New Music Reviews - 12/13/2011 - Dia Frampton and Kaskade

As we get closer to Christmas and New Years, the number of new album releases starts to slowdown dramatically so for this week I will be reviewing some albums released in the past month that I didn't get the chance to review on the weeks they originally came out.  For those interested in this week's releases, the big ones are all movie scores (Twilight: Breaking Dawn, The Adventures of Tintin, and for the Sherlock Holmes sequel). Thanks for visiting!

Dia Frampton Red - One of the finalists from the NBC breakout hit "The Voice" releases her first post-show solo album (she and her sister were previously recording under the band name Meg & Dia).  For those who didn't watch the show, Ms. Frampton stood out for her sweet looks which beguiled her big voice with a very cool rasp to it.  Unfortunately for Dia, whose voice seems ideal for various pop genres, she was sidled with Country music star Blake Shelton as her coach.  However, she made it to the finals so more power to her.

The music on the album is a primarily pop/country blend although Frampton does go beyond that on a couple of other tracks. The disc opens with "Don't Kick The Chair" with Kid Cudi which is a decent song although I thought the refrain was actually catchier than the hook and the rap by the usually very reliable Kid Cudi could have been left out completely.  "Billy The Kid" is a real stand out on the album because it not only features an electropop melody which breaks up the monotony of the Blake Shelton song that precedes it but is shows Frampton's vocals can still shine despite the engineers going a little overboard in the post-production work.  That's followed by the more heartfelt, acoustic guitar driven "Daniel" which is a sweet song about regret and bad decisions that really showcases Frampton's vocals and her ability to write deep but catchy tunes.  "Walk Away" is an indie pop/folk pop song that is the type of music I would expect Frampton to create and its beauty shows her voice is probably a better match for that genre.

Overall, it's an above average release from a singer with an awesome and unique voice but who could use some assistance on the engineering and post-production side of things.  Frampton also shows the ability to create songs that exhibit both depth and catchy melodies on about half of the tracks of the disc although more of this magic spread over the entire disc would have been a welcome addition.  It's also a welcome note that she doesn't repeat any of the songs performed on "The Voice" so we get a truer sense of her musical sensibilities.  Her voice and her song writing potential shine through on this disc, I just wish the production work were equal to the task. 

Score: 6.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Billy The Kid" and "Walk Away"

Kaskade Fire & Ice - Kascade is a DJ who was voted "America's Best DJ 2011" by the monthly publication "DJ Times."  This is a two disc album with one disc representing "Fire" and the other representing "Ice," which is really just a remix disc featuring the same songs in the same order as the first disc, although all the songs could fit under the House music electronica genre.  In a welcome addition, most of the songs feature vocals by lesser known electronica and indie acts like Neon Trees, Dan Black, and Rebecca & Fiona.  Overall, Fire & Ice is an enjoyable and competently put together disc with many highlights scattered over the entire album.  The second disc is also another pleasant surprise with most of the remixed songs actually featuring more simplified beats and sampling rather than going with bigger techno beats and a heavier thumping sound like you would find on most remixed discs.  The album ends up being extremely enchanting with a sound that will pull you in and take you on an engrossing journey whether you put on just the first disc, just the second disc, or both discs together.

Score: 8.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "I Love (ft. Haley)", "Ice (ft. Dada Life and Dan Black)" Kaskade ICE Mix, and "Lessons in Love (ft. Neon Trees)" [sample it below]