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Kaz

The Official FOTP Music Review Singles & Albums (Week 2- 16/10/2011)

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Singles

Official Review:Gym Class Heroes ft. Adam Levine-'Stereo Hearts'

With Travie McCoy's solo album (which only charted in the top 40 in the US) out the way, people were looking to see whether reuniting with his band could lead to another hit like 'Billionaire'. Having enlistind the help from another well known singer in Adam Levine (who is the man of the moment with Moves Like Jagger slaying worldwide) 'Stereo Hearts' compliments both McCoy and Levine with its hip hop beats that incorporates clever metaphors and a brilliant feel good catchy chorus. Despite verses later in the song getting progressively more forgettable with poorer lyrics, on a whole the songs serves its purpose and is reminiscent of the 'billionaire' structure that led to become a moderate hit. (Kah Ga)

Average Rating: 4/5 (from 1 rating)

Total Sales: 80,000

Official Review:Matt Cardle- 'Run For Your Life'

X Factor 2010 winner Matt Cardle had a lot of pressure for his comeback after the massively successful winners single 'When We Collide'. With last years runner up acts Cher Lloyd & One Direction already gaining a #1 single each it remained to be seen whether Matt Cardle could follow their success or if he would continue the curse of the male X Factor winner as all those that precede him have all been dropped.

'Run For Your Life' was more pop-like than I expected following his rants about being "real" and not being a pop artist, although he uses his guitar, its more Bruno Mars than Coldplay and the pop theme remains throughout with cliché lyrics where he confesses he's not worthy of his kindly lass, admitting: 'You need someone to walk you back/ Someone to love you too before you ask". Despite being penned by Gary Barlow the song lacks the catchy chorus that gets stuck in your head (see Cher Lloyd) or verses that are capable of wooing old mothers (see Bruno Mars), which is essential having decided to go down the pop route. I think it's safe to say that from it charting at #6, Matt's days under Syco are numbered unless he pulls it out the bag with the album 'Letters' (Kah Ga)

Average Rating: 2/5 (from 1 review)

Total Sales: 40,000

Albums

Official Review: Evanescence- ‘Evanescence’

It has been too long since I've last heard a new song from Evanescence. Five years, to be exact. Some b-sides and small performances came, but they were nothing compared to the masterpiece "The Open Door", which was released in 2006, was and still is. 4 years later - "Evanescence" comes out. Question is - was it worth the wait?

The first thing we notice about this album is its somewhat puzzling title - "Evanescence". Nothing more, nothing less. Amy Lee, the band's singer and the mastermind behind this band, explains that this album is all about the band. If The Open Door was basically Amy's songs with some musicians attached to her - Evanescence is all about the band as a whole. Does the album live up to its name? Definitely. From the beginning you can hear that while the songs posses the same, good old Evanescence sound - they sound different. The drum parts, the guitar riffs - they all sound like each and every member of the band had input in writing and arranging the songs.

Going into the songs, we find out that we have 12 songs of average length on the regular edition and 16 songs on the deluxe edition. The number of songs and the length of the album is simply perfect - not too long, leaving you tired and sick of listening to the album, yet not too short - leaving you wanting more and more.

So, how are the songs? Were they really worth the wait? The album kicks off with the groovy and heavy "What You Want". Amy's belting vocals leave you no place to hide. When the guitars kick in you can already tell - this is the band I used to love so much. Overall, this track is a great track for kicking off the album, but the best is yet to come. On "Made of Stone" you can hear some epic guitar riffs which make you think you are listening to a heavy metal band instead of Evanescence. The relatively quiet verses explode into the chorus and into a huge, epic bridge with Amy's soaring vocals. Definitely one of the highlights of this album.

Moving on to "The Change", the cold and melancholic strings are bound to give you chills. Amy's haunting vocals are simply stunning in this song, especially in the powerful, hard hitting chorus. In the bridge, Amy excalims "You changed!" - and she's right. Evanescence has changed a little bit, but this change is welcomed. This song is definitely another one of the highlights of this album. The next song, which is a direct continuation to "The Change" is "My Heart is Broken", which will also be released as the second single. The "Fallen" sound is very apparent in this song. The chorus is heartbreaking, as Amy sings about her heart being broken with so much passion and emotion. The piano plays a major role in this song and gives this song a dark, melancholic edge.

Next up is the groovy "The Other Side". A heavy, yet groovy and playful riff opens this song. The vocal melody is playful and draws some influences from pop and R&B. Overall, the song is really cool and quite different from the rest of the songs, having a happier atmosphere even when the theme of it is basically wanting to die. Right after that comes the heavy, piano driven "Erase This". The song kicks off with Amy's belting voice, the piano and the guitars aggressively, only to calm a little bit down in the more sorrowful and beautiful chorus.

Just when the album starts to get really heavy, "Lost in Paradise" kicks in. This hauntingly beautiful power ballad is definitely one of the best songs in the album, if not the best one. Amy's voice is magical and truly shines in this song. The big, epic chorus can truly break one's heart. The combination of the piano, strings, guitars, drums and Amy's voice creates a magical, heart breaking song which is bound to become a huge song for Evanescence if released as a single. Another highlight.

After calming down with "Lost in Paradise", "Sick" kicks in. This heavy, anthemic track gives a really good feeling, but unfortunately it doesn't do much more. It's fun to listen to, but nothing more than that. After that, "End of the Dream" kicks in. The song sounds like a song you could hear on a Nightwish album. A very haunting and beautiful melody here as well.

"Oceans" kicks in with a cool and dark synth, which is very unusual for Evanescence. The song turns into a huge song with the good old Evanescence sound. Another heavy and hard hitting song. Right after comes "Never Go Back" by the tsunami in Japan. A heavy and aggressive song as well. Beautiful chorus melody, yet it's not one of my favourites from the album.

Closing the album (in the regular edition) is the hauntingly beautiful and magical "Swimming Home". This song is basically an electro ballad the incorprates Amy's haunting and soothing vocals, beautiful harmonies and a calming harp playing. Beautiful, soothing and moving song that remains one of the highlights of this album thanks to its unusual sound and stunning melody and production.

Moving on to the deluxe tracks. "New Way to Bleed" has an epic vocal line in the beginning. The song is simply huge and epic and sounds like it could work well in a movie soundtrack. A great song with a beautiful chorus as well. "Say You Will" is a pretty heavy, hard hitting song, but it's not shaping up to be one of my favourites. "Disappear" kicks in with a heavy, hard hitting riff. Another great song, but not the best one.

The deluxe edition closes with "Secret Door", which resembles "Swimming Home" in its sound and overall feel. Another magical and haunting song that sounds like it was taken from a Danny Elfman soundtrack. The harp plays a huge role in this song as well, which makes this song even more magical and dreamy.

So, was it worth all the waiting? Definitely. This album is another masterpiece by Evanescence with some huge and epic songs. While older fans will need to get used to the new sound, I can assure you this is still the same old Evanescence.(RESTLESS)The first single may have stalled completely on the charts, and it may not be as strong as their previous attempts, but it's somewhere in between Fallen and The Open Door in terms of musical growth. (MUSE)

Amy's voice truly shines in this album and shows us how amazing she really is. The songs are all great and the productions are impeccable and flawless. (RESTLESS)

Not every song is perfection, but the album is pretty damn close to being in the running for best album of 2011. Evanescence fans will be pleased, and as for everyone else...they will just have to listen! (MUSE)

Average Rating: 8.5/10 (from 3 reviews)

Total Sales: 261,000

This weeks Review of the Week came from 'Restless', the review covered nearly every single aspect of the album and described them in detail, it was so good that i couldn't really take anything out so the whole thing is included above in the Evanescence review along with the other good review from 'Muse'. Well done guys :)

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