The Dead Famous - Hide Your Halo

The Dead Famous followed me on 15th February, after I reviewed Elliot Minor's "I Believe". One of the band members used to be in Elliot Minor. The Dead Famous consists of James Matthews (Go:Audio fame), Dan Hetherton (Elliot Minor fame), Ollie Collins and Dave Baker. They have released two singles, "Superstar" and this one.

Before today I have never listened to their music, I was waiting until I reviewed them, so that their sound was new to me, and that is exactly what they are. I can't possibly name any band out there similar to these, they are creating a new line of rock, that is so unique that it will not take too much time before they're popular. Could The Dead Famous bring back rock?

"Hide Your Halo" has been popular, and to be honest I don't blame it, as it's extremely catchy and very different to rock songs out now. So many bands are trying new things, look at Paramore's "Now". But this band is going to hit the charts soon, mark my words.

The music video is split between the main piece (the performance piece) and the backing piece (the narrative)... This is usually what gets top ratings from me.

The performance piece is always the main piece in most rock music videos, as they wish to portray what they are like are on stage, and wow, there's fire, there's energy, an amazing singer: James Matthews and amazing instrument work from Dan, Ollie and Dave. How can you not want to see these live after watching this?

The narrative is top notch too, and although I generally hate black and white media, this pulls it off as it isn't the centre piece, but in doing so, they have brought the narrative into focus. The angel theme is one that isn't taken on by many, one angel video that stands out is Alanis Morissette's "Guardian". This one has a similar theme, but the angel saves the day.

Overall, a song that I shall be buying soon as it blew me away, and a perfect accompanying music video that I can't stop watching and listening to. How can I not give this a top rating, this is fill of the very essence of a great video, and I cannot wait to see what is next for these guys. Especially since previously I wanted Elliot Minor to get back together, now I hope they don't because it means putting The Dead Famous on hold, and I DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. Keep going guys, I am now an official fan.

Sylosis - Empyreal

Sylosis are a British metal band who followed me quite early on, making them the second artist to be a part of my Twitter Followers Special. I think they're the only artist who I'll be reviewing this week who has a 'Verified Account' twitter tick. They have released three albums, one of which 'Edge Of The Earth' charted at number 139 on the UK chart. They are a four piece band consisting of Josh Middleton, Alex Bailey, Carl Parnell and Rob Callard. This song is on the 'Edge Of The Earth' album, and this video is the only video made for the album.

The video reflects the album more than anything else, the idea of forming a more real version of the album cover, is very unique, and manages to engage the audience into watching it, to see where it will go on to.

The video is both narrative and performance based, but there is more scenes of the performance side. This is typical of most metal music videos I have watched. As they want to show what they will be like lived to try and sell tickets to their gigs.

This performance piece is powerful, you know that you'd have a good time at one of their tours, although it's not my sort of music, I can see why people would go and see them live.

The narrative side of things features a guy who looks like a caveman, walking through tunnel caves. He has a candle ruling out the whole caveman thing since candles wasn't around back then. He finds images on the wall and also becomes possessed in the last half of the video.

It's different, it's surprising and actually really works. It may not be my sort of music but I can appreciate it for what it is. The video is dark and perfect for this music.

Aalvin - Hope For Better

Aalvin is marked as my 30th follower on Twitter (at the moment) and so becomes the first of my Twitter Followers Special. He is my longest artist follower who has a music video, just behind DixonBeats. Although I have already reviewed DixonBeats' music video "Afraid" that is a collaboration with Dante. Not much is known about Aalvin, but I can tell you this. He is a singer/songwriter, and claims to be from London/New York. His voice is full of soul, creating goosebumps up my arms within seconds. With the right people behind this person we're going to see him in the limelight, but with the wrong people behind him, he'll just be another artist who gave it a go. I'm not quite sure music is ready to give up this soulful voice. "Hope For Better" is taken from his EP 'Never Forger' which is only available on SoundCloud so far.

This music video is simple but emotional, fitting perfectly with everything you would've expected. There is a narrative and a performance side.

The narrative features a couple, who start off on the stairwell reading 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson, which I have read myself, and personally I don't think it's one of those books you'd read together, I would naturally go for a Nicholas Sparks book. The relationship takes a spin for the worse where they start to ignore one another, I love her t-shirt saying 'Don't you want me?', a clever way to use speech without interfering with the song. The ending leaves him going on the Underground while she stays here, but they're smiling so there is hope.

The performance side is also simple, although at the start, the people and the buses and other traffic are put in reverse motion as Aalvin is moving forwards. It suggests he is reflecting on something that happened in the past. Various other scenes are included such as him singing down a payphone, which means he's trying to get a hold of someone, or is possibly asking and hoping for better the next time they meet.

Overall a song that is enriching and pulls at my heart strings at times, that is how powerful his voice is. The music video links perfectly, and has everything I possibly need to give it a high rating. And although I'm desperately trying to find something wrong with this video, I fail in finding it, and so my rating is totally justified and this video clearly deserves it.

New Release: The Saturdays Featuring Sean Paul - What About Us

The Saturdays are a British girl group who are ready to tackle America and have been attempting to do so for a while. They are extremely well-known in the UK, managing to rack up a total of 11 top ten hits, but have yet to get a number one, they have been so close getting number two with songs: "Just Can't Get Enough" and "Forever Is Over". The five-piece consists of Una Healy, Vanessa White, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford and Rochelle Humes (née Wiseman). All of which had careers before The Saturdays, although the latter two had the biggest success, since they were in S Club Juniors/S Club 8.

The featured artist is Sean Paul, real name Sean Paul Henriques, he is a big hit across the world, but still haven't got his solo number one in the UK yet, but have managed to be on a featured number one which was Blu Cantrell's "Breathe", guess this will be his second featured number one of his... Will he ever claim his own number one?

"What About Us" was written by Camille Purcell, Ollie Jacobs and Philip Jacobs. I'm surprised that none of them have ever been featured on my blog, and it's rare for unknown songwriter to write a popular song, this may just push them into success. Again, I'm unhappy that The Saturdays didn't get involved with the song writing, as I think it would make the song much more personal, however they are amazing singers, and have managed to make this song have enough emotion, like they have managed to do so with all their singles, astounding me that none of them have been co-written by the girls. It's catchy and similar but different to The Saturdays other songs, this is definitely going to chart right at the top.

This music video has an American theme to it, to interest their American audiences, in the hope to rise up their chart. The band has been doing various gigs in the US to try and promote their song, along with their TV series called 'Chasing The Saturdays' which is shown on both sides of the Atlantic.

There are various scenes in the video, there's an American high street, a pool, a billiards club and a baseball stadium. The latter is joined by Sean Paul on the bleachers, and as he raps the girls perform dance choreography, which they do perfectly. I like how at the end they all collapse as if they're exhausted.

Overall a great song that should give the girls their first ever UK number one. And an accompanying music video that fits well for them, they're clearly enjoying what America brings. The only problem I have that it is neither a performance piece or a narrative piece, and purely showing off who the girls are and what they stand for and it's pretty much an introduction video.
Buy on iTunes

Ashlee Simpson - Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)

Ashlee Simpson becomes my Sunday Revisit, purely because I've been stuck for choice, and I distinctly remember watching this music video on the music channels. She has a famous sister Jessica Simpson, who is also a singer/actress. Ashlee Simpson is finally gearing up to releasing a fourth album, but is she past her peak of her career, or is it time to get back on track and become a hit once again?

"Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)" was written by Ashlee Simpson, King Logan, Jerome Harmon, Santi White and Kenna. It marks Ashlee Simpson's lowest charting position in the UK, to date, managing to get to number 24. "Pieces Of Me" got to number four, "La La" number 11, and the recently reviewed "Boyfriend" got to number 12. The song is about having all these voices in your head, from the people who think they should advise you on what you need to do, and sometimes it's a bit too much. Always do what you want, regardless of what everyone else thinks, that's my advice.

This music video is over the top of wackiness. There's so much going on, so much that you find it hard to keep up with, that it explains the song and connects with it perfectly.

There is a lot of references included, so much so that it reminds me of Britney Spears' "I Wanna Go". There's a reference to Salvador Dalí's 'The Persistence Of Memory' with the melting clock, she is also seen with dark hair on top of a 'Rubik's Cube'. She also gets tied up by tiny people, which is a reference to 'Gulliver's Travels'. And once again the constant attack of the paparazzi, which has been featured in so many videos that I'm tired of mentioning it. One person even has a camera as a head. One of the co-writer's Kenna features as a reporter in the video.

This is clearly identifiable as an Ashlee Simpson video, even if she wasn't in the video, it's noticeable as her due to the quirkiness of it all. That still reminds me of the other videos I have reviewed "Boyfriend" and "L.O.V.E." that I question whether we'll find something different from this artist, or will she stick to this niche that is clearly her... Guess we'll find out when she starts releasing singles and videos for her new album.

Overall, a catchy song that has a messed-up quality to it that you can't help but admire, it feels like so many people talking to you at once, and that is exactly what the song is about. The video follows the song perfectly, going over the top and adding the perfect messed-up side with mental institutes and paparazzi and a robotic Ashlee Simpson.
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