I absolutely love the music that comes together in this album. I think the cultural come together works beautifully and the harmony that it creates really celebrates music.
I really cannot tell which is my favourite song in this album but if I must chooce, it would be the first song I heard off it, Wona. Especially in this video, there is so much intense joy in the song coming together.
Love this collaboration. I think more than anything else, music brings together culture so wonderfully that it really is a uniting factor between us, in a world that so needs this goodwill right now.
This album is such a wonderful surprise! Of all artistes, this album appearing early this month is delightful in an extremely unique way. Because I realise that this is not a collection of new songs. This is a collection of Marc's rare songs and songs that did not make the cut of his previous albums, but are still very enjoyable.
What I love most is how effortless Marc makes these songs come across. No huge belts of big, big vocals. Just honest music that is full of soul. And lovely, visual metaphors. Like a 'street of windows' or the 'colour of Monday' - what interesting sights! Beautiful song writing. A little vintage for this generation, I think, but absolutely golden for the evergreen music lover.
My favourite songs on this album are: Maestro (Track 1), Nowhere Fast (Track 2), From the Faraway Nearby (Track 3), Chilly Wind (Track 4), The Colour of Monday (Track 5), The Good in Everyone (Track 6), Be Here Now (Track 8), Street of Windows (Track 10), and Silent Movie (Track 11). Shout out to the song Nowhere Fast. Both the band version (Track 2) and strings version (Track 13) are awesome. I especially enjoyed the lyric play in this one.
Marc's preview of this album. I would like to point out how all the space and props utilise minimalist clean lines in shades of white and grey. The only thing that really stands out is that guitar. Do you see it too? Isn't it amazing how that worn out guitar stand out from everything else that appears to fade into its background?
Marc speaks about this new album, the songs on this album and his latest tour. I love how passionate he is in speaking about his music. The decades and decades of music and song writing wisdom shining through this interview. Again, nothing huge and sparkly. Just a man who is proud of his music.
You know, I had some doubts when I saw this album released. In their style of music. Because these people are legendary in their own right, and the last thing I would want to see is them selling out into the modern brand of rock and roll. That would totally and I mean totally break my heart. So I was cautious in starting to listen to this album. One track after another. Listening to see if they had fallen for the temptation.
They did not.
This is such a lovely album, for the very reason that it stayed true to the late 70s and early 80s rock and roll sound that we love so much about them. The style of music, oozing with old school rock and roll. The guitar solos. The metal guitar commanding its way through the songs. I listened to this album two week straight and loved it more and more.
These are my favourite songs from this album: We built this house (Track 2), House of cards (Track 4), Catch your luck and play (Track 7), Rollin' home (Track 8), Eye of the storm (Track 10) and Gypsy life (Track 12). On the Tour Edition of Return To Forever, some of my favourites would include The world we used to know (Track 13), We we are (track 16), and Crazy ride (Track 17).
I know what you are thinking. The band members are way into senior citizenship right now already. Which is why it is incredible to see them rocking it out old school style. The video is the second track off this album, and is just as fascinating to watch as it is to listen!
The man and that one guitar absolutely takes my breath away, just by the sheer rawnesss and imperfections of the album. For any indie singer-songwriter, this is so relateable. And that absolutely captivating voice that makes any woman weak at her knees! This album has that one-to-one effect on the listener. As if he is on stage in an intimate and cosy pub, and I am the only one in the whole place. And he is playing all these songs just for me. And the world disappears and it is just the two of us left.
My favourite songs on the album are Just like a woman (Track 1), Don't let the sun catch you crying (Track 3), Calling you (Track 5), The boy with the thorn in his side (Track 7), Night flight (Track 9) and I know it's over (Track 10). Special mention goes to Dream of You and I (Track 6) for such an intimate insight into Jeff's song-writing, or rather song-dreaming process which is so beautiful. And he is story telling in the track, which is particularly fascinating to me because he describes what he sees and the music accompanies this. I am really looking forward to You and I as a full fledged song when it comes out.
This is I know it is over (Track 10). Not only is the music gorgeous, but the video is so beautifully shot as well.
Sia's new album is the kind that needs to grow on you. It is not the kind that hits you immediately. Well, some songs do, but as an album, it requires a little bit of time to appreciate. The album is as mixed as it makes me feel. On one had, there are songs like Bird Set Free (Track 1) and Alive (Track 2) that have a deeply personal feel to a person like me. They are the kind of songs that can potentially be a go-to song at certain states of mind. But some songs, let's not mention it here, that are, well, easily skip-able. Some songs are, well, overplaying the deadpan vocals to some extend.
My favourite songs in this album are Bird Set Free (Track 1), Alive (Track 2), Unstoppable (Track 4), Footprints (Track 9), and Broken Glass (Track 11). A very special mention to Alive (Track 2) for this incredibly simple but powerful video. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Update: Another performance of Alive (Track 2) which I find so incredible at The Ellen Show. The artistry is really powerful. I am really loving the way this one song is interpreted into performance as an art form. So much feels. So much respect.
This album grows on you, sparkles, fuzz and all. It is easy to listen, but with some delightful depth to some songs as well. Contemplative, energetic, fun and with lots of soul, Elton John still has it. I know, he has been around forever, right, and one would think that he would have gone bust in the energy - but this album proves otherwise. He still has it. He really does.
My favourite songs on this album are: Wonderful Crazy Night (Track 1), In the Name of You (Track 2), Claw Hammer (Track 3), I've Got 2 Wings (Track 5), A Good Heart (Track 6) and Looking Up (Track 7). Oh and Guilty Pleasure (Track 8) is my own guilty pleasure song. It is a song that will make anyone automatically start dancing. It is just such a bright, bright happy song. My absolute favourite song is still Blue Wonderful (Track 4), I really have a soft spot for this beautiful song.
This is Looking Up (Track 7). The energy is really remarkable, isn't it? He really is still rocking that music! Interestingly, a lot of the people in the band are pretty, well, senior. This really shows that one is never too old to make music - and energetic music, at that! This kind of enjoyment is really inspiring.
This is such an interesting album! Honestly, this album has such a strong personality presence and confidence. The album reflects what feels like what must have been an amazing creative process. There are a number of delightfully surprises in the album itself, which I think only makes the mix of songs very exciting. At the center of it all, there is passion and real talent in this album.
My favourite tracks are Victorious (Track 1 - what an awesome start of the album!), Don't threaten me with a good time (Track 2), Crazy=Genius (Track 6 - Oh my God, a big band number!), LA Devotee (Track 7), The good, the bad and the dirty (Track 9) and House of memories (Track 10).
Very special shout out goes to that amazing ballad Impossible year (Track 11). That voice when that song came out blew me away! You would expect that an alternative pop singer would have just that range of voice, right? But here comes vocal range like no other that completely shows off the power of this band. Whoa!
Despite the turmoil that this band is rumoured to be going through, I really like how this album has come out. I really hope that the band sorts itself out, because like I have mentioned, there is real talent here (this album shows it!) and I really look forward to what else they have to share with the music world.
