ARTPOP Review: Latest Album Proves Lady Gaga is Queen

         From cdn.popdust.com

I can't deny the fact that I have been itching to hear ARTPOP ever since Lady Gaga opened the iTunes Festival in London back in September and after the leak of her latest album, I jumped at a chance to give her new music a listen. Despite Applause being slaughtered by the media, Gaga herself having a few Twitter meltdowns and her X Factor performance receiving more than a hundred complaints, ARTPOP sticks up a middle finger to those who ever doubted Miss Germanotta. The collection of songs has everything Little Monsters want from Gaga- addictive pop beats, soulfully slow tunes and sexually charged lyrics. 

Tracklisting: 

01 “Aura”
02 “Venus”
03 “G.U.Y.”
04 “Sexxx Dreams”
05 “Jewels N’ Drugs”
06 “MANiCURE”
07 “Do What U Want” (feat. R. Kelly)
08 “ARTPOP”
09 “Swine”
10 “Donatella”
11 “Fashion!”
12 “Mary Jane Holland”
13 “Dope”
14 “Gypsy”
15 “Applause”

The Best Bits

                        From i2.cdnds.net

 

Venus

The second track to be released, the star performed this on X Factor UK on 27th October. Filled with galactic metaphors and an addictive synth beat, Gaga repeats the words "take me to your planet". 

Sexxx Dreams

After hearing this one at the iTunes Festival I was incredibly excited to hear the album version. Despite the x rated lyrics which are by now expected from the star, the dance beat is ensnaring and one of the strongest songs on the album. 

MANiCURE

This track is FULL of attitude, fun and solidly confirms that pitched against the likes of Britney and Perry, this lady has the strongest voice with the most range. 

Swine

Without a doubt, this song is my all-time favourite, and is definitely reminiscent of her earlier tracks like Teeth and Dancing In The Dark. Sick yet humourous, it is the perfect recipe for a club banger. 

From 2.bp.blogspot.com 

Donatella 

Two words that sum up this song: fun and dumb. Bubblegum pop meets dance meets synth with this track, my favourite verse being "Walk down the runway but don’t puke (it’s okay)
You just had a salad today, Boulangerie,Just ask your gay friend's their advice, before you
Get a spray tan on holiday, in Taipe"

The Misses

As with most albums, there are always a couple of songs you are disappointed with, and for me, I was extremely underwhelmed by 'Dope'. It's weaknesses did not lie vocally, but lyrically- I could not get past the fact that the chorus consisted of 'I need you more than dope'.  I wanted a deeper emotion from Gaga! 

                   From i1.cdnds.net

Jewels and Drugs

One thing Gaga- you will never be gangster, so stick to pop and make sure Twista stays far away from your future tracks. This song shouldn't have made it to the album, but I applaud her experimentation. 

To me her music packs a punch and as an all-round performer, she can engage with an audience, she clearly has a passion for her music and for her fans and her pure kookiness only adds to her charm and blows others such as Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry out of the water. 

Listen to the whole album here

Follow this Tumblr account for the latest tracks

What did you think of Artpop? 

 I give it              ★★★★★

Warning: Fangirling Ahead! Jake Bugg at the O2 Brixton Academy

For me, there's nothing I love more than listening to the haunting indie folk creations of  singer/songwriter Jake Bugg. At the tender age of 17, he was scouted to play a set at Glastonbury where he was given a contract at Mercury Records. Two years later and with the release of his second album next month, Bugg is going from strength to strength. After seeing him at Benicassim in July and iTunes Festival in September I managed to get some tickets for his autumn tour. 

From nick-intl.mtvnimages.com

Last Wednesday I headed over to the cosmopolitan district of Brixton, where I went to queue up for the gig that took place at the O2 Academy. Unlike the festival goers and casual music listeners I had encountered at the previous two gigs, there were only a handful of girls as enthusiastic as I was to queue. Our blatant fangirling paid off however when as we sat queuing, Bugg walked past us and casually waved. Much giggling ensued before we all managed to get up and run after him to say hi and tell him how excited we were to see him play. He was nice enough to pose for a couple of pictures too, what a gem. 

                                      From pbs.twimg.com

As venues go, the O2 in Brixton is great due to its small size and sloped floor which means the stage is visible from almost anywhere in the venue. I was pleasantly surprised with the hugely talented warm-up acts that began with Italian-English singer Jack Savoretti followed by Tennessee basedHoneyHoney who provided some much needed Country fun. 

From www.standard.co.uk

For those of us desperate for new music, Bugg didn't disappoint, beginning his set with There's a Beast and We all Feed it, the first track on upcoming album Shang ri La, one that screams intelligence with the line "When my sister suffers/When my mother cries/All I wanna do is look in someone's eyes…here's a beast eating every kind of beauty and we all feed it." 

Kingpin, Pine Trees, new single Slumville Sunrise and the delicious What Doesn't Kill You were also performed, giving us an idea of how magical the new album will be!  

His fine tuned, focussed and authentic performance would not have been complete without Lightning Bolt, Two Fingers, Country Song, Broken and one of my favourites, Seen it All and he definitely created an electric atmosphere. For someone only 19 years of age, his songs contain a huge capacity of life experience and as live acts go, he is by far my favourite. Although some tend to criticise his so-called lack of showmanship, his humble and unassuming air only adds to his charm. 

 His music is a lovely break from the ego-centric, sexist chart music manufactured superficially, written and churned out by a team of people.

I can't wait to see him in February! 

Shocker! Raw Footage from Britney Spears' 'Work Bitch' Leaked. Was She Airbrushed?

As all of us know, fame comes with an indescribable amount of pressure to look presentable and when it comes to pop princess Britney Spears, her whirlwind life in the public eye has meant she is especially prone to criticism. 

Making her comeback amongst the likes of Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, the 31 year-old released highly anticipated 'Work Bitch' this month, accompanied by a steamy video which showed her adapting to her new surroundings- the hot Nevada desert was a backdrop as she announced her two year residency in Las Vegas. 

The mother of two showed off her impressively slim figure for the release as she is seen in a bikini top and tiny metallic shorts, but was that body down to slogging it out in the gym, or a little computer trickery? 

New images were released today by HOAX films (the studio that dealt with all the visual effects on the video) seeming to show Britney with much thicker thighs and a more natural hip and stomach shape. 

 While you cannot take it away from Britney that she has worked extremely hard to lose weight of late, it was reported that the visual effects company were hired to 'clean-up' the video. This is not the first time the star has been seen airbrushed either.

(above: Piece of Me video)

Back in 2007, Britney was heavily edited in her Piece of Me footage, amidst her troubled hair shaving and weight gain. Again in 2010 the star was airbrushed for a Candies campaign shoot.

It is fair to say that throughout her career, Spears has never been overweight, and the unedited shots in all cases look remarkably natural and set more of an inspiring example to younger women. 

When will the airbrushing stop? 

Interview with Us Baby Bear Bones

Tucked down one of the streets off Brighton seafront is The Haunt, a live music venue-come- nightclub where I have come to see local band Us Baby Bear Bones play their unique electro-dream pop. Commanding the stage with pounding drums that juxtapose the sweet tinkling of the xylophone, the band showcased their potential with the mystifying and addictive "Mountains" before moving on to play most famous track "You". I managed to grab them for five minutes where they chatted to me about songwriting and their future plans. 

What is the origin behind your name? 

"The  name [came about through] an accumulation of different dreams all of us had.. they all had a very vague thread or connection between them"

Describe your music in three words

"It's basically baroque"

When you're not making music, what can we find you doing? 

"making love!" 

What is your songwriting process? 

"Someone else actually writes our music for us. [My dad] does everything. "

                      

What are your plans for the rest of the year ?

"we are writing and recording our next EP, we've got a collection of songs we are going to narrow down. We are writing and recording with someone really cool"

Like their music? 

Follow them on twitter

Listen to them on Soundcloud 

Their official website

(above: me with the band)

5 Reasons Rihanna's 'Pour It Up' Shouldn't Have Been Released

From cdn.rap-up.com

For a lot of artists recently, especially of the pop descent, it seems controversial is very much the way to go. From Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' to Miley Cyrus' 'Wrecking Ball', nakedness and crudity is extremely popular when it comes to music videos. With the hugely anticipated comebacks of Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, I expected Rihanna to at least attempt to compete with the competition. 

Pour it up, is in its entirety, a pointless and indeed ridiculous video, I think we've seen it all before! Here are five legitimate reasons I believe the video should never have been released. 


The Blatant Sexism

                         From cdn.urbanislandz.com

Although I was only half surprised by the scantly clad women in the video, I was pretty disgusted with the abundance of pole dancing and the site of bikini-clad women violently shaking their derrieres to an inappropriate level. The video is almost laughable and she sets a horrible example to young fans. The lyrics aren't much better as she sings: 

"Goin' dumb with all my friends"

"Strippers goin' up and down that pole, and I still got more money"

"Bands make your girl go down"


It's Consumerist

From cdn.idolator.com

This is extremely obvious, but the song is all about having more money than everyone else. She repeats the line 'I still got more money' fifteen times throughout the song, and boasts Chanel earrings and what resembles a gold Chasity belt in the video. To add an extra element of greed, the singer wedges paper bills down her belt as money floats nonchalantly past the backing dancers.

It's Boring 

From www.missinfo.tv

There is nothing worse than watching an unentertaining music video, and I'm pretty sure the original people at MTV imagined these three minute wonders to tell more of a story, or give more of an insight into the artist's song. This video, it seems, is as shallow and nauseous  as the song itself. 

It's not a patch on the Pop Queens 

From www.hollywoodreporter.com

For fans of pop, Lady Gaga delivered Applause with artistry and a slice of quirkiness. Katy Perry sprang into the charts with a fresh single 'Roar' and Britney Spears soothed our pop craving with club banger 'work b**ch'. Rihanna lacks pretty much everything these three ladies have, and in the end, she just looks a bit trashy. 

We're not interested in twerking

From hiphop-n-more.com

Miley Cyrus showed us twerking, and then some. I'm sure I'm not the only one to be sick of seeing people twerk. It seems Rihanna's attempts to be contraversial are very much futile, as she just proves that 'twerking' is very much an unflattering and ridiculous action. Roll on the parody videos, which will no doubt be a hundred times more entertaining than this. 

Miley Cyrus Redeems Herself with Fourth Studio Album 'Bangerz'

I, like a lot of people at the moment, will be extremely willing to express my dislike of former Disney bopper Miley Cyrus' recent behaviour. Whether it be twerking, stripping or exposing her tongue for prolonged time frames, the 20 year-old is an easy irritation to some. However, with the release of her new album Bangerz, it seems the star has truly redeemed herself. 

           From kansan.com

Bangerz is her fourth studio album to be released, and really packs a punch. A delicious mix of blues, dance pop and faint country vibes, I was so impressed by her new sounds. It's clear that a lot of these songs are inspired by her painfully public relationship with actor Liam Hemsworth, but it definitely  adds more substance to her music.

It is surely a coming of age album, as the singer-come-actress confirms she has grown up, with this album being just as turbulent as her life itself.  

Track Listing

1. "Adore You" 

Choosing a ballad-esque track to begin the album is a bold move, but it certainly pays off. I love Cyrus' deep and varied tones as she repeats "baby are you listening".

2. "We Can't Stop"  

The first released single and the beginning of her re-invention, the song talks of her bold and spunky lifestyle, something no-one can control. 

3. "SMS (Bangerz)" (featuring Britney Spears)

Possibly the most disappointing track in the collection, SMS is filled with suggestively crude lyrics but has enough of an addictive beat to slot itself nicely into her fourth album.  The music video would definitely be an entertaining watch. 

4. "4×4" (featuring Nelly)

"I'm a female rebel, don't you know?" is the sure fire message with this song. Country tones take over the dance element. Warning: this song is definitely an earworm. 

From wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net

5. "My Darlin'" (featuring Future)

A combination of mid tempo R'n'B, pop and soul, Cyrus' husky tones perfectly contrast Future's deep and auto tuned contributions.  

6. "Wrecking Ball"

The second official single to be released, Wrecking Ball has already achieved an equal amount of acclaim of criticism.  Putting the controversial video aside, the song is full of candid emotion and raw feeling. 

7. "Love Money Party" (featuring Big Sean)

A  party banger for sure, I definitely think that Cyrus was wise with her collaborations and stuck to mainly R'n'B roots, something that will cement Bangerz in the top 10 album charts. 

8. "Get It Right"   

R'n'b meets bubblegum pop in 'get it right', a brilliant reprieve from the more hip hop elements of the album. The sound is reminiscent of Mariah Carey in a lot of ways. 

9. "Drive"  

Dubstep is very much present in a majority of pop these days, so I was expecting at least one of theBangerz tracks to contain it. A perfect mix of heartbroken pop and womping, Drive is a winner. 

         From images.kpopstarz.com

10. "FU" (featuring French Montana)

This track is definitely my favourite. It's full of anger, attitude and I love French Montana's catchy side piece. Blues influences intertwine themselves with memorable lyrics and I am praying this will be released as an official single!

11. "Do My Thang"  

This track is full of sass and definitely has elements of Iggy Azalea. With thumping beats, the song depicts a grown girl, able to hold her own. The song never leaves the pop element behind with a dance-like refrain. 

12. "Maybe You're Right"  

I adore this track. It's all about admission, and vulnerability-something the pop world is often lacking. 

13. "Someone Else" 

This is a fabulous ending to such a powerful album, I love Cyrus' basic admission that she is no longer the prissy Disney princess she used to be. Synth pop fills this song, and I loved every second of it. 

I give Bangerz      ★★★★★

Bangerz is released October 4th. Listen to the leak here. 

Nova State at Brighton Rocks

I do love a bit of live music and last week I had the chance to see my friend's band Nova State as part of Brighton Rocks in the lovely south coast city. The event took place at the wonderfully named 'Sticky Mike's Frog Bar' and at only £4, we got the beers in and prepared for a brilliant night of music. 

          From sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net

         From sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net

Nova State (formerly known as Kurt Mundane) is a delicious mix of alternative rock and indie pop. The band is made up of Sam Lelliott,Louis Brennan,Mike Cutuyar and Iwan Jones, with their most notable song being 'I'm Not Going Out Tonight'. Infectious lyrics and a quirky beats guarantee you will be addicted before you know it. 

They are currently gigging around Brighton, and have a facebook page so give it a 'like' if you fancy finding out where they will be playing next. 

Their soundcloud page is a great place to listen to their new music, and you also have the opportunity to download their awesome tunes. What are you waiting for?? 

                            From sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net

                                                                         (me fangirling on Louis) 

8 Unforgettable Elements of Lady Gaga's iTunes Festival Performance

From static2.stuff.co.nz

After what felt like an agonising wait for her return, pop titan Lady Gaga showcased some of her newArtpop album as she opened the iTunes Festival last night. The event was streamed live at 9pm BST and was available free via the app on iPhone,iPad or through an Apple tv. If you missed the spectacle, here are eight moments that made the gig extra special. 

Performing Her New Material 

For those of us desperate to hear new Gaga material, last night was the perfect opportunity to obtain our Artpop fix. The star seems to be back on top form with addictive beats and memorable lyrics as she performed one of her tracks 'sex dreams'. 

She Kept It Controversial 

                           From 24.media.tumblr.com

Not one to be confined to stereotypes, Gaga kept it dramatic with single 'Aura', a performance full of strong symbolism. She can be seen kneeling with a large knife with the words Hollywood written on it, before she is placed into a cage while wearing black material around her face, supposedly emulating a burqa. 

She Spoke to her Audience 

With a lot of artists, their music may be flawless, but their stage presence is often lacking. For Gaga on Sunday, she had the full package. During Applause she exclaimed "lights out London, it's just you and me" and continued to tell her audience how much she loved them. No-one can take it away from Gaga that she shows a lot of adoration for her fans. During 'Manicure' she took part in an on-stage costume change before performing a vigorous routine. 

Those Outfits

Gaga wouldn't be the same without her kooky outfits and last night she didn't disappoint. Along with a number of wigs, those who watched the VMAs would have recognised the mermaid-esque piece along with a seemingly Mad Hatter inspired suit. 

             From assets7.gcstatic.com

Even as she was leaving the venue, she was seen in yet another outfit, this time donning  a white mini dress with an elaborate bubble machine built-in. 

                 From l1.yimg.com

#Swinefest

Lady Gaga took to Twitter to name her gig Swinefest where she encouraged fans to dress in pig-inspired attire.

                 From pbs.twimg.com

Single 'Swine' in which her idea stemmed from was performed on Sunday, a song that started off melodically before a tremendous build-up then staggering drop- Gaga is well and truly embracing an electronic rock 'n' roll feel and I can't get enough.

Her Genuine Emotion

Miss Germanotta didn't hold back as she told her fans repeatedly "I would do anything for my monsters" and candidly revealed her fear that she would never perform again. She stated  "When we're in this space together we make the most beautiful thing in the world - we make love"

She Tried a New Style

Gaga admitted she was trying a new music route as she exclaimed "I'm a fan of all types of [music] aren't you?" Jewels and Drugs was a heavily rap-based song with T.I. and I think we are all thoroughly applauding Gaga for her adventurous nature. 

Celebs Turned Out to See Her 

Only last week the megastar was spotted chatting to none other than boy band sensation One Direction at the VMAs and it seems that at least one of them wanted a slice of that Gaga experience- Niall Horan was spotted at the performance, along with Grammy award winning singer Adele. 

From l1.yimg.com