New Waves.. Avril Lavigne - 'Here's To Never Growing Up'

Avril Lavigne is probably an artist that you didn't expect to ever see on this blog - indeed, neither did I! My obsession with Avril had waned with childhood and I carried only a passing interest of her through my teens and into my twenties, viewing her as someone who - though definitely physically ageless - seems to be trying too hard to cling to her youth.

Lavigne definitely has a talent for writing/co-writing a catchy pop song, and as the only song I can recall from her fourth album, Goodbye Lullaby, 'What The Hell' certainly continued in this vein. However, I approached 'Here's To Never Growing Up' with a bit of trepidation; it certainly sets its mission statement straight off the mark, but surely there's a time where this type of song gets... old. Lavigne and her original audience are aging out of this pop-rock bracket, however her music is not. The track - co-written by future hubby Chad Kroeger (yes, that Nickelback Chad Kroeger) - is radio friendly fodder, and one that I felt almost brainwashed into liking by the time I finished the review for RenownedForSound.com. 

You can read the review of the song here or by clicking the pictures, and you can watch the music video for the song here :)

http://www.avrillavigne.com/uk/herestonevergrowingup

https://twitter.com/AvrilLavigne

https://www.facebook.com/avrillavigne

Flashback Friday.. Spinnerette - 'Ghetto Love'

I have a bit of a girl crush on Brody Dalle. It's been around for a while, in a manner similar to Allison Mosshart, Kathleen Hanna, Gwen Stefani, Marina Diamandis, Lights, I can't help but admire these women and the persona that surrounds them, their music and their message.

If you've heard of Brody Dalle, then you know that she was formerly of a band called The Distillers, a punk band who had three albums - their self-titled 2000 debut, Sing Sing Death House (2002) and Coral Fang (2003) - and are probably best known for their song 'Drain The Blood'. The band split in 2006, leaving Dalle and co-Distiller Tony Bevilacqua to work on a new project that would later become Spinnerette. Their self-titled debut - and as of yet, only - album, is certainly a departure from the days of The Distillers, however whilst the album as a whole certainly begins to lag in urgency, there are some good songs dotted about.

Perhaps my favourite song on the album is the short and snappy 'All Babes Are Wolves', however it feels more fitting to showcase how much Dalle has departed from the sound of the band that made her famous. So here is 'Ghetto Love', the debut song from Spinnerette which, with its grooving stomp, shows a diffenet side to Dalle and her voice. She is more than capable of singing, with that trademark throaty grit of hers intact, and whilst Spinnerette itself garnered mixed reviews, I'd recommend you take a listen in order to make your own mind up.

http://spinnerettemusic.com/
https://twitter.com/Spinnerette
https://www.facebook.com/spinnerette

Rapid Review.. Laura Marling - 'Once I Was An Eagle'

I admit, I have never overly immersed myself in the music of Laura Marling. The only reasons I have for this are:

1. When it comes to acoustic and/or folk music, I prefer male voices, eg. Jamie Woon, Jonny Craig, Justin Nozuka, Josh Kumra (off the top of my head, and they all begin with a 'J':- WOW.)
2. My limited exposure to Marling had left a somewhat depressing, lovelorn mark on my consciousness, and it's rather rarely that I actively choose to listen to such lyrically heavy music.

Therefore, despite approaching Marling's new album, Once I Was An Eagle, with a touch of trepidation, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised, despite her tales of romantic misdemeanour. I'm rather proud of the review I wrote for Renowned For Sound.com so please feel free to read it here :) 

I gave it 5/5 - yes people, a mighty 5/5! Marling truly captivated her audience with this album!

Rapid Review.. 30 Seconds To Mars - 'Love, Lust, Faith & Dreams'

Earlier this week, I wrote a review for Renowned For Sound.com on 30 Seconds To Mars' new album, Love, Lust, Dreams and Faith. 

For me, it came as somewhat of a surprise, as despite following the bands and Jared Leto (don't start..) on various forms of social media, I hadn't paid enough attention to be aware that they were going to spring a new album on us all.

30 Seconds To Mars are one of those bands that make me reminisce on my time at high school and college; the first song that I ever heard by the bands was 'Attack', taken from their 2005 album, A Beautiful Lie, and it is still the song that I return to by the band, the few others being 'Hurricane', 'Stranger In A Strange Land' (This Is War), 'From Yesterday' (the video!) and their cover of Bjork's 'Hunter'. Part of me feels as if I've outgrown the band; along with so many others, they now reside in Nostalgia Town.

Anyway, my opinions on the new album can be read by clicking here or by clicking the pictures in this post!

Feel free to tell me what you think about my review or writing in general :)

PS. I gave it 3/5

Flashback Friday.. Bjork - 'Army Of Me'

Whoops, is Saturday - oh dear! Onwards and upwards! 

The addition of Bjork on this blog may be a tad unexpected for you perhaps - indeed - I found it a bit unexpected also!

I find Bjork a positively fascinating creature. She is one of those few truly original artists that are always striving to push the boundaries of their chosen mediums. Her most recent album, 2011's Biophilia, was the world's first app album that allowed users to fully interact with the songs, even being able to create completely new versions of them. Yes, 'app', not 'rap', and as far as I am aware, it is not a feat that has been replicated since.

However, today we are discussing one of Bjork's earlier efforts. 'Army Of Me' is a song taken from Bjork's third album, Post, and album which she described as 'musically promiscuous'. This is an opinion that is most definitely relatable, as Post also contained what is perhaps Bjork's most memorable song, her cover of 'It's Oh So Quiet'. The song is very menacing, laden in dark and foreboding synths, and is easily my favourite Bjork song. Bjork stated that she wrote it with her brother in mind, daring him to improve himself to improve his life. The song was also used in the soundtrack to Zack Snyder's 2011 fantasy film, Sucker Punch, alsongside efforts by Skunk Anansie, Allison Mosshart and actress Emily Browning.

What are your thoughts on Bjork? Do you like 'Army Of Me'? Have you seen Sucker Punch?

http://www.bjork.com/

https://twitter.com/bjork

https://www.facebook.com/bjork

New Waves.. Findlay - 'Off & On'

Hailing from Stockport, singer-songwriter Findlay is a fireball of energy. Her most recent track,'Off & On' is an addictive blues infused riot of a song that manages to bear resemblance to something Jack White would write or approve of.

Introduced by a sultry, seductive guitar and stomping beat, the song slowly intensifies, building into a high intensity laserbeam of sound, with Findlay's bark seemingly grabbing the listener unceremoniously by the  collar and dragging them viciously through the turmoil of the song which, despite being a mere 2 mins 48, is a snippet of time that you won't forget in a hurry.

The 4 track Off & On EP is available on iTunes. You can download 'Off & On' for FREE by entering your email here!

Findlay will also be playing the Secret Garden Party 2013 in Huntingdon from 25-28 July and also Reading and Leeds Festivals from 23-25 August.

http://www.findlaymusic.com/
https://twitter.com/FINDLAYmusic
https://soundcloud.com/findlay-music

New Waves.. Neonfaith - 'Escape'

In my humble opinion, combining rock and electronic elements in music can be a somewhat difficult feat to pull off. The end result, I feel, ends up either feeling too interspersed and not worth the attempt or too cluttered, with synths and guitars clashing apocalyptically - it's not a pretty sound.

This is however. 'Escape', from New York based band Neonfaith, manages to combine elements of indie and electronica in an intricate and delicate manner. The track is minimalist, yet emotive; the haunting and alluring voice of singer Megan Faye weaves its way through the retro sounding beats, and is the silver thread which binds the song together. The music manages to transition many influences, morphing from laid back guitars to a current of electronic schisms in a heartbeat, but it works, flawlessly, and it is this that makes the band one to watch.

Neonfaith currently only have six songs posted on Soundcloud, three of which are remixes, which is unfortunate as I can't wait to hear more from the band. You can listen to three of their original songs - including 'Escape' - here; the other two, 'Tied Together' and 'Mercury', are similarly intriguing lounge electronica.

What do you think of Neonfaith? Do you like 'Escape'? Are they a band you'd like to hear more from?

https://www.facebook.com/NeonFaith
https://twitter.com/neonfaith_
https://soundcloud.com/neonfaith

New Waves.. Basement Jaxx - 'Back 2 The Wild'

So, I appear to have some news for you, folks! Recently, I joined the review team over at Renowned For Sound.com and therefore my writing will be reaching a far wider audience! This will be invaluable work experience for me, and I couldn't be happier about it. There are some other developments and projects under-way that I am also excited about, however I don't want to curse myself by writing about them prior to fruition, so I'm afraid I'll just be teasing y'all for now!

Anyway, from now on I'll be linking you all to published reviews on Renowned For Sound.com, the first of which is the glorious Basement Jaxx whom, I have to admit, had fallen off my radar post their heyday in the early 2000's. No fear however, for Basement Jaxx return with the brilliant 'Back 2 The Wild', a song I described a 'raucous party jive'. 

4/5 stars

Click the images or links to take you to the review!

Flashback Friday - Marina and the Diamonds - 'Mowgli's Road'

Is it that time of week again already? It feels like barely five minutes since I did this post last week. Anyways, here we are and if you're British you'll know that our promising looking summer has dissipated into perpetual GLOOM. Perhaps I cursed us all by posting that summer playlist a tad too early.

This week, I've been listening to a lot of Marina because - let's face it - when is there ever a wrong time to listen to Marina? Those unacquainted with her pre-Electra Heart efforts will find themselves met with a less mainstream sound which, whilst still electronic, is far more piano based, as seen in songs such as 'Obsessions', 'Hermit The Frog', 'Numb' and 'Guilty'. 'Mowgli's Road'  - the first single taken from Marina's 2009 debut, The Family Jewels - is easily one of the singer's most bizarre, seeing her cuckoo (literally) her way through three minutes of cartoonish shtick that is reminiscent of a Noughties Kate Bush. As always, Marina's voice is her best asset which - though no doubt irritating for some - is capable of many feats, her whooping vibrato channeling many a character as she embodies her role as a lost Mowgli, stumbling along the path of life unsure of their aim, with the lyrics 'There's a fork in the road/ I'll do as I'm told/ Well I don't know (don't know, don't know, don't know)/ Who I wanna be' reinforcing this dilemma of being controlled - most likely by her label - in her quest for recognition.

Marina is currently touring the US in support of her second album Electra Heart (which is out now), along with support from  Charli XCX.

Do you like Marina? Which do you prefer - her first album or Electra Heart? What is your favourite Marina song?

http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com/
https://twitter.com/MarinasDiamonds
https://www.facebook.com/marinaandthediamonds
https://soundcloud.com/marina-and-the-diamonds

New Waves.. Superfood - 'TV' (Demo)

The somewhat mysterious 'B-Town' band Superfood are back with a new demo for their song 'TV', proving the band are not merely a one-hit-wonder of the underground world.

Whilst 'TV' does not capture quite the same charm as the aforementioned song, it is most definitely a grower in the same manner as 'Superfood' previously was, and with Blur-esque guitars and lyrics that practically beg you to sing along, the band are certainly tapping into their own interpretation of the current '90's revival.

Only the second song to ever surface from the band, it will no doubt add momentum to their rippling wave of national recognition following the debut of their first self-titled demo.

The band are currently touring the UK with a mid-tour stop in Amsterdam.

Do you like Superfood? What do you think 'TV'? Do you prefer it to their first song, 'Superfood'?

www.superfoodjunk.com
https://www.facebook.com/superfoodjunk
https://twitter.com/superfoodjunk

New Waves.. LIGHTS - 'Suspension' (Acoustic)

I love me some Lights! I really do.

When I first came across the intergalactic sounding electro-pop of The Listening, I admit, it took me a while to warm to her; her voice came across as nasally through the auto-tune which, whilst used for effect, she definitely did not need. Since then, we have had her second album, 2011's Siberia, which saw the singer-songwriter get more experimental and eclectic, switching the previously sugary sounding keytar for crunchy synths, however prior to that we had the LIGHTS Acoustic EP where - stripped of all distractions - Lights' voice truly had a chance to shine on delicate reinterpretations of her debut album (plus a cheeky cover of Rancid's 'Fall Back Down' to boot!).

Now, Lights is back with Siberia Acoustic, a project she has been working on since the inception of Siberia itself - one which many of her many fans had been anticipating, myself included - and which was finally exposed to the world in late April. Whilst LIGHTS Acoustic was merely an EP, Siberia Acoustic is a full album of re-compositions which show the songs in an entirely different, er, light. It highlights the potential diversity of the songs, indeed, there are a number which sound superior to the originals in their new guises, instead of merely 'different' in their new interpretations.

My favourite just so happens to be 'Suspension' - a song that also happened to be my favourite from the original album (listen to the original here)! So, here's some Lights at 30,000 feet :)

Enjoy!

Are you a LIGHTS fan? Do you prefer her electronic or acoustic music? What did you think of her cover of Rancid's 'Fall Back Down'?

PS. Here's the making of Siberia Acoustic.

Lights is currently doing an acoustic tour through the US and Canada.
Siberia Acoustic is out now.


http://music.iamlights.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lights
https://twitter.com/lights

Flashback Friday.. Blood Red Shoes - 'Don't Ask'

You may or may not have noticed, but it's been a slow one this week - apologies guys! I've been tied down finishing uni projects as deadlines crept ever closer, but I am now somewhat freed for the summer. I seriously hope that I get the grades that I'm hoping for, and I'll be throwing myself into preparing for my third year modules over the summer; it's time to get hardcore - I'm determined to get a 1st! A bit of sun wouldn't go amiss though would it (the weather - forever a British conversation topic!)? Our two days of summer appear to have dissipated back into a moody looking spring, and here was me preparing for the next BBQ!

Anyway, a Flashback, for a Friday! Here we have Blood Red Shoes - a band that my boyfriend introduced me to some months ago now via their third album, 2012's In Time To Voices. Despite the band being only a two piece - compiled of  Laura-Mary Carter and Steven Ansell - they really do manage to pack a punch. The song I've picked out was the lead song from 2010's Fire Like This, and 'Don't Ask' is an energetic, addictive introduction to the band, showcasing Ansell's, at times, frenetic drums and Carter's commanding guitar whilst highlighting their favoured dual vocal attack of the pair. It really is an equal team effort that manages to be rather impressive, especially considering how much noise the two manage to generate in comparison to other two-piece bands such as The White Stripes and The Kills, both of whom prefer a rather minimal sound in accordance to their minimal line-up.

The band are currently only scheduled to play Pentaport Rock Festival in South Korea on the 4th August.

Their most recent release, the Water EP, is available now.

Are you a fan of Blood Red Shoes? What's your favourite Blood Red Shoes song and/or album?

http://www.bloodredshoes.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/bloodredshoes
https://twitter.com/bloodredshoes

BUZZ Playlists - 'Summer Lovin''

The sun has been totally inspiring me lately; it's blown away the cobwebs and given me some much needed get-up-and-go in regards to life in general, and has proven slightly distracting in regards to getting my uni work done - I would much rather be hanging outside in the sun with my friends and boyfriend!

I find that there are some bands and artists that I can only listen to in summertime, bands whose music just encapsulates the essence of the season. In winter, I tend to listen to loud electronic or rock music - though I must say that Tame Impala's psychedelia seems to work just as well in snowy climes as it does in this heat! However, in summer, I just want to dance, sing and chill (and eat BBQ food!), and for that I need happy music; and this is where this playlist comes in! 'Summer Lovin' takes us through transitions of psychedelia, low-fi, electronic, ska and more and is pretty much what has been making the (slightly sluggish) cogs of my brain turn this week. The playlist includes bands such as Tame Impala, Best Coast, No Doubt, Grimes, Peace, Blondie, Queens of the Stone Age and Haim plus loads more, so if you're ready to embrace summer with your clammy mitts - check it out and tell me what you think!

Do you like the 'Summer Lovin' playlist? What music makes you think of summer? Would you like to see more features like this in future?

Flashback Friday.. No Doubt - 'Hey Baby'

12 years old.

12. Years.

That's a lifetime, yet it only feels like yesterday! Is this how it is from now on? Because it genuinely feels like but a millisecond ago that I was rapping 'Bountykilla an' No Doubt! Jump on da stage coz we goin' crayzaay!' etc etc at the TV and going cross eyed at Gwen's outfit. However, despite the time leap, 'Hey Baby' has stayed with me, and I'm almost shocked at how I still love every ounce of the song just as much as I did when I was 8 to 9 years old!

Their 2001 album, Rock Steady, may actually be my favourite No Doubt album; as ska and new wave as the band were and are, dancehall and reggae really suit them, and it's a testament to them that the album still sounds fresh and current; I'd love to see the reaction to this song had it been released in 2013!

I also have an irrevocable love for Gwen Stefani; that woman neither ages, nor loses her energy! Can I have some of that juice, please!

Are you a No Doubt fan? What's your favourite song and/or album?

http://www.nodoubt.com
https://twitter.com/nodoubt
https://www.facebook.com/nodoubt

New Waves.. Marina and the Diamonds & Charli XCX - 'Just Desserts'

I must say that seeing this on my Twitter feed today was rather unexpected, but after I saw Marina (of Diamond ilk) post about getting ready to drop a track that she recorded with Charli XCX, I got more than a tad excited; two of may favourite pop artists collaborating!? What on Earth could be better?

The song - 'Just Desserts' - sounds like a perfect blend of the two singers, combining Marina's dark electronic pop with Charli's quirky delivery. Whilst Marina's voice is unique, Charli's contribution manages to compliment it, whilst many other voices wouldn't have been able to pull it off without it sounding more than a bit awkward; however, that said, at times it get a little difficult to differentiate between the two voices.

As for the song itself, it grows with each listen, however it definitely feels as though it is leaning closer to the Marina side of the fence, and 'Just Desserts' would have been perfectly at home slap bang in the middle of Marina's 2012 concept album, Electra Heart. Lyrically, the content is similar - in this instance, an ode to revenge - with Charli declaring in a sickly sweet manner 'Yeah baby, I know that it hurts when you're about to get your just desserts'. For fans of either or both of the singers, the song is definitely an unexpected treat!

What do you think of 'Just Desserts'? Do you like Marina or Charli XCX? Was it a collaboration worth having?

http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com/
https://twitter.com/MarinasDiamonds
https://www.facebook.com/marinaandthediamonds

http://www.charlixcxmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/charlixcxmusic
https://twitter.com/charli_xcx

April BUZZ

Out with the old and in with the new as they say, and seeing as April is now behind us, I'd like to welcome you to the the first installment of my new feature - MONTHLY BUZZ!

In this feature I'll be highlighting some of the very best music that I've come across this month, amongst other things. So, to get the ball rolling.......

Peace @ The Kasbah, Coventry

I finally caught Peace live, and let me tell you they were brilliant - literally flawless! Whilst Superfood dropped out last minute, the support band JAWS were also very good and, as a whole, I have never seen a crowd so euphorically happy to be dancing and singing to their favourite band's songs! May the world be converted by the cult of Peace!

Swim Deep - 'She Changes The Weather'

This time, one month ago, I found myself pleasantly shocked by the first new song to be revealed to the world from their forthcoming debut album, Where The Heaven Are We. Even listening to it now, the song it still beautifully arranged and is easily their most mature effort; if you've missed it, it's a must listen!

No Doubt - 'Just A Girl'

You'll be seeing more of this further on in the week because, as I'm sure we're all aware, there are only a certain amount of Fridays (and therefore Flashback's) in each month. But yes, it's that time of year when the sun finally shows its face and certain genres of music become absolutely essential - in this case, ska and  No Doubt, and whilst I've mainly been listening to Rock Steady - the album from the 'Hey Baby' era - 'Just A Girl' is a classic song which encapsulates what the band is about.

Charli XCX - 'True Romance'
Charli XCX finally dropped her debut album, 'True Romance', and whilst it may have felt somewhat overly familiar to certain fans who lap up every single snippet that she drops (ie. me), it was a really strong effort, replicating that seamless feel of a mixtape and is jam-packed with high quality alt.pop choons. 'Cloud Aura' feat. Brooke Candy is a grower!


Daft Punk - 'Get Lucky'

Need I say more? It's the song that blew up April and threw everything else out of the water because, despite the retro disco makeover, Daft Punk are back and are back and milking the hype machine for everything that it is worth, they're going to be bigger than ever. 2013 is already their year.

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So there it is, the first MONTHLY BUZZ installment!

What do you think about April BUZZ? Do you like the installment? Do you think what I've posted above is BUZZworthy? What are your picks from April?