Avenue61 is a leading indie music site that specialises in album and gig reviews, breaking new bands, publicising events, and exclusive interviews with the leading cutting edge acts in the alternative music scene. Avenue61 covers a wide range of artists – some you would have heard of, some you won’t. Artists the site has reviewed recently include the Fleet Foxes, MGMT, Noisettes and Ladyhawke. The site is updated regularly so come back to catch up the latest news and reviews from the bleeding edge of the alternative music scene.
Ok, so first off I must iterate the fact that this particular run down is in no particular order, nor is it a definitive list of the best British record labels of all time (as if such a breakdown could ever be truly quantified). It is simply a list of some personal favourites within the British...MORE>>
Ok, so you might be surprised with the sheer number of American R’n’B artists that have infiltrated the UK market of late. But right now the UK has a trick up its sleeve,: Tinchy Stryder, N Dubz and Dizzee Rascal have proven they can stand up to these big commercial names in the charts.
One of these huge U.S acts is Lady Gaga. The past 18 months has seen the rise to fame of this pop giant, but her fame was not just made by chance of an opening in the popular music scene. Her career in music was boosted by being involved in rather risqué burlesque performances. This has built up an image in Lady Gaga that has no doubt had parents scanning the album cover in fear or disgust. But she is most notably famous for her song writing for such artists as Fergie, Pussycat Dolls and Britney Spears in her come back career.
Her 2008 album Fame is undoubtedly being milked for all its worth, which is ultimately a collection of very poppy, catchy, yet sometimes annoying in the case of Pokerface, songs. One of these such songs is Paparazzi. Surprisingly, this track shows a more experimental side of Lady Gaga’s popular sound. It is darker and less upbeat to the songs which we are familiar with. It has an electro undertone which gives the track a quality which is not apparent in her other songs. At best, this is a very good pop song. Its not ‘knock you over’ impressive on first listen, but it certainly grows on you and is fairly easy listening compared to the more challenging blubbering’s of Pokerfaced. The chorus is rather weak, yet simple and somewhat memorable. No doubt this song could be easily overlooked, but it is a catchy track which embodies Gaga’s musical style.
Its hard not to get tangled up with the idea of Lady Gaga as a fashion icon due to her incredibly bold statements in what she wears. The best way to consider her work is to forget the images we are constantly fed of her trying to shock, and ultimately, gain more media coverage. Her musical style is fairly unique, but it is hard, in a genre of music which is often full of generic themes, to define what makes her different. Perhaps it’s the experience of writing which gives her the power to make great songs, perhaps it’s the media which create an image of her that heightens her musical career to something it shouldn’t be.
All in all, as a whole package, Lady Gaga has the potential to run riot on the UK and US charts till her hearts content, but surely this is an indication of somebody who not only knows how to work the industry, but can also write impressive songs which appeal to a mass audience.
