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@propergoodpop
George Ezra - Leaving It Up To You
Live Review: Demi Lovato (KOKO, London)
London’s KOKO was bursting at the seams for this one-off gig by teen-popster Demi Lovato. Tickets were insanely difficult to get for the only UK date of her Neon Lights Tour with a capacity of under 1,500. An absolutely crazy figure for a singer who could quite possibly sell out the O2 Arena once over. What this did mean however was a once in a lifetime, intimate show with Lovato. You might as well have camped up in her living room.
Opening with her biggest UK chart hit and arguably her best song ‘Heart Attack’ revealed Demi is one hell of a vocalist. Not only that, but the screams and singing coming from her fans could rival that of crowds at Wembley Stadium. This only became louder as she powered through ‘Remember December’ and the ‘Fire Starter’.
You must remember who Lovato’s fans are. Let’s just say the line for merchandise was longer than the one for alcohol, so the atmosphere of the show was more naturally abuzz with the hysteric excitement of her tween fans. This is a crowd fuelled by pure adoration for the artist and not by intoxication.
Saying that, the unconditional support of her fans is what Lovato desperately needed to get through a set that contained more bum songs than decent ones. A lot of the upbeat pop tracks are actually quite plain, especially Lovato’s earlier music including ‘Here We Go Again’, ‘The Middle’ and the completely unremarkable ‘Don’t Forget’.
One thing that became increasingly evident as the set dragged on was that this venue could not facilitate or even showcase a Demi Lovato gig to its full potential. The show was to be all about the music – pyrotechnics and the like were not to be the main feature. Something a bit showy and theatrical would have helped cover up the flaws. The venue obviously couldn’t provide this.
Obviously fond of these smaller gigs Lovato mused, ‘what I love about intimate shows is that they’re intimate.’ What a way to break it down there Demi. Although really it didn’t make sense, especially for the star’s much younger fans, to be squeezed into such an inappropriate place.
Lovato does have some cracking songs though and more should have been made of them. Latest single ‘Neon Lights’ as well as ‘Unbroken’, ‘Made In The USA’ and her version of the all-conquering Frozen soundtrack ‘Let It Go’ were her best moments. More songs like this please Demi. Combining that with her incredible voice, you can kind of understand why people like her. She can even breathe life into some of the dullest songs from her recent album. The lame ‘Nightingale’ and lacklustre ‘Two Pieces’ were at least sung well.
Closing with Lovato staples ‘Skyscraper’ and ‘Give Your Heart A Break’, it is clear that Demi is only as good as the material. Tracks on her most recent two albums Unbroken and the self-titled Demi offer superior cuts to her previous Disney pop-rock records. Demi overall justifies bigger production and staging in order for her to become a worthwhile touring act. Maybe she’ll learn a thing or two when she tackles the UK’s arenas supporting Enrique Iglesias later on in the year.
The new single ‘Neon Lights’ is released next week and is available to preorder now on Amazon or iTunes.
(Original article link: sosogay.co.uk/2014/live-review-demi-lovato-koko-london)
Wolf Gang - Black River
Album Review: Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour
The long-awaited debut album from the Brit Award Critics Choice winner Sam Smith is finally upon us. In The Lonely Hour is a look into the life of the 22-year-old, with stark and beautiful songs telling stories of unrequited love. The desolate sounding title is truly a reflection of the album’s content as Smith pours the last few years of his life on to the record.
Katy Perry has even dubbed him the male Adele, which is terribly fitting – good analysis there Perry. Smith’s gorgeous, soulful voice and often heartbreaking lyrics are more than able to capture the attention of the world the way Adele did two years ago.
Comparing the album with debut single ‘Money On My Mind’, he demonstrates how he can flit between chart busting singles and real, earnest musicianship. He’s a real star. Follow up ‘Stay With Me’ brings out the gospel, soul aspect of this lad’s artistry.
The new single ‘Leave Your Lover’ is one of the album’s finest moments, if not an example of one of the best releases this year. It is a delicate number that reaches for the heart the way Smith’s female counterpart Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ did. It’s a hefty comparison, but one that isn’t entirely ludicrous. The video for which brings into question Smiths ambiguous sexuality. Not that this is really an issue in today’s culture, especially when the music is so good. This is the most interesting aspect in some ways as the music really is the main focus and does all the talking.
‘Leave You Lover’ is similar to ‘Not In That Way’ with its restrained, graceful sound as well as its content. Alluding to loving someone, but not in the typical way, Smith’s sexuality arises again. However it is so gentle and affecting, the message can be left for your own mind to decipher. This truly is the case for In The Lonely Hour; it is an album for everyone. Ultimately, this record feel classic in that respect. These songs could have been crafted years before, yet with any luck, will feel just as relevant and fresh for decades to come.
It’s not completely ballad heavy however, with morale boosting tracks such as the incredible ‘Like I Can’ and, surely the next single, ‘I’m Not The Only One’. Both, although dissimilar to the youthful ‘Money On My Mind’, are representations of Smith’s out of this world vocal abilities of which match a keen ear for timeless melody.
Don’t take it the wrong way because the record maintains a very modern sheen throughout and never sounds dated. ‘Life Support’ and ‘Lay Me Down’ should certainly stand as present day standards of a ballad. It’s refreshing to hear songs such as these without the disruption of electronic interference. What a way to keep it classy Sam. We like it.
Coming in at ten tracks long, you may also want to turn your head towards the deluxe edition of In The Lonely Hour which features a striking acoustic cover of ‘Latch’, Smith’s collaboration with the Disclosure boys as well as the Naughty Boy hit ‘La La La’. It’s definitely worth the extra couple of quid especially considering the quality of bonus songs ‘Reminds Me Of You’ and the Zane Lowe produced ‘Restart’.
This could genuinely be an album that shakes the United States too, with second single ‘Stay With Me’ already bubbling around the top 50 over there. In The Lonely Hour does evoke sadness though, both in tone and theme, but it also feels cathartic as it blows away the dust of what must have been a tough year or so for Smith. It will be good times from here on out for Mr Sam Smith as this record will firmly nestle itself into the arms of its public.
Written by Sam Johnson
5/5
Standout tracks: ‘Leave Your Lover’ / ‘I’m Not The Only One’ / ‘Like I Can’ / ‘Not In That Way’
In The Lonely Hour is available to download now from Amazon or iTunes.
(Original article link:Â http://sosogay.co.uk/2014/album-review-sam-smith-lonely-hour)
Strange Talk - Young Hearts
Album Review: Coldplay - Ghost Stories
Arguably the biggest band in the world, Coldplay’s latest album is one of the hottest releases of 2014 so far – and it hasn’t come without its problems. As the band’s sixth LP, quality is top of the list. Mylo Xyloto was so lush and expansive – it was a real masterpiece. Topping such an album was always going to be difficult.
Not only that, but so much has been reported and discussed over how much of the album will actually be about Chris Martin’s divorce with Gwenyth Paltrow. With Coldplay being such a soft, emotional kind of band, it turns out this indeed is the overlying theme. It’s quite a sad state of affairs for Ghost Stories as it revels in the heartache of its frontman.
It is a return to a much more reflective and modest sound, with echoes of Parachutes. The tone harks back to their 2000 debut on ‘Oceans’ in particular. This is not necessarily a good thing however. All the things Coldplay have ever been ridiculed for are on high form here. Their way of presenting that gooey, soft-rock, along with Martin’s gentle vocals have always been prevalent criticisms of the band throughout the entirety of their career. Those who just don’t get Coldplay or simply hate them all together, will not like Ghost Stories – more so than any of their previous releases that is.
You would have a pretty good guess at what the nine-song long tracklist sounds like just by listening to the buzz singles in the past few months. The delicate XX style production on ‘Magic’ and ‘Midnight’ spill all over the rest of the album. Floaty synth and low, haunting choral chants establish Ghost Stories as a vibey kind of album rather than something with much substance – you know, with melodies or hooks and such.
Newest single ‘A Sky Full Of Stars’ is an interesting collaboration for the band, with EDM man-of-the-moment Avicii mucking in to make at least one song on the album compatible for the charts. The guy has really had to tone down his signature sound, but enough of it seeps through to give this cut that 2014 seal of approval. In the song’s defence though, it did come as a welcome relief to hear the tone of the album shift a little. Ghost Stories doesn’t experiment with itself very much.
If anything the songs are so restrained they are begging for extravagant remixes for the clubs. You can bet a few will be cropping up in the coming months. This shouldn’t apply to some of the tracks though as ‘Another’s Arms’ and ‘Ink’ stand on their own quite firmly. The former is surely about Paltrow and her so called reported wrong-doings.
The latter is a tame metaphor for a tattoo, representing the permanence of his marriage and the celebrity status it once held, something the press will surely never let up on. It may not be the greatest of Coldplay’s songs but it’s certainly a decent standout. Other albums tracks sink into the aesthetic package of the overall listening experience becoming lost. ‘True Love’ and even unremarkable album opener ‘Always In My Head’ are guilty of this.
In the grand scheme of things, Ghost Stories will in time stand as a notable feature in the discography of Coldplay. It is an album that needs time to breathe for sure. Its current status offers it as a down-tempo and gentle expression, aiding the recovery of Martin’s bruised heart.
Standout tracks: ‘Magic’ / ‘Ink’ / ‘Another’s Arms’
Ghost Stories is available to download now from Amazon or iTunes.
Written by Sam Johnson
3.5 / 5
(Original article link:Â sosogay.co.uk/2014/album-review-coldplay-ghost-stories)
Betty Who - Heartbreak Dream
#MusicMonday: You Should Know About... Rhodes
Amongst a sea of male singer-songwriters on the scene at the moment, Rhodes is one who really stands out in the most glorious of ways. Being what can only be described as a triple-threat – his moving lyrics and strong, impactful vocals, along with a deeply haunting and striking sound – is reason enough to take a listen to this guy’s music.
Rhodes first came to our attention when he supported Vance Joy on his recent European tour, supporting that song ‘Riptide’. He’s also supported the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Laura Marling. Real name David Rhodes, this 24-year-old has released two EPs so far in his short career. Heralding from Hitchin in Hertfordshire, Rhodes could sit happily alongside the over-exposed Sam Smiths and the lesser-exposed Fink’s as the mysterious dark horse of the pack.
There is little information about Rhodes, however the best way to get to know him is through his music, letting it do the talking – especially considering how strong the EPs are. Début EP Raise Your Love reveals Rhodes to be a bit of a bruised soul. Tracks such as ‘Worry’ and ‘Darker Side’ revel in this. ‘Run’ and the EP’s title track are battle cries that best demonstrate his incredible vocal ability.
Described by The Guardian as a ‘one man Coldplay’, Rhodes can definitely back up such acclaim. His most recent release, Morning, is a stunning representation of Rhodes as he sets his eye on a fruitful future. ‘Your Soul’ is melancholic and rousing in such an inspiring way – similarly is the title track ‘Morning’. This is all done to a very moody and pensive soundtrack, but Rhodes creates waves with this remarkable approach.
Rhodes’ best bet is to continue supporting acts across the summer, beavering away at convincing audiences to invest a little time in the music. With upcoming support slots confirmed for London Grammar and Sam Smith at London’s Roundhouse, we would definitely suggest a visit to the iTunes store for a copy of either Raise Your Love or Morning. Nurturing and supporting such an upcoming gem in a cold, ruthless music industry is genuinely rewarding. He’s quite possibly the next Jeff Buckley too – just saying.
You can find out more about Rhodes by visiting his official website. The new EP Morning is available to download now from iTunes.
(Original article link: sosogay.co.uk/2014/musicmonday-know-rhodes)
Ronika - Rough N Soothe
Single Review: Lana Del Rey - West Coast
Ladies and gentleman, Lana Del Rey is back with a brand new album and a gorgeous new single to go along with it. ‘West Coast’ is the first cut to be taken from Lana’s upcoming album Ultraviolence due for release next month. Recorded in Nashville the song was produced by Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys which is pretty good going considering their brilliant new album too.
The song lives up to the standard set by the heavenly Del Rey herself, sitting nicely along modern-day classics like ‘Summertime Sadness’. ‘West Coast’ however, digs a little deeper into the persona and entity that is Lana Del Rey, revealing that much darker and brooding sound many might be unaware of.
It is perhaps not too much of a departure from the content found on her triple-platinum selling début album Born To Die, however this was never going to be the case anyway.
One main feature of the track is when that psychedelic chorus change, transforming the song into a slow-motion flashback inducing warp. It’s a nice aesthetic artistically speaking, but isn’t the most satisfying of chorus’ – something Del Rey is usually good at delivering.
The radio edit of the single is in fact the superior version of the song and removes that uneasiness. Edited for a more public consumption, it is pleasing to the ear in a more typical fashion. The original is a clear game changer and is something that is just not happening in pop at the moment, but you would be forgiven for preferring the radio edit. We certainly do.
Lana Del Rey is the artist that just keeps on giving. Ultraviolence will likely be just as huge and audience captivating as her previous albums have been – ‘West Coast’ assures this.
Download the single now from Amazon or iTunes.
(Original article link:Â http://sosogay.co.uk/2014/singles-week-19-may-2014)
Sky Ferreira - I Blame Myself
EP Review: Florrie - Sirens
Sirens is the fourth extended play from synth-pop extraordinaire Florrie. She released her first EP Introduction in 2010 and revealed recently that Sirens is to be the last before the release of her debut album planned for the coming year. Florrie regularly hits the mark of producing incredible popstar-ready music with the potential to make it big and it’s always been her undeniably forward-thinking pop that has prompted this.
Sirens is no exception to this and is one of the most exciting of Florrie’s collection of EP’s so far. Produced by long time collaborators Xenomania, the songs included automatically lauch Florrie into the realms of pop greatness. ‘Wanna Control Myself’ evokes sweet comparisons to classic Xenomania productions, closely resembling the arguably greatest Girls Aloud’s song ever, ‘Graffiti My Soul’. ‘Wanna Control Myself’ brings it to the year 2014 and kicks it up a notch. There’s a whiff of danger and mystery about the song – it’s devilishly enticing.
‘Free Falling’ is also in the same vein as this. It is a vibrant sugar-rush of a track – instantly enthralling with the capabilities to fuel the fires of any dancefloor. Final track ‘Seashells’ is quirky in nature, built around a simpler version of that old ‘she sells seashells’ tongue-twister. It may not strike as hard as its two sibling tracks, but adds another delicious layer to Florrie’s overall aesthetic.
Spending a year away since her last release, working on her upcoming album, Sirens really does tide us over until that. The EP is only short with three new songs and two remixes – of which will certainly nestle perfectly on indie electronic playlists for the rest of the year. In addition, all three new songs have their own respective music videos to accompany them which is very nice indeed. Florrie has really topped herself this time. Bring on the album.
Written by Sam Johnson
Standout tracks: ‘Free Falling’ / ‘Wanna Control Myself’
(Original article link:Â http://sosogay.co.uk/2014/ep-review-florrie-sirens)
Nicki Minaj - Pill N Potions
Album Review: Foxes - Glorious
Glorious is the debut album from Southampton-born singer-songwriter Foxes. Best known for ‘Clarity’, her Grammy Award winning dance-collaboration with Zedd, it is that songs impact which has really paved the way for the 25-year-old and given her a voice. She was also featured on Rudimental’s ‘Right Here’ last year offering up the image ofGlorious being an upbeat, danceable album.
Although that isn’t quite the case, Glorious is a slice of very British, uber-stylish indie-pop designed to dance on the palates of the general public for the next year or so. It’s sad to say the content on Glorious does little to distance herself away from her previous collaborators and introduce herself as a pop entity in her own right. That’s not to say there aren’t some enormously encouraging individual tracks on the album though. They just don’t crop up in the places you’d like them to.
Album opener ‘Talking To Ghosts’ is a hopeful start to the album, with multiple layers and sounds that provoke a listener in the way they would have hoped. It is made clear early on that this is an album that lends itself to the same bracket as the Goulding’s, Sandé’s and Florence’s of the UK pop scene. A Brit Award is surely on the horizon for Foxes – not that this means too much in terms of consistency in the album.
The singles stick out wonderfully with the energetic ‘Let Go For Tonight’ and the divine ‘Holding Onto Heaven’ establishing themselves as contenders for being amongst some of the best pop songs released in 2014. Similarly, ‘Youth’ is Foxes’ most accomplished track on the album, bringing together all that is great about her.
Foxes’ vocals really are one of the highlights of Glorious and absolutely saves it from descending too far into the depths of forgettable. It’s a good thing her voice is as decent as it is because without, weak album tracks such as ‘Night Glo’ and ‘Shaking Heads’ would really fall into the category of being all style and substance.
There is perhaps too much concern about being too cool and on trend rather than reaching for those much needed pop moments. ‘Glorious’ isn’t as glorious as the title suggests and ‘Night Owls Early Birds’ brings about obvious ‘Rolling In The Deep’ comparisons, but without any of the flair to back it up.
The deluxe edition of the album fares better with a beautiful live rendition of ‘Clarity’. The fabulous ‘Beauty Queen’ reveals a thumping passion we all knew Foxes had in her. If only more tracks on the standard edition did this. ‘In Her Arms’ is also wrongly relegated to bonus track status.
Ultimately this is an album that is likely to garner Foxes a hefty following and rightly so. The girl oozes talent but is unfulfilled simply with the material present. Songwriting should be higher on the agenda, but there’s also a bit of room here to get Zedd in to produce a couple of songs. Glorious is lacking the magic that it is so nearly on the cusp of.
Standout tracks: ‘Youth’ / ‘Holding Onto Heaven’ / ‘Beauty Queen’
Glorious is available to download now from Amazon or iTunes.
(Original article link:Â http://sosogay.co.uk/2014/album-review-foxes-glorious)
Lana Del Rey - Shades Of Cool
Album Review: Frankmusik - By Nicole
With the singer having parted ways with his record label over three years ago, By Nicole is the second instance London-based producer and artist Frankmusik has independently crafted himself an album.By Nicole is in fact Vincent Turner’s fourth studio album in total, after first finding success with the 2009 debut Complete Me. It seems he’s been able to sustain his knack for energetic, synthpop masterpieces since then.
If you’ve been following Turner on social media over the past six months or so, you will have seen just how much work was put into the creation of this self-funded release. He is quite the jack-of-all-trades. It is the attachment to the music which makes tracks such as ‘Conclusions’ and ‘Fire’ all the more personal. The latter seems to be about the determination to pursue a tough career in music despite the struggles undoubtedly encountered so far.
In typical Frankmusik style, thematically at least, it is a break-up album – most likely directed at this elusive ‘Nicole’ character. Singles ‘These Streets’ and ‘Dear Nicole’ echo this in a way unheard in his earlier discography. There’s always been a strong association with upbeat electronic pop with Frankmusik and he’s always needed to develop his balladry. By Nicole sees him get the balance right with the aforementioned ‘Dear Nicole’ a highlight of his career so far.
What’s most unusual about this guy’s voice is that he actually has one. Turner is vocally faultless throughout and no more so than up against the scarcely-remembered Natasha Bedingfield. ‘Crash And Burn’ includes the album’s only feature and is one of its highlights. It feels like the late-noughties all over again. The inclusion of Bedingfield, who has a beautiful, distinct voice much like Turner himself, is a stroke of genius. It’s about time these two hit it big on the pop scene once more.
Frankmusik’s lyrics and themes are actually quite quirky. The incredible ‘Teacups’ plays on overused clichés yet presents them in a fresh and exciting manner. ‘We made mountains out of molehills / Storms in our teacups / Made much ado about nothing / Which is why we broke up’ is similar to 2013’s ‘Cake’. It’s a great listen nonetheless.
With that, however, is an overruling strive for great melody and progression. Lyrics are one thing, but when paired with that all-encompassing Frankmusik brand of soaring, high-energy levels of euphoria, he becomes a genre onto himself. ‘Uh Oh’, ‘Stabilizher’ and the glorious ‘Ephermeral Summer’ demonstrate this fabulously.
It’s been a tough old journey for Turner so far, which is why it is such a delight to see an album of such immense quality come out of that. Nothing lacks here, with production quality in particular a real credit to his craft as an artist. He’s quite the seasoned expert at this music lark. Future releases will most likely be just as difficult, but it sure does produce one of the most gratifying listens of any pop album released this year.
Standout tracks: ‘Crash And Burn (Feat. Natasha Bedingfield)’ / ‘Teacups’ / ‘Ephemeral Summer’ / ‘Dear Nicole’
4.8 / 5
Reviewed by Sam Johnson for www.sosogay.co.uk
By Nicole is available to download now on Amazon or iTunes.
(Original article link:Â http://sosogay.co.uk/2014/album-review-frankmusik-nicole)