Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Adele, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Jessie, etc. are not the only hot girls in the music scene these days. There are also Selena Gomez, Colbie Caillat and Brooke Fraser and they all have new albums eager to join the hit lists. And how refreshing to listen and not hear any of them shouting their lungs out or bending the melody any which way to impress.
When The Sun Goes Down by Selena Gomez and The Scene is already up there. The first grown up CD from the Disney tween star is a big hit. Now she should be glad I am not anymore of the age that would want to gouge her eyes out and pull her hair because she has been dating Justin Bieber. Otherwise I would never have listened to her songs. But since I am not jealous about her and only curious on when she will ditch the Bieber, I listened to the album and found it surprisingly good.
It can now be said that she gets better with every CD. A Year Without Rain improved on her first Kiss & Tell. In turn, When The Sun Goes Down is better than A Year Without Rain. My only question now is which way will she go when her reign as Disney princess is over. The way of Miley, Demi, Hilary or Vanessa, etc.? But no matter what happens, she already has a winner in this new album. It is pop, dance and electro, distinguished with well-written songs, infectious arrangements and Selena’s perky delivery.
First single release is Who Says which also comes in the Spanish version, Dices. Other cuts are Love You Like A Love Song, Bang Bang Bang, We Own The Night featuring Pixie Lott, Hit The Lights, Whiplash, When The Sun Goes Down, My Dilemma, That’s More Like It, Outlaw and Middle Of Nowhere.
Colbie Caillat with All Of You. The YouTube sensation from five years ago is back. Remember her of the big hits Bubbly and Realize that we Pinoys could not seem to get enough of. She fueled a new acoustic singing trend out here. All Of Me is her third CD release after Coco and Breakthrough and it looks like she is off to a new risky direction with this one. The album has a pronounced pop spin that might just divide her followers. Is this an improvement on her simple acoustic ballads or a betrayal of her true style with an eye on the big bucks?
Whatever. Colbie’s assets remain solid. Her singing is crystal clear and effortless, her songwriting, precise and catchy. These I believe are what matters in the long run. She can experiment with various rhythms, even reggae, rock and urban, throw in a piano, drums, an organ, even background singers, etc. into the mix. But if she has her melodies and messages intact, the album will still work. And All Of Me is made up of beautiful songs you can listen to again and again.
Songs are Brighter Than The Sun, I Do, Before I Let You Go, Favorite Song featuring Common, What If, Shadow, Think Good Thoughts, Like Yesterday, All Of You, Dream Life, What Means The Most and Make It Rain.
Brooke Fraser and Flags. This is quite a discovery. It is the first time I am listening to Brooke, the singer and songwriter from New Zealand and she is simply wonderful. The music of Flags is a jazzy mix of folk and country that is very interesting and she can really tell stories in her songs. Her tones remind me of Norah Jones but fuller and more commercially appealing. The mood of the album is acoustic pop but the messages of the songs even in the lighthearted tracks are overtly spiritual.
Something In The Water, a happy tune is the first single release. But my real bet for the charts is Who Are We Fooling?, her beautiful duet with Aqualung. This should be in the air waves next. Orphans Kingdom gets the listener thinking, what am I really here for? Flags is heart-wrenching in its imagery and anybody who has mourned for a loved one will be moved by Ice On Her Lashes. Want some preaching? Crows + Locusts provides that but in a sweet way. There are also Betty, Coachella, Jack Kerouac, Sailboats, Here’s To You and special bonus track Shadowfeet.