Diddy Dirty Money ft. TI, Rick Ross - 'Hello Good Morning'
Man, I'm a sucker for songs like this. There's something about a bone-stripped beat, cavernous bass and the vocal monotone which - if delivered right - makes for a happy ear. And if you're not bringing much to the table in the way of music, you'd best be able to swagger a bit in order to sell the thing, or how is your drone-hop club banger going to be remembered over all the other ones.
And let's be clear, there are a LOT of other ones around at the moment. Everyone is chasing the most minimal beat/bass/voice combo they can muster, so's to hammer their point home as hard and as unrelentingly as is robotically possible.
The irony being, while musical ideas are getting ever simpler, the amount of people it takes to execute them is on the rise.
Look at this lot: there's Diddy, the glue in this particular model aeroplane, and his two band cohorts, who form Diddy Dirty Money. You'd think, for a song which is largely rapping and singing, having a rapper (ish) and two singers (NOT ish) would be more than ample. Apparently not.
(. "Quick! To the Diddymobile!")
So here comes Rick Ross to vibe up the introduction, and here's TI to bolster up the middle, rather brilliantly, as it happens. In the meantime Diddy seems to have abandoned conventional rapping (hush at the back there, how'm I supposed to concentrate on writing with you cheering?) in favour of some Kanye-style automooing. He's quite good at it, too. Adds a certain nasal edge to proceedings. And as its his record and his band, who are we to say he can't do it?
Except hang on, there's a middle bit, and it's like nothing else in the song, and blow me if that isn't Diddy having a little bit of a rap to himself (booing now, is it? Charming), as if he's on a little musical desert island and we're not supposed to be listening. Oh sure, he's bigging himself up, but more in a kind of egotistical stream of consciousness than any attempt to win people over.
It sounds more like someone doing the "I've lost my keys" song, just before they leave the house in the morning. The odd thing is that it was left in there. I mean if minimal is your bag, surely that'd be the first bit to cut?
Well, that and maybe 50% of the staff.
Download: Out now
大象传媒 Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"While I'm not exactly crazy over the song itself the video did draw some attention to it more."
"This song goes kind of hard in the club, but they shouldn't not perform it live ever."
"Their debut offering sounds like a bogstandard wad of midtempo Timba-pop, albeit one with a better-than-average hook."
Comment number 1.
At 11th Aug 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:I鈥橫MMMMM BACCCCKKKKKK!!!!!!
Seeing as no-one has any love for Diddy Dirty Money, I have now decided that my Single Reviews Diaries are going over here because I just cannot be bothered bookmarking another Jedward page. Plus that page will close down soon, just like Rybak did! *sobs*
Anyway for those of you wondering where I was 鈥 my laptop charger broke and I was left Internet-less for a whole two and a half weeks! You won鈥檛 believe the trouble I have had trying to find a laptop charger. Thankfully my dad is quite handy with electronics and he managed to do a rather crude job of fixing my laptop charger. Still, the charger seems to be stable, intact and powering up my computer again so time for me to power up my writing skills and catch up on the three SRDs that I鈥檝e missed so far.
Naturally, these reviews are going to be shorter than usual because I simply have so many things to get out of the way. At least, there will be a lack of my infamous rambling.
Lots of 5 STAR singles this week! :D
Single Reviews Diary 25 鈥 26th July 2010:
01. Ali Love: Smoke & Mirrors
This British singer provides something a little different to the dancefloor with this tune from his sophomore album Love Harder. Rather than overly Auto-Tuned Europop, instead we get some funky disco. The skittering 鈥80s synths of this track are the real standout of this song. While the verses and chorus are relatively catchy, it doesn鈥檛 sound very different from anything Pet Shop Boys, MGMT or Sam Sparro would do. Still, this is something I鈥檒l have no problem bopping to on the tiles this Saturday night. 3.5 STARS
02. Amy Macdonald: This Pretty Face
I was a massive fan of Amy Macdonald鈥檚 debut album This Is The Life but her sophomore effort A Curious Thing has failed to live up to my standards. The whole project just feels tired and like a rocked up rehash of her first LP with the whole tracklisting just feeling stale in comparison to her older songs. While her previous two singles Don鈥檛 Tell Me That It鈥檚 Over and Spark grew on me immensely, I haven鈥檛 enjoyed this track at all. Sounding like her album track Footballer鈥檚 Wife, Amy鈥檚 rich voice is not enough to save this ultimately dull song. The chorus is weak and meandering, the instrumentation is nothing extraordinary and the lyrical content, while true, is just more tired celeb bashing. I find Amy likeable, talented and wise beyond her years but she鈥檚 really going to have to come up with something more exciting for her next musical project. 2.5 STARS
03. Chicane featuring Owl City: Middledistancerunner
There鈥檚 a definite case of recycling going on here. While Chicane鈥檚 trademark euphoric synths and Owl City鈥檚 (a.k.a. Adam Young鈥檚) trademark emotive whining work well together on this track to provide a lonely dancefloor anthem, the two are on autopilot for this track, never straying outside their comfort zone. This sounds more like a mash-up of Hiding All The Stars and Umbrella Beach rather than a brand new single. Granted both songs were pretty cool so鈥 3.5 STARS
04. Crystal Castles: Baptism
After releasing their brilliant promo single Celestica over here, Canadian duo Crystal Castles are releasing their first proper brand of ethereal trance over here. Unlike Celestica, this track is unlikely to have any crossover appeal because the song barely contains any vocals apart from a icy pulsing dance beats and high pitched, barely distinguishable screaming from singer Alice Glass who reminds me of Yeah Yeahs Yeahs Karen O on this track. While this is not a song for the radio, it is actually an IMMENSE club track and will definitely go down a storm with me when it鈥檚 played there or pumping out of my car like the boy racer I so desperately want to be. 4.5 STARS
05. Drake: Find Your Love
Drake is without a doubt one of the most exciting rappers to climb out of the woodworks recently, reminding many of a young Kanye West. The only problem is that Drake sounds a little to like Kanye and this track sounds like a cut from West鈥檚 Auto-Tune heavy album 808s & Heartbreak. Despite, Drake鈥檚 eerily similar flow to Kanye鈥檚 and Kanye鈥檚 production credits on this song which push the track into unoriginality, Drake makes this song his own by crooning out a vulnerable, heartfelt chorus. While he doesn鈥檛 have one of the strongest vocals about, Drake ditches the rapping and sounds nothing but sincere as he sings all melancholic on the track. The laidback yet primal production on the track give it a warm Summery feel that still grabs your attention thanks to its loud squelchy beats. Now if only I didn鈥檛 keep going to my 808s & Heartbreak CD everytime I listen to this song, it might score higher. 3.5 STARS
06. Fugative: Bad Girl
Fugative is basically a puberty conquering Justin Bieber meets Chipmunk. He鈥檚 quickly causing the hearts of girls to race with his youthful, 16 year old looks but sounds nearly exactly like Chimpunk, in both his flow and musicality. Which is not really a good thing. I am so sick of this urban pop crap trying to get its way into the charts. These guys are hailed as the new princes of grimes and then they go along and rap about shallow subject matters and get someone else to sing a dreadfully Auto-Tuned catchy chorus on their song, without even crediting said vocalist, which I think is just plain rude. It鈥檚 clear Fugative is looking for crossover appeal, judging by this single and its predecessor Crush but he鈥檚 going to need to do something a little more original if he wants to get noticed. Unlike Bieber, Fugative doesn鈥檛 have the best team or Usher behind him to ensure his looks allow him to go all the way. 3 STARS
07. Goldfrapp: Alive
Okay so this single was cancelled but since the duo went to the trouble of filming a video for it and with its ascent to the top of the US Dance Charts, I feel it鈥檚 only fair that it deserves a review. This track is gorgeous and heavenly with Alison鈥檚 sweet, soaring vocals providing a magical chorus that is far catchier than you鈥檇 first give it credit. It鈥檚 not as infectious or singalong as their floptastic Rocket but it does the job of keeping up with their consistent singles catalogue. 4 STARS
TRACK OF THE WEEK
08. Gorillaz: On Melancholy Hill
A simply marvellous laidback Summer pop tune with enough organic quirkiness to make you feel like you鈥檙e transported to another World 鈥 which is where the Gorillaz ingenious appeal applies. Damon Albarn鈥檚 soft mumbling works perfectly against the skittering chirpy synths and epic backing vocals of the track. It鈥檚 official, Gorillaz are one of the most innovative, sonic pleasing bands of our time. 5 STARS
09. Grafitti 6: Annie You Saved Me
A really promising new band. Okay, so indie singer Jamie Scott and TommyD are no strangers to the music industry but now that they鈥檝e teamed up, they鈥檝e managed to create a really appealing song. Scott (sure to set many a female heart a flutter) is a mighty vocalist and TommyD manages to produce a song that marries rock and electro perfectly. What we get is a song that manages to have an indie sound to it but enough pop smarts to please casual listeners. If only the track had a catchier chorus鈥 4 STARS
10. Katie Melua: A Happy Place
Katie Melua has quickly become one of my most favourite female artists with her latest album The House. Following on from the sonic masterpiece that is The Flood, A Happy Place doesn鈥檛 quite live up to the standards set by its predecessor but still contains plenty of charm and avant garde influences. Seriously I think KM is the new Bjork! This track sounds a little like her earlier work, which is either a mildly bad thing or a very good thing. The verses are sang in a whimsical, run-on way and the lyrics have an other-worldly feel to them and although I am reminded slightly of her irritating signature hit Nine Million Bicylces with this song, the music has enough quality to stand on its own and almost erase that memory from my head. 4 STARS
11. LCD Soundsystem: I Can Change
LCD Soundsystem, a.k.a. James Murphy鈥檚 latest single from This Is Happening lacks the energy of previous single Drunk Girls. While the sparse wonky electro and Murphy鈥檚 vocals are on point, the song isn鈥檛 particularly exciting or interesting. It sounds like strong album filler and probably shouldn鈥檛 have been chosen as a single. 3 STARS
12. Lissie: When I鈥檓 Alone
This single was released a while back but I didn鈥檛 bother reviewing it because鈥鈥檏now鈥 can鈥檛 review everything. Since Lissie has been met with much hype and critical acclaim since, I feel like I have to throw my two cents into the mix. I鈥檓 glad I listened to this tune because the former YouTube star from Illinois lives up to the height. Starting off in stunning acapella, Lissie reminds one of Fleetwood Mac鈥檚 legendary Stevie Nicks but can stand on her own with a building folk backing and a powerful, catchy chorus which sounds like a raspier Florence Welch. Definitely checking out this chick鈥檚 album if the songs are as good as this. 5 STARS
13. The Pipettes: Call Me
Unlike Girls Don鈥檛 Catch (RIP) and Mini Viva, The Pipettes are unlike them as they don鈥檛 appear to be interested in cracking into the mainstream with any of their singles. The ladies don鈥檛 have a Top 20 hit to their name but that actually makes them appear less manufactured than the other competitive girlbands such as The Saturdays, Girls Aloud, Mini Viva and Sugababes. Mini Viva are a rather posh band you see and the second single from their album Earth Vs. Pipettes is another slice of shameless ABBA-esque pop that is a little cheesy for my taste but I know would appeal to certain major pop enthusiast so I鈥檇 recommend if ABBA, Spice Girls and early Take That are at the top of your record collection, giving this single and its parent album a try. 3.5 STARS
14. Plan B: 笔谤补测颈苍鈥
This is a rousing dramatic third single from Plan B. I recently bought his The Defamation Of Strickland Banks LP and I鈥檓 in love with it. This is the album鈥檚 standout track, being a large orchestral ballad that is simply epic, no question! The prison riot video that accompanies the track only further highlights the cinematic nature of the song and fits with it perfectly. 5 STARS
15. Preeya Kalidas featuring Mumzy Stranger: Shimmy
Ugh, this is terribly generic. While former EastEnder Preeya Kalidas, better known to some as Amira Masood (the only hot person in EE), doesn鈥檛 take the overused Auto-Tuned dance route, her music is still lacking in soul. With clich茅d lyrics about 鈥渘ot frontin鈥欌 and a tired Middle-Eastern urban pop backing, I just can鈥檛 get behind this song. While the bhangra influences are apt considering Preeya鈥檚 and guest rapper, the unfortunately named Mumzy Stranger鈥檚, ethnicities, the song just comes across as a completely corporate and comparable to Alesha Dixon or Sugababes 4.0 鈥 which isn鈥檛 very good to be honest. Mumzy鈥檚 guest rap, where he does his best Sean Paul impression, is completely uncalled for too. I will say this though, Preeya has a much better voice than I expected from her 鈥 her vocals are really strong and commanding. Perhaps with the release of her album this September and a better second single, she might be able to turn this cheap mess around. She鈥檚 got the looks, fame and talent to do it! 2 STARS
16. RPA & The United Nations Of Sound: Born Again
The Verve鈥檚 Richard Ashcroft has set out on a new project with his brand spanking new band The United Nations Of Sound. Unlike his work with The Verve which was generally cold symphonic rock, his new music sees him embrace some Gospel style rock with an uplifting sound and harsh yet impassioned vocals. While this is nowhere near as good as anything the Verve have put out and with the album receiving mainly negative reviews, things don鈥檛 look good for Ashcroft鈥檚 little venture but this isn鈥檛 a bad lead single at all. 3.5 STARS
17. Swedish House Mafia featuring Pharrell: One (Your Name)
The Swedes are basically running pop and mainstream dance music at the minute so it鈥檚 about time three Swedish producers in Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso teamed up with American rapper/producer Pharrell for a masterful dance smash. This is screaming at you to get that thang popping on the dancefloor because those massive pounding synths, bassline and Pharrell鈥檚 surprisingly commanding, sometimes warped vocals are just the perfect tonic to forget your troubles and just dance. Wow that line was clich茅d and sounds like I鈥檝e taken it from every pop song circa 2009 to 2010 but I鈥檓 tired. Great dance tune, a little unoriginal but completely thumping. Great work to all involved. 4.5 STARS
18. Tom Jones: Did Trouble Me
Wow! Tom Jones is certainly impressive with his second A-side single from his latest album Praise And Blame. Ditching the guilty pleasure naff pop of his earlier records, Jones is really suited to the stripped back Gospel rock of this new album. Rousing yet intimate and undoubtedly sounds great live, Tom sings the lyrics of this song with great passion. 5 STARS
19. Tom Jones: Don鈥檛 Knock
Jones is in upbeat mode for this foot-tapping country tune. This is really very good with some great female backing vocals and shows that Tom has plenty of energy for his age. If you鈥檙e not a fan of country music, this is hardly going to peak your interest and it doesn鈥檛 really standout from other country tracks but it still will prove to go down a storm at Tom鈥檚 live shows. 4 STARS
20. Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars: Billionaire
This song isn鈥檛 going to change the World but it鈥檚 a fun and beautiful Summer pop tune. Bruno Mars continues to be a scene stealer on the two singalong choruses of this song, having last won us over with his romantic vocals on B.o.B.鈥檚 Nothin鈥 On You and Travie鈥檚 cheeky chappy rapping against a bouncy reggae backing is completely charming. Unlike the majority of rap tunes, Travie doesn鈥檛 just about material possessions and getting in girls鈥 panties, although, they understandably are part of the lyrical content too, but also rhymes about adopting kids that ain鈥檛 as fortunate as him and donating money to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. No doubt, radio is going to play this to death and perhaps Travie could have delved deeper lyrically and less superficially into the track but as a fun, relatable Summer pop tune, this does the trick! 4 STARS
21. Wallis Bird: An Idea About Mary
Hippie chick Wallis Bird sings in an Irish accented voice for this autobiographical, folk track with some witty, relatable lyrics that are odds with the morbid subject matter which detail the death of a woman named Mary. Wallis manages to really appeal with the anguished chorus and climax of the song but the humdrum production and verses sadly suck the momentum out of that stunning chorus and hence ruin this from being a defining single. Sad. 3 STARS
22. The Wanted: All Time Low
I鈥檓 sorry but this song is completely lame. Okay, not completely lame but not much better from what JLS are inflicting upon. I鈥檓 not exactly excited about the sudden resurgence of popularity in boy and girl bands because boy and girl bands are just corny, products of sex that make shoddy, manufactured music. I do quite like the pompous strings during the first minute or two of the song, some of the guys have interesting voices and the chorus does quickly bury itself in your head but the song just feels very clunky, random ;) and unfinished. Like a demo or something. The way the song builds up from pompous indie ballad to ravey pop tune just brings back too many bad memories of JLS鈥 One Shot and the video has to go down as one of the worst clips of 2010. They look so corny jumping around in the air with flares, repeating 鈥漧辞飞-补-濒辞飞-补-濒辞飞-补-濒辞飞鈥 over and over and over again. Aren鈥檛 they supposed to be in the throes of depression? Why are they dancing in a crumbling warehouse? Probably hoping the building falls on them, I guess.
23. Yolanda Be Cool and D-Cup: We No Speak Americano
Please, one Riverside (Let鈥檚 Go) is enough! I do not want another gimmicky, irritating dance tune, thanks! You can call me boring and humourless but even when off my face in a club, this headwrecking tune still remains unappealing to me. I researched last weekend, y鈥檚ee. And Yolanda Be Cool have lost all credibility as a starting out band. 1 STAR
STINKER OF THE WEEK!
24. Young Money: Every Girl In The World
Originally released as the record crew鈥檚 first single in the US back in April 2009, the song has now been released over here for a bid at Irish and British stardom. Well it鈥檚 not going to get it because unlike there previous hit Bedrock, this song lacks a strong chorus or an interesting production. This is your typical misogynist hip-hop track with pain-wrenching use of Auto-Tune from Lil鈥 Wayne, Drake, Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda and Mack Maine (鈥淲ho?鈥 at the latter three). There is absolutely nothing redeemable about this track. 1 STAR
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 11th Aug 2010, OddOne wrote:Agree with most of those, Randy, save 'All Time Low', which I think is actually a very good d茅but, but even so I agree it didn't deserves the success it got (it sounds more like a Top 15 song).
And I'm currently LOVING Goldfrapp's 'Alive'. :D
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 11th Aug 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:Damn it! The Wanted get 2.5 STARS by the way. I know you like them, OddOne, but I just can't...they're so corny IMO.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 11th Aug 2010, OddOne wrote:That song isn't their best I'll admit; only the last minute does it for me. Their newer stuff is much more likeable.
I just hope their videos aren't all as cringe-worthy as 'All Time Low's
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 12th Aug 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:I鈥檓 very generous with the ratings today guys but that鈥檚 because I pretty much like every song released on 2nd August. My Track Of The Week is going to surprise and disgust many people. The Stinker was difficult to choose but received it for disappointing me rather than being a bad song. Read below. So happy that I鈥檓 quickly catching up on these SRDs also!!!
Single Reviews Diary 26 鈥 2nd August 2010:
01. Arcade Fire: Month Of May
Critic darlings Arcade Fire are all geared up to release their third album The Suburbs rather unwisely on the same day they drop the album鈥檚 lead single as well as two promo singles. The first of two promo singles is Month Of May, a fast paced chugger with dark lyrics about 鈥渒illing in the month of May鈥. It鈥檚 a serviceable tune and does the job of engrossing the listener but when it ends, I was just left thinking 鈥淚s that it?!鈥 It鈥檚 good but a little forgettable to be honest. 3 STARS
02. Arcade Fire: The Suburbs
The title track and second promo single from the album like Month Of May is another serviceable rock tune but not as great as I expected. The song is slightly reminiscent of The Beatles with its plodding piano keys and 鈥60s style, bouncy mid-tempo instrumentation. I was hoping for something with a little more fire to it but The Suburbs is a pleasant enough Summer tune with some gorgeous falsetto vocals but it still feels somewhat lacking. 3.5 STARS
03. Arcade Fire: We Used To Wait
Now this is more like it! AF rediscover their fire on this OFFICIAL lead single from the album. Building up with some energetic plinky plonky pianos and meaty guitars, the song has an ear-snagging catchy chorus, detailed lyrics, layered arena type backing vocals and faintly reminds me of the Eels, which isn鈥檛 a bad thing at all. With this single, the band show off the urgency that made me fall in love with their breakout single Intevention. 4 STARS
04. Ash: Carnal Love
Sigh! I like Ash but I am so glad this A-Z project is nearing its end. It鈥檚 getting tiresome reviewing decent yet unexciting pop rock tunes from the band. The band have put a little effort into the single, filming a music video for it but the song is nothing to blab about. The Northern Irish rockers are in angsty mode here with brooding lyrics and a whiny yet very catchy chorus. Credit to the band for keeping a consistent line-up of singles but the lack of hype or vastness surrounding them is just depressing. 3 STARS
05. Corinne Bailey Rae: Closer
Poor Corinne. Long are the days gone by when Put Your Records On was plastered all over the radio but I guess Bailey Rae has gone 鈥榯oo indie鈥 with her second album The Sea. Proving to casual listeners that the record isn鈥檛 made up bleak ballads (the album was inspired by the grief of losing her husband), Corinne releases the funky Mowtown of Closer. In it, the singer purrs seductively amongst an array of funky brass instrumentation. The 31 year old鈥檚 vocals sound absolutely gorgeous here and the fun loving lyrics are really suited to Summer time. One of the standout tracks from The Sea. 4.5 STARS
06. Erykah Badu: Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)
While Corinne has gone for a more subtle approach to funk, neo-soul singer Erykah Badu has gone all out on the funk with this mid-tempo squelchy disco tune. Badu sounds like a young macy Gray which I love. Her vocals are high, yelpy, accented yet controlled. This has a wonderful old school feel to it. Really reminds me of the 1990s R&B 鈥 soulful 鈥 before it became the watered down garbage sang by everyone and their mum today. 5 STARS
TRACK OF THE WEEK!
07. Flo Rida: Club Can鈥檛 Handle Me
I really wanted to dislike this song for three reasons.
1) Because I find Flo Rida a completely shallow, fad artist.
2) David Guetta being the attention seeker that he is, has a feature credit on it WHICH I REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE!
3) This is trying to do what Timbaland and Guetta himself tried already in recycling the iconic I Gotta Feeling structure to score a hit.
But I can鈥檛 hate it! Because Club Can鈥檛 Handle Me is actually amazing. And will continue to be after it drops out of the Top 40. It actually manages to sound like I Gotta Feeling - a really feel good party anthem that despite its flaws still manages to sound stellar because it just brings a smile to your face everytime you hear it. Guetta鈥檚 production is recycled but immensely danceable with pulsating beats and warm acoustic guitar licks. Flo Rida while remaining as one-dimensional as ever has a great flow that works great against the pounding club beats. And then the chorus comes in and everything slows down 鈥 an uncredited female vocal kicks in (seriously give her feature credit instead of Guetta) and combined with Flo provides a singalong anthemic chorus that leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. This is a party anthem that really inspires you through its sonic energy to enjoy life and the friendships you鈥檒l develop while moving to this with friends/partners on the dancefloor, bedroom or in your car. Okay, I鈥檓 talking like this is the greatest thing since Jesus Christ but this has the potential to be iconic. I really believe that. So rather controversially, this is getting Track Of The Week. Rightfully, I should give it to Erykah Badu but since this will most likely be the first and only time Flo is bound to win such a prestigious award from me, I鈥檓 going to give it. Despite its flaws, this deserves no less than鈥 5 STARS
08. Frank Turner: Try This At Home
The singer songwriter tries to integrate himself into pop culture with this short yet sweet folk stadium rocker. Here, Turner encourages the listener to pick up their guitar and sing about relatable things like he does in the accompanying music video for this song. I guess Turner is trying to coax people to host random singalongs in public places (not necessarily a bad idea) but the cynical side of me is thinking he鈥檚 trying to get the public to stand up and copy him, hence starting an Internet phenomenon. Still, this track will probably go down a storm at live shows. 4 STARS
09. The Hoosiers: Choices
Haha I love this track! While I always enjoyed The Hoosiers comedic videos, their music has never struck a chord with me, no pun intended. With this lead single from their new album The Illusion Of Safety, the guys shake things up by adding some vigorous synths (which I LOVE in the intro), some lovely use of falsetto on the verses and a storming chorus. Despite the electro influences, it doesn鈥檛 sound like all the other trash in the charts, instead taking on a New Wave feel, something their contemporaries McFly maybe should have taken note off. The Hoosiers have won me over and they鈥檙e sure to win over their other sceptics too with this stellar comeback single. 4.5 STARS
10. Marina & The Diamonds: Oh No!
This is my favourite track from Marina鈥檚 The Family Jewels album. It has turned me from a casual Marina fan to a hardcore fun because it鈥檚 this song that makes Marina so loveable in the first place. Amongst a carnival of pounding double beats, flowing pianos and squelchy, cartoony synths, Marina sings in a high pitched mock operatic vocal for the irresistible chorus and exudes so much personality on the witty verses, my favourite line being where she sings 鈥漈V thought me how to feel/Now real life has no appeal!鈥 This obviously gets鈥5 STARS
11. Melanie Fiona: Monday Morning
Canadian soul singer Melanie Fiona actually sounds eerily like Alexandra Burke on this track. However, while Alex is a talented yet manufactured act, Melanie is all about the soul. This is a catchy number with solid vocal work and a funky yet modern sounding production but doesn鈥檛 exactly standout from the many other soul singers out there. Still, if this were promoted properly, it would be a hit. 3.5 STARS
STINKER OF THE WEEK!
12. Paloma Faith featuring Ghostface Killah: New York (Remix)
Ugh, re-releases! I have already lamented countless times the pointless re-releases of Florence + The Machine鈥檚 Dog Days Are Over (although that re-release scored her a VMA nomination), Paolo Nutini鈥檚 Candy and 3OH!3鈥檚 Don鈥檛 Trust Me. Paloma is re-releasing her atmospheric single New York, one of her biggest hits. But to make things worse, this re-release will feature rapper Ghostface Killah. Now its normally pretty offensive as a member of the public to have record companies think we鈥檒l buy a single just because it features a random rapper on it but it鈥檚 doubly offensive that a guest rapper was added to this song. This track has such an authentic, retro feel to it, like it belongs to some bygone era. Adding Ghostface Killah with his mercifully short yet painful rap just destroys the essence of the song and is an insult to Paloma鈥檚 talent. Nothing personal against Ghostface Killah, I鈥檓 sure he鈥檚 a fine rapper but its clear the record company only care about cashing in because a Ghostface Killah remix of Amy Winehouse鈥檚 You Know I鈥檓 No Good helped further Amy鈥檚 career in the US. How about separating Amy and Paloma and letting them be their own person instead of putting pressure on Faith to score a hit in her fear of being dropped. This is a shame because I didn鈥檛 think we鈥檇 ever see Paloma Faith on my Stinker list. 2.5 STARS
13. Pearl And The Puppets: Make Me Smile
Oh look! It鈥檚 another Scottish folk singer/band. This is a perfectly passable folk pop track with a great 鈥渄oo-dooo-doo鈥 hook and a repetitively catchy 鈥渏ust let it go, let it go鈥︹ chorus which help it to rise above dull. I recommend checking this band out because they appear pretty talented. 3 STARS
14. Sarah Blasko: I Never Knew
Ellie Goulding and Diana Vickers 鈥 meet your Australian counterpart. Blasko phrasing during the verses is something your either going to love or hate (鈥淚t鈥檚 not enurrfff!鈥). The backdrop of sparse beats and tambourines is interesting and I for one love Blasko鈥檚 smoky voice but this doesn鈥檛 stand out from many other AC tunes. 3 STARS
15. Sunday Girl: Self Control
This chick is a little too similar to Sky Ferreira if you ask me. This is a moody, atmospheric electro ballad. Think of Sunday Girl as a solo female version of Depeche Mode. She鈥檚 certainly an interesting popstar and I鈥檒l keep my eye out for her but it seems that this track may be something that really needs repeat listens to grow on you. I鈥檓 not bowled over by the track, I can see the potential in it though and the potential in Sunday Girl so I鈥檓 ready to give her a chance. 3 STARS
16. Toni Braxton: Make My Heart
The former Queen Of R&B has struggled with her comeback but unlike Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez, I appreciate that Braxton continues to push ahead with it and promote, keeping her name out there even if she is flopping. It鈥檚 no wonder she鈥檚 flopping though because this track isn鈥檛 very good. The verses are really funky and 1970s but then the chorus is really modern pop R&B with a catchy 鈥渄um-dum-dum鈥 hook. It鈥檚 really jarring and makes the song feel incomplete and un-single worthy. Best confined to the album. 2.5 STARS
17. Villagers: Ship Of Promises
The Irish rockers recently topped their native Album Chart with new album Becoming A Jackal. Can they perform as well in the UK? I doubt it. The poetic lyrics are certainly something that deserve that recognition but the song with its changing tempo, downbeat vocals and bounding drumbeats and guitar aren鈥檛 enough to draw you into what is essentially a dull song. The outro is rather good though with some epic backing vocals and discordant noises. Good but not as spectacular as most critics would have you believe! 3 STARS
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Comment number 6.
At 18th Aug 2010, U14429597 wrote:I'm going to talk about this song for a second, I love the Nicki Minaj remix of it! She's actually an amazing rapper!
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