New music, and music news!

**for the original post on my wordpress go here**

Admittedly, its been a while since my last post, but during that time I’ve been launching my other project Unsigned Cardiff so please do give it a follow if you’re a fan of unsigned/independent music.

A lot has happened on my music radar this week, so I’ll start with some new songs:

Walk the Moon – Different Colors

Walk the Moon made their comeback in September with Shut Up + Dance, along with a new album announcement. Now, they’ve released a second song. Gloriously upbeat and insanely catchy, Different Colors strengthens the path Shut Up + Dance has set up – if you’re not excited for the release of Talking is Hard, then there is something wrong.

Charli XCX – Gold Coins

After pushing back the release of her second album, Sucker, Charli isn’t leaving her fans completely high and dry and is instead dripping the album to us slowly. It’s certainly a different direction to True Romance, less synth pop, but no less catchy.

Taylor Swift – Blank Space

So not as recently as the other tracks, but in Taylor’s most recent release she gets, well, a bit crazy – and everyone loves it. Taylor’s venture into pop music really suits her. Even crying mascara face suits her. Some people are just fortunate (and good musicians).

Now moving on to music news:

• Band Aid 30 got released in aid of ebola. It’s not terrible, but perhaps a new song should have been written. Some of the lyric swaps are questionable to say the least.
• Paramore announced they’ll be re-releasing Paramore as a deluxe album, which will include a collab with Joy Williams (Civil Wars). I was hoping for a new album, but I’ll happily take what I’m given…
• and finally, Muse are set to headline Download Fest. Bit weird – I expected to see them at somewhere like Reading and Leeds, but there you go

Review: The Cape Race - Home, Truths

**original blog on my wordpress here**

I first heard of The Cape Race three years ago after happening across out their twitter and, shortly after, buying their self-released EP Now, Voyager. Recently, they released their first full length with label Ten Letters and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

The Manchester quintet have done a lot towards this album in the last three years. The album, Home, Truths opens with ‘Digging For Gold’, a slower track that builds up as it progresses and definitely one of my favourite tracks on the album. The instruments in the verses seem restrained, really letting loose for the chorus in a way that compliments David Moloney’s strong vocals.

Aside from being an all-round great band, it’s Moloney’s voice that really sets The Cape Race apart from similar bands and puts the album on another level. Thankfully keeping his Manchester accent, no track ever runs the risk of instruments drowning out vocals, but Moloney also demonstrates his beautiful falsetto in the chorus of ‘The 77′. Each track gels together, from more familiar tracks to arguably more experimental ones, without jarring or stopping the album’s general flow; ‘Vines’ seems to me like it was written to be a live track, just waiting for an eager crowd to sing it back.

The Cape Race have by no means left Now, Voyager behind in their debut full-length, however, merely built on it. In fact, the album has four of the six tracks from the band’s EP, and personally I’m thrilled. ‘The Reprieve’ was my absolute favourite track – it’s the right amount of catchy without becoming annoying, and the guitars are just as fantastic as the clever lyrics – so to see it made the album was perfect. This way, anyone who buys the album that might not have also bought the EP get the pleasure of it anyway.

The album closes the same way as the EP, with ‘Now, Voyager’. This certainly doesn’t mean The Cape Race haven’t come far, though. Although more lyrically mellow than other tracks, the closing track takes away none of the albums bite. After a calmer bridge that signs off the build up from ‘Digging For Gold’ perfectly, the latter half of the track is more raw and energetic, and seals Now, Voyager and Home, Truths together. To say that this is a solid album would be an understatement; The Cape Race have come above and beyond since their first EP without distancing themselves from it, producing a consistent sound that they can call their own.

New This Week

**original post on my wordpress here**

I'm always the first person to watch new videos for my favourite artists, but for me it seems very rare that so many new videos drop all in the same week. So this week my ears/eyes were in for a real treat with new singles and videos dropping left right and centre!

1. Lights - Portal

Obviously, I'm a huge fan of Lights and eagerly awaiting her new album Little Machines (released in September!). Like many fans, I was expecting a video for 'Up We Go', but instead she surprised many of us with a new single and video. More subdued than 'Up We Go', 'Portal' shows a different side of Lights' upcoming album, putting emphasis on her amazing voice stripped back of any added electro effects. The video is suitably beautiful yet simplistic, yet the ending is still very much what fans expect from Lights.

2. Bebe Rexha - I Can't Stop Drinking About You

I have been so excited for this video for months now! First put on soundcloud four months ago, Bebe Rexha sure knows how to keep people waiting. After lending her vocals to Cash Cash for massive hit 'Take Me Home', Bebe has released a hit of her own - insanely catchy with a beat that'd fill any dance floor. And now, to top it off, a gorgeous video that fits the song and the genre. Couldn't possibly ask for more.

3. Iggy Azalea ft. Rita Ora - Black Widow

This was one of my favourite tracks off The New Classic, so I was pretty chuffed when Iggy announced it was going to be a single. In a sort of Charlie's Angels-esque daydream, Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora show how badass they can be without taking themselves too seriously. The video perfectly matches the lyrics, with revenge being at the forefront. It's definitely one for the girls!

4. Ariana Grande ft. Zedd - Break Free

Speaking of girl power and daft videos, Ariana Grande's new video is along the same lines as Iggy Azalea's. 'Break Free' is another new track from her upcoming album, featuring another huge name in music. It's an incredibly catchy dance track - an ideal follow up to 'Problem' - and the video is a little crazy and bizarre in an entirely fun way. Alien rescues, weird and wonderful costumes, all topped off with an inter galactic dance at the end. Yes, it's daft, but you can't help but enjoy it!

5. Metro Station - Love & War

Shaking back onto the music scene is newly reformed (sort of) Metro Station. Founding members Trace Cyrus and Mason Musso have put aside whatever made them split in the first place to release new music together once again. Not much seems to have changed - 'Love & War' is pretty darn catchy, with both members contributing to vocals. Admittedly, in places the video looks like something you'd expect from a 90's boy band which, although I'm sure that's not quite the look they were going for, somehow works with the song. What can I say, I enjoy cheesy things.

Check out: Courage My Love

**original post on my wordpress here**

Canadian pop-punk trio Courage My Love have just completed the entirety of the Vans Warped Tour, making their mark on the music map.

 Formed in 2009, the trio won a battle of the bands contest in 2010, got signed to Warner Music Canada and continued to rise from their. They’re no strangers to the touring life, though, having supported some huge names and done a Warped date once before. The band consists of twins Mercedes (vocals, guitar) and Phoenix (drums, vocals) and their friend Brandon (bass). They released their first EP, For Now, in 2011. The 7 track EP opens with title track ‘For Now’, which is an upbeat track with a positive message, encompassing the message the band (according to their online bio) strive to spread. The EP is pretty strong for a first release, with the right mix of tracks like ‘For Now’ and more seemingly personal tracks like ‘Disappear’ and ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ which is slightly less upbeat but the lyrics give a more personal insight that the listener can appreciate and feel connected to the band.

 As far as talent goes, Courage My Love certainly have no shortage. Despite the unfortunate prejudice of some, Mercedes proves to be more than adequate on both vocals and guitar, her clean cut voice providing a nice contrast with some heavier guitar solos (don’t believe me? Check out her ‘You Don’t Know How’ guitar play through video here). Like her sister, Phoenix’s drumming is in no way simple or repetitive, but instead the differences in pace and beat are clear from track to track, fitting in well with the genre and the other instruments.

 The bands most recent release, Becoming, is a nice follow up to For Now, beginning deceptively slow with clear vocal contributions from both twins (told you they were talented) and building up on this. I can imagine it’s a great EP to hear live as, unlike For Now, there’s slightly more variation in the songs on Becoming which goes to show that Courage My Love aren’t afraid to experiment and build on their sound (rather than release two very similar sounding EPs). Each track is different from the next whilst still being suited to the genre and the overall EP. Tracks ‘Unfamiliar Sheets’ and ‘All I Need’ seem to have an underlying electronic sound which gives the listener the variety you’d expect more in a full length, which makes you appreciate what Courage My Love have achieved in the space of just 8 tracks.

 As far as full lengths go, hopefully the band will release one soon. If you’re in the US, you can catch them on tour in November/December (dates here), and all their music is available on their web store or via iTunes. They’re definitely worth checking out no matter what you usually listen to – you never know, you might be surprised at what you hear.

New Music: Lights

**original post on my wordpress here**

Over a year after Siberia Acoustic, three years after Siberia and a whole baby later, Christmas has come early for fans of Lights with 3 huge announcements all in one day.

For the past 10 days, Lights has been teasing fans over social networking with a countdown. Yesterday, she made her quite frankly huge announcement and gave fans everything we could possibly want, all at once. At Scene Fest, she debuted two new songs 'Up We Go' and 'Running With The Boys', and with yesterday's announcement came the studio version of 'Up We Go' (hopefully a video will follow soon, but let's not be greedy). The song is certainly more reminiscent of The Listening than Siberia, with more clean cut synth than the almost dub-step vibes we heard in Siberia. Also, the electronic vocal effects are far more prominent in this song, giving it the very electro-pop vibe that Lights is known for. In itself, 'Up We Go' is a brilliant choice for first release - the lyrics are beautiful, as always with Lights, yet it's still upbeat and catchy and will appeal to a wider audience. It also sets up all the positivity that 's going to follow; the lyrics are honest but hopeful and it's refreshing to see an artist put so much of themselves into their music. From this song alone, any listener can tell how much Lights has put into her art. It perfectly captures her progression from the last album whilst still being very recognisable as Lights. Although it sounds different to Siberia, Lights style is completely unmistakable.

Along with 'Up We Go', it was also announced that Lights' third full length Little Machines will be released 23rd September (pre order here), along with a 23 date Canadian/North American tour with the promise of more to come. There are various album bundles which include a coloured vinyl and some autographed goodies which Lights has assured fans will all be personally signed by her and not printed on. You can listen to some live recordings of 'Running With The Boys' on youtube to get a further taster of what's to come. Judging by those two songs I've heard so far, the album is going to be a strong follow up to Siberia, and well worth investing in. I saw Lights perform live back in 2012 at the O2 Academy in Birmingham, and her performance was flawless and energetic so I can definitely recommend catching her on tour if she's coming to your area. Whether you've heard of Lights or not, if you're a fan of electro-pop I'd highly recommend listening to her music.  

REVIEW: Coasts - Oceans EP

**Original post on my wordpress here**

   I came across Coasts after they followed me on twitter. Admittedly, I don’t normally check out many bands I get randomly followed by – mostly I don’t have the time – but this time I’m glad a did. A quick google told me the quintet hail from Bristol, and the EP itself was released at the end of May. It opens with ‘Oceans’ which starts deceptively slow, picking up pace until hitting the first chorus. There is certainly an indie vibe throughout the EP, and this track opens it perfectly. Deposited the changes in pace, the track flows without jarring and gives the vocals a chance to shine without distracting from the overall feel of all the instruments coming together.

   ‘Tonight’ has a sort of Two Door Cinema Club feel in the intro. Slightly more mellow than ‘Oceans’, this track is great for just chilling out to. In fact, the whole EP feels like it was written for festivals in the height of summer. The slightly more electronic sound adds another depth to it and gives the band a slight edge over a lot of indie bands with similar sounds. This diversity carries through to ‘Golden City’, another slow starter giving the keys a chance to shine this time as the guitars slightly more of a back seat until around the minute mark. The lyrics match the tempo of the song giving it a wholesome feel blending nicely as the track progresses. It also shows a slightly experimental side of the band with the effects used towards the end, implying that when Coasts release a full length it’ll have a lot to offer.

   The final song (excluding the two remixes) ‘See How’ gives way to softer vocals in the intro. Each track seems to emphasise different parts of the band, and altogether show a complete and rounded view of them. Despite the seemingly mellow lyrics, the track develops instrumentally into something deceptively upbeat. Though the EP works well in its studio form, it is definitely made for live performances. Even the slower tracks have an energy in them that’d be enough to win over any audience. I imagine their live shows would be well worth seeing – Coasts have a tour coming up in September which you can buy tickets for here, and you can get the EP here. It’s well worth the mere £2.99!

New Music: Pvris

**Original post over on my wordpress here.

   Massachusetts three piece are set to make their mark this year in the alternative rock genre. Their debut EP (available here) was released last year containing 5 songs from the band and giving listeners an idea of their sound. The EP opens with 'Demon Limbs', and show the bands solid sound and strong instrumental tones. The guitars show how skilled the band are with their instruments, giving the EP a more mainstream metal vibe that will appeal to a larger audience. Lynn Gunn's vocals are like a mixture between Mindy White (Lydia/States) with all the raw grittiness of Lzzy Hale (Halestorm). The instrumentals perfectly gel with Gunn's vocals, all providing a kick of their own. All five tracks have the same strong tones that give the band a fresh sound, separating them from the female fronted cliché that they must be 'like Paramore' for having a female lead.

   

   The thoroughness of their sound even hits the lyrics, too. The band shows a maturity in all aspects of their music. There's no hints of auto tune or that they've tried to clean around the edges of their sound, which makes them all the more appealing as it gives them a rawness found in few bands nowadays. However, this doesn't sound accidental - it sounds like the band wanted to keep their sound as 'real' as possible, by keeping Gunn's vocals untouched and allowing the band to keep their sound exactly as they intended. The changes in tempo in the guitars flow perfectly and everything seems to fit.

   This year, the band released an acoustic EP (available here) produced by Blake Harnage (of Versa). Featuring the first four tracks off their debut EP, the sound is much more subdued with the same vibes often found on an album from Lydia (especially Illuminate). The band shows more diversity in their sound, keeping the instrumentals strong yet taking on the same gentler tone as Gunn's vocals. However, this certainly doesn't diminish what they built in their previous EP, but instead adds to what they can achieve together across their genre.

   Gunn was featured in the most recent Glamour Kills line alongside Jess Bowen (drummer, The Summer Set) and Jenna McDougall (vocals, Tonight Alive). The band will also be playing Warped Tour in America this year alongside the likes of Neck Deep and The Summer Set, so they're certainly going the right away about getting their name out there. Their two EPs give a promising taster of their sound, so I'd certainly keep an eye out for their eventual release of a full length - if their music so far is anything to go on, it's going to sound pretty darn good. 

Check Out: Echosmith

   With an average age of just 17, it may come as a surprise that Echosmith are signed to massive label Warner. But don't be perturbed by their age - the quartet have a lot more to offer than just their youth.

   California based siblings Sydney, Jamie, Noah and Graham Sierota first appeared online under the name 'Ready Set Go' in 2010 with a cover of Taylor Swift's 'Mine' on youtube (listen here). The band bring a new meaning to taking work home, as they seem to eat sleep breathe music, 24/7. Following their video of 'Mine' the band uploaded numerous other cover videos, showcasing their extensive talents, including tracks originally by Mumford and Sons and Coldplay (incidentally, one of their main influences). Two years and many covers later, the band were signed to Warner Bros. Records.

   After being signed, the band released debut single 'Tonight We're Making History' under new name Echosmith. The song had an electronic, pop vibe that wouldn't have sounded out of place amongst many other young artists currently in the charts. The band then went on to record an album, releasing singles 'Come Together' and 'Cool Kids'. The two songs showed a more refined sound for Echosmith, more indie yet still harnessing the same energy as their previous single. Sydney's vocals suit this style perfectly, reminiscent of vocalists in Of Monsters and Men, London Grammar and Chvrches. Her voice shines in every song, demonstrating both her strong chest voice and a beautiful falsetto in tracks such as 'Bright' and 'March Into the Sun', and Jamie and Noah (guitar and bass, respectively) harmonise perfectly with her. 

   The bands debut album Talking Dreams was released late 2013, showing a mature sound for the band that's consistent from song to song. One track, 'Surround You', was featured on the soundtrack for 2014 film Endless Love starring Alex Pettyfer. The band are clearly going places, having already toured with the likes of Owl City and Neon Trees and appeared on MTVs 2014 Artists to Watch. Talking Dreams is a strong debut album, with catchy tracks and it gives Echosmith their sound. For such a young band (Graham, drums, is just 15), they seem to have a firm grasp on their music and what they want to sound like, so it'll be all onwards and upwards for the band from here. I would highly recommend investing in the album and checking out their youtube for covers and acoustic performances. They seem like the kind of band that is only going to carry on growing and getting even better. 

Ones To Watch: Charli XCX and Bebe Rexha

   You've heard chart chart hits 'The Monster' and 'I Love It', but what about the artists behind them?

   Charli XCX and Bebe Rexha have both taken the charts by storm recently - and a lot of people don't even know it. Both are credited writers on major hits originally meant for themselves, and now it's their time to shine.

   2013 saw a number 1 for Charli XCX and a support slot on Paramore's massive UK arena tour, playing to over around 50,000 fans in total. 2014 is certainly going to be her year to shine. After releasing her debut album True Romance a year ago, Charli XCX is no stranger to the music industry and has since been asked to write for Britney Spears and wrote a track with Marina and the Diamonds (listen here). She has been writing music since she was 14, and this year she's finding her place in music.

   This week, Iggy Azalea's new track 'Fancy' dropped, featuring Charli XCX, and reached number 5 in the midweek charts. The track is bound to be a huge success, and get Charli wider known ready for the release of her second album (due this year!). You can download SuperLove now for a taste of what's to come and listen to Boom Clap here - a track on The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack, where she'll be alongside the likes of Ed Sheeran and Birdy. Both tracks have all the good features of pop with an added electro twist, making them both catchy and refreshingly different. 

   Formerly lead vocals of Pete Wentz's project Black Cards, Bebe Rexha has since written for Selena Gomez and now Eminem. She has also worked with some huge names in music, and had a lot of experience touring and writing. Although Black Cards seems to be Rexha's big break into music, like Charli she's been passionate about it from a young age. Last year she posted a number of acoustic covers on her youtube and soundcloud, showing her diversity and amazing voice.

   It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Rexha is now embarking on her own solo project. After featuring on Cash Cash's single 'Take Me Home', which has since received a lot of airplay on the radio, she is due to release her first single 'I Can't Stop Drinking About You' which you can listen to here. With a catchy beat and a drop that'll make anyone move, this track is bound to make it huge. Rexha's unique vocals add new depth, not to mention her kick-ass range (I highly recommend watching some of her live performances on youtube). With the right promotion, I'm sure she'll be gracing the charts very soon.

   So what are you waiting for? Check these ladies out, as I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more about them very soon!

REVIEW: Panic! at the Disco - Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!

  Following their 2011 release, Vices and Virtues, Panic! return with a Vegas inspired record - and a new member.

   After releasing Vices and Virtues as a two-piece, Panic! have released a brand new album citing touring member, Dallon Weekes (previously front-man of The Brobecks), as a now official member. The change in the band is evident from the first track, recently released single 'Miss Jackson'; the bands new music seems to echo that of the first album but more mature as they've gained experience.

   To say that no two tracks sound the same would be a colossal understatement, yet the whole album follows the same musical tone created by Panic!. Songs like 'Girl that You Love' and 'Far Too Young to Die' entice the listener with a more electronic sound - a running theme as the band incorporate what could be referred to as 'alternative' music with an almost theatrical take on electropop.

   As Brendon Urie (vocals) has stated in many interviews, the inspiration for the record was Las Vegas - his hometown. This is also clear to anyone who has read the novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (or, indeed, seen the film) whereby the album's title comes from. The varied music style presented in the album does echo the vibrancy of Vegas, with the much slower, closing track 'The End of all Things' showing perhaps a different side to the tourist attraction those who have never lived in Vegas see. 

   The only thing left to hope for now is that Panic! at the Disco's stage shows match the energy the music in this record emits. The lyrics, never to disappoint, give us a personal insight into Urie's thoughts, almost. A top 10 album waiting to happen at the very least.

The 'new' Paramore

   Since the release of their self-titled album last month, there has been a very mixed reception towards the so-called 'new' Paramore in both sound and lineup. The album itself was different from their last 3; it had a more pop-rock sound than the alternative sound fans had grown accustomed to, intermixed with small ukulele interludes. 

   In all honesty, this change in sound was to be expected. The band has undergone a lot of changes since the departure of the Farro's in 2010 (and I don't just mean Hayley's hair colour), so it was only right that their sound progressed with them. The interludes appear to be the only songs on the album that address their departure, and other than those the rest seem to be what Paramore have moved on to. Paramore is a catchy, well-written album that shows how the band have grown and changed. Let's face it, they're not 17 any more and anyone shocked at the direction they've taken is wrongly so. Mildly surprised, yes, but no-one should have expected another Brand New Eyes. Their music has moved on, and it's up to fans to move with them.

   As for the line-up, it seems they're not taking on any permanent members which is understandable. Instead they keep a number of touring members to fill in the loss of the other two members. Change is good, but it gets to a stage where it can be potentially too much. Having said this, I for one sincerely hope they do eventually keep Justin York (older brother of Paramore guitarist Taylor York, for anyone who hasn't made that connection). I feel this especially when I watch acoustic videos - his and Hayley's voices go perfectly together and neither sound off in comparison to the other. 

   For now though, Paramore is what it is: a band coming back even stronger after the loss of members which could have caused them to split for good. Give their new sound a chance - you might just find that, like many of us, you actually like it.

New Music: Paramore

   3 years after the Farro brothers' departure, and Paramore are firmly back on the music scene. 

   Following 'The Singles' in 2011, the band continually dropped hints towards the progress of the new album which was finally announced in December 2012. The fourth album from the band, self titled 'Paramore', is due to land in April this year and will be the first record from Hayley, Taylor and Jeremy as a trio. With much anticipation from all the fans (myself included), the band's first single off the album was released today and certainly did not disappoint.

   Admittedly, I was expecting something completely different from the three of them. After all, the band's dynamic has changed and they've recently hinted at more of a pop sound in an interview. The introduction sounded like just this, so I was a little uncertain of the rest. However, the moment the song kicks into the first verse there's no question this is still Paramore. Yes, the song does sound a little more pop than, say, the days of All We Know Is Falling, but it still has the punk-rock edge Paramore have harnessed over the years. 

   The chorus, without a doubt, is simple yet incredibly catchy, appealing to a wider audience. However, the song as a whole to any avid fan shows how the band have returned from their time off and are certainly here to stay, only building on anticipation to see how the video has turned out, and for the album's release.

   It's still Paramore, just newer with a recognisable bass part. They've grown as a band, and personally I can't wait for all 17 tracks of the album.