[Review] Mariah Carey "Almost Home"

NEW MARIAH CAREY!!! ARGGHH, ALMOST HOME IS HERE!! (That's an exclamation of excitement, not pain. Just saying!)

Taken from the soundtrack to the film Oz the Great and Powerful, the Stargate produced track maintains Disney's vanilla sound, but sorta contemporises it with the use of synths and urban drum patterns. The effect is that Almost Home sounds like Mariah vocally, but doesn't quite ring true, musically. Perhaps something not so surprising considering the different requirements and pressures recording for a motion picture must bring.

[Single Review] Rebecca Ferguson "Shoulder To Shoulder"

It's fifth time lucky for me, as ex-X-Factor contestant Rebecca Ferguson finally gets around to releasing Shoulder To Shoulder from her debut, Heaven; and right before she puts the album out to pasture to get to work on her sophomore effort.

From the first spin of the critically acclaimed Heaven, Shoulder To Shoulder is the song that stood out as the strongest cut.With its bittersweet and troubled tale of love, its emotional vocal and its beautiful but understated production, the ballad not only shines a spotlight on Rebecca Ferguson's skill as an astute vocalist, but also her duel strength as a canny songwriter.

[Review] Tamar Braxton "Love And War"

Most people will be more familiar with her famous sister Toni, but younger sibling Tamar Braxton is readying herself for solo stardom with the release of new song, Love and War.

Tamar is no stranger to the music world: having enjoyed moderate success as part of The Braxtons, and then less so as a solo star with first album Tamar. But that was over a decade ago and Father time's ceaseless march seems to have finally put some fire under the 35-year-old and got her back into the recording studio. Well that and her colossal ego that is convinced she should be as big a star as Lady Gaga!

[Review] Cher Returns To Music With "Woman's World"

With the music scene being so focused on dance music at the moment, it was only a matter of time before we saw the re-emergence of the Grand Dame Of Divas herself, Cher!! Having reinvented herself as the Queen of the scene in the 90's with her massive hit Believe, Cher's decided now is the right time to reclaim the dance floor, unleashing her new single Woman's World.

[Review] Kelly Clarkson "Catch My Breath"

Kelly Clarkson is giving me 80's goodness with her new single Catch My Breath. This is just what I needed from Ms Clarskson. After a string of high-octane, Pop-Rock tracks (Stronger, Darkside, Mr Know It All) I needed something a little more varied from the American Idol Winner to stop me getting Clarkson fatigue.

No need to worry though, it's not a total change of style for the singer. The voice is still a clear and present danger,  and the lyrics are far from generic: being a reflective take on her own musical journey so far. The singer-Songwriter explained the meaning of Catch My Breath on its release;

[Single Review] Girls Aloud Fail (Hard) With Comeback Single "Something New"

Oh fabulous Girls Aloud, what have you done!?

You were once at the forefront of pop music, churning out brilliantly catchy tunes that not only won you a legion of loyal fans, but done the seemingly impossible for a manufactured band and had the critics eating out of your manicured hands too. Then you went on "hiatus" and I cried!

Listening to your new single, Something New, makes me wonder if perhaps you should have stayed split.

[Review ] Christina Aguilera: "Your Body"

All those suffering from a Christina Aguilera deficiency can rejoice, as new single, Your Body, has debuted in its mastered version! Produced by Max Martin/Savan Kotecha, Your Body is a sexually charged anthem that reveals-in quite explicit detail- a certain diminutive, blond, Diva out on the prowl. "What for?" you ask. "Your Body," of course!

[Review] Charlotte Church: "How Not To Be Surprised When You're a Ghost"

Former childhood classical star Charlotte Church is back on the musical scene and seems to have gone all Alternative/indie on us. Taken from her September due EP One, the song How Not To Be Surprised When You're a Ghost finds the Welsh singer taking a confident stride in this new musical direction.

Admittedly, I wouldn't have recognised How Not To Be Surprised When You're a Ghost as Charlotte Church if I hadn't been watching the (slightly creepy) video while listening. It's just so different from anything I've ever heard from her. Luckily, it's "different" in a great way.

[Review] Leona Lewis : "Trouble"

Leona Lewis has released a new song from her upcoming third LP, Glassheart. And people, you can all relax, because the dance direction last single Collide was showcasing is nowhere to be found. Instead, new song Trouble is a dramatic, and building mid-tempo song that puts Leona Lewis firmly back in safer (musical) territory, though with an edgier attitude courtesy of the lyrics.

Fellow British Diva Emeli Sande was responsible for penning Trouble, and her influence can be heard strongly throughout the song. Not just lyrically, but musically: with the composition and structuring of the song seeming to mirror Sande's own breakthrough hit Heaven quite heavily. It's a choice that really only fails on Trouble's chorus; which contains too many distracting pauses in the vocal melody for this listeners taste.

[Review] Taylor Swift:"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"

Taylor Swift returns with new single We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, taken from her October-due, fourth album, Red. Unsurprising-if you've noted the title- the single is a spunky break-up song, that sends out a very clear message to the ex involved: "it's over, Gurlfriend"...or rather "boyfriend"....so move on!

[Review] Ellie Goulding "Anything Could Happen"

I've really enjoyed all the free music English belle Ellie Goulding has been releasing this year- such as her excellent cover of High For This. That's why I'm surprised that I don't actually like the first single, Anything Could Happen, lifted from her upcoming second album Halcyon.

[Review] Mariah Carey "Triumphant (Get Em)"

Now if there is any Diva out there that I would "Stan" for, it would be Mariah Carey. But let's get this straight, I don't Stan for anybody, because in the end it doesn't help anyone: not the star, not the fan and least of all someone who is trying to critique music as objectively as possible. You might wonder why I'm adding this rambling disclaimer-of-sorts to the start of the review, but I feel I need to, because what I'm about to write I can't even believe is true, but here goes: Mariah Carey's new single, Triumphant (get em), is a total disappointment.

[Review] Bat for Lashes- "Laura"

Spooky Diva Natasha Khan, aka Bat for Lashes, has returned to our mortal airwaves with new track Laura. An achingly beautiful song, that is built on the foundation of a sturdy and imposing piano score. One which contains all the calling-card-chords and motifs that fans have come to associate with Bat for Lashes' dramatic musical styling.

The vocal is as affecting as always on Laura, retaining its ghostly, other worldly quality, but there is a subtle change here, and it's noticeably warmer and vulnerable than previous offerings. The result is a song that moved me before I'd even had a chance to comprehend its lyrics.

Review: Delilah "Inside My Love"

Somebody I'm always excited to hear new music from is Paris-born, London-raised, singer Delilah. When I'd read she had covered Minnie Ripperton's classic Inside My Love, I knew it was going to be a goody.

This is a singer-songwriter with previous form when handling covers- having done a stellar job incorporating Chaka Khan's Ain't Nobody, into her song Go [Review]. So I suspected Delilah wasn't going to be doing a simple cut-and-paste job with the Minnie Ripperton original, or using it to show off her range (as I suspect the reason is for many when choosing to cover Minnie).

P!nk "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" [Review]

I love P!nk, but I don't love her new single, Blow Me (One Last Kiss). I had heard the demo version of the Greg Kurstin produced song a couple of days ago, and thankfully they've improved on that somewhat- production wise- because that was awful.

However, what this fine-tuned version has made me realise, is that it may have been the lyrical content that was the problem, more so than anything else.

[Review] Brandy Featuring Chris Brown- "Put It Down"

Brandy is back, and doing what she does best: taking risks. Teaming up with producer Bangledesh and featuring a verse from Chris Brown(yuck!), the track, Put It Down, sounds like nothing else out there at the moment. A good thing for anyone sick to death of the cookie cutter, Euro-dance/pop sound that is strangling the charts, but one that may ultimately pose a big risk to its success if people aren't ready to put their glow sticks down just yet.

[Review] Paloma Faith- "Picking Up The Pieces"

I didn't like the brand of quirky pop that Paloma Faith was peddling with first album. It felt contrived and forced, as did the kooky personality she brought with it. Surprisingly, according to an interview with BBC Paloma wasn't a fan either [source], claiming it was more the record company than her who was pushing the sound;

At the Brits you said you had mixed feelings about your debut album. What did you mean?
The first time round, I knew what I wanted but I didn't necessarily have the confidence to stick to my guns. There was a certain degree of manipulation because I felt indebted, somehow, to the record label for signing me.

Review: Alexandra Burke ‘Let It Go’

2008 X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke seems intent on becoming the Rihanna dance diva of the United Kingdom with her second album, HeartBreak On Hold, if its first single Elephant, and, just released, follow-up Let It Go are indicative of what to expect from it. Not a move I'm thrilled with, it has to be said.

Let It Go is giving us more synths, more chanty/shouty choruses, and,of course, a dub-step breakdown- all things that seem to be a prerequisite of getting radio play these days. But its all kept light and breezy with a production that's weighted more towards the treble than the bass, giving Let It Go a sound that is perfectly suited for summer. Emotionally, however, it rings hollow, despite the "inspiring" angle of the lyrics.

Review and Video: Jessie J ‘Laserlight’

I am a sucker for a song that makes me feel like I can take on the world single handedly [Mary J Blige knows what I'm talking about-link] and David Guetta has the ability to create that emotion down-to-a-tee with his derivative/reductive music production. So it's no surprise that it's just what Jessie J is serving up on new, David Guetta co-produced, track LaserLight.

Review: Gossip return with "Perfect World"

Beth Ditto and her motley crew, collectively known as Gossip have returned, Hooray! The group's energetic last album, Music for Men, seems like it was released an eternity ago (2009 in actuality) and with Ms Ditto releasing an EP in 2011 I was worried that that was the end of the trio, and solo stardom beckoned. But new single Perfect World means my prayers have been heard, and they return with their fifth album, A Joyful Noise, in May of 2012.