Cage The Elephant - Tell Me I'm Pretty (Album Review)

Cage The Elephant are a five-piece garage rock band from Kentucky, USA. They have recently released a new album called 'Tell Me I'm Pretty' last week on the 18th of December 2015. The five-piece consists of; Matthew Shultz on lead vocals and guitar, Brad Shultz on rhythm guitar and keyboards, Daniel Tichenor on bass, Nick Bockrath on lead guitar and Jared Champion on the drums. The band are known for being very indie and abstract as lead vocalist, Matt is known for his eccentric stage presence as he can be seen cross-dressing at times and writhing around on stage.

The introductory song on the 10-track album is called 'Cry Baby'. A very dynamic beat starts the track off, soon accompanied by the vocals 27 seconds in. The drums noticeably stand out as the symbols are also used a lot to express the aggression that the band have towards this 'Cry Baby'. The following track is called 'Mess Around'  and strong guitar riffs introduce the song; shortly followed by the drums, then soon accompanied by the vocals. Due to the repetitiveness of the chorus it makes this track incredible catchy;

"No she don't mess around, no she don't mess around."

The insane guitars stand out the most within this track especially as they sharply close off the song. 'Sweetie Little Jean' enters with rhythmic drums which pause for the vocals to enter on;

"Sweetie little jean where did you go? Everyone's been searching high and low, and your mummy's worried sick.."

I think this song is about a mental illness as this woman is not herself therefore everybody is trying to sort her out and fix her but nothing is happening as it has taken over her as a person and she cannot revert back to her old self. 'Too Late To Say Goodbye' enters with a very melancholic tune which continues throughout, with the odd exception of a short climax, which soon reverts back to the original rhythm. 'Cold, Cold, Cold' has a very groovy and funky introduction which catches my attention straight away.

"Doctor - problems in my chest, my heart is cold as ice but is anybody scared?"

Again it has a catchy chorus which will get stuck in people's heads for days. The next track is called 'Trouble' and the introduction sounds very similar to the introduction of the well-known film 'Submarine (2010)' . This is due to the use of the keyboards being used more frequently within this track, compared to the other previous songs. The seventh track, 'How Are You True'  has a very melancholic atmosphere to it due to the slow strumming on guitar within the introduction and then when the vocals enter they flow with the rhythm of the guitar too. This track also sounds very similar to some of Peace's work due to the slow flowing vocals, however half way through the pace begins to pick up a bit due to the drums creating a more intense beat. 'That's Right' enters with a fast drumming beat quickly accompanied by all of the other instruments and the vocals;

"Let your hair down, lets unwind. Take your problems, leave them behind. You got your troubles and I got mine."

I like the contrast between this song and the previous track as it shows you that they have cleverly structured the album as you have a song that brings you down ('How Are You True') and then this track brings you back up again, as it is all about relieving your stress and forgetting about all of your worries. The second to last track on this album is called 'Punchin'Bag' and the eerie introduction fools you into thinking that it may be a ballad, until you hear the first punchy line.

"She's a stone cold brave-faced killer, and a lover"

The final track to cease off the album is called 'Portuguese Knife Fight'. The first line grabs your immediate attention with;

"I wanna waste my life, with you, oh yeah, well the look in your eyes says you're feeling the same way too."

Admittedly, the final track is my favorite song off the album as a whole; due to how the intensity of feelings are portrayed within the vocals as they are very abrupt and upfront.

In conclusion, the album as a whole was good. There is not any songs that I particularly dislike; the majority of songs I just simply think are OK therefore I do not really have an opinion on them. On the other hand, there are a few tracks that did stand out to me and they are; 'Cry Baby', 'Sweetie Little Jean', 'Cold, Cold, Cold', 'That's Right' and of course the closing track of the album - 'Portuguese Knife Fight'. Admittedly, I have not listened to any of Cage The Elephants previous work, however I was fairly impressed with this album and that is why I would recommend that you give it a listen if you have not already.

8/10

Some Kind Of Illness - Some Kind Of Illness (Album Review)

Some Kind Of Illness are an alternative indie rock band from Manchester. The Mancunian duo have been performing for over a decade, as they formed in 1999. The duo are brothers; Mark and Paul Hinks both on guitar and vocals. They released their debut album back in August 2015 and evidentially the name of the album is taken after the name of their band - 'Some Kind Of Illness'.

The first song on the 10-track album is called - 'The Test Of Time' it introduces the album with a gentle opening with a sound similar to the ring of wind chimes, however the pace does eventually pick up for a few seconds once its accompanied by the acoustic guitar; then the rest of the song delves back into that melancholic and slow atmosphere when the vocals accompany the instruments again. The second track is called 'Angel Breakdown'  and the introduction is a short speech in an American accent about kindness, and the short track closes with gentle strokes on the acoustic guitar.

"Kindness is a risk, and for some people it is just too big of a risk. They feel that if I'm kind to you, uh even though you've treated me a certain way, even though you've done me wrong..." 

In hope that the next song 'Stars' would pick me up, boy was I wrong! On the other hand, fortunately this song actually allows you to hear the brothers sing again. I am beginning to change my opinion on the genre in which they have put themselves in; personally, I would say that they are more folk than anything. The following song is called 'Maple Leaf ft. Daisy Davies' the introduction, yet again has a slow chime ring to it and it feels as if you have just entered one of those incense-smelling hippie shops. The song oddly has a little girl who speaks very quietly over the soft guitars and gloomy atmosphere and no lyrics are spoken nor sung off the brothers. The fifth track is called 'The Light' and of course the introduction is a slow strumming melody on the guitar, however this is a love song. I favor this song a lot more than the previous tracks that I have listened to, as I feel the pace has increased a bit more and has given the duo a steady beat to sing with, and it just flows a lot better than the other previous tracks.

'And Live' is the sixth track on the album, and speech accompanies the guitars again however it is only for a few seconds in and out - I am not sure whether I am meant to understand what the person is saying? If I am, that needs improvement, so that the person is talking over the guitars; if not, that is fine. Nothing is sung yet again and there is no dramatic action on the guitars which does not necessarily give me much to talk about. Moving forward, the following track has a bit of a groovy introduction for the first second or so, but after that the slow pace is constant. This track is called; 'You Have To Laugh' and I do not understand the title as it is not upbeat or cheery as people vision a song about laughing to be about. The following song is called; 'My Shadow In The Maze' and yet again, there is no variation.

"You've seen my world crash down, and my life flash by..."

The chime sound is back again on 'Rush To Wait' and no lyrics are sung. This is one of the most constant albums that I have ever had to listen to in my entire life, and it may as well just all be one long song for meditation. Finally; the last song to close off the album is called - 'Fool Man Runaway ft. Caoilfhionn Rose'  as predicted, a basic rhythm on the guitars are strummed, but surprisingly a few lyrics are sung.

In conclusion, for a band that have been together for over a decade my expectations were high and they failed to satisfy them. Every song was incredibly similar and there are a lot of improvements to be made. They need a paradox song where they introduce electric guitars or really increase the pace of their acoustic guitars, just something to keep you entertained and interested whilst listening to the album. As the pace is so slow, they do not allow any of their songs to expose their talents on the guitar nor their vocals. You cannot see the extent of their talent as the songs exploit so little of what they are capable of. I am sorry to say, but they have a lot of improvements to be made if they want to make it big any time soon.

The View - Ropewalk (Album Review)

The View are a four-piece indie rock band from Dundee, Scotland. The quartet have been performing for over a decade, and they consist of; lead vocalist- Kyle Falconer, Peter Reily on guitar, Kieran Webster on the bass and new drummer Steven Morrison who joined in 2010. Their most well-known single was their 2007 hit - 'Same Jeans'. Moving forward, The View release a new 10-track album quite recently on the 4th of September 2015, and they called it 'Ropewalk'.

The opening track of the album consists of rhythmic riffs and repetetive drums and it is called 'Under The Rug'. This commonly used phrase is often used when you're trying to avoid something or you're trying to avoid a problem.

"Tell me tomorrow, cus I'm not listening today."

The following track is called 'Marriage', it has a very dynamic intoduction and it is about a man who considers marriage to be a very miserable event within your life due to the woman constantly nit-picking at you.

"I would love to see you gone, I would love to see you somewhere that's not everywhere. Don't make my talents feel so strong, but you find a spanner in the works."

However towards the end of the song he realises that when you devote your love to somebody through marriage, you start to see more flaws in yourself than you see in them.

"You're so pretty; you don't have to keep your clothes on, so don't think of me as a prison - more like a fish tank with no water in."

The third track is called 'Living' and that has a very sharp intoduction with the vocals and drums. This is about the harsh reality of falling in love with a woman who is a single mother.

"20 to 8 his morning, I hear the baby yawning... She seems to care too much for takeaways n boozing, Angelinas missing out."

Then in the chorus he thinks that he will have to ditch his boozing antics if he wants to be with her. On the other hand, she thinks that she either has to choose between her daughter or the bloke. However, he comforts her by saying they both love her, and will do anything just for her love and affection.

"She's living just to be your love, I'm living just to be your love. We're living just to be your love."

'Talk About Two' is the fourth track on the album, and it's more of a slow melancholic song about nostalgia.

"Endless days roll by me, the sun swaggers by into the sea. Remember the time when the heavens, the heavens came crashing down."

With their catchy repetitive chorus, you can't resist the urge to sing along;

"Hold on darling, hold on darling."

This next track is a lot more indie compared to the previous tracks and it is one of my more favourable tracks off the album and it is called 'Psychotic'. This is evidently about a woman with a serious mental illness as you can tell by every line within the lyrics, however I think the specific illness that she has been diagnosed with is schizophrenia.

"Only time I'm lonely is when I'm with you, I wouldn't mind if it was just you, but there's two of you. It's never gonna get you, and that much is true. Never was your saviour, will never defeat you. "

To bring the vibe up a beat is the next track called 'Cracks'. Even though I'm not particularly keen on The Libertines, it does sound very similar to some of their work, but I like it. This upbeat track makes up for the two previous more sympathetic songs with its fast guitars, paceful drums and chirpy vocals. The next song is also very upbeat with similar drums and guitars, it is called 'Tenement Light'. 

'You tell me everything that's on your mind, I'll tell you everything is gonna be fine."

The song then closes with a faded finish on the drums. The eighth track of the album is called - 'House Of Queues' and interestingly the intoduction consists of a harmony on the first line of;

"And I would love.. To see you gone."

This track is a ballad, with its rhythmic drums and guitars and slow vocals which creates a really pleasurable melody. The chorus is also very catchy, similar to many of the tracks on the album and I've come to the conclusion that The View are an incredibly underrated band. My ultimate favourite track on this album is 'Penny' as it collides so many different genres together and it surprisingly works! A slow country verse, soon jumps into a hard rock chorus with crazy guitar riffs!

"And I don't mind you and all the things you do, so you shouldn't mind me and all the silly little things that I do."

The final track to cease the album is called 'Voodoo Doll' it has a very groovy intro on the guitar before the vocals collide, and as the song progresses, so does the speed. This will be the one that fans will go crazy for at gigs, arm and arm around eachother, jumping up and down, screaming the lyrics out like their lives depend on it - you can just picture it!

In conclusion I was ever so surprised with this album, as it is literally faultless! The only thing that I was expecting was a title track, however they didn't really need it. The album has just the right balance of moods and every track has a catchy chorus, however the songs that particularly stood out to me were; 'Under The Rug', Talk About Two', 'Psychotic', 'House Of Queues' and 'Penny'. I would 110% recommend that you give this album a listen if you haven't already. This album honestly made me realise what an underrated band The View are, I just wish that I had realised it earlier on. I shall definitely be going to see them when they next play at Stoke! Definitely worth a listen!

10/10

Justin Bieber - Purpose (Album Review)

Justin Bieber is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter, and at only 21 he is already a world-known phenomenon. However, even though he was successful in 2009 with hits like; 'One Time' and 'One Less Lonely Girl' and then in 2010 with hit single 'Baby', he was not very well-liked by the public eye. His target audience adapted to the scene of young fan-girls, very much like one-direction; as even though his tracks were catchy, there was not much depth to them. Furthermore in 2012, Bieber released his 'Believe' album which received a more positive response compared to his earlier work. This lead to his fan base moving out of the young obsessive girls, and into a wider audience - even lads began to admire him and his work! Admittedly, even I was a secret 'Belieber' when he released his 'Believe (Acoustic)' album. Then in 2013 he released another album called 'Journals', however that never became a big success... After having two years to master a new album, JB finally released it on the 13th of November 2015. This album has moved more towards house music rather than 'pop', therefore a lot of people listen to his new work because it's music that you can dance to; he is inevitably amongst a lot of people's guilty pleasures at the moment. Due to the movement in genre,  Biebs may have lost some of his younger fans, but that does not matter because he has gained a hell of a lot more older fans, and I think that was his intention when he made the decision of entering the house music/dance scene.

Biebers first song is called 'Mark My Words' this is a soft, apologetic track to introduce the album, and you know that it can only get better from here onward. He regretfully sings the first line which creates an eerie, questionable atmosphere..

"Mark my words, that's all that I have.."

The next track is called 'I'll Show You' this song reflects more of a compassionate and softer side of Bieber, and he is trying to prove somebody wrong. He lives his life without any privacy due to constantly being in the eye of the media, therefore it is hard for him to get into relationships. Leading to this song linking back to his 'She Don't Like The Lights' hit off his 'Believe Acoustic' album.

"My life is a movie, and everyone's watching"

One of the most renowned track off Biebers new album is the next song called 'What Do You Mean?' This song is predominantly about Justin getting frustrated with a girl as she doesn't seem to know what she wants. 

"What do you mean? Oh,oh - when you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no."

This track became a big hit due to the repetitiveness of the lyrics and the dance beat, and the following song was also a big hit for the same reasons and that track is called 'Sorry'. Bieber obviously had a sexual encounter with somebody and she thought more of it.. However when he ended it he realised that he liked her too. Unfortuneatly it is now a bit too late Biebs..

"Is it too late now to say sorry? 'Cus I'm missing more than just your body."

The fifth song, called 'Love Yourself'  is about another sexual encounter, and she thinks that she has him wrapped around her little finger but he knows what game she is playing...

"And all the clubs you get in using my name... You think you broke my heart, oh girl for goodness sake. You think I'm crying on my own, well I ain't."

However he continues to play her back at her own games, and finds out she is sleeping with somebody else whilst he's been working.

"And I've been so caught up in my job, didn't see what's going on and now I know - im better sleeping on my own."

By this point in his album, during his next track called 'Company', Justin is sick of getting feelings for girls, therefore he just wants a quick one night stand or a short term bit of fun.

"You ain't gotta be my lover for me to call you baby, never been around no pressure ain't that serious no."

Im thoroughly surprised that this song isn't up there with 'Sorry',' What Do You Mean' and 'Love Yourself' because it's very catchy and has quite a beat to it. The next song is the first track on the album to feature another artist and it is called 'No Pressure' (feat.Big Sean) . This track has a different message than the other songs, as he's giving a girl time to make her mind up as he wants something more and he's being patient to see if she wants the same thing. The next song to feature another artist is called 'No Sense' (feat.Travis Scott). As the album progresses you can see that he just wants somebody to have a bit of fun with at the start and now he's starting to want a relationship, and is involving love within his songs...

"Oh my heart is a vacant house when you're gone away, so it's empty. And love don't make sense when it's empty."

I'm not particularly fond of the first two featuring songs, however I do like the next one which features a female voice accompanying Justin - 'The Feeling' (feat.Halsey). I just think that the collaborations of the two voices work really well together and the song in general is a good song, however I wouldn't necessarily say it is dance music, more like the song you listen to when somebody isn't replying to your texts. The next track is one of my favourites off this album as it just has so much raw emotion and truth to it and this song is called 'Life Is Worth Living'. As we all know, a few years back JB wasn't dealing with the stress of the paparazzi and his break up from Selena Gomez very well and he turned to marijuana and got arrested several times, but nothing too major... He is giving out a very clear message to his fans, telling them that 'life is worth living'.

"Life is worth living, so live another day."

The following track is also another dance song and it is very catchy too. This track is called 'Where Are U Now' it has a very positive beat to it, regardless of the message being the complete opposite and I think that is the reason why this dance track oddly works - it works because it shouldn't work... Moving forward, the second to last track on the album is called 'Children' and yet again it is another very emotional song and reminds me of one of his previous tracks off this album called 'Life Is Worth Living'. Emotional, yet it has a strong dance rhythm and beat to it - but I don't think that it works that well, therefore I don't particularly rate this song... The song to close off the album is of course the title track called 'Purpose'. This track is also a ballad like 'Life Is Worth Living' which mixes the album up a bit as it takes it away from the house genre,mand you get a bit nostalgic as you compare it to his old work. He obviously is holding back a lot of emotional pain as he ceases the album off with a short speech.

"That's what's happening with me, it's like 'God, I'm giving it all I've got, sometimes I'm weak and I'm going to do it.' And it's like I'm not giving myself grace, I'm just like understanding that's how it is."

In conclusion, I think that this album was definitely worth waiting for. I've never seen so many people talk about Justin Bieber in such a positive way during the past few months over social media, and in person. I think that the album as a whole is great, but I think that some songs just don't work... and that is only down to my personal preference, such as; 'No Pressure', 'No Sense', and 'Children'. I think that my favourite tracks off the album would have to be; 'Life Is Worth Living', 'Love Yourself' and 'I'll Show You'. This album is a fantastic car album, so I'd 110% recommend that you buy the CD for your car - discounting the ballads, it is such a positive album. The majority of the songs are a huge F*CK YOU to people who have hurt him, and singing along with him just makes you feel so sassy! Great album, I definitely do recommend that you give it a listen if you haven't already.

9/10

Merrym'n - Black Over Bills Mothers (Album Review)

Local singer/songwriter from Stoke-On-Trent - Bob Mosten created this album alongside with some friends and it is something a bit different from the local indie-rock music scene. Bob Mosten's 10-track album is a modern version of folk music and it actually works surprisingly well.

Mostens first track is an odd 17-second spooky instrumental, which sounds like the introduction to a horror film and it is called 'Roy's Theme'. Moving forward, his next track 'Cow Tipping' has a lot more of an upbeat vibe about it. The introduction has a very catchy car riff and the first line is;

"There's a toy collectors fair at Fenton community college, but he won't be there - his Astra's packed in last year."

I like this line because it's close to home, and the song reflects that Mosten hasn't got a very big ego and is a very humble person, who is proud of where he is from. GWARN STOKE!! His third song is called 'Satellite Manager' and this is less indie rock, however it does sound similar to some of the work off Jamie T's most recent album 'Carry On The Grudge.' The fourth track is called 'Fat Knacker' and I can see a pattern of odd song titles... Nevertheless Mosten's odd song titles do not influence the actual songs. The track that I was most interested in listening to was the mid-track which is called 'I Was Born In Stoke-On-Trent'. 

"I don't know much that's for sure, but I know what's knocking on my front door."

Considering this song is about Stoke-On-Trent I am just going to presume that you're implying that this line is about the police knocking on your front door, as you know.. It is about Stoke-On-Trent after all!

The sixth song is called 'The Inflatable Man' and it sounds very melancholic at the beginning and continues throughout, right to the end. I think that the contrast between this song and the previous track works well considering 'I Was Born In Stoke-On-Trent' was very upbeat and catchy and this song is very slow and gloomy. 'Ten-A-Penny' is the next track on the album and an accordion opens up the song alongside the guitar, which is something a bit different. 

"I'm no coffee man, take me down to the burger van. Where you can live and breathe with more kids than teeth, tragically ever after. Welcome to the theatre of the absurd."

Sounds like an episode of Jeremy Kyle! However I can see the humour within this song, and I think that it was very cleverly used. The eighth track on the album is called 'Blue Rinse Brigade' another catchy folk song with repetitive guitar riffs.

"Pays with the exact change not matter what the price, carries enough coins to park in Hanley overnight."

This song reminds me of myself, however I would love to know what the Blue Rinse Brigade is, so could somebody please be as generous to write to me in the comments explaining what it is! The second to last song on the album is called 'Stanley'. Continuing the upbeat folk theme is 'Stanley', this is definitely the most catchy song due to the high level of repetitiveness within this track. 

"Stanley, oh Stanley. The mysterious disappearance of Stanley. Stanley, oh Stanley - everybody looks the other way."

Finally, the last song on the album is called 'Make Believin' and it is actually the longest track within the album.

"I've been dreaming of the summer; when I can take my bicycle across the top of Biddulph Moore without freezing, make believin' that anything is possible."

Bob Mosten is reminiscing a very nostalgic memory of his youth where he was in love;

"You can sit across my handlebars, and point out all of your favourite stars."

Yet again, another one of Mosten's catchy songs.

In Conclusion for an unsigned singer/songwriter this album has been very cleverly written and it is very well developed. The only thing that I would change about it would be the first song, but that's just down to personal preference, as I think that songs that are just an instrumental are merely just album fillers. On a brighter note, all of the other songs are exceptional to be honest. Even though some of the song titles are quite odd, nowadays who's song titles aren't odd?! I would definitely recommend that you give this album a listen, if you haven't already - it is on Spotify and iTunes. Here is the link to his iTunes :

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/black-over-bills-mothers/id1035093504

The Kavaliers - First Sign (Single Review)

The Kavaliers are a new and upcoming British indie rock band from Doncaster. The five-piece consists of; Tom Statham on lead vocals, both Matthew Brewin & Sam Kennedy on guitar, Robbie Thompson on the bass, and Jordan Booth on the drums. The Kavaliers have already got an expanding fan base with over 1000 likes already on their facebook page. They released their first single - 'First Sign' in May 2014 ; in which I am going to review.

The intro grabs my attention immediately as Booth on the drums creates a very Stone Roses inspired rhythm; sounding a lot like 'She Bangs The Drums', the guitars shortly follow with an indie riff creating a strong base for the vocals to enter. The introduction allows you to focus on all of the musicians individually as it is very gradual, then the song begins to kick in. Lead vocalist - Tom Statham has a similar voice to Alex Turner out of the Arctic Monkeys due to his strong and distinctive vocals. The Kavaliers remind me of a local band from Stoke-On-Trent called the Blue Collars due to the creation of the fast upbeat pace, and strong outgoing atmosphere that they have developed. Their lyrics are very poetic which results in the song being stuck in your head.

"And I know this much is true; that I'd do anything for you, would you do the same for me?"

The repetitiveness of the lyrics also gives it that contagious edge;

"You just give me something, yeah you just give me something. You just give me something, but it all turned to nothing."

However the main line that obviously stuck out to me within this track is undoubtedly;

"Because she's too into The Stones, and I'm way too into The Roses."

I also thought that the choice to use this line in order to close off this track was a fantastic idea, because it is one of the main lines that the listeners will remember; especially if they are particularly fond of The Stone Roses - like myself.

In conclusion, I immediately became fond of this track due to the Stone Roses inspired opening. The Kavaliers have mastered this song to perfection due to their poetic lyrics and fantastically structured instrumental. If they manage to show this amount of hard work and keep the solid structure within their new and upcoming tracks; to be released in the next few months, I will be incredibly impressed. The Kavaliers are guaranteed inevitable success, keep up the good work lads and I look forward to hearing your new tracks! Incredibly impressed. The link to their track 'First Sign' is posted below. -

http://www.soundcloud.com/thekavaliersuk

The Neighbourhood - Wiped Out! (Album Review)

The Neighbourhood are an American 5-piece alternative rock band from California, and they formed back in 2011. The five-piece consists of; Jesse Rutherford on the lead vocals, both Zach Abels & Jeremy Freedman on guitar, Mikey Morgott on bass and Brandon Fried on the drums. I became fond of The Neighbourhood back in 2012 when their hit single 'Sweater Weather' had been released. However; I had also listened to a later single that was released in 2013, called 'Afraid' and their cover of 'Say My Name/Cry Me A River', on the other hand I haven't listened to any more of their work recently. This resulted in me jumping at the opportunity to review their new album 'Wiped Out!' - once somebody had recommended that I review it. 'Wiped Out' was released on the 30th of October 2015.

Their first so-called track is 'A Moment Of Silence' which as a first listener, I don't understand why they thought this 'track' would be a good idea. 'A Moment Of Silence' is exactly what it says on the tin, nothing more than just an album filler. However their second track is a lot more interesting...'Prey' has a very eery and mysterious introduction, which soon gets accompanied by an indie/groove overlay.

"If you don't ask, I won't tell."

This line in the first verse gives me the impression that Rutherford is perhaps hiding something from a specific person in particular? 

"So, so, I'll probably take you aside and tell you what's on my mind. But you, you'll just keep it inside, probably tell me that you're alright."

My first impression has soon changed. Perhaps the reason he doesn't tell her the things on his mind is because if she 'asks' him what is on his mind, it shows that she cares about him. Whereas she will just bottle up all of her issues and keep them to herself, so he doesn't want to tell her about his issues as that will be putting a heavier weight on her shoulders and he wouldn't want that because he cares about her.

Their third track 'Cry Baby' had me wondering as to why they are categorised as alternative/indie rock band, however they sound a lot more hip-hop/RnB - especially within this track.

"Please don't say that you know, when you know. I can't take it. I'm impatient, tell me baby."

He wants to know if her love is true, because he doesn't want to develop feelings. However he knows that if she does truly love him, then he would not be able to resist the urge of loving her back.

"I know I'll fall in love with you baby and that's not what I wanna do."

Their fourth song is the the title track - 'Wiped Out'. This song has a funky kind of rhythm, with a smooth and slick hip-hop feel throughout. On the other hand, I am not a big fan of this track in particular as it has a rather confusing & indescribable send out...

Their fifth track is one of my more favourable tracks on the album, and it is called 'The Beach'. This reminded me of their old track - 'Sweater Weather' which I am very fond of and it has a very relaxed RnB vibe to it. The sixth track is called 'Daddy Issues' and I am not sure whether it is a sexualised song or whether it is about family issues. Mixed messages throughout the whole song, wasn't very well structured.

"Take you like a drug, taste you on my tongue."

However later on it goes on to say;

"But now that you're dead it hurts. This time I gotta know, where did my daddy go?"

The following track to this song is called 'Baby Came Home 2/Valentines'. This track is very controversial, as it is about heartbreak from a long-term on/off relationship which cleverly links back into their previous songs as he doesn't ever want to get feelings until he knows that theirs are true;

"She was five foot four, getting money on tour - but her socks were at the end of my bed."

It goes from a bit of messing around into him wanting to get matching tattoos so that sense of ownership is there as she took his virginity. However he soon turns sour once she cheats on him.

"Who's the one you're sleeping with? Don't you sit in front of me,and wait for me to talk."

The eighth track is called 'Greetings From California' and it's sort of a mess. He starts off by saying once you come to California you won't want to look back, then goes on to talk about how he despises the people running his country and then goes on about his personal issues - the song as a whole doesn't make sense. Following that odd track, is a short 3 minutes long song called 'Ferrari'. Yet again this song exploits his insecurities of somebody leaving him or turning out to be the opposite of the person they once seemed;

"I met her at church, but she could be Satan."

Their second to last song on the album is called 'Single' and this is about not wanting to be single and to be able to be with his soulmate, no matter what boundaries he may have to break.

"I'm sorry Dave, I never meant to hurt your baby girl. She's your little baby, she's my soulmate. I don't want you to worry, she'll be so safe right here."

Then throughout the song it repeatedly echo's;

"Can you let your baby be my girl"

Which is where Rutherford is constantly trying to get her dad to forgive him and let him have her back again and he is trying to regain his trust with her father. Finally, the last track to close off the album is called 'R.I.P 2 My Youth' I thought that it might be called that as he has grown out of his young adult and heartbroken stage and has finally become an adult. However his dad has been mentioned again, and Rutherford gives off the impression that he wants to die young.

"I'm in paradise with Dad, close my eyes and then cross my arms. Put me in the dirt, let me dream with the stars. Throw me in a box with the oxygen off."

In conclusion, the album as a whole was a bit of a mess. I think that they are all super talented musicians, but they need to stick to one story line within their songs as it just gets the listeners confused when listening to their lyrics. However the one thing that I do like about The Neighbourhood is their distinctive sound, they have created their own music genre; combining pop, funk, RnB and alternative rock all together. The main songs that positively stood out to me were; 'Prey', 'The Beach', 'Cry Baby', 'Ferrari', 'Single' and 'R.I.P 2 My Youth'. I rate the band, but unfortunately not this album. Rutherford just vocalises his traumatic loss with the death of his father and his tragic past relationships and he basically just dawns on them two themes throughout every single track, with the odd mixed message in it.

6/10 

Sia - Alive (Single Review)

Sia Furler is an eccentric pop singer-songwriter from Australia. Furler released a new single called 'Alive' for her new and upcoming album 'This Is Acting'. The new track was co-written with Adele and Tobias Jesso Jr. Curlers 2014 album '1000 Forms Of Fear' indefinitely gave her the most publicity within her career. '1000 Forms Of Fear' consists of popular songs; 'Chandelier', 'Big Girls Cry' and 'Elastic Heart'. However, back in 2011 Furler did a very well-recognised collaboration with French DJ; David Guetta, which I would say significantly kicked started her singing career before her 2014 album was released.

The introduction is a slow rhythm on the piano which soon drops once Sia begins to sing with her renowned powerful vocals and distinctive voice. At 1:07 the chorus begins to kick in;

"I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing; I'm alive, I'm alive."

Oddly, the deep beat and slow flowing lyrics result in giving the track a sort of reggae twang. Sia is an ever so intriguing artist, and her meaningful lyrics never seem to amaze me;

"I had a one-way ticket to a place where all the demons go. Where the wind don't change and nothing in the ground can ever grow. No hope; just lies, and you're taught to cry in your pillow - but I survived."

Furler is explaining to the listeners about her successful recovery from drugs and alcohol abuse, within a song. She is also telling the listeners about how she battled those mental, and physical demons that she faced on a day to day basis.

Even though this song was originally written with and for Adele; for Adele's new album about her overcoming heartbreak, moving on and having a child on the scene - this song suited Sia's past and future a lot more. Therefore you can hear the passion soaring in Sia's voice as you carefully listen to the way that she sings the lyrics, as this song obviously means and incredible amount to her; overcoming the demons that she once faced.

10/10

Adele - Hello (Single Review)

Adele Adkins is a very successful singer-songwriter from Tottenham, London. The soul singer has a net worth of over £50,000,000, and has been performing for almost a decade. Even though Adele had based her most renowned album '21' on heartbreak from a previous break-up. Surprisingly it became a humungous success; honouring her with many rewards and heart-warming feedback from other well-known artists,  due to her relatable lyrics. '21' is also the fourth best-selling album of all time in the UK. The single which I am going to review is a teaser from her new album '25' and it is called 'Hello', this track was recently released on the 23rd of October, 2015.

'Hello' welcomes her return to music after 3 years; since her 2012 hit - 'Skyfall'. The lyrics are accompanied by a slow piano and the first verse proposes a sense of extreme nostalgia.

"Hello, it's me. I've been wondering if after all these years, you'd like to meet? To go over everything."

On the other hand, this song does not just portray a sense of nostalgia. This track is also solidly based on regret.

"Hello from the other side, I must've called a thousand times. To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done."

Unlike her previous work, Adele appears to be singing from the males prospective this time. This song is showing how she has built up the strength to finally get over him and accept the break-up and the male has realised that.

"Hello from the outside, at least I can say that I've tried to tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart. But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart...anymore."

I am glad that Adkins has surpassed and accepted the break-up stage; resulting in her overcoming her stage of remorse and heartbreak. She is also bringing her new work into a more positive light; still deep and soulful lyrics, however it is no longer about remorse on her behalf. This track was absolutely flawless.

10/10

Reverend & The Makers - Mirrors (Album Review)

Reverend & the Makers have been performing for a decade now, and the indie-rock band were formed in Sheffield. The current five-piece consists of; Jon McClure on lead vocals ‘The Reverend’ , Ed Cosens on the guitar, McClures multi-talented Wife; Laura on the keyboard and trumpet, Joe Carnell on bass and Ryan Jenkinson on the drums. Reverend & the Makers have supported such acts as; Arctic Monkeys in 2006, Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2008, Oasis in 2009, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds in 2012 – alongside various festivals including Glastonbury and T in the Park.

As I don’t listen to Reverend & the Makers, I was ever so surprised at how short their tracks are. Their first track ‘Amsterdam’ is only 1:14, and it is very abstract and enigmatic to say the least. It sounds like an opening track to a film. Their second track 'Black Widow' is the most renowned track off their new album, and it has a very 80's twist to it. The Arctic Monkeys styled guitar riffs from Cosens and Carnell on the bass mainly dominate this track. Their third track 'Makin' Babies' is very Beatles inspired and sounds influenced by 60's/70's psychedelia, admittedly it is very catchy.

"Everyone I know is makin'babies, what about us? What about us? Everyone I know is making sweet, sweet love. What about us? What about us?"

Their fourth track 'Stuck On You' sounds very much like some of the Arctic Monkeys work. I think the relation to Arctic Monkeys is McClures low and slow voice, plus the perfect alecution of his lyrics. Again another short track, amongst the rest. One of my favourite tracks is their next song; 'The Beach And The Sea'. It's ever so repetitive, and the guitar riffs remain simple, yet effective. 

"I'll be the beach and you'll be the sea, I want you to wash all over me."

I like this track as it has endless possibilities of meanings. I reckon everybody who has listened to this song, interprets things differently. I interpret it in the way that a beach wouldn't be a beach without the sea, therefore he wouldn't be himself without this lover. He wants to embrace the fact that he'd be nothing without her ("I want you to wash all over me"), and things wouldn't make sense without her. Therefore the woman has him right where she wants him, hence the feminine laughing towards the end of the track.

Their sixth track 'The Trip' is short, yet it builds up the mood again in preparation for another slow song; their seventh track 'El Cabrera'. This track has a very westernised feel to it, however it's more of an instrumental than a song. No lyrics, except some odd noises. It's a pretty pointless and disappointing track unfortunately. However they do turn things around with their next track -'Blue'. Upbeat guitars and drums introduce this song shortly accompanied by the vocals, this is one of those songs that you just want to get up and dance to.

Their ninth track 'Something To Remember' is their last song that is in the one-minute range. This is quite a melancholic song, reminiscing back to a good time with an old friend. 'Mr Glassalfempty' is another favourable song of theirs that I like off this album. This is due to the effectiveness of the backing vocals, giving it a 60's twist to it and it is simple yet effective - much like 'The Beach And The Sea'. I'm not much for their eleventh track 'The Gun' in all honesty; as it doesn't particularly do anything for me, it sounds too similar to their previous tracks. I'm intrigued as to what their twelfth track 'My Mirror' is going to be like, as it should be one of the stronger tracks of the album as I am presuming that it is the title track. Again, I don't see the need for this track within the album I think they should not have had 14 tracks. Perhaps narrowed it down to 10? 'Last To Know' is their second to last track on the album and I like it! It's slow and melancholic, which automatically makes you want to sway. This song also really shows off McClures vocal range.

"And now you're realising that she's just been lying, and you were the last to know"

Their final song to conclude the album is called 'Lay Me Down' and surprisingly, it's the longest track on the album. The instrumental has quite a westernised twang to it, much like 'El Cabrera'. I wanted the final song to be a lot more upbeat, unlike the rest.

"I needed somebody to lay me down"

In conclusion, I'm not much for the album as a whole. Admittedly, I do like some of the songs a lot - like; The Beach And The Sea, Mr Glassalfempty, Last To Know Stuck On You, Black Widow and Makin'Babies. However, there are several tracks within the album that are just album fillers - which don't need to be there. 'El Cabrera' is a perfect example. I think that if the album had less tracks, and was structured better - I would like it a lot more. 

 6/10

James Morrison - Just Like A Child (Single Review)

James Morrison is an English soul singer-songwriter, and guitarist from Warwickshire. He has been performing in the public eye for nearly a decade now, he has released 3 albums and is yet to release his new album - 'Higher Than Here'. Which will be released on the 30th of October, 2015. On his two most recent albums; Morrison did two very successful collaborations with Jessie J and Nelly Furtado. On his 2008 album - 'Songs For You, Truths For Me' he did the collaboration with Nelly Furtado on a song called 'Broken Strings' which proved to be very successful. Then in 2011, on his most recent album - 'The Awakening' he did a collaboration with Jessie J and the song was called 'Up'. Due to these collaborations proving to be very successful when they were released,  I really hope that Morrison features a well-known and current artist on a new collaboration for his new and upcoming album. 

'Just Like A Child' is the only single to be released from Morrison's new album so far, hence why I am going to review it. This track was released onto YouTube and iTunes on the 2nd of October 2015. I've always been a fan of James Morrison's music, even if some people do think that he is out-dated. This song is very similar to his previous work, with its slow, soothing and acoustic rhythm. The opening line grabbed my attention straight away;

"I keep holding on to time, cause it moves so fast. Keep believing in a dream, even though I know it won't last."

I really admire the way that Morrison writes his songs as the title relates to his songs, unlike some artists who's titles don't have any relation to the song whatsoever. 

"And if you fall, fall with style. Just don't lie where you land. Keep on running wild, just like a child."

This relates to the carelessness of a child as when they fall over, they just get on with it and act like it never happened. Whereas, as you get older - when you get knocked down most people don't want to get back up again. Hence why he says;

"Keep on running wild, just like a child."

Basically, just get up and keep on going. In conclusion I really admire this song due to how well thought-out the lyrics are and the constant acoustic rhythm. I'm looking forward to the release of his new album, however I just really hope that all of the songs aren't similar and that he adds some more speeded-up songs like "Slave To The Music" off his "The Awakening Album". I genuinely hope that his new album proves to be successful, because he is such a talented and under-rated artist. 

9/10

Music Complete - New Order (Album Review)

'Music Complete' is New Orders 10th studio album, and it is their first album without former bassist Peter Hook - it was released on the 25th of September 2015. New Order are a British five-piece alternative, electronic dance band. The post Joy Division five-piece consists of; lead vocalist - Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris on the drums and new additions; Gillion Gilbert on the keyboard, Tom Chapman replacing Peter Hook on the bass, and Phil Cunningham on guitar. Two singles out of the eleven tracks were released before-hand; their first single 'Restless' was released on the 28th of 

July 2015, and their second single 'Plastic' was released on the 16th of September 2015. Their 10th studio album also includes guest vocals off; Elly Jackson (La Roux), Iggy Pop, and Brandon Flowers (The Killers).

The first track on the album was the first single of the album to be released, and it is called 'Restless'. Surprisingly, this song is quite slow; on the contrary it is extremely catchy. The song is introduced by Gilbert on the keyboard. This track is very baffling; however the message that I received from it, is that somebody is fighting for something that they want, but they keep failing. Resulting in them being so focused on one thing that they are completely oblivious as to what else is going on around them.

"I feel so restless and in this changing world, I am lost for words."

I think that the lyrics are perhaps aimed at the younger generation being caught up in popularity and getting 'the girl' or 'the boy' of their dreams. Instead of focusing on growing up and developing a career and a life for themselves as adults, and as a result of being scared of the future they are 'restless' due to being unprepared for adult life.

"I feel so restless ain't got no interest, I couldn't care less cant be a success."

Their second track 'Singularity' has a long one minute intro which is gradually accompanied by a concoction of a variety of instruments. All of New Orders songs are lyrical master pieces, but I particularly like this one.

"Winter came so soon, like summer never happened."

The opening line above, attracts your attention immediately. This track has more of a dynamic upbeat compared to the previous song, which makes it sound more electronic.

"I care so much for you, I crawled a thousand miles through deserts full of sand, my love in every land."

Their third track - 'Plastic' was the second song released, and it was released 9 days before the album. This is the second longest song on the album and it features Elly Jackson (La Roux). This track has a very eary electronic introduction which gradually builds up and the beat drops at one minute. The song is immediately intense due to the long 1 minute and 32 seconds intro. This song is blatantly about a man who fantasises over a girl who he can't have, and when he gives up on her - his perception changes of her and he sees that she isn't as perfect as she first seemed.

"Cause you're like plastic, you're artificial. You don't mean nothing baby, so superficial."

Their fourth track also features Elly Jackson (La Roux) and this song is called 'Tutti Frutti' - which stands for 'all fruits' in Italian. Like a lot of their songs, it has a very funky 80's inspired dance introduction; however the intro and outro are accompanied by Italian vocals. The intro translated from Italian (according to freetranslation.com) means;

"All the fruit my love, all fruits. No it's not yet time to enter, it's not yet..."

New orders fifth track; 'People On The High Line' is the last one to feature Elly Jackson (La Roux). This one includes the 80's dance vibe to it again, and sounds similar to the likes of Happy Mondays on some parts; for example...

"I'll keep trying, I can't get any higher. There's nothing I desire."

Their mid-album track features Iggy Pop, and it's called 'Stray Dog'. However I am not a big fan of this track as it's basically just Iggy Pop speaking over the dance background in two halves. However their next track called 'Academic' is brilliant! It's less electronic and more alternative rock, and it distinctively shows off Sumners vocal ability and the guitarists talents instead of the main focus being on the keyboards.

"Cause your heart is cold and your blood runs dry. You'll never see, or hear the crashing of the sea."

'Nothing but a Fool' is another alternative track like 'Academic'. Another catchy track is 'Unlearn this Hatred' which is their ninth track. This song starts off alternative rock; like the previous two songs, and after the opening line repeats itself twice, the typical dance beat begins to kick in.

"Two steps forward and one step back." 

The second to last song on the album is called 'The Game' and it is a mixture of both alternative rock and the electronic dance genre that New Order are apart of. However the electro dance beat is not as intense as the first couple of tracks and is more similar to 'Unlearn this Hatred' and the alternative edge is similar to 'Academic' as it shows off Sumners vocal ability again. The last song to cease the album is called 'Superheated' and it features Brandon Flowers (The Killers). The intro is quite speedy, however as the song progresses the track gradually slows down to the melody of Flowers' voice.

In conclusion I would definitely recommend this album as all of the 11 tracks have been very cleverly put together and the lyrics are fantastic. I especially liked how the whole album wasn't the same genre and they mixed it up a bit. With their dynamic keyboards and mesmorizing poetic lyrics, New Order have won me with this incredible album. The only song that I wouldn't necessarily recommend is the track in which Iggy Pop features as 'Stray Dog' doesn't particularly do anything for me personally. I think that they should have just not used that track and stuck to 10 tracks for their tenth studio album. Other than that, I can't really complain. I am surprised to say the least.

9/10

Foals - What Went Down (Album Review)

Foals are a five-piece indie rock band from Oxford who formed 10 years ago in 2005, and they are currently a hot topic all over social media recently due the release of their ten-track new album - 'What Went Down'. What Went Down was recently released last month on the 28th of August, 2015. The five-piece consists of the multi-talented musicians; lead vocalist, Yannis Philippakis, Jimmy Smith on rhythm guitar, Walter Gervers on bass, Edwin Congreave on the keyboards and Jack Bevans on the drums. In all honesty, the only song that I know by Foals is their well-known 2012 hit - 'My Number'. Therefore, I am going to embrace this opportunity by being able to get a proper listen of Foals and see what the whole hype about them is.

Foals opening song is the title track of their album; therefore this track should hopefully give me a rough idea of what to expect from their album as a whole. The track has a punchy opening line that grabbed my attention straight away and it was;

"I buried my heart in a whole in the ground, with the lights and the roses and the cowards downtown."

All of the instruments remain very simple throughout the first two minutes of the song, until the chorus kicks in. You know the chorus has kicked in as lead singer, Yannis Philippakis shouts out the lyrics of -

"When I see a man, I see a lion. When I see a man, I see a liar."

I instantly liked their second and third track due to the groovy, indie rhythm on the tracks. This rhythm has been cleverly created by Congreave using a keyboard within the band, as it makes them a bit more quirky and allows them to stand out and differentiate themselves from other indie-rock bands. Their second song is called 'Mountain At My Gates'. The majority of Foals tracks off this album are incredibly catchy and these two give you a good example as of what is yet to come on the album, as this track has the noticeably contagious line of;

"I see a mountain at my gates, I see it more and more each day."

Their third song is called 'Birch Tree'. For some odd reason, even though it has an upbeat to it - I find this track incredibly therapeutic and soothing. However, I think this might be due to the way that Philippakis sings this song with a very melancholic touch.

"Come meet me by the river, see how time it flows. I'll meet you by the river, see how time it flows."

The mid-track of the album is a more lyrics-based song, and it is called 'Albatross'. Using his melancholic voice; Philippakis allows you to focus on the lyrics more, as he pronounces near enough every word very slowly and clearly.

"You sat by the banks of the river and you waited, till time rolled back and the water had abated."

Their sixth track; 'Snake Oil' is a lot less indie-rock, compared to their other tracks - and a lot more 80's rock.  With their smooth and cool guitar riffs, this track is a lot more different to the other songs on the album. That funky, indie beat that I like soon comes back on their seventh track called - 'Night Swimmers'. This track is perfect for the summer! It is just a shame that they didn't release this song as a teaser for the album earlier on in the summer. 

"Another hot summers day; and only we know the way to the cool blue lagoon, where we sleep until noon."

After listening to their eighth track 'London Thunder' I wanted something that would wake me up and make me excited, and the following track just didn't do it. The collation of songs have been ordered very badly, as the majority of songs are very similar - the order doesn't do the songs justice. The following track was called 'Lonely Hunter' and even though it did eventually kick in, it was quite near the end of the song and was only for a few seconds. The final track 'A Knife In The Ocean' just reminded me of the other two tracks, which makes me think that they have rushed the end of the album.

In conclusion; I like all of the songs individually, but I think that the album just doesn't work. All of the tracks are very similar, and they only had one ice-breaker song which was the rock one called 'Snake Oil'. There wasn't any songs that showed off his vocal range either and the band get no recognition as none of them stand out throughout the whole album, except 'Snake Oil'. Throughout any of the other songs, I never thought that any of the other musicians particularly excelled in their area of skill. I would not watch foals live as I imagine them to be a very boring act to watch. This is due to the fact when a band release a new album, and they release a tour to promote the album, their new work dominates the tour - therefore if the album appears constant and dull then surely their gig would too? Please do correct me if I am wrong though. I recommend the songs individually, but not the album as a whole. The second half of the album just appears rushed to me, leaving me very disappointed on behalf of my expectations.

6/10