Featured Reviews
Learn more about your favourite artists; find out what they are up and keep tabs on what interests you.
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Snuff
Slipknot |
Masked metal maniacs Slipknot may well be loved by their fans for their usually savage songs, but this semi-acoustic track from their critically acclaimed fourth full-length 'All Hope Is Gone' shows a refreshing diversity to their trademark sound. Clearly influenced by frontman Corey Taylor's grunge side-project Stone Sour, this is more introspective and brooding than the Iowan nine-piece have ever sounded. It's a new confidence and the development of their songwriting abilities that's allowed them to not only write such a song but to fill it with the same intensity, albeit a different shade, as their usual aggressive assaults. More melodic it may be but Taylor is on fine form, singing with honesty and angst and delivering such wounded lyrics as "My heart is just too dark to care/I can't destroy what isn't there" and "So break yourself against my stones/And spit your pity in my soul/You never needed any help/You sold me out to save yourself." Slipknot have discovered a new darkness. Ian Chaddock~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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Women Lie, Men Lie
Yo Gotti Feat. Lil' Wayne |
While his name may sound like something a passing organized crime fan may have bellowed at the former Teflon Don, Yo Gotti's 'Women Lie, Men Lie' sees the now-regulation guest appearance from the man it seems even incarceration cannot stop, Lil’ Wayne. Based around a looping, chipmunk vocal refrain of "Women lie/Men lie", the Tennessee rapper hooked up with the Cash Money clique, changed his stage name from Lil’ Yo (as he was known in the 1990s) and swiftly set about becoming an even bigger force to be reckoned with in Southern hip hop. Managing to be chart friendly while at the same time packing enough gruffness and grit to get the clubs fired up, 'Women Lie, Men Lie's stabbing basslines, boot camp beats and skittering, coasting synthesisers add further to the atmosphere. Taken from 2010 album 'Live From The Kitchen', it looks like the only bars he'll be seeing will be ones with musical notes on them and the only records he'll be getting will be gold ones. James Sharples~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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The Cave
Mumford & Sons |
After 2009 saw them capture the attention of music fans with their folky debut single 'Little Lion Man', Mumford & Sons managed to sustain this momentum with first album 'Sigh No More' hitting the Top 10 in the UK and Australia. This was thanks in part to second and third singles 'Winter Winds' and 'The Cave', the latter of which saw them venture to an anonymous exotic location where they larked about on mopeds - all in the name of the art of the music video, of course. 'The Cave' is another emotive track from the band, and really picks up steam in its latter half thanks to the customary banjo that features prominently. Not forgetting the brass section which adds to the almost frenetic nature of the song's final chorus, as lead singer Marcus Mumford belts away before the track comes to a rather sudden close. Overall, 'The Cave' is another solid track from the boys, a pleaser to fans and radio executives alike. ~ John Rowley ~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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Ever So Shy
General Fiasco |
Northern Ireland's General Fiasco spent the late 2000's slowly building up a name for themselves, performing at a number of festivals and snagging support slots with the likes of The Enemy, The Pigeon Detectives and Snow Patrol. 2008 saw them start to receive some serious support from the industry with various BBC and XFM DJ’s all chipping in with radio spins and offers of guest appearances, and 2010 saw the arrival of their debut album 'Buildings' preceded by the single 'Ever So Shy'. An upbeat indie number, the rather bleak lyrical content ('let's get wasted, it's all we ever do') and the polished song structure belie the band's young age, and shows there's more to them than meets the eye. Earlier songs ('Rebel Get Bye') have mentioned teen suicide and the tale of alcoholic misery and 'Ever So Shy' continues the band's exploration of the darker side of human nature. It's not all doom and gloom though as the track itself is a catchy slice of pop rock with a strident chorus and punchy rhythm section guaranteed to keep the toes tapping. ~Martin Gadgil. Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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Pure Imagination
Gene Wilder |
Drawn from the 1971 film 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory', Willy Wonka's (played by acclaimed American actor Gene Wilder) song is as whimsical and slightly unnerving as the character himself. Written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, it's Wilder's delivery that makes it perfect to accompany the scene where the lucky children and their parents explore the edible delights of the Chocolate Room. The string and piano-accompanied ballad is sure to evoke memories of childhood wonder with the lyrics "If you want to view paradise/Simply look around and view it/Anything you want to, do it/Want to change the world?/There's nothing to it". Proving Wilder's skills as a singer as well as an actor, it's an aptly strange but absorbing listen. Featured in an advert for Sky HD, it's a slice of fantastical escapism. Ian Chaddock~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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Silvia
Miike Snow |
Not having too high expectations for their debut self titled album, it must have come as something of a shock to the members of Miike Snow when it immediately attracted critical praise and the first single went straight onto the Radio One playlist. However despite their modest claims, two members the band have quite a pedigree when it comes to chart success, being the writers behind hits for the likes of Kylie and Madonna, and even notching up a Grammy for the Britney Spears track 'Toxic'. Writing as Miike Snow allowed the band to investigate new avenues and although there is definitely a pop element to their music, it's counterbalanced by a slightly removed feel which separates it from their overtly chart-pleasing production work. Based around an electric piano chord structure, 'Silvia' is balanced with synthesiser swirls and shuffling drums as it builds up under the vocal melody, providing a basis of cool electronica that meshes nicely with the lyrical content. ~Martin Gadgil. Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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Only Man
Audio Bullys |
It's been a long old road for musical hybrid duo Simon Franks and Tom Dinsdale since they emerged on the U.K dance scene in 2003 with the lairy anthem 'We Don't Care'. Managing to unite party-boy, beered-up fans of dance music and indie rock alike, debut album 'Ego War' was met with approval for its direct style, and willingness to draw from an eclectic set of influences including breaks, punk, hip hop and house. 'Only Man' sees a return to this style, after the more moody, down beat approach of 2005 album 'Generation' which included their biggest hit to date 'Shot You Down' which sampled Nancy Sinatra's 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)' and struck while the Kill Bill iron was still dripping in blood and piping hot, charting at No.3 in the U.K singles chart. It's this up front style the boys are obviously more comfortable with, and this single could almost be drawn from the 'Ego War' era; a strong return to form that fans will appreciate. It's a track with one eye on the arenas or the summer festivals; pumped up with a big strutting, crowd pleasing ambition. Not bad for the first musical offering in some four years, taken from the group's third album ‘Higher Than The Eiffel’. Sampled rock guitar stabs are propped up by solid house beats and club orientated synths, laying the foundation for the macho, half rapped /half sung lyrics, making endearingly hooligan like attempts at romance. Support from the likes of BBC Radio One's Zane Lowe ensured a lot of radio play for the track, while that hook line will undoubtedly lodge itself in your brain from the first listen. ~David Sutheran~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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Little Freak
Usher Feat. Nicki Minaj |
Since releasing his self-titled debut album in 1994 Usher has come a long way. After continuing his domination over both the urban and pop charts over the years with the likes of 'Burn', 'Caught Up', 'Yeah!' and 'Pop Ya Collar', it's clear that everybody does indeed love Raymond as 2010 album 'Raymond Vs. Raymond' attests. Given a widescreen production job courtesy of man-of-the-moment Polow Da Don, the album sees Usher hooking up with the Young Money Entertainment crew, collaborating with Lil’ Wayne protégé Nicki Minaj who proceeds to tear this track to shreds like a combine harvester running over a paper mill. Newly single at the time of recording, it's clear that Usher reveled in his relationship status, with his vocal delivery matching his fancy footwork. As orchestral tones swell, loom and crash like tidal waves, Usher and Nicki Minaj cut loose and let their freak flags fly on this Friday night anthem-in-the-making. ~James Sharples ~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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Gave It All Away
Boyzone |
After the tragic 2009 death of band member Steven Gately, Boyzone returned in early 2010. 'Gave It All Away' was the first single released from 'Brother', their first album as a four-piece. Written by fellow pop sensation Mika, 'Gave It All Away' is based around a fairly basic piano line, but builds up its instrumental depth throughout, before returning to its piano root at the song's close. Unlike many of their other songs, the track possesses a slight reggae tinge from the second verse, with sporadic flourishes giving it a more distinctive quality and identification. Having first debuted on the pop scene way back in 1993, Boyzone were well and truly a group of seasoned professionals by the release of 'Gave It All Away', and this is well conveyed in their expert harmonies and professional delivery - no easy feat given the unfortunate events surrounding them in 2009. ~ John Rowley ~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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Solo
IYAZ |
Hot on the heels of summery breakout single 'Replay', 'Solo' sees the Tortola, Virgin Islands native and Sean Kingston protégé Iyaz taking an altogether different approach from the loved-up smooch-a-thon. Mourning the loss of his partner, Iyaz admits that, while he may well be "burning up the airwaves from the Virgin Islands to the UK" (not to mention the Billboard Hot 100) "I don't want to walk this earth if I've got to do it solo". Signed to Kingston's Time Is Money record label imprint, 'Solo' sees Iyaz (real name Keidran Jones) mourning the split of what he calls "the dynamic duo" with a lilting, reggae-infused vocal line atop a sumptuous sonic banquet of hand claps, rattling beats, ocean stirring bass and melodic instrumentation. Taken from 2010 album 'My Life', Iyaz' ability to harness legitimate hip hop beats to his undeniable talent for catchy pop melodies means that he definitely won't be lonely for long. James Sharples~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2010. All rights reserved |
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