NMT 3/10/08 Kelly Clarkson, The Dream, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more!

Quote of the Week: Robin Thick on being asked what has happened to R&B music:

"Everyone's singing about the car they're driving and the model on their arm, everyone has everything they want. There's no blues anymore, it's just rhythm."

Word to your mother.


• Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted – Due to the album previews on MTV and VH1, I’ve had the ability to listen through the entire new cd, and if anyone wondered whether Kelly Clarkson could match the success of her 2004 hit Breakaway, take one listen to All I Ever Wanted and you’ll discover the answer is a resounding YES. After her very personal, raw, less polished and at times gloomy My December she’s put aside her alternative side for a radio friendly, (Clive Davis approved) pop-rock smash of an album. This one will be on the charts for a while and here’s why…Great production, catchy hooks, and an amazing voice. What more could you ask for? Kelly’s new album stacks radio hit after hit which in the hands of a regular pop artist would suffer from lack of originality, but with her bluesy tone and HUGE range, All I Ever Wanted takes off at track one and never comes down. Almost every track is good, but here are my favorites:

o I do Not Hook Up – Self described as the crowd participation song come concert time, this song has a ton of energy and is very heavy on the guitars, defining pop rock. In the hands of a weaker voice (perhaps one of it’s co-writers katy Perry?), this song could sound corny, but Kelly’s strong voice holds it up, more than making up for the lyrics. Caution: this one will get stuck in your head!
o Cry – One of the best songs on the album, Cry shows exactly why Clarkson has risen to the top, her crazy vocal ability. Her bluesy tone is showcased perfectly here, Big guitars, big production, big voice. BIG ballad.
o Don’t let me Stop You – Another of my favorites, this song has a hard hitting chorus and again is heavy on guitars. Sounds like a band’s song, not a pop singer singing with a band. - 10/10
o If I can’t have You – Electronic/dance beat is the driving force behind this song. Vocals layering effects are used to give it a more futuristic sound. But the highlight here is the echo on the chorus “…If I can’t have you, then I don’t want anyone (I don’t want anyone)”
o Save You – Vocally, my favorite song on the album. On this Ryan Tedder (One Republic) produced track, you feel like you’re in a giant venue hearing her live. The guitar echoing behind her voice brings to mind U2, and when all the elements come together, along with her riffs towards the end of the song, this track elevates into a category of its own.


• The Dream – Love Vs Money – The R&B songwriter/producer responsible for numerous smash hits (Umbrella, Bed, Leavin, Single Ladies (put a ring on it), just to name a few) comes out with his 2nd album, picking up right where his first left off. Similar sounding to his 1st album, Dream sticks to what he does best; futuristic music covered in his signature layered vocal arrangements. While not as groundbreaking as the first time we heard his style, Love vs Money doesn’t disappoint, producing more than a few noteworthy tracks, if anything moving slightly towards the slow jam end of the spectrum…
o Walkin on the Moon (ft. Kanye, terrible puff mullet West)
o Put it Down
o Love Vs Money
o Right Side of my Brain
o Mr. Yeah

• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz! – From punk rockers to new wave/electronic riders, the group most famously known for their smash hit Maps back in 2004, put aside their loud punk past for a new direction. While I have a feeling Yeah Yeah Yeahs main fanbase will not love this new direction, I certainly do! Lead singer Karen O really lets her wacky colors shine over much more melodic tracks, rather than competing against loud guitar riffs and sporadic drums. One small step in the mellow direction, one huge improvement in my mind.
o Soft Shock
o Skeletons
o Hysteric

• Ballas Hough Band – BHB – (pronounced Ballas Huff Band) So up until now I had never heard anything about this “band” (note the quotations) But after sampling what sounded like a mix between a Disney tv band and a pop group from the UK, I'm torn between laughing and liking. Turns out I was pretty damn close, this group hails from the UK and their 2 lead singers were on Dancing with the Stars. They sound very high-school musical-ish but as terrible as they are, the following tracks had potential in a Jessie McCartney sort of way.
o Do It For You
o Together Faraway


• Taylor Swift – You’re not Sorry (CSI remix) – Not a huge Taylor Swift fan, but this remix made for her CSI appearance is pretty damn cool. Completely new sound for her, much darker and grown up. If you are like 90% of the US who think Taylor Swift can do no wrong, this won’t disappoint, can’t say the same for her CSI acting.

Weekly Entertainment!!

o Mariah Carey in her and the Dream’s new music video. I heard Nick Cannon was gonna produce her next video, and while this isn’t exactly her video (Belongs to The Dream) I really hope Mr. Mariah Carey was behind this one. The video should be titled “Mariah Carey is hood you guys, no for real..” Check it out for yourself, and count how many stereotypes Ms. Carey is thrown into. 1) Intro argument about bills 2) Half rows/half afro puff – ok, a little forced but ok…2) On the porch of a busted house with about 10 others as she braids a dude’s hair – you expect anyone to believe she has any idea how to do that? 3) Someone hands her a pit-bull puppy – really? 4) She is making Cool-Aid – why on earth is that necessary? So awesome!

o I have to credit Erin with this next one… In the new Akon single ft. Snoop and T.I. Opening lyrics…”Shirley Temple on ice, she mix it just right, that extra grenadine got me feelin’ so nice” …wait, what? hahahaha here is Erin’s question, does Akon know what grenadine is? I’m not entirely sure he does…Maybe it does make you feel nice. I’d ask Mariah Carey, but she doesn’t drink Shirley Temples, she sticks with Cool-Aid.