♪ mn music wonderland

Gavin DeGraw - Soldier

Bright, strong and sturdy. I like that he sounds so firm and determined here. Nothing big but simple, direct and uplifiting, a good song.

genre: pop rock
rating: 3.5/5 stars

Natasha Bedingfield - Soulmate (2007)

Every once in a while, I need a dose of my guilty pleasure super cheesy love ballads. Ok, I admit I love this super cheesy chart aiming hit big ballad, especially hearing her singing live, it’s just part of me. Scold me in whichever way you like.

genre: pop rock, pop
rating: 4/5 stars

Ok, stumbling into these 2 songs from these 2 bands has just renewed my love for Britpop/ British band sounds. One old, one new; one moody/sad, one happy, both nice, both brilliant:

Athlete - The Outsiders (2007-album/2008-ep) 

I’m down, I’m sad and I make this my accompanying sound. However this is smooth, this is inwards, this is superb, and somehow this soothes my mind a little bit..

genre: indie rock, alternative rock, post-britpop, electronic rock 
rating: 4/5 stars 

The Feeling - Set My World on Fire

I love “Sewn” and this renewed my love for their sound. And this is so happy, so if it is time to celebrate, celebrate with this song, ‘cos it seems nothing sounds happier than it recently… It’s like MEGA happy and it gives you strength. And… cheesy, oh yeah, I know why I’m so quickly in love with it now… lol

genre: pop rock, pop
rating: 4/5 stars

Nerina Pallot - Put Your Hands Up

“Real Late Starter” was an instant love, this? again, instantly. Pretty, precious, catchy, inwards - brilliant. I also love the video - one take - old technique, new and fresh feel, nice.

genre: pop, pop rock
rating: 4/5 stars
video rating: 4/5 stars 

Duran Duran - All You Need is Now

Trivia time, DD fans, test your knowledge of Duran Duran, when were they first formed? Yeah, I knew you knew, it’s 1978. And they returned in 2007 with “Red Carpet Massacre” which is wonderful! There are many jams there which I enjoy a lot. Now… they’ve returned again with a brand new album with this same titled single “All You Need is Now”. And once again they’ve got me digging, similar style, but slightly rocker than last time, I absolutely love it! The more I listen, the more I’m in love, now that’s what I called great music, lol… Highly recommending, should be one of my favourites of the year!!

genre: new wave, pop rock
rating: 4.5/5 stars

Brandon Flowers - Only the Young

I think I started to like it when those tiny bits of atmospheric sound came in and the whole thing became so bright, and the “hahaha”s are just adding the right touches - another should-not-not-notice highlights of the song. This is not a smashing killer tune, but a soft, heart-warning one, a compact, nice effort by Mr Flowers I think!

genre: pop rock, new wave, alternative
rating: 4/5 stars

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

So Katy comes back and is shinning brightly. It seems everybody loves “California Gurls”, however I find myself digging this more. This sound is a little bit new though not anything big, and it gives me a strange kind of pleasure I don’t know how to explain, so I just proceed to enjoy and still not tired of it. I hope you’ll like it and enjoy it as I do.

genre: pop, electropop, pop rock
rating: 3.5/5 stars

OneRepublic - Secrets

I’m a fan of ‘Stop and Stare’ and this is a new favourite from them, actually these two are quite similar, with the former softer and the latter “harder”, but they are all good, all enjoyable tracks. Hope you’ll like it too, yes I believe you’ll like it soon if not immediately!! I think this is instantly catchy isn’t it??… :P

genre: pop rock
rating:  4/5 stars

Selena Gomez & The Scene - Falling Down

There’s something different about her that attracts me. I think this is cute and also cool! I don’t know how to explain, but yes, different, slightly, and in a good way, interesting should I say?… ^^!!!

genre: pop rock, synthpop 
rating: 4/5 stars