Jay-Z Finds "Holy Grail" On Twelfth Album

Jay-Z announced his twelfth album a few weeks ago and with no single released it in an exclusive deal with Samsung to release the album a few days before the actual release.
While his last album The Blueprint 3 was his best album, Magna Carta... Holy Grail isn't anywhere near as great.
The album doesn't have any bad songs, but some songs are better than others. The best songs on the album are "Holy Grail" which features Justin Timberlake, "Ocean" which features Frank Ocean and "FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt" which features Rick Ross.
Jay-Z's wife Beyoncé is featured on several songs including "Tom Ford," "BBC" and "Part II (On The Run)" which is meant to be a continuation of the song that started their love "'03 Bonnie & Clyde."
The album could use more guest appearances as Jay's solo songs tend to blend together. "Picasso Baby," "Somewhere in America" and "Heaven" are all great tracks and could very well be singles.
"BBC" and "Holy Grail." "BBC" features vocals by Nas, Swizz Beatz, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland and a funky beat. "Holy Grail" is an epic rap song. Timberlake's verse and choruses are about a backstabbing lover while Jay's verses are usual hip hop fare. The song, which features a sample of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.
"Can't even take my daughter for a walk/ See em by the corner store, I feel like I'm cornered off/ Enough is enough,, I'm calling this off," Jay raps during the second verse. He's talking about the paparazzi and the stresses of fame. It's moments like this where we are let into the personal life of Jay-Z that work on this album.
The strange Mommie Dearest sample in "Jay Z Blue," a song about his daughter. While the sample at first seems weird and creepy, upon further listens it's clear that the sample is about irony. He won't let his daughter go down the route of abuse. He would never hurt her and he wants to be a good father. It's all about his insecurities as a new father.
All in all, Magna Carta... Holy Grail is a great album. It isn't the most groundbreaking album or the best rap album, but it shows that Jay-Z is a legend and isn't going anywhere.

Kelly Rowland Airs "Dirty Laundry" On Fourth Album

Former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland's first three albums were great. From the soul-rock of Simply Deep to the urban sounds of Ms. Kelly and the R&B and dance jams on Here I Am, Rowland ha always made great albums. The only issue with the albums in the past was Rowland's lack of writing on each record. While she wrote a few songs on each album, she rarely opened up and got personal.
On Talk a Good Game, Rowland's fourth disc she wrote every song with the exception of the first track, "Freak." Every song is personal and a piece of Rowland, the second single "Dirty Laundry" is more packed with emotional lyrics from personal experience than all three of her past albums. On that single Rowland opens up about an abusive relationship she was in and her relationship with bandmate and "sister" Beyoncé. The lyrics of the song are packed with passion and go along with a laundry theme.
"I was battered/ He hittin' the window like it was me, until it shattered/ He pulled me out, he said/ 'Don’t nobody love you but me/ Not your mama, not your daddy and especially not Bey'/ He turned me against my sister/ I missed ya," Rowland sings passionately during the third verse. That part of the song is particularly hard to listen to. A song with this much passion and honesty takes courage to write and release. This shows huge strength from Rowland and while there are no other songs as raw as "Dirty Laundry" although "Down on Love" and "I Remember" come close.
One of the standout tracks on the album is a collaboration with Beyoncé and Michelle Williams, Rowland's former bandmates, called "You Changed" The song has a great R&B rhythm and a verse each from Beyoncé and Williams.
Other highlights include "Freak" and "Kisses Down Low" which both pack a sexual punch. Another great track is the "Big Yellow Taxi" sampling "Gone" which features a guest appearance by Wiz Khalifa. The song is a breakup anthem that is sure to be a huge hit with the ladies.
While the album all but abandons the dance sounds featured on her last album, "I Remember" comes kind of close. Another highlight is the Pusha T assisted "Street Life" which showcases lyrics about the recession and gets a tad bit political.
While most of the songs are good some aren't up to par with the rest. "Red Wine" really doesn't go anywhere. It isn't a bad song, but it isn't as good as the rest of the songs on the record.
The album towards the end gets a tad bit repetitive and all of the songs sound the same, especially on the deluxe version. The songs are good, but the songs on the actual album are better.
The album is a great record and shows true growth for Rowland. This album will go down as her best record.

Gin Wigmore Shines On New Album

Gin Wigmore, New Zealand's answer to Amy Winehouse, Adele and Duffy, released her sophomore album Gravel & Wine in her homeland in November 2011. The album was hugely successful there leading it to be released in the United States this month.
The album is a mix of bluesy, folk rock with an alternative rock and pop edge. The songs range from faster, sassy songs to ballads. Wigmore's voice is what part of what makes her so great. It's soulful, yet full of blues.
Her songwriting is another part of what makes her sophomore album so great. "I got lots of jealous lovers that all wish they had me back/ Got a pistol for a mouth, my own mama gave me that/ Making my own road out of gravel and some wine/ And if I have to fall then it won't be in your line," Wigmore sings during the first verse of the album's second single and best song, "Black Sheep." The soulful, rocker recalls Amy Winehouse's sassiest moments.
Other album highlights include "Devil in Me," a rollicking song about a lover who brings out Wigmore's bad side and "If Only" which has 50s soul influences and wouldn't be out of place on Gabriella Cilmi's debut. "Man Like That" and the bonus track "Don't Stop" are both faster songs, the latter being the album's cute love song.
The slow jams like "Saturday Smile" and "Moving on to Gone" are emotional and Wigmore's lyrics and vocals truly make you feel what she is singing about. "Dirty Love" wouldn't be out of place in a James Bond film and "Sweet Hell" is a duet with Butch Walker who produced the whole album. Walker is known for his productions for P!nk, Avril Lavigne and Fall Out Boy, this album shows he is versatile as a producer. "Happily Ever After" sounds like a mix of P!nk's "Please Don't Leave Me" and "Halo" by Beyoncé.
This album is a great way for Wigmore to be introduced to American audiences who missed out on her debut. Hopefully her greatness is realized, yet in a world where dubstep breakdowns make hits, that isn't likely. Wigmore will be playing the entire Vans Warped Tour this summer.

Solange expands on new EP

Solange Knowles, younger sister of Beyoncé has always been forced to live in her sister's shadow. Despite the fact that Solange is not similar to her sister musically and that she is more original than her sister. Her last album had a truly phenomenal song in "Sancastle Disco." The old school soul sounds of her sophomore album should have made her a star. Yet Solange rarely gets acknowledged as a credible musician.
Her first EP True is sure to change that. The album takes the soul sounds of Knowles' previous work and adds in new wave and indie pop to the mix. This results in some great songs. The first single "Losing You" is a new wave masterpiece. Other album highlights include "Some Things Never Seem to Fucking Work" and "Lovers in the Park" mix her new wave sounds with R&B.
Another highlight is the new wave ballad "Bad Girls (Verdine Version)." The song features smooth synth grooves with some great guitar work. Also "Locked in the Closet" and "Don't Let Me Down" are all up to par. Every song on this EP is great. This release really shows that Solange is so much more than a subpar version of her sister. She is a completely different artist. Where Beyoncé copies from those that came before her, Solange melds old things together to form something new. That is the difference. Hopefully True can bring the world's attention to Solange. With a new album out this year mainstream success can be just around the corner for this soulful songstress.