Coldplay - Ghost Stories

Hello!

A quick message before I begin just to say I have snazzy new follow and share buttons for all you lovely people! The top right are my accounts to follow me on and the ones on the left are to share with Facebook, Twitter and email if you loved a post that much!

So, as the title says, yes I will be reviewing the new album by Coldplay that came out today. I understand that some of you are not fans of Coldplay and that's fine. I'm not expecting everyone to like them, but this is my blog and I review bands I enjoying listening to. You never know, this review may help you change your mind! Enjoy!

Now the first thing that strikes out to me when I've heard maybe 3 or 4 songs into the record is the fact that, once again, this is very different from the last album. This is one of the reasons why I like Coldplay is because they have changed their style on each album lately. 

For example: 

Viva La Vida - renaissance time period

Myolo Xyloto - colourful and fun

Ghost Stories - chilled and mature

Most bands I have come across seem to have the same vibe throughout their albums, but I find that Coldplay do change it up. Though they do keep their same set up and sound, there is always a different element. This album has a haunting and mystical sound to it that is a nice change from their older work, relaxing to listen to and a chance to really hear what is going on in their musical productions. One major element that is missing from this album that was on previous is Will Champion (drummer) not smashing the living daylights out of a drum kit, which is a nice change for this record.

This album takes the sound from 'Myolo Xyloto', puts it to bed and sings it a lullaby. The elements are there for a great album, sounds fantastic, some nice tones and you know you're getting a decent album with Coldplay. Though for me I do get a little hypocritical when the drummer isn't playing a proper drum kit, but that's probably me being old fashioned.

The songs that stand out for me are of course the singles which are "Magic", "Midnight" and "A Sky Full Of Stars". These three are the strongest songs, with "A Sky Full Of Stars" really standing out from the crowd, but this is the only up-beat song which is heading back to their old album. The others that I have really enjoyed listening to are "Ink" and "Always In My Head".

The last song which is strangely called "O" starts off beautifully. I love Chris' piano skills, very gentle on the keys and it was adding some nice elements like the bass at one point. Its a fantastic way to finish off a great album, taking it down, letting know the listener that the album is coming to an end. 

I think to some, this album is very different to their last and this probably won't be everyone's cup of tea. Me personally, I really like the album, a very well produced and clever album that I could happily sit at night and relax to. The news from when I type this is that this album is already #1 in 72 different countries which is astonishing! It can be difficult trying to make an album for everyone to enjoy, but its their music and they decided to make it how it is.

Whilst I've been listening to this album (as I do when I write my blogs about the artist) I was thinking how would all this be portrayed live in front of 60,000 people. The last album was perfect for stadiums across the world, thousands jumping around and having a fantastic time. Unless they take away some of the low key songs they already have in their set, this could be a problem. 

This mellow, low key album I feel isn't one of their greatest albums, but has promise and still brings forward the character and grace that Coldplay pursue. The more I listen to this record, the more treasures I start to find and really enjoy about each song on this album. Ghost Stories is available from today (19th May 2014) and available pretty much everywhere!

Thanks for reading and until next time. 

Lewis :)

Website - http://www.coldplay.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/coldplay/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/coldplay

Z-Star 16 Tons EP + Live Review

Hello!

Today I will be talking about a fantastic band I discovered at the Brighton Fringe festival on Saturday. The name, Z-Star, the game, to create some powerful blues/rock music.

Before I get into the review I'd like to say that female blues singers are really shining through at the moment. I have discovered more female singers that have really impressed me than male of late. The people I'm talking about are Beth Hart (she'll be coming to this blog soon), Colleen Rennison (from the band No Sinner, check out the review) and then we have Zee Gachette, the singer for Z-Star for whom is one to watch out for!

On with the review!

EP Review:

So, Z-Star are definitely a band that are making music that sounds very exciting. Zee's singing is incredible in these songs, its nice to hear a singer really push their voices to the limit. On the record it sounds like she is performing in the EP instead of just singing for the record, so confident and always pushing the boundaries. 


The song '16 Tons of Love' is definitely the strongest song on the album, driving bass and drums accompanied by the guitar for the riff.  The structure to the song keeps you motivated till the end. The drums do a great job of splitting the verses and chorus' apart with the use of toms for the verse. It also accompanies the low bass line to make the verse a very solid introduction to the song and throughout. 

'The Good Woman' tones it down from the hard driving lines in 16 Tons, but has very clever sections to this song. From the word go it sounds like a very heavy song, but tones down to a funk/blues song with Zee's vocals really shining through on this song. Even with a section that is completely different to the song can assure you that this band mean business! 

All of the structures in the songs are really well laid out and studied to keep the listener entertained throughout. Although from time to time I come across a new band and their songs have hope, but its very 'samey'. This band are different which is half the reason why I am making this blog. 
Now let me move onto their live performance where I saw the band for the first time. 


Live Review:

I was volunteering for The Great Escape festival and I was given a few hours just to have a look around at some of the acts and as I was walking along New Road in Brighton, I could hear someone cranking a guitar up and it sounded exciting so I couldn't resist. I was given a flyer and one review said "one blues/rock band to watch out for", being a blues lover anyway, I was pretty sold to watching these guys. 

From the first 2 songs, I knew this band were fantastic. So much energy to provide and give to the audience. Zee's performance skills are through the roof, she was a born entertainer. The confidence that comes from everyone in that band makes them hard to not look away from. Everyone is moving about, communicating, interacting with the audience and just having a damn good time which is what everyone wants to see. 

If you think Zee's singing only sounds good on the record, you are wrong. If anything it sounds better live, pushing more limits and boundaries and setting the bar for this band very high. 

I'm not sure if the guitarist is different from the EP to the performance because he seemed to be a lot more confident live with his solo's. In some ways he was giving it more than 100% on the performance because I noticed after the first song his whole palm of his hand was bleeding!? Rock and roll man! 

Z-Star at The Brighton Fringe

If you ever get the chance to see this band live, then go check them out as this is definitely a band I would love to see again. They were only on for 45 minutes, but their performance has still stuck with me. 

Thank you for taking your time once again to read my blogs, it is always greatly appreciated.

Until next time!

Lewis :)

Website: http://www.zstarmusic.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zstarmusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZSTARMUSIC

Youngblood Brass Band - Ain't Nobody

Hello!

Today I will be telling you all about a fantastic group called 'Youngblood Brass Band'. This little quote from their website sums up their music in such a great way, its better than how I could describe them!

"Youngblood Brass band, taking the form of a New Orleans brass band and morphing it into a punked-out hip-hop behemoth of groove and purpose". 

Yeah...that's about right! These guys have brought brass bands into the 21st Century with some outstanding work from their EP 'Ain't Nobody'. The album 'Pax Volumi' is available now, but I wanted to focus on the EP as the songs they have taken from the album are the three best songs to sum this band up.

So, what does the band consist of?

Well, its 2 trombonists, 2 trumpeters, 2 saxophonists, 3 drummers, 1 vocalist and 1 sousaphone player! Sounds tasty!

Starting out in high school in 1995, the band was formed making their first album in the same year. Though the Youngblood name wasn't founded until 1998, these guys are a force to be reckoned with! They mean serious business and have been accoladed for their work over the past 15 years, but are now taking things to the next level with their latest album. 

Signing to Tru-Thoughts for the first album in 5 years, in 2013 they released 'Pax Volumi' which certainly packs a punch. I found out about this band through my internship at Tru-Thoughts and was blown away by the standard these guys are at. This is half the reason I am doing this blog is because they deserve so much credit for the sound they're producing!

From the EP, the track "The Plank Will Nod, And You Will Go" is my personal favourite. There are so many different genre's going on in it and definitely blows you away with the sheer noise that they produce at the beginning. There is a rapping section and with the type of drum beat its being turned into an R&B song, but in the background you can hear the brass section reminding the audience this is still all about the brass! High tempo, high energy. Pure joy to listen to and making me want to hit that damn replay button!

Its fantastic for a band to blend these types of genres together, it works so well! The drumming is ridiculous and such a pleasure to listen to. The 3 drummers work together in unison in such an indescribable way. They break apart a kit, there is at least one guy playing the bass drum patterns, one snare and hit-hat, the other the same but with the cymbals. Incredible. 

The other tracks on this EP are called "Ain't Nobody", which a clever cover of the Chaka Khan song to give it that boppy edge. The other songs are "E La E" and an instrumental version of "The Plank Will Nod, And You Will Go". The instrumental is recommended with headphones to really listen to each part of the brass section. A very clever set up and structure for each instrument and this was definitely a brilliant move by them. 

Listening to this high octane energy is giving me massive cravings to see what they are like live as I'd imagine it is certainly a spectacle! Go have a listen to their work to understand where I am coming from! I don't think I have been more excited to see a brass band in my life! 

So go check this brilliant brass band to have your socks knocked off! 

Thank you very much for reading.

Lewis :)

Website: http://youngbloodbrassband.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youngbloodbrassband

Twitter: https://twitter.com/youngbloodbrass


Shout-out to everyone at Tru-Thoughts as well! :)