Skylar Grey Finally Finds Identity On New Album

Skylar Grey, formerly known as Holly Brook has had a rough time getting her career on track. When Brook released her first album, 2006's Like Blood Like Honey on the heels of being featured on Fort Minor's only hit "Where'd You Go." Her album went nowhere and Brook was largely forgotten.
Then in 2010 she was featured on "Coming Home" a single by Diddy's then group Diddy – Dirty Money and "I Need A Doctor," the underrated Dr. Dre comeback single. After being featured on songs by Lupe Fiasco and Kascade and writing Eminem's best song "Love The Way You Lie" which features Rihanna and Part II of the song which was on Rihanna's album Loud, Grey released her first singles "Dance Without You" and "Invisible." Both were dark and moody and gained her no attention and are not featured on her debut as Skylar Grey, Don't Look Down.
The album shows many sides of Grey. There's the Alanis Morissette side ("Religion" and "Pulse"), the P!nk side (first single "C'mon Let Me Ride") and then the Skylar Grey side.
Some of the album's best songs are second single "Final Warning" which is a violent breakup song and the first single, the Queen-sampling, Eminem-Featuring "C'mon Let Me Ride." The pop-rap song is one of the disc's few fun moments. Another highlight is the "You Oughta Know-lite" "Pulse." The song is about Grey's lover moving on to another girl.
One of the album's best moments is the Big Sean and Travis Barker assisted "Back From the Dead." The song is a hip hop and rock inspired ditty about an ex being dead to Grey. She also shines on her slow jams. "Tower (Don't Look Down)" starts out with pianos and leads into a rock inspired beat and the closer "White Suburban" is a sparse piano ballad.
While there are mostly good songs on the album, several of the cuts are neither here nor there. There is "Sunshine" which never goes anywhere and the awkward "Shit, Man!" which features Angel Haze and is about unplanned pregnancy.
Don't Look Down is a great album and it shows that Grey is a force to be reckoned with. While it probably won't be a success, it is a great record and shows Grey is really going places.

Nelly Furtado gets back to business on new album

Nelly Furtado's hip hop/dance/R&B masterpiece Loose was released six years ago and in that time she recorded a Spanish album and released a greatest hits album with two lame new songs. Furtado is back with her new album The Spirit Indestructible. While Loose was produced almost entirely by Timbaland, Timbo doesn't make a single appearance on this record. Spirit was produced by Darkchild and Salaam Remi.
While the album does have some weak points, altogether it's still an amazing record. Songs like "Circles" and "The Most Beautiful Thing" which features Sara Tavares, a Portuguese singer, are simply weird and "Miracles" is pretty boring but the other songs on the album more than make up for these shortcomings.
Songs like "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)," "Waiting For The Night" and the title track are all great. "Bucket List" is an adorable song about wanting to fall in love. Another amazing song is the third single "Parking Lot." The song is a banger and recalls Furtado's teenage years hanging out in parkings lots. "High Life" which features Ace Primo is a hip hop song about living the high life. Another great song is "Something" which features Nas.
The best song on this album would have to be "Believers (Arab Spring)." The pop-rock anthem about trying to spread love to the world sounds like Alanis Morrisette covering Lacuna Coil. The song is different from anything Furtado has done and should definitely be a single. It would expose Furtado to a whole new audience.
All in all this album is a huge step forward for Furtado, hopefully it doesn't take her a few more missteps before her next amazing album.

Alanis Morissette becomes a mom and gets kind of lame

Alanis Morissette has been the queen of angry breakup songs. From her first hit "You Oughta Know" to "Straitjacket" from her amazing last album. Morissette is back with her eighth studio album Havoc and Bright Lights. The album is her first after getting married and becoming a mother. The result isn't always great.
The first single "Guardian" is a headbanging pop-rock anthem for parents everywhere about watching out for your child. "I'll be your keeper for life/as your guardian," Morissette sings in the chorus. The song kind of makes you want to vomit, but in a good way. It's a catchy song and it rocks.
Morissette tends to be better on her harder rocking songs such as the two best songs on the album "Numb" and "Spiral."
"I feel anxious, I feel nervous and unloved/I'm overwhelmed, rather be out of my/Have to remove myself from sensation," Morissette sings angrily during "Numb."
Other highlights include "Lens," "Woman Down" and the quirky "Celebrity."
Another great song that is a soft ballad "Til You," which is about her husband and son. It's touching and shows Morissette's softer side.
The albums few misteps are the slow songs "Empathy" and "Havoc."