New Music Review #89

Ten more songs that you really need to hear!

The Amazons - Ultraviolet

Another upbeat number from the Amazons that will get you rocking along, even if it's not quite as distinctive as some of their other hits. (6/10)

Beck - Up All Night

Not as huge as some of his other recent songs but it still has enough of a buzz about it to win you over. (6.5/10)

The Darkness - Solid Gold

The Darkness are always at their best when they stick their tongue firmly in cheek, and on this song (and video) they certainly do that. Welcome back! (7/10)

Erasure - Just A Little Love

Continuing their strong string of come-back singles this is a fun mid-tempo ballad with bite. (6.5/10)

Imelda May - Leave Me Lonely

'Leave Me Lonely' is another touching, well written and emotional mid-tempo number from Imelda May, balancing her distinctive voice with crisp production. (7/10)

Megan Mckenna - Far Cry From Love

The lyrics might be a little cookie-cutter but this touching, slow ballad is delivered with such emotion you can gloss over the familiar words. Definitely pulls on the heart-strings. (6.5/10)

Nadine Coyle - Go To Work

With quite a different sound to what I was expecting, this is a ballsy, retro-sounding pop hit with plenty of gusto and modern production. Fun! (7/10)

River Matthews - Sunshine

With a delightfully husky voice Matthews brings some real bounce to this upbeat poppy number. Great! (7.5/10)

The Tide - Naked

Lyrically it's not exactly the most highbrow of tracks but it's all wrapped up in a fun pop vibe that will get your feet tapping. (7/10)

Wolf Alice - Beautifully Unconventional

It might have hints of Tenacious D's 'Tribute' at times but this is a funky, slow-indie track from the band that has plenty of heart to enjoy. (7/10)

New Music Review #36

Here we are with ten more songs you need to hear!

Alexander James - Faith

'Faith' is a cool little indie number with a dramatic driving rhythm and a gritty feel that works well with James' harmonies and perky pop-indie vocals. (6.5/10)


Alison Krauss - Losing You

With tinges of country, 'Losing You' is a gentle, atmospheric ballad that showcases to great effect Krauss' beautiful voices. Stripped back and simple, it's a delightful ballad with a retro throwback with modern production twists. (7/10)

The Amazons - Black Magic

Sounding like a cross between the Wombats and the Arctic Monkeys, this gritty rock-indie song doesn't perhaps have a huge memorable chorus but the general style and solid production effects make up for that. (6.5/10)

Casey Lowry - Trampoline

'Trampoline' is a sweet little indie song with a positive, upbeat chorus, and a strong electro-pop vibe and drum pattern that will raise a smile with its simple instrumental and quaint lyrics but ultimately fun feel. (7/10)

The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This

I'm not a huge fan of the music of the Chainsmokers, and I'm sure people will have their own opinions on the sound of Coldplay, but together they've created quite a fun and perky indie-dance track that actually merges their strengths together into a cool pop hit. (7/10)

Frances - No Matter

'No Matter' is a mixture of things - electronic effects, vocal trickery, and indie vibes - that come together in a fun, perky and quirky song, held together by Frances great sunny vocals. (6.5/10)

Maren Morris - My Church

Continuing the increasing rise in popularity of country music, Maren Morris delivers 'My Church', balancing the attitude and guts of Kasey Musgraves with a more traditional country sound. Catchy, quirky but thoroughly country this is a great sing-a-long ditty that will please the country classic fans and those who prefer a more modern take. (7/10)

Martin Jensen - Solo Dance

It's chorus might be as generic and off-the-shelf as many other dance numbers but the choruses are catchy and uplifting, and the lead vocals sweet and involving. Worth a spin. (7/10)

Megan Lara Mae - Mask

If you want a track that's smooth and relaxing sung by a singer with a beautiful voice then you could do far worse than this great little song. It's choruses is perhaps not as big as you'd expect but the vocal work is great and emotive. (7/10)

Take That - Giants

Take That have taken a bit of influence from their recent collaboration with Sigma in this latest single as it has a stronger electronic focus than we may have had before, though it's still as poppy as you'd expect from the lads. It's safe, radio-friendly and generic, but it's still a worthwhile distraction from the man band. (7/10)

New Music Review #21

Another ten new tracks that we love this week!

The Amazons - Little Something

'Little Something' is a dark and gritty slice of indie-rock with a growling guitar undercurrent and a crisp vocal line. (6.5/10)
Anteros - Breakfast

'Breakfast' is a great catchy piece of pop that is great to listen to anytime of day. With an understated but memorable chorus this is a great uplifting track for the time of year. (7.5/10)

Caravan Palace - Lone Digger

A track from a while back that has got a new lease of life, this is a dance-led, catchy, jazz number that mixes throwback riffs and sounds into a fast-paced catchy number. (8/10)

Crystal Fighters - Good Girls 

Crystal Fighters can be often replied upon to provide a great, bouncy, uplifting pop song and 'Good Girls', though not that different from their usual style, delivers on that. Very warming for a cold January! (7.5/10)

Dua Lipa - Be The One 

A catchy slice of indie-pop from one of the stars of 2017, it's not her biggest single and it gets a little repetitive but it's still a good listen. (6.5/10)

Dwayne Johnson - You're Welcome

Taken from the latest Disney film 'Moana'. Dwayne Johnson doesn't have the greatest singing voice but he delivers this song well and it's pretty catchy. And certainly less annoying than 'Let It Go'. (7/10)
Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill / Shape of You

Our Ed is back with two new tracks. They may be lacking the energy or originality of, say, 'Sing' but are some great comebacks. 'Castle on the Hill' is the better of the two with a strong building vibe and chorus and a certain pop-catchiness. 'Shape of You' is a bit more Sing-like with a rap vibe though the lyrics are a little shallower and drab, but the vocal effects are catchy. (7.5/10)

Halestorm - I Hate Myself For Loving You

A cover of a Joan Jett song this a solid rock version which keeps the classic song whilst injecting a bit of life into it. A good cover. (6.5/10)

Surfer Blood - Matter of Time

'Matter of Time' is a raw slice of indie but with some catchy licks and riffs and a fun, driving vibe. (7/10)

The xx - Say Something Loving

The XX continue with their strong pop-indie crossovers with this retro-throwback packed with harmonies any nicely evolving synths. It's more of a rolling track than building to anything but that still proves to be worth a listen. (6.5/10)