Running If You Call My Name by Haim (Track Review)

Running if You Call my Name on iTunes
It took me two seconds to decide that I loved this song. Two seconds! This tickling excitement is what I was hoping to feel for last week's iTunes single Tether by Chvrches. I was waiting for the feeling of being teleported into some imaginary place or some place in history that this soundtrack would be perfect for. Music for me is like an index to my personal history, specific epochs in my life. The best ones take me somewhere in my past, in my memory, in an alternate reality, where something significant happened to me. It stirs my mind, heart and soul. This song does that to me.

The best feature of this song is the lead vocal, Danielle Haim. Danielle is joined on background vocals by her sisters Alana and Este. Danielle has the kind of voice that tugs at the heartstrings. It reflects maturity and soul. It constitutes a perfect marriage with the melody and ethereal quality of this song. I cannot say enough of it and I cannot get enough of this song! Does my excitement filter through to my writing?! Maybe not. But only because I am reeling it all in. Everyone, please listen to this song! (And if you hate it, do tell me. Haha. I'd love to hear a different opinion.)

Tether by Chvrches (Track Review)

My friend Orion had high praises for this song and so I had pretty high expectations prior to listening to it. I'm not saying I'm disappointed but I'm not saying I'm jumping in my seat either. Sorry, dude. Friends with similar tastes in music is so boring anyway. We love each other because we got our own quirks right?
I am a sucker for great voices. It doesn't matter so much the melody or the lyrics, as long as the voice is stellar. It is what's stamped in my brain long after a song has finished playing, how the vocals accentuated or ruined the song. Voices are instruments. Like strings and drums they have to be tuned in to the spirit of the music too. Lauren Mayberry has the kind of voice that could sing the phone book to me and I would be blissfully happy. She sounds like a young, less grungy Hayley Williams and her voice has its own, approachable quality. Truly, the intro to this got me hooked immediately because by the first two seconds Lauren was singing.
This song didn't really have anything particularly wrong with it. I do like it even if I don't necessarily love it. It feels lacking somehow. Maybe I wanted more from Lauren's voice? More emotion. More conviction. That sounds so The Voice judge like somehow, I know. I suppose I was expecting the song to move my heart and soul, transport me somewhere, or some such nonsense. Thing is, I think she could do it or they could and that's why I feel so cheated. Think Florence and the Machines. A level higher and she could be that or it could be that epic. They could even be better! Regardless, my interest has been piqued and this is the kind of song that would definitely make me want to buy this band's album just to see what else they have up their sleeves. Or to find out if they have in fact already produced that epic song! And the fact that I care so much means that I--surprisingly--have become a fan. Fancy that!
It's a good teaser, but I want more, Chvrches!

Fake You Out by Twenty One Pilots (Track Review)

The Mario Brothers. That's what the intro reminded me of initially. It's a good thing. it's a bad thing. It's got synthesizers, baby, and it's not ashamed of it. It also has Tyler Joseph, who has the funkiest, sexiest and most alluring voice, which reaches peak performance while it teases that falsetto. It's those high notes that are indelibly lodged in my brain long after I've stopped listening to the song. I have to say I don't mind that one bit.

I don't love this song. I don't hate it either. I love parts of it. As a total musical experience, it's an acquired taste. And if your musical taste tends towards the adventurous then this is worth checking out. Synthesizers. Male falsetto. Rap. Screaming growl. They're all in this song! Do yourself a favor and listen to the whole thing before formulating an opinion about it or the band. As for me, high marks just for Tyler's voice! The rest is growing on me.

Heart Out by The 1975 (Track Review)

I like this song. At least I did initially. Is it just me or does this song remind you of a certain Katy Perry song? Or does it remind you of Katy Perry period? That totally ruins it for me. There's a great acapella run near the end of the song that is pretty good and the song is really quite nice. But all throughout it I was so disturbed by the thought that I'd heard this song before that it just killed my total appreciation of it. I don't know who to blame it on to be quite honest. Katy Perry. The 1975. The radio and TV stations that keep playing Katy Perry songs. I suppose it's a testament to the fact that she has left an indelible mark on music that certain melodies and songs remind people of her. Surely other artists influenced her music as well but do we remember them? Is the fact that I remember her more of a reflection on me than on her? I want to be objective, but alas my musical background seems like a crutch at the moment. Thus, I leave you to formulate your own opinion about it.

iTunes classifies this song under the alternative genre. It sounds more like pop. Still, if you have never heard of Katy Perry (and I do not hold that against you, you rare species you) then you may appreciate this wonderful, upbeat, 80's-inspired sample from The 1975 for what it is.

"It's just you and I tonight. Why don't you figure my heart out?" If the song had a true saving grace, it's those lyrics. Delicious marriage of voice, words and melody. I take it back. I love it! I'm fickle. So, sue me! But you must listen to this song if only to find out why the initial hooha. Final verdict? Even on continuous replay I still don't hate it. What do you think?

No One's Here to Sleep feat. Bastille by Naughty Boy (Track Review)

I like a song that has something up its sleeve. No One's Here to Sleep starts out interestingly with an instrumental intro punctuated by something that sounds like an imitation of a dog's bark, albeit a really gentle one. The marriage of the two was lovely, although I can see it as one of those things that people might totally like or totally hate. iTunes categorizes it in the genre of pop. It has an R&B flavor and a heavy alternative undercurrent. It reminds me of One Republic actually and that aforementioned dog-bark-like sound is reminiscent of Timbaland in the song Apologize with his unforgettable vocal punctuations.

Despite the similarities to song or band, I liked this song. I had this on repeat to do the review and the flavor did not fade in the least after time went by. Songs are works of art, there are many different and new things you discover as you repeatedly listen to it. Initially you may be attracted by the instruments, then you find yourself internalizing the lyrics, loving the way the voice caresses the words and bring them to life. You wallow in the melody and allow yourself to get swayed by the rise and fall of the music. Finally, you find certain quirks that you find interesting, maybe even like. This song is kind of like that. I don't find it boring at all. It makes me want to hear more from the artist.

Bloodsports by Drenge (Track Review)

It is a testament to my love for rock music that the first few notes of this song had me hooked. I like the kind of music I can head-bang to, which is probably a symptom of being born in the 80's and growing up in the 90's. That's good news for my older brother who despaired of me listening to boy bands as a child. And when I say listen I mean immersed and marinated in the music so much that it made my brother balk at the sight-and sound-of it. Good to know that despite that history, I developed a great appreciation for the occasional alternative rock music that got filtered through the boy band madness.

I love Bloodsports by Drenge and to be quite honest I couldn't care less what the lyrics were saying, although bloodsports sounds like a compelling title. Like many headbang-inducing music the lyrics to this song weren't particularly discernible anyway and the few lyrics that I did understand did not make sense anyway, which is just about as rock and alternative as you can get. I love that about it. I could listen to just the bass and drum interaction all day long. The beginning and final interludes were priceless. That is not to take away from Eoin Loveless, on vocals (and guitars), because he has a great voice. He and his brother (Rory Loveless) simply play those instruments and complement each other well. This is the first song since I started the weekly iTunes Single of the Week reviews that has moved me to learn more about the band and their songs. High praise indeed. Well-chosen iTunes and well-played Drenge.

King City by Swim Deep (Track Review)

  King City by Swim Deep is last week's iTunes single of the week. This sounds like a song straight from the 80s, complete with synthesizer, bass, drum beats, and the repetitious whooo whooo whooing that gets stuck in your head against your will. If you're in the mood for some time traveling this song hits the right spot. I found myself thinking of movies like Pretty in Pink or Mannequin, reminiscing against my will. Songs like these have to be encountered in certain moods. The first time I heard it I was totally repulsed by it. This is THIS WEEK's single?! For a moment, there was a doubt whether the year was 2013 or 1990. After a few more replays, the song seeps into the psyche and tickles the memories. You will find yourself surrendering to the upbeat mood of the song. It's reminiscent. It's a throwback. In this generation of throwback thursdays and flashback fridays, instagram reference for those who are not in the know (and if you don't know what instagram is then you will never get it), it is more than acceptable, quite cool in fact. Songs like these, while not totally memorable, stir the sentiment. It transports you somewhere. On that level, it is truly satisfying; and as I listened to it over and over again to write my review I found myself liking it more and more against my will. Music is like that. It communicates and touches on a level that is beyond the mind. Sometimes you just have to surrender.

Pagliaccio by Barbarossa (Track Review)

Last week's iTunes single of the week was Pagliaccio by Barbarossa. The intro and chorus to this song are awesome, a groovy melody with electronic accents propelled by percussive drum and solid bass beats.  Barbarossa, whose real name is James Mathe, exudes soul in his lilting high-pitched voice. His voice caresses the edge of a falsetto on certain occasions and it was wonderful to listen to.The first two minutes of the song was a brilliant introduction to an artist I had previously unheard of. The thing is, the song went entirely too long and the melody got a little too repetitive. It was too laid back and I was waiting for a crescendo of voice, bass and drums. I was disappointed. It rode a relatively flat wave, which some people may be into and some may not. I belong to the latter. The song lyrics express such a sad scenario that I kind of wanted more passion and angst, not alternative/hard rock kind of angst but he could at least have strained his voice a little more. This song is for those who like a laid-back electro-pop kind of a song. No surprises. Nothing to write home about, the kind of song that you can tolerably listen to in a movie soundtrack.

Kaleidoscope Love by Aluna George: Track Review

My musical taste is pretty eclectic and I can usually find something nice to say about whatever I hear, which is my general disposition about everything in life. Last week's iTunes single of the week Kaleidoscope Love by Aluna George is a fun, light and groovy number but my first thought about it is "generic," sorry to say. I've heard its kind before. It's good music to groove to, I even found myself swaying to the beat the first time. It's a good track to include in your summer soundtrack with a mixture of pop and R&B vibe but I can't imagine myself playing it over and over. It gets old after a while, which is the problem with generic songs. Generic melodies are okay if they have memorable lyrics but this song falls short of that. It won't win any Grammys. However, this is the thing about music. If you are a pop enthusiast this is worth checking out and swaying your hips to. However, if you are like me, you probably would not be compelled to buy or check out the whole album based on this song.

American Girl x Bonnie Mckee (Music Video)

Photo from https://www.facebook.com/BonnieMcKeeOfficial

I'm so addicted to this tune at the moment and I'm also loving the cute star studded music video. Its my happy song, It puts me in an awesome mood whenever I hear it. Definitely adding this summer anthem to my workout playlist. Oh and you can download the track from her website for free http://www.bonniemckeeofficial.com. 

Bonnie Mckee is a talented actress and singer/songwriter who's songs I'm sure you already heard of. She co-written most of Katy Perry's songs on her Teenage Dream Album and also Dynamite by Taio Cruz. She has already co-written eight number one singles, Isn't that just amazing!? I can't wait to hear more from Bonnie! x

Maroon 5 Payphone

Maroon 5 just released their new single Payphone. hmmm. quite a likable tune. The band always comes up with such unexpected collaborations e.g. Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, and now Wiz Khalifa. Well, I've always been an aficionado of the band. So, what are your views on this fusion and the song itself? xx