SINGLE REVIEW: Zayn - Good Years
Redeeming himself one week before his ridiculous 27 track long sophomore record is released, Zayn has dropped a beautiful and simple soaring ballad. ‘Good Years’ is a sweet little moment that you could imagine playing at the end of a tear-jerking drama film with it’s cinematic soundscape. Reflecting on a life in the spotlight he recounts the good and bad times through his One Direction experience with toxic relationships and self discovery.
He confesses “Too much drugs and alcohol. What the hell were we fighting for? Cause now the whole damn world will know that we're too numb and just too dumb to change the story” before breaking your hearts with his thoughts of regret during the chorus. “I close my eyes and see a crowd of a thousand tears. I pray to God I didn't waste all my good years”. The rare candid and raw number is a song that will really speak to his fans. It’s pure emotion at it’s finest and it’s honestly where we just hear him being him without all the extra’s. I hope ‘Icarus Falls’ will follow it’s lead and deliver a couple other heartbreaking and raw tracks.
SINGLE REVIEW: SEEB FEAT. BASTILLE – GRIP
The whole electronic pop-rock fusion is becoming a little tiring. I mean, so many bands have done it this year that it’s no longer original or surprising. Bastille teamed up with Marshmello earlier this year for ‘Happier’ which has recently raked in some massive mainstream attention. And whilst the catchy track was a bit of banger, it also wasn’t anything original. So I was quite surprised that Bastille have teamed up with another electronic act for round two.
This time the UK band have teamed up with Norwegian producers Seeb for the only original track from their new mixtape ‘Other People’s Heartbreak (Pt. 4). Whilst ‘Grip’ was written by Bastille it doesn’t really feel like an original song. They lose their band elements with the production breakdown as well as the repetitive nature of the song. I really wanted to love this song and feel groovy but I just couldn’t. The song details the feeling of wanting to walk away from someone but not being able to. Which is something I’m sure we can all relate to. “I should just walk away, walk away. But it grips me, it grips me”. But that is honestly the only good thing about this song. The rest is predictable, boring and a little tiring.
SINGLE REVIEW: ASTRID S – CLOSER
2018 has been a bit of a quiet year for Norwegian singer-songwriter Astrid S who only dropped one single for us this year. ‘Emotion’ was a slow-burner track that grew on listeners with it’s dark and moody synth production. Sampling 80’s influences she gave something a little more industrial and experimental. But she wasn’t going to end this year without another mature new track and ‘Closer’ is a sultry little jam that shows a whole new side of her.
Leaving the heartbreak anthems aside for a moment, she describes the emotions of being “the other woman” in this seductive and groovy little track. “I think we both know that you should tell her. Kiss of my perfume is still on your sweater” From these lyrics you will be thinking “oh no Astrid but also “go girl” at the same time. But then she falls a little deep. “I’m keeping my mind off you when she got her body on you. But later that night we do it again”. The production has this jazz infused RNB touch that will have you transported to a latin club as she gets a little saucy. It’s not as catchy as ‘Emotion’ but it’s another track that will grow on you. I just wish it had a more impactful chorus with bolder production. But she is showing a strong growth and maturity in her songwriting which is always promising.
ALBUM REVIEW: The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
The 1975 are that aesthetically pleasing band that deliver harmonic synths, cinematic instrumentation and emotional storylines. They’ve always been like that ever since their debut EP and they’re very unapologetic about it. Their third studio album ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’ is a bold and endearing collection of tracks that offers a bigger arena ready sound that compliments their massive upcoming world tour. The singles ‘Give Yourself A Try’, ‘TooTimeTooTimeTooTime’, ‘Love It If We Made It’ and ‘Sincerity Is Scary’ reintroduce that big cinematic sound their debut album revolved around. It sounds like every track could be the soundtrack to a indie-film and perfectly sets up their ‘Music For Cars’ era which all of these songs could be perfectly blasted in.
Following in their footsteps, ‘It’s Not Living If It’s Not With You’ has a massive singalong chorus whilst ’I like America & America Likes Me’ continues the bold reign and incorporates hip-hop influences which add a different layering to their sound. But they begins to strip it back with the slow rock anthem ‘Inside Your Mind’ and eventually strip it all the way back to the raw ballads ‘Be My Mistake’, ‘Surrounded By Heads And Bodies’, ‘Mine’ and ‘I Couldn’t Be More In Love’. But the albums strangest moment comes from the electronic spoken-word ‘The Man Who married A Robot’ which literally details the storyline of a man falling in love with the internet.
It’s a great commentary of how we miss out on real life experiences because we are so glued to our phones and computer screens that we miss out on what is happening around us. And that is the common theme and idea this album explores. It’s an emotional and honest collection of tracks which continues what The 1975 have always succeeded in and that’s authenticity. It’s a big and vibey listen which really needs to be consumed with headphones on before you take it for a drive in your car.
ALBUM REVIEW: Alessia Cara - The Pains Of Growing
For her sophomore record, Alessia Cara has stripped it all back and put her heart out on the line. ‘The Pains Of Growing’ is an honest and raw affair that explores heartbreak, pain and self discovery through a collection of very autobiographical songs. It plays as the big sister to her debut album ‘Know-It-All’ and really inserts a mature styling to her vocal and production delivery. Lead single ‘Growing Pains’ is a RNB influenced pop track that continues the sound her debut introduced and grows on you with it’s radio ready hook. But from there she dives a little deeper into the emotional side of things with songs like ‘Not Today’ which reflects on the hardships that follow a break up and sees her realising that it is okay to bask in that sadness for a little while.
The song falls into the contemporary pop and RNB category with soulful elements that elevates the authentic feeling with it’s pulsating and soothing layering. ‘7 Days’, ‘All We Know’, ‘Easier Said’ and ‘Nintendo Game’ follow this trend whilst ‘Girl Next Door’ and ‘Trust My Lonely’ feel a little over done and forgettable. Stripping it completely back with the raw tracks ‘Wherever I Live’, ‘A Little More’, and ‘Out Of Love’ she serves you pure emotion and vocals.
But it’s the song ‘I Don't Want To’ which will completely break your heart in two. “I don't want to let it show, but I still love you. And how do I let you know if I can't call you?”. And adding to the personal side ‘My Kind’ welcomes you into her mind with what she wants out of life and her insecurities with quirky little excerpts. This album really is an honest and truthful affair which will have you feeling like you know a whole new side to her. Some of the songs are a little forgettable but that comes with the singer-songwriter genre. She however opens up like never before and truly finds who she is as an artist which is a beautiful thing.
ALBUM REVIEW: Clean Bandit - What Is Love?
It’s been four years since Clean Bandit released their debut album and within that time they’ve had some massive hit singles, toured the world and even had a dramatic line up change with Neil Amin-Smith shockingly leaving the band in 2016. But from there they’ve spent a long time working on the refined sound for their forthcoming record and worked with an impressive roster of artists. Sadly the 16 track result is a little predictable and cringe worthy. ‘What Is Love?’ is an endearing and bold collection that attempts to re-create the unprecedented success ‘I Miss You’, ‘Symphony’ and ‘Solo’ had. But instead it just falls into the predictable category and doesn’t really seem to take you emotionally to the same places the previous tracks did.
Songs like ‘Mama’ featuring Ellie Goulding should be an instant smash hit. But instead the embarrassing sonical re-creation of ‘Solo’ seems a little desperate. After a few listens it does eventually grow on you but not enough to warrant how many listens it took you to actually get there. After that disappointing delivery, songs like ‘Baby’ feat Marina And The Diamonds, ‘Last Goodbye’ feat Tove Styrke and ‘Tears’ feat Louis Johnston didn’t even stand a chance.
Luckily the playful delivery of ‘Playboy Style’ feat Charli XCX and Bhad Bhabie and ‘In Us I Believe’ feat ALMA seem to create enough traction. Throughout these tight and polished synth-lead tracks there seems to be a lack of emotions and vulnerability which songs like ‘I Miss You’ embodied. The album is very long and repetitive and could’ve been more refined in its lengthy track listing. Instead of making you dance continuously they make you think abut whether you’re going to skip a song or not.
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.
