"You're A Hot Mess And I'm Falling For You"

Fangs up Cobra Starship fans, “Hot Mess” has arrived!

Not being hugely familiar with them or a die-hard fan, I found myself able to make a general judgment call on this album without being tainted, but I'm slowly growing to become a fan. As I usually do with new albums, I played it through once to get the feel of the album and then played it through again to form a more solid opinion. Usually with time tracks grow on me but this review is the real raw first impression.
Overall, it’s not a bad album. The songs are all cleverly done and catchy with creative song titles to draw you in. You’ll find them all enjoyable with beats that could set the perfect background music to any picturesque summer scene. I almost picture a game of beach volleyball or a nice boardwalk run. The problem with this album though is after the first play you remember that it was enjoyable, but not much more. Not many tracks really stand out right away or could stand-alone and step away from the rest as a stand-alone track.
Obviously the album’s first single, “Good Girls Go Bad” stands out and probably also takes the title of the album’s best track.
The other song that also is able to accomplish this among the rest is the title song, “Hot Mess,” which I’ve really come to like as well.
A few others worth highlighting are “Wet Hot Summer,” “The World Will Never Do” and bonus track from the deluxe version “I May Be Rude But I’m The Truth.” All of these songs immediately stuck with me for one reason or another and had a little uniqueness to them. I'm sure with time, more of the tracks will grab my attention. In fact, as the album plays a third time through I'm coming to enjoy some of the other tracks more, so definitely give it a couple listens.
Overall, with a few hits and highlights, it is a fun album to just sit and enjoy in the moment.

"Boom, Shake, Now I'm Awake"

No one can deny the talent that is Rob Thomas. Matchbox Twenty is amazing, his debut solo album is great and his follow-up is even better. “Cradlesong” delivers a string of tracks that play straight through and don’t allow you to stop and switch along the way. Each song grabs you in a different way and makes you pay attention through the use of catchy hooks and beats.
The lead single, “Her Diamonds,” is incredibly powerful lyrically and really draws you in to the emotion.
“Hard On You” is one of my favorite tracks on the album because it has this raw truth to it that is amazing. The lyrics are so easily relatable and the beat is so fun that you cannot help but come to love it.
Another song I’ve come to love is “Still Ain’t Over You.” It has this slight rock vibe and rawness to it that takes over and draws you in to it. The drums catch you and the guitars sound so great on this track.
The album is far from a sophomore slump, no curse whatsoever, and a great piece of art from another artist who doesn’t get nearly as much publicity as he deserves.

"This World Is Crazy And It Blows My Mind"

I cannot believe it has taken me this long to review this album. I got it a couple months ago and it has quickly become one of my current favorite albums. It is hard to make an album with strong upbeat and slow tracks but Kevin Rudolf's "In The City" does it wonderfully. Every song is amazing and there is an unusual versatility to the album, which provides something for everyone.
With lead off hits "Let It Rock" and "Welcome to the World," Rudolf quickly earned a place in the iTunes top ten downloaded songs and continued to stay in the top 100 for quite some time, as well as garnering much radio air time all across the nation.
Each song truly has its own unique feel and my favorite track changes almost with each lesson or dependent upon my current mood. "Great Escape" is a great powerful track for when you need to take a few minutes to get away from your thoughts; it's a great track to truly get lost in the music. "Scarred" is another favorite slower track of mine. The lyrics are great ones to really take a listen to and are very easily relatable.
"Coffee and Donuts" has a fun almost swing jazz vibe to it that makes it truly unique and fun to listen to, you can almost image the choreography in your head.
Truly an album of hits, that I've found fun to listen to in multiple places, times and situations and an underrated artist to watch out for in the future!

"The Energy Never Dies," Go For The Ride

I honestly did not have very high expectations when I bought Black Eyed Peas’ latest release, "The E.N.D." I knew I loved “I Gotta Feeling,” but was expecting the other tracks on the album to fall short of the feel and hype of this song and previous single, “Boom Boom Pow.” Thankfully for me my $13.99 was well spent (hey, broke college students have to spend their money wisely) and I have another fun album to add to my collection.
The album’s lyrical content isn’t anything spectacular but it does feature a variety of dance beats, which work well with the title of “The Energy Never Dies,” and showcase a taste of different styles of music.
The song, “Missing You” stands out as one of my favorite tracks on the album. Fergie’s voice starts out the song, opening with a clarity that hits you. The beat builds ups from the beginning, slowly increasing and making for an overall great track that resonates with you instantly.
“Now Generation” stands out as a song that immediately gives off the impression of being different. Telling of the impatient society we live in today, the song features Fergie with an almost bluesy rock vibe to her vocals that sounds unusual and unique for her.
I purchased the limited edition two-disc version of this album that contains an additional ten songs to the original 15. These tracks aren’t nearly as good or as well done as the rest of the album, but are still worth having in my (or your if you’re a BEP fan) music library. Many are just remixes of previous BEP hits like “Don’t Phunk With My Heart,” “Pump It” and “Let’s Get It Started,” which provide a fun new twist on some of their classic hits.
Overall it was a definite pleasant surprise and will be a great album to play at parties and social gatherings that require a little extra “boom, boom, boom.”

"Break Out The Battle Tapes, Set Your Mind To Erase"

Take all of your preconceived notions about what music is supposed to sound and then take a listen to Wired All Wrong. Chances are you are going to find their sound both refreshing and original. Once you have a listen, I can almost guarantee you will want to listen again.
The band is comprised of Matt Mahaffey and Jeff Turzo. Originally from separate bands, the pair is most notably known in the music [industry] for their contributions to Hellogoodbye’s “Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!” album, mixing songs and bringing the freshness that accompany the band’s unique sound.
In creating their own album they wanted something totally unique and their own; mission accomplished. With a various mix of instruments and combination of sounds, the result is a combination of alternative, electronic and metal that is truly pleasing to the ears.
2006 saw the release of the band’s debut album, “Break Out the Battle Tapes.” The album starts off with “15 Minutes,” a song filled with hints of static and rocking guitars, and ends with “End of All Things,” a somewhat slow song that helps you wind down off the trip the album just you on. Every song is unique and the album should be played in order to get the full impact of the album.
Truly a fun group of songs; check out Wired All Wrong and see for yourself!


*Review originally published Mars Area High School Planet Press, Volume 80, Issue 6

They're "Calling Your Bluff" (Again)

Ever since I discovered My Favorite Highway, over a year ago, I have been waiting anxiously for them to release a full-length album. Their debut, “How to Call A Bluff,” referencing a previous song title, does not even begin to disappoint. These guys are incredibly talented, and still relatively unknown.
The guys did a fantastic job writing the songs that truly stick with you. Each has its own unique twist but keep with the overall style of the album, which is a gentle, almost acoustic, pop sound. Most tracks feature guitars and drums, but occasionally piano is thrown in for a definite treat. It’s unexpected and brings a unique vibe to the songs, really an amazing thing to hear. The piano allows for the vocals to shine through. This creates a definite emotion that resonates with you, allowing you to feel the rawness of it all and begin to imagine the story behind the words.
My favorite track has to be “Bittersweet Life.” It’s absolutely incredible. From the start you know you’ve hit a special song on the album. It’s completely powerful, grabbing you and forcing you to keep up with it immediately. Not long and it has pulled you in, allowing you to feel the raw emotion and find yourself singing along to all of the words.
My Favorite Highway is an incredible talent, waiting to officially emerge on the music scene. Hopefully this album will gain them some more fans and make people begin to take notice of their abilities.

"They Play This Damn Song In Every Club... But It's Me So I'll Show Love"

Hugely popular in Australia, The Veronicas are slowly growing in popularity in the United States. Their album “Hook Me Up” is a fun pop album that showcases the girls’ vocal talents (all the while bringing you catchy hooks and songs that would bring life to any party).
The tracks each have their own unique sounds, very different from the others, which allow for a creative album that keeps your interest.
A track that immediately caught my attention was “Insomnia.” It has an immediate haunting vibe and the tempo of the vocals is fast-paced to keep in the style of the song as it takes over you. It almost feels quick or gives you an image of watching a chase as it progresses.
“Popular” is another standout track on the album for its in-your-face lyrics, not a song for the modest. It’s a song to blast with your shades on in a stern stance to all of your “haters.”
Lastly, another stand out, and my favorite track, has to be “Hook Me Up.” With lyrics that any one can relate to, it talks of exploring something new in a feeling of inadequate, boring, or being in some sort of “not nearly as successful as you could be” state of mind or lifestyle.
All of the songs have the ability to make you feel the emotions meant to be portrayed and bring a sense of fun that you can’t help but be drawn to and find enjoyable.

"Persistance, Resistance, One Man Can Make A Difference"

In mid-2005, CBS debuted “Rockstar: INXS,” a show searching for the next lead singer of the rock group INXS. The band suffered the tragic loss of original front man Michael Hutchence in 1997 after decades of performing and making great music. Through this show, the world was introduced to a relatively unknown artist by the name of Marty Casey. Casey finished second on the show, but this may have proven to be the best thing for him, allowing him to release this disc with his band of “lovehammers.” The self-titled album is a fist pumping, sing along and rock out good time from start to finish. It is definitely a high-energy album that catches your attention and Casey’s voice draws you in to listen on and on. His voice has a raw rock vibe that you can’t help but find enjoyable.
The lead single, “Trees,” debuted on the show and became an instant favorite among fans. You cannot help but smile and form some sort of connection with the lyrics. All of the songs are creative, with poetic and fun to listen to lyrics that make you think about their meaning after the song is over. All of the songs are on the rock side and are all basically close to the same medium tempo. There is not one track that you feel the need to skip, allowing the album to play straight through finishing before you realize it is even over and you have to start it all over again.
It is one of those albums that is just fun to listen to and enjoy without questioning it, satisfying fans' need for their music and waiting anxiously to hear more.

Let The Beat Drop

DJ iShine recently released his mainly instrumental debut album “Suite 11” after much anticipation and I’m here to tell you it was definitely worth the wait. Known around the campus of Ohio University as a producer of beats and founder of his own record label, 1Side Music, iShine has been gaining recognition and respect while turning out hits for his artists for a little while now, finally releasing some of his own personal work. A mainly instrumental album can be a hard sell. It has to be done just right to be able to reach a nice-sized audience and not just a select few. The album is a perfect blend of iShine’s crafted beats mixed in with guest vocals on a few select tracks from artists on his label. The tracks have a great flow to them that allow for the album to move well from track to track. The beats are interesting and set a mood, not just acting as elevator-type music or background music. The songs with vocals are well placed within the album structure to help break up the songs that are straight beats. The featured artists really impressed me as well with their added talents to the already good album. The opening track “Evening Hour” features rapper DC da King of Hearts who helps set the tone and get the listener pumped for the rest of the album. Natalie Chapman’s vocals on “All 4 You” sound crystal clear and flawless and Ethan White brings the hint of mystery needed to “Schizophrenia.” It is truly a hot album to play at parties or social gatherings. It’s an album you can have fun with or just chill and enjoy on your own. It is definitely an instrumental album done right, meant to be shared with the masses and played in the clubs.

To download Suite 11 for free straight from DJ iShine himself:
http://www.myspace.com/djishine

"Climb On, Climb On Board"

iTunes recently featured the Friendly Fires in their free video of the week segment for “Skeleton Boy.” I was immediately drawn to the video’s creative nature and really began to love the song that went along with it. Before I knew it, I kept listening again and again. I looked for their album to see if the rest of it was as good as this single and was not disappointed. The Friendly Fires’ self-titled release is a fun electro-pop record that is both creative and original in its own way. It’s like a combination of 80s meets current pop that has you wanting to play it over and over again and jam and sing along. The album features a variety of instruments in the beats that add to its overall appeal, like that of Hellogoodbye or Wired All Wrong and hits you with things reminiscent of Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears or Duran Duran. The vocals are pleasing to the ears and their videos are pleasing to the eyes, almost mesmerizing. It is truly the right unique combination of sounds that you come to love more and more with each listen. Definitely a great album to listen to when you have nothing else to do or to go on a long drive with to your favorite destination with the windows down and the volume up (like there’s any other proper way).

Do You Want To Be Free?

Sometimes you just need that relaxing type of music that just makes you feel good and put you in a sense of ease. The type of music that you can sit back after a hard day at work and just enjoy with a cup of coffee, tea, or your favorite drink of choice. The type of music you can just listen to and love for what it is while it accompanies you on a stroll around the neighborhood. For times such as this and more Gavin DeGraw’s latest release, “Free” is a perfect fit. The album is melodic and DeGraw’s vocals give off a raw feel, which draws you in to listen. The songs all have relatively low tempos and can be great background music to finishing up projects, your thoughts, or just taking it easy. The songs seem powerful and have a certain quality about them that makes you want to keep taking a listen over and over again. My personal favorite track by far on the album is “Dancing Shoes.” The song is really fantastic. It is one of those songs you will find yourself singing along to when you get in a certain mood while it takes you to another place. Of all of the songs on the album that one definitely stands out among the rest and has definitely become one of my new favorite songs.
Gavin Degraw’s “Free” shows off a slower side in comparison to some of his other songs such as “I’m in Love With a Girl” and “I Don’t Wanna Be.” It is an album that just feels raw and real and easily relatable to anyone. The songs are either your classic ballad types with piano or songs that just have a unique groove to them that you just learn to love. It is truly a great slow album to just sit back and enjoy any time of the day.

Ms. Keri Ba-by

When Timbaland sent his shock wave through the music industry, he introduced the world to a relatively unknown talent named Keri Hilson. (Some may also remember her having a cameo in Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous” video along with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.) Upon hearing Keri’s verses many began to wonder who this girl with the excellent vocals was and when she would be releasing an album of her own. After much anticipation, especially due to the mass amount of singles released before, Ms. Keri’s debut album dropped on March 21, garnering much positive feedback. It seems it was well worth the wait.
Hilson has many collaborations on the album, all of which work wonderfully, including Lil Wayne, Keyshia Cole, Trina, Kanye West, Ne-Yo, Akon and of course Timbaland. Most of the songs are mid-tempo R&B tracks with a few surprises along the way. My personal favorites on the album are currently “Get Your Money Up (feat. Trina and Keyshia Cole)” and “How Does It Feel.” Both have great beats, which only add to their song’s overall appeal. Every song on the album however has something about it that sets it apart to make it great. With every listen a new track stands out to me. It’s truly a fun album with tracks that have much club appeal that new and old fans of Hilson will love.
Hilson needed an album that would stand out and showcase her talents and she definitely got it right with the release of this album. “In a perfect world” all artists would find an album that suits their style and is able to appeal to broad audiences as well as this album is able to do.

"The Best Part of Me Was Always You"

Most albums take a few listens to really get the grasp of them. You may like most of the tracks but there’s always those select few that don’t really catch your attention or need a few more listens. This is not the case with The Script’s debut, self-titled album. After the first listen I couldn’t help but smile and say wow that was amazing, almost a magical combination of superb musicality. It truly is a masterpiece and definitely makes the list of one of my favorite albums of all time, forever having a place in my heart and music library. I immediately texted a friend of mine and told them I had an album they had to check out as soon as possible. It was that good.
The Script is relatively unknown in the States, hailing from Dublin, Ireland, but they are quickly growing in popularity. Every song is uniquely theirs and has a sound all its own. The vocals hit you with a strength that is unbelievable. You cannot help but sit up and take notice. You can tell the artist believes each word with his whole heart, which makes for believable songs that resonate with you for a long time after the initial listen. There’s just an unbelievable power to the vocals, which go almost unmatched. The lyrics themselves are incredibly relatable to begin with and make you think about your own life and the people you surround yourself with in your daily routine. They talk of the hardships commonly found in life, some that are over publicized as well as others not brought to our attention enough, and working to overcome them. They talk of mistakes and misfortunes, hopes of going back and trying to change it all, as well as dealing with the consequences of reality. Each song is unique, with its own story to tell in its own way, aiding to the overall appeal. It truly is an amazing album and enough good things cannot be said.
It is truly an album that anyone can find something to relate to and enjoy. You’ll take a listen and immediately fall in love with The Script. Unsure? Then see this as a challenge and take a listen. I promise you won’t be sorry.

***If you enjoy their studio album I highly suggest their live album (from London Festival ’08). It is possibly even better than the studio version, absolutely fantastic.

Out Of The Darkness

Darkness, creativity, light. Estonia’s Kerli Koiv brings all of these things together in one cohesive concept on her debut album, “Love is Dead.” The album’s dark and gothic colors and art and give off a very haunting vibe, but much the lyrical content couldn’t be brighter. It’s a common trend on the album and in Koiv’s videos, in which illusion and masking make you realize things are not always as they seem. The album’s first single of the same name, “Love is Dead,” has one of the most visually interesting videos I’ve ever seen in my life. The video starts out with an old, almost dying woman with death and despairtity surrounding her and as the song progresses she becomes younger, freeing herself of her depression and coming back to life and color. Her second single, “Walking on Air,” also has a video that is visually dynamic and takes you on a trip through the unique, somewhat horrific world Koiv has created. The track “The Creationist” talks of making your own way in life and loving and embracing everything life has to offer you. Koiv also shows off her humorous side on the track “Creepshow,” poking fun at the fact that her country is relatively unknown and “nobody knows where it’s at.” She also gives us a taste of her native tongue on a few verses of the song.
The struggles in her life are shown on the album through the tracks, “Hurt Me” (a fun dance track that is my personal favorite on the album and also a mainstay on my iTunes Top 25 Most Played), and “Fragile” (one of the album’s more ballad-like tracks). In both she takes the opportunity to talk back to those that have hurt her in the past.
The lyrical content of each song is great and her voice is incredibly unique and different. Each song is different in its own way, with a very unique sound making it an album you can play straight through, enjoying each and every moment. With Koiv, things are not what they immediately seem and her unique take on the world and music through her songs and videos is something to take notice of and embrace. She is a big supporter of going your own way in life and embracing the things that you enjoy most and never letting anything get in your way or slow you down. With her music, you finish listening with a feeling of optimism and acceptance, that overall, “the world is wonderful.”

All You Ever Wanted

A few months short of a year since her last release, “My December,” Kelly Clarkson is back with “All I Ever Wanted.” The album’s leading track and first single gives off a fun pop vibe and the video seems to pick up right where “Breakaway” success “Since You Been Gone” left off. The whole album gives off a message of self-redemption, moving on or selfishness. It is truly an album of the self and is all about wants and needs. The content is easily relatable and each track has either a slightly more pop or slight rock vibe that are all super fun to dance and sing along to; warning: you will be caught rocking out in your room to this one! (It is just going to happen, love and embrace it now.) The album’s three slower tracks showcase Clarkson’s voice and range and have a certain power to them. Each track is very separate and has uniqueness to it that makes you want to take a listen and figure out what they are all about. Each song showcases her voice in all its capacity and give you a taste of all she can do. There is not a song that disappoints or one to skip on this one. It is definitely a radio friendly album and hopefully going to be a comeback to big success for Clarkson.

Proven Not To Be A "One-Trick Pony"

There is much to be said about Nelly Furtado’s sophomore album “Folklore.” It is truly one of those albums that can help you through the hard times and its lyrical content is a cross between empowerment and self-satisfaction. Each song tells a story and the album takes the listener on a journey in self-discovery that can differ with each additional listen. The album’s track, “Try” is a masterpiece in and of itself, talking of growing up and learning the hard lessons in life about yourself and those around you. The songs each have their own unique sound and paint pictures in your mind. The song “Explode,” is a fun track with a dark meaning showcasing the hardest hardships of individuals in society, just trying not to be overwhelmed in their difficulties. The most powerful empowerment track would have to be “Forca,” which translates to “keep going” or roughly to strength, giving the listener a sense that it is all going to be ok. It is one of those songs you can really belt out and celebrate to whether you are alone or in a group. Furtado’s voice has a unique quality and sound to it that makes every track individual and remarkable. It is truly an album that can “build you up” and will never let you down.

"I Wrote Every Word For You, I Hope You Know"

January 2009 brought about many things: the coming of a new year, the inauguration of President Barack Obama and the long awaited release of Brannigan Dastardly’s debut album, “The Last Great Summer Romance.” After two years of hard work, Nic Prellwitz (a senior at Ohio University) and Joel Pendery (a grad student and Ohio State University alum) released their album at an album release show at The Donkey, a local coffee shop surrounding Ohio University where Nic attends. The release was met by much excitement and praise of the band’s supporters.
The coffee shop setting suits their folk acoustic style that is both mellow and has a quality about it that cannot help but make you smile and be filled with hope and optimism. The songs’ lyrical content is both unique and poetic and not your generic set of lyrics. They are lyrics that are easily relatable and make you think about the content. The songs all have a similar style but also have a nice variety to them. The band’s first single, “Caught My Attention,” is probably the most pop of the bunch, while the album’s final track, “The Credits,” bring you to the stage and gives off the most raw acoustic feel. Their love of music keeps them writing even after the release of this terrific album. Hopefully whatever they come up with next will be music that is as melodic, lyrically poetic and truly pleasing to the ears as “Romance”.

Lyrical Poetry: T.I.A.

I was first introduced to artist K’naan through his amazing collaboration with Nelly Furtado, “Going Away.” (It’s definitely a track to check out if you have yet to hear it. YouTube it.) The unique vibe and flow that K’naan brought to that track with the famed artist of folklore created something that was truly a breath of fresh air.
His latest release, “Troubadour,” doesn’t disappoint. The first track “T.I.A (This is Africa)” sets the scene allowing K’naan to establish who he is as an artist (seemingly saying, “here I am, take notice!”) and show off the cultural inspiration of the album. The collaborations on the album are varied and showcase different styles that make them both reminiscent of the featured artist’s catalog but with a twist. This creates for an overall interesting group of songs. His collaboration with front man of band Maroon 5 Adam Levine is a definite standout, as is his collaboration with Metallica’s Kirk Hammett. The track featuring Levine titled, “Bang Bang,” was recently featured as the free download of the week on Apple’s iTunes, quickly receiving many positive reviews. The two have such distinctive sounding voices and styles that it makes for a sound that is truly pleasing and fun to the listener.
One of the greatest things about the album is K’naan’s use of instruments such as trumpets, organs, and strings in addition to the other usual album instruments such as guitars and drums, which aid to the overall appeal of the album. The lyrical content isn’t half bad either. The songs truly give you an image of a place outside of your own. They take you to where K’naan has been and give you an insight into who he is as a person and give a highly personal air that allows you to begin to relate or sympathize with him easily. His vocals have strength that back up the words he uses for an overall great feel that makes you take a listen.
Right now K’naan is relatively unknown, but I am sure it is only a matter of time before many people start to take notice of his creativity and see the impact he could have in changing the way modern hip hop is viewed. He’s definitely an artist with a new album to pick up and to watch out for in the near future.