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Sound check FlashbacksEuropeans show different sides The Mary Onettes
Fronted by singer/songwriter Philip Ekström, the band’s influences are pretty much the same as most of today’s new-wave influenced bands. It’s easy to pick out traces of bands like New Order, the Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen and even A-Ha. The mood, tone and lyrical content is completely borrowed from these bands. The single “Lost” sounds like New Order’s “Age of Consent,” and the intro to “Void” brings to mind The Cure’s “Jumping on Someone Else’s Train.” However, in comparison to their contemporaries like Interpol, The Stills and The Editors, The Mary Onettes manage to sound quite authentic and natural. From Philip Ekström’s reverb-drenched vocals to the jangling guitars and chiming keyboards, you could definitely mistake their music for something that actually came out in the ‘80s. If you love new-wave music and all the bands that recreate the ‘80s sound, The Mary Onettes might be among the best bands around — but they’re by no means the most original. — TB Westlife
As they’ve gotten older, Westlife have attempted the transition from teen pop to adult contemporary. For their latest effort, Back Home, Westlife worked with a variety of producers, including Steve Mac, who produced some of their earlier records. The new album is full of pop ballads like “I’m Already There” and “You Must Have Had a Broken Heart.” “Home” is a Michael Buble cover that matches the original, and “When I’m With You” has a slow R&B feel. So not much has really changed for Westlife over the past decade — they still have pretty much the same sound and quality. — VH
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Listening to the self-titled debut album of Swedish
four-piece The Mary Onettes is like having a flashback to the ‘80s indie scene.
Irish boy band Westlife started in 1998 and have found great
success in Ireland, the UK, Europe and Asia. Their previous eight albums have
sold a total of 36 million copies. 
