New Music Review 2018 #2

Ten more songs you have to hear!

Avicii feat. Vargas & Lagola - Friend Of Mine

Certainly feeling very much like an Avicii track this is a fun upbeat little number and though it doesn't break any musical walls down is a pleasant enough listen. (6.5/10)

Catherine McGrath - Talk Of This Town

Hailing from Northern Ireland, UK-based country continues to build after big successes over the last two years. Sounding like classic Taylor Swift before she went all poppy, McGrath's new single is a great pop-country number with a very singable hook. Delightful! (7.5/10)

HAIM - Nothing's Wrong

'Nothing's Wrong' is another slice of electronic-tinged country-focussed pop from the bouncy trio. With bigger hints of Fleetwood Mac this is a great radio-friendly, upbeat, happy number. (7/10)

Hoseah Partsch - Paper Planes

'Paper Planes' is a smooth, gentle little piano-led ballad that builds into something with plenty of emotional energy. Delightful. (7.5/10)

Joseph J. Jones - Crawl

With hints of Rag N Bone Man and John Newman this is a soulful number with Jones' strong voice thumping through this great record. (7/10)

MAGNUM - Without Love 

With a Journey-esque retro-rock sound this should please the old rockers who enjoy a good mosh from an eighties-themed Top Gear Fathers' Day collection. Solid. (7/10)

Post Malone  - I Fall Apart

It might take a few listens to settle in but 'I Fall Apart' is a strong indie tune with a building chorus and dark, electronic riff. Certainly a grower. (6/10)

Rae Morris - Atletico (The Only One)

Rae Morris continues her shift into something more poppy and dancy with her music, and 'Atletico' mixes her sound with something a bit more like La Roux, creating a foot-tapping catchy little number. (7.5/10)

The Retrobot featuring Reggaebot - Melonbot

The world's best singing robot it back with a unseasonably summery tune with a cool lilt and plenty of innuendo. It's not quite up to the brilliance of its first track but it has enough quirkiness and catchiness to keep you listening. (6.5/10)

SZA x Calvin Harris - The Weekend (Funk Wav Remix)

Ticking plenty of generic dance boxes, there's at least a slight Daft Punk vibe to the production which gives it a bit more bite, but it's pretty forgettable and familiar otherwise. (5/10)

Our Contenders for the best videos of 2017 (so far)

The MTV VMAs have revealed their top five nominees for their music video of the year and we feel, frankly, that this is a rather lacklustre set of videos. Outside of the Alessia Cara video having a strong message in it the rest are pretty bland and unexciting!

What do you think? Check out the nominees on the BBC website and post your favourite videos for 2017 below.

We've assembled our five contenders so which are best - the MTV choices or ours? Vote now!

(That said, do you long for the time when music videos were clever or interesting, like Fatboy Slim's 'Weapon or Choice' and those type?)

Amy MacDonald - Dream On

Be The Bear - Erupt

Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean  - Feels

Dirty Heads - Vacation

K.I.D - Taker

The Killers - The Man

Paramore - Hard Times

New Music Review #73

It's time for ten more songs that you need to hear!

Arcade Fire - Creature Comfort

'Creature Comfort' is quite an unusual and eccentric track but somehow the mixture of vocals, paces and styles comes together. (6.5/10)

Axwell /\ Ingrosso - More Than You Know

It might follow plenty of the expected codes for the genre, but the larger-than-life chorus works well and is one of the best club songs around at the moment. (6.5/10)

BETSY - Little White Lies

One of the best artists around at the moment, 'Little White Lies' is a powerful, catchy, radio-friendly track with those vocals something else. (7.5/10)

Bruno Mars vs David Guetta - Versace on The Floor

There are Daft Punk vibes to this new song from Bruno Mars, a slow and sultry number. The lyrics may be a little bland and telling a pretty by-the-numbers story but it's all wrapped up in the strong vocals and rhythms. (7/10)

Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean - Feel

Calvin Harris comes back with his best song in a long time, thanks to the strong electronic backing and the great guest vocals particularly from Williams and Perry. With a summery feel and a catchy chorus, this is a great summer hit. (7.5/10)

Declan McKenna - Humongous

'Humongous' - a great word - is a subtle and gentle indie track but it has plenty of heart and is a definite grower! Stay alert for the end where it shifts up a gear quite considerably. (6.5/10)

HAIM - Want You Back

'Want You Back' is arguably HAIM's best track yet, a poppy, catchy, well-written ditty with strong crisp production and a catchy rhythm. (7.5/10)

Sundara Karma - Explore

Another act that can usually be relied on to bring out a good tune, 'Explore' is another sunny slice of catchy indie. (7/10)

Texas - Midnight

Though it's not one of their biggest hits, it's got the sound and vibe you like from Texas tracks and it's got a fun bounce to it. (6.5/10)

Tom Speight - My My My

'My My My' is a catchy and optimistic little indie number with plenty of heart and a strong indie feeling. Lovely. (7/10)