This weeks music REVIEWS

This weeks music reviews

5 Seconds of Summer - Don't Stop

5 Seconds of Summer are back with their follow-up to number 1 single She Looks So Perfect. Don't Stop is set to give the band their second number 1 single, even with stiff competition from the 2nd week sales of Ella Henderson's Ghost. It is taken from their upcoming eponymous debut album.

For me, Don't Stop has already grown a lot quicker than their debut did for me, but I put this down to not having some borderline-cringeworthy lyrics that I did eventually learn to love! The track opens with bold guitars, reminding everyone that 5SOS aren't just any boyband like their current chart rivals, but a band who do in fact play their own instruments, and to a high standard as well. Lead singer Luke Hemmings provides some strong vocals as well. The track builds up extremely well to an explosion of the chorus. The lyrical content of the chorus itself is quite simplistic but they do pack enough of a punch to get you on board. It is quite the grower, a track that is rather charming as it's so feel good and action-packed, a sentiment expressed by the super-hero themed video. The band have gone up in my estimations extremely upon that first listen of their debut, they've become very likable, and not even in a guilty pleasure way anymore.

4/5

George Ezra - Budapest

Budapest by 21 year old Ezra is currently at #3 in the midweek charts after being re-released and consequently recently becoming a radio 1 staple. The track is taken from upcoming debut album Wanted on Voyage and has been streamed more than a colossal 10 million times on Spotify.

While they may be hard to decipher on first listen, the lyrical content of Budapest is stunning, as he talks about giving it all up for the one he loves. Ezra's soulful and heartfelt vocals really bring these lyrics to life and give them so much meaning. It's such a feel-good, pleasant track that is undeniably catchy - it's very hard not to at least sway along when listening to it!

4/5

Gorgon City ft. Laura Welsh - Here For You

North London duo Gorgon City who previously supported Rudimental are back, but this time teaming up with Laura Welsh. Here For You is currently at #05 at the midweek stage, and if they keep this position then they could be looking at a second top 5 single, after their previous track Ready For Your Love featuring MNEK peaked at #04.

I was VERY apprehensive about reviewing this track, as Gorgon City's previous effort is already my favourite song of the year, so there was always the underlying feeling that any follow-up would be in the shadow of it's predecessor. Although Here For You is not quite as bold and euphoric as the stellar Ready For Your Love, it is still very much enjoyable but in a totally different way. It is SO relaxing, pleasant and mellow - making it a perfect chill out track for summer. Laura's vocals deliver the lyrics just right as they bring the relaxing feeling, and production values from Gorgon City compliment these vocals so well, and suddenly add a bit more life and make a statement on the chorus. Very well done to them on producing a high-quality follow-up.

4/5

Demi Lovato - Neon Lights

Neon Lights is taken from Demi's eponymous latest album, which went to #10 in the U.K. last June. The track is co-written and produced by one of the men of the moment, Ryan Tedder. It currently sits at #11 at the mid-week stage.

The track opens in a very gripping fashion with Demi providing vocals in a lower register, and the synths and claps make for an interesting build up. The chorus is instantly memorable and very much catchy, and of course she delivers vocally like always. However, I feel like the production in the chorus and the vocals clash with each other a bit rather than compliment, making it harder to focus on one of them. Nothing spectacular really, just bubblegum throwaway pop, but at least enjoyable bubblegum pop at that!

3/5

The Kooks - Around Town 

Around Town is the second single to be released from upcoming 4th album Listen. It's predecessor Down just managed to dent the top 40 at #40, but Around Town is currently sitting at a slightly higher position of #32. 

The track draws you in with the fantastic instrumentation, and with the vocals being as strong and unique as ever. There is a feeling of intensity as the track builds up, and this works really well with the finger snaps. Although the chorus is rather repetitive, the backing vocals work so well to enhance it, and the production remains stellar. The repetitive lyrics themselves are quite special anyway, with the phrase "When the chips are down" being an interesting choice to mean that someone will love him even when everything is wrong, a very bold statement indeed. Overall, it's chart position so far reflects the fact that it is definitely a step-up from the rather uninspired Down!

4/5

Peace - Money

Birmingham band Peace release the first single Money from their forthcoming 2nd album, which is also set to be their first top 40 single after a midweek #40 position. This follows their last album which went to #16 officially.

The band describe themselves as "Dark melodic indie techno" and to be honest, this description is pretty much bang on. The introducing instrumental draws you in very well, and the vocals that shortly follow it are fantastic. The melodic instrumental hook is definitely the highlight of the song each time it comes around, as although I like the concept of the chorus, the actual lyrics themselves seem a bit too simplistic, and the verses end up being stronger. However, maybe it'll turn out to be a grower on the whole.

3/5

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This weeks music reviews

Secondcity - I Wanna Feel

Secondcity are set to top the chart this week with their debut single I Wanna Feel.

I Wanna Feel ensures that the dance craze resurgence as of late lives on. It also guarantees that the sampled dance tracks craze (See Sigma's Nobody to Love and Duke Dumont's I Got U) lives on too, as it samples 1994's You're Making Me High by Toni Braxton. A recent dance track it's not too disimilar to is Route 94's My Love, but where it does differ is the fact that it is a little more dark sounding. I also think it's a lot more interesting and emotional. Great stuff.

4/5

Klingande - Jubel

French house DJ Cedric Steinmyller a.k.a Klingande looks set to make his U.K. chart debut with Jubel this week - as it was already as high as #3 in the midweek chart.

Jubel is already the second saxophone hit of the year, and it's very similar to this predecessor - Changes by Faul and Wad Ad vs. Pnau with it's prominent saxophone production. Jubel is pleasant enough, but doesn't quite pack the same punch as Changes and relies a little TOO much on the saxophone which becomes a bit tedious after a while.

2/5

Ellie Goulding - Beating Heart

Ellie is back with latest single Beating Heart, taken from the soundtrack to the film Divergent. It looks to give her another top 10 - with it being at #9 in the midweek chart.

The one thing that instantly clicked for me about Beating Heart was the gorgeous, chilled-out synth-pop production. Ellie's vocals are also sounding stunning. Production aside, the track itself turned out to be quite a grower, with the ending note being a bit erratic indeed! It's pleasant enough on the whole, but probably not one of her more memorable tracks.

3/5

Twin Atlantic - Heart and Soul

Twin Atlantic are set to make their first ever entry onto the U.K. Top 40 Singles Chart - with Heart and Soul as high as #10 at the midweek stage!

I was very much aware of Twin Atlantic - as on the radio their bold songs with the Scottish accent are rather unforgettable! Anyway, production-wise it's all there, with uplifting guitars in particular making the track a rather huge affair. For me it's kind of just there - a pleasant enough pop direction for them, with a chorus fit for the radio with it's easily accessible lyrics.

2.5/5

One Direction - You & I

One Direction are back with their fourth single to be taken from Midnight Memories. Charting previously at #19 following the release of the album originally, the single campaign provides a chance to beat this peak - as it was #12 at the midweek stage.

For me, You & I wasn't instant but has grown on me in time. One Direction have actually impressed me as their material seems to get stronger with each album release, particularly the ballads. You & I is vocally on point, as Harry conveys the chorus with a lot of emotion, whilst Zayn delivers on falsetto near the end. The production is understated but gorgeous, whilst the track itself is a very romantic affair, with very strong statements such as "We can make it to the end" and "Not even the gods above, can separate the two of us" lyrically. While you'd expect it to be cheesy, it surprisingly really isn't. 

4/5

Lana Del Rey - West Coast

West Coast is the first single to be taken from Lana's 2nd upcoming album Ultraviolence. It is produced by Dan Auerbach from Black Keys and was #14 at the midweek stage.

As soon as the track begins, the production makes me feel very chilled out, and her sultry vocals also compliment this. The tempo change at first was a bit sudden, but after a while I got used to it and found the transition very relaxing. The track is driven by an understated but memorable chorus. Overall it's a rather breezy track that sounds ideal for road trips.

4/5

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This weeks music reviews

Pitbull ft. G.R.L - Wild Wild Love

Fresh off U.K. #1 single Timber featuring Ke$ha, Pitbull is back with new track Wild Wild Love featuring new girlgroup G.R.L, featuring Lauren Bennett of Party Rock Anthem fame. The track is set to score Pitbull another top 10 hit, as it's already #6 in the midweeks.

Let's go straight into the positives. The production of the song is fantastic, if even a bit hypnotic, which is not something I thought I'd be saying about a Pitbull track. However, Pitbull starts his usual spiel about girls, and then the chorus comes around and it's sweet enough but a little vapid, hardly any personality is interjected into the song by G.R.L. The lyrics and production for me feel disconnected. It's no Timber by a long way.

2/5

Foxes - Holding On to Heaven

Holding On to Heaven is Foxes' third solo single, and looks to set her a third top 15 hit after #12 Youth and #7 Let Go For Tonight. It is taken from her debut album Glorious.

The first thing that entered my mind when hearing Holding On to Heaven is that it sounded very much like an Emeli Sande track, which is no bad thing as she has quite the voice. Anyway, Holding On to Heaven is yet another strong single from Foxes' debut campaign, with a gripping and emotional start that soon develops into a somewhat anthemic chorus, especially lyrically. A delightful effort from her.

4/5

Molly Smitten-Downes - Children of the Universe

Molly is this years representative for the U.K. in the Eurovision Song Contest, that is to be aired on Saturday, set in Denmark. Molly was discovered through BBC Introducing and is the the first Eurovision entry for the U.K. since 1997 that's had a self-penned song as an entry. 

I was apprehensive to hear this track, as the U.K. does occasionally have the habit of conjuring up some horrors for the contest in the past (See 2007's entry Flying the Flag courtesy of Scooch). However, I was surprised to hear this track isn't thankfully associated  to the cheesy Eurovision stereotype. While in my opinion Children of the Universe isn't quite as good as the winners of the past two contests, it is certainly special. Molly has a seriously powerful tone to her vocals and these are complimented by the wonderfully pounding production that's also mixed in with some rousing strings. Hopefully she'll score the U.K. some fantastic marks this year after a disappointing last couple of years.

3.5/5

This weeks music REVIEWS

This weeks music reviews

Calvin Harris - Summer

Calvin returns after scoring a #1 hit with Under Control in December featuring Alesso and Hurts. Summer looks to be the next #1 in his impressive discography as it has already sold 60,000 copies at the midweek point.

Summer sees Calvin not only as a producer, but back as a vocalist again! Frankly I've always been a fan of his vocals, especially as they spawned the sublime Acceptable In the 80's and I'm Not Alone. Summer is yet another impressive track for Calvin and it lives up to it's title as it is very much a song to be heard in the summer with it's feel-good vibes. It slowly draws you in to the euphoric explosion that is yet another memorable synth hook from him.

4/5

Paloma Faith - Only Love Like This

The only other new entry in the official top 40 so far at the midweek stage, Only Love Like This is already set to score Paloma the second top 40 hit from her latest album A Perfect Contradition after #10 Pharrell produced hit Can't Rely On You, as it is currently #33 as it stands.

Only Love Like This opens with rather grandeur production that carries on throughout the rest of the song, and ultimately carries it along majestically. This new single from her is quite different to it's predecessor as it's more of an emotional one. It is vocally stunning and although understated, it is still extremely powerful, proving you don't have to shout to get your message across. Although I found it a little grating when she hit the high notes on Can't Rely On You, it's the complete opposite here as each chorus continues to build up the emotion.

3.5/5