A Music Year In Review - 2013

Happy 2014!

 

That's right folks, we have successfully made it through the past 12 months of music and can start gearing ourselves up for what could be the best year of music to date. But in the mean time, let's cast our minds back to some of the music highlights of the last year:

 

Haim

 

Anyone who has ever met me in person understands how much I love these edgy sisters from Los Angeles. Their impressive debut album, Days Are Gone, went straight to #1 in the UK charts during the last few months of 2013  and their popularity has rapidly grown, leading to sold out UK shows all across the country. It was refreshing to see them perform on Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny on New Years Eve on BBC2, with Don't Save Me, Forever, and Oh Well, and most definitely helped to give the programme that great universal appeal that you expect to see from a Jools Holland music show. I expect to hear a lot more musical greatness from the band over the next year. Just you wait!

 

Lily Allen

 

The UK department store, John Lewis, knew they were on to a winner when they came up with their 2013 animated Christmas advert. And the bigger winner happened to be Lily Allen's immaculate cover of the Keane classic, Somewhere Only We Know, which also went in at #1 close to the end of the year. Allen's rendition of the song matched the tone and atmosphere of the advert perfectly and catapulted Allen back into the forefront of the industry once more.

 

 

 

Some of the other music highlights of the past year have got to be Tom Odell being the first male to win the Critics Choice Award at The Brit Awards 2013, Bastille releasing their first studio album, Bad Blood, back in March, London Grammar's incredible single, Strong, The Killers performing at Wembley Stadium in June, and The Milk Carton Kids in all their live performance glory.

 

This year already looks like the one to beat, with the likes of Taylor Swift, The Backstreet Boys and Elbow touring the UK in the coming months. Oh, and for all of you #DA2014 fans out there, be prepared for the ultimate music comeback of the year from the incredible David Archuleta.

 

It's going to be a sensational year of music. Now it's time to get listening!

 

 

Band In Focus: The Killers

Listen up UK fans of The Killers!

 

The Las Vegas natives are celebrating the release of their greatest hits album titled Direct Hits, with a special launch gig on the 6th November at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo in London. The album, out November 11th, features all the classics such as Mr Brightside, Somebody Told Me and When You Were Young to name a few, with two new songs, Shot At The Night (Out 4th November as a single) and Just Another Girl, added to the track list.

 

To celebrate the occasion, I thought I'd look back at their Wembley Stadium show from the 22nd June 2013 and pick out the best bit:

 

 

 The Wembley Song

 

You've probably already heard it, but if you haven't, you'll love it. The song, which was especially written by the band for this performance in London, celebrates the band playing the stadium and commemorates all of the concert predecessors who have played at the venue in bygone days. Music nostalgia is always going to capture the emotions of the fans. The crowd loved it. And by 'loved it', I mean that every single one of the 50,000 fans in the audience were on their feet cheering and singing along to the catchy chorus. Absolute genius. I'm glad I was there to see it for myself.

 

 

 

Tickets to the Hammersmith Apollo launch gig go on sale in just a few days, so keep checking the relevant sites for tickets, as the concert is bound to sell out fast!

 

The Killers at Wembley Stadium, June 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Friday Favourites

It's that time of the week again. Oh yes, it's Friday Favourites!

 

This week, I've been in a surprisingly contemplative mood. Don't worry folks, there's no need to start worrying for me just yet! I feel as if the best music tends to be written when a songwriter or artist is at this stage with their emotions. I don't think I'll personally be going back to my roots and picking up my song writing pen any time soon, but I have listened to some solidly emotive tracks this week.

 

1. London Grammar-.Strong

I didn't take any notice of London Grammar until I saw an advert for their debut studio album titled If You Wait, on the TV a few weeks ago. Yes, those music ads on the television really do work at enticing new fans and sales! Since then, I've developed quite an attachment to this song. The track's almost "haunting" qualities engage the listener and also assure the listener into a sense of security.

 

 

 

 

 

2.Haim- Running If You Call My Name

This has been on repeat ever since the album release date. Running If You Call My Name is the last track on the standard album and truly ends it on a high. It leaves you wanting to listen to the whole album again and again. And that's exactly what I did.

 

 

 3. Keane- She Has No Time/Bedshaped

 

I knew that some classic Keane would make it into my favourites this week, but I didn't realise I would find it so difficult to choose between She Has No Time and Bedshaped, so I chose both! The songs are both from the band's debut, titled Hopes and Fears, which was released back in 2004 and has been one of my favourite albums ever since. So many people have told me that they listen to these tracks when they need some time to think. And I can wholeheartly understand why. Both have the unique ability to conjure up pure emotion in a blink of an eye. Keane completely deserve the success they have had to date. You need to see them perform live if you ever get the opportunity; they are outstanding. Talking of seeing them live; Keane are streaming their Berlin concert on November 6 live at cinemas across the world, so there's no excuse to hold back.

 

I've also been listening to a lot of The Milk Carton Kids and Haim, but that's probably not a surprise to any of you! If you're looking for something a little different to listen to this week, I'm loving John Newman. His newly released album, Tribute, is seriously good stuff.

That's it for this week! Stay tuned for my thoughts on Arcade Fire's new album in the coming weeks!
 

Music Review: The Milk Carton Kids

It's official. I have a new music obsession:

The Milk Carton Kids

The Californian folk duo have stolen my heart with their brooding melodies, intelligent lyrics and effortless charm. The duo instantly became a favourite of mine when a friend mentioned them back in July. Hours later, and after swift iTunes purchases of all three of their albums; Retrospect, Prologue and The Ash & Clay, I was sold.

A few weeks after I first heard about them, I felt as if I had struck gold when I found out they were playing at Union Chapel in London just weeks later. That show happened last month. It's safe to say that I've been to quite a few shows over the last few years, but Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale have somehow managed to take the spot of My Favourite Concert to date. There was something so ethereal about them playing their music at Union Chapel, a working church, surrounded by the stained glass windows and candle light. I could have sat there in the pews listening for hours.

If you've never listened to the guys before, here's a few recommendations to get you started:

Michigan: This track, taken from their incredible second album titled Prologue, is one of their classics. The memorable lyrics and lulling melody instantly stops you in your tracks and encourages you to think. My best friend, who only found out about the duo when I 'dragged' her along to their gig last month, is obsessed with this song. For someone who's a brand new fan, The Milk Carton Kids have made a perfect first impression on her. Needless to say, this song is on repeat for both of us!

Honey, Honey: Another classic. This will get your feet tapping to no end. All of their songs bring out the best in their voices, but if you listen closely, some great vocal qualities cane be heard  throughout the course of the song.  

Charlie: One word. Beautiful. This song is taken from their album, Retrospect, which was released under their first names and last names before they were officially The Milk Carton Kids.

Now, I don't think there's anything left to say apart from, Give Them a Listen!

Music Review: Haim - Days Are Gone

The album is finally here. Finally. I don't know about you, but I've been eagerly awaiting the UK release for months. And I'm so glad I can finally hold a physical copy of the CD in my hands whilst listening to the solid musical craftsmanship, or should I say craftswomanship, in its full and everlasting glory.  

 

Falling is the perfect intro into the album and into the siblings' work. It's always interesting to see what a band picks as the song to take the Track Number 1 spot on the album. The first fifteen seconds of Falling entice you into continuing to listen with the undeniable strong sense of direction that's apparent from the use of striking, almost heart-like beats. Haim have managed to capture the build of the song so naturally, yet so effectively, that it puts an already dodgy classic pop boyband "key change after the second chorus" to even more shame.

 

Haim's debut album- Days Are Gone

Can we just talk about The Wire for a minute, please?! I love the fact that Danielle, Este and Alana get to show off their cracking vocals separately during the four minutes and six seconds of the song. Seriously good stuff.

 

The title track on an album can at times be hideously bland and un-thought provoking, but it's safe to say that Haim's title track, Days Are Gone, is refreshing, catchy and fits the album's direction perfectly.

 

After the sensational response the band received after releasing their single, Don't Save Me, last year, it was not a surprise to see that the album went straight to #1 in the UK charts last week. And I think we all know why. We haven't seen a female-led band of this kind who have charisma and genuine music ability of this genre to boot for a long time. They know what they're good at when it comes to making music and I'm happy to say it's exactly what the music-loving public wants to hear. Someone get me tickets to their sold out London shows!

Friday Favourites

Oh yes. Favourites written the UK way!

 

Now back to the music:

 

Every week, I am going to attempt the mighty task of picking three of my most favourite and most listened to songs from the week to share with you. There are no genre rules or age restrictions. Anything goes. Even the cheesy pop wonders from the UK charts in the 90's might make a sneaky comeback. And I might even mention some of my all-time favourite hymns too.

 

 

1. Elbow- The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver

 

To start off the series, I've chosen to stay true to my roots and choose one of my new favourite British bands. Elbow have been on the music scene for years and have truly made a name for themselves in the live-music world. Although Elbow have been making quality music for many years, I have to admit that it took one of my American friends countless hours of persuasion to get me to listen to more than just Grounds For Divorce. I now realise that I should have listened to him a lot sooner. This certain American's power of persuasion worked in more ways than one, and after receiving Elbow's incredible album, The Seldom Seen Kid, as a birthday present, it only took me one full listen to get me hooked. The album has a mix of extremely thought-provoking songs which conjure up a wide range of thoughts and emotions. One of these songs happens to be The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver. So good. The "lulling" quality at the beginning of the song sets the scene perfectly for the opening lyrics and really carries the piece throughout the different stages of the song.

 

 

2. Fleetwood Mac- Dreams

 

This is an absolutely obvious choice for me. A bit too obvious now that I think about it. But I cannot help it, this song is beautifully written. This song instantly puts me at ease, which is surprising due to the song's subject matter. I'm a sucker for a good intro, and this one hits the spot; simple and completely effective. Stevie Nicks makes songwriting seems like a piece of cake and I really wish it was! It probably doesn't help that I'm listening to their Greatest Hits album as I write this as I'm now deeply regretting the fact that I missed out on tickets to their now sold out UK tour dates which were released last month. I also love the cover version of the song by the Irish pop/folk band, The Corrs, which was released back in 1998.

 

 

3. Misty Miller- You Know What I Mean

 

I was a fan of her previous releases, but when I heard her latest EP, Girlfriend, I realised she had taken a big step forward with her musical choices and writing style. I love the nod to rock influences of bygone days throughout  You Know What I Mean. The entire EP is definitely worth listening to if you want a faultless mix of songs which seem to sum up Misty's strong sense of new musical direction. Girlfriend also has a great vibe attached to it, which sets Misty Miller up nicely for lots of continued future success.

I hope you enjoyed the first Friday Favourites! Let me know what you think of the songs and artists mentioned above. I'd love to hear your Friday Favourites of the week too!

Music Review: Don't Run Away- David Archuleta

He may be serving as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Chile for two years, but that hasn't stopped the talented musician from releasing new music for our listening pleasure!

Since leaving the States to serve as a missionary in South America a year ago, David has already released two incredible albums in that time, with a third record scheduled to be released on 26th March this year, titled No Matter How Far.

Now let's get started on the actual review itself!

Don't Run Away is the ever so catchy first release off the soon to be released album and doesn't disappoint. There's something about the first two seconds of the song that just draws me in. There's also something very reminiscent of his self-titled debut album about it which instantly made me want to pause the song and rewind back to the start again for another sneaky listen.

It is incredibly satisfying to hear the simplicity of the first bridge at about 38 seconds into the song which leads onto a perfectly structured chorus, filled with just enough power and emotion to keep the listener engaged with the ideas and emotions that the song is conveying to the audience.

David's voice is truly captivating throughout the song. It is obvious to any fan that has been supporting since the beginning that his voice has developed and matured over time and has been able to acquire a stronger dimension and tone which allows him to bring new strength to his music.

Don't Run Away had been produced by the incredible songwriting and production duo, David Sneddon and James Bauer-Mein, otherwise known as The Nexus. The production on the song is just right and really adds a great set of dynamics that any music lover could appreciate. I've been a fan of Sneddon's work since his Fame Academy days, so was pleased to see his production skills in action with Bauer-Mein on the song.

With less than a month to wait for the release of No Matter How Far, I'm already expecting great things from everyone's favourite multi-tasking missionary, Elder Archuleta!

The Rise of the Music Duos

I do realise that we are well into 2012, but sometimes it takes a while to get a feel for the new music which truly means something important to us.

Over the past year, there have been a few bands that have made an astonishing impact in my life. Some are fairly new to the music business in terms of worldwide publicity and sales, whilst others have been around for years and still have the unique ability to evoke such powerful emotions and messages through their old and new music.

I might be a London girl, but that doesn't stop me from absolutely loving the music created by two American duos. The duos in question happen to be Jack and White and The Civil Wars.

Jack and White made their debut appearance in my iTunes library very soon after I first heard about them on Brooke White's inspirational personal blog, and now play a pivotal role in my everyday listening habits. I have loved White's distinctive vocals since the days of American Idol Season 7, and have continued to follow her work over the last four years. One of her solo albums, High Hopes & Heartbreak, had been my designated "Road Trip" album for many months, so the prospect of even more new material written in conjunction with another excellent musician instantly caught my attention. The partnership with the extremely talented Jack Matranga seems effortless, making the whole listening experience so welcoming and leaves you feeling as if hitting the repeat button is the best idea you've had in days. Their two EPs, Gemini and Winter are packed with stunning songs which definitely deserve to be heard by the masses.

I have to admit that I find myself in the awkward position in which I'm struggling to pick out my favourite track from the EPs as I sincerely love them all. To make it slightly easier for myself, I am going to choose my top 3 songs instead. On second thoughts, that is still too hard for me. I hope this shows you how highly I regard this music duo. If I had to make a fast decision, Inside Outside and XYZ could be the chosen favourites, but don't quote me on that one, it's too close to call. Jack and White are currently back in the studio recording an EP dedicated to cover songs. With some luck, their superb cover of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac will make a welcome appearance on the track listing.

The Civil Wars just make me smile. Uncontrollably. I have often found myself in the situation where I'll be listening to their flawless music through my earphones and someone close to me will ask to know the reason why I am smiling. I really can't help it. When you find an artist or a group that can cultivate a sound that is so pure whilst having the refreshing ability to unearth just the right amount of grit at the same time, you know you have found yourselves a winner. Pairing Joy Williams and John Paul White together truly is a match made in Heaven. Everyone always seems to talk about their heartfelt onstage chemistry and I can absolutely see how their genuine real-life friendship has helped to make them such a roaring success in such a short amount of time. I bought a copy of their debut album, Barton Hollow, whilst I was on holiday in California in the summer of 2011, and am so glad that I did.

On a scale of 1 to 10, their likeability factor is, without a doubt, a 10. Their songwriting capabilities reach further than any other fairly new group that I can name. Their sound is exquisite and the pair unequivocally deserve winning their first Grammy Awards last month. 20 Years from their album, Barton Hollow, is an easy favourite of mine and will be for a very long time to come. The only regret I have is that I didn't manage to buy tickets to their London show at Shepherd's Bush Empire on March 19th before it sold out. I am seriously kicking myself right now.

These sensational music duos have helped to highlight the way music should be created. Sometimes good, honest music wins the fight  against the flamboyant music giants that are all too common in this day and age. These duos are destined for great things, and I am so happy that we are able to watch their future musical journeys unfold.

Music Of The 80s

I would wholeheartedly define myself as someone who has an everlasting passion for Top 40 pop music; the type of mainstream stuff which happens to dominate our lives through endless radio play and various other media outlets. Although this "modern-day" music plays such a pivotal role in society today, it's always interesting to step back from what we currently know and think about the joys of music from past decades.

Over the last few months I have been delving deep into various musical delights which happened to be either written or released in the 1980s. I couldn't resist sharing some of my personal favourites with you today, but of course, I have only just scratched the surface with my passion for 80s music and hope to find out about many other artists, bands and songwriters who made incredible music during this time. All of the following seem to have conveyed a positive, thought-provoking message through their music- something which I strive for on a daily basis:

1. Heaven Is A Place On Earth by Belinda Carlisle

A small number of my musical influences relate back to what I remember my parents listening to when I was younger. As soon as I first heard Heaven Is A Place On Earth, I knew I was in for a musical treat! I found the tone of Carlisle's voice to be astonishingly unique and was impressed by how much it complimented the lyrics and melody, adding a whole other dimension to the overall song. Circle In The Sand is also a firm favourite of mine due to not only the relaxing nature of the song, but its ability to make me want to stop and think for a short while.

2. Gold by Spandau Ballet

As I live in the UK, I am always ready and willing to support British bands. When I found out that Spandau Ballet were going to reunite and play a few concert dates in my area, I was more than eager to hear them live for myself. Sadly I wasn't able to attend their concert, but luckily, I was able to rekindle my love for Gold- their iconic power song in which the lyrics aim to inspire us with words of wisdom and encouragement.

3. Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears

Tears For Fears are another one of the great British bands which started to make an influential mark on the music world in the 80s and continue to have growing relevance in our society today. Even though I only started listening to their Greatest Hits album many years after it was initially released, the messages it tries to convey are still extremely accurate in our world where everyone is striving for the best. Two of the most well-known Tears For Fears songs have got to be Mad World and the absolute gem that is Everybody Wants To Rule The World. I have adored both songs for a long time, but hearing the inspirational David Archuleta sing Everybody Wants To Rule The World during his concert at the Myrtle Beach MayFest in South Carolina a short while ago, has made me finally understand what this song actually means to me. David's performance of this song made me shed tears of happiness, enough said!

4. Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins

I'd like to start off by declaring that this song is a piece of musical genius. Not only does this song have musical impact, it also has a strong social impact due to the vivid message about homelessness which it portrays. There are very few people in the world of music who are able to convey pure emotion at this level, which shows just how skilled Collins was and still is to this day. I'm so glad this song has done so well over the years. I'm always excited to hear cover versions of the song which  happen to pop up when you least expect them, often with a stylish twist. Whether it's by the addition of a synth beat or just a simply beautiful acoustic version, this song will always have a special place in our hearts.

While many songs are released and immediately forgotten about the next day, these songs have all stood the test of time and will, undoubtedly, remain this way for decades to come. All that's left for me to do now is to go out and buy an 80s compilation cd to broaden my music horizons!

Sunny Songs for a Beautiful Day

The weather has been surprisingly good over the last two weeks in the UK and has put me in an extremely happy mood! To celebrate the fact that it is currently lovely and warm outside, I have compiled a list of songs which never fail to put a smile on my face, whether raining or sunny:

1. The Feeling -  "Love It When You Call"

The Feeling are another one of my favourite British bands who never fail to deliver catchy choruses and fun instrumentals throughout all of their songs. This track is taken from their first album,"Twelve Stops & Home", which includes a fantastic mix of fast and slow-paced songs. Without doubt, there is something to suit all occasions on this record! I had the opportunity to see the band perform live last summer and learned a lot about how important it is to connect to the audience and with your other band members. This song got everyone dancing and singing along, which can only be a sign of a great song!

2. Natasha Bedingfield - "These Words"

Can you remember what artists you were listining to during 2004/5? Natasha Bedingfield was my female artist of choice during this time period as she was something completely different to what was already in the music industry. She wasn't a diva, nor did she need to be. Her stunning vocals showed the world what true music was and everyone seemed to agree. Let's roll back to the present day where she is a huge global artist and has had incredible hit songs and collaborated with the hottest stars of the 21st century. She is still one of my top artists of all time. 

3. David Archuleta - "The Other Side Of Down"

I really can't help myself! You may have already guessed that my favourite singer of all time would get a mention on my list of sunny songs. It's probably because his music is just so positive and happy. It certainly is absolutely perfect for a bright, sunny day, or any day for that matter! This song makes me want to go out into the sunshine and enjoy life. The lyrics make complete sense to me and I know that all of his music choices have helped people all over the world to become happier, more confident people. He is incredible.

4. Brooke White - "Phoenix"

This song is one of the best road trip songs on this Earth. It makes me smile without even realising and puts me in a mellow mood, ready to get on with the rest of my day. Brooke White is another artist who radiates postive energy and seems to have her priorities in exactly the right place. She is clearly a unique talent who deserves more praise.

I hope you enjoyed my top sunny song picks! If you read my last post, you will remember that "Choices" by The Hoosiers is also an incredible song for summer. Just as I am finishing this post, the sun is being hidden behind a cluster of dark storm clouds.....

If only the weather was as reliable as these great songs highlighted above!

Music Review: Bumpy Ride by The Hoosiers

I have been eagerly anticipating this occasion for the last few weeks and am extremely happy to be able to review Bumpy Ride, the latest album by the British pop trio, The Hoosiers. 

Any of you who have read my blog since its creation will have read my first post, titled "Inspirational Albums", where I mention my top three albums of all time. One of those albums just happens to be The Hoosiers debut album, The Trick to Life, which was left on repeat on my ipod and itunes for the majority of 2008! As you can probably already tell, I seem to be able to connect to every song written by The Hoosiers, and the new album certainly doesn't disappoint!

True fans of the band will know that Bumpy Ride contains the original twelve songs from their second album, The Illusions of Safety, but four new tracks have been added to create a fantastic album filled to the brim with every emotion known to man.

One of the stand out tracks on the album has got to be "Unlikely Hero", as I feel as if this could be the anthem for all the underdogs who just haven't been given enough credit in the world today. Another feel-good song on the album is "Glorious". I just love the beat of the song and know this is going to sound absolutely incredible live. Moving on to the new tracks, "Sister Sister" includes a great guitar riff which  has given me the urge to learn how to play the guitar, just so I can play this song!

I may be a little bit biased due to the fact that I have been in love with this band since their first single, but I truly cannot fault this album. "Choices" makes me remember sunny, warm days spent in Cornwall  with my family whilst on holiday in the Summer of 2010 and never fails to lift my spirits on the rare occasion when I find myself stuck in a foul mood!

As far as I'm concerned, this is an album which deserves to be bought and listened to thoroughly. It is not hard to see that a lot of time, effort and hard decisions have been made for this album to be released. Some say that the second album (or the 2nd and a half album in this case!) are always the hardest to sell as people can only compare you to your debut work, but this album is strong enough to hold its own in the highly saturated industry that is the music business in the 21st century.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Bumpy Ride, so feel free to leave me comments below. 

Here is the link to my previous article, Inspirational Albums, in which I mention The Trick to Life.

AI - Has The Show lost its Sparkle?

Over the last decade, American Idol has spoiled us with the sheer amount of incredible talent it is able to nurture each season. Some may say that some seasons have been more talented than others, but this could be seen as a highly subjective point!

Last night, I thought I would stay up a little bit longer to listen to all the Idol Results Show commentary straight from the mouths of my favourite US/Canadian tweeters who were watching the show live. This was the first time that I had ever done this as usually I like to watch the show the next day when it airs in the UK with a clear mind, with no previous ideas in my head.

Of course, as the show has been running for such a long time, everyone had strong preconceived ideas about what they expected to happen during the show in terms of special guest singers and who should definitely be in the Bottom Three.

Some of the first surprises of the night seemed to be the presence of the very vocally talented Pia Toscano in the Bottom Three and the guest appearance by Constantine Maroulis, the Idol Contestant from Season 4. I then realised that the worst was still to come as my twitter timeline moved rapidly before my eyes.

I'm still extremely confused by the trip to TMZ. Surely a trip to a well-renowned US weekly magazine for women would have been a better bet? Many said Stefano Langone deserved to be in the Bottom Three but I'm not certain about this.  He may not have the wide vocal range that other contestants have, but he sang very well the night before and has a lovely, happy stage persona. What really surprised me was the fact that Jacob Lusk had arrived in the Bottom Three and that Iggy Pop had been asked to appear as a guest singer!

Many of the people I follow were left very discontented by the many shocking events of the night and had decided that the show did not hold the same value that it once held a few seasons ago.

Can we put this amount of upset and discontent down to the fact that the show has changed so drastically over the last few years? Is it because Simon Cowell left to pursue The X Factor USA and that the judging panel is missing some charisma? Maybe it is just because the show has been going on for so long now that the public at home have seen it all before. We therefore expect show-stopping guest performances by our favourite artists and more constructive criticism given to the contestants.

It will be extremely interesting to find out what the viewing figures for the show were like this week. The producers should react to the figures and do something about it. I suggest listening to the people who vote!

The True Purpose Of Music

It has been a couple of roller coaster weeks for a certain young female YouTube/Twitter phenomenon. I'm sure you all know who I'm talking about considering the fact that she has been a Twitter Trending Topic for the last few weeks and has even been mentioned all over the world on various television shows.

Music is an extremely lucrative business and it is obvious that young teens want to become a part of this industry. They think they are 100% guaranteed overnight fame and fortune. Sadly for them, this is not how it works.

Most people understand that the music industry is a big game. This game needs to be played by the rules to succeed, although there are always exceptions. I would sound very naive if I said that natural musical talent always does the best in terms of media coverage and sales, but isn't this what we should expect?

The music consumer wants to listen to songs which conjure up emotion, whether happy or sad, we want to be made to feel something whilst listening to music. By "something", I don't mean how annoyed you are that the artist is singing with no feeling and with lyrics containing no intellectual value!

For me, the true purpose of music is to leave a positive impact on the listener. You may find this in many different forms, but stunning vocals and a great personality always have the biggest positive impact on me.

Feel free to leave me your own comments about this subject!

Kris Allen - Why Didn't I Buy This Album Sooner?!

I admit it. I'm very late jumping on the Kris Allen bandwagon.

It has taken me nearly 18 months to finally buy his self-titled album but on first impressions, I absolutely love it!

Many of you may know that I live in the UK and therefore struggle to find copies of albums which have never been promoted in the UK. Just like all the other cd's belonging to past Idol contestants, Kris Allen's cd was incredibly hard to find without ordering it online. Luckily for me, I managed to buy the only copy in my local music store on Monday afternoon without too much hassle!

I should probably tell you why I was so determined to buy his album:

I have been listening to a lot of 80's music over the last week and decided that I wanted to listen to "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" by the British pop/rock band, Tears For Fears. I knew that my Father has their Greatest Hits album on his music shelf  but decided that I needed a quick fix and searched the song on YouTube. Scrolling down the search page, I came across Kris Allen's version of the song and instantly fell in love with him and his music. The next day I bought his album and the rest is history!

I love it when singers actually write or co-write their own music. It shows that they have so much more than a great voice. I feel that artists who write their own music really understand the true meaning behind songs and can connect to songs in such a special, unique way. I take the opinion that Kris Allen has this great ability along with my other personal favourite artists who write their own music like the lovely David Archuleta, Adele and The Hoosiers. 

Kris Allen's post Idol album is full of songs which fit perfectly into the pop/rock genre which I always find myself gravitating towards after a long, tiresome day. I can't fault any song on the album as they are just so beautifully written. One of my standout tracks is Red Guitar, which he wrote single handedly- it is stunning!

I'm now just waiting for the day when he announces that he will be coming to London to promote his music. Hopefully that day arrives soon!

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Why didn't I buy this album sooner?!

Most Underrated Artists

Although we are all used to the music industry and media choosing to focus on only a handful of musical stars, there are so many other artists which just happen to go unnoticed who deserve to see more of the limelight.

I want to know who you personally think deserves more musical recognition in this day and age. Just by looking at my iTunes library, I can see about a dozen highly talented individuals and bands who are just not making a sufficient impact on the industry even though the music that they produce is technically stunning.

Please leave me a comment below or tweet me with your suggestions about underrated artists. In my next post, I would love to compile these comments so that other music lovers can find out about new artists or just give more support to the ones that they already admire.

Inspirational Artists

In the second installment of the series all to do with who and what I find inspiring in the music industry today, I will be focusing on my top two Inspirational recording artists. These two artists share the same passion and commitment to music which makes me even more willing to support them with new music releases and  their lives outside of music.

1. David Archuleta

It may not come as a surprise to you that, once again, David Archuleta gets a mention! We live in a world where it is all too common for people in the media spotlight to take advantage of their situation and behave in a way in which is completely unacceptable, no matter how famous they might be. David Archuleta has never done this and without a doubt, he will never use his position to encourage negative or controversial press. He shows so much poise and dignity when taking part in interviews, and even when he is meeting the fans or making one of his highly anticipated YouTube video blogs, we can see how grateful he really is for his opportunity to make inspirational music. We know that he really cares about the fans and society as a whole due to the vast amount of time he takes personally speaking to his fans and actively raising money for the many excellent charities he chooses to support like Rising Star Outreach and Childrens Miracle Network. I talked to a group of eleven and twelve year old girls this week and many of them said that their musical idol was a certain young teenage boy with what they could only describe as "magical hair". I think you all realise who they happened to be talking about. Although they are entitled to their own opinion, I take the view that people like David Archuleta are more worthy of their love and support, don't you?

2. Adele

Adele knows what vocal perfection is and still manages to take her performances up to the next level. I have been a fan of her ever since she won the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards 2008 and have enjoyed watching her go from strength to strength to conquer the US music charts. There is something incredibly refreshing about singers who can do what they do best without pulling any stunts to gain press exposure. Her voice has so many different dimensions and the viewers at home genuinely never get bored of watching her perform live on stage. She captures the attention of the audience with just her mind blowing voice and makes it seem as though pre-scripted movement or dancing is completely unnecessary. What I like is the fact that although it hasn't been an easy ride for Adele, she has finally got the recognition that she deserves all around the world. I love that other recording artists are full of praise about her album 21 and her current single. When other influential artists speak out and say that they look up to you and your music, you know that you are doing something right! We all know she has a bright future ahead of her and her fan base will continue to grow over the next coming months because of her great vocals.

There is so much more I could say about these talented, socially aware artists. I encourage you to think about the inspirational figures in your life which continue to make a positive impact on the world, or even just in your neighborhood.

American Idol Season 10- My Initial Thoughts

I love listening to all the Idol buzz each year. What really excites me is the fact that new singers, who actually have the vocal prowess to compete with the international pop icons of our day, are created season after season. Some of my favourite artists have taken part in the show and now hold strong positions as reputable recording artists in the music industry.

This season, I was fascinated to find out about the new rules and the new judges. Randy Jackson taking over as the "Simon Cowell" figure on the show slightly confused me as I'm so used to him being very relaxed when giving feedback to the contestants, but this season, he has really stepped up to the challenge of being head judge on the panel. As for the new rules, only time will tell! 

Something which did shock me was the elimination of practically half the contestants during the first week of the live shows. A great deal of incredible talent was lost and I do not think this strategy helped the show, the contestants or the voting citizens by any means. With such a large group of competitors, I believe the elimination stages from previous seasons worked well as its is much easier to get rid of two boys and two girls a week in comparison to the huge 11 contestants who were sent home last week.

Out of the contestants who were sent home after failing to win over the judges during their Wild Card songs, two singers really stood out for me; Robbie Rosen and Kendra Chantelle.

Both of these singers have a unique sound and it is refreshing to see that they are both happy to be themselves and make song choices based on their own personal likes and opinions.

What makes Robbie Rosen stand out from the crowd is his passion for songwriting and complete connection with his audience when he sings. Throughout every performance he gave on the show, I felt as if I was standing right there next to him on stage, something which shows me that he truly believes in what he is singing and has the conviction to back this up. As he loves to write songs, you can understand why he has this connection; the words in the song choices make sense to him, and as the audience, this helps us to understand the emotions he is trying to convey during the song. He is a phenomenal young artist who has so much success ahead of him. He is definitely on my list of artists to look out for in the near future!

Kendra Chantelle has such a beautiful, powerful voice which makes it seem as though she doesn't even have to try very hard to give an incredible performance. I thought she was vocally perfect on every single performance on the show which is extremely hard to do. Even if you are a credited music icon with a multi-million dollar recording contract in the 21st century, it doesn't mean that you can hit all the notes every time, but this young woman has the goods to do just that. I hope that a label picks her up fast as I want her album!

We will just have to wait and see what will happen to the AI contestants from this season, but in the mean time, I'm looking forward to hearing great things from Robbie Rosen and Kendra Chantelle.

CD's versus Digital Downloads

I love being able to go to my local music store and buy an album there and then. I always have and probably always will. There is something incredibly special about being able to pick up a copy of a cd from your shelf and look through the little booklet inside to discover a bit more about the artist and the album. Some may find this quite odd considering that I am a self-proclaimed music fanatic, but having the physical cd on my music shelf makes me a whole lot happier than looking through the music in my iTunes library on my laptop.

Last Friday, I ventured into my local music/dvd store in pursuit of finding a few more copies of The Other Side Of Down by David Archuleta to give as gifts. Of course, as I live in the UK, this is a much harder task to accomplish as his music is incredibly hard to find due to the lack of promotion in Europe. Whilst scouring through the music racks, I came across the section dedicated to single releases and was surprised to find that it still existed! You could call me naive but I was under the impression that people only bought singles online in the 21st Century! Saying that, I do have to admit that the singles section was minuscule in comparison to the  limitless amount of music you can find on the Internet legally at any one time.

Thanks to the ingenious creation of online music stores, it is not surprising that sales of physical cd's have dropped substantially over the last few years. My heart may be set on physical cd's but I do love the fact that you can listen to a song featured in an advert on the television, and just minutes later, that song can be yours for a minimal price by virtue of the Internet. Online music stores help to get that quick music fix when I am craving certain songs and I have no problem in saying that they are undeniably the way forward in terms of single sales.

Although digital downloads may be the easiest option in our fast driven, consumer based world which we live in, I still choose physical cd's over a download ninety per cent of the time. There has to be exceptions to the rule as some albums are only readily available in the UK on the legal music download sites. With all that said, I'll be sticking to my physical album rule in the near future. The albums on my music shelf hold sentimental value for me and that is something I hope will never change.

If you are wondering what happened in terms of my David Archuleta cd search, I politely asked the sales assistant to order a few more copies for myself and the store, but the reply I received in return was not so promising. Let's just say I will be buying more physical copies of TOSOD from an online vendor instead!

The Relationship between Record Labels and their Artists

I absolutely adore Kylie Minogue. It has to be said that she is still the original and ultimate pop princess even though she has been in the music and media spotlight for over twenty years. Kylie has the ability to get everyone into the party spirit as soon as they hear her pop classics like Spinning Around and Can't Get You Out Of My Head. Even though the world may love her, love for an artist doesn't always translate into album sales.

I came across this interesting piece of music journalism last night which made me question the motives of some record labels today:

Kylie Blames Label For Album Flop

Of course, we all realise that the media has the bad habit of reporting news completely out of context and the story might not be correct, but in this instance, it has given me the the opportunity to analyse the state of various records labels and how they choose to manage their artists.

I have always thought that labels should treat their artists as equals and that every artist should get just as much marketing and publicity as any other artist signed to the same label. I am definitely not an expert, but it is quite clear that some labels focus on the stars who are going to create the most media attention, normally by the use of creating a bold persona, instead of solely nurturing the pure vocal talent of an artist. It is not hard to understand why labels choose to go down this route.

In a world where everything can change within seconds due to to new technology like Twitter influencing the public, it is obvious that record labels are going to take the opportunity to grab hold of the media's attention to gain as much success for the artist and themselves as possible. It's all about The Next Big Thing these days. You may have had a Number 1 selling debut album and song two years ago, but if your label doesn't do a good job of promoting you when your next album gets released, the public will have already forgotten about you and moved on to the latest pop icon. It's a simple strategy which creates new stars and fortunes, but leaves the old musical talent to struggle for themselves.

Publicity is everything. Records don't get bought by the consumer without some kind of hype attached to it. Obviously, I have to emphasise that record labels are the key driving force behind most artists and that without a label, some artists will find it hard to keep afloat in the music industry today. Labels really are a vital source of information and guidance for the artist but this doesn't always mean that the artist and the label are going to see eye to eye over important matters.

Inspirational Albums

Have you ever listened to an album which has had so much of an influence on your life that you are left with no other choice than to spread this influence to all of those around you?

Whilst looking through my iTunes library last night, I found myself steering towards the same three albums. These three albums have changed the way I think about life and how I choose to present myself to the world. Although there are many other songs, albums and artists which have inspired me throughout the last few years, these magnificent creations really deserve to be given the spotlight:

1. The Other Side Of Down by David Archuleta

The word inspirational was made for this album. I don't think I will ever stop saying that David Archuleta is a vocal genius. Many, including myself, will say that this young man has the complete package when it comes to star quality; the looks, the incredible voice, the likeability factor and his obvious passion for charity and helping others. If that wasn't already enough for all the fans out there, he also truly has musical direction and knows what he wants to create for himself and his loyal fans.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most uplifting albums I have ever had the pleasure of listening to in my life. The lyrics in his songs actually convey pure emotion, unlike a lot of songs which break into the charts these days! Look Around is definitely a pivotal track which makes me want to be a happy, more positive person with a clear outlook on life. I also think this track has one of the best intros I have ever heard! It has to be said that we should all be extremely thankful to have David Archuleta and his sensational, thought provoking music in our lives.

2. The Trick To Life by The Hoosiers

If you don't live in the UK or Europe, you may not have been formally introduced to this quirky pop trio. I'm happy to say that this was the first ever album which I completely understood and connected to every single message being revealed throughout the CD. It takes such skill to write something as varied and entertaining as this set of songs. This album just makes me stop and think, which is something that happens with all three of the records in question.

The highlight of the album has got to be A Sadness Runs Through Him, a song which sums up the world we live in today. As someone who loves digging deep into the the true meanings of lyrics, I came to the conclusion that this song was written to make people think about the reality of life and try to better ourselves from this. Then again, the true meaning behind the song could be completely the opposite and I may not be a very good lyric detective! Hidden musical meaning is also something which interests me greatly, but maybe that's a whole other topic to talk about at a later date!

3. High Hopes & Heartbreak by Brooke White

I like to see recording artists break the mould with their music. Changing things up may not always produce the best outcome, but when it does work, a masterpiece is created. Brooke White has a solid creative vision which completely undermines most other album ideas currently out in the music market. There is something very exciting about singer-songwriters like Brooke White who can compose an album full of songs with such a strong sense of style.

It's hard for me to pick a favourite track, but I do have to say that Phoenix just makes me incredibly happy. I could listen to the song all day without worrying about upcoming deadlines and the daily grind of life. Brooke's voice is absolutely unique, which is noticeably refreshing in this day and age.

I have often found myself smiling when listening to these albums, a sign which shows me how much of a positive impact they have had on my life so far. If you haven't already, take a look at these albums for yourself and see what kind of an impact they have on you.