Unreality Shout - Music

Single Review: Madonna ft. Nicki Minaj & M.I.A. - 'Give Me All Your Luvin''

Dara Hickey — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:58:27 +0000

“A bit of a false start”

2 STARS

Digital Release: February 3, 2012

Physical Release: February 6, 2012

Single Review: The Fray - 'Heartbeat'

Dara Hickey — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:31:21 +0000

“It’s nice-sounding, inoffensive radio rock for the masses to digest - Heart FM would love it”

3 STARS

Digital Release: January 29, 2012

Physical Release: N/A

Single Review: Pixie Lott - 'Kiss The Stars'

Dara Hickey — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:31:55 +0000

“Decorated with elements of trashy 90s cheese-pop and dressed up like it’s something new”

1 STAR

Digital Release: January 29, 2012

Physical Release: N/A

Album Review: Lana Del Rey - 'Born To Die'

Dara Hickey — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:20:13 +0000

Lana Del Rey - 'Born To Die': 5.9

Lana Del Rey’s journey to prominence hasn’t been so much a “rise” as a “rise, then dip, then catapulted upwards”. Before anyone could object, she was scaling the lofty reaches of worldwide charts with ‘Video Games’ and for one brief moment, it seemed she could hardly fail to grasp success. However, revelations of her background stunted her path to success somewhat, before we realised that to be so cynical to just one artist would mean our unexplainable love for other, less talented artists would be completely unjustified. And even though Del Rey covers limited ground musically on ‘Born To Die’, only a fool would admit that what she does she doesn’t absolutely master.

Degrees: Four to Three

amazinsuphilips — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:15:07 +0000

After spending five days in the studio recording new tracks, Degrees announced yesterday that lead guitarist Neillo had left the band.This brings their number down to three: Alex on Drums, Jon on Bass and Patrick on acoustic and vocals (though maybe he'll swap to electric guitar). Will they stay as a trio or are they looking for a new guitarist. No information has reached my ears on that, but I do know that Neillo will continue to support the band in other ways. He's also said that the new tracks are "great". From a man who never seems to overstate, this is an indication of something very special indeed.

I'm not going to say I'm happy about this, but I wish them all well on their newly separated journeys and am, of course, really looking forward to the new tunes.

Single Review: Professor Green - 'Never Be A Right Time'

Dara Hickey — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:34:22 +0000

“When it comes to reigning in the extravagant bravado and turning up the emotion, well, it’s then that Mike Skinner’s musical abstinence hits you hardest”

2 STARS

Digital Release: January 22, 2012

Physical Release: N/A

Single Review: David Guetta ft. Sia - 'Titanium'

Dara Hickey — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:18:33 +0000

“‘Titanium’ fruits from arguably fresher soils than the bargain-basement thrills and of his previous commercial work”

3 STARS

Digital Release: December 9, 2011

Physical Release: January 22, 2012

Album Review: Dead Wolf Situation by Hysterical Injury

amazinsuphilips — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:44:30 +0000

Dead Wolf Situation is the debut album by Hysterical Injury. This is a drum and a bass, but it isn't Drum & Base. Described as Rock Noise, but the vocals are melodic. The album is so different from the music I usually listen to I had to run through the whole thing three times just to form an opinion. The sound is raw, sometimes rough around the edges. The tracks have an untampered, feel that makes me think a live performance wouldn't be so very different. To give you a flavour of what Hysterical Injury are all about, have a listen to their free download track Maths here http://bit.ly/himaths.

Single Review: Lana Del Rey - 'Born To Die'

Dara Hickey — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:00:46 +0000

“The title-track for her forthcoming album is almost formulaically a dizygotic twin of ‘Video Games’”

3 STARS

Digital Release: January 22, 2012

Physical Release: N/A

Degrees are in the studio again

amazinsuphilips — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:30:59 +0000

They've been going a good few months now and have produced a three track single and some superb live performances, including one at the Colchester Arts Centre in late 2011.

I was at Degrees' first gig last Halloween when Alex drummed whilst covered in fake blood and Patrick had the real life horror situation of having to sing with flu and half a voice. Luckily it was the tuneful, if raspy half, and the performance went down a storm. Since then they've played in and around Chelmsford, most recently on Friday the 13th of this month at Hooga with Missing Andy. They also guested at Point Blank when Gary Powell of the Libertines headlined.