Artist: Rihanna

Forget Rated R, those widely circulated photos of Robyn Rihanna Henty after her assault at the hands of ex-lover Chris Brown were X-rated stuff. All of which adds a certain poignancy to her fourth album, and first release since unwittingly becoming a poster girl for victims of domestic violence--certainly her sadder songs now seem loaded with a previously unsuspected melancholy. The new empowered Rihanna is a saucy, scary minx, dressed up in dramatic fetish gear by German photographer Ellen von Unwerth, and a long long way from the Bajan beauty queen who charmed us with the sunny "Pon De Replay". A hit as huge as "Umbrella", its chart reign longer than a British winter, redefines expectations, and unsurprisingly Rated R is full of slick, expensive sounding contemporary R&B confections such as the single "Hard", featuring a turn by Young Jeezy, and the defiant "Wait Your Turn". More intriguing are ballads such as the unusually bleak "Stupid In Love" and the heartfelt "Russian Roulette", with its implicit challenge to a tormentor. "Rockstar 101" features Slash, to no great effect, but "Photographs", produced and penned by the astute Will.I.Am, sounds like a...
As good as expected, 2010-03-08
I'd liked all of her singles, so bought the album. It lived up to all expectations. Can't fault it. No make-weight tracks. All are as good as each other.

Artist: George Benson

A very fine collection of George Benson's songs floating between smooth R'n'B and soft jazz, 2010-03-01

This new UK Rhino compilation features slick, smooth, romantic songs that were recorded by George Benson for Warner Bros after he began to emphasize his highly attractive vocal style rather than the virtuoso guitar style that had previously made him famous in jazz circles.

This transition occurred when Benson's cover version of Leon Russell's "This Masquerade" became an unexpected top ten US single for Benson in 1976. The latter title featured Benson's new trademark: scatting along with a single-string guitar solo. Afterwards, he quietly, and very successfully, developed this approach on a string of best-selling albums and singles. This material, floating between smooth R'n'B and soft jazz, brought him a lot of well-deserved commercial success.

The album under review includes 20 tracks and features a string of hits and well known songs played in the style mentioned above.

This 20-track CD overview will surely delight those listeners who are mostly attracted by this side of Benson's artistry. If you decide to purchase it, you will surely not regret it.

Fans tempted by a wider ranging overview of this artist's long career should definitely consider buying "Anthology" instead. "Anthology" is a 2-CD, 32-track multi-labels overview tracing Benson's work from 1964 to 1998. This set was released, in 2000, on the Warner Archives/Rhino imprint.

"Anthology" features 20 tracks issued on Warner Bros., including 11 of the 20 tracks featured on "Classic Love Songs". The greatest hits are there, of course, but "Anthology" emphasizes the later part of Benson's Warner Bros. recordings. These later tracks are, actually, of a higher standard.

Moreover, it provides well-deserved space to highlights from Benson's considerable guitar achievements. At the current price, it has more variety and represents a better and cheaper option to the single disc under review.

Artist: Corinne Bailey Rae

One thing more worthy than a truly great album is a truly surprising great album. Corinne Bailey Rae has, with The Sea, delivered a record that almost physically halts you in your tracks when at best you might have expected it to put up as much resistance as a cotton wool bud. Having established herself with an eponymous debut album of dinner party R&B, featuring tracks like "Choux Pastry Heart" and the fluffy, ubiquitous "Put Your Records On", the weight of emotion present on the lingering, bruised falsetto of understated opening track "Are You Here" is quietly overwhelming. The sombre jazz daydream of "I'd Do It All Again" follows next, blossoming wonderfully with unexpected clarity on a spring gust of a chorus. It is defined, as much is on the album, by never quite making eye contact; these songs sound like genuinely private, necessary moments liberated by impassioned performances. It has been well publicised that the album owes the grit of its soul to the grief that consumed her following the unexpected passing of her husband. But while you need not search far beneath the surface to find open evidence of that, it is no millstone either. Holistically, The Sea is a ...
This Album is an AMAZING emotional journey., 2010-03-08
I was bought this album as a gift after seeing her live on tele & really liking the new material she performed...its sounded really retro, as yet ive still not heard her debut album but compared to this album? Its now likely to seriously dissapoint me!!! "The Sea" is the best music ive heard this year so far...i really hope she wins a brit for this album cause it takes guts to open up your heart for everybody to scrutinise like this. Its an authentic piece of magic.
The Sea.

Artist: Paloma Faith

Best Album of the Year, 2010-03-07
I was absolutely blown away by this album.

It has a lovely, fresh, different sound, with beautiful melodies / harmonies and Paloma Faith has an absolutely fantastic voice.

Stunning. Truly stunning.

Artist: JLS

A great first album, 2010-03-07
This has to be one of the best albums that I have heard in a while. There's not one song on this album that I dislike and my favourites have to be private, don't go and one shot which are a bit more upbeat then the more slower songs that I love are tightrope and only tonight. JLS seem to be going from strength to strength and if they can continue to produce music like this, I can't wait for their next album.

Artist: Beyonce

The latest outing from former Destiny's Child starlet Beyonce is an intentionally schizophrenic affair. Splitting herself into two separate characters--herself and alter ego Sasha Fierce--is the artist's way of presenting what she obviously sees as an artistic duality. The first set, I Am... is intended give a glimpse beneath the surface of her usual R&B-pop persona. Featuring recent single "If I Was a Boy," the soaring "Halo", and ballads like "Disappear", and "Ave Maria", it seems her "real" self is way more saccharine than the lady that brought us sassy pop moments like "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy". That side of her personality comes rushing back out on Sasha Fierce, a more rousing collection that kicks off with the infectious handclaps of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", ventures into Euro-dance territory with "Radio" and gets surprisingly risque with the voyeuristic "Video Phone". Which part of the album you enjoy most will depend on your musical proclivities, But the new, bifurcated Beyonce ensures there's enough diversity to satisfy the most demanding pop aficionado. --Danny McKenna
Brillian Album, 2010-02-23
Absolutely worth the money i paid for it! And i'd even pay shop price for it!

Artist: Alexandra Burke

brilliant, 2010-02-19
brought this for my 7 year old daughter who is obsessed with anything xfactor. after listening to it once i was hooked!!! best cd for a long time, really varied songs and all very catchy. would defo recommend

Artist: Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys, 2010-03-08
bought this for my husband for his birthday but he also bought it for me for valentines day !! great album I love singing along in my car !!

Artist: Gil Scott Heron

An instant classic, 2010-03-07
This is moving, dignified, intimate music, more personal than political - music by a great artist who still has something to say. Indeed two or three songs on this superb album would make it onto my dream "Best of Gil Scott-Heron".

The things you remember most about most of Gil's work are the intelligent, witty lyrics. While this album displays moments of lyrical invention, his greatest strengths on this album are his performances, particularly of other artist's songs. These have been helped by time (and some hard living) dumping a truckload of gravel into Gil's voice. I have heard few more moving declarations than Gil's reading of "I'll Take Care Of You". Robert Johnson's preternaturally scary "Me And The Devil" is rarely covered, but Gil's synth-backed reading stands comparison with the great Delta bluesman. Indeed, if you take the view that the blues is a sensibility rather than a conventional form (with its arteries hardened by unimaginative artists and audiences), then this is perhaps the greatest blues album since Muddy Waters walked the Earth.

This is a short album, operating at its fighting weight and mercifully free from the filler that spoils so many records. Interspersed with short, thoughtful interludes, the songs come in, do their stuff and then slide out without over-staying their welcome.

A joy.

Artist: Leona Lewis

It’s not often a former Pizza Hut waitress gets to perform on TV (X Factor) then makes a debut album (Spirit) that outsells the Spice Girls’ Greatest Hits compilation two to one. But while the career of Leona Lewis has been an undeniably successful experiment in ‘democratic’ pop, most critics have patiently awaited her sophomore effort before deciding if the singer has what it takes to move beyond a “one album wonder” phenomenon. Simon Cowell and Clive David have subsequently thrown all their weight behind Echo, bringing in a prodigious team of producers that includes Ryan Tedder, Justin Timberlake, Kevin Rudolf, and 90s hit-maker Max Martin. Strangely, this hasn’t yielded much in the way of diversity. With a couple of exceptions – the surprisingly upbeat electro song “Outta My Head” for example - Echo plays it safe with a mix of slowies (“Can’t Breathe”, “My Hands”), plenty of power ballads (the single “Happy,” “I Got You,” “Broken,” and Timberlake duet “Don’t Let Me Down”) - and a bit of bouncier saccharine pop such as “Love Letter” and “Naked”. There’s no question that some of these son...
Great Album! Buy it!!, 2010-03-03
Fantastic album....i listen to it from start to finish, without skipping any tracks! Loved Happy and also Outta my head which are completely different tracks. She should defo release outta my head in the summer, would be huge!