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Artist:
Same Difference
 Haapy Music, 2008-12-01
Same Difference, who came third place on the X Factor have their album out. You could see Simon Cowell's money making grin on his face when these were on the X Factor. Since S Club broke up there hasn't really been any group in this country aimed directly at the tweenie market.
When I was little this was what pop was about, cheesy and catchy songs, like disco. From the album cover with Sarah's bunny boiler grin you know that you are going to get something that is fun. I admit even though I am a bit too old that I really like this album, and it will be put on my MP3 player. I like this kind of music to block out the traffic, crowds, and it helps me walk faster.
I can see lots of little children asking for this for Christmas, but I know there will be a lot of adults who will enjoy it as well.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.49
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Artist:
MGMT
The term Oracular Spectacular might not mean much, if anything, at all--it's essentially nonsensical--but that doesn't stop it feeling exactly right. Here is a band that treats dizzy cross-eyed awe and a vast bounding sense of sonic weightlessness as their yardstick, jostling to surpass themselves on a track-by-track basis and aiming for the musical equivalent of performing somersaults in tye-dye t-shirts off the rings of Jupiter. MGMT seemingly submit this debut album as an application to acquire and even supersede The Flaming Lips' previously uncontested mantle as spiritual leaders of over-sized Technicolor psychedelic-indie with a soul, weird but not so weird that swelling crowds and even flirtations with the charts aren't a foregone conclusion. "Time to Pretend" opens and sets a tone for the record, producer David Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev) providing a familiar expanse for them to riff across with bull's-eye synths, massive drums and their twist on the template--retro 80s electro and abstract shapes, see Suicide and the Talking Heads for reference. "The Youth" is centred around a hypnotically looping refrain that recalls Pink Floyd and David Bowie, as interpreted by a mellow Secret Machines and the brilliant "Pieces of What" is Ryan Adams spinning through cosmos with classic Neil Young on his headphones. "Future Reflections" meanwhile stand on its hands on a line somewhere in-between XTC and Ween. Thrillingly eclectic, endlessly colourful and never predictable. It's all a bit ridiculous, but indeed spectacularly so. --James Berry
One of the best in recent years!, 2008-11-06
This album is spectacular! There isn't one track I don't like & what I find amazing is that it keeps me intrigued even after listening to it a hundred times. There is so much to discover on this album & I enjoy the way they have clearly drawn inspiration from various older artists, but innovatively added a modern twist to it & definitely made it their own. Great live band too! I would recommend this to anyone!
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £4.98
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Artist:
Scouting For Girls
EXCELLENT =D, 2008-09-20
This album is by one of the bands that are definatly one of the best around today. This isnt the type f music i listen to but i thought it was amazing when i heard and it gets better every time. Much much better than other bands of this type like mcfly. BUY IT !!!! You wont regret it !!!=D
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £3.53
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Artist:
Various Artists
You can't go far wrong with this, 2008-11-08
For anybody who watched the series earlier in 2008, this is a must. It contains all the best songs from the final weeks of the series, although none of the earlier weeks seem to have been included. (Maybe this is because the earlier weeks were a bit ropey at times!)
The only downside is that Last Minute seem to have been excluded, and I know many others like myself, thought they were a real hit. On the whole though, very worthwhile.
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £8.98
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Artist:
Coldplay
What's this? New Coldplay material so soon after the release of Viva La Vida? In fact, Prospekt's March is a collection of songs that were chiefly intended for the band's fourth album but which didn't get finished before the deadline. There are eight tracks in total, some new, some new-ish and a couple of re-workings of older material. Amongst the re-imaginings is a largely decorative Osaka Sun mix of "Lovers in Japan" and a version of "Lost" that includes an unlikely guest vocalist in the shape Jay-Z--incredibly, it seems to work. Of the new material, the piano interlude "Postcards from Far Away" is the shortest and most coruscating work, while "Life in Technicolor (II)" is larger but slightly less successful, adding only cursory elements to its predecessor on Viva La Vida. More alluring are the gigantic "Glass of Water", the experimental "Rainy Day" and the beautifully melancholy "Prospekt's March/Poppy Fields". A mixed bag then, but one that's generally more enjoyable than not. --Danny McKenna
Nice Suprise, 2008-11-26
After being treated to the brilliant Viva La Vida, clearly the best album of the year, up pops this little beauty, and what a lovely suprise it is.
Depending on what you read this ep contains tracks that either didn't make it onto the VLV album or were written not long after.
Whereas the likes of Keane, The Killers, Razorlight and Snow Patrol to name but a few have not kicked on this year after early promise, Coldplay have gone from strength to strenght and any of these new tracks could and in some cases should have made it onto VLV's track listing.
Vocally and lyrically Chris Martin is much improved and with Brian Eno on board Coldplay really have turned things up another notch.
I loved the instrumental 'Life in technicolor' and often wondered how it would sound with a vocal and now i know because mark ii is quiet possibly their best song yet and what a pity it didn't find its way onto the album.
If nothing else it is worth buying this ep just for this version alone.
Other tracks that will be familiar are remixed versions of 'Lovers in Japan' and 'Lost' complete with a Jay-Z rap in the middle that doesn't work for me and spoils an otherwise brilliant song if i am honest.
'Glass of water' and the funky 'Rainy day' are brilliant tracks, as good as anything they have done before and if either had appeared on Viva La Vida inplace of the disappointing 'Yes' then the album would surely be hailed as a masterpiece, as good as anything out there.
The remaing tracks are 'Postcards from far away' a fifty seconds snipet of Chris on the piano, whilst 'Prospekt's march/Poppyfields' and 'Now my feet won't touch the ground' sound very much early Coldplay and would fit nicely on debut album Parachutes.
This is a must for all Coldplay fans, especially if you liked Viva La Vida.
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List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £5.94
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Artist:
Adele
It's right there; on the cover, the spine, or illuminating from your iPod screen. But it's hard to corroborate it in your mind. London singer-songwriter Adele's debut album is titled 19, referencing her age, and there are hints it's true--its themes are almost exclusively concerned with young love's highs and (mostly) lows and there's a clipped estuary English tide-mark to her voice, allying her with the fresh-faced modern female songwriting guard; Lily Allen, Kate Nash, et al. But the sheer weight of her maturity--vocally, emotionally and in overall poise—really reduces that all to circumstantial evidence. Adele is carrying something much bigger here, you can't help but be consumed by it on "Daydreamer" with it's jazzy tip-toeing guitar and elastic vocal range and "Hometown Glory" with its deep, lonely piano serving as a bed for the raw emotional undressing that takes place above it. Draw a line between timeless, powerful singers like Ella Fitzgerald and the modern standard of Amy Winehouse; Adele balances and pirouettes confidently along that tightrope. Winehouse particularly informs the likes of "Cold Shoulder" and double-bass heavy "Best for Last", and that's not an alignment that's ever going to be easy to realise credibly. Needless to say, she does, with ease. On future classic "Chasing Pavements" she also gives a nonsensical phrase a handful of heart in lieu of meaning and when you can pull that off convincingly you know you're in possession of something special. Who dares to dream what bigger numbers could bring. --James Berry
Best U.K. Soul Singer, 2008-08-02
Originally I Set Out To Get Duffy's Scouting For Girls & Goldfrapp's Album, unfortunatly no duffy album, so i got my back up adele's 19, and even though most of the tracks are sad this made me happy <(^^,)> much better than duffys, lets review each track:
1. Daydreamer 8.5/10 good trackto open up the album with
2. Best For Last 7.8/10 one of the worst tracks but i still love it
3. Chasing Pavements 9/10 great way to debut your voice, strong lyrics
4. Cold Shoulder 9.8/10 Go Girl!, give everyone with your powerfull voice
5. Crazy For You 8.5/10 Adele can do slower strong songs well
6. Melt My Heart To Stone 9/10 one of the saddest songs on the album, its lovely
7. First Love 7/10 worst track on the album (Vocally), but the lyrics are strong
8. Right As Rain 9.5/10 very good pop song adele, fast and good beat
9. Make You Feel My Love 10/10 best cover song ive ever heard the first of three songs which are marked 10 points, verry verry strong
10. My Same 9.7/10 Ay Ay Ay Love It, very strong (Lyrics & Vocals)
11. Tired 10/10 strong lyrics and a voice you'd all kill for
12. Hometown Glory 10/10 Strong lyrics and vocals, best and saddest song ive ever heard my fourth favourite song underneath Shut Up & Let Me Go (Ting Tings) Caravan Girl (Goldfrapp) and No Substitute Love (Estelle)
The Album All Together 9.5/10
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £7.64
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Artist:
Take That
It's been a long ten years since Take That disbanded. Their recent reformation and world tour offered overwhelming evidence that, far from being forgotten, the post-Robbie quartet can still command hysterical amounts of goodwill and adoration. Beautiful World illustrates why this is so. Written in conjunction with songwriter/producer John Shanks (Ashlee Simpson, Anastacia, Alanis Morissette), the album is crammed full with the songwriting magic that made their rise to fame so meteoric in the first place. Far from being an exercise in nostalgia, the project moves the band in a slightly new direction. The four come across as more mature, more democratic (all members share songwriting credits on the album, rather than just Barlow), and even more adept at making epic pop that somehow avoids the cheese factor. Lead single "Patience" is a perfect example of how powerful and accessible their songs can be. It'd be a good contender for the album's peak moment if the rest of the tracks weren't so damn good too. With traditional Take That style songs (the immediately likeable "Reach Out", the brimming "Like I Never Loved You At All"), nicely punctuated up by incongruous outings like Jason Orange's folkish "Wooden Boat" and Mark's upbeat, Beatles-esque "Shine", Beautiful World sets a whole new standard for a band previously known more for their singles than their long-players.--Danny McKenna
An excellent comeback, 2008-01-04
Beautiful World by Take That receives a welcome comeback for the band. Take That as a band flourished during the 90's. Take That continues to capitalise on their enomorous success of the 90's with the much awaited launch of their new album in today's digital age. Album's material would appeal to the mature audience. It may not be suited to the young generation of their pop-orientated days. It heads a new direction. Take That have truly adapted to modern trends. The band cements a position in the British music industry, but not share the same scale of leading legendary British groups. Without any doubts the band gain huge recognition for their musical achievements.
The album comprises eleven beautifully composed tracks, that are well written and splendid music to listen to. These include top ten hits Patient, Reach out and Beautiful World. Take That are without any doubts a superb band. The band deliver a solid understanding of real music and this is truly reflected by their music in the album, The album demonstrates certain qualities that are a necessity in real music. These include pure elegance and music to make you feel good.
Beautiful World by Take That welcomes a band who were big in the 90's and continue display the much missed talents for 10 years, with wonderful musicianship, perfect vocal singing and perfectly composed music. This is what music should be about.
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £4.09
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Artist:
The Saturdays
Best Pop Album I've Heard In Years!! 10/10 !!!, 2008-11-10
I am soooooo surprised when i first heard this album! It really is top notch! I would definately say much much better than the Sugababes and Girls Aloud. All songs are super catchy, have modern tempo's and the vocals are GEORGEOUS. I just LOVE the melodies. I would say the best pop album i've heard in 3 years!! Buy this is you were disappointed in Sugababes,(this album does remind me when the Sugababes used to write great pop songs). A brilliant album which has left me wanting more. Well done girls!! 10/10!
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List Price: £12.99
Our Price: £6.20
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Artist:
Leon Jackson
Leon Who?, 2008-11-27
Never watched the X-Factor so I had never heard of this artist, until I watched BBC Children In Need. I thought he was very good and like the song he performed on that show, so I took a chance and bought this album.
I was blown away. He really has the perfect voice for this kind of music. A mixture of jazz, ballads and swing, a real 'laid-back' album. Can't say there was a track on the album I did not like.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £5.85
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Artist:
Ting Tings
The debut album by Salford's The Ting Tings comes hot on the heels of their No.1 single "That's Not My Name", a nugget of pop gold that comes on like a genetic splicing of Toni Basil's "Micky" and The Knack's "My Sharona". The bulk of We Started Nothing follows a similar formula, navigating a path between the smart, angular indie of CSS, Bonde Do Role, et al and the pop mainstream. Here and there, they pull it off perfectly: the stutter-rap of "Fruit Machine" sees vocalist Katie White leading on some poor sap with sultry charisma and lip-gloss sass, while the excellent "Shut Up and Let Me Go" is snappy dance-punk in the spirit of Blondie's "Rapture" or Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love". Elsewhere, they branch out with mixed results. "We Walk" builds from quiet flourishes of piano into a surprisingly steely manifesto: "Smash the rest up/Burn it down/Put us in the corner cause we're into ideas", sneers White. Rather less good is "Traffic Light", a light, jazzy number that employs a number of somewhat forced driving metaphors to describe a relationship hit the skids. Still, it's a debut with promise, and a string of good singles is nothing to be sniffed at. --Louis Pattison
 Fun, 2008-10-09
I can't believe I bought this. When I first heard the Ting Ting's I thought they were dreadful. It sounded like really naff cheesy pop. And it is, but it's also very catchy and I have to admit I like it. The more I hear it the more it grows on me. It's not cool to like it, but that doesn't mean it's not okay to like it. It's just probably best not to admit it to people when you first meet them. That's Not My Name is probably the best pop tune of the year for me.
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List Price: £13.99
Our Price: £6.49
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