Marina & the Diamonds

Florence + the Machine.
Frankie and the Heartstrings...

After going through a phase of plain, insipid 'The' titled bands I feel we may have hit upon the next fad in musician names. But that's by the by in Marina's case especially when she considers her fans the diamonds, quite lovely! She's been labelled by many as 'the next Kate Bush' but then so has Ellie Goulding and I'm sure the next female to come along that doesn't fit the 'norm' will be, also. To be like Kate Bush is the new black.

Truth is Marina is quite individual; her voice is so very rich and booms majestically - there is a sense of the opera about it, an effortless vibrancy. I read one review which criticised quite heavily her varying singing techniques such as: over emphasis of syllables, unearthly shrieks and "bleating". Reading that alone you might find yourself wondering quite what the appeal is but to me, Marina is different and not La "annoying Roux" different but entertaining, catchy, jaunty. You should use your ears.

Her debut album 'The Family Jewels' never ceases. The pace does not stop and if you're not bouncing around, even subconsciously then it certainly isn't for you. The opener 'Are You Satisfied?' does well to entice the ear into the rest of the album. The lyrics to 'Girl' are a bit ropey in places: 'Easy to be sleazy when you've got a filthy mind, you stick to your yoghurts and I'll stick to my apple pie', has me wondering quite what she's getting at and the album version of 'Hollywood' is a little disappointing, as if the excitement has been tuned out of her singing - the single version is better. It is odd in places but I like that, it's interesting and doesn't really plateau. Some may find the incessant bounce tiresome but I say cheer up a bit and revel in the unadulterated glam-pop of it all.

~SouthernHeart

Listening to: Marina & the Diamonds - Oh No!

Good Shoes

No Hope, No Future

I've not listened to Good Shoes much, After giving the new album a listen 2 or 3 times I thought it was time to review. This is the groups second album after 2007's Think Before You Speak. (It's an album I've never listened to so I can gain no comparisons there.)

So what does the band offer for the first time listener such as myself? Well, to be honest they're reinventing.....nothing! Don't get me wrong they're not a bad band and musically they're talented but you get the impression that listening to this album you could be listening to half a dozen other bands currently on the scene.

With that in mind, I can get down to actually talking about the album. The first track of the album titled The Way My Heart Beats is a lively and upbeat opener which fills you with false promise. Whilst the song itself might be very catchy and worthy of multiple listens; the album there after fades quite significantly. Under Control was the bands first single from the album is another highlight however, crunching bass lines with jagged guitar and the opening line of " The more I want, The less I'm feelin' " is quite contagious.

After this however, the album slips straight back into mediocrity. No Hope, No Future really offers nothing to get overly excited about. It's got a few decent tracks, namely: The Way My Heart Beats, Under Control and Then She Walks Away are all pretty good.

Apart from this though there's nothing you could really recommend to friends or get excited about. The first couple of listens for myself will probably be my last.

5/10

I guess this album review goes against the whole concept of this blog. Northern Soul, Southern Heart is all about introducing new music to others who read the blog. I would be pretty reluctant to recommend this album to others, But after listening, I felt compelled to write a review.

Northern Soul

listening to:

Good Shoes - No Hope, No Future - The Way My Heart Beats

Sunshine Underground

Nobody's Coming To Save You

4 years have passed since Sunshine Undergrounds last release Raise The Alarm, Was it worth the wait?

Well if you're a Sunshine Underground fan undoubtedly! From a personal point of view I believe their first single from the album, Coming To Save You, is the best song the band have ever produced, Heavy bass and a catchy guitar lead chorus which will you have singing along throughout.

Other stand out tracks include In Your Arms, which is a slower track but still has that Sunshine Underground sound and a guitar screeching chorus. A Warning Sign follows, a song which starts with the sound of The Rapture before the band rush in to remind you who you're really listening to!

All in all, the album has a lot to offer, there are a lot of good tracks on here and without my limited ability to really describe music, stand out tracks for me are: Coming To Save You, In Your Arms, A Warning Sign, Here It Comes.

Like a lot of albums you wont get a true taste of what it's about until a few plays. Sunshine Underground have matured and progressed as a band. Raise The Alarm was a good album and this follow up is more than a worthy successor from the Leeds band. More importantly for fans however, with this sudden coming of age, the band have kept their identity along with getting over the second album hurdle. Nobody's Coming To Save you is a good album especially after a couple of listens. 7/10

Northern Soul

Listening to:

Sunshine Underground - Nobody's Coming To Save you - Here It Comes

The Drums

These guys are probably the funnest thing.

The Drums are a New York based band who came together in late 2008. "Let's Go Surfing" has nothing to do with surfing but more to do with the spirit behind it. From the first beat your foot will be tapping away, madly. It's just too feel good to be true.
Although not listed as an influence, to me there was an element of The Beach Boys about them. No, not because of the surfing reference in their song title but more because of the effortless upbeat and happy vibe oozing out from them. You'd be a cold hearted individual not to find your leg twitching in time. Dare I say, there's a touch of The Beatles in there, too? You'll definitely hear bits of the old Joy Division floating about.

I know next to nothing else about them other than what I've heard from their Summertime! EP - which I like and going by that I'd say they'll do well this year. If they don't it'll be some heinous crime and I'll cry into my Cheerios.

Tune in, stand back and watch out.
~SourthernHeart

Listening to: The Drums - Let's Go Surfing