X&Y - Coldplay

X&Y is Coldplay's 3rd album, released in 2005. Following a similar formula to the first 2 albums, the multi-award winning 'Parachutes' and 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head', the band stick to what they do best: mellow, yet at the same time ever catchy pop. Coldplay are at their best when playing it simple. 'What If'' builds from an average verse into an instantly rememberable chorus, keeping its main hook of 'Ooh, that's right' playing over again and again in the listeners head for hours after listening. The next track 'White Shadows' takes an opposite stance in that its far more upbeat than the first few songs on the album, yet in this case a catchy verse leads to a far less exciting chorus. 'Fix You' sees the band dip into their cliché of 'sleep music' and the song itself is rather dull until the last minute and a half ('tears stream down your face' again sticking to the simple lyrics hook idea). 'Talk' is the highlight of the album, again sticking in the listeners mind with its catchy guitar riff, supplemented by Martin's ever thought-provoking lyrics. 'Speed Of Sound' is another highlight as Martin provides us with yet another pop classic. Longer than it's predecessors, at 13 tracks the album begins to wear thin towards the end as the band pull out more repetetive and uninspired songs on the album, 'A Message', 'Low' and 'The Hardest Part'. However, in 'Swallowed By The Sea' the simplicity again shines through to bring one of the better songs from the second half of the album, whilst 'Til Kingdom Comes' brings in a stripped-down U2 sound that hints at the bands future direction. 'Sleep music' they may continue to be, but with the wit and likeability in Martin's lyrics continuing to improve, Coldplay will continue to be one of the nationss most popular bands for a while to come.



Overall Rating: 7.5/10



Top Tracks:

What If
White Shadows
Talk
Speed Of Sound
Swallowed By The Sea

The Fame - Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has been causing a major buzz on the music scene. 'Just Dance' has been number one in 6 countries and has received platinum status in 5. Now releasing her album 'The Fame' is she ready to take over the pop scene that seems to be full of reality TV contestants?


Its safe to say the album is definelty for the clubs. Pratically every track is about being rich and getting 'crunk' in clubs. So I guess we know what direction she's going for hear. It's the kind of music that Paris Hilton will love and shout 'that's hot' at every track, maybe it has to do with their high school since they went to the same one, but who knows. Nevertheless, this isn't an 'amazing album', lyrically she gets boring and just random. What kind of lyrics has 'No he can't read my poker face(She's got to love nobody)', it makes no sense! She seems to be talking about rich girl's lifestyle and how it rocks because all they do is go clubbing and chace after boys. Hmm, so I guess universal appeal for this album is crossed out.

One positive about this album is the background tracks, which what got me interested into listening to this album since I heard 'Just Dance'. She does mix a lot of genres together with electro being the primary one. And in most occasions, it works, Gaga really knows how to get an addictive beat from the keyboards and it makes the songs more tolerable to listen to. 'Paper Gangsta' has a really cool beat to with a very futuristic sound to it, 'Summerboy' has cool guitar riff to it which gives a nice rock edge to the album, whilst still making it an interesting dance tune. 'Boys Boys Boys' is a very sexy song, her vocals really much the sound, but the words doesn't sound as fresh as her tunes does.

In conclusion, well, the tracks music are great, but her lyrics really affects the album in a negative way. Only girls who are rich and wishing to be rich at all costs would like this albums in it entirety, for the rest, you kinda wish Gaga just made a dance instrumental album without the lyrics. She needs a lot of work, which can be done if she focuses on her improving her lyrics, maintaining her fresh dance sound and doesn't get stigmatised as a party girl (which she has already shown signs of just by hanging out with Paris Hilton earlier this week). In all honesty I think Gaga can become a well acomplished dance act and here's hoping she does :)
Overall Rating: 6/10

Top Tracks:

Just dance
Summerboy
Paper gangsta
Money honey

Pretty. Odd. - Panic At The Disco

Pretty. Odd. - Panic At The Disco

After nearly 2 years of post-album touring, Panic At The Disco were due a follow up to their 2005 debut 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' and for long-term fans of the emo pioneers, the result is quite surreal. The Las Vegas quartet have near ditched the eyeliner and have begun a distinctive second phase of their career, in which they live out their fantasy of producing a psychedelic stroll into a world where the music may be more suited to their parents generation than that of their mostly teen fans. Opener 'We're So Starving' sets the scene for the rest of the album, with an extremely catchy guitar riff and repeatable lyrics as the band simply appear to be enjoying themselves and their music. Nine In The Afternoon is the clear first single on the album and brings in the main idea of basically being happy with the world you live in and enjoying it whilst in the prime of life. Urie and Ross move the album along with their idyllic lyricsm, in the process creating an endlessly listenable album, open to a much wider market perhaps than their previous efforts. However, the album is not without fault. I Have Friends In Holy Spaces is a let down after the exquisite first 5 tracks, although the next track more than makes up for it. Northern Downpour, probably the most likeable song on the album is the first to bring in a more melancholy sound on the album, although the melodic, sing along factor is not lost. As the song builds into it's multi-layered crescendo the listener is left wanting more and more. Eastern strings influenced When The Day Met The Night is bound to draw the most Beatles comparisons (particularly with the Sgt. Peppers album) and again hints at a poppier direction for the band. The album doesn't quite manage to scale the same heights again, save Behind The Sea which culminates in a seaside baroque singalong, much in the style of 'Night At The Opera' era Queen, only with less noise. The only real lesser track on the album is Folkin' Around, but this is not at all disastrous. It awaits to be seen if the band will decide to change style once again in the future, or stick to this winning formula created by Brendon Urie and co. Whatever happens, if they continue to produce albums with the quality shown in Pretty. Odd., Panic At The Disco have the potential to compete with American-rock giants such as Kings Of Leon and Foo Fighters and really create an impact on the modern pop rock scene.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Top Tracks:

She's A Handsome Woman
Do You Know What I'm Seeing?
That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)
Northern Downpour [5* Track]
When The Day Met The Night [5* Track]
Behind The Sea