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Thursday, July 12, 2007
Magnus Carlsson ~ Live Forever, The Album:
Ah, sweet loveable Magnus. I fell in love with his pure pop musical stylings when poppostergirl bought to my attention his rather good Christmas album (both Wrap My Arms and Holidays Are Coming are just excellent yuletide treats!). His first full English language album is just so feel good that doctors should be prescribing it instead of prozac. Title track pays more than a little bit of homage to A-Ha’s Take On Me, while new single Waves of Love cribs from Bee Gees and Scissor Sisters to glorious uplifting effect. Crazy Summer Nights is up there with the best of BWO and I Won’t Cry reminds me of Bosson. Don’t think this is a criticism of Magnus because it’s all done so well and absolutely exudes a joy and love of pop music that is so unashamed that it’s incredibly contaigious. Nothing Is Real would be an ace boyband song and Never Walk Away is a lovely midtempo ballad that is about as slow as it gets. There is not a dud moment on here, and if you get the chance make sure you get the bonus edition with lots of extra tracks including a simply gorgeous acoustic version of Live Forever.
Singles ~ Live Forever, Waves of Love, Crazy Summer Nights, Nothing Is Real
Aly&AJ ~ Insomniatic:
I liked their last album well enough, and then Potential Break Up Song hit me like a truck and I can’t stop playing it to this day (it was number one on my little chart for 3 weeks until Sunday, when Simon Curtis knocked those dames for six). It’s just one of those songs that connected so entirely with me, that I became a little obsessed with it. And actually the album continues the trend of American femi-brat pack putting better pop albums out than their English counterparts. PBUS is definitely the best track on this little affair, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other twin gems to be mined here. Bullseye is quite a catchy little number with fuzzy electro guitars, Like Whoa is almost embarrassingly cute and Like It Or Leave It tries to be the next Since U Been Gone. Seeing as it’s impossible to reach those dizzy heights, it fails, but comes incredibly close with a very catchy middle 8. A radio friendly ballad closes out the set and although you are left feeling full, there is a little bit of you that isn’t quite satisfied…
Singles ~ Potential Break Up Song, Bullseye, Like It or Leave It
Justin Lanning ~ Behind These Eyes:
I feel somewhat proud that one of my original 7 to watch in 07 now has an album on the shelves of your local record emporium. And even more proud that it is such a great rock-pop album. In fact, in parts it could almost be a solo McFly album, and that’s high praise indeed. Lead single Take My Breath Away is a swoony ballad that is ripe for AC radio, but it’s tracks like the peppy, uptempo Voices and Fingertips where Justin really soars. The production values are top notch, with the right amount of balance between lush instrumentation and Justin’s confident vocal style. There are even elements of cabaret in the music – for example Closer to You starts out as a sweet serenade before morphing into some medieval type lute and a rocking instrumental that is at odds with the start of the song, yet works perfectly! Hold On is perfect summer radio fare, with perky Feeling/Beach Boys style harmonies and guitar strummings. The final and title track is lovely piano ballad that tackles the subject of bullying and the psychological effect it can have on an individual. I’ve listened to the album complete a few times now and it is full of passion and heart, and reveals a little more of itself with each listen. I always expected Justin’s album to be good, I’m just so glad that it’s actually great.Labels: album assessment
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