Review: Rihanna - Loud

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010

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The 22 year old Bajan beauty, Rihanna, has finally released her fifth studio album following on from last year's somewhat dark but brilliantly crafted "Rated R" record. This time around Rihanna herself promised a much louder, sassier, fun and flirty album. Things are looking up already from the high colour, bright album artwork. Fresh out of the video from her launch single, Only Girl (In The World), the artwork follows the same theme, big fields, colourful materials, bright make-up and Rihanna's new trademark red hair. Let's see if the music follows suit...





1. S&M - The opening track, a StarGate produced affair, kicks things off hard with a heavy dance beat and euphoric production. After the opening chants, Rihanna's distinctive vocals  launch the verses which ooze attitude. Onto the chorus which has an addictive hook, and takes a popular playground chant and gives it a rather more adult theme, which is of course the theme of the track, S&M. For those who are rather wet behind the ears to this kind of thing, google it (maybe not google images first though, or whilst at work!) The whole ensemble is extremely danceable, addictive and gets things off to a great start. 9/10

2. What's My Name? (feat. Drake) - This is the second single from this campaign, with the video recently hitting the world wide web.  Things are calmed down slightly from the previous track, but this still keeps up with it's heavy hip-hop beat and opening vocals from Canadian artist Drake. The vocals here from Rihanna are a highlight for me, as she sounds great and her Barbados roots shine through in her accent, akin to what we heard on Rihanna's earlier albums, "Music Of The Sun" and "A Girl Like Me". The pace of the track may be slower, but this certainly doesn't trip up for it, and should be another smash hit for Rihanna's assault on the charts. 10/10

3. Cheers (Drink To That) - Straight away this track opens with a familiar sample, namely Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You". I think this is supposed to be a feel-good, no cares tune, but it does come off a little low-mood and mellow to me. That being said, I can imagine this being one of the last tracks played in the club and getting everyone up dancing. The mid-tempo beats and lyrics of the verses and chorus don't do much to lift the mood of the track, and whilst this isn't a skippable track, it unfortunately falls a bit flat and is slightly unmemorable especially if the Avril sample wasn't there. Album filler, but still good album filler 7/10

4. Fading - This is a typical "Rihanna ballad", with the heartfelt lyrics, staple piano backing yet still managing to hold a top-tappable beat. Along the same lines as Take A Bow, the theme here is the break-up of a relationship. The extra production of the track makes it interesting, especially after the middle-eight section where this extra jazzy synth is added to the mix. The lyrics have a slight frustrated feel to them, making this not a sad song but a bit of a more positive affair. Rihanna sounds great here as well. 9/10

5. Only Girl (In The World) - After this track's domination of the charts recently, this is instantly recognisable as the launch single for this campaign and is currently being played everywhere. An up-tempo dance track, the production values are high, provided by StarGate again, the lyrics are catchy and the beat hits in all the right places. Rihanna bellows out the chorus and gives this track that extra power, that I think only she could provide. Euphoric, danceable, and has clearly been another smash hit for Rihanna worldwide.  10/10

6. California King Bed - The first "proper" ballad on the album, and the last as well. The opening guitar riffs always reminds me of Alanis Morissette's "Ironic"...but that's irrelevant I guess, for now. Rihanna chimes into the track with gentle vocals found similarly on her earlier ballads, for example "Unfaithful". There is a small vocal build-up to the chorus, where a beat joins the track and it turns into a bit of a power-ballad. The rest of the track plays out as expected and then electric guitar riffs intertwine in with the middle-eight and closing chorus repeats, making this quite memorable towards the end. The track does feel a little out of place between the previous track and the next, and may have been better suited towards the end. 6.5/10

7. Man Down - Sirens and a reggae sounding chords open this track up, and you know at this point that the track is going to get a bit crazy, which always seems to work for Rihanna. The reggae theme is kicked off again with the introduction to the verses and also the choruses as well, and Rihanna's vocal delivery reeks of her Barbados roots yet again, which suits the track so well.  The infectious part of this song is the chorus and it's kicked off each time by Rihanna delivering a very fitting-to-the-theme "rum pum pu pum", of course mimicking the sounds of gun shots. This might be showing a bit of a nasty side to Rihanna though, but I like to think that the lyrics contain a metaphorical gun, and in actual fact Rihanna is singing about saying no to a man. Still, crazy and full of attitude, this is another highlight 9/10

8. Raining Men (feat. Nicki MinajMinaj who always causes a bit of chaos in a tune. This is by no means a bad thing, as the track is infectious and very catchy, with the playschool "eeny, meeny, miney, mo's", teasing chants from Rihanna, a heavy hip-hop beat and crazy lyrics in the verses. This is another clear highlight on the album and I really hope it will make a great future single as I can imagine the video similar to "Rude Boy" but cranked up to "hands-in-the-air-crazy", which is always a good thing too. 10/10

9. Complicated - This track starts of slow but grows into much more than typical ballad material. Rihanna's vocals here are loud and powerful, and almost verge on a bit shouty, but luckily just stop from falling over the edge into unpleasant. The backing track is fairly quiet to begin, yet by the time the second chorus starts the track comes into itself and adopts a slight electro dance beat. Saying this, the track is a little repetitive by the end but I think it realises this and comes to an abrupt stop just in time. Like "Cheers" found earlier on the album, this is a bit of an album filler, but a decent one none-the-less. 6.5/10

10. Skin - I can't help but feel this track fell out of the "Rated R" campaign sessions. It opens with a dark vibe and keeps it up through-out the remainder of what's on offer here. Unfortunately, to me it doesn't fit in with the feel of the album. It's a low-tempo, grungy track with quick, quiet vocals and minimal production. It feels wrong being on here, and would at best be album filler for her previous album. This is the only track I now skip on every listen. 5/10

11. Love The Way You Lie (Part II) (feat. Eminem) - Everyone will know the first "part" to this track, which was a huge hit for Eminem and featured Rihanna's vocals for the chorus. This time around, Rihanna switches it up with her own verses and re-recorded chorus, with guest vocals from Eminem. The beat is different from it's predecessor, yet goes with the track just as well and keeps it an interesting and fresh experience from Part I. Some of the production is recycled and helps keep the ties with its counterpart. Eminem's additional verse is basically an additional, unreleased part to his version and holds the aggression and theme of the track like the first time around. A welcome addition to the end of the album. 10/10

Overall rating: 8/10
A quick release hot off the heels of "Rated R", this album definitely has a much lighter feel to it but doesn't feel rushed. I wouldn't say it has all of the sass and fun that it was hyped to have, but it's clear Rihanna has transitioned from the darker times of her life and is now enjoying life again. There is a theme to the album, also reflected in the artwork and track list, but a few tracks pull it down for being a bit dull or throwaway. Additional tracks for different packages of the album include Love The Way You Lie (Part II) again but a piano ballad version, and also an awesome remix of Only Girl (In The World) which keeps all of the euphoric charm of the original track but pumps the dance beat up a bit. Does it top the almighty "Good Girl Gone Bad"? No, but I don't think it tries to. The single choices are obvious for this campaign and it contains a fresh enough selection of tracks for this to go down as another success for the ever progressing Rihanna.

Review: Nadine - Insatiable

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Saturday, November 13, 2010

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Maybe slightly unfairly, following on the heels of Cheryl Cole's Messy Little Raindrops review, fellow Girls Aloud group-mate Nadine Coyle is about to get the same treatment.
Nadine's first foray into the solo realm, Insatiable, hit shelves on 8th November 2010 exclusively through the supermarket chain Tesco, released through her own label Black Pen Records.
Unfortunately the album artwork initiated my main thoughts on the presentation of the album and it is one which reeks through the delivery of it too, self indulgence. With those words ringing, it's on with the music...








1. Runnin' - This opening tracks starts things off sounding like a bit of a Girls Aloud "B-side" track. Luckily it becomes a bit stronger and comes into itself by the time the chorus hits. Of course, Nadine sounds great, she always does. Her vocals sound tamper tree and natural, which is nice to hear. The production in this track is also great, and I love the synths that open the track and continue throughout. A good start. 7.5/10

2. Put Your Hands Up - The track starts off well, as another up-tempo tune and things get better for the chorus. There is just the right amount of production found here and also a little vocal production as well, but it is not over done and used well. It's a bit of a feel good track, and Nadine sounds like she had a good time recording it. It falls a bit flat on the middle-eight which purely consists of "Ahhhh's" but then kicks back into the hard beat and great chorus repeats for the end of the track, complete with Nadine ad-libbing all over 'em but not over-doing it. 8.5/10


3. Chained - From the start of this track you get the feel of how it is going to pan out. A pleasant beat and instrumental twangs, but a bit dated and a bit boring. Nadine sounds good, for most of the part, but starts with the vocal acrobatics which is a bit unnecessary on a track like this. The whole thing sounds a bit ploddy, the verses are messy and the chorus gets a bit repetitive by the end of the song, and isn't made any better being covered up with ad-libs at the end. 5/10

4. Insatiable - The title track, and first single from the album. This is a standout from the whole album and probably it's main highlight. The track hits hard, Nadine sounds powerful, and the beat plus brass make it a very strong track. The digital production thrown in adds to the mix and keeps it up to date pop and not too "jazzy" sounding. It takes a pinch of rock too, with the electric guitar building up towards the end. Just try not to watch the video as it taints your perception of the track a little, as those words "self indulgent" crop up again. 10/10

5. Red Light - Following a similar pattern from the previous track, Red Light hits hard again with its strong beat, synths, brass and vocals. The verses are strong but the chorus is a bit dragged out, luckily it's not repeated too much. The middle-eight sounds very reminiscent of previous Girls Aloud material though, and you're just waiting for the other's to chime in with their vocal input. The track fades out to that electric guitar again, which saves us from that loooong chorus. 8/10


6. Sexy Love Affair - A sexy love affair is definitely what is not going to occur with this track. Nadine seems to have felt some desire to half whisper / rasp out her vocals on this song, and it doesn't sound experimental or edgy, it just sounds, wait for it...self indulgent. The lyrics are awful and are half down to Nadine as she co-wrote this (and all of the album actually) so maybe when she made the bad decision to rasp out this track, she also felt the desire to write a bad song? She succeeded. This track could have worked as a short 30 second interlude, but no, not like this. 2/10

7. Lullaby - This one opens purely with Nadine's vocals, now that she's cleared her throat and stopped with the raspy silliness. It then builds up with a military sounding snare beat and then blooms into a decent sounding melody and backing track. The lyrics are much better here if maybe a little cliche and typical of your "my man is gone, I'm missing him, he will return, I still love him" theme. The track doesn't stand out as amazing but is certainly not awful either. It is forgettable, but nice while it lasts. 6/10

8. You Are The One - Again this track opens purely with Nadine's vocals. Unfortunately they sound, again, self indulgent and like she's trying so hard to sound amazing. I wish she'd realise she sounds better when she doesn't try so hard. The track doesn't really pick up, being a ballad, but to the point where it just becomes boring. A bit of a guitar strum and bashing of a drum, the usual ballad stuff here, just with Nadine straining over the top. Skippable. 2/10

9. Natural - Another ballad here, same stuff as before with nothing to note. No, I lie, a piano is the focal instrument as opposed to the guitar strums from the previous track. Nadine sounds good and doesn't try to impress us, which is all that makes it an improvement from You Are The One. Listen to half of it, get the first chorus out of the way, and then skip as you're not missing anything. 3/10


 11. Rumours - Ooooh another ballad. I don't have anything against ballads, really, just split them up a bit. And make good ones too... Oops! On sample this time we have Nadine's voice, Nadine's voice, a drum, a piano, Nadine's voice, a violin and Nadine's voice. The last minute of the track is the best part though and the ballad starts to work perfectly, just a little too late. 4/10

12. Unbroken - Hello raspy vocals again! This time mixed with her normal vocals, maybe trying to create the illusion of two people singing? Or even amazing vocal talents? No, it just sounds messy, but I get what Nadine was going for here which was the illusion of amazing vocal talents sounding like two different people. This track is your typical "dinner party" track, and will sound fine if played at a low volume over dinner discussions and small talk. If you're just listening to the album in any other situation too, this goes down like a lead balloon. This falls in the up-beat Ballad category, but the up-beat soon turns to crazy keyboard jazz towards the end and ruins the entire track, or what was left to ruin any way. Off, now. 1/10

13. Make A Man Out Of You Yet - The closing track here, and this one was purely written by Coyle alone. The track opens with a piano melody and strings, and then in comes Nadine to sing her carefully written words. Then in comes the guitar for the awful chorus accompaniment. Once that's out of the way the track adopts the typical ballad beat, plod, plod, plod. Unfortunately Nadine just comes off as self indulgent again, and very snobby doing so, implying she is the woman to make a man our of men. No, Nadine, no. Stop, eject. Done. 1/10

Overall rating: 5/10
This was never going to work out well really, was it? The accepted vocal power house of Girls Aloud, making a solo album, could only end one way and it is the way that opened the review, self indulgent. The album starts of well, with good and very good points, then just flops for the remaining two thirds of the experience. It just scraped a five out of ten though, as it has produced one very good single and Nadine has clearly put work into it, writing or co-writing all of the tracks and releasing it off her own back, so credit to her for that. Maybe it could have told her something though, when bigger record labels didn't want to release it? If you do a follow-up Nadine, less of the self indulgent vocals, no self indulgent video to your launch single, and a less self indulgent photo shoot for the artwork.
In fact, to close, how about just getting back in the studio with Girls Aloud where your talents, which are clearly there, are better utilised and you come over a more likable pop star.

Review: Cheryl Cole - Messy Little Raindrops

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Saturday, November 13, 2010

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Better late than never, here's the review for Cheryl's second studio album, Messy Little Raindrops. Released 1st November 2010, this is the followup to Cheryl's multi platinum first record, 3 Words. This record expands on the highlights of the first one, and takes that R&B sound that's featured prominently throughout 3 Words and creates a full album like it with much less Will.I.Am (thank the lord!) There are other collaborations and featured artists on the album too, which I believe shows Cheryl's growing status not only in the UK but internationally.
The album artwork is a bit of a cop out though, and as much as Cheryl continues to look stunning, the photo shoot is uninspired and the post-processing is unimaginative. Still, on with the music...


1. Promise This - The album's lead single, Promise This was the fasted selling single in the UK within 2010 (so far!) and shot straight in at number one. Up-tempo and danceable it's easy to see why. The theme of the track is similar to the material written for her first album, and centres around love. With the catchy french nursery rhyme lyrics featuring prominently throughout the track too, this is bound to get stuck in your head. 10/10

2. Yeah Yeah (feat. Travie McCoy) - The first collaboration on the album, Yeah Yeah continues the up-tempo beat with a 90's dance sounding piano chord running through, but brings it up to date with sirens and vocal effects. This is definitely an "album track" though, as it lacks excitement and I find myself getting bored of it half way through. Travie McCoy (of previous Gym Class Heroes and now solo fame) fails to bring much to the track as well. 5/10

3. Live Tonight - The first of two tracks Will.I.Am has touched on this album and luckily this doesn't sound samey and generic like the majority of his catalogue he's produced. I'd class this as an up-tempo ballad. Sombre lyrics and vocal delivery but a pleasing backing track make this listenable and not one for skipping, but still falls into "album track" category. 6.5/10

4. The Flood - This is penned to be the second single from the album, and will make a great Christmas release. A strong ballad and Cheryl sounds great on it (if slightly over produced with the auto-tune!) The verses sound vulnerable and build up to a crashing chorus, which is fitting for a track titled The Flood. This makes up for the slightly generic beat the track adopts, but the track is everything it needs to be. 9/10

5. Amnesia - Back into the up-tempo realms, Amnesia sounds very R&B with hints of the old UK Garage genre. The verses are a little weak but the chorus is catchy and is complimented by the twangs and production of the backing track. The track is danceable and possibly single worthy, especially with some great remixes. Just try not to cringe at the middle-eight section of the tune, as Cheryl sounds a bit strained in her delivery. I try every time! 8.5/10

6. Everyone (feat. Dizzee Rascal) - Once this track kicks off, the beat is hard and instantly gets you moving. Strangely, the verses are much stronger than the chorus but this doesn't detract from the track too much. Dizzee eventually chimes in with a signature rap which acts as the tracks middle-eight section. The track does seem to abruptly fade out at the end though, and I think this would have better suited a heavy buildup finale instead. Still, another strong track. 8/10

7. Raindrops - This acts as the title track for the album, and is a mid-tempo plodder. The lyrics and Cheryl's delivery are spot on but the track lacks a lot of punch and the auto-tuning on Cheryl's vocals can grate hard at times. There is a military sounding snare throughout the track, similar to her previous hit "Parachute", but used much less effectively. The track doesn't seem to go anywhere and before you know it, it's over, which is a shame as there are a few really "pretty" parts of the track which get lost. 5/10

8. Hummingbirds - Sticking with the mid-tempo feel, Hummingbirds does what Raindrops should have done and makes for good listening. The lyrics again are pretty and Cheryl's delivery suits the track. There is a stronger beat to this track than the previous, with lots of production featured including a music-box style "jingle" and clapping. The track really builds up towards the end, throwing in all the production used in the track at once and makes for a nice crescendo of sounds. Definitely a highlight! 10/10

9. Better To Lie (feat. August Rigo) - This J.R Rotem produced track sounds very American, and features vocals from songwriter August Rigo known for working with Justin Beiber (cringe), Iyaz and JLS. This does have a bit of a generic R&B beat to it, but it works so why fix it if it ain't broke? The lyrics are great, and is delivered from Cheryl and August as a couple arguing with each other. The twist in the lyrics also play with the notion of it being better to lie (as the title suggests!) then telling the truth, which is a different spin on the usual "stop lying, why are you lying, I'm leaving you" theme. A great track to listen to and another highlight of the album. 10/10

10. Let's Get Down - The second of Will.I.Am's tracks on the album, starting with what sounds like a great danceable beat, the track is thrown into dullness as soon as the tiny sample from Brandy's "Full Moon" is over. The lyrics are abysmal, Cheryl sounds awful, and the track never gets anywhere or achieves anything. This could have been another hit single, but turns out to be a completely wasted opportunity. If you're still listening half way through, Will.I.Am then pipes in too. Lovely...! Always a skipper for me unfortunately. 2/10

11. Happy Tears - This is another mid-tempo track, and seems to reference Cheryl's recent hard times in life with her marriage and illness. I guess we knew there was going to be mention of it somewhere on the album... and luckily it isn't cheesy and cliche, it works to make a enjoyable track. The beat keeps it from getting boring, and the lyrics turn inspirational as the track goes on. An album track, but an enjoyable one. 7/10

12. Waiting - One of the best is saved until last here, which isn't usually the case for most albums. Waiting samples Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles", and makes great use of such a popular song. The track is danceable, singable, likable and repeatable (as in, to play over and over as opposed to sounding repetitive!) and more importantly makes you feel good when listening to it. The lyrics take a bad situation and shine light on it, to make everything seem not so bad. Is it slightly cheesy? Yes. Do I care? No. 10/10

Overall rating: 7.5/10
This is definitely an improvement over Cheryl's first album, which wasn't overly bad anyway. The departure of every track being produced by Will.I.Am works as one of it's greatest strengths as it sounds less samey and doesn't have his vocals plastered all over it. There are amazing moments on it, namely the closing track and other points scattered in before that, but the rest still stays mediocre. This raises the question as to whether Cheryl is really that credible as a solo artist, without her Girls Aloud group-mates. She's clearly popular with the fans, she's clearly a hard worker and wants to make it herself, and she clearly looks the part. But there's so many times when her vocals are not the focus of her music, and a lot of her songs could be sung by anyone and still be amazing / good / bad / awful equally as if she were singing.
Still, this is not a debate I wish to have, as I love Cheryl none-the-less, so to close, she has made an improvement from her first record and shows no signs of stopping. It didn't race to number one in the album charts for no reason!

Cheryl Cole - Messy Little Raindops (Album) - Sampler

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Monday, October 25, 2010

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As Cheryl Cole prepares to release her second album on 1st November 2010, check out the album sampler below to get a taste of what you're in for when it drops.

I will, however, take the time to sum things up for everyone briefly in the following short statement...

"AMAAAAAAZING!!!!111111oneoneone"

I have had the chance to give the full album a good listen over the past few days and will continue to until my copy is delivered next Monday when I'll have a review here for you on the release date (and not before!). Until then, heed that word above and get ready for it...

Olly Murs - Thinking Of Me (Single) - Video

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Monday, October 25, 2010

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Following the success of his debut single Please Don't Let Me Go, X-Factor 2009 runner-up Olly Murs has unveiled the video for his second single, Thinking Of Me.
The track follows the same sound and style of his debut release, and still keeps that summery vibe regardless of of the fact that summer is now over. The vocals are still up to Olly's high standard but hugely let down by the awful lyrics. The theme tells the story of an old love in which Olly is recalling memories from their time together, and although they are no longer a couple the old love is still thinking of him. It's cheesy but is works purely on the fact that this is Olly Murs and he can pull it off.

The video itself has less of a story to it than the previous video, and is comprised mainly of different shots of Olly dancing about on posts and fences (held up by strings, or super human abilities? This is still up for debate...!) whilst singing about his memories. Every now and then, he catches the eye of a woman who always ends up looking like his past love. It's less interesting to watch than the video for Please Don't Let Me Go but who needs scenery, the video has OLLY MURS in it for flip sake, that should be enough to watch!

The single drops on 21st November 2010 in the UK, followed by Olly's debut album on 29th November 2010. Check out the video below and let me know what you think...!

Olly Murs - Please Don't Let Me Go (Single) - Video

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010

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Olly Murs, X-Factor 2009 runner up, it set to release his debut single "Please Don't Let Me Go" on 29th August 2010. The track has been floating about over the radio for a few weeks now and substantial hype is building, and rightly so as it is a bit of a tune! Slight reggae-ish pop with a strong summer chillout sound may contribute to making this release a chart smash for Olly.

The video has just premiered, and to match the summery vibe to the track, is set at an old English manor party. Olly looks slightly edible, there is a small dance routine by the backing dancers, Olly wears a hat (of course!) and looks edible, there is a little bit of humour thrown in and at the end of it, Olly still looks edible.

Keep your eyes open for it on the music channels the upcoming weeks / months, as this is sure to be around for a while! Check it out below...

Alexandra Burke Won't Start Without You!

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

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British Pop/R&B diva Alexandra Burke has revealed her fifth single, titled Start Without You, and its a bit of a summer stomper!


The track will more than likely feature on her upcoming second album, which is yet to be titled, which also denontes the end of her "Overcome" campaign. It is produced by RedOne (which is obvious from first listen!) and features a reggae-ish beat, Alex's powerful vocals and a rap too which adds to that summer vibe.
The track as a whole sounds VERY much like an early Kat DeLuna tune, with the RedOne produced sound, the tropical summer beats and tribal-ish effects.

No video yet, as there are only leaked pictures so far (one of which is up there ^^!), but for now treat your ears to the track in full here...

Review: Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Monday, July 05, 2010

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The eleventh studio album by Australian artist Kylie Minogue finally hit shelves today, after much much much anticipation from Kylies fans - and there are a lot of them worldwide! The album takes Kylie back to her dance floor sound, which she did so well around 2001-2003 before she started experimenting for her previous album, X. Kylie has teamed up with producer Stuart Price who has previously worked with Madonna, Scissor Sisters, Frankmusik and Keane and also songwriters Calvin Harris, Nerina Pallot, Jake Shears and Tim Rice-Oxley to create an album that is been in the works for the past couple of years.
The artwork for the album is all themed around the "Aphrodite" theme, who is the greek godess for love, beauty and sexuality and Kylie embodies that herself in the images on offer here.


1. All The Lovers - The lead single for this album campaign, and a successful hit in the UK and Europe and even gaining momentum in the US too. The sound is like a higher tempo "Slow", with more feel good vibes and a summery feel to it. The electro beats and synths, piano backing and Kylies whispy vocals create a euphoric sound which carries the entire track to the middle eight and build up to the instrumental break. More of the same but harder hitting is then unleashed until the track concludes with the sole line "All The Lovers"...blissful! 10/10

2. Get Outta My Way - More summer dance beats fill this track, with stripped verses leading into a stomping chorus. Kylie sounds confident and determined in her delivery of the lyrics which are themed around the shunning of a previous lover for a new one in front of them. Word is that this will be the second single from this campaign and should be just as successful as All The Lovers if released when the sun is still shining! 10/10

3. Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - This track instantly kicks off with a heavy beat, and Kylie chants the opening verse over these beats leading to a smash of a build up into the high tempo chorus. The electro vibe is really pushed in the chorus and is dancable and catchy. This is definitely a club stomper and should get floods of people to the dancefloor with their hands in the air, especially when the track gets to its disco middle eight! 10/10

4. Closer - This track is one of the more experimental tracks on the album, but still flows well and keeps the electro dance theme. The build up takes a while along with the first verse but by the time the chorus picks up the heavier beat is introduced and the track feels more complete. This is borderline mid-high tempo and does leave me a little confused after listening to it, as i'm not sure if I want to dance or just enjoy the listening experience. The vocals sound extremely Kylie of the early 2000's though! 7.5/10

5. Everything Is Beautiful - The first slightly chilled track on the album, this creates a nice breather from all the stomping around you may or may not have been doing so far. The heavy piano track running through the background, lazy summer beats and synths and slower vocals from Kylie create the sound which is perfect to go grab a drink before returning to the dancefloor, or sit down and de-sweat yourself. None of this make it a bad track though, and it is one of the albums hidden gems! 9/10
6. Aphrodite - OH MY LORD just about sums up my opinion of the title track. A funky almost marching beat opens this track, before Kylie chants a few lines and then wham, the track kicks off and is propelled into the outter stratosphere. The lyrics almost seem perfect for Kylies delivery, full of self confidence and an air of "I'm back" about them. The beats and military drums litter the track throughout and keep it moving as it makes it's way through the verses, powers through the choruses and then into the small middle eight where things are kicked off one final time before the track closes. This is the highlight of the entire album, in my very humble opinion! 11/10

7. Illusion - Kylie creates a calming vibe at the start of this track with her vocals before the slower dirty electro beat filters in and sets the pace for this one. There is a chilled feel to the track as well, but there's a little too much going on to put it in the same class as Everything is Beautiful. The digital beeps and synths keep the track sounding modern and fun, so be careful not to underestimate this track as I did first listen! 9/10

8. Better Than Today - This track opens straight away with a fun electro ditty and once things kick off the track still sounds very fun and very summery still. The production sounds similar to a Scissor Sisters track (dispite this one having no affiliation with Jake Shears), and whilst the beat isn't overly heavy, it is funky and literally plods at a decent pace. The guitar riffs create a little extra something here too and so this track remains interesting and exciting. 9.5/10

9. Too Much - Another highlight can be found here, with a heavy electro vibe flowing through it. The chorus is the best part, but the verses to not disappoint either. The heavy bass and effects almost push this track into a trance genre, but is pulled back into the dance feel with the middle eight break and Kylies distinct vocals. This is also the Calvin Harris produced and co-written track along with Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters, and has their sound all over it. 10/10
10. Cupid Boy - Again the boundaries of electro dance pop and trance are pushed here, but Kylie makes sure she knows what she wants this track to be classed as with her vocals, which sound like a mix of early 200's Kylie and "X" era Kylie. The chorus is hard hitting and the lyrics are clever and euphoric. The production values are high and the fun in this track is made obvious with Kylies voice. Another dancey summer track to entertain yourself with. 10/10

11. Looking For An Angel - Why is there always one track which never quite hits the mark and makes it almost impossible for me to rate a whole album a full ten? This track kicks off weak and doesn't really aim as high as the rest of the tracks, although Kylies vocals do sound fantastic. It is the last chilled sounding track before the close of the album, and whilst the first half sounds a little dull the second half does pick up slightly with more of a beat to it. The track is slightly experimental again and differs from the sound as a whole but sounds a little strange by the middle-eight. A pleasent listen, but breaks the pace a little. 6.5/10

12. Can't Beat The Feeling - Back to normality for this albums final track, this opens with a disco feel and keeps that theme going all the way through with the addition of a steady dance beat and electro synths and production. Another feel good track, but a little samey sounding by now. Still a euphoric sounding track with Kylie singing about the feelings she gets with a certain person which add to the tracks fun sound. 8/10

Overall rating: 9.5/10
I so so so wanted to give this album a full ten out of ten, but the score was tainted a little by a couple of SLIGHTLY weaker tracks, and the fact that it might not just be experimental enough for Kylie. Still, this is what the fans wanted after the mish mash of tracks found on "X" (although I enjoyed X quite a lot too...) and that is exactly what they got. A cohesive, complete, pure Kylie album - Kylie doing what she does best. The feel good value of this entire album is amazing, and will make a great soundtrack to the summer of 2010.
Depending on where you picked up the album from, you may have also got your hands on one of two bonus tracks, Heartstrings which is a mid-tempo electro chiller and very enjoyable, although almost a little sad sounding by Kylies vocals. There is also Mighty Rivers which comes with the iTunes copy of the album. The instrumental and verses are great but the chorus is a bit of a let down.
To close is a Kylie album, and one of her best if not her best yet! Kylie fans will love it, pop fans should love it and music fans in general should be able to appreciate it too. Well done to Kylie and team, now hurry up and get on tour with it!

Review: Kelis - Flesh Tone

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Monday, June 28, 2010

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American R&B turned Electro-Dance artist, Kelis, released her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, worldwide on 17th May 2010 apart from the United States and Canada where it is due for release on 6th July 2010.
This is the first album released by Kelis on the Interscope label, working under the will.i.am branding which is mainly responsible for her switch of sound.
The album is summery, sweaty and primal and is perfect for long gym sessions, long car drives or summer beach parties and the album artwork was directed by British portrait and fashion photographer, John "Rankin" Waddell. It is very conceptual and fits with the primal dance feel of the album.
As for the tracks...


1. Intro - As the title suggests, the introduction track to the album. The track builds up to a crescendo of electro beats, destinctive Kelis vocals and spacey synths. It all sounds very "Daft Punk" until all sounds fade out into a chant of "We control the dance floor..." repeated until it kicks off straight into the next track which is the first proper track on the album. 7/10

2. 22nd Century - A slow euphoric intro slowly builds up into an electro stomper of a track. Heavy beats, repetitive vocals and use of digital effects pull this track straight from the future of the 22nd century. Kelis' view is that everybody will be dancing, and if this is the sort of thing playing out of our speakers then, she is very right! By the time the track hits the three and a half minute mark, all the stops are out and you should be dancing, breaking down and enjoying yourself already! The track then breaks into an instrumental intro for the next one, as all the tracks on this album do. 8/10

3. 4th Of July (Fireworks) - This is the second single from this campaign, and after a few listens it has already surpassed the launch track, Acapella, in my eyes (or ears?). This is incredibly summery, euphoric, dancable and even sing-along. More dirty electro beats, a memorable lyric sheet and a spacey pre-chorus break make this track one of the total highlights of this album. You can't help but feel good after listening to this track! 10/10

4. Home - Seemlessly flowing on from the previous track, Home is again very powerful, feel good and danceable. A very memorable chorus, catchy beats and screeching synths make sure this track stays in your head long after listening to it. Kelis' huskier, almost whispered vocals add to the feel of the track and it all builds up to explode in the final chorus before dropping out on an instrumental break to the next track. 10/10

5. Acapella - This was the lead single from the Flesh Tone campaign. After being very successful worldwide, and featured all over radio, TV and commercial slots, everyone should know this tune by now. It has a distinct David Guetta feel to it, and as he produced the track I guess that should be expected! Acapella never fails to bring people to the dance floor, able to sing along and dance to a song so well known for this summer. Dancey synth beats, various breaks and buildups and a memorable, chanty chorus made this a perfect album launch single. 10/10

6.  Scream - This is one of the albums more heavier tracks, with a very heavy bassline once the bare-bones intro has finished. Kelis vocals are very robotic here, which adds to the tracks electro feel. The verses are recited as though Kelis was just programmed to say them on demmand but again this is not a bad thing for this track. The verses and chorus almost seem to have reversed roles here, as the chorus is a lot less intense than the verses. This is also a perfect workout track, and very motivational! 10/10

7. Emancipate - This track is again extremely electro, hard hitting and catchy, although a little repetitive on the chorus. The verses are perfectly structured though and Kelis sounds wonderful on them and a lot more organic. This does come across as a bit of a gay anthem too, especially when the repetitive chorus does kick in! Kelis is clearly showing self power and self belief here, and again this is a very motivational track! After this comes a rather strange but original intro to the next track... 9/10

8. Brave - Another hard electro track, opening with Kelis' vocals introducing the theme of the song as well as synths looping over in the background. This all acts as a mega-buildup to the chorus, which is again very powerful and full of self belief and inspiration. The lines and between chorus and verses are a little blurred but this just makes the track just feel more epic and doesn't disrupt the lyrics and theme of the track at all. Lots of heavy beats, synths and cymbal crashes create a very "set free" sound, which I believe was the aim of the track. 9/10

9. Song For The Baby - This final track starts off a little different from the others, will a brass introduction and initially I was worried this would ruin the lot. Then in kick the piano backing tracks, heavy beats and Kelis' echoey vocals and, whilst this track sounds a little different from the rest of the album, is still falls into the same genre and sound just with a bit more originality in the instrumentals. Unfortunately, as with a lot of final tracks, this is the weakest on the album, even if it isn't a weak track in general overal. Once this track fades out though there are no more intros to more tracks, this is the lot. 7/10

Overall rating: 9/10
Kelis has taken her sound and career in a completely new direction with the release of Flesh Tone, but this is not a bad thing at all and when all is said and done the results are much more memorable, feel good, upbeat and dancable. When looking at the track listing, it does look a little short on tracks but manages to not feel short when listening to the whole thing, which is an accomplishment. The album has failed to make any impressionable dents on any of the european album charts, which is very suprising as the album feels very european indeed. Still, with the release due in her home country soon where she has a lot more recognition, hopefully this will be a smash for her as this album deserves to be commended for it. Whether you are after that new gym soundtrack, a soundtrack for your summer, a collection of tracks for a party or just to blast out at home or in your car, this does the trick and hits all the right buttons.
If you get a chance, check out the videos for the currently released singles from this campaign too, they have been a little spectacular!

The Saturdays - Missing You (Single) Video

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Sunday, June 27, 2010

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British pop girl-group The Saturdays unveiled their latest music video this weekend for the new single, Missing You. This is the lead single from their third album, Headlines, which is due for release in August and available for pre-order now.

After a bit of a rocky second album campaign with Wordshaker, the girls are hoping to re-launch themselves off the back of a new album and a fresh set of tracks. The tracklist for the new album is yet to be revealed, but it is rumoured to contain previous singles Forever Is Over and Ego, but with Wordshaker containing some brilliant pop gems, I'm hoping they aren't trying to wipe the album from their memories.

So, the new track itself is quite summery, borders on ballad / mid tempo stomper, and is actually a little trancey and euphoric in some places. I do feel the track needs something more though, it feels like an element is missing. Maybe a memorable middle-eight or a beefed up chorus will do it, but Missing You is still a decent track and will hopefully do well for the girls.
The video, however, is a bit lacklustre no matter how summery it may be. The dance routine seems a little clunky for a track with this sound and the beach shots of the girls look like a Thomas Cook advert with a slightly higher budget. They all look lovely though, so well done them at least!

Here's the video to judge for yourself...

Selena Gomez & The Scene - Round & Round (Single) Video

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2010

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Hot off the heels of previous single "Naturally", Selena Gomez and co have premiered their new video for the lead single of their yet to-be-titled sophmore album, Round & Round.
It seems Naturally has only just relented its assult on the UK charts, so this seems like a quick turn around for me but thankfully it is not in vein.

Round & Round copies the electro-pop sounds of their previous single, and the better tracks from their debut album Kiss and Tell. This is, of course, a good thing as the teen rock genre could only take them so far and limit their fan base.
The track, whilst not as strong as "Naturally", still has radio friendly hit written over it and Selena sounds as good as ever. The video on the other hand was shot in Prague, and see's Selena play a teen spy looking less a lot less teen than ever. She looks stunning and even takes a shot at a bit of platinum blonde with one wig!

Here's the video, expect to see it rotating along the music channels soon!

Review: Christina Aguilera - Bionic

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010

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After a four year hiatus having babies and the like, Christina Aguilera released her eagerly anticipated fourth full-length English studio album on Monday 7th June. Following on from the moderate worldwide success of the lead single; "Not Myself Tonight", Xtina let us in gently with that as first single choice as the rest of the record is slightly more obscure, creative and futuristic sounding. This record takes a clear move away from the previous album, Back to Basics, which can only be a good thing!
On with the tracks...



1. Bionic - Almost sounding like merely an intro track for the album in the first minute, this title track then kicks off into a full blown chorus and turns into a "proper" track. The verses continue to sound a little like album breaks, but the chorus and chorus buildups propel the track straight into the 22nd century, or at least what I can imagine the 22nd century may sound like...? A hard, constant beat ensures the track doesn't lose its direction and overall this works as a great album opener! 8/10

2. Not Myself Tonight - Previously mentioned as this campaigns lead single, Not Myself Tonight marked a return to form for Xtina in my opinion, although the track only received moderate success worldwide. This is one of the higher tempo tracks on the album and is an instant club stomper. The urban beats, catchy chorus and memorable "Christina" style middle eight makes this a classic. 10/10

3. Woohoo - This is the next (second) single from the Bionic campaign and i'm not sure how it is going to be received. The suggestive lyrics are a little cliche and feel a bit dated. I can imagine remixes sounding immense in clubs though, so this should lend itself to a good few of those. Production is a little lacking in this track and a lot of the time you are listening to just a beat and vocals. Also the phone in "featuring artist"; Nicki Minaj, manages to deliver a rap break down which is almost incomprehensible at times (more so than most rap breaks!). Might want to re-think the second single choice Xtina and co. 5/10

4. Elastic Love - The future sounding, robotic sound of Elastic Love doesn't lend itself to Christina's vocals all that well, and sounds quite similar to the re-produced or extra tracks off of her Keeps Gettin' Better - A Decade of Hits compilation. Saying that, the lyrics a quite clever and well written and the production values are high here, even if they are a little bland. The catchy chorus redeems the track a bit and ensures this track doesn't get too "future electro" for it's own good. 6/10

5. Desnudate - A return to the higher tempto sounds here, this track plays with the theme of nudity and is a little racey - which works here. Latin ad-libs, a little brass and sensual moans add that sassy feel to the track and Christina's vocals often belt out to remind us of what she is capable of. A fast drum line keeps the track dancable and overall creates quite a feel good sound. More of this please! 9/10

6. Love & Glamour (Intro) - Vocal album interlude. Christina...where did you pull this little speach from as it sounds very familiar(!)
7. Glam - Following the theme of high fashion and glamour from the previous interlude, this track is all about superficial glamour and love of clothes. Unfortunately, the track isn't overly glamourous and just feels boring. It is also a break from the overly futuristic sounding tracks so far. A boring beat, unmemorable lyrics and pretentious sounding attitude of the track just add to the dislike. A bit of a skipper for me! 3/10

8. Prima Donna -  Turn your subwoofers up, the bass in this track is a little immense! A distinctly hip-hop sounding beat, this almost sounds like it was taken from Rihanna's "Rated R". That isn't a bad thing though, and works well with the theme of the track and aggression in Xtina's vocals. What propels this track from quite good to amazing is the synth sample of the Jackson 5's "Can You Feel It", a nod at the late king of pop I'd imagine. Nice one Christina! 10/10

9. Morning Desert (Intro) - Another album interlude. This sounds less fake than the previous one though, and marks another switch of theme for the coming tracks...
10. Sex For Breakfast - The pace is slowed down here, for a bit of soul and chilled beats. Christina's voice sounds raw and top form here. The lyrics are a play on food and sex and follow on from the previous interlude. Production is minimal here and the slow beat, piano backing track and whispered lines make this good ambient background music material, especially if you're looking to get some Sex for Breakfast yourself. If not, maybe look elsewhere for your mood creating music as the lyrics get a little explicit even if it isn't glaringlu obvious. 6/10

 11. Lift Me Up - Another slow tempo ballad-like track, this doesn't really fit with the sound of the album even if there is an interlude to break this section up. The lyrics are inspiring and well performed by Xtina, although this doesn't really excuse the track from breaking the coherrent sound offered here so far. If this was on her 2002 album Stripped then this would have worked as the track itself is nice. But it doesn't belong here! 4/10

12. My Heart (Intro) - Yet another album interlude performed by Christina's bundle of joy, her son Max. This also sounds very out of place after Xtina just spent the first half of this album performing tracks about sex, nudity, glamour and other adult material.

13. All I Need - Yaaaawn. Another ballad this time all about Christina's feelings towards her son. This is very similar to Britneys' "My Baby", although Britney pulls it off better (only slightly though!). Again this track DOES NOT WORK in this album. It is distracting, breaks the flow, the themes and the sound. Typical slow drum beat, piano backing and vocals make this track up. Skip skip skip please. 1/10

14. I Am - More sentimental, self indulgent ballad material can found here. If you've not given up on the album at this point, well done to you and there's just one more to endure before getting back to the good stuff! There isn't much else to say about this that wasn't said for the previous track. Nice vocals from Christina though, now put them to a nice track and we'll be getting somwhere! 2/10

15. You Lost Me - The title of this track is almost what can be explained for the amount of people maybe pressing the stop buttons on their music players by now. You lost them! Who ever decided to put this vast amount of ballads together needs firing immediately! I don't care if it's a "section" or "theme" for this part of the album. It's not nesessary and definitely not enjoyable. SKIP. 1/10
16. I Hate Boys - No interlude to mark the end of the last five tracks of dull listening, I Hate Boys brings that futuristic pop sound back. This sounds a little like Christina's 2008 track; "Keeps Gettin' Better". The lyrics are fun and the high production values make a welcome re-appearence. The track is a little short at just over two minutes and feels like it's over too quickly, but lukily things are not slowed down again for a while now. Thank you Christina and co! 8/10

17.  My Girls - The track starts off a little funky and almost Goldfrapp sounding, then breaks into a catchy, chanty chorus. This is a song about power to Christina's girls, running the show apparently. The lyrics feel a little over-used but the funky beats and fun nature of the track make this an enjoyable listen. No futuristic sounding production here though, just typical pop sounds. 7/10

18. Vanity - Christina opens this song with a teasy one liner, then the synthy beats kick in and playful verses start. The track is themed around self loving, vain, pretentious thoughts about yourself but works to its advantage as listening to it almost makes you believe the lyrics. Or is that just me...? Anyway, the chorus is a little weak and the production sounds unfinished and lacking in any "oomph" but then Christina belts out with her signature yell which I know i've missed, and all feels right in the world. 7/10

19. Monday Morning - This track manages to sound extremely vintage yet incredibly current at the same time. Funky disco beats, futuristic synths and retro claps create a very interesting sound, and a track that doesn't sound like a Christina track at all, which may have something to do with her weak vocal perfomance here! Still, this is definitely one of the albums highlights and brings the records coherrent sound back in place. 8/10

20. Bobblehead - As much as the "Wah Wah's" in this track may annoy you, Bobblehead is borderline amazing! Clever lyrics (although slightly Ke$ha!), anthemic production, various dance breakdowns and vocal chants, this is a track you can go crazy to! It reminds me of a Basement Jaxx track, which is totally a good thing. I look forward to hearing this in a club and letting loose! 9/10
21. Birds Of Prey - Drawing the album to a close slowly, the track opens with synthetic sounds and vocal chanting. The feel of this track returns to the chilled sound of "Sex for Breakfast", just without the sex, or a morning meal for that matter. Whilst this one isn't single material at all, it makes for a good album track and if interludes or slower tempo tracks had to be used earlier to to break things up, this could have been one of them and worked a lot better. The lyrics are very creative and imaginative and the production screams of Ladytron, who did in fact produce this track. Pleasent, but nothing exciting. 6/10

22. Stronger Than Ever - Another ballad just had to be plonked in here didn't it. At least with this one the production values are a bit better, and Christina gives a very strong vocal delivery. It manages to still sound quite futristic with its heavier drum beat, spacey breaks and echoing guitar riffs. I'll let this one off...just this one. 4/10

23. I Am (Stripped) - This is a stripped down version of the previous, same titled track "I Am". The same comments apply, but the track works a little better in this stripped form and is quite a nice listen. If this track just HAD to be used, this version should have made it alone instead. 3/10

 24. Little Dreamer - The final track on this slightly over-lenghty album, Little Dreamer sounds like another snooze fest but is actually an electro gem hidden away at the end of a long road. Sentimental lyrics, electro pop beats and a strong vocal performance make this a very good way to end the album, reminding us of its prime sounds and Christina's awesome voice. Had this album been 8 tracks or so shorter, this would have rounded things off nicely. 6/10

Overall rating: 6.5/10
What should have marked an epic return to form in Christuna Aguilera's carrer actually felt a little too crafted, too long lived and actually lacking a lot of punch when it mattered. The four year break clearly built up a lot of material in Xtina's catalogue to use and a lot of it is awesome, but a lot of it is definitely not so awesome and it seems, for some reason, like the powers that be selected one too many not so awesome tracks to make up this record. When the concise theme and sound hit the mark, it worked really well but unfortunately there are too many breaks from this sound and into ballad territory. Maybe the regular edition doesn't drag as much, but also lacks some great bonus tracks that the deluxe edition (reviewed here) offers. Still, if you are a fan of Christina's voice itself, you may be able to overlook the ballad heavy second section of the album and appreciate the record more. I tried, I really did, and I'm no ballad hater, but only the crazy uptempo tracks seemed to be worth a listen here. It will be interesting to see which tracks are selected as singles in the future as I can't see that many featured here prime for a single release...

Lady GaGa - Alejandro (Single) Music Video

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010

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After much hype, Lady GaGa finally premiered her latest music video epic for the single Alejandro today. Following suit from the ten minute video for her previous single, Telephone, this one weighs in at just over eight minutes.

I'm not quite sure of the concept or story behind this one as of yet, I need to give it a few more watches. All I can say is there are a fair few dancers, men in fishnet tights and heels and GaGa's costumes are increasingly morbid. GaGa does show off a few more complex dance moves than before though, which is nice to see!

Let me know what you think the usual way...

Kylie - Aphrodite Preview Megamix

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Monday, June 07, 2010

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As the release date to Kylie Minogues' latest album release; Aphrodite, draws closer, fans are clearly getting increasingly excited for the release and a chance to hear the record in full.

Just as a teaser, this megamix preview of some of the tracks has hit the internet and I am going to be the first to say THIS SOUNDS AMAZING! A coherent, polished album with a definitive sound to it. This is going to be one of Kylie's best from the sounds of it.

So without further blabbing, take a listen to the megamix below and let me know what you think!

Kylie - All The Lovers (Single) Music Video

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Tuesday, June 01, 2010

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The video for Kylies' brand new single, All the Lovers, premiered at 12:01am all over the world. This has been a highly anticipated release, with a lot of Kylie fans feeling let down still after her last album campaign, "X".

If hearing the full track just a couple of weeks ago wasn't enough to blow a Kylie fans mind and remind everyone why she is the queen of all Pop, watching this video will certainly do it!
The concept is clear, the visuals are a complete work of abstract artwork, Kylie looks stunning and the video fits the track to a tee. There's even a giant inflatable elephant, what more could you want?

Check out the video below and let me know what you think...

Review: Selena Gomez & The Scene - Kiss & Tell

Posted by Ryuke | Posted in , | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010

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American rock pop band Selena Gomez & The Scene, whos lead singer is Selena Gomez of Disneys Wizards of Waverly Place fame, released their debut album in the UK on 19th April 2010. After the success of the lead single 'Naturally' in the UK, reaching number 7, the album entered the UK album charts at number 12 - a fairly commendable placing for a new and largely un-promoted band in the UK. The album steers towards the teen rock theme fairly heavily but sets a good footing for forming a future fan base.


1. Kiss & Tell - The albums title track, this starts things off upbeat and funky. Selenas vocals are strong and production values are high. The verses are almost chanted in a very high-school sounding way and the chorus is catchy and loud. The drum beats are also fun and contributes to the chanting style of the vocal delivery. I'd like to see this a future single as it's one of the albums highlights for sure. 8/10

2. I Won't Apologise - The opening to this track almost sounds like it could belong to Kelly Clarkson, which isn't particularly a bad thing but also sounds a little too familiar. The typical teen rock formula is followed here which should keep the main target audience listening. Whilst there is nothing new or revolutionary to be found here, it makes for a pleasent listen none the less and Selena has writing credits on this track, making it sound a little more personal. 6/10

3. Falling Down - This was the albums lead single in the US. It has a similar sound to Kiss & Tell, with almost chanty styled verses. The chorus is strong although not overly catchy, but well produced. This track wasn't a major success overseas and the team probably made a good choice not to release this as the lead single in the UK and Europe. Selena delivers some great sounding vocals on this track though and it is still one of the records better moments. 7/10

4. I Promise You - Things are slowed down a little for a rocky balad with this track. Out comes the teen rock pop formula again, and whilst the guitar riffs are pleasing the theme of the track treads over the typical "girl in love" theme. The vocals aren't overly exciting and all in all the track plods along at a decent pace but doesn't get anywhere at the end. 4/10

5. Crush - Attitude and teen defiance seep all over this track. The problem is that the attitude sounds a little forced and Selena sounds a little bored pulling it off. The chorus is particularly dull and the track is only pulled up slightly by the marginally better verses. The track is guitar heavy to attempt to add to the attitude yet unfortunately there is nothing here which sticks in your head, is particularly memorable or catchy and after initial listens becomes very skippable. 3/10

6. Naturally - The album takes a completely different direction with this track and I only wish there was more of this to be found. Naturally is a rocky, electro-pop stomper which stands high above the other tracks in terms of quality, production and replayability. This was the UK lead single for the album and has been met with fairly decent success, reaching number 7 in the UK singles charts. The production and effects found here are similar to what can be found in Miley Cyrus' later tracks, which have also been her more successful. Selenas vocals are distinctive and theres even some love towards the other members of the band who provide backing vocals. Catchy, upbeat and almost anthemic this is the direction I hope the band sticks with as I'd love to hear more. 10/10

7. The Way I loved You - Just as things really kicked off with the previous joy to the ears, the pace of the album flops back down again with another ballad. This track sound incredibly Disney, incredibly teen and unfortunately, incredibly borning. Production is kept to a low to try and provide intimacy for the track but Selena doesn't really have the voice, the passion or the experience to pull it off. Even with the violins, pianos, cymbal crashes and guitar buildups, the result is a resounding no. Let me skip back to Naturally please... 1/10

8. More - The electro rock theme is revived a little here but not quite to the epicness of Naturally. The track is interesting if a little jumbled sounding. By the time the chorus kicks in second time around you can get a feel for the track but it is rather unrelatable with regards to the lyrics. Then just as you get into the track, it suddenly finishes. 6/10

9. As A Blonde - Back to the rockier sounding material with this one. As A Blonde should have been on the first half of the album to keep the pace going, as there is a chance listeners may have given up by now. Funky, catchy, noisy and extremely fun sounding, this track sounds a bit Avril Lavigne, a bit Demi Lovato and a bit Miley Cryus - however it is a cover of a Fefe Dobson track. The pace is carried by the strong guitar riffs and Selenas more convincing sounding vocals to provide attitude. After the middle eight slows things down a little, theres a key change and the track smashes its way to its final seconds. 9/10

10. I Don't Miss You At All - The last forray into the electro rock genre, this sounds extremely like something The Veronicas would pull out the bag. Upbeat and full of claps and synths, this is more of what Selena seems to do best, if only they did it more often. Selena sounds sincere in her delivery of the vocals and creates an effective upbeat break-up tune. 8/10

11. Stop & Erase - Another teen sounding rock track here, but decent enough to stand out. The chorus is catchy but Selenas vocals sound a little overpowered by the production and backing vocals. A lot of the same attitude and production that has been heard in the earlier tracks can be found here which detracts from the song which is a shame as it's one of the better teen rock sounding tracks on offer on the album. 6/10

12. I Got You - Mellow pop rock can describe this track. The verses are nothing to get excited about but the chorus is very pleasent and winds down the album nicely. Again, no fancy production here just guitars, drums and vocals. Selena even manages to sound a little like Joss Stone towards the end of the track, although that may be the over-powering backing vocalists again. 5/10

13.  Tell Me Something I Don't Know - This was originally recorded for the soundtrack for Disneys' Another Cinderalla Story in which Selena Gomez stars. For this album version though, the track has been re-worked to fit with the albums "sound" more. The track is a bit boring, has been heard before and tacked onto the end of the album. There is a little solo from one of the band members though, which is nice to hear. The track isn't particularly rocky, isn't really electro and falls into the forgettable pop category. A bit of a un-needed addition. 4/10

Overall rating: 6.5/10
An album which may just suffer from the band trying to find their feet in the industry, a lot of the tracks follow the same formula which gets a bit repetitive and dull. There are some incredibly fun moments to be found though, and Naturally is one of my tracks of the year. Depending on where you picked up your copy of the album you will get a remix to either Falling Down or Naturally, both are pretty decent but the Naturally remix stands out for me. Selena provides some great vocals and has potential to carve a pop career for herself similar to Miley Cyrus, she justs need to experiment a bit more with genres next time. Hint...more of the electro pop goodness of Naturally please!

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