Reviews discs of 2010, in no particular order: despite around you face increasingly difficult to find music worth listening to at the end of something The good news is
Gabriella Cilmi: Ten
The second disc of Gabriella Cilmi is an album that disappoints a bit 'expectations, not so much because they have abandoned the poprock sound with influences from blues and jazz of the first, excellent work, as perché il disco appare un po troppo pieno di filler, per cui accanto a pezzi irrestistibilmente Disco/dance come On a mission e My hearts don't lie, o a ballate struggenti come Defender ci sono pezzi anonimi e noiosi.
Il cattivo risultato commerciale del disco non deve far scoraggiare la brava cantante italoaustraliana, ma speriamo le faccia comprendere gli errori fatti e ritornare ad un sound più maturo ed adatto alle sue (straordinarie) corde musicali e vocali.
voto 7
Shakira: sale el Sol
Shakira è tornata! questa la frase che viene spontanea dopo l'ascolto di Sale el sol, nono lavoro nella ormai consistente discografia dell'artista colombiana.
Dopo gli esperimenti electrodance She Wolf of the disc marks a return to the roots music of Shakira, but with some new musical ingredients.
Thus, in addition to setting a strong rock ballads like Devocion and Tu Boca, where you feel the hand of the maestro Cerati and poignant ballads like Antes de la Seis or Lo Que Mas, appear restless rhythms of Merengue, as in Loca Addicted to you, or mixtures of cumbia and reggaeton, as in funny Gorda, another duet, this time with Rene of Calle 13. There
mellow ballads like Mariposas, and you can not miss Waka Waka, revived here in a version with guitars rock to U2, while the title track Sale el sol, a rocking ballad, is entrusted with the message of hope and rebirth of the disc.
Defects? Some repetition and too much of a cover of The XX, which is a bit 'out of register relative to the rest of the disc. Piddling matters in the end, because the disk is incredibly nice and not tired even after repeated listening. 9.5
vote
Katy Perry MTV Unplugged
This disc, little advertised, packed CD + DVD is a real gem not to miss: the Californian singer-songwriter is at his best here, in acoustic version, as that suits her more than any other, and in these seven songs show who he really is: the jazzy version of I kissed a Girl, until all'inedito Brick by brick, performed solely with the guitar acoustics, and through breathtaking versions of Lost and Thinking of You, Katy proves to be a talented and extraordinary versatility, showing among other things, to have a really good voice and know how to use, in spite of his detractors.
Wonder. Only drawback: it lasts too little 9.5
Katy Perry: Teenage dream
This disc is a bit 'the other side of the coin of Perry (see above) who is or has been fascinated dalll'MTV unplugged One of the previous hearing the boys, can not but be somewhat disappointed by the turn of this blatantly commercial album, reveals that video from ultra-kitsch of California Gurls with adjoining song as Kitsch.
Yet the disc is not to throw the contrary: if we exclude the aforementioned CG, however, delicious in its being kitsch, and Peacock, frankly unlistenable song, the rest of the album ranges from fair to very good: Responsible for Katy's songwriting, which emerges from the work of the pair production Dr Luke. / MaxMartin, but also some musical ideas that show a good dose of originality.
So switching from perfect examples of Pop as in Friday Night complete with a sax solo (from what you have not felt in a record?) To the famous Teenage Dream, a perfect pop song is built like a rock song, a firework, that engages on a dance archie violins and that is an ode to self-determination personnel, the solemn What I'm living for and ET still pretty upbeat and The One That Got Away, up to two gems like Pearl and Not like the movies, perhaps the song most similar to the previous record with the two rock of Hummingbird, and Circle the heartbeat drain.
The lyrics strike and the promise of making the pop that has a meaning that is maintained by Perry.
Finally, a record that grows with the plays and that fits into the category of guilty pleasures: 8 -
Melanie Fiona-The Bridge
This album came out at the end of last year, fits into that sort of Revival of American music from the 60s.
E 'no doubt that most of the pieces relate to that golden age of soul and rithm and blues, and hence is a disc that you can not simply dismiss as revival. Both here and there because it shows something new and more modern, and for the undoubted ability of this singer, Afro Canadian, who has a nice tone of voice and very good extension.
And then, let us say, good music is always such, and maybe you will not be a masterpiece, The Bridge of those renewing their music (but if we did this discourse we should throw away 99.9% of CD), however, is certainly a record well done and pleasant to listen to some pieces (give it to me, Monday morning and teach me) who rises from the already high average: 9
Amy Mc Donald. A curios thing
The second disc of this good Scottish singer insists the merits and, unfortunately, already known defects.
The advantages are represented by medium-high level of composition of Amy, you can not just say that his is a bad music and the compositions are poor.
The defects are represented by the tendency to monotony and monochromatic colors and musical accents. In fact, although he had a better production of the previous This is the life, the disc can not deviate from that model, and almost all the songs are built on the same set of agreements. Even the lyrics are quite similar to each other, to say there are three songs that start with O and are based dont want, dont see and similar metrics.
also lacks one of those songs that hit the listener, and that elevates the disc.
While the disc is not bad, I find it very fascinating, and I think Amy needs a turning point in his music, otherwise it will eventually become boring and be forgotten in a hurry.
rating 7
Katie Melua: The fourth disc of the House
British singer (do not know if you can call the Irish or English) of Georgian origin.
The disc marks a turning point, perhaps not entirely positive, but to appreciate. Indeed
Katie tries to deviate from that model of jazz / blues that had very soft characterized its beginnings, but the earlier CD was sent to a sound more pop / rock.
Here the music becomes much more modern look, with very complex arrangements (and a tad bit pretentious, if you want) and as a somewhat more pop. Mind you, this is a very elegant and classy pop, but always pop it, then hints of electronics, batteries, programmed synths and so on.
the result is noticeable in the middle, a few pieces such as The Flood are fascinating, others, unfortunately most people, are quite boring, albeit with some interesting elements.
However this shift is not complete, and fully half of the disc gives us a hand Katie at its best, the sound, and if at some time suffer from mannerisms (red ballons) other (I 'd love to kill you, A moment of madness, the cadences Central Europe up to the beautiful blues of The One I Love Is gone) Katie manages to touch a chord, that make you close your eyes and enjoy this beauty: 7.5
Sheryl Crow: 100 miles from Memphis
As you can tell from the title, the seventh disc study of American singer-songwriter confronts the tradition of Memphis, offering a mix of soul, blues and country. There are prestigious guests such as Keith Richards appearing in the reggae Eye to Eye, and covers of songs important as your sign name, but these are not the most successful things the hard indeed. The most successful is the assembly of a disk that is elegant and practical at the same time, with a very high level of composition and interpretation which reaches its apex in tracks like Summer's Day, Peaceful Feeling Sideways Stop and above, undoubtedly one of the Sheryl Crow's most beautiful songs ever.
It 'amazing how after so many years Sheryl manages to maintain a quality standard so high, and it is amazing how a record like that go unnoticed, not only on the charts, but between so-called experts, most interested in analyzing the yawns of some old rock star or hysterical scenes of some of the presumed Queen Not to mention that good pop music.
bad for them, for me is a 9 round one.
Paul Weller: Wake up the nation
Paul Weller, The Jam soul before the later of the Style Council is one of those old glories, like wine, improve with increasing age.
Here we have never been very popular and evaluation (one of the many injustices of pop music) but in his native Britain still is, to the point where squares are often topped the charts with records that have nothing to do with the classical music consumer. This is evidenced by this
Wake Up The Nation where Paul with the help of several prestigious guests, in just 40 minutes of music divided into ben 16 composizioni fa una summa di tutta la sua musica, non solo esplorando generi diversissimi tra di loro, ma addirittura divertendosi a mischiarli in modo imprevedibile e sempre gradevole.
Per cui oltre che composizioni che ben possiamo aspettarci da lui come Moonshine e Wake up the Nation, in stile The Jam, o il bellissimo Soul di Aim Igh, in stile Motown/Style council troviamo sorprendenti pezzi orchestrali come In Amsterdam, o pezzi di easy listening virati in acid rock, come Grasp & Still connect, tastiere ipnotiche che decorano un solido rock con tanto di coro gospel in Find the Torch, Burn the Plans, un vero capolavoro, fino a Tree , con un testo che esprime punti di vista diversi sul passare del tempo, ognuno con la sua musica, per cui polka, pop, punk, ragtime and gospel alternate.
Rock 60's, influenced psychedelic, soul, RnB, folk, avant-garde music, cabaret, electronic, all this and more can be found on this record, a truly amazing and beautiful record, proving that you can be experimental without being boring and conceited.
vote 9.5
Skunk Anansie: Wonderlustre
Skunk Anansie were a representative group of some 90 years of alternative rock, then you are Scioli to provide space for a solo career of singer Skin, Riformatisi have to press a record in 2009 before this Wonderlustre. I had not heard, but just because I trust some advice or anything, after listening to some previews, I decided to buy.
I would say that I have not regretted it at the time. In fact, the 12 tracks of Wonderlustre show us a group who may have missed the furore of the early (which is almost inevitable), but did not lose power or even, say, the clarity of composition. In short, a record that I like, that provides a good rock hard enough, but also smooth and refined at times, Only God Loves You, Like Too Much, My love will fall. You're too expensive, You saved me all the tracks are well structured that they can not leave us indifferent.
8.5
Manic Street Preachers: Postcards from a young man
I manics sono un gruppo che ho amato alla follia per diversi anni, poi pian piano l'amore è passato, ma è rimasto l'affetto, come in certe coppie.
Per cui, ogni volta che i tre fanno uscire un disco, non posso fare altro che comprarlo, speranzoso in un ritorno di fiamma. Diciamo che, seppure i vecchi tempi siano ormai alle spalle, e certi capolavori irripetibili, i MSP offrono sempre qualcosa di stimolante. Succede anche in quest'ulitmo lavoro. buona parte del disco, mostra il lato più pop dei MSP, con una forte presenza di tastiere, e sinceramente non riesce ad essere nè convincente né affascinante, pur denotando una ottima cura negli arrangiamenti, in quanto non riesce ad andare oltre l'esercizio di stile. Nella parte finale del disco però i MSP tornano a graffiare come ai bei tempi in pezzi come A Billion balconies facing the sun, o All We make is entertainment, amara presa di coscienza sulla realtà melliflua del rock.
Tanto basta per mantenere il mio affetto.
Voto 7-
Gustavo Cerati:Fuerza Natural
Cerati è un bravissimo chitarrista compositore cantante argentino, che con il gruppo dei Soda Stereo ha fatto la storia degli ultimi 20 anni del rock latinoamericano. Da noi è ben poco conosciuto, ed i pochi che lo conoscono, come il sottoscritto, lo hanno conosciuto per le sue collaborazioni con Shakira.
In questo ultimo disco, che spero non sia l'ultimo, Gustavo dà prova of its lifetime as a composer and guitarist, constructing songs that have a natural touch that makes them different from everything else: When one thinks of Latin music to a lot of things you think only tamarri or very committed (to the Inti-ilimani). there are also middle ground, intelligent and sensitive songs with a Latin soul and a heart that beats rock. This is the music of Gustavo Cerati
Unfortunately the clinical condition is very serious for months due to an aneurysm. Hopefully "rise el sol" and for him.
vote 9
Diane Birch: Bible belt
Nonso Newyokese much of this twenty-seven, except that it is his debut album, has an enchanting voice and composes songs che ci riportano indietro nella California degli anni 70, dolci ballate venate di soul e rithm and Blues.
Tutto il disco è di ottimo livello, forse qualche variazione musicale non guasterebbe, ma il si ascolta dalla prima all'ultima traccia senza stancarsi. Diventerà qualcuno, c'è da giurarci.
voto 9
Recuperati
Ho anche preso un po' di dischi "vecchi" e tra questi segnalo qualche perla: Big World di Joe Jackson, uno degli autori più raffinati e sottovalutati nella storia del rock, qui con un disco, uscito nel 1986 che è forse il suo capolavoro.
Non sono un patito del Metal, però Appetite for Destruction dei Guns and Roses è uno di quei dischi che Like regardless of personal preferences, as it is objectively a great record. Last of the indipendents
Finally, the Pretenders: I bought the collection (5 CDs for only 23 euros!) Is a gallery of rock ballads more beautiful than the last.
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