Emily Simpson

A blend of the sensual and the sensitive, Ariana Grande delivers the easy-listening album, Positions. Grande’s previous two records were written in the midst of serious pain. Sweetener was marked by grief, following the Manchester Arena bombing, and Thank U, Next followed the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller. But with Positions, the singer is optimistically moving on to … [Read more...] about Ariana Grande: Positions – Album Review

Bruce Springsteen has a recording career spanning a massive 40 years, and he clearly hasn’t lost his touch with Letter To You, his outstanding 20th studio album. Last Autumn, Bruce Springsteen enlisted his longtime backing band, The E Street Band, to record the album, and it was all recorded in 5 days. You can tell this is a reflective album for the artist, with many of the … [Read more...] about Bruce Springsteen: Letter To You – Review

Glittery pop-fuelled fourth album, Cherry Blossom, from The Vamps shows a progression in sound amongst a more coherent, mature stance to the music. The Vamps have had a busy career since their platinum-selling debut album in 2014. While moving from their teenage years to their early twenties, it’s clear that their music has evolved with their age. The musicality which was … [Read more...] about The Vamps: Cherry Blossom – Review

Recorded in a quick, two-week burst and then stored away for two years thanks to maternity leave, Emmy The Great’s new album April / 月音 has finally arrived. Emma-Lee Moss (better known as Emmy The Great) has a stunning voice. It’s gentle, but it has an ache to it too. An emotive control that only the best musicians have. Combine that with a flair for literate, captivating … [Read more...] about Emmy The Great: April / 月音 – Album Review

Christmas seems to have arrived early this year, as we review our second yuletide record in as many weeks. This time world-renowned icon Dolly Parton releases A Holly Dolly Christmas, her first full-length Christmas album in 30 years. Dolly Parton has compiled a whopping 3000+ songs in her back catalogue, and she shows no signs of slowing down with the release of A Holly … [Read more...] about Dolly Parton: A Holly Dolly Christmas – Review

Christmas is on the horizon. Michael Bublé is defrosting as we speak. But this year his annual festivities have some competition - Carrie Underwood and her first Christmas album, My Gift.  A combination of traditional holiday favourites and original tunes, My Gift finds the seven-time Grammy winner backed by an orchestra led by David Campbell, who has recorded with artists … [Read more...] about Carrie Underwood: My Gift – Review