Music Reviews – JMAC- The Blog Experience

This Months Top Five Tunes (In Lockdown)

Having been in Lockdown for the past two months I have had plenty of time to discover new artists and songs. Music is a great escape during these tough times locked inside ( I listen to music out a walk, tidying, reading or when I inevitably get bored and spend hours perfecting a full face of makeup for no reason.)

Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus- The Strokes. This is my favourite song on their new album ‘The New Abnormal’ its very upbeat and – dare I say- dance worthy for a strokes song but to be fair there is only about one song on this album that has the OG strokes vibes to it.
NEW MAGIC WAND- Tyler, The Creator. I’ve always been aware of Tyler, The Creator and I know he has a very prolific fan base but I’ve never taken the time to properly listen to any of his albums – despite the massive success they have had. This is my personal fave on his newest album ‘IGOR’ although it was a difficult decision between this song and A BOY IS A GUN – quite different songs considering it’s a bit ‘softer’ than NEW MAGIC WAND.
ARIES- Gorillaz feat. Peter Hook and Georgia. My second favourite song from Gorillaz new series ‘Song Machine’ featuring the bassist from New Order which gives it a very distinctive New Order ‘sound’.
Night Running- Cage The Elephant, Beck. I’ve always loved Beck but not so much Cage The Elephant, so Beck’s feature on this song is what really sold it for me. I feel like this is definitely going to be one of my ‘summer songs’ this year.
Strawberry Fields Forever- The Beatles. Who doesn’t love the Beatles? This is probably one of my favourite Beatles songs and it has a similar sound to my all time favourite band Sunflower Bean. My interest in the Beatles was re-ignited after watching the movie ‘Yesterday’ a few weeks ago. The plot of the movie is very interesting and I thought it was very well executed. If I tried to give you a rundown of the plot I would probably end up not doing it any justice so I will leave it to you to look it up if you wish. 🙂

Top Five Songs Of February

Okay, so this is becoming a monthly thing and I have been assigned to create this months edition, hope you enjoy.

Glimmer- Tame Impala. Tame Impala really outdid themselves with this album and it is making me really excited to go see them in May. I get really strong 80’s/90’s vibes from this song in particular.
You’re in love with a psycho- Kasabian. I always forget about how good Kasabian can be, but when I listen to it it’s like a blast from the past (again I discovered this band through Band hero on my Nintendo DS when I was eight). This song is something you can get up and dance and sing to.
Momentary Bliss- Gorillaz feat. Slow Thai and Slaves. They disappear for two years claiming they wont go on tour or make new music for the next five years and then they come out with this absolute banger. there is quite a lot going on but it is so distinctively British and Slow Thai really adds something to the song I never knew I needed.
Cars In Space- Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Again, really excited to finally see these guys in May. This tune has the statement Rolling Blackouts guitar riffs but they decided to spice it up in this new single with a little saxophone feature. Listening to these guys for the past two/three years all of their music is perfect for summertime and long road trips.
Oblivius- The Strokes. One of my top three favourite Strokes songs of all time. Basically I love everything about this song and would highly recommend if you haven’t listened to it before

Top 5 Songs of January

A little late but here is your next music list. Last month apparently I was feeling pretty alternative according to my deezer so here we go:

Original Me – Yungblud feat Dan Renoylds

Yungblud x imagine dragons? Yeah I’m not exactly going to forget about that quickly.

Anagram all of the letters
Tellin’ me that I’m gonna be fine
Cleaning the world is out of my mind
Piece ’em together and dump on the sides

2) Telephone – Waterparks

No I’m not talking about a child’s water park when I ask if you know who waterparks is. The sound of the song and upbeat tone kind of disguises the meaning of the song but I wouldn’t want the song to be any different.

I know we only just met
So why do I feel invested?
And do you feel it too?

3) Put the gun down – Andy Black

The black veil brides singer Andy Black is somehow able to be in the band and have his own banging solo career. The slowed down style from him is class and lets his words come through and music has always been a great coping method for mental health.

Will anybody watch me?
Is someone gonna stop me?
This could be my last mistake
Put the gun down, just put the gun down, down

4) Howl – Alexandra Savior

I need to give my friend Shannon credit for this one but that doesn’t mean Alexandra Savior isn’t amazing. Seriously, check out The Archer album. Just cause its indie doesn’t mean its bad.

Sweet revelation, bitter wine
I’m dreaming but mostly I’m falling behind
Hold a little tighter boy ’cause I
Am falling from behind

5) All that matters (acoustic) – Tom Walker

While this one is not quite like the others on the list sometimes you need some lighter hearted music. Easy listening. Or maybe I’m biased since I’m going to his concert this month but oh well. Somehow the acoustic version is better and ‘all that matters’. Get it?

Can’t spend your money when you’re dead
Can’t live this life again
Yeah, it’s messed up, but we got love

Music Artists of the Decade

Hozier

Okay, maybe not the biggest artists but still, iconic. You probably only know one of his songs, ‘Take Me To Church’. In fairness it is an amazing song. However have you heard his new album? Yes in 2019 this man released his second album and boy did it deliver. Go listen to ‘Dinner and Diatribes’ or ‘Talk’ and you will understand. Please let him come back in 2020. I need it.

Harry Styles

Out of all of one direction Harry has made the best music. While the rest of the boys music is good, you remember Harry’s. On his first Album all of his songs are amazing enough to be the top song though ‘Only Angels’ and ‘Ever Since New York’ are my favourite. Then theirs Fineline. While I personally prefer the first album Fineline is still an amazing album. This man has had 2 albums and not a single bad or forgettable song. Talent. Then theirs lights up. All I need to say is go listen to lights up. Now. Even if you’ve already heard it, just go listen.

P!NK

P!nk has been around since the 2000’s and we aren’t mad. She opened the decade with her album ‘Greatest Hits…So Far’ then released ‘The Truth About Love’, ‘Beautiful Trauma’ and ‘Hurts 2B Human’. She can be enjoyed by parents and their kids. ‘Try’, ‘What About Us’, and ‘Just Give Me A Reason’ are just 3 of the highlights.

Lewis Capaldi

Our very own Scot. Do I need to say much more? This man broke out with his song ‘Grace’ and took over the music world with only two EPs in his back pocket. He’s since released ‘Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent’ where every song, like Harry Styles album, is good. Most albums have one song you’d skip, not this one. ‘One’, ‘Hollywood’ and’ Bruises’ are my favs but it was hard to pick out just 3. And how can we forget ‘Someone You Loved’ and the music video with Peter Capaldi. His album is the first number 1 Album for 2o20. It’s a sign.

Yungblud

We had to get a little bit goth. This list has been far to pop friendly. Although I only found out about Yungblud a couple months ago he’s my 2nd most listened to artist this year on Deezer. Because I have problems. Yungblud released his album ’21st Centaury Liability’ in 2018 and honestly its what we needed. ‘Machine Gun’ and ‘Kill Somebody’ where my favourites. This is not to mention his singles like ‘Tin Pan Boy’ and all his collabs like ‘7 Minutes’ with Halsey and ‘Original Me’ with Dan Reynolds to name a couple.

Bands Of The Decade

Black veil brides

Started out Goth, black veil brides was the angst we needed for this decade. Started out with ‘We Stitch These Wounds’ in 2010 BVB realised 5 albums and an ep over the decade. Highlights of these albums are ‘Knives and Pens’, a classic, ‘Wake Up’, and ‘The Outsider’. This is without mentioning Andy Black blessed us with his solo career which gets an honoury mention on this list.

Imagine dragons

Pop rock band Imagine dragons gave us 4 studio albums, 6 singles and 4 live albums. ‘Evolve’ was easily the best album out of the lot. Not to be a ‘fake fan’ but theres a reasons ‘Radiotactive’ and ‘Believer’ are so popular. Sucker for pain made me a sucker for this band and lets not even mention Dan’s collab with Yungblud for the song Original Me.

5 Seconds of Summer

Although they didn’t join us till 2014 5sos came out strong with their first album also named 5 Seconds of Summer. Sounds good feels good joined us in 2015 much to our relief but the boys forced us to wait till 2018 to get Youngblood, their new album with their modern sound. Highlights include their tour with one direction, ‘If walls could talk’, ‘Amnesia’, and, of course ‘English Love Affair’.

Fall out boy

We already knew Fall out boy was here to stay after their first 2 albums in the 2000’s but they hit bacl hard with Save Rock and Roll. American Beauty/American Psycho was realsesd in 2015 and Mania in 2018. No matter their age or the trends FOB is here to remind you that your emo at heart. ‘Centuries’, ‘Uma Thurman’, and ‘My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark’ were just three of the bangers that made us think back to the good days of Infinity on High, truly the best album of FOB.

One Direction

Despite the alternative influence of this list one direction was the band of the decade. Point. Blank. Period. To say One Direction helped shape the generations growing up in the 2010’s is an understatement. 5 Albums in 6 years. They broke 6 Guinness world records and kept breaking the charts. 28 Teen Choice Awards, 7 Brits, 7 AMAs, 6 Billboard Music Awards, 5 Billboard Touring Awards, and 4 MTV Music Video Awards among others.

Is this a surprise? Even non-1d fans were surrounded by their music and accepted it. Sure there were crazy fans and the reaction to Zayn leaving was ridiculous but 1d was the best band of the 2010’s.

To finish this list here are some 1d hits; ‘Happily’ (acoustic version), ‘Perfect’, ‘Best Song Ever’, ‘One Way or Another’, and ‘Rock Me’.

Another Month, More Music

It’s November, therefore no Christmas songs from me yet- well except the tunes forced into my brain through band-. This past month I’ve become addicted to ABBA, Queens Of The Stone Age and early 2000’s hits. Quite varied I’d say.

I Can Talk- Two Door Cinema Club. An oldie but a goodie, after seeing them in concert at the beginning of October (which was excellent might I add). TDCC is just one of those bands where you can easily dance to any of their songs and this one certainly fits that criteria. I Can Talk
American Boy- Estelle and Kanye West. I’m pretty sure every Gen Z and Millennial can agree with me. This.Is.A.Bop. I think I know all the words and that’s perhaps one of my proudest achievements. American Boy
Falling For U-Peachy! and mxmtoon. Tik Tok is addictive and also sometimes a good way to find new songs. Such as this one. A bit of a change up this is a slow chilled out song. Falling For U
Does your Mother Know- ABBA. Dancing Queen is the theme of St. Aidan’s Sixth year but this one is probably my favourite ABBA song of all time. Does Your Mother Know
No One Knows- Queens of the Stone Age. I first discovered this song playing Band Hero on my DS Lite about 8 years ago and have only now grown to appreciate it in my teenage years. Give it a listen if you haven’t heard it before and prefer a bit more rock. No One Knows

BONUS SONG!!!

It Gets Better-Rex Orange County. Out of all the songs on his new album-Pony- this one (or Pluto Projector) has got to be my fave. Probably one of the more upbeat tunes on the album but I highly recommend any of his songs. I’m soo excited to go see him in concert next week! It Gets Better