Olympics 2012 - Muse with Survival

The London Olympics have already, far more than anticipated, captivated the nation. With a spectacular opening-ceremony, quirky and typically British demonstrating the Industrial Revolution, Bond and the Queen and of course the unrivaled British export of music. So it's hardly surprising when lead-singer of Muse, Matt Bellamy was asked to compose the official London 2012 Anthem it was something him and fellow band mates were keen to grab with open-arms. 


Survival, is the title of this stadium-anthem, befitting for the world's most momentous competition by a worldwide monstrous band in Muse.  Bellamy, describes the track as expressing, "a sense of conviction and determination to win." and it certainly succeeds in that. It's a rousing tune that begins with stirring strings capturing the roller-coaster of emotions that go hand-in-hand with Sport and particularly the Olympics. 


Once the song truly erupts with the explosive guitar-riffs and Bellamy's commanding feels, it really has quite a dark sound. But in a way  that captures the raw hard-work and 'never say die' attitude needed for a successful Olympian. Bellamy almost chants the vocals in a cult-like way, which are simple but unforgettable. "Yes I am prepared, to stay alive, I won’t forgive, the vengeance is mine, and I won’t give in, because I choose to thrive, I’m gonna win." It wouldn't be hard to imagine a Olympian sitting down in the dressing-room listening to this just prior to entering the battle-scene to really reinstate their desire and that is probably what the song was designed for. 


Bellamy and the rest of the band brought the song to the key 2012 Olympic personnel, who "said they'd love to use it as the official tune." and it really only takes a listen to understand their enthusiasm and as to why they were chosen to carry the torch, as shown below. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66molzUEkWI

World beginning to Feel the Love for D 'n' B

Drum and Bass has been rippling its distinct basslines and heavy drumbeats to chart-success for a few years and recently through the likes of DJ Fresh, Flux Pavillion and now Rudimental creating Monster hits as a genre it really has come a long way. Climbing to Number One in the UK just a couple of months ago are Hackney-based quartet Rudimental with their anthemic tune 'Feel the Love'.

The song features the soulful vocals of singer, John Newman, and really is a breath of fresh-air in the way it truly stays faithful to it's genre with the Drum and Bass aspects of the tune the centre-piece of the song, rather than , as many artists are beginning to rely, the vocals. It has all the ingredients to be this years Summer-Smash alongside DJ Fresh's 'The Power' most notably. Yet the song has considerable depth and meaning to it and the structure of it, with the incorporation  of a trumpet-solo gives it a compelling edge, that other Summery tunes designed purely for the 'feel-good factor' don't. But it doesn't create this atmosphere through the lyrics, which are spirited and repetitive, it quite simply creates a mood designed to galvanize the listener.

The video is atmospheric and rejunivating, set in small-town America with several young people as the beat builds they begin to ride around on horses, a sign of human-spirit and freedom and the power and momentum that it's capable of achieving.

Undoubtedly-unorthodox, yet utterly Brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oABEGc8Dus0

Some Nights are Fun

It may come as a surprise that the New York band Fun have actually been together making music for quite a number of years, but only with their latest album Some Nights have they truly found their niche and really soared to success. Their first vigorous single, We are Young which featured Janelle Monae achieved many number one spots worldwide including the US and UK and they've followed it up with another stonking tune Some Nights. 

Sadly, it does feature a little autotune towards the end, which seems nothing short of futile given that lead singer Nate Ruess has a distinctive voice capable of reaching high notes. But don't let that put you off, like 'We are Young' it's uniquely special. 

The song is about a man, confused with his identity, he sings "Oh who am I? mmm...mmm..." The video uses an American War Scene to capture the underlying meaning of the song. It is as if he is in a battle with himself, wondering why he left his parents or changed his style. But the song remains uplifting, it begins with a chorus of singing chanting the hook and is soon joined by a military-like drum-beat. 

They are a quirky band, but in a way that appeals to the masses and I fully expect their album to deliver many more a memorable melody and infectious chorus. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQkBeOisNM0

Lonsdale Boys Club to bring back pop-rock

It wasn't long ago we saw bands like Muse, The Kaiser Chiefs and The Arctic Monkey's dominate the charts here and abroad with their irresistibly vivacious tunes packed with exciting guitar-riffs and catchy vocals, the charts seem to be lacking in this to a certain extent nowadays. It seems that the new pop-rock band, Lonsdale Boys Club have taken inspiration from home-grown bands like these as well as virtually all forms of rock in British history from Brit-Pop to The Beatles, mixed in with an ounce of disco/funk. They are the true definition of pop-rock.

Music of the last couple of years has seemed to express a new vibrant, upbeat energy and Lonsdale Boys Club have captured this with ease. They are quite simply fun, fun to listen to in their new tune 'Light Me Up' and fun to watch perform. Lead-singer Chris Weaver's vocals have echoes of The Kooks lead-singer Luke Pritchard if he actually opened his mouth properly and pronounced his words when he sung. Yet Weaver's vocals are lively and boisterous, which are perfectly suited to this sing-a-long anthem.

The tune essentially revolves around the concept that regardless of circumstance, everyone has the ability to let go, loose their inhibitions and quite simply light up our lives by having fun! The gentle drum-beat and charming guitar-riff blends brilliantly with Weaver's vocals to produce this almighty tune. It's astonishing really that this has failed to make it big, given it having all the attributes for a chart-success.

Expect to hear more and more from these London lads!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ULPsE0geY

Devlin - London City Part II

Dagenham's finest "angry young-man" is back and getting ready to take the charts by storm. With the very recent release of his unstoppable grit-hit "Watchtower" featuring the inspiring Ed Sheeran he has picked up where he left out in Bud, Sweat and Bears with a new single, "London City Part II."

There seems no artist more befitting to pay tribute through rap to London in the Olympic year than Devlin. Whilst he does have a permanent expression of rage, he seems to have a soft-centre and more importantly compared to the likes of Tinie Tempah, fame hasn't forced him to lose touch with the working man.

The track is a little heavier than the first part, released over a year ago, the guitar riff's echo those in "Fight Music" by D12, with Eminem of course one of Devlin's key inspirations. He raps with purpose, pace and power. "LON DON you can tell by the way that its spelt this place is a long gone out for its self with the streets of manic grid lock traffic." It acknowledges, London is by no means a perfect city, but the rollercoaster ride of living in arguably the most important city in the world is almost beautiful. Devlin raps, "I've worked all over the capital North, South, East, West If you like the city's my wife." The perfect example of a city that makes dreams come true, in a less romantic way than Paris or New York!


London is real, genuine people, concoction of cultures and background and Devlin embodies that. The video is shot using a reversing camera, with a gritty-grey artistic tinge, passing through the streets with Devlin rapping in front. Scenes of hard-working men and women are thrown in at various points and that's the key message he wants to get across it seems. Those people make the city so great; real, hard-working people and he is one of them. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMI8efVEYeM&feature=relmfu

Passion Pit Take A Walk to new album

Electropop has always been a slightly confusing genre, but one of those that seems to be all-encompassing, captivating fans of all different kinds of music. Passion Pit are the perfect example of this. They're uplifting sound so fresh and unique that every time you hear their music it feels like opening a portal to a new dimension. Following the phenomenal success of their 2009 album 'Manners', which featured on such platforms as FIFA 10 and the third series of Gossip Girl, the band have announced the release of their third-studio album, 'Gossamer'.

Take a Walk, the first single from their new album, is an exhilarating adventure into electropop, the chorus features a beautifully catchy riff similar to those of MGMT, another major force in the genre. A foot-stomping drum-beat and a melodic synth that brings together this exciting piece of music, with the very American vocals of lead-singer, Michael Angelakos.

The song is about an immigrant who scrapes enough money together to pursue the American dream, but they become lazy and forget their roots. The greed and selfishness of their children, and their accounts become overdrawn following some bad investments. Despite this, the song still has an positive feel, with the continued repetition of 'Take a Walk' describing a man, despite the pressures of his everyday and family life is still able to see the beauty of the world.

The video, depicts a camera quite literally bouncing around an American city, showing the turbulence of city-life in a vibrant, unorthodox way reflecting the fun-factor of Passion Pit's music...

Be sure to check it out and let's hope the rest of Gossamer lives up to this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZX6Q-Bj_xg