Posts filed under 'CD Reviews'
Britney Spears - “Blackout” - 4.5/5
After all the clubbing, hair-cutting, umbrella swinging, rehabbing, divorcing, hit-and-running, and child custody battling, you’d think Britney Spears might just want to take a long, much-deserved vacation far, far away. But, despite the year of pure hell Britney Spears somehow managed to black it all out and record a new album.
And, what an album it is. Featuring 12 deliciously addicting tracks, “Blackout” is undeniably the best pop album in years. It may be hard to believe, we were even surprised, but it’s true nonetheless.
1. Gimme More - Though her MTV VMA performance didn’t do the song justice by far, the song stands on its on as a bona fide hit. 4/5
2. Piece of Me - The song is heavy in electronic beats and Britney’s voice is blatantly over-produced, but it is a terrific song. Britney begins with, “I’m Miss American Dream since I was seventeen.” She goes on to sing, “I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless.” It’s obvious by the second song that this is not just a generic album that Britney or her label has thrown out there to cash in on the controversy, this is Britney’s comeback. 4.5/5
3. Radar - What does it take to be Britney’s man? In case you haven’t caught onto her taste in men, she spells it out for you. “Confidence is a must. Happiness is a plus. Edginess is a rush. Edges I like them rough. A man with a midas touch. Intoxicate me. I’m a rush. Stop you’re making me blush. People are looking at us.” That is just the first line, Britney lays it all out there as to what you better have if you want on her radar. 4.5/5
4. Break the Ice - If you’re having a little trouble getting warmed up, Britney knows just how to break the ice, in fact she’ll have you “hot, hot, hot” before you know it. This is reportedly going to be the next single. 4/5
5. Heaven on Earth - Britney’s in love with you. “Your perfect smile. My favorite kiss. Your perfect skin. Your perfect smile,” Britney sings. This is one of the only cheesy, happy go lucky tracks, but it’s a grown-up cheesy, not “Oops… I did it again” cheesy at least. 4/5
6. Get Naked (I Got A Plan) - This could quite possibly be the theme song for Britney’s sexed up year. We’ve heard all about her one night stands from the rumored sex tape fling in Hawaii to the much publicized “pool party” at an L.A. hotel. “My body is calling out for you bad boy. I get the feeling that I just want to be with ya.Baby, I’m a freak and I don’t really give a damn.I’m crazy as a motherfucker. Bet that on ya man.” 4/5
7. Freakshow - I’ll buy season tickets to this freakshow. Britney’s ready to tear the club up. “Make them clap when we perform. Wanna be crazy we can show ‘em. Dancin’ table top freak, freaky. So outside the norm. I’m some superstar ish, ish. Christian hot, Bugatti whips. Hope the new designer fits. We can do it if you wish?” 4.5/5
8. Toy Soldier - Britney’s sick of boys that don’t know how to handle her. She’s sick of toy soldiers. She knows what she wants and she’s going to get it, damn it. “I want it more than ever now. Realize the dangers. Like a princess supposed to get. That’s why I’m dusting off my feelings. Coming back looking delicious. Yes I know they wanna kiss ya. Now I hold them at attention. ‘Cause new Britney’s on a mission.” 4.5/5
9. Hot As Ice - Damn, she’s hot as ice, or is that cold as fire. “To see your foolishness and fuckery. And handling my business. Holler if you hear me. Hey, can I get a witness. Preach it, preach it. I’m the teacher, you can learn. Watch your fingers, boy. You might get burned. ‘Cause I’m cold as fire baby, hot as ice. If you’ve ever been to heaven, this is twice as nice. I’m cold as fire baby, hot as ice. If you’ve ever been to heaven, this is twice as nice.” 4/5
10. Ooh Ooh Baby - The song begins with what could almost be a Spanish beat. Britney goes into what at this point is starting to be somewhat of a repetitive theme; she’s telling her man how she wants to be touched. Despite the repetitive theme the song is catchy. 4/5
11. Perfect Lover - Another song theme with Britney lusting for some loving. Again, despite the same theme Britney manages to turn what could be a boring song into a catchy tune. 3.5/5
12. Why Should I Be Sad - This is the only slow track on the album and it’s by Pharrell Williams and the Neptunes. Unfortunately, they really do a poor job at showcasing their talents here. Pharrell wrote the song after reading all the headlines about Britney’s struggles this year and likely seeing some things about Britney’s life first-hand. The lyrics seem to be very personal for Britney detailing what her marriage to Kevin Federline was like. “Exchanged my vows and said it all. All my life prepared to fall. Even screamed at dinner for you. My friends said you would play me. But I just said they’re crazy. While I was crying frantic, was it true.” It’s not a bad song, but lacks that special something. 3.5/5
Overall, “Blackout” again is the best pop album in years. No, it isn’t any major artistic step, but it’s fun and it’s real. Britney’s not pretending to be an innocent school girl or stretching her vocals to be the next Mariah Carey. Some critics may say the album is too over-produced, but my response is: it’s Britney, bitch.
- Chad Kennedy, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
October 30th, 2007
You’ve seen her on VH1’s hit show “Hogan Knows Best” and now you can spot her daily on MTV’s TRL with her sizzling hot single, “About Us,” featuring Paul Wall. Brooke Hogan may have been overshadowed by her wrestling icon father a year ago, but today she is a star in her own right. With a hit single and a hugely anticipated album dropping into stores this week there is no doubt Brooke Hogan is the new Hogan on everyone’s tongue.
Brooke’s debut album “Undiscovered” is perhaps one of the best pop/hip-hop albums of the year from a newcomer and certainly the most unexpected. Judging from her character on “Hogan Knows Best” you may be thinking that Brooke is anything but a hip-hop star and I wouldn’t disagree, however the album speaks for itself. Whether the hip-hop Brooke Hogan is genuine or not she seems to be doing a good job pulling it off.
Download This Song - Love You, Hate You
Score: 3½ out of 5
iTunes | Ringtone
“About Us” Video - Windows Media | Real Player | Quicktime
- Chad Kennedy, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
October 23rd, 2006
Dashboard Confessional’s new CD, Dusk and Summer, arrived in stores June 27th. With songs filled with acoustic sounds, rich vocals and catchy melodies, Dusk and Summer, is a record that lives up to its long awaited release.Their first single “Don’t Wait,” which tells the tale of days passing by, has a video with TRL written all over it. The alternative rock/indie band from Florida Chris Carrabba (singer/guitarist), John Lefler (guitarist), Scott Schoenbeck (bassist), and Mike Marsh (drummer) are back and hotter than ever.
Dashboard Confessional will tour this summer so be on the look out for them to perform in your hometown. For more information check out their official website at www.dashboardconfessional.com. Don’t forget to pick up Dusk and Summer in stores now!
If you like these bands then you will most likely dig Dashboard Confessional:
Taking Back Sunday
AFI
Guster
Angels and Airwaves
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Panic! at the Disco
- Kelly Kurowski, Associate Editor
September 25th, 2006
Hot off the heels of her recent success in such films as “Mean Girls” and “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen,” Lindsay Lohan is taking her shot at the music industry. With the great amount of airplay for her first single called “Rumors” you can expect her crossover to be a hit.
The album is titled “Speak” and features eleven great tracks, including “Rumors.” Although not every track on the album is worth listening to over and over it is definitely a great start for Lindsay as a music artist.
The second track on the album is “Nobody ‘Til You” and actually brings Lohan’s rival, Hilary Duff, to mind. The single is a little more playful than other tracks on the album. Personally, I would’ve picked this track for a future Duff album.
Taking the album down just a notch is track number three called “Symptoms of You.” The lyrics might give us an insight to what Lohan was thinking when she was dating Wilmer (That 70’s Show). In the song Lindsay sings, “When I’m around you / There’s a chill in the heat / Feel the sky in my feet / Cause I adore you / I can’t ignore you.”
One of my favorite tracks on the album is number seven “Anything But Me.” The lyrics read: “So much confusion circling inside my head / What this one and that one said / It’s all an illusion cause I’m still the same person / No matter how fast I run / And I’m trying to hold onto where it is I’ve come from.” I can only imagine that Lohan, who took part in writing this song, is singing of her life as Hollywood’s latest “it” girl.
Overall, “Speak” is a great album that really proves Lindsay’s abilities as a singer. While her voice isn’t mind-blowing she gives a solid performance that keeps you listening and coming back to listen again and again. The album mainly speaks of love and relationships, but also gives Lindsay a platform to voice her frustrations about her life in the spotlight. If you are looking for another Hilary Duff then look elsewhere. Lindsay has distanced herself from the pop image that she once rivaled with Duff over and this album proves that even more.
- Chad Kennedy, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
September 25th, 2006
I’ve recently had the opportunity to listen to The Used sophomore album, “In Love & Death.” This album has 12 tracks that range from high intense screams and growls to a softer more punk-rock edge. The Used are a 4 piece band that sprung from Utah that can take exactly what your feeling or have felt at one time and send you on a journey right back to that moment. Not only can The Used really belt out emotion in such songs as “Cut Up Angels” and “Sound Effects and Overdramatics” but they also take you over in the stand-out ballad “Hard To Say.”
Since their self-titled debut album, released by Reprise Records, back in 2003, they have embraced more of a creative approach with a more pop-like sound found in various songs within the album, yet staying true to their fan base and writing challenging lyrics to make the listening experience that much more powerful. This album isn’t as hardcore as the last, but the lyrics seem to be getting better and better. There are sections throughout the album of strings and piano, arrangements of tearful screaming, with passionate lyrics filling in the cracks. Bert McCracken’s unique vocal chords set the tone for this album which seems to be balanced out with heartfelt romance and angst rage. During the making of “In Love & Death,” McCracken lost two close friends of his. There was tension not only amongst the band but also with the producers, which was all good and fine according to McCracken. “It was mostly positive,” he said, “because it all made the songs come together like magic.”
I strongly recommend you take this amazing journey with The Used if you haven’t already. I promise you they will leave you wanting more. I believe this band has a lot to look forward to. It’s only the beginning for these punk-rockers!
If you like these bands then you will most likely dig The Used:
Staind
Creed
Linkin’ Park
Fuel
AFI
Green Day
- Shannon Zeese, Associate Editor
September 25th, 2006
When I first received Ryan Cabrera’s single, “On the Way Down” I threw it aside and figured “another model-turned-singer, no thanks!” but a few weeks later I started to hear more about him through the grapevine. After much procrastination I finally tossed the CD in and took a listen. Instantly I was impressed with the music and his obvious talent.
The singer/songwriter/guitarist just released his sophomore record, first major label release, titled “Take It All Away.” The record has eleven songs with an additional acoustic version of the album’s first single “On the Way Down.” The entire album tells a story from beginning to end. Cabrera sings mainly of his personal experiences of falling in love and breaking up, perhaps his real life relationship with fellow rising star, Ashlee Simpson helped to inspire some of this record.
The album isn’t an epic one, but rather a sit back, relax, and enjoy the music-type. It may not change your life but it will certainly brighten your day and give you something to relate to. If Ryan can continue to make great music like this then I expect for him to have a great career ahead of him.
- Chad Kennedy, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
September 25th, 2006
After becoming known as Cecilia on the WB hit show 7th Heaven Ashlee Simpson recently got sick of the cold, dark shadow of her pop star sister, Jessica Simpson. She started out in mid-June with the debut of her own show on MTV following her through the making of her CD and essentially the future of her music career. With much anticipation by both Ashlee and her fans, her debut CD “Autobiography” was finally released on July 20th.
The album sold an astounding 398,000 copies in its first week and quickly hit a million the week after. Apparently, Jessica isn’t the only one gaining fans from a hit reality show. After listening to the CD you will see it isn’t a surprise that the has album sold so well. Filled with twelve songs on a variety of topics each track will give you something that you can relate to.
After becoming an addict of “The Ashlee Simpson Show” I was really excited for her CD to come out. When it finally did it was an instant favorite for me. This album is filled with songs about personal experiences that a huge audience watched her go through which makes it all the more appealing. This is one of my favorite CD’s of the Summer. I suggest checking it out and watch for Ashlee in the future!
- Jennifer Mosher, V.P. Business Development
September 25th, 2006
