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Attic Lights – Super De Luxe Album Review

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Attic Lights - Super De Luxe

Attic Lights are back, after some label shake ups after their debut ‘Friday Night Lights’ (Island Records), Super De Luxe (Elefant) is their follow up, and if lead single ‘Say You Love Me’ is anything, it’s showing us that this is one album not to miss. After finding their extra break covering the song that would be the theme tune to the latest 2009 version of the TV show Minder, ‘I Could Be So Good For You‘, they claimed to more fame. With singles ‘Wendy‘, ‘Never Get Sick of the Sea‘, ‘Bring You Down‘ and even ‘God‘ showing a love of melody based pop, the more rock/pop sound of Attic Lights is beginning to show now with second album Super De Luxe, let’s get to the music shall we!.

rating5 Say You Love Me

The album kicks off with the almost grungy guitar sounds of lead single Say You Love Me. We didn’t think it was possible to create a rock rift with chanting vocals that still sound like the cheery pop sound that Attic Lights are known for, but man they’ve done it. Say You Love Me is an instant hit, sticking in your head from first listen, just try not to tap your feet at the start of the “HEY HEY HEY HEY!!!!” in the chorus, which continues and builds up in to such a catchy song you’ll still be singing after the end of the album.

rating5 Future Bound

Future Bound is back to the jumping about pop that wouldn’t be strange to find in a late 80s / early 90s disco. Featuring vocals from the second lead singer from Attic Lights (which we normally don’t favour) who has previously sung occasional singles from their debut. The song is so funky you can’t help but dance to it, cue the embarrassing dancing now please! Love the chorus too, the backing from the “way back, way back” and the “wrong track wrong track” just add to the pop feel of the track, just such a cheery, and dare we say Summer sounding, track instantly to put you in a positive mood! Despite the song actually being about leaving someone/something behind and starting a new, the positiveness of the song really shines an awesome light on the situation

rating5 Breathe For Me

Breathe For Me also features on the EP version of the single Say You Love Me, but definitely worth the position on the album. Whilst some of the verses take some time to begin and kick in the song makes up for it in the build up and lyrics. The song is seemingly about how someone is offering support for someone, “if you need it more, just breathe for me”, I’m here for you. As the song progresses the chorus expands to a statement “when the colour goes, better close our eyes”, almost stating if things begin to not be as bright as they could be, you’ve always got support. The song also features the grungy sounding guitar backing found on ‘Say You Love Me’, likely why it featured on some single EPs, and is yet another highlight of the album. A great start.

rating4 Stay Before You Leave

Stay Before You Leave keeps up the cheerful mood of the album with an almost 60s style, which does occasionally sound forced, especially in the two-sided chorus style, a song you’d almost expect to hear on Heartbeat (*). The song talks of a happy relationship and a positive day spent with a lover, and not wanting the experience to end, “My heart has no more beats to give…” continuing on to state “…why don’t you stay before you leave”, a play on words saying why can’t you just be here forever! But, in true Attic Lights style, they manage to say this and keep the mood right up there, the forced sound thought makes this not one of our favs, but still a catchy number.

rating3.5 Mona Lisa

 

Now I know what you’re thinking, why is this song named after a famous painting … well dunno, but let’s listen not judge. The song delivers a more darker mood to the album about a character losing interest in something, likely a person, as whilst things feel like a Mona Lisa where their eyes are smiling, but can’t stay looking forever, kind of saying things are good, but times really reached it’s limit and “I can’t keep hanging around”. The middle 8 of the song confirms the song is singing about a relationship that stopped working, even though things seemed alright. I wouldn’t say it’s a sad song, more of a ballad, definitely a grower, it takes a lot to sing about this subject and still keep the song going well.

rating1 Don’t You

Don’t You is set to be the second single from the album, personally we don’t know why, but fair enough. Personally this is the weakest song from the album. In a similar way that ‘Stay Before You Leave’ sounded rather forced, Don’t You just sounds really plain and flat. The chorus is really cheap and the vocals in the verses aren’t that great either. This is an instant skip for us.

rating3 Hit and Miss

Hit and Miss kicks off with such a rift that sounds so similar to London Calling by The Clash at the beginning we thought we were listening to that at first … but not. This song is pure cheese in the chorus, “She’s a hit, she’s a miss, with a cruel cruel heart”, I mean just reading that shows you how much it is! Yet, at the same time, the remaining guilty pleasure in me kinda likes it, it’s not a bad song, but the Summer feel of the song (especially at this time of year) leaves me still singing along to it, but overall it’s just an OK song.

rating5 Lock Me Out

Lock Me Out is the sad song from the album, it’s hard to tell what the song is actually talking about it, but more of a diary of everything that someone’s done wrong in their life, almost a rant of everything they wished they didn’t do leading to the chorus “Lock me out, send me out, course I’ll cry, try and stay…”. The song though, is actually beautiful, and after a few listens it really grows on you, and the high pitch harmonies are just beautiful. We love it, from the start, the guitar break rift near the end to the final chorus.

rating5 Orbison

If their was a song to follow Lock Me Out and get you rocking your socks off afterwards, Orbison is that song. We’re not quite sure why the title is Orbison, but the song is basically the albums rock song. From the guitar rift sliding through the entire song to the simple chorus you can’t not chant to “I’m a man on fire tonight ….”. Whilst the song doesn’t serve much purpose lyrically or sonically, it’s the song you listen to just to sing to and bop your head to, and Orbison is one of our favourites for that simple reason!

rating5 Gabrielle

We didn’t know what to think of Gabrielle when we first heard it, the piano driven song features many countries quoted and questions all over the place, but it’s a great ballad to finish the album off. The bumping beat to the song and the sound that comes out of it is really a good sound. As the song progresses it becomes apparent that the song talks of a character who someone hasn’t seen in years who has been years gone by separate from the character and who has reunited and talking of their past to present adventures. The subtle chorus “Did you see, Africa in the morning, or did you stay right where you were?”, acts as a metaphor to did you achieve everything you wished, or did you simply take everything in it’s stride and we love how it’s put. The song ends the album with such a nice sound we can’t get enough … where’s that repeat button.

====Overview====

Super De Luxe is a strong follow up to Attic Lights’ debut album ‘Friday Night Lights’, which was based around simple pop and sprawling melodies, the band have moved on from that and created a true pop album that whilst does have it’s highs and occasional lows, definitely makes up for it in the highs. We do wish the 10 track number was more, even just to 12, and the choice of Don’t You even being on the album, never mind second single, seems rather strange. Overall, Super De Luxe offers something Attic Lights never fail on, an upbeat pop album you’ll always come back to for that cheer up moment and that you can’t deny

rating3.5 - A great follow up, sprawling true pop and upbeat songs with that hint of rock in their, although some tracks we wish were left out, without being specific on which ones, ‘Don’t Do’ really is their ‘Hit and Miss’.

Hurts – Exile (Deluxe Edition) Album Review

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Hurts - Exile (2013)

Hurts – Exile (2013)

The first album is never an easy one to deliver, especially when your first was as good as Happiness, and so with Exile, released today in the UK, have Hurts pulled through and given the goods? Well to see what we think, this is our Hurts – Exile (Deluxe Edition) Album Review.

(Review of the Deluxe Edition, Standard album stops at The Rope)

rating5 Exile

The album kicks off in Exile, a dark synth filled melody, kicking off with the statement “Home, it’s where the heart is”. Whilst the song itself is not is dark, it’s actually rather epic, it all makes for a really awesome cool sounding opener!

rating5 Miracle

First single and first song we heard, this upbeat number with a falsetto beginning chorus of “If you look/And deep in my heart you will find” followed by a cool deep indentation of “No love, no light, no end inside” is just genius, just brings us back to the pure Pop days of Better Than Love by Hurts back in 2010. An instant grower.

rating4.5 Sandman

A more urban sounding song sporting a techno sounding backing vocals for We’re waiting for the Sandman, but by the time the chorus arrives you can tell it’s Hurts. This song is definitely a grower and may take a while for Hurts traditionalists, but once it grabs you, its got you. The song has a 4.5 simply because it takes a while to get you, but it’s a smashing track.

rating5 Blind

Blind is a perfect follow up to Sandman, beginning with the same style backing vocals, and almost keeping the rhythm for a much sadder feeling song. The song is about someone who has had problems and had to end a relationship, but all they can see is that someone, and they wish they could just be “blind” for a while. The song is such a beautiful one, a classic, each time the chorus comes you can’t help try to reach that note.

rating2.5 Only You

What happens after many seamless perfect songs on an album, an average one comes up, and sadly this is true of Only You. The verses build up the song really well, but the chorus just leaves you underwhelmed, the lyrics aren’t much better either, a filler that we’re skipping every time … except this time obviously, professional reviewing going on here!

rating4.5 The Road

The Road brings the mood back down, even Theo from Hurts described it as the saddest song he could come up with, and whilst it does have a low mood, it’s certainly a pleasure to listen to, especially when the song builds up suddenly at the “When I close my eyes…” just awesome. The song had previously been given away for free through the Hurts website, so it’s far from the first time you may have heard this song, many more listens to come I expect, the ending is just mad!

rating5   Cupid

Who said Depeche Mode were dead? Oh, its still Hurts, but that’s certainly not a bad thing. Like a Depeche Mode classic, we’re not quite sure what the songs about, but my god does it sound awesome, with vocal effects all over the place, sounds insane in the headphones, add that to the guitar driven disco sound, it’s one of our favourites, even if the Cupid moments are a bit freaky, but when it shouts the start the chorus completely makes up for that.

rating5   Mercy

This album just keeps giving, M E R C Y like a 90s disco you’ll be chanting before this is done, this song means business, it almost makes chanting cool again, when the chorus comes in it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear dubstep influences in there, but done in this way is certainly not a bad thing, we love it! And the scream in the middle 8, wow! This needs to be a single, people will be thinking ‘when did those guys grow balls’!

rating5   The Crow

With The Crow, the mood relaxes again, with Hurts most relaxing song following their most upbeat, probably so you can have a rest after the dances you definitely did. The Crow is an exceptional track about someone growing up and spreading their wings and evolving in life, using the Crow as a reference, just listening to the song evolve is enough for us though. The song is pure beauty start to finish and the chorus leaves you in awe. This track if we had to pick is our album favourite.

rating5   Somebody To Die For

Somebody to Die For is a song to die for, this is the ballad of the album, the Unspoken of Exile, this song beams lyrics of pure emotion, “Cause I don’t need this life, I just need somebody to die for”. Big, bold line after line, this song is lyric and music genius right here! We were fighting in the office whether this or The Crow is our favourite, we can’t call it, this song is just incredible. So get the tissues ready, Somebody to Die For is here, but its worth it, up until the perfect quiet soft vocal ending.

rating5   The Rope

The Rope kicks off almost like a Boyband song, but recovers with the next line. The Rope is a song about someone tackling the rope in their life climbing up to the person they know they have to become, a strong message and a strong song to send it out with. To add to the message, we have a song that just works, with distorted piano, screeches you’d expect to hear on a rap song, the music is a risky number, but in pure Hurts fashion it all works and belongs.

rating5 Help

Help is a jolly melodic number with an almost a Disney feeling to it, but at the same time its a good song. The songs melody rings through it throughout especially in the high pitch one line chorus ‘And we cry for help’. The song is as you would expect a call for Help, someone struggling in life, but the help of someone else just makes everything better. The only thing we kinda don’t like is the chorus that begins mid way till end, “I can feel the darkness coming, and I’m afraid of myself. Call my name and I’ll come running, cause I just need some help!”. Personally we’d of preferred Theos vocals, but its still a great song none the less.

rating4 Heaven

The disco and Better Than Love feeling returns with Heaven, with low drum driven verses building all the way literally up to a Whoahhh driven chorus, epic! The song continues the usual pathway in the lyrics on the album of the pathway of making someone love them forever and the long road leading up to it, but Heaven is the song for those who don’t want to hear it in a low mood set, Heaven is quite a up beat happy song, and we love it!

rating3 Guilt

Just like Happiness, Exile ends on a Piano driven acoustic ballad, except this time we’ve gone out of the water and ended up on the bridge. Guilt isn’t the best song on the album, who knows it may grow on some of you, but it does nothing for us, probably one of the worst songs on the album, but hey it is on the deluxe version after all.

Album Summary

rating4.5 - An incredible follow up to Happiness, Hurts prove that the second album doesn’t have to be the scary one with Exile, the album is darker, more experimented and more importantly, more enjoyable to listen to, Theo and Adam should be proud, this is a great evolution from Happiness.

Everything Everything – Kemosabe Single Review

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Everything Everything are a UK band known for their unique sound and have a very loyal fanbase circulating around the UK and Europe, whilst the band have never had their big break we’re hoping second album ‘Ark’ can finally give them that break they truly deserve. Their first album ‘Man Alive’ got an impressive 4.5 / 5 from us and if first single ‘Cough Cough (Review score: 5/5)’, and now this single ‘Kemosabe’, we really can’t wait for ‘Ark’ now.

First Impression

Kemosabe is a word that means ”faithful friend’‘, although has many meanings in the native American language, but in this case its the name of the incredible second single from Everything Everything’s upcoming second album Arc, and it’s definitely a song we can’t get off the repeat button since we first heard it.

The song kicks off with a vocal effect flying around and a funky beat that reminds you that you’re listen to Everything Everything. The song bring back the pop sound that Everything Everything seem to just bring out with the littlest effort, and then the chorus kicks in and you really are left in awe, its so funky.

Now, admittedly, we are insane fans of Everything Everything, and we’re going to try and make this review as impartial as possible. Kemosabe is a song that won’t be new to fans of Everything Everything who have seen them live recently however as it has gained a prime slot in their recent live shows, and listening to the studio its easy to see why, it’s just such a good classic pop song, it get’s you dancing on your feet, it’s catchy as it gets, what more do you want?

Review

Kemosabe, following Cough Cough, is definitely the truest sign to anyone that Everything Everything are back on true form, and we really can’t wait to get our hands on Arc now, unfortunately 2013 is the year for that at the moment. Kemosabe is a pop gem, dare we say it could even top their debut (re-issue form) single MY KZ UR BF. Now we understand as much as anyone that Everything Everything are a marmite band, you either get them or don’t, but if you are a fan of Everything Everything you’d be mad to pass out possibly their best single to date!

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Muse – The 2nd Law Album Review

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Strangeland Review

Muse – The 2nd Law. Released Sept 27th, Oct 1st (UK) Oct 2nd (US)

Muse are set to release their highly anticipated sixth album The 2nd Law, which follows their previous album The Resistance. With The 2nd Law, Muse have definitely taken everything they’ve learned from previous albums and added some new flavours, either way, this is one album that definitely makes you look again!

 Supremacy

Supremacy doesn’t half kick off with a bang, in bangs an orchestral drum beat following the gritty guitar rift that sweeps through the chorus, those who feared the Origin of Symmetry and Hullabaloo days of Muse were over’s fears will be completely washed away with Supremacy. The chorus just blows us away overtime we hear it, I mean how can Matt reach those notes, its just mind boggling, and its just awesome to hear that classic Muse sound again, and come on we can’t have been the only ones head-banging at the end! Although we have to say, this is a movie soundtrack waiting to happen!

 Madness

Madness, the first single from the album, we’ve heard before and if you remember we rated it rather well, it is pretty strange to place it after the exploding song Supremacy, and I think because of this the song suffers. The song itself as we said in our single review really grows on you and I really think this is an awesome track, whilst a different direction slightly for Muse, it pays off for us. Although we have to also say that those thinking Madness is a change of direction to Muse really should listen to ‘Undisclosed Desires’ again to regain their memory.

 Panic Station

Panic Station kicks things off with a funky bass rift which fills through the song, and continues with very 80s style of vocals and song progression, its different its new, but it sounds awesome! Kind of stealing some cues from Queen ‘Another One Bites the Dust’. This, like Madness, does take a bit to grow on you, but once it does you’ll be dancing your embarrassing dances and singing this song all night, we love it! (Contains mild swearing)

Prelude

For those who listened to the full version of the Muse Olympic song Survival should recognise this from the single extended version, on the album the orchestral start is separate, that’s all.

 Survival

Whilst it wasn’t an official album single, Survival definitely stuck in our heads for a long time, entering the Top 5 charts and number 1 in some countries, this Olympic gem would never be forgotten by us and will always remind us of the Olympics, much more than the dreary songs by other artists. As a song in general and minus the Olympics, Survival is a rock heavy ballad, featuring a killer guitar rift in the middle that gets your ears tingling, was an incredible single and still most definitely is!

 Follow Me

Follow Me kicks off like some theatrical soundtrack, but then kicks in to a sound you’d never expect from Muse, whilst the critics are calling it dupstep, I’m sorry but this is not dubstep, look at the stars on this track, they’d be no stars on dubstep, this is a gem. The songs about lifting yourself up from dark, and how you can “follow me” to the top again. The song sounds like something Example would release as a single, but with obviously vocal talent added and no auto-tune. Minus the comparisons, this is really a song that’s just awesome and so catchy, once the Muse fan in you accepts it.

 Animals

Animals is a weird one, it kicks off with a heavy pop based drum roll throughout and a calm feel about it, with that sense of Muse too of course. The song is definitely one of the poorer ones on the album, and we do find ourselves skipping this one, the song just has nothing to offer, and generally we find it boring. Don’t get us wrong its alright, but thats about it, and on an album with some belters it just falls short. It does feature a very Coldplay / U2 sounding guitar sound near the end and perfect as usual harmonisation’s, but thats about it, which is a shame cos the end is awesome, it gets an extra .5 for the end.

 Explorers

Explorers is another grower of a song, sounds very reminiscent of ‘Invincible’ in many areas, but without the build up. The song is about someone who feels they don’t belong and wants to be free to explore a new world. The song is very anthemic and pop for Muse, but typical Muse do it very well, its by far not the best song on the album by far, but definitely not one to ignore. Seriously though, sounds like Invincible in so many areas.

 Big Freeze

Kick off with a guitar rift that could be mistaken from ‘Map of the Problematique’ on a different pedal, this poppy number keeps that Queen and punk sound from Panic Station, and I have to say after a few listens it really works. My first listen of this got a pretty bleak 2 stars, but give it chance and it grows on you, now look, right up there! Do you think this new punk sound to Muse will be one to grow, who knows, all we do know is it sounds pretty darn good.

 Save Me

Save Me is quite possibly the most beautiful song of Muse since Unintended, no lie, this is absolutely beautiful, one of the big reasons why I know this song will grab many is that the lead vocals on this track are not by main lead vocalist Matt Ballamy, but the bassist. Save Me is such a beautiful song to be the first time bassist Chris Wolstenholme has been able to show off his really beautiful singing voice, which we’ve only heard very slight glimmers of before mainly on backing, but at the same time though the song has a beautiful message and lyrics about bassist Chris Wolstenholme’s alcohol addiction (as does Liquid State), and sounds incredible, 5 stars our album favourite!

 Liquid State

Chris doesn’t stop with Save Me on lead vocalists, he also finishes off the album with his vocals too on this much higher tempo track Liquid State. The song kicks off with a metal drum beat of which Muse drummer Dominic Howard has pretty much soundtracked throughout Muse, the song has an edgy guitar rift throughout each verse which leads in to a pulsing rate upon the chorus. The song as a whole is just incredible, seriously Chris should do vocals more often, its lead to two just some incredible tracks, here’s to the future of Muse, maybe Dom can sing in the next album … one can hope.

 The 2nd Law: Unsustainable

All Muse albums seem to now have a new trend of ending with a large instrumental number, such as The Resistance “Exogenesis”, on The 2nd Law its self titled. The first of the two is this Unsustainable, which we’ve all heard before on the original The 2nd Law trailer. The track itself as a song its rather pointless and doesn’t have half as much soothingness or soul that Exogenesis did from The Resistance, and the drum and bass in this unfortunately are dubstep which makes the song quite frankly terrible, which is annoying cos take out them drums and we’d easily add a couple more stars.

 The 2nd Law: Isolated System

Isolated System is the last of The 2nd Law instrumentals and the last track on the album (standard atleast) and we’re happy to report this is actually a great track. Kinda sounds like the theme song to a murder mystery drama when it starts, but kicks in to actually a rather pleasant track. Like, Unsustainable before it, it does feature TV backings throughout, which I don’t know if it makes or breaks the song, either way, nice end to the album.

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 Album Overview

The 2nd Law is a fantastic album by Muse, featuring the powerful kick off from Supremacy to Isolated System the album fills pretty much every gap delivering a song almost for every genre, but all delivered in typical Muse perfectionist fashion. Surprises on the album have to be the Queen-esc sound they’ve gained from tracks Big Freeze and Panic Station, which is planned third single, to the incredible vocals by the bassist Chris Wolstenholme, just incredible.

The album however is not perfect and does have a couple of let downs, Madness could have been placed somewhere else, minor I know but its just the complete wrong song to follow Supremacy. Unsustainable is easily the worst thing Muse have ever done and really should be forgotten.

Aside from all that, a really great album and sure to be another Muse classic!

Everything Everything – Cough Cough Single Review

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Everything Everything are a UK band known for their unique sound and have a very loyal fanbase circulating around the UK and Europe, whilst the band have never had their big break we’re hoping second album ‘Ark’ can finally give them that break they truly deserve. Their first album ‘Man Alive’ got an impressive 4.5 / 5 from us and if first single ‘Cough Cough’ is anything to go by, we really can’t wait for ‘Ark’.

First Impressions

The song kicks off to a churning drum beat performed by each of the 4 members of the band, something that goes on through the entire, and you can hear beat driven lyrics “yeah, so, um, wait a second”, then after 4 of them the song starts to really off. The song features the same funky style of rhythmistic lyrics and sounds that could only be Everything Everything, and when the chorus kicks off “and when that Eureka moment hits you like a cop car” the song goes in to a chorus with the same over peddled bass rift that just sounds awesome, top marks for bassist Jeremy Pritchard for not doing everything so cliché like you hear from a lot of bands now, everything really is, as the song states, “happening now”. A highlight in the song for me has to be the slower chorus in the middle 8, it really just reminds you just how good this band really are, proving in a few second taster that vocalist Jonathan Higgs still has that anthem voice used in ‘Nasa Is On Your Side’. If you’re liking the sound of Everything Everything I have to hold heartedly recommend listening to Man Alive their first album, they have such a unique and incredible sound.

The unique sound they do have though I do still fear probably won’t make it to many radio stations, although some do play debut single ‘MY KZ UR BF‘, ‘Suffragette Suffragette‘ and the high rated thanks to its video ‘Photoshop Handsome‘, but only occationally.

Review

Cough Cough is pop at its absolute best, unique and fresh, there’s no one creating music like Everything Everything and I think thats probably the best thing going from them, whilst Cough Cough isn’t probably their best single, its definitely an incredible taster to album 2 and proof (if needed) that they’ve certainly not lost their way in creating the best music with their signature sound.

Lyrics

Yeah, so, um… wait a second — (x4)

Sold your liver but you’re still feeling the red

Sold my feelings now I’m hanging by a thread

Bad

And it’s screamin’ its way through my windows

And it’s slithering under my door

And it’s in my peripheral vision

And it’s pourin’ up under my floor

And it’s whispering into my eardrums

And it’s telling me that I want more

But I’m coming alive

I’m happening now (x2)

I’m coming alive

I’m happening now (x2)

And that eureka moment hits you like a cop car

And you wake up just head and shoulders in a glass jar

You clear your throat you raise your eyebrow but you don’t say

There’s something wrong but it’s okay if we’re still getting paid

Yeah you’re ravenous you’re chomping at the bit

Just a cog next to a cog next to a pit

I would burn to break away and rest my ears

No more ?? no more solace in arrears

Bad

And it’s screamin’ its way through my windows

And it’s slithering under my door

And it’s in my peripheral vision

And it’s pourin’ up under my floor

And it’s whispering into my eardrums

And it’s telling me that I want more

But I’m coming alive

I’m happening now (x2)

I’m coming alive

I’m happening now (x2)

And that eureka moment hits you like a cop car

And you wake up just head and shoulders in a glass jar

You clear your throat you raise your eyebrow but you don’t say

There’s something wrong but it’s okay if we’re still getting paid

But I’m coming alive

I’m happening now (x2)

I’m coming alive

I’m happening now (x2)

And that eureka moment hits you like a cop car

And you wake up just head and shoulders in a glass jar

You clear your throat you raise your eyebrow but you don’t say

There’s something wrong but it’s okay if we’re still getting paid

But I’m coming alive

Cough cough

 Overview

A very impressive display of how music doesn’t have to just be same old, Everything Everything continue to reinvent the way pop music should sound, and after listening their back catalogue, everything else in the music industry today just seem cheap and copied, and for that we have to add that last .5 to our original score of 4.5.

The song as it stands is not available, but as soon as it is, we’ll update with links.

Muse – Madness (Single Review)

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Introduction

Madness is kinda just that really, madness! The song kicks off with a very simplistic drum beat that keeps through the entire song, with ascents of ‘Undisclosed Desires’ at the start, but Muse fans don’t fear, the highly expected epicness begins in the middle, just like on Olympic single Survival (review here), and thats when Madness’ true form shows, the inspiration from Queen and U2, add that epic Muse signature sound, ends the song brilliantly.

New Direction? Plus Influences

Everyone seems to be calling Madness a new direction for Muse, but if you look in the Muse back catalogue you’ll find many signs of songs like this coming, and even songs with a similar vibe, and those fearing a lack of guitar stomping anthems have no fear if Survival is anything to go by! Other influences have said to be from Queen’s “I Want to Break Free” and David Bowies “Scary Monster and Super Creeps” album, not to mention Muse’ very own “Undisclosed Desires”, with influences like that, how can you not have a great song on your hands”.

Song Meaning

The song seems to be about the mystery of a relationship, how feelings change and grow, madness growing in a relationship. Whilst the song never explains what it is, it explains how someone has seen the light and starts questioning the madness in a relationship after understanding problems and issues.”Now I have finally seen the light, I have finally realised, what you need”. Then the song kicks in to a very Queen-est guitar rift, then kicks off to the finale chorus, where both realise that they are actually in love, and the madness then makes sense. Its definitely been a while since a Muse love song and whilst this doesn’t kick off as sounding like a love song, it definitely ends like one and in true Muse fashion.

 Summary

The song is a real ambitious first single for Muse, which is to be taken from the upcoming album ‘The 2nd Law’, the song is fresh, new, yet keeping that Muse signature at the end, I think after hearing Survival and now this, that The 2nd Law is going to be another Muse classic album!

Buy Madness single on iTunes here or the MUSE Store here!

Blur – ParkLive (Hyde Park Olympics Closing Ceremony Gig) Review

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Blur curtain folded before the gig began!

INTRO

Blur kicked off the Hyde Park gig as the Blur branded curtains unfolded to reveal the band, “Are you ready” shouts Damon, then the music begins.

 Girls and Boys

It wouldn’t be a Blur gig these days if they didn’t start with Parklife smash ‘Girls and Boys’, the crowd once again singing ever single word, joining in to the oh ohs, parts of you has to feel reminiscent about the legendary 2009 Hyde Park gigs. Although the crowd were singing even more than ever before, bye bye to the terrible sound of the Brits and hello to the return of the true brilliance of live Blur.

 London Loves

“This is called London Loves, and we love London” Damon shouts to the London Olympic crowd. Although patriotic or not, the sound wasn’t that good at the start, but grow on abit towards the end, but hey always nice to hear Blur perform a song they rarely do, again sticking to Parklife album. And what better way to end the Olympic Games with Damon shouting “Yeahh”!

 Tracy Loves

Sticking still to Parklife, Tracy Jacks. Never been one of my favourites from Parklife, but Blur always deliver when performing, and who can’t love the line “I’d love to stay here and be normal, but thats just so overrated”! Graham shouting “Tracy Jacks”, Damon pumping the vocals, Dave hitting those drums and Alex bass doing its stuff, by now its became apparent to everyone that this will be one of those gigs, even if Damon did come in to soon, oops!

 Jubilee

And now to the rock song of Parklife, Jubilee, a song if I might add was missing at the Queens diamond. Jubilee rocks out just as well as it always does, this really is right up there with their 2009 gigs, you have to give them kudos for following that.

 Beetlebum

Wow, we’ve left Parklife album for a while now, and what a classic to go to, Blur’s 1997 number 1, Beetlebum. Beginning with Grahams signature rift, this song is just such a anthem now! I don’t know if it was just how special the event was or the possibility of this been Blurs last big gig, but Beetlebum actually sounded better than when performed at Hyde Park in 2009 and Glastonbury, Blur really are back on true form, just incredible. And who can forget that incredible guitar finish at the end.

 Coffee and TV

Now the main mic gets pulled over to the always shy but definitely talented Mr Graham Coxon, which can mean only one thing, “This is called Coffee and TV”, he says nervously as usual. Not Grahams best performance of Coffee and TV, but definitely a good one, I mean its just such a nice song, “take me away from this big bad world and agree to marry me”. The ending couldn’t of gone better with the crowd just singing along like its been a national anthem, brilliant

 Out Of Time (Featuring Khyam Allami)

I don’t know what it is, but I always feel awkward when Graham performs Think Tank songs, well sadly its only Out Of Time they do perform from Think Tank, kinda wished they’d of done more, but yeah. For this performance Damon brought in someone from his Arabic music projects to play, kinda fitting as there country wasn’t able to be at the Olympics. Either way a brilliant unique performance definitely, of the slow ballad from Think Tank.

 Young and Lovely

A song that had been showing up around the recent Blur gigs has been the b-side from Chemical World single, Young and Lovely. For many this will be the first time hearing this song live, but it was actually performed on a special b-sides show which were given away through the ‘Fan Club’ singles, either way a beautiful version of the song with a more acoustic feel to the start. Damon said its a funny song how it was originally about their parents connection with them and now its turned back on them and is about their children and them, wow how the years have gone by, an extra .5 for the years.

 Trimm Trabb

Now the mode turns to 13, with the fan favourite Trimm Trabb, which I don’t about you, just didn’t have everything in this performance, just lacked in something I don’t know what, whether its Damon failed note or the quieter guitar in the outro, it just didn’t have it for me, and the over unrequited echoing annoyed me bait.

 Caramel

A song that had never been performed live since the BBC gig, it was so refreshing to finally see live in a big venue and thats the beautiful song Caramel, even if Damon got the first line wrong, no one really noticed it was just so beautiful, definitely one of the absolute best songs from 13, and one of the highlight performances definitely from this gig. The ending definitely has more unff to it thanks to a trumpet sound at the end, either way a great end to an awesome song.

 Sunday Sunday

“What day is it?” shouts Damon, well obviously its Sunday and what more fitting song to include than Sunday Sunday, and then in comes Daves roaring drums and here comes Sunday Sunday, the anthem of the pure British from Modern Life Is Rubbish at a time when Parklife was still a pipe dream. Featuring Damons usual over the top running in the sped up middle 8, then finished off perfectly with a crowd chanting chorus.

 Country House

“How are feeling so far?”, I think its far to say everyone just rocking out Damon. Then comes Blur controversial number 1, Country House, which according to sources was very close to Liam performing Wonderwall at the ceremony, oh the irony is still here years on, but hey as Noel said, thats all over now.

 Parklife (Featuring Phil Daniels)

Now the madness has truly begun, its only gonna get madder, this is a Blur gig after all! Out comes Phil Daniels with his “OI!!!”, and yep here’s Parklife! The crowd shouting “Parklife” at the top of their voice, the atmosphere is just electric, just the classic madness of a Blur gig! How can you not rate this just incredible, the atmospheres mad, the performance is mad and fun, this is Blur at there best! And whats this, a tea lady?

Harry Enfield as a tea lady next to Blur’s Damon Albarn

 Colin Zeal (Featuring Harry Enfield)

Yep, its “Mrs Enfield” none the less, yep just when you thought the fun was all over with Phil, in comes the one and only Harry Enfield, “what a lovely boy you are” it squeals in a comedic womens voice, I mean look at the pic! Apparently a tea lady has something to do with Colin Zeal? Either way a great performance of Colin Zeal, a classic rock song from Modern Life Is Rubbish, with an unexpected tea lady, what more do you want, just madness, and thats why we love it, Harry even joined in at the end!

 Popscene

Graham distorts his guitar and boom, out comes the their first real Britpop single, none other than Popscene, the only word truly given to what Blur gave to the 90s!

 Advert

Was it only me that missed the “food processors are great” on this, probably, either way, in comes the rocky intro that is Advert. Either way the song goes there and rocks hard, but definitely not the best live.

 Song 2

Damon kicks off with an Olympic speech, he loves the lack of adverts on BBC, ironic after performing a song titled Advert, and respect for Mo Farrah! And now comes a true Blur classic, at first we all thought The Puritan was going to be played, but no, Dave plays his signature and out comes Song 2 and the crowd definitely know this one! WAHOO!!!

 No Distance Left To Run

“We’re gonna change the mood a bit now”, definitely so, gone is the rocking and popping, now for Blurs most emotional and deep songs, starting with their true sad song, No Distance Left To Run from 13, the crowd singing Tender already, but one song to go yet! No Distance Left To Run, a song about a broken soul, just beautiful even today, as beautiful as its always been, just perfect, tears in my eyes! It may have not had Damons high pitch screams like before, but it was still absolutely perfect and emote, just perfect!

 Tender

The crowd got what they wanted with the next song, Tender, as the crowd chant Grahams “oh my baby” this gig, from that moment forward, put itself up there with Blurs absolute top gigs! Tender is just lyrically and musically just a beautiful song and really sets the bar high at the start of 13 and live its just even better! Many say 13 was a risk, but songs like Caramel, No Distance Left To Run and especially Tender prove that that risk was one definitely worth taking and one that payed off!

 This Is A Low

After Tender has had you saying “Oh My Baby” 90 million times, a natural progression has always been This Is A Low, its the Blur way, as well as always managing to completely smash it perfectly! Damon just never fails to reach those top notes in the chorus, and just what a song it is, a fan favourite from Parklife, right there before ‘To The End’ which sadly didn’t get the cut tonight, but what a song This Is A Low always proves to be, the biggest Blur anthem hidden right there on Parklife. Damon quite possibly made it there best performance of this as well, which just adds to the awesomeness of this gig!

==BREAK THEN ENCORE==

 Sing

Incredible to hear this song live again, one of our all time favourites from Blur’s debut album Leisure, last time this was publicly played live was back in 1999, such an incredible song, and if its possible Alex’s bass rift sounds even better than ever before, just an incredible Blur anthem.

 Under The Westway

Damon has always said this song was written for this exact moment, he even changed the lyrics “said rain would come on Monday” to reflect the forecasted weather of the previous day, its far to say Under The Westway and the Hyde Park Olympic Closing Ceremony were meant for each other, the crowd even joined in for “today” on the start line, just beautiful. Grahams guitar backdrops seemed to fit better than ever before, the backing vocals clearer than ever, the song just ticked, right in the place it was intended for, just perfect!

 Intermission

Something that was less than perfect was Damons piano playing on the hidden gem on Chemical World on Modern Life Is Rubbish, the instrumental Intermission, quite a few shaky mistakes there at the start, but it got there towards the end, 1 extra for recovery, and the awesome additions.

 End Of A Century

I never liked End Of A Century as a single, I always used to skip it on Parklife, and I probably will on ParkLife too, dunno, the song just doesn’t do it for me. But in all a good performance.

 For Tomorrow

If there ever was a companion song to Under The Westway it has to be For Tomorrow, I mean the song even mentions the westway! Just like in 2009, the song springs in to live with woodwind instruments, Damons powerful London inspired lyrics and catchy ending, and people have the nerve to ask why Blur was asked to headline this gig!

 The Universal

When the beginning sounds of The Universal, everyone knows its the last song, that probably was the reason for the applause at its start, if you ignore the British Gas adverts, this really is an incredible song from Blur, ironically only the second song played from The Great Escape, but The Universal is a band favourite and a fan favourite almost guaranteed in every Blur gig, and its such a beautiful song too, and you can’t help feel the emotion at the end of the song, Damon shouts “Thank you”, and thats when that emotion comes in. The crowd even sang the chorus themselves afterwards, just the most powerful thing ever at a gig, just perfection itself, and Alex had his doubts about the gig, you past the test of time guys, brilliant!

 Summary 

Many said in 2009 that that Hyde Park would be Blurs best of their career, but on Sunday they most definitely proved they have most definitely still got it in them, this is one of those gigs you’ll remember forever, just like the Olympics itself! You don’t need to even care about the Olympics to know this was an incredible gig!

ParkLive cover

Available to download on iTunes here! DVD coming in November

Blur 21 Review (First Impressions)

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Blur 21 Boxset

How can you really start a first impression review of a boxset comprising of songs from the late 80s and finishing off with a single released less than a month ago this year? Answer, who knows, but we’re gonna try.

A Journey through Music

Blur21 takes you through the journey of Blur, starting with the exclusive single ‘Superman’ which was the first song Blur performed together publicly as the 4 piece they are today, then under the name Seymour. Not only do you get that, as well as over 70 more exclusive never before heard songs and sessions, but each of the 7 Blur studio albums have been remastered to tip top quality. Now, don’t get us wrong, you probably can’t tell the difference of albums ‘Blur’, ’13′ and ‘Think Tank’ as they are too recent, but on ‘Leisure’ especially you really can hear some refreshing newness the album really needed, as it was recorded for Tape remember.

The songs really do take your mind back and after listening to the first 6 albums you really do feel taken aback to the 90s, even Think Tank has its own special effect now Graham is back in the band today. What makes the albums better is they also include the incredible b-sides on the second disc, songs which many have never heard before anyway, which include some real highlights in the bands career just their, songs such as ‘Young & Lovely’, ‘Tame’, ‘All Your Life’, ‘I Know’ (yes it was a double A-side but counted officially as a b-side) and more have become real fan favourites and are really worth the listen.

The Rarities

Personally I was disappointed by the collection of Rareties Blur offered in Blur 21, don’t get me wrong I wasn’t expecting a new album, its just I guess we were all expecting more than forgotten demo tapes and rejected album tracks. Having said that we love songs like ‘Saturday Morning (Demo)’, ’1′, we also love the live session version of ‘Caravan’ from Think Tank as well, and they are more we’ll mention in the full review soon. We did get a tad confused by the title of ‘Sir Elton John’s C**k’, especially as they were no mention of the singer, or even any related vocals, but hey why not eh, the song itself is a bit of a miss! It was nice to see ‘Kissin Time’, which was taken from Marianne Faithfulls album of the same name, we’d forgot that Blur actually featured in that song. The Rareties also features the latest Blur singles ‘Fools Day’, but we were surprised to see ‘Under The Westway’, but nice to be their, even if there is the absence of The Puritan.

Video

Blur included some DVDs with Blur 21 too, as well as a few music (promo) videos for some of the singles, we love the It Could Be You one, we hadn’t seen that before. They also included live gigs at Showtime in 1994, The Singles Night at Wembley and a Rareties DVD featuring live performances of songs rarely played live, which makes it odd that Song 2 is in the list, but hey.

Summary

Blur21 still has a lot to be discovered and this is far from the final review, but we will be looking in to Blur21 in all depths and give you a full review soon, but are first impressions are most definitely positive, and for the money its incredibly worth it, I mean you’re getting Blur’s entire back catalogue (minus a few).

A stunning take on one of Britain’s best bands, yes we stole that from No Distance Left To Run reviews, but its true about Blur21 too, its even charted which is awesome. Full review coming soon, but we really can’t fault what you get for just £119.

Keane – Sovereign Light Café – Single Review

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Cover for the Sovereign Light Café single showing the actual Sovereign Light Café in Battle.

First Impressions

We heard Sovereign Light Cafe first on the album Strangeland and we loved it then, and we love it as much now, the song has such a quality not found in many bands anymore today. The song is still not equal to any of the classic singles from the Hopes & Fears era, but Keane are definitley on to something with Sovereign Light Cafe.

Review

The song takes a ride through places and landmarks around the bands first footsteps around their hometown in Battle, East Sussex, evident by the lyrics. The song has that catchy feel we’ve all been missing from Keane songs, especially from the ill fated Perfect Symmetry album. The music video is equally as matched as a Keane classic and takes the road with you. The song has the piano based sounds we’ve been missing from Keane since they got obsessed with guitar rift effects and 80s synths, but all in all Sovereign Light Cafe is a refreshing single and definitely one not to forget.

B-Side ‘Difficult Child’

We were more interested in the b-side when Sovereign Light Cafe was released, and Keane are one of the, now for some reason not many, bands that thankfully offer b-sides with their singles. Difficult Child is an interesting one as it has more country sound to it than most Keane songs, definitely references from Tim Rice Oxley and Jessie Quins ‘Mt Desolation’ days. Unfortunately the songs not that special, its just alright, its definitely a grower, but has the same weak sounding vocals from Tom we thought we were rid of after Night Train, but sadly not. The song does make up for many things by having some pretty deep lyrics about a man working through his life, explaining himself as a Difficult Child who through it all needs that special someone. The song features some rather country sound electric guitar rifts as well which is intriguing for Keane, the songs definitely not a bad one, but for those not big fans of country music this won’t be a song for you, but those who loved Mt Desolation will love this little hidden gem.

Lyrics

I’m going back to the time when we owned this town
Down Powder Mill Lane, in the battlegrounds
We were friends and lovers and clueless clowns

I didn’t know I was finding out how I’d be torn from you
When we talked about things we were born to do
We were wide eyed dreamers and wiser too

We’d go down to the rides on East Parade,
by the lights of the Palace Arcade and
Watch night coming down on the Sovereign Light Café

I’m begging you for some sign, but you’ve still got nothing to say
Don’t turn your back on me, don’t walk away
I’m a better man now than I was that day

Let’s go down to the rides on East Parade,
by the lights of the Palace Arcade and
Watch night coming down on the Sovereign Light Café
Let’s go down to the bandstand on the pier
Watch the drunks and the lovers appear to
Take time, just the stars at the Sovereign Light Café

I wheel my bike off the train,
Up the North Trade Road,
Look for you on Marley Lane
In every building, every street sign,
Oh why did we ever go so far from home?

You’ve got nothing to hide, you cant change who you really are,
You can get a big house and a faster car
You can run away boy, but you won’t go far

Let’s go down to the rides on East Parade,
by the lights of the Palace Arcade
Watch night coming down on the Sovereign Light Café
Stroll down to the bandstand on the pier
Watch the drunks and the lovers appear
Take time, just the stars at the Sovereign Light Café

La la la la la la de da, Yeah,
I’m going where the people know my name

Overview

An awesome second (UK atleast) single by Keane, from their incredible album Strangeland, the band can’t seem to do anything wrong at the moment. Sovereign Light Cafe is an awesome song and one we think you will be singing in our ears for years to come, awesome single Keane.

Available now on iTunes / Amazon MP3 / Zune

 = Such a catchy single about a bands roots, a song that brings back the sound that we all loved from classic Keane, tho not the best b-side.

Green Day – Oh Love! First Impressions and Single Review

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Single for Oh Love single taken from the bands upcoming release Uno.

I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking, wow are Green Day still around? And, well, unless you are a hardcore follower of the band, you’d be forgiven for thinking that, the last song we heard on the radio was 21 Guns back in 2009, although the last TV ad for the band we saw hasn’t been since 2005 for American Idiot, so promotion is probably hasn’t been their strongpoint right now.

First Impressions

The song kicks off with a guitar clutching way, reminiscent of the Beetlebum beginning, except without the guitar playing, the song then kicks in vocally, in a very cliche way, and kind of continues that mood throughout the song. Introducing some rather unimaginative lyrics and then an expected rhythm, the song doesn’t seem to ever build in to what your always expecting it to. The song vocally actually reminded us straight away, of a rocky version to Robbie Williams 2006 single ‘Make Me Pure‘. Links to all referenced song are available (provided by VEVO).

Review

Green Day have been rather invisible in the public eye since, whats still known as their best release, American Idiot, which was released way back in 2004, offering most of their still most recognisable singles.

Oh Love was a very important single for the band, and whilst heavily advertised on band forums and the band website, not really promoted again that well, in fact we had to be told by a fan that this was even coming out.

The song acts as an introduction to the first of the trio of albums to be released by the band, all of which are set in a rather short span of time (¡Uno! ¡Dos! ¡Tré!).

As you’d expect, creating such a large quantity of music in such little time equals some rather average, and in some cases. poor songs, some more suited as b-sides to be unleashed upon them, and Oh Love is definitely one at that, and sadly, fits in to that category of songs.

The song is unimaginative and quite frankly boring, it makes what we’re known as a rock band seem like a cheap boyband, remember Busted?

Green Day have been subject to rather poor promotion for their singles, in fact over 24 hours of single availability, counting Amazon offered pre-order time, the single has yet to reach either the Amazon MP3 or iTunes Store, or any top 100, ugh.

This may seem like an over negative review of the band, and you’re probably thinking, are you their worst enemy or something, and we’d probably respond pun like and say, hey, what band know their enemy more than Green Day? But come on, the lyrics starts off “Oh Love, Oh love, Won’t you rain on me tonight”, then unimaginably followed by the second line “Oh life, Oh life, Please don’t pass me by”, thats a rather childish lyric.

Lyrics

Oh Love, Oh love, Won’t you rain on me tonight.
Oh life, Oh life, Please don’t pass me by

Don’t stop, Don’t stop, Don’t stop when the red lights flash

Oh ride, Free ride, Won’t you take me close to you

Far away far away, waste away tonight
I’m wearing my heart on a nose

Far away far away, waste away tonight
tonight my heart’s on the loose

Oh lights, and action
I just can’t be satisfied

Oh losers, and choosers
Won’t you please hold on my life

Oh hours, and hours
like the dog years of the day

Old story, Same old story
Won’t you see the light of day

Far away far away, waste away tonight
I’m wearing my heart on a noose
Far away far away, waste away tonight
tonight my heart’s on the loose

Talk myself out of feeling
Talk my way out of control
Talk myself out of falling in love
Falling in love with you

Oh Love, Oh Love, Won’t your rain on me tonight
Oh ride. Free ride, Won’t you take me close to you

Far away far away, waste away tonight
I’m wearing my heart on a noose
Far away, far away, waste away tonight
tonight my heart’s on the loose

Overview

Oh Love is a rather poor disappointing affair, don’t get me wrong, the song is catchy, and does get in to your head for a while, and we weren’t looking for lyrics to make your eyes water, or guitar rifts to send Slash to shame, Green Day just aren’t that type of band, but we were looking for something much better, and they have most definitely had better hits than this, you have to grant us that. For the fans sake lets hope the album is better, Oh Love is the last track after all, maybe its their to forget, you have to have hope suppose.

Available now on iTunes

 = A rather disappointing effort, that no one even knows exists.

Blur perform new double A-Side ‘Under The Westway’ live on Twitter (UPDATED)

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Blur perform Under The Westway/The Puritan Live on Twitter

Video: Blur performing Under The Westway and The Puritan on Twitter Live Stream.

Blur have released their first single since 2009 release Fools Day, and the single Under The Westway, featuring double A-Side The Puritan is now available to download on iTunes (link below). Each songs are available for 99p each or £1.49 for both.

Quick song Reviews

 = Under The Westway is a pure ballad by Blur, one which many have been calling the companion to For Tomorrow. The song delves in a very piano led way and, in a calm way, tells the story of the song, with some beautiful lyrics such as ‘for the way I feel about you, paradise not lost its in you’, the song is set to be another Blur classic

 = The Puritan shows a new side of Blur, this was apparently written by Graham Coxon mainly, and has a much more, dare we say, Gorillaz sounding sound to it for a Blur song, but a great song none the less. The song does fall in to that trap of being a grower and we’re not so keen on the intro, but once the song kicks in you’ll be waiting for that build up throughout after ‘for every little thing that fashion gives you’.

Muse release official London Olympics 2012 single Survival

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NewImage

MUSE have today unveiled a new song called Survival, and I know what you’re thinking, we don’t do single reviews on RKUK Media, well thats true, but Survival is to be the official song for the London 2012 Olympic Games, which is just awesome. The song was premiered tonight (27th June) at 8:30PM on Radio 1 and doesn’t sound that bad.

The song itself definitely sounds epic, Muse songs really never disappoint in that case, and not epic as its used by cheap reviewers as good, epic as in it has orchestral music etching in to a rock song, thats epic. The single is by far the best Muse song, but its definitely a grower and one you’ll be hearing quite a bit off through the Olympics which remember is just a month away.

 = The song is a power ballad, it rocks, its epic, pure Muse for the Olympic Games, awesome!

Visit MUSE website here

Olympics website here