December's Hottest Albums

Them Crooked Vultures, Self Titled
My. Oh. My. Wolf whistle and hellooooo, this is one sexy album. Comprised of all-star greats John Paul Jones (Led Zep), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), this supergroup line-up delivers on some super rockin’ tunes. It’s got chemistry, it’s got swagger and it’s got drive that will take you all the way to riff heaven and back. There’s a sense of immediacy in the initial tracks, starting banging out some of Grohl’s instantly recognisable drumming, while the subtler later tracks are just as rewarding. The album could have easily slipped into the individual artist’s territory with the signature stamps more than apparent, but they all fall together so easily to keep the album afloat in an exciting record of twists and turns, in tempo and in mood. Rock n’ roll greatness.
 

Rihanna, R Rated
Hell hath no fury, and Rihanna definitely casts herself as a woman scorned in this one. An aggressive attitude, quick quips and a whole heap of emotion, she isn’t ignoring the white elephant in the room following her high profile domestic abuse split with stooo-pid Chris Brown. There’s no single too match the grandeur of ‘Umbrella’, but this is still a varied and brave album; and also one of empowerment over bitterness. More self-aware, darker and bleak, Rihanna ain’t the sun-kissed, bright eyed Bajan beauty singing sugar-coated, cutesy club-bangers and those life-scars have, at very least, transposed into a great pop album.

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Leona Lewis, Echo
Leona has always struggled with the personality factor behind her songs. Technically, she’s spot on – she has a great range and chooses the right tunes to show that off. There’s just not much stickability. More the passé Celine Dion of our time, while the girl has that gutso, she just lacks in imagination. Enough of the soppy, mindless ballads already. Leona does succeed however, in showing she is one classy lady with a sophisticated album that leaves diva at the door. And while the girl herself seems down to earth, getting by on feel not feeling means this album lacks a distinct lack of genuine-ness or spark.
 

Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster
A re-release of the fame with accompanying EP, The Fame Monster is more a collection of b-sides than the sassed-up pop we are used to Lady Gaga delivering us. Lead single ‘Bad Romance’ doesn’t have quite the same ring as ‘Just Dance’ and ‘Poker Face’ did on the charts, but still holds Gaga in familiar territory; where listening to the rest of the album, she possibly should have stayed. More toned down in the attitude department, and overall less distinctive, the Fame Monster is still a club-rousing album, but sometimes lacking in the signature stamp department.

WIN: We’ve got three copies of The Fame Monster to give away! Simply click on the ‘I want to win’ button at the bottom of the page to go in the draw… AND we're also giving away the ultimate Lady Gaga concert experience - click here to find out how it could be yours!

 

John Mayer, Battle Studies
Warning. While John Mayer may have previously been a mother appeasing, easy in-law chrissy prezzie, this new album is a tad mopey. There’s some quality messaging with lyrics such as “…Who says I can’t get stoned?” and a few loved-up pity fests (surely having your pick of many-a Hollywood starlet ain’t all that bad?). But, while Mr Mayer seems to have lost his funk a little bit, craftsmanship-wise it’s nothing to be chuffed at. Heartbreak central, the combination of such world-sobering, break-up-‘mopering’ themes with slick production becomes it’s undoing. The rawness and edge of such emotion are polished away to make this a rather dreary listen. Unless you’ve just had a break-up. Then, it’s all on. There are flashes of hope though throughout the album, making this one a bit hit-and-miss.