Review: Alicia Keys - Brand New Me

Origina.ly published on www.sosogay.co.uk

Musical powerhouse Alicia Keys returns with the second single from her top 20 album Girl On Fire and the follow up to the top five single of the same name.

‘Brand New Me’ is a piano-driven pop ballad about personal growth and becoming a whole new person, which Keys herself has described as her autobiography. Co-written by current golden girl of British pop Emeli Sandé, the song has all the ingredients of a sure fire hit, however it just missed the mark.

Starting with a slow piano opening that has become expected from the multiple Grammy Award winner, the song showcases the soulful and powerful voice of Keys but it fails to give us anything different and never really goes anywhere. With a sullen background of slow beats shrouded by piano, we endure a few minutes of Alicia Keys wallowing in misery.

Towards the end of the song the music does pick up with an almost rocky and angst-driven Keys belting out a powerful vocal, but just as this happens and the song begins to get going it fades back down to her peaceful yet depressing tones.

It feels as though this song was trying to be empowering, trying to give listeners some kind of strength, a bit like ‘The Voice Within’ by Christina Aguilera, but unlike Aguilera’s 2003 hit this song stalls at its opening.

Overall the song is fair, the vocals are beautiful and the key change really hits you, but the overall tone and theme to the song just fails to light you up. It leaves you wanting more, but not in a good way.

Review: Gretchen Wilson- Here for the Party

Originally posted on www.the-experts.co.uk

Gretchen Wilson started her big time music career in 2003, after signing a deal with Epic Records, which subsequently led to the release of her debut album 'Here for the Party'.

The album became a smash hit and went five times platinum in America and even topped the country music album charts.

The album was preceded by her worldwide hit and trademark song Redneck Woman, which hit the top charts in 2004 and became the first Country number one by a female in two years.

Since this success, she has gone on to win a Grammy award and released three more albums.

The album is pure country and Gretchen has helped bring that back into female country music after years of country pop dominating the charts.

The album kicks off with the title track Here for the Party. The track is aptly titled and it sets you up for the eel of the whole album. It includes the line "gunna have some fun" and she certainly does have some fun on this album.

As the track changes into Redneck Woman, we are treated to the sounds of screwing fans which instantly makes you feel as though you are in Nashville with its self-absorbing country vibe.

Amongst all the fun and party antics of the album, the artist slows down on several occasions to sing more heartfelt and personal songs that swim with emotion such as the song When I Think About Cheatin' which tells the sad tale of cheating during a relationship.

At certain points during the album, the listener is reminded of the rocky country vocal cords of Dixie Chicks' lead singer Natalie Maines, and makes the audience realise there is still true female country talent out there.

Gretchen has a brilliant way of mixing these heartfelt country ballads with her more uptempo country rock efforts, such as Redneck Woman and When it Rains, and it really works.

The heartfelt emotion and rocking beats bring you up and down on a roller coaster ride of true women's country music.