Album Review - The London Sessions: Mary J Blige

I always forget how much I love Mary J Blige until I hear some of her new music, and then, bam, I'm back in love with her all over again. A friend had told me how good this album was, and I knew I needed to try it out for myself. And I was not disappointed. Mary J Blige is back, bigger and better than she has been in years.

Recorded in London, as the title suggests, Blige has collaborated with some of the most current British producers and singers, including Disclosure, Naughty Boy, Emeli Sande and the wonderful Sam Smith (who I may just have a little crush on). While she has stayed true to her R&B roots, it's been fused with current sounds, Then there's her incredibly distinctive voice, which sores here.

Let's talk about the tracks. The good news is there are no bad songs, no fill. Each song stands on its own, and maybe that's the good thing about working with so many different people, you get a lot of gold. But of course, there's some great stand outs. The first single, and the album's opener is the Sam Smith co-penned, "Therapy". This is an Amy Winehouse inspired corker. "Doubt", a song of redemption, made me want to throw my arms in the air. "Not Loving You" is a classic Blige ballad that sounds absolutely glorious. Disclosure produced "Right Now" feels very commercial (that's a compliment from me). It has a great beat, and I was singing along within the first listen.

The stand out track is the second single, "Whole Damn Year". It's co-written by the very cool Emeli Sande and is produced by Naughty Boy, who's tracks I have been loving. What a great song, the beat is sensational, Blige's voice is exquisite and then there's some bloody awesome lyrics. When Blige belts out, "It's been a bad five years", you feel like she is singing your pain. Why isn't this song a hit yet?

If I had to pick a weak link, it'd probably be the Disclosure produced, "Follow". It's a not a bad song, but it feels a little more suited to a Disclosure album and not a Mary J Blige record.

There's so much hurt in her voice, she's at her best when she's hurting in song; and there's so much on offer here. This is a great album that I know I will be revisiting a lot. Mary J Blige has never been that big in Australia, which is a true shame. But trust me friends, now is the time to get into her. She has talent, a massive heart and one of the biggest voices in the business.

After I write about a new release from a well known artist, I think it's the perfect time to look back at some of their other classics. So what is my favourite Mary J Blige song? That's a tough one, this woman has had some anthems.

There's "Family Affair", which reminds me of a great time in my life. "I'm Goin' Down", with brilliantly sublime vocals or the song that my Mum loves and always reminds me of her, "Give Me You". But the one I have to choose is "911", her duet with Wyclef Jean. When this song came out, I was obsessed with it. Her verse is like heaven. This was the song that made me fall in love with her voice, and for that reason will remain my favourite Mary J Blige song. Give it a listen if you haven't heard it.

What's your favourite Mary J Blige song? Tell me in the comments below.

Some favourites revisited

Today is the day, "Internal Jukebox" opens at The Butterfly Club tonight. Exciting times! This will be such a fun show, filled with memories of music. And that was the premise of the show, songs are memories. They take us back to another time in our life, and I wanted to celebrate that.

Over the past few weeks on the Internal Jukebox Facebook page we've been asking musical memory questions. To celebrate the show, I thought I'd revisit some of these questions and their videos:

What's your favourite song of the year so far?

Chandelier - Sia

Let's start with the clip, pretty exceptional. Proves the point that you don't need a lot of money to make an awesome clip (sorry Jess Mauboy). And there's the whole connection to Dance Moms, my secret shame! Plus the song is so God damn catchy. I love that stupid people think this is a party anthem, the amazing dance/pop song is all about Sia's addiction. So any song that can make me lose myself in dance while thinking is a pretty good thing.

What was your first album bought?

Whitney Houston - Whitney

God I loved Whitney Houston as a kid. I even had a poster of her I put on my roof, then it fell down on my face in the middle of the night, scaring the hell out of me. I am so happy this was my first album. I got given some money for a present and went and bought this album on cassette. How good are the singles. "Saving All My Love" still gets me singing along. "How Will I Know" is pop perfection, put it on and people will always get into it; and "The Greatest Love Of All", my favourite as a kid, is a classic. Whitney, I miss you!

What was your first concert?

Bros (yeah, I know)

Hang your head in shame Wayne! Bros. Okay, I don't even feel that bad, It was an awesome gig. I was in year 9 and loved me some Bros! "When Will I be Famous", top track. "I Owe You Nothing", so very good. I went with a group of girls from school (cause of course no boys would want to go) to the Sydney Entertainment centre and sat in like the back row. So far away, but we didn't care. We sang, we dance, we screamed. A great memory. Concert two, Bobby Brown.

What was your favourite track from the 90's?

Secret - Madonna

This is a hard question, and the rest of the cast struggled finding just one. I struggled just finding one Madonna song! But really there could be no other 90's song I could have picked. This came out when I was at Uni and hating my life. Hated being away from home and was holding on to my last ditch effort to be hetero. Madonna became my salvation, especially this catchy tune. The humming in the chorus, the beat, the lyrics and some killer remixes. Still love it to this day.

What song do you still know all the dance moves to?

Venus - Bananarama

Oh Bananarama, how they have brought me joy! Their partnership with Stock, Aitken & Waterman produced some overly catchy tracks - this was a favourite. Then in High School, I joined with Vera Munro-Smith and Catherine Borg and dressed up as Bananarama for a school talent quest and mimed to this song. Pure art. Maybe. Naturally I was Sara, the tall blonde. I am so glad it was the age of no mobile phones, so that footage does not exist.

Who is your favourite Australian artist?

Kasey Chambers

Kasey Chambers, how I love thee. From "The Captain" to her current album, "Bittersweet", her music has been a special part of my life. As a lyricist, Kasey Chambers is a poet. And while her voice may be divisive, I love it. I have seen her a number of times live and she is incredible. In fact, I was in the audience for this live version of "The Captain" at the Opera House. I may have cried while she was singing this, may have. Favourite tracks include, "The Captain", "A Million Tears" and "Little Bird".

What is your favourite karaoke song?

Copacabana - Barry Manilow

Wow, these questions are making me look really daggy!!! I love singing this song at karaoke. It fits my voice and it's fun to dance to. It reminds me of fun nights at trivia at the Greyhound and Friday night karaoke nights with my great friend Tammy.

Tonight is the night, come see my show Melbournites, I love music, and I want to share that with you!

Single of the Week - Baby Don't Lie

After a failed return to No Doubt, Gwen Stefani is back with a new single that has gotten me singing along very loudly! I have been a longtime fan of No Doubt, it was Gwen's solo stuff that had me a little hot and cold. However, when No Doubt reformed, the lacklustre outing was a disappointment. Sure, the first single, "Settle Down", was okay, but it was nowhere near as good as a "Don't Speak", "Just a Girl" or "Simple Kind of Life"(my favourite No Doubt song).

I was hesitant listening for the first time, wondering what I was going to hear, but midway through my first listen - I was already hooked. It's a mid-tempo reggae/pop song co-written with One Republic's Ryan Tedder, amongst others. Tedder seems to be the man of the moment, seemingly writing every second massive pop hit. A great beat to dance along to, and some catchy lyrics that will be stuck in your "internal jukebox" before too long.

From the opening beat to that awesome chorus, this is a catchy little song that I hope finally gets the recognition that Stefani once again deserves. Check it out below.

What's your favourite single of the week?

Classic Album Review - Like A Virgin

Happy Birthday Like A Virgin, the classic album turns the big 3-0 this week. Older than many of my friends, and even my boyfriend ... but not me. The album came out when I was young and I didn't understand the brilliance of Madonna. I remember my neighbour loving it and listening and enjoying it. But it wasn't till 1989 when Madonna became my everything that I went back and discovered how great this album was.

On a tram this morning on the way to a photoshoot for MX, I listened to it once more and enjoyed it all over again. I'll try not to gush too much and stay objective, but it's just a bloody good album. The strength in this album lies in the singles, they are incredible. If the album has a weak spot, and I only say if, it's that the album tracks follow the 80's tradition of not being as good as the singles. As years passed, Madonna became much stronger with her album tracks.

It's interesting listening to Madonna's voice on these early tracks, just her second album. It sounds so much younger and has a distinct tone that only got better with age, and when Madonna took opera training during her Evita period.

Anyway, here's the track by track review:

Material Girl

A classic if ever there was one. Madonna even became known as "the Material Girl" due to this song. But take away the pop phenomenon, and is it a good track? The answer is unequivocally yes. (But you probably guessed I was gonna say that). Clever lyrics that guarantee you're singing along and a beat that makes you want to dance. There is a reason this song is so popular.

Angel

I always feel sorry for this great song. Sure it went to number 1 worldwide, but it was a double A side with the much more famous, "Into the Groove". Plus the song never got a film clip. It's a catchy mid-tempo ballad that's great to sing along with. "Angel" is probably the song from the album I listen to most now. If you haven't listened to it much, time to revisit. Madonna does light love songs well.

Like A Virgin

If you don't know this song, you may be dead. What a clip, what a song. Talking of cultural phenomenons, this song has been used in everything from a Tarantino film to an X Factor Nun in Italy releasing it as a single. There may be no better song that encapsulates the 80's and this clip helped herald the MTV era and turned Madonna from a singer to a superstar. I adore this song, still do, even after 30 years. Pure pop brilliance. "I made through the wilderness...."

Over and Over

The first of five album tracks, and I'd probably rank it at 2. Still catchy and the line, "I get up again, over and over" gets stuck in my head, over and over again. A solid album track, just not a single.

Love Don't Live Here Anymore

My favourite album track from this album, and for a while as a teen, my favourite song on the album. Clearly Madonna loved this cover too, because she re-recorded it and released it as a single on "Something to Remember", her best of the ballads album. This was 70's classic and has been recorded by many, I loved the Kate Ceberano cover in the 80's, but clearly this one is my favourite. There is such a passion in Madonna's voice, the cracks towards the end of the track are so emotive. And those lyrics, "Through the windmills of my eyes, everyone can see, the loneliness inside of me", they get me everytime. LOVE this track.

Dress You Up

The final single from the album, and another little catchy pop song that gets stuck in your head. I still love to play this song loud and proud. It was never the big hit it deserved to be, but time has been kind and it is still an amazing track. Go listen to it.

Shoo-Bee-Doo

Number 4 out of 5 in album tracks for me. A good song, just not a great one. Still fun to play and sing along with.

Pretender

Probably my least favourite song on the album, but having said that, I'd still prefer to listen to it than most songs by other artists. It's just that Madonna has so many good songs!

Stay

The final track on the album and my number 3 album track. Another song that's fun to sing with, but could never be a single.

So that's it, a great album. While I feel like I should call "Like A Virgin" my favourite track on the album, I think I have to answer "Angel" as my favourite track.

Below, tell me your favourite song on the album. Happy Birthday "Like A Virgin"!!

An Intro of Sorts

I have been wanting to try a music blog for a while. I've started blogs before but never followed through and was just a little worried about doing a music blog because I didn't want to to stuff it up. Now felt the right time. Music has been taking back over as a massive passion. I'm not a musician, and I'm only an okay singer. I'm a listener, and a major music fan. From a young age I have been devoted to music, have thousands of CD's and music on many electronic devices. Music has taken centre stage again, both my shows this year have been music based, "Everything I Know I Learnt From Madonna" and my show that opens this week, "Internal Jukebox", a show about music and the memories they have.

I want to make a happy blog about the music I love. No negative comment, just reflecting on great new music and classic songs that have shaped me. This isn't just some hipster blog where I'm trying to look like I am "cool". Quite frankly I often have terrible music taste, a pure pop fan who sometimes has more of the music taste of a 15 y/o girl. I LOVE Madonna, she has been favourite since 1989, and will always be. But then there are so many other artists who release songs that just speak to me.

I'm looking forward to this adventure. I'll write a music based post tomorrow, but for now, here is a cheap promo for my new show, "Internal Jukebox" that plays this week at The Butterfly Club in Melbourne. Check out these great promo videos featuring myself and my talented cast (shot by the wonderful Paul Nelson) talking about musical memories, cause after all, songs are memories!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0BeozI_xIE

Wayne