Album Review: Strangeland - Keane

  It´s been 4 long years since Keane´s latest musical effort Perfect Symmetry was released and since then, the band has taken their time in the studio to come back with something they could feel proud of.

 If their previous album was an effort to explore new sounds and test new waters, Strangeland is quite the opposite. In fact, it is a return to their roots and earlier style that made them so popular in the first place.

 Lets do a track by track overview of the record:

You Are Young - The album’s opening track makes it clear that we are about to experience the complete Keane experience. The song, which deals with the uncertainties of youth, does not hesitate to bring back the piano melodies that Keane is famous for. 7/10

Silenced By The Night - After having listened to the full album, this mid-tempo song as the lead single might not have been our first choice. Pleasant to the ears but definitely not the strongest of the new album. 5.5/10

Disconnected - The other single taken from the album is a far more interesting choice complete with a powerful chorus that showcases Tom Chaplin´s amazing vocals. After watching the amazing music video for this track you cannot help falling in love with it. 9/10

Watch How You Go - The first ballad slows things a bit, and lets Chaplin shine as the undeniably brilliant vocalist he is. The song however lacks some emotion in comparison to previous Keane ballads. 6.5/10

Sovereign Light Cafe - A fun and nostalgic song that could serve the band well if released on the radio. 7.5/10

On The Road - This is hands down the most uplifting song on this record and it definitely has single potential. Strong bass and powerful chorus. Should be interesting to watch them perform this one live on tour. 8.5/10

The Starting Line - A simple production carries this mid-tempo track. Nothing new but nevertheless it is still an ok song. 6/10

Black Rain - Perhaps the most moody and introspective song on the album. 7/10

In Your Own Time - A song about a relationship left unfolded. Simple yet powerful message and memorable melodies make the song lovable with every listen. 7/10

Day Will Come - Another contender to be a future single. It feautures a catchy pop melody that is reminiscent of the sound of their debut album "Hopes & Fears". 9/10

Neon River - Perhaps a little more experimental in sound but not as radical as their previous record. It is still a typical Keane song at heart. 6/10

Sea Fog - A piano-driven piece that sounds perfect to close the album. 7/10

Album Review: MDNA - Madonna

After a four-year break from the music business, the queen of pop has once again reinvented herself with her brand new album MDNA.

Even though her previous album Hard Candy was a worldwide hit, it had a lukewarm reception among her hardcore fans who were not feeling the hip hop sound and production of the record.

With MDNA, Madonna brings back her signature style combining elements of her career that have made her the star she is today.

Let´s analize the album with a track by track overview:

Girl Gone Wild - The opening track produced by Benny Benassi is a club banger and showcases Madonna dance roots in all her glory. Once you listen to the album in full it makes perfect sense why this one had to be the second single. 8.5/10

Gang Bang - One of the strongest and most interesting songs on the album. The lyrics are violent and the atmosphere is strange and mysterious. Madonna wants to seek revenge on a lover and "shoot him in the head". MDNA could have used more of this (risky) direction. 9.5/10

I´m Addicted - Techno dance beats fill this over-produced song. It definitely makes you dance but it is hardly memorable. 4/10

Turn Up The Radio - The perfect summer anthem. Madonna sings about how pumping up the volume on the radio makes her feel. Could be single material, and it definitely puts a smile on your face. 7/10

Give Me All Your Luvin - The first single of the record doesn´t exactly represents what the rest of the music contained in this collection of songs sound like. It was perfect for the Superbowl and for a live performance but it won´t be relevant ten years from now. 5/10

Some Girls - A song that would perfectly suit Britney Spears or Kesha but the extremely over-produced beats and vocals makes Madonna almost unrecognizable which isn´t exactly a good sign. 4/10

Superstar - This positive and romantic song sounds like a modernized version of True Blue. She sings about her lover and compares him with celebrities she deeply admires. Daughter Lourdes sings background vocals as well. 6/10

I Don´t Give A - A dance-rap song with 80´s beats and Nicky Minaj. Perhaps one of her most personal tracks on MDNA, she sings about her daily routine and her failed marriage as well, but making no apoligies for who she is and what she does. The orchestal ending section will blow your speakers up. 9/10

I´m A Sinner - William Orbit´s updated signature beats and guitar make an appearance. A nice bouncy pop song complete with religious references where she sings “I’m a sinner, and I like it that way”.  6/10

Masterpiece - The Golden Globe winning song from her film "W.E." is the perfect soothing ballad we all know and love from Madonna. 9/10

Love Spent - Clearly aimed at her ex-husband, the mid-tempo track uses the craving for money as a metaphor to a failed relationship. This song demonstrates why the combination Madonna + William Orbit works so well as she addresses the end of love but also the need to be hold in that person´s arms once more. Should definitely be a single. 9.5/10

Falling Free - This is hands down the most authentic song on the record. Her voice sounds vulnerable and the production is exquisite complete with strings and beautiful lyrics. It makes you wonder why she does not make this type of songs more often. 9.5/10

Album Review: Talk That Talk - Rihanna

 Rihanna is one of the most prolific artists of this generation. She has released an album per year since she first started out in the music business six years ago, and radio stations from all over the world have fallen in love with her hit songs.

 Now she´s back with Talk The Talk, a record which follows the signature style of pop-dance music she returned to with her previous effort, Loud (Rated R was the only exception and her biggest dissapointment up to this day).

 The album as a whole is no masterpiece, although it does have a variety of hits waiting to become DJ favourites at clubs everywhere.

 Let´s take a closer look with a track by track overview:

You Da One- Rihanna finally sings about positive love and she´s embracing it. Her vocals seem comfortable on a reggae-infused track mixed with a touch of dubstep courtesy of hitmaker producer Dr. Luke. 8/10

Where Have You Been - Definitely one of the highlights of the album, and will be a club banger for sure! Calvin Harris provides some crazy dance, dubstep and techno beats in what is sure to become a massive hit song on the dancefloor. 9/10

We Found Love - The first single we´ve all grown to know and love, and her latest song to hit the number one spot. A very appropiate choice for the first single from the album. 9/10

Talk That Talk - Rihanna reunites with Jay Z for the first time since her Umbrella era, but the result is not as half as appealing. An urban song complete with some dirty lyrics and hiphop beats. 5/10

Cockiness (Love It) - It is reminiscent of the old school Missy Elliot sound but fails to achieve the successfull outcome of the popular rapper tracks. Instead, it becomes an annoying imitation of a style that doesn´t suit the Barbados singer. 3/10

Birthday Cake - The sexual innuendos of the previous track continue on this interlude/song, along with some more annoying sounds that only seem to interrupt the flow of the album. 2/10

We All Want Love - Rihanna showcases a softer side on this one, and the anthemic and radio-friendly chorus definitely stands out. 7/10

Drunk On Love - The vocals on this track are powerful but the production team behind it seems beneath it which, as a result, substracts the brilliance that could have been. Destined to be just an average filler song. 6/10

'Watch n' Learn - This song really becomes more enjoyable with each listen. Rihanna´s vocals sometimes are reminiscent of those from TLC. Lots of strong bass and sensual lyrics. 6.5/10

Farewell - The album closes with a melodic and heartfelt ballad about saying goodbye to a loved one. Definitely not her best slow jam but an appropiate way of drawing the album to a close (plus, it has single potential). 7.5/10

You can listen to one of our favorite tracks on the album, Where Have You Been, below!

Album Review: Born This Way - Lady Gaga

  Born This Way was defined by Lady Gaga as "the album of the decade" way before its release. Revolutionary, groundbreaking, or phenomenal were some of the adjectives used to refer to the new music of an artist who´s been know to have her share of controversy.

 So, is Gaga´s new album as epic as they made us believe? It´s not. Will it make an impact on the music industry as we know it? It won´t. Is it an album worth of our attention? Yes it is.

 Hype is a very bad word. If this album was released today without all of the high expectations surrounding it, we would have probably payed more attention to the music because... lets not forget it. It´s not about the bizarre dresses or controversial videos... it´s really about the music.

Here is our track by track overview of the album:

 Marry The Night: This song contains rock and pop elements from the 80´s with a powerful chorus. However it´s the dance section in the end what really makes it stand out. 7/10

Born This Way: The first single off the album was labeled by many as a Madonna´s Express Yourself ripoff. It is enjoyable but no as groundbreaking as it was conceived to be. 6/10

Government Hooker: This post-disco inspired track reveals one of the biggest retro moments of the record. The song is so good it just speaks for itself. 8.5/10

Judas: The second single feels sometimes messy with Gaga´s voice lost among synthesizers and digital effects. The melody is somehow reminiscent of Gaga´s old hit, Bad Romance. 6.5/10

Americano: Spanish is Stefani Germanotta´s failed subject. The song is almost a self-parody of what it is supposed to be. 3/10

Hair: An infectious chorus that unfortunately gets lost along the way of an overproduced track. All in all the drums and the saxophone riffs provide some authenticity to the song.  6.5/10

Scheiße: The real dance anthem of the album and our personal favourite. This commanding pop song is definitely single material. 9/10

Bloody Mary: The religious theme appears once again but this time the mood is quite different. Overall a decent track. 6/10

Bad Kids: A homage to teenage rebellion and adolescence. The rock intro paves the way for a more disco pop oriented sound and chorus. 7/10

Highway Unicorn (Road To Love): The melody in the beginning shares similarities with the chorus of her hit Poker Face. Not exactly our cup of tea. 4/10

Heavy Metal Lover: The song shares the exact same rhythm pattern of Born This Way only slower. Unoriginal, predictible and boring. 3/10

Electric Chapel: It incorporates 80´s elements with some rock flavour. Nice but not enchanting. 3/10

You and I: A nice change of sound. A Robert “Mutt” Lange-produced  love song with some E.L.O. inspired background vocals. 7/10

The Edge Of Glory: The current single and a very good song choice for ending the album. 8/10

Click below to listen to Scheiße, our favourite track of the album!




What do you guys think? Is Born This Way worth of your attention?

Album Review - Matthew Morrison

 When listening to Matthew Morrison´s debut album, we cannot help but think that it should come with a disclaimer sticker that reads: "This isn´t your regular Glee compilation record".

 Morrison was clearly seeking for a departure in sound from the show that made him hugely popular, and the result is an album that reflects the maturity of a performer who is finally getting the chance to put his music out there. Sure it has its flaws and it may not be perfect, but the guy has some undeniable talent.

 Here is a track by track overview of the album:

Summer Rain: The album´s first single is an easy jam that could have easily been sung by Jason Mraz. Enjoyable song but lacks the strength expected for an album opener. 7/10

Still Got Tonight: A pop-rock song with a powerful chorus that hits all the right notes. Should have been the first single. 8/10

Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (Feat. Sting): An uneccessary cover of the 1996 hit song by Sting. Both voices blend well and Morrison seems comfortable singing with one of his idols. 6/10

My Name: The first ballad off the album fails to engage us in the emotion conveyed through the lyrics. The song prepares us for a climatic moment that never arrives. 3/10

Hey: This melodic pop tune is the best track on the album. It delivers a positive feeling and an upbeat infectious chorus. The rest of the album could use more of this, it definitely has single potential 8.5/10

Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Feat. Gwyneth Paltrow): We´ve all heard this one by now. Another cover, only this one stands out thanks to the vocals provided by Gwyneth. 7/10

Don´t Stop Dancing: This track seems to fall out of place when compared with the rest of the album. It´s not bad... but not necessarily good either. 5/10

It Don´t Matter To The Sun:  Another slow jam, only this time it does a slightly better job when appealing to the listener´s attention. 5/10

Mona Lisa´s And Mad Hatters (Feat. Elton John): How many covers can be featured on an original album? Enough already! Elton John lends his voice and revisits one of his classic hits. 6.5/10

It´s Over: If you end an album with a ballad, you better make it powerful. Sadly, this isn´t the case. This Broadway influenced song is, however,  the most heartfelt one included on Morrison´s debut album. 6/10

Click below to listen to Hey, one of our favourite tracks on the album!

Matthew Morrison´s first solo record is out on May 10. Will you be getting a copy?

Album Review: Femme Fatale - Britney Spears

 It´s official, Miss Britney Spears has returned to full form. With Femme Fatale the pop princess has delivered a dark, risky, club record in the line of her masterpiece album, Blackout.

 Britney knows pop dance music is what she does best and this may be the main reason why the album features no ballads. Instead, we are presented with a collection of strong uptempo tracks with a defined and established sound.

 There are many potential club bangers in Femme Fatale as well as singles from where to choose from. However, there are still some pleasant unexpected surprises such as the mid-tempo closing track, Criminal,  which features a more prominent pop sound complete with guitar and flute.

 Here is a track by track overview of the album:

Till The World Ends: The second single features crazy beats and an infectious chorus. A sure hit. 8/10

Hold It Against Me: A good choice for a first single. The dubstep breakdown is one of the highlights of the album. 8.5/10

Inside Out:  Britney showcases her capacity to deliver edgy tracks even if they are not uptempo. 8/10

I Wanna Go: This song demonstrates why Max Martin and Britney are a match made in heaven. 9/10

How I Roll: One of the few dissapointments on the album. The track sounds promising production wise but it never really delivers. 3/10

Drop Dead Beautiful: Not a bad song but can the chorus can sound too repetitive at times. The final section of the song is definitely something else. 6/10

Seal It With A Kiss: Not the most innovative or shocking sound on the album. Pretty pale in comparison with the rest of the songs. 3/10

Big Fat Bass: The song goes from annoying to acceptable by the end. It grows on you. 6/10

Trouble For Me: Would have loved to listen to Britney´s voice without the autotune treatment in this track. Otherwise a forgettable one. 2/10

Trip To Your Heart:  Loved the melodic atmosphere on the chorus. Sounds like a ballad with a dance beat. 8/10

Gasoline: The last uptempo song on the record. Enjoyable but not brilliant. 6/10

Criminal: The real gem behind this album. Britney sounds great vocally showing she still has what it takes to deliver a meaningful mid-tempo pop song. 9.5/10

What are your favourite songs on the album? Hit the comments!

Album Review: Michael Jackson - "Michael"

  As a long-time Michael Jackson fan, the idea of listening to new music from the King of Pop was something that I've been looking forward to for years. After his unexpected passing last year, I knew that June 25th marked the end of an era as far as his music is concerned. The awaited new album would never see the light of day, at least the way Michael himself envisioned it. However, there was still a possibility that many of his unreleased recordings saw the light of day in the future. Almost a year and a half later, Sony releases "Michael", a posthumous album (or so they claim) of new music that Jackson was working on the last couple of years.

  The approach for this record was risky because a lot of the material was unfinished or too raw to meet Sony standards so a decision was made for other producers to finish what Michael had already started. People like Teddy Riley or Neff-U were brought in to work on the project following a "roadmap" Michael had left in order to complete the album. This has caused a backlash from fans everywhere who claim that the tracks should have been left as untouched as possible, which ponders the question: Could they really intuit what Jackson would have wanted for each given song?

  To make matters worse, there are claims that 3 of the tracks (the ones produced by Cascio) feature an impostor and not Michael's voice. This is partly why we must not consider this a new Michael Jackson album per se, but a collage or collection of unreleased material completed as a tribute or testament to his genius.

Lets do a song-by-song analysis of the album:

Hold My Hand (7/10)

 An early version of this mid-tempo track had already leaked in 2008, so die-hard fans were already familiar with it. The song in itself is pretty decent, although it sounds more like something Akon would do (the credits don´t lie) rather than a Michael Jackson hit. Although enjoyable and uplifting, I do not think it serves the album well by having it released as a first single. The best moments of this track is when Michael's voice is prominently featured.

Hollywood Tonight (8.5/10)

 This energetic track is definitely one of the highlights of the album. Produced by longtime collaborator Teddy Riley, both the music and the vibe contained in this track is more reminiscent of the Jackson we all know and love with a modern 2000's twist that will make you want to dance to it. The lyrics talk about the dangers of success and fame, with Michael's vocals sounding deeper than usual but nevertheless effective. It has definite single potential (they should have gone with this one instead of Hold My Hand). On a side note, the spoken bridge is performed by Taryll Jackson, one of Michael's nephews and member of 3T.

Keep Your Head Up (6/10)

 This is the first Cascio track of the album, a mid-tempo song that culminates with a gospel choir singing about hope and strength in life. Many fans are divided in their opinions regarding the authencity of Michael's vocals. Based on my humble intuition, I believe that this is the only one of the Cascio tracks that could feature his real voice. An early version of the song was leaked weeks ago which featured some Earth Song adlibs that, thankfully, have been removed in this final album version.

(I Like) The Way You Love Me (8/10)

 The original demo of this song was released a while ago on the 2004 Box Set, The Ultimate Collection. It was not unusual for Michael to return to tracks from previous album sessions and rework them for new releases. This was the case with this song which features excellent production by Neff-U as well as a brand new intro and vocal effects. This is an example of how additional production can be successful on the album when done properly.

Monster (4/10) 

 One of the most suspicious tracks on the record. The estate situates the recording in 2007, at Eddie Cascio's home studio with Michael singing through a lenght of PVC tubing. One cannot help but wonder if this is just a way to justify the fact that Michael's signature voice is nowhere to be found in this song (except for bits and pieces taken from previous recordings). However, it does prove what an excellent producer Teddy Riley is combining melody and innovative sounds. With a rap by 50 cent, the song does have great potential. Too bad most of us don't believe it is really Michael Jackson singing.

Best of Joy (9/10)

 Recorded in Los Angeles in 2009, this mid-tempo ballad is believed to be one of Michael's final recordings and his voice could not sound any better. Delicate and smooth, it features Jackson's distinct falsetto

as he sings "I am the moon, you are the spring, our lives a sacred thing"  to his loved one. Produced by Neff-U, this is one of the strongest tracks of the album, and one that showcases the amazing talent that Jackson still had before taking his final bow.

Breaking News (2/10)

The first song to be previewed from the album, and also the most controversial one. While the estate defends its authenticity, his fans believe that the person singing is not the real Michael Jackson but an impersonator. The vocals of this anti-media track lack the strength and clarity of any typical Jackson recording, yet Teddy Riley's production infuses it with a much needed catchy pop groove. Overall, this is definitely the weakest link of the record.

(I Can't Make It) Another Day (7/10)

 Taken from the Invincible recording sessions, this track is written and produced by Lenny Kravitz who is also featured in the background vocals. Part of the original 1999 demo leaked a while ago, prompting Kravitz to complete production on the track by adding drums and guitar which consequently has overshadowed Jackson powerful vocals in this new version. However, even though it does seem somehow incomplete, the song showcases Michael's amazing vocal range and adds a much needed rock vibe to the album.

Behind the Mask (9/10)

 Originally intended for Thriller, Behind the Mask is a adaptation of one of Michael's favourite songs by Yellow Magic Orchestra who gave him their blessing to add new lyrics and arrangements. Producer John Mcclain has produced this new version by modernizing the production in search of a more current sound. The song is one of the strongest included in this music collection, with Jackson vocals sounding as good as ever. Would have definitely become a hit had it been released in the Thriller era. However, one cannot help but wonder how the original 80's version would have sounded like without all the updated modernized production that has been added later on, in order to make it blend in with the rest of the songs of this record. Sony should definitely consider releasing it someday as it was originally conceived.

Much Too Soon (8/10)

 Another track shelved from the Thriller era, Much Too Soon was a song that Michael would return to over the years but never found its place on any of his albums, perhaps because of its folk inspired sound. It showcases the simplicity of an artist who was also a great singer/songwriter dealing with love, regret and yearning. With just the exquisite sound of his voice accompained by strings and acoustic guitar, this bittersweet song is an excellent choice to end the album. 

Album Review: Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer

  A few years back, Cee Lo Green invaded clubs, radio stations and filled the cars of many thanks to his infectious collaboration in Gnarls Barkley's hit "Crazy". That was back in 2006, and since then it seemed as if the charts had eluded him. However, Green was not done with music success just yet, he's been working hard on a solo album that would return him to mainstream radio everywhere and so, 4 years later, we are found with his new record, "The Lady Killer", a collection of soulful melodic songs.

  In this album, Green seems to have focused on what he does best, singing catchy tunes with an old school-ish feel that matches perfectly with his style and playfulness. The intro sets the mood for the rest of the album with a theme that could perfectly serve as the score to any old TV show from the 70's. The atmosphere quickly changes into a more contemporary sound mixed with echoes from the 80´s ("Bright Lights Bigger City" contains a bassline heavily influenced by Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean").

  The record carefully tries to balance the old with the new, with tunes containing classic Motown elements ("It's Ok", "Cry Baby", "Wildflower" or the lead single "F*** You" to name a few) with a more polished sound as far as production goes, making it trendy but timeless all at once. However, the album does have its flaws and certain songs such as "Bodies" or "Please (Feat. Selah Sue)"  come dangerously close to filler status, interrupting the continuous flow of this highly comforting musical experience. This is quickly forgotten when we come across remarkable tracks like the appropiately titled "Old Fashioned", where Cee Lo Green's emotional vocals will give you chills (If they don't...check your pulse!) or the radio friendly "It's Ok" which definitely has single potential.

  The best thing about the record is that Green does not attempt to be original or highly innovative, he just presents a collection of timeless songs that talk about love and heartbreak that could easily speak to a different number of generations, old and new. You won't get the slightest glimpse of autotune here, just raw talent and an album that could have easily been recorded decades ago, only with that new spin that contemporary music can add to the mix production wise. This is, hands down, one of the best records of the year that will take you on a journey to a time where music really mattered and spoke for itself.

  Listen to one of my favourite tracks from the album, "It's Ok", below!

Are you into Cee Lo Green's music?

Album review: Merry Christmas 2 you - Mariah Carey

  It's been 16 years since Mariah released her "Merry Christmas" album, and still today, it is one of the most successful holiday albums ever. This is part of the reason why this new record was so highly anticipated by her fans all over the world. "Merry Christmas 2 you" is a collection of classic holiday songs mixed with original compositions written by Carey herself, and it is mostly on those new songs where the record reaches its highest note.

  The album starts strong, with a nice intro that leads to the uptempo and energetic first single, "Oh Santa". However this state of celebration is fleeting, as "O Little Town of Bethlehem / Little Drummer Boy" breaks the mood and turns the atmosphere into boring and predictable. "Christmas time is in the air again" is a slow and subtle jazzy tune that needs more than one listening in order to truly appreciate it, as its undeniable quality unfortunately suffers from being placed between two of the most boring tracks of the album.

  The record suffers from lack of direction at times and, instead of focusing on a more classic and traditional sound, there are bits and pieces that fail to fit with the holiday atmosphere, some with better results ("When Christmas Comes") and others with awful resolutions (the final and unneccesary r&b section of "Born is the King", the futile "Here comes Santa Claus", or the Christmas disco experiment "Auld Lang Syne - The New Year’s Anthem”).

  However, the album saves the best quality tracks for last, delivering a non-stop succession of poweful melodies, backing choirs and orchestral arrangements that should have been echoed in all the remaining tracks. Songs like “O Come All Ye Faithful / Hallelujah Chorus”, the new versions of "O' Holy Night" or "All I want for Christmas is you", and the best original track of the album, "One Child", reminds us why Mariah Carey has become one of the most unique voices in the music industry since the early 90's.

  Overall, this is a good holiday record that can hold its own against its predecessor but will never surpass it. It suffers from a terrible misplacement as far as tracklisting goes, but has enough quality material to be considered a good Christmas gift for the listener.

  Click below to listen to my favourite original track on the album, the beautiful "One Child". Will you be decorating your Christmas tree with Mariah this year?

Album Review: Jenny Berggren - My Story

  Having been highly dissapointed by the new Ace of Base album, I was really anticipating the release of Jenny Berggren's first solo effort. For this project, Jenny surrounded herself with new producers and collaborators such as Terese Fredenwall, Simon Petrén and the Sthlm Sound Facility, in order to distance herself from the band and find her own new sound.

  It is essential to tap into this album keeping in mind that this is not a new Ace of Base release. It is indeed an electro-pop dance album, and yes, there are some catchy melodies but the similarities really end there. Where Ace of Base had reggae infused pop catchy tunes, here we are presented with a mature modern and sometimes obscure dance record with classical influences and some heavy dark lyrics at times.

  "My Story" starts with  a very dramatic intro that leads us into "Free me", a funky electronic track that sets the mood of the new sound we encounter. It is safe to say that the best section of the record is the first half, with songs such as "Living in a Circus", an upbeat track with a chorus that stays with you after a few listens, or "Dying to Stay Alive", the strongest tune overall with the permission of the first two singles, "Here I am" and the most recent one, "Gotta Go". 

  The rest of the record is quite acceptable with songs like "Air of Love" standing out, even though there is an overall feeling of lack of structure and even lack of soul. The production team should have definitely provided Berggren with stronger beats, as sometimes the sound seems unfinished and the marriage formed by lyrics & instrumentation do not seem to go hand in hand. 

  Overall, this is a quite decent debut for the former Ace of Base vocalist, and will probably attract new fans as well as old A.O.B. ones, who will surely connect much better with this record than with the band's most recent release, "The Golden Ratio".

  Click below to listen to my favourite track of the album, a dance beat called "Dying to Stay Alive", and probably the most similar to the old Ace of Base sound.

Album Review: Bruno Mars "Doo-Wops & Hooligans"

  It is no secret that I have a soft spot in my heart for this artist since I first heard him on the smash hit single "Billionaire". I could not help but to try to find more about the guy who features his vocals on such an incredibly addictive chorus. That artist, of course, is Bruno Mars and he is about to irrupt in the music industry with his debut album, "Doo Wops & Hooligans". This album is, in this day and age, a rare gem filled with potential hit singles and no filler songs. Everything in this record, from the minimalist album cover, to the tracklist order and the quality of the songs is incredibly accurate. The album starts with its best track, "Grenade", a pop song with dark lyrics about a non-reciprocal love affair in which Mars unleashes all his vocal power while singing with both passion and desperation. (You can listen to it here)

  Next track on the album is number one hit single "Just the way you are" and from that moment on, it is a non-stop succession of soulful music that includes a wide range of pop goodness. Even though there are only ten songs on the record, variety is the key word to describe it, as it features influences from pop-rock ("The Other Side"), Rock & Roll ("Runaway Baby"), RnB ("Our first time"), Reggae ("Liquor Store Blues", "The lazy song"), and even some dreamy laid-back singer-songwriter summer tunes ("Count on me"). The big power ballad, "Talking to the moon", showcases the most nostalgic side of Mars, while "Our first time" is a baby-making mid-tempo delicate song, remiscent of the good old days of Janet Jackson. "Marry you" is sure to become a fan-favourite as it combines uplifting melodicism and sense of humour with Bruno singing about eloping to the girl he loves.

  Truth is, comparisons aside, this record consolidates Bruno Mars as an artist in his own right. Without a doubt, this is the music you would want on your cd collection. The fact that the album only features two guest vocalists is also a plus, in a music world saturated by rappers featuring on every top ten single out there. "Doo-wops & Hooligans" drops October 5th. You can listen to "Marry you", an  uplifting up-tempo song taken from his forthcoming album, below. Are you into Bruno Mars? Express your thoughts in the comments!

Update: Turns out "Runaway" is a non-album track (not to be confused with "Runaway Baby" which does appear in the album) so I substituted that streaming song for another of my favourites, "Marry you". If you guys would like me to re-upload the other song, just say so and I'll do my best. Thanks for reading!