Mariah Carey Is Not Elusive On New Album

Mariah Carey released her fourteenth studio album Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse in May. While the album has a few hiccups, it's mostly great.
The album opens strangely enough with the gospel influenced ballad "Cry." The song is a gorgeously sad breakup song that leads well into the next track "Faded." The midtempo R&B number is classic Mariah and features some killer pipes from the "chanteuse."
"Dedicated" features Nas and is all about the old school days.
"I'll just sit right her and sing that good old school shit to ya," Carey sings."
"#Beautiful." is up next. The album's first single which features Miguel is a nice soulful sound and is definitely one of the album's best songs. "Thirsty" is up next and is a hip hop leaning track that features lyrics about an ex lover who is thirsty for attention. This is also one of the album's best songs. Up next is "Make it Look Good." This song is a soulful track with harmonica from Stevie Wonder and it's great.
The album continues with the third single "You're Mine (Eternal)." This song is a decent song from Carey and sounds like it could be off any of her last few albums. It's nothing special but it's a good song all in all. Next up is the fourth single "You Don't Know What to Do," which is a disco track that features Wale. This song is a fun danceable break from the more hip hop and R&B leaning tracks.
The next track is "Supernatural" which features Carey's children under the moniker "Dem Babies." The song is kind of sappy but cute at the same time. Carey is added to the list of singers like Beyoncé and P!nk who have had their children on songs.
"Meteorite" continues Carey's descent into disco. It's a catchy song and should be a single if Carey's label has any sense. "Camouflage" is an unnecessary ballad that I really don't remember much about. "Money" features Fabolous and is a great song that recalls Carey's early music. "One More Try" is a George Michael cover and is a decent ballad and Carey really makes it her own. The album closes with "Heavenly (No Ways Tired / Can't Give Up Now)" which is a gospel song that is a tribute to Reverend James Cleveland.
The deluxe edition bonus tracks include two songs that were on Carey's last album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. "It's a Wrap" which features Mary J. Blige." The song really wasn't much to write home about but Blige's new vocals really add to the song. "Betcha Gon' Know" features new verses written and performed by R. Kelly. This song was better without Kelly's vocals but it is still a decent remix. The album's other bonus track is the album's second single and former title track "The Art of Letting Go." The song is another gospel inspired song that deals with a breakup. The song starts out with a piano but halfway through the breakdown kicks in with guitars and percussion. The song is great and should have been more successful as a single than it was.
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse is not Carey's best album but it is an amazing comeback after a five year break. Here's to Mimi reclaiming her crown.

Lady Gaga Gets Artsy

Lady Gaga released her third album Artpop this month and it is like her previous releases, amazing. It's got the fun sound of her debut The Fame, the deeper edge of her first EP The Fame Monster and the experimental side of her sophomore record Born this Way. While it isn't perfect, it isn't the worst thing Gaga has ever done.
The disc opens on an experimental note with "Aura." This acoustic, yet Middle Eastern inspired song is from the previews of her film debut Machete Kills.  Gaga continues to mix in experimentation throughout the album. "Jewels N' Drugs" which features T.I., Twista and Too Short is a hip hop banger that is trap as fuck and is an album highlight. "MANiCURE" is a rock song that recalls Gaga's last record. Second single "Do What U Want" features R. Kelly and is an R&B song about pure sex. "Dope" is by far the best ballad Gaga has ever done and may be one of her best songs ever. The song contains electro rock elements and has Gaga giving us some of her most powerful vocals.
While the rest of the songs aren't as experimental, they are still mostly good. Whether channeling the goddess of love on "Venus," being vain on first single "Applause" or being just mean on "Swine," Gaga can do no wrong.
"Gypsy" is a great track with elements of rock and lyrics about finding happiness even while living like a gypsy and touring the world. The title track is a simple song that while not being the best song is still enjoyable. "G.U.Y." is an interesting role reversal in which Gaga wants to be the "girl under you" and wants to find her "G.I.R.L." or "guy I'm romancin' love."
Many songs discuss fame and glamour. While "Mary Jane Holland" is a great example of how Gaga does this well other songs like "Donatella" and "Fashion!" don't hold up as well. "Sexxx Dreams" is another song that while not about fame, isn't as well executed. These songs aren't bad, they're just silly. However the bad songs on here aren't half as bad as the bad songs on Born This Way ("Black Jesus + Amen Fashion," "Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)."
While this album isn't her best work, it is still better than her debut. For a woman who has never made a bad album that is no small feat. Hopefully Gaga keeps up the great sounds for years to come so she can stay near the top where she belongs. This album is for sure the best pop album of the year. However with a new album out in a few weeks Britney Spears is coming for that title.

Ronnie Radke got arrested.

Hero of many a pathetic teenage girl and Falling In Reverse frontman has been arrested on charges of domestic battery. His girlfriend told police that he allegedly beat her. The warrant for his arrest was issued on May 1, 2012 but because of his band's run on the Vans Warped Tour, Radke wasn't arrested until August 6, the day after Warped Tour ended.
Radke was the original lead vocalist for Escape The Fate but when he got convicted for his role in the death of a fan. His band then replaced him with Craig Mabbitt who was in blessthefall at the time while he was in prison and then he started Falling In Reverse. The band sing a lame mix of pop-punk, hardcore and hard rock, yet they've managed to gain a huge amount of popularity with their debut album The Drug In Me Is You. The record is full of annoying sing songy tunes about being betrayed by his former bandmates.
While the band aren't untalented and some of their songs do have good moments, they just try to hard. They have one song, "Goodbye Graceful" that is simply amazing. It's the heaviest song on which Ronnie employs his harsh vocals during most of the song while he sings the chorus. If Falling In Reverse made more songs like this, they wouldn't suck.
The only reason people like this band is because of the hype surrounding Radke and his legal woes of the past. If he wasn't "that guy who used to be in Escape The Fate who killed somebody and wrote Falling In Reverse's album in prison," half the people who "love" him and his band wouldn't care. They're nothing special.
But this isn't meant to be a rant on how much the band aren't good, it's an opinion piece of Radke and other musicians who face hard times. While some musicians with talent ruin their careers by overdosing and dying (Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston) or being bat shit crazy (Courtney Love), many musicians can get past the embarrassment.
Chris Brown was promising young R&B singer with a good voice when he turned himself in after the beating of his girlfriend at the time Rihanna. While many viewed Brown's career as over he has had several hit singles since then and despite public feuds with P!nk and Miranda Lambert regarding his domestic battery charges Rihanna collaborated with him on the remix to her single "Birthday Cake" and his song "Turn Up The Music." While he has lost the love and respect of many fans, he still has a successful music career.
Another, older example is R&B singer R. Kelly. In 2002 a video tape of Kelly urinating on and having sex with an allegedly underage girl surfaced on the internet. The singer was charged with child pornography, soliciting a minor for child pornography and sex with a minor. Despite the fact that charges were dropped and he was found not guilty for the rest this was still a damaging thing for Kelly. Yet the next year Kelly released an album that featured one of his biggest hits ever "Ignition (Remix)." Despite not having that many more hits after Kelly continues to release albums to moderate success.
Radke can save his career if he comes across as a victim which I'm sure is the direction he'll take. Radke and his overrated band have lots of fans who probably feel terrible for their underdog and they'll probably blame his girlfriend and make her a martyr amongst terrible scene kids across the nation. But my question is, is that okay?