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.Rai

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[i]Next Review: Evanescence, Evanescence [/i]

[spoiler=Contributor's Form]If you wish to write reviews for Tune, please fill out the below form and read the tips and rules for contributors.

[b]Preferred Name:[/b]
[b]Genres you prefer to review:[/b]
[b]How often do you want to put out reviews?:[/b]

[i]If wished, you can include an example review to your form for further consideration.[/i]

[code][b]Preferred Name:[/b]
[b]Genres you prefer to review:[/b]
[b]How often do you want to put out reviews?:[/b][/code]

[b][u]Tips & Rules for Contributors[/u][/b]

- If you are becoming a contributor, you can reserve a post within the thread to contain your reviews and use a similar format to the opening post. You can review both albums and songs, and you can put out reviews whenever you want (but try to stick to a regular schedule if possible in order to keep Tune going). The reserved post will have a link in the first post for quick navigation purposes.

- Preferably have a request sign, stating whether you are open or closed to requests at the moment. I will have resources up for this later.

- Avoid vulgar language when possible.

- Use the same format as the opening post when writing your reviews. An album cover and/or YouTube link at the top, followed by a rate out of five using the template (please see [i]Resources for Contributors[/i]), and finally the review itself.

[spoiler=Resources for Contributors]

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Copy and paste the image code to use.[/center]
[/spoiler][/spoiler]
[spoiler=List of Contributors][url="http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/281579-tune-ycms-music-station/#entry5917289"].Rai (General Reviews)[/url]
[url="http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/281579-tune-ycms-music-station/#entry5917303"]Protogenoi - Chaos (Metal Reviews)[/url]
[url="http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/281579-tune-ycms-music-station/page__st__40#entry5928732"]Daniel (Zoidberg Reviews)[/url]
[url="http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/281579-tune-ycms-music-station/page__st__40#entry5930181"]Mr Bickle (Indie Reviews)[/url]
[url=http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/281579-tune-ycms-music-station/page__st__40#entry5949609]Miranda (Alternative Reviews)[/url]
[url=http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/281579-tune-ycms-music-station/page__st__40#entry5951082]Alfred (Jazz Reviews)[/url][/spoiler]

[spoiler=General Review 01 - Kimbra, Vows]
[center][img]http://img.wmgstg.com/wmgkimbra/sites/default/files/imagecache/page/kimbra_vowsfc_usa.jpg[/img]

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[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsj0I2zZn8o"]'[i]Vows[/i]' Album Sampler[/url][/center]

[b]Kimbra[/b] is bound to be a name you've heard before, mainly due to her contributions to Gotye's song, '[i]Somebody That I Used To Know[/i]' which recently popped up to Number One on the mainstream charts. The New Zealand-born singer/songwriter finds a good time to release her debut album into the US and UK, riding this wave of fame she's recently experienced.

[i]Vows[/i] is the stunning debut from her, and, boy, is it fun to listen to. The Australia/New Zealand version of the album, released last year, is an 11-track record, as well as a sweet hidden record at the end of the last track, '[i]Withdraw[/i]'. The US/UK version, to be released in May this way, is half-revamped, with many tracks being replaced from the Australasian version, with what seems to be more US friendly songs. Who knows? The songs haven't been heard yet from anyone. The US version does include the 'Three Artists, One Song' collab with [b]Mark Foster[/b] (of [b]Foster The People[/b]) and [b]A-Trak[/b], known as '[i]Warrior[/i]'. It does lead to some strange clashes though, as chances are that people wanting to have a full set list will have to import from Australia for the missing tracks. I shake my fists at the record company.

Since the US/UK version is incomplete at the moment, let's review the Australia/New Zealand one instead. [i]Vows[/i] is all about the central theme of relationships, and Kimbra takes this at every angle possible. Her multiple definitions of the word link in with the effortless genre hopping she attempts through the album, yet everything is smoothly linked. From some classic funk from the track, '[i]Good Intent[/i]' to the almost bubblegum pop-tinged '[i]Cameo Lover[/i]', what stays the same is the smoky unique voice that comes from Kimbra. The record opens with '[i]Settle Down[/i]', an audaciously ambitious rhythm-fueled track, complete with some artistic boom-boxing and a playful chorus. [i]On just one knee for now / Let's make our vows[/i], Kimbra sings in the bridge, taking the title of the album and portraying a fragility perfectly counterbalanced by the strong vocals of the chorus itself. Oh, feel free to take a look at the video. Stuff of nightmares, I tell you, by the end of it all. The next track is the ridiculously light '[i]Cameo Lover[/i]', accompanied by a gentle hip-hop inspired bassline, with percussion worthy of this rhythm-heavy album. The song offers some of the best vocals on the entire record, taking her voice up to the upper ranges throughout the chorus of [i]Open up your heart! Open up your heart![/i].

The rest of the album is a bunch of pick-and-mix really. There's not a massive amount of stand-out tracks, but everything is of impeccable standards. The 90s pop-sound of 'Old Flame' is put on a whole new twist, with reverb-rich vocals and lounge tints with Kimbra's surprisingly subdued vocal contributions. It's somewhat reminiscent of something you could have found on [b]Janelle Monáe's[/b] 2010 album, [i]The ArchAndroid[/i]. Everything goes topsy-turvy with the explicitly R&B-styled '[i]Call Me[/i]', singing [i]Call me / Nothing's gonna bring us down[/i]. The only collaboration on the album, with [b]Sam Lawrence[/b], '[i]Wandering Limbs[/i]' is hauntingly powerful, with a simplified march beat and a lounge feel. The equally laid-back '[i]Withdraw[/i]' oozes pure soul with some of the coolest lyrics known to man, not to mention some half-decent skits. The most interesting tracks from the remainder is most likely the [b]Nina Simone[/b] cover she included of '[i]Plain Gold Ring[/i]' that matches up very well to the original. Then, there's the pure bliss that is '[i]Two Way Street[/i]' which is by far one of the few stand-out tracks of the entire album. Conveniently comes after the first two stand-out tracks, giving a quite good early-album experience. Then, there's '[i]Limbo[/i]', a ridiculously funky, [b]Tune-Yards[/b] inspired track complete with a heavy handclap rhythm incorporated. It sounds like a reversed version of '[i]Settle Down[/i]', which makes sense since a very fun remix of the latter song is included at the end as a cute bonus.

Overall, [i]Vows[/i] is one hell of a music experience, with ranges of influences from [b]Björk[/b], to [b]Prince[/b], to many others, yet coming together cohesively. Kimbra is a more than competent songwriter and this is an extremely decent debut to go with. This album has given Kimbra so many options to follow and explore that any follow-ups to this are bound to be bolder, brighter, and infinitely more awesome.

~ .Rai[/spoiler]

[spoiler=General Review 02 - The Downtown Fiction, Let's Be Animals]
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[b]The Downtown Fiction[/b] are a pop-punk band hailing from Virginia, complete with more than decent drumming; guitar, and vocal, skills. '[i]Let's Be Animals[/i]' was a 2011 album, and their first full length one, having 3 other EPs preceding it. And the whole album is a box of chocolates. The band are definitely underrated, and receive very little attention, which is unfortunate.

The title track, '[i]Let's Be Animals[/i]' is a classic formulaic pop/punk/rock song. And why veer away from the norm? The norm is great. It comes with a hook similar to the others on the album. Yet each is strangely unique in their own way in which they fit to their respective songs in utterly different ways despite being mostly the same. The song is simplistic production, with innocent playful vocals, with a showcase of instrumental skills. It's overall a great track, and I'd be surprised if it wasn't a single actually. It's calling for a video.

The opening track though is great in its own right. It features probably the greatest hook of the entire album, with lead singer Cameron Leahy singing [i]I got one thing to say and that's / Thanks for nothing, kiss my ass[/i]. That's some attitude put into a ridiculously catchy hook. It's impressively sweet songwriting, reminiscent of [b]Tune-Yards[/b] or perhaps lighter versions of [b]Neon Trees[/b]. The following track, '[i]Freak[/i]' is basically a minor equivalent of the opening track. Quality doesn't falter at all, with some heavy backing (and strangely some emo-esque screaming). Fast, furious, but fun. It's a combination only achieved by a handful of punk artists. The Downtown Fiction do it well. Very well. Note the bass in the song. It's great stuff, and some of the better bass playing in the record. '[i]Stoned[/i]' is also very similar to '[i]Freak[/i]', and unfortunately blends in to the previous track making some sort of 5 minute minor song whirlwind. It's not bad at all, but perhaps replace the track with something slightly different. Quality is great either way, not complaining about that at all.

You then proceed into what is a considerably more chunky section of the album. Full of soundbites, and with heavier drum beats, and faster melodies, it's the nicest bit of the album. Comprising of '[i]I Just Wanna Run[/i]' all the way through the title track and '[i]She Knows[/i]' to '[i]Wake Up[/i]'. The subdued nature of the first track of this section is rather appreciated, as it's a nice shake up actually. It's some classic punk-rock going on. '[i]She Know[/i]' is a track pick, simply because of its ridiculously easy going songwriting style. An addictive hook, simple but perfect guitar skills, a simple yet inventive drum beat equals a perfectly made song. The repetitions of [i]She knows, she knows now[/i] isn't even annoying. How it isn't is beyond me, but I'm glad it's not really. '[i]Wake Up[/i]' is a decent song, with an upbeat nature about it. Everything's light, with a bit of bite to it. Classic punk stylings to everything really.

You have a collection of three distinctly more downtempo songs. '[i]Alibi[/i]' is minor key lovings, with a lot of attitude, going down another avenue of punk, verging into heavier rock themes. The vocals are also rawer in the song, and is a notable song from the album. '[i]Tell Me A Lie[/i]' is basically a slightly different version of '[i]Wake Up[/i]'. Not massively a standout track, but not bad anyway. The record ends on a rather adventurous sound from the band, going into what is basically pop-rock tinged with an Coldplay-esque intro and anthemic proportions of stuff. It's a great song to finish on, and a belter of one at that.

Overall, the album is a great first attempt at an LP from [b]The Downtown Fiction[/b]. Are they a good band? Obviously. Could they have done more? Probably. Does anybody care? Not really. Overall, it's simple beautiful music within the stuff they do the best.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=General Review 03 - One Direction, Up All Night]
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Ew. Ew. Ew. Mother of terrible tween heart throbs. What monstrosities have been committed here? Entrants into the UK version of [i]X Factor[/i], One Direction, put together by industry masterminds, burst into the scene with their debut, [i]Up All Night[/i]. The album has sold at least 1,000,000 copies internationally, going Platinum in four countries, and Gold in four others. Why?

Well, not for the music anyway. Most likely for their ridiculously styled hair, puppy faces, apparently sexy bodies. Sex appeal? I don't even get it. Members of the band recently went to Australia to surf. And getting some weird publicity involving an unfortunate incident after the water sports, which could only be described as an anagram of their name. One Direction? More like Wand Erection. Yeah…

Onto the music! The lead track, '[i]What Makes You Beautiful[/i]' is a ridiculous pop/rock song, designed to melt teen girls' hearts. It sounds suspiciously like half the other songs on the album, and the boys sing out a chorus, [i]Baby you light up my world like nobody else / The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed[/i]. Now, the tune and the lyrics sound very awkwardly like another song, coming from the whitest of white shows made by white people for white people, [b]Glee's[/b] attempt at an anthem, '[i]Light Up The World[/i]'. Who wrote the song? [b]Savan Kotecha[/b], the mastermind who's also responsible for the latter Glee anthem also. Recycling the lyrics, I guess. Everything sounds a little bit like the [b]Backstreet Boys[/b] really. Considering the Backstreet Boys have a song called [i]It's Gotta Be You[/i], written by another writer contributing to '[i]What Makes You Beautiful[/i]', there's no way they've created a song with a similar hook and name, is there? Well, follow up with the next track, '[i]Gotta Be You[/i]'. Shift the mood of the Backstreet Boys 90 pop/hip-hop sound, add billions of strings and you have a pop ballad with an identical hook. Songwriter 101, here we come.

What else? There's '[i]One Thing[/i]', a blatant copy of the first track, but more arena-friendly, and the subdued but identical copy of '[i]Gotta Be You[/i]' that is '[i]More Than This[/i]'. The title track of the album, '[i]Up All Night[/i]' is decidedly slightly more decent. If you're gonna do teen pop, do it properly and the song is probably the only decent song on the album. It features a ridiculous [b]Katy Perry[/b] name drop, amongst other DJ references and stuff like that. Bad lyrics, on a club-friendly (or very-rich-girl-having-a-house-party friendly) beat. Goodness, that terrible bridge. Skip the utterly terrible filler, '[i]I Wish[/i] and go to a slightly different feel of '[i]Tell Me A Lie[/i]'. What saves this track from crashing is that Kelly Clarkson wrote it, which is easily recognised from her distinctly rock-pop sound and noisy synths. Still, not amazing. You have '[i]I Want[/i]', a hopeless attempt at adding a piano into their upbeat songs, '[i]Save You Tonight[/i]', a terrible attempt from RedOne's end, and '[i]Stole My Heart[/i]', with some of the worst vocals I have ever heard. Ever.

What's left? The three songs made by the boys themselves. '[i]Everything About You[/i]', '[i]Same Mistakes[/i]' and '[i]Taken[/i]' are good examples of bad songwriting. Amongst terrible production, there is horrible, horrible chord progressions and ugly repetitive lyrics.

Summary. It's a feeble attempt at some sort of pop rock album, and only even the slightest amount of appeal that radiates like toxic radioactive waste from this record is given to the teen girls who care more about the cute faces.

~ .Rai[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Song Review 01 - Maroon 5, Payphone][center][img]http://swellbeats.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/maroon-5-wiz-khalifa-payphone.jpg?w=490&h=490[/img]

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So, Maroon 5 are taking a shamelessly grand pop direction for their next album. Did I like their neo-soul sound? Yes. Am I apprehensive about their new direction? Yes.

Their first taster, Payphone basically catapulted up the charts, and it's easy to see why. Adam Levine's falsetto taking control of the song and Wiz Khalifa's rap not actually being that bad (although somewhat unnecessary, to be honest). [i]I'm at a payphone trying to call home / All of my change I spent on you / Where have the times gone, baby it's all wrong / Where are the plans we made for two?[/i], Adam Levine sings in the chorus. It's all very cliché, really, but since Maroon 5 are pretty aware of that, who are we to judge? It's basically pure pop, and for being part of an endless ocean of same-ish songs and production, it gets an average score.[/spoiler]

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Enrise Newbie

Enrise

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[left]Hello, I am Proto - Chaos, although if you know me well enough, you would know me as my other aliases: Enrise, Lucifer, etc.[/left]

[left]My first time doing reviews, but I'll be as serious as I can be.[/left]

[left]Well, without further ado, I suppose I should give you your Metal Reviews, shouldn't I?[/left]

[spoiler=Metal Review 01 - Be'lakor - Stone's Reach]

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Ah, good ole Australia, they really do have a great metal selection, ain't that right mate? What am I saying? Of course they do!
Be'lakor's lineup for the Stone's Reach album is:

John Richardson at the bass
Jimmy Vanden Broek playing the drums
Steve Merry giving you the sounds of his amazing keys
George Kosmas as your singer and guitarist
And Shaun Sykes as the other guitarist

All of them clearly had a telepathic flow going on, otherwise they would not achieve this great album.

Going into a bit of the history behind the band, they are currently labeled with Kolony Records, and they have released 3 albums thus far, Stone's Reach being their second one released in 2009. And I see why this guys are so great at their music, they come from Melbourne, Victoria. Get it? Victoria? Because victory and... yeah, I'm horrible at the jokes.

I am amazed by the deep composition of the songs, especially how the album begins with Venator,simple and soft tune, and then out of nowhere, the Metal in the band comes up and kicks me in the stomach with their music, and I am glad they did. The band follows is a Nature/Paganistic and Greek Mythological ideas. Most often I don't find those compared to the dominant lyrical themes in the Extreme Metals, but I don't think I ever found one from Australia. Good on them.

The vocals: Kosmas did a great job with vocalization and guitar work juggling. Not only do the vocals give that great vibe of growl to the lyrics, I detect a much deeper emotion behind them than normal, which is great thing; I'd much rather listen to musicians who show their emotion in their works than those that do not, regardless of the skill. Just not to the point where they're crying their eyes out.

The guitars and bass: Kosmas and Sykes take the cake oh so much as not leaving a crumb. Not over complex, and mixes in greatly with the other instruments on cue. In accordance to the music itself, they give that great melodic feel at those sweet spots that just make me want to wish they kept kicking me in the stomach over and over and over again. Am I sounding a bit like a masochist? Good. Let's continue with the bassist. Richardson made my ears bleed. Not in the bad way mind you. I loved how kept up with the rest of the band. Of course, what am I saying? Of course he could keep up. I hope he keeps making my ears bleed with excitement.

The drums: Sharing the same characteristic style as the guitars, Broek doesn't give too much double bass to the songs, which is a good shot to the head in some bands. He didn't overdo the double bass, and only used it when applicable. I love this drummer because of it. Really, I have nothing more to say about the drumming. Other than spot on.

The keys: Personally, I love the keys, since Merry gives those great amounts of sadness and tone to the atmospheric aspects of the songs, especially in the beginning of Countless Skies. Although I have yet to listen to every song in the album (still working on listening to them), so far I have to say I'm impressed with the keys. Depending on the styles, it's a bit hard to get the keys to fit in just right. Since the keys aren't as dominant as guitars, but yet play just as a great of a role, they emit a great energy that surrounds the listener. I hope he makes me cry one day from his melodies on that keyboard of his. I haven't cried yet, but I can see the potential ability for him to do it.

The first song I heard by them was Sun's Delusion, and at that instant, it's like I heard my heart going at the speed of the drums, my fingers fidgeting like they were in sync with the guitars separately, and my mouth is moving on it's own, mimicking the vocals as well. In other words, these songs pretty much make my body move on it's own. And if they can do that, then they are alone an amazing band.

</ Enrise \>[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Metal Review 02 - Coming Soon!]
[/spoiler]


Any special requests? PM me or post it on here. Just make sure to specify it's for me? Alright?

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Enrise Newbie

Enrise

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[quote name='Damage Inc.' timestamp='1334708356' post='5917435']
Well, not really bad. I'm just not fond of guttural singing.
[/quote]

.. I hope you realize that not all Black and/or Death Metal bands have guttural vocals. <.<

Currently working on my first review, yours will have to wait till sometimes next week. If we're both lucky, I may slip in a quickie, so keep your fingers crossed on that.

EDIT:
First review is up!

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.Corgi Newbie

.Corgi

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[quote name='Damage Inc.' timestamp='1334708356' post='5917435']
Well, not really bad. I'm just not fond of guttural singing.
[/quote]
...Yeeeaaahhh, vocals are eeveeerythiiinnnggg in metal, riiight?

Also, the abundance of letters is to make it sarcastic. Some people on the internet doesn't understand stuff like that.

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.Rai Newbie

.Rai

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[quote name='John A. Zoidberg' timestamp='1334794088' post='5918417']
So question:
Can anybody freely post reviews here? There's not really a description of what exactly goes on here.
[/quote]

For now, I'm figuring out a contributor's thing.

If you wanna help write, I'll probably get an app thing up in the opening post for being a writer. Won't be too long-winded.

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