New Music Review #60

Ten more songs for you to hear!

alt-J - In Cold Blood 

alt-J return with one of their best songs since their early work like 'Tesselate', with an electronic-indie single with enough drama and thematic changes to keep you interested. (7/10)

Cheat Codes feat. Demi Lovato - No Promises

The music is something you've heard hundreds of times before - seriously how many songs sound like this one around at the moment - but it's the vocals from Demi and the bridge that give it something more interesting. It's fun, but too sound-a-like to really buy a copy. (6.5/10)

Kygo & Ellie Goulding - First Time

As with the Cheat Codes song this is a heard-it-all-before club track but with a better inclusion from Goulding. Thank someone for interesting singers to combat the boring DJs. (6.5/10)

Maggie Lindemann - Pretty Girl 

The lyrics may be as cheesy as they are uplifting and the swearing feels forced, but compared to the sound-a-like generic tracks dominating this edition, this is a breath of fresh air with a strong sense of attitude, a memorable chorus and some lyrics that resonate. (7/10)

Mullally - Wonderful

Coming to our attention maybe six months late, this is a summery pop-indie crossover with hints of Adam Levine in its vocals and music. (6.5/10)

Muse - Dig Down 

A much slower song than you'd usually expect from Muse, this is a throbbing, cut back song with a catchy yet repetitive chorus. It's not one of their best - it certainly feels subdued for a lead single - but has enough interesting production to keep you listening. (6.5/10)

Robin Schulz feat. James Blunt – OK

Musically it's pretty much Robin Schulz by the numbers but adding Blunt's vocals to it makes it at least a little bit more interesting. You've heard it all before but it's still worth a few spins. (6.5/10)


Sheryl Crow - Be Myself

With hints of country, this is quite a laid back number from Sheryl, with a radio-friendly chorus and some sweet vocal work from her, but it could do with a little bit more energy to pep things up. (6.5/10)

Thea Gilmore - New

Musically inspired by ELO - at least at the start - this is a retro-sounding driving number with plenty of interesting musical and vocal stabs, but doesn't feel quite as satisfying as you'd hope as a whole. (6.5/10)

Tom Chaplin - See It So Clear

I have to say I preferred the acoustic version with the dual vocals, but this take from the album is still a touching ballad, though the lesser verses seem to take an age to get to the more appealing chorus. (6.5/10)