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.
Music 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.
Natasha Bedingfield – “Touch”
Published May 19th 2010
Filed under Reviews
Natasha Bedingfield’s new single Touch was thrown onto the US iTunes Store yesterday with no announcement of a new album campaign starting so soon. Touch, written by Natasha herself, Steve Kipner and Julian Bunetta, sees Natasha trying out a new sound unlike anything she has done before. It also doesn’t sound like it’s ripping off anything around at the moment. It’s very fresh, uptempo, feel-good, dance-pop.
As a lead single, Touch could be a slight risk. While it shows a clear progression in Natasha’s sound and builds on previous songs such as The One That Got Away and Not Givin’ Up, Touch isn’t a sure-fire hit. A guaranteed hit is something Natasha probably needs, especially in the UK since her previous effort, N.B., flopped but regardless she returned with something surprisingly original, interesting and a bit daring.
Touch opens with a hypnotic, synth-building verse featuring some of Natasha’s best signature storytelling lyrics which made songs such as These Words, Unwritten, We’re All Mad and Backyard so interesting and unique. The story in Touch is told quite cleverly, with the second verse explaining what led to the coffee-spilling incident which happens in the first verse. A lyric in the second verse which demonstrates Natasha’s clever storytelling is:
It seems that spilling coffee was no accident at all
After each verse, the song erupts into a melodic, dance-driven, feel-good chorus which instantly creates the atmosphere of a summer night’s party. If handled correctly, Touch could be a huge summer hit with such a chorus.
Overall, Touch is quite an impressive lead single for Natasha and hopefully it will aid her return to success in the UK after a disappointing sophomore stint.
[audio:touch.mp3]Touch, taken from the Natasha’s third studio album (second in the UK) and follow-up to 2008’s Pocketful of Sunshine (2007’s N.B. in the UK), has yet to be added to radio or scheduled for release internationally. The upcoming, yet to be titled album also has no tentative released date.
Cheryl Cole Working With Ryan Tedder
Published January 18th 2010
Filed under News
According to reports, Cheryl Cole is working with Ryan Tedder on some new tracks. Some sources are saying Cheryl is looking for a U.S. career and is bringing 3 Words over there repackaged. Other sources are jumping to the conclusion that Cheryl is working on her second album already. Neither have been confirmed but after the success of 3 Words, it’s not surprising that Cheryl wants more and with Nadine Coyle’s album out so late in the year, which could halt any chances of Girls Aloud returning by the end of the year, why shouldn’t she want more?
Fans of course are worried about Cheryl working with Ryan, in fear of another one of his signature hits (Already Gone, Halo, Bleeding Love) being given to her which definitely wouldn’t work for an artist like Cheryl. What people need to remember is, Ryan does have some very good songs that weren’t huge hits but would be more suiting to Cheryl and with her public persona she could excel similar songs to be the hits they deserve to be. Such songs include:
Hilary Duff – Gypsy Woman, Holiday, Reach Out
Shayne Ward – Tell Him
Natasha Bedingfield – Love Like This
Sugababes – Thank You For The Heartbreak
Kelly Clarkson – Tip of My Tongue, Impossible, If I Can’t Have You
Songs in the same vein as the one’s above, made to sound more like Cheryl’s sound, could really work for her and launch her career in the U.S. along with 3 Words and possibly Fight For This Love.