Album Review - T. I Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head

Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head, hmm, T.I might not be as complicated as he says on "Can You Learn." The rest of the album, especially "Trap Back" and "Wildside" show him as the drug abusing/slinging, gun totting, bad boy that he will always be. At least that's the picture he paints. That he may want to change, but the thuggin' will always be apart of him. Something that isn't new to rappers. Overall, the beats are lackluster and T.I doesn't go as hard as he can. Here's a lazy breakdown by song.  

Album Review - Copperfox 'From The Den EP'

Copperfox, Lisa Garcia and Rory Mohon, created a small collection of mellow, calming music. The type of music I listened to while studying Organic Chemistry, praying I would remember the required equations. I didn't, but I did remember the words to Cat Powers "The Greatest." But I digress.

The lyrics are sufficiently moody, "Lover," and emotional to go along with the music. So no depressing melody backing jolly words of trips to Disneyland. All the tracks, including the mid-tempo Wallflowers-esque "We Know," fit in with the 90's melodrama television soundtracks. I can see a scene in Felicity, one of my favorite shows, where Felicity and Ben make up as Garcia sings "you got the best, you got the best of me."

And I can definitely hear "Be Careful" on Grey's Anatomy; probably a scene between Owen and Yang. Someone make it happen.

Album Review - Daniel Johnson "Extracolor"

Daniel Johnson's new album "Extracolor" is closer to the album I wish Patrick Stump put out. It is a combination of many styles and genres; creating many hits and few misses. I must admit, on first listen I thought there were far more misses. But the second, more focused listen, made me understand the uniqueness of this album. Is it going to be the stand out album of 2012, probably not. Does it deserve attention for not being another dub step, electronica, dance floor album, YES. Take a break from Gaga and Perry and try something new.

Stand out tracks: Zhivago, I Believe, and Powerlines

Read the Q&A I did with him here, and check out his website.

Album Review - Little Dragon "Ritual Union"

Source:npr.com

Little Dragon has always been like this group that could have gone the Sade direction, but went more towards Zero 7. Their new album, Ritual Union, with its electronic-soul sound, isn't a complete change of pace for the band but it is a bit quirkier.

As a whole, I prefer Debute for the emotional ache you could feel in almost every song. But there are definitely some stand out tracks on this one. "Summertearz" sounds like a battle to not be sad during a time that should be happy. "Please Turn" and "Shuffle a Dream" have a bit of a Blondie sound in the background that stand out but don't dominate. And the title track, had my head bopping immediately.

Ritual Union is not a dance album, but remixers and Djs could have a field day with it. I can't wait to hear what they do with it. Listen to the full album on NPR.

Album Review - Pitbull 'Planet Pit'

photosource: music.aol.com
Quite the chameleon Pitbull seems to always be adapting to the current trend of music, but always putting his flavor on it. Which is what his does on his new effort, Pit Planet; an album of dance-club tracks that mostly leave me wanting more Reggaeton and less glow sticks. The tracks that do stand out are the ones they chose to be singles, "Give Me Everything" and "Hey Baby." Along with those, "Something for the DJs" and "Come 'N' Go" have something a little extra or different from the rest of the tracks. The rest of the tracks are just more of the same club fair being pumped out by everyone. Overall, the album is okay, I wish their were more standout tracks though. You can read my track by track notes after the jump.

Album Review - Jessica 6 "See the Light"

   Jessica 6 is definitely a go see live act. A couple of months ago I saw them at U Street Music Hall. I went to the show after listening to two or so songs, honestly because it was something to do. I was completely impressed; from the music, the dancing, Nomi Ruiz's, lead singer, abs, everything exceeded my expectations. Their album See the Light was released yesterday, so I took some time to give it a spin.
   I say this a lot, but I can see myself playing the whole album straight while cleaning my apartment; dancing and singing to make the cleaning more enjoyable. You know the "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down" approach. Tracks like "Freak the Night" are mellow goodness that will permeate your brain, and then you catch yourself singing along without realizing you knew the words.

Album Review - Brett Dennen "Loverboy"

Source: aol.com
Brett Dennen combines folk, afro-beats, and funk to make his own brand of music that works partly because of his unique voice. His latest release, Loverboy, keeps in step with his last album. A great collection of sometimes thought provoking, yet fun tracks that some how surprise you with how great they are; both lyrically and musically. You can listen to the whole album here.
Stand out tracks: "Only Rain," "Comeback Kid," "Song For Leaving"

Album Review - Mac Miller 'On and On and Beyond'

Source: music.aol.com
C+
XXL Freshman Class member Mac Miller's debut album, On and On and Beyond, comes out this week. I don't really have much to say about it; I expected much better. Overall the whole album sounds like a lazy 90's summer playlist; non-thought provoking subject matter, chill beats, and a young feel. Like it would be on the soundtrack to "The Wackness," a good movie by the way. Stand out tracks: On and On and In the Air . You can listen to his debut here.

Album Review - Sky Ferreira "As If"

As If! EP: A-
I love Miley Cyrus, but Sky Ferreira is who she wishes she could be. Ferriera is a teenager who is making the music she wants without really having to worry about being a role model. She sings about not being ashamed of loving sex on her Katy Perry like opening track "Sex Rules." I'm not naive or a prude, but when I found out her age I did wince a little bit. Being only 17, I'm sure some religious parent organization is already boycotting her in some way. Despite that, her debut As If! EP is electronic pop goodness, especially for someone so young. Read a track by track review after the jump. And listen to the whole EP here.

Album Review - Jennifer Hudson "I Remember Me"

Instead of a long post about the album, I'm going to summarize my feelings about this album as such: LSNE = Lots of sizzle not enough spark, Broadway = Someone will be belting this out despite whether they can sing or not, Cut It Out = The album could have done without this, Heavy Rotation = Will be playing this on repeat, and Meh = Song left me feeling nothing.

Heavy Rotation = "Angel," "Don't Look Down," "I Got This"
LSNE = "No One Gonna Love You," "I Remember Me," "Still Here"
Broadway = "Why Is It So Hard," "Believe"
Cut It Out = "Everybody Needs Love," "Feeling Good"(Had to play the Buble version to get this out of my ears)
Meh = "Where You At," "Gone"

C+/B- A lot of the tracks could go in the meh category actually. She clearly wasn't trying to make an album for the masses, and I commend her for that. You can listen to full album here.

Why Bruno Mars Should Be In the Top 10 of 2010?

If you haven't heard 'Doo-Wops and Hooligans' you haven't heard some of the best Glee worthy songs of the year. Blow, coke, white girl, snow, whatever you call cocaine must be an excellent muse cause all the popular artists have been caught/admit to using it lately. Including Mr. #1 himself, Bruno Mars. His debut album is a fusion of doo-wop, R&B, pop, and a hint of folk and reggae. My favorite on the ablum, "Grenade," puts that insecure feeling of caring so much for someone, while they don't care at all for you, into poetry with a catchy "Cry Me A River" like feel. It has a chance at being another #1 for Mars.

Why Katy Perry Should Be In the Top 10 of 2010?

    Katy Perry had one of the bests albums of 2010; not only by chart success.  You might be thinking QUE!?, but I'm serious.  If you are a fan of pop, dance, or 80's music "Teenage Dream" blends all of those styles wonderfully.  And Perry's voice works perfectly for this kind of music.  Tracks like 'Peacock', 'Who Am I Living For?', and 'E.T' are crafted so well for Perry's style and the type of music that is popular now.  That dance club music that gets people to jump around and forget their problems.  Another example, Firework, showcases Perry's vocal talent, something few notice, and makes you wish you could dance forever.  I could play this album all the way through.  The music snob in me knows there are other dance acts out there that have been making this type of music for years, and better, but mainstream wise this album kicked butt.

Last Stop To Paris

        I finally listened to Diddy Dirty Money's Last Train To Paris, and to my chagrin the album doesn't suck. Some songs are actually pretty good, but Diddy should not be allowed to sing. I feel like if someone else was singing/rapping that I would like it more. The whole album sort of reminds me of FutureSex/LoveSounds; futuristic, with a mix of hip hop, pop, and a splash of rock. Not the best album this year, but a solid effort by someone who probably should have retired a decade ago. Hint hint Brett Favre. Stand out tracks include Loving You No More, Ass On The Floor(Swizz Beats did a good job on the beat), and Yeah Yeah You Would. Honorable mention goes to Shades(I love my husband, JT, "rapping" on the track)and Yesterday.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Brilliance

         Quincy Jones was correct in saying you shouldn't compare him and Kanye West as producers; that's only because in comparison West is still pretty young in the game. In twenty years West can be every bit as prolific and varied in his producing as Jones. Jones' remarks came off hostile and as bitter as Lil' Kim's reaction to Nothing But Ass Nicki Minaj's rise. He has the career to back up his claims, but he clearly didn't notice how Kanye(extremely arrogant) he was being when he made the comment. Sounds like they have more in common than he wants to admit.
          Anywho, that brings me to West's new masterpiece 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy', which will no doubt be the #1 album this week. I have not come across a single site, magazine, blog, facebook/twitter status that says anything negative about this album. If interrupting the golden child's(Taylor Swift)acceptance speech caused him to reflect and create an album like this, than I think that was the best thing the golden child has done. I don't care what anyone says every one of West's albums have been all the way live(sorry for the dated slang)from start to finish.