I haven't done a new music post in some time. Mainly because when I find music I like I will play it to death, I will learn all the words, ad libs and if required, signature arm movements - so there wasn't much new music around. However, recently I have allowed new music in to my life. Now let me give a quick pre-warning - this won't all be new 2015 music, some of it is actually decades old. So lets go.
The star of my teenage dreams finally released a new album! We only had to wait eight years, but it was worth it. The album is filled with pop juice mixed with some club beats and a dash of indie thrown in for good measure. Particular favourites would include 'Night Like This', 'Confetti' and 'Sparks'. For all you fact hunters, Ed Sheeran wrote a song for Hilary, it is called 'Tattoo' and it's beautiful.
Nina Simone was always one of those artists for me that I knew was there but I never gave her a listen. She had so many classics that some people may not even know it was her, I know I didn't. Then one day last week I was looking for something new to watch on Netflix, I really wanted to watch a documentary but didn't mind the content. And there it was - 'What Happened Miss Simone?', I clicked on it and never looked back. She had such a fascinating life, highs and lows, a true trailblazer with a complicated story. The best part for me was the soundtrack, it introduced me to so many songs I now hold dear. Particular favourites are 'Don't let me be misunderstood' and 'Ain't got no - I got life'. She wrote and sang with such passion and purpose, she is a legend for a reason.
I have a deep love and respect for the girl bands of the world. So many have come and gone so I constantly have to look for my next fix - step forward Fifth Harmony. They have been on my radar for some time but this year is definitely their year. I am so happy that the UK gave them their highest chart entry anywhere in the world with 'Worth It'. They are fun, and what is wrong with that? We have people in this world that need their music to be taken seriously. I ask them why? Can't we just dance, sing some simple lyrics and live the dream for a minute or two. This album is full of pop, R'n'B, Hip Hop and slap your mother powerful vocals. Skip to 'Bo$$', 'Worth it', 'Like Mariah' and 'Brave Honest Beautiful'.
It does seem that as soon as a season of "RuPaul's Drag Race' ends we get an ensue of Drag Queen albums. Some are forgettable but some stand out. Fan favourite Alaska Thunderfuck 3000 is one of them, this album doesn't feel rushed. It seems like time was taken to complete a vision, she should be insanely proud of this. Yes, it is filled with sexual lyrics, may make some people uncomfortable - but to love Alaska is to love her personality. Her album is called 'Anus' for god's sake - you can't be shocked at the content. Personal favourites are of course 'Your makeup is terrible' and 'Hieee'.
I found myself wondering where the hell Mike Posner was a while back. He sang 'Cooler than me' and a verse on Cher Lloyd's 'With Ur Love' and then nothing else seemed to happen. Then one day I was scrolling through Perezhilton.com and who do I see, Mr Posner himself. He has released an EP called 'The Truth' and my days does he tell the truth - starting with the single 'I Took a Pill in Ibiza'. It is an honest story about his time at the top and the demise as he found himself living in his own shadow. It is heartbreakingly sad. However there is an uplifting tune by the name of 'Be As You Are'. I find this refreshing as you will rarely hear this type of song sang by a male. It is beautiful, and be warned it will make you want to hug your mother.
After the major success of 'King', Years and Years had a lot to live up to. And in my non-professional opinion they did. This album isn't filled with club anthems, there is a lot of heart. Just listen to the lyrics of certain songs. I love this album, I feel as though Ellie Goulding could sing any of these songs and I wouldn't be mad about that at all. Particular favourites include 'Ready For You', 'Shine' and 'Without'. Olly Alexander's voice knocks me out.
I am seriously in love with this girl's voice. Take a bit of Cher Lloyd and pour Ellie Goulding over it and you might get a sense of what her voice sounds like. Her songs are powerful pop rock anthems. I stumbled across her on someone else's blog, I mean the song was called 'I'm gonna show you crazy' so you know I was going to give it a listen - best choice I have made in a long time. It opened the flood gates to all of these other amazing songs she has written and recorded - did you know she wrote the chorus to 'Monster'? It is actually a full song and Eminem just sampled the chorus (the full song is better in my opinion), and you know that song 'Hey Mama' you have been singing along to for last couple of months? Well this is who is singing the chorus, not Nicki Minaj! How good is her voice please?