Pockat - New New New

Remember when we introduced you to Pockat? The guys that bought you the Kirk Norcross charity t-shirt? Well they’ve been busy…

The Pockat team has been hard at work and has a whole new range of fantastic Pockat t-shirts for you to get your hands on. There’s their traditional Pockat pocket design that’s been given an on trend deep space revamp. Then there’s a whole new look with a brand new ‘chesty’ Pockat in a variety of designs (we particularly like the Cloud Chesty Pockat).

They don’t just do t-shirts either, oh no, they do exclusive, limited edition, Next of Kin (remember those three brothers on last years X Factor that made Nicole cry and sounded a bit like Rascal Flatts – them) merchandise too, so if you’re a fan, you know what to do…

Pockat have even more exciting things coming up too, specifically a little something in collaboration with TOWIE’s James ‘lockie’ Lock, keep your eyes on their twitter @Pockat_Official for that!

Head on over to their website and get yourself a little something, there’s no better time than now either, they’ve got a SALE on, we don’t half love a sale!

www.pockat.co.uk

ALBUM REVIEW - Foster The People 'Supermodel'

Foster the People: Supermodel

‘A kaleidoscope of snapshots, mixing ‘pop’ with eclectic ‘indie jams’ and techno beats.’ If you asked me to describe this album in one sentence; that is what I would go with, this album is a collection of snapshots pasted together in an album. Although you would expect this to mean that the album makes for difficult listening due to it’s mixed and diverse choice of songs, it instead has created an album that changes and keeps you listening right to the end. So, with no more waiting, here is the review!

If you have listened to previous albums, Supermodel does seem to rest on the same template as ‘Torches.’ The genres of the songs seem to blend and mix perfectly creating a whirl of different songs emulating a number of different meanings based on different situations and contexts.  I’d describe the overall genre as euphoric pop and most of the tracks are the stereotypical mix of synths, pop melodies, guitar distortion; however a number of tracks escape this the first being ‘Fire Escape', a stripped back and acoustic style song that reminds me of summer. I can imagine sitting with a group of friends, listening to this song, sipping a chilled beer and laughing, absolute perfection. However many of the songs take on a deeper meaning. Songs range from being dependant on war and it’s effects and politics such as the effect of capitalism. One thing that didn’t sit quite right with me (in association with this) which was a shame was the song ‘Pseudologia, Fantastica.’ It is said to describe a war veteran who has returned to his family however he is suffering from PTSD. The problem with the song is that the uplifting use of instrumentation doesn’t quite fit with the dark tones and themes explored in the song and that is a shame as it has the potential to be a brilliant and standout song. However the album shows an improved development and I thought showed the maturity of the band through the themes that they ultimately have explored. These include the ‘A Beginner’s guide to Destroying The Moon.’ This hints at the dark side of Capitalism and the implications and the effect that this has on society. This is further shown in the use of synths and jagged instrumentation from the rhythm guitar. It seems that ‘Foster the People,’ have really, really, grown up and although the songs still hint at their indie beginnings, there appears to be a different side to the band that we haven’t really seen yet and I hope that the band continues to grow and develop in their songs and albums to come.

The lead song, (which no doubt will be, or has been rocking the charts) is ‘Coming of Age,’ and was pre-released before the rest of the album and was used as an opening to create a hype! Many have described it as resembling an early ‘Beach Boys,’ track. However this is definitely modernised with the use of synths that mix with the guitar and the lilting voice of the singer. The song is repetitive and jazzy and really sticks in your head; I am an avid ‘toe tapper’, and this one definitely got my feet tapping along to the beat. The song has a very summery vibe and does remind the listener of ‘Pumped up Kicks.’ Also if you’re a fan of ‘Vampire Weekend,’ this could easily pass for one of their songs, which is a good thing. The song is extremely catchy and is dreamy however it could be representing the change in the bands music and singing of the maturity that they have shown through this album. A second showpiece song is ‘Best Friend’ it has a strong beat, mixed with guitar riffs and descends into a riotous and wild mayhem of sounds. Lyrics include ‘Sometimes I swear I only dream in black and white.’ It is a fun and upbeat song that encourages the listener to jump about their bedroom using a hairbrush as a microphone! One song that I think slightly missed the beat was ‘Fire Escape.’ It is a syrupy song, which uses acoustic guitar, a choir chorus, and two glockenspiels. Although I was a fan of the song it is a little too gleeful and cheerful meaning that it doesn’t quite mesh with the rest of the noir style album. Lyrics include ‘I see the seasons change/All the young faces come and replace the dying ones.’ It’s not a badly written or produced song it just doesn’t appear to match the rest of the album and seems to be an attempt to re-create the hype that surrounded ‘Pumped Up Kicks, but it appears that it has somehow missed the mark which is a shame. Probably my favourite track on the album was the first song and that is ‘Are you what you want to be?’ It is a song that meshes cross-rhythms from the drums and the guitar with a background of ‘na, na, na’s.’ It is a brilliant song that pulls the listener in and makes them really listen to the lyrics! Perfect for casual easy listening!

Foster apparently said of the album that ‘Supermodel has no ‘monster,’ and what he means by this is that the album does not have the have a song that resembles or reciprocates the huge popularity of ‘Pumped up Kicks.’ But this doesn’t affect the overall collation of the album; it is a collection of snapshots that lead to an overall pleasing listen!

4/5

By @baldwin_lizzy

mylittlebookblog.wordpress.com

Gibbs Did It - Ian Wright Weights In

Kieran Gibbs red card in the Arsenal-Chelsea match has caused twitter chaos after Referee Andre Marriner sent the Arsenal player off despite Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain repeatedly admitting to handling the ball. 

Marriner's mix up in the 6-0 demolition of the Gunners at Stamford Bridge started a twitter debate. With some tweets stating "Gibbs sent off for being Black" and wanting Andre to receive disciplinary action. 

Football pundit Ian Wright also made his thoughts on the matter clear claiming the confusion was due to the ref not knowing which player was which as both were of the same ethnic origin. 

The Arsenal wingers handball was intentional despite not being required as the ball was wide and wouldn't have been a goal. Chamberlain admitted his mistake repeatedly pointing at his shirt clearly showing his number. 

UEFA officials have expressed their opinions to have more games manned by more line officials to prevent future mistakes. The Barclays premiership have also made a statement claiming any touch line technology in place would not have altered or aided in Marriner's decision to send off the young defender. 

The british referee has stated his disappointment with his decision and has sent his apologies to both players.

By @LucyeWare

Beckham Reveals Stadium Plans

Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy and England football super star David Beckham this week revealed his plans to home his MLS team in Miami at a press conference. 

Beckham left LA Galaxy in 2012 and since has made his intentions to manage or own his own team clear after he took advantage of a contract clause allowing him to take part In a $25 million franchise option with the club.

Investors will assist in the ex England captains ambitious plans to build a 28,000 seated stadium on the Miami waterfront and in a recent press conference confirms rumours that Beckham and his group of investors will fully finance the operation themselves. 

Those opposed to the build are concerned for the local economy and have  as the Florida Marlins Baseball team only just completed their own stadium build on the site next to the plot Beckham will build his own in Port Miami. The 38 year old will also be considering other sites but his open top stadium and has put together plans for the 36 Acre site to include shops and restaurants which he hopes will boost local support in favour of the $200 million development. 

Beckham's property advisor has stated that funds are in place and the build is ready to go ahead with an ambitious target of hiving a team in place by 2016. 

The trip to Miami has delivered mixed opinions on the future of the retired star. Finalisation of the development will take place in the coming months but for now Beckham and his advisors are excited for his and Miami's future.

By @LucyeWare

ALBUM REVIEW - The Pretty Reckless - Going To Hell

Oh wow. This album screams of hard rock power. If you’ve never heard of ‘The Pretty Reckless', here are a few facts. Originally from New York City the band is made up of Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips, Mark Damon and Jamie Perkins. They have supported bands from Evanescence, to Marilyn Manson, have played at festivals such as V, Wireless and Download and their song ‘Make me Wanna Die,’ appeared in the end credits of the popular movie Kick-Ass, and their new album Going to Hell is an absolute scorcher. So, onto the review.

The album starts with a bang with ‘Follow Me Down.’ After some rather raunchy moaning and the blaring of a siren, the drums and guitar burst into your ears with a symphony of riffs and power chords. Taylor throws her throaty voice into the mix and the sound is incredible. The song mixes sweet and sexy, with the chorus being split into two sides; first a sweet voice with quiet drums and the gentle plucking of the guitar telling us to ‘follow [her] down to the river,’ however in the second the guitar and drums are back creating mayhem. I must admit that Momsen’s voice is incredible; she can manipulate it from raunchy and inviting to full on rock goddess. The song speaks of a sordid relationship in which the character of the song has lost her mind’ since entering a relationship. We are told to follow her down to the river, where she will be waiting on her knees, repenting for her sins. This is an obvious relation to the album name, and is likely to be about the relationship between character and a deity or God. The song finishes with the line ‘young love as sweet as can be,’ which only helps to pull the whole song together; the raunchy relationship, the religion fuelled lyrics, and the repentance of the character for her sins. An all-together well put together song that screams of rock genius.

The next song is ‘Going to Hell,’ which starts with Momsen seductively whispering however the song explodes into a mix of drums, electric guitar and strong riffs. Momsen sings ‘for the love that I make, I’m going to hell,’ which is beautifully mixed with a rocking guitar solo. The song climbs seductively and pulls the listener in but suddenly goes into a softer section, where the guitar riff cuts in, but here it is gentle. The drumbeat is strong but it is softened down to allow the song lyrics to come through. The song takes an almost angelic turn; until the guitars cuts right back in, and Momsen screams in ‘I’m going to Hell.’ The song takes an unexpected turn with the guitar riffs taking the song higher and higher until it ends in utter turmoil and ends with a crash. I loved this song; it has power, sass and brilliant pairings of guitar and drums! Give this song a listen! (Or you’re going to hell?!) We plough forward into 'Heaven Knows,’ but do not expect anything sweet and innocent. The song starts with the clapping of hands and reminds me of ‘We will Rock you’ by Queen. (Although I’m no way saying this is on par with Queen it has the same sense of rock edge!) Momsen in this song is joined by the choir of a number of children who sing along with her until the song cuts into a sweeter, more rhythmic section, which really displays Momsen’s ability to change to a different style of singing. The song continues with Momsen acting as a leader of the gang with the children singing perfectly along in time with her. The song finishes with the voices getting quieter and quieter; an edgy but clean cut song.

We then move onto ‘House on a Hill,’ which starts with what sounds like a news reporter speaking about rebellion and anarchy in society. The guitar cuts in playing rising and falling scales whilst Momsen’s clear cut voice sings with an earthy realism that makes you feel everything that she is feeling as she sings to us. The song bursts into a strong arrangement including the drums and rhythm guitar but the riffs continue through and you can hear them behind the fuller arrangement. There is also an addition of a number of string players that really adds emotion to the song. I thought this was beautiful; not only the arrangement but the sheer emotion that comes over through Momsen’s singing. Later in the song the speaker cuts back in however it is overshadowed by the chords and is difficult to hear. Momsen sings ‘somewhere in the end of all this hate, there's a light ahead, that shines into this grave that's in the end of all this pain.’ The song sings of resistance but in a peaceful sense and it is beautifully understood. The song finishes with a deeply emotional heartbeat. However we do not have a space to breathe and reflect before we are straight into the next song and hit with a barrage of rhythm guitar, bass and drums. Momsen’s voice cuts in straight over the top and I was surprised to hear her so clearly over the turmoil of noise underneath. The song suddenly lightens in depth and a male voice can be heard singing over the brash chords of the guitar. The voices, weave in and out of each other as the song continues lulling us into a false sense of security before the song builds up and up causing chaos to the ears. The voices brilliantly match each other and Momsen’s voice changes so suddenly and succinctly from sweet and innocent to rock goddess with such ease! It is just fantastic. The guitar solo is immense and the sense of rhythm that is applied in each of the songs is brilliantly balanced; and here it is especially good! Definitely one to listen out for! We then move onto ‘Dear Sister,’ this was once again a strong song relying heavily on the brilliant singing talent of the female lead and the strong riffs of the guitar. I fell in love with this song and although it is a shorter song it doesn’t lack the power of the other songs on the album. I also loved that the changed in pace and contrast between was so brilliant in this album. You do not feel like you are listening to the same song over and over again! The album continues with a number of power rock tracks that continue to contrast between each other. Look out for ‘whyd you bring a Shotgun to the Party,’ it really tests Momsen’s voice and it is surprisingly catchy! Definitely worth a couple of listens! The album finished with ‘Waiting for a friend’ which I think is the perfect ending to this album; not is it gently but it is acoustic and also features the use of a harmonica which is a stunning collaboration. The song is sweet and gentle and is definitely one of my favourites from the album. If you are not a stereotypical hard-core rock-fan still give this a listen (and a download) I know you will not regret it because it is sublime. (PLEASE go check it out!)

This album definitely has a good contrast in songs and although most the songs have a hard rock feel they do mix up the use of arrangement and push Momsen’s voice to the limit which is brilliant as it helps to contrast the album and make each song a little different. The guitar solos are brilliant throughout and the way that they mix with the lead singer’s voice without over-powering is the skill of the band as a whole. After listening to this album I am so tempted to see them live and really go and see if they are as good as this album sounds. I would definitely recommend this album so go listen to it, borrow it, download it and if you’re still not convinced listen to ‘Waiting for a friend’ because you will not be disappointed!

By @baldwin_lizzy

mylittlebookblog.wordpress.com

JuiceToU - The New Detox to the Stars?

Modern day celebrities love to detox, whether it be to help with weight loss, boost their metabolism or just improve their complexion. You’ll see most celebs tweeting about their detox after a long week of partying, sorry, we mean networking and it’s fast become a buzzword for a fashionable health-kick. You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a fad, all hype and no substance, but don’t let the stigma fool you! Detoxing is proven to work and JuiceToU is fast becoming one of the most tried and tested in the world of stars.

JuiceToU is the detox of choice for the likes of Callum McFadzean, Micky Norcross, AJ Odudu, Lloyd Daniels and many more, all seeing fantastic results. Micky Norcross (the handsome gent that used to be on TOWIE) has personally lost over 7lbs in just 3 days!

 

People have been seeing and sharing amazing results from their 3 and 5 day detox plans. With juices like ‘Clean Green’, ‘Lets Glow’ and ‘Berry Good’ each with their own tailored benefits and juicey goodness. Do you want to see benefits like weight loss? Improved energy levels? Healthier hair? A stronger immune system? And a boosted metabolism? The head over to juicetou.com & @juicetou for more information and to order your very own detox.

MOTW Review - Tottenham V Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Arsenal

Tomas Rosicky scored after just 73 seconds to give Arsenal a 1-0 victory over their North London rivals in the final Premier League game of the weekend.

The goal came at the end of a sweeping counter-attacking move beginning in their own half after an initial bright start from Tottenham. The ball came to Alex Oxlade Chamberlain just inside the Arsenal half and he played it wide to Rosicky who ran at the Spurs defence. After an unintended and slightly fortuitous one-two with the 20 year-old, he unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner past a helpless Hugo Lloris. It was the fastest Arsenal goal against Tottenham in the Premier League.

The afternoon could have got much worse for Tottenham on 15 minutes when Oxlade-Chamberlain, who started the game in a deeper role than he’s recently found himself, turned past talented youngster Nabil Bentaleb and got one-on-one with the onrushing Lloris. Opting to lob the Frenchman, Oxlade-Chamberlain mishit his shot to the extent it almost became a cross for the supporting Lukas Podolski before it eventually finished wide of the target.

Spurs, in particular the back four, were looking nervous on the ball. On the other hand, Arsenal seemed happy to let them have the ball and use their reserves of pace to counter attack. This began to become dangerous for them as Spurs began to get a foothold in the game. As the half began to become stale, good work from Andros Townsend down the right hand side led to a ball across the six-yard box where Adebayor was just unable to get the necessary scoring touch under pressure from Per Mertesacker and pushed the ball wide.

The game became much more open in the second half and Tottenham should have been level just three minutes after the restart. Wojciech Szczęsny flapped at a cross from the right hand side and Nacer Chadli found the ball at his feet. After skilfully rounding one defender, he was unable to force the ball past Laurent Koscielny who blocked superbly. Less than five minutes later, Emmanuel Adebayor, one of Spurs’ better players against his former club, was allowed to run 35 yards unopposed into the final third. After committing two defenders, he laid the ball off to Townsend outside him who dragged his shot wide from 10 yards out.

Again, the game seemed to lose a lot of its urgency mid-way through the half. The only real chance of note came shortly after the hour mark when Adebayor was presented with a delightful ball from Bentaleb, but headed wide under pressure from Koscielny, who had one of his better games in a Gunners’ shirt.

There was a lot of huff and puff from Spurs but they couldn’t create any further guilt-edge chances and Arsenal were able to see out the victory with relative ease. The full-time whistle signaled the first time Tottenham had drawn a blank against Arsenal over both games in the league for 23 years.

Spurs can take heart from their performance in this game, particularly after conceding seven goals in their previous two games. However, Tim Sherwood’s men will need to start taking their chances, no matter how small, if they’re going to overturn a 3-1 deficit at Benfica on Thursday night or push on in the league for European football next season.

Stay tuned for a preview of the next Match of the Weekend – Chelsea vs Arsenal

By @Daniel_Frazer1

ADHD Foundation - Get Your Pockat T-shirt

As you know we've been lending a hand to play a tiny part in helping Kirk Norcross raise money and awareness for Sport Relief and the ADHD Foundation, and we're not the only ones!

Not only can you grab yourself a copy of Kirk's single - Pre-order it HERE 

You can also buy yourself a fantastic t-shirt from the guys at @Pockat_Official (give them a cheeky follow whilst you're at it) with the charity single cover design. 10% of money will go straight to the ADHD Foundation helping them to do some wonderful things with peoples lives. 

So join the Norcross charity train and get your t-shirt here - http://www.pockat.co.uk/

HOLLYOAKS - Spring Spoilers

We love it when Hollyoaks release a seasonal trailer, it's always packed full of teasing drama and tantalising revelations we immediately begin speculating about. It's no secret Hollyoaks is our favourite Soap and it looks as though that's not going to change anytime soon, not after THIS trailer...

Hollyoaks have revealed Mr Nasty (putting is politely) Fraser Black is to meet an untimely demise next month in a huge whodunit plot. Let's face it, they could drag this one out for years with the long list of potential culprits. Grace, Trevor, Freddie, Sam, Tony, Ste, Joe, Sandy, even Tom, lets face it, it's only a matter of time until his traumatic childhood turns him into a psycho... we could go on. It's probably easier to rule out who doesn't have a motive with the amount of lives Fraser has ruined and ended. 

Also coming up in the next few weeks is the death of baby Katy, ever since we found out how this storyline will end we've had to choke back a tear whenever Sinead is on screen. Definitely stock up on tissues! Joe Roscoe, who isn't dead, will wake up from his coma, we image this is going to lead to a fair few questions for Freddie. Poor John Paul's judgement day in court comes around (that bloody Finn) and Maxine fears she might be pregnant!

We cannot wait!

ALBUM REVIEW - Kylie Minogue 'Kiss Me Once'

Sheer pop perfection; after twenty-five years in the ‘music-biz’ (yes, you heard right, twenty-five years) and with her twelfth album under her belt, Kylie has definitely not strayed from her roots as the ‘Princess of Pop.’ Some may have thought that Kylie would have drifted from the norm and started to change her style, preferring to belt out ‘pearls of wisdom, to her teems of loyal fans; but instead Kylie has decided to stick to the harmlessly up-beat tracks that made her famous right back at the start. However she is not alone. Kylie’s most recent album has been added to, produced, edited and helped by a stardom of different celebrities including Pharrell Williams, Sia, Haim, Enrique Iglesias and many, many (many) others, and with her current stint on the popular BBC1 show ‘The Voice,’ I reckon this album is going to be big; so with no further a due, onto the review.

We start with the leading song that should reach out and grab us and ‘Into the Blue’ does not disappoint. Kylie uses this song to reflect on her life in the spotlight whilst using rising string chords mixed with synthesisers to really pull in the crowd. The song has a strong core and is really an electronic dance music track but it still has a sense of Kylie’s original roots however they have been brought right up to the future to get us pop lovers bopping to it’s catchy riffs. The strings bring a beautiful sound to the track and the strong drumbeats give the song uplift. The chorus reminds us exactly why Kylie has so many fans! The quality of her voice is strong and projects over the mix of synth, drums and strings and I couldn’t help but enjoy this pop creation. ‘Handbags at the ready girls; lets go dancing!’ We then move quickly onto the song ‘Million Miles’ this starts with the guitar riffs that really pull the listener in; Kylie is like a musical temptress as she calls us like a siren into her ultimately girly pop hit. Her voice sounds extremely edited and has a robot like quality however the song pumps the listener’s mood higher and you cannot help but be pulled into the song. This has POP written all over it! The song uses the slight over repetition of the lyrics, ‘it feels like,’ and ‘a million, million, feeling like a million miles away,’ however the second use of synthesisers brings the song into the current music scene and you can see this being played in University Student Unions all over the country.

‘I was Gonna Cancel’ is a perfect mix of Pharrell Williams stereotypical funk mood, and the psychedelic pop of Kylie. The two fit seamlessly together and Pharrell really adds a needed ‘punch’ to the album. Pharrell is ‘hot’ right now, after his top track ‘Happy’ and by including him on the album it gives Kylie’s album a sense of fun and contemporary which is much needed to give a boost to this album. The songs are catchy but they need a sense of groove that Pharrell most certainly brings to the table. Absolutely brilliant! I really enjoyed this song as it not only included the typical pop sounds associated but also included the unusual arrangement of bells, and cherubic warbling in the background that certainly made this song stand out to me; I will not be forgetting this song for a while. Lyrics include, ‘shut out all the doubt, just get up and go,’ and ‘what's on the other side?’ The only slight problem I found was the chorus that ultimately was the repetition of the word, ‘go.’ Although I love what Pharrell has done, maybe a couple of different words in the chorus? (Just a suggestion!) ‘Sexy Love’ and ‘Kiss Me Once’, both hark back to Kylie’s roots and are the epitome of her classics with Waterman. They have a sense of nostalgia for the 80’s and this is what Kylie is honestly best at. Lyrics from ‘Sexy Love,’ include ‘you look so sexy in my head, you look so sexy in my bed.’ Kylie is a siren and these songs epitomise her ability to churn out pop power. However as I sunk into the two songs, I was suddenly surprised by one track; this was the song ‘Sexercise.’ I assumed that this would be a typical song much like the earlier tracks, however it has a remixed, dub-step feel that can only be connected to Sia Furler, who helped produce the track. This track is brought right up-to-date and in many reviews was compared to the singer Rihanna (which can only be a good thing!) The song mixes vibrating dub-step beats with Kylie’s sweet and innocent lyrics, it really brings an interesting mix to the table. Throughout the album I have seen a definite change in Kylie’s stereotypical songs and this added a fresh feeling that has lead me to the listen to the song a number of times.

The only duet and ballad on the album is with Enrique Iglesias; this song screams a mixture of techno funk and pop power. The song is a beautiful ending to the album and finally gives the listener what they have been looking out for. The lyrics are strong and the love story told through them is beautiful. I wasn’t so sure on the extreme editing of the voices as they felt over-edited and I would rather that they has been more exposed to show Kylies ability to sing as well as she does. Instead it felt at times that her singing was being covered up. However, I know that this song will be doing the rounds of the charts in no time at all! So keep an eye out Kylie fans. Finally we finish with ‘Fine.’ I was really surprised that the album didn’t finish with ‘Beautiful’ as it is such a soulful song to then be suddenly pushed back into Kylie’s pop-land was a surprise. However the song is upbeat and has a funk feel that reflects back to the earlier tracks in the album. Throughout the album there has been a real change in the songs produced and think this has really helped to bring Kylie up-to- date and keep her sounding current and fresh. This album is definitely worth a couple of listens, however if you are not an extreme Kylie fan I can see the repetition and the lack of real grit starting to play on the nerves of some listeners. However, you cannot deny that Kylie still reigns as the ultimate ‘pop princess.’

By @baldwin_lizzy

mylittlebookblog.wordpress.com

The X Factor Live Tour - REVIEW

The X Factor Live Tour - Capital FM Arena - 15th March

We managed to get some last minute tickets for the Saturday night show at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, 5^th row, right next to the stage. We thought we’d grabbed ourselves a great coup. That was until we arrived at the arena. Getting closer I uttered the words “it’s a bit quiet’, normally there’s a big train of people heading in the direction of the venue, but not tonight. Once inside and it was getting closer to show time I noticed none of the tiered seats were occupied! I was quite shocked, I’ve never seen the arena looking so empty, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d arrived at a Tesco Mary concert by accident. Now, we’ve been told the previous night was a virtual sell out so we can only assume this had been put on as an extra date and it hadn’t quite sold as well as expected. Hardly the performers fault. Nottingham clearly only has an arena and a half full of X Factor fans in its vicinity.

The Stage

There’s not much or any real significance to mention about the stage, it was, quite literally, just a stage. There was the obligatory sets of stairs and mini runway, but that was it. Nothing else, not even the infamous clear box podium! I suppose it meant our eyes didn’t wander away from the acts but I’m not sure if that was entirely on purpose. Now, I’ve seen images from other nights of the X Factor tour and there has been some elements of staging, a bench and some street lights for example during one of Luke’s performance. Almost seems as though we got a bit of a watered down, bargain basement version of the live tour!

The Performers

Tamera Foster

Tamera opened the show, lowered to the stage from above. Upbeat and full of energy she gave it her all to get the crowd up on their feet and in the mood for an X Factor party. She appeared again several times over the course of the first and seconds halves, we got just the right amount of Tamera action. She delivered a balanced mixture of choreographed lively routines and simple, exquisite ballads. Everything about her, image, attitude, talent, scream superstar and now she's been signed by SYCO it's only a matter of time until she takes her place as the UK's very own diva.

Nicholas McDonald

We got plenty of Nicky action during the show, in fact him Sam C and Luke were barely ever off the stage. I wasn’t a huge fan of his ‘Candy’ performance during the X Factor final as I’ve always preferred his ballads, but seeing it in person completely changed my mind. He came across comfortable and assured, delivering the lively routine with ease. It was still however his powerful ballads that stole the show for Nicky, ‘Someone Like You’, ‘In the Arms of the Angels’ and ‘Flying Without Wings’ all completely flawless. There’s a huge difference in the Nicky we saw up close than the one on telly, his confidence is evident and his cheeky yet humble personality comes across perfectly.

Hannah Barrett

It seemed as though Hannah was one of the acts there just to fill the time between the others. On and off the stage in a flash we can only really remember her performing a handful of times. That being said when she was on stage the crowd really did love her, responding to her passion and power she held everyones attention for those few minutes. Appearing not quite as relaxed on stage as some of the others and despite a fantastic version of Skyfall, still not quite connecting with us.

Sam Callahan

We have a soft spot for Sam and after seeing him in person it may now have grown into a full blow crush. After the criticism of his vocals weeks after week during the series we weren’t sure what to expect from him but he looks a born star when he’s on the stage and live Sams’ vocals are great. There’s a lot of Callahan action throughout the show, solo, with Luke, with Luke and Nicholas, with everyone, we loved it. Our personal highlight we his version of ‘I won’t give up’ with Luke accompanying him on guitar, it was full of genuine passion and emotion, it’s as if he was back in the television studio singing for our votes, he’s have definitely got them. He’s also ridiculously good looking close up, with the right songs and direction Sam will be a huge star.

Abi Alton

We admit, we may have forgotten Abi was on the tour, and after being used sparingly during the show we could quite easily forget we’d even seen her. That would be the case if she wasn’t so damn fantastic. Two performances, understand, original, authentic and very Abi Alton. Her two little slots were a million miles away from the rest of the tour. Depending on whether you’re an Abi fan or not will entirely dictate as to whether you’re mesmerised into appreciative silence or heading to the bar whilst she’s on stage.

Rough Copy

Rough Copy, well two thirds of Rough Copy were the first act to fully get the crowd going. Whenever they were on stage they gave a performance that felt complete. Their stage presence is second to none and Joeys’ constant expression of sheer joy for what he’s doing is infectious. Seeing the temporary duo live completely changed our opinion on them, we always liked them, but we wavered slightly during the live shows and didn’t quite think they were being true to themselves, but in person you can see just how much work they put in and they look like true professionals.

Luke Friend

Another one who changed our opinion completely. We never really ‘got it’ with Luke (until the last few weeks of the show) but seeing him in person we finally did ‘get it’. The crowd adored him, particularly the screaming girls sat directly behind us, their reaction when Luke ‘looked at them’ showed just how much his fans love him. Much like Sam and Nicholas there was a great deal of Friend action throughout the show, not that we minded! He performs every song we wanted to hear, his version of ‘Skinny Love’ was perfect as was ‘kiss from a rose’. A natural on stage.

Sam Bailey

It was a long wait until we saw and heard our X Factor winner, it wasn’t until the final half an hour she graced the stage, but jeez it was well worth the wait. She’s head and shoulders above the rest. Sitting as close as we were we saw every ounce of effort and emotion she poured into each song. Not only is her voice world class but her personality is completely endearing, her ‘in between song chat’ was effortlessly funny and humble. She’s a bit good that Sam Bailey.

Overall it was a show full of talent but lacked a little something. Maybe it was the night we went, maybe we did get a watered down version due to it only being half full, quite disappointing if that is the case considering we paid the same amount as everyone else seeing the live tour. However the acts didn’t disappoint, their voices shone as did their character. There’s going to be some successful stars from the X Factor class of 2013.

ALBUM REVIEW - A Great Big World - Is There Anybody Out There?

A Great Big World: Is There Anybody Out There?

If I had to sum up this album in three words I would pick positive, bright and cheerful. I (slightly embarrassingly) had never come across or heard of ‘A Great Big World (Editor Note – Until I shared the musical joy). However, this is definitely a duo to keep your eye on in the future. The talented double act come in the form of two music business students, Chad Vaccarino and Ian Axel who have put their heads together to create a high-spirited and exuberant album, full of upbeat and optimistic melodies paired with strong beats, power chords and a great understanding of rhythm. The album starts with the overall positive and buoyant ‘Rockstar.’ Based on the want to make it big, the song is a fusion of simple piano merged with a fuller arrangement of drums and guitar with strong chords that will get even the most downbeat listener unable to resist tapping their feet to the rhythm. The lyrics, chant of hope and optimism, however the guitar riffs stop the song from screaming ‘cheesy.’

We then move onto the ultimate pop song, ‘Land of Opportunity.’ To me this screamed a mix of Alphabeat and Pan!c at the Disco, which surprisingly doesn’t make a bad mix. It is quirky and whimsical, with a brass band making a surprising but overall enjoyable appearance during the middle 8 of the song. The lyrics include ‘I’m changing my name to a word that’s really hard to say,’ and ‘it’s no-ones fault I’m just too young, and you’re insane.’ Once again I could not stop my foot from tapping. My only problem with the song was the addition of a number of people cheering in the background, which was distinctly aggravating to listen to. (However this is only a minute annoyance.) The song is joyful and has a childish touch, which made it only lovelier to listen to. The song ends with a brash banging of percussion moving swiftly onto a soulful and beautiful ending on the piano. Perfect! ‘I really want it’ the next song on the album, I think, is the ultimate showing of the bands determination to make it into the difficult and unsteady music industry. The power chords and rising scales of the piano only reiterate the songs ultimate base of ‘I’m not giving in,’ and ‘let’s do this.’ One thing to say of ‘A Great Big World,’ is the singing is beautifully clear and articulate; you cannot help but hear every single word perfectly, which is a big compliment.

The song ‘Say Something,’ is a beautiful pairing of piano soft lyrics with sheer power and emotion. It’s currently doing the rounds on the charts and no wonder. The song is strong, with deep and meaningful lyrics such as ‘anywhere I would have followed you, say something, I’m giving up on you.’  The lyrics beg us to say something, to stop the other from giving in. It is so telling of rocky or difficult relationships and situations, and I feel any listener that has had a difficult time in a relationship or has been in a tough time in their life could definitely relate and feel the sheer emotional tug of the song. The soft strings playing long rising notes only add to the serenity of the track and pull the listener in. The song really tells a story, which is what the reader ultimately wants to hear. I must admit that the song really pulled on my heartstrings with powerful chords and a sense of desperation and is definitely worth a couple of listens. I must admit it is a sudden change from the prior songs that sing of positive feelings; however it is a lovely welcome contrast that is almost needed to show that the twosome can do something soulful and meaningful.

My least favourite song on the album was unfortunately, ‘You’ll be okay.’ By this point in the album I wanted something gritty and powerful much like ‘Say Something.’ However, I was hit with a nauseatingly loud and almost tacky song. Unfortunately, even the rocking guitar riffs could not help me to like this song. For me, it was so pop-fuelled and the lyrics appears shallow, dependant on the repetition of ‘you’ll be okay. For me this was a rare miss. Unfortunate. This could not be said for ‘Everyone is Gay.’ This was extremely memorable, with brilliantly catchy lyrics. The song has a theatrical quality, and could have been placed in a musical such as ‘Avenue Q.’ I really enjoyed this and thought that the song really looked at the current political situation in a down-to-earth but important way that seemed extremely understood by the band. Lyrics include, ‘one step closer to breaking down the walls,’ and ‘if you’re straight well that’s great you can help pro-create and make gay little babies for the whole human race.’ The song is strong with well-placed piano stop chords, which only help to pack a punch helping to brighten and exemplify the lyrics from the song.

The next few songs go back to the similar up beat and funk feeling; ‘there is an answer,’ is another stereotypical pop-tune with funky off beats, and the familiar piano chords. Once again it sings of hope and joy. By this point I was a little tired of the stereotypical optimism of the band however I found myself singing along to it later; this band have stuck in my mind and that can only be a good thing. Next was ‘I Don’t wanna Love Someboy Else’ and I loved this track and it sounds a little like the band ‘The Plain White-t’s.’ The melody paired with the soft guitar riffs moving up and down the scale are beautiful and well played with a real understanding of arrangement. One of the things that I have loved about this album is the incredible sense of balance between, voice, piano, guitars and my favourite, the string section. It is paired so brilliantly that you cannot help but be moved by the swelling melodies and the perfect harmonies. This song was grittier than the rest of album and was extremely emotional; I LOVED it. The rest of the songs are (much like any album) a little wishy-washy, they mix between the genres of the rest of the album and for me none were stand out songs however they are easy listens and do not affect this great album. The final song, a repeat of ‘say something,’ ft Christina Aguilera is beautiful and really adds to the song! It is a brilliant way to end the album and make the song even more stunning. Overall I loved this album and think it will be one that I am listening to more in the future. It is definitely a pick-me-up album. But if you tire easily of optimism and like something a little grittier this might be a little ‘too much’ for you!

Rating 4.5/5

By @baldwin_lizzy

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