Before We Begin...

Before you go any further, I'd like to point out that I'm not a musician, i can't play guitar. I'm not a DJ, i don't know how to mix it up. By no means am I a producer, too many nobs and buttons....So what do i do? I LISTEN! So what if i can't do any of that stuff. When I listen to music, it's with the same love, passion, and energy that goes into making it.....

I created this blog as a place to share my thoughts about, Music, Songs, Bands and everything else musical with you. But please remeber, this is my opinion, so feel free to agree or disagree with me by leaving a comment. Also, if there's a track you'd like me to review then drop me a line at pushplayreviews@live.co.uk

Saturday, February 19, 2011

White Limo - Foo Fighters


While the whole world waits in eager antisipation for the new album, Wasting Light, from the Foo Fighters; I bring to you the first single to be heard off the album. "White Limo" is the bastard love child of a hot and steamy romp between, the Nirvana legend Dave Grohl, and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age). Thats not to say that Josh Homme helped create this track. No, i mean it just sounds like something he would do....sorry if that's a little confusing! If you listen to "Six Shooter" by Q.O.T.S.A off their album "Songs for the Deaf" you will see exactly what i mean! The vocals are almost identical!

As for the track....WOW!!!! This is the song Foos Fans have been waiting for! The song, just like the rest of the album, was recorded using a cassette tape player in Daves garage! This old ass, D.I.Y style of recording really lends itself to this song; giving it that unique, raw, unfiltered edge that we find lacking in most modern rock songs! In saying that, i have no idea what the hell the lyrics are as its mostly just distorted screams, but on a track like this.....that can only be a good thing!

The official release date for the UK is April 11th and I personally cannot wait to get my mits on this album. If you like fast paced, head banging, rock music that's not a pile of shit! Then "White Limo" is definately for you!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Dancing to the beat of a different drum...


Music is a funny old thing isn't it. I mean, have you ever stopped to think about why you like certain types of music and not others? Why is it that country music make me wanna blow my brains all over the wall; but makes other people start line dancing! This is a question i found i was asking myself at an underground indie pop gig i went to recently.

I don't really mind indie music, but i see it more as 'easy listeneing' rather than 'something to get down too'. Yet there were people at this gig that where rocking out like the world was about to end! This really made me wonder.

As humans, we are all built the same. Two arms, legs, ears, one nose, mouth etc. So it must be something to do with our brains, but what is it? Music tastes will differ amongst different people, but is it something we are born with that determines what music we will like; or is it outside influences e.g. friends, lovers, television etc. Or is it something else all together, i really don't know and to be honest, i don't think anybody will ever know for sure! If you do work it out then please send your answers in on a postcard, Thank you!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Broken Bricks - The White Stripes


Word on the street is that after 30 years of innovative, pioneering, unique sounding music; The White Stripes are finally calling it a day. They say they're doing it to preserve "what is good" about their music. And I'd like to think that their fans would respect them for that rather than whine about how much it sucks they won't make any more albums. It is better to go out on a high after all.

So rather than review the most popular songs like "Hardest Button to Button" or "Fell in love with a girl"; i've decided to go right back to the beginning, to where it all started. This track is called "Broken Bricks" and it's from the bands very first album, self titled "The White Stripes".

This track really embodies that bluesy, soulful, rock sound that the white stripes would later become famous for. It composes of Jack's notorious fast paced guitar strumming, with meg white's iconic heavy footed, and cymbal splashy style of drumming! You can't really hear the lyrics very clearly because they're drowned out by the drums. This is probably due to the 'Do It Yourself' style of recording that the white stripes continuously employed to make their albums. But to be honest, you don't need to hear the words in order to enjoy this song. Jack's famous high pitched, whiny, voice rather lends itself to the music, giving it that certain "je ne sais quoi" that it was missing.

Overall, this song is by no means the best song that the White Stripes ever made, in fact, unless your a die hard 'stripes' fan, the album isn't really that good; but this was where it started 30 years ago; and it was from this point that the band developed their sound and gave us some of the music that will live on forever in our Mp3 Players, car stereos, and in our hearts! So, raise your headphones and join me in saying, Thank you White Stripes, thank you for the music! (no ABBA reference inteded, i hate ABBA, but thats for another day!).

Monday, February 7, 2011

Hello - Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette


Ahhh...its a track like this that has me counting down the days till summer gets here. This is a real happy, smiling, refreshing track that im sure will find it's way onto every summer music compilation cd of 2011!

The beginning of the track sounds very suspiciously like Paper Planes by M.I.A, only just a little bit faster. The lyrics in this track, sung by the innocently voiced Dragonette, are about a topic that i think we can all relate too! They're about a girl who talks to a guy a party, but clearly the guy thinks that she into him and is a bit too keen on her. Her retort is "Your alright; but i'm here, darling, to enjoy the party". In other words, it ain't gonna happen! I say we can all relate to the lyrics because at some point in our lives we have been the one trying too hard to get some action; or have had some desperate fruit cake pestering you all night!

Again, this track is really light and uplifting. It has the power to turn bad days into good, rain into sunshine, lead into gold...well, maybe not that last one! The song's currently 13th in the charts but i predict it will move up real soon; cuz it's a great track that will have you humming for weeks to come, so give it a listen!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

The Time (Dirty Bit) - The Black Eyed Peas


When i first heard this song, it was in my car (that seems to be my place of inspiration at the moment) and when i did i said "What the fuck is this?!".

The Beat kicks in with the tidy, electro version of one of the songs from the movie 'Dirty Dancing' and then, out of no where, Will.I.Am decides to proclaim the success of this song, before its even gone into the charts, right at the start! "This is International, big, mega, radio smasher". Thats quite a statement there Will; why don't you let me decide that! So, after Will's ambitious, if not misplaced, Proclamation; the chorus comes in with the dirty dancing lyrics and the song starts to look like it might have some potential.

But then, just as the song is peaking to start the first verse......the whole tempo changes from being this funky, electro, retro track to what can only be described as the biggest ANTICLIMAX of 2010! The whole song changes in terms of pitch, tempo, and style, almost as if i had changed radio staions and was listening to something else. I couldn't believe it, there i was thinking "Maybe Will was right" and then this limp & lazy droning sound takes over and we, as listeners, are exepected to just accept it....oh man! I felt very let down and i'm certain i'm not the only one.

Speaking of fails, i just wanna quickly mention, during Fergie's verse she says "I didn't come to get Boogie, i came here to get crazy" excpet for she doesn't say Boogie, she says "Boojie"! I have no idea why, because you would have to be pretty special to not know how to pronounce 'Boogie'.

Despite this, one good thing on this track, is the rapping. The lyrics stick very much to the black eyed peas 'paint by numbers' style. Simple, yet effective; and i find myself singing along while i wash the dishes in my kitchen, whenever this song comes on the radio.

Overall, i feel like im listening to two songs with this one. On one hand its a kinda poppy electro remake of a classic, and on the other its a real dirty club track. Individually, i feel they would work better. But once they start to grow on you after you've heard it a few times; and you've gotten use to that tempo change from the chorus to the verse; you'll find yourself humming this in your sleep! Very catchy!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Katy On A Mission - Katy B


Since this is my first post about a track, i figured i'd make it about a one that really "did it" for me! "Katy on a Mission" (by Katy B) was my Track of the year for 2010! I first heard it by chance on radio one, while driving in Brighton! And when i did.BOOOOOM! Volume up, windows down! Attention world...GET ON THIS!

Right from the start this track kicks ass. That dirty electro, dubstep beat, blended with the sexy vocals that peak into the bass drop...WOW! It's only been 10 seconds and im already submerged in this song! The lyrics are well thought through and i found it really easy to connect with what shes singing about. "Sinking into the tune", "When the Sub goes Boom", "This right here will end too soon"! Too fucking right it did!

For me, this track is something everyone can get behind. Its got a pop music singer, an electro sound for all the techno people, dubstep beat for the dubbers, and if your into rock music? Don't bullshit, i know you like it too! Its because there's an electrcity flowing through this song that would make even the most hardend mosher nod there head and get down! If you've heard it then you know what im talking about, if you haven't go and listen to it, you won't regret it!!! Katy on a mission, "Track of the year, 2010"

Stick the needle in your ears!


Music is like a drug to me! Imagine a syringe filled with all your favourite tunes. Thats my Mp3 player. Sticking the needle into your skin. Thats me putting on my headphones. And when you hit the plunger and feel that rush going through you, thats how i feel pushing the play button!!! Music is an addiction, and we are all junkies. Punk, Goth, Clubber, or all of the above, it doesn't matter. We all have a craving for music in all of us.....and theres nothing to do but succumb to the desire and give our ears the fix they need.