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FEATURED REVIEW:
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Dreams on Toast is the eighth album from English rockers The
Darkness, and a new collection of nods to rock classics, with humor
and unforgettable melodies. Relatively restrained by the band's
standards, only a few tracks soar to new heights with energetic
riffs. This is the case with the opening track, "Rock and Roll Party
Cowboy", and the frenzied "I Hate Myself". "Mortal Dread" and
"Walking Through Fire" recall AC/DC, while "The Longest Kiss"
evokes Queen. The album is tempered by introspective tracks
with moderate tempo ("Don't Need Sunshine"), cinematic moments
("Weekend in Rome" with actor Stephen Dorff) and even
country-tinged pieces ("Hot on My Tail", "Cold Hearted Woman").
Despite a little humor, there's now a sense of maturity and creative
evolution beginning to take hold of Justin Hawkins and his
band, adding depth to their repertoire. Dreams of Toast is
uneven and too short (33 minutes) but features several highly
interesting moments that deserve our attention.
Music Video:
« Rock and Roll Party Cowboy » |
  

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FEATURED NEW
ARTIST:
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LISA Alter Ego
Thai-born rapper Pranpriya Manobal (aka LISA) is best known
as a member of the K-Pop group BLACKPINK. Her single "Rockstar"
was a huge hit in 2024, reaching #4 on the Billboard Global 200, and
now she offers her first full-length album, Alter Ego, which
includes not only her first hit, but also "New Woman" (with
ROSALIA), "Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)" (featuring the chorus of
Sixpence None the Richer's "Kiss Me") and "Born Again" (with
Doja Cat and RAYE). The idea behind the album may seem
good at first: she announces her alter egos Roxy, Kiki, Sunny and
Vixi. However, the album neither explains nor explores these
characters. What's more, the songs are not clearly associated with
each of the alter egos, making the concept rather empty. Worst of
all, LISA herself doesn't seem to know clearly what she wanted to
convey, as if this was an attempt to bring depth to an album that
has none. In fact, it's a lack of musical direction that is evident
throughout the 15-track record. The songs feature effective beats,
but above all, the lyrics often seem far too juvenile for a
27-year-old woman. Alter Ego is an interesting album with
many strong points, but LISA still seems to be searching for
herself.
Music Videos:
« Rockstar » -
« New Woman » -
« Born Again » |
  


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april:
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Lady Gaga returns to her roots for her seventh album, MAYHEM.
She leaves behind her jazzy experiments, her Nashville explorations
and her club-dancing impulses to return to a pop sound that
characterizes her a little more. But she remains inventive, with a
somewhat unstructured, avant-garde approach. Despite this, the album
starts logically enough, with pop staples ("Disease", "Abracadabra",
"Garden of Eden", "Perfect Celebrity", "Vanish Into You"), followed
by love songs brimming with vulnerability at the end of the record,
and concluding with the mega-hit "Die with a Smile" in a duet with
Bruno Mars. Lady Gaga has already mentioned her industrial
music influences (including Nine Inch Nails). This
inspiration can be heard in the first half of the album, notably in
"Disease", which officially marks a new departure for the singer.
"Abracadabra" is one of the best songs in her catalog, an effective
and creative dance track. The somber "Perfect Celebrity" is one of
the album's many reflections on Lady Gaga's internal struggles. She
injects a little funk into the mix, notably in "Vanish Into You",
which could very well have featured on The Fame. "Killah", a
collaboration with Gesaffelstein, recalls St. Vincent
or Trent Reznor, taking on David Bowie and Prince.
"Zombieboy" (named after the late dancer in her "Born This Way"
video) introduces us to effortless pop anthems ("LoveDrug" and
"Shadow of a Man") and midtempo tracks ("The Beast" and "Blade of
Grass") on the second half of the album. While not as messy or
tumultuous as its title suggests, MAYHEM is by no means
subject to the rules of the pop universe. That's what makes this
album such a breath of fresh air in Lady Gaga's catalog.
(April 2025 Featured Review)
Music Videos:
« Disease » -
« Abracadabra » |
  ½

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Olly Alexander is a British songwriter, singer and actor, best known
as the lead singer of the pop trio Years & Years, a band that
has been active for some fifteen years and has three albums.
Alexander now brings us his very first solo album, Polari.
Like his band, the artist offers us a danceable pop sound wrapped in
synthesizers. It includes such unforgettable hits as "Polari",
"Cupid's Bow", "Archangel", "When We Kiss", "Whisper in the Waves"
and, above all, "Dizzy", released a year ago. The 13-track,
40-minute record is a marvellous listen all the way through, making
for an excellent debut that has nothing to envy Years & Years.
(April 2025 Featured New Artist)
Music Videos:
« Dizzy » -
« Cupids Bow » -
« Polari » -
« When We Kiss » -
« Whisper in the Waves » |
  


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march:
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With his sixth record, Hurry Up Tomorrow, The Weeknd
potentially presents his final album. While much of the experimental
R&B and futuristic pop produced by Abel Tesfaye during his
rise to global stardom has been heavy, morose and fatalistic, a
cloud of finality hangs heavily over Hurry Up Tomorrow.
Nearly every song focuses on the rigors of stardom, being exhausted
by the demands of touring, wanting out and ready to call it a day.
In the throes of despair, The Weeknd takes every opportunity to let
his audience know that this is the end. Fortunately, these
depressing themes are wrapped up in the same brilliant production,
making for a somewhat contradictory listening experience. The
album's 84 minutes seem to deal endlessly with his life of opulence
and luxury but Hurry Up Tomorrow is calculatingly paced with
beautiful transitions between songs that make the whole coherent.
The haunting sounds and darkly enchanting melodies of "Cry for Me"
recall the artist's previous hits and quickly give way to the
excellent Brazilian song "Sγo Paulo" (with Anitta). The moody
ballad "Reflections Laughing" gains in intensity until it becomes a
cinematic experience. The album's few lighter moments arrive with
the rap of "Timeless" with Playboi Carti, the sunny pop of
"Give Me Mercy" and a replica of Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
groove in the second half of "Wake Me Up". Still, there's a little
too much sadness to deal with as Tesfaye describes The Weeknd's
metaphorical death from every angle. A Giorgio Moroder sample
attempts to enliven "Big Sleep", but every moment of excitement
melts into a much darker whole. Ultimately, Hurry Up Tomorrow
achieves its goal of bringing The Weeknd's career to a ceremonious
end. The execution is perfect, with impeccable production, but
unfortunately stretches its dark side a little too far.
(March 2025 Featured Review)
Music Videos:
« Sao Paulo » -
« Open Hearts » -
« Cry for Me » |
  ½

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Irish singer Jessica Smyth (aka Biig Piig) got her start in
the Nine8 collective, navigating between R&B, indie pop and
hip hop. With her debut album, 11:11, Biig Piig continues in
the same direction, with the addition of a jazzy touch to her modern
electro style. However, there is a certain lack of cohesion between
the 11 tracks on the set, totalling less than 30 minutes. 4AM and
Decimal stand out for their polished production, despite their
electronic minimalism, while Cynical explores hip hop and garage
sounds. Unfortunately, some of the other tracks offer little of
interest. Nevertheless, Biig Piig demonstrates an undeniable melodic
talent and an ability to bring a subtle groove to her songs. The
album is aimed at a wide audience, but the lack of instant hits may
keep Biig Piig in underground territory. (March
2025 Featured New Artist)
Music Videos:
« 4AM » -
« Favourite Girl » -
« Ponytail » -
« 9-5 » |
  


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february:
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Franz Ferdinand have never been afraid to stray from the sound that
made them famous, but the results have been mixed. The energetic pop
and eerie piano ballads of
You Could Have It So Much Better stand in stark contrast to
their self-titled debut album of incisive post-punk rock. On The
Human Fear, the band abandon any pretence of being cool in
favour of melody and personality. The band worked with producer
Mark Ralph, engineer on
Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, and The
Human Fear is in keeping with the witty and often poignant songs
on that album. After opening with "Audacious" (a tribute to Mott
the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes"), "Everydaydreamer" is
probably the album's standout track, setting an introspective tone,
becoming darker on "Bar Lonely" a little later. When they return
with danceable rhythms, they're still just as catchy 20 years on,
but with an added touch of maturity. The other highlights of the
album are "Hooked" and "Night or Day". "Tell Me I Should Stay"
offers new experimentation with mellow reggae, echoing piano collage
and Beach Boys-style choruses. "Black Eyelashes" is less
successful, as Alex Kapranos reflects a little too much on
his Greek heritage, incorporating Rebetiko influences and a
resounding bouzouki. The Human Fear is a slightly more
committed album than its predecessors, but at just 35 minutes, it
feels incomplete, lacking a pair of memorable hits to make it a
first-rate album. A respectable effort, but nothing more!
(February 2025 Featured Review)
Music Videos:
« Audacious » -
« Night or Day » |
  

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After a debut EP in 2023,
You're Welcome, Brighton, England-based indie duo Lambrini
Girls are continuing at a high level of indignation. On their first
full-length album, Who Let the Dogs Out, they tackle gender
inequality, political and cultural atrocities, and bad behaviour in
general. Singer Phoebe Lunny doesn't mince her words when she
talks about toxic masculinity, xenophobia and medical
pathologization, and she throws it all at us in an aggressive (and
unpleasant) voice that's more often spoken than sung to a garage and
punk sound. The Lambrini Girls, joined by bassist Lilly Macieira
and an unofficial drummer, turn the spotlight on size and weight
misogyny on "Nothing Tastes as Good as It Feels", a pun on model
Kate Moss's famous "skinny feels" quote, with guitar distortion and
angry lyrics that reflect their personal experience of body
dysmorphia and diet culture. The track ends with a prolonged moan
and a series of swear words. Another album highlight, "Love",
examines being attracted to bad actors who have nothing to offer.
This kind of vulnerable, personal testimony makes demonstrations
like the scathing "Big Dick Energy" all the more relevant and helps
set Who Let the Dogs Out apart from contemporary punk rock
records. (February 2025 Featured New Artist) |
  


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january:
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Lucinda
Williams Sings the Beatles from Abbey Road
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Lucinda Williams has been offering a
series of albums, Lu's Jukebox, themed collections in which
she covers the work of an artist or songwriter. After the tribute to
Tom Petty in 2021, she has presented five more volumes in
this series, which is a bit special for a singer-songwriter of her
calibre. Lucinda was 11 years old in 1964 when the Beatles
made their US debut, which means she grew up with their music.
Although her work, steeped in blues, country and folk, may not seem
to have much to do with the Beatles, their writing style and taste
for sonic experimentation have undoubtedly left their mark on her.
So, Lucinda and her musicians went to London's Abbey Road studios,
where the Beatles recorded most of their catalogue, and in three
days produced this tribute to the legendary quartet. She leaves out
their greatest hits and concentrates on less famous songs, although
"Can't Buy Me Love" and "Something" are included. She brings a dirty
Southern edge to tracks like "Don't Let Me Down", "I've Got a
Feeling" and "Rain". Then she brings an endless sadness and
bitterness to "I'm Looking Through You". "While My Guitar Gently
Weeps" steals the show thanks to the guitars of Marc Ford
(ex-Black Crowes) and Doug Pettibone. Lucinda's vocals
are discreet on several songs, leaving all the space to her
musicians and the Beatles' iconic work. "The Long and Winding Road"
and "Let It Be" suffer somewhat from this, and she does them no
justice. Her approach to the Beatles' music may not be universally
appreciated, but her desire to pay tribute to this essential group
in the history of music can only be applauded.
(January 2025 Featured Review) |
  

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It's rare for an artist to be as successful as Wyatt Flores early in
his career. With only two EPs to his credit, the 23-year-old already
had the presence of a seasoned country artist even before releasing
a full-length album. So, expectations were high for Welcome to
the Plains, the Oklahoma native's debut album. Flores stays true
to his strengths while introducing refreshing new elements. He even
surprises with a half of the album that's a little more upbeat than
what he's presented so far. The other half, however, reflects the
poignant, melancholy style characteristic of his debut. The title
track immediately sets the tone for the record. Four of the 14
tracks have been released before, which can be disturbing for those
who already knew them, especially as they make a break with the
album's overall theme. The production is rather simple, centered
mainly on guitar and violin (by Matt Combs). "Forget Your
Voice" is one of Flores' most unique and catchy songs, and it
clearly stands out. Even though the song is basically sad, it's
nonetheless catchy and will get your toes tapping. "Oh, Susannah",
released a few weeks before the album, is also one of the most
moving tracks on Welcome to the Plains, recounting his mental
health problems from early 2024. Wyatt Flores is an excellent
raconteur, a true troubadour, and much of the album is based on his
personal experiences. Even the album cover tells a story.
(January 2025 Featured New Artist)
Music Videos:
« Oh Susannah » -
« Dont Wanna Say Goodnight » -
« Welcome to the Plains » |
  ½


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december:
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From Zero represents a comeback to record for Linkin Park
after Chester Bennington's suicide in 2017. The band can now
count on singer Emily Armstrong (Dead Sara), who,
while not wearing Bennington's boots, fits in perfectly with the
band's style thanks to her powerful voice. Three of the first four
singles show a real return to their roots. "Heavy is the Crown" was
an excellent calling card before "The Emptiness Machine" became one
of the biggest rock hits of the year, an instant classic. As for
"Two Faced", you can't help feeling that the band are simply copying
their style from the past: there's a movement similar to "Figure
09", a riff and breakdown comparable to "One Step Closer", not to
mention some scratches you've heard before. The rest of the album is
far less exciting. "Over Each Other" is simply boring and doesn't
fit in with the album's style, while many of the other tracks are
just fillers on an album that's already too short (32 minutes). And
although Emily is very solid (and original on 'IGYEIH'), she seems
to be trying to imitate Bennington on several occasions, which
inevitably brings back the comparison. In conclusion, From Zero
leaves us wanting more. It wows us with its first two singles, which
add admirably to Linkin Park's repertoire, but disappoints us
thereafter, ending with a feeling of frustration.
(December 2024 Featured Review)
Music Videos:
« Heavy is the Crown » -
« The Emptiness Machine » -
« Over Each Other » -
« Two Faced » |
 ½

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Kim Deal
Nobody Loves You More
Thanks to years of work with the Pixies, the Breeders
and Amps, Kim Deal has been a major influence on alternative
music since the late 1980s. But with Nobody Loves You More,
her first solo album, she reveals that she can still surprise. Deal
wrote and recorded the album during a pivotal decade in which she
split from the Pixies, reformed the Breeders, cared for and mourned
the death of her parents, and dealt with the death of her friend and
loyal collaborator Steve Albini. The result is a resolutely
personal album. On "Summerland", she strums a ukulele given to her
by Albini and sings about holidays with her parents in the Florida
Keys. "Are You Mine", an astonishing country ballad, slips between a
classic love song and a moving recall of her mother's dementia.
"Disobedience", and the catchiest song, "Crystal Breath", with its
crisp rhythms, harmonica and catchy guitar riff are two particularly
effective songs. In keeping with the style of her past bands, Deal
is proving hard to pin down, her album taking some time to get used
to. It may have taken her nearly 40 years to go solo, but it was
worth the wait: Nobody Loves You More is a very good album
with some excellent alternative rock songs.
(December 2024 Featured New Artist) |
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