Throwback Blog #1

Aight guys, so every now and then, I'm gonna talk about some songs that you may have forgotten about (or, in some cases, wish you'd forgotten about.) Let's start this, shall we?

Ella, ella, ella, eh eh eh
Released in 2007, Rihanna's Umbrella was was a chart thrasher. Since then, the song has been remixed to hell, including remixes by Shaggy, Lil' Mama, Chris Brown, and Travis Barker; on top of it, the song has been covered by everyone and their mother including All Time Low, Boyce Avenue, and Plain White T's. However, thanks to its multitude of remakes and remixes, the original is getting cool again. I've seen it aired now multiple times on vh1 and mtv, signaling America's "okay" for hearing this overplayed song again.



My Heart is Crushed by a Former Love
Though The All-American Rejects have just come back into the swing of things with killer singles such as Gives You Hell and I Wanna, along with their newest track The Wind Blows, we can't forget where AAR came from. Their EP, Same Girl New Songs was actually chock full of strong unique tracks coupled with tracks that would later be re-vamped to appear on their debut self-titled album The All-American Rejects. I still count that CD as one of my favorites of all time. The second I heard Swing, Swing I ran out and purchased the album. My sophomore year of high school was all about this cd, until someone stole my cd player in gym class. In an attempt to download the cd again (the RIAA wasn't suing back then, folks) I accidentally the EP and fell in love. I managed to get a copy of the debut album, and still listen to it basically all the time. With the singles Swing, Swing, The Last Song, Time Stands Still, and My Paper Heart, this was truly an album to be reckoned with.



I dunno, Meth is a hell of a drug, Peter...
The Black Eyed Peas have made one hell of a comeback. After Fergie and Will.I.Am's solo careers, I was more than nervous for the return of the group. They've not only managed to pull it off, but they've also managed to reinvent themselves for a new era of pop artists. We can't, however, forget some of the beautiful tracks they've put out in the past - Hey Mama, Let's Get Retarded, My Humps, Don't Phunk With My Heart.... all total hits. Their newest single is called "I Gotta Feeling" and is definitely different than anything they've ever put out.

He pointed to his heart, mind, and ears.

Brown is Real
The All-American Rejects have a new video for The Wind Blows. Honestly, I've heard a good chunk of this album, and this is not one of the songs I would have put out as a single. My favorites are Another Heart Calls featuring The Pierces and Mona Lisa (When the World Comes Down). This song... I can honestly do without. Sorry AAR, I just liked your self-titled album best (though the EP Same Girl, New Songs had some catchy stuff.)

(for the life of me, I couldn't find an embeddable version of the music video. Sorry that I had to use this.)



E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
Adele has a new single called Hometown Glory. I first heard this song a year ago on the reality show So You Think You Can Dance (a show I will most likely be reporting on both blogs) and I loved the dance that accompanied it. While the music video is incredibly lacking, I can assume they didn't want to tear away from Adele's stellar vocals. While, for the most part, her music isn't exactly my style, no one can say that the woman can't sing. Considering she just turned 21 last month, she has a set of pipes that would make people who've been training for decades give up their profession. Watch the dance below, and check out her music video on youtube.

Album Review - All I Ever Wanted

Album Review - Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted


Kelly Clarkson's new album, All I Ever Wanted, may have been released back in March, but I only just got my hands on it. You'll just have to trust that I do more than blog, and wasn't able to get my hands on it.

Well, we can't talk about the new album without talking about the old albums, so we'll start there.
Let's forget about Thankful. Lord knows the rest of the world did. For all intents and purposes, Clarkson's career really took off with the success of Breakaway. A stellar album where every song could have been single, that album made everyone either respect or resent her. Since U Been Gone, originally slated to go to that kinderwhore Hillary Duff, became one of the biggest singles in the history of ever. Her following releases, Behind these Hazel Eyes, Because of You, and Walk Away all were beautiful gems.
Important Fact: Clarkson is only credited with partial writing credits for five songs from Breakaway.

Her next album, My December, was a huge source of controversy. While Clarkson was more or less in charge of the album, it failed to meet the standards set by Breakaway.
Important Fact: Kelly is credited with writing credits for every song on the album.

All I Ever Wanted is, so far, a huge success. I've listened to the entire album a few times, along with hearing the singles My Life Would Suck Without You and I Do Not Hook Up hundreds of time. This round, Clarkson has cut back on her writing and focused more on her performance. Collaborating with multiple producers and writers including Katy Perry and Ryan Tedder (of OneRepublic) has given this album farther opportunity for lyrical and aural perfection. Whether Clarkson is proud of this album or not is unknown, but I personally think she has every right to be. For starters, the tracks I Do Not Hook Up and Longshot were both originally written and recorded by Katy Perry back in 2004. I'm thrilled that Perry passed her reins; Clarkson's versions offer so much more in energy and vocal prowess than Katy Perry could ever muster up. Teaming up with Ryan Tedder for Already Gone gives the track a feel similar to that of OneRepublic's Say (All I Need), with the emotion and raw power that only KC could provide. The album just wouldn't be the same without bitter breakup songs such as If I Can't Have You or solid bonus tracks such as The Day We Fell Apart. It retains it's strength as a party album with tracks like Whyyawannabringmedown, but allows Kelly to truly show her range and power with rock-ballands like Cry and If No One Will Listen.
All in all, I'm more than proud of Kelly's progress with this album.
Important Fact: Clarkson is credited on writing only seven tracks on the album (including the bonus tracks.)

Long story short, I definitely recommend this album. Get in on it!

Kelly has put out two videos for it so far, My Life Would Suck Without You and I Do Not Hook Up. Both videos were quite interesting. In My Life, KC shows that she's a crazy instigator in a relationship, and in Hook Up, I'm reminded that Kelly still won't have sex with me even though I wait outside her house with nothing but high hopes and a smile even though I have a completely healthy, non-sexual obsession with Kelly Clarkson.

Shake the Glitter off your Clothes

Hey guys.
Sorry I've been M.I.A. the past few days - I finally got Jam Sessions in the mail, and let me tell you it is addicting. I'm actually getting pretty good! I have a repertoire of around 26 songs!! Yay me.

However, to apologize for a missed week of blogs, today's post it what I'm going to start referring to as a "WTF" post. Sorta like my "monuments of disappointment" blog, but... stranger.

...yeah, I wouldn't be with you either.
So, #1 strange thing is the new music video by Rich Girl, an apparent Danity Kane knockoff. This video... I... I honestly wish there were words. Maybe there's just so many that I can't narrow it down. It's honestly a complete trainwreck. I've never seen anything so bad in my life. I mean, this is just... this is just awful. I mean... maybe rework the backbeat a little, and give the vocals a bit more of a range and the song could have a chance. The video... take it out back and shoot it. The "song" is called He Ain't With Me Now (Tho).




Glittery!
I want you to imagine the Backstreet Boys. Now, imagine they're all Robert Pattinson. No, not hot Robert Pattinson from Harry Potter, but scrawny, baked biter Robert Pattinson.
You've got V Factory.
But really though.... what the f#%&*? I... I can't even believe someone thought "hey, this is an awesome idea." This song/video is just.... buh.



She tango'd her way back into our hearts...
Lil' Kim is synonymous with Train Wreck at this point - it's no secret. She just got finished with Dancing with the Stars - so what's next for this talentless washup musical genius? No, I'm not being fair... all sarcasm aside, I really like Lil' Kim. It's just... well... she's the butt of a lot of my jokes. I definitely know all the words to her verse in Lady Marmalade. I have never listened to a song of hers before, but this one is something else. For starters, the track is technically Lil' Kim feat. T-Pain and Charlie Wilson... but not only is T-Pain uncomfortably absent in the video, but on mtV his name wasn't even listed in the credits - actually, neither was Charlie Wilson's. Derek Hough appears in the video though, but it's awkward since he's the only white person. Not only that, he's a white person that normally does ballroom dancing in glittery spandex, so he's really out of place.



I really don't understand what the music video world is coming to. I mean, I remember when making a music video was a huge, huge deal. Now, big stars get awkward crappy videos and small, awkward vampire boy bands get awesome videos for crappy music. And for all those that think that media doesn't tell us what to like or who to be, I got three words for you: The Jonas Brothers.

Pizza-Flavored Combos are Delicious.

Because every train needs a caboose...
So apparently Lady Gaga is bisexual, but is only attracted to women in the physical sense. Gee, I'm terribly surprised. Who would have thought that a woman who's done that much blow wouldn't think twice about going down on a girl because it's trendy, but would never date a girl. It apparently has made past boyfriends "uncomfortable." What guy is uncomfortable with his girl grinding all over other girls in the bar but only coming home with him? Christopher Knight.

Also, apparently, she's insane. Please watch the new music video for Disco Stick (Love Game) and agree with me. I know you will.

Lady Gaga - New Music - More Music Videos

Nicole Scherzinger featuring Nicole Scherzinger with a special appearance by Nicole Scherzinger!

Nicole Scherzinger The Pussycat Dolls have released a video for their new single, Hush Hush; Hush Hush. This remix of the original track, Hush Hush, has a fun, up-tempo video which shows amazing disco choreography (possibly choreographed by Doriana Sanchez?) with a sample of I Will Survive. This video, however, marks a steep change in the Dolls' dynamic. The first minute or so of the video is Nicole naked in a tub. Then, she's singing on some stairs while Jessica, Melody, Kimberly, and Ashley dance around in the background. The lead vocals are provided by Scherzinger... as are a majority of the background vocals. Original album art of the single indicated the track was performed by "Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger" (this was later changed to avoid confusion.) While she says that she had no influence of the album art, many speculate that Nicole is planning on pursuing a solo career. Did everyone forget the time she did that already? She officially released two tracks, as well as an unofficial track (Whatever U Like feat. T.I., Baby Love feat. Will.I.Am, & Steam, respectively.) Her solo career basically bombed. So what do they do? They just make the entire album about Nicole.
In the original deluxe release of Doll Domination, there were five extra tracks - each one featuring one of the other dolls. However, at a recent concert, Melody Thorton tearfully thanked fans for supporting her "even though [she's] not featured." Can the Dolls survive without Nicole? Can Nicole survive without the Dolls? I have a feeling that it won't be long 'til we find out.

Can you feel it?

Okay so this has nothing to do with anything, but I love the show So You Think You Can Dance. The current season is airing on Fox every Wednesday and Thursday night at 8 for the rest of the summer - but guess what! They're putting out a Workout DVD!!

So You Think You Can Dance: Get Fit will have a "Groove and Tone" DVD and a "Cardio Funk" DVD. I plan on getting both. And loving it. Release date is set to be July 21st.


Boobies!!!!

So Kanye West has a new video out for his single Paranoid. Somehow, Rihanna is the star of this video. Great, because honestly, Kanye West looks only slightly more attractive than Flav. Now, somehow, he managed to get this girl half nakers.... and she doesn't even have a verse. Chrous. Hook. Nothin'. So, Rihanna, why did you choose to be in this video? "Hey, look! The bruises are gone!"
Nah, that's real harsh. Domestic Abuse isn't funny. 'sides, all those jokes have been made already. But really though... I watched the entire video in hopes that, at some point, Rihanna would have a verse. No, it's just Rihanna dancing in front of a green screen. If I wanted to have fantasies about Rihanna, I would just look at those naked pictures of her that Chris Brown someone released. I certainly wouldn't want my sexual thoughts about Rihanna to be crippled by having to listen to Kanye West (wait, that's what mute's for.)




How Brooke Got Her Wings (killing your career will do that to you)

So Brooke Hogan has released her new single Hey-Yo featuring my boy* Colby O'Donis. Oh... my... god... this song is awful. I'm pretty sure it actually gave me an inner ear infection. I got ear herpes from this damn song. I mean... I honestly wish I could say more... but the only thing you can do is listen to it. Just click on her horrendous new album cover.


*I have never been friends with, met, or fantasized about Colby O'Donis.

Exodus '09

(For what it's worth, my condolences go out to Mike Tyson and his family. I can't imagine what your going through, but I can only hope you have everyone supporting you.)


Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Jordin Sparks has released the first single from her sophomore album, Battlefield. The lead track, Battlefield, is actually pretty good. I've always kinda liked Jordin - she's the first winner since Kelly Clarkson to do any damage, let alone beat their season's runner-up in album sales (though I have to say, the Blake Lewis album was surprisingly good. I like him.) No Air with Chris Brown is easily one of the most beautiful songs ever. Battlefield isn't half bad. The single, along with a good chunk of the album, is being produced by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, which essentially guarantees success. (he's also working on Leona Lewis' entire new album.)

Jordin Sparks - Battlefield



...in your pants? Get that checked, dude.

Sean Kingston has released a track from his new album Tomorrow, called Fire Burning. I guarantee that this will become a club anthem within a few months, tops. Produced by Red One, (see also Just Dance by Lady Gaga,) the single definitely marks the return of 19 year old Kingston (who, curiously, looks a lot like Kenan Thompson.)

Sean Kingston - Fire Burning (on the dancefloor)



I'm tired of rumors startin'...

Kat deLuna has been just about ignored by mtv and vh1. The 21 year old New York native should have been tearing up the club with her tracks, but I've yet to see a music video of hers anywhere near the charts. Maybe I'm just not paying attention.
Two summers ago, she released the track Whine Up with Elephant Man, and it definitely became a summer anthem on my iPod - it managed to get to #29 on the US charts. She then released a remix of Run the Show with Busta Rhymes (also produced by Red One,) which is still one of my favorite songs - which failed to even break the top 100 in the US charts (only reaching 117.) Unstoppable, a single from her Sophomore album Inside Out and the promotion single for Confessions of a Shopaholic, failed to chart despite the assistance of a verse by Lil' Wayne. Her first official single for the album, Dance Bailalo, was released on May 5th and will shortly have a music video to accompany. Please pay attention to her - she's a crazy talented musician and dancer who has every right to be all over the radio and your playlist - she's already all over mine.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

...what?

Queen is considering adopting recent American Idol loser runner-up Adam Lambert as a new frontman. The band hasn't had a steady frontman since the loss of Freddie Mercury in 1991. Paul Rodgers, formerly of Bad Company, had been touring with them for the last four years, but Lambert may be the replacement. Talks haven't happened yet, but they're planning on having a "meaningful conversation" sometime soon. (Billboard)


If your boyfriend's got beef, tell him to make me a burger.

3OH!3 is a Rap/Hip-Hop group from Chicago who, despite being marginally attractive white guys, show the genre that they mean business. Their big single right now is Don't Trust Me, and it's currently number 7 on the Billboard charts.
Most of the album is more hard-core hip hop, but check out the track Still Around for more of a ballad.

3OH!3's Myspace
Still Around
Don't Dance






I would punch a baby to live this womans life.

So Katy Perry has a new music video out for her track Waking Up In Vegas. Besides clearly being a huge advert for Vegas, it's actually a really catchy track and a pretty music video (Penn and Teller make a cameo!) I still don't know how much I trust Katy Perry, but damn does she have some catchy music.

So, Peter, You've Become a Pirate

Okay, so I might be addicted to eBay. Down side, I may not be able to afford the things I've bid on. Bright side, Jam Sessions for the DS is on it's way! In honor of it, this post I'll be discussing acoustic musicians.


This is Andrew, my puppet...
The Scene Aesthetic



The Scene Aesthetic is an awesome acoustic band from Seattle headed by Andrew de Torres and Eric Bowlan. They're full of love and totally legit. Eric recently got back from a two year stint in Argentina doing mission work. They first achieved fame all over myspace for being the adorable little tykes they are (and maybe something about music. I dunno.) Andrew is also the lead of another band you may have heard of, Danger Radio. (Apparently, Andrew is just plain ridiculous. My old roommate saw Danger Radio, and he apparently fell over while singing, and spent a majority of the aftershow playing tag with his adorable girlfriend.) Long story short, I love these guys.

The Scene Aesthetic on Myspace
Andrew de Torres - Let Go
Andrew de Torres - Such Great Heights
The Scene Aesthetic - The Alamo is no Place for Dancing




I wanna be Everything to You
Jimmy Robbins

Jimmy Robbins is a musician signed to Motown Records from North Carolina (maybe south? I get them mixed up) who is gonna charm the pants off of you... except he respects you too much, so cover up. Back in February I saw Jimmy live with William Tell... and my friends and I had a fifteen minute conversation with them after the show. Easily two of the coolest guys I've ever met... especially considering how awkward I was. I mean, I was completely starstruck... not to mention, Jimmy's even prettier in person. Sooooooo pretty. ...anyways, Jimmy often updates his myspace with videos of him singing, usually preceeded by information about what he's up to (and usually an update on how sweaty he is.) His big single is Breathe Again, but I don't know if there's any songs of his I don't like.

Jimmy Robbins on Myspace
Update + Taylor Swift Cover
Update + Miley Cyrus Cover
Update + Breathe Again
Update + Surgery (beautiful song. made me cry the first time.)





Arrrrriiiiiiibbbaaaa!!!
Boyce Avenue

Boyce Avenue is 3 brothers (plus some other guy) that got their start in Gainsville, Florida. Lead by vocalist Alejandro Manzano, Boyce Avenue doesn't just do their own stuff - oh no. They've covered everything from Linkin Park to Rihanna, and they do an amazing job. I found them over spring break and completely fell in love. His vocals are amazing to listen to, and Alejandro knows that guitar like nobody's business. They'll be playing a show in Philadelphia in June, I'm mad excited.

Boyce Avenue on Facebook
Boyce Avenue on Myspace
No Air
Shadow of the Day
Change Your Mind (Original)




And that's all she wrote! Thanks for playing!! Keep reading, tell all your friends!

Monuments of Disappointment

Two big singles were just released and quite honestly, I'm unimpressed. Disappointed, if you will.


You're gonna make a rabbit appear from where?

Ciara and Justin Timberlake, two dance-pop powerhouses, just put out a single and music video for Love Sex Magic.
I am more than disappointed.
Does anyone else remember Justin's My Love video? Amazing choreography. Did you see Ciara's Get Up video? The dancing in that was just stellar. Why, oh why, have the two of you forsaken this? I mean let's be honest. I've never heard Ciara hit even one powerful note. I'm not sure she can sing. She's hot and she can dance... but she's just kinda falsettoing to a tune. Justin, yeah he can sing, but he mostly does that whiny falsetto stuff too. Honestly, the two of these guys are known for their amazing dance abilities.
So when I first heard they did a song together, I was on that. I knew it was going to be a club anthem.
...well, okay, that's not quite what happened. The song kinda bites. But the video! The video is gonna be banging, right?
...well, now we know that Ciara could have a career in stripping... or once did. I dunno. Whatever it is, it's not hot.
Justin barely even moved this whole video. There was nothing. No dance, no choreography, no... nothing. I'm just disappointed. I'm more disappointed than your ex girlfriend that one time you... no, I promised her I'd never mention that. Well anyway, I'm really disappointed with this video, this song, this everything. The worst part is that it appears that there was supposed to be a whole choreographed routine on the stage with Ciara and some backups, but only brief seconds of it are shown, the rest of the choreography lost in favor of Ciara's ass rubbing on poles, walls, and Justin Timberlakes.

But you can always decide for yourself.




No one's shot him yet? Really? They shot Fifty 9 times, but no one's shot this guy?

Before I start this, let's just say it now - I've never liked Eminem. When he first started out, all I listened to was Jewel and Michelle Branch, so I definitely wasn't about him then. When my music tastes started to mature... I still didn't like Eminem's "music". Long story short, I'm not going to be careful how I talk about him here, because I don't want people to think I'm just biased. If I had liked Em before, I wouldn't now. He's really become a two-trick pony at this point. All of his singles are either making fun of celebrities or a hard rap ballad of how hard it was growing up a white boy in the hood. His new single, We Made You, is no different. Once again, he makes fun of celebrities such as Jessica Simpson and Sarah Palin. He's clearly compensating for something. I'll bet he was that kid on the playground who constantly got beat up, and cuz he was so scrawny he had to learn to fight with his words. This new video for We Made You is no different than any of the other singles he's put out. I'm just unimpressed. Lose Yourself was the closest I've ever been to liking one of his songs (though I didn't mind his verse in Smack That by Akon.)
Sorry Em, but I'm not going to help make you.