Internet Phenomenon Review: Sam Tsui & Kurt Schneider
So it would be remiss to have a review about pop culture and not mention this internet phenomenon that has swept the world. The vocal works of Sam Tsui and the production team of Kurt Schneider.
It is absolutely amazing to listen to. Tsui is quite a talented singer and his vocal range is impressive. Schneider is a diverse musician as well and also doubles up as the team's producer.
The pair have appeared on Oprah and The Bonnie Hunt Show performing both times and wowing the audience with their sheer ability. The smooth delivery of each performance and Tsui taking on each song like he was the one who first performed it. This is just an incredible team.
With taking on the challenge of doing an A Capella Michael Jackson medley, the pair surged to popularity. Since then they have gone from strength to strength doing covers of hit songs like Fireflies by Owl City, Don't Stop Believing as made famous by Glee and a second medley of Lady Gaga songs.
This pair have proved they are more than a flash in the pan and it'll be interesting to see where they go from now on. For now, have a look at their youtube clips and marvel at the phenomenon.
When you're the son of a highly acclaimed author, there's a lot of expectations to live up to. Fortunately, this hasn't stopped Christopher Rice from writing his own style of novel and taking the publishing industry by storm.
In this, Rice's third novel, he starts to take on gay men in the military. The main character of the novel is heterosexual and must now deal with the knowledge that one of his marine brethren is a gay.
The story revolves around the main character John Houck finding out that his best friend in the marines, Mike Bowers, is gay and has a lover. Add to this the fact that Bowers is murdered and his lover blamed and it starts to becoming interesting.
Houck must put aside what he thought he knew about gay men to solve the mystery of who killed his friend. A marine who, in Iraq, saved his life. Houck's personal journey or reconciling the man he knew as he friend and the now deceased gay man is actually quite interesting to watch. Rice has managed to capture the inner turmoil and confusion beautifully.
Rice has certainly become quite adept about writing gay themed novels and this one is no exception. Whether it be through personal experience or through talking to people, there's a certain reality to what he writes. It sits stark on the page and each reality more eye opening than the last.
Over the course of the previous three books, Rice has certainly honed his already impressive writing skills and has become a master of his own work. Blind Fall is an impressive piece of work dealing with loss, mystery, learning and homophobia. It's certainly a welcome addition to any bookcase.
With the dance world beckoning, Danish sensation Medina has released her debut international album Welcome to Medina to the pleasure of clubbers world wide.
The album is packed with track after track of glorious cool but insistent beats. Kicking off with the title track Welcome to Medina and finishing with You & I (acoustic mix), the ear gets pleasured with a relaxed and refreshing dance sound that has been absent since the times when Tina Cousins released her first album.
The album was originally recorded and released in Danish back in 2009. Since then, Medina has gathered an international following thanks to the inclusion of her hit single You & I in the Ministry of Sound 2010 annual. Now it has been re-recorded and released in English and the listeners are lapping it up.
It's hard to select a single stand out track as effort has been poured into each track with slick production and chilled, haunting vocal work. The most well recognised song from the album is You & I due to it's popularity and inclusion on several compilation albums.
Sounding similar yet standing on it's own is Lonely which was released as a subsequent follow up single and has started to pop up on a few compilations as well.
Mesmerizing is Medina's track Addiction. It's smooth delivery and relaxed insistent beats keep it stuck in the listeners mind. It's easy listening nature combined with the overall feel of the album, is a winning combination.
The world is paying attention to the electropop work that is starting to appear and Medina is certainly making herself a forerunner in the field. Her single are appearing in the top 10 in Germany and even at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Airplay Charts.
This is a fantastic album and an amazing way for Medina to introduce herself to the international dance music scene. She doesn't put a foot wrong and gives us hit after hit with each one following a tried and true formula but still unique in it's own way.
Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
We all knew that this was going to be the biggest Harry Potter movie of them all. It promised to be the summer blockbuster movie that rocked our world. It promised to be, the beginning of the end. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is now in the cinemas and living up to the hype all around the world.
Reprising their roles, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are back as the Golden Trio and setting out to destroy Voldemort's horcruxes so they can finally defeat him. Along the way, we can expect run ins with the fearsome Death Eaters, Ministry of Magic run militia, a few slightly odd characters and of course, Voldemort himself.
There were a curious few who wanted to know how the movie was going to show the tale of the deathly hallows or if it was just going to be Hermione reading the story from her book. While she does narrate the tale to her friends, there is an animation on screen telling the story of the three hallows and starting a quest to locate all three - the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak of Invisibility.
As with any of the Harry Potter movies out there, certain elements have been glossed over very quickly and others have been altered because... well, mostly because the movie studio could. Vernon Dursley, played for not even five minutes by Richard Griffiths, no longer puts up a fight before leaving his house. The Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour (Bill Nighy) sees Harry before the wedding and Harry attends Bill and Fleur's wedding without disguise.
Needless to say, these are only minor details but they are changes for the sake of changes and given the role J. K. Rowling has with the movies, one can't help but wonder if they threatened to half her payment unless she approved the changes without a fight.
In saying that, we finally have a Harry Potter movie which is mostly true to the book. Walking out of the cinema, there were excited whispers that it wasn't a complete disaster like there was a general expectation. This is exceptional news for David Yates who butchered the two previous movies in the series, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Maybe now Yates can walk down the street and not be looked upon as the man who ruined the Harry Potter series.
All in all this is a great release with Ralph Fiennes as the evil Lord Voldemort, Alan Rickman is as unflappable as ever in his role as Severus Snape (well for the few brief moments he's in the film anyways) and Helena Bonham Carter as delightfully twisted Bellatrix Lestrange.
This movie is everything that it promised and is going to have fans around the world clamoring for the final installment of the franchise due out July 2011. This is the summer blockbuster that we hoped for and a movie you don't want to miss.
After the dismal success of Rated R, one of the most anticipated albums of the year has finally be released. Rihanna has returned to the scene with her new album Loud and is determined to make a success this time.
Kicking off the album is the sexually driven S & M which makes good use of frenetic electro beats.The chorus is catchy with lyrics "I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it, Sex in the air, I love the smell of it." The track thumps along and shows it's going to be headed to the clubs very soon.
Rihanna then switches pace very quickly with the second track What's My Name featuring Drake. The opening rap is boring and sounds like Drake is groggy after just waking up. The Caribbean feel of the song is relaxing enough but the track, overall, fails to impress the average listener.
The Friday night anthem Cheers (Drink to That) could almost be sung by anyone enjoying after work drinks. It's got a relaxed rock feel to it and is quite enjoyable to listen to. Especially after a hard day in the office.
The next highly notable track is the lead single Only Girl (In The World). If you haven't heard the song yet, where have you been hiding? It's infectious electro beats and easy vocal delivery have made it a fantastic release for Rihanna. It's certainly one of the hottest tracks to have been released for 2010.
California Bed King is probably one of the poorest tracks on the album. An unnecessary ballad that doesn't wow the listener. It's tired and listless in an album of enjoyable tracks. At best it could be considered generic. At worst it's a track that the likes of Lady Gaga would burn at the stake in a pagan ritual to a God she didn't like.
Fortunately, Man Down follows and makes good use of her heritage and Barbadian accent. The almost reggae feel makes the song quite enjoyable. Telling the story of Rihanna murdering a man and then going on the run. It's certainly worth a listen if you like songs that tell a story.
The second of the duets on the album is Raining Men featuring Nicki Minaj. The song quickly becomes all about the guest artist rather than Rihanna. The song is a great addition to the album with Rihanna's 'go with the flow' vocals supporting Minaj's rapping skills. Certainly a highlight of the album.
The electronic sounds continue with Complicated which is a borderline ballad. The soaring vocal gymnastics at the start are reminisce of early Mariah Carey (y'know... before she started wailing). The song has a nice build all the way along before hitting it's peak and dragging the listener along for the ride.
Skin is overtly sexual in both lyrics and sound. It's seductive to the ear and the vocals have a husky quality which invites mental images of a candle lit bedroom and promises of a sweaty night. The song is perfectly delivered and shows Rihanna as a grown woman as compared to the girl she was when she started off.
Rounding out the album is the final duet. Love The Way You Lie (Part II) featuring Eminem. It was certainly one of the highlights on Eminem's last album and stands out as a highlight on this one as well. If you haven't heard it yet, you can't have been listening to the radio too much recently. Rihanna's sweet vocals sing out across the track match Eminem's rapping which raises the mercury and temper quite quickly. The two styling work well together to make an amazing track.
All in all, Loud takes one or two listens before it really takes hold and you can appreciate what is going on with it. It's a mature combination of Good Girl Gone Bad and Rated R. With one or two misses, the album as a whole has a consistent high standard. Even if you decide you don't want to buy it, at least promise yourself to listen to it. It's a great release and a perfect stocking filler for Christmas.
Having a look around the net about this track and a lot of people don't seem to be liking it. Many listeners complaining that the band is now getting lazy, that they have gone electronic. That the music has no soul.
Personally, I don't believe that it. I actually really like the song. It's got electronic music which is my preferred type of music. It samples 80's wonder track I've Had The Time Of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. It's a new style for the band which, I think, is quite brave.
Fergie's vocals certainly don't sound as strained as they have on some other tracks. The rap by the male trio is all there as well.
Most of the negative comments seem to people with disgruntled listeners who can't seem to appreciate the evolution of the band.
With sellout tours, numerous top ten hits and a rumored pregnancy, Pink has dropped her greatest hits... so far.
From when she first came onto the soon back in 2000 with her solo debut album, Can't Take Me Home, Pink (aka Alecia Moore) has been a common name appearing in many homes around the world. Her no nonsense attitude and blunt lyrics delighting audiences around the world.
Her greatest hits album recaps the last 10 years that she has dominated our airwaves. With the first track being her hit Get The Party Started from her Try This album. It reminds you of years gone by and why we all love this diverse icon.
Pink continues rolling out the hits and memories with other tracks like There You Go, Just Like A Pill, and her dig at ex-U.S. President George W. Bush, Dear Mr President. It's a wonderful trip down memory lane as we relive ten years worth of music.
Notably missing from the compilation is Most Girls which was an Australian number one hit. Also not included is Feel Good Time from the Charlie's Angel soundtrack in which she also had a cameo role.
Not content to just rehash old material, Pink has also included several new tracks including her current single Raise Your Glass. There are two other new previously unreleased tracks. As an added bonus, included is her version of Whataya Want From Me. The song she penned for Adam Lambert who continued on to make it a worldwide hit.
If you want to remember the past, have the best of the best that Pink has released on one album, this album is certainly for you. It's the progression and growth of the artist we've come to know and love. Sitting and listening, there's something about remembering just how amazing that this woman is. Easy to listen to and easy to love... this is Pink and this her album is her greatest hits... so far.
It had been four years since Alanis released any new original material. Finally she has released her follow-up album to the moderately successful So-Called Chaos. During the time away she has obviously done some musical searching and decided to release an album which not only reclaims her failing career, but also proves that she can be successful across multiple genres.
Opening the album is a rock anthem Citizen of the Planet which will appease listeners who tuned out after Jagged Little Pill. She also muses over what it is to be human and looks at how we interact with the trackUnderneath. Then, in a complete change of musical style, Alanis hits us with Straitjacket full of electronic beeps and riffs – it has to the be most un-Alanis song that we’ve ever heard. The remixes will be nothing short of amazing.
Versions Of Violence slams back with electric guitars wailing and drums, pounding messages of different types of domestic abuse into our ears and minds. The album then drifts on with more tracks which are undeniably Alanis as she slides through her entire vocal scale, showcasing her true talent as a singer and songwriter.
The album is a departure from what we have heard her produce musically but the content is still on par. Her angst routine still lurks behind more than a few of the songs. She even shows a much softer and mellow side on more than a few of the tracks featuring pianos, violins and guitars. Sadly, her the harmonica which was ever present throughout Jagged Little Pill and Supposed Former Infatuation Junkieis missing from this release.
After a few misses with her last few studio albums, it’s good to hear she’s back on track with an album full of material that will restart her career and re-instate her as one of the super-acts of today. She’s a musician with something to say and the intelligence and musical talent to convey it to the masses. The only fault with the album is that there’s not more of it. Alanis Morissette, nineties queen of angst, 2008’s album of the year.
From her beginnings with reality TV show Popstars and then forming the band Bardot way back in 2000, Ms Katie Underwood has been quiet and now released her debut solo album Ain't Nobody's Baby.
Before the public runs screaming fearing a solo version of Bardot's radio disposable music, they can breathe easy. The album is made up of beautifully crafted jazz songs which highlights Underwood's talent and her stunning voice.
The album sound glorious and is refreshing to anyone who listens to it. The production team have put together an amazing album which matches Underwood's voice perfectly.
From the start of the opening track I'm in the Mood for Love, you know that you are in for something special. The brass, the piano, the sultry vocals in Underwood's familiar tone. The album is just one spectacular track after another.
Highlights of the album certainly include the title track Ain't Nobody's Baby and her versions of jazz classics Under My Skin, the stunning Cole Porter classic, and Fever which was originally recorded by Little Willie John. Underwood has breathed fresh life into both tracks.
Way back when in 2002, Underwood worked with Disco Montego and released a club favourite Beautiful. Grab this album to hear her stunning jazz reworking of the single. Hearing both interpretations, it is near impossible to pick which is the preferred version.
Never let is be said that Katie Underwood is not a brave woman. Included on this stunning album is her version of the Leonard Cohen classic track Hallelujah. With the piano playing softly in the background, Underwood's voice carries the song beautifully. It could have been a triumph or disaster. Thankfully, this came off as a success and triumph.
The album as a whole is a creative triumph and has cemented Underwood as a role model for Australian talent. With her name credited for co-writing several of the tracks, she proves her talents don't purely lie in front of the microphone.
Gone are the days of Bardot. Here come the days of Katie Underwood, musical artist, extraordinaire.
With their sixth album in twenty five years, Sade has returned with their latest album Soldier of Love and has recaptured the imaginations and ears of listeners worldwide. With their lush sounds and renowned stunning smoky vocals they have set a benchmark for any other artist to live up to. Their opening track The Moon and the Sky is rippling with emotive vocals and lyrics setting the tone for the entire release. The track is a welcome reminder of what Sade is all about. The ambience and relaxing qualities make the track standout from anything that they have previously done. The title track Soldier of Love is far more percussive than anything the band has ever released. The sharp hip/hop sounds are a step in a new direction for the band while, at the same time, staying true to what is almost expected. Babyfather shows the band experimenting with an almost Jamaican sound and is composed of lush sounds and lyrics telling the story of a father/daughter relationship. It's sweet and melodic and leaves the heart of anyone who has troubles with their father aching to pick up the phone and just call him to say hello. Not content to stay with one genre, further experimentation comes across in Be That Easy which is a borderline country music track. The relaxed vocals and melody create a comfortable atmosphere for the ear. The unobtrusive sounds are calming and blend easily into the background. Other tracks on the album blend seamlessly into each other. The smooth production and careful consideration, time and effort that has been put into each and every song shows resplendently and showcases the sheer overwhelming talent that the band posses. The final track is The Safest Place and will remind any listener of what they experienced when they first heard Sade. The same ambient instruments. The relaxed atmosphere. The chilled out vocals. The culmination of what has made Sade such a landmark band since their inception all those years ago. Soldier of Love is not only an album suited to a dinner party but can be played when ready to kick back and relax after a long day at work. The true majesty of Sade is in abundance throughout the release. The beauty of the vocals and the calm tones of the music. It is a testament to why they have enjoyed such longevity without the ongoing and continual releases of some other artists which pollute today's airwaves.
The ex-Girls Aloud singer has unleashed her talent upon us again. With her second solo album, Messy Little Raindrops, set to be appearing on Australian shelves 12th November, Ms Cole reminds us why she’s been around in the industry for a few years.
From the opening track Promise This, you can tell that this is going to be a little more special that generic pop products that seem to inundate the airwaves. The energetic beats and interspersed French line certainly is catchy and will get stuck in your head.
Following up is Yeah, Yeah featuring Travie McCoy (you know, that guy from Gym Class Heroes... yeah, I didn’t either). The song is electro infused and has a good rhythm and catchy riff. I had to re-listen to find McCoy’s input in the song. The focus was on Ms Cole’s delivery and the music with her smooth delivery.
Live Tonight relies quite heavily on being bass driven to pull in the attention to the track. The song isn’t a stand out or anything particularly special but it certainly provides a nice filler from the dance feel of Yeah, Yeah and the following overly emotional song The Flood.
Speaking of The Flood, welcome to what is considered to be one of the best tracks on the album. It’s honest. It’s sincere. You can’t help but hear that the talented Ms Cole is singing about something that means something to her. It’s enthralling and fascinating.
Whoever thought that the track Amnesia would be good for Ms Cole should be shot. The track has a Bollywood sounding influence. It is a catchy song. Ms Cole is a talented singer. This doesn’t mean that the two should be paired. The song is something closer to a J-Lo release that Ms Cole’s.
Coming to the rescue is Everyone featuring Dizzee Rascal with the electro infused dance beats. It’s a style that suits Ms Cole overall. Her sharp delivery and attitude lace throughout the track and pick the album up from the previous slump. Thankfully, it’s also strong enough to carry over following mess Raindrops.
How to describe Raindrops? Messy. Hectic. Whiny. I’d rather listen to all of George W. Bush’s speeches back to back without break. Enough said.
Thankfully, the delightful Hummingbird swoops in to make the album soar back up to its great heights. It’s light and airy. Bright and bubbly. Cole has a cheerful delivery and a general feel good attitude that carries throughout the song.
Anyone who didn’t know what style of song suited Cole will learn quite quickly that it’s R&B as soon as they hear Better to Lie featuring August Rigo. Cole literally shines with ability and slick delivery throughout the entire track.
With a complete jaw drop included, Cole raps her way through Let’s Get Down. Would the Real Miss Cole please stand up? Even more astounding is that she’s not terrible at it. She carries the tune and beat of the song and hits the mark with her rapping. It’s not something you want her to do full time and the inclusion of Will.I.Am matches Cole’s rapping ability quite nicely.
Happy Tears is a beautiful track with stunning instruments. The song has been put together in amazing fashion with the music matching the easy listening of Cole’s voice. The backing music sounds reminisce of Clocks by Coldplay. The song is one you can play a couple of times over and still love.
Rounding out the album is the electro/R&B styled piece Waiting which samples and A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton in a spectacular fashion, even including a sample of Carlton’s voice. The song does sound amazing. It’s energetic, it’s refreshing, it’s honest. It’s also definitely one of the standout tracks on the album.
All in all, Messy Little Raindrops, is a solid release. It’s got good moments, two bad moments and several standout tracks. It shows that Cole is quite capable of breaking out of her Girls Aloud mould. She’s certainly proven she’s got ability. If you aren’t desperate to buy this album, at least listen to it.
What better way to follow up being the opening act for Britney's tour in Germany than to release a brand new album. Evacuate The Dance Floor is the third album to be released by German based trio Cascada.
Staying true to what has become their niche in the music world, Cascada have followed their tried and true formula with lead singer Natalie Horler belting out each track with all she's got. The music is their signature radio friendly dance music that the world has come to know them for.
Leading of the album is the title track Evacuate The Dance Floor which has gotten mass radio play with it's bouncing music and thumping bass. The best thing about the track is the fresh take on their signature sound and the catchy lyrics which get stuck in your head. The surprise inclusion on the track is the male vocals and their eager rapping. It adds to the dynamic by adding a new dimension to Cascada's previously female only vocals. The song has also been compared to Lady Gaga's releases. Whether or not this is the case, Evacuate The Dance Floor has turned into Cascada's biggest hit to date.
The second track on the album is Hold On which almost sounds like their previous hit single Because The Night. The music itself has similarities but the vocal delivery is near identical at parts. It's still a great track but when you listen to it more than twice, it loses the sense of originality.
The third track Every Time I Hear Your Name has been dubbed the pinnacle of the album by various reviews. The track features a quick tempo and vocal delivery by Holler that is unsurpassed on any of the band's other work. It's catchy and radio friendly sure to catch the attention of listener's all over the world.
Ready Or Not is another unsurprising track on the album. Like the rest of the album, it's catchy and quirky. Unfortunately it falls into the trap of sounding like How Do You Do from the first album. It has its own merit of catchy lyrics and vocal work. A riff that sticks in the listener's mind and a pounding bass that will have the foot tapping but it won't be remembered when the next track comes out over the speakers.
The tracks Fever and Breathless sound like there are trying to cash in on Kelly Clarkson's pop/rock feel. Fever could very easily have been included on any of Kelly's releases. The track certainly has a dance inspired feel. Unfortunately the other track Breathless seems to borrow heavily from Since U Been Gone. From the guitar at the start to the rhythm the words seem to fall in up to the chorus. Once the chorus hits, you could almost sing the lyrics to Kelly's hit and have it sound near the same. The pace is a bit different given that Cascada is a dance act but that's just about the only difference.
Changing gears is Hold Your Hands Up which is a guitar driven mid-tempo track. Horler doesn't have auto tune going on the track and shows her true ability as a singer. The song itself could have appeared on an early Britney album but Cascada have taken hold of the song and made it their own. When you listen to the track, you can almost see the crowd waving in unison at the chorus or the waving of lighters in time. It's a very simplistic pop song that radio will play a few times, have a few teens singing along before they move onto the next track.
Not even the previous smash hit singles from the band are safe from a repeat with Dangerous being incredibly similar to their debut Every Time We Touch in all aspects of delivery apart from the lyrics. One is easily interchangeable for the other. If you've heard the original, you've heard this track.
Throbbing away to the bass heavy music is 90s floor-filler throwback What About Me. Packed full of energy and an excited delivery by Horler the track will have the heaviest of feet tapping along with the track. The track isn't a cover but an original piece. They haven't even recycled past work for the track. It's cool and catchy and worth at least a listen.
Yanou's Candlelight Mixes in the past have always been a highlight of any artist's tracks. Unfortunately the final track Draw The Line hold no conviction in it's delivery. Horler sounds like a very talented singer who doesn't believe in what she's singing. It's hard to fault the vocal work or the music itself. The fault lies in the lack of emotion throughout the track.
With over 11 million albums sold worldwide, it's not hard to see why Cascada have gone for the tried and true formula which has served them so well in the past. Unfortunately it's nothing that we haven't heard from them before. The album is certainly for fans or people who have never heard of Cascada before. If you already have the previous two albums, don't worry about this one - you already have it.
Last night, for the first time in over 10 years, I was lucky enough to witness Hannah Acfield on stage. Many years ago, I saw her on stage at a school dance singing a cover of Volcano Girls by Veruca Salt.
Since those days, Hannah has gone on to become a great piece of Australian talent. She is a singer/songwriter and has spent a lot of time perfecting her craft.
Sweeping onto stage shortly after 11 pm at The Empress Hotel in Fitzroy, she proceeded to show what a talented woman she is. Even after being sick all week, she took it in her stride and made references to her ability to mimic Jimmy Barnes at the current time.
Her set list had songs from both her EP's. From the title track of her debut release My Tomorrow to the her closing encore cover of Jolene by Ray LaMontagne, Hannah had the audience's undivided attention. Glancing around the venue, people were stopping conversations to listen to Hannah singing.
Hannah interspersed some idle talking during each song. With jokes about her bass guitarist being single to her mother being a good dancer, despite the fact that she couldn't be there on the night.
Hannah Acfield is a beautiful singer/songwriter and a brilliant performer. The night was highly anticipated and well worth the wait of 10 plus years to see her performing again.
Over the years I have written the odd review for different sites.
Now, I believe, it's time to write them for myself and put my own spin on things. Labour of love? Possibly. Giving what I think and putting out there for everyone to see? Most definitely.
The reviews in here will reflect current CD releases, book reviews, movie reviews, game reviews and maybe even the odd live performance review. It really will depend on what I've been looking at. There may even be some vault reviews. Looking at music and books from the past.
All being said, once this blog is set up, I'm forever hunting new music and movies so will do my best to get them done as frequently as possible.
With sincere thanks as well to my dear friend Karen who created the title and background for this blog.
Any images or videos featured on the blog are not mine and have probably been found online. Those photos remain sole property of the copyright owner.
and 
. Maybe now Yates can walk down the street and not be looked upon as the man who ruined the Harry Potter series.
