Artist: Dido

Safe Trip Home, the third album from singer-songwriter Dido, sees the chanteuse cook up a slightly different ambience than on previous albums No Angel (1999) and Life for Rent (2003). Though her signature elements remain in place--the limited, slightly cracked falsetto; the dreamy, comforting trip-hop vibe--there seems to be an extra density to Safe Trip Home, doubtless provoked by the loss of her father in 2006. The added weight is predominantly in the lyrics, which tend to focus on loss and heartache, but there's extra detail and depth in the musicianship too, since Dido has been busy honing her skills as a multi-instrumentalist. Despite the denser themes, the music still drifts by in classic Dido style, moving smoothly through the insouciant "Don't Believe in Love", the aptly titled "Quiet Times", and "Never Want to Say It's Love", before arriving at the somber-yet-elegant six-minute standout "Grafton Street", co-written with Brian Eno and featuring Mick Fleetwood on drums. The rest of the album unfurls in similarly sophicticated fashion, featuring the folkish "Look No Further", the upbeat "Us 2 Little Gods" and a nine-minute poetic closer called "Nor...
Different - But Just as Strong., 2009-01-01
Though Dido still sounds unmistakably like herself on her new album it is still obviously very different from her first two. Though some tunes are actually very melodic and catchy, don't expect to find big radio hits like "White Flag" or "Life for Rent".

The tone is generally darker, and many of the songs lyrically deal with theme of loss. Though some fans may be disappointed with Dido's new direction, I'm sure she will win new fans with this new record, which really shows the versatile artist she really is.

The first track "Don't Believe in Love" which has been chosen for the first single off the album, has been hailed by many as one of the best tracks - I don't agree. It's a funky track with a good beat, but it really doesn't have a very memorable melody.

In my view the next song "Quiet Times" is much stronger. It's an acoustic melodic song and for me one of several highlights on the album; though probably no good choice for a single.

"Never Want to Say it's Love" is a bluesy and cathcy tune, which I would seriosly have considered for a single - brings forward memories of the late Dusty Springfield.

"Grafton Street" is one of the key songs on the album. It's a dark and sad song, with some great Celtic sounds adding a lot of atmosphere to the great tune.

"It Comes and it Goes" is a lighter song and another track that may lead your thoughts towards Dusty Springfield og Burt Bacharach.

"Look No Further" was the first song to be released for download and it stands out as one of greatest tracks on the album. It has some of the beautiful simplicity as some of John Lennon's finest songs ( like "Imagine" or "Jealous Guy" ).

"Us 2 Little Gods" is an acoustic upbeat song, that probably a song that the sounds the most like her earlier songs.

"The Day Before the Day" is another sad quiet song dealing with theme of losing one you love. A very moving song.

"The Things we Normally Do" is a catchy melodic tune. A great original string arrangement - makes think of Suzanne Vega and her "Nine Objects of Desire" album.

"Burning Love" is another nice acoustic song, but probably the least memorable song on the album.

The closing track, the grandiose "Northern Skies" is another key track. Playing for almost 9 minutes it is a logical choice to close the album. A haunting tune that makes me think of the great late Sandy Denny - it really sounds like a song she could have written.

On the Deluxe version of the album there 3 more tracks that all are great additions.

"For One Day" is a funky track that would have fitted nicely into the album - a little in the same vein as "I Don't Believe in Love".

"Summer" is a great acoustic song that for incomprehensively reasons was not selected for the album.

The shorter version of "Northern Skies" is at least as strong as the long version - and nice to have this shorter version too.

A very commendable album.

Artist: Original Soundtrack

Excellent CD, 2008-12-28
I am significantly older than my five year old who loves this, esp the waltz song which she performs beautifully with younger sister. Just had to give 5 stars to try to compensate for the people who rated this low having thought it was the film as well as the soundtrack..!!!

Artist: Josh Groban

Wonderful!, 2008-12-30
This cd shows the incredible work that Josh Groban has done over the years. I bought this because of "Anthem" from Chess! Outstanding! and "Weeping" done live with the Soweto Gospel choir!! An outstanding rendition of this great song!! I already have all of Josh's other cds, but couldn't miss these two great songs.

Artist: Kaiser Chiefs

After cockily shrugging off the difficult second album challenge with their hugely successful Yours Truly, Angry Mob, the Kaisers deliver yet another collection of blistering rock-pop in the shape of Off with Their Head. Producer Mark Ronson returns the band to the distilled pop potency of 2005's Employment as well as providing an all-star cast of guests: Lily Allen provides backing vocals on "Always Happens Like That", classical starlet David Arnold adds strings to "Like It Too Much" and UK grime aficionado Sway does a star turn on the unlikely yet winning "Half the Truth". Yet this is definitely the Kaiser's own show, as evinced on the wonderfully woozy "Tomato in the Rain," the catchy "Good Days, Bad Days", the feisty "You Want History" and the lovely--and somewhat surprising--finale "Remember You're a Girl". Musically, Off with Their Heads ain't rocket science, and the band's insights into contemporary urban life are superficial at best--but the Kaisers still manage to mostly hit the spot. --Danny McKenna
Solid, enjoyable third album from The Chiefs, 2008-12-29
'Off With Their Heads', The Kaiser Chiefs' third album, hasn't been as well received as their first two albums by the general public and it seems as if people are getting bored with the charismatic Ricky Wilson and his band. I can't really see why because this album sticks to the tried and tested formula of the first couple of releases and if you really liked 'Employment' and 'Yours Truly Angry Mob' then it is highly likely that you will enjoy their latest album as well. There are a handful of really great tracks here, including the bleak state-of-the-nation anthem 'Never Miss A Beat' which features a humorous question and answer section ("What do you want for tea? I want crisps!") and a tasty New Wave organ sound. In fact, much of this album reminds me heavily of late 70's/early 80's British music in the same vein as XTC - dark, but melodic, spiky and rough-around-the-edges but with a real pop sensibility (The excellent 'Like It Too Much' could almost be an XTC track, as could 'Always Happens Like That').

Other picks include the shouty, almost annoyingly catchy 'You Want History' which has an irresistible hook - one of those tracks you almost don't want to like but you have no choice. Another highlight is 'Good Days Bad Days' which sounds too much like The Clash for it to be mere coincidence, but it also happens to be a great, likeable song so it also doesn't offend in any way. 'Tomato In The Rain' is an atypically restrained, melodic Britpop near-classic and breaks the collection up nicely. Overall, 'Off With Their Heads' contains plenty of very good new, high energy tunes coupled with smart, cynical lyrics and will most likely keep the dedicated Kaiser Chiefs fans happy but also has enough to offer the casual fan to make this a worthwhile and enjoyable buy. If you have the first couple of albums then you've probably heard much of what this album has to offer before and, admittedly, this release doesn't exactly see the Leeds lads breaking new ground, but if you have the first couple of albums then it stands to reason you'll probably want this one too - and you probably won't be disappointed.

Artist: Various Artists

Going for Gold, but not quite reaching it., 2008-12-24
If you want a Motown collection, the white covered album, Motown Gold, which has been out for a few years now, is much better.

This being the 50th anniversary of Motown, I had high hopes for this album being a success. Well, it is a success in terms of sales; I see it's charting pretty highly.

But it's not as definitive or varied as it could be, and although yes, it includes all the classics, it's nothing new or different. I think a wider variety of artists could have been used, and/or different tracks from the ones being featured, as this label already has many of the tracks from this record on the "original" white covered album.

Artist: Only Men Aloud

Not just reality show one-offs, 2009-01-02
A really enjoyable, easy listening CD that would be a worthy purchase with your Christmas Amazon gift vouchers. Only Men Aloud! were very worthy winners of Last Choir Standing and the polish added by careful professional production has resulted in a truly high-class collection of songs. The competition favourite All By Myself is quite rightly here, as are many other favourites. Cwm Rhondda is a Welsh choral standard and this version doesn't disappoint. Soothing, relaxing and stirring songs from a choir that have set new standards in choral music.

Artist: Various Artists

Pure nostalgia!, 2008-12-25
As a youngster I subscribed to Jackie magazine (most young girls did) and most of the posters that adorned my bedroom walls were from the centrespread of this magazine.

The music on this CD set takes me right back to my first becoming aware of music and the charts. My parents had me very young and were themselves into music, so memories are of music they liked as well as my brothers and my own personal favourites.

A real trip down memory lane, pure nostalgia at it's best! Spread over 3 Cds there are 70 tracks of all the hits way back when Jackie was topping the magazine sales. David Cassidy, Sweet, T-Rex, Smokie, Hot Chocolate, David Essex - too many favourites to list them all and so many memories!

The enclosed booklet has track listings and copies of various pages from the magazine such as Pop gossip, Cathy and Claire page and Your letters.

The perfect gift and one that I will treasure.

Update: Like this so much I've just ordered Jackie Vol 1.

Artist: Katy Perry

Katy Perry is the all-new singing and sort-of-dancing-but-probably-too-cool-for-all-that, rebellious, girl-kissing, Avril Lavigne v2.0 bad-girl of high-production American pop. She's not exactly out to be ignored. In fact she's out to become both an idol for disenfranchised Britney fans and a poster-girl for emo-boys, not to mention tabloid-fodder and gossip-page regular. She is also, it should be noted, the daughter of two pastors and made her recorded debut with a Christian pop album aged 17 (she's now 23). And while a leopard changing its spots, or at least its wardrobe, might all be part of growing from a teenager to a feisty young woman, it is easy to be cynical about this package, headed up by the ready-to-download controversy of her "I Kissed a Girl" single. That tune at least has the bold beats and choreographed raw heat to match its sassy premise; it is a little disappointing that for someone resting on rebellion as her central cause that the music on One of the Boys is so conformist. "Mannequin" is Kelly Clarkson American-Idol style modern power-rock, the lyrically questionable "Ur So Gay" takes Lily Allen and adds a dash of Christina, "Hot 'n' Cold" is a Pink-esqu...
Sing a lickle tune for da yout dem, 2009-01-02
People's enjoyment of this woman's music has cheapened my opinion of humanity and from now on I will do my best end the world. On further listening I found tracks 5 and 7 annoyingly similar.

Artist: Various Artists

Artist: Bon Iver

It's hard to believe that For Emma, Forever Ago is the work of one man. But when Justin Vernon's old band split he hauled himself (and presumably plenty of instruments and recording equipment) to his dad's hunting cabin in the woods of Wisconsin for the coldest season and worked through his issues in musical form. (The name comes from the French for "good winter"--"bon hiver"). By the start of the spring thaw he had recorded the bulk of this stunning debut, originally self-issued to acclaim last year in the USA and now picked up for a British release. Vernon's voice grabs the ear from the start, switching easily into a smooth falsetto (and unusually for a white indie lad, without the slightest intent of emulating Prince). The formula is straightforward. He layers his vocal harmonies, while a gently strummed acoustic rhythm guitar just about holds the centre. All else from horns to slide guitar is mere detail. The quality is rough and ready but the effect is strangely similar though to the slick vocal confections of European women like Bjork and Camille, all mystery and distance. It's the musical equivalent of reading someone else's diary. In code. Through a dirty window. Eni...
Only wish the CD was as good as the live version, 2009-01-05
Admittedly, I didn't know how much Bon Iver would be my cup of tea when I saw them listed as support for Iron and wine in May, but nothing could prepare me for what I saw. We're all entitled to our opinion, and there are some blunt ones :) but I saw Bon Iver silence a packed room for all the right reasons, and wondered how on earth Iron and wine could top it, thus prompting me to get this album. Don't get the same chills as I did that day, but it's a fantastic album. I knew nothing of rave reviews, but realised later that week that they must be receiving some, as there was an appearance on jools holland. Perhaps the album production isn't great as someone pointed out in a past review, but maybe it's about what the music means to you personally that gives it such value, and that means not everyone is going to like it :).