Remembering the undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
A Natural Woman who defined what it means to be the Queen of Soul.
Alex Smithson
Category: Music
Justin Timberlake is the Man of the Woods!
Back with a completely different sound that shifts away from his past albums, Justin’s the Man of the Woods with this EP as this new sound is unique, yet vocally charged in a different light to his previous album, The 20 / 20 Experience.
It’s no surprise to see Justin Timberlake go back to his roots, as this new sound is so unique it even has the old-school sounds that remind us all of how far he’s come since his breakthrough début album, Justified.
Filthy kicks off Man of the Woods with a bass-pounding bang, as Justin’s vocals come to life, with his wife, Jessica Biel, doing some voice-over as the record ends, meanwhile, Midnight Summer Jam is where the old-school vibe kicks in, as the nostalgia kicks in right from the off. Those who have listened to Justin Timberlake’s albums from the moment he released his début album will know and appreciate the new sound that Justin Timberlake has come back with. I appreciate his new sound as it’s different, but more importantly, I’m glad he’s taken his music in a different direction, as his new music sounds almost nothing like his past music, but Man of the Woods still captures the man we all know and love dearly.
You cannot fault Justin’s music roots for not even one split second, as Man of the Woods is filled with so much nostalgia that it’s like he never went away from the music scene. In fact, Justin Timberlake is headlining the Super Bowl LII (52nd) Halftime Show sponsored by Pepsi on Sunday 4th February 2018 and alongside him, P!NK will be performing as well, so there’s even more of a reason for all of us to be excited!
Man of the Woods is more of a personal album as well as a vocally charged album, as he explores his music roots deeper with a completely different sound that still captures the nostalgia of his past albums.
Below is the full tracklist for Man of the Woods:
- Filthy
- Midnight Summer Jam
- Sauce
- Man of the Woods
- Higher Higher
- Wave
- Supplies
- Morning Light (feat. Alicia Keys)
- Say Something (feat. Chris Stapleton)
- Hers (Interlude)
- Flannel
- Montana
- Breeze Off the Pond
- Livin’ Off the Land
- The Hard Stuff
- Young Man
Below is Justin Timberlake’s album cover for Man of the Woods:
Official Album Artwork © Jive Records, Zomba Records, RCA Records, Tennman Records & Justin Randall Timberlake
To keep it as short and simple and as honest as possible, Man of the Woods is his best work to date because it carries the progressive sound of his past albums and isn’t one of those in-your-face kinds of album, rather it’s a vocally progressive, yet mindful album that shows Justin Timberlake at his most peaceful, but also at his most euphoric.
To listen to Man of the Woods, click on the Play button below to listen to Justin Timberlake’s fifth studio album on Spotify. Purchase your copy of Man of the Woods from all retailers via all physical/digital formats.
Heard Man of the Woods? If so, I would love to hear what you’ve got to say about Justin’s fifth studio album.
If you enjoyed this review, please feel free to feedback below in the comments.
Alex Smithson
© Jive Records, Zomba Records, RCA Records, Tennman Records & Justin Randall Timberlake
© The Man of the Woods album artwork, the article image and tracklist are all copyright of Jive Records, Zomba Records, RCA Records, Tennman Records & Justin Randall Timberlake. Full copyright goes to the respective owners.
SWEENØ / My Diary of Pain / An Album of Honesty & Power Where Oli Speaks from the Heart, the Mind & the Soul.
It is an absolute honour for me to share with you, my review of Oli Regan’s recently released début album, My Diary of Pain.
As a Mental Health Sufferer who suffers from Bipolar & ADHD, both of which among many other Mental Health conditions, is often overlooked, Oli Regan channels his true feelings, emotions, strength, rawness and energy into this album, My Diary of Pain.
My Diary of Pain certainly is an eye-opener, because it has a sense of power that you can’t quite describe, but the rawness of Oli’s voice on this album really stands out, as he speaks from the heart, the mind and the soul about how he really feels.
When you listen to Oli Regan’s album all the way through, you begin to not only understand and appreciate life more, but you begin to realise that life is filled with pain and that pain can strike you at certain points in your life, but with resilience, care, compassion, support, love and respect, the world can be a better place and that negativity can disappear altogether from all existence.
For Oli, an ambassador for Time to Change, to really put his heart, his mind and his soul into producing My Diary of Pain, you can’t help but appreciate Oli Regan entirely for producing such an interesting and powerful album.
Oli’s EP, My Diary of Pain, is really powerful and he has created that cut-throat approach where it’s no fuss, no messing about, just get on with it and for Oli, he’s made sure to highlight that this world is already messed up enough as it is and the only way we can all make it a better place is if we all put in the hard work and graft now and make sure that negativity is completely non-existent and that positivity blossoms in this world.
My words of praise go to Oli Regan (SWEENØ): “Oli, keep expressing yourself and keep raising awareness to end this negative stigma that is attached to Mental Health, you’re awesome!“
To listen to Oli Regan’s album, click or tap the Play button below to listen to My Diary of Pain.
Trust me, Oli Regan’s album, My Diary of Pain is worth a listen, because it reflects on how he feels about this world and everything else in general and it’s worth a listen.
If you enjoyed my review of Oli Regan (SWEENØ)’s album, My Diary of Pain, please feel free to comment below. Your feedback is much appreciated.
Alex Smithson
© Oli Regan, OnPoint Headshots, SWEENØ 2017
© The photograph used above of Oli Regan (SWEENØ), including the album, My Diary of Pain, the Official Album Artwork of My Diary of Pain and the logo, SWEENØ, are all copyright of Oli Regan, OnPoint Headshots & SWEENØ. No Copyright Infringement Intended.
Album Rating: 10 / 10
÷ (Deluxe) / Ed Sheeran is Back!
After a three-year break from music, and after his hotly anticipated second studio album became the most streamed album on Spotify and other music services, Ed Sheeran is back with his third studio album, ÷. Shape of You really sets the tone of his latest album, because it has a unique vibe that really sets the mood you want to experience when listening to this album.
As it is the first ever vinyl record I have owned, I feel so honoured to go retro for the first time, because the original vinyl discs initially ceased production many, many years ago, but it’s only been in the last few years that vinyl has made a comeback and I am pleased to say that ÷ is my first ever vinyl record I have purchased.
How many tracks are on ÷?
There are 16 tracks on the Deluxe version of ÷ and here is the official tracklist:
- Eraser
- Castle on the Hill
- Dive
- Shape of You
- Perfect
- Galway Girl
- Happier
- New Man
- Hearts Don’t Break Around Here
- What Do I Know?
- How Would You Feel (Paean)
- Supermarket Flowers
- Barcelona
- Bibia Be Ye Ye
- Nancy Mulligan
- Save Myself
What comes with the Deluxe Boxset?
In the Deluxe Boxset for ÷, these are the items that come with the album:
- 12” x 12” premium hardcover book with photos, lyrics and artwork
- 2 x heavyweight blue vinyl, exclusive to this edition of the album
- Deluxe CD album
- Silver plated Divide charm and necklace, packaged separately
- Deluxe digital album sent to you at release
© Asylum Records, Atlantic Records, Elektra Records, Gingerbread Man Records & Ed Sheeran
My Review of ÷ (Deluxe)
This album brings out Ed Sheeran’s unique and interesting side to his music, You can’t quite help but think just how much ÷ gives you life. When he released Shape of You, straightaway, it brought along with it its own vibe where you would remember it, not just for Ed himself singing, but because of the fact it has that eccentric and realistic appeal that you want. With Ed Sheeran’s previous album, X (Multiply), that album brought about love and respect and courage, which is why we love Ed Sheeran, I too love Ed Sheeran, not just because he has tugged at our heart-strings, but because he’s made us realise that there is life and love even in the darkest places, and for me, ÷ carries that message too, but also goes on to add that with love, respect, courage, compassion and support, the world can be a better place.
This album gives me life!
Ed Sheeran is a living legend in my eyes because his music is timeless and will never date, but you begin to appreciate life a whole lot more after you’ve listened to ÷ because you can relate and share the same feelings that he has as a musician. Not only that, but his music is eccentric and brings positivity to the table, which is what this world needs and I take my hat off to Ed Sheeran. ÷ is a masterpiece, in fact, +, X & ÷ are all masterpieces and Ed Sheeran is a legend!
If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend you purchase ÷, you will not be disappointed. ÷ is such a perfectly crafted album and Ed Sheeran has produced another exquisite masterpiece that is worth purchasing.
If you enjoyed my review of Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Deluxe) album, please feel free to comment below. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Alex Smithson
© Asylum Records, Atlantic Records, Elektra Records, Gingerbread Man Records & Ed Sheeran, 2017
© The Divide Album Artwork & Complete Tracklist are all copyright of Asylum Records, Atlantic Records, Elektra Records, Gingerbread Man Records & Ed Sheeran. No Copyright Infringement Intended.
÷ Album Rating: 10/10
Artistic Interpretation #7 / Beyoncé Giselle Knowles
Following hot on the heels of my previous Artistic Interpretation which was based on the iconic music legend, Prince Rogers Nelson, I started working on Artistic Interpretation #7 which focuses on the Destiny’s Child musician and solo hit-maker, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles.
I wanted to draw Beyoncé as a way of celebrating the heartwarming news that broke on the 1st February that she was expecting twins.
I decided to take my time to draw her because I wanted to make sure I could shade certain areas of the drawing so that her facial features stand out the same as I would want for her hair to stand out.
For me, drawing Beyoncé was quite a challenge, because I referred to the photograph that was taken of her that announced she would headline the Super Bowl on the 3rd February 2013, which was fantastic, given that Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams performed alongside her for the hit record, Bootylicious, with her most recent Super Bowl appearance being at the Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show that took place last year, when she performed alongside Bruno Mars and Coldplay.
Below is my artistic interpretation of Beyoncé Giselle Knowles.
I am pleased with the overall result, as I had made sure to spend time on drawing Beyoncé, given that I wanted to make sure this drawing would not just celebrate Beyoncé as a musician, but that this drawing would celebrate her music career, given that she has been on the music scene for a long time now.
Again, congratulations to both Beyoncé & Jay Z on the pregnancy and may both your twins be blessed with perfect health, love, compassion, care, respect and support. I love you both.
Please feel free to comment below what you thought of my artistic interpretation of Beyoncé. I would love to hear your feedback.
Alex Smithson
HAPPY NEWS!
After months of rumours and speculation, Cheryl has officially announced she is pregnant! This news has come at the perfect time and it was only a few weeks ago that Beyoncé announced her pregnancy with twins to the world. February is most certainly shaping up to be a fun-filled and heartwarming month.
I am over the moon and absolutely overjoyed at the news of Cheryl’s pregnancy because it has been a long time coming and I am absolutely happy for both Cheryl & Liam Payne! Both of them will most certainly make fantastic parents and to see Cheryl at her happiest makes me and everyone smile. Happiness, love, respect, compassion and care is what matters and I send all of my happiness, love, respect, compassion and care to both Cheryl & Liam Payne.
Congratulations Cheryl & Liam! Both of you will most certainly be wonderful parents and I wish you every ounce of happiness all the way because you are both worth it 🙂
Alex Smithson
© L’Oréal 2017
© The photograph of Cheryl is copyright of L’Oréal. Full photo credit goes to L’Oréal. No Copyright Infringement Intended.
Artistic Interpretation #6 / Prince Rogers Nelson (1993)
As it has been almost a year since we lost the iconic music legend, Prince Rogers Nelson, who passed away on the 21st April 2016, I wanted to take the opportunity to pay tribute to the iconic music legend by drawing for this sixth artistic interpretation.
This is the first Artistic Interpretation for 2017 and I wanted to make sure that Prince Rogers Nelson would be the first musician I would draw this year.
This drawing I’ve produced is inspired on the Greatest Hits album: “The Hits / The B-Sides” that Prince Rogers Nelson released back in 1993, as this Greatest Hits collection spans much of the music he released over the course of his career, given that he was the powerhouse and driving force that defined many generations and helped to inspire so many musicians, also because he was known for releasing so many albums that his back catalogue would be filled to maximum capacity.
Prince’s music defined himself as the iconic music legend he is, and even in death, his music will never grow old, will never become dated but will always remain timeless, as his music is eccentric and changes every time but changes so quickly that you cannot help but appreciate the iconic music legend himself for always being different and not making music that sounds the same.
Below is the completed artistic interpretation I have produced of Prince Rogers Nelson.
I’m really pleased with the end result of this artistic interpretation, because I wanted to make sure that this drawing would keep true to the iconic music legend himself. Prince left his mark not just on the music world, but on the entire world, as his music is the reason why so many of the musicians we hear of today are still not just releasing music, but are making the best difference and being the positive changes in this world.
His music has also given so many people around the world, including myself so much to be thankful for and his music, from my perspective, is a message of hope, and that hope can mean you can be yourself and be the positive change you want to see in this world and I feel that by drawing him, he has not only been a positive influence on me, but on all of us.
I want to say this as a way of paying tribute to Prince Rogers Nelson:
“Prince. Your music has been the Sign ‘O’ the Times, Purple Rain came down on us and delighted us and When Doves Cry, you were there to give us all hope and to make sure we were the positive changes this world needs. Your Little Red Corvette sits briskly in heaven and heaven gained an angel. Sometimes it Snows in April, then there is Purple Rain, but you gave us all hope and made us all feel okay to be ourselves, so thank you for everything, Prince Rogers Nelson.”
If you want to pay your respects to Prince Rogers Nelson almost a year after the iconic music legend departed from Planet Earth, then please leave a comment below in his memory.
Alex Smithson
Madness / Can’t Touch Us Now / Saturday 10th December 2016 / Tour Exclusive!
As the legendary 1970s music group, MADNESS, recently released their album, Can’t Touch Us Now, it was safe to say a tour wasn’t far behind, as they would perform live at the O2 in London.
I went with my family to see Madness perform, and considering that it was my first time setting foot in the auditorium of the O2, even though I’ve been to the O2 before when the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition was on in 2011, I was absolutely blown away by how massive the auditorium is in the O2. However, I went to see Madness perform with my family and I was not disappointed at all. I’ve listened to some of their music over the years, and especially their recent hit, Mr. Apples, which is really good, and the whole auditorium was more or less full when they performed.
They performed some of the songs off of their new album, Can’t Touch Us Now, and they even performed classic hits, such as Our House, It Must Be Love, including Baggy Trousers, Blackbird (dedicated to Amy Winehouse) and many other famous hits that they released over the course of their 40-year career in the music business.
Below is a large photo collection that I gathered together, including footage that I gathered whilst I was with my family to see Madness & The Lightning Seeds on Tour.
Overall, I am absolutely glad I went to see Madness live in concert with my family. I loved every second of the tour and I will treasure this night for the rest of my life.
If you enjoyed this large photo and video article, please feel free to submit feedback below. All feedback is much appreciated.
Alex Smithson
Bruno Mars / 24K Magic / Bruno is Back!
With it being just 4 years since Unorthodox Jukebox, which spanned the smash hit songs, Locked Out of Heaven & Treasure, Bruno Mars is Back! As 24K Magic marked Bruno Mars’ comeback to the music scene, two years after the smash hit record, Uptown Funk, which he released alongside Mark Ronson just weeks after Fleur East (The X Factor 2014 Runner-Up, 2nd Place to our Croydon lad, Ben Haenow, the winner of the X Factor 2014) performed the record on the X Factor, it was safe to say that it was like Bruno Mars had never been away from the music scene.
Having listened to Bruno Mars’ album, 24K Magic, I knew I was in for a treat, as the record packs a punch in its own right, and with Bruno Mars’ own sound and raw vocals, I just knew the record was going to sound so good. If Doo-Wops & Hooligans and Unorthodox Jukebox were anything to go by, 24K Magic proves that Bruno Mars unique sound will last for many, many years.
One of the songs on the album is dedicated to Gianni Versace, as it’s titled: “Versace on the Floor”, and I won’t lie to you, it’s so good!
The album itself delivers the unique sound that Bruno Mars created for his first two albums, and because of the fact he carried that same unique sound with Mark Ronson’s smash-hit record, Uptown Funk, the album, 24K Magic, carries that unique sound and really shows off the raw vocals of Bruno Mars’ voice.
24K Magic not only marks Bruno Mars’ comeback to the music scene, but it also delivers a promising sound that will really kick off Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic World Tour next year.
What do I think of Bruno Mars’ album, 24K Magic? I think it’s such a good album, because he has managed to reinvent his music in a unique way where his style changes every time, but at the same time, because his past albums contain the unique sound, this new album, although it contains that unique sound as well, also carries another new sound with it that really can give you goosebumps.
Overall, I absolutely love Bruno Mars’ album, 24K Magic, and I wholeheartedly recommend his album to all of you.
If you enjoyed my review of Bruno Mars’ album, 24K Magic, please feel free to submit feedback below. All feedback is much appreciated.
Alex Smithson
© Bruno Mars, Elektra Records & Atlantic Records 2016
© Any names / titles / promotional images used, such as the photograph of Bruno Mars (the official photograph used on the final album release of 24K Magic), the 24K Magic album title, including Bruno Mars’ name are all copyright of Bruno Mars, Elektra Records & Atlantic Records. No Copyright Infringement Intended.
Lady Gaga / Joanne / Out Now!
Following her remarkable comeback to the music scene, which saw Perfect Illusion go straight to Number 1 around the world, with a few other singles that followed shortly after, Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated fifth studio album, JOANNE, is officially out now!
Having listened to and purchased the deluxe edition album today, I can honestly say I love it and in all honesty, this is Lady Gaga‘s return to the music scene, three years after her third studio album, ARTPOP, and two years since her fourth studio album, Cheek to Cheek, which was a collaboration album she did with the music legend, Tony Bennett.
I will be honest, as honesty is the best policy where anything is concerned, but JOANNE is Lady Gaga’s best effort since ARTPOP, as JOANNE has a progressive sound that carries throughout the entire album, and to hear her really sing her heart out through this fifth studio album, I can’t help but get goosebumps just listening to this record.
Contained below is the JOANNE Album Artwork, the tracklist and CD Artwork, as posted by Lady Gaga on her Instagram page.
It’s such a good record, and as a massive fan of Lady Gaga’s music, I can honestly say she has definitely pulled out all of the stops for this fifth studio album. Perfect Illusion was the record, in my opinion, that gained momentum and popularity within the first 24 hours of its release, with Million Reasons putting Lady Gaga’s fifth studio album, JOANNE, to centre stage.
Having worked on and produced the album with Mark Ronson, BloodPop, RedOne, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Josh Homme and Kevin Parker, I can honestly say this is her best work, and you cannot fault such a fantastic record like this.
JOANNE Album Rating: 10/10
If you enjoyed my music review of Lady Gaga’s fifth studio album, JOANNE, please feel free to submit your feedback below. All feedback is much appreciated.
Alex Smithson
© Lady Gaga, Streamline Records & Interscope Records 2016
© Any logos / promotional images used, such as the LADY GAGA & JOANNE logos, the JOANNE album artwork, the album tracklist and the CD artwork are all courtesy of the record labels and the artist itself. No Copyright Infringement Intended.
