The Lockdown Sessions (album) – Elton John
Boy oh boy, this is a tricky one. I love Elton John, indeed he shares the number one spot with Diana Ross as my favourite artist of all time. This new album has received a lot of praise and is selling well, but for me, it’s pretty dull. There were however two songs that stood out:
Nothing Else Matters with main vocals by Miley Cyrus is very cool – it’s grand and anthem with an emotionally intense performance by Cyrus. It is by far the best track on the album and feels as though it is in keeping with Elton John’s legacy of big songs such as Levon.
Finish Line with Stevie Wonder has a gospel feel to it, and it’s an uplifting cheerful song sure to make you feel better by listening to it, but it does feel a little bit like that old classic This Land Is Your Land by Woodie Guthrie.
By My Side (single) – A7S
By My Side is a track by Swedish singer/producer A7S, and is from the soundtrack of the new Bladerunner TV series. It’s a catchy and enjoyable dance mix though half the lyrics in the chorus consist of oh’s and ahs.
Beautiful Life (EP) – Michael Kiwanuka
Michael Kiwanuka has a beautifully melodic voice, and if you’ve ever watched the TV show Big Little Lies, his song Cold Little Heart was used over the opening credits.
Now he’s released a couple of new songs – Beautiful Life is from the Netflix show Convergence. It starts off pretty mellow but has a soaring chorus that builds to a climax. It’s emotional and dramatic.
The accompanying song All My Life is in a similar vein, nicely melodic and easy to listen to. There are a lot of ‘la la la’s’ in it, but it’s definitely a cool track.
