~ Reviews 💿 ~
Ah, welcome to the reviews on The Musical Hype! Albums, EPs, and songs [singles + tracks] of various styles are evaluated here – we don’t discriminate! All reviews are also available on the home page. Both album and song reviews are assigned a star rating on a scale of 0 – 5 (½ stars are used as well), that is visible at the beginning and ending of the review.
= Masterpiece 🤩
= Near Masterpiece 🤩
= Excellent 😀
= Very Good 😀
= Average / Good 🙂 👌
= Below Average… it’s giving sus 😏 😑 🫤
= Mediocre 👎 😡
, 
, 
, 
= BAD… 🤬
~ Album Reviews 💿 ~
Album reviews tend to follow a track-by-track format, commencing with an intro paragraph comprised of background information, and concluding paragraph that wraps things up. Also, GEMS 💎 – the best, highly recommended tracks – are selected at the end of each review. It should not come as a surprise to see the analysis run > 1000 words.
~ Check out the most recent posts ⬇️ in this hyperlinked gallery 😎 🤘 ~
~ Get your fix of album reviews in all their glory, starting from most recent to oldest 😎 🤘 ~
Tinashe Delivers A Solid Contemporary R&B Debut On ‘Aquarius’
Luke James, Luke James | Album Review
Maroon 5, V | Album Review 💿
Kem Shows Consistency, Little New on ‘Promise To Love’
Chase Rice, Ignite The Night | Album Review
Caleb Johnson Shows Off Mad Pipes on Debut LP ‘Testify’
Review: Troye Sivan, ‘TRXYE’
Al Jarreau Delivers Solid Tribute on ‘My Old Friend’
Tank, Stronger | Album Review
Godsmack Delivers Solid, If Unexceptional Effort On ‘1000hp’
~ Song Reviews 🎵 ~
Song Reviews on the site tend to follow a format that includes an intro paragraph with background information, a body, comprised of at least one paragraph of analysis, and a concluding paragraph (older reviews) or statement (more recent reviews) that ‘put a cap’ on things. Song reviews generally run a minimum of 250 words with many running > 300 words.
~ Check out the most recent posts ⬇️ in this hyperlinked gallery 😎 🤘 ~
~ Get your fix of song reviews in all their glory, starting from most recent to oldest 😎 🤘 ~
Lil Tjay, Headshot | Track Review 🎵
Bbno$ & lentra, bad to the bone | Single Notez 🎶
Roberto Bates, Fire Walk With Me | Track Review 🎵
Roberto Bates And VIOLA Release ‘Fire Walk With Me’
Contributed by George James
E
lectronic pop producer, Roberto Bates is back, and he takes no hostages with his new intense release ‘Fire Walk With Me’, which features vocalist VIOLA.This track brings the feel-good vibes with a summer quality, and it radiates through the airwaves from the moment it starts. It has a very nostalgic feel to it, with an 80s influence driving the way forward. However, that is not unusual given that Roberto has a fondness for the eighties sound. Furthermore, the styles that rose out of the new-wave era have influenced him many times throughout his career.
‘Fire Walk With Me’ also proves that Roberto is as fresh as ever to deliver the finest gems. Moreover, his new piece gives a new dimension to the electronic space with his warm sounds catapulting out of the lively mix. His clever addition of nail-biting tones also keeps the mix alive throughout, with a myriad of new sounds popping out left, right and centre. Additionally, the structure gives the track a natural stereo feel, and it sounds incredible on a 5.1 set up.
Likewise, VIOLA gives the mix a whole new lease of life with a performance that offers the big hitters a genuine run for their money in the EDM space. She is confident, and her passion is evident as she excels through her delivery. As a result, ‘Fire Walk With Me’ could be the big break that she needs to reach even greater heights in the game.
Five out of five – George James.
Connect with Roberto Bates:
🎙 Roberto Bates • 🎵 “Fire Walk With Me” • 🗓 12.12.20
📷 : BG Records; Icons made by Freepik
M Pike, Worthy | Track Review 🎵
![M Pike [📷: M Pike]](https://i0.wp.com/themusicalhype.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/m-pike-press-photo-1.jpg?resize=400%2C416&ssl=1 "M Pike [📷: M Pike]")
M Pike Releases New Track ‘Worthy’
![M Pike [📷: M Pike]](https://i0.wp.com/themusicalhype.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/m-pike-press-photo-1.jpg?ssl=1 "M Pike [📷: M Pike]")
Contributed by George James
L
ondon-based M Pike is back with ‘Worthy‘. It is a track that speaks about real life, and M Pike leverages his sweet vocal with him getting the listener hooked from the get-go.A guitar lead opens up the track before a soft yet nail-biting vocal performance from the London singer. He gives the track meaning within seconds, and it is evident that he wears his heart on his sleeve. He talks about his experiences, and he proves relevant with his piercing lyrics. As a result, he showcases his songwriting talent and his ability to tell a compelling story.
The music picks up massively towards the closing section, and the drums pick up with momentum pushing the entire mix forward. We also witness the singer cover the stereo space with a backing harmony that leaps out left, right and centre. Also, he regularly stops and starts to add emphasis to his infallible leak hook.
Cleverly, and like many the most extraordinary singers, he takes the focal position to provide a spoken sentence. It keeps the story flowing, and it is the perfect pathway into one of the most hair-raising pop-rock finales to appear in recent times.
Overall, M Pike exceeds expectation here. He is becoming an artist who regularly delves into the theatrical side of pop, but he arrives just that little bit different here. So much so, it may quite well be his most compelling release yet. So, do you relish pop-rock, which arrives fresh and unique? Look no further.
You can take a listen and watch the official video for ‘Worthy’ on YouTube.
Four out of five – George James.
Connect with M Pike:
🎙 M Pike • 🎵 “Worthy” • 🗓 02.19.21
📷 : MPike; Icons made by Freepik
Rod Wave, Street Runner | Track Review 🎵
Thomas Atlas, Halfway To The Moon | Track Review 🎵
Funk Man Returns With New Track
Contributed by George James
B
ritish funk maestro Thomas Atlas is on his way to the moon with his new modern funk release.The new track ‘Halfway To The Moon‘ is the first release since his highly acclaimed ‘Got This Feeling‘. It could not have landed at a better time with the spring weather beating down on us already. It is joyous, and it increases the endorphin levels within an instant. Therefore looking for a pick me up this March? Loko no further than this one.
Glowing from the second, Thomas opens his vocal cords with vigour; moreover, he gets the listener fist thumping to his harmonically rich melodies. Also, Thomas showcases his gritty vocal quality with him hitting the notes with fearless quality; he sounds raw but for the right reasons, and the original energy does not get lost in the mix.
The rhythm guitar hook, which plays continually throughout, gives the track the feel-good grove, which glues the entire piece together. Also, Thomas‘ backing band synergise well with plenty of sounds leaking out of the compound. The sax is big, bold and inviting, and the drums keep the flow moving forward with an influential rhythm.
Having reviewed ‘Got This Feeling‘, it was challenging to imagine Thomas stepping up even more. But he has, and he and his funk band have taken a step forward with the groups sound excelling. Also, despite the structure staying somewhat similar throughout, it does not get repetitive. Instead, the hooks seep into the brain.
You can take a listen to his new release ‘Halfway To The Moon’ here.
Five out of five – George James.
Connect with Thomas Atlas:
🎙 Thomas Atlas • 🎵 “Halfway To The Moon” • 🗓 03.05.21
📷 : Thomas Atlas; Icons made by Freepik
Ali Gatie, Can’t Let You Go | Track Review 🎵
Carrie Underwood, Nothing but the Blood of Jesus | Track Review 🎵
Maroon 5, Beautiful Mistakes | Track Review 🎵
St. Vincent, Pay Your Way in Pain | Track Review 🎵
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