NMT 9/29 - 10/20 Whole lotta good stuff...

ROCK

• Paramore – Brand New Eyes – What I once considered my guilty pleasure, Paramore have followed up their catchy sophomore cd Riot with Brand New Eyes, and have proven themselves to be so much more. I will keep it brief, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love this cd. I’ll narrow it down to 5 stand out tracks to sample (make that 6), but just about every song on the cd is solid. Great music, more mature lyrics, and damn can Hayley Williams sing!
o Brick by Boring Brick
o Turn It Off
o Looking Up
o Where the Lines Overlap
o Misguided Ghosts
o All I Wanted – @ 2:40, are you kidding me?...Crazy

• Cartel – Cycles – There’s something about Cartel that sets them apart from other similar sounding bands, an unidentifiable element that makes them more believable than the run of the mill punk/rock/pop band. Cycles keeps me a believer with the following 3 tracks. If you like these songs at all, I’d highly suggest checking out their older material (Burn This City, Wasted, Georgia, Minstrels Prayer, A)
o Deep South - best one in my opinion
o Typical
o Conventional Friend

R&B/ HIP HOP

• Usher – Papers – Usher, brah, brosef, I think you need to give Mary J Blige a call and learn a thing or 2 about a little thing called “Nooooo more drama, no mo drama, nomodrama, nmdrrrmaaaa (heart attack)” (you get the picture)…Seriously, the same autobiographical singles he keeps releasing are played out, boring, and whiny… At least confessions part II had a good beat to it.

• Justin Bieber – One Less Lonely Girl – I believe I called it with this kid, he’s blowing up! “I saw so many pretty faces, before I saw you…” really Justin? Did you? You’re 6, I doubt it. Another catchy song from “the fetal prince of R&B”. Also, in response to the video, what 12 yr old girl does her laundry at a laundromat? AND if you are lucky enough to make it to the end you get to hear him say “only you shawty” hahaha somewhere in a dancing with the stars green room, Aaron Carter is crying (again)

• Mariah Carey – Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel – What? I guess perfect angels know her outfit on the cd cover is a child’s t-shirt and not a grown woman’s dress…no complaints here. OK so she’s crazy, but at least there’s no butterfly reference for a change. Memoirs is a step back to the old ballad focused days for Mariah Carey. Produced by The Dream, I was expecting a lot more. For me most of the highlights aren’t even songs, they’re reprises, and interludes. If you really want to hear the bat shit crazy lyrics we’ve all come to love, check out Up Out My Face @ 2:50…Someone’s been “bathin’ in windex” a little too long
o The Impossible (the reprise)
o H.A.T.E.U.
o Angel (the prelude)
o Up Out My Face

• Snoop – Gangsta Luv (ft. The Dream) – Nothing ground breaking, but a catchy chorus provided by The Dream

• Joss Stone – Colour Me Free! - I hate to say it cuz I love Joss Stone, but Colour Me Free! (It’s the British spelling nay sayers) doesn’t stand out to me the way her last cd Introducing… did. That being said, Stalemate is an awesome duet, and Could Have Been You has her signature vibe that straddles the temporary and soul throwback sound.
o Stalemate (with Jamie Hartman)
o Could Have Been You

• Esther Dean & Chris Brown – Drop it Low – I HATED this song at first, then about 2 plays later, I LOVE this song. Let’s consider Esther the new latest one hit wonder, but damn if this song comes on when I’ve had a few drinks, you may as well call me Chris Brown and prepare for a dance fight, followed by a real fight. (I need help) 3:20 is the best part!

• Robin Thicke – Sex Therapy – Whoooooooeeeeeeee Yessir, Robin Thick is back with the ultimate slow jam. Produced by the uber talented Polow Da Don (Glamorous, Promise, Buttons, Throw Some D’s, Love in this club, Forever, Turnin Me On, DROP IT LOW, etc, etc…crazy huh?) Sex Therapy is the guy’s version of Promise, so smooth, matched perfectly with Robin Thicke. Hopefully this is a sign for things to come from Mr. Thicke after his less than stellar previous effort.

• Rihanna – Russian Roulette – First single of Rihanna’s upcoming cd titled Rater R, Russian Roulette, written with Neyo is not gonna be for everyone. Dark lyrics, eerie instrumentation, all together moody, this mid-tempo single may not be your favorite Rihanna song, but it does deliver when it comes to creating an atmosphere that (while gloomy and a bit ominous) is all Rihanna’s. If anything, I applaud her for taking a new direction with her new material. Rated R is sure to get people’s attention. Not on itunes quite yet, but soon.

POP/DANCE

• Britney Spears – 3 – Slightly annoying at first, 3 grows on you after a few listens. Although the lyrics are pretty lame, and the vocal arrangement during the verses are flat out bad, the chorus backed by the driving tempo has brought Ms. Spears to the #1 Billboard spot for only the 3rd time in her career. The highlight is when the bridge kicks in at 2:22 and the music technos out a bit, fading into the background only to come surging back. I guarantee girls will be reporting to the dance floor when this one comes on.

• Leighton Meester – Somebody to Love (ft. Robin Thicke) – This song has a really heavy 70’s vibe, but even though Leighton Meester isn’t really singing here, I’m a fan. Never would have thought she and Robin Thicke would collaborate, but oddly enough, it works here.

• Tiesto – Kaleidoscope – When reviews of techno releases say that it’s not techno enough for techno fans, that usually means normal people should be able to enjoy. Why not, you just might like it…
o Century (ft. Calvin Harris) - (excuse the lame lyrics, it’s still techno)
o Escape me (ft. CC Sheffield) – I like the music in this one
o It’s Not the Things You Say (ft. Kele Okereke) – That’s right, it’s Bloc Party’s lead singer Kele adding to this one, great song- he’s awesome.

INDIE

• The Twilight Saga: New Moon – While I wasn’t a huge fan of the first twilight cd, I do think it was a better collection than New Moon. That being said, Satellite Heart is a great song, and I’m a big Lykke Li fan, so the slow Possibility grew on me. I also like All I Believe In, but couldn’t find a full clip anywhere (plus it’s not for sale alone)
o Anya Marina – Satellite Heart
o Lykke Li – Possibility
o The Magic Numbers & Amadou &Mariam – All I Believe In

• Noisettes - When You Were Young (Killers Cover) – I really like this cover, the usually punked out Noisettes soften it down a bit bringing smoother instrumentation like the violins. Also, accompanied by 2 great back up singers, lead singer Shingai Shoniwa changes some of the vocal arrangement (and lyrics) to suit her slightly stylized voice. She kinda reminds me of Janelle Monae.

• Janelle Monae – Come Alive – This chick is CRAZY in the best way imaginable. Seriously, it’s a shame her music doesn’t appeal to the masses cuz she is extremely talented and entertaining, not to mention cute. James Brown WHAT NOW??

• Kris Allen – Live Like We’re Dying – The American Idol winner sings this song written by British group The Script (which makes sense cuz he sounds just like their lead singer anyways) not bad.

• Tal & Acacia – Clearview – Not really into “Christian music”, but I appreciate talent and after hearing this live version I had to post it, great voices and really nice harmonies. (Creepy lyrics though, “when I fly with my daddy high” don’t refer to God as daddy. Ever.)

• Pete Yorn – Bizarre Love Triangle (live cover) – Pete’s cover of the great 80’s song

• Robert Francis – Junebug – This is one of itunes best free songs to date I think. (check it out on itunes) But the REAL highlight is: When looking for the full clip on youtube I stumbled across this rare gem… WHAT?? 3:32 so sad! Yet oddly entertaining. She has others, and I have watched them all officially making me a fan of the Debbie Downer of youtube. Careful, if like me you listen to the whole thing, the song Junebug actually does play EXTREMELY loud at the very end.

COUNTRY

• Luke Bryan – What Country Is – And people say I never include country music on here. Well friends, this song explains what country really is. Some pretty funny lyrics, but I like the banjo in it, makes me feel like I'm in the South.

NMT9/28/09 Kid Cudi, Whitney Houston, Katharine Mcphee and more!

HIP-HOP, HIP-HOP-ANONYMOUS

• Jay Z – The Blueprint III
o Empire State of Mind – What a great collaboration Jay Z and Alicia Keys, 2 of NYC’s finest coming together to celebrate New Jersey, simply beautiful…The music is cool, Keys’s knocks it out of the park on the chorus, “…These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you” especially on her last chorus where she harmonizes, they should have worked together long ago.
o A Star Is Born (ft. J Cole) – Tribute to all the famous rappers over the past couple decades, cool concept, good lyrics, great music. For me, this is the “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” of the album.
o Young Forever (ft. Mr. Hudson) – remake of the 80’s classic

• Kid Cudi – Man On the Moon – Basically could have listed 8+ tracks below as my favorites, but I had to narrow it down to 5 for space sake (get it? Man on the Moon? Space?) ATTENTION HIP HOPPERS, guess what happens when you step outside the box and bring some originality to the plate, you (sometimes) KILL it! I applaud Kid Cudi for numerous reasons: being original, experimenting with different artists and genres, but mainly for making damn good music. MOTM is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise smoky scene, Mr. Solo Dolo is here to stay, bravo! Now buy the cd foo!
o Soundtrack 2 My Life
o Alive (Nightmare) ft. Ratatat
o Hyyerr (ft. Chip Tha Ripper) – nod to fellow Cleveland natives Bone Thugs
o Up Up & Away – My favorite
o Man On the Moon – My other favorite, explains it all

• Tyrese – Mayhem Take Me Away (Logan de Gaulle Remix) – Tyrese takes a break from making some of the best films of all time, ie. 2 Fast 2 Furious, to sing some techno sounding comic book related single. Random, but pretty good.

• Matt & Kim ft. De La Soul – Daylight (Troublemaker Remix) – Not as good as the original, but a good listen nevertheless

• Juvenile – Hands on You (ft. Pleasure P) – You can always count on Juve to come through with the smooth single, Pleasure P just adds to the fun

• Drake – Houstalantavegas – I can’t say enough about this song other than it is my current favorite song out right now. Those of you who know me know I LOVE the Boom, Boom-Kat…Now add some spacey vocals and a ton of paper thin layered synth and I am in heaven. SUUUCH a cool song. Also, check out this version Trav found with a random girl singing over it, sounds awesome too, she did a great job.

• Q-Tip – Do You Dig U? (ft. Gary Thomas & Kirk Rosenwinkel) – Sooo smooth, Q Tip knows how to make a great laid back groove. Do you dig Do You Dig U? I sure do

R&B Time

• Whitney Houston – I Look to You - What happens when you take arguably the greatest singer of her era and feed her buckets of crack? Kiss my ASS! Bobbbaaay! Well that aside, Whitney Houston’s big comeback has finally arrived. There are 3 things I think you should know about her new cd I Look To You: 1) Her vocals have drastically worsened, 2) Her vocal phrasing and interpretation is still strong, 3) With the help of some great producers she’s created a few solid songs. Check them out…
o Million Dollar Bill – Written and produced by Alicia Keys, a throwback to 70’s soul train
o Nothin But Love – Really catchy chorus
o Like I Never Left – Akon lends his talents on this laid back track
o I Didn’t Know my Own Strength – The emotional slow jam

• Leona Lewis – Happy

• Mario – Thinkin’ About You – Another cool song from Mario, makes me excited to go out, it has that chills factor like Chris Brown’s Forever, just a bit slower. Solid back to back singles from Mario, his upcoming cd could be big news.

• Alicia Keys – Doesn’t Mean Anything – Another great song from Alicia Keys. Simple piano melody over a driving drum beat; this song builds and builds into something pretty awesome. I prefer this first single to her last, No One, but due to the repetition here, I can't say it's her very best. (She’s a victim of her own standards when it comes to my critique) Her cd comes out early 2010 and it should be nothing less than spectacular.


IN A GREY’S ANATOMY WORLD

• Matt Pond PA – Five – Great instrumental track, extremely relaxing. Can't find a clip, but sample on itunes!

• Sondre Lerche – Good Luck – Great melody on this mostly mellow track.

• A Fine Frenzy – Bomb in a Birdcage – a.k.a. Alison Sudol, A fine young singer/songwriter with a very airy sound to her songs. Reminiscent of Florence + the Machine. I think Happier is my favorite here
o New Heights
o Blow Away
o Happier
o Swan Song

• Nikki & Rich – Cat & Mouse – Cool 50’s doo-wop sound here, kinda like Duffy or Amy Winehouse, but with a bit more funk.

• Vedera – A World Apart – Think of the Fray with a female frontman. Sounds a little like Sixpence None the Richer, but I like this song.

• Katharine McPhee – Say Goodbye – Amazing vocals on this slow, stripped 2nd single off her upcoming cd Unbroken. I won’t say too much here, you simply should listen for yourself. The link is to her myspace where Say Goodbye is streaming, just click play


“RAVE” REVIEWS

• Tiesto – Excuse the creepy album art!
o Feel It In My Bones (ft. Tegan & Sara) - Tegan and Sara bring their cool harmonies over a dance track this time around
o Kaleidoscope (ft. Jonsi) – may build slow with layers of synth, but at 5:24 it takes off

• Basement Jaxx – Scars – Funky as ever, bringing something new to your music library
o Feelings Gone (ft. Sam Sparro) – awesome video
o My Turn (ft. Lightspeed Champion)
o Stay Close (ft. Lisa Kekaula)


AS CLOSE TO “ROCK” AS WE’RE GONNA GET TODAY

• Death Cab for Cutie – Meet Me On the Equinox – The 1st single off of the New Moon soundtrack, Meet Me is a pretty cool song but isn’t Death Cab’s best. Looks like it should work for the movie though.

• Pearl Jam – The Fixer – Never been a huge Pearl Jam fan, didn’t care for grunge at all, but their brand new single is pretty awesome. Different sound for sure, but great melody and a ton of drive behind the singing. Reminds me of Foo Fighters.

• Tokio Hotel – Automatic – Attention, this band’s lead singer may look like a girl, but I’m told it’s actually a dude. A German dude at that. Actually, Tokio Hotel is extremely famous throughout Europe, and are attempting to bring some of that success into the US. The girly-glam rock look is really creepy, but I do like the song.

August Recap; The Final Chapter

• Katharine McPhee – Had it All- The one and only Katharine McPhee, American Idol's hottest/most talented find ever, ditches the heavy production of her first album and comes off sounding better than ever, showcasing her amazing voice on her brand new single. Written by idol judge Kara Dioguardi, Had it All brings to mind a Sara Bareilles or Gavin DeGraw type sound. Expect big things from her Sophmore cd Unbroken out Oct. 6th. Looking good as a blonde too, can she do any wrong?
o God Bless the Child - For those of you new to McPhee, here is her American Idol audition
o Me - Lastly, an amazing live cover. If this doesn't win you over, not sure what will.

• Imogen Heap – Ellipse - The incredibly talented Imogen Heap brings us some more ground breaking electronic material.
o Tidal
o Between Sheets
o Wait it Out


• Colbie Calliat – Breakthrough
o I Won’t
o Droplets (ft. Jason Reeves)
o I Never Told You
o Out of my Mind

• Ingrid Michaelson - Everybody - Really talented singer/songwriter, best showcased when backed by instrumentation which she is on Everybody (rather than her last cd which was predominantly just ukulele and piano)
o Soldier
o Are we There Yet?
o Sort of
o Mountain and the Sea - my favorite one, and the only one I can't find a full length clip of
o So Long

August Recap Chapter IV: Hip Hop + R&B

• Really Doe - First Impressions - Like early Kanye, but less obnoxious
o Mesmerized
o They Say
o Sew It Up

• Mullage – Trick’n - Saw this on 106 & Park and really liked it

• Iyaz – Replay NOT Sean Kingston

• Mary J Blige – Stronger - Wasn't a big fan until I heard this amateur acoustic cover. Still like the cover better, but the recorded version is good too. *Written by Keri Hilson.

• Jason DeRulo – Watcha Say - Cool idea to put Imogen Heap into hip hop, but could have been done better, her clip in the chorus is the best part.

• Cassie – Let’s Get Crazy (ft. Akon) - I'm a big fan of her other new material, this one not as much

• Flo-Rida ft. Nelly Furtado – Jump (Malinchak club mix radio edit)
- Didn't like the original, but really like this remix. Can't find a full length clip so this will have to do.

• Basement Jaxx – Raindrops - This song is awesome

• Trey Songz - Ready - Should have been called Sunday Night Slow Jamz
o Neighbors Know my Name
o Say Ahh (ft. Fabolous)
o LOL :) (ft. Gucci Mane & Soulja Boy) - Worst lyrics ever, but good music
o Be Where You Are
o Love Lost

August Recap Continued

• Mindy Smith - Stupid Love - Reminds me of a modern day Fleetwood Mac
o Love Lost
o What Can Love Do

• MuteMath - Armistice
o Spotlight - on the Twilight soundtrack
o Electrify - caution: plays loud

• Sean Paul - Imperial Blaze - Hahaha Sean, we get it, you smoke weeeed
o Press It Up
o Hold My Hand (ft. Keri Hilson)
o Pepperpot

• Mew - No More Stories are Told Today...
o Hawaii - soo cool, feels like Hawaii
o Vaccine


• Kate Earl - Kate Earl
o Melody
o When You’re Ready - look to the right side of the page for the play button
o Jump

• Damien Rice - Coconut Skins (live At Fingerprints) - not the exact live version, but close enough

• Jay Reatard – It Ain’t Gonna Save Me - haha name fail, fun song tho

• As Tall As Lions
o Go Easy
o Duermete - Trumpets in this song are haunting

August Recap #2

• Anjulie - Anjulie - This Canadian of Guyanese descent debuts her unique sound with help from Starbucks all across America. Think of Anjulie as a more laid back Nelly Furtado with a touch of bossa nova, making her by no means boring.
o Boom
o $ Fatal Attraction
o Addicted2Me

• Cobra Starship - Hot Mess
o Good Girls Go Bad
o Fold Your Hands Child
o Living in the Sky with Diamonds
o Wet Hot American Summer

• Jessie James – Jessie James - While I'm not really big fan of this girly-country-pop debut cd, Jessie James has a couple things going for her: 1) She's really hot, 2) Her voice sounds a hell of a lot like Christina Aguilera (maybe with some of Jessica Simpson's phrasing on the lower notes). Either way, she's got a winning combination.
o Burnin Bridges

• David Nail – I’m About to Come Alive
o Red light
o This Time Around

• Gary Go
o Wonderful
o Open Arms
o Engines
o Speak
o Just Dance - Lady Gaga cover

Sorry for the itunes links. I really tried to find full length clips for all of them.

NMT August Recap

After falling THIS far behind, I’m gonna switch up the style until we are caught up. That means a new 15 songs each day for the rest of the week, with very little (or no) description. Each song listed is a top pick of mine for the month of August. Hopefully work is slow enough that you can check all 15 out each day and maybe find something you like!

ATTENTION..."$" = a must listen track. Rasta...

• $ David Guetta ft. Akon – Sexy Bitch

• $ Amanda Blank – A Love Song

• $ Jarabe De Palo – Corazon ( + ‘Mendrugo’) – Courtesy of Lil’ Smoke

• Matt Hires – You Are the One

• Michelle Branch – Sooner or Later

• Panic @ the Disco! – New Perspective

• Kleerup – Until We Bleed (ft. Lykke Li)

• Memory Cassette – Ghost in the Boombox

• David Gray – Fugitive

• Rebelution – Moonlight

• Trevor Hall – Trevor Hall - Suuuch a hippie, but he makes good songs
o $ The Lime Tree
o Internal Heights
o Volume
o Where’s the Love
o $ Unity (ft. Matisyahu) - Skip to 1:30 for the song

NMT 7/21/08 She wolves AND tranny's? What more could you ask for?

As always, this post is late and I'm a few weeks behind, but hopefully I'll be caught up by next week!

• Twista – Category F5 – Not entirely sure what Twista is referring to with “Category F5” maybe he’s talking about how big his gut has become. He’s at a Fat level of 5 (out of 5). At any rate, these 2 songs are cool. Wetter has been reviewed on here a while back, a classic Twista slow jam. On Top featuring Akon relies on an awesome sample from a Finnish techno song called “Sound of Arena”. The sample which is looped in the background makes the entire song. Very cool.
o Wetter
o On Top

• Owl City – In earlier years I probably would have given Owl City a better review, but my taste for electro-emo-indie-pop has become much more refined with age. Basically the singer comes off as a wannabe Ben Gibbard; lead singer of Postal Service (and Deathcab for Cutie). The electro backing tracks along with pitch perfect Gibbard-like phrasing makes the similarity a little too much for me. Not to mention the music is a little too poppy and bubbly. These 2 songs were the best in my opinion. All in all, if The Postal Service was a good iced tea, Owl City is a watered down version with a little too much sweet-n-low; not enough to give you cancer, but enough to make you feel a little sick.
o Cave In – Off their new album
o The Saltwater Room – little more laid back

• Shakira - She Wolf – What is there to say about She Wolf? I’ve made sure most of you heard it within 20 minutes of hearing it myself. Is it the worst lyric of 2009? Or is it pure genius? I’m going to half to say both. Taking an entirely new direction on her newest album (TBR in October) Shakira wanted a “bigger bottomed” sound - I swear she said that in an interview. What her Spanish to English translation was trying to say was that she wanted an album that was much more bass heavy, along with a more electronica-influenced sound. She definitely brings this sound out on She Wolf; the guitar loop that comes in periodically, almost a throw back to 70’s pop, is so incredibly cool you completely forget she’s just howled in all seriousness. Looking damn good in the video, but the dance moves are suspect, might want to stick to shaking your hips Shakira. P.S. Is that a she wolf in your closet? Or are you just happy to see me? Der…

• The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition – off the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack, this song has almost a U2 feel to it with its big guitar layering and the way it builds and builds. Never heard of them, but this song really is a cool find. I bet you’ll like it.

• One Republic & Sara Bareilles – Come Home – To be brief, a good song gets even better with the addition of one of my favorite singers Sara Bareilles. The ending where Ryan Teddar and Bareilles start harmonizing and echoing each other is collaborating at its best.

• Imogen Heap – Imogen Heap is about to release her cd entitled Ellipse, here is her first single First Train Home. If you don’t know who she is, (best known for her song Let Go, from the movie Garden State) let me tell you she is RIDICULOUSY talented. Just in case you don’t believe me, I’ve included a video of her performing one of her older songs live, just sit back and be impressed by this very underrated artist.
o First Train Home
o Just for Now live

• Jordin Sparks – Battlefield – Her Sophmore cd is pretty solid, and has a few good songs. Unfortunately, first weeks sales are much lower than expected from this American Idol winner. Not sure why, she can sing and the production is there this time around.
o Walking on Snow
o It takes more
o Watch You Go
o Battlefield

• Mr Hudson & Kanye West – Supernova – Kanye’s latest find, Mr Hudson (who can be heard on Kanye’s own song Paranoid) releases his 1st single. As Paul Rudd in Forgetting Sara Marshall would say, “you sound like you’re from London!” …why yes he is! And he sounds a little like Chris Martin of Coldplay. Too bad the dude looks like the albino love child of Chris Martin and Silas from The DaVinci Code. Good luck marketing that guy Kanye…cool song though.

• Brooke Hogan – The Redemption – Hands down the worst album artwork I’ve seen in years. Please check out what this blog compares it to: here. Haha, I’m not sure that it isn’t worse than the Brailettes. You decide. Although Brooke struggles as a serious singer, she always has a song or 2 on her cds that have cool backing music. These are the 2 from Redemption:
o Handcuffed
o BeDDable

• Bill Frisell – Little Girl – Great jazz song; more folky than truly jazzy in my opinion, but this song gives me chills. Sorry, but I couldn’t find a video clip for you so the link will open up the itunes page. Trust me, it is so good and relaxing.

• Blue Roses – I Am Leaving – Weird duo make a really extraordinary song. Mostly just an acoustic guitar, with a little synth keyboard and some really beautiful harmonies. Give it a chance, just hear out the harmonies.

NMT 7/7/09 Maxwell, Discovery, Florence + The Machine & More!!

•Maxwell – BLACKsummers’night – “ In the beginning I always wanted to make things perfect, perfection is a process, and that process is a few mistakes along the way that end up in hindsight becoming perfection…In this album I don’t need everything to be completely in pitch or in whatever, if the emotion is right, then its right…”

I can’t remember the last time I was this excited for an R&B cd. Not since Robin Thicke’s The Evolution of Robin Thicke have I been so impressed by a collection of songs that make up one complete-sounding package. BLACKsummers’night is the 1st of 3 cd’s all sharing the same name but emphasizing a different word and atmosphere (Have you guessed what this one is? BLACK). Yes Maxwell is back, and he knocks it out of the park on BLACKsummers’night. If you do purchase the cd, there is a deluxe version which contains a video where Maxwell breaks down select songs and describes the inspiration and purpose which makes you appreciate them that much more. Self described as a darker, moodier album, BLACK loses a lot of the studio velvet-smooth perfection of his past works, leaving a much grittier, raw sound. Throughout Maxwell is accompanied by a live band with so much talent, the instrumentation almost gives Maxwell’s voice a run for its money. Before I break down each track, let me voice my only complaint: Why only 9 tracks? Now THIS is some real music…
o Bad Habits (uncut) – The album’s opener starts off with the following lyrics sung in falsetto “Lady, make me crazy, don’t speak no sound, I want you to prove it to me in the nude…” Picking up right where he left off…As the song builds, repeating Trumpets on the chorus bring to mind Dave Matthew’s Band’s classic #41.
o Cold – There is a sound in Cold which you can’t quite identify, but you are drawn to it, gravitating towards the subtle repetition like a record off its track. As Maxwell explains in the bonus footage, the entire song was built behind the sound of his windshield wipers on a rainy day. Talk about organic, they literally dropped a mic out the window of the studio, ran it into the car in the rain as the wipers were running, and built the song around that sound (even featuring the sound alone for part of the song). Pure genius!
o Pretty Wings – I’ve already covered this one in a past posting. If you don’t own it, then there is something wrong with you for real. This song is as perfect as it gets.
o Help Somebody – One of the least popular on the cd according to itunes’ bar chart, probably my favorite song behind Pretty Wings. I’ve heard other artists attempt to pull this style off (an up-tempo yet darker sounding, driving song– Alicia Keys’Karma, John Mayer’s Belief) and 9 out of 10 times they fail… Not this one. Help Somebody begins with a haunting, almost floating piano sound which is soon accompanied by driving electric guitars and horns, propelling the sound into something much bigger than I ever imagined possible for a primarily ballad singer such as Maxwell. Good message too.
o Stop the World – Great slow jam, Marvin Gaye and Al Green would be proud of this baby maker.
o Love You – I think this could be a great choice for a 2nd single. The up-tempo drums matched with a lot of organ give a strong 70’s vibe.
o Playing Possum – One of the slowest songs on the album, this song is very sentimental. Much more stripped down than the rest. Playing Possum is primarily Maxwell singing over an acoustic guitar, with echoing bongo’s and the occasional symbol smash. Great slow jam.
o Phoenix Rise – Suuuuch a cool song. This purely instrumental closing track has a very 70’s dance-groove vibe to it. I hope it’s a tease of what we can look forward to on SUMMERS’. Even though there are no words on Phoenix Rise, the music speaks volumes, get up and get your groove on; an amazing way to end an incredible cd, the perfect antidote to radio’s Soulja Boy noise.

AND THE REST...


• All Time Low – Break your little heart – Teen angst punk band…Dunno, I like it.

• Meese – Broadcast – Sophmore album from a band I’ve never heard of, but I think that’s probably gonna change. They remind me of The Silversun Pickups a little bit, Broadcast has more than a few noteworthy songs, including itunes free download of the week “Next in Line”
o Next in Line
o Say You’re Ok
o The Quiet Side

• Justin Bieber - One Time - With seemingly all of my friends in law school nowadays, I figured I’d help them prepare for the bar with some good old word association to describe this brand new treasure…

JMac is to Justin Timberlake as Justin Bieber is to JMac

Yes, you’ve associated correctly, an even younger, poppier version of JMac? It can’t be so! Well it is my friends… Just after his youtube video received over a million hits, Bieber was flown down to the ATL to sing for Usher. After a minor bidding war between Timberlake and Usher, Bieber releases his 1st single One Time, and it may be the funniest music video of all time. This 15 yr old looks like he’s 10, and knows how to throw one hell of a party at Usher’s house, bring your green hat and some red cups full of grenadine, cuz shit gon’ get crazay!!

• Lupe Fiasco - Shining Down – Back with Matthew Santos (singer on Superstar) Lupe debuts a new single. Not my favorite from Lupe, actually don’t care for it much. But as always, better than the majority of what hip-hop currently has to offer.

• Tommy Guerero - No Time for Time – “Tommy Guerero is fucking sick” – random youtube comment. Judging by this song, I’d have to agree…

• Mos Def – Quiet Dog – By Erin’s request, I give you Mos Def’s new single Quiet Dog. This is a cool song that bounces along on all kinds of drums, giving it kindof a cave-like sound. It will make you want to bounce right along, just make sure you’re wearing your helmet Erin, safety first!

• Paramore – Ignorance – Warner Music has taken down every last version of this song in studio quality on the internet, so frustrating. Just go to itunes to hear it...Paramore release their 1st single off their highly anticipated 3rd album Brand New Eyes. To be released in September after they finish the No Doubt Tour. What is really interesting to me is how No Doubt sounding this single is. The way Hayley wrote this song brings to mind early some of Gwen Stefani’s Tragic Kingdome work. You can also hear a similarity to their blow up single Misery Business. Ignorance isn’t their best work, but it is high energy and showcases Hayley’s crazy vocal ability. Can’t wait for the concert…

• Discovery – LP – What do you get when you take one part Vampire Weekend keyboardist and one part Ra Ra Riot vocalist? A great side project titled Discovery.Their latest LP aptly titled LP is a great twist on electro pop, with influences from both bands’ sounds in the mix. These songs all have something new to bring to your music collection, whether it be the unique tempo change of So Insane or the bubbly, airy cover of the Jackson 5’s classic I Want You Back, this LP is one great Discovery.
o So Insane
o Orange Shirt
o Osaka Loop Line
o I Want You Back

• Florence + The Machine – Lungs - I somehow missed this review in my last posting, but better late than never. While team G.B. may have next to nothing to offer in the Olympics (aside from good old Tom Daley of course), they more than make up for it in the music world. Florence + The Machine is Britain’s latest gold medal contender. Described as soul inspired indie, Florence + the Machine create a sound that is entirely theirs. Florence’s voice is very soulful, breaking at just the right times, keeping you very engaged throughout; and the music of the Machine backing her has a complex layered sound which elevates their material over comparable artists. Florence definitely gives nods to singers such as Kate Bush and Tori Amos in her musical delivery and direction, but unlike the other 2, Florence + The Machine manage to walk the fine line between artistic and just plain strange. If nothing else, Cosmic Love is nothing short of brilliant now LISTEN!
o Cosmic Love
o Rabbit Heart
o Drumming Song
o Blinding

• M83 – Saturdays = Youth – Who misses the 80’s new wave? That’s right we all do. M83 is bringing new wave back in all its glory. With music videos like that of Kim & Jessie M83 is truly a force to be reckoned with, so strap up your roller skates and hold on…
o Kim & Jessie
o We Own the Sky – Very cool video, and at 2:50, the music elevates into greatness
o Too Late

Music Videos

o Britney Spears - Radar – Disappointed in the video, and single choice; great song when it first came out on her 2nd to last cd, but why now make it a video? And a boring one at that.

o Beyonce - Sweet Dreams – Even Beyonce’s takin us back to the 80’s with her latest video. Definitely out there, kinda reminds me of a Stevie Nicks video… This song is growing on me. I like the part at 1:30 when she sings “my guilty pleasure I ain’t goin nowhere”… Oh and Bridgitte Nielson Beyonce at the end of the video scares the hell out of me…

NMT 7/05/09 Let the Summer Jams Begin! (Re- Post)

RE-POSTING after the 1st post mysteriously disappeared...

First off happy 4th of July, one of my top 3 holidays because lets face it, the US of A is the best country in the world!!!

Aaaaand we’re back, just like Michael Jackson’s sales…

Oh, did you hear Michael Jackson died? I know, isn’t this blog news breaking? What they didn’t show you was his last known footage…But no worries, I have it HERE

Shut up, kick back, take a ride in you’re new corvette… - My favorite saying age 5 AKA Indie Beach Tunes

• Jonas Brothers – only thing worth noting about the Jonas Brothers new cd is the fact that Common loses some serious street cred for his collaboration on Don’t Charge me for the Crime. Oh consider yourself charged for this one Common…

• Third Eye Blind – Don’t Believe a Word – Latest single from one of the greatest bands to come out of the 90’s, San Francisco’s own Third Eye Blind! Who knew they were still together? And it gets even better as we can expect a brand new album Ursa Major out this August – Lead singer Stephan Jenkins (valedictorian of the University of Berkeley class of 87’) can continue to give hope to kids with minor speech impediments everywhere…

• Pete Yorn – This guy seems pretty weird, but he can make some good songs. The live version of Paradise Cove below sounds just as good as the recorded version, maybe even better. Very relaxing, not emo sad relaxing though, uplifting relaxing; great songs to go with a glass of Fog Nog down at the beach.
o Paradise Cove
o Shotgun

• Matt Costa – Vienna – Don’t know much about this guy, other than he’s from Huntington Beach CA, but I really enjoy this song Vienna. Laid back sound.

• Colbie Calliat – Fallin For You - Another Southern California native, Calliat returns from riding the crazy wave of her debut album’s success to bring some more classic Colbie. Another effortless sounding song that is just in time for summer, Fallin For You doesn’t have the same spark that Bubbly did, but it will please fans nevertheless.

• Regina Spektor – Far - 3 words to describe Russian American Regina Spektor’s music: 1) Quirky, 2) Poetic, 3) Original. You may not like her oddball style, but don’t let her originality and talent fall on deaf ears. I have trouble getting into a lot of her songs because of how unpredictable the melodies can be, brilliant for moments, but then odd at times, but that’s part of what makes her stand out.
o Eet
o Laughing With
o Folding Chair

• Greg Laswell – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Ok, this is my Debbie downer of this weeks post. Get your knives out people. A very slow and forlorn version of an otherwise fun and upbeat song, it’s no surprise this song comes to us off the “My Sister’s Keeper” soundtrack. Unfortunately it is an album only purchase, so if you feel so inclined, put your eye-patch on and take to the online seas.


The Ladies of Rhythm and Blues

• Laura Izibor – Let the Truth Be Told - Not your average Irish girl, this Irish/Nigerian singer comes with a strong soulful sound, similar to Joss Stone. After listening through her U.S. debut album, there may only be a couple of highlights, however, she is undeniably talented. Might want to remember her name, I have a feeling we’ll be hearing more from her in the future.
o What Would You Do? – a very inspirational, building melody. Couldn’t find a studio version for you, but I’d highly recommend checking out the 30 second sample on itunes to get the full picture.
o From My Heart to Yours – 1st single, more potential to appeal to the masses (though I prefer What Would you Do), this light summery track will get stuck in your head after a few listens

• Beyonce – Ego – While it isn’t new, it is Beyonce’s newest single, and damn does it destroy her latest efforts. THIS is what I look forward to from Beyonce (a single which won’t force you to take 2 aspirin after the 2nd listen- Single Ladies can even agree there). Kanye version optional if you want, but I think we’ve all heard just about enough of that little bastard lately!

• Amerie – Why R U? - Ladies and Gentlemen I give you one of R&B’s most underrated artists: Amerie. This African American/Korean singer truly has it all in my opinion: extremely attractive, great identifiable voice, good songs, and she double majored at Georgetown. While she may be best known for her hit 1 Thing, Her latest single Why R U has garnered very high critical success; will it blow her up into mainstream success? Sadly I don’t think so, but it’s classic Amerie style combining gritty-ness of hip-hop with a refined, classy R&B sound.

• Mariah Carey – Obsessed – Kat, this one’s for you! Although Mariah’s brand new single is so new it isn’t even up for sale yet, Kat commented on the last post and opened my ears to one hell of a song. “Will the real MC please step to the mic…” This Eminem diss of a single has the potential to be Carey’s 19th, count that 19TH #1 single in the US! (just to put into perspective Elvis at #3 had 17 and The Beatles at #1 had 20) Produced by The Dream, Carey’s never had so much swagger and she better be able to pull it off with lyrics like “He’s all up in my George Foreman” good news, she does. Thanks Kat, great song!

p.s. spell check wanted “much swagger” to be “many swaggers” Nerd alert spell check…

Get your glowsticks out and start poppin those Claritin pills…

• Sick Music – Does anyone remember the song Freestyler by FreakTex? I bet you might if you heard it…Why am I bringing this up you ask? Well Sick Music, a collection of dance tracks coming by way of the UK, immediately brings to mind that same British dance vibe, a vibe which once had white 7th graders trying to break-dance in their kitchen (or at least my friend Kyle and me). Starting with my favorite, MRSA’s Different, the following tracks are not your everyday sounds, rare gems, snippets of which can be found today in the best car commercials.
o MRSA - Different
o The Burbs - Organic
o London Electricity - Just One Second (Apex Remix)

• Mobin Master – Show Me Love (Safari Remix) – The credit goes to Nate on this one. I had another Show Me Love remix up for review, which just came out, but after listening to it through, I realized this version Nate sent me a while back is better, so I figured I’d post it.

Pushing the Envelope into my iPod

• Bloc Party – One More Chance – Yes friends, Bloc Party has released another new song!! Further strengthening their grip on my ipod. One More Chance takes Bloc Party even further into uncharted territory. Sampling early 90’s Chicago trance with the repeating piano clip, this song makes you want to get up and dance while maintaining a dark undertone, classic Bloc Party.

• Mew – Introducing Palace Players – You have to respect artists that push the boundaries of music, and Mew is one of those artists. Introducing Palace Players will take you to the edge, and probably push you over, but you’ll like it! Odd intro that may have you questioning your sobriety, but stick with it as it blossoms into sweet sweet sonic inebriation.

• Nelly Furtado – Manos Al Aire – I’m starting to see just how impressive Nelly Furtado really is. While other artists may change their image from album to album, picking up random accents along the way (cough, MADONNA, cough) Furtado truly is a chameleon. From folk, to urban pop, to Portuguese crooning, to Spanish, to God knows what, Nelly can do it all and do it well. Loose was hands down top 5 albums of 2006, but instead of sticking with what worked so well, she’s once again mixing it up with her latest single en espanol. ¡Escuche, usted disfrutará de!

NMT 5/26 - 6/09

“Good morning good morning everybody in the news this morning, good morning” – Anne “Crack-Smoker” Curry

…and welcome back to NMT. I’m not going to apologize any more for the missing updates for a number of reasons: 1) the delay just makes the new posts THAT much more exciting and 2) nobody really cares

UPWARD AND ONWARD!

I am bringing this week’s edition to you from a coffee shop down the street from the new apartment in San Francisco or as my Dad calls it, “The Godless hole” (which is probably a hipster bar around here somewhere)

But enough about me, lets hear more about what I think…

Instead of breaking the past few weeks music down by release date, I think it’s best to divide and conquer by genre, that way you can get in where you fit in without the hassle of reaching for the remote control under your regular blanket…Wait a minute, I just got sidetracked trying to sell you a Snuggie (they’re so convenient! You can even take them to the big ball game if you want your child to have no friends!) Sorry focusing…SHAMWOW! Damn it! FOCUS!


R & B Junkies

• Elektric Red – Look what we have here, another female R&B group. What sets these girls apart from the rest? An edge sharp enough to make you bleed AND give you herpes. (a rare combo) Not to mention a debut album produced almost entirely by hitmaker The Dream (if you’ve been following you know his impressive resume) E.R. comes to the scene at a time when girl groups have for the most part fizzled out, and the ones that remain typically take the safe radio friendly route. These girls, not so much…Just take a look at their debut single titled W.F.Y. (We BEEP You) I’m not gonna argue here, these bitches put the crazy in crazy bitches. The good news- these girls are all hot, and have tons of swagger largely due to the skilled production on most of their tracks, the bad news? Vocally they don’t hold a lite-brite to past groups like En Vogue. After waiting a while to hear this debut I will say I’m glad to have them on the scene (mainly due to Dream’s writing skills) Current single “So Good” will get stuck in your head having you cussing “Ooh $#it Damn” for no real reason. But it’s shocking right?
o So Good
o Bed Rest
o W.F.Y.
o Go Shawty

• Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D. – As many of you know, I am by no means a fan of the BEP. Not only are their songs usually repetitive and annoying, their lyrics are among the worst out there (my humps?) THAT being said, their new album The E.N.D. (standing for The Energy Never Dies – as Ashely would say, can someone get some ketchup? Cuz that is corndog) is a surprise success…At least the first half. Opening off with the once great Boom Boom Pow (believe it or not, the Peas 1st single to reach #1) The E.N.D. pumps out another trance like dance track in Rock that Body, followed by a slu of 80’s inspired pop (heavy 80’s on Meet me Half Way). Aside from “Imma Be” which fails harder than an obese kid trying to put together the shrine of the silver monkey (Legends of the Hidden Temple reference for those of you who had a miserable childhood); the first 7 songs are really a great change of pace for the peas. While this album strays far from their rap roots, instead relying largely on Fergie’s mainstream success to carry some really throwback sounding songs, she pulls them off for the most part. The latter half of the album (with the exception of 2 highlights “Showdown” and “One Tribe”) gets too 3000 and 8, trying to be too futuristic, too funky, just plain trying too hard.
o Rock That Body
o Meet Me Halfway
o I Gotta Feeling
o Missing You
o Showdown
o One Tribe

• Pleasure P – The Introduction of Marcus Cooper – It was truly a sad day when the news was announced that the freaky slow-grinding powerhouse R&B group known as Pretty Ricky had split. But while we have all shed our tears for Pretty Ricky (future music hall-of-famers no doubt) Ricky has survived, although his name isn’t Ricky, it’s Pleasure P, well actually his name isn’t Pleasure P either, it is in fact Marcus Cooper. Confused? Who the hell was pretty ricky? Don’t worry, just check out these new songs off Pleasure Cooper P’s solo effort, you should recognize Boyfriend # 2 fresh off some heavy radio rotation. Not quite as classic, but a tad classier…
o Boyfriend #2 - Just one qualm here… “Step right out the shower into the Jacuzzi” Why would one do such a thing? Doesn’t Mr. P know we’re in a water crisis?
o I’m A Beast (ft. Young Joc)
o Let Me

• Rhea - Choreographer – Really undecided how I feel about this one, part of me really likes it, and part of me thinks it is a total miss. What do you think?

• Le Toya – She Ain’t Got – Ex Destiny’s Child member Le Toya Luckett’s latest F YOU BEYONCE single. Hah well probably not, but I like to imagine every song she makes is somewhat directed at the girl who kicked her out of a group that sold millions…

• Nina Sky - On Some Bullshit – I’m a big fan of this Duo. Waiting for their sophomore effort to be released, and after the extremely underrated single Curtain Call, On Some Bullshit is a good uptempo second offer. Check it ouuuuttttt


REEEEMIXIN the NIGHT AWAY

• Katy Perry – I’m not a huge fan of Katy Perry; She just simply isn’t attractive enough to pull off having a terrible live performance. BUT her latest single Waking up in Vegas caught me by surprise. Great chorus to a really catchy song, and what’s even better? A release of more than a few remixes all of which may be even better than the original…
o Waking Up In Vegas (The Original)
o Calvin Harris Extended Remix
o Jason Nevins Electrotec Club Remix
o Manhattan Clique Bellagio Remix

• Flo-Rida ft. Wynter
o Sugar Disco Fries Underground Club Remix
o Sugar Mondotek Remix Edit


REEEELAXIN the NIGHT AWAY

• Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King – Such a big fan of DMB, and after hearing about the Death of LeRoi Moore (Sax player) I was really worried about what was going to happen to the group. People either love or hate DMB and I think I figured out the reason: you hate them until you listen to them and then you love them. It is like my hatred of livestrong bracelets, why? Not really sure, but I just do. Get over it. What was I talking about again? Oh yeah…GrooGrux King, dedicated to late bandmate Moore, drops some of the more production heavy sounds which their previous album Stand Up experimented with, in favor of their more traditional almost folk sound. Unlike a pop group or artist, this music is truly difficult to grasp off of a 30 second clip due to the complexity of the music and instrumentation, but give the following tracks a chance. And as for you DMB fans, while Big Whiskey is no Under the Table and Dreaming or Crash, it is another great chapter in the bands long career, and reason for yet another amazing tour!
o Funny the Way it is
o Lying in the Hands of God
o Dive in
o Seven
o You & Me

• Sophie Milman – I Can’t Make You Love Me – Jazz vocalist Sophie Milan covers one of the best songs of all time, a Bonnie Rait classic. While no one does it quite like Bonnie (except for Ashley of course) Sophie Milman gives a really smooth version here, trading some of Rait’s bluesy sound for a bit more of a Jazz vibe.

• David Nail – Red Light – Itunes free song of the week comes through this time around, and get this… IT’S COUNTRY! And you say I never put Country in here…


EURO & HIPSTER INVASION

• The Sounds – Similar sound to CSS, they have a very ipod commercial feel to them.
o No One Sleeps When I’m Awake
o 4 Songs & a Fight
o Dorchester Hotel

• Yelle – French Group with a really cool electronic sound, no idea what they’re saying but I like the music.
o Who’s That Girl ( Qui est cette fille?)
o Ce Jeu
o Tu Es Beau - never lived in the 70s but i imagine sundays back then to feel like this...internet whaaaat?

• Little Boots – The latest Euro import who is supposed to be the next coolest thing, for some reason I haven’t quite jumped on the bandwagon yet. Boots might be just a bit too Euro for success in the States, but the following songs has grown on me…
o Stuck on Repeat


DARNED KIDS & THEIR ROCK ‘N ROLL MUUUZAC

• Dance Gavin Dance – Happiness – While I rarely enjoy bands who combine singing with screaming (sorry Tanner), there is something behind DGD’s music that catches the proverbial ear (sorry Tanner). Their genre jumping sound is truly unique blending a harder edge (for the rest of us Tanner) with what at times sounds like a 311 type guitar arrangement and melody.
o Happiness
o NASA
o Strawberry Swisher, Pt. 2

• Dredg – The Parriah, The Parrot, the Delusion – Aside from an album title that is so lame it is actually, well still extremely lame (I bet they eat basil too click here to find out more on this matter! trust me you want to see this), Dredg has a sound I can’t really place which may be what I like about them. Not that they bring anything incredibly new to the table, but for whatever reason they stuck out to me. At least the following 3 songs did…
o Information
o Saviour
o Mouring This Morning


AND NOW FOR A SEGMENT I”D LIKE TO CALL…WTF!!!!

• Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band – The Sun is Down (Cornelius Mix) – hahaha whaaaaat? 1st you break up The Beatles and now this?

NMT 5/5 -5/19 Long post but worth the read!

Sorry for the delay, but I am back with 3 weeks worth of music in 1 post. It may appear long, but I assure you it is worth it (some really cool stuff on this post) Before we begin, which do you prefer, the links opening up to youtube or the links which open up the itunes page of the respective song? I have a little of both in this one, but i'd appreciate some feedback as to what you would rather have moving forward. Thanks and enjoy!

5/5/08

Well, if the theme of the previous week was how big the men of R&B stepped up, this one should be how the women fell short. With the album releases of both Chrisette Michelle (modern throw back voice and style) and Ciara (Lil Jon dubbed “Princess of Crunk ‘n B”) I had high hopes for this week, unfortunately I was let down, we all were…

• Chrisette Michelle – Epiphany – Michelle’s throw back sound to Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, etc…was refreshing and welcoming on her debut album, but the second time around, she takes a more modern approach which clashes with her unique voice. The result? If anything Michelle comes across as slightly annoying on most of the tracks (not what she was aiming for I’m sure). I understand the move to more contemporary sounding music (low ablum sales the first time around/not being pigeon-holed into a specific type of sound) but Epiphany is a step backwards in my opinion. This multiple Grammy winner is talented enough to get a listen, so here are the 2 songs worth checking out…
o All I Ever Think About
o Playin Our Song

• Ciara – Fantasy Ride – The past couple of years must have been hard for Ciara, watching Rihanna sky-rocket to the top of the charts not once, twice, but multiple times, leaving Ciara clutching to those good old Goodies days. Can’t we all just 1,2 step again? Well, it is time for Ciara to reclaim the title of the R&B/pop charts with her follow up to The Evolution (a weak sophomore effort with too much ambition and not enough hits). What is her game plan? A 3 part concept album titled Fantasy Ride made up of: 1) Crunk ‘n B, 2) Dance tracks, and 3) Slow Jams (i.e. Promise). Well, the 3 part thing got scrapped and after many delays Fantasy Ride was finally released with one set of songs comprised of all 3 styles. Once again, conceptually doing too much, and failing to execute on the most important piece: MAKE GOOD SONGS! The first single is a perfect example of what happens when nobody tells Justin Timberlake "no". Love Sex Magic? Sounds like a bad Vegas show, and turns out to be an even worse song. The most frustrating part lies in the fact that unlike Rihanna, Ciara happens to be one of the best dancers in the business, capable of taking a great song and turning it into an even better visual performance (vocals not so much). Fantasy Ride fails on almost all levels, with the exception of one portion…Her slow jams. The slow creeping, grimy, running tracks backed by some deep boom, boom-kats are where she shines here. Sadly there are only a few…Highlights:
o Like a Surgeon
o Tell Me What Your Name Is

• Elliot Yamin – Can’t Keep On Lovin You – American Idol alum Elliot Yamin released his sophomore album this week and let me tell you he’s no Mcphee. Haha, seriously though he has a great voice, but this track is the only real stand out for me. Most of the cd sounds the same.

• Ra Ra Riot – A really good mellow band releases some remixes pulling back on the violins and instruments, and adding some synth and electronic influences; all in all, these should catch your attention in a good way. These links will bring up the itunes store only open if you have itunes!
o Run My Mouth (RAC Mix)
o Ghosts Under Rocks (Passion Pit Mix)


5/12/08


• Parachute – Losing Sleep – Not gonna go into a ton of detail on these guys, but I believe this is their debut album, and it is definitely a solid one. Here are a few of my favorites from the 30 second samples, but all in all this cd sounds good from front to back. A quazi Fray sound, catchy piano/guitar driven with vocal hints of Fall out Boy/Panic @ the Disco (at times) (maybe) (just listen).
o She is Love*
o Under Control
o She (for Liz)

• Cam’Ron – Crime Pays – What can I say this guy didn’t turn in the dude who stole his car cuz he’s not a snitch. Who hasn’t been there? New cd out, these songs are good...why? great music and sampling, you'll see...(tell anybody otherwise and you’re a snitch, nobody likes a snitch)
o Never Ever
o Silky (no homo)
o Spend the Night

• Jordin Sparks - Battlefield – Written and produced by Ryan Tedder (One Repulic) – doesn’t this guy have anything better to do than write songs for EVERY American Idol? I guess this song is catchy? I’m not a huge fan, but it’s a solid effort.

THE NEXT FEW ARTISTS ARE MY FAVORITE OF THIS 3 WEEK POST - LiSTEN UP!

• Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – A very cool band that has slipped between the cracks of my musical knowledge for far too long. Who knew French guys could make such good music? Great melodies blending a bunch of genres, into a seemingly effortless cool end product that could both fit into any ipod commercial, or any hipster’s budget mp3 player (because apple has become so obtuse).
o Lizstomania
o 1901
o Girlfriend

• Bloc Party – Intimacy Remixed – My favorite band of all time re-releasing their latest album Intimacy – but this time it’s wiki-wiki-remixed…2nd time the Bloc has released an entire remix of an album by various DJ’s and groups. Genius. I could praise them for pages and pages, but I’ll spare you. Here are the best ones from Intimacy Remixed. Listen to them and then GO CHECK OUT ALL OF THEIR OTHER MATERIAL!!
o Biko (Mogwai Remix)
o Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix)
o Talons (Phones RIP Remix)
o Letter to my Son (Gold Panda Remix)

• Cobra Starship - Good Girls Go Bad (ft. Leighton Meester) – Cool song from a somewhat “hit or miss” group. If you like Metro Station (Shake It) you should enjoy this.


5/19/09


• Passion Pit – Manners – Every now and again the itunes featured music provides me with a group or artist that stops me in my tracks and leaves me love drunk of its humps. Passion Pit is one of those groups. There are similarities here to MGMT, but where MGMT has a few great songs and the rest are just too weird, Passion Pit’s Manners has more than a few hits, in fact I’ve yet to hear a miss. This is the music I dance to alone when everyone else goes to work. So time for you to put down your calculators and get your collective groove on. You know you want to!
o The Reeling
o Little Secrets
o Moth’s Wings

As Heard on Grey’s Anatomy…Or should have been

• Matt Kearney – City of Black and White – The songs on Kearney’s new cd may sound alike one track to the next, almost every song on here has something special, whether it be a great melody, a catchy hook, bulding orchestra, etc…If you like one, you will most likely enjoy the entire cd.
o Closer to Love
o Never be Ready

• Kate Voegele - Who You Are Without Me - Talented young singer/songwriter comparable to a Vanessa Carlton or Michele Branch. New cd out, I like this song.

• Ingrid Michaelson - Turn to Stone – Michaelson comes through with yet another heart-wrenching piano driven ballad, so moving, so powerful, so utterly emotive (give me a second, talk amongst yourselves) that yes my friends, it was featured in this years’ Grey’s Anatomy Finale. While I don’t watch the show, the minute I looked it up on youtube, the posts and comments made it evident that women everywhere were balling and largely in part to this song.

• The Paradiso Girls - Patron Tequila – Why this song wasn’t featured on Grey’s Anatomy after Michaelson's Turn to Stone I will never know. But it is so incredibly touching and poetic. Life suddenly makes sense now. Just listen and you will understand. Peace unto you all, I leave you with this…

“Hey girl where’s your drink?
We goin’ all get real drunk tonight
Hey girl I got puff, we can all get **** up tonight
And by the end of the night I’ma have u drunk and throwing up
And by the end of the night I’ma have you so **** up”

• Lil Wayne ft. Young Money - Every Girl –

“For free suites Id give Paris Hilton all-nighters
in about 3 years, holla at me Miley Cyrus
I dont discriminate, no not at all
kit kat a midget if that ass soft I break her off
I exchange V cards with the retards
and get behind the Christian like DR cuz he are
Mack Mizzo
baby
cuz he are Mack Mizzo
baby

Now, I am not one to make huge statements, but I feel pretty confident when I say that I think we just hit an all time societal low with those lyrics.



LASTLY

This was brought to my attention by an anonymous source that would like to be credited with the find under the name "Princess Sofia" you know who you are, bless you for this...

Bjork - Triumph of a Heart

no wonder Iceland's economy has hit rock bottom...Cat's are taking over all of their jobs!

PEACE!