Swaay-ed

Currently Listening To: Pay My Rent - DNCE

Remember Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers? Well he has distanced himself from his bros and has his own pop group now, interestingly named DNCE. They recently released their first EP, a pleasant surprise with its funky, throwback pop feel.

SWAAY

Track List

1. Cake by the Ocean 

2. Pay My Rent

3. Toothbrush

4. Jinx

The EP only has four songs, but four is more than enough! 

The lead single, Cake by the Ocean, is a fun pop song with allusions to some....interesting times on the beach *wink wink nudge nudge*

Pay My Rent feels like it belongs in the 1990s, which is why I like it (I'm feeling old and I need something to remind me of my youth. DNCE really hits the spot with this track).

Toothbrush is my least favourite but it's all good, as far as pop music goes.

Last but not least, Jinx - I really love it! Refreshing, positive pop music. A breath of fresh air for the stale and polluted music scene of recent years.

All in all, Swaay deserves an 8.5 rating out of 10.

I hope they'll be able to keep up the momentum for their debut album (To be released in the near future, I pray!).

Wiped Out (With An Exclamation Mark)

Currently Listening To: Wiped Out! - The Neighbourhood

So this is the first time I'm actually listening to an album by The Neighborhood. Behold the cool black and white album cover:

Wiped Out!

Track List

1. A Moment of Silence

2. Prey

3. Cry Baby

4. Wiped Out!

5. The Beach

6. Daddy Issues

7. Baby Came Home 2 / Valentines

8. Greetings from California

9. Ferrari

10. Single

11. R.I.P. 2 My Youth

I'm not sure who they remind me of but there's definitely a familiar feel to their music.

I didn't listen to this California band's freshman effort so I can only judge by Wiped Out!. It's definitely not splendid, other bands of the similar genre have had better efforts, generally speaking. The album as a whole feels rather disjointed, but they do have a couple of nice songs. It'll be difficult for them to duplicate the runaway success of Sweater Weather, judging by the public's response so far.

Ratings: 7/10

Recommendations: Prey, Cry Baby, The Beach, Single, R.I.P. 2 My Youth

For a brilliant song from their first album, look no further than below:

The Original High

Currently Listening To: Original High - Adam Lambert

I can't believe this - it has been six years since Adam Lambert wowed the American Idol audience - and he is now back with his third album.

His last album, Trespassing, was released three years ago in 2012 (three years!!) so it's good to hear new music from him.

Trespassing

Adam looks so handsome on the album cover! ♥

Cover aside, I must say that I'm really impressed with The Original High. It's a good mixture of dance and pop, with just the slightest touch of the Glambert. Definitely his best album so far (and one of the best I've heard this year). It's an excellent year for music!

Tracklist:
1. Ghost Town
2. The Original High
3. Another Lonely Night
4. Underground
5. There I Said It
6. Rumors (ft. Tove Lo)
7. Evil in the Night
8. Lucy (ft. Brian May of Queen)
9. Things I Didn't Say
10. The Light
11. Heavy Fire

Ratings: 9/10
Recommendations; Ghost Town, The Original High, Another Lonely Night, Underground, Evil in the Night, Heavy Fire

Strange Trails

Currently Listening To: Fool For Love - Lord Huron 

I discovered Lord Huron from last year's Endless Love remake (for a romance movie, it wasn't that bad). A good discovery it was too, with Fleet Foxes being missing in action and all.

Now, Lord Huron is an American folk-indie band that deserves way more credit than the average American band. Sadly, their songs are way underrated and underplayed - even in America itself. Amazingly, Traxx.fm, our very own local radio station actually played their songs a few times. A step closer to exposure, I hope?

Anyways, they released their sophomore album Strange Trails a couple of months ago, but I've only just listened to it sooooo...here's an extremely delayed review of the album.

Track Listing:

01. Love Like Ghosts

02. Until The Night Turns

03. Dead Man's Hand

04. Hurricane (Johnnie's Theme) (2:46)

05. La Belle Fleur Sauvage

06. Fool For Love

07. The World Ender 

08. Meet Me In The Woods 

09. The Yawning Grave 

10. Frozen Pines 

11. Cursed 

12. Way Out There 

13. Louisa 

14. The Night We Met 

I really love the folksy, country feel of Strange Trails. Each and every song is carefully yet naturally crafted - which goes to show how talented they are actually. There is not a single bad song on the album and honestly, I don't have a favorite track in particular because the entire album itself is a masterpiece. It's just as good as their first album, Lonesome Dreams (released in 2012), which is something I've been listening to on a loop for more than a year.

It's hard to believe that both Lord Huron and Local Natives are LA based bands. I would have assumed that they're from smaller, less modern towns in America. They sound so unlike their peers, and I guess that's why they're so unknown.

Ratings: 9.5/10

Recommendations: La Belle Fleur Sauvage, Fool For Love, The World Ender, Meet Me in the Woods. The Yawning Grave.

Drones

Currently Listening To: Reaper - Muse

Muse released their 7th studio album, Drones, just a few days ago.

Drones

An extremely politically themed album, Drones is.

I've gotta say, the album is a lot better than 2012's The Second Law, which was a bit of a mix bag.

There's more variety in the music in Drones, where everything sounds a lot less theatrical and synthesized - and that's a good thing. 

One negative thing about the album this time are the lyrics. Too contrived and overly preachy about wars and shit. Luckily the music holds up, otherwise it would have been like the one-tone-disaster-that-was-the-resistance.

Track List:

1. Dead Inside
2. [Drill Sergeant]
3. Psycho
4. Mercy
5. Reapers
6. The Handler
7. [JFK]
8. Defector
9. Revolt
10. Aftermath
11. The Globalist (Ugh this is trying too hard to be a Bohemian Rhapsody)
12. Drones (And this sounds like a freaking church choir wtf)

(Take a look at all the song titles. It tells a story of revolution and its aftermath from the beginning to the end.)

Ratings; 8/10

Recommendations: Reapers, Defectors, Revolt, Aftermath.

To top it off, it looks like Muse will be topping the Billboard Top 200 for the first time ever. (Can't believe they've never  had a No.1 in the US before! Such a travesty!)

June has been a great month for music, what with Florence and the Machine reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts last week as well.

Other album releases I'm looking forward to this month:

2PM's No.5

Adam Lambert's Original High

Of Monsters and Men's Beneath the Skin

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Currently Listening To: Long & Lost - Florence + the Machine

It's been almost four years since Florence + the Machine's last album, Ceremonials.
I can't believe how fast time flies!
Feels like just yesterday it was released.
Anyway.
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is Florence Welch's third album, just released on 1st June.

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

So I'm thinking the album cover should have been blue, to fit with the theme and all but oh well, black and white will do. 

Although it's good to hear from Florence again, something about this album feels different.

Is it a bad kind of different? 

Well I wouldn't really say that but Blue (let's just call it Blue - the full title is just too long) is somehow less entrancing than Ceremonials and Lungs.

Still a good album though, with a few standouts.

Track List:

1. Ship To Wreck

2. What Kind of Man

3. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

4. Queen of Peace

5. Various Storms & Saints

6. Delilah

7. Long & Lost

8. Caught

9. Third Eye

10. St. Jude

11. Mother

Deluxe Edition Tracks:

12. Hiding

13. Make Up Your Mind

Rating: 8.5 / 10

Recommendations: Ship To Wreck, What Kind of Man, Queen of Peace, Long & Lost, Hiding

1989

Currently Listening To: Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

I've never been a big fan of Taylor Swift, but 1989's not a bad album (girl has strayed soooo far from her pseudo-country roots). Most of the songs on the album sounded like it came from the 80's, which is not really a good thing cos it makes the whole thing sound dated, samey and boring. There are a few standouts though.

1.   Welcome To New York
2.   Blank Space
3.   Style
4.   Out Of The Woods
5.   All You Had To Do Was Stay
6.   Shake It Off
7.   I Wish You Would
8.   Bad Blood
9.   Wildest Dreams
10. How You Get The Girl
11. This Love
12. I Know Places
13. Clean

Deluxe Edition Tracks

14. Wonderland
15. You Are In Love
16. New Romantics

Rating: 7/10
Recommendations: Blank Space, Style, Shake It Off, This  Love,  I Know Places, Clean.

Ultraviolence

Currently Listening To: Lana Del Rey - West Coast

Lana Del Rey's third studio album, Ultraviolence, is a psychedelic journey into the sultry singer's 70's soul. Well, that sounded pretentious, but it is what it is! I'm loving the album, I can't stop listening to it and it even plays in my head when I sleep. Obsessed I am! If you love indie-bluesy-jazzy-pop and none of that useless crap that plays on the radio, then Lana's album is perfect for you.

Track Listing

1. Cruel World

2. Ultraviolence

3. Shades of Cool

4. Brooklyn Baby

5. West Coast

6. Sad Girl

7. Pretty When You Cry

8. Money Power Glory

9. Fucked My Way Up to the Top

10. Old Money

11. The Other Woman

Deluxe Edition Tracks

12. Black Beauty

13. Guns and Roses

14. Florida Kilos

Rating: 9/10

Recommendations:

Cruel World, Ultraviolence, Shades of Cool, Brooklyn Baby, West Coast, Sad Girl, The Other Woman.

The 2nd Law

Currently Listening To: Muse - Animals

Hello all, it's been a while since I last posted anything here.
What better way to revive my blog than by reviewing a new Muse album?


The 2nd law
Odd name for an album. The 2nd Law. And so...what is the 1st Law?
Anyway, Muse is out with their 6th studio album and as usual, they sound like they're trying to be Queen. Not that far off the mark, I think. The problem with trying to sound like another band is that you'll always sound like a wannabe. So, the end effect is a strange mixture of Radiohead + Queen and really, I don't know what else to say about it. If I just heard any of the songs on the radio or something, I would have thought that it was Radiohead instead of, well, Muse. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I guess?

Tracklist

1. Supremacy
2. Madness
3. Panic Station
4. Prelude
5. Survival
6. Follow Me
7. Animals
8. Explorers
9. Big Freeze
10. Save Me
11. Liquid State
12. The 2nd Law: Unsustainable
13. The 2nd Law: Isolated System


Overall: 7.5/10
Recommendations: Supremacy, Madness  Explorers, Liquid State.

Better than The Resistance. The previous album was like one very long, boring song so it's good that they're trying out different styles and thus there is less...similarity among the tracks. There's a touch of U2 in there somewhere, and the last two songs remind me of Linkin Park too. It's like...amalgamation. Interesting album. Don't know if it's something I'd listen to repeatedly though.

Trespassing

Currently Listening To: Adam Lambert - Shady

First of all, congratulations to Adam Lambert for getting the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 with his second album Trespassing! It has been quite a while since a non-winner got a number one album, so good job Adam!

As for the album itself, I must say I'm quite impressed. I can't decide if it's better than For Your Entertainment, but it is definitely a good album.

Tracklisting

1. Trespassing

2. Cuckoo

3. Shady

4. Never Close Our Eyes

5. Kickin In

6. Naked Love

7. Pop That Lock

8. Better Than I Know Myself

9. Broken English

10. Underneath

11. Chokehold

12. Outlaws of Love

13. Runnin

14. Take Back

15. Nirvana

Most of the songs are ballads, and surprisingly I'm not particularly bothered about that? It's a good thing though, they're nice songs and some of them are even composed by Lambert himself. A job well done indeed, I'm so proud of him! <3

Overall: 8.5/10

Recommendations: Trespassing, Never Close Our Eyes, Shady, Pop That Lock, Underneath, Outlaws of Love, Runnin

Strangeland

Currently Listening To: Lana Del Rey - Born to Die

I've been waiting for Keane's fourth studio album Strangeland for some time now, and it is finally out today - 7th May. I heard the little snippets of their tracks a few weeks ago and was quite impressed, but now that I'm done with the whole album...I don't really know how I feel about it? I mean, it's an okay album but somehow something is missing. There are a few great tracks in the album though. Personally I love Sea Fog and The Starting Line, those two songs are reminiscent of the early Keane. The rest of it is just so-so, the studio version of Disconnected is pretty awesome, and lead single Silenced by the Night is good as well. Unfortunately, the additional tracks for the Deluxe version are just...too eighties, especially The Boys. When I first saw the title, my mind immediately went to the Girls Generation song instead so yeah, not very impressed. The song itself is pretty um, unimpressive as well. Too cheesy 80s pop.

Track Listing
1. You Are Young
2. Silenced by the Night
3. Disconnected
4. Watch How You Go
5. Sovereign Light Café
6. On the Road
7. The Starting Line
8. Black Rain
9. Neon River
10. Day Will Come
11. In Your Own Time
12. Sea Fog

Additional Tracks:

13. Strangeland
14. Run with Me
15. The Boys
16. It's Not True

Overall: 7/10
Standouts: Sea Fog (beautiful song), The Starting Line, Silenced by the Night, You Are Young, Watch How You Go.


I guess the album didn't quite live up to my expectations. I was really expecting something mind-blowing, like Helplessness Blues. My favourite Keane album as of now is still Under the Iron Sea.

Now excuse me while I go listen to more MBLAQ.

Stronger Than Ever

Currently Listening To: Kelly Clarkson - Mr. Know It All

I know, I've completely forgotten about reviewing Kelly Clarkson's latest album but after several months, I finally remembered to listen the album so here it goes.


Stronger - Deluxe Edition

Even after 11 seasons, Kelly is still the best American Idol and I think this album more or less proves it. I've never actually listened to her previous albums, only her released singles, so I must say I am pretty impressed with Stronger. It's a solid album, and most of the songs are really pleasant to listen to. If you love Kelly Clarkson, then you will definitely love this album. It's a great pop album, much better than a lot of stuff out there right now.

Track Listing for Deluxe Edition
01. Mr. Know It All (3:53)
02. Stronger (3:42)
03. Dark Side (3:45)
04. Honestly (3:36)
05. You Love Me (4:04)
06. Einstein (2:59)
07. Standing In Front Of You (3:59)
08. I Forgive You (3:04)
09. Hello (3:00)
10. The War Is Over (3:57)
11. Let Me Down (3:24)
12. You Can't Win (4:20)
13. Breaking Your Own Heart (3:49)
14. Don t You Wanna Stay (4:20)
15. Alone (3:01)
16. Don't Be A Girl About It (3:27)
17. The Sun Will Rise (3:33)

Overall: 8.5/10
Highlights: Mr. Know It All, Stronger, Honestly

As for American Idol, I will be blogging about it once they reach the Hollywood rounds. The auditions this year are slightly less eccentric, with more promising contestants so hopefully it'll be a good season.

On a side note...I've succumbed to the Hallyu Wave *waves K-pop banner meekly*
2PM fever still raging high, and of course I went to see F.T. Island live in Kuala Lumpur! That was a great concert by the way, Lee Hong Ki sounds excellent live and the other band members are amazingly talented!

Ceremonials

Currently Listening To: Florence + the Machine - What The Water Gave Me

31st October '11: Florence + the Machine's second album Ceremonials is released!

Sorry but I'm so skipping Kelly's Stronger, reviewing Ceremonials first.




Track Listing
1. Only If For A Night
2. Shake It Out
3. What The Water Gave Me
4. Never Let Me Go
5. Breaking Down
6. Lover To Lover
7. No Light, No Light
8. Seven Devils
9. Heartlines
10. Spectrum
11. All This And Heaven Too
12. Leave My Body

Bonus tracks:
13. Remain Nameless
14. Strangeness And Charm
15. Bedroom Hymns
16. What The Water Gave Me (Demo)
17. Landscape (Demo)
18. Heartlines (Acoustic)
19. Shake It Out (Acoustic)
20. Breaking Down (Acoustic)

Nice album cover, but not as interesting as Mylo Xyloto's cover design. The songs however, sound a lot better than Mylo Xyloto! Love love love her voice, definitely one of the more unique voices in the music industry now.

Ceremonials does not disappoint, Florence Welch has produced a very haunting album indeed, with some very well-crafted songs, but is it better than Lungs/Between Two Lungs? I really can't say that it is, mostly because I find the songs from both albums very ethereal and dramatic, which is something that I'm fond of.

To sum it up, I think she did a great job on her sophomore album, so all hail Florence Welch! *worships*

Overall: Must listen if you love indie-folk music! 9/10
Recommended: Shake It Out, What The Water Gave Me, Never Let Me Go, Spectrum, Leave My Body, Strangeness and Charm, Heartlines (Acoustic version)

Coming up (for real this time): Kelly Clarkson's Stronger

P.S: Oh i forgot - Happy Halloween y'all.

Mylo Xyloto

Currently Listening To: Coldplay - Princess of China

Newly released, Coldplay's 5th studio album Mylo Xyloto.



Track Listing
1. Mylo Xyloto
2. Hurts Like Heaven
3. Paradise
4. Charlie Brown
5. Us Against The World
6. M.M.I.X.
7. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall
8. Major Minus
9. UFO
10. Princess of China
11. Up in Flames
12. A Hopeful Transmission
13. Don't Let It Break Your Heart
14. Up With The Birds

Another cool album cover. The album has 14 tracks but it's only about 44 minutes long, with 3 songs lasting for like, only 30 seconds each. I see they took a leaf out of Linkin Park's odd intermissions from A Thousand Suns O.o

Anyway, who would have thunk it, I was pretty excited for Mylo Xyloto after listening to Paradise. Was really disappointed with their last album, so I had high hopes for this one.

So how do I feel after listening to all the 14 songs? Mixed feelings I guess. Mylo Xyloto is like Coldplay + Keane's synths. Every Teardrop is very cheesy but not too bad after a few listens, while Us Against the World (there's a Westlife song with the same title I believe) is just very tedious. It's the Fix You of this album, so naturally I can't stand the song. Some of the other songs have really strange beats, like Up In Flames, which btw, reminds me of one of Keane's B-sides...

Frankly speaking, I think this album has shades of Perfect Symmetry in it, you know, that sort of 80s synth feel. Only a few songs remind me of the typical Coldplay song, the rest of it is like a mixture of various different bands. It is more X&Y than Viva La Vida, don't know if that's a good direction or not, but I definitely dig Mylo more than Vida.

Overall: 7/10 (FINALLY a Coldplay album that doesn't leave a sour taste in my head)
Recommended: Paradise, Hurts Like Heaven, Major Minus, Princess of China, Don't Let It Break Your Heart.

Coming up: Kelly Clarkson's Stronger.

P.S: Keaneofficial.com is having this really weird contest right now. I'm super excited to see updates about the upcoming Keane album!

Evanescence (2011)

Currently Listening To: Evanescence - Whisper

Wow, their last album was released like, five years ago. I'll have to admit that I was pretty excited when I heard about this album. So glad to see them at the number 1 spot on the Billboard Charts!



01. What You Want
02. Made of Stone
03. The Change
04. My Heart is Broken
05. The Other Side
06. Erase This
07. Lost in Paradise
08. Sick
09. End of the Dream
10. Oceans
11. Never Go Back
12. Swimming Home

Love the album cover, it's so royaldarkness =P I think the songs are pretty solid, still very Evanescence-ish. The only problem is most of the songs sound the same. I guess they could have added a little more variety? Anyway, it's still a decent album so do listen to it if you're an Evanescence fan!

Overall: 8/10
Recommended: My Heart is Broken, Lost in Paradise, Made of Stone, End of the Dream

Waiting impatiently for Florence + the Machine's second album and Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto next. (Finally something for me to write about. Blog revival FTW!)

Helplessness Blues

Currently Listening To: Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean

I think I'm in love with Fleet Foxes now.

There's just something about their songs. Very haunting.

Thanks to Grizzly Bear, I've become a fan of indie folk music, and also Fleet Foxes. I can't remember how I discovered them, but it is definitely a good discovery. I loved the songs from their self-titled first album and the Sun Giant EP - lovely songs with meaningful lyrics and the wonderful harmonization of their voices. Not to mention the haunting, lilting melodies of their songs.

Anyway, their second album Helplessness Blues just came out today and I've just finished listening to it.



Track Listing:
01. Montezuma
02. Bedouin Dress
03. Sim Sala Bim
04. Battery Kinzie
05. The Plains / Bitter Dancer
06. Helplessness Blues
07. The Cascades
08. Lorelai
09. Someone You’d Admire
10. The Shrine / An Argument
11. Blue Spotted Tail
12. Grown Ocean

As far as I'm concerned, it's a beautiful album. Loved most of the songs. Without a doubt it's the best album I've listened to so far in 2011. Lykke Li's Wounded Rhymes is a close second (I will be reviewing that later).

Ratings: 9/10
Recommendations: Bedouin Dress, Sim Sala Bim, Lorelai, The Shrine/An Argument, Grown Ocean

21

Currently Listening To: Adele - Rumour Has It

I suppose Adele wrote this album two years ago?
Cos I'm turning 23 today, and we're the same age XD

So I'm not exactly a fan of Adele but I did like some of the songs from her previous album.I was all for Duffy when they were both nominated for the Grammy's a few years back, and was quite upset when Adele won but now I kinda sorta understand why she had won instead. Honestly, Adele's sophomore album is a lot better than Duffy's. Was completely and absolutely turned off by Duffy's nasally Well Well Well. It was so terrible I couldn't bring myself to listen to her new album. (I don't even know the name of the album!)

Anyway going back to Adele, I'm still not a big fan but 21 is a pretty good album. Mostly ballads with a few upbeat songs, such as Rolling in the Deep (the first single) and Rumour Has It (my personal favourite).



Tracklisting
1. Rolling in the Deep
2. Rumour Has It
3. Turning Tables
4. Don't You Remember
5. Set Fire to the Rain
6. He Won't Go
7. Take It All
8. I'll Be Waiting
9. One and Only
10. Love Song
11. Someone Like You

Overall: Pleasant album, not really my kind of music but still nice to listen to. 8/10.
Recommendations: Rolling in the Deep, Rumour Has It, Set Fire to the Rain, Someone Like You.

Introducing Mt. Desolation

Currently Listening To: Mt. Desolation - Bridal Gown

Initially I wasn't planning to listen to Mt. Desolation, since they classified themselves as 'alt-country', but after hearing their single State of Our Affairs I guess I changed my mind.

After all, Mt. Desolation is the brainchild of Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quin from (my favourite band ever!) Keane so I should give them a chance, right? Well I'm glad I did cos their debut album is actually pretty decent for 'alt-country'. I can't stand wannabe-country music (blergh Taylor Swift), so I guess I should say that I'm quite impressed with the Keane boys! I mean, Keane doing country is just odd on so many levels. Strangely enough it works.

Not to worry, the band is made up of more than just the two of them. Members of The Killers, Noah and the Whale, Mumford and Sons and The Staves provide Mt. Desolation with their backing band, and there are other backup singers too (including Jesse's mother!).



I really wouldn't say that they sound very country, safe for a few songs but it's close enough with only slight hints of Keane-ish music. All of the songs in the album are composed by Tim and Jesse, so good job guys.

If you're not a country music fan, stay away from this album. If you're a diehard Keane fan, then go ahead and give it a listen. It's interesting to see them doing something different for a change.

One more thing - Tim should leave the singing to Tom Chaplin and Jesse. It's not that he sounds bad, it's just...well Tom and Jesse are the better singers. I was watching some live videos of Keane's recently completed tour to the USA and Tom is just amazing! That man has a wonderful voice with a great range and a lovely falsetto, and I really hope that one day I'll get a chance to see them live.

I can now happily cross out Adam Lambert from my 'Must See Live' list, and now the only one remaining is Tom Chaplin - both of them are my favourite male singers ever.

Overall: A much better side project than say, Chester Bennington's Dead by Sunrise or Mike Shinoda's Fort Minor, despite the fact that it's COUNTRY music. 8/10
Recommendations: State of Our Affairs, Bitter Pill, Bridal Gown, Another Night on My Side.

A Thousand Suns

Currently Listening To: Florence and the Machine - Dog Days Are Over

I used to be such a big fan of Linkin Park, so I am very shocked to discover that they've just not-that-recently released a new single, and their fourth studio album is actually out TODAY. I mean, I only found out about their single while watching the VMAs earlier, where they performed The Catalyst. As for the album, well, Google's my best friend.


What a cover? No album title, no band name...?

Anyway, I've just finished listening to the album and...wow. It is very...underwhelming. It's a bit better than Minutes to Midnight I suppose but I don't know. At any rate I am not impressed. Three years ago, I gave Minutes to Midnight a fairly bad review. I rated it 3.5/5 back then, but you know what, I have not listened that album ever since...well, 2007. If you were to ask me right now how I would rate Midnight, I'd gladly give it a 1/5. There are a few nice songs in there but I really dislike that album in general. In fact, I think it's one of the worse albums I've heard in the past three years or so. I still listen to Hybrid Theory and Meteora occasionally, but Midnight is a big no no.

Now, A Thousand Suns, I really have no idea how it got 5 out of 5 star reviews. It may not be a bad album but it definitely does not deserve a full star rating. I don't see what's so artistic about it, to me it's like random melodies and lyrics. I can't even judge the songs individually cause everything sounds the same! Not to mention all those random ridiculous interludes/instrumentals. What's up with that? There are about 5 or 6 of them, and they serve no purpose as far anyone can see.

Seriously, I can safely proclaim that I am not really a fan of Linkin Park anymore. I still love their older songs, but their new music is just no longer appealing to me.

Overall: 3/10, I will definitely not listen to this all over again.
Recommended: Iridescent, The Catalyst...and that's about it?

P.S.: Florence and the Machine's performance at the VMAs was totally awesome! I've never really listened to her songs before, but I'll definitely try it out now.

Aphrodite

Currently Listening To: Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

First blog entry for July!
It has been a while since I've reviewed any music, so I thought I'd start things off for July with a review of Kylie Minogue's new album Aphrodite.

I don't think I've mentioned this to anyone before but I'm actually a fan of Kylie. Unexpected? Haha.

Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

Anyway, before I left for my KL trip I listened to the album and I must say I really enjoyed it. Much better than her previous album, X. Also, I was seriously delighted when I found out that one of the tracks on her album was written by Keane's Tim Rice-Oxley. More reason for me to love Kylie and Keane!

If you're looking for fun pop songs, Aphrodite's the album for you. It's mostly dance/electro pop stuff - very typical of Kylie, and that is why it works so well. She isn't trying too hard to be someone different (Xtina anyone?) or aiming to shock audiences (ahem Gaga).

Overall: A great album, in my opinion. 8/10
Recommended Tracks: All The Lovers, Get Outta My Way, Aphrodite.

~*~

SPAIN won the 2010 World Cup!

I can't even begin to tell you how nervous I was when the finals kicked off. Watched it at my uncle's in KL at 2.30am Monday night. Can't say that the actual match was exciting, cos it wasn't, but it sure was intense. I was watching with such intensity, my mum actually asked me 'Why the hell are you so tensed?' (AND YES my mum watched the second half of the match!). And when they won, I was absolutely delighted! In fact, I'm still excited now, two days after the finals! I was really impressed with the Spain squad, I've been supporting them all this while without watching them play.

Although I've been a supporter of both Germany and Spain since the start of the world cup, I was secretly rooting for Spain more cos they've never won the cup before. And after watching the Spain vs Germany match, I was sold - Spain all the way! I feel really bad about Fernando Torres though, I'm a huge fan of his (bahahaha not just for his looks, or the fact that he plays for Liverpool) and to see him play so half-heartedly and then getting that injury...ouch =( Here's hoping he'll recover soon AND that he'll stay at Liverpool FC...if he leaves I think Liverpool's screwed. At any rate, I'll be a Torres fan no matter where he goes...

A few hours later...

I think my obsession with Fernando Torres just went up about two notches, after watching vids of his amazing goals. Sobs, please recover well! You can't let all that talent go to waste!

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My results came out last night, and I'm proud to announce that I've passed all the four subjects, including a distinction for Entrepreneurship! That was unexpected, I had been afraid of not doing well for the assignments. And not surprisingly, Strategic Management was my worst subject, but at least I got more than just a Pass for that! Congrats to me =D

On a side note, I finally found Diana Wynne Jones' Year of the Griffin in Kinokuniya after searching around for it in other shops for...two years? I did see the book two years ago, when I was at Kinokuniya, but the only copy they had then was in terrible condition. Thank god they had a new copy in stock this time around!