Gabriella Cilmi Releases Boring New Album

Gabriella Cilmi released her debut album Lessons to Be Learned in 2009 and while her music had an Amy Winehouse meets Duffy kind of sound it was original and resonated well. Despite releasing a great first album Cilmi didn't breakthrough as much as she could have. The next year Cilmi released her sophomore album Ten. While it wasn't released in North America it was still a decent album and even had one of her best songs, first single "On a Mission." The album featured a more new wave and pop-rock sound.
During the Spring of this year Cilmi released "Sweeter in History" which is the best song and served as a promotional single off of her third album The Sting. The single was a ballad about recalling the a relationship fondly after the fact when in reality the relationship wasn't that great. The album was actually released in the United States this month and had a more jazz inspired sound. While most of the songs are listenable, they're pretty boring.
Aside from "Sweeter" there are only a few other memorable songs. "Left With Someone Else" is a bluesy song about being used for sex. "Not Sorry" is a soulful number about a breakup in which Cilmi feels stabbed in the back. She knows that her lover isn't sorry for what he did to her. "Deep Water" is a gorgeous ballad in which Cilmi's vocals float over a gorgeous piano melody. "Don't Look Back" is an acoustic ballad in which Cilmi sings fragilely about the end of a love affair. The first single and title track is a faster R&B song that is nothing but sexual.
The other half of the album contains boring songs that aren't even worth mentioning.  This record has great songs but it would be better if there were a few upbeat songs to even out the ballads. Hopefully on Cilmi's next album she makes more variety in the songs.

Gin Wigmore Shines On New Album

Gin Wigmore, New Zealand's answer to Amy Winehouse, Adele and Duffy, released her sophomore album Gravel & Wine in her homeland in November 2011. The album was hugely successful there leading it to be released in the United States this month.
The album is a mix of bluesy, folk rock with an alternative rock and pop edge. The songs range from faster, sassy songs to ballads. Wigmore's voice is what part of what makes her so great. It's soulful, yet full of blues.
Her songwriting is another part of what makes her sophomore album so great. "I got lots of jealous lovers that all wish they had me back/ Got a pistol for a mouth, my own mama gave me that/ Making my own road out of gravel and some wine/ And if I have to fall then it won't be in your line," Wigmore sings during the first verse of the album's second single and best song, "Black Sheep." The soulful, rocker recalls Amy Winehouse's sassiest moments.
Other album highlights include "Devil in Me," a rollicking song about a lover who brings out Wigmore's bad side and "If Only" which has 50s soul influences and wouldn't be out of place on Gabriella Cilmi's debut. "Man Like That" and the bonus track "Don't Stop" are both faster songs, the latter being the album's cute love song.
The slow jams like "Saturday Smile" and "Moving on to Gone" are emotional and Wigmore's lyrics and vocals truly make you feel what she is singing about. "Dirty Love" wouldn't be out of place in a James Bond film and "Sweet Hell" is a duet with Butch Walker who produced the whole album. Walker is known for his productions for P!nk, Avril Lavigne and Fall Out Boy, this album shows he is versatile as a producer. "Happily Ever After" sounds like a mix of P!nk's "Please Don't Leave Me" and "Halo" by Beyoncé.
This album is a great way for Wigmore to be introduced to American audiences who missed out on her debut. Hopefully her greatness is realized, yet in a world where dubstep breakdowns make hits, that isn't likely. Wigmore will be playing the entire Vans Warped Tour this summer.

Gabriella Cilmi Releases Gorgeous New Single

Gabriella Cilmi has had so many musical changes in her short career. In 2008 she released her debut album, the soulful Lessons to Be Learned. This album was along the lines of Amy Winehouse, Adele and Duffy. Soulful music with old school vibes and a rock swagger at times. The album was classic and every song on it was packed full of emotion and soul.
Then in 2010 she released her sophomore album Ten. The single "On A Mission" was a dance/pop/rock mess and while it was addictive, the rest of the album didn't have the same vibe as that or the greatness of her debut. Ten was never released in the U.S. The album showed a huge evolution in sound for Cilmi and even though it wasn't amazing, it was still very gutsy coming from a singer who was barely even legal.
Cilmi stated that she was working on a follow up and last week she released the ballad "Sweeter in History." The song is a gorgeous ballad that has a similar sound to her debut. Cilmi sings about the end of a love affair and her lyrics and gorgeous voice convey the message clearly. "Some things are sweeter in history," Cilmi sings during the chorus. The song, while simple, packs an emotional whollop. While the song isn't as great as "Sweet About Me" or "Got No Place to Go" from her debut, two of her best songs, it's still a great welcome back to the singer.
While her album has no title, it is due out sometime this year and if it's as good as this single, Cilmi will show that she can survive after a bad album.