Two of One of the Biggest Pop Releases of the Year - Who Will Win?
Pop stars Vanity and Pixie are just a pair of some of the most influential and pretentious pop artists that the world has seen. Vanity; arguably the most influential pop artist on the planet, has had a tremendous amount of success since her arrival only a few years ago. In only a few years, she's become one of music's most respected pop artist. She's released records that received critical acclaim such as 'Cigarette & A Smile', 'Fame Kills', etc. Therefore, Vanity is in the top ranks in not only pop music, but music in general.
However, Pixie has been rising among the ranks as of late. She's developed a large and devoted fan base over the coarse of the year. Not to mention, she's earned several number ones from last year and this year - all which has received generally positive reviews from music critics internationally. Just a few months ago in July, she took home a Goldie award for 'Best New Artist' at the first annual Goldie award. She also performed at the ceremony as well and the awards itself drew in 29 million viewers. With that performance which received critical acclaim, her army of 'Fairies' (her nickname for her fans) grew even larger. With that being said, 2012-2013 were two big years for Pixie. She's undoubtedly creating her own lane and has the ability to become one of the top ranking pop artists.
Now the question is; which pop release will top the other? To the advantage of Pixie; Vanity's 'Tease' is only an EP (extended play) with five songs on it. EPs generally sell less than albums. However, it's still a major release by a major artist that has received critical praise from critics and fans. However, can it outsell Pixie's debut album which has also received critical acclaim by critics and fans?
'Tease' Review
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Track One - Dirty Lover
The EP's opening track is the lead single off of the EP and upon it's release, the song has received mixed to positive reviews from music critics and has garnered widespread media attention for it's sexual lyrics which isn't uncommon in the pop industry. However, as usual, Vanity has made the ultimate sex song of the year. With many fans and critics praising the song, parents have bashed the song as irrelevant and too explicit for minors. The song has also received a negative response from religious groups worldwide. The song however is brilliant and innovative.
Track Two - Ashamed
With the second track off of the EP, Vanity teases us with more sexual lyrics which also teases fans on what her forthcoming 2014 album release will sound like. The lyrical concept of the song is brilliant. The production is ace as well and those are two factors that no one can take away from Vanity. She's both a brilliant songwriter and producer that manages to cook up extremely good pop music.
Track Three - I Wanna XXX You
Another undeniably brilliant pop record off of the EP comes track number three titled 'I Wanna XXX You'. The song pushes more into the electronic genre. Of coarse, the lyrics and the production are great. However, the song sounds too much alike to track numbers one and two. However, we can't take anything away from Vanity as she's got nothing to prove. It is only an EP with four tracks on it though so she's still clear!
Track Four - Wet Skin
One thing Vanity does best is choosing the best track to close an album/EP. 'Wet Skin' is the perfect track to close the the EP. It's a softer sound compared to the rest of the tracks and although the lyrics aren't as sexually explicit as the rest of the tracks on the album - it's still there.
'Imagine Review'
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Track One - Mermaids
Opening the album is a incredible track titled 'Mermaids'. The track is a brilliantly written song with a very different sound to it. Listening to the other songs off of the album, they couldn't have opened the album as well as this one does. It's a very different sound that we usually have heard from Pixie in comparison to her string of hit singles she's released over the coarse of the year. The song contains hip-hop elements. She's clearly showing that she is indeed among the ranks of some of the best songwriters in today's music. The song is a highlight song off of the album and it draws the listener in. This song has high chances of becoming a hit if released as a single.
Track Two - Walk Alone
The second track off of the album is the global hit single 'Walk Alone'. Upon it's release late last year, the song has received positive reviews from music critics worldwide and is among one of the number one singles that pop star has earned during her career thus far. The song is the perfect song to dance to and it is of the synthpop and dance genres.
Track Three - Bold
Track three is 'Bold', yet another one of the string of number one singles the singer has earned during her short career. The song is a fan-favorite and has also received critical acclaim from music critics. It was one of the biggest-selling singles of 2012. Lyric-wise, the song stands out from other pop songs that were released last year and it lives up to it's title. It's always a good thing when an artist does something risky enough to release music that's different from what's trending in music during a particular period of time and for that - Pixie is one of the boldest pop stars we've seen in recent times and she's proven that with this song.
Track Four - Dirty Ribbons
Bold enough with the third track 'Bold', Pixie gets even bolder with track number four off of the album titled 'Dirty Ribbons'. The singer proves with this track that she can pull off a folk song. Watch out Katie Coyle! Although it's not something fans could expect to hear from Pixie and although it isn't too good of a single choice, the song itself is still good. It's very unique and refreshing to see an artist trying new things and not sticking to only one genre. However, we wouldn't want an album going in crazy different directions. With this song, Pixie delivers another amazing song.
Track Five - Amethyst Rhapsody
As crazy as the title is just as crazy as track number five off of the album is as Pixie takes on a different genre for the song. This song contains soul elements and can be compared to a song by Adele. However, Pixie still incorporated this new genre to her and made it into her own and owned this track. However, Pixie should stick to one genre. As we get more into the album, it goes into different directions which isn't good. However, she still plays it safe.
Track Six - Catch Me If You Can
Once again, Pixie is incorporating yet another genre. This time, it doesn't have anything to do with pop music but instead, it's of the alternative rock and and synthrock genres. Again, the song isn't a bad song, however Pixie is incorporating way too many different genres on just one album and isn't serving her core pop fan base. Again, the song isn't bad. But we'd like to see Pixie serving her core fans first before branching out into many different genres.
Track Seven - Give
Track seven is more of an energetic and fun track off of the album. She's giving her fans another song they can dance to and is an undeniably good electronic/dance song. This is exactly what the album needed - another energetic and fun song.
Track Eight - Trance
With track number eight, Pixie wants us to let go of our innocence and follow our trance! This particular song is a good followup song to track number seven. It's another good dance/pop song. It has catchy hooks, a catchy beat, and is another fun song in general. It will definitely have people dancing and fist-pumping on the dance floors of clubs. It's one of those songs that'll be perfect for partying too. Lyrically, the song is good however.
Track Nine - Illusion
Hit single 'Illusion' serves as track number nine off of the album. It was released as a single earlier this year and has received positive reviews from critics. It's a highlight song on the album. With this track, she continues to get more into the electronic and electro house genres - something that Pixie does best. No one can ever take that away from her.
Track Ten - Repent
Pixie returns back to alternative rock with the tenth track on the album. Yet again, she delivers a brilliantly written and produced song that can possibly be released as a single. The song is another song that have received critical praise upon the streaming of the album. It's an indefinite highlight off of the album and is a fan favorite.
Track Eleven - Giants (ft. Glamazon)
With track eleven, Pixie teamed up with pop icon Glamazon to produce one of 2013's best pop releases. The song is an incredible song and has received generally positive reviews thus far since it's late September release. Both pop singers delivered great verses. Glamazon's part added a bit of spice to the song however. The song is one of the best off of the album. However, it doesn't tops the 'Mermaids' as the best track on the album.
Track Twelve - We All Fall Down
It seems as though Pixie knows how to deliver great alternative rock tracks! So far she's proven us correct with the alternative rock songs off of the album. The song itself is good. It's different from the rest of the songs however as it has a piano melody to it which is brilliant.
Track Thirteen - Reign
One of Pixie's hit singles comes 'Reign', which serves as the standard album's thirteenth track off of it. The single is one of Pixie's biggest singles to date. She chose the perfect song to close the album. The song is of the alternative rock genre. The 5-minute and 35-second track is yet another fan favorite and is an highlight off of the album.
