I'm Not a Critic Anymore: music videos don't make a bad song good!

Music videos have become extremely popular since the rise of MTV in the 80s and the rise of the internet (and YouTube) in the 2000's. Some of the most watched videos on YouTube are music videos, gaining billions of views. But there seems to be a misconception between the music video, and the song itself. It seems to me that a number of people believe that the music video to a song, makes the song good. And even if you don't think about this consciously, you will most likely have a more positive view on a track if the video accompanying it is of quality.

But this simply is not the case, the music video should add a visual element to the song. NOTHING MORE. If the song is only tolerable if you are watching it, then simply put, its not a good song.

It seems to me that a lot of the time, you see this kind of thing in modern pop and hip hop. You remember when Shake It Off came out right? quite a controversial track that one. Now lets be real, the song itself isn't great but it isn't the worst either. The lyrics are pretty dull, the upbeat pop sound has been done to death and the emphasis on the beat and bass doesn't really do it for me. Whether or not you like the music video or not, it is very visually interesting containing a number of different styles and unique aesthetics all the way through. This is a perfect example of a song that is riding almost completely off of the video's back.

The way I look at it is this. If I heard it come on to the radio in my car, would I change the channel? In this case, yes I would.

But the music video doesn't always have to be of quality to make the song seem like it is better than it is. Sometimes, all it takes is for it to be just bizarre or disturbing in some way. A prime example is Fatty Boom Boom by Die Antwoord.

Now this song is just crap. When listening to it, by itself, it is repetitive, cheap sounding, and annoying. But when accompanied by its really creepy and strange video, it seems more tolerable. This is because you really aren't listening to the song itself, you are too distracted by the LSD inspired visuals being launched at you.

I am not saying that music videos are inherently worthless of course, they are almost another entity by themselves. However it simply bothers me when someone praises a song based off of the music video when the song itself isn't of quality.

50 St. Catherine's Drive Album Review

When you here the name Bee Gees, whats the first thing that comes into your head? If your an average listener, probably Staying Alive. And that makes sense that track is one of the most well known tracks ever written, but it wasn't the only thing the Bee Gees accomplished in their career which spanned over five decades. Robin Gibb, one of the lead singers, made himself a solo career over the years, with his last album being released in 2014, 2 years following his death from cancer. Over time the Bee Gees music devolved into adult contemporary stuff that all sounded similar, and naturally, this carried over to his solo work. So the question is does 50 St. Catherine's Drive bring back their excellent 60's work? or does it better represent their 90's stuff?

I love the Bee Gees and Robin Gibb. They are my favorite band ever. But it is clear when something isn't as good as it could have been, and this is album is exactly that. It is simply mediocre. It does what almost every other Robin Gibb album had done prior. With no surprises. 

The first single, Days of Wine and Roses, is a slowly paced heartbreak song, talking about the topic of "eat, drink for tomorrow we die". Its generic and does nothing interesting. It uses the same adult contemporary riffs and styles without anything to identify itself. Even its theme is overdone and dull. If you like this genre, then you will probably like the song, but in the grand scheme of things its kind of like a fart that doesn't smell. Its just kind of there and gone and you won't remember it in 10 minutes. 

Now this song actually does have a kind of interesting theme. Basically, it is a tribute song to Alan Freeman (obviously). I mean, I say its interesting, but musically it does nothing different then the first single. Its still just a heart felt "passionate" song about someone he cares about. There is nothing else to say about this track that I haven't already said. 

Mother of Love is the final single on the album and it is definitely not good. The writing of this track (especially the vocal melody) does not complement his voice at all. The chorus is the biggest offender here. I can't stand the chorus of this song. The lyrics, generic, uninteresting, and sound like every other sad song with "passion". It is just another adult contemporary song, but this time it is lazily written. 

The style is the same on almost every track, but unlike on Everybody Else is Doing it so Why Can't We? which took its style and evolved it from track to track, as well as altering the vocals and having the sound itself be unqiue to every track, this album is just a complete bore that sounds the same. It is a by the numbers adult contemporary snooze fest. That does nothing to set it apart from others, except for the fact that Robin Gibb is singing it. 

I love the Bee Gees, I love Robin Gibb, and I actually Love this album, but the issues with it are apparent, and need to be exposed. It is sad that it was his last pieces of work because he won't ever get the chance to improve himself. Hopefully the genre as a whole can evolve past these cliches I have mentioned. and be unique, hopefully. 

Final Verdict 

4/10

Sub-Par

Everybody else is doing it so why can't we? Album Review

The early 1990's was a lot of things for the music industry. It was a time of great change from the hard rock of the 80's to the mysterious nature of Alternative. When one thinks of popular music in the 90's they usually think of Nirvana or Radiohead. And pop music during the decade is usually looked on with distaste. Instances of Brittney Spears and The Spice Girls certainly doesn't help its case. However in 93' The album Everybody Else is Doing it so Why Can't We? was released did something, ironically, hadn't done before.

This is one of the most unique albums from the early 90's and is just as good as Nevermind or The Bends. Of course, its in a completely different genre and has a completely different style than those two, however its quality is unparalleled.

The first single, Dreams, is a melodic upbeat piece of music with a very subtle calming feel to it. Dolores O'Riordan's vocal work is fantastic and fits the piece. She is one of the few artists who can pull off just about any genre, and throughout this entire album she shows it off flauntingly. It is so masterfully written, mixing different aspects of alt rock and pop, fusing it into a truly unique track. Overall it has a very mature tone, not pandering to the teens in particular, allowing for everyone to relate to the style.

Sunday, the second single on the album, is another melodic, slowly paced track that takes it time to establish the style. This allows the vocals/lyrics to really effect you in a way that not many other songs can. The lyrics on this track, and indeed most of the album itself, is a lot better written then many other albums of the same genre. The lyrics don't just give everything away right off the bat, instead they make you listen, make you wonder and are quite philosophical feeling when sung by O'Riordan.

The final single on the album is a little song called Linger. And quite honestly is one of my favorite songs ever. I love O'Riordan's vocals on this track, they are so soft and gentle. Its a nice contrast between the lyrics, as it is rather quite sad and longing. Of course the instrumentation is perfect for the style and compliments her perfectly. Her vocals are almost embedded into the instruments, if that makes sense, making the two a match made in heaven. It is truly a fantastic track, written stupendously, and gives off the alt rock/pop vibe that I crave. A truly unique sounding and feeling single.

Just like other highly rated albums I have reviewed, there are no filler tracks. They all carry the style established in the first few songs, almost like the album tells a story, the entire feel is continuous as it evolves throughout the course of the album. Every filler track has a purpose and it seems like true time and talent was poured into them as well.

This is one of the best albums in my opinion, Dolores O'Riordan's stunning vocals, the truly unique blend of instrumentation, vocals, fantastic writing and great lyrics is truly a spectacle to behold. I believe that everyone should at least give a listen, even if you generally don't listen to other bands in the same genre. It is something unique that has passed the test of time with flying colors.

Final Verdict 

10/10

Legendary

I'm Not A Critic Anymore: FourFiveSeconds

Hello everyone, this is a series in which I will deviate from the formalities of my typical format, and give a more down to earth look on a very specific topic. I realize that this still sounds overly formal, but regardless, let’s move on to the topic at hand.

FourFiveSeconds was a single collaboration between the three music heavy weights, Sir Paul McCartney, Kanye West and Rihanna. It got rave reviews from every critic under the sun. With many people stating how wonderful the song is: ‘wonderful just wonderful!’ ‘Ooh my Mr. Album Man, is the song fantastic?’ ‘Us, the generally unaware audience, thought it was great!’

Well, if you can read through my cynical overly sarcastic text tone, then no; in my opinion it’s not.

First off, the acoustic bare bones sound is an idea I am okay with, on paper that is. It does have an older sound to it, which I do like. However it leaves far too many random awkward pauses for my liking. So instead of having a charming stripped away feel, you have a bizarrely sounding, unappealing, soul/folk song with far too little quality portions to keep you coming back.

Don't get me wrong, parts of the chorus sound great and are catchy, but they end abruptly and go back to the awkward cringe fest that is the rest of the song.

I feel like the lyrical content should be mentioned next, as with a song with this style usually puts all the emphasis on the lyrics. However,  the lyrics in this song are poor; very poor. There is no deeper meaning,  it  has no interesting thing look deeper into. If you are good at picking up the lyrics while listening to a song (or if you just google them), then you will quickly realize the meaning to this song.

It is basically saying that they are tired of normal life and being taken advantage of. There is no kind of hidden meaning or deeper thought or discussion. The message is just laid out for all to see. And that, my friends, KILLS a song of this nature. A song that has no other real draw to it, with simplistic instrumentation, the lyrics are crucial for any possible intrigue within a song. Not only is there nothing interesting in the lyrics, but they themselves are poorly written and feel completely out of place in the song, mostly due to the genre.

I feel like one of the main reasons people think that the lyrics are deeper than they really are has something to do with the obvious strength in the vocals by Kanye and Rihanna (I will get to Paul in a minute),  and the soul driven feel of their vocals. Especially Rihanna. They both give very strong performances here, but Kanye feels like he is out of his element here. Rihanna's strong vocals cover up the lyrics from the everyday listener, and the passion filled drive in her voice further adds to this fact.

Paul McCartney is not utilized at all in this song, and that is a HUGE wasted opportunity. Sure he plays guitar, but he can do so much more than that. He is not given a single verse to himself, or even a bit of a chorus. Sure, he harmonizes with Rihanna and Kanye here and there, but his voice is completely drowned out by them. That is a huge waste of his talent as a singer. He could have added a style and sound to the song that would have been a good contrast from Kanye's or Rihanna's, and added to the entirety of the song as a whole

By the way, let’s just not mention the fact that a significant portion of listeners didn't even know who Paul McCartney was.     

In all honesty though, I cannot put into words the contempt I feel for this song, mainly for mistreating a legend like this. And it stings even more now, that we are starting to lose some of the best songwriters/singers in history. BUT SERIOUSLY WHY WOULD YOU NOT UTILIZE PAUL MCCARTNEY HE HAS SIR IN HIS NAME.

He has virtually no role in the song, and is there for the sole reason of selling copies, “Hello I am Paul McCartney, buy this song on itunes.“

That really upsets me, when you have such a fantastic singer, and just have him play acoustic guitar in the background.

What a huge insult.

In conclusion, this song is bad. It’s bad because it’s awkward, boring, and abuses Sir Paul McCartney. Pooooop on this song all over. Seriously.

 

I Love Rock 'n Roll Album Review

The early 80's were the beginning of something amazing. Synth Pop and New Wave were just starting to take off, setting the stage for a very successful year for pop music. However, the other side of the coin was just as successful, that being of course, rock. The 80's would provide some of the greatest hits in the genre of all time, and some of the best albums. some examples would be the second best selling album in history Back in Black by ACDC, and the fantastic Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi. But in 1981 there would be an album which would change the rock scene forever. Especially for women in hard rock. That album is of course I Love Rock n' Roll.

In truth, I am surprised how many people don't know that this is an album. It has sold over 10 million copies to date, however it success was due to the main single. Regardless, the other singles and tracks are worth mentioning, seeing how few people even realize they exist.

The first track and single on the album, is the reason that it became a success. I Love Rock n' Roll became a number one hit in several countries including Australia, Canada, and The United States. Originally written in the 1970's by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of the Arrows, Joan Jett released her cover of the song in 1981 and thats when the single became reconsidered world wide. In terms of instrumentation, it is fairly simple sounding. It is the distortion of the lead guitar, basic drum beat, and her dirty and rough sounding vocals that make it unique. The main chorus is catchy, and just a lot of fun to shout at the top of your lungs. Up until this point, there had been few females in the rock scene who were able to become as successful as Jett became. And her masterful arrangement of the original song to make something truly special is amazing. It was a win for women in rock, and is a classic still to this day. What can be said other than I love rock n' roll.

The second single on the album, another cover, is a testament to Joan Jett's ability to turn just about any song into a hard rock classic. The original, recorded in 1968, is without a doubt, a soft rock tune. But her arrangement skills and very unique vocals completely transforms it into a completely new creation. Crimson and Clover, is simply a solid cover that does everything it needs to in order to add to the original while at the same time bringing enough new to make it her own.

The final single on the Album, Victim of Circumstance, was an original song written by Jett and has quite the the interesting backstory to it. Not being able to get signed to any major record label, Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, decided to form their own company, Black Heart Records. This track, is an obvious jab at those who refused her during her earlier days. While the instrumentation itself itself is just as strong as any other single I have mentioned (keeping that old style and feel) the lyrics are intriguing and its just simply fun to hear her insult major corporations. This song just oozes dirty rock, and I love every moment of it.

I mean, what else can be said, that hasn't already been said? Although there are quite a few covers on this album, it is a staple of how cover songs should be done. Bringing something new, fresh and original to the table. Making it your own. And no other artist, in my opinion, did quite like Joan Jett did it. Her arrangement skills are fantastic and no other artist had done it up to that point in history. She is one of the most influential women in rock and with this release it is obvious to see why. I recommend this album to anyone who has the slightest interest in the music industry, or music as an art form. It is a must listen.  

FINAL VERDICT 

10/10 

(Must Own)

        

Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) Album Review

Duran Duran were a New Wave/Synth pop band who dominated the early 1980's with their catchy beats and melodies and kind of cheeky immature nature. They had three hit Albums; their self titled Duran Duran, Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger. The hit a rough patch during the late 80's and early 90's with albums beginning to flop, so in 1993 they decided to get back to their roots while bringing a more mature tone to their iconic sound. It was in this year when they released their second self title release, more commonly referred to as the wedding album due to the cover art. This album didn't resurrect their prolonged fame, however it did spawn multiple top ten hits, and was very commercially successful. And its this album that we will be looking at today.

It is no lie when I say that they have slowed it down. Compared to their glory years it is a lot more relaxed. It incorporates a lot more 90's adult contemporary into the tracks while still keeping the same tone as before. It is a fantastic album that does nearly everything right, and is one of my favorite albums to date.

The first single on the album Too Much Information is a fast paced pop/rock tune, which immediately reminds you of their earlier work such as Rio or Planet Earth. And honestly not much has changed musically since their glory years. Except the sound has matured into a more serious dance pop act instead of a young immature 80's synth pop like they were. This track (and many others on the album) still show many elements of 80's New Wave, updated, but still there none the less. Overall the track works as well as previous Duran Duran singles, and the updated sound makes it better for adults and young people to listen to as it doesn't ooze 80's like before.

The second track, Ordinary World is a slow pop song, something that the band has never really been pros at. But here, the catchy melody, 90's adult contemporary mixed with their classic sound makes for one of the best overall tracks on the album. It takes its time, to let the lyrics and music sink in slowly, this allows for the audience to truly enjoy the musical aspect of the track, something that they were never really able to pull off in the same way as they did here. Ordinary World Is easily one of the best tracks on the album, with its slow nature and change of pace for the band it is a welcome addition for fans and does everything that a slow pop song needs to.

The final single on the album is another slow pop song, however unlike Ordinary World it takes a far more minor /melodic tone. Come Undone is a fantastically mysterious track, the lyrics and vocal line add to the mix by having thought provoking lyrics, which ultimately makes the track feel far more atmospheric than many others on the album. This has to be my personal favorite song on the release as I really enjoy slow mysterious songs such as this one.

The non-singles on the album are fantastic, similar to Look Sharp! which I previously reviewed, every track feels like it could have been a single, most notably None Of The Above and Love Voodoo both amazing in their own respective ways. The vocals and strong writing continue throughout the release, making it one of the best pop/rock albums of the early 90's. They did a cover of Velvet Underground's Femme Fatale and for that particular song Simon Le Bon was the perfect vocalist to pull off the sound of the original. In short it adds enough to make it sound new and fresh, while still keeping what made the original great.  

This is one of my favorite albums of all time, the only time it slips up is the last few tracks aren't the greatest, however the rest of the album more than makes up for those few short comings. This album returns to form of their earlier work and any long time fan of Duran Duran will feel right at home with this release. For any new Fan of Duran Duran this would be a good starting point, as its new mature sound resonates more with the current generation than their 80's material. Simon Le Bon's vocals are unique and strong as ever and the writing, spear headed by Andy Taylor is also as great as it was before. It made for a great short lived come back, and I would love to see them peruse a similar style in their next album.

FINAL VERDICT 

9/10 

(Fantastic)

                       

Editorial: Does new music suck?

Ever since the 60's this question has been asked, however since the year 2000 it seems to be making a reappearance with the rise of the internet. I have read multiple articles discussing this topic and I have decided to through my hat into the ring as well. Of course all forms of media is subjective and there is no right answer here. That said, lets dive into the age old question. Does new music suck?

First off we should clarify what counts as "new". For the purposes of this article, I will say that music released in the new millennium is new, and anything before is "old". 

Lets start off with the argument that new music does suck. From what I have read online, the general agreement is that the overall over-sexualization of the music industry, swearing, auto tune, and stealing material from older artists and incorporating them in their own songs (plagiarism). Another big problem supporters call out is the large amount of marketing and money that happens in today's generation.

Mandatory.com posted a list in 2015 titled "11 Reasons Music Sucks Now More Than Ever". The article supports most of the arguments I have all ready stated and in response I would like to discuss them one at a time.

1. The statement that there is too much sex in the music industry, or too much swearing for that matter is quite honestly a reflection of the culture and the new openness that the western world has created over the past 2 decades. And since music is inherently tied to the culture it is born into, one would have to criticize the western civilization as a whole, not just the music which stemmed from it. In all honesty the amount of skin hasn't really changed much since the golden age of music because we all adapt to what we are shown. Those who argue that artists were more modest 50 years ago forget that there were still those who pushed the envelope and were appalled even then. Elvis Presley is one of the most famous voices of all time, but when he was popular everyone though he was very sexual for moving his hips back and forth. In short using sex or swearing as an argument that new music is inferior is not a solid argument as it all evolves with the times.

2. Auto tune came with territory of new technology. However this argument does hold some weight behind it as abusing Auto Tune can hide whether an artist can sing or not. This tied into the current trend of overproducing music is something I don't really like personally. On the other hand using new production techniques in order smooth over certain vocal mishaps does improve the quality of the on disk tracks. There is a certain balance of these techniques that should be applied if they are going to be used and if one looks a current pop music, generally speaking, they are using it responsibly.

3. Stealing music samples and ideas from other artists has been around for decades and is not at all a new practice. There are even court cases dating back 30-40 years. Because of this, plagiarism is really an issue that should be applied to all aspects of media regardless of age as there will always be people trying to copy and sell other peoples work.

4. Again, the music industry has always been a big money maker so I don't get why people are surprised when they see an increase of sales due to the rise of the internet. Since the 1980's and the rise of MTV it has been an extremely marketable business, and the more technology we get the more that aspect of the art will increase. It is not an issue with industry in particular, it is an issue with the interconnection of the current generation. Artists and Record Producers have merely taken advantage of it.

That said, new music is not perfect. With the rise of the internet it has allowed certain artists to find fame who would have never gotten famous 40+ years ago. One hit wonders such as Rebecca Black and more infamous stars such as Justin Bieber more than likely wouldn't have become massive successes.

As a final point, it seems that people who argue that the majority of new music isn't good, fail to realize that the majority of old music wasn't good either. That's the nature of the beast. Sure there were a lot of amazing music released in the glory years however there was an exponentially large amount of sub par music made as well. The same thing is happening today, and it will continue to happen forever. Especially when in an over saturated market like the music industry, whenever you have a large amount of releases, the majority of them will most likely not be an OK Computer, or a Back in Black.

In conclusion, New Music does not suck. But it is not a golden age either, because I believe such a time has never existed in the music industry. Sure the brand new technology introduced recently needs to be regulated and used in moderation, however even back in the 60's and 70's new technology was introduced and they were able to use it to its full potential. The art of music is alive and well and acting as it should be, evolving with the culture and times adapting and changing as it should. Because if it remained the same all these years it really wouldn't be an art form now would it?                           

The Sign Album Review

The 1990's, in terms of music, is generally laughed at by the current generation for whatever reason. It really confuses me as to why this happens because some of my favorite albums of all time came out during this decade. And one thing that the 90's was fantastic for, it was dance/pop music. When Ace of Base blasted onto the scene in 93' with their debut album The Sign, it made an already great year even better. The more I think about it, 1993 was an amazing year for music for a lot of genres, with Nirvana releasing the critically acclaimed In Utero and the Smashing Pumpkins releasing Siamese Dream. But a lot of music fans have probably heard of both Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, which is why (among other reasons) I chose The Sign this week over the latter two.

The Sign was the first and only major hit for Ace of Base. Which is interesting because unlike other one hit wonders who only have one great song to their name, this album is jam packed with amazing singles and filler tracks alike. Surprisingly good writing for a dance album. And although it sticks to a very stiff formula, it really doesn't need to change it up to remain entertaining. And for some reason, the tracks never feel repetitive, so its easy to listen all the way through.

First off we have All That She Wants, the first single and track on the album, and boy what a way to kick off an album! One of the major problems dance music seems to have is the lyrical quality. While this single doesn't hold the quality of the Beatles or some other extremely popular songwriters, the lyrics remain fresh and interesting enough that they don't detract from the musical content. But the lyrics are a small portion of dance music. And I am happy to report that this single is a fantastic synth pop dance tune that has a very hilly feeling to it. It is a true Beach Tune, a song that I could see myself singing along to while lying out in the sun. It accomplishes this by utilizing a soft electric drum kit, easy going mono synthesizers, and even some synthesized horns hear and there. This track was the perfect one to open the album with as it eases you into it without rushing things.

For the second single, we have Don't Turn Around. Similar to the previous track, this one has a very cool atmosphere, making for another very melodic sounding single. It makes great use of synths, captivating beats and once again, an infectious melody. Not much else can be said other than it continues the strong momentum as the album moves along.

Now for the big one, the third single, The Sign. I believe that this is one of the greatest 90's dance singles ever. It gets everything right, fantastic melody, easy simple lyrics, and unbelievable songwriting. It is structured perfectly in terms of a dance track. it quickly gets to the chorus and moves at a steady pace. All of these things mixed together leaves the listener unable to sit still. And just the cheeky sounding nature of the track will leave the melody in you're head for days.

The forth and final single, Happy Nations, gives a nice change of pace for the latter portion of the album. While the musically it really does not evolve much from the previous singles (aside from making it even more melodic) the lyrics are what really make this one for me. Adding Swedish in the verses builds onto the oppressive atmosphere in the song, which is an interesting turn for a dance album to take. In short, this track helps close the album on a quite, mysterious and almost chilling note.

In my opinion there are no filler tracks on this one, in my opinion every one of these tracks could have been able to be released as singles. All following a pretty linear formula, yet in their own ways they are different enough to keep you listening throughout the entire album. There isn't anything new about the filler tracks that I haven't really mentioned already, but lets just say that this is an easy album to listen to all the way through.

Basically, this release is one of the best dance/pop albums out there. It has fantastic writing, substantially good lyrics, and catchy melodies on nearly all its tracks. Because of the reasons mentioned, it is an easy sell to any dance/pop fan, however if you aren't it might be a little more difficult. Regardless I do believe everyone should at least give it a listen, if for no other reason then to look into a decade which helped popularize the current pop scene.

    FINAL VERDICT
8/10 
(Great)
   

      

Are You Listening? Album Review

Back in 1993, a band by the name of The Cranberries released the alt rock album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? That's a review for another day, but in short it is one of my favorite albums to date. One of the aspects that made the album/band so great was the vocal talent of its lead singer Dolores O'Riordan. With her thick Irish accent and ability to sing just about any genre, she is just a wonder to listen to. So when the band broke up in 2001, she went on to pursue a solo career. And it's here, on May 15th 2007, that we have Are You Listening?, her first solo release.

One of the things this album gets right is variety. Every track feels unique with a number of different techniques used musically. I believe this is a very important aspect in keeping the listener engaged. It bothers me when an entire album feels like just one song being played on loop. Essentially Are You Listening is a throwback to O'Riordan's earlier days with the Cranberries, having the same overall feeling and atmosphere. 

In The Garden, the first single on the album, is by a head-and-a-half the worst single on the album. Its attempt to bring elements of hard rock and metal into the formula just doesn't work, and is almost cringe-worthy. O'Riordan's vocals aren't the problem; we have seen her do this kind of thing before and succeed. Most notably the critically acclaimed single, Zombie, back in 1994. It is a very interesting release, because the verses stick to her normal formula (which I actually prefer), but the chorus just breaks into this hard rock style that seems completely just out of place with what O'Riordan is known for.

Human Spirit on the other hand, is a fantastic alt rock single, with an interesting melodic feeling to it and an great twist on the type of music she has already demonstrated to us. Really, if you are a fan of alt rock, than this is a standard track; it follows the typical alt rock formula very closely, the only thing different is its melodic spin. Regardless, the vocals and atmosphere of the single makes it a joy to listen to. And is by far my personal favorite track.

Talk about a melodically classical tune: the final single, Black Widow, is unlike anything that O'Riordan has performed before. And that can be a pro or a con, because it becomes even more of an acquired taste than before. The progression of this song is very fascinating to watch, it begins as a very eerie track using many classical strings and grand piano, and later adds a distorted guitar into the mix, giving it more of a hard rock feel for a bit before ending the same way it began. The writing is strong from a critical stand point and in addition the vocals and lyrical content is as well, but the overall sound of the track can be hard to listen too. Which will probably turn away a number of listeners. Nevertheless, it is a strong track and a welcome change of style from the older work.                  

Honestly, the filler tracks this time are generally more of the same sorts of things we have seen during her career with The Cranberries. Adult Alternative Rock styles that simply make old fans happy. The best example of this is probably the first track on the album Ordinary Day, which is such a return to a formula that one could be forgiven for mistaking it for a Cranberry track.

In conclusion, this is a solid effort from O'Riordan. It's not superior to Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? But it's a good solo effort that returns to the standard Cranberries formula while adding many melodic elements to the tracks. When comparing this album to the later Cranberry ones it stands on par with them, rather then surpassing their previous work. As a suggestion, if you are interested in hearing Dolores O'Riordan's truly amazing voice, check out The Cranberry's early work before listening to this solid alt rock release.

FINAL VERDICT 

6/10

(Decent)

      

Look Sharp! Album Review

1988 was a very interesting year for music; R.E.M released their sixth studio album Green, Sonic Youth released their fifth album Daydream Nation, and Public Enemy released the critically acclaimed It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. But the 90's pop game would be changed forever when Roxette burst onto the scene with the hugely successful Look Sharp!.

Look Sharp! establishes the base line for what Roxette would be famous for in the early 1990's, and that is their strong melody lines. Per Gessle, chief songwriter of the duo, can be seen honing his skills through this album, as he wrote nearly every track by himself. Something that takes a great amount of talent and skill to accomplish. Marie Fredriksson, the female lead of the band, has a very strong and powerful voice, which fits very nicely with Gessle's softer, tamer vocals.

Even though the record never hit the top ten (number 23 on billboard 200) it did spawn 4 number one singles. The sunny and jumpy "The Look", the powerfully optimistic "Dressed for Success" the passionately strong "Dangerous" and the overproduced soft rock tune "Listen to Your Heart". All of these tunes are more than enjoyable for the ears as they highlight the strengths of the band, mixing the interesting vocal abilities of both members with strong melody lines and fantastic production values.

Dressed for Success is the strongest single out of the bunch for a number of factors. It shows off the fantastic vocals of Fredriksson, establishes a simple yet extremely catchy melody, and finally gives the song enough productive polish in order to build onto the style. 

Listen to Your Heart on the other hand, is the weakest single. While not the worst song ever written, its slow soft rock nature mixed with overproduction gives the music itself little to keep the listener coming back. Once again, the unique vocals of Fredriksson saves this single from being a complete throw away as well as showing off the strong vocal talent which would continue on throughout the next decade.

Both The Look and Dangerous are similar in style, containing a solid, powerful aspect which Roxette was known for in the early days. The softer vocals of Gessle on both of these tracks, with Fredriksson providing backup is a very interesting contrast to the other tracks on the record, unlike anything I have heard before. These two singles are expertly written with a catchy pop melody and strong drum beat to compliment it.

When it comes to the filler tracks on the album, in my opinion, there is none. Every non-single is catchy and addictive enough to keep you listening, throughout the entire album. Sure not every one of them is top notch, however they are more constantly positive than even the critically acclaimed Joyride album was.

In short Look Sharp! is a fantastic album, and gets every aspect of catchy 80's pop right. Both members of the duo have flawless vocals that nicely compliment each other, and Gessle's songwriting abilities is absolutely incredible considering he did the majority of it by himself. It is a solid release and would kick off their extremely successful 90's career, regardless, Look Sharp! remains one of my favorite albums to date and I can easily recommend  it to any 80's pop fan.

FINAL VERDICT

9/10

(fantastic)