Jar Of Hearts is
the debut single from Philadelphian born singer-songwriter Christina Perri.
Taken from her album Lovestrong, it
has already become a huge hit in the States after it was featured on So You Think You Can Dance, even before
Christina was signed to a record label. Following this, Jar of Hearts was covered on hit US TV show Glee, performed by Rachel Berry at the end-of-year Prom.
However, it could be argued that this would be the most
awkward prom song ever. Jar of Hearts
is an autobiographical telling of an ex-boyfriend who wants to get back
together following a tough break-up. The repeated line of “Who do you think you are?” sets the tone for this emotive and
powerful ballad.
Perri’s style is best described as a ‘down-trodden’ version
of Californian Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, with only smooth strings and stomping
piano chords to support her raw and heartfelt vocals. Describing an
ex-boyfriend as a “Collector of Broken Hearts” makes this a truly emotional
break-up song with truly brilliant lyrics, making it hard not to weep for
Christina’s shattered feelings. But Perri portrays so much power and force in
her voice that it elevates the song into an amazingly brilliant debut track,
that is sure to be an instant hit.
It’s always sad having to review an artist’s talents in the
‘past tense’. But Amy Winehouse had a
one of a kind voice, which makes it even more upsetting that she passed away
recently, aged only 27. Her final studio recording, Body and Soul, (released on what would have been her 28th
birthday) features a duet with Tony Bennett. The 85 year old legendary crooner
has had over 30 charted singles and released nearly 70 albums over a career
spanning nearly 60 years, and Body and
Soul is taken from his latest album Duets
II.
Body and Soul is a
beautifully simplistic song, with very little backing instruments or vocals,
allowing Winehouse and Bennett to take centre stage. Despite being generations
apart, their voices match and compliment each other’s perfectly. Due to Amy’s
distinctive singing style, it can be quite hard to catch some of the lyrics, as
her vocals run together. However, along with her Bee-Hive Hair and many
Tattoos, this unique style of singing became one of Winehouse’s trademarks.
Ultimately, this track shows Amy back on top form, equal to her Back To Black era. The song comes to a
crescendo end, with Winehouse and Bennett harmonizing the beautiful final line.
With all the proceeds going to the Amy Winehouse Foundation,
set up by her Dad Mitch, there is no better send off for a songwriter, musician
and voice of a generation.
It’s been nearly three years since Adele released her debut
album 19, yet it feels like it hasn’t
been away, with both the album and track Make
You Feel My Love recently re-entering the charts after an performance on
X-Factor. Now, after wining numerous awards and accolades, including 2 Grammy’s
and a Brit, the singer songwriter is back with her follow up album, 21.
Rolling In The Deep
is the first track on this record, and also the first single to be released
from it. It’s a song of epic proportions, with a great American-Blues feel
about it. The foot-stomping beat and Adele’s soaring vocals make this a
brilliant way to kick off 21. It shows her sassy and strong side, as she
responds to the hurtful words of an ex-lover. And this sassiness continues to Rumour Has It, with the cheeky lyrics
complementing the thumping drums and catchy chorus. Turning Tables is the first of several slower, more emotional
tracks on the album. It is the first time on the album that you can gain full
respect for the wonderful voice that Adele has. By using her own experiences in life, she is
able to create lyrics that are moving and open, but something that the listener
can easily relate to. So much emotion and soul is portrayed through this and
the following song, Don’t You Remember,
with her vocals almost quivering with sorrow.
At the other end of the spectrum, I’ll be Waiting is an upbeat number that is reminiscent of some ofJames
Morrison’s early work, with a huge brass
band supporting Adele. Set Fire To The
Rain is rumoured to be the next single to be released, and it’s a powerful
track where Adele shows off her stunning vocal range.
Somebody Like You tells
the tale of coming to terms with a failed relationship, and it finishes the
album with class and emotion. Similar to Hometown
Glory from 19, it is
breathtakingly brilliant in its simplicity of just Adele’s vocals and the
backing piano. It is a beautifully
tragic ballad that ends an album that shows Adele has overcome the Second-Album-Syndrome,
and produced a record that shows how talented, both vocally and lyrically,
Adele is.
Theconstant is the debut album by
up-and-coming artist, I Blame Coco. She
is better known as Coco Sumner, and even better known as the daughter of Sting
and Trudie Styler. There is a large
amount of hype surrounding Coco, mainly because of her famous family, but also
because she signed a multi-Album deal with Island Records at the age of just 17.
Furthermore, she has recently supported
La Roux on their 2010 UK-wide Tour. Oh
and she used to be a Burberry Model. So
finally, at the age of 20, Coco has released her much awaited debut, The Constant.
Selfmachine kicks
off the album, with its mix of electronic tones and piano riffs. The lyrics are intriguing and unusual, but in
a good way. Coco’s husky vocals
compliment the uplifting backing synths, getting the album off to a good start. It contrasts beautifully with In Spirit Golden which has Coco
stretching her voice to reach some long extended notes. Quicker is
one of the best songs on the album, with its simple but clever lyrics telling
about the “frustration of time”. Described by Coco as a “dance track with house
piano” it has an easily memorable and upbeat chorus.
One thing I Blame Coco does well is to mix dark or saddening
lyrics with upbeat and uplifting rhythms and synths. This is shown in a number of songs, including
Turn Your Back On Love and PlayWrite Fate, both having an enjoyable
and fun sound. However, there are a few
melancholic songs, such as the soulful and heartfelt Summer Rain. Coco also manages to avoid the usual clichés of some
modern music, creating some interesting vocal delights.
No Smile was
written by a 15-year-old Coco, and it has more of a reggae feel to it, even
though it still contains dark and mysterious lyrics. Caesar was the first single released by Coco, which also features
the vocals ofSwedish Singer Robyn.
It is a much darker track, with Coco spouting sinister and moody lyrics. Therefore, it’s Robyn who makes this song, as
her cool and soaring vocals compliment Coco’s husky tones in the choruses.
Overall, I Blame Coco has created an impressive debut
album. It’s going to be tuff for her to
make her mark in the music world, without someone constantly repeating who her
parents are(Guilty as charged...). But this album shows how she is trying to
step out from behind their shadow and to let her music do the talking, rather
than family history. It’s a promising
start from a rising star...
Doncamatic is the
latest offering from Gorillaz, and is
the fourth single to be taken from their latest album Plastic Beach. The title
comes from a Japanese synthesizer that was made in 60s which is used on this
record alongside the vocals of up-and-coming British singer/songwriter Daley.
I’ve always been told that Gorillaz are an “acquired taste”,
where you either love them or hate them, and this is definitely shown in
this song. Obviously Gorillaz fans
will love it no matter what, but for everyone else looking into their
‘cartoony-world’, it may seem to be a bit of strange tune. The lyrics are very
typical Gorillaz, with the usual
random and meaningless phrases: “Close
the white book/unpluck the brain
from the game/ Cause it's time to
wipe out/ till the stars get on the
fame”. The record doesn’t seem to go
anywhere, and the chorus isn’t very catchy or memorable.
However, this song is wholly bad. It does take a few listens to start to fully
enjoy the song, but Daley’s vocals
are pleasant and very easy on the ears. Also, The backing techno tune created from the
Doncamatic is different and edgy, and in fact it sounds like some sort of
electronic bugle or trumpet, (if there ever was such a thing!).
Overall, it’s not the worst Gorillaz song ever, but then again I doubt it would make it onto a
greatest hits album. The vocals are cool
and crisp, but the lyrics leave you feeling lost and confused, almost marooned
on Plastic Beach...
There’s no disputing that
Florence and The Machine has an impressive set of lungs. Vocally, she was one
of the biggest acts of 2009-2010, and her debut album, Lungs, took the UK music scene by force. It spent more than 12
months in the charts, selling over 3 million copies. Florence then spent the
year frantically touring both the UK and America, modelling for Chanel and
writing tracks for the Twilight Soundtrack. Somehow she managed to find time to
write her sophomore album, Ceremonials.
Only If For A Night begins the album, and it’s a strong start. The
sound is both similar and different at the same time, as if linking the end of Lungs to the start of Ceremonials. The booming piano chords and backing choral groups set this
album off well, showing how Florence hasn’t lost any of her Gothic-edge. Shake It Out follows with its epic and
catchy chorus, with Flo repeating the title at full force. Lyrically, Florence
has never been ‘mainstream’, and her dark, gothic-style lyrics and phrases are wonderfully
intriguing and thoughtful. This is shown for example in What The Water Gave Me, a wonderful song with bizarre undercurrents
of watery graves and drowning. Never Let
Me Go is a beautifully stripped back song, with Florence revealing a
insecurity and vulnerability in her voice. A surprising highlight of the album
is Breaking Down, where Florence
almost whispers the verses, instead of belting them out at full force. Although
there is nothing wrong with Florence’s vocal power (In fact, it’s one of her
best assets) it does make a refreshing change to reveal her softer side. Florence
herself explained how Ceremonials is
a more joyous album compared to Lungs,
and this can be clearly seen on Lover To
Lover. A mixture of gospel organs,
soulful choirs and stomping Motown-inspired backing beats makes this a stand
out track. The American blues scene is a new sound for Flo which creates an
upbeat, fun and fantastic song. All This
And Heaven Too is another joyous track, detailing the language of the
heart.
No Light, No Light is rumoured to be Flo’s next single, and is
another vocally amazing song, containing the albums longest note. It oozes pure
strength, and is spine-tingling brilliant. Seven
Devils on the other hand is a truly haunting song, and it starts to make
sense why this album was released on October 31st. Eerie strings and
mystical repetitive piano keys create a stunning atmosphere while tribal beats
and powerful choral groups feature heavily on both Heartlines and Spectrum. These
massive 5-minute long anthems show how this album never lets up, never creating
any fillers or weak tracks.
The pure force, power and
strength that Florence has both vocally and lyrically shows how she is a one-of-a-kind
act, and how Ceremonials is a truly
stunning second album. (And if you need more Flo, then a deluxe version of Ceremonials is also available,
containing the epic anthems Strangeness
and Charm and Landscape (Demo) as
well as others.)
2012 is looking bright for Scottish born Emeli Sande, who is
currently riding high from the success her own UK No.2 for Heaven as well as starring in Professor Green’s No.1 hit “Read All About It”. But it is not just
commercial success Emeli is currently receiving. Her material released so far
has caught the attention of critics and music moguls alike, having already been
awarded the Critics Choice Award at
this year’s Brits, as well as being
nominated numerous times for Best
Newcomer at various ceremonies. Her
much anticipated debut album is due to be released in the UK on the 13th
of February, with Next To Me being
the 3rd single to be lifted from it.
The basis of this song is completely different to her
previous singles Heaven and Daddy. Whereas Heaven had Sande’s voice soaring over an epic drum and bass
backing, reminiscent of Katy B’s underground sound, Next To Me is a much more blues inspired piece. It is a purely
piano-driven number, with a thumping drum-beat to accompany it. There are hints
here of the American-Blues style that was seen on Adele’s latest album 21.(Emeli’s real name is actually Adele,
but thought it best to change it!)However,
that doesn’t mean that Emeli doesn’t have her own unique sound. Her soulful
vocals intertwine beautifully with this new style, while the uplifting
“Woo-Hoos” make it almost irresistible for the listener not to join in.
Both musically and lyrically it is a fun and moving song
that showcases Emeli both as a writer and singer. If this pure musical talent transcends into
every song on her upcoming album, titled Our
Version Of Events, then it is surely destined for the Number one slot.
