ALBUM REVIEW – SIA, THIS IS ACTING

Every since Christmas, I have been listening to Fleetwood Mac and only Fleetwood Mac. So when Sia’s new album came out and I took a listen, it was almost shocking to start hearing pop music sounds again. I never really followed Sia’s career, and really only knew of her when “Chandelier” came out, followed by “Elastic Heart”. I liked some of the songs off of her 1000 Forms of Fear album (like “Fire Meet Gasoline, Big Girls Cry, Cellophane and Elastic Heart) but not enough for me to buy the album or really consider myself a fan. That all changed, however, when she released This Is Acting, a montage of rejects from Adele to Beyonce and everyone in between. The really cool thing about this album is that all the rejects were songs that Sia wrote and pitched to all of these artists. And they all rejected them! However, this crafty and interesting tracks find their home within Sia and her very distinctive voice and sound. She creates a wonderful pop album. The only track she wrote specifically for herself was “One Million Bullets”. Songs like “Alive” were co-written by Adele and were intended to be included on her album, 25, though I must say I prefer Sia singing this heart-wrencher than Adele. When I first heard the dance song “Move Your Body”, I instantly though it sounded like Shakira. Low and behold the song was actually intended for her. Songs like “Reaper”, a Kanye West production, and “Sweet Design” were meant for Rihanna. Other tracks, like “Unstoppable”, were meant for Poot, I mean Demi Lovato. Upon first glance at the tracks and their intended artists, one may be quick to note that these songs don’t sound like they would blend well on an album. Demi is a far cry from Rihanna and Rihanna from Adele. However, Sia allows herself to incorporated her very raspy, very unique vocals belted out over very equally unique sounds. While This Is Acting may not seem like the music Sia typically sings herself, she allows these songs to find a home on an album that is both creative and all around wonderful. A must-listen for anyone interested in pop music.

TOP SONGS- Bird Set Free, Move Your Body, One Million Bullets, Cheap Thrills, House on Fire, Summer Rain (a Target exclusive bonus track)

TOP 7 ALBUMS OF 2015

This is a list of what I believe to be the best albums that have been released this year. Many come from my personal favorite artists while others come from artists I was surprised by. Take a look.

 

7) DEMI LOVATO, CONFIDENT

This album was one of those that surprised me. I have never been a huge fan of pop music and so I never really listened to Demi Lovato. I had enjoyed some of the tracks off her 2013 album but never really was a devoted fan. When she released the lead single “Cool For The Summer”, I initially didn’t like it. However as I heard it more it grew on me and began one of my favorite summer songs. Once the second single “Confident” was released, I knew this album was going to be good. However. Confident was not the album I was expecting. With the two singles being upbeat and sexy, I figured the rest of the album would be too. However, the album was filled with ballads and showed just how much of a vocal powerhouse Demi Lovato is. Confident is a really enjoyable album and a pleasant surprise from a pop artist.

TOP SONGS- Cool For The Summer, Wildfire, Yes, Kingdom Come (minus Iggy Azalea)

6) X AMBASSADORS, VHS

In my opinion, this album does not flow very nicely. It is not a cohesive album that has the songs all relating from start to end.Another thing I had difficulty with regarding the album was all of the interludes. However once you get the passed the interludes, the actual songs are pretty good. A lot of the tracks are, to me, very experimental and very alternative. and while the album lacks in a nice flow, the individual tracks are pretty amazing. The only song I really didn’t like was “Fear”. However this album offers really great tracks with really unique sounds, vocals and content. X Ambassadors have crafted some pretty great stuff with VHS, and while the album may not flow very nicely, it is still a great listen and a really enjoyable album.

TOP SONGS- Renegades, Jungle, Gorgeous, Loveless, B.I.G.

5) WALK THE MOON, TALKING IS HARD 

This album is a nostalgic look back on music from the 80’s. WALK THE MOON matured their sound for their second major-label feat, while still sticking to the funkiness of their first album. This album brought them some pretty mainstream success with “Shut Up And Dance” being constantly overplayed. But with that aside, this album is a very enjoyable one with a nice flow from track to track. This is alternative music done right. Talking Is Hard showcases a growth in WALK THE MOON, while still being a really fun album. They use beats that sound like they come from the 80’s and use their unique lyrical skills to present a well-prepared album. “Different Colors” is a great anthem for those in the LGBT community, up there with P!nk’s “Raise Your Glass” and Kesha’s “We R Are Who We R”. All in all, Talking is Hard, is WALK THE MOONS normal craft only very heavily perfected.

TOP SONGS- Up 2 U, Spend Your $$$, Different Colors, Down In The Dumps, Avalanche, Portugal

4) ZELLA DAY, KICKER 

This was the first album I ever critiqued on this blog. And it is still one of my favorites. Zella Day crafts a psychedelic world for her listeners with her very crafty lyrics and beats. She reminds me a lot of Lana Del Rey, except with more talent and a better sense of the music she’s trying to deliver. Kicker packs a punch (or a kick rather…) that leaves listeners entranced and wanting more. The album will leave you feeling like you’ve been transformed. Each song deliver quality beats and lyrics and offers a wonderfully crafted alternative/psychedelic sound. Zella Day’s debut is a very strong one and I cannot wait to see what she has to offer her listeners in the future.

TOP SONGS- Jerome, Ace of Hearts, Mustang Kids, High, Hypnotic, Shadow Preachers

3) MELANIE MARTINEZ, CRY BABY 

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, this album is pure perfection. A totally surprising album, Martinez takes extremely child-like themes and transforms them into very mature, dark tales. The whole album is the story of a girl named Cry Baby, and her various forms of bad luck. Whether it be no one coming to her birthday party or being kidnapped, Cry Baby can’t seem to get away from hard times. This albums content dives into abuse, kidnapping, rape, alcoholism, love and broken hearts. Cry Baby is one of the most beautifully crafted albums I think I have ever heard. Martinez’s niche is not only her unique voice but rather her unique approach to pop music and her lyrical content. This album is extremely dark, but so beautifully crafted, you can’t help but fall in love. Well done, Miss Martinez.

TOP SONGS- Mad Hatter, Soap, Mrs. Potato Head, Tag You’re It, Alphabet Boy

2) THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, WIPED OUT!

When I reviewed “R.I.P. 2 My Youth”, I said that I thought THE NBHD’s new album was going to be a lot more mature than their last album, and boy was I right. Wiped Out! appears to really be an album dealing with the lose of a father and going through break-ups. A lot of the lyrics are brutally honest and somewhat heartbreaking as the listener really gets to feel the pain being conveyed in the songs. With this album, THE NBHD matures their sound while sticking to the alternative sound they’re known for. But unlike their first effort, Wiped Out! is not repetitive, and shows a whole new side to the band. I was pleasantly surprised with this album and the direction the band decided to go when crafted their second album. Wiped Out! is a great album that doesn’t disappoint. A must-listen for sure.

TOP SONGS- Cry Baby, Greetings From Califournia, Ferrari, Daddy Issues, R.I.P. 2 My Youth

1) MARINA & THE DIAMONDS, FROOT 

We’re here! The cream of the crop, the BEST album of 2015, the amazing Froot! Let me start off by saying that choosing the best album out of my top 3 was extremely hard, but the more I listened to each album, I found myself liking Froot more than the other 2 previously mentioned. Marina really comes into her own on this album, utilizing the tones and messages from her previous albums. Froot is an extremely honest album, with Marina writing all the lyrics and music to the tracks by herself. Songs like “Happy” and “Solitaire” show a side of deep sadness while songs like “Froot” and “Forget” show a more positive attitude regarding situations in life. Marina keeps consistent with her sarcastic nature of her first two albums with “Can’t Pin Me Down” and “Better Than That”, while discussing the turmoil society is currently in on her song “Savages”. The final song “Immortal” is such a beautifully sad song. There is no song on this album that I do not like. It has a great flow to it and is very cohesive with all of its parts. Marina capitalizes on her sarcasm and sadness to bring the best album of 2015. Froot delivers strong vocals and messages and proves that Marina and her fans are living la dolce vita.

TOP SONGS- Froot, Can’t Pin Me Down, Better Than That, Solitaire, Immortal

So there you have it, my top 7 albums of 2015. Hope you enjoyed each album as much as I did!

ALBUM REVIEW- ADELE, 25

  
Adele is a vocal powerhouse. After waiting for a few years for her to release new material, the star is back at it. Her new album 25 was much anticipated by me and basically everyone in the world. I mean is there anyone who’s not a fan of Adele? When the album started off with “Hello” I was excited, as I don’t live under a rock I had already heard the song but was anticipating what was next to come. The next track was surprisingly poppy, to me so much different from her normal sound. But it was also surprisingly good. Adele tackles a new realm with 25 while still relying heavily on her tried and true ballads, though the ones that are on this album are pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised that Adele went into a newer realm of music for herself, working with pop music people like Max Martin and Shellback. In essence, 25 is a continuation of 21, and while a good continuation, nothing new to the table. She may experiment a little on some tracks with sound but Adele’s lyrical content is much the same, and all of the songs have no lack of her belting out lyrics. And that’s great, don’t get me wrong, but I think I would have liked to see this album evolve a little more, see Adele evolve a little more. Instead it’s basically 21 2.0, with the same sad break-up songs, the same vocal abilities, and the same great pop album. 25 is tried and true for Adele, but that’s what makes her Adele. She is redefining pop music and giving it a much needed change. All in all, Adele’s 25 may not bring anything new to the table but it’s still a great listen and perhaps one of the best albums of 2015. 

TOP SONGS- Hello, Water Under The Bridge, Send My Love, I Miss You, Love In The Dark

ALBUM REVIEW- MELANIE MARTINEZ, CRY BABY

Let me start out by saying this album is pure perfection. That is extremely rare for a whole entire album but I cannot find a single song I don’t like on this album. Melanie is a beautiful, troubled artist and she has created one of the greatest concept albums I’ve ever heard. Taking childish themes and song titles and crafting them into dark tales of love, abuse, alcoholism and even murderous teddy bears, Martinez gives listeners an excellent story of the character Cry Baby. If you bought a hard copy of the album you’ll know that it has a companion booklet, designed like a children’s book, with each page relating to each track respectively and telling the heartbreaking story of Cry Baby. The tunes and vocals of the album wouldn’t give off the idea of a dark and disturbing album but when you look at the lyrical content there’s no question of how messed up it is. But when I say messed up I mean it in the best way possible. For someone so young I am amazed at how artistic and talented Melanie Martinez is. I didn’t know of her being on The Voice and first got attracted to her music when her song “Carousel” was featured in American Horror Story: Freak Show. From there I bought her Dollhouse EP and then happily anticipated her debut album. Melanie is an amazing artist, not only vocally but creatively and Cry Baby showcases all of that. The album may be dark but no one can deny how brilliant it is. For those who haven’t listened to the album or heard of Melanie I suggest you check it out. She won’t disappoint.

TOP SONGS: Mad Hatter, Soap, Mrs. Potato Head, Milk & Cookies, Tag You’re It, Cake, Cry Baby

ALBUM REVIEW- FLORENCE + THE MACHINE, HOW BIG HOW BLUE HOW BEAUTIFUL

For today’s review I listened to the new Florence + The Machine CD that was released this week. I’ve always been interested in the band but never really listened to them. After hearing the album the only word that came to mind was breathtaking. The whole album is amazing and there wasn’t a song on there that didn’t have something about it I liked- the music, lyrics or both. Florence has a beautiful voice and creates a truly epic art form with her singing. This is a truly personal album filled with woeful tunes and self-loathsomeness. Florence belts her heart out pointing out all of her own flaws and being straight up when it comes to how destructive she can be in relationships. I think she brings to mind things we all think about but are scared to admit about ourselves. This album is honest and raw. The music videos are so beautiful and sad all wrapped into one, hell the album is beautiful and sad wrapped into one. “What Kind Of Man” has to be my favorite piece off of the album- the beats and lyrics are fantastic. After hearing the album I think I can say I am a fan of The Machine and will look into their other albums. I was left with so many emotions after the album and I think that’s good- as an artist you want to provoke some type of feeling into your audience, and Florence provokes many mixed-up emotions. This album is simply amazing and beautiful, one of the most honest albums I’ve heard in a while.

TOP SONGS- What Kind Of Man, Delilah, Third Eye, Ship to Wreck

ALBUM REVIEW- ZELLA DAY, KICKER

The debut album of Zella Day is a psychedelic journey from start to finish. I first happened upon her when iTunes had her song “Hypnotic” as the single of the week. Afterwards however I lost interest in her until earlier this week I saw her new album was released. A 39 minute album filled with creative lyrics and indie beats, Kicker packs a punch that leaves listeners finding it hard not to fall in love. Her style is somewhat similar to that of Lana Del Rey- though less woeful and with far greater vocal range and themes. There isn’t one song on this album I can say I don’t like. From the heartbreaking first song “Jerome” to the gushing love song “Compass” to complete the album, Day takes her listeners on a journey into a psychedelic world where, with the lyrics, will have you looking for your soul and finding it by the end of the album. While this album is being released in early June I vote it one of the best albums of the summer.

TOP SONGS- Jerome, Hypnotic, Mustang Kids, Shadow Preachers