Rapid Review.. SO MANY REVIEWS!

I exist, say whut?

Just a brief one to end my absentee ways and - more specifically - to keep a record of some of the reviews I have written for other sites. I'm gonna link to some of the better ones I feel I have written on this particular blog post - please go have a read if you're so inclined!

Aside from that, I currently appear to have mislaid my blogging mojo. I'm afraid I'm still looking for it. Creative block sucks.
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1. AlunaGeorge - Body Music

This was a really good pop album - surprisingly so - and it was pretty amazing live and tipsy when I was at Reading. (READ HERE)

1. Swim Deep - Where The Heaven Are We

Because - let's face it - that other album cover was just far too cringey! Bit disappointed by this album in all honesty; the singles were very promising but I can't help but feel the band failed to back it up. (READ HERE)

3. The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars

This album was seriously beautiful, and the voices of Joy Williams and John Paul White are exquisite! (READ HERE)

4. Fenech-Soler - Rituals

Fenech-Soler's second album changed tack a little; it was far more pop than their previous (which was also very good!), so it's really up to preference. (READ HERE)

5. Arctic Monkeys - AM

Easily one of the most hyped and anticipated albums of the past year, ever since 'R U Mine' blew everything out of the water! Being almost 2 weeks since I first got my PR through Renowned For Sound, I'm still of two minds about it. I do like the album, it has some very good songs, and even the ones that I don't run to, when they crop up on my playlist, I still like them. On the other hand, 'R U Mine' almost set the bar too high in my opinion, and it almost feels like a separate entity in comparison to the rest of the album. I tried to articulate my feels better in the actual review, however I still feel that I'm not quite managing to hit the nail on the head with my p.o.v.  (READ HERE)

6. MGMT - MGMT

I didn't particularly enjoy this album so to speak; it is very dense and experimental, though I could still recognise that it was artfully done, if slightly self-indulgent. However, I feel I concluded very succinctly in this review, so here we are. (READ HERE)

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There were a lot of other reviews I've done of the past month or two that don't really fit the nature of this blog, so I've skimmed over those, but if you are so inclined, feel free to read my entire Renowned For Sound works here :)

Interrogation Corner.. Tracer

Oh My Glob! New feature guys!

Yup, I've started taking on interviews for Renowned For Sound! It was something I was a little tentative about, especially as I have been known to be quiet shy in previous years, however this is in the process of being ironed out. Though all that is of little importance in this instance, as due to time difference, this was an email Q+A aha..

I'm fond of Tracer. I was originally introduced to the band by a friend who lent me their first album, Spaces In Between, a few years back. This band love to make rowdy noise and apparently their live show is a riot too. Below I've embedded some of my fave songs, and also their latest single - the title track from their second album, El Pistolero (which is available to buy if you click this shiny link).

Linkylink time, go check the full interview here!

PS. My fave Tracer song is 'Devil Ride' - but you already know that, because you read the interview.... ;)

'El Pistolero' - El Pistolero (2013)

'Too Much' - Spaces In Between (2011)

'Devil Ride' - Spaces In Between (2011)

http://www.tracer-band.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tracer

https://twitter.com/Tracerband

New Waves.. Caro Emerald - 'Liquid Lunch'

I've always been a bit intrigued by Caro Emerald  since I first came across her music via some TV advert for her 2010 debut album, Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor. Her retro jazz appealed to the unpursued penchant for the genre, however I failed to indulge once again.

However, the fact that her second album - The Shocking Miss Emerald - managed to crashland at the top of the UK charts earlier this year did not pass my notice, and after catching her appearance on Jools Holland, I snapped up the chance to review her latest single, 'Liquid Lunch' for Renowned For Sound.

It really is a treat, combining sassy jazz and swing with surprisingly witty lyrics, I was hooked from the get go. Read what else I had to say here :)

http://www.caroemerald.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CaroEmeraldOfficial

https://twitter.com/caroemerald

Rapid Review.. CSS - 'Planta'

Most may recall Brazilian band CSS from their neon 'Nu-Rave' circa 2007. Come 2013 and they've had a bit of a musical makeover, with a far more mature and experimental album. If nothing else were to peak your interest, they even co-wrote with Rancid's Tim Armstrong, something that I myself certainly was not expecting.

The band are certainly as quirky as ever, (though with far less neon) incorporating bizarre sounds and questionable lyrics to create an interesting album. Click here to read the full review on Renowned For Sound.

http://www.csssuxxx.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CSSSUXXX

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

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!

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!