Music Update: Alert! Aqua!

Aqua are having a comeback!

Or an attempted one, at least, with their release of the pop-single "Back To The 80's".

A very tactical choice of concept I think, considering "The 80's" is all very "now" and "The 80's is the new Friday" so forth. But sadly, Calvin Harris knew this back in 2007 already when releasing the much more justified 80's tribute: "Acceptable In The 80's" (it's true, and you know it).

Aqua's is a rather monotone tune that will rock the socks of every gay karaoke bar within range and hopefully the rest of us mortals will shrug it off as a joke.

This is .. danceable, not half as quirky as their previous classics like "Barbie Girl", "Dr. Jones", "Happy Boys and Girls" or "Lollipop (Candyman)" (songs we ALL love, seriously). It seems they are subtly attempting to be something more this time, more than just random and "laugh-at, not with". I mean, I like Aqua, really. But this is making them look like Wig-Wam. Sure - their track is an 80's tribute, and their wacky "style" has always been their trademark, but all the glow effects and the lack of REAL enthusiasm instrumentally (because the group itself is exploding with joy) is what holds this baby down.

It is not fair to judge pop music this way, and I know that. But the track is (unintentionally?) dropping hints of a "take-off", but the track really never gets going. It might qualify for Eurovision, but Tora the tiiiiiger is not impressed. I give them kudos for the attempt and hope that the Aqua who's sold over 30 million CD's worldwide will show us what they're made of when the entire album is released!

You can see their brand new video "Back to The 80's" here.

Keane - Perfect Symmetry

Yay it's 72 days until Christmas!

And 20 days until I'm going to the Keane concert.

3 days until my first exam.

And 1 day since Keane's newest album, "Perfect Symmetry" officially released. I mean, it's been on the internet for yonks, but now I have it here, in it's sweet, shiny cover. So I'll tell you about it.

I have had "Perfect Symmetry" on repeat ever since I got it in my possession a mere 24 hours ago. And I will initiate my review by saying that I don't like the four last tracks on the album. They're okay, I guess - but they aren't as ambitious and (well, actually "Black Burning Heart" is SO ambitious that it totally backfires on itself) energetic as the seven first tracks.

Their release single "Spiralling" is definately one of the strongest elements on this album. The song "Perfect Symmetry" is pompous and audiably challenging, but is sung with all the force and power that is required to emphasise the quite dramatic lyrics is has, like: "I wish I could make sense of what we do/ Burning down the capitals/ The wisest of the animals". But don't get me wrong, it is a really good song.

"The Lovers Are Losing" and "You Haven't Told Me Anything" are by far my favourites. They are worth purchasing the entire album for. Especially when the album contains "Better Than This", "Again and Again", and "You Don't See Me". --Erhm, yeah, you will find to your grand surprise that I have just listed the first seven tracks on the album. But like I said in the beginning - they're brilliant, and well produced and original yet still Keane'y! One other important thing is that this album is way more upbeat, playful and almost funky. You can dance to this!

Keane has always had good lyrics and this album is definitely no exception, they may sometimes be a little too philosophical though, you know, it gets so emotional and soulful that it doesn't even make any sense anymore. "I wish that I could be/ In the cellars of the sea/ And disappear in them/ Never to be seen again". Like what exactly is an ocean's cellar? This might be a very naïve question, I love artists with random lyrics. I am not sure though, because in "Black Burning Heart" the above phrase is followed by verses like "If we could turn back/ You can paper over the crack/ But it will return now/ And your heart will burn black" and so the song goes back to making sense in accordance with the title, but loses it's meaning as an entity. (There is also a strophe read in French in "Black Burning Heart", which is probably the major reason why I don't like this song. It tries to be something that it's not, and the biggest problem with that is that it is trying to be something it shouldn't want to be! If that makes any sense to you. It strives for something that is undesirable. Right? They have proved that they can give their songs perfect and wonderful sense in English. Well instead of going completely spastic over something as insignificant as mere 16 French words in track 10, I'll move on.)

Like stated, Keane have accomplished to record another great album that I already love a lot. It is not their best so far, it is nothing FANTASTICALLY BRILLIANT when it is compared to other bands I suppose. But for being Keane this was very daring of them. They have played a lot with the different spectres of sound and polished them (if you listen carefully there are like a gazillion different sounds that build up quite basic melodies) so that it isn't noisy. Well perhaps except from in "Playing Around" which keeps hollering "Turn up the volume!" but that never quite kicks off, so you don't want to turn the volume up at all.

Obviously, I can't finish this review without mentioning the amazing vocals of Tom Chaplin. He has an amazing voice.

Compared to "Under The Iron Sea" - "Perfect Symmetry" doesn't have a significant wholeness about it. You don't necessarily need the entire album to understand how wonderful it is, but listening to it over and over makes it grow on you eventually.

Like Keane always does.

I loved it, thank you!

Paul McCartney's Memory Almost Full

(Deluxe Edition)

I know none of you really bother to read the stuff I do about muzix. Probably mostly because I only listen to the type of stuff all you others never listen to. But in this case I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to refrain from reporting from my experiences from our very own Paul McCartney's newest album.

To begin with, I'm just going to say: Wise choice Paulie! Nice choice on selecting "Ever Present Past" as your release single from Memory Almost Full.

This might sound a little bitter, but I mean it. It was successfully managing to mislead the entire audience into believing that this album had this funky, upbeat, almost experimental electronic KICK to it. Because I bow to this song, it's most excellent.

It's just that after repeatedly twitching through this album - the only tunes that stick in a positive way are just "Mr. Bellamy", "Feet in the Clouds" - and "Ever Present Past" of course. I think he could have done better. Or, I don't think - I know! Even "Vintage Clothes" (such a funny theme, good melody to it) was kind of wasted by poor producing. Coming from one of the Beatles - it shouldn't have had this amateur sound to it. I'm an amateur though, not to pretend anything different! This record sold to Platinum in the US & A. It is just that - halfway through, he goes from the unconditionally playful style to something sounding a bit course and oldies. It also gets very "soulful", ghospel I'd say through "Gratitude" and "Nod Your Head". (Which by the way I believe are terrible tracks, sorry).

I don't mean to tread on any Paul McCartney fans out there (as believe it, or not - I like him too!) but this was to me a disappointment. Blame my expectations or my lack of knowledge on this one, but I wont go back on my words! He is certainly pushing his luck being his age (he's 66!), but let us all be a little conservative now - and he can just do "Hey Jude" until the sun comes up, because let's be honest. This wasn't good enough; no sir.

White Birch

During a most spontaneous raid through a record-shop the other night I came across a copy of The White Birch's "Come Up For Air", which I ended up buying on pure impulse. And it is such a fitting title because, it really leaves me breathless.

I'm not exactly known for having a heart made out of stone - as a matter of fact I cry very often over ridiculous things, like Disney films, Harry Potter books, the mentioning of a heaven for animals or a piece from Madama Butterfly. And the first track on "Come Up for Air" - "Seer Believer" by White Birch, it appears.

I am thrilled by this, because, it is just so low key and relaxing that I can handle listening to it just as much as I desire to. Whenever I find music I like I always make sure to keep it on repeat for as long as I can handle, and one of the great things about White Birch is that it lets me do exactly that! Obviously, it does remind one of Kings of Convenience (a comparison I think both those bands can handle without being anything but praised by it). It is though, a whole lot calmer - and it could obviously have been tweaked and polished into something less - may I say - generic? Even though White Birch is completely new to me, and I'm quite sure I have never heard of them before, their tunes do manage to seem oddly familiar. This might be because their tracks are quite similar to one another.

But I still love the atmosphere to it though! The album as an entirety is really well produced.

I think if I could recommend you an album right now to substitute the fact that Thomas Dybdahl is not releasing a new album this autumn, nor is Kings of Convenience - it would be White Birch's "Come Up for Air". I'm sure you will find it smooth and calm, almost ambient - with the mild and balanced blend of mellow male vocals and the gentle collaboration of guitar and percussion. Someone like you might be bored, surely. But you will listen to it again when it has grown on you.

It is like that. It's simple, lovely and Norwegian. Nothing else supplements autumn this well.

The Age of The Understatement

I finally pulled myself together and bought the album from "The Last Shadow Puppets" (from which we already know lead vocals Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys)). So yay!
Haven't listened quite enough to it yet, but I love it and everyone should get it - it's great. Lots of energy, wonderful lyrics - all in all a worthy and impressive production. Great stuffs!

It somehow has the air of a James Bond soundtrack, or maybe even a little hollywood-tex-mex -ish, funky really. it can stay beatles'ish slow paced for a bit, then it rocks out like it was 1989!

The track highlights are "The Age of The Understatement", "My Mistakes Were Made For You", "Time Has Come Again" and "The Meeting Place". At Least so far <3.

Ghosts - The World is Outside

Here is something you're guaranteed to like!
It's like Supergrass meeting Melody Club meeting Klaxons meeting Starsailor meeting Shout Out Louds meeting happy, upbeat, beautiful music!

Songs like "The World is Outside" and "Musical Chairs" are awesome though much like tunes you might have heard before. While "Stop", "Stay the Night" and "Wrapped Up in Little Stars" are incredibly original and fun and brilliant! Must hears!

Tons of energy, an album no longer than 48 minutes but with plenty of spark! You'll be surprised how captivating and addictive it is. The variation is also extremely striking, they possess different genres and use odd sounds in their music, but still make it sound very right.

Perfect for any occasion, so versatile and well-produced you might be frightened - though still hardly revolutionary! This is where conservative brit-pop meets traditional ballads and funky jingles and loud drums, a very strange place.

Recommended!