Katy Perry – “Dark Horse” New Promo Single

Published September 17th 2013
Filed under Reviews

Katy Perry has released the first promotional single Dark Horse from her upcoming album Prism. The second promotional single will be Walking On Air which will be released at the end of September.

artworks-000056300465-0j1ugm-t500x500Dark Horse is produced by Max Martin and Dr. Luke and features rapper Juicy J. Katy asked fans to vote between two songs called Walking On Air and Dark Horse to be released before her new album Prism drops. Unfortunately Dark Horse won. From the clip I could tell that Dark Horse was the weaker track. After Katy held her listening parties for Prism, the reviews also revealed Dark Horse to be the weaker track – and possibly the weakest track on the album. Walking On Air was hugely praised and was said to be second single material.

Dark Horse was released to iTunes today and the full version is disappointing. Until I heard Dark Horse, I had yet to dislike a Katy Perry song. I even like all her Columbia Records demos and collaborations with The Matrix. But with Dark Horse, it feels like it’s trying so hard to be as brilliant as E.T. from Katy’s previous album, but fails miserably. Juicy J adds nothing and his parts are a bit annoying, especially the vocoder. The verses feel so disjointed from the chorus. The chorus, which actually sounds like a pre-chorus, sounds like it’s building up to a massive chorus but then stops with a beat drop and fizzles out into the next verse. What’s most annoying is that the “chorus” is quite good and has so much potential.

Fortunately, Dark Horse is only a promotional single and not the second single which Katy has made very clear. And fortunately we’re getting Walking On Air in two weeks time.

Take a listen to Dark Horse below:

Britney Spears – “Work Bitch” New Single

Published September 15th 2013
Filed under Reviews

workbitchbritney
Britney Spears’ new single Work Bitch, from her upcoming 8th studio album, has leaked a day early. The track is produced by will.i.am and Antony Preston.

On first listen, Work Bitch sounds a bit messy. Britney talks for most of the song. It sounds like will.i.am gave Britney her own solo version of Scream & Shout. Britney is heard doing her British accent again – as heard on Scream & Shout. It’s possibly her weakest lead single ever but hopefully after a few listens it will grow on me.

Take a listen to Work Bitch below:

Work Bitch is out tomorrow (September 16th) on iTunes.

Diana Vickers – “Music To Make Boys Cry” Album Review

Published September 13th 2013
Filed under Reviews

Diana Vickers’ second album Music To Make Boys Cry is finally out after what feels like a life time of a wait. It’s been over three years since her debut album Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree was released.

Music To Make Boys Cry is a huge progression for Diana. Every track on the album deserves to be on it. There’s no filler. Even though some songs were recorded two years ago, it still feels very current.

MusicToMakeBoysCryMusic To Make Boys Cry, the title track, was one of the songs Diana gave away for free at the end of 2011. The updated version on the album sounds a lot more full. Its only fault is the excluded ad-lib on the final chorus.

Cinderella, while being the first single, was one of the first songs recorded for the album and definitely contains elements of different songs on the album. It’s clear that this song was a template for the direction of the album. The chorus still reminds me of the Tony Lamezma remix of Girls Aloud’s Call The Shots.

Lightning Strikes is probably the most pop song on the album. It’s full of catchy melodies and hooks. Lyrically it’s very similar to Natasha Bedingfield’s Touch. The chorus is so infectious and only gets better when the final chorus hits and the “hey, na, na, na, na, na, hey” is added which sounds like a sample of Dario G’s Sunchyme. It’s definitely a contender for the third single.

Dead Heat is a lot more laid back than the first three tracks. It’s mid-tempo dance pop. It reminds me of something that would’ve fit onto Hilary Duff’s Dignity.

Boy In Paris is one of the tracks that leaked early. Diana premiered a short clip of this song on her SoundCloud shortly after she gave away Music To Make Boys Cry. The full version subsequently leaked. This new version on the album has slight changes. The 8-bit video game intro has new production with a more subtle bass line, the second verse has added background production and the final chorus has a brand new instrumental. This is also a single contender.

Mad At Me is one of the less instant tracks on the album. The melodies aren’t as catchy. It’s like Diana tried to make her own version of the track Hit (The Sugarcubes cover) from her debut album. This is definitely a grower.

Smoke is the first slow moment on the album. It’s a heart-wrenching ballad. It’s not single material but it’s one of those album tracks that fans will wish to be a single.

Mr. Postman reminds me of an old Christmas song. It takes a while to get into it but once the first chorus hits, the song soars. Diana sounds a bit like Ashlee Simpson singing the verses. It has some funny lyrics like “you lostme.com” and “don’t mean we’re lovers just because you follow me on Twitter”.

Diana was spoiled for album titles with these songs. Love Sounds Better In French would’ve made a great title. Better In French – the shortened title, is one of the songs Diana performed at all her summer shows last year. It’s dark, electro-dance song. It’s the other less instant song on the album but seems to grow every listen.

Blame Game is one of the newer songs Diana recorded for this album. It’s very Girls Aloud and could’ve easily fit on Out of Control. It’s another track full of strong pop-hooks and melodies. It closes the album on a high.

Hopefully this album sells a decent amount so that So Recordings warrant a third album from Diana, and more singles from this one. It’s such a strong album and deserves to be a success.

Music To Make Boys Cry is out on September 15th.

Miley Cyrus – “Wrecking Ball” Video Premiere

Published September 09th 2013
Filed under Videos

1237175_10151848465977147_1500825188_nMiley Cyrus’ video for Wrecking Ball has premiered on VEVO. Wrecking Ball is the second single to be taken from her upcoming studio album Bangerz.

The video for Wrecking Ball is very literal – it has a wrecking ball in it. However, Miley’s riding the wrecking ball half-naked and then later naked. Like We Can’t Stop, Wrecking Ball is another attempt at creating media controversy and attention seeking to prove that she’s not Disney Miley anymore. Miley’s seen wearing “clothes” similar to the We Can’t Stop video and licking a sledge hammer in between riding the wrecking ball. The head shot scenes are actually decent and prove that the video could’ve been a lot more tame and effective, similar to Demi Lovato’s Heart Attack, if Miley wasn’t screaming for attention. Overall, the video doesn’t detract from what a great song Wrecking Ball is.

Check out the video below:

Avril Lavigne’s New Album Track “17” Leaked

Published September 08th 2013
Filed under Reviews

avrillavigne_PhotoAvril Lavigne’s new album track 17 has leaked onto the internet. The track is rumoured to be a single at some point during her self-titled album campaign. Avril has performed the track live on a couple of occasions.

17 is a throwback track to Avril’s youth. The song wouldn’t sound out of place on Avril’s debut album Let Go. It also wouldn’t sound out of place on a Taylor Swift album. It’s a country-pop song with a chorus melody that radio will eat up if it’s released as a single. It’s co-written by Avril and Jacob Kasher Hindlin and produced by Martin Johnson (Boys Like Girls).

Take a listen to 17 below:

Avril Lavigne’s self-titled fifth studio album will be released on November 5th.