Rated We Found Love (The Video)

I know I post a lot about Rihanna these days, but it's because she's the only one ripping up the music charts right now. When 'We Found Love' dropped I was very pleased and excited. Now, I have a brilliant music video to swoon over and by brilliant I mean brilliant.

I know I'm slightly biased, but this is by far the best video to get released in 2011. It's a smart approach to visually portraying the song, which otherwise seems like a positive one. I thought the video was going to be Ri running about in fields being happy about loving some fit dude. Alas, only half of this is right. The video shows how poisonous loving someone can be and self destructive it can make you. We see Rihanna throwing up in the streets (presumably after taking drugs) but it's ribbons that come out of her mouth, so cool. We see her going crazy on pills and we see her get dirty at a party in someone's farm yard. It's by far the best video she's done so far and the most meaningful.

Rihanna isn't bad at acting and the guy she's with is hot. It's a bit like watching an indie British film; like a mini-Trainspotting style affair. Take a look.

The video above is the uncut version (the one on TV is boring).

Rated Loud Tour 2011

BABE

It's been just over a year since Rihanna toured her 4th studio album Rated R . We've been in the midst of a Rihanna tornado since then with a constant stream of singles, a new album and yet another tour. It leaves one wondering, how does she do it? Where does she get the energy from? Where do all these tremendous songs come from? Apparently some ether of pop brilliance.

The Last Girl On Earth tour of 2010/2011 was a great showcase of the darker material from the Rated R era. It featured songs like 'Russian Roulette', 'Rude Boy' and 'Te Amo', performed against a robo-apocalyptic backdrop. There was latex, lots of war imagery and a huge amount of rockstar charm. Now, on the Loud Tour, supporting an album that has now sold in excess of 8 million copies worldwide, Rihanna is cranking the pace up a notch.

Things kick off with a 3/4 minute film, which has the Bajan babe in a bobbed red wig and black outfits, screaming as loud as possible. It crescendos, the screen splits in the two, and out she pops in a neon lit, transparent orb. Belting out the tremendous 'Only Girl (In the World)' , she makes the crowd insane, all the while strutting up and down the stage in a tiny blue glossy coat, leaving very little to the imagination; that's why we love her! Her vocals are on top form, better than they have ever been in fact. She engages with the crowd, bellowing 'Glasgoooow', more frequently than she did on her last tour, making the whole affair that little bit more exciting. De-robing to reveal a rainbow coloured, beaded bra and pant combo, she slips into 'Disturbia' and 'Shut Up and Drive', before sitting non-chalantly against a wrecked car to show off her West Indian tones on the Bob Marley inspired 'Man Down'.

The tempo at this tour is much higher with less balladry and more big beats. There is the essential ballad segment, but it takes up very little time for the pace to quicken again. A revved up rock cover of Prince's 'Darling Nikki' slips into a raunchy performance of 'S&M', identical to that she performed with Britney Spears at the VMAs. 

The pink tank of the previous tour returns, but it's smaller and fires projectiles into the audience. Getting G with 'Raining Men' and 'Hard', Rihanna rides her ad-hoc army vehicle to the front of the stage, surrounded by gun-toting topless dancers.

Rated TTT.

Expect a full review of Rihanna's new album, out November 21st, when I lay my hands on it. I feel an early pre-work purchase coming on. Clearly buying it Deluxe. TTTD here I come.

Love the album covers. 

Rated Neva Soft.

It's been a long time since we heard anything from Ms. Dynamite-ee-ee. In fact it's been 6 years since her last studio album Judgement Days, a significant under performer. She all but vanished at the end of 2005 and now she's back. Following on from the brilliant duet with Katy B on 'Lights On', the first lady of the UK Urban scene is offering up an original and immense piece of dub step mastery in the form of 'Neva Soft'. 


The song packs a bite, particularly on the rapped verses where Ms. Dynamite comments on her hiatus, "I'ma high from the anticipation, Never know 'bout the moves we've been making, Best things come to those who have been waiting...". The track slows down to a halt half way, and after some lovely soft vocals it bursts back to an uptempo, euphoric crescendo packed with rough synths and attitude.


 It's true, the best things come to those who wait as 'Neva Soft' proves itself to be her most interesting and edgy track to date.

Check it out for yourself.

Rated MOBOS 2011

Like I said before, I got FREE tickets to the MOBO Awards and last night was the night. The night blew open with a massive performance from Jesse J and then some typical, rehearsed award show chatter from Jason Derulo and Alesha Dixon, the sexy presenters. It seemed to just get bigger and better as the night progressed, with amazing slots from Dappy (Yes, Dappy was amazing!) and Wretch 32. Katy B. sang 'Broken Record' and then slid into 'Lights On' with an actual flesh and bone featuring from Ms Dynamite. The night got more sombre with a stunning rendition of 'Love is a Losing Game' by Dionne Bromfield and then a camped up stage show from Alexis Jordan. My favourite moment was the first verse and chorus of Emeli Sande's 'Heaven', which she popped into the middle of her duet with Professor Green. It was such an exhilarating night. I just wish I had one of the VIP tables.

Rated Jessie J

I've been pretty hard on this young British singer of late, but that all changed last night when she opened the MOBO Awards in Glasgow's SECC. I got some free tickets through work and after one of the most stressful journeys of my life I finally made it into the arena. I knew Jessie was going to be there and I did a lot of moaning about it. Let's just say, her performance of 'Do It Like a Dude' kicked me in the balls.

Kudos JJ.

Rated 'We Found Love'

It seems Rihanna can't quite help but court controversy. First she drastically sexes up her image with Rated R, then she gets killed in her marvellous 'Russian Roulette' video and pisses parents off with her vibrant, cheeky, video for 'S&M'. Now the controversy isn't about what her music is saying or showing, it's about the speed at which she's popping out new material. It's been less than two years since we had Loud and less than a year before that we had Rated R. It seems Rihanna is a bajan musical snowball and the only question to ask is where will it melt?

Things are remaining pretty damn hot in the RiRi world for the time being with new single 'We Found Love'. The Calvin Harris produced number is a summery club exhilarator, with the expected Calvin Harris bouncy synths. "We found love in a hopeless place" sings our fox on a repetitive, but completely intoxicating, chorus. It doesn't have the thump of 'Only Girl', or the sumptuous kettle drum synthy charms of 'What's My Name?', or even the sassy bite of 'Rude Boy', but 'We Found Love' is a lovely taster from the 23 year old's upcoming 6th studio album. We're in Rihanna overload right now, so this album has a lot riding on it. If this song is anything to go by though, she isn't going anywhere.

4/5

Rated 'Freedom'

The Sugababes have had a pretty busy career. Sure they've got countless hit singles and millions of album sales, but their biggest achievement is still existing after numerous line-up changes to a point where now there are no original group members left. 

After their flop album Sweet 7, the girls are back and are desperate to prove their worth as the pseudobabes. They're doing this with a vamped up image and club ready new single 'Freedom'. The video harks back to the dark club setting of their epic single 'Freak Like Me' but the song is very different. Keeping with the times and going for gay anthem complete with dub-step breakdown, 'Freedom' proves that the ladies can still knock out a good tune. The song's crescendo, post-breakdown, is exhilarating but the song still lacks the bite and originality that their older efforts have become famous for. It's a great dance-floor track, but overall it still isn't hitting the mark you'd expect. On a plus note, the song is brilliant when compared to some of the disasters from Sweet 7 and as long as they manage to recapture their feistiness on their upcoming album, things could be on the up.

3/5

Rated Keisha

It's been a while since the Sugababes' much publicised and speculated refurbishment and just as long since we heard anything from Keisha Buchanan. The original member and her big pipes are now back, with debut solo material and a lovely set at Jacques Townhouse back in July. I have only just managed to find said video footage and I am hugely impressed. Not only does she have a great solo presence but her voice seems more powerful than ever.

Check out her cover of Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep' below and make up your own mind. I, however, am already sure that this woman is on the track to the top of the charts.

Rated 1+1

In true Beyonce fashion, there are to be a number of music videos directed for both singles and non singles from her newest album 4. This is exciting and will keep my youtube playlist/favourites list full for some time. She did the same with her 2nd album B'Day and made lots of sexy videos for the songs from I Am... Sasha Fierce. A video for 'I Care' would be great B', thanks!

On a more title relevant note, the first non single to receive a video is track number one, '1+1'. The song itself is startlingly powerful and raw, with B's vocals on traffic stopping form. To emphasise the message of the song, there's now a mesmerising video to promote it. Hypnotic, sexy and dream like, the video for '1+1' is completely stripped back from the production spectacle of 'Run the World'. It's slow and erotically charged, but remains classy and tasteful like B always manages to maintain in her presentations. She seductively dances with a male, in leopard print underwear and manages to not look like a hooker. It's pretty damn beautiful as is the lady herself, her skin covered in glitter like a vampire from Twilight. This might actually be the most expressive video she's ever done.

HOT.

Rated Jealousy

It has been three long years since we heard anything from the harmonious pipes of Mr Will Young. I had all but written him off after the lack of leverage his last album Let Go received, but now his pretty head has popped up once more and with it comes a new single and a lovely new album called Echoes; more on said album once I have heard it all in full.


For now, we have a gorgeous new single called 'Jealousy'. Produced by Richard X, who has worked with artists like Sugababes and Roisin Murphy in the past, the song is a delicious, big, slice of pop perfection. Starting off in true ballad fashion, it soon picks up and slides into an echoey ride of soft synths and electronic percussion. My first thought was that 'Jealousy' sounds like Girls Aloud's single 'Call the Shots' and we all know how damn good that song was. Will's voice is as perfect as ever. It never sounds over produced, remaining organic and authentic throughout, much like his finest past singles, 'Leave Right Now' and 'All Time Love'. If 'Jealousy' is a preview of the remainder of Echoes, I have high hopes, because this is, perhaps, one of the best songs by a male solo artist released in 2011 or even in this decade. Let's face it, we're running short on male solo singers right now who don't rap about big booty and slide around on the bonnets of sports cars. 


Go Wills!


5/5

Rated RiRi - FAIL.

Due to painfully unfortunate financial failings on my part, I can no longer afford to go down to London to suck up the immense aura of my favourite bitch, Rihanna. I am now left, cold and lonely on October 5th...completely Rihanna-less. In her place I will blast her back catalogue and down a bottle of Cava, maybe two? 


Should anyone be interested in two standing tickets for the O2 Arena on the 5th October 2011, please let me know via twitter and I will sort something out for you. We can discuss price at the time, I don't like quoting figures online, it's so messy.

Just a picture to rub salt into my Rihanna shaped wound.

I love you, woman.

Rated 'I'm In Here'

My favourite song this month (August) is the very non-summery 'I'm In Here' from the tail end of Sia Furler's stunning disco-pop infusion album We Are Born. I love every song on here, but this song is so affective and so self reflective that I can't resist its charm. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Check out my review of We Are Born here.

Rated Swagga Jagga.

If I am subjected to the horrendous, excruciating torture of 'Swagger Jagger' by Xfactor failure Cher Lloyd one more time, I may resort to desperate measures. I don't understand the critics who commend it and I don't understand the morons who bought the bloody thing on Itunes. It is a gaping, putrid wound on the face of British music and I want it to die (the song, not her). So, I remind myself of the great music that the country has produced prior to mini Cheryl Cole's debut single. Ellie Goulding, Sunday Girl, Coldplay, Tinie Tempah and Katy B...hell even The Wanted and JLS haven't released anything quite as infuriating. 


Now, on this overcast Thursday afternoon, I am trying to plot some way to destroy the song and any possibility of the girl scoring a number one album. Come on forces from musical heaven, STOP HER!

"I'm an unoriginal, image thieving harlot"

Rated Titanium.

It's no major revelation that I love Sia Furler. Her music has been in my life for over 2.5 years now and I haven't once been able to fault her, not once. Her voice is so unique and so wonderfully emotive that it's impossible not to fall for her charms. Song like 'Death By Chocolate', 'Clap Your Hands' and 'I'm In Here' are fine examples of why this artist deserves far more credit than she gets. Hopefully, in time people will become more aware of her presence in the music market and everyone will know of her brilliance. At the same time I kind of just want her all to myself.

Anyway, her new song with David Guetta is a great way to break into the mainstream (although I'm not sure how I feel about this move entirely) and thankfully it's a stunning song. Vocals on full throttle and the beats smash behind her in dramatic, club fashion. It's a pretty orgasmic dance floor filler and I cannot wait to get down to this. So excited!

Rated Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend

To accompany her brilliant new single, 'Call Your Girlfriend', Swedish synth siren Robyn has popped out a one-take wonder. The video is pretty much Robyn's own 'Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)' and has one of the funkiest breakdowns of the year 75% of the way through. The song itself is just one more slice from the delicious, sumptuous Body Talk cake.

Other Robyn Posts. I do love a bit of Robyn y'know.

Rated Albums of 2011 So Far...

2011 has proven to be quite the year for pop music. Adele's 21 has become the biggest selling digital album in history and her single 'Rolling in the Deep' leaped to the number one spot in the UK and the US billboard Hot 100, which is quite a feat for a British solo female artist. Beyonce released her fourth album, the aptly named 4, which gave us the dancefloor grinding 'Run the World (Girls)' and a sex war video. The album sold bucket loads in its first week of release and has remained at number one in the US for two consecutive weeks (watch this space). Britney released her seventh studio album Femme Fatale, and although it's got some brilliant pop moments on it, it has not made the cut for the top 3 so far... count down.

1: Beyonce - 4

Ok, so this was predictable and I cannot deny I am a HUGE Beyonce fan. However, I am honest and the one thing I am honest about is that I expected this album to be horrific going on the previews I experienced and the comments of others. Thankfully it is a brilliant collection of original sounding pop music. Mixing 80s synths, pop, rock and rnb and some weird, almost experimental, electronic sounds, this is a fantastic addition to the record collection of 2011. Well done B. Read my full review here.




2: Lady Gaga - Born This Way

There was so much critical dismay before this album came along. Title track 'Born This Way' divided fans, more than any song has done in this century I imagine, but proved itself a success becoming her fastest selling single in the US. The album is nothing like her debut. Her vocals are more raw, authentic and powerful and the songs are ridiculously catchy euro-pop thumpers. 'Marry the Night', 'Hair' and 'Scheibe' are all deserving of accolades for best pop song. Read my review here.







3. Adele - 21

I didn't review this album, mainly because I didn't have time and now it's a little too late. Maybe soon? We all know it's amazing though, considering it's been played to death in just about every home in the UK and now the US. Look out for 'Someone Like You', 'Rolling in the Deep' and my own favourite, 'If it hadn't been for love'.

Rated 'I Wanna Go'

Britney's Femme Fatale tour kicked off last week and, I must say, it looks incredible. I'm not so sure about praising a singer for singing 40% of their 'live' show with a live vocal, but I guess for a Britney tour that's pretty impressive (hmmm). From the clips on youtube I gather that it's a pyrotechnic, dance fuelled, booty shaking extravaganza. The opening with 'Hold it Against Me' is brilliant, as is her performance of 'Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know' from the Oops! era.

Anyway, back on track. The video for third Femme Fatale single, 'I Wanna Go', dropped the other day and it's pretty epic. Random, weird and ridiculous, but oh so much fun. What's great about it is that it's the first glimpse of the old Britney Spears being back in the real world again. Her constant glazing of the eyes is gone and she has some sass back in her, which is a relief because as questionable as her input in her work is, she is the biggest pop star of her generation. The most key aspect of video, pushing aside the Terminator style robotic paparazzi and Britney looking a bit Avril Lavigne, is that Brit looks HAWT.


The song itself is one of the better moments from 7th studio album Femme Fatale. It's anthemic dance pop with a killer hook. The robotic Britney makes a return on the track and it works here because she's at least recognisable. "I’ve been told who I should do it with, to keep both my hands above the bl-an-ket, when the lights out...", sings Britney, challenging those who dictate how naughty she's allowed to be. It doesn't have the huge finish of 'Hold it against me' or 'Till the world ends', but 'I wanna go' has enough punch to make it a classic Britney song.

Rated 4

Beyonce surprised me when she released the epic ass shaker ‘Run The World (Girls)’. I then surprised myself by leaping from a venomous hatred for the song to an epic love that has me imitating the shoulder shudder on every dance floor I grace. You would think, going by what the lead single suggests, that the forthcoming 4 would be an album in much the same vein as past material. Lots of uber feminist and patriotic booty bumping a la ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)’ and some sexually charged grind like ‘Video Phone’. If you’re expecting any of the above then you’re about to be surprised, shocked and maybe even disappointed. However, what it lacks in sass and sex appeal, it makes up for with passion, aggression and determination.

Don't use 'Run the World' as a basis for judging this album, this is the best advice I can give you in relation to 4. It's the closer and although would have been nice as the introductory track, when you grasp the structure of the album you appreciate it as an ending. The tempo begins at zero but reaches climax when the Major Lazer sampler beats the doors of love down. So just sit back and relax and gird your loins for the epic finish. Don't do as I have done and listen to the critics who are saying the album is "horrific", "messy", "worst album ever". I have been pleasantly surprised by the final product and although there is one weak moment, by Beyonce's standards, this is a damn solid album.

Rated Flashback - Spirit Room

There's one album that sticks with you from your teen years and showers you with nostalgia upon every listen. That one album for me (aside from the likes of Jagged Little Pill and Hotel Paper) is The Spirit Room by Canadian singer/songwriter Michelle Branch. She never took off over here, but she made a pretty big impact overseas, scoring a Grammy and 3 top 40 singles, not to mention the 2million+ sales of the album in the US alone.

This album sticks with me because it's, simply, catchy as hell. It's pretty standard acoustic pop/rock from the early 00s, but there's just something rather marvellous going on here that I've never been able to put my finger on. Whether it's Branch's distinguishable vocals, emotion driven performance, the brilliant melodies or the well constructed lyricism, I do not know. Maybe it's a combination of all the above? I was only 13 when this album came out and some pretty harrowing stuff was going on in my personal life at the time, thus the reason it's remained a pretty important part of my musical therapy collection. I felt down recently so I whipped it out and began soothing my soul once more.

With singles 'Everywhere', 'All You Wanted' and the superb 'Goodbye to You', the album couldn't really go wrong. There's not one filler, every song feels like it's been carved out of musical stone, and the non-singles are either equally as effective and fun as the released or they take things to another level. 'Sweet Misery' and 'Something to Sleep to' for example, are startlingly awesome pop songs. The former, probably my favourite from the album, features a lovely vocal performance and stunning choral melody, something that recurs throughout Branch's work (she's got a knack for cracking out hooks). A surprising moment on The Spirit Room is 'Drop in the Ocean', which goes from haunting love song to a trippy Tori Amos style dancey number. This is a bout as sonically experimental this album gets, but it is supposed to be a pop/rock album, not a 'Professional Widow' style collection.

Sounding mildly like Alanis Morissette in her earliest years, Branch's vocal style reaches a similar sound at her higher pitches. However, Morissette's material was beyond her years at Branch's age and was as intricate and metaphorical as lyrics can possibly get. The Spirit Room certainly is not Jagged Little Pill, the main reason being a lack of maturity. Branch's age shows with her coolly named book of love songs and angst. However, as young as these love songs are they're written masterfully. Song writing is Branch's main forte, proven with the release of second album Hotel Paper, which had more love songs but more maturity, making for a slightly darker sound (emphasis on slightly). This is an album that will always stick with me, kind of like a child hood teddy bear that keeps reappearing every time you start to feel a little low.