Hurts - Happiness Deluxe Edition Review

Released: October 31, 2011
Label: Major Label, RCA

Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson were once nobodies. Unemployed and only working on their previous band, Daggers, the duo has had hard times on the dole. Those tough four years has finally led them to disband with the other members of Daggers and out came Hurts. With a home made video spread across the YouTube world, Hurts made their first big break with "Beautiful Life" and soon after signed to a major label. Having been compared to the likes of Depeche Mode and Tears For Fears, Hurts is your guilty pleasure to love 80s Synthpop all over again.


Tracklist:
CD:
1. Silver Lining
2. Wonderful Life
3. Blood, Tears & Gold
4. Sunday
5. Stay
6. Illuminated
8. Better Than Love
7. Evelyn
9. Devotion
10.Unspoken
11.The Water
12. Verona
13. Affair
14. Happiness
15. Mother Nature
16. Confide In Me
17. Sunday (Demo)
18. Devotion (Demo)
19. All I Want for Christmas is New Year’s Day

DVD:
Hurts - Live In Berlin:
1. Silver Lining
2. Wonderful Life
3. Happiness
4. Blood Tears and Gold
5. Evelyn
6. Sunday
7. Verona
8. Unspoken
9. Mother Nature
10. Devotion
11. Confide in Me
12. Illuminated
13. Stay
14. Gloomy Sunday
15. Better Than Love

Music videos:
1. Blood Tears & Gold
2. Wonderful Life (original)
3. Better Than Love
4. Wonderful Life
5. Stay
6. Sunday
7. Illuminated
8. All I want for Christmas is New Year’s Day
I know you are probably wondering why a Pop album is being featured on puresinner, but this is something really worthy for me to comment on as an alternative listener. Happiness was first released in September 2010 and did really well with six other singles. This debut album has earned them a worldwide tour including Singapore and Malaysia. Every track in the album is composed in an alluring and depressing melody and no doubt all of them could sell as singles. They even hit it with a track with Kylie Minogue titled "Devotion". Hurts' sad lyrics about love and women made it deeply emotional combined with the piano, synthesizers, strings, and haunting backing vocals. This deluxe edition has added seven additional B-sides to the CD and a DVD with a live show from Berlin and all of their music videos to date. There's even a dark appeal to the live shows. The intro to their show mimics an elegy in despair and female dancers clothed in black lace and gloomy make-up really gives me an idea that they were actually going for a Goth look.

The band commented that they wrote these songs when they were in a bad time, when they were unemployed, and almost giving up on music. Now that they have achieved a place in the music industry, I'm not too sure how their next album will sound like. The additional songs included in this edition, "Affair", "Happiness" and "Mother Nature" are quite a disappointment. They lost quite a lot of the good sounds compared to the original track list.

Overall, all I can say is this is a really good album for Synthpop fans (minus the additional tracks) and if you missed your chance to catch them on tour, the live DVD inside this deluxe edition will serve you well.

Theo Hutchcraft & Adam Anderson

If there is one pop album you want to be proud of listening to, Happiness  is what you need. While you're at it, listen to their cover of Falco's "Jeanny" here: http://youtu.be/TM927ly20vs.

Recommended tracks: "Silver Lining", "Illuminated", "Stay" and "Unspoken".

6 out of 7 sins

Ignore All Detour Signs Encore Screening Review @ Sinema 14/10/11

Having missed the first screening of Ignore All Detour Signs back in September, I was eager to jump on the opportunity of the second screening at Sinema located at Mt. Sophia. Having not bought the tickets earlier, I was pretty upset that I would have climbed 666 steps for nothing, but the dudes at Sinema were cool enough to let go two tickets for me and my friend.


Before I let you in on my impression on the documentary, here's a little synopsis for those who don't know what it is about. Ignore All Detour Signs(IADS) is a documentary that covers the trials and tribulations of Singapore band, I Am David Sparkle, as they prepare for their slot at South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival along with a minitour of the US.








Initially, to be perfectly honest, I thought that the documentary was going to be a bore and something really artsy fartsy. Yet, I was proven wrong as it was actually tastefully edited and never strayed away from the main subject matter of the whole documentary while still maintaining a certain dark and gloomy vibe overall. IADS manages to capture and display a band's dream and their courage to do anything to get themselves a place on the world stage. It also displays the friendship between the members even through the hardships they've faced just to play their music to more people. The soundtrack was also peppered with fellow labelmate, Amberhaze, so that makes another reason to catch IADS.

I am not so much of a movie reviewer so for anyone who needs a quick jolt of motivation and for any aspiring musicians (and I really mean ANY) out there, IADS is the documentary to catch. Just hope there's another screening in the near future.

Puresinner has reviewed I Am David Sparkle's sophomore album, Swords, click here to read it. We would also like to wish I Am David Sparkle an awesome Japan tour next month.

aenimic: This post was supposed to be up on the night of the second screening, but photobucket is being a real bitch. so I'm sorry for the late post. Whatever it is, do catch IADS if you ever get the chance. Sorry for no photos from the screening other than that one photo on my instagram. Here is also a ten minute snippet of the QnA session after the screening, youtube "Ignore All Detour Signs" to get the full QnA session.

Singapore's Best Alternative Halloween Party


Sick of "Thriller" themed parties and Haunted Carnivals? Well, I've got just the right answer for you. Head on over to the Singapore Dark Alternative Movement's most anticipated event of the year. SDAM is known for their year round of Industrial and Goth club shows but Halloween is when they raise the dead with the heart pounding beats of dark Alternative music.

This year, they're back at HYDE (57B Clarke Quay) for some horrifying classics. In conjunction with the Breast Cancer Awareness month, feast your eyes with Kittenita (as "Skinless Julia" of Hallraiser) as she performs the Bellydance Horror like no other. Classic horror films compiled by Rocky Raccoon will be played throughout the whole event and veteran DJ Saito Nagasaki will keep you company with the familiar beats of EBM/Industrial/Futurepop spins.


As a treat for all you darklings, the first 30 guests will receive a decapitated gingerbread man and the first 10 guests will receive a free Halloween make-over by the professional make-up artist, Aries Yagami. So be sure to come dressed as terrifying as you can get cause things are going to get real ugly at HYDE.


HYDE BAR (3rd Floor)
57B Clarke Quay
Singapore 049846
+(65) 6532 5510
http://www.hyde-bar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56294831231

Singapore Dark Alternative Movement (SDAM)
http://www.sdam.sg/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5512868844/

10 Most Saddest Songs of All Time

Bring out those tissues and handkerchiefs, puresinner has a list of songs to share with you about deaths and loneliness. This is my take on the saddest songs of all time by my favourite artists.

The Cure
Disintegration

Post-Rock pioneers, The Cure carries a lot of dark music and cryptic lyrics in their years of writing. A song which starts with the portrayal of selfishness of a person ended in a huge guilt. It hurts him dearly and even if he pretends wanting to be forgiven, he knows he doesn't deserve to be forgiven.











Elliott Smith
Between The Bars


A man with a low voice and coincidentally prefers to have a low profile, Oscar nominated Elliott Smith is truly missed. Composed with just a simple acoustic guitar, this emotional heartfelt song of loneliness can be felt from the pain he exudes through his music everywhere in his song. When you watch his performances, it's as if the audience isn't there and he's singing in the dark, in his lonely little world. 













 
TOOL
10,000 Days

One of a few musicians who often names his musical creations by his mother's name, Maynard James Keenan is a very dedicated son. His grief and pain can be heard from this track and the anger of wanting to blame on someone for her wheelchair bound state for 27 years (equals to 10,000 days) until her death. All he wants is for her to be free from suffering and return home to heaven.

















Nine Inch Nails
Hurt


Trent Reznor has always sang about loneliness and hate for many years and until he got married, which also marked the end of Nine Inch Nails. "Hurt" talks about a life being left by the ones he love most. The pain is what makes life real but not the people closest to him. You can almost hear his cries in every recording of this song and he keeps it sacred in his live shows. The song was also covered by the late Johnny Cash which most critics has reviewed it as the most tragic song sung by Cash because of his death soon after.




 









Dave Matthews
Gravedigger
On Dave Matthews' solo work, "Gravedigger" tell tales of beyond the grave. When you're strolling through a graveyard and you'll see all those names with the date of births and the date of deaths. You'll begin to link the stories behind the tombstones of a mother burying her two sons who was sacrificed in a war and a little boy who died in a bike crash. Matthews sees the gravedigger as the grim reaper, asking him to have some mercy on his death.















Garbage
It's All Over But The Crying
 
What makes it harder for a breakup is when you know you still love them but you will never live to have a future with them. Shirley Manson cries about it being all over, life goes on but it still sucks. Every time I have a hard time in my relationship, this song keeps playing in my head.

















Radiohead
Lucky


British band Radiohead makes the list of a few saddest songs sites with all different tracks. I choose "Lucky" because it affects me most ever since I first heard it and it still shares the emotion of losing something or someone from your life.


















Pearl Jam
Last Kiss


A cover that made Pearl Jam's highest achievement in the Billboard Top 100 to date, "Last Kiss" echoes vocalist Eddie Vedder into a strong sympathy of pain for this teenage tragedy. The song was written in the early 1960s by Wayne Cochran, Joe Carpenter, Randall Hoyal & Bobby McGlon knowing that tragedy songs are big on making money. It was then unsuccessful but a few artists has since covered it. The song sings about a teenage couple out on a date and ended short after a traffic collision.












Red Hot Chili Peppers
Under The Bridge



One of the band's most successful singles, "Under The Bridge" tells the story of singer, Anthony Kiedis' battle with drugs in the city of angels. His struggle with heroin under the city's bridge where he usually gave in. He sings of his regrets when at that time felt like a whirlwind of adventure. It then ends with a group of choir singing together to Kiedis' hymn.
















The Smashing Pumpkins
Tear



Another one of those mournings of a son, Billy Corgan also wrote this song after the event of his mother's death. There wasn't a real statement by him saying so but the album was written at the time of her death and it might have had an influence on it. The song might appears to be Corgan questioning his faith in god because of the pain he caused him, tearing him away from his loved one. This is by far one of the best Smashing Pumpkins tracks and the most emotional.










 

Notable Mentions:
  • "Dead Souls" by Joy Division
  • "Hell Bent" by Kenna

Russian Circles Releases New Track "Mladek"

For a track that's based on a supposedly "awesome" European dude, Mladek sounds a little like a punk rock track at the start. But the real awesomeness doesn't really show until the change of pace at the 1.50 minute mark, where the trio reminds fans that they're still the same guys who has created amazing tracks like Carpe (from Enter, 2006) and Harper Lewis (from Station, 2008).

Mladek definitely picks up from the 1.50 mark and keeps the off-kilter drumbeats going with the signature looping of Mike Sullivan and the contribution from Brian is still intense as ever with a booming bassline that seems to slide in and out in between guitar riffs.

Definitely a must-listen for Russian Circles fans, this track has gotten me really excited for the upcoming album.

Empros is set for release on October 25.

The full track can be streamed AND downloaded on this link.

Photo from MAGNUM MAG. From left: Brian Cook, Dave Turncrantz, Mike Sullivan.

"Hide & Seek" for Free Download

D'in Cheung Releases his debut solo album and it's up on dincheung.bandcamp.com and reverbnation.com/dincheung now. Hide & Seek expresses D'in's love for Electronic music and guitars. The 9-track (excluding hidden tracks) album is avaible free on digital download or any price you decide where all proceeds go to the Japan Tsunami Charity fund. The album is also available in CD copies both Japanese and International versions for USD$8.

"Hide & Seek is a self recorded Electronic album I'd value and it's a job well done" - Septermber 12th, 2011
puresinner has the privilege of reviewing it earlier this month. You can check on the link below for the full review:

Aliceffekt - Blam, Le Passage Sacrilege Review

Label: 16d Records
Release date: August 6, 2011

Devine Lu Linvega is an illutrator, programmer, creates a language and also distributes his own music under the moniker of Aliceffekt. This Montreal based talent, goes a long way and travels far to get his inspirations.

Tracklist:

  1. BLS01 - Looking forward to yesteryear with XC3N, Xyno & Chan
  2. BLS02 - Passage.4 _ CanalSemestre
  3. BLS03 - Passage.5 _ SemestreMaster
  4. BLS04 - Passage.6 _ MasterDistributor
  5. BLS05 - E Jumpstyle
  6. BLS06 - Solar Flares and better
Aliceffekt recently took the stage at Montreal's famous Kinetik Festival 4.0 where bands and DJs of Industrial/EBM/Eletronic music worldwide shared this five day event. Vermillionth (available for digital download on xxiivv.com) was released based on that performance. Following that release is Blam, Le Passage Sacrilege, and it is available just after three month on the official website.
Devine Lu Linvega

First track starts off short with a distorted conversation clip that leads to a more upbeat track. As Aliceffekt is known for its noise dance tracks, its glitchy mad beats aren't going to be easy for the most seasoned club goers to understand. In fact, it is the reason why Aliceffekt's music has been categorized into the Industrial scene. A Post-Industrial chaos that draws it's experimental structure from pioneering acts such as Throbbing Gristle. Every track crosses into the next track perfectly seeing that all of his works are usually recorded for live performances. This is an album worth listening to when you're up for some headbanging or just kicking out some dance moves no matter what your mood brings you.

Blam, Le Passage Sacrilege is available for free download here at 320kbs mp3.

4 out of 7 sins

D'in Cheung - Hide & Seek Review

Released: September 28, 2011
Label: None

Tracklists:
  1. Pulse of A Living Dream
  2. Sui Generis
  3. Dreamer
  4. Fairytale
  5. Silent Suicide
  6. Hide & Seek
  7. Crying for the Lonely Star
  8. Aurora Borealis
  9. If Life...
D'in on right with Masquer
A man of a thousand talents with musical collaborations from the United States, Russia, Singapore to Hong Kong, D'in Cheung has mastered genres from Pop Rock, Goth to Metal. Born in the city of Singapore, D'in spent most of his time living in Hong Kong. Forming bands like Masquer and Crazimalz (TVB performance) which landed him a successful place in the music industry. After years of putting together his solo debut, Hide & Seek will finally see the light of day later this month.

Sajid Akbar
In this album, D'in captures an Electronic ambience throughout the entire album even with heavier guitar tracks such as "Silent Suicide", which has a structure similar to a progressive rock band I have heard before. "Dreamer" has a slow flow of gentle serenity and is my favorite track even though it's also the shortest track in the album. Biddy Low of Breakbeat Theory guest vocals on "Fairytale", a heartbreaking love song lyrically with a smashing guitar solo. Another guest vocalist is Sajid Akbar, an acoustic musician who contributes in "Hide & Seek", the title song. Somehow, I find his vocals a little restricted here, although it's quite apparent that the man has the ability to sing well. Not every track on this album sounds the same and every time you go through it, it draws more of your attention into understanding the layers, the music and the emotion of the project.

Hide & Seek is a self recorded Electronic album I'd value and it's a job well done among the hype of gimmicky club imitators invading the current music industry. The album will be available for download soon with updates from puresinner. 



D'in Cheung
4 out of 7 sins
* Credits to the photographers. puresinner does not own any of the images.
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