ALBUM REVIEW: Lily Allen - No Shame
So it’s official, Lily Allen is back but don’t expect the same sassy and sexual innuendo driven diva you’ve become acquainted with. This time the British songstress delivers her most honest and raw material yet on her fourth studio album. ’No Shame’ is a little rough around the edges but the DIY inspired record hears her stripping it down and giving you smooth harmonies and honest lyrics. The indie pop meets RNB production is very minimalistic and focuses on the storytelling to give you the main highlights instead of relying on big beat drops or gimmicky choruses to deliver those moments.
Don’t expect any dance breakdowns or radio friendly tracks because this album is not about that and that’s okay. Album opener ‘Come On Then’. introduces this new melodic sound by confronting the media speculation that she isn't a good mother or wife. It’s brutally honest and she manages to work in a catchy chilled out hook while unleashing her inner thoughts. It sets the tone for the record and hears tracks like ‘Lost my Mind’, ‘Everything To Feel Something’ and ‘Higher’ following in it’s footsteps. ‘What You Waiting For?’ incorporates a funky reggae beat that hears old Lily Allen making a slight comeback with her pure fire vocal delivery making it one of the strongest tracks on the record.
‘Your Choice’, ‘Waste’ and lead single ‘Trigger Bang’ offers a grittier, beat heavy production with a rhythmic influence. There are a lot of stripped back moments on this collection that hear either just a simple guitar or piano accompany her dreamy vocals. ‘Family Man’ and ‘Apples’ are eye opening and brutally honest while ‘Three’ is pleasantly weird and unique. This record is made to be listened to a couple times because it is so different and unique. It’s moody and showcases so many different feelings and vibes that it would be unusual for you to love it in a first sitting. So don’t be afraid to listen to it a couple times if you’re not completely sold on it straight away. Just don’t expect any big old indie-pop moments like ‘Smile’, ‘LDN’, ‘Not Fair’ and ‘The Fear’ because you won’t find them on this record.
SINGLE REVIEW: Thomston - Acid Rain
Over the past three years Thomston has made himself an artist you want to be familiar with. The New Zealand singer-songwriter and producer has released two EP’s, a debut album and has collaborated with artists like WAFIA and SACHI. His new single ‘Acid Rain’ serves as the perfect re-introduction as it’s his first solo material in two years and hears him shifting towards a more polished indie-pop sound.
The production is very minimalistic as the songs starts with a soothing guitar riff as his dreamy vocals perfectly intertwine. He then adds in piano and light vocal synthesisers to grow the mood which then eventually turns to this big gospel inspired moment. It’s very simple but beautiful and will instantly have you entranced and wanting to push replay.
The song is a euphoric moment of realising that someone is bad for you and learning what you need and what you deserve and just letting go. The production elevates this empowering vibe whilst still being vulnerable, emotional and catchy. An impressive feat for any artist to pull off all at once. This song comes out at a week with some MASSIVE artists and he’s outshone them all and impressed by delivering easily the strongest track of the week, and if not the past month.
SINGLE REVIEW: Tove Lo feat. Charli XCX, Icona Pop, Elliphant & ALMA - Bitches
Swedish favourite Tove Lo released her third studio album ‘Blue Lips’ last year almost unknowingly with a digital only release which was backed with no promotion and only one single. Now the singer-songwriter has decided to release a new version of fan favourite ‘Bitches’ which seems like a slightly strange move to make.
However this remix is pure fire with the addition of four unique female artists who add a different contrast to the sexually driven and empowering track. The feminist anthem is about taking control of your sexuality and owning who you are and realising it’s okay to have one night stands. “Bitches I don’t trust them but they give me what I want for the night”. With Charli XCX, Icona Pop, Elliphant, ALMA and Tove Lo all on the same track it does become slightly hard to keep up with who is singing and what is going on.
Tove Lo kicks off the first verse with Charli XCX announcing her arrival on the track halfway through the first verse by delivering her auto-tune greatness. Tove Lo then drives the chorus before Icona Pop takes over the second verse with their smooth pop harmonies. Their delivery almost sounds innocent before they drop the assertive line “Baby spread your legs, I’ll do the same, already cumming”.
The song gets a little messy during the final verse when both Elliphant and ALMA are rapping with an almost call and response method that leaves the listener a little lost. They probably could have dropped one of them to have a stronger impact as it really is a little too much. But other than this minor flaw this remix is actually stronger than the original studio version because I always felt like the song was missing something. It was a crowd favourite in her live set for a year leading up to the release and it had this raw grittiness that didn't translate onto the studio version but she’s found it with the addition of these bad ass females.
SINGLE REVIEW: Christina Aguilera - Like I Do
With every promo track and single from her forthcoming sixth studio album ‘Liberation’ bombing on the charts Christina Aguilera keeps continuing to try revive it with another pre-release track. ‘Like I Do’ is the last attempt to create some serious traction before the album drops next week and sadly it still doesn't succeed at getting you excited. The RNB meets electronic influenced track is average at best and hears her teaming up with Goldlink to try add some more ‘star power’ but not even he can save this track. It almost feels more like his song than hers with his dominant raps that outshine her half-effort hooks.
Usually Xtina knows how to deliver a catchy and empowering hook that will have you instantly hooked and captivated but this album cycle hears her losing her spark. She’s trying to fit in with the relaxed RNB sound that is currently sweeping the pop market but it’s not working for her. The song has a seductive appeal but it just doesn't succeed at making you feel any sort of way. The strongest track so far from this record is the lead single ‘Accelerate’ and that’s saying something cause not even that track is great.
SINGLE REVIEW: Amy Shark - Don’t Turn Around
I think it’s very hard to not be excited for Amy Shark’s debut album ‘Love Monster’ with the amount of hype and interest she has gathered globally. The lead single ‘I Said Hi’ introduced the album with a bold and inspiring track that was dedicated to everyone who didnt believe in her and told her she wouldn't make it. She’s laughing now right? With the album slated for a July 13 release date the Gold Coast favourite has dropped a new promotional track to get you even more excited.
‘Don’t Turn Around’ revisits the sound she welcomed on her debut EP ‘Night Thinker’ with a bolder polish that makes her sound less monotonous. Her debut EP was a little flat in places and just needed a different mastering to make some of the weaker moments stand out more. But this song perfectly does that. The reflective track begins with her acoustic guitar and quickly adds in a bold beat and voice synthesiser that grows the sound to be a gritty indie-pop moment. She even has a slight rap moment towards the end of the last verse which is impressive to say the least.
The song explores running into an ex lover and not being able to help but think about them. It’s an honest and great track which is full of emotion and cool production. So far she is proving why she is selling out shows all over the world and showing a massive growth from her EP.
ALBUM REVIEW: Sheppard - Watching The Sky
After the massive success of their breakthrough singles ‘Let Me Down Easy’ and ‘Geronimo’ Brisbane five piece Sheppard toured the world, performed on some of the biggest talk shows and opened for the likes of Justin Bieber, Little Mix and Meghan Trainor.
Their sophomore studio album ‘Watching The Sky’ has been a long time coming with a lot of set backs along the way but the 14 track record is finally here. The album boasts a collection of some of their most recent radio favourites like ‘Coming Home’, ‘Keeps Me Crazy’, ‘We Belong’, ‘Edge Of The Night’ and ‘Riding The Wave’. On a first listen these songs can come across a little gimmicky and cheesy but after a few listens you will singing and bopping along to their undeniably infectious and feel good hooks.
The rest of the album follows their lead with catchy hooks and smooth harmonies that the sibling lead vocalists Amy and George Sheppard deliver so soothingly. I was waiting for a sassy track like ‘A Grade Playa’ or the angsty ‘Find Someone’ but this album says clear from that sound. The closest we get is the Amy lead track ‘Love Me Now’ which has a slight disco production but the chorus is still classic pop. ‘Castaways’ and ‘I Was Lost’ delivers sun soaked euphoric goodness that will have you ready to hit the highway whilst the cheesy ‘Call Me Up’ and ‘Choke’ are a little forgettable.
They do offer a fair few mature ballads that hear them heading towards a different and exciting sound. Their strongest element is their harmonies and when they focus on that and their honest storytelling they really do shine. ‘Live For You’ and ‘Sorry’ lead these stripped back moments but I would love to hear them completely strip it back with a folk inspired acoustic track because George’s vocals would excel with that sound. But this record hears them offering a consistent collection of upbeat pop that will continue to add to their feel-good live show.Whilst it may not be for everyone this record does show a strong growth in their songwriting and hears them perfecting even catchier hooks than their breakthrough hits.
You can read full music reviews, live reviews, interviews and more at www.thomasbleach.com
And want to check out some of these songs? Then check out the #BLEACHED playlist on Spotify which is curated each week by Thomas Bleach as his favourite new releases.
