CONTROLRadioUK Reviews: The Thrill Of It All

Written By DRead Pirates

Sam Smith's new album The Thrill Of It All, gets off to a sterling start with the opening track "Pray", that staccato at the beginning almost lets you know the song will be dope and boy is it. Wonderful vocals by Sam dripping with pure emotion on this one. Sam is the male version of Adele, on top of his game right now. Pray for the sinners Sam, because you nailed this song with it's strong crisp production that does not compete with the vocals, but blends in with it like coffee goes with cream.

"Burning" a slow burner, if you can excuse the pun, oozing with a raw emotion, rarely heard by many male singers these days.Sam hits those high notes with ease. With a piano piano guiding the song and lyrics to die for. This is yet another epic Sam track.

"Too Good At Goodbyes" takes you to another place with it's crisp and punchy production values driving the melody to a musical heaven and back. Again, beautiful lyrics on this song with a voice that comes along very rarely.

The Thrill Of It All, does what it's intended to do, taking you on a sublime musical journey of well crafted productions, intelligent lyrics, songs that grab you and won't let go. Oh, that voice Sam, that voice thrills me to no end.

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CONTROLRadioUK Picks 5 Songs You May Not Have Heard Of

Here at CONTROLRadioUK we're always on the look-out for music be it for the playlist, or just because we think the tracks are pretty neat so check out our picks below.



You're probably tired of me saying this by now, but I love Bishop Briggs. Her music is like a breath of fresh air. Musicians who mix different genres of music together are also something that I love (I know! I hide it well) mixing genres together just makes the song a little less predictable, and more pleasing to listen to. Here we have a really great video, accompanied by the aforementioned great music, and a song that is equally as strong lyrically. It's extremely emotional & perfectly matched by Bishop Brigg's acting in the video. That's right! You can have a video that doesn't really have a story have a story in the actions taking place on screen and the emotion being carried through by the singer. Still just as powerful. Still has you constantly pressing replay because you don't want the song to end.



I talked about this song a little bit in my review of the EP which will be live later today, but this really is my favorite song on the album. It's such a chilled out song and I absolutely adore the chorus. Sometimes the big power numbers which take the roof off the building work, especially when they're so well produced. But so do the softer ones that let the lyrics shine front and centre, which is exactly what this song does. Given music right now is dominated my stupid house tropical beats I was bored of after the first go, it's great to see an Artist doing something different & the 80's pop classic vibe really suits them. It's been likened to Carly Rae Jepsen's album 'E*MO*TION', but the EP reminds me more of Allie X. Either way, I hope Aly & AJ are here to stay and a full length album comes at some point in the future.



Is this here as an excuse to talk about the album? Partly but it's also because I'm really excited about new music from Tove Lo. Strange I know, considering 'Lady Wood' only came out last year. But Tove Lo is one of those musicians who I always need more from. She's incapable of making a bad song, each one has something unique to it, and her music videos are really fun. As for 'Cycles', it's again a song many can emphasize with though you probably wouldn't admit it. Musically this is one of the songs on the album that doesn't exactly grab me. But I could still listen to this on repeat all day without getting bored.



I came across this song very much by accident as I wanted a fun dance number amongst all the balladesque songs this week, and oh my. This video is trippy as hell, but damn if I haven't had this song on repeat. As I say it is a really fun dance number, and not riddled by stupid tropical beats (No I'm never going to stop mentioning my hatred for them because Producers can do better). 'Go Bang' falls more into the line of being an instrumental dance song. It does have a bit of lyrics scattered across, but it's very much the music that makes the song tick. Having said that, this song wouldn't be anywhere near as great as it is without those lyrics in the chorus. They're repetitive & go absolutely nowhere, but the vocals lift the music up and I just love it. There is a minute sample & watching the video as you listen to this song will probably give you a headache. This song though should be ruling your Friday night playlist.



Speaking of videos that don't really have a storyline but the acting by the Artist puts the emotions of the song across so well you're basically traumatized, here's Paramore. I bought the album 'After Laughter' a few months ago now and this is one of my favorite songs on the album, so I'm really happy it's been chosen as a single. Can I help wondering what this song would sound like as a Rock ballad? No, and the beginning really doesn't help quell that curiosity. But this song is a perfect example of having a storyline where it doesn't, and really taking advantage of the songs lyrics. Hayley's just walking around like we all do, surrounded by a world full of people putting on a happy face. Eventually she becomes one of those people. Sounds simple enough but honestly, if you can listen to this song and watch the video without having your heart ripped out, you're basically not human.

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CONTROLRadioUK Reviews: Reputation

It's really hard to describe this album as something other than noise. I could try decent production, with great music and really, really, really, awful lyrics. Even that doesn't do justice to how awful this album is.

Maybe it's because I'm not in Taylor's demographic or a real fan of hers. Taylor's the type of Artist I hear about through her domination of the news, songs breaking music channels repeat buttons & becoming embedded into the head, and Google Play giving away '1989', which I happily snapped up.

The message for this album seems to be that Taylor, for better or worse, has a reputation in the media. It's one she's taking head on, and creating her own narrative. Unfortunately I can't tell exactly what that narrative is, because her songwriting skills still leave much to be desired.

This is an album that she has completely co-written, and you can very much tell. 'Look What You Made me Do' was great in its visuals, and that very much made up for the songs lack of complete depth. Unfortunately 'Ready For It', the albums second single, doesn't have said visuals to cover up whatever Taylor's babbling on about.

I'd say 'Call It What You Want' is even worse, but the whole album in general is awful lyrically. The only thing that saves it from being completely abysmal, is the music.

It's actually a travesty that such great music is wasted on such empty lyrics.

Take 'Getaway Car' for example.

Musically it has the makings of a power ballad. Some strong lyrics + a powerhouse voice, and that songs ripping the roof off your house. Instead the chorus is half-decent at best and the rest of it is just awful.

That's not helped by the song seemingly referring to her short-lived relationship with Tom Hiddleston. Or to be more precise, leaving Calvin Haris for Tom Hiddleston, fully in the knowledge that she didn't have any real feelings for Tom & he was just an excuse for the break-up. From Taylor this type of message in a song is standard. Her relationships, in all their ups and downs, is what she's been writing about since she first came onto the music scene.

But she's not a teenage girl anymore. She's a grown adult, and songwriters are supposed to get better as they grow older, not worse. Jack Antanoff doesn't get off scot-free here either. He shares writing credit with Taylor on the track, and given the depth of his discography, he should've been able to point out the lyrics are terrible & done a better job helping her transform them.

'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things' is a song that after multiple listens, I still refuse to believe is actually real. The title's just too childish. 'End Game' which features Ed Sheeran and Future is admittedly the one track from the album I haven't subjected my ears to. The only thing I care for less than today's stereotypical rap drab is Ed Sheeran.

The only song out of the whole album that walks away with any credibility & really should be a single at some point is 'Don't Blame Me'. Musically it's perfection, the chorus is catchy as hell and the rest of the lyrics? Not too bad. Again, in different hands this song would be a powerhouse.

Which I suppose brings me to another issue I have with Taylor - the girl really can't sing well. Whenever she attempts the high notes, it's like an off-key cat is torturing you. This is a comment I have seen a lot of people make, with questions of why she doesn't take some singing lessons.

Her voice is perfectly suited for Country music, but she's decided Pop is her thing now. In theory that's fine, plenty of Artists change their musical styles as they evolve, but they usually have the voice to back them up.

'Reputation' will obviously be a massive hit. Taylor has the dedicated fan-base to make that so. But in every other way, this album is a massive failure and I will forever be weeping for how badly this music has been wasted.

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CONTROLRadioUK Picks 5 Songs You May Not Have Heard Of

Here at CONTROLRadioUK we're always on the look-out for music be it for the playlist, or just because we think the tracks are pretty neat so check out our picks below.



I can't say much about this song except it's a really nice ballad. Sort of gets me into that Christmassy spirit, and the true test of an Artists is when they come up with a ballad. It tests the strength of your vocals and lyric talent, not to mention the music has to still go somewhere like it usually would on a Pop number, but that somewhere is different. Thankfully Kiiara absolutely nails this.



I absolutely love this song. Do I wish it went up after the chorus instead of down into a beat break? Absolutely, but that's the only critic I have here. Selena Gomez isn't the greatest singer in the world, and I very much find her music to be like marmite, but she's not put a foot wrong here. Though that could possibly be because the music is absolutely faultless.



This video does absolutely nothing for me whatsoever, and having heard multiple tracks by her now I do not get the hype of Julie Michaels, but this is a nice song. Music could be stronger since I am seriously beyond tired of that stupid tropical EDM beat now (we're in November and it's been around for 6 months now enough!) It's not the greatest song Clean Bandit have come out with either, but I've listened to this 5 times now and it doesn't irritate me, if anything its been embedded into my head. So that's something.



Tove Styrkes has that very rare artistic ability of making me love a song I should really hate. The video has gorgeous scenery and a type of story to it, but the success here is with the song in itself. The lyrics are catchy and get stuck in your head without meaning to. The music teases you with promises of exploring the promised land but doesn't, and I'm completely OK with this. In any other hands this song would be a complete dud, but Tove has that ability. Which is either a bad thing in a very good way, or a good thing in a very bad way. I don't know, but I will have the chorus stuck in my head for another week.



I want to have more to say about this song, since I obviously clicked play for a reason. I can probably put that down to the catchy beat. Lyrically this is OK, but the story of a person confessing sins in their sleep has been done before, and much better. Still Charlotte has a great voice and could really go places.

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CONTROLRadioUK Reviews: Meaning Of Life

Written By DRead Pirates


Meaning of Life is Kelly Clarkson's eighth album and looks like she's finally found her voice.

The media blurb for Meaning of Life says this is the album she's always wanted to make. Less pop - rock and more soul vibes going on here. Meaning of Life has plenty of modern sounds running through it, looped hooks and distorted vocals being almost obligatory these days.

"Medicine" sounds like an attempt at doing a Mariah Carey circa 90's, but better.
"Love So Soft" really has that old school soul flavor with Kelly's vocals at a premium here. "Heat" is a wonderful modern sounding song full of life.

Kelly's powerful voice is exploited to the max on The Meaning of Life. While i do miss the pure Pop - Rock of the "Since You've Been Gone" days, Kelly has now found her true niche with this one.

It feels genuine, it sounds dope. I think I might have also found The Meaning of Life after all these years too.

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CONTROLRadioUK Reviews: Beautiful Trauma

Written By DRead Pirates

Way back when, Pink was the chosen one or at least one of them. Skip forward to now and we have Beautiful Trauma, her seventh album.

A lot to do about nothing really. I suppose at a pinch it's okay, but that's it, it's just okay nothing more. It lacks overall direction and that is something I never thought I'd say about Pink, but i do now.

The opening track "Whatever You Want" sticks to the script pretty well and reels you in like a fishing rod on steroids with it's dope pop - rock mix of mighty hooks. "Revenge" is her duet with the has - been Eminem. The duet has it's moments and even gives a passing nod to something Max Martin would have rejected.

Though it does not lack for power and Eminem's rhymes are right on the trigger it must be said. "Revenge" never comes close to putting a bullet in my brain.

"I Am Here" has an EDM influence about it mixed with a gospel infusing choir. Close, but no cigar.

Beautiful Trauma tries too hard and though nice in parts, in the end Beautiful it ain't. Maybe Pink's next album with any luck will be.

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CONTROLRadioUK Picks 5 Songs You May Not Have Heard Of

Here at CONTROLRadioUK we're always on the look-out for music be it for the playlist, or just because we think the tracks are pretty neat so check out our picks below.



Title track of the album, and boy does it do itself justice, 'Meaning of Life' is absolutely fantastic. The beginning reminds me a little of 'F.U' by Little Mix, and the way this song explodes in the chorus? You are not ready. Lyrically this song is good, but lets itself down slightly in places. The chorus could be stronger and when you have an Artist of Kelly Clarkson's vocal range? Repetitive usage of words instead of just holding the note really isn't necessary and drags the song down. Example of this is repeating 'life' in the chorus and its overall basicness. Perhaps I'm just being picky, but I always find choruses that only have one verse that repeats a cop-out, and even more so when it's literally just repeating the same sentence 4 times over. Nitpicking aside this song is absolutely fantastic. Musically and production wise it's sound. The backing vocals towards the songs finale only seek to further empower Kelly's vocals, instead of having to cover up lack of depth as with many other Artists. Have I mentioned that Kelly Clarkson is a powerhouse vocally? Because I feel like I haven't, and if her discography, every decent music critic around and her live performances haven't already informed you of this fact? This song does. And I do love when Artists mix not only different genres of music, but time periods of music together. This song starts out with a 60's/70's soul funk beat & the chorus keeps it current.



Remember how I said WALK THE MOON needed to use the pre-album singles to convince me to buy the album? Well 'Surrender' is doing an OK job with that. Musically I beyond love this song. It's what a Dance/Pop song should sound like. It knows when to go up, when to go down & keeps the pace so you don't start to feel bored. The only thing I can really fault here is the lyrics. They don't do anything for this song at all, and it's really disappointing. When music is as good as this, you need really strong, powerful vocals and we're getting the complete opposite here. As much as the music may be good, this song doesn't need to be over 5 minutes song. It's treading a dangerous line of being overkill, and is only saved by the music. Which would be perfect if this was an instrumental track but it's not. The lyrics are trying to sell an emotional story here. One I'd be able to buy if this was a dance ballad. But it's not and 'Headphones' isn't much better. I am all for Artists/Bands mixing different genres of music in songs and indeed over an album, it makes it less predictable and tedious. But it only works when the music has a clear direction in what it's trying to achieve.
With the singles from the album, I have no idea what exactly Walk The Moon are trying to achieve and that's not going to make me stream let alone buy something.



I could be greedy and say this song isn't long enough, but it's a nice, easy-going, chill-out song, ideal for road trips and those long afternoons, so it's probably just long enough. Every once in a while we need a song to come along that is pure fun & 'High Rollin' is exactly that.



Excusing the terrible pun but this song is lit af. I really love Krewella's music. They put a fresh spin on a dying genre and I could listen to them for hours. It's very much a rare song that doesn't require a big drop in the chorus, and lyrically this song is deep af. OK, I'm gonna stop now.



I went into this song not knowing exactly what to expect and I have been amazed. Lyrically this song is quite deep, the lyric video is inventive, and I absolutely adore the chorus. It's another song mixing different genres of music, and I love it! K.Flay is an American singer/songwriter.

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