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Soul UK by Beverley Knight – CD review

Posted on July 3, 2011
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Today sees the launch of Beverley Knight’s highly anticipated seventh album – Soul UK – an album of soulful classic from the UK sure delight even the most critical of fans. Well known for writing her own material, Soul UK is quite the departure for Beverly Knight who returns to her roots with this collection and includes hits from George Michael, Junior, Heatwave, Sould II Soul and Roachford to name but a few.

Soul UK has a great summer upbeat feel and straight out of the bag with Soul II Soul’s Fairplay, the feet start a’ tappin and you simply get lost with the infectious rhythm and arrangement. Originally released in 1988, Soul II Soul’s first single, Knight brings the track right up to date with her modern twist.

Loose Ends, a trio formed in the early 80’s lend another upbeat track called Don’t Be a Fool and along with Jamiroquai’s When You Gonna Learn, Junior Giscombe’s Mamma used to Say (the 1st single from the album) and Roachford’s Cuddly Toy the album has a great deal of infectious positivity and is without doubt a mark of Knight’s talent to make these classics feel like her own.

Slowing things down a little, the stand out track of the entire album for me, without hesitation, is her amazing rendition of George Michael’s seventh US number 1 (reached 8 in the UK charts) One More Try. I felt myself drifting away, reminiscing loves won and lost, and it reminded me of her live version of Angels (written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers) a few years ago for Radio 2. This is a wonderful version and one sure to get the seal of approval from George himself.

Those who are well versed in the bubbly girl from Wolverhampton, either …

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Strip Me Album by Natasha Bedingfield

Posted on December 7, 2010
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Natasha Bedingfield’s first album since her smash hit Pocketful of Sunshine in 2008 is set to be a huge hit if this last hour and a half is anything to go by. Listening to a highly contagious mixture of pop tracks and the sultry Unexpected Hero, I sat mesmerised by her vocal range and styling. Strip Me video below …

Strip Me is released today (Dec 7th, 2010) and available to buy as a cd or download now.

Ever since I heard Bedingfield sing Unwritten and These Words back in 2005 I have been a slave to her music! – Well not quite but you get the idea! There’s something about Natasha that oozes self-belief and a confidence that I find hard to beat.

Apart from appearing to be a wonderful lady (she lists Audrey Hepburn as a style icon), she can also sing live! I’ve had enough of the apparent miming that goes on and on every week when the chosen few join forces to sing the opening number on the results show. If you can sing live – sing live! I’d much rather see a few mistakes than a flawless mime any day!

On to the album! Four tracks stood out for me – The title track “Strip Me”, the infectious “Neon Lights”, “A Little Too Much” and “No Mozart”. Although I have no idea on what Natasha will release for her second single I’d like to think I’m fairly close to the mark with these three!

A little Too Much has a catchy chorus and various pace changes throughout the song – a complex song that will have you tapping your feet or hitting the steering wheel as you drive to work!

Neon Lights is another toe tapper …

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Olly Murs and Thinking Of Me – new single 21st November

Posted on November 18, 2010
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Olly Murs is set to release his second single on the 21st November, another happy go lucky track titled “Thinking of Me” (also includes  bonus track called “Sophie”) – video below.

The video features the cheeky chappy selling ice cream in the rain – not a great idea eh Olly?! He decides to close up the shutters and take a walk beside the river. Strutting his stuff on a variety of bollards (nice balance act mate) Olly is joined by a bevy of beauties as he waxes lyrical about Great old London town.

His self-titled debut album “Olly Murs” follows on the 29th November.

Another track to feature a reggae background/tint – whatever you want to call it. I personally think it’s another infectious song that will have people smiling, after all that’s what Olly does best so why change now?

So do I think this is a ground breaking song ? No I don’t – Will it win an MTV award? I highly doubt it but will you tap your feet, sing along in the car and enjoy it for what it is – most definitely. That is of course assuming you like Olly’s style to begin with. You either liked him on X Factor and his little jigs or you didn’t.

There’s nothing I’ve seen in his first two releases to suggest he’s doing anything wrong. Epic are guiding him down the cheerful reggaesque and I for one can’t see anything wrong with it. He makes bright videos, belts out a tune or two and makes you smile – what more could you ask for in this economic hellhole of a society?!

One thing I did notice, and I think his management have been clever here – both “Please Don’t Let Me  Go…

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CMA Awards 2010: The Nominees

Posted on September 1, 2010
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The 44th Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 10 on the ABC Television Network. The show will be hosted for the third time by Brad Paisley and Checotah native Carrie Underwood.

Miranda Lambert leads the way with nine, yes nine nominations for the CMA’s! An amazing achievement that includes Entertainer of the year, female vocalist of the year, two best music video nominations, album of the year and a joint song of the year with Natalia Hemby for White Liar.

With nine nominations Miranda Lambert has created CMA history for the most nominations by a female artist.

Entertainer Of The Year
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band

Female Vocalist Of The Year
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist Of The Year
Dierks Bentley
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban

New Artist Of The Year
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Group Of The Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo Of The Year
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

Single Of The Year
Easton Corbin – ‘A Little More Country Than That’
Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins – ‘Hillbilly Bone’
Lady Antebellum – ‘Need You Now’
Miranda Lambert – ‘The House That Built Me’
Miranda Lambert – ‘White Liar’

Album Of The Year
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
Carrie Underwood – Play On
Miranda Lambert – Revolution
George Strait – Twang
Dierks Bentley – Up On The Ridge

Song Of The Year
Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress and Wynn Varble – ‘A Little More Country Than That’
Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Josh Kear – …

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Olly Murs long awaited debut single “Please Don’t Let Me Go”

Posted on August 22, 2010
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It’s been a long time coming but in just one week, Olly Murs releases his brand new debut single “Please Don’t Let Me Go“. Shot on location in Reading I’ve included the official video below and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a foot tapping number sure to set the charts alight!

The timing couldn’t have been better what with the X Factor launching last night, no doubt we’ll see Olly strut his funky stuff on one of the live shows given he’s been signed with Simon Cowell’s label Syco and Epic Records. With two great companies behind him and clever musical choices I’m sure the lad will do well.

His first offering is, as I’ve mentioned, “Please Don’t Let Me Go” and has a summer/Carribbean feel to it. Fairly similar to his style on the X Factor last year, his performance both musical and visual have been refined and I like what I see – very keen to see what he does with an album.


Very catchy and instantly memorable, the song will stick in your head – good or bad! The single is released on Amazon on the 27th August 2010 and features another summer/reggae style “This One’s For The Girls“.…

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Perfection – Guy Sebastian

Posted on July 25, 2010
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Way back in 2003 when I was in Melbourne having fun and playing tennis I, like milions of Australians, watched Guy Sebastian win the very first Australian Idol. I didn’t want to get caught up in the hype, I should have been watching neighbours, but I did. Despite his woolly afro hair (I wasn’t a fan!) at the time, I remember buying his first album “Just As I am” and was immediately hooked.

“She’s beautiful, flawlessly divine”

Guy has released five studio albums, the last in 2009 called “Like it like that” which happens to be the first single to be released from the album. The track hit number one in Australia going 3 times platinum in the process. His second single which featured American Idol star Jordin Sparks only reached number seven. Despite his appearance on Hey Hey It’s Saturday his third single unfortunately reached 51 in the Australian charts failing to go Platinum.

When he showed up for the Adelaide auditions in 2003 he sang Stevie Wonder’s Ribbon in the Sky. The formalities over and despite joking about his hair, the judges were mesmerised from the moment he started singing the song. Little did we know then that he would turn into the great singer he is today. He has always had talent, that much is obvious, but to make it in the business it helps to have an adoring public willing to buy your music. Without that you have nothing. Fortunately for Guy he had a following keen to soak up almost everything he offered.

There are two stand out tracks on the album for me, “Magic” and “Perfection” (lyrics below) and it’s the latter that really struck a chord with me. Despite its cheesy lyrics the song is heartfelt and until its …

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Joe Nichols “As Country As She Gets”

Posted on July 16, 2010
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Way back in 1994 I was introduced to country music via Tim McGraw’s”Don’t Take The Girl“. It meant a lot to me then and it still does, I never tire enough from listening or watching that video – I still get shivers when I listen to the story that unfolds in the video.

As the years have passed I’ve become a staunch fan of the new country style and quite often listen to Tracy Lawrence, Billy Currington, Dixie Chicks, Lee Ann Womack, Miranda Lambert …. I could go on and on!!! I digress, the reason for this post is Joe Nichols. Nichols is an amazing singer who has struggled in recent times with substance abuse checking in to rehab in 2007.

Don’t ask me why but I can’t get enough of  “As Country As She Gets”, it’s just an amazing track. Never released as a single it’s one of the stand out tracks from his 2005 “III” album. Despite the number 1 “Tequila Makes her clothes fall off” and the wonderfully moving single “I’ll Wait for You”,  “As Country As She Gets” still remains a big favourite. “III”  is a Gold album and reached number 2 in the charts.

As Country As She Gets – Lyrics

She hates goin’ anywhere in my old truck
She says it’s always muddy and it rides so rough
And there ain’t no graceful way to climb up in a dress
Yeah i’m about as country as she gets

I might get her on the lake to fish with me
If the water’s smooth and the sky is blue with a nice cool breeze
But anything we catch i’ll have to clean myself
Cause i’m about as country as she gets

She’ll slip off a pair of heels
Walk barefoot across the field…

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