Category: Review

Strip That Down

6/26/2017

Key Lyric: I Love It When The Music's Loud / But C'mon Strip That Down

Of all the One Direction boys, I probably had the lowest expectations for Liam Payne. He proved me wildly wrong. He eschews the artistry that dominates Harry Styles, the serious R&B of Zayne, and instead goes for fun. Thank God that 1D didn't take everything from him.

Not everything is so serious and Liam stirs mild controversy with the much hyped line, “I used to be in 1D / Now I'm Out Free”. The track is danceable (actually danceable) and it doesn't take itself too seriously. It follows mainstream sounds, even bringing in Ed Sheeran for a cowrite.

The song has HIT all over it. If that's not enough Quavo has a guest verse. I was past my limit with Migos / Quavo by the time their Katy Perry collaboration dropped, but the world still wants more. The music video is drenched in color and dancing girls. Liam isn't reinventing the wheel, but he's playing the newly minted popstar perfectly.

Buy "Strip That Down"

We Could Run

6/19/2017

Key Lyric: There Are Rules That Are Meant To Break / You Could Call This A Great Mistake

Beth Ditto released her fiery debut album Fake Sugar last Friday (June 16th). The front woman for the now disbanded alt-rock band Gossip has been prepping her first solo release for the past four years writing somewhere between 65-80 songs for the record.

Working with record producers Jennifer Decilveo and Jackknife Lee (REM & U2) to curate the sound she desired, Fake Sugar is a labor of love. “We Could Run” is one of the last tracks released before the album was dropped and it retains similar vibes of the teased sweet “In And Out” found on the same record.

“We Could Run” finds Beth Ditto wailing her impressive vocal chops over three minutes and thirty one seconds. Luke Britton for NME described the song as “stadium rock sized”. Performing at the Gucci cruise collection in Florence, the singer isn't slowing down expectations of what she's capable of.

Buy "We Could Run"

There For You

6/12/2017

Key Lyric: Last Year Took A Toll On Me / But I Made It With You Next To Me

21 year old DJ Martin Garrix who broke out onto the scene with instrunmental dance hit “Animals” has been having a string of success lately with collaborations with Bebe Rexha (“In The Name of Love”) and emerging pop star Dua Lipa (“Scared To Be Lonely”) and he's hoping to bring that same kinetic star power to Troye Sivan. The Australian singer who made marginal impact with “Youth” back in 2015.

Martin has described Troye as a “brother” and the two pair together effortlessly on this new track of sentimental love. The song retains what the two do the best. Troye's wide eyed long sick lust for love and Martin's ear for honed mainstream EDM.

The music video has already dropped and it has it all. The quintessential San Francisco skyline, black nail polish, flowers, and a hoard of rave ready fans waiting for the drop. Troye Sivan may be about to have his biggest hit stateside yet.

Buy "There For You"

Perfect Places

6/5/2017

Key Lyric: Watch The Wasters Blow The Speakers / Spill My Guts Beneath The Outdoor Light

Lorde has been prepping her sophomore set Melodrama since the release of her single “Green Light” back in March that shockingly stalled at pop radio. “Liability” was a stark ballad released to stoke anticipation but the new track she just dropped might be the hit she's been looking for.

“Perfect Places” hasn't officially been tauted as a single, but her team would be foolish not to pursue it. The song keeps the light effervescence that made “Green Light” such a departure. It's danceable and just a little off kilter in order to make it a true Lorde song.

Billboard tauted the song as a “booming summer anthem”. The song finds the singer diving into topics of sex and cursing. She's a grown 19 year old finding her direction in the music world full of mass produced commercialization . “What the fuck are perfect places?” she snarls. Lorde might not know yet, but something tells me she will.

Buy "Perfect Places"

The Way I Are (Dance With Somebody)

5/29/2017

Key Lyric: Let's let our heart's bleed until they turn to rust

Bebe Rexha (middle) and Lil Wayne (right) on the set of the as of publication unreleased video for "The Way I Are (Dance With Somebody)"

Bebe Rexha got Lil Wayne to drop a verse on her new single “The Way I Are (Dance With Somebody)” that tragically isn't a reworking of a Timbaland classic. She performed the song accapella in Barcelona after declaring that it was so hot it looked like her “vagina was sweating” through her leotard.

“The Way I Are” is refreshingly straight forward, sing a-long pop circa Kesha 2010 without the autotune and with more hip-hop. It's thankfully not trying too hard. So much pop is trying to be serious, to be just a little off kilter, “The Way I Are” comes for the throat.

Meant to be the lead off for her third EP All Your Fault: Pt. 2 the song is a bigger banger then previous collaboration with rap star Nicki Minaj on “No Broken Hearts”. Lil Wayne needs a chart hit for longevity sake and this could be it. He needs a hit and Bebe's solo material has been long over looked on pop radio.

Buy "The Way I Are (Dance With Somebody)"

Coachella-Woodstock In My Mind

5/22/2017

Key Lyric: Got A Million Things I Wanna Say / Like What Is It All For? Will It Be Okay?

With flowers in her hair, Lana Del Rey is the quintessential Coachella princess and the only artist capable of name dropping it with so much assurance and confidence

Lana Del Rey's fourth major label studio album is shaping up to be the artists most eclectic set yet. The singer recently released, “Coachella-Woodstock In My Mind” that takes her back to the hip-hop roots of Born To Die. It's hard to imagine it fitting within the contextual concept of an album with a “Lust For Life” and “Love”, but we know Lana is more then capable.

The singer revealed that she wrote this song at Coachella- fittingly enough. The song focuses on the political issues surrounding the world, she spoke about this on her Instagram, saying essentially that she felt ingenious to be enjoying life when all these things are happening in our geo-political climate.

Lyrics reference Led Zepplin's eternal, “Stairway To Heaven” and she talks about giving everything away if she could just ask God one question. The main draw of the song is it's topical lyrical content, but regardless it fits into Lana Del Rey's musical canon that she continue defies in regards to her muses.

Buy "Coachella-Woodstock In My Mind"

Malibu

5/15/2017

Key Lyric: I always thought I would sink, so I never swam 

Miley Cyrus has finally debuted her follow up to Bangerz. The era that defined the “real” Miley Cyrus without the trappings of Hannah Montana. New single “Malibu” may come slightly left field, but anyone watching her progression into a softer image shouldn't be that surprised.

The song is more stripped down then previous efforts. Still, Malibu isn't sonically a far cry away from “Adore You”. It seems the natural follow up that Colbie Caillat could use in her arsenal. The song is light breezy and strikingly apolitical. If anything it seems focused on addressing her rekindled love for Liam Hemsworth.

The music video finds similar themes. Miley is in stripped down beauty. There's nothing shocking here. The song succeeds in translating genuine happiness. It's singer-songwriter, it's confessional, but it's very much Miley Cyrus.

Buy "Malibu"

Best Albums of 2016

1/2/2017

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

Anti: Rihanna
4 Stars
Contrary to the title, this album is not a new direction for Rihanna, if anything it seems a natural progression from where Unapologetic left off. The long overdue album is rife with scattered musical genres, that the singer carries with ease. The album is held together by the sheer strength of Rihanna and for that Anti is a singular triumph.

Most Played Song: “Same Ol' Mistakes”

AIM: M.I.A.
3 ½ Stars
British rapper M.I.A . claims this will be her last album. Hopefully that's not the case. She constantly genre bends and innovates and on this album there are clear missteps, but they result from experimentation. A fault I never have with an album. She continues a decade into her career to push timely political topics over seductive beats. This isn't her best, but it's endlessly fascinating.

Most Played Song: “Borders”

7/27: Fifth Harmony
3 Stars
The second album in the Fifth Harmony catalog falls to the same mistake of their debut. It is front loaded with quality songs, but the rest are lackluster. It remains unclear if they will continue on as a Fourth Harmony, but their output remains marked by inescapable singles and rough shod full lengths.

Most Played Song: “That's My Girl”

The Art of Hustle: Yo Gotti
3 Stars
The Memphis rapper finally hit the mainstream after singles like “Errbody” bubbled just under the surface. Nothing on the album lives up to “Down In The DM” or follow up single “Law” for that matter, but the album is unified by Gotti's singular flow. It won't redefine the rap game, but it wasn't meant to.

Most Played Song: “Law”

Big Day In A Small Town: Brandy Clark
4 ½ Stars
Country music is in desperate need of female talent. Brandy Clark offered that with her terrific follow up to her 12 Stories debut. The album is rife with snapshots of a “small town” layered in easy to digest one-two punch of lead single “Girl Next Door” or the ironically funny “Broke”. The album was unfairly overlooked at country radio and features a slew of near perfect songs. They show off the singer's talents for detail and classic story telling.

Most Played Song: “Girl Next Door”

Blood, Sweat, & 3 Years: Cash Cash
4 ½ Stars
No one understands the restraints of Mainstream Top 40 EDM, better then the trio Cash Cash. The 16 track epoch features genre mixing hip hop (“Devil”, “The Gun”) sentimentality (“How To Love”, “Hero”) or crashing climactic EDM drops (“Take Me Home”, “Surrender”). They've never secured a hit stateside, but this album shows versatility and ability to please. The 56 minutes and 46 seconds just flies by.

Most Played Song: “Devil” featuring Neon Hitch, B.o.B. and Busta Rhymes

Dangerous Woman: Ariana Grande
4 Stars
The latest from the pop megastar snagged her multiple Grammy nominations and it certainly plays as a cohesive album (which doesn't mean it's better then 2014's My Everything). The new album is more dark, more edgy. Closing song asks “have you ever seen a princess be a bad bitch?” She pulls it off, restraining her voice, if never quite convincing us she's as dangerous as she claims. The album is complete with songs that could easily vie for radio attention in the coming year.

Most Played Song: “Side To Side” featuring Nicki Minaj

Detour: Cyndi Lauper
4 Stars
80s heavyweight, Cyndi Lauper turned her attention to country music with her latest studio album. Over a three decades long career that's experimented with jazz, electronic, and alternative stylings it's time the icon turned her attention to country music. Detour shows her deft ability to make old material her own, invoking a classic country feel, covering songs by Patsy Cline and featuring appearances from country superstars Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, among others. She subverts and passes expectations.

Most Played Song: “Heartaches By The Number”

Ghostbusters: Soundtrack
3 Stars
Film soundtracks are usually at best a mixed bag (take The Bodyguard), that case is proven on this soundtrack that doesn't quite live up to the quality of the film. There are multiple standout tracks, but nothing that cast itself into iconic territory. With 4 versions of the “Ghostbusters” theme song, you really can't go wrong, but there is still some to be desired.

Most Played Song: “Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)” by Fall Out Boy and Missy Elliott

Girl Problems: Chris Lane
2 ½ Stars
Chris Lane delivers a perfectly acceptable, if forgettable album. The album never replicates the instant connectivity of hit “Fix”. This album could have been recorded by anyone. It makes no impression. His debut album lacks personality and does nothing to separate himself as anything other than a commercial product. The biggest surprise is the inclusion of the Mario hit “Let Me Love You”

Most Played Song: “Fix”

Glory Days: Little Mix
4 Stars
British girl group, Little Mix, delivers on their new album. Starting with the flashy, Zayn bashing “Shout Out To My Ex” the album powers it's way through a string of uptempo numbers, only slowing down for a few tracks. The album covers throwback vibes, EDM drops, and every string of popular musical trends, all without losing their personality. They handle the braggadocio of “Down & Dirty” with a knowing nod. It's all girl power and it's all riotously fun.

Most Played Song: “Shout Out To My Ex”

Glory: Britney Spears
4 ½ Stars
The latest release from the princess of pop finds her delving into a more urban world. Something she's demonstrating by throwing Tinashe and G-Easy onto her tracks. The album isn't perfect, no Britney record is. It's flaws are what make it eminently listenable. It's an album, perfect for 2016, it's an album that you can keep coming back to. Britney didn't let me down with Britney Jean, but for those who were this album should restore all faith in what the star has to offer.

Most Played Song: “Slumber Party”

I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It: The 1975
3 Stars
The longest titled album to ever hit number one in the United States, The 1975 updated their project into full color, since their last album. The new album is as pretentious and overwrought as the title suggests. There are multiple standout moments littered over the extended tracklist, but lead singer Matty Healy is at times to self indulgent to make the album easy to put on. The album rewards repeat listens, unfortunately with a run time of over 70 minutes that can be hard to carve out.

Most Played Song: “Change Of Heart”

Hero: Maren Morris
3 ½ Stars
This year had a string of strong female led country albums (see Cyndi Lauper and Brandy Clark) and Maren Morris was no exception. She had a breakout hit with “My Church” and over the course of the album she demonstrates all facets of where country music is heading with ease and dexterity. The album has received raves across the board, and Colton Haynes has made his appreciation especially known. Hero is a necessary look into one of Nashville's rising star. She swears with comfortable millenial twang and she still goes to church on Sunday with a hangover.

Most Played Song: “80s Mercedes”

Joanne: Lady Gaga
3 ½ Stars
Gaga finally ended her pop hiatus when she returned with “Perfect Illusion”. She's yet to find a hit to hold traction at mainstream radio, but she's showing us a different side on this album. Joanne empties Gaga's roots of EDM. She ditched collaborations with disco producer Giorgio Moroder, and worked with Mark Ronson who failed to yield an “Uptown Funk” for this album. Joanne despite it's flaws, showcases a new Gaga. Her voice is rough, the music is raw, and she seems genuinely enthralled with the material. She ditched the gimmicks, but it wouldn't be a Gaga album without an ode to masturbation. See “Dancing In Circles”. The album has a notable amount of soul bearing “come together” social messages that might make for a breakthrough in light of the 2017 political climate.

Most Played Song: “Come To Mama”

Lemonade: Beyonce
4 Stars
The R&B star has further cemented her position as an icon with Lemonade, certainly one of the most talked about albums of the year. It is both visual and musically progressive and will hopefully snag her a Grammy for album of the year. The album is thoroughly enjoyable, however the subject material can at times be hard to process. It misses the gloss that M.I.A adds to her work and for that her brutal honesty can be difficult to handle all at once.

Most Played Song: “Formation”

Lady Wood: Tove Lo
4 Stars
The heartbroken Swedish heartbreaker titled her album as a veiled sexual gem. Only, Tove Lo would take the artistic initiative to rephrase “lady boner”. The sterling album is the first of two and the concept of the album is frankly lost on me. Regardless it's still a solid piece of good music. She's moody and as frank as ever. Unfairly overlooked by American radio, Lady Wood is a modern and well thought out pop masterpiece complete with electronic flourishes.

Most Played Song: “Cool Girl”

Love You To Death: Tegan & Sara
4 ½ Stars
Canadian sisters Tegan & Sara deliver a near perfect follow up to their first pop outing Heartthrob (which served as a musical guide for Taylor Swift's 1989). It was too gay for mainstream audiences. Lead single “Girlfriend” was a pop explosion that just wasn't relate-able for the heterosexuals. Greg Kurstin lends the album a trendy engineered sound, with the same insightful lyrics the duo is known for.

Most Played Song: “Faint of Heart” and “Dying To Know”

Thank You: Meghan Trainor
3 ½ Stars
The pop star didn't maintain her impressive streak of chart topping worthy singles, but Thank You fits nicely into her existing discography. Meghan Trainor has an irresistble stage presence that doesn't always translate to her singles. She experiments with more hip-hop vibes to her credit (although the Yo Gotti assisted “Better” doesn't land). She's silly and fun all while delivering mind numbing pop hooks. “Me Too” may be too much for the uninitiated, but the album is lauded with other standout tracks. See “Champagne Problems” or the deluxe edition opener “Mom”.

Most Played Song: “No”

Wildfire: Rachel Platten
2 ½ Stars
Taylor Swift approved, Rachel Platten broke out last year with “Fight Song” and it's follow up “Stand By You” finally releasing her debut album at the beginning of 2016. The album is tightly written, but is suffocated by unoriginality. The songs although well written don't POP and it seems unclear who Rachel Platten is. None of the material stands out and if it did it seems dead set on maudlin sentiment. The punchy “Hey Hey Hallelujah” with Andy Grammar is horribly perfunctory, but manages to make an impression. “Astronauts” is one of the few album tracks worth checking out.

Most Played Song: “Fight Song”

This Is What The Truth Feels Like: Gwen Stefani
3 ½ Stars
A shining return from one of 00's greatest stars, Gwen Stefani delivered a current pop album helmed with the help of hitmaker Justin Tranter (“Good For You” , “Centuries” , “Sorry”). The album has a solid EP of personal material. It tends to be the strongest on the album (“Asking For It” is an exception). Gwen suggested that this was a break up album and when she deals with that muse, she full handedly succeeds. The rest of the material, does not live up to the forward thinking process that made “Hollaback Girl” a hit. Although, enjoyable, and a thoroughly good listen, the album reveals less then it suggests, much to it's detriment.

Most Played Song: “Rare”

A Very Kacey Christmas: Kacey Musgraves
4 Stars
The first Christmas album from one of country music's youngest entertainers it lives up to her dereliction for a classic country sound. It's bright and vibrant and the new tracks such as the Leon Bridges duet “Present Without A Bow” and “Ribbons And Bows” are welcome additions to the cluttered Christmas catalog.

Most Played Song: “Ribbons And Bows”

The Weight of These Wings: Miranda Lambert
4 Stars
A sprawling two disc album split into “the nerve” and “the heart”, Miranda Lambert espouses sentiments varied wildly enough that you can't describe this as a breakup album. Many of the songs are soft and introspective, she wisely spends most of the album acknowledging her faults, eschewing blame for her next release. Fans of the singer's quieter material will find this album wonderfully therapeutic.

Most Played Song: “Things That Break”

The Best Album(s) of 2016

Buy

Buy

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The Best Song of 2016

Buy "Same Ol' Mistakes"

Rihanna's near exact replica of the Tame Impala original is anything but radio friendly, but the six minute epic is endlessly listenable.

I'm Not Afraid

8/15/2016

2016's breakout supernatural comedy hit Ghostbusters was packed with projectile vomiting ghouls, four amazing lead women, and a soundtrack to die for. And, who knew Chris Hemsworth was funny?

The album features new music from Zayn. He delivers an easy slice of easy listening with “wHo”. After all who are you going to call when your all alone? Elle King stomps in with her hell raising “Good Girls” and there's enough versions of “Ghostbuster” to make anyone happy. Walk The Moon, Pentatonix, and the original by Ray Parker Jr. all make appearances.

The most inventive of these new additions is the Fall Out Boy/Missy Elliot collaboration, “Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)”. It blends their rock n roll inclinations with Missy's flow for one of the most explosive reimaginations. Expect one of these songs to light up radio this year, especially with the movie's continued successs.

Buy "Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)"

June: The Month of Sequels

5/23/2016

The movie theater this June appears to be full of sequels. Films from every kind of genre are putting in their two cents for a franchise reboot. Sequels are known as being the lesser of two evils, but they've already started summer off well with the return of R rated comedy Neighbors 2 returned with Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, and Zac Galifinakis heading off against the sorority queen Sophie Grace Moretz.

I saw the original Neighbors on the day of my graduation instead of crossing the stage. It was well worth my absence. The only reason you have to not be in the theaters this June is if you have a social life.

Now You See Me 2
June 10th
Follow up to the 2013 heist caper full of magicians, stunts, and realistic death scenes, the four horsemen return in order to expose the unethical practices of a tech magnate. It's all very 21st century Robin Hood of them, we'll have Dave Franco there (without his naked ass) and Morgan Freeman all in an hour and a half of mind bending manipulation that's sure to be worth the thrill of spending $8.25 for a ticket.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2
June 3rd
Who needs to see Civil War when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are coming out of the sewer to save the world? The plot is not important. Megan Fox is returning in a CGI fight fest full of PG-13 comedy and lewd humor. There's nothing better than the summertime to bring you inconsequential movies that will never win an Academy Award.

The Conjuring 2
June 10th
The Warrens are back to investigate a poltergeist in England. It was time to move the franchise across the sea. The original Conjuring was one of those rare breeds of movies that was not only elastically creepy, but also critically appreciated. Sure to build off the old fashioned scares of the last film, there won't be a better movie to get your lover's heart racing.

Finding Dory
June 17th
Ellen Degeneres is back. Our childhood has finally returned. It's been 13 years, since we found Nemo, and there all back. Albert Brooks is back as the domineering voice of Marlin, the well intentioned, over protective father of Nemo. And, we have some newcomers. Off the shore of California living in beautiful Morro Bay are Dory's parents.

This glorious movie is set six months after the conclusion of the last film and Dory has her memory back. She knows that Diane Keaton is her mother and she knows who her father is. So, not only is everyone else looking for Dory, but Dory is finding Dory. It's a messy movie of animation that's sure to break our hearts and make everyone cry. I'm going to be there the Friday it comes out and fuck and child that tries to get in my way. I will bury them. They haven't been waiting as long as I have.