there are a lot of poorly sung out lyrical lines here and the vocal sound is all over the place as Hopesfall progress through this hour long album of music. If you can see past the terrible vocals then brilliant; there’s a lot of enjoyment to be gained from listening to this album, if you can’t overlook the bands huge vocal failing however then this is not an album that you’ll enjoy listening to in the slightest.

Label: Trustkill Records
Release Date: May 15th 2007

Rating:
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The Futureheads – This Is Not The World

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‘This Is Not The World’ is the third studio album from Sunderland based post-punk revivalists The Futureheads. The album has been released through the bands own Nul Records imprint and consists of twelve tracks which therefore provides for forty minutes of music. It’s a pretty solid album from the band, one that has been well received by the likes of the NME and Q Magazine; and for good reason too. I doubt it will be seen as one of the best albums of 2008 by most, it’s still a good effort from the band however and one which comes complete with a number of top tracks.

Right from the offset here the band is intent to make its mark and the first track present on this album is in fact the excellent ‘The Beginning of the Twist’. With it’s catchy chorus and fine use of guitar; this is a track which provides the album with a perfect start and from here on in never does the bands music disappoint. All the bands tracks sound fairly similar, if you like one song from this album you’ll like them all though and with every track here the band always has much to offer with its sound. The music is upbeat and incredibly uplifting to listen to, this is a very fun album and it’s great just to sit back and let the music flow.

One of my personal favourites from this album is ‘Radio Heart’, it was the second single lifted from this release and truly is an absolutely exceptional track. If you loved such Futureheads hits as ‘Hounds of Love’ and ‘Decent Days and Nights’ then you should most certainly have a fine appreciation for this one from the band too. The chorus is powerfully belted out by the band, it’s a great track to sing along to and never is a dull moment provided here.

‘This Is Not the World’ is another from this album that is really quite memorable, it’s the albums title track and exquisitely fine use of drum sound is here made. The drum sound is powerful and provides for an astonishingly uplifting listening experience here. The vocals are finely sung as ever, the track comes together well in all areas and always here the bands sound is very well worked and extremely strongly presented both instrumentally and vocally also. It’s another sing-along Futureheads classic and one which could easily be released commercially as a single to great effect.

‘Work Is Never Done’ is an interesting one from this album in that it all sounds a bit of a mess and yet it actually works really well. The instrumental sound is all over the place, the vocals are very different to at any other point on the album, and the band just generally seems to be trying out loads of different things at once here. The track sounds as though it was cobbled together without much thought or care; it works well though and despite its odd approach it’s actually one of the strongest tracks from this album. ‘Work Is Never Done’ is most definitely a track that stands out supremely from this album, it’s a bit different and out there and this is something that really has worked out rather well for the band here.

In terms of absolute highlights this album possesses yet another hugely effective track in the form of ‘Everything’s Changing Today’. The melody is excellent here, the track is incredibly uplifting to listen to and always the lyrics are very well sung out indeed. The guitar sound is the finest feature of the bands music here by far, the vocal element works well also and a powerful atmosphere has here been put to record by The Futureheads with this fine piece of energetic sound. The band bounces through the lyrical line of ‘We’re going out tonight’ with a great deal of positivity; it’s very well sung out and the way that the vocal sound is worked here is I feel the reason that the track stands out so much.

‘See What You Want’ is the track gifted with the task of bringing this album to its close; it does a very fine job and is yet another incredible tune from this album. The vocal sound is strong here and the melody of the music is absolutely exceptional. It’s not the best track the band has ever written, it’s certainly up there amongst the finest that this ‘This Is Not The World’ release has to offer however and does a very good job of bringing the album to its finish. The albums end is very sudden, you’re not expecting it to come like that and when this happens it’s really quite a shock to the system; ‘See What You Want’ has a very abrupt ending and one which well and truly leaves you wanting for more.

The main complaint I do have with this album is the fact that all the songs do sound so similar here; a little bit more creative innovation certainly wouldn’t go amiss and had the band implemented a few more slightly different sounding tracks here then ‘This Is Not The World’ would probably be pretty much perfect. As it stands this album is merely excellent, not quite perfect but a pretty good stab at perfection nonetheless. ‘Work Is Never Done’ provides the album with something a bit different, and although quite a messy track it’s actually a very good one. With all the other eleven tracks on the album there is little telling them apart, the band is very good at what it does but it could easily be argued that The Futureheads is somewhat of a one trick pony; this is a band that has mastered the art of one particular style of sound but at the same time is a little nervous of venturing any further and trying out new types of tracks. ‘This Is Not The World’ is an album which is well worth owning if you’re up for a bit of post-punk, if you’ve ever heard and hated a Futureheads track in the past however then I’d stay well away from this album from the band as the vast majority of the songs here do sound very much the same so if you don’t like one of the bands tracks it’s therefore very unlikely that you’ll want to listen to any of the others either.

Label: Nul Records
Release Date: May 26th 2008

Rating:
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