THEGAYUK

Category: Music

  • ALBUM REVIEW | Born Naked, RuPaul

    ★★★★ | Born Naked, RuPaul

    Original Drag Superstar RuPaul releases her strongest body of work so far.

    Hot on the heels of another RuPaul’s Drag Race juggernaut, the multi-talented Drag Queen releases ‘Born Naked’, a fresh, modern and young sounding 6th studio album.

    Ten tracks of perfectly crafted pop songs, filled to the rafters of positive messages and a light smattering of RuPaul’s very own catch phrases, with a heady mix of star guests including: Martha Wash (Original Weathergirl), Frankmusik and Michelle Visage.

    Although mostly upbeat pop songs, Can I Get An Amen, with Martha Wash, provides an astonishing intimate moment with the larger than life Drag superstar and the powerhouse vocals of the It’s Raining Men singer.

    So far, this is RuPaul’s most commercially successful album and it deserves to be. Gone are the mostly campy irreverent tunes (we loved those too), only to replaced with a thoughtful mix of songs and bang-up-to-date production, each standing strongly on their own merits.

  • ALBUM REVIEW | Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wanderlust

    ★★★★★ | Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wanderlust

    You know when you have a favourite artist, someone with a specific, unique sound, a person whose albums you buy, time and again because you love that sound? That pop/dance fusion that has you nodding your head as you listen on your way to work?

    Yeah, that! And then, they go and find a new sound, change things around, shift your expectations slightly left of field…
    That’s the latest self-funded offering from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Wanderlust. It has a folky appeal, an approach that isn’t formulaic, little in the way of dance tracks… and is proving hugely popular with her existing fans, and the legion of fans she won on her recent stint on Strictly Come Dancing.

    She’s credited her trips to the former eastern bloc as her influence on this album, along with working with Ed Harcourt on writing and producing this album – all equates to a lovely shake up. This lady’s not one to rest on her laurels, with a couple of rug rats under her belt (not literally) and an active social media presence, she’s willing to open up and dismiss that long held aloof image.

    Her distinctive voice is here – one of the few english singers who sing with a tangible english ac-cent, rather than the adopted US slant we know and love.

    Track Listing:
    Birth of an empire – towering and epic, its one to tingle your toes!
    Until the stars collide – beautiful instruments and her lilting voice all mixed in harmony
    Runaway Daydreamer – stripped back to basics and sheer perfection
    The Deer & The wolf – toe tapping without being cliched
    Young Blood – slow and sleek, her voice at its best
    Interlude – a showcase for her vocals in a new style
    13 Little Dolls – made me dance round the living room
    Wrong Side of the sun – a clean sound, great lyrics and a wonderful vocal
    Love is a camera – soaring instruments, almost cinematic
    Cry to the beat of the band – that hypnotic beat and the choir, amazing
    When the storm has blown over – again, no gimmicks, no remix, just her amazing voice on show

    All in all, this is a showcase for how her voice has grown over her career, and also a brave choice of work to put out there. Some may say its a vanity project, self-financed because it isn’t immedi-ately commercial, but its seems to be working. Sales have been good, and to be honest, its grown on me – wasn’t too sure on the first listen. This is one of the reasons for the delay in writing this, rather than immediately after the albums release – it is a grower. If I’d written this after one hear-ing, my rating and review would be very different.

    And thats a good thing – sometimes, being too hasty is a bad thing…

  • THE FRIDAY FIVER: 21st March 2014

    One week till payday, and boy does it feel far away! But here are some songs to keep you going till that glorious one day next week.

    Gerda Monroe – Understood ★★★★

    Giving off serious early 80’s Kim Wilde vibes, hailing from Denmark this is a very strong debut single featuring some gentle guitar riffs, 80s style pop vocals, soaring synth riffs and a very big chorus! 4/5

    YOUTUBE | ITUNES

    Lady Gaga – G.U.Y. ★★★★★

    After running into a bit of trouble with the video (i.e. none) for last single Do What You Want Gaga returns with the promise of her best video to date, it was shot at the uber swank Hearst Castle in California, and as for the song? G.U.Y sees Gaga return with a massive balls to the dancefloor walls anthem. One of the highlights from her current album, produced by the now Grammy Award winning DJ, Producer and Popstar Zedd. 5/5

    YOUTUBE | ITUNES

    Sigma – Nobody To Love ★★★★

    Stand by for one of the biggest singles of this year, the pre-orders alone have guaranteed that! It’s a massive drum n bass affair with an incredibly catchy gospel tinged chorus to boot. 5/5

    YOUTUBE | ITUNES
    Shakira – Dare (La La La) ★★★★

    Her hips don’t lie and neither does this tune, kicking off her new album (out next week) is this surprisingly huge dance anthem, sadly it is the only song of its type on the album but that makes it stand out from the crowd. Truth or dare on the dancefloor anyone? 4/5

    YOUTUBE | BUY ON ITUNES
    Sia – Chandelier ★★★★★

    IM GONNA SWING FROM THE CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDELIEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Songwriter extraordinaire and exec-producer of Kylie’s latest album, Sia, returns to her day job of being an amazing popstar, and boy is she back with a bang! Containing one of the biggest choruses of any pop song in the past few years, this is going to be a rather big hit. 5/5

    YOUTUBE | BUY ON ITUNES
    What do you think of these songs? Leave your comments below.

  • ALBUM REVIEW | Kylie, Kiss Me Once

    ★★★★ |  Kylie, Kiss Me Once

    The shimmering pop queen is back with a confident new update to her sound, she’s also feeling sexy and she wants you to know it!

    INTO THE BLUE:
    After a year of chucking out some promo singles, Kylie is back to business good and proper, with the lead single from Kiss Me Once. An epic stringed euphoric song in the same vein as All The Lovers and one the few “Kylie” songs on the album. ★★★

    MILLION MILES:
    Guitar intro alert! Don’t panic about 13 seconds later along comes the big throbbing beat to reassure you everything is going to be OK. A dance-pop guitar pop infused banger that wouldn’t sound out of place on the “Fever” / “Light Years” album. A song about feeling detached from any sexual activity and enjoying it! ★★★★

    I WAS GONNA CANCEL:
    Also known as that Pharrell produced song, and you can tell! His trademark cowbell sound signature funky basslines are all in place, the addition of some electro beats, a ghostly choir that pops up elevates the song and like much of the album it rattles along at a fair pace, so it doesn’t out stay its welcome. ★★★

    SEXY LOVE:
    This is another song that starts off very Kylie, and it really wouldn’t sound out of place on the “Fever” album, it also wouldn’t sound out of place on Daft Punks “Random Access Memories”. It’s fun, it’s frothy, it’s flirty and it’s precisely the kind of dance-pop that Kylie does so well. ★★★★

    SEXERCISE:
    Sound the co-written by Sia Klaxon. An interesting track for both Kylie and Sia, a sexual innuendo laden offering that starts off with some lovely airy strings and then comes in the chunky dub-step flecked bassline. It’s perfectly matched with the whole tone of the lyrics. It IS going to divide a lot of her long term fans, you will either love it or hate it. I love it! ★★★★

    FEELS SO GOOD:
    A cover of the little known song Indiana by Tom Aspaul and produced by the uber trendy MNEK (who has just score a Top 5 hit with his latest single) It just seems like it belongs to Kylie, it’s perfect for her, again it’s that kind of fluttering breathless dance-pop that she does so well, and it’s a nice juxtaposition to the down and dirty affair of the previous track. An album highlight. ★★★★

    IF ONLY:
    Don’t panic your CD / Download isn’t warped! This a stuttering beat infused electro “ballad” It’s big sounding and the marching beat with futuristic synths come together to make something pretty unique and addictve. The chorus is huge btw, it’s the song I have been singing most after listening. ★★★★

    LES SEX:
    Starting off with some clockwork style beats (that remain throughout the track), it bursts into life a few seconds later and it doesn’t stop! It’s the only real cheeky wink to camp Kylie, and it feels like a very modern successor to her camp classic Your Disco Needs You. Weird electro-frog noises, big giant electro riffs, processed snatches of vocals, it’s all a bit bonkers really. It is a song that was made to be performed live and will probably be one of the highlights of her upcoming tour. ★★★

    KISS ME ONCE:
    The album’s title track is once again co-written by Sia, in fact after the very first sentence and after verse you will want to burst into a quick chant of “Tiataniummmmmm” This is properly brilliant. It sounds like a classic “SAW” produced track but with very modern bells and whistles attached, and it’s probably the most “Kylie” song on the whole album. And after all the flirty sex infused songs it’s nice to have a song about love conquering all. ★★★★★

    BEAUTIFUL
    Also known as the duet with Enrique Iglesias, and considering he is about to have a massive Top 5 hit with his new single, it’s perfect timing. It’s very electronic and the chorus is undeniably huge and it literally erupts out of nowhere, but the robotic vocodered vocals of the verses are really grating. It’s a very bold move and it definitely stands out and as a future single it may be just the song to get Kylie noticed again. Again it’s going to divide a lot of people. ★★★

    FINE:
    Saving the best for last? This ain’t no sad ballad album closer! It’s a nice 90’s house influenced solid dance-pop banger, the surprise stuttering looped male vocals as found on many of the biggest dance hits of the past year really help give this a very modern feel and it’s a great ending to the album. ★★★★★

    Overall this is perhaps the best Kylie album of her career, it’s modern without sounding try-hard and she seems refreshed and she sounds like she is absolutely loving singing it. It’s a great update to her “sound” and has a high replay factor, which is great since the sunny days are a coming!

    Into the Blue is out now to buy and “Kiss Me Once” is released next week March 17th and comes in a standard edition and deluxe edition.
    Buy Into the Blue here
    Order Kiss Me Once From iTunes here or from Amazon here

  • MUSIC: Songs Played In Episode One Of Ja’mie Private School Girl

    Episode Guide and Music Tracks For Ja’mie Private School Girl – Episode 1 (more…)

  • Investigation Opened Over £28,000 of Fake Beyoncé Tickets

    The British Transport police are opening an investigation after more than 100 cases of ticket fraud reported at the Phones 4 U Arena in Manchester.

    Detective Constable Mike Dermody said: “It seems that someone has been selling fake tickets to concert goers who only realise the tickets aren’t genuine when they get to the venue.

    “We believe there have been more than 140 sets of fake tickets sold, though only seven victims have come forward so far.

    “In most cases the tickets have sold for at least £100 each and each victim has bought at least two tickets, so we are potentially looking at a fraud worth more than £28,000.”

    DC Dermody added: “Each transaction has taken place over the internet, using public selling websites, with the victims arranging to meet someone in Manchester to pick up the tickets.

    “I believe the victims of this fraudster will be spread far and wide as people travel from all over the UK to see Beyonce.

    “I am, therefore, appealing to anyone who has been sold fake tickets, but has not yet spoken to police to come forward.

    “We have a number of leads, but need as many people as possible to get in touch.”

    If you have any information about the fraudulent tickets please call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40. In all calls please quote BTP log NWA/B5 of 28/2/14.

  • Dave Aude teams up with half of Erasure

    What happens if you take Andy Bell, lead singer of legendary synth pop band Erasure and Dave Audé legendary remixer (and producer) of songs? A good dance song is your answer!

    It’s out on March 18th and you can pre-order the song from iTunes (link below) where you can also hear a 90 second snippet as a little treat.

  • SINGLE REVIEW | Ruth Lorenzo, Dancing In The Rain

    We all remember Ruth Lorenzo from the X Factor, yes? She did that incredible cover version of Princes’ Purple Rain, yes that’s Ruth Lorenzo.

    Well she has unleashed her new single, Dancing In The Rain is a half Spanish / half English 3 minute romp of epic electronic ballad goodness.

    Starting off with some evocative pianos and violins, then come the drums and electro riffs in place of the afore mentioned pianos and violins to accompany her powerhouse vocals.

    She is also hoping that Spain will pick her this year as their Eurovision 2014 entry, and they really would be mad not too. It’s far to good to go un-noticed by most people.

  • MUSIC | The Friday Fiver

    Hoorah! It’s Friday! and here are 5 very good songs that should put you in that weekend mood.

    Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones – I Got U
    Following up one 2013 biggest No1’s is not a task I would wish on any act, but this follow up to Need U is an absolute corker! A massive sun soaked house anthem, with Caribbean drums, epic piano riffs and a very clever sample of Whitney Houston’s My Love Is Your Love. ★★★★★

    BUY IT NOW

    Manila Luzon & Jinkx Monsoon – Bring It!
    2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race finest, combine on this fun, hi energy dance pop stomper. If you like fabulous outfits and hunky men dancing in their pants then you’ll love the video. ★★★

    BUY IT

    Prides – The Seeds You Sow
    Last year Chvrches made a bit of a splash with their synth-pop refreshed for the 21st century sound and hot on their heels are Prides, dabbling in stadium filled choruses and a sound you can only describe as “epic” It’s no wonder blogs and taste makers are falling under their spell. ★★★★★

    BUY IT

    Miley Cyrus vs. Cedric Gervais – Adore You
    Serial tongue-sticker-outer and general menace to society has roped in new remixer-of-the-moment Cedric Gervais to rework the 3rd single from her awfully titled #Bangerz album, while the original is a mid-tempo electro-ballad, Gervais has reworked it into a fully fledged peak time club anthem for the Spring season. ★★★★

    BUY IT

    The Presets – Goodbye Future
    Indie & Blog darlings have returned after a couple years away, and by the sound of this it was a well deserved break as they have returned with a very modern rave anthem, it reminds me of Underworld’s Born Slippy and that is not a bad thing whatsoever. ★★★★

    BUY IT

  • THE BRITS 2014: Round Up

    The BRIT Awards, a night of celebrating the best in British music and handing out awards to deserving souls whose talent has shone though over the previous year. It should be a joyous occasion and make for great television, but sadly something has gone seriously wrong with this awards ceremony. Although having flashes of great moments, this year’s BRIT Awards were almost completely unbearable to watch. Want to know why?

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  • It’s Raining Men Enters Into Official UK Single’s Chart

    The Weather Girl’s camp classic, It’s Raining Men has entered the charts at number 31 after a Facebook campaign.

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