A Night to Remember
by
Shonlock Since 2011's Neveroddoreven, we haven't heard much from R&B/hip hop artist Shonlock. After all these years, however, we are able to enjoy a new, energetic, and spiritual album. Here...
Remixd
by
Capital Kings Since this is a remix album, I'll just list the genres on the album and a couple of personal thoughts.
Beautiful Name
by
Amanda Although relatively a newcomer, Amanda Noelle, I think, is starting out strong with her debut EP. Having already released a Christmas song with Anthem Lights, and a single from this EP, Amanda could...
An Album to Remember | Posted April-27-2014
Since 2011's Neveroddoreven, we haven't heard much from R&B/hip hop artist Shonlock. After all these years, however, we are able to enjoy a new, energetic, and spiritual album. Here is my take.
1. A Night to Remember
Genres: Dance-pop, pop rock, electropop
Content: The lyrics of this energetic and synth-y opener are about leaping out in faith and remembering the night that Jesus Christ saved you.
Rating: 5/5
2. Heartbreak
Genres: R&B, trap, pop
Content: This song describes how we should surrender everything to God and stop running from Him in vain.
Rating: 4.5/5
3. Transformed
Genres: R&B, hip hop, glitch, dubstep, electropop, trap
Content: This bangy song is a futuristicly sounding take on the concept of becoming a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Rating: 5/5
4. Don't Play
Genres: Hip hop, electronic rock, hard rock, trap, grime
Content: This equally heavy hitting song is about taking one's faith seriously and staying focused and determined in it.
Rating: 3.5/5
5. Hurricane
Genres: Pop, pop rock, R&B, power pop
Content: This powerful song tells of how hard God's grace hits when we need it the most.
Rating: 4/5
6. We Walk On Water
Genres: Pop, house, electropop, dance-pop
Content: This song comforts a listener in the fact that God loves us and we should never let Him go.
Rating: 5/5
7. Kinfolk
Genres: R&B, trap, hip hop, grime, electrohop
Content: This song is an anthemic call to unite believers to keep the faith alive through future generations.
Rating: 4.5/5
8. I Like To Win
Genres: R&B, alternative hip hop
Content: This uptempo song, similar sounding to Can't Hold Us by Macklemore, is about having victories in life since Jesus won the ultimate victory.
Rating: 3/5
9. Beyond This World
Genres: R&B, electropop, pop rock
Content: This song restates the "in the world, but not of the world" statement in a way that calls us to reach out to all kinds of people.
Rating: 3.5/5
10. My Choice is You
Genres: R&B, pop, folk, electropop
Content: This song is about lovingly worshipping God and lovingly comforting loved ones who are going through hard times.
Rating: 3/5
Others may disagree, but I think this album is better than Neveroddoreven. With a more diversified sound and more messages, Shonlock delivers another strong album in A Night To Remember.
Awesome Remixes from CapKings! | Posted March-17-2014
Since this is a remix album, I'll just list the genres on the album and a couple of personal thoughts.
1. Electro house, progressive house, electropop
2. Dubstep, electropop
3. Eurodance, retro house, progressive house (This one's a little long, but has a great retro feel)
4. Electro house, dubstep, progressive house
5. Electropop, R&B, dubstep, pop rock
6. Trap, dubstep, electropop, grime (Good alternative to Dark Horse by Katy Perry)
7. Electro house, hip house, progressive house (I hope future music sounds like this great new track!)
Amanda Noelle! | Posted August-22-2013
Although relatively a newcomer, Amanda Noelle, I think, is starting out strong with her debut EP. Having already released a Christmas song with Anthem Lights, and a single from this EP, Amanda could easily become a leading artist in the CCM industry of this decade. With a voice (like one of her inspirations, Beyonce) and sound that is comparable to some Top 40 artists, this EP has the potential to rival them.
Track-by-Track Review
1. Bigger Than Your Fears
Genre: Pop, R&B, Electropop
My Rating: 5/5
Content: This mid tempo song contains encouragement to people to not let fear overcome them and let God take care of it.
2.Lights Out
Genre: Electropop, Dance-pop, Pop rock
My Rating: 5/5
Content: With somewhat of a house pulse, this celebratory anthem declares our duty to shine the light of God in the world.
3.Beautiful Name
Genre: Worship, Pop rock
My Rating: 5/5
Content: This powerful and uplifting song praises God's beautiful name and what he does.
4. All About the Glow
Genre: Dance-pop, Electropop, House, Dubstep
My Rating: 5/5
Content: With a similar message and sound to Lights Out, this song tells believers to shine the light of Jesus everywhere in the world (kinda reminds me of NY2LA by Press Play). :)
5. Limit
Genre: Dance-pop, Electropop, House, Dubstep
My Rating: 5/5
Content This song talks about doing whatever it takes to live for God.
6. Love is Greater
Genre: Electropop, Pop rock
My Rating: 5/5
Content: The first single from the album, this song demonstrates that God's love is so much greater than the fun things we do.
7. Back to You
Genre: Pop rock
My Rating: 5/5
Content: This song sends a message that we should surrender to God and give back to Him since He gave everything for us.
Closing/Average
Average Rating: 5/5
Thoughts: Amanda Noelle delivers strongly with this EP, in both the way of enjoyable sounds and positive, God-uplifting lyrics. This is definitely a must-have.
Reanimated and Remixed | Posted August-20-2013
Family Force 5 is still going strong with their latest album, Reanimated. Employing some remixers from Dance or Die with a Vengeance, plus some new guys, FF5 has put together a good blend of new songs and remix genres ranging from hardcore house to dubstep to trap to alternative hip hop.
The first track, "Chainsaw" is one of the newbies. It's a gritty, banging song, that could find its way into a club, with its mixture of alternative hip hop, and hints of trap and the band's familiar crunk rock style. The style then shifts to a somewhat anthemic electro house track, "Phenomenon."
Now onto the remixes. The Nico Stadi remix of the more recent "Superhero" continues the house trend started by "Phenomenon," although there are traces of trance as well. Aside from the sound, the lyrics plead to God for salvation from trouble. The familiar "Cray Button," remixed by McSwagger, ends the house music streak.
Moving away from house, the next few tracks contain unique dubstep sounds mixed with some trap. "Wobble (Smile Future Remix)," the song about the hilarious dance invented by the band contains wobble :) bass riffs (wubs), but sounds more like trap. This trend continues on to the next four remixed tracks: "Can You Feel It (The Toxic Avenger Remix)," "Paycheck (Riley Friesen Remix)," "Zombie (McSwagger Remix)," and "Get On Outta Here (Riley Friesen Remix)."
Next, another newbie comes up. "Next Level," which features British pop rap group LZ7, shows FF5's unique dubstep sound with hints of their old crunkcore sounds and vocals.
There are two remixes left. The RAC Mix of the band's well known "Love Addict" contains hints of hardcore house, but still sounds like the original to a certain extent. Last but not least, "Put Ur Hands Up (Dave Harwell Remix)" gives listeners a break from all the gritty club bangers on the album with a sudden acoustic sound, which seems kind of out of place among the other tracks though.
I'm not a huge fan of trap, and some of these remixes I don't care for myself. But overall, this effort will keep fans busy until the band's new album comes out.
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