Rated: Rihanna - Diamonds

Listen to 'Diamonds' here

Christ, so 'da bitch' is back with yet another new song. This isn't another single from current album Talk That Talk, it's a completely new song from a new album and it's called 'Diamonds'. As a Rihanna fan this is very exciting but for the non fans I imagine they're grinding their teeth to the gum right now. Talk That Talk was packed with attitude, naughty lyrics about being catered to down stairs (I don't know an actual polite verb for it that isn't offensive) and a duet with Jay Z. 

'Diamonds' is more in the vein of Rated R, spliced with some Lana Del Rey type production and tempo, and some very Sia sounding vocals. 

Lana + Sia + Rihanna = Fucking amazing!

With her vocals on top form, sounding authentic and strong, Rihanna owns the track from start to finish. It's a pretty meander away from the sex heavy content of her past singles, and a lovely reminder of great songs like 'Russian Roulette' and the other more ballady moments of Rated R. This is a song signifying why, as annoying and exhausting it may be for some, Rihanna has so successfully overcome overkill.

5/5

*I've been informed this was actually written by Sia (one of my favourite artists of all time). This makes me love it even more. Can I do 6/5?

Rated: Sia & Christina Aguilera Collab!

I literally saw this on Soundcloud a few seconds ago and felt more excited than I have done for ages about a song! 'Blank Page' is a collaboration on Lotus between love of my life Sia Furler and US Voice coach Christina Aguilera. Amazing. Amazing. Bloody Amazing. 

  Sia - Blank Page (Christina Aguilera Demo) by OfficialMedia

Rated: Christina Aguilera - Your Body

The first time I heard it I was a bit like WTF? Now, I am completely hooked. The first single from upcoming album Lotus, this song has Christina whipping on her chaps of old and unleashing Xtina once again. 'All I wanna do is fuck your body/tonight's your lucky night I know you want it' she belts out with that voice, you know the one that could stop traffic? It's a poppy, dancey, dirrty classic. 4/5 

  

**The video is OUT. Click to see... Your Body

I'm quite liking the video, not loving, liking. It's tongue in cheek, a bit naughty and if the tables were turned and a man made a video with this plot he'd probably end up in jail. Maybe Chris Brown should make one?!

Rated: Leona - Triple Teamed

So within 1 week Leona Lewis has come out all guns blazing for the release of her upcoming new album. Not only do we have the video for amazing new single 'Trouble' (which I like way better without immature Gambit) we're also getting a full run through of another new song called 'Stop the Clocks' and 'Glassheart'! Queue the mass ejaculation of Leona mega fans the world over. I'm not one so I will not be doing such a thing.

'Stop the Clocks'
Not as immensely satisfying as 'Trouble' but it's still good. Probs not a single though. 3/5
  Stop The Clocks by heistandaustin

'Glassheart'
I've made my distaste for the dub-step tsunami that's happened across pop. HATE A DUB-STEP BREAKDOWN. However, this song is a step forward for an artist who was in danger of becoming generic in her own balladry. Still, I was so excited about this song before that I feel a bit deflated now. Really not appreciating the doctoring of that Leona Lewis voice box either. 2/5

  Leona Lewis - Glassheart by João Pavão

Click through for the amazing 'Trouble' video; a song way better than it ever had any right to be.

Rated: P!nk - The Truth About Love (Track by Track)

Funhouse didn't rock my boat, not after the amazing-ness that was/is I'm Not Dead. I was a bit deflated, disappointed and left wandering the pop landscape with a cloud of confusion obstructing my vision of P!nk's future in my 'recently played'. Well she must have got my memo because she just head butted me in the balls with her new album The Truth About Love. 

I don't think it's necessarily a step forward for P!nk, but it definitely sees her find her feet again. There are some brilliant songs on here, no fillers, no shitters and plenty sass. The best thing about her as a popstar is that she is reliable. You don't see P!nk popping out chart relevant albums splattered with generic dub step beats (thank God because I can't take anymore dub step!), she always stays true to her tried and tested formula. The most impressive thing with this new album is that rather than evolve her it cements the distinctiveness of her sound.

I've gone through this step by step, so gird your loins:

1. Are We All We Are?
Dark and dirty pop-rock with an epic chorus. Probably not single material, but an epic opener. 4/5

2. Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
I only gave this 3/5 when I reviewed it before. Now it's gotten so deeply embedded in my head I've got no choice but to withdraw this and hit myself for being so fucking stupid. 4/5

3. Try
This is the second single and it's lovely. Produced by Kelly Clarkson 'Dark Side' creator Busbee, this is destined to become a fan favourite ballad. 4/5

4. Just Give Me a Reason
Teaming up with Fun. frontman Nate Ruess, this is one of the album's best songs. It's got a perfectly structured chorus layered over Fun. esque beats, and their voices sound amazing together. If this isn't a single there's something wrong with the world. 5/5

5. True Love
A song about how complicated love can be; 'You're an asshole but I love you'. One minute she's beating the shit out of him, the next she wants a hug. She hates hims so much it must be 'True Love, True Love, Truuueee Love'. This is awesome, bouncy, fun-pop and it features Lily Allen! Good times. 5/5

6. How Come You're Not Here
I love this. It's P!nk doing dirty pop-rock again, only this time there are twinkly bells. Trust me, it's bloody good. 5/5

7. Slut Like You
'I'm not a slut I just love love' chants P!nk before the 'Cuz I Can' type beat kicks in. The chorus is wild, with P!nk blasting 'I'm a slut like you!' and chatting the mid section in true pop comedy fashion. 5/5

8. Truth About Love
The title track (obviously). This doesn't grab at first, especially after the consecutive epicness that comes before it. It's chanty and fun, but it isn't as instantly likeable as the rest of the album, although it has one of my favourite lyrics on the entire album, 'The truth about love is it's blood and it's guts'. 3/5

9. Beam Me Up
The album slows down completely for this stripped back, acoustic ballad. Stunning vocals from P!nk, showing off her immense country tones. 5/5

10. Walk Of Shame
Unfortunately quite easy for me to relate to, as I imagine it is for everyone else reading this right now. You know who you are, tarts! 'One step, two steps, counting tiles on the floor, three steps, four steps, guess this means that I'm a whore...'. Hmmm, yeah... it's been a while though. Reformed. Oh, the song, it's cool as fuck. 5/5

11. Here Comes the Weekend
Opening with a playground chant over a heavy guitar riff, this is a funky rocky tune packed with attitude. 4/5

12. Where Did the Beat Go?
Great beats. Great vocals. Totally infectious. 5/5

13. The Great Escape
The standard version of the album closes with this piano led ballad. It's not as gorgeous as 'Beam Me Up', but it's still overflowing with charm. 3.5/5

Bonus Tracks

14. My Signature Move
At first I didn't like this, mainly because I didn't really get where it was going. Then the chorus exploded and I was blown away. Everytime that chorus kicks in it's like being in a wind tunnel.

15. Is This Thing On?
Cool production and it could be brilliant but there's something missing. What? I have no idea. 2.5/5

16. Run
A power ballad, with P!nk's voice on it. Solid production and a huge beat all mixed up with P!nk emotive voice; perfect. 5/5

17. Good Old Days
Lots of clapping and happy lyrics about love, of course. 4/5

The Truth About Love is one of P!nk's most accomplished albums to date. Better than Funhouse and possibly better than I'm Not Dead. It doesn't have one song I dislike. There are a couple I'm not as fond of, but I can tell with time they'll grow. 

With hugely satisfying moments, some tracks that have so much attitude they make Rihanna look like a cuddly Teddy Bear Nun, and vocals so strong and distinct Beyonce starts to sound like a really good Xfactor contestant, this is one of the best pop records of 2012 and of P!nk's career.

4.5/5

Top track - Just Give Me a Reason

Others to download: Blow Me/Beam Me Up/Slut Like You/True Love

Unrated: LMFAO Split - Call end to pish music

THANK FUCK

Rated: Ellie Goulding - Anything Could Happen

I wasn't hugely taken with Ellie Goulding's debut album Lights, even though it sported some rather fetching pop songs like 'Starry Eyed' and 'Guns and Horses'. Overall, I just couldn't get into it. Things sound a lot better with new single 'Anything Could Happen', which after just one listen I am completely obsessed with. It's hypnotic, sumptuous chill out pop at its best, with stunning vocals and unique production making it one of 2012's most exciting songs.

5/5

Rated: Tulisa - Live It Up (or kill me now, y'know, whatever)

Wow, I really do not know what to say about the new Tulisa song (featuring Tyga if you please) other than the following:

ABSOLUTE MURDER

0/5

Rated: The XX - Coexist

The XX mesmerised with their quietly euphoric debut album XX. Featuring gorgeous pieces of heady pop, this was an album that had undeniable potential to redefine the genre and take it in a new direction; it still does. XX left fans and critics waiting in intense anticipation (the nails in the front of the couch kind) and waves of excitement echoed throughout social networks when Coexist was announced. I won't lie, I might have prayed a little bit for this to be incredible.

Some will be left full and satisfied after their first play, others will be left feeling a bit confused as to why there's nothing new here. The likes of 'Angels' and 'Fiction' are strong moments for the band, although they could have slipped comfortably into XX without sticking out from the crowd. They're lovely songs though, particularly the former which has some affective vocals from Romy. The tempo remains mid to low, however when it rises up to mid with the stunning 'Sunset', and 'Swept Away' it's almost like a rave when put in contrast to the more haunting songs like 'Missing'. 

Coexist is more of the same from the band, but since they essentially created their own unique brand of pop who can blame them for not straying from the path. The problem with the album is that it doesn't define itself quite as distinctly as its predecessor. For example, when I first heard 'Islands' and 'Heart Skipped a Beat' I felt some elation. There aren't really any 'big' moments like those on Coexist. That said, pretty much every song is pleasant and for the entire run time the atmosphere it creates is nothing short of divine. Glass of red at the ready.

3/5

Xfactor USA - BRITNEY!

12/09/2012 marks the date that season 2 of the Xfactor USA is unleashed on the world (c'mon ITV2!) and thankfully the complete insanity that is Paula Abdul is now gone (love her really) and we have Britney fucking Spears instead. I've seen clips of her in action and she's a spit fire - got to love her. So in preparation I thought I'd present you with some epic Britney songs to gird your loins. Kicking things off with 'Stronger' and then just click the jump link to see the other 4. Takes you back to your pre-teen bedroom right?

Stronger (2000)

Stanton Warriors feat. Ruby Goe

I joined Soundloud this morning... yes I know it's a joke for a pop music blogger to have waited so long to sign up to one of the biggest new music resources on the planet, but shit happens right? 

One of the first tracks I discovered is this brilliant collab between breakbeat duo Stanton Warriors and my new fav female Ruby Goe. 'Shoot Me Down' is fucking awesome. Check it out below and if you don't have a fantastic time I have serious doubts about our relationship in the future:

Alanis Morissette - Havoc & Bright Lights

It's no secret that I am an enormous Alanis Morissette fan. My relationship with her music, yes I'm pretentious enough to call it that, has strode on for 11 years since I first picked up her debut Jagged Little Pill after hearing 'Ironic' on TV, as mum did her ironing and cursed her creases. Since then there have been 6 unique studio albums, an acoustic recording of her debut and numerous other musical expeditions.

Alanis has never been one to follow a trend, not conventionally anyway. When the GaGa electro-pop fad was taking hold back in 2008, she released Flavours of Entanglement which took pop synths and thrust them into the most unreachable place she could find. This was and remains one of my favourite albums, with brilliant songs like the heady roaring electro rock anthem 'Versions of Violence', beautiful ballad 'Not As We' and the classically Alanis sounding 'Underneath'. This was a huge step forward from the disappointing So-Called Chaos which just didn't hold the same bite her past albums. That's not to say it didn't have any decent songs on it: 'Everything' and 'Eight Easy Steps' are both great. 

What people have been waiting for is an album that is just as emotional, quirky and full of bite as JLP. Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie was brimming with edge and stroppy charm and Under Rug Swept was blessed with some stunning moments ('Hands Clean' & '21 Things'), but neither managed to meet the iconic sound of their mother album. Who wouldn't want a 21st Century 'All I Really Want'? A fucking idiot that's who.

Now it's 2012 and we're presented with Havoc & Bright Lights. An album that is preceded by lead single 'Guardian', a typically Alanis sounding rock song about her baby. It's not as cheesy as it sounds, in fact it's one of her best songs to date, with her predictably powerful vocals and standard quirky lyricism draped over an infectious guitar riff. Following from this, 'Woman Down' acts as a 2012 version of the epic 'Sister Blister', only this kicks off with squiffy beeping synths which lead into a girl power rock anthem chorus: 'Calling all woman haters/we've lowered the bar on the/behaviour that we will take/come on now'. 'Til You' is an ethereal ballad with a heavenly echo in its chorus, not quite 'Not As We' but close. 

The dark tones of her last album are continued on 'Celebrity' and 'Numb'. The former isn't as divine as it could be, but it's got one of those choruses that just whips you off your feet. In the grand scheme of things though, it's not even in the running for best album track and it's tough to get a handle on what she's saying. The latter is more epic, more dark, more riffy and just much better. She lightens things up with 'Empathy' and 'Receive', the former one of the album's highlights, and 'Lens' which sounds like a track fit for a 21st Century JLP.

Unfortunately there are some weaker moments. 'Win & Win' and 'Havoc' aren't the most inspiring songs, mainly because they're so damn hard to get into. W&W has had 6 plays and I still can't find the hook. Thankfully album closer 'Edge of Evolution' improves things but even this isn't strong enough to wrap things up in optimum style. 

Alanis's music has always reflected her own life, experiences and emotions. JLP was an angsty record, burgeoning with fire, sadness, themes of loss and desperation and rage. The album's success is down to its ability to speak to anyone who listens to it, regardless of their age or personality. As time has gone on and Alanis has grown up, so has her music. The themes have gone from those mentioned above, to love and separation, world peace and motherhood. This isn't a bad thing, it's just a lot harder to relate to every song when you haven't experienced those events yourself and probably never will. However, Alanis will continue to develop songs that are so lyrically intricate and dynamic that our interpretations are somewhat open. 

Havoc & Bright Lights doesn't match its ancestor record, not even by world's length, but it does prove that this artist isn't going anywhere, anytime soon. If she wants to share her life with us through some stunningly crafted music, then who are we to argue? I just hope next time I can give it a better rating.

3/5

Download: Guardian, Woman Down, Lens, Empathy

Rated XX-Leona-Pink: Incoming!

The next few months look set to be quite juicy as far as album anticipation goes. We've got a new one from naughty super tart P!nk, the new XX album which is destined to be mesmerising and the sickeningly overdue album by the one Xfactor winner who actually blows doors open with her voice (true story), good ol' Leona Lewis. Let's have a look:


The XX - Coexist
They didn't get really big till post Mercury Prize shenanigans, but this band is pretty special either way. Ethereal synths hovered and hopped about on XX, a pop album like no other in our time. Now having heard a track called 'Chained', which stays true to the sound of their debut, and another gorgeous song called 'Angels' on which Romy's voice is so delicious I want to fucking eat it, I am fully primed for action. Bring it!
Released 10 September

Leona Lewis - Glassheart

This album has royally pissed me and thousands of others off. It's coming out/it's not coming out/it's coming out again/it's not/is/not/is... and so forth. Thankfully the farce is over and there's only another month or so to wait till we have the finished product in our hands. I expect great things (whether my expectations meet reality remains to be seen) from this, particularly after the pleasant 'Collide' and the new single 'Trouble', which is pretty bloody epic. Let's just keep every inch of ourselves crossed that this isn't the same pop-cock up that Echo was.

Released 15 October (how coincidental that the Xfactor live shows will be in full swing... cheeky!)

P!nk - The Truth About Love

It's been a wee while since P!nk graced us with her silly exclamation mark name. I've missed her. New single 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)' is a brilliant and incredibly infectious popper with some standard P!nk sounding production and the usual charismatic vocals. I wasn't a big fan of Funhouse so let's hope the new one brings us back the immensity of I'm Not Dead.

Released 17 September

Rated Rita Ora - Radioactive

Click the pic for a cheeky listen!

Ok, so my 2/5 score for ORA wasn't quite what even I expected to be dishing out. To take the sting out I thought I'd raise some awareness of epic new single 'Radioactive'. Co-penned by the forever wonderful Sia and produced by Greg Kurstin (P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, Sia), this is a track destined for dance floors. An intense chorus laid over awesome dance production, this is a great song to close summer with.

5/5

Rated ORA - Rita Ooh rara

The English equivalent to Rihanna has dropped her debut album. It looks set to take the number 1 spot this Sunday, but does ORA deserve it? The answer in short is yes, considering some of the other albums that have claimed this coveted position in the past (Justin Bieber?!), however as a collection of songs created to set Rita apart from her musical peers ORA doesn't reach the same level as superstar albums such as Talk That Talk and 4. 

Intro 'Facemelt' sounds cool, with the revving engine production and military drums under Rita's sassy rap, but why it wasn't made into a full track is unfathomable. The album does of course contain new single 'How We Do (Party)' and epic debut single 'R.I.P', both of which are brilliant pop songs, the latter one of the 2012's finest. These moments are only matched by the stunning 'Radioactive' which serves as the second best song out of 15 and will be the next single release (there is a God).

For a debut album which has been in the pipe line for over a year and has had EVERYONE working on it, ORA isn't a 5 star record nor does it escape the urge to press skip for more than 50% of its run time. Thankfully, the 3 brilliant songs are enough to make it worth a listen, but frankly there's far too much 'average' populating the tracklist.

2/5