James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
A classic ballad from arguably the best pop star of our generation, Beyoncé’s latest effort is disappointingly average from someone we know to be a talented singer. With a simple strings and piano backing, fairly standard lyrics, it’s sleek, classy and competent, but not her best work – it lacks imagination. Although it’s not a patch on 'Halo', 'Broken-Hearted Girl' is still par for the course.
Lucie Vincer
For the third single from his highly successful album The Blueprint 3, Jay-Z calls upon fellow New Yorker Alicia Keys to help him create an atmospheric ode to the Big Apple. Sampling The Moments’ ‘Love On A Two Way Street’ as a musical springboard, ‘Empire State Of Mind’ emerges as a piano-and-strings heavy hip hop ballad with evocative lyrics and a very stylish beat. Though has he really earned the right to proclaim himself as ‘the new Sinatra’?
Rich Powell
You get your money's worth with this one, as it seems to be three songs at once. The beginning lulls you into a false sense of security, with its heady mix of conflicting synthesised melodies. After this, however, the bass line kicks in making it sound like a space age Gwen Stefani. The bass line is the only real chance you have to get into this song, but just after you start tapping your foot it stops abruptly. Maybe it works as a musical experiment, or maybe if you already like St. Vincent, it'll do just fine.
Hannah McCarthy
Despite the almost too lo-fi production and lack of originality, ‘Doom’ stands up as a likeable song. A catchy guitar riff, developed melody and harmony and well-varied sections make the two-and-a-half-minute-long single feel substantial, whilst the relatively short length stops the song feeling old even when stuck in your head for a few days (which, after a few initial plays, it will be!). Although unlikely to get much radio play, it’s definitely worth a listen and will certainly have a positive effect on the young band’s progressing career.
Simon Fenton
Check into the Singles Club next week for the likes of Britney Spears, Leona Lewis and Sugababes.
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