Jen's Music Review

Jenness Mitchell • Published 21 Jul 2010 10:50 0 Comments

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Tokyo Police Club: Champ

Ontario indie rock band Tokyo Police Club are in fine form with their second studio album, Champ. It is a quick listen as most tracks fall well short of the four-minute mark however it packs a punch with an up-tempo pace, continual keyboard jam and several hooky guitar riffs. Although more grown-up than their 2008 debut, Elephant Shell, Tokyo Police Club are infectious with this release through the youthfulness played out within their music and lyrics. Along with The Joy Formidable, Los Campesinos! Bombay Bicycle Club and Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Tokyo Police Club seem content to produce the sounds they love without a wanting for wads of cash. That only makes for me to adore them more. Highlights on Champ include Breakneck Speed, Wait Up, Bambi and Big Difference.

3OH!3: Streets Of Gold

In the same vein as Cobra Starship, 3OH!3 bring a spot of fun to the Charts with their third studio record, Streets Of Gold. Along with the single My First Kiss featuring Ke$ha, on the UK release we also have the addition of the hits Don't Trust Me and Starstrukk featuring Katy Perry, which both appeared on 3OH!3's second US studio album, Want. Streets Of Gold is overall entertaining in a cheesy way. Although I doubt it will be celebrated at the end of the decade, a tween will love it as much as a gang of girls getting ready for a night on the town. Along with said tracks, other highlights include DéjÀ Vu, Touchin' On My, House Party and We Are Young. Buy if you are in the mood for a poptastic laugh.

Sheryl Crow: 100 Miles From Memphis

Sheryl Crow returns to the fore with her seventh studio album, 100 Miles From Memphis. Dropping the country rock and surf pop sound she adopted over her past few releases, Sheryl now brings a taste of southern soul to the airwaves. Having been on the scene since 1993 after the release of her debut, Tuesday Night Music Club, it is quite inspirational to see Sheryl switch genres to remain fresh with a new style of music. Not many Artists can pull that off, but 100 Miles From Memphis is a nice little listen. With Summer Day a great lead single, the other tracks that stood out on the record for me were Eye To Eye featuring Keith Richards, a cracking cover of Terence Trent D'Arby's Sign Your Name featuring Justin Timberlake, and the bonus cover of The Jackson 5's I Want You Back. This is a sweet record for the sunshine.

iTunes Download Recommendation

Ellie Goulding: The Writer/Your Biggest Mistake

I have spoken about my love of English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding many times before. Along with Florence Welch, Goulding is a darling of the British female led music scene right now. Although Under The Sheets, Guns And Horses and the smash hit Starry Eyed are complete gems, I have to recommend The Writer and Your Biggest Mistake as the tracks to download from her debut studio album, Lights. The Writer is just simply stunning, whereas Your Biggest Mistake will have you pounding your foot on the floor, arm in the air to the electronic beat. Two words: absolutely delightful.

Classic Collection

The Rat Pack: The Best Of

Featuring Sinatra, Davis, Cooke and Martin, this Best Of compilation has seventy five tracks that are each a Classic in their own right. From the swing of Come Fly With Me, Volare and I Get A Kick Out Of You to the jazzy soul of Sway, That's Amore and Mambo Italiano, The Rat Pack have produced show stopping music that has lasted well over half a century. Although Chart music has changed since the '60's, aside from Harry Connick jr, Michael Bublé and Jamie Cullum, there is no one else that comes close to recreating the magic of 'ol blue eyes and his gang of merry men. Unforgettable and moving, this is one for your immortal collection.

If you've got a recommendation of Artists you think I should tune into or an idea for the Classic Collection section, hook me up on Twitter. You can find me by searching Jenster13. Your suggestions may then find themselves in print.

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