[Single] Venus in Chains - The Virgins

Single
8.5/10


After a 4 year hiatus The Virgins are back with the first official track from upcoming 7" single entitled "Venus in Chains" (out on May 26th). The Song is inspired by godlike feminist visual artists, therefore the name.It sounds fantastic and is so enjoyable reminds me a bit of not mainstream rock from late 90's [no names come to head now]. Anyway the song feel like something new for nowadays music, very cool and is a song you wish and it could be longer cause it goes growing and growing but then is over. The band still have the gist even they are not the same members but apparently Donald Cumming knows how to deal with it and give the right direction to the band. The track is lovable and addict-able definitely a teaser to what is coming, an album later this year. Only wishing 'Island Girl', a track released earlier this year, comes with the single because that track is absolutely brilliant as well. So glad that The Virgins finally are back and with fantastic music, now looking forward to a full album.



From http://www.vice.com/read/vice-premieres-venus-in-chains-by-the-virgins:

[Single] Only the Horses- Scissor Sisters

 single
 7/10

Gladly this song sound more like Calvin Harris than Scissor Sisters.'Shady Love' previous single, without a future, was dreadful. This song is enjoyable and repetitive from both sides Scissor Sisters repeat the chorus so many times and Calvin Harris repeat his hit formula, But it actually works the song is very pop and dance, catchy and also keeps the SS's style. Probably it will be in charts for a long while if it not, what a shame this is much better than most of the music there. The track sounds fresh and don't is a hard effort to make a song that gets stuck in your head for annoying reasons (Chart's Pop).A good song but I insist is more like from Calvin recent 'solo' singles.

In the Belly of the Brazen Bull - The Cribs

 8/10 
Music is my Radar

The Cribs go back to basics, their basics. This new album is wicked! All is so well made and apparenlty effortless ( but you can hear a hard work on). A strong record or archivement of how good a band can be if they don't change and just mature. Music, Vocals, Lyrics everything is fluid.


The album is like listening to an old record not because it sound old, cause the sound is very fresh and exciting, but because is so well produced. It has beautiful guitars, wonderful drumms and easily goes with a potential voice and sound mixed, all sounding in perfect armony, none is more than any one. 'Confident Men' is that song that have all what the album is and shows perfectly how the band have evolved .All the music is amazing 'Anna' has an great powerful sound that goes slowly growing and, so as the album, explodes magnificent.We knew it wasn't going to be a disappointment since the first single 'Come on, Be a no One' was released. 


The energy is what makes this album so enjoyable and awesome even when it slow down in 'Should Have Helped' it keeps the energy but transformed into a soft song which is genius.The garage style reminds me a bit of Rooney but with Red Bull and adrenaline,like 'Chi Town' (not my favourite) or 'Uptight' that is a bit long,compared with the other ones but delicious so you don't notice it.No boredom don't exist in this record, although there are a few ones that  goes by unnoticed  like 'Butterflies' because is in a gapless part of the album but still quiet good.


The album reminds me of mid 90's but not because the style or the garage/guitar music,I think is because have something that you easy like and haunts you for example 'Stalagmites' and 'Back To The Bolthole' takes you back to something inbetween Suede and Blur because is charming and somehow catchy but at the same time has a very The Cribs distinction and a modern twist. The Album is all what great bands do encourage/inspire you to do something on your own.


The Cribs do and did a fantastic job with or without Johnny Marr they still the same they have something unique and also the power of 'Classic' Punk bands that is to entertain and to put you to sleep so thats why the album is so fast and strong. And the album have a amazing great closing song 'Arena Rock Encore' that recapitulate not just the album but all of their work and shambles (apparently).


Recommend : Come on, Be A no One ;Confident men ; Arena Rock Encore;Should have Helped;Back To The Bolthole


not too much: Pure O; Glitters Like Gold

[Single] Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - The Subways

single
 8/10 


Fun! that's all what this song is, jolly, fast, enjoyable. This new Subways' single is catchy, probably silly but is so good, a bit 2000's  but is very them and fresh. The song is so quickly that you wish it could last a few minutes more but that will take off all the playful and adorable part of the song, that's what made this song so brilliant, they knew how to edit.Since the first time I heard it I felt happy or jump-y, is very accelerating, it get you very anxious .So if you haven't  listen have a go and then you will want to hear the whole album that doesn't go to far from this rejoice-able style.

[single ] Guardian-Alanis Morissette

single
 7/10 
After 4 years away from music she could have done better. The beginning of this song is wonderful and powerful but then it slowdown and plain. Is not bad at all but kind of boring a minute less would done a difference.The cheese lyrics are good the rhythm is good, is what Alanis always do so is not bad that she hadn't change but is a bit disappointing  that she haven't grown.
The music and her voice are beautiful it reminds you how good she is, and is very 90's or sort of timeless. The Song is also 'uplifting' , apparently She is speaking to her child but it can apply for friends, couples etc.,very corny, could be the song for a love/friendship/parenthood film. The main reason I don't love it is because is fine, average and definitely a grower but would be nicer if it were the last single of the album and not the lead one. Will wait to hear the album in August to know if Alanis comes back with new tricks or she will have just a new album with nothing new.

Dr Dee- Damon Albarn

 8/10 
 Lucy in the Sky 

OMSG! this is an eargasm do not know how some people are talking shite about it. Perhaps idiots are not listening as what it is, a soundtrack of an opera so it obviously this is just  half the project, but what a fucking good half. It is inspiring and make your imagination go high just listen to  'The Moon Exalted' and then tell me if it doesn't take you anywhere.

This album is just the music of a story so it obviously can't be compared with chart music or what you usually listen on radio or even on your player.Every track on here was made to be played on 'Dr. Dee's opera but it follows that has some great folk-ish songs that you can play leaving the opera idea behind like 'Apple Carts' and 'The Marvelous Dream' that have been released like singles(or something) already, but there are more songs than you can listen like 'The Dancing King' which is such a TUNE and it has melancholy and a birdy ending. Even 'Saturn' can be a singles because it join the both sides the folk & African style and the opera music.


As for the opera songs we can highlight 'O Spirit, Animate Us' which is an exquisite piece of musical art. But the very distinguish is 'The Moon Exalted ' that could sound like it were two songs but at the end the conquer and melt in one beautiful song. 'Cathedrals' has a very deferent point which is to be opera but more "commercial" more like for a fairytale film.

There are also plenty of "pastoral" songs in the album which can be boring, but are better than go to church!.The music is magnificent the voices are weird but everything is relaxing, for example 'Tree of Beauty' is very quiet and sleepy.But There are also weird songs with a lot of African influence like ' Watching the Fire That Waltzed Away' which had a very interesting rhythm that put the fun fact in the album; theres also  'Point Star' an odd song that is almost out of context but somehow they managed it to made it part of the concept, and in a excellent way.

As often this is Damon Albarn working with a bunch of people so everyone should have credits here. The collective made a huge powerful sound.When Damon is not singing you still enjoying the music. The kind of music that make you sleep not because you are bored but because you are dreaming. The sound of the whole album is great just listen to 'Preparation' with a lovely African style or 'Moon (Interlude)' both say everything without a word. The flaunts and every instrument are admirable none overshadowing any one. An hallucinating great work.

The album in my opinion is amazing.The music is utter enjoyable and voices complement it. It grabs you and take to a different period of time and space or to a parallel world. Another good thing is that songs are short so the ones that for some people could be boring end fast. So don't be silly and don't mind the bollocks have a listen if you want and let your imagination fly.

To Listen: Apple Carts, The Moon Exalted,Saturn,The Marvelous Dream, Point Star,  Watching the Fire That Waltzed Away,The Dancing King

don't know (?) : Coronation

Go Hereto listen:
http://soundcloud.com/damon-albarn-official

or  here  (but don't read the stupid people comments):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/apr/23/damon-albarn-dr-dee-album-stream

Strangeland -Keane

 7/10 
(I can't get no) Satisfaction


Keane are back and they're the same as always but with a little more make-up and trying to sound more like Coldplay and unfortunately in their worst (Mylo Xyloto). But that doesn't mean the album is entirely bad it has some highs that may need a listen.

Keane never dissapoint, the album is a bit boring and the singles (or the ones that will be singles) are the tracks that saves the record. 'Silenced By the Night' was the first single and when you hear it you could hear and predict how exactly the album will be. Apparently every song needed to be in the same line so you can listen how forced this was in 'Disconected' that is 'very' different for the band but they really try so hard to made it sound more like Keane and is kind of mess but not so bad.


The music in the album is something that connect every song and it actually is good for example in 'The Starting Line ' is something you expect but the sound is really good, nothing new but definitely something memorable. And then are songs that almost sound more dull like 'Black Rain', maybe Lana del Rey should made the vocals, but the music still fine, if it were shorter it would be so much better. 'Neon River' has a good sound too, probably the song that reminds more to what Keane is.

The highlights in the album are the songs that are very Keane and have a bit of fun Like 'On The Run' and 'Day Will Come' which are brilliant. It seems like they are repeating the formula in every song, maybe not to fail, and it work in most of the songs,could been boring but at least they still the same,'In Your Own' is not such a great song but you can hear the classic Keane.

Even though the album has good songs they are all grouped in the end and the first half of the album is really boring so makes the album go plain, nothing that is not predictable. The album even has an expected end 'Sea Fog' a melancholic finish that is fine but not so less boring and it really defines the whole record.

Songs To Listen: On The Run, The Starting Line, Day Will Come.

Not So Good: Watch How You Go, You Are Young, Sovereing Light Cafe.