Category: The

Giusepe Zannotti x Nicki Minaj

2/10/2017

The twittersphere exploded last week when MC, Nicki Minaj publicly criticized shoe designer Giusepe Zannotti for not offering her a capsule collection (or even her phone call) despite similar marketing ploys with other celebrities. You may recall this blogs article on the capsule collection Jennifer Lopez announced with him last year (read here) and the recently announced collaboration with former One Direction heartthrob Zayn Malik.

February is the start of black history month and Nicki Minaj was quick to call out the underlying prejudice in his decision to not offer her a collection, even after a declined call from her reps. The designer had shoes named after the rapper, which have since been taken from his webpage. He even reportedly told Miss Minaj that she “inspired him”, but apparently not enough to offer her a check.

The story is still breaking, but Nicki Minaj wore her self-inspired sneakers for Cosmopolitan. Collaboration between the two seems unlikely, but it demonstrates the underlying racism heavily prevalent in the fashion community.

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Something Strange in the Neighborhood

7/8/2016

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Who are you going to call when the supernatural is unleashed in your neighborhood? Hopefully some professional parapsychologists or the ghostbuster team.

The ghostbuster team is getting a reboot on July 15th and hopefully the ghosts have been getting themselves prepared to do some haunting and get caputred. Their about to get sucked up and spit out all in the magical realm of 3-D.

Ghostbusters is one of the most high profile action films of summer 2016. It's also going to be the funniest. Civil War broke our heart and who knows what the fuck Batman v Superman was about. The new Ghostbusters films follows in the footsteps of the original films and TV shows. Quirky and beloved it was one of the highlights of the eighties, right behind Madonna grinding with her rosary beads.

The cast is phenomenal. All of Hollywood's funniest ladies are here. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones are all here to reinterpret the originally male driven comedy.

Melissa McCarthy

Kate McKinnon

Leslie Jones

Kristen Wiig

The meninists of the world have cried foul on this reinterpretation, but what is the point of a reboot if not to change and make the old new again? What would Batman be if not the depressingly dark creation that Christian Bale made out of it? Not the blockbuster trilogy that came from it.

It's the most disliked movie trailer on YouTube and much like the Orlando shooting was a hate crime against the LGBT and Latino community, so is the male gaze hatred of the new Ghostbusters driven by sexism. Boys don't like to see women run the show.

The new Ghostbusters is sure to pass the Bechdel test and isn't that amazing?

The movie also features Chris Hemsworth as Kevin, a secretary. Chris gets all geeked out with a pair of glasses. He's the most beautiful nerd to ever step foot on the silver screen and he's the necessary man candy we get to objectify this summer.

Ghostbusters is also set to release a soundtrack to accompany the move the day it comes out in theatres. It features a string of A-Listers and three different versions of the “Ghostbusters” theme song covered by Walk The Moon (“Shut Up and Dance”), Pentatnoix, and the original by Ray Parker Jr.

Buy "Ghostbusters"

The official lead single is by alt-rocker Elle King (“Ex's & Oh's). It's a firey song called “Good Girls” that may or may not be the song of the summer.

Buy"Good Girls"

Other heavy hitters on the album include a new song by Zayn stylized as “wHo”. Punk acting boy band 5 Seconds of Summers has it's hands in “Girls Talk Boys”, Fall Out Boy and Missy Elliott get together on “Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid), where as producer Mark Ronson (“Uptown Funk”) pairs Passion Pit and A$AP Ferg on a new song called “Get Ghost”.

The soundtrack is bound to be an eclectic masterpiece just as central to the film as the one to Guardian of the Galaxy's was.

Ghostbusters opens on Friday July 15th in theaters near you and it will be sure not to let you down.

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The Queen of Country Music?????

5/27/2016

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I have a bad problem with calling everyone queen. I call my bestfriends kween, although I should probably stop that. I wouldn't want to be accused of appropriating gay culture. But, needless to say I think it's true. Everyone's a queen. Me, the girl next door, that bitch who's on the pound that killed Princess Diana. We're all queens.

I felt guilty that I didn't do enough promo for Cyndi Lauper on this blog for her recently released album Detour. It's a little known secret that she's one of my favorite people.

Cyndi Lauper is an LGBT icon for the ages and she decided to delve into country music. I know how people feel about country music. I mean if your not from Iowa, there truly is no innate desire to listen to it, but I grew up on the sentimental country twang of the nineties and it does have a soft spot in my heart.

You might not know who Cyndi Lauper is, but you know her music. She was originally predicted to be in it for the long haul. Madonna was the throwaway eighties girl and Cyndi was the crazy girl with the personality and talent. She sang “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”, “True Colors”, “I Drove All Night” and my favorite ode to female masturbation, “She Bop” just to name a few.

She's very pop in her stance in pop culture, but Cyndi Lauper is a talented musician. She's done everything and that's why the follow up to her Jazz album Memphis Blues shouldn't be anything less than a detour into country music.

The woman has done it all successfully well. Alt rock in the nineties, modern electronica, mainstream top 40. It was time for country to take her on. Detours is Cyndi Lauper's foray back into music after a six year hiatus.

Detours is full of covers. She's very classic country on here. None of this is polished Carrie Underwood or a true stab at returning to the charts, but it bears the mark of a Cyndi Lauper classic.

We've got some classic sixties country in Patsy Cline hits “Walking After Midnight” and “I Fall To Pieces”. They lack Patsy's signature husk, but Cyndi makes up for it with her usual charm and vigor. She even brings out Willie Nelson to truly harken back to those country roots on “Night Life”.

Cyndi shines on the albums second single “Funnel of Love” originally made famous by Wanda Jackson, a woman Adele absolutely adores. The album closes with the Dolly Parton classic, “Hard Candy Christmas”. Allison Kraus sings a few lines. This is the second time she's included a Christmas song on one of her studio albums. The first was “Feels Like Christmas” on the deeply political Hat Full of Stars.

Buy "Funnel of Love"

Buy "Hard Candy Christmas"

Detour is full of flaws, charms and guest stars, but Cyndi bears all of this with a cowboy's sweethearts smile. This is eleventh studio album by the woman best known for her eighties escapades. It marks the most guest appearances she's ever had on an album with five stars lending their vocal prowess. Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, and Jewel are just some of the few to lend their support. Detour may not be perfect, but it does make us hope she doesn't wait another six years for a musical return.

Buy Detour

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The "Real" Housewives of Beverly Hills

2/19/2016

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Reality TV is always an obsession. I have indulged in The Simple Life and RuPaul’s Drag Race and the belated America’s Next Top Model.
I’ve never been one for the Real Housewives franchise and no I don’t know where Potamac is.

Nene Leakes is a cultural staple and of course I followed Theresa Giudice’s imprisonment. I’m sure her house arrest is amazing without the alcohol and who can forget when she flipped over a table? Bethenny Frankel is the only other one who comes to mind. She’s a skinny girl who has skinny girl shit.

Recently I’ve become obsessed with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. One of the many franchises spinning from the Real Housewives of Orange County. One of my favorite club singers, Erika Jayne has joined the cast. You can read my article on her here.

I thought I would try out the show. I didn’t realize how in love was I going to be with it and not just because of Erika. Her marital name being Erika Girardi. She’s married to a fabulously wealthy lawyer thirty years her senior and she thinks hookers are fabulous.

Erika Jayne is by far the best housewife on the show, but I’ve begun having a loving affection for many of the others..

Matriarch, Lisa Vanderpump, with her posh accent and her uncut mouth is the best. She lives by the color pink and she loves dogs, but isn’t that crazy about bitches. She has ponies at her house and swans in the water feature. She says it like she means it and she might be aggressive, but who isn’t in Beverly Hills?

I have a soft spot for Yolanda Foster. She’s friends with Erika Jayne and might soon be divorced from her mega producer husband David Foster, known for his work with Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Madonna, and Jennifer Lopez to name a few. Her plotline revolves around her illness. One many of the housewives question in authenticity.

I like Yolanda, but I watch the housewives for a glamorous petty escape from my life, not for heart rending medical drama. I wish her the best. She seems very nice and I do enjoy her supermodel daughter stopping by.

And, I really like Eileen Davidson. She’s on Days of Our Lives. Her marital life seems shaky and her plotline is contrived, but I just like her. She just seems so nice and after she stood up for Erika, there’s no one I like better.

Lisa Rinna. She has lips reminiscent of the ones Goldie Hawn's character got in The First Wives Club. She has her own clothing line on QVC. She starts shit. Gets her ass waxed on TV and doesn’t seem to care for Erika that much. She’s a skinny loud mouth archetype perfect for reality TV.

Kyle Richards entire drama involves her sister Kim. She’s fine. She’s rather inconsequential to show and she’s the reason that Erika got subjected to Bethenny Frankel being a flat out bitch to her about her music career. I’m fine with her, but I don’t watch the show for her plot. I’m here to see Erika get zipped into her skintight leotard and hang with her gays.

The latest housewife Kathryn Edwards has yet to make an impact on me. There’s still time, but I need more than just her backstory on the OJ trial.

For me The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has everything you need. It’s all petty, guilty drama. There’s no physical altercations and they all drive Mercedes Benz. What more do you need on a Tuesday night?

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(I Get So) Sentimental

2/5/2016

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You don't realize quite how sad your life is until someone asks you what you're doing. It was a Thursday night and someone asked me what I was up to. I told them I had my three romantic comedies lined up and a bowl of popcorn to eat my feelings with. I'd spent the better part of the day listening to Taylor Swift, so it was only appropriate.

I was feeling sentimental and it wasn't just because I was listening to the Donna Summer song of the same name. There's something so reassuring about romantic comedies. They have a tried and true formula and you know that no matter what happens at the end, no matter how much they fuck up, they will be there for each other.

These are the three movies I picked that day. I grew up on rom com's and I'm sure there are better ones, but these movies are perfect for February

Buy "Sentimental"

Monster-In-Law
2005
Jennifer Lopez knows how to do a romantic comedy. This list would be incomplete without one of her films on it. This movie is iconic. Jane Fonda returns to the silver screen. Wanda Sykes is there. We got some cute eye candy with Michael Vartan. It's devilishly funny.

Jennifer plays Charlie who gets engaged to Kevin (Michael Vartan). His mother (Jane Fonda) tries to break them apart. She believes Charlie is not good enough for her son. There's love, a bath tub scene. Cake. Wanda Sykes does a great job playing the sidekick to the monster in law. Spoiler, that everyone ends up happy. It's another success in the J. Lo canon that includes The Wedding Planner and Maid in Manhattan.

27 Dresses
2008
The Katherine Heigl led 27 Dresses plays with the tropes of a romantic comedy. Katherine Heigl plays Jane the eternal bridesmaid and never the bride. She is hopelessly in love with her boss who near the beginning of the movie starts dating her sister (!).

But, wait. There's more. Reporter Kevin Doyle (James Marsden) wants to write a story on her. He complements her eccentricities as she does his. They love, they fight, they cry. They sing karaoke to “Benny and the Jetts”. This movie has it all. It honestly breaks my soul how much I have in common with Katherine Heigl.

Music and Lyrics
2007
Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant are no strangers to the field of romantic comedies. Take Drew's 50 First Dates or Ever After and Hugh Grant's Did You Hear About the Morgan's? or Bridget Jone's Diary as recommendations. The plot of this film pairs aging pop artist Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) with plant lady Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) to write a hit song for pop superstar Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) entitled “Way Back Into Love”.

This movie has a great backing cast. Brad Garrett takes a turn as Alex Fletcher's manager and Kristen Johnston makes a stab as Sophie's fun loving sister. This is the most straight forward feel good movie of the three. It has a great soundtrack featuring iconic “Budha's Delight” and heart rending “Way Back Into Love” as well as a few stabs of eighties pop pastiche with “Pop! Goes My Heart”. One of my all time favorites.

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Savages

1/22/2016

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Have you ever heard a song on the radio that you fell in love with, but you weren't able to open that shazam app fast enough? The only thing you can do is make a desperate attempt to find a lyric that stands out.

There I was on my break at work, when I heard this song. I retained the word “savages” and I was convinced that was the title of the song. I typed in “savages song 2015” and all that came up was the equally entertaining Marina and the Diamonds song of the same name. Not the one I was looking for.

Buy"Savages"

“Savages” is the first and titular track of Five Knives first album. Despite their name, they're not a hard rock band. This isn't a Marilyn Manson record. However, they do seem to play with that aesthetic. They have leather jackets, post apocalyptic worlds, and a mohawk.

The group is made of four people. The lead vocalist a gorgeous Bonnie Mckee figure with her pink hair. Anna M'Queen is the only woman in the band, reminiscent of how Blondie was set up, and her vocals vary somewhere in the range of Icona Pop and their style of “I Love It”

Not surprisingly they went on tour together.

This band is hardly famous. They don't have a wikipedia page. The only trace of them online is their own website and that of their record label Red Bull Records, a record label that's biggest hit was AWOLNATION's “Sail”.

On drums Five Knives has Shane Wise, Zach Hall carries guitar, and Nathan Barlowe is behind the guitar and bass. Both Zach and Nathan share their skill in keys, programming, and BGV's. Whatever that is.

Anna lends the band a voice that makes their music more mainstream oriented then similar work done by beleaguered industrial pop artist Black Porcelain. At times her voice even recalls the wailing of The Ting Tings fronted Katie White.

Their debut album is fun. It certainly has a rebellious air to it. The most rateable lyric being “I only want you for your money.” There are certainly improvements that could be made, but as a debut it's solid and strong and most importantly it's fun. A lot of the record plays like cuts from one of Kesha's debut album without the auto tune. "Oblivion" and "Love You To Death" being solid cuts.

Their a dance/pop/rock group for the twenty first century. It seems unlikely that their going to change the face of pop music, but their certainly playing with it's aesthetic, much to their credit.

Be sure to check out their kick off song “Savages”. It's the most streamlined and certainly the best off the album with a fun video full of debauchery to keep your spirits up.

Buy "Savages"

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Lil Loaf

1/8/2016

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I have a new obsession and I've put it off sporadically. I keep meaning to mention Dej Loaf to you. The new female MC on the scene. She's having a slight rise to fame, but were still too far in the early stages to see how it's going to end up. Did we see “Your Love” as the first step in the royalty that became Nicki Minaj? Because, I didn't.

Dej Loaf is bringing some much needed girl power to the hip hop scene. She's from Detroit. Birthplace of Slim Shady. A rapper she happened to spot a verse on his Shady XV track “Detroit vs. Everybody”.

The funny thing about Dej Loaf is I thought she was male. Not an unreasonable guess considering the amount of testosterone on hip hop airwaves. Her vocal performance on “Back Up” was giving me Rae Sremmurd vibes. It was clean and smooth.

Buy "Back Up"

Needless to say it threw me for a surprise when the radio announces the drama with her and Lil Durk. I did some research. He released an album. It charted. That's all there is to know. According to public discourse, Dej Loaf is dating Lil Durk. A gay hip hop power couple was not something I expected.

Then, I find Dej Loaf is a she and not a he. And, it makes more sense. Then, we find out Aye Redd (who does not have a wikipidea page) is calling their relationship fake. And, supposedely they are in a relationship together.

Lil Durk and Dej Loaf

Aye Redd

Which, does explain the cute lesbian aesthetic in “Try Me”. Now I don't know what to believe. Aye Redd. Said that this relationship between Dej Loaf and Lil Durk is for publicity. Considering neither of them our household names. At least not in my quiet white suburban neighborhood, I don't know how likely that is.

Buy "Try Me"

All I know is that I like the music. “Back Up” has that crossover potential and with the success of “Hit the Quan”, “Trap Queen”, and “Watch Me” this could be Dej Loaf's play for crossover chart success. The song features some eerily reminiscent DJ Mustard slick beats.

This is the lead off song from her first EP “...And See That's The Thing”. It's got a glamorous cover shot and I'll buy it. As soon as it gets a physical release. It features seven tracks, which should be the lead up to her first studio album that should be out sometime next year.

The second single that plans to follow up the success of “Back Up” is a Future assisted “Hey There”. It could happen. Future is everyone's favorite crooner. Not that anyone knows what he's saying, but that's beside the point. Future has wattage that Dej Loaf just can't pull yet.

Buy "Hey There"

Future's been having some wins this year, especially after the mixtape he dropped with Drake. Not to mention their two collaborations “Where Ya At” and “Jumpman” both hit the top 40 on the main charts.

Dej Loaf herself isn't doing a bad job pulling in big name collaborations. She's appeared with The Game and Lil Wayne and it won't be long before she makes a name for herself. And, with the triumphant return of Missy Elliott. It's time for another female rapper to rise to the forefront.

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Best Albums of 2015

1/1/2016

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This list is a review of all of the albums I've bought this year. They are all rated on a scale of 1 to 5 bubbles. My favorite song is listed along with the album. This is determined solely based on how many times I've listened to it individually.

Music comes in so many different forms and textures that it's hard to say definitively what album is “better” then another. I never did buy Adam Lambert's The Original High, but from what I've listened to it's a stellar return to form. The same goes for Selena Gomez's Revival. When I heard Justin Bieber's new album Purpose I found it to be acceptable plodding mid tempo fair. However that said, I know quite a few people who really enjoy his new musical direction. Ellie Goulding's Delirium is not in my taste, but if you're a fan of her earlier work her new seventeen track epoch should satisfy

The most important news in music this year is the continuing lawsuit between Kesha and Dr. Luke. She is asking to be released from her contract after revelations of physical and mental abuse on the part of her record producer Dr. Luke. Sony Music has refused to let her out of her contract and is siding with Dr. Luke. A growing protest has started, creating the trending hashtags #FreedomForKesha and #SonyMusicSupportsRape.

Sign the petition to release Kesha from her contract here.

Buy Badlands

Badlands: Halsey
4 Bubbles
Halsey has been the breakout indie artist of the year. Her brand of electropop has yet to conquer radio, but her debut album shows what has made her such an internet phenom. The album starts out strong, and although lingers a little too long on it's closing sixteen tracks shows that there's only room for her to go up from here.

Most Played Song: “Ghost”

American Beauty/American Pyscho: Fall Out Boy
4 Bubbles
This was the first Fall Out Boy album I've ever bought. A true sacrilege. This is what modern rock is supposed to sound like in 2015. Every track is a fiery stomper and after fourteen years proves that Fall Out Boy still has the passion that made From Under The Cork Tree so spectacular.

Most Played Song: “Uma Thurman”

Buy American Beauty/American Pyscho

Broke With Expensive Taste: Azealia Banks
2 ½ Bubbles
The album originally dropped too little digital fanfare in 2014 finally saw it's physical release in 2015. Azealia Banks is the beleaguered rap artist more known for her trans-phobic discourse and public melt downs. Her first album, although full of solid moments tends to drag and concepts run into one another. And, nothing on the album quite replicates the viral sensation of “212”. The best cuts off the album tend to be the singles.

Most Played Song: Tie between “Heavy Metal and Reflective” and “BBD”

Buy Broke With Expensive Taste

Breathe In. Breathe Out.: Hilary Duff
5 Bubbles
The much besieged fourth studio album, it finally saw it's release after being pushed from it's release date in October of 2014. This album's concept has ranged from folk to a mainstream pop sound courtesy of Swedish hit maker Tove Lo. Released eight years after her groundbreaking Dignity, the album is pure pop. Not every song is a five star experience, but it plays like a cohesive album. Every song is good, many are excellent, all can stand by themselves, and it reflects the dedicated affection that Hilary paints it with. Album standouts range from the Ed Sheeran penned “Tattoo” to lead single “Sparks” or the cute duet of “Nights Like This”. My favorite song off the album happens to be shared with current taste maker, Taylor Swift.

Most Played Song: “Breathe In. Breathe Out.”

Buy Breathe In. Breathe Out

Buy Cry Baby

Cry Baby: Melanie Martinez
4 Bubbles
Concept album by former Voice contestant Melanie Martinez it's responsible for some of the darkest pop moments in 2015. Rape and family dysfunction are just some of the themes Melanie touches on as “cry baby”. This album is full of some of my favorite songs of the year such as “Dollhouse” and “Pity Party”. It's also responsible for the worst song of 2015. “Sippy Cup” is the best example of what this album does wrong. But, on the same flip of the coin, some people adore this song. Melanie Martinez is not good at subtlety, but the albums flair for remaining true to it's core makes it a compelling and worthwhile artistic statement.

Most Played Song: “Cry Baby”

Double Vision: Prince Royce
2 ½ Bubbles
Intended to be the global breakout for Latin superstar Prince Royce, Double Vision is his debut English album. Known for hits like “Darte Un Beso”, Double Vision was primed with A-List heavy weights in the form of Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, and Tyga. Neither single “Stuck on a Feeling” or “Back It Up” took off on American radio the way they were supposed to. When this album sticks towards it's pop leanings it stands strong, however when it slows down it tends to lose a lot of it's focus. Although, a consistently playable record it doesn't have the fun factor of Enrique Iglesias's Sex and Love or the charming personality of Enrique's breakout record “Hero”

Most Played Song: Tie between “Stuck on a Feeling” featuring Snoop Dogg and “Back It Up” featuring Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull.

Buy Double Vision

The Eephus: Wondaland
3 ½ Bubbles
A joint EP released by Janelle Monae's recording mates on Wondaland none of the songs on the EP live up to the fun of singles “Classic Man” and “Yoga”. The bonus remix of “Classic Man” featuring Kendrick Lamar does little to liven up the final two songs off the EP, which are both slow burns.

Most Played Song: “Yoga” featuring Jidenna.

Buy The Eephus

Emotion: Carly Rae Jepsen
4 Bubbles
The much lauded album by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen it features “Really Like You” a song that intended to return her to the top of the charts with a cameo studded music video. The album is a glossy, easy breezy, down your throat listen, even at 17 tracks long. An accomplishment that goes much further then any of the album's singles did.

Most Played Song: “Your Type”

Buy Emotion

Buy Deja Vu

Deja Vu: Giorgio Moroder
4 Bubbles
Disco heavy weight Giorgio Moroder returned to the studio with a list of musical superstars. See the tracklist complete with names like Britney Spears, Kelis, Kylie Minogue, Sia, and Charli XCX. The album's taste in the past is also what makes it current. As DJ, Giorgio gives us a playlist of ecstatic songs, and though his musical wizardry tends to work better for his female counterparts, Deja Vu is a constant and thoroughly rewarding record.

Most Played Song: “Deja Vu” featuring Sia

Fifty Shades of Grey: Soundtrack
4 Bubbles
Bolstered by hits “Earned It” and “Love Me Like You Do” this is the soundtrack that chronicled 2015's response to Basic Instinct is best to listen to on a slow rainy day. Full of slow burns and quintessential love songs, it's darkly atmospheric and features two Beyonce remixes that could hold the album down by itself. Album closer “I Know You” is a must listen by Skylar Grey.

Most Played Song: “I'm On Fire” by AWOLNATION

Buy Fifty Shades of Grey

Home: Soundtrack
3 Bubbles
Rihanna not only voiced the lead for animated film Home, but also lent her voice to 3 of the album's 8 songs. The best of these additions is “Towards The Sun”. The album also features tracks from Kiesza, Charli XCX, and Jennifer Lopez. This album will just have to bridge the gap until we get Anti. Jennifer Lopez shines on the delicate ballad “Feel The Light” that closes the album.

Most Played Song: “Feel The Light” by Jennifer Lopez

Buy Home

The Fool: Ryn Weaver
2 ½ Bubbles
This album hinges on an experimental electronic influence that is well captured on buoyant songs “Pierre” and “Octahate”. Ryn Weaver never quite matches the magic that made her contemporary, Halsey's debut so fascinating. It's a listenable if unremarkable debut. The Fool also features one of the most pretentious songs of 2015 finalized with the spoken word outro on “Traveling Song” that consists of talking about “turtle soup”

Most Played Song: “Octahate”

Buy The Fool

Honeymoon: Lana Del Rey
4 ½ Bubbles
Arguably her most critically lauded album yet, Honeymoon finds Lana Del Rey reveling in her own brand of off kilter pop. This album although not quite as good as last years Ultraviolence still has plenty of moments that reinforce why Lana Del Rey is such a popular staple. No more clear than in the explicit and summery lead off “High By The Beach”. Honeymoon stands as one of the most consistent pop releases of 2015 that's unlikely to in over anyone not impressed with her prior releases. A perfect addition to Lana Del Rey's ever growing canon.

Most Played Song: “Terrence Loves You”

Buy Honeymoon

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful: Florence and The Machine
4 Bubbles
The first release from the indie rock band in four years it finds Florence Welch deepening her outlook on themes explored on their other two studio albums. The album is bolstered by her voice and big strings. Some songs falter in their length and remarkability, but the album is focused none the less and features some of the most anthmetic and personal work of her career.

Most Played Song: “What Kind Of Man”

Buy How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U: Jack U
3 ½ Bubbles
One of the most celebrated DJ releases of the year it features production work by two of the most boundary pushing producers of this decade with Skrillex and Diplo teaming up to form the power duo Jack U. The expectation I had for this album was set high and oddly enough the album doesn't consistently push hard enough. That however doesn't stop it from being a wild 35:25 minute ride featuring the worldwide hit “Where Are You Now” that catapulted Justin Bieber back into the spotlight.

Most Played Song: “Febreeze” featuring 2 Chainz

Buy Jack U

Buy Love Stuff

No Good: Ivy Levan
4 Bubbles
Despite featuring production from Diplo and guest vocals from icon Sting, none of the singles released from No Good found a mainstream audience. Ivy Levan powers through with her trademark husky voice and material that places a different spin on the fifties aesthetic that Meghan Trainor made popular in 2014. Ivy Levan shines the best on the roof shakers and mid tempo fare, rather then when she slows it down on closing tracks like “Misery” and Whitney Houston inspired “It Ain't Easy”.

Most Played Song: “The Dame Says”

Love Stuff: Elle King
3 ½ Bubbles
Daughter of comedian Rob Schneider, Love Stuff finds Elle King snarling her way through a debut of modern rock. While some of the material pushes her too far (see “Last Damn Night” and “I Told You I Was Mean”) the album regardless has numerous highlights including the surprise sleeper hit “Ex's & Oh's”. She's at her best on tracks that showcase her fiery personality and when she's at her most vulnerable like “Make You Smile” or “Cocaine Carolina”.

Most Played Song: “Make You Smile”

Buy No Good

Peace is the Mission: Major Lazer
3 ½ Bubbles
Another Diplo helmed DJ set, his production as Major Lazer is decidedly reggae themed. Featuring global smash “Lean On” the album powers through some of the most fun dance music produced this year. The album features guest vocals from superstars Ellie Goulding and Ariana Grande.

Most Played Song: “All My Love (Remix)” featuring Ariana Grande and Machel Montano.

Buy Peace Is The Mission

Pitch Perfect 2: Soundtrack
3 Bubbles
The album fares just as well as the movie did. The more you liked the movie, the more you'll appreciate the accompanying soundtrack. As so often is the case the sequel proves to be not as good as the original. Besides the movies chronicled performance it also features new music from Ester Dean and Jessie J.

Most Played Song: “Crazy Youngsters” by Ester Dean

Buy Pitch Perfect 2

Rebel Heart: Madonna
4 Bubbles
Plagued by leaks, Rebel Heart turned into the longest album of Madonna's career the final tracklist coming in at 19 tracks long. While this album doesn't find it pushing boundaries the way previous Madonna releases like American Life and Ray of Light have it does find Madonna engaging in mainstream sound, much to her credit. The album features work by Diplo and Kanye West and an intriguing guest spot by Mike Tyson. The album is unwieldy and at times aimless, but mostly it is a positive reflection of what Madonna can contribute to music in the 21st century.

Most Played Song: “Bitch I'm Madonna” featuring Nicki Minaj

Buy Rebel Heart

Storyteller: Carrie Underwood
4 Bubbles
Carrie Underwood returns with a studio set built to tear country music apart. It's not a Carrie Underwood album if there's not a murder and there's plenty of that here. Carrie Underwood takes a back seat on this album, largely relegating herself to telling other people's stories. The album has everything that a blockbuster country album needs to shine. It's plays more consistently then 2012's Blown Away, which lost some of it's steam near the end and only works to reinforce how much we've missed Carrie in our life.

Most Played Song: “Dirty Laundry”

Buy Storyteller

Reflection: Fifth Harmony
3 Bubbles
An initial glance at this album would show it to be one of the glossiest releases of the year. The first five opening songs are exemplary of what processed pop is supposed to sound like. It's the final six tracks that sink into the nineties influenced R&B that Ariana Grande does so well, except on Fifth Harmony they play like throwaway B-Sides. The album although promising doesn't show the full potential of the group.

Most Played Song: “Top Down”

Buy Reflection

Sremm Life: Rae Sremmurd
4 Bubbles
Rap's latest and greatest duo, Rae Sremmurd dazzle with the ridiculous jangling of “No Flex Zone” and “Unlock The Swag”. The album benefits from guest appearances by Nicki Minaj and Big Sean. A thoroughly fun ride and the antithesis of what Kendrick Lamar is trying to do with the genre.

Most Played Song: “No Flex Zone”

Buy Sremm Life

Title: Meghan Trainor
3 ½ Bubbles
Chronicling the joys of a heteronormative world, Meghan Trainor does little to push or offend the base line of American values. The album is full of quirky oddities that make it more then just eleven different versions of “All About That Bass”. Title is at it's best with songs like the titular title track and “Dear Future Husband”, which go down just as sweet if you don't put too much stock in the lyrical content. However, she's surprisingly fun when pushing boundaries as she does on “Bang Them Sticks”.

Most Played Song: “Bang Them Sticks”

Buy Title

True Colors: Zedd
2 ½ Bubbles
German DJ, Zedd delivered his second studio album with the Selena Gomez led “Want You To Know”. The album often times finds him not pushing boundaries or giving us parodies of the top 40. Although, this works on “Beautiful Now” that is strongly reminiscent of something Ryan Tedder would produce. Despite a few notable tracks it falls short of an engaging concept album.

Most Played Song: “Papercut” featuring Troye Sivan

Buy True Colors

Buy Wild

Wild: Troye Sivan
2 Bubbles
The preview to his debut album Blue Neighborhood, this EP shows Troye Sivan's inability to replicate more then one substantial moody electro pop ballad per musical outing. “Wild” shines much like “Happy Little Pill” did on Tryxe. The EP would have benefited from the inclusion of “Papercut” an equally somber number found on Zedd's album True Colors. The other 5 of the 6 songs on Wild fail to make any impact and only undermine the fact that Troye Sivan can make amazing music. Instead of working on creating more thoughtful engaging songs like “Wild”, the EP is full of songs that serve as a canvas for experimental electronic influences that are supposed to count as his artistic vision.

Most Played Song: “Wild”

Savages: Five Knives
3 Bubbles
Unknown dance pop group Five Knives dropped one of the most fun and disposable albums of the year. Kicked off with the banger “Savages” and followed by a stream of trashy similarly minded ilk, the album although not about to redefine mainstream sound is exactly the kind of music to listen to when you've got your lip gloss on and the wind in your hair.

Most Played Song: “Savages”

Made in the AM: One Direction
4 Bubbles
More then likely this will be the fifth and final album by One Direction. Their upcoming hiatus a chance for them all to grope for Justin Timberlake stardom. Building on the mature pop/rock sound they've experimented with on their past two albums, Made In The AM is a testament and tribute to the reasons boy bands work their way into our hearts.

Most Played Song: “Perfect”

Favorite Album of The Year: Breathe In. Breathe Out by Hilary Duff

Buy

Favorite Song of the Year: "Breathe In. Breathe Out" by Hilary Duff

Buy "Breathe In. Breathe Out."

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An LGBT Christmas

12/25/2015

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Merry Christmas bitches! It's the final day of the 12 Days of Bubbles. The marathon blogging spree is over. Exams are done. I'm with family.

…

And, when thinking about what the most religious, holy thing to talk about for Friday Favorites, I thought to myself “who are the most fucking gay celebrities that I love?” In this endeavor I have compiled a list of some pretty kick ass LGBT singers.

As wonderful as the LGBT community is our representation on radio is minimal at best. See Sam Smith and his lack of personal pronouns in all of his hits so he doesn't “alienate people”. Because, as we all know LGBT is offensive and gross and disgusting and the brave heterosexuals and cisgenders shouldn't have to put up with us. Least of all on the radio or their TV screens.

I'm going to be trying to include people that you might not be aware of. Some people you would have to do some research to find. Therefore as much as I love my gay boys, Elton John and Ricky Martin, they won't be on here. Similarly, everyone's favorite bisexuals Fergie, Madonna, and David Bowie did not make the cut.

Beth Ditto (Gossip)
Lesbian
“Obsession” would be an understatement for my feelings on Beth Ditto. Lead singer of rock band Gossip, she's the body positive LGBT icon you've been looking for. She's gorgeous. See my Snapshot Saturday I did on her (read here). And, more importantly a voice so distinctive, it's unlikely anyone could replicate it's wail.

She released a self titled EP full of four pop oriented tracks. Most of her work with Gossip is rock based. Standing in the Way of Control and Music For Men were there commercial break through. Specifically, their ubiquitous song “Heavy Cross”. Their last album explored an eighties pop melody and lived up to it's title of A Joyful Noise.

Buy"Heavy Cross"

RuPaul
Gay
Drag queen extraordinaire and also the topic of a Snapshot Saturday (read here). RuPaul has maintained an interesting music career. Since, his second studio album, Foxy Lady, he's remained an independent dance artist. His work is disco inspired empowerment and R&B.

His most popular song was “Supermodel (You Better Work)” when it almost went top forty in the nineties. My personal favorite album by him is Redhot and it's feel good anthem “Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous”. Recently, he's emerged an artist on the outskirts of mainstream with the self promotion through RuPaul's Drag Race. Making “Sissy That Walk” a surprise club hit and it's parent album Born Naked his highest charting since Supermodel of the World.

Buy "Sissy That Walk"

Troye Sivan
Gay

Arguably the most well known of all the celebrities on this list, Troye Sivan is the youtuber who started the trend of “coming out online”. He released his debut album The Blue Neighborhood this December. Without a hit in sight his album and EP sales are stacking up well against who are having top ten hits. Marking a clear need for any kind of LGBT representation in the music industry.

All of his music is experimental electro pop. The trend among hopeful pop stars who want to carve out their own niche in the industry without alienating the top 40. His single “Wild” notably marked him using male pronouns to address his lover.

Buy "Wild"

Tegan & Sara
Lesbians
Canadian duo Tegan & Sara have always been on the outskirts of pure mainstream success. They have quirky good looks and have slowly been building a fanbase since their debut album Under Feet Like Ours in 1999. Their biggest mainstream success in the United States came recently when “Closer” hit the radio long enough for them to have their first charting song.

Heartthrob marked their biggest mainstream attempt and is a good place to start investigating their discography that plays well against their pop/rock leanings. Funny enough their biggest success came with a collaboration with The Lonely Island for the Lego Movie Soundtrack. “EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!!”

Buy "Closer"

Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!)
Transgender

A strong example of the lack of transgender representation in media, Laura Jane Grace made waves back in 2012 when she announced that she identified as a woman and was undergoing gender confirmation surgery to Rolling Stone.

It raised the profile of her band Against Me! and allowed for their biggest commercial success Transgender Dysphoria Blues that still only charted as high as 22 in the United States. Valid and to the point it's one of the most gripping punk rock releases of 2014.

Buy "True Trans Soul Rebel"

Halsey
Bisexual
Halsey is what the self deprecating cool kids listen to. Gorgeous. Sexy. Stunning. Breakout indie star of the year, she has a loyal and growing fan base. Her music falls into line with the moody electro pop that her contemporaries are favoring, yet doing something more with it.

There is a never ending list of amazing bisexuals. And, yet their sexual orientation is consistently erased and made to be either heterosexual or homosexual. Take Lady Gaga and Freddie Mercury. Halsey defied her record label's insistence on making her lover in “Ghost” a man and traded him in for a lush woman instead. Halsey spreading bisexual awareness one video at a time.

Buy "Ghost"

Charice
Lesbian

Filipino singer Charice was championed by Oprah. Had the highest charting album for an Asian act in the United States and all but disappeared. Her voice has the controlled range that Ariana Grande is praised for. Charice just lacked the right producers that shot other strong voiced divas like Mariah Carey to fame.

When announcing her sexual orientation, Charice said “that she understood if people didn't want to be her fan anymore.” As if that was an acceptable reason to dislike her. She's stayed mostly out of the public light, since then but she still has two strong albums full of ballads to capture you with.

Buy "Pyramid"

I hope you've found some cool LGBT singers to add to your playlist. If there's anyone you think I should add be sure to comment below.

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THE Michael Kors

11/27/2015

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Michael Kors is a legend in the fashion industry. I love him. I considered buying one of his backpacks. The $300 kind. It was gorgeous. It deserved me. It deserved to be on my body. It's to bad that my minimum wage job doesn't support such extravagance.

There is not a part of my body that makes me say that I'm not obsessed with Michael Kors. He's really funny. I read an interview on him and he's great. I love him and his husband Lance Le Pere. Their the cutest. They are my life goals.

Lance Le Pere (left) and Michael Kors (right)

Michael Kors was founded way back when in 1981. It's the kind of high priced luxury, that although expensive isn't too out of reach. If I'd really wanted that backpack it could have been mine.

Michael Kors is known for their handbags. When I went into the Michael Kors store that's what was on display. Their logo is just as recognizable as Louis Vuitton or Chanel. Michael Kors has that kind of brand recognition.

I've always wanted a pair of their shoes. The flats. The heels. I would wear it all. I could empty my bank account buying Michael Kors. It has that timeless elegance about it. And, what's more we all deserve something high fashion in my life.

The man behind the brand is really cool. Michael Kors is known for “being real” just like Jennifer Lopez. He's self deprecating. I want to be rich and successful and have people wonder how humble I am.

I love the way he devotes his time and money. He's a huge supporter in AIDS research and assistance. Much like Elton John and not unsurprising considering his experiences in New York during the height of the AIDS epidemic. The foundation he does most of his work with is God's Love We Deliver.

He's also an ambassador for the United Nations. He works with their World Food Programme and helps to get food to school children in needy parts of the world.

I've always thought well of him, but reading about him really changed my perspective. If you have money, you should want to make a change in the world, and it's great that he does that. That he's trying to change the world

Michael Kors brand has been described as “too safe”. I don't think. It's true that his clothing doesn't push the boundaries that some fashion houses do. But, it's also not rooted in the same cycle of repeat, redo that is so much apart of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger..

His brand isn't changing the world of fashion, it's not edgy. But, there's something about it. Not every $200 coat makes me consider buying it. That's how much I spend on clothes a year, so to spend that much on one jacket. It has to be more then just a name.

It has to be something more and in his own way that's what Michael Kors does. He's not going to start the next punk phase, but there's an idealism to his clothes that you can't find from every designer.

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Giusepe Zannotti x Nicki Minaj

Something Strange in the Neighborhood

The Queen of Country Music?????

The "Real" Housewives of Beverly Hills

(I Get So) Sentimental

Savages

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Best Albums of 2015

An LGBT Christmas

THE Michael Kors

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