New Music Review #85

Ten more tracks you must hear!

Ben Haenow - Alive 

Another strong pop song from the talent show winner. It's not the most memorable of songs after it finishes but its Biffy Clyro-lite vibe works well. (6/10)

Callaghan - Broken

Another beautifully written and performed track from the incredible voice of Callaghan. If this doesn't touch your heart strings not much else will! (7.5/10)

Carol Laula - 2nd Hand Joy

With folky undertones and the weaving in of a choir, there's an innocent and simple joy in this record with a bigger, catchy chorus. Delightfully different. (6.5/10)

Everything Everything - Desire

One of the most reliable bands around at the moment, 'Everything Everything' go a little bit Muse on this new release, a dramatically operatic falsetto-led number. (7/10)

Jack Found - Sundown

One of my favourite songs of the moment, this bouncy brass-hefty pop song sounds like Mark Owen with more energy and is a great catchy radio-friendly number. A must listen. (7.5/10)

Kele Okereke feat. Olly Alexander - Grounds for Resentment

The lead singer of Bloc Party shifts gear quite considerably on this slower ballad that has big echoes of the Feeling. Gentle yet touching this is a cool, chill-out number with strong lyrics and delivery. (6.5/10)

Lorde - Perfect Places

After the slightly off-the-wall 'Green Light' we get something more straight forward in 'Perfect Places' but the lyrics, delivery and driving pace all work well in creating a great little pop song. (7/10)

Pink - What About Us

Pink can often be relied upon to produce a great pop song and she does it again on this mid-tempo ballad. It's not a huge departure from some of her earlier material but it has enough heart and a strong enough chorus to win you over, and mixes in some nice dance elements too. (7/10)

Sea Girls - Call Me Out 

'Call Me Out' is a gentle slice of pop-indie that comes across as somewhere between the Killers and the similarly sounding Seafret. With a distinctive, foot-tapping chorus, this is a grower. (7/10)

Toddla T feat. Andrea Martin - Magnet

Keeping the backing track gentler lifts up the sweet and smooth vocals of Andrea Martin that gives this single its central emotional core. Chilled out and thoughtful. (6.5/10)

New Music Review #65

Here are ten more songs to delight your ears!

All Time Low - Life Of The Party

'Life of the Party' is another catchy pop-punk number from All Time Low. It's chorus might not be their grandest but it hooks you in and forms the centre of a well produced number. (6.5/10)

Aston Merrygold - Trudy

He may have been through the rhyming dictionary to make this song, and it has a vibe of a recent Dave Hanson track albeit a bit more funked up, but there's something unashamedly catchy and poppy about this potential summer hit. (7/10)

Bakermat feat. Kiesza - Don't Want You Back

Probably our favourite track of these ten, this is a ballsy attitude-heavy dance-track with Kiesza's vocals on top form, forming the backdrop of a very catchy electro-dance number. (7.5/10)

Blaenavon - Lonely Side 

With hints of Chic in its backing riff this is really more firmly in indie territory. Unassuming, this is a smooth, laid-back number but with enough bite to keep you listening and a surprising amount of funk. (6.5/10)

Chase & Status and Blossoms - This Moment

Quite possibly an unexpected collaboration, the inclusion of Blossoms adds a bit more interest and variety into the C&S formula, but it's not their most dynamic hook-up. (6/10)

Liam Gallagher - Wall Of Glass

Far better than anything he did as part of the Beady Eye project, this feels much more like a modern take on the Oasis sound, with a punky production vibe and a catchy chorus. Welcome back Liam. Got any spare parkas? (7/10)

Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie - Red Sun

The former Fleetwood Mac singers return with another great harmonised duet with a slower tempo than their last song but in its place a strong laid-back vibe and a great little guitar solo. (7/10)

Lorde - Perfect Places

A big more musically conventional than 'Green Light' but no less catchy. If you like Lorde's songs up to now this will keep you happy, her perky lyrics and the electronic style really suits her style, and there are plenty of punky hooks amongst the words and quite a brave ending. (7/10)

Nickelback - Must Be Nice

Though the inclusion of the fairy-tale and nursery rhyme-style lyrics are justified by the closing word of the chorus, it's hard not to find the words of the verse a little fag-packet in their writing. That said the effected vocals and the driving catchiness of this rock-song just about cover that up. This won't help the band though combat their detractors! (6.5/10)

Sody - Let Go

Sody could well be a big future star. With a great voice that suits this powerful little track, it's perhaps a little too masked by the hefty EDM-dance production but it has enough energy to shine through on this likely big future radio hit. (7.5/10)

New Music Review #38

Ten more great tracks we say you need to hear!

Axwell /\ Ingrosso feat. Kid Ink - I Love You

Let's be honest, most of the appeal of this song comes from the classical riff of its chorus and not the by-numbers Kid Ink verses, but it's a better song from Axwell and Ingrosso than they've had recently. (6.5/10)

British Sea Power - Keep On Trying (Sechs Freunde) 

Not known for their poppiness, there is a surpisingly Sparks-level of hook here in a song that is memorable in a more arty fashion. Nice, and arguably their best track in a long while. (6.5/10)

Bruno Mars - That’s What I Like 

The lyrics may be pretty shallow and the territory familiar but it's all wrapped up in a catchy funk like his most recent singles that it's hard not to be won over. (6.5/10)

Elle King - Wild Love

Elle King could do no wrong with her singles last year and 2017 looks like she's continuing in a similar vein with this quieter but no less strongly sang single with her trademark power and comforting voice. (7/10)

Glenn Hodge Banned - Faces on Tables

‘Faces on Tables’ is a foot-tapping post-punk number with a delightful fast-paced rhythm, great lyrics and a distinctive vocal from Glenn Hodge. Instantly catchy, this is a great stripped-back acoustic punk number that is worth a spin today. (8/10)

Julia Michaels - Issues

'Issues' is a sexy and sultry little number with Michaels vocals being very listenable and the simple production giving her vox and lyrics room to breathe. (7.5/10)

Lorde - Liability

In my opinion better than 'Green Light' this stripped back, dark, emotional and vulnerable single is heartfelt and all the better for it. (7/10)

Louis Berry - She Wants Me

If George Ezra had a love child with the Animals or a similar act then out would pop Louis Berry. 'She Wants Me' is a gruff indie hit with a cheating little hook with its use of las, but it's well done. (7/10)

LP - Lost On You

My favourite song of the moment, this thumping pop number is a delight, from the lead vocals of LP to the soaring classical-influenced backing. Instantly catchy and singable, this is a great song from start to finish. (8.5/10)

Matoma & MAGIC! feat. D.R.A.M. - Girl At Coachella 

D.R.A.M.'s rap is entirely superfluous to this song and adds a level of crassness the song doesn't need, but elsewhere this laid back saunter of song captures the festival mood well in a more casual way, with a catchy chorus. (7/10)