Album Releases: Week Commencing 22/03/10: Part 1

Gabriella Cilmi - Ten

Sweet About Me was a track that was played everywhere and got in every single head. It was a catchy slice of minimalist pop, why break a winning formula? I don't know but in their infinite wisdom the team behind Gabriella Cilmi thought she would connect better with an audience if she sounded more like the eighties. The retro trip is not totally horrible with Cilmi's big Anastasia style voice mostly syncing with the beats pleasingly especially on girl power track On A Mission. When they move away from the retro fitting the album hits a stride, but it is never for very long. Let Me Know and Superman lets Cilmi show off her pipes but for the majority of the album she seems to be constantly reigning herself in, content to stick with middle of the road bland vocals, which is a shame because she possesses some diva vocal chords. In the end this sounds exactly like the hundreds of 80s electro pop revivalists doing the rounds at the minute, just not performed anywhere near as well Why break a winning formula? Because they clearly didn't want any modicum of success for their artist.

Top Tracks: Superman, On A Mission
If you like this try: Various Artists - Ultimate 80s Schlock

Goldfrapp - Head First

They have always liked the 80s by the sounds of it but never has the influence come through so clearly in Goldfrapp's music than on new album Head First. It's all synth, airy vocals and not so subtle sex references (sit on your rocket huh?), as with any retro sound it can easily fall on the wrong side of cheesy and Head First is very cheesy. It doesn't necessarily detract from the quality of the album, there are moments of fried gold, but there are fewer than on previous albums. Where once Goldfrapp trail blazed they now seem content to plod along way behind the Gaga, Little Boots and even the La Rouxs of this world. It must taste even weirder when you can hear Goldfrapp's influence in the work of all three. Instead of grabbing you by the jugular and forcing you to dance at knife point like Oh La La and Strict Machine did, these songs seem happy enough in the background like cast offs from the Never Ending Story soundtrack. A band stuck in first gear producing solid output just nothing worth looking away from your shreddies for.

Top Tracks: Alive, Shiny and Warm
If you like this try: Annie - Anniemal

Joe Bonamassa - Black Rock

I imagine in Texas where Joe is from they have a version of Stars In Their Eyes presented by a stitcom hypnotist whose tricks always go wrong with hilarious consequences. One night Bonamassa shuffled onstage and said to the host I want to be a blues guitarist from the 1960s the hypnotist clicked his fingers and little Joey Bonamassa could play and sing like B.B. King, but the hypnotist had a sudden heart attack and died. To this day Joe still thinks he is a 1960s bluesman. At least that what it sounds like on his new record Black Rock. The guy can clearly play very well and his voice is suited for the blues he plays but my god is it unimaginative. I criticise Nickleback for producing such formulaic songs so it's only fair I do the same for Bonamassa, you can set your watch to the key change it happens so consistently. Some of the tracks are horrifically clichéd you'd be forgiven for thinking they were blues parodies, Bird On A Wire, Blue and Evil should be played for prisoners at Gitmo. It would certainly make them confess to anything, in a futile attempt to stop their suffering. As I said before the man has a lot of talent and it is on display here with some superb riffs on show, but there is so little emotion he should play the greys instead of the blues (pause for laughter). "I know suffering, that's the game I'm in" if Black Rock is anything to go by Bonamassa is very good at hiding his suffering from the masses. Give me Seasick Steve every time.

Top Tracks: When The Fire Hits the Sea, Athens to Athens
If you like this try: Seasick Steve - Dog House Music