Album Review: The Saturdays - Headlines

Back to normal-ish now and back with another album review. So lets crack on. The Saturday released mini album/EP 'Headlines' which is being referred to as their third album. The album contains 8 tracks and has 3 tracks from their 'Wordshaker' album and includes their new single 'Missing You'.
The album is their highest charting album to date gaining a respectable #3 in the UK album chart, but was the album worthy of that position?

Here is my track-by-track review:

Album Review: Jason Derülo - Jason Derülo

As promised I have gotten around to writing my review of Jason Derülo's debut album. As usual there has been so little to post so I thought I would take time out to let you know my views on this album and urge you to support it.

So the album is self-titled and features a range of R&B/Pop songs. The album runs at just over 30 mins and is a very short album. Onto the track-by-track review:

1. Whatcha Say: This is the first single from the album, and if I am honest I weren't too fond of it at the beginning. After listening to it multiple times, I have grown to love the song. Other songs could have been the lead single, but this is a nice selection which definitely sets up the album. 9/10
2. Ridin' Solo: This song differs from the rest of the album and I didn't really like this at first. It is a decent song but I don't think it is single worthy - it is better as an album track. 7/10
3. In My Head: The second single from the album and a really good song. It is so catchy and has a kind of rocky vibe which does the song justice. 8.5/10
4. The Sky's The Limit: Another great song, with a techno beat this time. The album is varied in musical styles and this is another nice addition to it. 8/10
5. What If: The first ballad off the album, and the tempo changes to a slower vibe. The song is decent enough and sits nicely on the album. 8/10
6. Love Hangover: The best track on the album hands down. I keep getting drawn back to this song as it is so damn catchy. Its so bloody good and is definitely the highlight of the album. A well deserved 10/10
7. Encore: Another decent track. Nothing compares to the previous track but nevertheless, it carries on with how great this album is. 8/10
8. Fallen: Another catchy track that is one of the stand outs from the album. The quality of the album has not faltered at any point for the time being. 8.5/10
9. Blind: Another ballad that is a little better than 'What If'. 8.5/10
10. Strobelight (Bonus Track): As a bonus track, this is not a bad track. I have grown to really like it and this is a great addition to the album. The tempo has changed back at this point, but it does not affect the quality of the album. 7.5/10
11. Queen Of Hearts (iTunes Bonus Track): I am not that keen on this track. It is quite bland, and I definitely preferred the demo. 6/10

OVERALL: 8.1/10

The album gets a very respectable score. To be honest I was sceptical of this album but after listening to it multiple times and keep getting drawn back to it, I definitely think its a great male R&B album.

Have you listened to it? Comment your thoughts below!

Album Review: Amerie - Because I Love It

So, I was planning to write this album view ages ago, but now that I have some free time and no updates to post, I thought I would write it now. This album is fairly old but I class it as a really good album that I would like to share my thoughts about. This album is called "Because I Love It" and is Amerie's third studio album. It was released in 2007, for those who wanted to know.
Upwards and onwards to the track-by-track review:

1. Forecast (Intro): This intro sets the album off nicely. The length runs just over a minute and does just what it needs to. It whets your appetite for the rest of the album. 9/10
2. Hate2LoveU: This song gets the going and is a great track. It is one of the stand out songs on the album. 9.5/10
3. Some Like It: This track is hands down the best on the album. I love the old school sound and there is just something about it that makes it so addictive. This is probably my most played song on the album. 10/10
4. Make Me Believe: This track is decent but after the greatness of the previous track, it just lacks something. I am not saying I dislike the track but it is not great. 8/10
5. Take Control: Serving as the albums first single, this is one track that is on fire. It is so catchy and you just have to think how does Amerie do it. 10/10
6. Gotta Work: This track serves as the albums second single and is another banger. I really like this track too and it is definitely one of the standouts from the album. 9.5/10
7. Crush: This is a nice song and I think that it serves well as a nice album track. 8.5/10
8. Crazy Wonderful: This is a really nice song as well. The track has a nice sultry sound to it. 8/10
9. That's What U R: A decent song that fits the album nicely. It was supposed to be the third single but one wasn't released. I am kind of glad because this is not single material. 7.5/10
10. When Loving You Was Easy: A great track that I think can be classed as one the standouts from the album. Amerie really pulls through on this album and delivers track by track greatness. 8.5/10
11. Paint Me Over: This is one of the longest tracks on the album and it takes a few listens to make an impact. I think it is a really good track and fits nicely with the album. The album has definitely changed pace at this point. 7.5/10
12. Somebody Up There: This is another slow sultry sounding track. Amerie has delivered another great track. 7.5/10
13. All Roads: I love this song and it is one of the better sounding slower tracks off the album. It has such great lyrics and is a really great song with a nice meaning. 8.5/10
14. 1 Thing: This is the song where I first discovered Amerie. This song is such a tune and is so catchy. If you haven't heard this song then where have you been. 10/10
15. Losing U (Bonus Track): As a bonus track this finishes the album off nicely. It changes the pace up and is very catchy. If the album was to finish at All Roads or 1 Thing then it might leave the end of the album a little bare. 10/10

OVERALL: 8.8/10
This album has gained a very strong score and definitely deserves it. I constantly listen to this album, and it has such an array of tracks that range from slow to faster paced songs that are for all moods. I can definitely say that Amerie's last two albums have been stronger than her older material.

Album Review: Sugababes - Sweet 7

As updates are quite slow at the moment, I thought I would review another album. "Sweet 7" which is to be released in March, was leaked a month early so I have decided to review it for you. I am going to review this album completely separately to Keisha's version of the songs.
So this album is the seventh studio album from the Sugababes and features the newest line-up including members Jade Ewen, Amelle Berrabah, and Heidi Range. I will admit that I weren't too sure about this album or the line-up. I will miss Keisha in the group but I think that she will do better solo.
Anyways on to the track-by-track review:

1. Get Sexy: From the moment that I heard this song I knew that I would not stop listening to it. This showed another side of the Sugababes and I liked the direction they were going in. 9/10
2. Wear My Kiss: I will admit that I did not really get into this song so much, but after listening to it on the album I can see how catchy it is. I prefer the album version which is longer than the single mix. 8.5/10
3. About A Girl: This song is really catchy as well and I definitely like the new direction. I would say that this is one of the best songs on the album. 10/10
4. Wait For You: This song relies heavily on auto-tune at the beginning but flowers into another great track. I really like Jade's voice in this as it is very strong and it sets the new Sugababes aside from the older incarnations. 9/10
5. Thank You For The Heartbreak: This song is decent but I don't see why it is a fan favourite. I would not say that it stands out that much but it is decent. 7/10
6. Miss Everything: This song is completely different to what I expected to hear from the Sugababes. It features Sean Kingston and is definitely one of the stand out tracks from the album. 10/10
7. She's A Mess: First listen and I thought what the hell is this. It relies very heavily on auto-tune and I do think that the auto-tune could have been toned down. The song is not too bad after a few listens. The only pathetic thing in this song is Amelle who kind of talks/raps otherwise this song would have been better. 6/10
8. Give It To Me Now: I really like this song. It sounds a bit more like a normal Sugababes song. This song is a little different than the rest of the material so I think this is the point where the album changes completely for the second half. 8/10
9. Crash & Burn: The tracks have done a 180 degree turn ad have changed completely to songs that sound more like Sugababes. I think some of these songs are more stronger than the rest of the album. 8/10
10. No More You: This is a really great track. I love the beat of the song and it is quite a catchy track. 8.5/10
11. Sweet & Amazing: This is a typical Sugababes. Yes I have said that for a number of tracks but this sounds like the real Sugababes. The song is really great. I think this is definitely one of the stand out tracks. 9.5/10
12. Little Miss Perfect: This song nicely finishes the album off. It shows that the second half of the album is completely different. The vocals on this song are really good and I think that Sugababes do better on songs like this. 9.0/10

OVERALL: 8.5/10

So I was really surprised with this album as I liked it more than I thought I would. The album is pretty strong and the overall score shows this. I think that the album does lack Keisha's vocals but if you look at it separately from Keisha being in the band then it is a pretty decent album.

Album Review: Amerie - In Love & War

On to my second album review of the day...
I have quite a bit of time to spare today, so since I can't find anything else to do. I am just reviewing random albums. So up now we have Amerie's fourth studio album "In Love & War". I am quite a fan of Amerie's material and loved her previous album, which I might just review on a later post. This album was released in November last year, and is still gaining rotation on my iPod so check out my track-by-track review of this album and tell me if you agree.

1. Tell Me You Love Me: This song is an absolute smash and is a big favourite of mine ever since it leaked. I will say it is a really good song but it is not one of the stand out tracks. 8/10
2. Heard 'Em All: So this was Amerie's second single from this album. It is such a great song, which I weren't too sure of when I first heard it. But Amerie is definitely bringing something different. 9/10
3. Dangerous: This song is such a great tune aswell. The album sounds great at this point and there hasn't been one scrap song. 8.5/10
4. Higher: The rhythm of the album continues in its upbeat fashion. This song is very good as well and is great even though it only plays for just under 3 mins. 8/10
5. Why R U: This served as the first single from the album. It is a real corker and is so catchy. I think I have turned into a great Amerie fan at this point. 9/10
6. Pretty Brown (Ft. Trey Songz): This is another great track. I would not call it a stand out but it is definitely listenable. The best tracks are still yet to come. 8/10
7. More Than Love (Ft. Fabolous): This track serves as the next single and it is such a cool track it definitely deserves a great score. 10/10
8. Swagback: Along with the previous track, these are the stand out tracks and are always being played on my iPod. Amerie definitely knows how to keep the tracks coming. 10/10
9. You're A Star (Interlude): So, if your a fan of Amerie, you will notice that this interlude samples from one of her tracks, "Hate2LoveU" from her previous album "Because I Love It". The interlude is nicely put into the album and breaks it up nicely. This is the point where the album starts to slow down, but still remains its greatness. 9/10
10. Red Eye: This track is a nice slow joint. It is really good and considering the album has slowed down at this point, I really like it. 8.5/10
11. The Flowers: This track is the longest on the album and racks up to just over 5 mins. This doesn't mean its a rubbish track. In fact for a track that goes on for this long, it is definitely a solid album track. 8/10
12. Different People: This track is another great track from the album. I can not find any faults in any of the songs and to me they are all solid at this point. 8.5/10
13. Dear John: This track is such a classic. I loved it when it first leaked. Many people gave this song a bad review but I see it differently. Even though this is a completely different track I still think it fits nicely. It is definitely worth a solid score. 9.5/10
14. Heard 'Em All (Remix) (Ft. Lil Wayne): This track is not much different but now features a Lil Wayne verse. It sounds great but I think that it could have been left off the album. However as a bonus track, you don't see me complaining. 8.5/10

OVERALL: 8.7/10

This is a superb album. It definitely deserves the high score that it has achieved here. I am still listening to this day. I can't wait for Amerie's next album, but till then I am sure I have enough Amerie tracks from this album and her previous "Because I Love It" to keep me going.

Album Review: Alicia Keys - The Element Of Freedom

This week has been a very slow week for updates in music, etc. So I thought I would review another album. I said previously that I would be reviewing a few albums, so if you have any requests let me know. I will be featuring some old album reviews soon as there aren't any albums coming out just yet.

So, my third album review is for Alicia Keys' fourth album "The Element Of Freedom".

I was reluctant to listen to this album at first as I think that most of Alicia's material is either hit or miss. Her previous album "As I Am" I really liked so I was hoping the same for this CD.

I can say at this point that the album is pretty solid and that it is definitely a grower. From first listen I wasn't too fazed but after listening to it a few times, I can say that it grew and grew on me. So I will be basing the track-by-track review on my latest impressions.

Here goes...

1. Element Of Freedom (Intro): This intro is really short and just features Alicia talking. It doesn't really do much for the album, but it introduces it nicely. 6/10
2. Love Is Blind: This track is pretty decent and is the normal type of Alicia Keys material. I wouldn't class it as a stand out track but it is nice enough. 7/10
3. Doesn't Mean Anything: This was the first single and I must say it didn't quite catch me like "No One" did. It has since grew on me but I would still only class it as an album track and not single worthy. 8/10
4. Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart: This is one fantastic track. From the first time I heard it I couldn't stop listening. It is something completely different from Alicia and is definitely hands down the best track on the album. 10/10
5. Wait Til You See My Smile: This track is pretty decent and is slow and soothing. I think that it is a nice song but it is not a stand out track to me. 7.5/10
6. Thats How Strong My Love Is: This is another decent track. I don't mind this song but I just don't see that it stands out either. 7.5/10
7. Unthinkable (I'm Ready): Maybe I am not appreciating this music, but the album seems to be lacking what made "As I Am" great. This is still another decent track. 7/10
8. Love Is My Disease: The album starts to get a bit better at this point. This song is much better and I would class it as one of the stand out tracks. 8.5/10
9. Like The Sea: This song is a lot more memorable than the previous tracks on the album. It is a solid track that deserves a decent score. 8/10
10. Put It In A Love Song (Ft. Beyonce): When I heard about this collaboration I was expecting something groundbreaking like the Lady Gaga and Beyonce collab. However this lacked something which I can't place my finger on. The song is OK but it just gets boring and repetitive after a little while. 8/10
11. This Bed: This track was seriously needed on this album. It is definitely one of the stand out tracks and is one of my favs. It is a solid song and shows a different side of Alicia. 9/10
12. Distance And Time: This is a typical Alicia Keys song. It sounds so similar to her other stuff so it is definitely not unique. It is just an OK and nothing I would class as being rememberable. 7/10
13. How It Feels To Fly: This is my least favourite track on the album for some reason. It does sound like some of her older songs from "As I Am" and I feel like Alicia keeps on repeating the same sort of material. 6.5/10
14. Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down: I don't mind this track. I think Alicia's version is much better than Jay-Z's, but I find it hard to listen to, as it just gets boring after a while. 7/10

OVERALL: 7.6/10
This album is clearly a decent album but it is not one of the best albums I have heard. I think her vocals are great but the album was lacking and did not have the factor that made "As I Am" memorable.
Stay tuned for more reviews as I will be reviewing Amerie's "In Love & War" album next :)

Album Review: Rihanna - Rated R

Today I am going to be reviewing Rihanna's "Rated R" album. I said that I would be featuring a few reviews, so this is my second review so far. Definitely expect to see more, and if there are any albums you would like me to review, leave a message in the chat box and I will tell you if it is possible or not. I know that this album has been out to buy for a few months but updates are as slow as ever and I think it would be best to get some album reviews in before I am bombarded with updates.
So, moving on...
This is Rihanna's fourth studio album, and is completely different to the other material that she has produced.
The producers who she worked with for this album include; Chase & Status, The-Dream, StarGate - to name but a few. It has already spawned two singles, and her next single "Rude Boy" is expecting a release in February 2010.
This album is a complete change of direction and takes on a much darker side of Rihanna. I believe this is to do with the complications that she had with Chris Brown last year. But don't let that affect you, as I haven't even got onto whether this album is worth checking out or not.
On to the track by track review...

Album Review: Ke$ha - Animal

When Ke$ha's album was released last week I made a post to tell everyone to buy and support the artist. At that time I had not even heard the album and couldn't have been too sure if this album would even be worthy of a listen. After growing to just like (not love) her debut single "TiK ToK", I had a listen to the album and now you can read my thoughts on it.

Firstly, to note, this album is not to be taken seriously and is full of great trashy pop songs (this is not a negative comment). My first impressions of the album was that it was a good pop album that trails off towards the end. After listening to the album a further number of times I can now give you my impressions track-by-track.