Album of the Week.

I mean you all should have seen this coming.

I've listened to the album whole a couple times and this is what I've gotten from it so far.

One - I think this song was a great first track for the album. I feel like it's very similar to the way the first album sounded and in a way it's a bridge bringing the two together.

I'm A Mess - Is it just me or does have a band sound to it ? Listening to this one my mind immediately thought Paramore, (old Paramore) like he took one of their songs did it acoustically and killed it, in a good way !

Sing - The song also known as his new identifier. When this sing first came out I was very glad that he decided to experiment with a different sound, but like all singles I also thought I would get sick of it. Surprising I'm still enjoying it like I just heard it for the first time.

Don't - At first I was really nervous because I fell in love with the live version of this song, then I heard a clip of it from the Beats commercial and didn't know if I was gonna like the studio version as much but when I did get to listen to it whole it lived up to what I expected. Also if you listen carefully it has a bit of his older sound in it, the "before + days" so he's staying true to himself.

Nina - I personally don't really know what to say for this song. I don't know how I feel about it yet. Its probably one of those that I either have to let grow on me or that I just won't really have an option on it. I do like the last 1/3 of the song, I'm a sucker for stacking, to me it adds layers to the song.

Photograph - Another one of the songs that remind me of the older album but blends in well with the newer sound.

Bloodstream - This is one of the darker ones on the album and it's the one that I have gravitated to. It's dark but has beauty to it.

Tenerife Sea - Another song that I fell in love with the live version and the studio version lives up to it. It's beautiful and I can see some people wanting it to be their wedding song.

Runaway - Reminds me of old school Justin Timberlake and after hearing this song I want Pharrell and Ed to do a whole EP or album together. I could see this song being a single, if the lyrics were more "cheerier". It's a beat that's very radio friendly.

The Man - This is another one that I don't really know how I feel about yet. I'm just glad to see that he's rapping on his album, especially knowing that Hip Hop is his first love, music wise.

Thinking Out Loud - This is another beautiful one that could possibly be somebody's wedding song. You can feel all the soul and emotion in this one especially around 2:55 of the track.

Afire Love - This damn song pulled on all my heart strings, I may or may not have cried a little. Reading up on the process of how he came to write the song just made it even worst (if you like it, look it up). Personally I think it's one that everybody can connect to, I know I did. It's just beautifully written and beautifully made.

Deluxe Version :

Take It Back - I love how this song sounds like it's just a recording of a live performance. And I love that theirs another song of him rapping on the album. And you can't deny it, he has a nice flow.

Shirtsleeves - Very reminiscent of the material that was on his 'Songs I Wrote With Amy' EP.

Even My Dad Does Sometimes - A song that would have been suited to end the album, in my option. One of the slower and darker songs, lyrically speaking.

I See Fire - I have never seen the Lord of the Rings whole and I honestly don't plan to anytime soon but from what I've seen and heard this song fits the movie perfectly and I'm happy that he added it as a bonus track on the album.

Physically Deluxe Version :

All of the Stars - I wish this was in the digital version but I guess it's an incentive for people to actually buy the physical copy. This movie I actually did see and the song fit perfectly with it. It was this song that almost made me lose it in the movie theater.

My standout tracks are I'm A Mess, Bloodstream, Runaway, Afire Love, and Take It Back, but as I keep listening I'm sure it will change up. 

Overall I give this album a 4/5.

I'm enjoying the new sound and I love that his experimenting with the sound.

Majority of the songs are a lot darker compared to the last album, but overall it's a great album to listen to whenever, where ever.

Have you listened to the album yet ? What do you think ?

What's your favorite song(s) of this album ?

What other albums are a must listen to this week ?

- JustANewYorkGirl

Album of the Week.

It's been awhile since I've been able to do one of these. Since I started going to a new school I'm trying my hardest to be social and stay on top of my work. It's only been about 3 weeks but I think I've found a good balance. That and their have been a couple snow days where I can just relax and work on posts. Thank you Mother Nature.

So this week I have an album that's "new" to the US but a little old for me. I originally got the album when it just came out in the UK. I'm not gonna lie at first I was really nervous for their new album for a few of reasons.

1. To me their debut album wasn't as great as I thought it was going to be. I could maybe pick out 3 songs that I actually really enjoyed.

2. I felt that this album came out too quick. That it was a little "rushed".

 After I heard 'Move', I was thinking okay this sounds really good hopefully the rest is like this or better.

I really happy that I didn't forget them after their first album because this one is on another level and in my head I'm going to look at this as their debut album.

So the album starts out with the title of their album, 'Salute', and there is no way you can listen to this song and not look at it as the different opening track. For some reason this song just has a strong Beyonce 'Who Runs The World' feel to it. It's a huge girl empowerment song and I kinda really want them to make this a single cause I want to see what they do with it, visual-wise.

Next is 'Move', which was their first single from this album. This song is more of a dancey pop song where as 'Salute' had a strong R&B presence to it.

The second single - 'Little Me' is another girl empowerment song that I feel is perfect for their younger fans. There's also a unplugged version of the song, that I personally prefer more (to me everything sounds better stripped), on the deluxe version of the album.

Then is 'Nothing Feels Like You', which isn't one of my favorites on the album but I still really like it. It has a very different sound to it.

My favorite on the album, 'Towers', this is one of those stand out songs. I don't know what it is about this song, maybe that I can feel the emotion all throughout it, that I'm a sucker for songs that I can belt out alone, or that fact that they all sound amazing on this track. It's just one of those songs that everyone in the group shines on, instead of just one person.

'Competition' is very similar to 'Nothing Feels Like You' for the simple fact that I don't dislike it but it's not one of my favorites.

'These Four Walls' was a song that I didn't really pay attention to, I don't know why but I didn't, and now that I revisited it I will definitely be listening to it more often. This is one of the couple ballads that on the album and it kind of reminds me of Rihanna's 'Stay'.

Next is 'About The Boy', this song reminds me of 90's Pop/R&B and to me is another one of those stand out songs.This definitely a song that showcases Perrie's voice. That note that she does towards the end, amazing, I'd love to hear it live.

Another stand out song to me, ' Boy', another song with a 90's Pop/R&B vibe. This song also reminds me of Aaliyah's 'Are You That Somebody?', only thing it's missing is the baby throughout the whole song.

'Good Enough' - Another favorite and stand out song to me. I'm not gonna lie when I first heard this song, I teared up a little bit, but to me it's another one of those strength songs. Vocals spot on and amazing.

Throwback..... No seriously this song, 'Mr. Loverboy' has a huge throwback 90's feel to it, again another favorite and stand out of mine. 

Last song on the album, 'A Different Beat', I would say that this song is one of my least favorites but I really like the message of the song. But the song fits as the song that ends the album but 'See Me Now' would have too but it's on the deluxe version.

Overall I really enjoyed this album, it's still a go to album for me to listen to now. It really shows who they are now and where they are as artists. This album is more them and the kind of music they want to make. It's like a little mix between EnVogue, TLC, 3LW and Destiny's Child. Now I really wish I had friends that were a fan of Demi Lovato so I could see them all on the Neon Lights Tour.

What's your favorite song on the album ? Did you enjoy this album or the first one better ?

Have you or do you plan to see them on tour ?

- ANewYorkGirl