Reviews of new Albums

Matt Cardle - Letters

This is the long awaited album from last years X Factor winner Matt Cardle and it was worth the wait!! This album is jam packed of well written songs from his new single 'run for your life' and 'all for nothing ' to the No.1 single 'when we collide' and Matt Cardles voice suits all of them from soulful to pleading his vocal range is amazing. You can tell he has put his heart and soul into this album by listening to his voice and reading the lyrics. This Album is an excellent 1st try. An album worth having in your collection.
*****

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - 1975

Track List
01 - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5)
02 - Welcome To The Machine
03 - Have A Cigar
04 - Wish You Were Here
05 - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 6-9)

This is not a new album, but it has be re-released as part of a remastered 16 disk boxed-set...I hope that's OK

My first introduction to this was seeing the album cover of the vinyl release in a record store. I thought the image of the two men shaking hands, with one of them on fire looked pretty cool. Some weeks later my neighbour loaned me his copy and I was blown away...and my enjoyment of this album has not diminished over the years.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond (a tribute to former band member Syd Barrett), is over 13 minutus long with an 8 minute instrumental that seems to unfurl before yor ears. Track 2 explores the band's negativity towards the music industry; which for me seems to have a harshness that contrasts well with the almost melancholy 'Wish You Were Here'.

The album closes with the second half of Shine On You Crazy Diamond. The following youtube video contains the full audio of Shine On You Crazy Diamond (parts 1 to 9). Enjoy (*****)

Jessie J - Who are you?

Brit winning Jessie J's 1st album Who are you? is a mix of electro pop,with some swagger and a small number of ballards. The Album includes the No.1 track 'price tag', who's laughing now,Do it like a dude, who are you, Domino and new song Nobody's perfect.
As Jessie carries on collecting the awards and releasing No.1 tracks this album carries on climbing up the charts!
As a 1st Album it's like Jessie fun and colourful and it's a great introduction to what we can expect from Miss J in the future.
I have to say I actually like Jessie J as her music is light hearted and fun with a peppering of emotional ballards. A good mix of music to lighten your day.

****

Madonna - MDNA

After announcing she was going on tour and releasing the dates and venues, one place being Birmingham (which I got tickets for!) the long awaited album was released. MDNA (which no one knows what it stands for) is a good mix of dance,techno,pop and a couple of ballads thrown in for good mesure. From the 1st track 'Girl gone wild' you can tell it's Madonna with an extra bit of naughty & saucy.The album bounces along including the 1st single from the Album 'give me all your luvin'A good pop anthem which wasn't the best of Madge! The Album comes with an Advisory sticker on it, I'd definatly take notice of it before putting the CD on! The whole album is a woman scorned after a split! And because of that it brings out the better of Madonna a different side to her in her music. A top Album and the songs will come across brill live! Can't wait till the tour!!

*****

MDNA stands for

mad doll nonsense away ? (-;

My latest aquisition is the remastered "Straight Up" Album CD by Badfinger. Joey Molland lives about 100 miles from where I do and I have yet to see him in concert but hope to soon!

I wasn't aware of the tragic story of the band back when I heard their music on the radio in high school, but I loved their music. You can get CDs anyplace, but Joey's website (sorry, don't have the link but you can Google, Joey Molland Badfinger and it will come up) sells them autographed! Also other merch. Really fun stuff, including a link to unreleased recent songs.

This is the Straight Up track list:
1. Take it All...........7. Suitcase
2. Baby Blue.............8. Sweet Tuesday Morning
3. Money.................9. Day After Day
4. Flying................10. Sometimes
5. I'd Die Babe..........11. Perfection
6. Name of the Game......12. It's Over

Bonus Tracks:
13. I'll be the One
14. Name of the Game (earlier version)
15. Baby Blue (US single)
16. Baby Please
17. No Good At All
18. Sing for the Song

I'd rate the CD 4.5 stars only because it does not come in a hard CD case.