5 Seconds Of Summer: Sounds Good Feels Good Review!

Hey guys!
Today I'm going to be doing a review of 5 Seconds of Summer's new album, Sounds Good Feels Good.

Hailed as 'the biggest new rock act in the world', the four lads from Australia had huge expectations to live up to, especially seen as the second album typically makes or breaks the artist.
Posting cryptic clues on social media leading fans to find artwork all over the world getting ready for 'The New Broken Scene', 5SOS amassed a huge hype in the month before the album release.
Question is, would Sounds Good Feels Good be as good it was being made out?

The band have taken a new direction with this album. Their musical knowledge and creativity shine through, and they've managed to overhaul their sound without alienating their fans, most of whom come from a 'pop' background.
Some of the songs on the album are comparable to other well established songs; 'Hey Everybody' for example sounds hauntingly similar to Duran Duran's 'Hungry Like The Wolf', and My Chemical Romance fans have claimed the lead single 'She's Kinda Hot' is a rip off of the 2007 anthem 'Holiday'.
However, other songs on the album are absolute belters. 'Jet Black Heart' is the perfect song for this band, showing they can appeal to both sides of their audience.
'Airplanes', 'The Girl Who Cried Wolf', 'Broken Home' and 'Outer Space/Carry On' are bloody brilliant, proving that the band can write their own catchy songs which lend themselves perfectly to angsty arena sing along sessions.

I have to give credit where credit is due, this album for me, did live up to the hype. Undoubtedly, the album leans more towards the pop side rather than rock, but there are some real moments where the potential is literally screaming out.
There is no denying that 5 Seconds of Summer are a talented band; lead singer Luke Hemmings has that smooth tone to his voice that lends itself perfectly to the more emotional tracks, lead guitarist Michael Clifford really pushes the band into the 'rock' genre with his impressive 'Billie Joe Armstrong' sounding voice, bassist Calum Hood is an outstanding all rounder, and drummer Ashton Irwin is simply one of the most talented musicians there is out there at the moment.

Overall, it's a great album. There is endless amounts of potential with this band, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Only The Young: I Do - Review!

Hey guys!
Today I'm going to do a review of Only The Young's new track, I Do.
Only The Young, or more commonly known as OTY to their legions of fqans are a four-piece singing group made up of Mikey Bromley, Charlie George, Parisa Tarjomani and Betsy-Blue English. They're most well known for appearing on the X Factor in 2014, leaving the competition in the seventh week, however the band already had built up a strong fanbase prior to the competition, and even performed at Capital's Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium!

'I Do' is the first single from the quartet, and it's perfect for the summer. It's sickly sweet pop with  a hint of blues, and brings a much needed fun, summery vibe to the plate. The song starts with a chorus of 'hey's', which only ever sets you up for a good time, and then Bromley swoops in and starts singing, closely followed by George and then the beautiful English. Betsey has an INCREDIBLE voice, which suits this style of music perfectly. Furthermore, Tarjomani and George show that the band can play their own instruments, helping to shy away from the fully fledged, all singing, all dancing pop group.
All four members of this band are extremely talented, and can all sing very well, which is illustrated in this track. The band have managed to find the balance between being 'child friendly' whilst appealing to older fans as well.

OTY have concocted a recipe for success. All four of them are extremely talented, extremely good looking, and extremely likeable. The band have fans of all ages, and although they may be targeting the younger audience, there is also a very real place for them in the 'older' music industry.
'I Do' is a song that gets more and more catchy the more and more you listen to it. I've got it stuck in my head from writing this, and I am not complaining at all!
I really wish this band all the luck in the world!
As usual, I will leave all links below,
Until next time,
MG
xxx

Only The Young:
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8uLHqWWk6DxsV6WxnxGLaw
Twitter - https://twitter.com/OTYOfficial
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/otyofficial
Instagam - https://instagram.com/OTYOfficial/

My Links:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/musicglare
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/musicglare
Tumblr - http://musicglare.tumblr.com/
Instagram - https://instagram.com/musicglare
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/musicglare
Snapchat: 'Musicglare'

Ian Davies: Leave Me Tonight Review

Hey guys!

Today I'm going to do a review of the first song from a new artist, Ian Davies.
Davies is a singer/songwriter from Liverpool. Taking influences from Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys, he has spent the last 18 months working on writing his own content, and recording demo's at John Delf's Edge Recording Studios, who's credits include 5 Seconds of Summer, Plan B, The Script, Lily Allen and Sophie Ellis Bextor.

About a month ago, Davies released an acoustic version of a song called 'Leave Me Tonight', and it has received nothing but positive comments, and to be honest, I can see why. Davies has a certain 'soul' to his voice; it's very rich and comforting. The song itself is very good, boasting impressive melodic qualities, and is very well written and put together. Of course, the young artist will need to improve to perfect his craft; stage presence is something that is very important, as is being able to convey emotion using only the eyes when performing, and Davies sometimes looks a little stiff, meaning his performance comes across as 'too-staged' at some points, however these little issues can be ironed out very quickly, and there is no denying the talent that this young man has. You can tell song writing is something that matters to the Liverpudlian, and he has said he wants to make sure his lyrics have 'depth and meaning, so people can relate or at least believe in the story or situation he's singing about'. With a mindset like that, he has the ability to go far.

There are comments on the video that highlight the likeness that Davies has to international superstar Sam Smith. Again, I can see why, Davies has that deep, anxious voice similar to Smith; if if you put that over a Tom Waits like piano track, similar to 'Leave Me Tonight', it's a recipe for success.

Overall, I really, really like the song. It's peaceful, it's relateable, and it's a solid start from the young artist. With a lot of hard work, I see no reason why Ian Davies can't be a household name. Give it a few years, and we may have a new star on our hands, and I wish him all the luck in the world.

I'll leave links below to the song, and a link where you can download the track if you want to.

Until next time,
MG
xxx

Ian Davies:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/IanDaviesMusic
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ian-Davies/464701210371502
Leave Me Tonight - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRvs8y6j4DA
Download of the song! - https://soundcloud.com/ian-davies-87/leave-me-tonight-acoustic
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwRGIyIUMvLRnyDJpUPVc4Q


My Links:
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Snapchat: 'Musicglare'

Hey Violet - I Can Feel IT EP - Review!

Hey guys!
Today I thought I would do a quick review of Hey Violet's debut EP, I Can Feel It.
If you haven't heard of them yet, Hey Violet are a 4 piece rock band from LA, California, made up of Miranda Miller (guitar, keyboard, and vocals), Nia Lovelis (drums and vocals), Rena Lovelis (bass and vocals) and Casey Moreta (lead guitar). They're currently making waves in the music scene, being the opening act for Aussie giants 5 Seconds of Summer on their 'ROWYSO Tour', and are earning themselves fans worldwide, boasting an impressive almost 700 thousand twitter followers collectively.

On the 17th of July, the young band released their debut EP, and it went straight to the top of the iTunes charts around the world, showing the power that their dedicated fanbase have. 

The EP has 5 tracks on it, and is a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. The first track 'I Can Feel It' is punchy and sets the scene for the rest of the EP. 'I Can Feel It' is the perfect anthem for kids all across the world, who have just found the person they are infatuated with; it's super relatable and shows of Lovelis' vocals perfectly. 

The second track is an angsty little number called 'Smash Into You', which I LOVE. It's a fist pumping, body twitching, hand clapping masterpiece. Next is a slow song, called 'Sparks Fly'. It's beautiful, and shows off the band's harmonies. There's no doubt that this band can all sing, but this track just solidifies their talent. The penultimate track is a song called 'Can't Take Back The Bullet', and this is my favourite song on the EP. It's such an empowering song, and is perfect for screaming at the top of your lungs. Plus, the riff at the beginning of the song is reminiscent of a classic 80's rock track, which I enjoy a lot. The final song is called 'You Don't Love Me Like You Should' and is your classic break up song which anyone could relate to. It's full of drums, bass, and Moreta does nothing short of showing off when it comes to the epic riff in the middle of the song. It really is a good song.

All in all, the EP is great. It shows a lot of promise for the young band, and I'm excited for what they're gonna bring in the future.
They're also perfecting their craft live, which can be difficult to do, but Hey Violet are so good live, they can get a crowd on their side easily and they make sure everyone is having a good time. It's very rare that a drummer can sing as well as the rest of the band, but Lovelis manages to sing in tune, whilst playing the drums at the same time; she's a talented lady! The entire band works very well together, and the addition of keys from the beautiful Miller makes the band stand out from your average 'guitar/drums/bass' rock band.

I've had the pleasure of meeting the band, and they're four of the sweetest kids out there. They seem very humble and grateful for the success they're getting, and they're only going to get more and more, and I wish them all the luck in the world.

Until next time,
MG
xxx


Buy 'I Can Feel It' here!
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/ICanFeelItEP
Spotify: http://smarturl.it/ICanFeelItEPS 
Physical Copies: http://smarturl.it/heyvioletD2C 
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/ICanFeelItEPa 
Google: http://smarturl.it/ICanFeelItEPg 

---- 
Website: http://www.heyviolet.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/heyvioletoffi...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/heyviolet
Instagram: http://instagram.com/heyviolet
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/heyviolet 
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/heyviolet

She's Kinda Hot: 5SOS Review!

Hello guys!
Today I come to you from a very busy, smelly train on my way to LoveBox festival. I was going to wait to post this review but I have been itching to post this since I heard the song and I simply can't wait any longer.
The cheeky chappies of 5 Seconds of Summer have decided to grace us with a new track of theirs.
'She's Kinda Hot' went live about an hour and a half ago, and is all I've seen all over my twitter ever since.

The new song is nothing like 5SOS have done before. It's a slick, angsty, punk-pop anthem, to say the least.
Anyone that knows me will know I'm a big fan of 5SOS, and their debut album was by no means poor, but the new direction in which their music seems to be taking is one for the best, in my opinion.
The band have managed to take the winning formula from the first album (cheekiness, killer hooks, impressive riffs and unforgettable lyrics) and turned it into an AWESOME track, reminiscent of early-to-mid- noughties pop punk. SKH could easily be a track from pop punk giants Sum 41, but still has an unmistakeable 5SOS sound.
This introduction to the 'New Broken Scene' (see what I did there) involves a hell of a lot of guitar, bass and drums, and I LOVE IT.
Guitarist Luke Hemmings starts the song, followed by bassist Calum Hood, each providing a raspy verse which set the song up perfectly for drummer Ashton Irwin to come along and smash it out of the park. It rare that a drummer of a band can sing as well as the guitarists, and Irwin manages it with ease. And of course, what would a 5SOS song be without an impressive riff from one of the best, Michael Clifford.

I'm super excited for 5SOS and the direction in which they're headed. I like this song a lot.
Until next time,
MG
xxx

Buy the song on iTunes here > https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shes-kinda-hot-single/id1018919397

Little Sea: With You Without You EP Review

Hey guys!
Today I'm going to be doing a review of Little Sea's new EP, With You Without You.

Little Sea are an Australian pop-rock band, formed in late 2013. Based in Sydney, the band is made up of Andy Butler (vocals and guitar), Oliver Kirby (guitar), Dylan Clark (bass, piano) and Leighton Cauchi (drums), and are signed to music giants Sony Music Australia.

The band's first single 'Thank You' was released in May 2014, and this was followed up by a tour, including a support slot for 5 Seconds of Summer. In July, the group released their EP 'Wake The Sun', which hit number one on the Australian iTunes chart, proving to be an instant hit.

The new EP, titled 'With You Without You' is a 6 track record, including an acoustic version of one of the tracks. 

The first track is a song called 'Back to You', and it starts the EP off with a bang. It's upbeat and fun, and shows the band's ability to write; the lyrics are relateable, and work well with the band's overall image. The second track is an absolute tune called 'Friends', and it is by far my favourite song on the EP. It's fun, it's quirky, and is reminiscent of a The 1975 track; I LOVE it. 

Next we have 'I Don't Wanna Leave', which is the song that has an acoustic version, and both versions are beautiful, with a great beat and a perfect melody; everything is right with this song. The next track is 'Red Lights' and it shows off Butler's vocals beautifully, as well as showcasing the rest of the band's musical ability. The final track on the EP is the lead single 'Change for Love' which I heard a few weeks ago, and in my opinion, catches the band's sound and passion brilliantly. 

I was worried that the EP was going to be very 'samey', and I was going to be bored, but I was pleasantly surprised. However I do think that this EP is only a sample of the talent that this band has, and I think they need to bring their A-Game to the album, is going to be one to look out for. 

Remember the name 'Little Sea'. I think this band is going to be huge. They have the talent, the personality, and already have an impressive fanbase, spanning all over the world. 

I mentioned the band in a blog post I did at the beginning of the year, 'Who To Look Out For in 2015', and you can check that out here > http://musicglare.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/who-to-look-out-for-in-2015.html. 

As usual, I will leave all links for the band below, and if you want to download the EP (which I highly recommend you do) you can so do here! smarturl.it/WYWY or https://www.jbhifi.com.au/music/browse/pop/with-you-without-you-ep/722900/

Until next time, 

MG 

xxx

Little Sea: 

Twitter > 

https://twitter.com/LittleSea

https://twitter.com/leightoncauchi

https://twitter.com/andybutler_

https://twitter.com/oliverkirby

https://twitter.com/dylanclark

Facebook > 

https://www.facebook.com/LittleSeaMusic

Tumblr> 

http://littleseaau.tumblr.com/

Instagram> 

https://instagram.com/littlesea

https://instagram.com/oliverkirby/

https://instagram.com/andybutler_/

https://instagram.com/leightoncauchi/

https://instagram.com/dylanzeevillain/

Me: 

https://twitter.com/musicglare

https://instagram.com/musicglare/

https://www.facebook.com/musicglare

http://musicglare.tumblr.com/

5SOS ROWYSO: Live Show Review!

Hey guys!
Last weekend, Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer performed at Wembley Arena three nights in a row, and I was lucky enough to attend the three sold out shows, so today I thought I would do a review of one of the shows I went to.

If you've read any other post on my blog, or know anything about me at all, then you will know that I am a huge fan of this band, and so I was incredibly excited to see the show.
I was lucky enough to be given soundcheck tickets for all three of the Wembley shows. This basically means that myself and about 400 other fans were allowed to go into the arena early to watch the boys soundcheck a couple of songs, and then have a group q & a session. We were not allowed to film in there, but it was 5SOS being 5SOS, and the songs they soundchecked sounded brilliant.
The support act, Hey Violet, also did an acoustic hangout outside the arena before the show. I see a huge future ahead of that band, they're super talented, and stopped to take a picture with everyone who came out, and at the London shows, there were a hell of a lot of people.
All 4 members of the band are super sweet, and are easy to get along with and have some banter with. Here's one of the pictures I got with them.

Once we got into the arena and it started to fill up, the atmosphere started building. It felt amazing. The crew had put together a playlist of both pop and rock to keep all fans happy. 
Before long, Hey Violet were on. They were brilliant, and in my opinion, were the perfect type of act to open the show for a band like 5 Seconds of Summer. My personal favourite song was a song called 'Bullet' *BOOM HEY*, and the band really got the crowd pumped and ready for the show. 

After Hey Violet had performed, there was a half an hour wait before the main event started. Being the cheeky lads that they are, the 5SOS boys ended the wait with the anthem 'The Final Countdown', and by this point, tensions were running high, the level of excitement was off the scale, and everyone was ready to rock out. 

After a ten second countdown, the band came out, starting with the energetic 'End Up Here' to start the show off with a bang. 5SOS did all of their well known songs, such as She Looks So Perfect, Don't Stop and Amnesia, alongside fan favourite's from the album, like Heartache on the Big Screen, Disconnected, and Kiss Me Kiss Me. The 4 Aussie's also performed a new track called Permanent Vacation, and one lucky fan even was allowed on stage to play guitar/bass with the band during a song called 'Rejects'. When the band finished, the crowd were screaming relentlessly for more, so the pop/punk band came back and sang crowd favourites Good Girls and What I Like About You for their encore. 

All three shows were absolutely amazing (bar the last 10 minutes on Saturday, when guitarist Michael Clifford caught on fire, and bassist Calum Hood burned himself on the pyrotechnics, but both were back to full form on the Sunday to provide an incredible final show). This band have oodles of stage presence, and really know how to put on a good show. 

I was so impressed with this show. From start to finish, it really was the best concert I have ever been to. If you haven't already seen this young band, I recommend you get tickets, and you go. You won't regret it. You can buy tickets here! http://www.5sos.com/live/

I've written some reviews of some of the songs I've mentioned above, so I will leave the links below. Also, I posted lots of videos and pictures on my instagram and twitter, so if you want to check those out, I will leave them below. 

Until next time, 

MG 

xxx

5 Seconds of Summer debut album review > http://musicglare.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/5-seconds-of-summer-album-review.html

5 Seconds of Summer 'LIVESOS' review > http://musicglare.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/5-seconds-of-summer-livesos-review.html

Hey Violet, 'This Is Why' review > http://musicglare.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/hey-violet-this-is-why-review.html

5 Seconds of Summer 'Permanent Vacation' review > http://musicglare.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/5-seconds-of-summer-permanent-vacation.html

Hey Violet 

http://heyvioletofficial.tumblr.com/

http://www.heyviolet.com/

https://www.facebook.com/heyvioletofficial

https://twitter.com/heyviolet

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV_YtXxRY3Z38Fs1QG25Jxw

https://instagram.com/heyviolet/

https://play.spotify.com/user/heyviolet/playlist/1lIRogYFjtd75F7LQCEmzd?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

5 Seconds of Summer 

https://play.spotify.com/artist/5Rl15oVamLq7FbSb0NNBNy?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

https://twitter.com/5sos

https://www.facebook.com/5secondsofsummer

https://plus.google.com/+5sosofficial/

https://www.youtube.com/user/hemmo1996

https://www.youtube.com/user/5sosvevo

http://5sos-official.tumblr.com/

https://instagram.com/5sos/

My Links: 

https://twitter.com/musicglare

https://instagram.com/musicglare/

Little Mix: Black Magic Review!

Hi guys!
I heard a song this morning and I am absolutely in LOVE with it, so I thought I would do a quick review for you all!
Little Mix are a 4 piece girl band from the UK, and I absolutely love these girls, they make really good music, and they're four of the nicest girls you could meet.
They've been teasing fans for ages with new music, saying that it's a 'new style' and that Mixers would love it.
The new single 'Black Magic' is so unbelievably catchy, it's definitely going to be a big hit this summer.
It's a new sound for the band, and in my opinion, it's a change for the better, it's more mature, and heads the girls in the direction they want to be in. It's upbeat, the lyrics are cool but still relateable, and the girls KILL it on vocals, as they do every time.
I love this song, and I really hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
Until next time,
MG
xxx

5 Seconds Of Summer: Permanent Vacation Review!

Hey guys!
After receiving a barrage of emails and tweets about a certain song, I decided to give it a listen.
Since Monday I have had the said song stuck in my head. It's been on repeat. It's bloomin catchy, has relateable lyrics, and has plenty of guitar and drums to keep even the most sceptical people out there happy.
What is this song I hear you cry?
Well, it seems the cheeky Aussie chaps of 5 Seconds of Summer have decided to grace us all with a new track of theirs, and as you can probably tell, it's bloody good.
I've been a fan of 5SOS for a while now, and I do like their first album, however this song is much more suited to the genre they're trying to be accepted into.
It's full of guitar, bass and drums, and even has a teeny weenie bit of screaming, which makes it brilliant in my opinion. Whilst bassist Calum Hood, drummer Ashton Irwin and guitarist Luke Hemmings hold their own respectively, guitarist Michael Clifford absolutely owns this song. His voice was made for songs like this.
I got so excited when I heard this for the first time I actually made a squeaking noise. If the second 5SOS album is as good as this song then I have extremely high hopes for the young band.
Have you heard the song? I'll leave a link below in case you want to give it a listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9dn84yXhu8
Until next time,
MG
xxx

Ella Eyre: Together EP Review!

Hey guys!
Today I'm going to do a review of Ella Eyre's new EP Together.

Ella Eyre has been on the radar for a long time now, but is only just beginning to get the recognition she deserves.
The song 'Together' adds to the plethora of hits for Eyre; the dance beat and up-tempo rhythm has made this song into a guaranteed summer hit.
The rest of the EP is very impressive as well, boasting both acoustic versions and remixes of the new single, plus the smash hit Gravity in an incredible acoustic form.
I will admit, Together isn't my favourite song by the 21 year old singer (Comeback will always be number one for moi) but it's a really good song, one which I think will bring Eyre another number one smash.
I will leave a link to the song below so you can go check it out!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/together-ep/id984077562
Until next time,
MG
xxx

All Time Low: Future Hearts Review!

Hey guys!
Today I am going to do a review of All Time Low's new album, Future Hearts.
Now I've lost track of the amount of times that I have been to see ATL in the past few years, so to say I was excited for this album is an understatement. I was worried that I might have built it up too much in my head, and that somehow the album was not going to live up to the hype, but it definitely does.
I have listened to this album on repeat for the past 72 hours and I'm still not sure if I know how to convey my thoughts into words.
The album is a big 'fuck you' to all the critics that said ATL wouldn't be relevant after 6 albums, and to those who said that the band hadn't matured. The band's fun and playful persona is the reason why fans keep coming back for more.
Having said that, the album is just as much for the critics as it is for the fans. With the help of John Feldman, the band have been able to put together an incredible punk rock album, with a dash of pop to keep fans of all genres happy.

The album starts with power horses such as 'Kids In The Dark' and 'Kicking and Screaming', showing us what ATL does best.
I was surprised however when 'Missing You came on. Don't get me wrong, I love the song, it just seemed very mellow in comparison with the rest of the album. Gaskarth moves away from his signature high notes and delves into the low ones. It's a welcome change, but not one I expected. They quickly bring it back to more familiar footing with 'Cinderblock Garden'.

The biggest surprise of all on the album were the collaborations with Mark Hoppus (blink-182) and Joel Madden (Good Charlotte). The songs are actually really, really good, I like them alot, especially 'Bail Me Out'; I think it's one of the catchiest songs on the album. Unfortunately for me, I just don't see how these collabs fit with the overall feel of Future Hearts.

I personally LOVE this album. ATL have managed to produce yet another crowd pleasing album, and I have high expectations for it's placing on the charts all across the world.

Until next time,
MG xx

Hey Violet: This Is Why Review!

Hey guys!

Today I'm going to do a review of Hey Violet's new single 'This Is Why'. Hey Violet (formally Cherri Bomb) are a four piece rock band from LA. I actually saw Cherri Bomb perform at Leeds Fest in 2011 and I enjoyed their performance, but I never really heard any of their stuff after that, so it took me a while to recognise the band, especially seen as the band used to be all female (and their performance was super early in the day haha).

I got asked to do this review a couple of weeks ago, and I have been listening to the band ever since. I love how raw their sound is, and you can hear the potential oozing out of them.

This Is Why is a really cool track. It's full of drum sweeps and cool guitar riffs. As I said, you can literally hear the potential that this band have. They've combined classic rock with alt-rock, but with a pop-edge, creating radio ready music. They posted an acoustic cover of this song, which I actually heard before the studio version, and it is just as good as the original and shows how talented the band is.

All four members of this band are freakishly competent musicians, and smash the four part harmonies into the middle of next week. Nia's drumming is beat-by-beat PERFECTION, and I am crazy jealous that she can play that well at such a young age.
The same can be said for all members. They may be young, but don't let that deter you. Their youth brings a fresh feel to the pop/rock scene, and as I said, they're all crazy talented musicians.

With this track, they've also shown that they can write songs, not just sing them, something which is very important in the industry. They've done a couple of covers, but This Is Why is the track that's going to make them stars.

There is a huge space in the market for this band. They were recently signed to Hi or Hey Records, a record company run by 5 Seconds of Summer, so Hey Violet can no doubt count on the legions of fans that 5SOS have to help propel them into the music industry.

I'm very excited for the future of this band. They have oodles of potential, plenty of talent, and a sick look to make the perfect formula; I can't wait for new music!
I will leave all of their social media links below!
Until next time,
MG
xxx



http://www.heyviolet.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV_YtXxRY3Z38Fs1QG25Jxw/videos
https://twitter.com/HeyViolet
https://www.facebook.com/heyvioletofficial?fref=ts

The Veronica's Sanctified Tour; Review!

Hey guys!
Today I thought I would try something a little different.
I have been to lots of gigs and concerts in my life, and last night I went to see The Veronica's on their Sanctified Tour.
It wasn't the first time that I had seen the Veronicas, my grandma took me to see them 6 years ago, which was the last time that they were in the UK.
I can honestly say that last night was one of the best nights of my entire life.

Despite the HOUR delay of getting into the venue due to a technical difficulty, once we all got in there you could feel the excitement.
The support act was Bad Flower, and they were fantastic. They did such a good job of warming us up ready for the girls to take the stage. I'd never heard of the band before, and although I wasn't expecting much, I was surprised, and I went and downloaded a couple of their songs!

From the second that Jess and Lisa came on stage till the second they left after the encore, the crowd was going mental. The twins have grown up since the last time they were in the UK, which is reflected in their music and in their style.
They did both songs from their new album and from their previous albums. From the new record they performed Sanctified, Did you Miss Me, Line of Fire, Always, Teenage Millionaire, You Ruin Me, Cruel, and If You Love Someone, and then they also performed Take Me on The Floor, Hook Me Up, a stripped back version of Everything I'm Not, Untouched, This is How It Feels, 4ever, and then they did an impromptu version of Lolita.

I knew how good the girls were from seeing them live previously, but I was seriously blown away at exactly how good they were live. They can sing really well. I know a lot of people who only know who The Veronica's are from Untouched and thought the girls were a one hit wonder but if they would listen to a live version of one of their songs, then I know they would change their minds. 

These girls can SING. Really well. 

Both Jessica and Lisa both know how to work a crowd. You felt a connection with them instantly, and it's because they were looking at us all in the eye. They were putting on the show FOR US, they were performing FOR US, and they made us feel like we were special. The amount of eye contact at the concert was incredible, it's something I have never experienced at a gig before and I think it's one of the reasons why their gig was one of if not the best gig I have ever been too. 

It is hard to capture the atmosphere and electricity that was in the room with a picture. The way The Veronica's performed was captivating and inspiring. When they performed their newer music, it got the same reaction as their older music did. As mentioned earlier, they performed older tracks such as Hook Me Up, Untouched and Everything I'm Not. I must admit, when they sang Everything I'm Not, and then went straight into You Ruin Me, it made me cry. I just felt so emotional, I could feel every word they were singing, and it really hit me. Again, I've never cried at a concert before; no one has ever moved me so much with the words they speak and the lyrics they sing. 

I'm not sure why I'm writing this. I've never done a tour review before, but as I said, this one stood out to me. Of course I have the dreaded 'post-concert depression' which sucks, but to cure said depression, I have resorted to listening to The Veronica's on repeat, much to my house mates annoyance (sorry Ellie and Caroline :D)

The concert was brilliant. Everything about it was perfect, including when Jess dropped her mic. They not only performed well but they also made everyone there think about what is important in life, as well as supporting Sea Shepherd, which again shows they care. 

That's it I think. That's why I enjoyed the show so much. I felt cared for. I felt like The Veronica's cared about me, and I think everyone else who was there can say the same! 

Until next time, 

MG 

xx

Ben Hazlewood ft Mali Koa Hood: Paint Me Black Review!

Hey guys!
Today I am going to do a review of the song 'Paint Me Black' by Ben Hazlewood ft Mali Koa Hood.
Now I'm a sucker for a tall, dark, handsome singer with an accent, and I was expecting this song to be a normal generic 'pop' song that was catchy but wasn't really memorable.

Boy was I wrong.

Hazlewood is indeed a tall, dark, handsome singer with an accent, and this song is definitely catchy, but this song is more than just memorable; it is fantastic. Plus, with the addition of the gorgeous Mali Koa Hood, it puts the song in a completely different ballgame.

The production is cool and classy, the melody is incredible, the lyrics are clever and relateable; everything about this song is just right for me. The song has such emotion behind it, you can't help but feel something and get attached. Plus the synth beats beneath the track works so well; it's a killer song with a KILLER video. Seriously, you need to check it out > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zatc1HCokvU.

Furthermore, the vocals in this track literally blow me away. I had goosebumps from start to end. I knew that Hazlewood could sing, but I had never really heard Mali Koa Hood belt a song out like that before.
The harmonies are incredible, and the song shows off Mali Koa's beautiful voice perfectly. I get envious of singers all the time but I can honestly say I have never been more envious of a female's voice before. If I could sing like Hood, I would never stop singing.
I'm not even going to play it cool, this song is brilliant; it's the best song I've heard in a while. It will be a travesty if it doesn't get mainstream notice - the only way I could sum it up would be to say it's a beautiful song, sung by beautiful people.

There are also remixes of the song on iTunes which are worth a mention as they're also very good, and have more of a house/dub feel to them! You can buy the single here! https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/paint-me-black-single/id966632215?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
I will leave all the links below if you want to check out either artist.
Until next time,
MG
xx

Ben Hazlewood:
https://twitter.com/benhazlewood
https://www.facebook.com/benhazlewood
https://instagram.com/benhazlewood/
https://www.youtube.com/user/Benhazlewood

Mali Koa Hood
https://twitter.com/malikoa
https://www.facebook.com/malikhood
https://instagram.com/malikoahood
https://www.youtube.com/user/MaliHood

Out With The Old: Liar EP Review

Hi guys! Today I got this text from a friend, asking me to check out a relatively unknown but talented band, Out With The Old.

Harvii always has a good taste in music, so when he suggested them, I had to go and check them out. Out With The Old are pop-punk band from California. They have based their sound on a blend of old and new pop/punk music. Although I said they are relatively unknown where I live, the band does have popularity online, boasting an impressive 32.5 thousand followers on twitter collectively.  

They just released their official debut EP 'Liar' a few months ago, and I was pleasantly surprised when I decided to give it a listen. Within the first 30 seconds or so on the first song you can tell that these guys are talented, and have a knack for this style of music. They have managed to get the balance between pop and punk and alternative right, so that lots of different people with different tastes of music can enjoy the band. I'm not a huge fan of punk songs that are entirely screamo, so one of the main things I liked about this EP is that there is just the right amount, so I wasn't reaching to turn it off. You can also tell that the band are incredibly skilled at playing their instruments, with the songs being guitar and drums heavy.

Give this band a couple of years to perfect their craft and I see them playing in the big league. Their songs aren't the generic pop/punk sound, they bring something a bit different to the field. If you're a fan of punk, pop/punk or pop/rock music, I suggest you give this EP a try like I did, I guarantee you will enjoy it! 

I will leave some of their social media links below, plus a link to a YT video where you can listen to the EP in full. 

Until next time, 

MG xx

https://twitter.com/outwiththeoldca

https://www.facebook.com/OutWithTheOldMusic

http://instagram.com/outwiththeoldca/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uhiTcRqWO8&feature=youtu.be

Thomas McConnell - Crocodile Review!

Hi guys! 
Today I am going to do a review of a talented up and coming artist, Thomas McConnell. Thomas McConnell is a 21 year old singer/songwriter based in Liverpool. He has toured with Glenn Tilbrook, Ian McNabb and China Crisis. He has also supported Squeeze, Ian McCulloch & Ian Broudie and Steve Cradock. His piano cover of Paul McCartney's 'New' was released and shared online by McCartney himself in September 2013. Skip forward a year and McConnell has just released a new single 'Crocodile', which has received airplay on BBC Radio 6. 

McConnell wrote 'Crocodile' after being inspired by Paul McCartney's medley styled songs. He wanted to apply the twists and turns of that kind of songwriting to a jagged 70's-esque/Glam rock track, complete with hazy synths. It was produced by himself and Jon Lawton.

The song is extremely catchy and you can tell that McCartney influenced his sound, however there is a breath of fresh air with the track, and it doesn't feel like an imitation copy that we have heard several times before. The hook in this song is incredible, and the riff is appealing and very memorable. McConnell's vocals are to be noted as well, plus the lyrics are both relateable and clever. Plus, his talent and passion for playing his instruments shines throughout. The track also has a B-Side called 'Please Don't Slow Me Down' and after the first 10 seconds of listening to this track, I was hooked. 

There is no doubt that McConnell is musically gifted, and I think he has a bright future ahead of him. His retro sound, reminiscent of the 70's paired with his ability to write cool and agile lyrics is surely a winning success. I will leave all of his links below so you can check him out and give the single a listen to for yourself. 

Until next time, 

MG xx

https://www.facebook.com/thomasmcconnellmusic 

https://twitter.com/mcconnellsounds

https://soundcloud.com/thomasmcconnell

https://www.youtube.com/user/thomasmcconnellmusic

http://thomasmcconnellmusic.bandcamp.com/

Meghan Trainor: Title Album Review

Hi guys! Today I'm going to be doing a review of Meghan Trainor's debut album. It came out today, and I am a big fan of her style of music, so I couldn't wait to listen to all of the tracks.

After I listen to the first 5 songs I knew that I would love the rest of this album. Trainor has a very distinct style, and has managed to find a place in the music industry. Her music is refreshing from all of the other 'pop' music out these days; it's a breath or fresh air. The Intro showcases Trainor's talent beautifully. The album has a mix of slow and sultry ballads to fast and upbeat tunes. Bang Dem Sticks, Credit and Walkashame show her playful nature and personality perfectly whilst showing her impressive vocals and rapping skills at the same time. What If I, Close Your Eyes and Like I'm Gonna Lose You show that Trainor can nail the slow tempo numbers, with her silky smooth voice dancing across the melody.
Meghan has just got this right. Everything about this album is just right. The artwork is stunning, the tracks are brilliant, and her personality shines through. Trainor comes across as being a normal girl, she is likeable, and I feel like this album is the first of many for this talented young woman.
Until next time, MG xx

Who To Look Out For In 2015!

Hey guys!
With last year being such a good year for music, break out acts have a lord of hard work and catching up to do to make an impact, however here are a few people that I am tipping to take the music word by storm in 2015!

• James Bay > James Bay is a British singer songwriter, and his unique style of music has already bagged him this years Brit's Critics' Choice Award. I love his style of music, and I predict big things for him in 2015. 
  
• Years and Years > Years and Years are an electronica trio, and have already released an EP that hit number 1 on the iTunes charts. They were also in the running for 2015 Btit's Crtics' Choice Award. Their new track Desire is already hotly tipped to be a big tune, and I can't wait to see what this year will bring for them. 
  
• Little Sea > Little Sea are a four piece pop-rock band from Australia, and are signed to one of the biggest record labels around, Sony. The talented quartet are already nominated for Channel V's Oz artist of the year, and if there last EP is anything to go by, 2015 is going to be a brilliant year for this band. 
  
• Halsey > If you have read my blog before you will be aware that I am a huge fan of Halsey (http://musicglare.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/halsey-room-93-ep-review.html < check out my review of her latest EP Room 93 here), so of course I would be including her in this list. Her first EP did incredibly well, and she has just announced a headlining tour for 2015. 
  
• Troye Sivan > Troye Sivan is a popular Youtuber, however I think that in 2015, he is going to become well known for his music. His first EP TRXYE hit number one on iTunes, and his grungy sound is going to win everyone over. If you don't know who he is now, by the end if this year, you will. 
  
• Becky Hill > Becky Hill's voice has been featured in a number of huge tracks in 2014 like Overdrive, however 2015 is the year she is planning on making a break and doing it alone. She has a power house of a voice, and her unique sound makes her voice unforgettable. 
  
• Alexa Goddard > Alexa Goddard has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard, and this is why she is going to make her mark on the music industry in 2015. She has already signed a 5-album deal with Roc Nation, and managed to snag a number one in the UK Indie charts with her cover of Turn Your Swag On. 
  
• Saint Raymond > Saint Raymond is a massive talent. His new single Fall At Your Feet is bound to be a hit after receiving raving reviews from, well, everywhere. He has already managed to sell out his own headlining tour, and has just finished touring with Ed Sheeran. 2015 is going to be a bog year for this young man.  
  
• Kate Stewart > This incredibly talented young lady has already worked with the likes of Overdrive, and her single 'Speechless' was one of my favourite tunes of 2014. I predict big big things for her this year! 
  

And there we go! My predictions about who will make it big in the music industry this year! Feel free to agree/disagree/suggest anyone that I have missed out in the comments below. 

Until next time, 

MG xx