Album Review: No Sound Without Silence by The Script

After 2 years lost without the distinguished sound of Irish pop/rock group, The Script, we can finally burst out an elated hell yeah as the band have now released their latest album, No Sound Without Silence. Whilst The Script have held on tight to an almost indie/rock sound defining their distinctive style down to a tea, with songs like Man on a Wire and Without These Songs, they've branched out, favourably creating songs with different themes to appeal to virtually anyone. You have sweet songs like Never Seen Anything "Quite Like You" which contrasts with lyrical, evocative tracks such as Flares, that connects particularly with individuals who've had a troubled background, telling them that there is someone out there to help, they’re not alone and that they can fight the weakness that threatens to consume them. Hail Rain or Sunshine is jovial, genial and strongly rooted with a Celtic- folk background. You can imagine going to a party/club and using the song to cajole someone to dance, the way you urge your mates to get off their butts and dance because what's the point in a party if you don't enjoy yourself?

It's not just these few tracks that illuminate the adulation truly deserved of this album. The latest single, superheroes, is electric; if you simply plug your headphones in and sit listening to this song you're bound to be itching to move, to raise your hand in the air and rock it above you head, shaking your head like this is the first song you can really connect to with serious conviction.

Of course what I’m saying is all very positive and I don't expect you to relate to my stories or in any way feel strongly towards the music; after all it's only my opinion. But then aren't all reviews just opinionated comments by the writer?

If the artwork is enough to enthral the senses, then the beguiling beauty of this album is sure to have you lulled by this band's soulful sound. Public opinion can attest to its brilliance having shown that within the first week of release No Sound Without Silence was able to hit Number 1. Take a chance, listen to this album and revel in the artistry of these talented artists; it would be a shame if anyone were to push that away.

Single Review: Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart) by The Vamps

You either love them or you hate them. That’s how it seems to go, at least in a lot of peoples’ opinions The Vamps are simply regarded as another ‘boy band’,  apparently with a degenerative music taste and style, or as other people would have it: no talent at all. You can say what you like about this band, but a lack of talent is not one of them, unless you’re prepared to be countered. The Vamps, like many artists to hit the charts, have a sound that is instantly recognisable. 

Expressive and uplifting, Oh Cecilia is without a doubt a perfect song bound to surpass the top 10, even hitting the top 3. It’s energetic and just as with all of The Vamps songs, can either put you into a state of repose or a frenzy of euphoria and the latter is most often the case. It’s all good explaining how the lyrical nature of the song makes it pleasurable to listen to but as a concern, plagiarism takes place where we find that the chorus has been taken from the song Cecilia by Simon & Garfunkel. It’s seems obvious that management must have paid off the rights to use part of such a big song however the question still remains, did they have the right to put in half of their own work leaving the remainder of the song written by others who may have been considered harder working than these 4 guys? I’m not going to discredit The Vamps because the song is still effortless and beautifully constructed. Yet whether we can call it purely an act of their own creativity and intuitiveness we have yet to decide. Available for pre-order now, Oh Cecilia is due for release 12^th October, available on iTunes here.

Single Review: The Nights by Avicii

Swedish DJ Avicii, worldly acclaimed in his profession, has released news only recently that not only will he be releasing a new album (Stories) but new track, The Nights, set to feature on the Official FIFA 15 Soundtrack. What’s characteristically remarkable and effectively impressive about Avicii’s songs is that he sustains the ability to create powerfully anthemic dance tracks and he certainly doesn’t disappoint us here. Featuring the conventionally typical chanting of a thousand fans, chorusing one another in a moment of shared bliss for pride in their favourite team, The Nights captivates the optimism of the common football fan, smashing this with the love of a committed music enthusiast to crash forward a song anyone can appeal to. If you’re a fan of former hits, Addicted to You and Wake Me Up, then this is a song you’ll relish and appreciate tenfold. Ok, so you’ve heard the good points but what’s wrong it? If you despise techno music, or any form of music that now fine-tunes the meaning of festival spirit then you’re not going to enjoy this track. Luckily for you, there is only a small percentage of people who find that this is the case. 

Single Review: Blame It on Me by George Ezra

I’m sure you’ll agree that as an up and coming artist George Ezra is definitely set to be another favourite. He could run rings around the charts with his voice, unique as the likes of artists such as Sam Smith and John Newman, both of whom have consistently made the top 10 and obviously favourites in the public’s eye. Following on from the success of debut single, Budapest, George brings forward the insatiably catchy song, Blame It on Me. This tuneful track is beautifully euphonious; the combination of acoustic guitar, rubbing mixture of synth sounds, soft drum beats and naturally lyrical sounds like the clapping of hands, and the clicking of fingers come together to form a modern twist on folk music. Admirably, to be able to make a mainstream song from this stylised ‘genre’ is commendable. Despite what we love about this, the start as you may criticise, sounds like a retro TV show opening. Cheesy as that may sound, the moment George’s strong, and yet irresistibly rustic voice pushes its way through, that thought is instantly obliterated. In truth, everyone has their own thoughts on music which may cause you to pass this song off, however I’d say that even if acoustic/pop music isn’t your thing, this is definitely worth a listen to.

Single Review: Centuries by Fall Out Boy

You’re at a concert, sweaty and bushed. Bodies grind on yours and to be honest you couldn’t care less if you passed out there and then, because what’s more frustrating than waiting for that one song that gets your blood pumping. This is that song, strikingly uplifting, leaving you feeling utterly inebriated (basically intoxicated beyond reason). Centuries is everything you want in a rock song: it’s sharp, eternal and crazily strident. If you’re a fan of FOB, you’ll love this track; it’s ridiculously unforgettable, mind-blowing and adrenaline pumping, a song to enjoy with avidity and ardent respect for electrifying rock music. Admittedly it doesn’t have the reverberating riffs that leave you dumfounded and crashing your ears to the stereo, screaming with complete devotion to a band’s sound; it’s not hard-core rock. Nevertheless it grinds together that soul-destroying, perfect combination of collected artistry to bring you a sound to match our expectations of what music really is: a sound that enriches the listener with a bristling, whole-hearted love, and a deep, emotional connection made simply from a bunch of noises.

Media A2 Blog

Sadly I haven't been able to find the time to write much lately and chances are that will happen for some time. In the mean time I'm working on my last year of A-Levels! SO MUCH FUN (aha *cries in a pool of emotion*) Art, English, philosophy and media will hold my attention these coming months...but have no fear! Since media coursework is technologically assessed you can read my blog as I work through not only making my own short movie but a movie poster and film review. This time ALL ON MY OWN. Yes, it'll be challenging but I am so damn excited for this, and it'll be my first experience at creating a Sci-Fi film where everything is completely my own creation-new words and all :D I hope to update this blog more but if I'm not writing for a while, you know where to look ;)

Album Review: Ashley Roberts 'Butterfly Effect'

You can view my review here.

Interview: Jade Avia

INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Capital Xtra Breakfast presenter Jade Avia http://t.co/lZDdYTtlMX via @Pop_Scoop
— Pop Scoop! (@Pop_Scoop) August 19, 2014

Again, i didn't write the intro to this interview but all the questions are mine.

Interview: Beth Sherburn

Here i haven't written the intro but the interview itself was written by myself for PopScoop a few weeks back: http://www.popscoop.org/2014/08/04/interview-beth-sherburn/