Book Review: Atonement by Ian McEwan

This Weeks Music Wind-Down

The coming months will prove a hectic storm of great albums and singles to be released by some of the most supported acts around the globe. But it's not just mainstream artists we need to watch out for, since already, emerging artists are boldly retreating from the darkness into the light; from unanimous talent to acclaimed success. Below are a few albums/singles I've checked out this week. Both old and new, they're sure to take stimulate your taste in some way or another.

Unfortunately the ever spinning wheel of education continues to roll forward, dragging me along as I stagger to control it. So in good time, you can expect some more music reviews. But until then, I hope a weekly digest should tantalise you for now.

• Hansome by The Vaccines
• American Beauty/ American Psycho by Fall Out Boy
• Title (Deluxe) by Meghan Trainor
• Something Big by Shawn Mendes
• Hero by Skillet
• Scars by James Bay
• Honest by Kodaline
• 9 Crimes by Damien Rice
• Generation Throwaway by The Used
• The Heart Wants What It Wants by Selena Gomez
• Dangerous by David Guetta 
• Up (ft. Demi Lovato) by Olly Murs

Poetry by Heart

Recently, I won my school's competition for Poetry by Heart which means that I'll progress to the next stage of the competition, the county competition. By entering the competition you are judged on your ability to comprehend and embody several poems, all to be recited in front of a panel of judges who have the power to take you through to the regional semi-finals, and then on to the finals. In this years competition students are required to recite 3 poems, one from before 1914, one post-1914 and a final first world war poem, to commemorate the war.

The next competition for me will be on Tuesday, so even now, I'm a reckless whirlwind of nerves. I can be quite competitive so it's difficult for me not want to win and the fact that writing is my life's passion doesn't quite help this either. Despite this, I was lucky to be asked to join two other entrants, to recite one of my poems on air at BBC Radio Oxford. Since it's my strongest, I chose to recite 'Thoughts of Phena' by Thomas Hardy. If you fancy listening to the broadcast, just follow the link here and you can listen back to the interview which starts at around 1:32 (heads up, it lasts for 29 days and I'm the first to recite a poem).

Single Review: Light Me Up by Hunter Hayes

The charts are dominated with the latest pop songs, ballads and techno music which is already enough to drive any music enthusiast mental. It is easy to accept that some artists are unlikely to be recognised, but to consider that different genres having quite made it more famously to our ears is almost diabolical. Country music artist, Hunter Hayes is a diamond in the rough: his vocals are rustic, fit for country music yet at the same time he is able to control it, coaxing it into something smooth and honeyed. His tracks alone are just as heartfelt and powerful. 

Only 2 days ago Hayes released a UK version of Light Me Up, due to be released in March this year. Forget the identifiable country sound, for in this track we hear Hayes punching out instantly catchy lines alongside an up-tempo pop sound; wild and free it is enough to make anyone feel exultation on as strong a degree as feeling giddy with excitement .Synth sounds and an arrangement of high energy strings and beats combined together helps to breathe life into his music. What's more, in mixing the genres he opens himself up to a wider audience and thus greater recognition in the charts. However, with this new sound, it is just as likely that fans of his work will not be too pleased with the change of genre, since after all, his greatest forte lies with country music.

Light Me Up is available to pre-order here.

Album Review: Title by Meghan Trainor

Here's the link to the review I wrote for Pop Scoop

ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Title’ – Meghan Trainor @Meghan_Trainor http://t.co/sUg7wGcXL9 via @Pop_Scoop pic.twitter.com/IZOsj3vFNe
— Pop Scoop! (@Pop_Scoop) January 19, 2015

Band Review: Go On Do It Jump

Echoing the struggle of overcoming mistakes and revelling in triumphs gone by, ‘January’ is the latest double EP to be released by Oxford based-band, Go On Do It Jump. Having met through
Gumtree the band’s roots are unconventional yet warmingly humorous. Whilst the name is a mouth-full, the music is simple. Former EP, ‘Grace, Poise, Clarity’ was a languid mix of songs, similar to those trademarked by ‘The Script’. Alternatively, GODIJ’s latest double EP brings complexity to the mix, decking out the tunes with electrifying riffs, rocking drum beats and strikingly good guitar skills.

One thing which is important to understand when it comes to this band is talent, and fundamentally, artistry. It’s not often that you come across local talent that can lace their music with a professional sound. Undoubtedly, considering the bands’ humble background, it’s surprising to find that they've ticked that essential box. Their experience alone has helped shape their development of lyrics, creating an interesting edge to their music. Establishing that the variety of sounds work well together to create something chillingly awesome, organisation is a key aspect of running and co-ordinating how a band works together. GODIJ’s drive to do this is just as strong as their ability to create top-end music with the potential to make them firm-favourites in the charts.

These songs are best experienced when on a tiresome drive because they immediately revitalise your senses, throwing explosive beats in your face yet lyrically making you want to relax from a stressful day working. However, it can be argued that you’re more likely to find tracks like ‘Walk Before’ on the score of a ‘surf’ film, notably because the riff is energetic and lively, suitable for sport-orientated films. The track ‘Sonder’ uses the most relatable lyrics because of the existentially powerful meanings behind them (“I feel like every wave in every ocean”). 

‘January II’ (second EP) packs a strong punch, using the drums in an alternatively controlled way during ‘I Woke Up’. The style even begins to touch on the nostalgic tone of indie/rock songs like those penned by The Fray. Furthermore, in ‘Spin’ the powerful addition of a grungy intro creates an underlying urban rock theme through their music. Where ‘January I’ focuses on the past and future, ‘January II’ is all about looking forward. The minor change of pace and rhythm in the first EP makes this difference distinguishable, just like a paradigm shift.

It would be interesting to see what direction GODIJ would take their music if they added a few slow and positively sedate songs to their work and see how they approach that style. It would unquestionably, help to broaden their style on an esoteric level also. But for a double EP with a bundle of satisfyingly brilliant songs, ‘January I’ and ‘January II’ is just as good for now.

Sound interesting? You can check out the band on Facebook and Twitter.

Book Review: The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to take in the bountiful beauty that is reading novels. It was thus with an immense pleasure that I was able to take respite during the holidays, giving me time to read The Maze Runner series. It’s come as no surprise that the books have received such an immense degree of hype, leading to the production of a major motion picture. Packed with action, fear and rivalry, it is a firm favourite in sci-fi literature, a rising genre to be acclaiming the most success among young adults today.

The novel follows 16 year old Thomas, who finds himself trapped in the ‘Glade’. Desperately racing against the clock, he works alongside fellow ‘Gladers’ to find an escape from the ‘Maze’. The quirky semantics used by the Gladers keeps the novel feeling fresh, distinguishing it from any other sci-fi novels. The story borders on the Hunger Games where an overseeing body has the power to control the fate of whoever lives in their domain. But don’t be fooled by the turmoil to unfold as unlike the universally loved series, The Maze Runner combines more terrors and unenduring secrets and surprises than can ever be fathomed in Suzanne Collins’ series.

It’s not often that you come across a book that comes close to terrifying you with its raw descriptions of death and the brutality of survival. The Maze Runner crosses the divide between what we determine is false and true, stripping away certainty in such an intangible way, leaving you feeling lost in a barren wasteland. It is easy to identify with the helplessness felt by the characters, lost in the ‘Scorch’.

James Dashner thinks with clarity and precision, thoughtfully captivating our interest in developing the complicated story he tells. When I started reading the books, I noted how the language wasn’t entirely complex. It was simple and sometimes boring. I would have liked to see him approach the novel with greater dexterity, involving bold choices of language. Nevertheless, the narrative is fundamentally brilliant. It just goes to show that you don’t need tortuous language and devices as long as the plot is gripping and lively.  

It is certainly worth reading these books. Whilst they arguably don’t create the magnitude of emotions done so by writers such as J.K. Rowling, they are a true page-turning read that will have you glued to the words at 3am in the morning.