[holyground]

Goddess - Banks Banks | Harvest | Release Date: Sept 9, 2014

dddddddddd 76 Member Score Generally Favorable Reviews based on 11 Ratings ddddd. dddddd }-- Modscore TBD based on 0 Mods

dddddddddddddd Summary: The debut studio album by American recording artist Banks. Record Label: Harvest Genre(s): Pop / Alternative / Indie

Member Reviews d .iPositive: ████████████████ 10 d ....iMixed: ██ 1 d Negative: 0

Mod Reviews d .iPositive: 0 d ....iMixed: 0 d Negative: 0

Souled Out - Jhené Aiko Jhené Aiko | Def Jam | Release Date: Sept 9, 2014

dddddddddd 87 Member Score Universal Acclaim based on 10 Ratings ddddd. dddddd }-- Modscore TBD based on 0 Mods

dddddddddddddd Summary: The debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Jhené Aiko. Record Label: Def Jam Genre(s): Alternative R&B / R&B / Hip Hop

Member Reviews d .iPositive: ████████████████ 9 d ....iMixed: ██ 1 d Negative: 0

Mod Reviews d .iPositive: 0 d ....iMixed: 0 d Negative: 0

[Aatthew]

OMG. Y'all are a mess.

It'd be best to move to singles for a while considering we have releases coming from Gwen, Fergie, and Kendrick.

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by holyground

[alexanderao]

Blame - Calvin Harris f/John Newman Calvin Harris | Columbia | Release Date: September 5, 2014

dddddddddd 62 Member Score Generally Favorable Reviews based on 10 Ratings ddddd. dddddd }-- Modscore N/A based on 0 Mods

dddddddddddddd Summary: The latest single from the British EDM hitmaker. Record Label: Columbia Genre(s): Pop

Member Reviews d .iPositive: ████████████████ 7 d ....iMixed: ██ 1 d Negative: ████ 2

Mod Reviews d .iPositive: 0 d ....iMixed: 0 d Negative: 0

[Legofanyoda]

If we're reviewing Blame now, I need to get to writing a review.
--
I think it would be awesome if we could review old albums and singles (I've needed an excuse to write a review for X & Y for a while now. )

[Legend E]

While I have nothing against reviewing Blame (and I really like the song), you were the only one who wanted to do it

[Ewan Chaos]

The thread hijack.

[Ronaldista]

Originally posted by Ewan Chaos

The thread hijack.

what's worse is that the mods don't even care

[Eeveelution]

Originally posted by borntodie

what's worse is that the mods don't even care

Yeah, if the mods aren't gonna bother, someone may as well update it.

[Ronaldista]

Originally posted by Eeveelution

Yeah, if the mods aren't gonna bother, someone may as well update it.

I was hoping this would prompt them to come in here and do an official update with thread title change etc but I guess they have given up on this

[Jeiboy]

BLAME - A poor mans Sweet Nothing 5 over 10.

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by berberocka

BLAME - A poor mans Sweet Nothing 5 over 10.

Single reviews need to be at least 5 sentences.

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by alexanderao

The Lowdown: Magnificent dance-pop is perfectly constructed, not generic or cheesy, and obscenely catchy.

Blame is the newest track from EDM master Calvin Harris. Featuring vocals from British singer John Newman, the song is an excellent track and one of the best dance songs of 2014. The song kicks off with an instantly catchy synth line, and Newman's vocals kick in. His vocals aren't perfectly smooth and even have a hint of soul, which really adds to the song. The first verse is very short, but it works out very well for this kind of song. The prechorus melodies are great. The chorus is rousing and leads up to the EDM breakdown perfectly. The breakdown itself is not innovative but stellar. It doesn't sound like a cookie-cutter breakdown. The 2nd verse is equally great, carrying over the momentum from the big chorus. The piano in the instrumental is absolutely brilliant, and not over-emphasized. The song continues with a bridge, which is also done very well. It features Newman's vocals over an instrumental that has been stripped of most synths. We are then kicked back into a final chorus, which is like a victory lap for Newman and Harris.

Blame is an extremely well done dance-pop song. The beat is not too hard-hitting, and its intensity and the sincerity of the track echo Avicii's masterpiece Wake Me Up. Newmnan's vocals are infused with a bit of soul while still staying very poppy. Everything feels in place on this song, and all of the elements work together. The synth line is addicting, and the chorus is powerful and not cheesy. The prechorus is great as well, and very easy to get caught singing along to. This song will likely become a classic in the vein of Wake Me Up. The bridge does not seem simply thrown in near the end; it's a smart change of pace. Nowadays, it is very hard to come up with a dance-pop song that doesn't seem generic (just ask Coldplay and Ariana Grande) and yet Calvin Harris has done it twice this year. Blame is truly an outstanding song and clearly one of the best of 2014.

Reviews:

Drake - 0 to 100 / The Catch Up (4.0)
La Roux - Trouble In Paradise (2.3)
Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective (2.0)
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang (5.8)
Hilary Duff - Chasing The Sun (0.5)
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Anything Goes (4.9)
Nicki Minaj - Anaconda (2.0)
Beyoncé f/Nicki Minaj - ***Flawless Remix (3.7)
Pixie Lott - Pixie Lott (6.0)
FKA Twigs - LP1 (1.7)
Hilary Duff - All About You (4.1)
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off (7.1)
Charli XCX - Break The Rules (4.6)
Ariana Grande - My Everything (5.2)
Maroon 5 - V (5.4)
Banks - Goddess (8.2)
Calvin Harris f/John Newman - Blame (8.6)

This is my Blame review.

[Bloomers]

So we're reviewing Blame now by the people's request?

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by Bloomers

So we're reviewing Blame now by the people's request?

Yes

[Legofanyoda]

BLAME
Amazing production and amazing vocals from John Newman make this song great.

When I first read this was being released, I had honest mixed feelings. I loved Love Me Again but I was never really feeling Feel The Love. However, I was not disappointed by this. This track provides the (hopefully) second mainstream hit for Newman, which I have no problem with, I'm here for him being huge. I'm excited to see this being huge in the fall alongside Taylor's second single.

9.5/10

[Ronaldista]

Calvin Harris ft John Newman - Blame: 2/10

Calvin Harris is back with another high profile collab, this time using one of the best current male vocalists to give his song a voice. Unfortunately, John Newman's soulful voice doesn't go well with Harris's loud dance beats at all. The autotune takes away from the warm, deep tone that Newman usually impresses with, and the beats themselves aren't anything special either. It's typical Calvin Harris material, he doesn't even seem to try anymore to do anything new, he just keeps regurgitating songs constructed by the same formula over and over again.

The lyrics are more than simple, too, doing neither Newman's voice nor his artistic standard justice. In addition, the way the song is somewhat of a midtempo and only picks up speed in the chorus makes it awkward to listen to it, as the listener can't quite be sure whether this is a ballad on speed or a tranquilized dancefloor banger.

Calvin Harris's act has gotten so old by now, and it's sad that he doesn't seem to realise that and will stick to his concept of pairing strong vocalists with more or less mediocre EDM beats until people will stop buying it.

[alexanderao]

Keep the Blame reviews coming

[tigerlily13]

Jhené's got the highest score for an album. Amazing!

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by tigerlily13

Jhené's got the highest score for an album. Amazing!

It's only got 10 reviews, though.

I'd have more respect for this stat if more people had reviewed it.