The Viper Vibe

Viper Beat

Thursday, June 07, 2012 By Joseph Cardenas/Section Editor

‘The Night the Sun Came Up’ by Dev Does anyone remember the catchy chorus heard in Far East Movement’s debut hit ‘Like A G6?’ Well, that singer now has an album titled ‘The Night the Sun Came Up.’ It was released March of this year and saw remixes and collaborations with rappers Flo Rida and Fabolous. Even latino-pop singer Enrique Iglesias is found in her latest single ‘Naked’ which defied my first impressions actually. Dev, as she so calls herself, twists the style of electronic and hip hop to match her unique voice and attempts at rapping. She also has a knack at making the simplest but catchiest of hooks. This is most evident in her previous single ‘In My Trunk’ which can only be described as a hip hop track simply about carpools. This is one of the many songs off the album that shows off the talents of her producer team, The Cataracs. ‘Lightspeed’ is also another example of a Cataracs-produced track. This one is a fairly good song to simply dance to when it comes on. The best dance track has to be ‘Breathe,’ which has a smooth beat and melody with a tantalizing and fascinating hook via accordion. The Fabolous-assisted track, ‘Kiss My Lips,’ is everything that Dev showcased herself to be with ‘In the Dark:’ both sleek and fiery. It’s not the best the album has to offer, but it does have a catchy chorus. ‘Me,’ an anthem about individuality, has a nice hip hop beat but no voice. It has a sense of longing for such an inspiring feeling, but it just doesn’t portray it. Really, all this album is built on is its clever and insanely catchy dance beats and hooks. Otherwise, the album does not impress. ‘C+’ ‘California 37’ Train It’s a great surprise seeing that Train is actually better than before. After spawning two well-known singles in 2010 with album ‘Save Me, San Francisco,’ the percussion/guitar heavy-pop band stayed low for 2011. They’ve recently been resurrected with lead single ‘Drive By.’ No, fellow students, it has nothing to do with gang shoot-outs, which prepped everyone for their latest album. I have to say, despite its obvious pop sound, I was actually very impressed. ‘Mermaid,’ so far the second most downloaded track, blew me away with its Hispanic-sound. The guitar was a very nice touch to a very interesting song. ‘Bruises’ feels uplifting and interesting enough, giving off a country vibe without having it overload the song. It really is the best of both worlds. An example of vocal talent is ‘Sing Together.’ ‘Feels Good At First’ is cliché and wishy-washy, but it has a nice harmony and rhyme. The entire album is, of course, full of love stories and ballads, but it still stands out from their last album which differs greatly in quality. This album was actually very enjoyable. ‘B+’ ‘The Lateness of the Hour’ Alex Clare Is it even possible to have a modern-day electro Frank Sinatra? I ask because Alex Clare’s voice is only comparable to such a singing talent. And this exceptionally brilliant voice is only matched by his brilliant instrumentals for his song. Subtle, yet dynamic, it has two styles that are very hard to pull off. You can hear this in his lead single ‘Too Close’ which was released earlier this year. Even though the subject matter sounds displeasing, his voice and instrumentals instantly draw you in. ‘Treading Water’ also showcases the same thing, as he understands he has a second chance even though he could just harm his beloved again. ‘Whispering’ is the song that really establishes him as truly dynamic artist, yet sharp in his presence. ‘Relaxed My Beloved’ follows ‘Treading Water’ and fits perfectly. It’s powerful with simple drums and violins and a nice and seemingly quiet electronic surge that sends chills down your spine. He even does Prince justice with his take on ‘When Doves Cry.’ Alex Clare defines a new kind of pop and a new kind of music as well, one that relies on simplicity and domination with an air of subtlety. Other highly recommended songs are ‘Up All Night,’ ‘Tightrope’ and ‘Hummingbird.’ ‘A’