Rated: Geri Halliwell - Half Of Me

This is how I felt when I first saw/heard this:

Good on Geri for at least attempting to sing in the studio, let alone record a new song and perform it live in front of thousands at a live event in Australia (it was like an F1 pile up followed by an atom bomb filled with shit). Not so good on her for coming out with this, 'Half Of Me'. One of those awful songs, built up to simplicity, that sticks in your head and just won't leave... ever. It's infectious, but it's also appalling pop music. "I gave you the finger/you took me to dinner/and you made me laugh" she 'sings' over Poundland production. The whole affair isn't helped by the video, a right shit storm of a thing that had me cringing in my seat. I almost wished I was dead.

1/5

PS: I try to avoid the zero mark where possible and in this instance, just for effort and out of pity, she gets 1.

Rated: Lady Gaga - Do What U Want Review

R Kelly's ripping off Rihanna's "Eh Eh Eh Eh" on Lady Gaga's new promo single 'Do What U Want', but we'll over look this, for now. This is the moment we've been waiting for from Gaga, something that harks back to her FAME days but moves forward far enough to not sound like a rip off of its predecessors. 'You can't have my heart & you won't use my mind but do what u want with my body' she roars over a metallic rumble and thumping synths. It's a convincing collaboration and it's the finest song she's released since 'Judas'. It's unfortunate it can't chart due to the manner of its release, because 'Venus' is a sad shit of a song in comparison.

4.5/5

Rated: Lady Gaga - Venus Review

'Venus' is rammed with electronic synths, robotic vocal tweaks, & so many pop theatrics that it's hard to focus on the lyrical content of the song itself. It's certainly random and it's definitely camp. The verses are quirky but the lyricism is to its own detriment; it just doesn't stick. There's a pleasant enough chorus, but it's just not enough. Even the chorus can't save 'Venus' from falling into wacky 'album track' territory and the song ignites concern that her upcoming collection ARTPOP is going to be just a bit too silly to match up to the quality pop of her past. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this is as shit as the new music gets. Crossed really fucking tight.

1.5/5

Rated: Katy Perry - Prism Review

It must be tough to focus on your 5.5million album sales and your record breaking single releases when your husband's just filed for divorce. Your tour collapses amidst your own personal emotional meltdown and your career is sent into turmoil. Singles stop being released, album promotion halts, and record company execs panic about the next lucrative move for you as an artist. This is what one would expect to happen when you've been dumped by a douche you doted on, however not Katy Perry. Her tour continued, her album floated around the top 40, 3 years after its original release, and she broke the record for a female artist with the most billboard number 1 singles from a studio album (5!). You couldn't be blamed for saying 'Katy Perry is the ultimate pop star of our time'. 

Picking herself up and dusting off the emotional debris of the past year, Perry releases her 4th studio album, Prism. It's a title about 'letting light back into her life and seeing herself again', aw that's nice. This is an album destined for big things before it's even been heard; Perry being one of those incredibly likeable artists that everyone wants to do well regardless of how revolutionary (or not) her music is. The tone of the album is set by the title, there's a lot of self reflection, emotion and exposé. It's not all dark and brooding though, there's the trademark Perry Pop that's made her back catalogue so enjoyable. 

Prism is an interesting collection of genres and sounds. Lead single 'Roar' is an incredibly infectious song, about self empowerment and personal growth. This is matched by the luscious hip hop production of sassy 'Dark Horse' feat Juicy J, a song so different from the rest of the album it stands out like dick on a cake. From hip hop to the Eastern sitar and drums of 'Legendary Lovers', which features a likeable chorus but lacks a solid hook. 

There's a retro sound to a few of the tracks on Prism, most notably 'Birthday', one of the album's most enjoyable moments. It's one of those ridiculously catchy songs you'd only find on one of Perry's albums. 'So make a wish/I'll make it like your birthday everyday' she sings over funky disco beats that make you wish you were in a roller disco. The retro feel is extended with 90s dance inspired 'Walking On Air', which features a strong vocal performance from Katy and euphoric production from pop genius' Max Martin and Klas Åhlund. 

It wouldn't be a Katy Perry album without some frivolous pop moments. 'International Smile' and 'This Is How We Do' are both likeable tracks, the former a little too random/silly/pointless for its own good and the latter a bouncy number with great 'I don't give a fuck' attitude. It's nice to have these breaks in emotional exposé, however sometimes the break isn't always necessary. 

The second half of Prism is far more emotionally revealing than the first half. It's less fun and more 'here's some really dark shit'. I exaggerate a bit, as the album isn't as dark as it was made out to be in early promotion. The darkest moments are 'Ghost' and 'By the Grace of God'. Both are lovely ballads, showcasing vocal prowess from an artist often chastised for her vocal limitations. The former is about her divorce and it does make you feel quite bad for her, particularly when she sings 'I never thought you could be so cold', following an earlier lyric about being divorced by text. What a twat. The latter track has a positive overtone, but does suggest that this artist was on the brink of suicide during her marriage breakdown. She sings about lying on the bathroom floor, thanks her sister for helping her through a troubled time and then says 'I wasn't going to let love take me out that way'. It's a poignant moment for the singer, perhaps her most personal to date.

Prism is a strong 4th outing for Katy Perry. She's certainly moved on from her last behemoth album Teenage Dream, this is apparent just from the lyrical content alone. I've never felt her albums contain any filler as generally her song writing abilities don't allow this to happen. It's not perfect though, songs like 'International Smile' and 'Love Me' aren't standouts, but for a 28 year old it's a great showcase of her pop talents. Is it her best album so far? That's a toughy because Teenage Dream, the negative reviews aside, was & still is a genius pop album (I say it was a concept album). Prism is far more grown up, but it's nice to see she hasn't forgotten how to have fun and hasn't descended into an overwrought with misery musical stasis. Welcome back Katy.

3.5/5

Download: Roar/ Birthday/ Ghost/ By the Grace of God/ Dark Horse

Rated: Sia - Elastic Heart & a few suggestions from the past

I'm a bit stressed thinking about how well known/popular Sia is becoming this year. The stress comes from the certainty that people will respect her only for her song writing and features on massive dances tracks and film soundtracks, and not for the incredible 3 albums that precede these ventures. If you haven't listened to Sia's solo work before, you need to do so now before it's too late and you are sucked into the David Guetta coven. 

She's got a new single on the Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack called 'Elastic Heart', featuring Diplo and The Weeknd. It retains the sometimes quirky production of her back catalogue and it certainly shows off what an incredibly talented vocalist she is. If any song was a good starting point 'Elastic Heart' is it. 

If by any chance you are interested in hearing some of her past works, here are 5 suggestions for you to get hammering into Spotify:

1. Clap Your Hands
2. The Girl You Lost to Cocaine
3. Breathe Me 
4. I'm In Here
5. Hurting Me Now

Rated: The Saturdays - Disco Love

The Saturdays have done alright, for a group of unremarkable singers/performers with little to no gift for song writing. That said, they've squeezed out some pretty amazing songs during their time in the UK girl band pop spotlight. Their new track 'Disco Love' follows on from the annoying-as-fuck 'Gentlemen', which I hated with every ounce of my soul. Thankfully, this new single perfect pop. If you took a standard pop single and dipped it in Nutella, then rolled it in white chocolate chips and those sugary silver ball things, 'Disco Love' is what you'd get. Sweet, sickly, and so bloody worth every minute.

4.5/5

Rated: Rihanna - What Now

Here's a photo of Rihanna bent over, just cos.

Another day goes by, another Rihanna single gets released. Her new song 'What Now' is one of the highlights from her latest album Unapologetic, an album I wasn't too favourable about upon its release; my mind hasn't changed. The song is strong with a booming, passion filled chorus and a rock synth production worthy of arenas the world over. It's no 'Diamonds', but it's better than the shit stain that was/is 'Right Now'.

3 / 5

Rated: Work Bitch - Britney Spears

It's a bit cheeky for Britney Spears to be telling us to work harder if we want luxury goods. I could put on a slutty outfit and mime to her greatest hits in a blonde wig if I was being paid millions of dollars every year. Just sayin'.

My gripe aside, this is Britney we're talking about. Whether she's artistically talented or not, she was an undeniable force in reshaping pop music in the late 90s / early 00s, so I'll respect her for that. Her newest single certainly is a far cry from the days of 'Slave 4 U' and 'Toxic'. 'Work Bitch' is a Will.i.am produced club anthem in the making. On first listen it's a bit of a head fuck, but once you get into it it's hard not to think 'shit, this is going to be amazing after 6 VK Tropicals'. This is fun electronic dance pop and we know that this is what Britney does best at this point in her career. 

Why is she 'singing' this in an English accent though...?

4 / 5

Rated: Jessie J - Alive

Jessica Cornish morphed herself into pop powerhouse Jessie J over 3 years ago. Since then, she's released a multi-million selling debut album Who You Are and boasts 11+ million single sales across the world; she's 25. Once you get over the fact that she's much more talented and far richer than you are (goddammit) you realise what a contemporary chart force she's turned into. Love her or hate her, you're undoubtedly going to tap your foot to 'Price Tag' and even commandeer the dance floor when the behemoth 'Domino' riffs into ear shot. In a 'chart active' career now spanning 3+ years, she's achieved a lot more than many in the industry, much of which can be attributed to talent, some solid marketing and hard work.

A born song writer, Jessie J proved her artistry with her debut album. However, it wasn't perfect, somewhat of a melting pot of genres with a few moments of stagnant immaturity ('Who's Laughing Now?). That said, it sold over 1 million copies in the UK alone, cementing her as one of the country's most respected and prolific pop exports. What Jessie J really needed to do was move forward from teen-like insecurities and mature as an artist. 

Alive is her second album and it's certainly a much more 'grown-up' collection of songs. Her evolution as a song writer and vocalist is apparent on tracks like 'Thunder', an incredibly infectious mid-tempo power ballad, with oodles of 80s charm and vocal prowess. Her vocals continue to shine on the exhilarating 'Breathe' and she becomes more emotive than ever on downtempo piano ballad 'I Miss Her'. The rocky synths and vocal control on 'Square One' make it an album standout, with a Future style vocoder segment slotted in to break things up.

We need to remember Jessie J is a pop artist. Her music's suppose to be 'popular', easy to listen to, catchy and most of all fun. That doesn't stop her cracking out some bloody incredible tracks here and there, case in point 'Daydreamin', a song Mariah Carey would have been proud to call her own when she ruled the US pop scene. 

There's no shortage of collaboration on Alive. Her duet with Becky G 'Excuse My Rude' is the only skippable number here (I've played it twice on 6 listens) and serves as this album's WLN. Thankfully the remaining collabs are brilliant. We've been exposed to the thumping beast 'Wild' featuring Jay Sean and Dizzee Rascal, with it's insanely catchy drum rumbles and an impressive turn from Dizzee. It's 'Conquer the World' featuring Brandy that really stands out though. Not only is Jessie J singing with one of the most successful female artists of our time, they're singing a decent song together. It's guitar lead ballad mastery at its finest. 

Alive is a huge step forward from Who You Are. It's a bit more grown up, packed with some real pop brilliance, and showcases a much more vocally controlled Jessie J. It's not as jumbled as its predecessor, serving as a far tighter collection of songs. She's survived the curse of the sophomore album in terms of quality, let's just see if it can match the high level of success she's set with her past musical expeditions. 

Download: Daydreamin' / Thunder / Square One / Wild

4 / 5

Rated: MS MR ' Fantasy'

It's easy to fall out of the loop & it's just as easy to disregard bands/artists you're unfamiliar with when time isn't on your side. This is what has happened with me and MS MR. I've criminally overlooked their entire existence. So, as an apology and to bring them to your attention check out their incredible second single 'Fantasy' below:

Sorry MS MR.

4/5

Rated: Lady GaGa 'Applause' Music Video

Lady Gaga has always been in the business of weird music video concepts. The weirder they got the more we loved them. I'd say 'Applause' has grown on me considerably in the past few days, but I'm sticking to my 4/5 rating (haters gon' hate). The video however, makes it all the more enjoyable. It's not as self indulgent as a lot of her past videos, which were/are still marvellous to behold. It's fun, sexy (who doesn't love a hand shaped bra cup) and best of all it has Lady Gaga as a Swan... 

Rated: MKS 'Flatline' Music Video

So the MKS 'Flatline' video dropped at midnight last night/this morning. It's not quite what I expected but on repeated viewings it goes from underwhelming to charming. This doesn't take away the fact that 'Flatline' is one of the strongest songs to be released in 2013. Enjoy.

The marching band bit is pretty fun.

Further note: 

So I've been listening to this song a lot... 103 times to be precise... which doesn't include the 6 times I've watched the video today. I am amazing. I've always had an intense love of music videos and for me, the music video can make or break the song. I envisaged something much more powerful/dramatic for 'Flatline' and here's what that vision was/is:

The girls are in a house, each sitting at different points of the room - Siobhan slumped on one couch next to an unconscious drunk (hot) male - Mutya lying on the floor with another (hot) male, his sleeping head resting on her leg - Keisha (I love you) sitting upright looking out over the room from a window seat (her hot male is behind her feet, eyes shut lying across the base of the seat). 

The camera flits between each of their amazing solo sections - it's all very dramatic and just really lovely to watch tbh. I have this image of Mutya dragging herself through the hall, leaving a black smear on the wall as she rubs along it during her solo (obv blood but kids might watch - so symbolic I'm killing myself here). 

Blah blah blah - it progresses to the immense finale, all their blokes are still asleep/unconscious/dead or whatever, who cares? Siobhan does her 'Oh Jimmy' section and her hands rest on the window at the front of the house, which starts to form a web of cracks from where her hands are (I want to make this video NOW). When Mutya does her 'Don't wanna be in love' bit (so good) and the final chorus kicks in, the house starts shattering, cracking, getting properly fucked up. Keisha does her big vocal bits, like she does and will do forevermore, and the house pretty much explodes and they all sit in the grass facing each other, holding hands while embers rain down around them (they might be naked at this point - I haven't decided yet but I think it would be pretty impactful).

Obviously, my actual vision is far more detailed than this and probably even better/more expensive.

Rated: Naughty Boy - Hotel Cabana - Album Preview

Check out the embedded preview of Naughty Boy's debut album below. It sounds way better than I imagined it would. Lots of Emeli Sande on there, some Bastille, Ed Sheeran, Tinie Tempah and god damn Gabrielle! 

Rated: Naughty Boy Featuring Emeli Sande - Lifted

If you attended your gran's 70th birthday celebrations last year it is almost a certainty that Emeli Sandé performed. I'm right... right? The performer of almost any televised event in 2012 is back after a relatively lengthy 6 monthish hiatus, at least by her standards. She's come back with her pal Naughty Boy, with whom she sang on the stunning 'Wonder' last year. It's one of those songs that makes you feel lucky it popped up on shuffle, lucky to have it in your life. Just me then?

So what's the new collaboration like then? 'Lifted' is an exciting track, harking back to Emeli's own debut single 'Heaven', a glorious song that should have gotten far more attention than it did. It's packed with trip-hop bells & beats, laid under Emeli's incredible vocal arrangement. The opening quivering violins are beautiful and the songs build up is subtle but ultimately explosive. If this pair did an entire album together it would more than likely be perfect.

5/5

Rated: Katy Perry VS Lady Gaga - Roar VS Applause

They're both back. They both have impressive back catalogues of pop-amazingness. It's hard to decide who you prefer because they're both incredibly influential 21st Century pop artists. One sings a bit better than the other, but then the other did wear a whipped cream jizzing bra. The choice is nigh on impossible. Let's make the call based on their new singles? Fuck yes!

Katy Perry - Roar

'Roar' follows an album packed with more pop perfection than it had the right to. Katy's vocal's are strong throughout, bursting with conviction. It sounds a bit like 'Hard Knock Life' when it bleeps into ear shot, then the chorus blasts into a pop/rock mid tempo stadium shaker. The 'you're gonna hear me roar-oh-oh-oh-oooohoooh' is so catchy it sticks in your head even when you're sitting on the toilet... true story. This is a melodious pop masterpiece and let us not overlook the input of pop Sith Lord (he must be evil to be so powerful) Max Martin. Long may he live.

5/5

Lady Gaga - Applause

'Applause' opens with shaky David Bowie imitation vocals and a Tetris on acid electronic arrangement. The chorus is the song's strong point; it's typical Gaga, big, ballsy and camp. Her vocals are solid and at points the production is exhilarating, particularly when the chorus erupts like a pop volcano. This was designed for a gay club dance floor, much like the majority of her upbeat roster. After cancelling some of her world tour due to a hip injury, this will certainly have her fans back in their bath tubs, pouring breakfast cereal all over themselves in Gaga fuelled euphoria. Even if you don't like her, no one can deny how fucking brilliant/essential her pop-artistry is.

4/5

Katy just wins this battle. However, overall both of them are so brilliant it would be callous to choose one over the other. 

SOZ I CHOOSE KATY!

Rated: VV Brown - The Apple

VV Brown is one of those 'should have been big' artists. She bubbled under the surface of the pop soup for a long time but never quite popped her head through. A song like 'Shark In the Water' certainly should have cracked the top 5. Alas, who am I to judge the music buying habits of the British public (WTF ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR 99p ON?!).

Her new single, 'The Apple' is completely unexpectedly incredible. It's a dark electro pop number, with thick thumping synths beating throughout and a haunting vocal arrangement. This is a vast step forward for VV, let's just hope it gains her some more fans.

4/5

Rated: Jessie J - It's My Party

Jessie J will never be everyone's cup of tea. She's a bit like the liquorice tea of the pop world, personality wise. However, that being said all the same bitches love her songs even if they don't/won't admit it. There is no denying this girl got some big vocal chords in the womb and there's certainly no doubting she's one of the UK's most interesting and successful pop acts in years.

'Wild' was a double collaboration pop behemoth that stayed fresh even after 50+ plays. In short, it was fucking killer. Now, she's releasing 'It's My Party', a catchy as hell pop track backed by poppy guitar riffs and lots of wooooaaahhhooo-ing throughout. It's typical Jessie J, which means it's typically fun, frivolous pop tartery.

I like this.

4/5

Rated: Mutya Keisha Siobhan do Scala; are still very good.

Yes, another MKS post. Yes, this blogger is obsessed. Yes, I wish I was batting for Keisha Buchanan's team because she's banging. Yes, the original Sugababe's trio performed a full live show for the first time in over a decade and yes, they were very bloody good.

I wasn't there, so my "very bloody good" is based solely on Youtube clips, the witness accounts of others across the internet and through extreme personal bias. Mutya Keisha Siobhan kicked things off with their debut single 'Overload', a song that's still too cool for its own good. They continued rolling their fans down the grand hill of nostalgia with should have been a mega hit 'Run For Cover' and an incredible performance of 'Stronger'. You can't even hear Siobhan's rendition of the Heidi Range vocal properly because the crowd morph into a pack of wild bitches on heat. 

Enough of the oldies, we want to hear some new music. One of the standouts from the set is 'I'm Alright', a Sia Furler co-pen with the group. It's a mid-tempo piece of balladry with a catchy as hell chorus and lots of lovely MKS harmonising. Keisha's vocals are strong, Siobhan's packed with emotion, but it's Mutya's middle section that stands out. 'No Regrets' is another new track, similarly to 'I'm Alright', it's mid-tempo and about love. Keisha opens it with a stunningly performed verse and Mutya kills the second verse with her smooth soulful rasp. Another new, killer track is 'Lay Down In Swimming Pools', a spin on a Kendrick Lamar song. It oozes cool more so than any of the other new tracks, perhaps more than any of the Sugababe's back catalogue. 

They close the show with new single 'Flatline'. This is my song of the moment, that's no secret. It's creeping up to the higher reaches of my top songs of 2013 draft right now. The performance is solid; amazing vocals, blends, energy thumping through the crowd (if I'd been there I'd probably have stomped a trench into the floor).

Having Mutya Keisha & Siobhan back together is more significant than a lot of people realise. It's not just three women singing some songs and selling some records, it's much more than that. All three of them are skilled songwriters and two in particular (M & K) are responsible for some of the UK's most successful and most critically acclaimed pop songs, making them important contributors to British pop as a whole. If the Scala gig in London serves as a taste of what to expect from the quality of their second album together, we're about to be presented with a very exciting and important moment in UK pop music.

Rated: Ratedi's Top 5 Most Underrated Songs Since 2010

A lot of music gets squished out of the music industry womb every year. The last 3 years have seen a significant volume of underrated/underperforming songs find their way into my earshot and quite honestly, I'm appalled. You're about to be introduced or maybe reminded, of 5 said songs. These should have sold enough copies to climb into at least the top 10, alas no. Instead we are forced to listen, repeatedly, to the same shit day in day out on commercial radio stations which choose to overlook the music that is better because it just is and not because it's attached a name. Have a look, let me know what you think and if you feel as strongly about any of the following songs you damn well better exclaim it from on high!

FIVE.

Curtain Call - Aiden Grimshaw

It was a travesty that ol' Aiden didn't 'take off' with his debut solo album Misty Eye. He was by far the most talented and unique artist to come from his Xfactor alumni year & is perhaps one of the most authentic off casts from the show to date. His second single 'Curtain Call' is a gorgeous song featuring stunning chorus vocals from ShezAr, UK singer and producer Labrinth's sister. It's anthemic, powerful and at points overwhelming.

UK Chart Peak - #49

FOUR.

Stay Away - Charli XCX

Her debut album True Romance is a haunting collection, packed with dark 80s inspired synth work and echoey deep vocals. It's pretty incredible work from a 20 year old woman and like many brilliant albums it didn't receive half the reception it should have. 'Stay Away' was the first single back in May 2011 and from what I can gather didn't chart at all (correct me if I'm wrong). It's a dark, powerful ballad, backed by rumbling 80s electro synths and has a chorus that knocks you on your arse. 

UK Chart Peak - #N/A

Rated: Natalia Kills - Timeline

Since she's not that well known, which is frankly unjust, I thought I'd illustrate how good her new songs are through the medium of timeline. This is the journey of Verbalicious, who became Natalia Kills over 5 years. She's released a full album already and featured on an LMFAO track. Check it out below:

2005 - 'Don't Play Nice' (as Verbalicious)

I can't deny liking this song when it came out. I just can't.

2010 - 'Mirrors'

This is a brilliant single, which is totally underrated! The video is dark, sexy and when you watch the 2005 video first, you feel a bit 'illegal'.