Review: Demi Lovato, The Neon Lights Tour

In support of her fourth studio album, Demi Lovato embarked on her third headlining concert tour in February, 2014. Dubbed “The Neon Lights Tour,” this show emphasized Demi’s rock star stage presence and killer vocals, as well as her down to earth persona that has engaged fans since her debut.

Opening with her hit single “Heart Attack,” Demi rose from beneath the stage and belted it out like no one else can. Decked out in torn leggings and a spiked leather jacket, she came out in full rock star regalia. Her charisma was undeniable. She segued into a remixed Here We Go Again era single “Remember December.” Stripped of its more rock-tinged elements, it was performed in an electronic style that suited Demi’s new sound perfectly. This was followed by a track from her most recent album (“Fire Starter”) and a non-single song from Don’t Forget  (“The Middle”). Things picked up when she brought down the show with “Really Don’t Care.” Fans belted out the words and lost their minds as supporting act Cher Lloyd joined Demi for her rap verse.

While the night was full of uptempo anthems and dance tracks, some of the more poignant moments in “The Neon Lights Tour” came from the ballads she performed. “Catch Me,” another track from Here We Go Again, was sung as she played the acoustic guitar before transitioning into a downtempo version of “Here We Go Again.” Similarly, “Nightingale” and “Warrior” received much love from the audience. These ballads proved to be crowd-pleasers and showcased her vocals flawlessly. However, it was the Frozen ballad “Let It Go” that truly made the audience go wild. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t sing along.

Other highlights from the night included performances of “Made in the USA” and “Neon Lights.” The former received thunderous applause when she sang the final words as “Made in Canada,” while the latter had the entire stadium jumping in tune to the club beat. The encore was equally as satisfying. She concluded the show with the Unbroken era hit “Give Your Heart a Break” and her signature song “Skyscraper.” Both were engaging and compelling, giving fans a chance to see Demi’s authenticity and talent without the bravado put on by flashy videos or pyrotechnics.

Overall, “The Neon Lights Tour” was a wonderful display of everything that Demi Lovato represents. It had a dash of rock star swagger, a pinch of sass, and a whole lot of heart. From confetti to elaborate light displays, the staging was impeccable. Her vocals were spot-on and she didn’t miss a note. While she could have included more songs from her fourth album DEMI on the setlist, it was nonetheless satisfying to see her reference her entire discography in one night. However, if there was one thing to take away from her performance it is that she is an inspiring young woman who believes in female empowerment and self-improvement. In times like these, this type of selflessness and genuine care for others is rare. Demi Lovato is more than just a pop singer, she’s an inspiration.

Top 5: Best Albums of 2013

Last year was a big one for women in music. Pop divas ruled the charts as the likes of Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Beyoncé blazed their way to the top. To celebrate what was a fantastic year in pop music, here are the top five best albums of 2013 by female artists.

Lady Gaga, ARTPOP

Three years after the monster success with Born This Way, Lady Gaga released her hotly anticipated follow-up ARTPOP in the fall of 2013. An eclectic mix of flashy electropop numbers, this album features all the trademarks of a Gaga album. Its lyrics are experimental and its sound is dancefloor ready. Overall, it is stylish and fun yet 100% bizarre. Would we expect anything less from Mother Monster?

Recommended Listening: “Venus,” “Do What U Want,” “Donatella,” “Gypsy,” “Applause”

Demi Lovato, DEMI

Landing at #1 on the Canadian album charts, Demi Lovato’s fourth record DEMI proved to be a rousing success for the pop dynamo. With a radio-friendly sound, the album is at once accessible yet vulnerable. Lovato’s vocals are flawless while her lyrics are relatable. In a year that saw Disney alums vying for the pop diva crown, Demi took it home with this personal and entertaining album.

Recommended Listening: “Heart Attack,” “Made in the U.S.A.,” “Neon Lights,” “Really Don’t Care,” “Shouldn’t Come Back”

Kelly Rowland, Talk a Good Game

Though former fellow bandmate Beyoncé may have surprised the world with her self-titled album released in December, Kelly Rowland proved she deserved to be in the spotlight with her fourth solo album titled Talk a Good Game. This record featured an assortment of sensuous slow jams and painfully personal ballads. Rowland bared her soul on the album and it stands as a truly beautiful piece of work that merits being called the best R&B album of 2013.

Recommended Listening: “Freak," "Talk a Good Game,” “Down on Love,” “Dirty Laundry,” “You Changed"

Ariana Grande, Yours Truly

Ariana Grande’s debut album Yours Truly proved to be a sleeper hit last year as it took home the #1 spot on the U.S. Billboard 200 in its opening week. A glorious collection of throwback R&B tunes, Yours Truly is timeless and elegant. Grande’s range is superb and her delivery is impeccable. If anything, this album should be regarded as the greatest Mariah Carey album that isn’t actually performed by Mariah Carey.

Recommended Listening: “Honeymoon Avenue,” “Right There,” “Tattooed Heart,” “Piano,” “Daydreamin’”

Namie Amuro, FEEL

With the likes of Cher and Britney Spears tossing their hats in the ring, it was Namie Amuro who pulled out all the stops this year in the genre of electronic dance music. The top selling album by a solo artist in 2013 in her native country of Japan, FEEL is Namie Amuro’s eleventh studio album. Sung primarily in English, this record is a modern collection of slick dance hits that is sure to get anyone up and moving. Amuro’s vocals are spot-on and the beats on this one are crazy. If there’s one must-have album of 2013, it’s FEEL.

Recommended Listening: “Can You Feel This Love,” “Hands on Me,” “Poison,” “Supernatural Love,” “Stardust in My Eyes”  

Review: Demi Lovato, DEMI

Following up her ground-breaking third album Unbroken and a successful run as a mentor on the second season of The X-Factor, Demi Lovato took to the recording studio once more and released her latest work DEMI last week. The album itself sees Lovato returning to the edgier sound she emerged with but it is much more polished this time around with electronic elements thrown in for good measure. If anything, DEMI emphasizes Lovato's growth as an artist and highlights her keen ear for what it takes to make a potential hit.

Unlike most of her pop contemporaries, Lovato isn't afraid to use live instruments on her music rather than relying on synthesizers. She marries rock with pop so effortlessly on the lead single "Heart Attack," utilizing an acoustic arrangement laid on top of an electronic one. She belts out the chorus flawlessly and the song itself opens the album on a high note. The album is buoyed nicely by a series of upbeat songs varying from love songs ("Made in the USA") to kiss-off tracks ("Something That We're Not"). While she indulged in elements of R&B on Unbroken, Lovato takes a more traditional approach to these uptempo pop songs. "Really Don't Care" featuring Cher Lloyd stands as one of the most infectious tracks on the album with its pulsating beat and Lovato's slick vocal delivery. It's full of the sass that makes Lovato's music so fun to listen to. Even Lloyd's bratty verse becomes endearing after a couple of listen-throughs. Another standout is the dance cut "Neon Lights." Punctuated by a piano and fluctuating beats, it is a club anthem that sounds like a summer hit. The midtempo track "Without The Love" features incredible vocals laid over a fantastic acoustic composition and "Two Pieces" has a great drumline with a plucking piano arrangement. However, Lovato truly outdoes herself on the poignant ballads present on DEMI. "Nightingale" pairs a haunting piano arrangement with Lovato's vocal clarity to create an ethereal listening experience while the "Skycraper" sequel "Warrior" is a powerfully moving ballad with a simple orchestral composition and golden vocals that speaks of Lovato's survival and personal growth. The strongest song on DEMI, however, is the incredibly touching ballad "Shouldn't Come Back." Its acoustic arrangement is gorgeous and Lovato's agonized vocals are supernaturally affecting. It is precisely the kind of song that demonstrates Lovato's incomparable vocal prowess and emotiveness as a musician. It would be remiss not to address a great flaw in DEMI's armour. Though the album is a fantastic listen, it may leave quite a few pop aficionados with a feeling of deja vu since some of the music plays too closely to what is expected of other female singers. "Made in the USA" sounds suspiciously like a cross between "Party in the USA" and "Price Tag" (both Jessie J compositions), "Something That We're Not" oddly comes across like a Katy Perry/P!NK mash-up, and "Never Been Hurt" is strangely like "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson. Luckily, Lovato owns the material so confidently that she makes the aforementioned musicians seem irrelevant (almost). Interestingly enough, these songs also happen to be among some of the best on the album.

DEMI is yet another solid offering from pop dynamo Demi Lovato. It features just the right mixture of pop ear candy and moving ballads that have made Lovato one of the most underrated musicians currently in the business. In fact, the album is almost entirely composed of songs that could theoretically be hits for Lovato. For this, Lovato should be praised and rewarded.

Recommended Listening: "Heart Attack," "Made in the USA," "Without the Love," "Neon Lights," "Two Pieces," "Nightingale," "Really Don't Care," "Something That We're Not," "Shouldn't Come Back," "Warrior."

Rating: A-

New Arrivals

While an earlier trip to Target proved unsuccessful in nabbing me Demi Lovato and Eve's new albums, I made it downtown this weekend and found them looking oh-so-lovely at the front of the HMV superstore. I was quite excited by the fact that they were displaying an advertisement out front for Demi's album. Do I smell #1 on the Billboard charts? Here's hoping. I'm also wishing success Eve's way as well. She's one of the finest female rappers ever and her fans have waited far too long for this album. While it's a shame "Tambourine" didn't show up as a bonus track (that song so needed to be #1 all over the damn world), it's great to finally hear new music from Eve. Now all we need is a new album from Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim and the world will be right again.

If you haven't gotten a chance to grab either album yet, I'd suggest you do so! iTunes is a convenient option for many but nothing beats the physicality of a CD especially when you get such gorgeous photography in the booklet as seen in Demi's album. It's important that we support our artists.

Review: Demi Lovato, Unbroken

Transitioning from a teen star to an adult one is not an easy feat but Demi Lovato did precisely that with her third album Unbroken. Released following her very public personal tribulations, Unbroken features a more mature Lovato adopting a new sound and shedding the layers to create one of her most vulnerable records to date.

While her first two albums relied heavily on the influence of rock, Lovato embraces R&B and electronica on Unbroken. This ultimately gives her a more polished sound that gives her voice a new-found clarity. To achieve this, Lovato wisely teamed up with Timbaland and this collaboration led to the production of three songs. The first of which, "All Night Long," is a pounding club anthem with the earmarks of a Timbaland production and even features a solid guest rap by hip hop legend Missy Elliott. "Together" is a solid R&B duet with Jason Derulo that incorporates hand claps spiced with an electric guitar while "Lightweight" is an airy track that highlights Lovato's range as a vocalist with her going from soft and vulnerable to full-blast belt. Lovato also collaborated with popular songwriter Ryan Tedder on the radio-friendly "Who's That Boy." It's a bouncy production with infectious lyrics. Though her experiments with R&B are admirable, it is her willingness to adapt to electronic music that is the most interesting aspect of the album. The title track "Unbroken" is a standout on the album with its pulsating beats and sassy vocal delivery from Lovato while "Hold Up" is a cleverly written midtempo synthesized song with impressive vocals. Another standout is the delicious pop song "Give Your Heart A Break" with its brilliant usage of orchestral sounds and is easily the catchiest of the songs present on Unbroken. Despite the domination of dance songs, Lovato slows it down on several tracks to highlight her incredible talent as a vocalist. The soulful and simmering slow jams "My Love Is Like A Star" and "Fix A Heart" stand as two of the most impressive tracks on the album. The latter, in particular, is a favourite due to its uniqueness and maturity. The lead single "Skyscraper" is an eloquent and inspiring piano ballad that demonstrates Lovato's remarkable ability to emote as a singer. It is impassioned and majestic in a way that most songs are not in the sphere of popular music today. Likewise, "For The Love Of A Daughter" is an affecting song that is heart-rending with its honest lyrics and Lovato's pained vocals. The arresting ballad closes the album dramatically and emphasizes the admirable emotional transparency Lovato has become synonymous with.

Unbroken is impressive in its diverse but cohesive collection of music. It is a successful experiment in R&B and electronica as well as a major accomplishment on the vocal front as it features some of Lovato's most emotional vocals to date. It is an essential album and highly recommended for anyone looking to expand their musical horizons.

Recommended Listening: "All Night Long," "Who's That Boy," "Together," "Lightweight," "Unbroken," "Fix A Heart," "Hold Up," "Give Your Heart A Break," "Skyscraper," "My Love Is Like A Star," "For The Love Of A Daughter"
Grade: A-

Review: Demi Lovato, Here We Go Again

For her sophomore effort Here We Go Again, the dynamite Demi Lovato refined the pop-rock sound she'd been working with since start of her musical career. Ditching the Jonas Brothers as collaborators in favour of working with a bevy of superstar producers and songwriters, Lovato crafted a sassier and more cohesive album that is a marked improvement over her debut.

On the title song, Lovato seems confident belting it out over the rock-tinged arrangement. This continues on the kiss-off track "Solo," with a brassy Lovato spitting clever lyrics that surely fuel speculation over who the song is inspired by (a certain famous ex perhaps?). "U Got Nothin' On Me" will remind many of '80s rock particularly with its anthemic chanting and explosive instrumentation. "Got Dynamite" and "Everything You're Not" will as well, with Lovato channelling her inner Joan Jett but adding her own modern spin on the rocker chick schtick. Similarly, "Remember December" incorporates elements of rock and marries it with '80s synth pop to create an explosive treat of epic proportions. While Lovato seems comfortable in the role of rock goddess, her voice sounds freshest against the more experimental tracks on the album. The Jon McLaughlin-aided "Falling Over Me" is a standout and forges a more mature sound for Lovato. It's an ambient song with a more laid back vocal delivery from Lovato. McLaughlin strikes gold once more with "Every Time You Lie." Its jazzy instrumentation paired with Lovato's raspy, bluesy vocals are a welcome departure from the rock fare and truly emphasizes Lovato's versatility as an artist. It's quite possibly the best track on her sophomore offering. Another standout, "Catch Me," further provides a more cultivated sound for Lovato with its plucking guitar and sweeping strings. It's a song that gives her the air of a seasoned musician. The ballads "Stop The World" and "World of Chances" mirror each other with their similar arrangements and their attempt to skew Lovato's music to an older crowd. The former is a track penned by Nick Jonas and the latter by John Mayer. Though both are skilled songwriters, neither wrote something that quite matches McLaughlin's work on the album. Nevertheless, the twin ballads are enjoyable listens. In addition to the twelve tracks present on the album, Lovato provides two bonus songs. "Gift Of A Friend" is a folksy feel-good song originally found in the film Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure while "So Far So Great" served as the theme song for Lovato's Disney series Sonny With A Chance. For a bonus track, "So Far So Great" is remarkably memorable with its poppy arrangement and a spunky Lovato on vocals. It's safe to say the album ends with a bang (and infectious one at that!).

While Demi Lovato forged an identity for herself as a rock princess with her first album, Here We Go Again expanded upon that and it worked to show Lovato's growth as an artist. However, it is on the tracks where she explores other genres where she shines the brightest. Here We Go Again may not be perfection and it most certainly has some filler, but it showed Lovato's fearlessness and willingness to become a more diverse artist.

Recommended Listening: "Here We Go Again," "Solo," "U Got Nothin' On Me," "Catch Me," "Every Time You Lie," "Got Dynamite," "Remember December," "Everything You're Not," "So Far So Great."
Grade: B+

Review: Demi Lovato, Don't Forget

            Ever since Hilary Duff’s debut album Metamorphosis went multi-platinum, Disney and its record company Hollywood Records has been eager to repeat the formula as often as possible creating varying degrees of success with acts like Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez. While it would be easy to write off fellow Disney alum Demi Lovato with these ladies, her debut album Don’t Forget provided a unique glimpse into the world of someone with an unforgettable voice and a refusal to play along with the conventions of pop stardom.

            Demi’s earth-shattering voice is at the heart of Don’t Forget. She belts her way through most of the tracks like a seasoned pro showing critics that she doesn't have the limited vocal range of her contemporaries. The bulk of the album is produced by the Jonas Brothers and it largely works in Lovato’s favour. “Get Back” is a sassy rock song with Lovato pleading to get her boyfriend back while the title track, “Don’t Forget,” is a rock ballad of sorts featuring a more vulnerable Lovato lamenting over a break-up. Another stand-out is the radio-friendly duet “On the Line.” Its light orchestral composition blends surprisingly well with the Jonas Brothers’ rock-pop sound and has memorable vocal deliveries from Lovato and Joe Jonas. Still, the Jo Bros led Lovato astray with “La La Land” and “Gonna Get Caught.” Though neither is terrible, the former is a rather predictable anti-Hollywood anthem and the latter is fairly generic. The rest of the tracks are hit-and-miss. “Party” and "Until You're Mine" feel oddly familiar due to their surprising similarity to the sound forged by Hilary Duff on her self-titled sophomore album. The closing ballad “Believe in Me” shows a softer side of Lovato but gives the album an inappropriate fadeout rather than allowing it to end with a bang. Still, the album has its moments of brilliance. “The Middle” is an admirable track given its ability to afford Lovato a more mature and "Two Worlds Collide" has a sweeping rock arrangement with crashing drums paired with strings. The singularly-penned “Trainwreck” features playful lyrics and vocals by Lovato over a hopping rock composition making it easily one of the catchiest songs on the album.

            Don’t Forget is a commendable debut release with its share of faults but are easily forgiven when you remember that Lovato was only 16 when the album hit the shelves. The album should be applauded for the fact that Lovato maintained creative control over its content and she should be further complimented for her remarkable vocal talent. Her powerhouse voice is awe-inspiring and her deliveries are unique. Her chameleon-like ability to morph her vocals to suit a composition is uncommon these days and prove that behind even the most generic of songs she will be someone with tremendous vocal talent.

Recommended Listening: “Get Back,” “Trainwreck,” “On the Line,” “Don’t Forget,” "Two Worlds Collide"

Grade:  B-

Review: Demi Lovato, "Heart Attack"

            As she approaches the release of her fourth studio album, it becomes clear to everyone that we are seeing a brand-new Demi Lovato. With her latest single “Heart Attack,” we’re being introduced to a more confident and powerful singer whose expressiveness is incomparable. In an industry full of disposable pop songs and overly auto-tuned vocals, it’s refreshing to hear a song that is carried so wonderfully by strong vocals. It’s always been obvious that Lovato was the exception to the Disney bunch in terms of talent (let’s face it, she’s got vocal chops that could demolish the likes of Hilary Duff and Selena Gomez with a single belt of a note) so it’s fantastic to see that Lovato’s years of struggling within the industry are paying off. Is it too early to say she’s a superstar?

            Her music video for “Heart Attack” takes a new approach for Lovato. She still maintains her rock edge but this time around she’s choosing to be more artistic. The video is simple and maintains a strict colourless image reflected in the black and white clothing Lovato wears throughout. We see two Demis in the video – the rock goddess draped in black with smoky eyes and confident demeanour and the fresh-faced beauty dressed solely in a white t-shirt. For those who are fans of the pop singer, they will recognize these two images as the two sides of Demi Lovato. Lovato is so admirable because she allows her fans a glimpse of both – the glamour and the reality. While the ink-like substance that punctuates the video feels far too reminiscent of the Dixie Chicks’ video for “Not Ready to Make Nice,” it still serves as a fantastic metaphor for the way in which love (and other things) can infect us and change us as witnessed by the demure white-clad Lovato being smeared by the blackness.

            It’s evident from her new song and video that Demi Lovato is moving in a new direction with her career. It’s exciting to see a young musician taking chances and stepping outside of the box granting her fans and the public an opportunity to see different sides of herself. If “Heart Attack” is any indication of what we can expect to see from her forthcoming album DEMI, I think it’s safe to say we’re in for a real treat.

Grade:  B+

“Heart Attack” is on iTunes now. DEMI will be released on May 14, 2013.

See the full video here: Demi Lovato - Heart Attack (Official Video)