(NO LONGER) OUTSIDE 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER, INSIDE HEY VIOLET!!! Album Review: Hey Violet “From The Outside”

(Left to right: Miranda Miller, Iain Shipp, Rena Lovelis, Casey Moreta, Nia Lovelis)

HEY, HEY VIOLET! (…I’ll go home…and stop both the Shane Dawson reference and the reason for the Shane Dawson reference!)

Get excited, because you NEED some electronic pop rock realness in your summer and Hey Violet are a band that promise to deliver you that with their debut album!!

Since opening up for a little band called 5 Seconds of Summer on their Rock Out With Your Socks Out tour, Hey Violet (Originally known as Cherri Bomb) has not only added new bass player Iain Ship,

(LOOK AT HIM! <3)

but have completely renovated their sound since their first EP I Can Feel It . How does a novice pop-rock group add to their sound in 2016 and 2017 in a way that would make them stand out?? By adding some electronic sounds in of course!! Hey Violet is a band who is cooking with all of the right ingredients, yet another of which includes writer/producer Julian Bunetta who has worked with both Fifth Harmony… and SUPERGROUP One Direction!

What do you get when you combine these ingredients? THE FEAST OF POP HITS, THAT IS THE ALBUM  FROM THE OUTSIDE! (Released June 16, 2017)

Here’s hoping they stick around later and give us some great dessert! THIS CAN ONLY GET BETTER!

Cover Art: 7.7/10: Okay I can be here for some black, white, and pink color scheme! I love Rena’s pose, I kind of think she looks like a cartoon character but it’s probably due to the pink hair! (Which is AWESOME! When Hey Violet toured with 5sos, Rena had these dreads and some of them were colored….and she looks SO MUCH BETTER now!) Miranda looks adorable, Iain looks sultry/sexy, Casey looks cute, and.. what’s Nia looking at! Band photos can be really fun to look at!

1) Break My Heart: I’ve been living for this one since it was a single! As I said in my music video review of this (https://dropofpopculture.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/dirtbike-high-school-party-music-video-review-break-my-heart-hey-violet/), I’m unsure of what the exact meaning it is, but I’d be wrong if screaming “BREAK MY HEART” and HARDCORE JAMMING OUT to the electronic beat wasn’t a bucketful of fun!

2) Brand New Moves: Again, it’s been blasted SEVERAL times since before this album was released! That bassline is just radiating everything that is COOL! Dang, I wouldn’t mind if a guy showed me his brand new moves, I don’t know a lot about dancing! 😉 This song covers the bases of both sexiness, and the whole aura of the person at a party that everyone is HIGH-KEY wishing they could be!

3) Guys My Age: This song is Hey Violet’s most well known hit, and yet I didn’t like it much at first until I came around to it on this album! I blame electro-distortion! I’m not always feeling it! This song tries to be mature. Does it succeed? Does it make me want an older guy? Sort of, the vibes could be a bit stronger! Yet…. I do want a boyfriend older than me. And the thirst level is pretty strong! So it’s an alright song to me now I’ve given it a couple listens.

4) Hoodie: Didn’t know I needed a song about being hung up on an ex boyfriends hoodie in my life! (I freaking love hoodies, they’re so soft!) I love chanting pop choruses at the top of my lungs and now I can about one of my favorite articles of clothing in existence! Thank you Hey Violet!! An excellent choice for your next single as well! (C,mon!!! I’d love cranking this one on the car radio! Might do it with Spotify anyway!) Lol, how many fans are going to go to Hey Violet’s next tour wearing hoodies?! (They better not chew the strings like the lyrics say though! That’d be gross. Do you really want the members of Hey Violet to notice your wet, spit-covered, hoodie strings?! And cigarette burns… Okay, maybe the song is kind of gross, but it’s such a jam so WHO CARES?!)

5) My Consequence: I heareth autotuneth, I doth protesteth! (See my Hopeless Fountain Kingdom Halsey review right before this one, I go OFF about that!) Rena, tell me, did we really need the gut imagery?! That’s a bit graphic for a chorus! Razor love?! EVEN MORE GRAPHIC! This track needs a warning label! “The world is ours, at least it is tonight” Ok, fine y,all are redeeming yourselves! I like the message, but I’m pretty sure it’s equally the other person’s consequence in a relationship.

6) O.D.D.: Wow! What a clever title! What an outcast anthem! Legends only! It makes being odd sound like a sort of disease, which some may view it as, but it’s not! Being O.D.D. isn’t necessarily a bad thing! “I’m the girl in the back of the class, blank stare, don’t care, don’t ask” #Relatable! It’s such a chill song yet it’s so clever and relatable since I can be O.D.D. myself! There’s also a little unexpected surprise part at the end! FUN!!

7) All We Ever Wanted: How was this NOT co-written by Charli XCX?? It sounds kind of like her songs! Semi-trashy electro-pop party BOP?! You know I’m freaking HERE FOR IT!!  “We got no money left, but we’re not going home yet” “He’s kind of cute, I’m dead” RENA YOU RELATABLE EDGY QUEEEENNNN!!! (And, I want to die my hair pink, Rena Lovelis’s existance only enhances this desire!) Rena, Nia, Miranda TAKE ME WITH YOU! I WANT THIS FEELING TOO!! (Boys are only allowed if they’re cute ;)….. OKAY, FINE, IAIN AND CASEY FIT THAT BILL!!!)

8) Fuqboi: An. ANTHEM!!! We live in an era that has contained Vine and does contain Musical.ly, IT’S ABOUT TIME WE GET A SONG THAT IS FUCKBOY (Fuqboi! I like their spelling better!!!) REPELLANT!! GO. OFFFFFFFF. RENAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! “When there’s cute things he’d say, I bet he stole them from Drake” LMAO, I’m DEAD! “Like a stain on your heart’s reputation” TRUTH!! “I’d rather cut out my tounge, than let you kiss me with yours” SAV-AGE!!!!!! LIT. ASS. ELECTRO. BEAT.!! So, the first verse is a classic fuqboi and the second verse is the digital, follower-thirsty, social media fuqboi! I LOVE IT! #RenaLovelisForPresident #ForTheSheerPurposeOfExterminatingAnnoyingFuqbois #AndBeingAnEdgyPinkHairedPunkRockQueen #Medium-KeyStanningRenaNow! lmao!

9) Unholy: Damn! And I thought Hey Violet was delivering thirst ANTHEMS before!! I gottta learn that lovely piano riff! “We’re in bed we’re embedded in my mind” HOW. FREAKING. STAN-WORTHY.?!?! This song was stuck in my head for a whole day, since I could NOT. STOP. HITTING. REPLAY.!! It’s very sexy, it’s addictive, it’s clever! Yo, Rena’s vocals kind of remind me of Melanie Martinez on the pre-chorus. The OHS! on the bridge and “I know that you like it you don’t even have to hide it” UGH, VOLUME FREAKING UP!!!!!

10) Where Have You Been (All My Night): Serving some electro-club bop, Carly Rae Jepsen-esque, realness!! I could believe they’re singing it from the corner of a club, that’s realistic. 7.4/10, would put in a playlist with Who’s That Boy by Demi Lovato, What a Feeling by One Direction, and I Didn’t Just Come Here To Dance by Carly Rae Jepsen

11) Like Lovers Do: SO INTERESTING! I get melodic, old-fashioned, and slow dance vibes!!! The complete tale of a doomed relationship! Lyrics are interesting! That first verse took an explicit turn I wasn’t prepared for when I first listened! It’s kind of haunting in a way, especially as it grows darker! OH GOD,  WHEN THOSE GUITARS COME IN THOUGH! I completely LIVE FOR when a slow song, cranks it up, adds some highkey guitar shredding on that bridge (As with Don’t Forget by Demi Lovato? My first impression of a song with that that left my 11 year old self QUAKING?!) Another flipping cool technique on this song?! THE LOOP! It ends where it started! That’s AWESOME!!!!!!

12) This Is Me Breaking Up With You: CHANT-ALONG ROCK AND ROLL, HELL YEAHHHH!!!!! (Pop-Rock might be my favorite genre, if not, top 3!) This song’s still like their older style, especially You Don’t Love Me Like You Should, and that’s NOT BAD!! A breakup in the form of THIS JAM would probably hurt less!! CRANK IT UP, DAY AND NIGHT!!!

Album Rating: 9.4/1o MY FAVORITE ALBUM SO FAR THIS SUMMER! Meet Hey Violet through these BOPS if you haven’t already! You won’t regret it! (I’ve literally meet Hey Violet though (except Iain! Damn!! I SPOKE TO MY NEW ROCK QUEEN RENA ALREADY!! (Complementing the I Can Feel It EP)  THE BAND ACCOUNT AND MIRANDA FOLLOW MY TWITTER ACCOUNT! THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO ME! I’M ALREADY SOOO LUCKYYY!) Electric Electronic feministy pop rock does nothing but helps a human soul!! OH GOD, I NEED TO SEE HEY VIOLET AGAIN, HANG OUT STRONG IN MY TOP 10 FAVORITE BANDS EVER WHY DON’T YOU! I’m obsessed with them now, come be as well dear reader! Give them that success! Be O.D.D. and repel them Fuqbois! WHAT A DEBUT!

Fave Tracks: O.D.D, All We Ever Wanted, Fuqboi, Unholy, Like Lovers Do, This Is Me Breaking Up With You

Least Fave Tracks: Guys My Age, My Consequence

Listen: https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/6ZZbMKUghvClcRLF5pZT6Y

Buy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/from-the-outside/id1226832548?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

QUEEN OF THE KINGDOM!! Album Review: Halsey “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom”

(Okay, if you want be one of those losers in youtube comments who are like “SKIP TO 2:30 FOR THE ACTUAL CONTENT” and miss a cool freaking intro, I’d advise going past the line for the Halsey talk if you absolutely must!)

WHAT TIME IS IT?

SUMMERTIMMMEEEEEEE!!!!!

But yes, it’s mid-summer and there have been a SHIT-TON of cool (For the summer? ;)…. ok, ok!) albums out already I would like to talk about!

So sit back, grab tons of ice cream,

have a dog or cat at the ready to dance with,

and load up your playlists,

as you read these next few posts, because I’m gonna tell you what songs can help them look like

THIS

what tracks you should avoid to keep them from looking like

THIS

and generally how to give them some extra flavor!

---

She may have had a smash mainstream hit with the Chainsmokers called Closer but if that’s the only thing you know this edgy alternative pop queen for, than you have a lot more coming!

I seriously recommend exploring her albums, specifically because she does something really unique and interesting. The concept (lol) of Concept albums (when an artist makes an album around a certain theme, and the songs all tell a singular narrative around the said theme, Example: the Beatles and Sgt Peppers)  has been around in music since around the 1960s and 70s, and I believe Halsey is a modern artist that at least attempts to do this. (Twenty One Pilots might be too? I really need to do what I call a “deep dive” on them and check out their albums!)

In her first album Badlands, I get that the overall theme is showing that her mind and thoughts are this sort of wasteland, it’s not completely clear from what I know , but it shows the songwriting to be super personal, we get inside her mind and thoughts the way we might with Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran, only, while still dealing with love and relationships, it takes a sharper, more negative turn, as the subject matter also moves towards some darker topics.

So, in her second album, (Released June 2, 2017) Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (I think that’s one of the dopest album titles ever! It just SOUNDS COOL!) overall, it’s about a breakup, but there’s a lot more to it. It gives me storybook vibes, from the artwork, to this live performance I’ve seen where Halsey is spray painting a statue, and it’s really theatrical. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYnWF8ISV-c) There are also themes of warring houses Angelus and Aureum (specifically with the upcoming video for Strangers, Halsey on one side, Lauren Jauregui on the other), Romeo and Juliet (Halsey recites the prolouge at the start of the album. According to a twitter q&a, this is because she “felt like {she} had killed off a version of {herself}” through the relationship to make it work.), and character portrayal as Halsey calls herself Luna because the moon is always changing. Halsey herself seems a character due to having a stage name, her real name being Ashley Frangipane. (I read an interesting Rolling Stone article on her background, very rough stuff, but fascinating!)

Halsey is planning on turning this into a visual album, a la Beyonce, and I believe that it will delve into these themes deeper! Should be a fascinating watch!

Great music, intriguing themes, and unusual, experimental techniques within the album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom is not an album to glance over!

Cover Art: 7.3/10 Looks like it was cut out from a magazine, but I’m not mad at it. I cut photos out of magazines all the time, I could have done it! I like the lasers in the boy’s eyes but what the heck is in hers? And could someone please tell me what font the tiltle is written in?! Damn, it’s gorgeous!

The Prologue: Not a song, just Halsey giving us the Romeo and Juliet intro. Okay, I’m sat in the center of the rug listening intently like in elementary school. Until it gets to the weird-ass autotune part that is! EW! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY LITTLE EARS?!

100 Letters: GREAT BEAT!! Any artist that opens with a beat I dig increases my odds of liking their song by about 78%! We move from Romeo and Juliet to King Midas and it works! Except, it’s definitely no longer elementary school! I love the line “I’m not something to butter up and taste when you get bored”. One doesn’t accidentally lose letters in a laundry machine, because they can’t just fit in a pocket, so losing 100 letters in one is intentional sabotage! That sounds pretty savage, but from the rest of the song he sounds like he deserved it!

Eyes Closed: WTF IS THAT INTRO SOUND?! The first verse sounds distorted, as if you’re listening to the radio in the car and it’s not picking up the satellite signal completely. Was that done to mimic drugs or alcohol? Maybe. I don’t know if I dig that sound completely, but I do like the song. Don’t find a new lover until your over your ex is what this proves! The guitar bit towards the end is pretty and then the one noise sounds like a wounded animal.

Heaven in Hiding: That beat gets me going once again! Halsey isn’t bad at rapping and later it’s about to get greater! They’re fighting, it’s so intense! Halsey’s lyrical imagery gets a bit too intense for me at times, but it means it works well if the listener gets a little uncomfortable right? (especially if said listener is still bopping!) Yeah, this looks more like hell in hiding! I’m a lover not a fighter! Is a crimson headache extra painful? YIKES!

Alone: Into another literary world! Halsey has said that this one is inspired by The Great Gatsby. It contains the concept of someone surrounded by parties and success, seeming to live this wonderful life on the outside, but is miserable on the inside. I’m worried that, indeed this concept may also be applied to famous popstars such as Halsey herself (and Britney Spears! Ever hear Lucky? Yet another, Taylor Swift’s The Lucky One) Oh my god it’s good though! Is this song talking about Halsey in the past, Halsey in the present, or is it character-based? Of course we wouldn’t regret meeting her, that’s such a negative line! (and yet it’s cool!)

Now or Never: Maybe you’ve heard this one on the radio, it’s definitely mainstream radio-friendly, and in that way is a decent choice for a single. It’s a smidgion too autotune heavy. I like how in the chorus it’s like the O sound is descending like aroooooooooooonnnndddd. It’s kind of fun to sing with and catchy tho! Can get annoying after too many listens, I hope the radio doesn’t abuse it like that. D

Sorry: Nice a piano ballad! It’s so pretty and raw! So, the “unknown lover” is apparently anyone she’s known but somehow messed up the possibility of having a relationship with. Interesting. It’s positive towards people it’s about but for her it’s sad.

Good Mourning: (interlude) Fun fact: The child’s voice is actually her younger brother Dante. The music in the back is gentle and hopeful, until we get to him saying “Nothing is as it seems.” And odd chanting and gentle piano leading into the next track. I like a transition but don’t fully get it… I think it’s intention is giving false hope.

Lie ft Quavo : I said Halsey was a good rapper but this one sort of rubs me the wrong way + more autotune. I like how the “Why/lie” part is sung (and that’s probably THE redeming quality on this one, if there is one!). Here’s the thing: I DON’T AT ALL get the appeal of Migos/Quavo, like HOW IS YOUR MEDIOCRE RAPPING OVER AUTO-TUNED ASS getting to work with all these cool artists (Halsey + Liam Payne, Katy Perry) and trashing up their music? YOU HAD A STUPID HIT, NOW GO AWAY!!

Walls Could Talk: Violin! I can’t say I saw that one coming! The verses are fire here, she freaking slays them! Ugh the violin rhythm on “And I’m thinking damn, if these walls could talk!” Then it gets all electronic and it actually sounds like walls closing in! (Miley Cyrus “Fly On The Wall, only more mature and a lot more electro??) Freaking cool!! Where else is there a electronic, violin, rap combination?! Ya don’t hear that everyday! (unless you hear this song everyday hahaha)

Bad At Love: This one’s my favorite!!! The (LIT) raps tell stories of her relationships, and she goes OFF on that chorus! (She may not be a powerhouse vocalist but she does have talent there! There’s nothing wrong with having stronger songwriting than vocals anyway!) “I told him that the music would be worth the wait, but he wants me in the kitchen with a dinner plate.” KICK HIS SEXIST, TASTELESS ASS TO THE CURB!! I really enjoy the general flow of some of her verses, “I always seem to fall straight-but I- always make the same mistakes.”

Don’t Play: This is a type of song I could see myself hating, but I actually sort of love this! Where do you ever hear a beat with bells, especially a fast one? (Here!) The verses here are clever! I love when rapping is clever wordplay that makes sense, and isn’t dumb or about parties and whatnot. The chorus does have several f words but it’s so fierce and badass!! SHOUT IT FOR FULL EFFECT! Even the weird autotuned part isn’t too bad, “WOMEN…..DON’T PLAY NO GAMES” WELL IT’S TRUE! This is a fighting song! It’s probably my second fave hype song if I was going to go head-to-head with someone in a boxing ring. (No. 1? Waiting for you- Demi Lovato ft Sirah!!!!) I do boxing training at the gym, but can I listen to my music while I do that? NO! (Don’t want to eff up my earbuds) Otherwise I’d be blasting both of those songs while kicking ass! (of a punching bag, I suppose that doesn’t really have an ass, cause it’s an inanimate object.)

Strangers ft Lauren Jauregui: GOD I NEEDED THIS COLLABORATION IN MY LIFE!!! (And more Lauren Jauregui separate from Fifth Harmony in general!) A lesbian mainstream ( ish, SHOULD BE mainstream) pop song, how refreshing! Why isn’t there more LGBT mainstream pop hits, it’s a serious question! (Maybe even excluding the songs about experimentation, no offense at all to Katy and Demi!) Just saying it should probably be more typical. (It’s also genuine because both Halsey and Lauren are bisexual. I heard that this was why Halsey turned down Katy Perry for this collab.) I love the sound in the chorus where it kind of sounds like a computer pulling up information in a laboratory! This song is so catchy and fun, and needed, and both artists sound INCREDIBLE and basically good vibes all around! (Not in the relationship unfortunately! You feel bad for them, because you want them to be able to work it out because clearly they love each other, but don’t believe that the other person sees it that way!) I love how Halsey made this a single, and it deserves radio play, and the music video teases look BADASS because Halsey’s and LaHopeuren’s characters apparently box each other!!! (Am I into MMA now?!)

Angel On Fire: I believe this song is her realizing that she’s headed into a downward spiral (though “Angel” is kind of narcissistic, right? But, hey, songwriting has every right to use extreme terms!) and the beginning sound seems to support my theory. I think the breakup might have been what lead to said downward spiral. I myself hate the feeling of, damn, I used to be great at something, but it seems like I’m getting worse now, and sometimes it’s not even really getting worse it’s just your mind and nerves telling you that. You have to be careful about that stuff.

Devil In Me: The placing of this and the last song was 100% on purpose! An angel burns, a devil takes its place (when it is woken up)! Most relationships that have affected this album seem really nasty, I’m sorry Halsey! So the devil in her is a self-loathing, self-damaging side, is the “gotta wake up” part it talking? Scary! The song is actually doing a good job of showing her at war with herself. And at the end she has to wake it up so she can kill it right? Hmm… I actually like this song more now!

Hopeless ft Cashmere Cat: Decent verses at the start, only to be killed down by a flamethrower filled with autotune. Wait, tying a song to fire usually means that it’s good,…. a poopthrower filled with autotune! That chorus is like the end of Camila Cabello’s Cashmere Cat Collaboration Love Incredible, where I think it sounds like a robot trying too hard at something and being all kinds of extra, only it’s lengthened and suddenly my ears are bleeding a fountain! (Have I trashed any songs on DOPC yet?! How savage are my insults?! *goes for lion, only achieves teenage cub #TeenageSimba*) Skip it, it’s not worth time.

Album Rating: 7/10:  The GREAT, the bad, and the O.K.! Or: You want Alternative? You will SURELY get some Alternative! However, musical experimentation, has a (at least 50%) chance of WORKING. Halsey’s an edgy, risk taker and I admire it! Tie in literature stories, self-written music, and backbeat skill  (And LAUREN JAUREGUI!) and I’m “Down down down down down down… down forever”. Why not be a fan of musical self-reflection and plot twists!? She’s one of the most surprising singers ever in my era!  If this album wasn’t over-saturated with autotune I’d probably have it up a whole grade! (My autotune guidelines = If you have a: KILLER/POWERFUL singing voice =DON’T. EVEN. THINK. ABOUT. USING. IT.  Decent singing voice (Halsey): A little here and there is ok, but overdo it, and it’s NOT GOOD! Chances are, your real voice is fine! Horrible singing voice: WHY ARE YOU SINGING? IF YOU NEED AUTO-TUNE ON EVERYTHING, GET SOMEONE WITH TALENT ON THE TRACK! YOU MIGHT STILL BE A NIFTY SONGWRITER!) The visual on this album is going to be epic though! I’m totally ready!

Fave Tracks: Bad At Love, Strangers ft Lauren Jauregui, Walls Could Talk, Don’t Play, Alone

Least Fave Tracks: Didn’t even add on my Spotify = The Prologue, Hopeless ft Cashmere Cat,

Worst one I added: Lie ft Quavo

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/7GjG91tyHQNGEHzKJaqOi0

Buy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hopeless-fountain-kingdom-deluxe/id1221749987?app=itunes

 

 

 

SIGN OF HARRY STYLES SOLO SUCCESS!!!! Album Review: Harry Styles *self-titled*

So, unless you’ve been living under a rock,

you know that the most adored member of the group that was (and hopefully will eventually be again) One Direction, has released his debut solo album. That’s right, I’m talking HARRY FREAKING STYLES HERE! *Cue angels singing* This happened May on 12, but DON’T BLAME A GIRL FOR WANTING TO GIVE HAZZA THE APPRECIATION NOW! Imagine, like, all acoustic self-written rock god vibes + epic stadium-ready vocals + our sweet, charming cupcake boy Harry Edward Styles. THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!! Personally, I’ll add in the fact that I went to London right as this album dropped (Not Cheshire though, darn it! I want to see THE bakery!), so it was, like, the most perfect train soundtrack, EVER!

Album Art: 7/10 It’s literally just his back! In a bathtub! We don’t get to see any more of Harry in the bathtub???  Wow, What a ripoff! 😉 Well.. I’d say it’s probably never been done before right? You have a very nice back there, H, I’d just really rather see your face. It’s artistic yes, but it’s just alright art, nothing exceptional. That photo of him in the blue suit surrounded by water though = GOR-GEOUS! Why didn’t I know about the guitar tattoo on his shoulder, (I knew all of the other ones!) I kind of LOVE IT! At least we have the tattoo and a (still plain..) necklace to look at. I swear if any other artist did this they couldn’t pull it off as well as Harry and they might get a lower grade! Darn his ability to pull things off. Still, for an artist known for his bold outfit choices, you’d think he’d be showcasing one on the cover of his debut album!

Meet Me In The Hallway: We start off with a slow, classic rock, Beatles-esque (An obvious inspiration for much of the album), ballad. The guitar strumming is soothing, while the little electronic bell pulses (I’m calling it that) give the opposite vibe of being on the edge. What do you gotta to get better at Harry? You seem like you’d make a great boyfriend! I’m kind of getting a mysterious nighttime vibe off of this one. The sound is just cool! I think this track and the last track From The Dining Table might be connected. (don’t know about any of the middle, this album runs together smoothly, but I don’t believe it to follow a concept.) This would come first and be leaving the girl, and then From The Dining Table would be a follow-up. And, they both contain references to rooms in a house or hotel. Just a thought.

Sign of the Times: I reviewed this on here before, comparing it to chunky peanut butter due to the roughness of Harry’s vocal, and the smoothness of the (BEAUTIFUL) piano part! (9/10 would probably learn if I still took piano lessons!) I didn’t review the music video, but it was RIDICULOUS! Look it up for a laugh, it’s Harry just flying around. Now, if you hear the song it makes a bit more sense, and his falsetto part definitely makes you want to lift off into the air because it is so perfect, but it still hardly makes sense! I’ve wondered what the heck this song is about, and Harry tried to clarify this in his article with Rolling Stone magazine where he says it is about a mother giving childbirth and the mother isn’t going to make it due to a complication, so she tells the child to go forth in the world. This explanation has holes to me, Best clothes? A baby? WHAT ABOUT THE BULLET PART, THAT MADE ME THINK THE SONG WAS RELATED WITH THE MILITARY!? Yeah, I just don’t know! Here’s some trivia you may have learned in Harry’s album creation documentary: “Stuck and” running from the bullets was not the original lyric if you know what I’m saying. Guess they just decided to go the clean route, though the other version was more intense!

Carolina: Okay, we’re getting into more fun songs here! Here’s a lil jam with a story! I love the lalalalalala build up, it’s goofy yet it adds to the song. If you wanted to find out who this might be about, I suppose you could do a bit of digging, who has Harry dated with a family from Carolina? I like speculating the potential subjects of songs, but I also respect the artist’s privacy. So I won’t dig into this much. It’s all about the balance, kids! The beat here particularly isn’t horrible, and then combine it with that buildup and YES!
Two Ghosts: Well, I did just say I like speculating the potential subjects of songs sometimes and I do believe in the Louis and Harry “conspiracy theory” with much evidence backing its probability of being cannon if not still now, than at a point in the past. That being said, look at the lyrics of the song and the history of the bandmates. Fits with the theory, all I’m saying. People have speculated the “Same lips red, same eyes blue, same white shirt couple more tattoos” to mean Styles ex gf Taylor Swift (why are people so keen to make EVERYTHING about that particular relationship?), but the tattoo line disproves this, Taylor has none. (Louis on the other hand..) What? You came to see me review the actual music? Pshh.. fine. It’s sad, it’s beautiful, I like the ideas of it, and I feel like swaying along with a lighter. (Wish I could at his concert! OH WAIT I CAN’T BECAUSE TICKETMASTER’S VERIFIED FAN SYSTEM IS MESSED UP!! #BITTER)

Sweet Creature: OH MY GOSHHHHH!!! *Melts into big puddle* Look, A WILD, INSANELY ADORABLE HARRY STYLES LULLABY APPEARED!! Okay, I’ll stop talking in caps, it’s ruining the gentle nature of the song. Whoever Harry wrote this about is the luckiest person ever because AWW! *Refuses to think about how “Two Hearts in one Home”/“Wherever I go, you bring me home relates to the Louis and Harry theory, except, oops, I just put that thought into your brain now!* Harry referring to a love interest as a creature is a bit odd I think, but it’s a sweet creature like a bunny rabbit or a kitten, (and it’s Harry Styles) so it’s ok! Probably one of the cutest, purest, sweetest, relationship songs I have EVER heard!
Only Angel: I’d believe you to be lying if you said that the first 45 seconds or so DIDN’T trick you into thinking the style of this song would be different than from what it REALLY turned out to be! It’s got piano and choral voices, but at the same time, reminds me of a rocket ship preparing to go up into space. Remove the two final letters off that rocket, and you get the actual song, pure ROCK! OH GOD, HARRY CAN PULL OFF ROCK! (and even more so on the next song!) This is a JAM! I like the idea of a lover being that perfect split between angel and devil!The ooh-whoo-ooh is another fun little sing-along part!

Kiwi: Only Harry himself probably knows if this song title actually DOES have any connection to the song itself! (Maybe the girl is of that nationality) THIS SONG IS PURE, ENERGETIC, ROCK FUN! Does it actually make much sense? (Particularly loving that second verse!) THAT’S DEBATABLE, BUT JUST LISTEN TO HARRY SHOUTING IT, CRANK UP YOUR SPEAKERS AND HAVE A BLAST! “I’M HAVING YOUR BABY, IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSNESSSSSSSS” *LOUD GUITAR*

Ever Since New York: *Cue calm acoustic tune break* Probably the most soothing, in-the-zone, track on the album. It’s simple, it loops around, yet it retains replay value. (I mean this seriously! Not just as a fan! Serious business!) I fell right in love with this one, the moment I saw him perform it on SNL. I had no idea Harry had so much talent with a guitar, the one with the guitar in the band was always Niall.

Woman: CAUTION: EXTREMLY CATCHY! Try not to sing the playful Lalalalalalalala or get the chorus and matching guitar rhythm (COOL!) in your head! Again it contains a voice in the beginning, it’s interesting when artists do that. Shout out to Harry’s affinity towards Rom-Com movies! Except this particular relationship doesn’t seem to work out as well as one in a Rom Com! Harry said he’s been told the noise in it sounds like a duck or goose and I simply cannot unhear that!

From the Dining Table: WARNING: Don’t play this song loudly, particularly if you are listening to the album on earbuds because it does have that weird ASMR affect when listened to like that! Personally, I hate that effect, it feels uncomfortable and weird. So, yes it sounds like Harry recorded this song extremely close to the microphone, and it gives probably the intended feel of feeling more connected with it. This song’s really sad and lonely, and it contains a line about playing with himself HARRY OMFG! I hope famous people don’t have to live this way too often, it captures the lonely-in-a hotel room vibe, even if this particular case also involves a breakup. The bridge actually reminds me of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, except it isn’t at all happy, the hope ends in sadness!

Album Rating: 9.7/10 Raise your hand if you’ve been waiting for this ever since Harry’s X Factor audition! *Raises hand up to sky like that joke on Tumblr* *Raise your hand if you have been personally victimized by Acoustic and Rocker Harry*

Anyway, WHAT AN ALBUM! I love that Harry wrote much of it, I’m impressed with his guitar skills, I love how it goes from sad, to sway-worthy, to the most adorable thing in the universe (other than Harry himself) to HECK YEAH, LET’S BUST SOME WINDOWS! What’s my one complaint? 10 TRACKS ONLY, WTF?! There’s this concept of a deluxe album, Harry, why’d you make us think you’ve never heard of such a thing? Honestly, don’t Directioners deserve just a little speck more?! It’s insulting! I still couldn’t be happier with what we have, I always knew he had the potential to produce THIS!

Fave Tracks: Sweet Creature, Kiwi, Ever Since New York
Least Fave Tracks: Meet Me In The Hallway, From The Dining Table (Somehow they don’t quite do for me what the rest of the album does)

Buy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/harry-styles/id1226034336

“SOMETHING DIFFERENT” FOR YOUR PLAYLIST! A NEW (ADORABLE!) BOYBAND!! Single Review: Something Different -Why Don’t We

There is no decent reason to pretend that you don’t love boybands, and that they aren’t like pillars of pure sunlight, and laser beams that shoot out candy, into our world, that make it just that much better!

Okay, but seriously if you say you can resist their music, you’re probably

a) LYING!

b) depriving yourself of a super great time!

so don’t be like that! 🙂

Anyway, I think I found the next coolest boyband to provide us with some electropop shots of happiness, and work their way straight into our hearts!

Enter Why Don’t We, this young band, with an EP already out, and a music video (for single Nobody Gotta Know) directed by none other than Actor and Youtube Supervlogging Maverick Logan Paul! (The vid is ADORABLE Too! Try 5 adorable boys coming up to strangers and completely serenading them! ❤ PS: I don’t recommend the less recent video, for that song, it’s kind of weird, and not the good type of music video weird.)

Members are (Left to right) Jack Avery (age 17), Jonah Marais (age 18, THANK YOU), Zach Herron (age 15), Daniel Seavey (18, AGAIN, THANK YOU!), and Corbyn Besson (17, Ok.. I’ll wait..).

Super fun fact about them: Every Wednesday on the bands Twitter and Instagram account, they post a (swoon-worthy) cover song medley based on a single word/phrase that their fans choose! This week’s word was Night.

They released their newest song Something Different on April 7, 2017, and announced their second EP, also titled Something Different. (Out next week! Come back for a review hopefully!)

IT’S PRETTY LIT!! Why Don’t We (;)) check it out!

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Disclaimer: Since this boyband is BRAND NEW to me, I haven’t yet learned who sings what parts yet, but OF COURSE I’ll learn, because that’s the way to do it!!

The beginning sounds exactly like a heartbeat, and I’m for it! #TryItWithEarbuds

Heart beat+ Sick beat CHEECCKK!!

“Baby we got us, We on something different” IS THIS A DRUG REFERENCE?! Y,ALL ARE ALL SO YOUNG!

But love can be like drugs, can’t it? 🙂

TIME TO DANCE, YO!! Great club song if you’re into that kind of thing, great pool song if not!

There’s something wrong about boys acting like they know what girls are thinking though. Seriously! Leave the mind reading to fiction!

Synth-pop more like synth-BOP! YOU’VE BEEN GRACED! (Wait, what do you mean I’m not Grace Helbig?!)

Rating: 7.8/10 New summer electro pop to jam to from a brand new band! SO FAB! I like that in music you can get high off love, plus YET ANOTHER GREAT EDM BEAT THAT EXISTS IN OUR UNIVERSE, BECAUSE THEY’RE ONLY MULTIPLYING!

I think these boys have Something WONDERFUL and look forward to that next EP, as well as hopefully lots of future success! I haven’t really seen a boyband taking the electro-pop route quite as heavily, so I think that’s really dope!

Listen:

Buy:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/something-different-ep/id1222804505?app=itunes

 

DIRTBIKE HIGH SCHOOL PARTY!!! Music Video Review: Break My Heart-Hey Violet

New to the scene,alternative pop-rock group Hey Violet recently released a music video for their single Break My Heart and it totally gives me some party/Glee (The TV show) vibes!

I believe they’re getting their own should-be-hits in line after opening for 5 Seconds of Summer two tours in a row! They’d also be wonderful headliners!

I’d also be lying if I said that the song wasn’t a wonderful bop for your spring playlists! YAASS!!!

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Aw! Don’t start a video out with someone crying! That’s no way to do it!

Badass weapon of choice= a baseball bat, clearly!

OKAY, LOOK AT THE CHEERLEADERS! They basically are the Glee Cheerios!

RENA’S PINK HAIR IS SOOOOOOO GORGEOUS!!! I like SO MUCH better than her multicolor dreads!

HEY VIOLET HEY! (Including hot new bassist Iain HEYYYY 😉 )

The Heart Pinata AWESOME!! And it’s a heart in the biologic way, not the artistic way!

Idk about you, but I’d like that shiny golden jacket pls!!

And the pinata bashing goes along with the beat because Rena’s awesome like that!

That sweatsuit got her looking right like Sue Sylvester!

EXCEPT IT’S LACEY AND FLORAL!

Who’s that guy in the shower? Is that the boyfriend?

HE’S GOT GLITTER IN HIS HAIR!! THAT’S SOOOOOO PRETTTYYY!!! (I ❤ some nice GLITTER!!)

SPEAKING OF GLITTERY MAGIC, NICE TOP CHANGE!!

How epic would Hey Violet be as a prom band, eh?!?

She got the song name on her jacket and I like that a lot!

SHE’S SO PRETTY! DANG!!

HECK YEAH LIGHT UP DIRTBIKES!! TOO FUN!!

Where’s my invite to the HV dirtbike fun!?!

Live music and LIT Dirtbikes! WHAT MORE CAN YOU NEED?! (Ok, probably food actually!! Really good food! BBQ perhaps?!)

Rating: 7.7/10 Dirtbikes, glitter, pop/rock bops, enough said! Though, I’m not sure what to think of what the song is saying, why would she want the relationship to end badly?

Watch:

BEA MILLER DESTROYS A LIVING ROOM?!?! Music Video Review: Burning Bridges-Bea Miller

I have to stop ignoring the work of artistry that is Bea Miller’s newest EP Chapeter One Blue on this music blog! So, I’m starting now with this raw new video and might yet do a (month and a half, but age doesn’t matter too much with music right?) late EP review because it’s short, it’s AMAZING, and, it’s got two whole parts left, because this is themed/concept music. (Plus, Bea could use the speck of promotion I can provide, since Hollywood Records is shit with that!!)

So, basically, in Bea’s newest project, she is releasing 3 eps, each centered on a theme of a color and an emotion that ties to that color. (SO. DANG. COOL!!) The first of these Chapter One Blue (which includes Burning Bridges in addition to two other songs) is already out, and it focuses on the pain and sadness of a breakup (presumably, her breakup with fellow singer Jacob Whitesides), hence the blue color.

She also has a music video for the track before this track called Song Like You and it might be a good idea to watch that too/first because she does go in order and will have a video out for the last song on the EP in the future that will happen right after this video. (It kind of reminds me of what Troye Sivan did with his Blue Neighborhood trilogy of music videos, come to think of it.)

Anyway, that video was about the memories of the relationship, this one’s more about anger that it’s over.

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Question: WHY DOES BEA/HER EX BF EVEN HAVE A (Toy, I hope!) EYEBALL?!

Apparently, for breaking mirrors. OH, IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!! (She seriously is into eyes though, like with her other song Yes Girl, there’s a theme going on)

*intro clip* *cue title slide, like we’re watching some TV show* haha, love it!

WHOA! SHOULDN’T BURNING SOMETHING AS LOVELY AS FLOWERS BE A CRIME?!?! But… fire looks so cool though! (I’m not a pyromanic, I swear!)

I’ve heard of punching pillows to get rid of anger, but not tearing them up! Whatever works, I guess?! (Except you’re out one pillow!)

Aw she’s destroying  the book they read together in the previous video 😦

It’s really disturbing that somebody destroying things can be kind of satisfying to watch. It’s like that youtube genre of satisfying things to watch, except more twisted!

Like glass smashing, THAT HAS NO RIGHT TO BE VISUALLY APPEALING, YET, HOW COOL CAN THAT LOOK WHEN DONE RIGHT?!?!

MOMENT OF APPRECIATION FOR THE STUNNING RAINBOW GLOW AT 2:37!!

Poor Bea! 😦

Calm down with the broken glass man! There are children watching!!! (But don’t 😉 )

That living room kind of went from 100 to 0, huh?

Looks like the next video is starting off at the piano, isn’t it? 😉 PS: The flower petals in front of it though!!

Rating: 8.5/10 because I’m twisted, and broken glass is a cool visual! No, but really! I like this video better than her previous one for Song Like You, and I guess that means anger is more entertaining to see. The video reflects the anger of the song quite well, because you can’t represent anger better than with destruction! Oh and since I haven’t reviewed the EP (yet), I’m going to point out that I live for the London Bridge sample within the song because it’s so cool! Bea is for sure, an artist that should be on more radar’s and CHECK THIS CRAZY VID OUT!

 

 

 

SIGN OF SOLO HARRY!!!! Single Review: Sign of The Times -Harry Styles

April 7, 2017. Might as well be considered INTERNATIONAL SOLO HARRY DAY!!!!

The most highly anticipated solo debut of 2017, out of any of the four One Direction boys, and out of basically anyone in the world selling music, has been for Harry Styles, most likely due to his gift of out-charming the heck out of anyone who decided to pay attention for more than 60 seconds.

It’s finally here, and he’s no longer just a sweet British 16 year old boy who works in the bakery…

(Sorry for the feels trip!)

He’s a full power ROCK STAR!!!

And he proves it with his debut solo song Sign of The Times, a 5 minute and 40 second long power rock ballad.

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Lets get this out of my system first: OH MY GOD IT’S HARRY, AND HE’S FINALLY BACK BECAUSE HE BASICALLY DISAPEARED ALL THE WAY TO PLUTO BETWEEN THE SECOND ONE DIRECTION’S HIATUS HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, AND NOW, THIS PRESENT MOMENT ON EARTH! (Fine, we got Another Man and stuff about his upcoming war movie Dunkurk but, HE. WAS. SO. QUIET!!)

WE CAN FINALLY HEAR HIS VOICEE!!!

Okay, song time! Let’s listen together!

Is this about death? Is it Dunkurk/war related? I’m not entirely sure what this song is really about yet, but I’m actually reviewing something the day it came out for you! Of course still have thoughts to say!

HOLY COW, IS IT JUST ME OR…

BUT HARRY'S FALSETTO PART OF #signofthetimes SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE ZAYN!!

— DanaLovatoHoranHemmo (@Danathefangirl) April 7, 2017

I’m just going to leave that there…

IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL THOUGH!!

No, Harry I won’t stop the crying because your voice is too beautiful, edgy, and soulful!!

I’m kind of getting vibes like One Direction’s song Infinity, because it’s soothing like that, but it’s edgier and is all around  produced better.

And he’s definitely had old school rock influences such as Mick Jagger and David Bowie. If the rebirth of that kind sound starts with Harry, it definitely won’t harm music production! I think it’s really interesting that that’s what he’s starting to go for!

So the roughness of Harry’s voice sort of balances out the smoothness of the piano rhythm. So it’s like adding peanuts to peanut butter and it becomes chunky. You heard it here on DOPC, Harry’s song Sign of The Times is musical peanut butter!

AND THEN WE GET TO THE FALSETTO PART, WHICH, LITERALLY, HE WENT TO ZAYN’S STUDIO AND STOLE, I SWEAR, BECAUSE, LOOK DIRECTLY AT ME AND TELL ME IT COULDN’T HAVE BEEN SAMPLED OFF OF Mind Of Mine!

Fine Harry, We can get away together, no need to yell! (This part is seriously magical though! Lift me into the sky with it blasting in the background!!)

Fave Lyric: “Just stop your crying have the time of your life, looking from the atmosphere, things are pretty good from here”

Rating: 10/10 The solo efforts of every current (and former, what up Zayn!) member of One Direction, have really been what I could have expected (based off their musical preferences, each guy listens to, and is inspired by, different genres) and even more!(A review of Louis’s solo debut Just Hold On can be found here https://dropofpopculture.wordpress.com/2016/12/13/louis-tomlinsons-supportive-solo-debut-single-review-just-hold-on-steve-aoki-and-louis-tomlinson/ and a review of Niall’s solo debut This Town
can be found here https://dropofpopculture.wordpress.com/2016/10/03/niall-goes-solo-and-sounds-like-being-wrapped-in-a-warm-fuzzy-blanket-single-review-this-town-niall-horan/  if you have not read them yet!) It’s really interesting to see the types of music they go towards on their own, compared to their music as a group!

Except, we still don’t know about Liam’s single yet… You are up next Payno!

Harry’s song is no exception to being as good as I expected from my predictions (the rock influence), to its surprises! (Where’d the falsetto come from?!?! I LOOVE that kind of surprise!)

It’s an all around comforting, yet powerful rock tune, that is less-radio-friendly than Niall’s and Louis’s solo efforts, but why should that really come to play when it’s Harry freaking Styles?!

Oh and, ……. It’s kind of already beat a record held by chart-titan/all-around queen Adele! That’s kind of EPIC?! It was the fastest song to reach #1 in the US on Itunes!!!!

Can’t wait to see what else Harry has in store for us with music! I’m still really curious, and he has a SNL performance coming up with another expected new release so IT’S SO LIT!

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0GKGpObgPY

Buy: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/sign-of-the-times-single/id1223248595

‘No Promises’, but, I JUST FOUND YOUR NEW SUMMER JAM!! ;) Single Review: No Promises- Cheat Codes ft Demi Lovato

Hey! Demi finally followed the lead of her pop pals and gave us some radio-friendly EDM magic and IT IS LITTTTT!!!

While Lovatics are impatiently waiting for our Queen’s sixth album through studio teases, adorable pics of her dogs Batman and Ella/adorable pictures of her and her bf Bomba, and endless promotions for the new Smurfs movie ( Shut up! Our lives are still tough! New music is IMPORTANT!!) this BOP AND THREE THIRDS was announced with up-and-coming, Chainsmokers-esque, EDM producers Cheat Codes. (NO, I didn’t already know about this song or hear it hundreds of times already before it was announced because it was leaked…. what are you talking about?)

I don’t know whether this will be on Demi’s upcoming album or not, but I’m hoping it’s SOOO successful, and if not, at least she’s finally giving us something! (Her last single Body Say was released last July!)

No Promises was officially released on Friday, March 31, 2017.

___________________________________________________

Can the breathy falsetto thing be a new music trend for those that can pull it off well enough?!?! Demi 1000% CAN!!! (For another current example, see ZAYN and Taylor Swift’s I Don’t Wanna Live Forever) The beginning of this is similar to her song Cool For The Summer in that regard, and it’s KIND OF EVERYTHING!!

BEAT DROP!!!!!

YOOOO!!!

Hey Cheat Codes guy, who gave you the right to sing on your own track?! BRING BACK DEMI!!! (I’m kidding, sort of, but his vocals are generic AF!!)

MORE BREATHY DEMI!!!

  #SHOOKETH

That chorus JUST GOT 97 TIMES BETTER BY ADDING A DUET BETWEEN GENERIC GUY AND QUEEN DEMI! I have no idea why that wasn’t done from on the first chorus!! The remaining 3 times would have been if producer dude had a better voice, but he does add something to it!

+ EVERYONE LOVES A SING/SHOUT ALONG CHORUS, AND IF YOU DON’T YOU ARE LYING/Charts such as Billboard statistically prove you wrong!

DID I MENTION THE FUN EDM BEAT! I DON’T THINK I DID/DON’T FIX WHAT ISN’T BROKEN!

Queen Demi GOES OFF at the end, because YOU KNOW SHE’S GOT TO SLAY WITH A HIGH NOTE IN THERE!!!

YES YES YES!!!!!!!!

The whole song has me like:

Fave Lyric : “Just be careful, love ain’t simple, promise me no promises”

Rating: 9.4/10: If mainstream, top 40 radio doesn’t overplay THE HELL out of this song this summer, they’re MISTAKEN! This JAM is exactly like many of the songs that they already play/are currently super popular, and it HAS DEMI LOVATO’S INCREDIBLE VOCALS!! The breathy falsetto thing makes it stand out a bit, and well, if you want to know what I think, they sound better together on that chorus than the dude from the Chainsmokers did with Halsey! Bottom line: REALLY FUN SONG, YOU CAN BET IT THAT DEMI ADDS TO IT SIGNIFICANTLY, AND IT DESERVES CHART SUCCESS AND TO BE BLASTED IN A LOT OF CARS AND BY THE POOL!!

Listen: https://open.spotify.com/track/5lNuqFVMca4vPupY10cH0J

Buy:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/no-promises-feat-demi-lovato-single/id1218414730?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

DIVIDE IS DEVINE!!!! Album Review: Ed Sheeran “Divide”

The world’s favorite British, Ginger, Singer/RapGod/GeniusSongwriter IS BAAAAAACCKKK FROM HIS YEARLONG HIATUS WITH HIS THIRD ALBUM!!!!

IT’S LIT! Ed is putting 2017 off to an excellent start!

Continuing his Math symbols theme, Ed’s junior album is called Divide. (and the keyboard doesn’t have the right symbol, for no reason at all? WHY DOES IT HATE ED? Why does it want to make online math homework EVEN more miserable by just entering /?)

And quite honestly, Ed Sheeran math is only kind of math on the entire planet that is EXCELLENT AND WONDERFUL!! (All other math FREAKING SUCKS!! I have a rough history with the subject and being forced to do it makes me really miserable! Props to you if it’s a thing you’re good at/like!)

the only math i do #divide pic.twitter.com/DlxgLPXJQJ

— syd (@sydnxyferris) March 3, 2017

Not this Ed!

WAIT, Um think I’ll stop listening before 2032…

But the music literally doesn’t have to do with math, but with wonderful lyrics so I’m still down!

OH, and according to the Official Charts List, which is what I assume to be the UK equivalent of the Billboard Top 100, ED IS SOME KIND OF RECORD SETTING LEGEND?!

Divide is already the 3rd fastest selling album based off first week sales, AND he has NINE songs in the top TEN?!?! (The exception is the newest Chainsmokers song, because, somehow, mainstream radio eats up their music up like potato chips!)

EP. IC. !!!!!!!

Album Art: 8/10 Ed’s covers are as simplistic and basic as it gets in the catalouge of music covers, but don’t fix what isn’t broken because, there are established themes to keep running. Blue is the color, as green and orange were with the previous two. (Is orange Ed’s favorite color? There’s enough evidence that it might be!) And why not add in some tye-dyed t-shirt realness because it never goes out of style.. (I’m writing about Ed Sheeran though! Not Taylor Swift!)

Eraser: ED SHEERAN RAPPING IS KIND OF EVERYTHING!! I love it soooooooooo much! Insanely fun, insanely clever, just plain insane! It’s a very honest song about his experience with the music industry, how his expectations were, compared to how he feels now. I find it super interesting!  As a listener/fan I get the impression that Ed’s health and happiness was going downhill before he took his big hiatus. (It also becomes clear when you look into the last track on this album, but this is the upbeat version!) This is the exact reason why people who work in the entertainment industry should take these kinds of breaks, because they’re working so hard all the time! It’s serious, slightly concerning, and yet it’s still fun! (Side note: I almost cried with happiness upon my first listen because I was so happy to hear new Ed and his rapping slayed me, etc!)

Castle on the Hill: A charged-up, soulful storytelling (Ed)venture! (PS: I reviewed the music video! Check it out under the music tab!) I love how visual it is! It definitely paints pictures in your head! It kind of makes me want to adventure outside, especially if a castle is involved! Growing up in the country sounds fun, though he’s definitely rowdier than I’d be! I also love that we get to know his background much better!

Dive: I like how it builds up! Ed is definitely singing more powerfully than he ever has! Dang, maybe the hiatus really did some good! (Perhaps laying off drinking helped as well? I heard he did that from somewhere..) It’s amazing for all your chill-and-soulful music needs! Oh and there’s a good guitar solo in there!

Shape of You: JAMMM!!!!

NOT THAT KIND OF JAMMM!!!

I will say it’s gotten to be super overplayed currently though (Overplayed Jam?! Wouldn’t that be very messy? …Please keep reading this blog..)

It’s overplayed and yet I’m not as sick of it as I should be? Dang, Ed you’re so good!

It kind of promotes the (false) idea that looks are the main thing that matters in a S.O., but at least it’s body positive?!

TheBeatIsAMAZINGAF!!!!!!!!!! Catchyness is also a thing.

Perfect: LoveLoveLoveLoveeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! OH MY GOD, THIS IS THE SWEETEST!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤  (I’m one of those people who really loves the ideas of love and romance! <3) I wanna slow dance to this with my future bae! (As well as Thinking Out Loud and other music ideas..WHERE IS HE?) “I found an angel in person and she looks perfect” ASGFL! AWWWW!!

Galway Girl: Who expected Ed to make Irish violin-heavy,  jigging music (With rapping added at that?!) ?!?!?! Who expected him to do it so well?!?! WHAT A WONDERFUL PLOT TWIST! Can’t say I’ve heard anything like it, I’m lowkey wishing I could jig now? (Niall Horan? Yes, I’d like a lesson please!!)

Happier: This just got SO sad!! It’s beautiful though, and the chorus sticks in your head. AWWWW THE ENDING!! 😦

New Man: How great is it that we can have someone as brilliant, and incredible-with-words as Ed Sheeran ROASTING THE HELL out of a TOTAL FUCKBOY in a song/rap! IT’S THE BEST!! This is probably the most SAVAGE song Ed has ever put out and I can’t believe this almost didn’t make the album! IT’S THE BEST, PLUS IT’S FUNNY?! Just, YES!!!!!!!!!!!! PSA: Ladies and gays, find a real man like Ed, not just some douchey fuckboy!

Hearts Don’t Break Around Here: Another sweet-as-a-cupcake-with-whip-cream-sprinkles- a stawberry-and-chocolate-sauce love song! I didn’t actually pay it much attention on my first few listens to this album but wow it’s adorable!

What Do I Know?: Well Ed, I’d say you know a lot more than you think you do/surprisingly, more than a lot of people. Simple, yet wonderful message of helping to change our world through music and love. We could definitely use more of it, especially in this time in our world. It’s similar to Gold Rush on Ed’s first album with the I-may-not-know-much-else-but-I-know-how-to-love-properly vibe, but it’s a step up! Spread love where you can, it’s wonderful and people need it! ❤ I love you for taking your time to read this blog okay? 🙂

How Would You Feel (Paean): Sweet, slow love ballad 3.o! (Ed has a girlfriend now! It sure makes sense!) I looked up Paean and it means “a song of praise or triumph” in Greek, which makes sense because in the song he’s praising the love of his girlfriend, while questioning how she’d respond to his confession of love! Cute, Cute! Ed’s love songs are still magical!

Supermarket Flowers: Saddest song on the album, and in fact probably second saddest in his whole song catalog. (First would be Small Bump, just wow..) I thought it was about his mother at first but I heard it might be his grandmother, but that doesn’t change how sad it is!  It says mom, but is it written from someone else’s perspective? It’s about death, it’s about as sad and beautiful as you’d expect.

Barcelona: Well Ed, aren’t we international now?! Ireland, Greece and now Spain! That’s what you get on the album if you spend your hiatus year traveling!  He sounds like a dog panting in the beginning of the song! And I’m not entirely a fan of his do-do doos. Another cool dance track too, what did Ed have the upcoming prom season in mind with this album?! I didn’t know Ed knew Spanish, but of course he does. I quite like the spanish-english mix on the bridge.

Bibia Be Ye Ye: A track inspired by Ghana! Ed is so cultural now! I dig it!! You don’t even have to leave home or even do anything besides put Ed’s album on Itunes or Spotify to experience this and it’s GREAT! Bibia Be Ye Ye means “all will be well” and it’s african backbeat is nothing to look past! I don’t know why, but I’m getting an urge to put this song on while I’m cleaning and jam out to it, so I’ll probably do that. Extremely positive vibes found with this one!

Nancy Mulligan: SPEAKING OF POSITIVE: why wouldn’t Ed make a cheery Irish song about the story of  his grandparents William and Nancy/Anne meeting and falling in love?! OH. MY. GOD. IT’S. SO. ADORABLE!!!!!! It’s so sweet that he would write this song for them, and it’s catchy, and dancey and UGH! ❤

Save Myself: Awww! He was definitely in a bad place with himself when he wrote this one and it’s about getting yourself out of a dark place and taking care of yourself before trying to take care of others. Powerful stuff! I think this was written before the hiatus, and I hope Ed’s doing a lot better now!

Album Rating: 9.5/10 We have our classic clever and beautiful Ed lyrics combined with the winning new mixture of cultural influences and personal background, and… well, love songs, but ED SHEERAN LEVEL MAJORLY ROMANTIC LOVE SONGS!! Never stop writing songs perfect for weddings Eddy! They’re something else! PS: Looking for an album to dance to?! IT’S RIGHT HERE!

Fave Tracks: Eraser, Perfect, Galway Girl, New Man, What Do I Know, Nancy Mulligan

Least Fave Track: Barcelona

Listen: Since Ed himself put the entire album on Youtube, bc he generously isn’t too concerned with sales, I’ll give a link to that playlist

But come on, since you’ll probably love it, you better support Ed and

Buy it: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/deluxe/id1193701079

 

 

 

 

ALESSA CARA BEGS BOYFRIEND TO STAY?! Single Review: Stay -Zedd ft Alessia Cara

New Music Thursday?! Releasing it a day early sounds great to me, but, question is, is it harmful?

Also, it weirds me out when a music producer is billed before the actual person singing the song. Like I get that it’s the producer’s track, but.. anyways.

Music producer Zedd  released his newest song Stay with singer Alessia Cara on February 23rd.

Personally, I’m into it!

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Interesting beginning, it sounds like humming! It also stays in the background until the chorus and later, it comes back.

I love Alessia’s voice, so clear and pretty!

THAT BEAT AND THE RAPPING! If I knew how to snap along (I know, I just never learned snapping, yeah judge it!) I would!

“underneath the rising sun” THAT IS TOO EARLY TO BE DRINKING!

This reminds me of Taylor Swift’s All You Had To Do Was Stay, only instead of the last word of the phrase being a high note, it has an electronic distortion on it. Weird, but it is an EDM song, alright. (Maybe it might be better as just her song though even though I like Zedd’s music? #ILikeTaylor’sBetter)

Another song this reminds me of Justin Bieber’s What Do You Mean? , because of the clock focus. You don’t find that often in pop music!

Catchy dance track is catchy! Present replay value is present!

Fave Lyrics: “Hope the winds that change will change your mind”

Rating: 7.4/10  Fun, boppy, radio-friendly EDM, and Alessia hasn’t done musically wrong yet! As long as the radio doesn’t make me hate it by playing it too much, it’s great!

Listen:

Buy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/stay-single/id1207481534?app=itunes