Control by Milo Greene

@MiloGreene‘s new album #Control is slick Adult Contemp/Pop at its best. Imagine Fleetwood Mac raised on new wave. Male/female lead vocals trade off a tag team of love and betrayal. Highlights include opener “White Lies”, and “Lonely Eyes”.

Non-Fiction by Ne-Yo

@NeYoCompound‘s new album #Non-Fiction could double as a soundtrack to a @tylerperry film, a concept album that misses its mark at times. #Non-Fiction finds @NeYoCompound veering in a bit more of an R&B direction with overall positive results. Ne-Yo possesses a smooth tenor voice and it continues to sound best fitted with a retro pop/dance groove circa @michaeljackson‘s OTW era.The 1-2-3 punch of “Who’s Taking You Home”, “Coming With You”, and “Take You There” from @NeYoCompound‘s #NonFiction is stellar. All three deserve to be #Singles. The inclusion of the #Timeofourlives colab with @pitbull was a misstep, as was the non-believable #Storytime. Overall, a fine effort which continues to show off his considerable way with a melody. @NeYoCompound wish: a retro 70’s funk R&B album.

Review: “Talking Body” by Tove Lo

Tove Lo released one of the best pop albums last year with “Queen Of The Clouds”. Now that her slow-burning hit “Habits” is finally settling down the charts, it is time for a second single. Following the edgy lyrical content of ‘Habits”, “Talking Body” takes on a more Princely “Erotic City” lyrical vibe, while musically living in today’s indie/dance/pop movement. It’s no coincidence that Tove Lo is from Sweden, and she follows the melodic hook songwriting styles of her ancestors (Abba, Ace of Base), without the goo that sometimes marred their work.

All in all, a strong contender for another top ten hit. It will be interesting to see if this will be the year of Tove Lo or Charli XCX, as they both vie for the tough, don’t give a shit, punk/pop princess tiara. Let the games begin! Check out the video below which is another cinematic short depicting Tove as a vixen determined to ride a motorcycle…

Leave a comment and vote for Tove as song of the week. You can find the other contenders by scrolling down on the home page.

“Talking Body”

Bed, stay in bed
The feeling of your skin locked in my head
Smoke, smoke me broke
I don’t care I’m down for what you want[Pre-Chorus:]
Day drunk into the night, wanna keep you here
Cause you dry my tears
Summer lovin’ and fights, how it is for us
And it’s all because

[Chorus x2:]
Now if we’re talking body
You got a perfect one so put it on me
Swear it won’t take you long
If you love me right, we fuck for life
On and on and on

Love, give me love
Anything you want I’ll give it up
Lips, lips I kiss
Bite me while I taste you’re finger tips

[Pre-Chorus]

[Chorus x2]

[Bridge:]
Bodies
Oh baby making bodies we just use for fun
Bodies
Let’s use ’em up ’til every little piece is gone

On and on and on (Let’s go)
On and on (Let’s go)

[Chorus x3]

Classic Review: “The Letter” by Sonny & Cher

Sonny & Cher’s first single in 1964 actually was credited to their first duo name ‘Caesar & Cleo” (good idea to change it!). “The Letter” was a cover of a minor hit from 1958 by Don & Dewey. Sonny was determined to make him and Cher recording stars and rush recorded this. It’s quite a simple little song, in which you can hear Phil Spector’s influence in Sonny’s production, which tried  to emulate the famous Spector “Wall of Sound” arrangement. In this case, it meant lots of unnecessary drum fills, and cluttered instrumentation. Cher is also quite subdued, which was typical for her shy mid-60’s period. This was recorded even prior to their famous sessions with Spector as background vocalists on such classics as “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” and “Be My Baby”.

While it was not a success, it did lead to a few more recordings, which legitimized them as an act. It would only be another year until they would become international superstars with their signature hit “I Got You Babe.”

I’m writing this letter
To say good-bye
I know it will hurt you
Yes you will cry
Baby, baby
Won’t you forgive me
I know I am wrong
I kept pretending
And leading you on

I’m writing this letter
With the tears in my eyes
Well now I’ve been thinking
I made you cry
Baby, baby
Throw in our picture
Darling forgive me
I read your lies
But darling you let me

Review: “Immortal” by Marina & The Diamonds

Marina & The Diamonds has (I say “has” instead of “have”  because the name represents solo artist Marina Diamondis and not an actual group) been releasing a song each month, all leading up to her new album “Froot” due in April. “Immortal” is the third song released and by far the best of the three. In it, Marina treads new musical ground, leaving behind the dance electro-pop sound of previous efforts for a moody, subdued landscape that focuses on her unique vocals.

One thing that has marred both albums she has made is her voice. She tends to stay in the same falsetto throughout her songs, which can get a little grating, especially if you don’t care for that type of voice. The most revealing thing here is her vocal. She actually layers two octaves of vocals throughout and it is her lower register that actually is the more interesting detail here. There are a couple of moments when the lower register is bare and she actually puts a bit of an edge on it which reveals a voice ready to take on more aggressive rock productions if she wanted to.

The song itself is an interesting ode to love itself, if a bit dark. “Everybody dies/Chasing after time”. True, and in another context, could be quite depressing, but Marina is focusing on hope throughout as well and urges the listener to as well. She’s paired this up with a beautiful, touching video, as well. In it, Marina slowly moves in front of a vignette old home movies of her family throughout the years as she sings about them. Yes, they will die, some probably have, but her message of love living on forever is communicated loud and effectively.

Overall, a strong single release that may not catapult her to the mainstream, but will earn her new fans and the newfound respect of those (myself included) as a one trick pony. Looking forward to more surprises on “Froot”. Watch the video below and vote for it if you feel it is the song of the week. Other nominated songs can be found on the home page.

IMMORTAL

V1
I WANNA BE IMMORTAL
LIKE A GOD IN THE SKY
I WANNA BE A SILK FLOWER
LIKE I’M NEVER GONNA DIE
I WANNA LIVE FOREVER
FOREVER IN YOUR HEART
AND WE’LL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER
FROM THE END TO THE START

PRE
THAT’S WHAT WE DO IT FOR
TO RESERVE A PLACE
IT’S JUST ANOTHER PART OF THE HUMAN RACE
THAT’S WHAT WE DO IT FOR
TO RESERVE A SPACE
IN HISTORY IT’S JUST
PART OF THE HUMAN RACE
RACE, RACE, RACE, RACE

CHORUS
I’M FOREVER CHASING AFTER TIME
BUT EVERYBODY DIES, DIES
IF I COULD BUY FOREVER AT A PRICE
I WOULD BUY IT TWICE, TWICE
BUT IF THE EARTH ENDS IN FIRE
AND THE SEAS ARE FROZEN IN TIME
THERE’LL BE JUST ONE SURVIVOR
THE MEMORY THAT I WAS YOURS AND YOU WERE MINE
EVERYBODY DIES
CHASING AFTER TIME

V2
WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEBODY
THEY’LL ALWAYS LEAVE TOO SOON
BUT A MEMORY, A MEMORY
CAN MAKE A FLOWER BLOOM
WE WANNA BE REMEMBERED
DON’T WANNA LIVE IN VEIN
BUT NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
THIS WORLD IS IN A LOSING GAME

PRE
I WANNA MEAN SOMETHING TO SOMEBODY ELSE
FEEL A SIGNIFICANCE IN THE REAL WORLD
IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE OUT A LUCKY LIFE

CHORUS
I’M FOREVER CHASING AFTER TIME
BUT EVERYBODY DIES, DIES
IF I COULD BUY FOREVER AT A PRICE
I WOULD BUY IT TWICE, TWICE
BUT IF THE EARTH ENDS IN FIRE
AND THE SEAS ARE FROZEN IN TIME
THERE’LL BE JUST ONE SURVIVOR
THE MEMORY THAT I WAS YOURS AND YOU WERE MINE
EVERYBODY DIES
CHASING AFTER TIME

MIDDLE 8
NO, I DONT WANNA BE AFRAID, AFRAID TO DIE
I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE
OH, ALL THESE THINGS THAT HUMANS DO
TO LEAVE BEHIND A LITTLE PROOF
BUT THE ONLY THING THAT DOESNT DIE IS LOVE

CHORUS
I’M FOREVER CHASING AFTER TIME
BUT EVERYBODY DIES, DIES
IF I COULD BUY FOREVER AT A PRICE
I WOULD BUY IT TWICE, TWICE
BUT IF THE EARTH ENDS IN FIRE
AND THE SEAS ARE FROZEN IN TIME
THERE’LL BE JUST ONE SURVIVOR
THE MEMORIES OF OUR LIFE TIME
EVERYBODY DIES
CHASING AFTER TIME
SO KEEP ME ALIVE
SO KEEP ME ALIVE
SO KEEP ME ALIVE

Review: “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town

Little Big Town’s album Pain Killer was the best country album released in 2014, and one of the best in any genre. It’s mixing of genres with Nashville songwriting hearkened back to the days of early 80’s when country/pop ruled the airwaves. Their second single from the album “Girl Crush” is a fine example of the quality songwriting and vocals heard throughout. In another era, ‘Girl Crush” would have no problem crossing over to pop mainstream, as it stands out amongst the crowd as unique, and quite frankly, there’s nothing country about it, at least in a traditional way. Karen Fairchild gets to take the rein on lead vocal here and convincingly  tells the obsessive tale of a woman fixated on another woman, but not for the typical sexual reasons. A clever twist on lyrics that will have listeners figuring it out on repeated listens.

In fact, it’s Fairchild’s emotive vocal that will clue people in on the true meaning of the song as she soulfully conveys the pain she’s in and the reasons why she’s “crushing”. In all, a solid contender already for song of the year 2015. Give it a listen below, share your opinion, and vote for your song of the week. All songs can be found on the home page by scrolling down.

I got a girl crush
Hate to admit it but,
I got a hard rush
It’s slowing down
I got it real bad
Want everything she has
That smile and that midnight laugh
She’s giving you now

I want to taste her lips
Yeah, ’cause they taste like you
I want to drown myself
In a bottle of her perfume
I want her long blonde hair
I want her magic touch
Yeah, ’cause maybe then
You’d want me just as much
I got a girl crush
I got a girl crush

I don’t get no sleep
I don’t get no peace
Thinking about her
Under your bed sheets
The way that she’s whispering
The way that she’s pulling you in
Lord knows I’ve tried,
I can’t get her off my mind

I want to taste her lips
Yeah, ’cause they taste like you
I want to drown myself
In a bottle of her perfume
I want her long blonde hair
I want her magic touch
Yeah, ’cause maybe then
You’d want me just as much
I got a girl crush
I got a girl crush
Hate to admit it but
I got a hard rush,
It ain’t slowing down.

Review: “Elastic Heart” by Sia

Sia’s third single from her excellent “1000 Forms Of Fear” album, is actually a track she debuted as a duet with The Weeknd on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack in 2013. It appears on her album and single as a solo number, which works fine without The Weeknd (although it might have gotten more attention now due to his recent radio success). “Elastic Heart” follows the now familiar Sia Pop formula, with repeated verse lines at a rapid pace, followed by a slow phrase prechorus, and of course, a catchy hook on the chorus. Vocally, Sia layers on her vocals and harmonies with trademark ease and authority, as she uses bounce back metaphors to help her hurting heart survive a lost love.

While the track will no doubt garner attention to its’ high profile video (what was Shia’s agent thinking?), I think resistance will meet the track at radio as its’ tempo is just not fast or slow enough to catch the attention of a mainstream audience, especially without a more immediate melody on the verses.

The hope is that Sia will return to writing the hooks that helped her score another record deal (“Diamonds”, Wild Ones”, etc) and keep a few of them for her next album.

Let me know if you like the song and vote for your song of the week (scroll down to continue hearing them all).

“Elastic Heart”
(feat. The Weeknd & Diplo)

And another one bites the dust
Oh why can I not conquer love?
And I might have thought that we were one
Wanted to fight this war without weaponsAnd I wanted it, I wanted it bad
But there were so many red flags
Now another one bites the dust
Yeah, let’s be clear, I’ll trust no one

You did not break me
I’m still fighting for peace

Well, I’ve got thick skin and an elastic heart,
But your blade it might be too sharp
I’m like a rubber band until you pull too hard,
I may snap and I move fast
But you won’t see me fall apart
‘Cause I’ve got an elastic heart

I’ve got an elastic heart
Yeah, I’ve got an elastic heart

And I will stay up through the night
Let’s be clear, won’t close my eyes
And I know that I can survive
I’ll walk through fire to save my life

And I want it, I want my life so bad
I’m doing everything I can
Then another one bites the dust
It’s hard to lose a chosen one

You did not break me
I’m still fighting for peace

Well, I’ve got thick skin and an elastic heart,
But your blade it might be too sharp
I’m like a rubber band until you pull too hard,
I may snap and I move fast
But you won’t see me fall apart
‘Cause I’ve got an elastic heart
[3x]

I’ve got an elastic heart

 

Review: “Hard Work” by Ella Henderson

19 year old British X Factor finalist follows up her Global hit “Ghost” with this plaintive ballad that shows her continuing the tradition of female blue-eyed soul singers. “Hard Work” is a more revealing look at Henderson as both a writer and vocalist then “Ghost” was, which really was just another female fronted Ryan Tedder composition. While Henderson could benefit from more writing experience as her lyrics are a bit on the “easy” side, her voice is interesting enough that it elevates material to another level altogether. While there are definite comparisons to the husky tones of fellow Factor finalist Leona Lewis, her breaks and vibrato are quicker on the draw and tend to bend to fit the material she is singing.

“Hard Work” won’t be the global smash “Ghost” was but it succeds n showing another side to this talented newcomer. Check out the video which shows a montage of personal videos of Henderson in and out of the studio. Vote if you like this song better than this week’s other contenders, which can be heard below.

Now I’m not talking from experience
But I think I’ve found magnificence
And at the end of the day
You can be hard work but you’re good for me
And though you seem to make my body ache
It’s a feeling I appreciate
Which makes it easier when
You can be hard work but you’re good for meThis time I know I won’t be proved wrong
This time to win you gotta lose some
Sometimes I just wanna give you up right away
But then you go and brighten up my day

I know I’m not wasting my time
For you to be the reason I cry
And no I’m not gonna lie
You’re hard work but you’re good for me
And you’re the one that’s by my side
When I’m going out of my mind
But ninety nine per cent of the time
You’re hard work but you’re good for me

And when I’m losing all my energy
You’re like my only working remedy
And when I struggle to breathe
Its ‘cause your hard work but you’re good for me
And when I start to feel I’ve had enough
And my head is feeling kind of rough
And even thinking is tough
When you’re hard work but you’re good for me

This high is a feeling that I’m fixed on
I knew it was worth it in the long run
‘Cause somehow everything has fell into place
And you can tell by the smile on my face

I know I’m not wasting my time
For you to be the reason I cry
And no I’m not gonna lie
You’re hard work but you’re good for me
And you’re the one that’s by my side
When I’m going out of my mind
But ninety nine per cent of the time
You’re hard work but you’re good for me

Mmm, hard work
Mmm, hard work
Mmm, you’re hard work but you’re good for me
Mmm, hard work
Mmm, hard work
Mmm, you’re hard work but you’re good for me
But I’m not running away, no
A little bit of love is all it takes

I know I’m not wasting my time
For you to be the reason I cry
And no I’m not gonna lie
You’re hard work but you’re good for me
And you’re the one to be by my side
When I’m going out of my mind
But ninety nine per cent of the time
You’re hard work but you’re good for me

Mmm, hard work
Mmm, hard work
Mmm, you’re hard work but you’re good for me
Mmm, hard work
Mmm, hard work
Mmm, you’re hard work but you’re good for me

Review: DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge “You Know You Like It”

Two up and coming international dance acts unite for a laid-back vibe on the club track “You Know You Like It”. The British import AlunaGeorge have been garnering a lot of critical praise the past couple of years with their brand of 90’s club soul, a trend recently followed by a number of new UK imports. Dj Snake, coming off his major club breakthrough “Turn Down For What”, allows the act to stay true to their R&B club roots, while infusing the track with just the right amount of breaks and heat to melt Aluna’s cool vocal. While the track doesn’t have the most immediate hook, repeated listens reveal a subtle melody brain freeze on the “You Know You Like it” refrain.

While this track won’t be the one to break them to the mainstream here, it will continue a buzz for both acts, sure to have more potential with  their next full-length releases.

Check out their unique video with a “planet of the apes” theme and then vote if you like this song better than Demi Lovato’s latest “Nightingale.” (scroll down for review and video).

We Feel For Sheena…

So I kicked off my first weekend of ’15 with a treat. A Sheena Easton concert at the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den in Connecticut. It is where Sheena has played the most often on the East Coast since the 2000’s, usually playing there once or twice a year. It is also where you will find the most “eclectic” fans, of which I include myself affectionately. Arriving there early to ensure a seat close to the stage (there are no assigned seats), one can find a cast of characters that are almost as entertaining as the headline show itself. A little bit nutty, a little bit obsessed, but a lot friendly, and a lot of fun. You can always count on the fan interaction between Sheena and her fans to be interesting at the Mohegan, and this night was no different.

Another recent trend with Sheena’s east coast visits have been inclement weather, from her Philly concert the night before a Superstorm Sandy, to last year’s snowstorm before her Valentine’s Day concert. Saturday night continued that trend with a significant snowfall during the afternoon/evening that surely kept people home. The Wolf Den seemed unusually empty at the opening of the show, although it seemed to fill to capacity by midway through, with some bystanders having to stand outside to enjoy the show.

I happened to catch the soundcheck, which was unusually long and must have been frustrating for Sheena and the band as her requests for specific mixes in the monitors seemed simple enough. They ran through a few songs but had to stop as the sound in the monitors kept needing adjusting. One particularly interesting interaction to witness was between the young sound guy and Sheena. At one point, he lifted up one of the monitors, as if that was the problem, then he told Sheena to step back as the reason he believed she wasn’t hearing the mix properly was the proximity of where she was standing to the monitor. A nice suggestion to a newcomer performer, but one that is wasted on a seasoned vet like Easton. It was nice to watch Sheena handle this with grace and humor, as she did as he requested and then let him know that it still wasn’t right. Later when speaking to this same gentleman, she thanked him for speaking to her in “chick singer” language. A funny nod to his assumption that she must not know what is wrong with the sound being a female singer, that I’m sure was lost on him. He seemed genuinely appreciative of her thanks. The sound wasn’t fixed but they had to move on and hope that it would be right  by the time the show started.

Sheena came out in a sparkly, green dress, looking svelte and fit for a lady celebrating her 35th anniversary in show biz this year. She opened with a cover of Prince’s “I Feel For You”a perfect way to introduce herself to those who may not know what they are in store musically tonight. Its’ reference to her frequent 80’s collaborator, its’ slightly funky showcase of her excellent band, and her playfulness with the crowd, all communicate a good time will be had by all. It was also apparent that the sound mix was not fixed and that would be a recurring problem handled delicately by Sheena throughout the night. She instructed the sound guy at the board when needed with slight gestures and no faces indicating to the audience that there were problems.

Next was Easton’s own funky R&B hit “The Lover In Me”. People are usually surprised this one is hers as it doesn’t quite fit the style and genre of her earlier pop hits.

“Almost Over You” gives Easton a chance to show the audience she still knows how to finesse a big ballad, and showcases her still impressive range. The buildup to the last big belt on the bridge is still powerful after all these years.

Easton’s shows since her residency in Vegas are showcases for not only her hits, but also those artists and songs that influenced her. After getting a couple of hits out of the way, she got to relax and let loose on a couple of standards, albeit different ends of the spectrum. “How Deep Is The Ocean” is from her exceptional Jazz album “No Strings” (1993) and finds her replicating that performance with ease and agility. This setlist has been the same for a couple of years now, and while the hardcore fans like to hear something new at every show, her vocal performances do seem to benefit from settling in with a song. When this song was first introduced into the setlist, Easton seemed hesitant at times, not quite confident she had the intricate melody balancing right with the jazzy chord progression underneath. That is completely gone now as she confidently delivers a breezy, fun interpretation of the sincere lyrics.

From there, Easton really cuts loose on a smoldering, sexy, “(How Sweet It Is) To Be Loved By You”. The interplay between her vocal and the band is outstanding, as they  seem to be having a blast performing this one. Easton, meanwhile leaves no doubt what she’s thankful for in a fun, winking, still-got-it, performance. Hoping she will record this one day as I have never heard this arrangement and it would be a nice re-introduction to her 80’s fans.

After that number, there really is no need for Easton to justify through her banter, that she perform her “sexy” hits at her age. “U Got The Look/Sugar Walls” go well together and the band showcase is tight and exceptional.

Putting some awkward banter between background vocalist Phillip Ingram and Easton aside (it just doesn’t work and feels uncomfortable), they turn in a crowd-pleasing R&B turn on her country hit with Kenny Rogers “We’ve Got Tonight”. Ingram gives a lesson on R&B riffing, which surely inspires Easton to inject soul into this Bob Seger classic.

It appeared as if Easton made a last minute decision to cut a song or two from the set as she spoke to the band softly to let them know what song they should do next. She may have chosen to do so either due to the sound problems or her reading of the audience. Whatever the reason, this decision to get right back to the hits seemed to inject a new enthusiasm into the audience that never wavered thereafter. “Strut” had people dancing in the aisles, with Easton’s encouraging and her own trademark 80’s era hip shakes to the beat.

“When He Shines” followed the band introduction, which allowed the audience to settle down and listen to one of her finest vocals of the evening. Her breathtaking control was still evident and this new arrangement, allows Easton to change the melody as she feels fits the lyric best. Her choices were right on. When she sings “He is a song that’s not easy to write”, while trailing upwards in a falsetto, it is a slight nuance, but chill inducing. She then holds the last “shine” in the chorus long enough for the audience to be inspired to applause midway through the song.

“Telefone” may be the comedic moment in the show lyrically, but it also has a still catchy chorus hook that finds the audience fist-pumping and “Whoa-ing” back to their high school prom days. The capper of her hits catalogue is her debut, number one “Morning Train”. Easton realizes the affection the audience has for the song and treats it with as much admiration as one could. She even let one of her female fans sing on mic to a couple of lines on the chorus, much to the delight of the awestruck fan.

The vocal highlight of the night comes as the “closer”. Easton takes an already impressive song by Martina McBride, “Anyway”, and sets it up with just the right words to help the audience focus on the lyrics. She then nails it with a powerful, soulful vocal that leaves no doubt as to her fine ability as a vocalist still today. She amazes the audience with each note as it goes higher. While Easton’s voice has gotten raspier in sections, it gives songs like this more meaning and weight. I actually can’t imagine her sounding better on this with her voice from back when she was in her 20’s. And that’s what experience brings. The audience rewarded her with a standing ovation after this song, even though they knew another one was coming.

“For Your Eyes Only” is another tour-de-force vocal from Easton, demonstrating her range, breath control, and phrasing abilities. The audience actually broke out into applause in a few sections on this song due to her vocal techniques.

Overall, Easton gave another stellar live performance in a 35 year career full of them. If you have not had the chance to see her live yet, please do as you will find yourself asking, “Why did I wait so long?”

Below are a few clips I found on YouTube from the actual concert.