Givers - In Light

Rating 2/5 Up Up Up & Away from my playlists

Givers – In Light

I found this album on Spotify's'New Album Releases' Playlist, and the fact that it was new, was the only reason I decided to listen, out of sheer desperation of finding some good music.

The first track 'Up Up Up' had similarities to 'The Drums', a band that I liked for a while, but who I soon got bored of, saying that, It's not a bad track, but it is a pretty disappointing album.

To me, this was just noise, which I found very difficult to listen to, so much in fact, that the whole album could have been one long boring song after Up Up Up. On a positive note, I have listened to this before going to bed, so shouldn't really have any problems sleeping.

Just not my type of Band or music, I will swiftly deleting this one.

I fear this could be a bit harsh based on my first and only listen of this album, but I doubt it.

Switchfoot - Vice Verses

Rating: 3/5 Not quite Rock for me, worth a listen all the same

Switchfoot – Vice Verses

Another Album that has been in my 'Unheard' Folder in Spotify for so long, I cannot for the life of me remember how I came across it.

I must admit, I had to look these up on Last.fm, embarrassingly for me these have been around since 1996, and if this Album is anything to go by, I shouild really check out there older stuff, not my idea of Rock though

The Album contains a few good tracks, mainly in the first half to middle of the album, I found 'The War Inside' a good tune, and 'Blinding Light' was annoyingly catchy, even 'Selling the News', despite the voiceover instead of singing has something about it, 'Dark Horses' will wake you up if the previous, more mellow tracks were not doing it for you.

I like Jon Foremans (yes, I did some research) Vocals, whether the heavier/rockier tracks on the album, or the crooning variety, not forced, just easy on the ears.

In all, a half decent Album, that could be played from start to finish, without any dreadful tracks getting in the way, although the last couple of songs are not as effective as the rest.

This Album is by no means for everyone, but I would recommend listening at least once, and all the way through. I will definitely be saving into one of my folders, but it certainly won't be in the one named 'Rock'.

Class Actress - Rapprocher

Rating 2/5 - Noisy Disappointment


Class Actress – Rapprocher

After listening to Class Actress EP in 2010 (Journal of Ardency), I've been almost excited at the prospect of a full album being released. The EP only had a couple of decent tracks, but that was enough material to wet the appetite for more.

Today that day came for me, I finally got around to listening to the full album, and what do I get? A piping hot plate of disappointment. It's quite possible this album is not as bad as I am making out, I just had high expectations, plus I was stuck in traffic, which didn't help my listening mood.

I listened to each and every track, thinking, "OK, this is where the album is going to kick off", but it didn't, there are one thousand and one analogies I could use here, but it does not deserve the creativity. I hope I am overreacting, and someone suggests listening to this great album they have come across, but I can't see it.

I am going to delete this album, never will it disappoint me again.

Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

Rating: 2.5/5 Lost Interest

Ben Howard – Every Kingdom

We all know Ben Howard is a little commercial, 'Howard' I have heard of him otherwise? I no longer hold the commercial thing against Artists, and I proved that by listening to this at least three times.

Yes, I listened at least three times, yet I could not tell you much about it, it just did not draw me in, I would almost forget it was on, then a half decent track (because there are a couple) would attract my attention, briefly, before my mind once again wondered.

I suppose on the plus side, I managed to listen all the way through, without becoming physically violent, or grinding my teeth at the sheer agitating nature of the music..

Put it this way, I have heard worse.

Miles Kane - Colour of the Trap

Rating 3.5/5 Kane you dig it?

Miles Kane – Colour Of The Trap

Never a fan of the Rascals, however, I quite liked Kane's work with Alex Turner on the Last Shadow Puppets, so I thought I would give his new solo album a try, plus I had heard a track off of the new album on one of those sky channels that plays music (arguably) in between adverts.

The album starts off very well, I really enjoyed the opening two
tracks, catchy, lively and good toe tapping beats. The quality (maybe the wrong choice of word) of the album takes a slight dip as it continues, but the first two tracks are a hard act to follow, this does not mean the middle section of the album is still not up to standard, the last couple of tracks seem to be making up the numbers.

I would say parts of the album could probably pass as Arctic Monkey B sides, but that's not necessarily a bad thing is it? I have listened to this a number of times whilst trying to get this written up, and after five or so listens, my opinion has not changed, it is what it is

In summary, this isn't a bad album, with a few more than decent tracks on, have a listen, disagree with me.