Save me San Francisco by Train (album review)

Album description: Save Me, San Francisco, from Grammy Award-winning band Train, contains the new summer anthem, “Hey, Soul Sister” and is the multi-platinum-selling band’s fifth studio album hearkening back to the band’s early days in the mid-‘90s, when they first formed in the city by the bay.

This album marks the restoration of Train’s original line-up, including vocalist Pat Monahan, guitarist Jimmy Stafford and drummer Scott Underwood, since 2003’s platinum offering, My Private Nation. Train recorded Save Me, San Francisco in London’s Kensaltown Studios, with producer Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall, James Morrison) at the helm, helping the band tap into their organic, distinguished sound. The album’s lead track, “Hey, Soul Sister”, is charismatic, fresh, and laden with hooks that stick in your head all day, perfect to celebrate the dog days of the summer season.

The song also marks a new direction from Train’s classic style found in prior hits such as “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)”, “Calling All Angels” and “Meet Virginia”.


My review: Yay, finally found some new stuff from Train!! I loved the album ‘Drops of Jupiter’, which I got while living in the States. Recently heard ‘Hey Soul Sister’ on the radio and instantly loved it (there’s something about a ukulele on a song that makes it sound ‘sunny and summery’) so looked around for the newest album and here it is.

The album sounds great, very easy listening and with some great tracks. I find that, singer, Pat Monahan has quite a soothing voice to listen to. Their music is so melodic and catchy, it has me hooked. Great instrumentation on the tracks with plenty of great beats and guitar riffs to keep the toes tapping.

From catchy upbeat tunes to soulful, sentimental songs it has a lot going for it and I love it.

Train 'Hey Soul Sister' and Scissor Sisters 'Fire with fire'.

A couple of songs I'm loving right now!!

Train: Hey Soul Sister


Scissor Sisters: Fire with fire (released on June 20th 2010)

Immersion by Pendulum (album review)

Description: Pendulum made one of the biggest breakthroughs of the 2000s with their hit album In Silico. Having sold over one million records worldwide, the band completed a sell out Academy tour in 2008 and went on to smash the international festival circuit in summer 2009 with killer appearances at Glastonbury, Download, V and Global Gathering to name a few. Both Pendulum studio albums to date-–In Silico and the band’s debut Hold Your Colour-–have gone Platinum.

Immersion's lead single "Watercolour" heralds a glorious evolution in the Pendulum sound. Now utilising a richer sonic tapestry than ever before, "Watercolour" finds Rob Swire's vocals alternating between eerie distortion and full-blooded energy amidst flourishes of horns and an atmospheric, tension building breakdown. The track's progressive structure highlight's Pendulum's continuing development in constructing contrasting dynamics.



My review: My main reaction to this album is: Its high octane for the ears!! Plenty of dance energy, drum ‘n’ bass and a touch of rock/metal. I sat listening to it not really thinking much, just flowing from one track to the next while browsing the internet and, generally, enjoying the tracks. If you have heard Pendulum’s work on the radio, then you know what sort of music they produce, good thumping tracks with energy aplenty.

A few tracks were reminiscent of Prodigy. Personally, I wasn’t so keen on the track ‘Self vs Self’ maybe a bit OTT on the raspy/death growl intervention of ‘In Flames’ (featured on the track), I don’t mind a bit of metal, but I don’t know that this vocal was too complimentary to the track, I guess I’m just not into Death Metal. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of fans out there who will love the track though.

I quite liked the album, don’t know that it will be a regular on my mp3 player, but if I fancy some D&B/rock sounds then it may be one I’ll head to before some others

Strike by The Baseballs (album review)

Description: The Baseballs are three certified rock 'n' roll singers who bring back the essence of the 50's with a modern twist. To quote the band "we take good songs and lead them to their true calling".

Basti, Digger and Sam have achieved enormous success across Europe with their rock 'n' roll versions of hits by Rihanna, Leona Lewis, Robbie Williams and Beyonce.



My review: This album intrigued me from the moment I saw the promo on the TV. Some recent songs that have been hits in the charts, by the relevant artists, covered and sung by the three piece German band, The Baseballs, in a ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ 50’s style. Hmm, I thought, that sounds interesting, this could be good, or not!?

Well, my intrigue has turned into, somewhat, surprised delight! The songs are the ones you’ve, probably, sung along to on the radio, so you already know the words, but they have this wonderful 50’s style twist on them that really works. It does make me wonder what the original artists might make of the covers. All in all, though, I think it’s a great album for those who like the more recent songs, on the album, but with the twist ‘The Baseballs’ give them.

Riceboy sleeps by Jonsi and Alex (album review)

Description: This debut album from Jon Thor "Jonsi" Birgisson, the voice of Icelandic post-rockers Sigur Ros, was written and recorded with his partner Alex Somers, with whom he has also produced an acclaimed body of visual art. With strings performed by long-term Sigur Ros collaborators Amiina and a contribution by the Kopavogsdaetur choir, the album is a lush, blissful ambient experience, sounding much like Sigur Ros but shornof the rock instrumentation, huge build-ups and epic crescendos.

My review: After discovering, and loving, Jonsi’s album, Go, I had to find out if his collaboration with his partner, Alex Somers, was just as good. And it is, but it’s also very different from Jonsi’s solo project. This album is not solely Jonsi’s work, you don’t get the soaring falsetto voice soothing you and there’s no energizing drum beats.

The album is as good as any classical symphony I’ve ever heard, truly beautiful and very well orchestrated and produced. Not just ‘traditional’ instruments, you hear things in the music that are more ‘natural’, more organic, sounds of water, voices (human and animal), air and more. Some of the tracks have an, almost, hypnotic calmness about them, beautifully haunting.

The innocent young, fresh, choral work on Boy 1904 gave me chills and goosebumps. Truly angelic voices and beautiful uplifting sounds to raise them to new heights.

With a sound of pure ambient blissfulness that can transport you to a calm zone away from the everyday struggles of the day. I haven’t done Yoga in a number of years, but I could quite imagine this would be amazing for meditating to. The natural sounds within the tracks make you conjure visions of rippling water, wind-chimes, tall swaying grass in the calm breeze and more.

This isn’t just music, this is musical art, it’s beautiful, uplifting, calming. It gives you inner peace that life can swipe out from under your feet with the everyday grind of living. I shall definitely listen to this again, when I need to relax, and preferably when the children are not around, maybe after they’ve gone to bed or are at school. Highly recommend for anyone looking to zone out and chillax. Run a big hot bubble bath, put candles around the bathroom, play this while you sip a nice glass of wine or a bottle of beer (if that’s your preference) and feel the tranquility wash over you.


Jonsi and Alex's website can be found here.

Only revolutions by Biffy Clyro (album review)

Description: Fifth album, following 2007's 'Puzzle', from the Scots progressive indie rockers. Here they forgo the overt commercialism of 'Puzzle' in favour of a return to their classic style welding emo-style structures to technically complex math- and jazzcore elements. Named for the novel by Mark Danielewski, produced once again by Garth Richardson (Gallows) and withstriking cover artwork shot by the legendary Storm Thorgerson, the album includes the singles 'Mountains', 'The Captain' and 'That Golden Rule'.

My review: I found out about Biffy Clyro only in the last year or so through listening to Radio One. I have to admit I do quite like the Scottish Indie Rockers! Their music is full of energy, loads of guitar riffs and brilliant beats. The album has a good mix of pounding songs that you can’t help moving to and some great power ballads, like Many of Horrors. I have to admit a slight love of the Scots lilt in the singers accent, it doesn’t come through very strongly, but there’s the odd word that it comes through, that I love.

After listening to the whole album I don’t believe there is one song that I was repulsed by, always a good sign, I didn’t want to fast forward to the next track, it’s a good album with plenty to offer. After reading a few online reviews I see that some of the old school Biffy fans don’t all love the sound of this album, saying they’ve got a bit soft. Well, it sounds fine to me, but then I’m a Biffy ‘newbie’.

I would definitely listen to this album again, it’s a great rock album to listen to, can imagine it would be good to do a workout to (or do a rigorous bit of housework to).

Biffy Clyro's website can be found here.

Travelling like the light by V V Brown

Description: V V Brown is a singer, a songwriter, a performer, multi-instrumentalist and a producer, who first came to attention after landing an upfront slot on Later With Jools Holland. Her performance on the show won her a lot of admirers, including Damon Albarn, who invited her to perform on his Africa Exprez adventure in Lagos. Though music has always been a big part of V Vs life, with early influences including Ruth Brown, Elvis Presley and, just as importantly, the music from Super Marioland.

Travelling Like The Light, is a perfect introduction to the 25-year old’s sound. In this young lady’s world, love sounds like the perfect melody. Both are difficult to define she says, but both pour out of the songs on her debut album. This is music which sounds like performance: dramatic, charismatic and, frequently, as mad as a box of frogs. This is high definition, high concept pop with scuffed edges and laddered tights. V V describes her music as "musical mashed potatoes", which must, therefore, make her songs "smash hits"--but there’s nothing instant or synthetic about these pop tunes. Her songs are instantly addictive and unmistakably honest, with lyrics asking "what the bloody point is" answered by melodies full of life and reasons to be cheerful. The contradiction works, throwing the listener from happy to sad and back again in the space of three minutes.

My review: I shall be VERY honest here and say I knew nothing about VV Brown until my eldest son took part in the Young Voices Concert at the O2 Arena in December 2009 and she was named as one of the artists to star at it (after seeing the DVD from that I cannot believe the legs on this girl!! She has SERIOUSLY long legs, yes, I’m jealous). THEN at Christmas I found the BBC running a ‘preview’ of their viewing with a REALLY catchy song that had been tweaked from the original, and it was one of VV Brown’s (the track called: L.O.V.E) . So, on the basis of this I got me the album.

I have to admit, she has a lovely voice, very smooth and easy to listen to. There is a host of upbeat tracks to dance and sing along to, along with a few slower tempo tunes too, the kind to smooch with your beloved or just chill out with a glass of wine in your hand. It’s a nicely produced album with a nice mix of tracks to show off her voice and style. My personal favourite tracks are: L.O.V.E, Everybody, Crazy Amazing (has a sound of ‘Heart and Soul’ by Hoagy Carmicheal) and Shark in the water.

All in all it’s a good fun album with a good mix to suit most moods. I hope she has a bright future in the music industry.


Her official website can be found here