Articles - Music Reviews

Howling Bells – Radio Wars

Popular warm up act, this band has performed with bands such as Coldplay, Snow Patrol and The Killers.   Neurotic and melancholy, this album sways to and fro with beautiful riffs and melodies.  Maybe not as good as their debut, but this album is a great listen in its own right.  “Cities burning down” has a catchy chorus that almost sounds like it could be a Coldplay track.  “Let’s be kids again” has the band brings on a mix of instruments and crescendos and “Golden Web” starts disjointed and sexy just like a Sneaker Pimp track.  A well rounded and enjoyable album.

Track List

1.    Treasure Hunt
2.    Cities Burning Down
3.    It Ain’t You
4.    Nightingale
5.    Lets Be Kids
6.    Ms. Bells Song
Radio Wars Theme
7.    Golden Web
8.    Into The Chaos
9.    Digital Hearts
10.    How Long


Review by Betty Hu

Articles - Music Reviews

Lady Sovereign – Jigsaw

British rapper cum pop artist, lad Sovereign began her career in the underground scene of London.   Her lyrics are a mix and match of her thoughts, everyday British life and satire of life.  Although the album sounds quite disjointed, Lady Sovereign has achieved a lot in the underground grime scene being one of the best known grime female MCs.  There aren’t any tracks that particularly stand out for me, but there are some resemblances to Missy Elliot in Bang Bang and a hint of Ms Dynamite in So Human.  If you like Ms Dynamite and artists like her, then you might like this album.  

Track list

1.    Let's Be Mates
2.    So Human
3.    Jigsaw
4.    Bang Bang
5.    I Got You Dancing    
6.    Pennies
7.    Guitar
8.    Student Union
9.    Food Play
10.    I Got the Goods


Review by Betty Hu

Articles - Music Reviews

Peaches – I Feel Cream

Beginning with dirty baselines reminiscent of Fergie, but without the fluffiness and full of profanities, attitude and sexiness is how the album starts.  The language a bit too course for mainstream music fans, but funky beats and high octane electro sounds make a great album.  “Lose you” has an air of Goldfrapp about it, “Billionaire” with a whiff of Gwen Stefani, whereas “Show Stopper” sounds more like the old Peaches we know and love.  Great tracks to dance to throughout with dirty beats, raunchy lyrics and lots of variety.

Track List

1.    Serpentine
2.    Talk To Me
3.    Lose You
4.    More
5.    Billionaire
6.    I Feel Cream
7.    Trick Or Treat
8.    Show Stopper
9.    Mommy Complex
10.    Mud
11.    Relax
12.    Take You On

Review by Liz Wong

Articles - Music Reviews

Silicone Soul – Silicone Soul

If you like it slow and dirty then the first track will be right up your street.  A little coy and seductive, she takes a while to get going, but soon the album comes into it’s own.  Produced by Craig Morrison and Graeme Reedie, this album is chilled and upbeat.  It’s an album you might have on at Happy Hour in a bar to keep it going until the hard core dance beats pound out until the early hours, or an underground trendy London ultra club.  A nice mellow touch to the album, “Seasons of Weird” is minimalist house at it’s best.

Track List
1.    Koko's Song
2.    Dust Ballad II
3.    Language Of The Soul
4.    Call Of The Dub
5.    David Vincent's Blues
6.    Hurt People Hurt People
7.    The Pulse
8.    Midnite Man
9.    Seasons Of Weird
10.    Dogs Of Les Ilhes

Review by Liz Wong

Articles - Music Reviews

Dinosaur Jr. – Farm

For the rockers out there this album is full of guitars, rifts and energy.  The ninth album for the band, they are veterans of the rock world heralding from the States.  An easy listening album with a range to suits your different anxieties.  Brilliant guitar solos, but many songs seem to leave you feeling like you’ve heard it, or something similar, before.

Track List
1.    Pieces
2.    I Want You to Know
3.    Ocean in the Way
4.    Plans
5.    Your Weather
6.    Over It
7.    Friends
8.    Said The People
9.    There's No Here
10.    See You
11.    Don't Wanna Go There
12.    Imagination Blind

Review by Liz Wong