Charlie Simpson is most notable for being a part of award-winning boy band Busted as well as being the front-man of post-hardcore band, Fightstar. However, he has also seen great success as a solo artist too, with three albums already under his belt, and a fourth on the way!
‘Blameless’ sees Simpson take on a slightly different sound to anything he’s previously released (solo or in a band). It features Simpson’s trademark raw, powerful and raspy vocal atop a piano-led backing track with a semi urban-style beat to it. It’s something new for the singer-songwriter and leaves me intrigued for what his new album will hold.
The music video was directed, produced and edited by Simpson himself, during lockdown. It sees the singer performing in a variety of settings, most of all in the forest, at different times of day and night with some wonderful lighting effects surrounding him. It’s simplistic but reflects the track’s raw feel perfectly and the editing is pretty cool too.
What are your thoughts of the singer-songwriter’s latest single? Do you have a #WildCardWednesday track to recommend us? Please leave your thoughts or song suggestions in a comment or via social media.
The Rocket Summer is the solo project from singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Bryce Avary. Since self-releasing his first EP in 2000, at the age of 17, Avary has gone on to release a total of 7 EPs, 7 full-length albums and a live album too! Now, 2019 sees the release of his seventh studio album, Sweet Shivers. Here’s our thoughts on it…
From the offset, it’s clear that Sweet Shivers is a much more experimental album than his previous efforts, thought it’s still distinctly The Rocket Summer.
We’re instantly thrown in at the deep end with opening track, ‘Morning Light’, a much darker introductory track than some of his previous efforts – there’s a twinge of a more mainstream Nine Inch Nails vibe to it!
We’re then led nicely into ‘Shatter Us’– whilst I’m not keen on the trumpet-like synth effect, the vocal melodies in the chorus and the plonky piano are incredible, especially paired with the very personal lyrics.
‘Blankets’ is possibly one of my favourite tracks on the album – the full-on verses are juxtaposed by the beautifully whispered chorus, making it powerful and captivating. Melodically it is a stunning track and has something a bit Biffy Clyro about it.
We’re then treated to ‘Gardens’ – like an experimental pop track where Avary has clearly played around with production – Jamiroquai inspirations seem to come through in places. ‘Peace Signs’ has a lovely yet simple, descending guitar melody that loops throughout and a strong vocal melody to the chorus. And in the spirit of looping, ‘5 4 3 2 1 Z’ has a looping piano melody, combined with brass sounds and an understated vocal melody. Maybe the most commercial-sounding track on the record, though it completely changes pace two-thirds of the way through before coming back to the original chorus.
‘Wannalife’ then seems to act as an interlude between the first and second half of the record. A nice little acoustic number about his life’s desires.
Overall though, this is a well-written, if slightly more experimental album, that could divide the fans.
As a long-time lover of The Rocket Summer, it pains me to say that ‘Sweet Shivers’ is very much an album of two halves – the first half being a lot stronger than the second. The second half has a lot of melodies that kind of blend into one.
Additionally, throughout the record, there are some rather quirky synth sound choices that I’m not convinced work, at times sounding a little cheap and underwhelming.
‘Slomo’ and ‘Keep Going’ are both pretty forgettable, while ‘Together In TX’ has an edgy breakdown, which stopped me from skipping the track. ‘Apartment 413’ has a dark melody and this is lyrically reflected in the tone too.
It’s the final two tracks that are saving graces for the latter part of the record. ‘World’s Greatest’ has some great deep vocal melodies and heavy bass synths with an amazing breakdown that continually builds back up to the end of the track. Whilst ‘m & m’ is possibly the strongest track in the second half, bringing the album to a strong close – there are intense vocal melodies and a fast-paced drum beat, plus funky guitar riffs and a Busted-esque synth at the end. A great track to end on!
Overall though, this is a well-written, if slightly more experimental album, that could divide the fans. That said, there are plenty of moments to enjoy, so fans will still find parts they love. I’m certainly still a lover of The Rocket Summer and appreciate his artistic license to be experimental, but I hope his next record might return a little more to his roots.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our review! What do you think of The Rocket Summer’s latest album? Do you share the same opinions as us? What would you rate it out of 5? Please leave your thoughts in a comment or via our social media.
Enjoyed this? Check out some of our other reviews here:
Ariana Grande is back with the first single to be taken from her upcoming fourth album, ‘No Tears Left to Cry’. Written by Grande herself, alongside Savan Kotecha and its producers Max Martin and Ilya, it is a rather different pop track to her normal style.
Don’t be mistaken, it’s still dance-pop at the core with a powerful vocal chorus, but it’s got some quite 90s pop and R&B influences to it and it’s certainly not an instant and obvious standout hit; this track is much more of a grower.
The video features Grande performing amongst a lot of disorientated scenery (which corresponds with the upside-down text of the single cover and leaks of Grande in a corresponding sweatshirt). It’s an interesting concept for the video, which was directed by Dave Meyers.
Emma Blackery is a singer-songwriter, YouTuber and author from Basildon in Essex, UK. To date she has 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube, with 148 million views and in 2016, she supported Bustedon their Pigs Can Fly Tour.
Now, in 2018, Emma Blackery is releasing her new single, ‘Dirt’. With a decidedly electro-pop foundation, this track is topped off with Blackery’s rather British-sounding voice (which is quite refreshing!) and some explicit vocals; making it edgier than your normal dance-pop songs.
The video is a bit of fun with it’s quirky dances and neon pink and blue colours throughout; it’s not breaking any boundaries but it’s light-hearted and funky.
This is a great track by a great up-and-coming artist on the pop scene!
We felt it was time to create the ultimate remix playlist, to accompany/rival the likes of the latest Now That’s What I Call Remix album, putting all the world’s best remixes into one mammoth playlist.
This playlist has been lovingly crafted to include a variety of remixes we love, as well as suggestions from you guys!
If you already own the songs and want the custom artwork, please feel free to copy/download it below:
re:MIXTAPE Playlist
This playlist is packed to the brim with some of the best remixes around:
Bazzi – Mine (Jengi Remix)
Maroon 5 – What Lovers Do featuring SZA (A-Trak Remix)
NEIKED – Sexual featuring Dyo (Oliver Nelson Remix)
Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back (NOTD Remix)
Charlie Puth – Attention (Bingo Players Remix)
Avicii – Lonely Together featuring Rita Ora (Alan Walker Remix)
Sigrid – Strangers (TIEKS Remix)
P!nk – What About Us (Tiësto’s AFTR:HRS Remix)
Kesha – Praying (Frank Walker Remix)
Craig David – I Know You featuring Bastille (Sultan + Shepard Remix)
Thirty Seconds To Mars – Walk On Water (R3hab Remix)
Maroon 5 – Wait (Chromeo Remix)
Taylor Swift – …Ready For It? (BloodPop® Remix)
P!nk – Beautiful Trauma (E11even Remix)
Niall Horan – Slow Hands (Basic Tape Remix)
Miley Cyrus – Malibu (Alan Walker Remix)
Rita Ora – Anywhere (R3hab Remix)
Britney Spears – Make Me… featuring G-Eazy (Tom Budin Remix)
Demi Lovato – Sorry Not Sorry (Freedo Remix)
The Chainsmokers – Something Just Like This featuring Coldplay (Alesso Remix)
Sam Smith – Like I Can (Artful Remix)
Zedd – Stay featuring Alessia Cara (The Kemist Remix)
David Guetta & Afrojack – Dirty Sexy Money featuring Charli XCX & French Montana (Banx & Ranx Remix)
Charli XCX – Boys (Nevada Remix)
Clean Bandit – I Miss You featuring Julia Michaels (Cahill Remix)
Liam Payne – Bedroom Floor (Cash Cash Remix)
Anne-Marie – Heavy (John Gibbons Remix)
NEIKED – Call Me featuring MIMI (Alex Adair Remix)
It’s the 1st August and summer is in full swing! As such, I thought it was time to present you with our next playlist – #SummerSongs 2017 (following on from #SummerSongs 2015)!
This 30-track playlist has been lovingly crafted with over 100 minutes of summery songs, both new and old, that I really love and put me in a great mood and I hope it’ll do the same for you too 🙂
If you already own the songs and want the custom artwork, please feel free to copy/download the artwork below:
#SummerSongs 2017 – The Playlist
This mammoth, tune-filled playlist includes the following summer anthems:
Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill (Throttle Remix)
OneRepublic – Rich Love featuring Seeb
A R I Z O N A – Feed The Beast
Jonas Blue – Mama featuring William Singe
NEIKED – Call Me featuring MIMI
Sigala – Came Here For Love featuring Ella Eyre
Phats & Small – Turn Around
Nevada – The Mack featuring Mark Morrison & Fetty Wap
Rita Ora – Your Song
Anton Powers – Baby featuring Pixie Lott
John Gibbons – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
Zedd – Stay featuring Alessia Cara
Will Joseph Cook – Plastic
Miley Cyrus – Malibu
Luis Fonsi – Despacito featuring Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber
Calvin Harris – Feels featuring Pharrell Williams, Big Sean & Katy Perry
Katy Perry – Bon Appétit featuring Migos
Ke$ha – Learn To Let Go
Disciples – On My Mind
J Hus – Did You See
Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like
Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holding Me Back
The All-American Rejects – Sweat
Club Drive – International
Busted – One Of A Kind
The Maine – Bitch Better Have My Money
Life Of Dillon – Rocks
Paramore – Forgiveness
Sheppard – Geronimo
Coldplay – A Head Full Of Dreams
I’ve gathered only the best songs which I hope will be the soundtrack to your summer – I want this summer to be one you’ll remember…for the best reasons! Check out the playlist on Spotify.
Man are we pleased that Busted are back together! Despite years of stating he’d never rejoin Busted, Charlie and the boys have reunited and their new sound is SICK!
This latest track, ‘On What You’re On‘, is funky as hell, with some sort of Daft Punk vibes going on! I’m all over this – loving the new sound and the fact that they have moved with the times, rather than stuck to what they used to do, within the pop rock genre – it’s just awesome!
Surely a tune like this is set to hit Number 1?! Good luck with the comeback boys!
Will Joseph Cook is a great, British singer/songwriter who is making waves on the scene.
Having seen him support Walking On Carsearlier this year, he has been on my radar ever since and this song is rather infectious. Although it’s still deep-rooted in indie songwriting, there’s something beautifully pop about it.
He’s been hard at work gathering a loyal following and I’m sure when his debut album drops, things are going to blow up for him!
Make sure you check out ‘Sweet Dreamer’, it’s ace!
Sia is back again with another incredible new track, just months after her album, This Is Acting and it’s not taken from it. Could this be another new album in the making?
The song is passionate, powerful and pure pop…it’s everything a contemporary pop song should be and more!
The addition of Kendrick Lamar‘s verse, further adds to the dynamics to the song and of course, as we’ve come to expect, the music video is a masterpiece; a marvel to behold!
After 12 years away from the band, Busted are finally back with their new single, ‘Coming Home’, taken from their upcoming, third album, Night Driver.
The song sounds a lot more mature than their previous, pop rock antics, with its synth-heavy and subtle tones, however it still has the iconic vocals and feel to the band. I’m intrigued to hear what the rest of their new album will hold…will there be some of their fun-filled, guitar-heavy, power-pop anthems? Or will they have carried the maturity of this song, throughout the album?
Either way, we sure are excited to have the band back together and kickin’ it like they never went away! Welcome back guys!
After departing from his band, Hollywood Ending, Chris Bourne is going solo and gearing up to release a whole host of new music.
The first single of his new material, is ‘MFT80s’ has been really positively received and so Chris is planning on releasing more, very soon.
During our interview, Chris explained that he is focusing on releasing singles, rather than an album, as well as a cover song (which he is shooting the video for this weekend!). He told us how the music he’s been listening to recently, mainly consists of old-school 80s tunes and what his plans are, regarding his tour of the UK.
As with most of our interviews, we played a game of ‘Would You Rather…?’, so make sure you check that out!
I hope you enjoy this interview and please go ahead and show your support by sharing the link on your social media accounts!
Chris Bourne (previously of Hollywood Ending fame and younger brother of James Bourne from Busted) has just released his debut single, ‘MFT80s’.
Taking a leaf out of James’ book, Chris Bourne has adopted a similar, synthpop/pop rock style and created this fantastic song; surefire to become the guilty pleasures of even the most serious of music lovers.
The music video is perfectly matched to the style and sound of the song too, so make sure you check that out below.
What do you think of Chris’ debut single? Have you already heard it? Are you looking forward to hearing more? Please share this post on your social media accounts and don’t forget to recommend your #WildCardWednesday tracks to us too!
Charlie Simpson has had several incarnations in the music industry, first there was Busted, then Fightstar and finally his solo career.
Most recently, Charlie has released his third solo album, Little Hands. One of the songs taken from the album, is this song, ‘Walking With The San’, which was taken from the television programme, Singing In The Rainforest, which saw Simpson collaborate with the San Bush People.
I love the sounds of the San people used throughout this song as it captures something magical and warm within the song and the video below shows some of that processes – well worth a watch.
It was also announced, after many years of Simpson saying he would never rejoin, that he has agreed to reignite the sensation that were Busted alongside fellow, founding bandmates James Bourne and Matt Willis, who are currently on tour and gearing up for a new album release. Exciting things to come, I’m sure.
Are you a Charlie Simpson fan? Have you already heard this son? Are you excited about the upcoming Busted release? Please share your #MellowMonday song choice with us, either in a comment below or on our social media.
Muzik Speaks 