Justice - † (Ed Banger Records)
To say this album sounds like Daft Punk is not quite accurate; it sounds more Thomas Bangalter's solo work ('Outrage' in particular). Apart from borrowing all the Daft Punk kit Gaspard and Xavier brought along the signature Justice sounds, a chalk-board, a set of nails and a fox screaming in pain. The boys have some great moments, D.A.N.C.E is a brilliant slice of infectious, uplifting disco. 'DVNO' will get a lot of butts on the dance-floor and the last minute of 'Let There Be Light' is beautiful.
Sadly the album is full of songs that are almost really good but fall at the last hurdle. 'New Jack' almost satisfies but after a short time falls into classic Justice territory... 'the grate zone'. The same can be said for 'Phantom PT 1'and 'Valentine'. 'Phantom PT 2' and 'Genesis' also offer great promise but are somewhat butchered by Justice's blunt overkill production tastes. The 'Party' features the one trick pony, Uffie. Uffie only has one 'flow' and her boring delivery becomes stagnant after 25 seconds.
Certainly quite a enjoyable album in places but no Daft Punk replacement; ignore the ridiculous beatz and buzz.
7 out of 11
Albert Hoxton: Calvin Calvin Calvin Calvin please.
Justice - Let There Be Light (iTunes)
Siobhan Donaghy - Ghosts (Parlophone)
Siobhan is difficult to write but a delight to listen to. The Sugababe back-catalog is hardly busting with consistent merit but its gingerly departed co-founder Siobhan Donaghy has delivered a collection of songs as stunning as her beauty. Siobhan has concentrated on making an album full of honesty, rather than hits. The production of the LP is cloaked in atmosphere, captured most evidently by the back-to-front vocals of the title track 'Ghosts'. "Medavac' finds Siobhan in full Kate Bush 'Wuthering Heights' mode; its one of the songs of the year so far. We like Mutya but she wont top this...
10.6 out of 11
Albert Hoxton: I wanna have your babies
Siobhan - Ghost Album Sample (iTunes)
Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long (Universal)
Maroon 5 are set to cement their position as one of the world's biggest acts, they are also destined to remain one of the most hated. There is always a backlash against bands that make heavily commercial albums. In Maroon 5's defence they have never been ashamed of their pop sensibilities. They have always used the most cliched, and harmonious chords; perfect for daytime radio and dinner parties.
Adam Levine and and the boys spoke of the album being their raciest to date, I assume they are referring to the semi-funky bridges in the global monster "Makes Me Wonder' and 'If I Never See Your Face Again'. This album, unsurprisingly, lacks imagination. Levine re-uses his own vocals from Kanye West's 'Heard 'em Say' on 'Nothing Last Forever', surely a verse from Kanye would have broken up the monotonous tone of the album a little?
Despite the album being totally predictable it is still a decent pop effort. If you don't like Maroon 5 I suggest you don't listen to the radio for the next 18 months...
6.8 out of 11.
Albert Hoxton: Why the chop did Sony let Universal snare Maroon 5?
Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder (iTunes)
Rihanna 'Good Girl Gone Bad' (Def Jam)
Interesting album title... 'Bad Girl Gone Good' would have made more sense. 3 albums in 18 months, that Jay-Z fella certainly is a slave driver. This is Rihanna's first album of any note. It is by no means a fantastic but they seemed to have worked it to Rihanna's strengths, her dancing. Second single 'Shut up and drive' rocks a la P!nk/Kelly Clarkson and Ne-Yo provides a ballad that will be stuck on American radio for months. Rihanna shines the brightest when she avoids the mid-tempo type of slush that ruined the Amerie album. The Justin Timberlake penned 'Rehab' seems unspectacular at first but grows with every listen.
6.9 out of 11
Rihanna - Umbrella Ft Jay-Z
