You can throw many accusations at Demi Lovato – trust me I’ve tried – but she does know her crowd and is back to her brand of uptempo, club-pop now she’s finished singing ‘Let It Go’. Don’t expect anything revolutionary from ‘Neon Lights’; it has the expected Calvin Harris-esque slow piano line, a repetitive drum […]
Author: Philip Lickley
Single review: Alistair Griffin featuring Kimberley Walsh – ‘The Road’
Griffin and Walsh team up on this official Tour De France track and, a bit like the competition itself, there’s a lot of anticipation but the end result might not be as exciting as you think it is. It’s a nice and smooth, slow burning number with the two singers’ vocals working well together but […]
Single review: McMahon – ‘Fire’
I recently had the pleasure of seeing this artist as part of their University coffee house session tour and here is the follow-up single. ‘Fire’ is a bouncing, powerful indie number with a driving riff and a strong vocal performance from the Irish singer-songwriter, and the production values and studio tricks make this a track […]
This Week’s New Single Releases (1st September 2013)
My round up of the new singles available for digital download this week. Editors – ‘Formaldehyde’ Download: Formaldehyde Editors are back with the second single from their latest album and, though the voice of lead singer Tom Smith is recognisable, the sound is considerably different, possibly reflecting the band’s change in line-up. Though bringing some […]
Single review: Nicole Scherzinger – ‘Your Love’
Once more firmly planting herself into sexual pop-territory but this time with a slight twist in sound, the former Pussycat Doll bring this mid-tempo, part-spoken number with the lyrically limited chorus hook. Full marks to Scherzinger for offering something a little fresher whilst still keeping the pop-catchiness you’d expect. It’s slower, less bombastic than what […]
Single review: Manic Street Preachers – ‘Walk Me To The Bridge’
From their new album Futurology, ‘Walk Me To The Bridge’ isn’t the song I was expecting from the Preachers. Though their last lead single ‘Rewind The Song’ was a difficult song to get into but ultimately rewarding, this new song lacks that spark and imagination, and feels like a sub-par release by the Welsh rockers. […]
Single review: Katy Perry – ‘Birthday’ (Cash Cash Remix)
It’s not often that an EDM remix of a pop-song is better than the original, but here we have one that just about manages it. Giving the guitar a strong electro vibe and adding a bit more bite to what is a pretty generic pop tune, this compliments the album original but gives it a […]
Single review: Pitbull feat. Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Lette – ‘We Are One (Ole Ola)’
The official song for this year’s football World Cup in Brazil nails the sound of the country and the singable hook of the chorus, but elsewhere with three artists including Pitbull’s oft-parodied style ‘We Are One’ becomes more of ‘We Are A Mess’, with too many competing elements and singers vying for your attention. Oh, […]
This Week’s New Single Releases (25th August 2013)
My round up of the new singles available for digital download this week. Bastille – ‘Things We Lost in the Fire’ Download:Things We Lost in the Fire Single number six from Bastille lands firmly in the ballad territory telling an emotive story of lost memories over a retro-sounding keyboard riff and the band’s familiar vocal […]
Single review: Duck Sauce – ‘NRG’
Duck Sauce can usually be relied on to bring you some great danceable tunes and their third cut from their upcoming ‘Quack’ album is no exception. Simple and repetitive it may be, but in the style of the best Basement Jaxx songs its style and perkiness will hit you squarely between the eyes. Yes, it […]