Karmin- Pulses Album Review+Download

On Tuesday,  March 25th, Karmin released their first full length studio album in the United States. Will the album pale to or leave their debut EP, Hello, in the dust? Find out below.

Pulses has an overall mood and feel similar to their EP Hello, featuring many uptempo, dance centered tracks, but takes the energy to a new, higher level. And as opposed to the album's lead single Acapella, many of the tracks feature a more mature feeling to them, absent in many of the tracks featured on Hello. Even the most party centered tracks, namely Night Like This, features a much more grown up aura than tracks such as Brokenhearted and Too Many Fish, both featured on Hello.

Pulses is able to differentiate itself from its predecessor in many ways, with many differences being visible between the two works. All tracks on Pulses also feature new, unique, hip-hop esque instrumental tracks, that pair perfectly with the duo's pop vocal verses, or Amy's rap verses, an element absent in Hello.  Speaking of, Amy's rapping also features a more mature sound to it, shedding its pop-rap exterior for a more hip-hop based rap vocal sound. Another difference between both works is the other half of Karmin, Nick. In Hello, Nick was only noticeably present in one song, and sang backup vocals for most of the other tracks. However, in Pulses, while still far from being the lead singer, Nick is actually audible in more of the album than not, actually garnering his own verses or lines in many of the album's thirteen tracks.

One thing about the album that baffles me about the album are the single choices. While Acapella overall was a fun, dance-able lead single, it failed to actually give us a real taste of the album. Rather, Acapella is musically different from most tracks on the album. The second single, I Want it All, is an even more confusing choice. While as a stand alone track the song is a fun pop anthem (although it fails to differentiate itself from the large pop landscape today), it is overall the weakest track off the album, and any song, even one of the ballads, would have been a better single choice than this.

Stream the entire album for free here

As the name suggest, the album certainly has its uptempo and downtempo tracks. However, the uptempos certainly outweigh the downtempos, with the album clocking in with 2 ballads. both are powerful relationship related tracks, that actually give the duo a chance to show off their vocals.

Overall, this is an album that's different from most pop/hip-hop albums today, something we don't hear everyday. In their previous works, Karmin has had a sound that to some, was just unbearable to listen to. While I never had that problem, from what I've heard it was her rapping that was the problem. With the more mature rapping style Amy has adopted with this album, it seems that the problem has been at least lessened a great deal. This could be a beneficial move for them that could garner them a new group of fans in the long run.

Overall, this diverse album full of pop, hip-hop, and downtempo tracks has a wide range of musical variety that can appeal to the public if promoted correctly by their label, Epic. The album features a new, maturer side of the duo, but also retains the same Karmin I fell in love with from the beginning. Make sure to tell me what you think about the album in the comments, and make sure to download Pulses below!

Iggy Azalea- Fancy Ft. Charli XCX Review+Download

Hey everyone, on the week of March 13th, Iggy Azalea's new track, Fancy, debuted on The Billboard Hot 100. How does the track compare to Azalea's breakout 2013 hit, Work? Find out after the jump.

The track starts out with a slick, minimalistic electro-style beat, before Azalea quickly joins in with her laid back, fast paced rap, laying down the entire first verse.

Quickly after the first rap verse, Charli XCX, the English singer-songwriter behind the hook of the international hit song I Love It (Icona Pop) lays down the hook, which features solid vocals from Charli. However, while the vocals are good, and make for catchy chorus, they don't really stand out or differentiate from I Love It, and just sound like any of her other works. However, not looking at any of her other tracks, Charli worked out a solid, catchy hook.

The song continues like this for the remained of its duration, with Iggy and Charli trading off, verse for verse, with the energy not dropping though out the entire single. Together, the two have put together a solid party-pop/hip-hop track sure to be on the rotation of every party playlist.

Overall, I've really enjoyed this track, and I've already heard it on the radio quite a few times. I'd say, this might be the hit Iggy's needed to break into mainstream radioplay in the USA.

What'd you think of this song? Make sure to post in the comments below, and I'll see you all in the next review. As always, feel free to download the single below!!

Miley Cyrus- Bangerz Tour: Review

On Thursday the 27th, Miley took her critically... (well I can't exactly say acclaimed) ...reviewed.. Bangerz tour to Phoenix. Is the show worth stopping by? Find out below! Or, watch some of the footage and find out yourself :)

The tour features Icona Pop and (depending on the stop) Sky Ferreira as opening acts. Sky Ferreira took the stage first, surprisingly, right at 7:00, so for a change I wasn't left waiting an hour for the opening act at a concert. While Ferreira's set featured solid vocals (even if she was drowned out by the bass for most of it) and an overall strong entertainment value, she had absolutely no stage presence, confining herself to a 5 inch box she walked around in her entire set. However, as quickly as it began, her set ended and we moved on to Icona Pop.

Check out all the tour footage on my channel here.

While Sky's set left me wanting more, feeling a bit empty handed, it was the exact opposite in the case of Icona Pop's. The Swedish duo knew how to handle a crowd, and throughout their entire set interacted with fans and danced to the music, all the while remaining on point with their vocals.

The duo sustained their high energy throughout their entire set, and actually got most of the arena attendees out of their seats, getting the entire stadium's energy ready for Miley, who literally flew out of her own tongue as her entrance. Like, if that's not dedication.

Cyrus started the show off strong with SMS (Bangerz) feat. Britney Spears. Miley handled with song effortlessly, belting out Britney's verse with more intensity than the actual studio version. The show didn't slow down there, as we progressed into 4x4 featuring Nelly. Cyrus then proclaimed that this will be a high energy show, and that none of us will be sitting down tonight (you know, minus the 8 or 9 f--cks she mixed in with the speech).

However, this promise rang true, as there wasn't one second where I wasn't screaming, dancing, or bowing to the queen throughout the entire show. Even through ballads like the incomparable Adore You, the energy never dropped, and neither did anyone in the crowd.

The show, while not as prevalent as I expected, was filled with theatrics, but not clothes! Ha! See what I did? Did ya? Said theatrics included Miley singing FU to a gigantic... creature.. just look at the video below..., a circle of rainbow bears dancing around her, and a gigantic bed filled with... literally like everything and everyone involved with the show. So, regular Thursday night for me. Anyhow, these theatrics were few and far, and didn't distract from the main aspect of the show, Cyrus' perfect vocals.

The concert also included a small acoustic set, including covers from country hits such as Jolene, a song made for Miley's country twanged vocals. Miley also interacted with her fans through out the show, giving something personally different to each fan to take away, as opposed to Beyonce, who said the same, rehearsed speech to each and every stop (you don't understand how hard that was to say). She even wore all the presents thrown at her from the audience, including a shirt that said "Miley sit on my face" (Why I didn't make that I don't know). She even danced through all of Adore You with a high-schooler who asked her to prom last month.

Overall, the show was quality, fun, and really, just a good time. Even both of the opening acts had their own solid sets, and I would take the chance to go back again in a second. While merch may set you back a bit ($40 dollars for a shirt), a souvenir that you went to a concert as great as this, is worth it.