A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH - VAN HALEN

After fourteen years of musical silence, Van Halen's follow-up to the not-so-well-received-by-fans 1998 record Van Halen III is out, and what a comeback! The most notable aspect of this return effort is the fact that original frontman David Lee Roth is back to his role. He had already toured with the band in 2007 and 2008 but this is the first full-length Van Halen album featuring David's voice in twenty eight years (David left the band after the record-breaking 1984). The current line-up is completed by Eddie's brother Alex, the legendary drummer, and son Wolfgang, in charge of the bass.

With the first play, the album evokes their roots, laden with melodies, ingenious guitar riffs, long solos and Eddie's trademark tapping skills. Many of the songs in the record were brought back to life from demos written in the 70s. However, there is a bunch of brand new songs, such as Stay Frosty and You and Your Blues, which have a bluesy feeling to them. David's voice sounds top-notch, as it time hasn't gone by and Eddie's playing is flawless. It seems that this symbiosis between both leaders is beneficial for the band, as the sound and musical creativity are at their best and both stand out in their own way, but never overshadowing one another.

This is an album that fans will praise for obvious reasons: it is the Van Halen record everybody was expecting: The original singer is back, the album sounds as it had been recorded in the early 80s and yet is not a brazen copy of that era, and Eddie's guitar playing is simply great, as he were making a statement of why he has been a major influence for guitar players around the world for over thirty years. A curiosity: this is the first album featuring David Lee Roth which does not include an instrumental stand alone track.

This LP will surely make the best-2012-album lists around the world.

Rating: 9/10

Video: Tattoo

Unmissable song: Stay Frosty

CHARLOTTE ERIKSSON - INTERVIEW

On my last post I wrote a review about Charlotte Eriksson, a young artist coming from Sweden who has recently brought out her new EP "This Is How Ghosts Are Made". Now, due to the overwhelmingly positive comments that I received on that review, I have decided to treat all the readers and followers of this blog. I have contacted Charlotte and she was super nice to answer all my questions, which I am sharing with you all here. Enjoy!

Can you describe a bit your beginnings as a musician? (for example, family background, studies, school bands, etc.)

I got into music very late, I think I was around 15 or 16 that I even started to really listen to music. But when I ”discovered” it and the way it could make me all hypnotized, I was hooked. I guess when I really started to take it seriously was when I moved to London all alone last year. Then I started my record label in May 2011 and released my first EP, and since then I’ve just kept going!

Have you done any formal musical studies?

I went to a songwriting/producer-school in Sweden before I moved, but it wasn’t any high level, just very basic, and then I went to some music-business classes etc. at a music college in London. But I’ve never taken any lessons in any instrument.

Do you play any instruments? If you do, which one(s)?

I play the guitar and the piano and I’m trying to learn how to play the drums.

How old were you when you wrote your first song?

I was 15, or 16, and it was actually called ”The Glass Child”

Many prominent artists come from your country: Abba, Roxette, The Cardigans, Jill Johnson, Ace of Base... Have they had any influence on your music? Do you relate to any of them? If so, how?

We definitely have a lot of amazing pop artists from sweden, but to be honest I’m not into Swedish music at all. The Swedish music-scene is very stuck and in their own little box and it’s the same with the fans in Sweden - they only listen to the bands that everyone else is listening too. I’m very influenced by a lot of Swedish folk singers though, like a guy called Lars Winnderbäck. He’s only writing in Swedish, but he’s probably my biggest hero when it comes to lyrics.

What's your most important source of inspiration?

My weird little existence and the way my mind works. How to live, how other people live. Human behavior and just how people choose to spend their lives. Everything I write about is about real things and experiences that I’ve been through or felt, so it’s all about my real life.

Could you describe your song-writing process? Do you come up with lyrics first? Is it the music and then the lyrics? Does anybody help you with melodies/harmonies?

It’s very different for every song actually, but it always starts with something that I need to say. Something that I need to say to a person, or to a group of people, or just something I need to explain and that I feel that I can’t talk about. So, I always know what I want the song to be about before I start writing it, but then sometimes I start playing on the piano or the guitar and the melody and the words just kind of appears. Other times I might write something in words on the tube or on the bus and then I just start singing them when I have an instrument. There’s no formula really and I can’t even really describe it, and I think that is the magical about music. It just appears.


Do you ever write/sing songs in Swedish?

I’ve actually written a couple of songs in Swedish, mostly when I just moved to London and was horribly homesick and missed my friends and family. I started to listen to quite a lot of Swedish folk singers just to feel more like home, and I wrote some Swedish songs as letters to the people I’d left behind. But I’ll probably never show them to anyone, haha!


What do you think of Swedish as a language for pop/rock songs? Is it suitable? Why do you sing in English?

No I don’t really like Swedish in pop-rock songs, it sounds very corny and weird, and to be honest, English comes so much more natural for me. I’ve never really felt at home in Sweden, so I guess that’s why don’t have so much connection to the language. But it’s really beautiful in acoustic folk-songs though.

Can you name your three favorite records and say why they are your favorite ones?

Counting Crows - August and everything after

This is the first record I ever bought, because I stumbled upon the song Round Here, and that’s the first song I ever connected with in music. This record is as real as it can ever get for me, and I can honestly say that it has shaped me in so many ways.

Ani Difranco - Not A Pretty Girl

Because her music is so real and she’s probably my biggest inspiration when it comes to being a vocalist. I even think she’s the one who taught me to sing, especially the reason to why I wanted to sing in the first place.

Valencia - We All Need A Reason To Believe

This is such an amazing band that never got the recognition they deserved. They just broke up and I was so sad when I heard that, I never got to see them live. This album is just perfect all the way through, the melodies, lyrics, production, everything.

Can you name your three favorite singers/artists and say why they are your favorite ones?

Well, obviously the ones above, but after those it’s probably Ben Harper, Augustana and CocoRosie. They’re all amazing songwriters , singers and just beautiful people. I’ve been listening to them since I got into music when I was 14 and I always go back to their albums.

Do you have any side jobs?

Before I moved to London and decided to go for the music I wanted to be a professional dancer, but now I’m just working as a dance teacher some times because it’s fun, both in London and Sweden. Other than that I spend every minute of every day on my music.

Do you have any hobbies other than music?

Tons! I love everything that has to do with art. I write and read a lot, I love photography and dancing obviously and I’m spending days in the dance studio as often as I can, choreographing, just to get to express myself in a different way than music. I love going on small adventures or roadtrips, alone or with friends, to nowhere at all just to see what can happen and what you can learn. I love hanging with my friends, going to gigs and going to new cities.

Where do you see yourself in a ten-year's time?

In ten years I’m full-time touring the world and living for music and art. I’ve released a hand full of albums (hopefully one each year, so ten albums), I’ve grown as a person and I have hopefully figured myself out a bit more.

How much time of your life does music take up?

Basically every minute of every day. First of all because this is what I love and what I want to do every minute of every day, but also because that’s what it takes to get your music out if you don’t want to sell yourself to a label that pays for success. It’s only hard work and determination that can get you anywhere.

It seems to me that your EPs have gotten a huge response by your followers. Which role have the internet and social networks played on this success?

The internet with twitter, facebook and tumblr is the reason for almost every single fan I have today. I’m a white shy person and I’m not very good at interacting with people face to face, so I figure quite early that I connected so much better with people on the internet because I have so much easier to express myself with written words. Also, since I don’t have any money for touring or expensive features in big magazine, the online-buzz is my only chance, so the internet means everything to me really.

Being so young and leaving everything behind to settle down in a foreign country and pursue your musical career seems a bit scary. What can you say to people wanting to do the same?

It was scary and it was the hardest first months of my entire life, but I can honestly say that I would never ever have found myself and figured myself out if I hadn't done it. I think it’s so important to move away all alone, so that you can become who you are meant to be. If you stay around the same people, in the same place, doing the same things, you will never grow into the person you were born to be. You will get stuck in habits and in old comfortable behavior, and that’s the biggest mistake you can do as a human, in my opinion. For those who want to do what I did: it is going to be hard and you’re going to cry a lot and miss people and regretting ever leaving, but those days are the days you grow your strength and when you realized that you got through it, you will realize that there are so many opportunities in life if you just dare to push yourself into uncomfortable situations. It’s worth ever second.

Would you like leaving a message for your current and future fans around the world?

Please check out my new album This Is How Ghosts Are Made that is out everywhere and you can stream it on my website www.charlotteeriksson.com. And also, I’m answering to every single tweet or message I get to write to me on Twitter, Tumbler or Facebook or just say hi! Dream big and stay strong!

(Don't forget to read my review on Charlotte's Latest EP: This Is How Ghosts Are Made)

(Photos taken from Charlotte Eriksson's website: www.charloteeriksson.com)

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Charlotte Eriksson - This Is How Ghosts Are Made

Around a month and a half ago I came across a young Swedish artist, called Charlotte Eriksson (The Glass Child) on Youtube. The song that struck my attention was Insanity. For some reason I was impelled to dig a bit more into her music. What followed was a string of fascinating songs played over and over on my computer. It had been some time that something like that happened to me: That I felt some kind of energy pulling me towards the songs. I guess at first I was mesmerized by the power Charlotte transmitted, but then there were the topics she dealt with. So, I got her EP released in December 2011, called This Is How Ghosts Are Made. One short definition: My instincts proved me right.

This is How Ghosts Are Made is Charlotte Eriksson's new EP; her second effort after the Charlotte Eriksson EP. I got the deluxe edition including some extra tracks and some personal notes that give some insight into her life. Being very young, she left Sweden and settled down in London to pursue a career as a musician. This is a big source of inspiration for her: All the thoughts that crossed her mind when she made that huge change in her life, for instance, leaving her friends and family behind, being ditched by record companies because she didn't want to sell out to a more "commercial" style, and her time spent in solitude. All these things, mixed with a very strong personality showing that she won't back down no matter what and that she will prove the world that she can make it give shape to her style: raw songs, leaning toward the minimalistic side which hightlights both Charlotte's strength to fight for her dreams and her honesty. This is a very important concept and, perhaps, what relates me the most to her music: honesty. She does not hide herself in overly produced songs and videos, she does not want to comply to the typical pop singer image, she does not care about what media moguls may think of her; in other words, she stays true to herself and to her fans. This is, in my opinion, a gift rarely seen in music industry nowadays, which should be praised when found.

As it was said before, Charlotte's songs are simple: basic chord progressions and minimal arrangements. This is, however not a bad thing. On the contrary, this is the best setting for her to display her strength and honesty. I would seem strange if things were different, as a more "elaborated" style would hide this rawness her tracks bear and it would also prevent her message to come across as bluntly as it does when listening to This Is How Ghosts Are Made. Honesty, strength, passion for music and a lot of willpower are just some of the attributes Charlotte portrays through her music. Intricate personal stories that develop between the real world and the realm of imagination cast a layer of mystery to the songs. Lastly, an overall attitude of not betraying who she is and what she wants makes Charlotte Eriksson an artist worth following.

On one of her songs the lyrics go: "learned to use my voice and sing up loud enough, maybe loud enough for you to hear me?"; and yes, her voice deserves to be heard. Not only has she proved that she has what it takes to break through as a true artist, but also the statements she makes on all her songs are so solid that the slowly vanishing concept of honesty in music is something we can all rest assured will not be compromised.

Rating: 7/10

Videos:

Best Part Of Me

Insanity

(Pictures taken from Charlotte Eriksson's official website)

Orianthi - Fire

Guitar goddess Orianthi Panagaris has brought out her new material. Her recently released EP Fire shows a more mature side of her: killer solos, more diverse lyrical content and an overall atmosphere of self-confidence that was not totally present in her previous efforts. This does not mean that this record will appeal only to adult audiences. After all, after a song like According To You, reminiscent of Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boy, it would be unfair for younger listeners to find out that their guitar heroine has neglected them completely. She has grown up, but her roots can still be heard here.
Fire consists of five brand-new songs, some are bluesy and some are poppish but what really stands out is Orianthi's polished guitar work. Perhaps for this record she had more freedom than in her previous album Believe. Or maybe it was the fact that she worked with producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics, Superheavy, Joss Stone, Stevie Nicks). Whatever the reason, the songs feature a strong guitar presence, both electric and classical guitars were used, and Orianthi makes use of her ample playing techniques to show why she has been endorsed by guitar legends such as Santana and Steve Vai.
For those who are not acquainted with Orianthi's background it should be pointed out that Santana invited her to join him onstage upon seeing her playing skills. At that time she was around fifteen years old. Then Steve Vai co-wrote the song Highly Strung with her and they can both be seen on its video. Michael Jackson himself hired her for his upcoming tour after watching some videos online and asking her to play the solo to Billy Jean. Unfortunately the tour never happened as Michael Jackson died, but she can be seen on the documentary This Is It. More recently, she has shared the stage with country star Carry Underwood and currently she is playing for Alice Cooper.
All in all, Fire is a solid effort. It will surely leave fans craving for more and it is a good indicator of the direction she intends to give to her music. Perhaps her weakest song is If You Were Here With Me. Orianthi excels at rock songs featuring long and complicated solos. Therefore, a ballad with an emphasis on vocals more than on guitar does not seem to be the best choice.On How Does It Feel, Orianthi claims she has got a million fans. Whether or not this is true, let's hope her music reaches millions of listeners because she has done something that not many guitar players have been able to achieve: to bring guitar solos back to the spotlight of pop/rock. Maybe she will inspire a whole new generation of guitar players, and most important of all, not only men. As it can be seen, women can rock quite as much.

Rating: 8/10

First single: Fire

Unmissable song: Highly Strung (feat. Steve Vai)

Within Temptation - The Unforgiving

When some time ago Robert Westerholt said that Within Temptation's new album would be a conceptual record based on a comic book, everybody knew they were up for something big. In fact the band recruited Steven O'connell (BloodRayne, Dark 48) and Romano Molenaar (Witchblade, The Darkness, X-Men) to create a story that would further develop the ideas of The Unforgiving, Within Tempation's fifth studio album, a solid record that features the typical pompous sound of the band and adds some new elements that show that their ideas are far from running out.
The concept is as follows: Mother Maiden is set to fight evil. Despite being and old lady, she has a very powerful skill: she can bring dead people back to life. Then these people will go about hunting criminals down, thus redressing the crimes they themselves committed in their past lives, not because they were bad, but because they made wrong choices. Thus, Mother Maiden brings Sinéad and the Triplets to life. The former killed her father after an argument about her stealing money from him and the latter blew up a hand grenade to kill their father, an alcoholic war veteran who used to beat his sons. Besides the lyrics, the storyline is supported by three short films telling the stories of Mother Maiden, Sinéad and The Triplets, and a monthly comic book. As it can be seen, the record does not limit itself to music, but it also works on the visual aspect.
Concerning the music, the album is solid. There are no fillers and the lengh is perfect, the record not becoming tedious at any moment. The songs feature Within Temptation's trademark sound: powerful chord progressions, string arrangements, catchy choruses, epic choirs and straight-to-the-point lyrics. Faster, Shot In The Dark, In The Middle Of The Night, Iron, among others add to the already long list of hits Within Temptation has. All of them give the listener no pause to distract. Each song is laden with power and yet is easy to digest. However, there are new elements as well. The song Sinéad, for instance, could be a dance-floor hit, featuring an upbeat tempo and lively keyboard arrangements. Its video, in fact, was shot at a nightclub, a sort of taboo place for symphonic metal bands. Perhaps this is a new direction that Within Temptation wants to follow. One should not forget that singer Sharon den Adel collaborated, not long a go, with DJ Armin Van Buuren in the trance song In And Out Of Love. This capacity of being able to incorporate different sounds also shows that Within Temptation's music transcends styles beyond what is "appropriate" within the symphonic metal genre.
A special mention goes to Sharon. Even though she recently gave birth to her third kid, her voice remains flawless. The Unforgiving presents some of the most complex songs ever written in the band's career. Nevertheless she manages to sing through them effortlessly and her voice soars to reach notes that will leave listeners wondering how high a woman's voice can go.
The Unforgiving is solid, is packed with hits, preserves and expands the band's sound, brings no dull moments and its concept and storyline are supported by the comic books and short films. The CD comes with a poster showing on the back the names of all the band's fans who registered on the album's Facebook page, making worth buying the physical copy instead of downloading it. A must-have album due to its contents and the creativity surrounding it.

Rating: 10/10

First single: Faster

Unmissable song: Somewhere (duet with Anneke van Giersbergen)

(Picture taken from Within Temptation's official website).

Bond - Play

After a seven-year hiatus from their last studio album, string quartet Bond is back with a new record that will leave old fans satisfied as well as attract a new tide of new listeners. Tania Davis (now in charge of first violin), Eos Chater (second violin), Gay-Yee Westerhoff (cello) and new member Elspeth Hanson (viola) prove why they are the best-selling crossover string quartet in the planet. They are all outstanding musicians trained in the classical field and they also bring in the music that they like listening to: pop, rock, world, filmscore, folk and many more music styles. This new record comes at a very special moment in Bond's career. Not only it is their comeback after a long pause, but it also marks their 10th anniversary, a fact that shows that they are not a one-hit wonder.
The album features the usual dose of well-known melodies accompanied by drum loops and synthesizers that has become a trademark of the group. The first single, Diablo, is a typical Bond tune, featuring some passages sung by Eos. This song is destined to become a big hit. It's catchy as Victory or Fuego, and yet it adds a new twist to it, with the lyrics and overall melody. Its video is kind of dark, different from the usual lively and colorful videos shot in warm countries that we are used to. In fact, this one was shot at a warehouse in Britain during wintertime and it is all in black and white. Their playing skills are at their best, and Diablo will surely be featured on every setlist from now on.
The covers that we can find on the record are Jai Ho, from the Slumdog Millonaire soundtrack, Pump it (a version of the song Miserlou by Dick Dale and His Del Tones, opening song to the film Pulp Fiction, and also covered by the Black Eyed Peas, hence the name), and Last Time, a version of Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve. There is also an accurate upbeat rendition of Vivaldi's Summer and Winter from the Four Seasons which was featured on Peugeot's promotion campaign for their 308CC automobile. The Asian version of the album features a medley of Lady Gaga's hits that will delight everybody's ears.
Nevertheless, not all the tracks are covers. There are some original compositions as well. The girls were deeply involved in the writing of this album. Road to Samarkand, Beetroot and West with the Night are all composed by the band members, who also made the arrangements to Vivaldi's Winter and Summer.
Regarding influences, it can be said that this album is more diverse than their previous efforts. Along with the film tracks, and classical compositions, there is also room for some eastern influences, as it can be heard on Road to Samarkand, Latin American arrangements on Apasionada and a Russian touch on Beetroot. This means that Bond have decided to continue exploring the possibilities that music offers them, blending all kinds of styles with classical. This is how Bond became famous, and it is good to know that they keep expanding their horizons.
There are some deja vus on this record. The band have included a reworked version of their hit Victory, which was featured on their debut album. This is their 10-year anniversary and that song was their breakthrough, so what can be better than bringing it back from the past? Longtime fans will also remember that the song Viva, appearing on the first album as well, is based on Vivaldi's Winter, thus it is a bit strange why they chose to include the same piece by the Italian composer in Play and not another one. Nevertheless, one should not complain, as they deliver a flawless version of the masterpiece and it is always a pleasure to hear these girls show off their playing skills.
As it can be seen, despite the time that went by between their previous album and this one, Bond sound stronger than ever. Their influences have broadened and their sound remains impeccable. Play will not let all-time fans down and it will attract a whole new wave of listeners. Bond have proved that they were no fad but they are here to stay. Viva Bond!

Rating: 8/10

First single: Diablo

Unmissable song: Victory (with André Rieu)

(Pictures taken from Bond's Official Website)

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Before the pop diva's new album came out, an unusual expectation had arisen. What kind of innovative material could she come up with when she's got us used to constant look changes from crazy-colored-and-shaped wigs and hats to meat dresses? Will she be able to confirm she is the big star all the media and event organizers promote or will she be just another shooting star in the music business which brings idols down as easily as it launches them to stardom? Will this album be at the same level as her very good first LP and succeeding EP? All these questions and uncertainties were wiped off with the first listen. Born This Way is not only the best record Gaga has delivered so far; it is undoubtedly the best pop album of the year, an album that is destined to become a classic of pop music.
To tell the truth, restricting this record to just pop would be a mistake too big, because electropop, house, new wave, rock, opera, heavy metal, disco, Gregorian chant, country and mariachi coexist peacefully weaving a musical net that, although heterogeneous, becomes a uniform body as songs go by. Gaga made sure she incorporated the perfect dose of each of these styles so that her songs do not lose their essence and style, but, at the same time, so that they can transcend musical barriers and, why not, reach a wider audience. As she herself stated: "And I realized I wanted to create a hybrid album, an avant-garde techno-rock record that is really really heavy and industrial on one end and really joyful and pop on the other."(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_This_Way).
Musically, the whole album is influenced by the 80s. The first single "Born This Way" automatically evokes Madonna's "Express Yourself", the sax that can be heard on "Hair" and on "The Edge Of Glory", reminds of Bruce Springsteen (a thought acquiring an even larger dimension if one considers that the musician playing that instrument on those songs is not other but Clarence Clemons, member of Springsteen's E Street Band who unfortunately passed away shortly after the album came out), Gaga says she things of Whitney Houston when she hears "Marry The Night", and the song "Hair" contains melodies inspired by Kiss and Iron Maiden, according to its author. One of the tracks that stands out for being different in style to what we are used to is "You and I", offering a strong rock and country component reminiscent of Shania Twain. "Surprisingly" this song was produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange, Shania's former husband. There is also a mariachi touch on "Americano", sung both in English and Spanish, house on "Scheiße", sung in an inexistent language sounding similar to German, hardrock on the riffs to "Electric Chapel" and "Highway Unicorn" and, in case this were not enough, there is even Gregorian Chant on "Government Hooker".

Another important element of the record are the references that the lyrics contain. In general, the message of freedom pervades all the songs. Gaga has always said that the two things she cares for the most are freedom and music. After listening to this record, we know this is true. "Hair", for instance, is about the restrictions parents impose on their children, which end up undermining their freedom and their identity. As concerns identity, this is another main subject of this piece of work. The clearest example can be found on "Born This Way", the lyrics of which say it does not matter the sexual inclination or race, we all should be sure and content with who we are, despite what others think. No wonder this is the reason why Gaga's followers around the world increase by the day. The singer is not afraid of saying what she things and she acts in the same way. Moreover, defending relegated groups in the United States (and in the world) has been one of her banners she raises high with her music. Concerning minority groups, the song "Americano" was written due to the passing of a new immigration law in Arizona, which proved controversial in the States at the moment it was passed.
The references to Christianity play an important role in the record. "Judas" is about falling in love with the wrong person. On the video, Gaga plays Magdalene. She leaves Jesus because she falls for Judas, even though she knows he will betray Jesus. "Bloody Mary" is a ballad sung from Mary Magdalene's point of view. According to Lady Gaga, Mary Magdalene is divine and human at the same time: divine because she had to be strong when Jesus died crucified in order to save humanity and human because she must have felt angry because she let him go to fulfill his destiny. On 27 May, 2011, Gaga wrote on Twitter that the song had been inspired by her car and by Mary Magdalene the "ultimate rockstar". One of the bonus tracks featured on the extended version of the album, "Black Jesus" is about seeing reality from another point of view. It is a reference to the times when Lady Gaga moved to New York city to pursue her musical career and when she met new people, having other perspectives, conceptions, ideas and so on. (There is a kind of pledge of allegiance to New York City on the song "Marry The Night", perhaps against Hollywood's glamor, specially when the lyrics say "New York is not just a tan that you'll never lose".)
Lady Gaga, true to her controversial, provoking and innovative style, brings us an album that surpasses all the expectations that arose before it came out. Of course, many will say that everything was already said and done, that Gaga is simply copying others. That these musical influences were already heard in the 80s. That the religious references and a black Jesus were on Madonna's Like A Prayer. But just so, in the world of pop, where everything seems to repeat over and over, breathing new air into old elements so that they sound new is a gift. Not only does Gaga have this gift, but it looks like she has enough ideas to lead the pop music avant-garde for a long time.

Rating: 10/10

First single: Born This Way

Unmissable song: The Edge Of Glory (featuring Clarence Clemons).

Sources: Wikipedia and Gagapedia.