Lea Michele Gets Louder On Debut Album

Glee star Lea Michele released her debut album this month and it's a great record. Louder is a pure pop album, with a more theatrical delivery. The singer got her start on Broadway and that shows on this record.
The album's music mixes in pop, dance, rock and even moments of dubstep on it's 11 songs. The album deals lyrically with her relationship with her late Glee co-star Cory Monteith, who was dating Michele during the recording of this record up until his death last July.
The best song on the album is actually a tie between two songs. "On My Way" is a song that is just on the brink of dubstep and deals with going back to somebody who is bad for you. This song deals with a theme that appears constantly on this record. The other best song on the record is "Battlefield." This song is just Michele and the piano and it's a somber emotional song about the end of a relationship. Michele's voice is gorgeous and haunting on this song. It clearly deals with her relationship with Monteith.
Other highlights include the single "Cannonball" which deals with standing up after getting knocked down and "Burn With You" "Louder" is a dance number that would make Britney Spears jealous. It deals with overcoming obstacles and having fun.
"Empty Handed" is a soft-rock song that sounds like a good version of Christina Perri, who co-wrote the song. Another highlight is the closing song, the ballad "If You Say So." This song, written by Michele about Monteith's death. This song is by far the most emotional and real song on this record. It deals with the pain and heartbreak of losing a lover to drugs.
"It's been seven whole days/ Without your embrace/ I want to see your face/ I got some things to say/ Was just a week ago/ You said, "I love you girl."/ I said, "I love you more"/Then a breath, a pause, you said,/ If you say so," Michele sings during the chorus.
While all of the songs are good, some aren't as good as others. "You're Mine" is a strange Broadway show inspired track that could be done without. "Thousand Needles" is far too dramatic and comes off as annoying. "Cue the Rain" is also a tad overdramatic but not as bad as some of the other songs. "Don't Let Go" is a fun dance number, but it isn't done as well as "Louder" or "On My Way." It isn't bad, but it isn't as memorable as the others.
Lea Michele isn't likely to have huge success with this record. That being said the good out ways the bad and Louder is one of the best album's of the year so far.

Britney Spears Gets Personal On New Album

Britney Spears has always had hints of personal moments in her music. From her smash single "Everytime" off of her 2003 fourth album In the Zone in which Spears regrets the pain she caused ex Justin Timberlake to "Piece of Me" off of her 2007 comeback album Blackout. While the later wasn't even composed by Spears, it struck a chord with her. While the album isn't as personal as we were led to believe it does shed light on Spears' life, she had a hand in writing all of the songs on it.
So earlier in the year when Spears announced her eighth album and said that it would combine all of her previous records, including the "personal" Circus, fans were excited. In September Spears released the first single "Work Bitch" which is all about positive thinking and confidence. The second single came two months later. "Perfume" is a very personal song about a love triangle. Both songs were written by Spears and got fans excited for Britney Jean, Spears' eighth record.
Released last week the album is far from Spears' best record, but it also isn't terrible. Spears starts the album off on a personal note with the Madonnaesque "Alien." The song is about Spears feeling like she is an alien and like she doesn't belong. Spears is rarely this honest with us. This song is experimental and could very well be an outtake from Madonna's Ray of Light. Up next is the first single "Work Bitch," the EDM anthem practically made for treadmills. After that is "Perfume." This song isn't Spears' best ballad but it's a great song.
Next up is "It Should Be Easy" which is a duet with will.i.am who had a song in producing many of the songs on this record. The duet is a quasi touching love song that has some touching moments and the dance breakdown after the chorus is just killer. Next up is another collaboration, "Tik Tik Boom" with T.I. This song shows off an experimental sound. The chorus has an urban thump to it but then during the verses Spears sings over a minimal beat with acoustic guitars. Both these songs are album highlights and would make great singles.
Next Spears gets sexy on "Body Ache." While this song isn't bad, it isn't the best sexy song Spears has had and it doesn't hold up next to the other songs. The song is followed up by the best song on the album "Til It's Gone." This song is a dancy number with elements of dubstep and lyrics about a breakup. This song should definitely be a single. It would tear up dance floors all over the world. Spears shows vulnerably on this song. The bridge is a very good example of this.
"All the memories I'm saving/ So your love is never fading/ Holding on my heart is breaking/ Can't let go," Spears sings.
On the next song, "Passenger," Spears is a little more upbeat. The song is about Spears' giving up control in a relationship. It's about falling in love after a hard breakup and Spears' vocals shine on this guitar driven rock/dance hybrid. Katy Perry and Diplo wrote this song and Diplo produced it.
Next up is the worst song on the album. The kind of pop, kind of country, kind of stupid "Chillin' With You." This song is a duet with her sister Jamie Lynn who out sings her sister ten fold. The song is silly and could be done without.
Spears closes the album out on a high note. "Don't Cry" is a ballad that is part "Everytime," part Adele's "Someone Like You." This song is a touching look at the end of spears engagement. This song is a great way to end the standard edition of this album.
The deluxe edition of the record has a few great songs. "Brightest Morning Star" is a touching love song and has Spears sounding less auto-tuned than usual. "Now That I Found You" is a quirky club anthem about finding love and it's a great song and both these tracks should have been on the actual album. "Hold On Tite" is a boring song that doesn't need to have ever taken place. "Perfume (The Dreaming Mix)" is a stripped back version of the second single that makes it sound more fragile.
While this album doesn't top Spears' best records Circus and Blackout, it is a great record that is better than her first three filler filled albums.

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.

Avril Lavigne Goes Back to Her Roots On New Album

Avril Lavigne is back with her self-titled fifth album and it is a return to form of sorts. Lavigne released three stellar albums before releasing her worst work yet, 2011's Goodbye Lullaby. The pop rock princess abandoned her loud rocking anthems almost entirely and had an acoustic sound on that record. While there were a few great songs the only truly amazing cut was the single "What the Hell" which may be one of Lavigne's best songs ever.
Then in April of this year Lavigne released her comeback single "Here's to Never Growing Up." While it was a decent song, it lacked the spark of past hits. It later became a decent hit for the singer.
Then in August Lavigne released her second single "Rock n Roll." This song was a return to form for the singer and set the stage for her fifth album, out last week.
While at first I was turned off by the fact that Lavigne's husband, Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger was responsible for co-writing eight songs, producing six and being featured on the third single "Let Me Go." Kroeger also sings backup on a few tracks. However this is one of Lavigne's most enjoyable releases. It's her second best after 2007's masterpiece The Best Damn Thing.
The album's best songs are the rockers. "Rock n Roll" is an anthem for misfits everywhere. "17" features Lavigne reliving her teenage years. "Bitchin' Summer" is an ode to summer fun. "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" is a fast-paced rocker about falling in love. And the album's two best songs are "Bad Girl" which features Marilyn Manson and is a dirty and strange duet and "Hello Kitty" which is a strange dubstep-laced song that is overtly sexual and pure fun.
The album's midtempo cuts are also good for the most part. "Here's to Never Growing Up" wasn't my favorite at first but it's definitely a decent song. "Sippin' on Sunshine" is a midtempo song about summer loving. "Hello Heartache" is also one of the album's best songs. It's a midtempo rocker about moving on from a breakup which recalls a slow jam off of Ke$ha's last album.
Now comes the album's ballads. "Let Me Go" which is a duet with Chad Kroeger and the third single is a great ballad and despite Lavigne's duet partner it's surprisingly good. "Give You What You Like" however is a weird sexual ballad. It doesn't work and is probably the worst song on the record. The album closes with two forgettable ballads. "Falling Fast" is a decent but forgettable song about falling in love and taking a chance. Next is the album's last track "Hush Hush." This song is decent but it's been done by Lavigne many other times and the others were usually more memorable.
Lavigne has surprised us with one of the best pop albums of the year. With releases coming from Lady Gaga and Britney Spears in the coming weeks she may be undone but for now Avril Lavigne is up there was being one of the best pop releases this year. Lavigne has proven herself with this album. She has proved that even after a bad album she can come back and is one of pop's princesses. 

 

Selena Gomez Goes Solo

Former Disney princess Selena Gomez released her debut solo album yesterday after three albums with her band. Selena Gomez and the Scene. Stars Dance is an album that is full of faceless dance-pop with elements of dubstep and other electronic music. The album does have moments of vulnerability and personality. Whenever Gomez brings up her recently ended romance with a certain pop star is a great moment. The bridge of first single "Come & Get It" sums it all up.
"This love will be the death of me/ But I know I'll die happily," Gomez sings.
"Forget Forever," ""Write Your Name" and of course the ballad "Love Will Remember" all bring out the pain of Gomez's heartbreak.
Highlights on the album include "B.E.A.T.," a Dev-styled party anthem, "Stars Dance" which recalls Britney Spears and "Love Will Remember" which is an achingly personal breakup ballad written by Gomez.
The best song on the album is the opener "Birthday" which is a dance-pop song with hip-hop influences that starts the album off in a fun way.
The bonus tracks are more personal than the songs on the album. "Nobody Does It Like You" is a song on which Gomez sings about a love that's run it's course. "I can't go back to the way it was," she sings achingly.
"Music Feels Better" is a song about how music sounds better when with your lover. "Lover In Me" is about a lover bringing out Gomez's inner lover. "I Like It Like That" is a song about loving somebody despite their faults.
While most of the songs are good, some aren't as great as others. "Like A Champion" is like a bad Rihanna impression and "Undercover" is just there.
This album isn't as amazing as Gomez's last album with The Scene, but it's a pretty good record. It's fun and personal and while it sometimes lacks character, it more than makes up for that with it's emotional lyrics.

Selena Gomez Releases Grown Up Single

Selena Gomez has had a crazy music career. After releasing her first three albums with her band Selena Gomez and the Scene, Gomez ditched her band and released a solo single aimed at her relationship with pop star Justin Bieber. "Come & Get It" was a middle-eastern inspired electropop anthem about being open to reigniting old flames.
This week Gomez released the second single off of her debut solo album Stars Dance. "Slow Down" is a song about seduction and dancing at a club. The song is a grown up, carefree anthem and outshines "Come & Get It."
"If you want me I'm accepting applications/ So long as we keep this record on rotation/ You know I'm good with mouth to mouth recitation," Gomez sings during the second verse.
The subject matter has more in common with a Britney Spears song than a song by a Disney princess. This single is going to cement Gomez as a dance diva. The music is a far cry form her early pop-rock sound of her Disney hits and her band's first album.
The song is a great single and is sure to get Gomez even more popularity. Stars Dance will be out on July 23 on Hollywood Records.

Mariah Carey Unleashes "Beautiful" New Single

Mariah Carey has had some bumps along the road in her musical career. Her new single is not one of them. While her previous single "Almost Home" helped her regain the wheel after the crash that was last summer's "Triumphant (Get 'Em)," it's her new single the Miguel assisted "#Beautiful."
The song's worst trait is the hash tag in the title. The song starts slowly with Miguel singing over a nicely strummed guitar. "Hop on the back of my bike," he starts the song. A theme that Carey later picks up in the second verse. It's a brave move to start the song off with Miguel, the featured artist, but it works.
After Miguel sings the first verse and chorus Carey comes and takes control of the song. "I like when you run red lights/ Don't stop 'til you thrill me/ Oh, how you thrill me," Carey sings in the second verse.
The song is a gorgeous duet that mixes Carey's signature R&B and pop sound with a more Motown inspired beat. The song is an easy, breezy song that is sure to be the soundtrack of many a summer night.
The only issue with the song is the censorship. This is found in all of Carey's songs. She or the featured artists write profanity into the lyrics and then they are taken out. It may be a decision that the label makes but that is a bad one. Profanity can help enhance the meaning of the lyrics. While that isn't the case for this song, censorship is annoying. Britney Spears among others does this.
Other than that the song is amazing and is sure to get fans excited for her new album. Carey's fourteenth studio album has no release date or title but it's expected this year.

will.i.am Releases Fun New Album

Black Eyed Peas vocalist and producer will.i.am released his fourth album #willpower last week after many delays. The album features guest appearances by some of music's hottest artist and showcases a more electropop sound than the hip hop of his last album and earlier Black Eyed Peas albums.
The album was preceded by the single "This is Love" which features Dutch singer Eva Simons and is a catchy hip hop/house song that features parts of hip hop swag mixed in with electro breakdowns. The second single is the Britney Spears assisted "Scream & Shout" which is about get letting loose in a club. The song is a great single and will definitely tide Spears fans over until her album comes out in the fall. "You are now, now rocking will/ will.i.am and Britney Bitch," the two sing. The third single is the surprisingly good "#thatPower" which features Justin Bieber. These singles replaced the original single "T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)" which featured Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger.
Other highlights include "Hello" and the "Fall Down." The latter featuring Miley Cyrus and features the two dueting about lovers picking each other up when they fall down. The song has a more hip hop sound than the other songs. Other highlights include "Gettin' Dumb" which features will.i.am's band mate apl.de.ap and Korean girl group 2NE1 and "Love Bullets" which features Skylar Grey.
The album's best song is "Far Away from Home" which features Nicole Scherzinger. The song is an electropop anthem about a fame-seeking Hollywood starlet wannabe. "Let's go far away from home/ Ride on a rocket/ Burn down the boulevard, burnin' it up," the two single during the chorus.
While most of the songs are good, there are a few that just don't work. "Geekin'" is ridiculously silly hip hop/electro song and "Freshy" is a piece of rap trash that will.i.am is supposed to be above doing.
This album isn't the best album of the year, but it is a fun album that is sure to be the soundtrack to a summer party. #willpower only works because of the guest appearances. Without the help of his famous friends this album wouldn't be the same level of greatness that it is.

Kerli Goes Dance

Estonian singer Kerli rose out of the ashes in 2008 on her debut album, Love is Dead. The album sounded like Evanescence meets Britney Spears and featured such killer songs as "Walking on Air" and "Creepshow." Then the singer released her pop/rock/rap Alice in Wonderland inspired single "Tea Party" and then had two dance singles "Army of Love" and "Zero Gravity." While these songs lacked the rock edge of her great debut, they were still catchy and addictive and held fans over until March when she released her dance-filled EP Utopia.
The EP was proceeded by the single "The Lucky Ones." The song was a fun pop anthem but it lacked the intensity of her debut.
The EP kicks off with "Can't Control the Kids." This song is all about a generation of children controlled by the internet. The song is a dance anthem that has hints of dubstepish sounds. The song is a fun, catchy song that features a throbbing beat as well as a good vocal performance by Kerli.
The next song is the single "The Lucky Ones." The song is a ravetastic number that despite not being anything special will at least get you dancing.
The album then goes into the piano ballad "Love Me or Leave Me." The song is emotional, yet it doesn't pack the same punch that the singer had on her debut album's ballads. The song features lyrics about Kerli falling out of love with her lover.
The next song, "Sugar" is an acoustic guitar filled electropop jam that features sexual lyrics. While Kerli didn't explore the topic of sex on her debut, "Tea Party" was al about getting it on. On "Sugar" Kerli is trying to be sexy and seductive, yet something about it doesn't quite work. Despite this the song is an enjoyable track.
"Here and Now" is the album's best track. The single had a house inspired beat and lyrics about living in the moment. The song is catchy and fun and shows that while Kerli's new direction isn't as good as her older rockier sound, she can still own a song. This song gives hope to those let down by this release.
The album ends on a slow note with "Chemical." This song is better than half the songs on this album. Kerli is opening up her scars on this song and showing her vulnerable side.
The bonus track "The Lucky Ones (Syn Col vs. Kerli)." This remix is an improvement on the album and features a trance beat with piano thrown into the mix.
While this EP is good, it's nowhere near as great as her debut album and sadly Kerli doesn't seem to be showing signs of wanting to return to her previous rocker mode. This EP shows that Kerli is growing and hopefully she can reach her dreams of dance-diva status.

Justin Timberlake Comes Back With A Bang

It's hard to believe that Justin Timberlake went from boy bander to solo star. 'N Sync, the singer's former band broke up in 2002 and then later that year Timberlake released his solo debut Justified. The album featured a new R&B/hip hop sound that was nothing short of sexy. Timberlake went from cute boy band singer to sexy solo singer in a matter of months and while the album wasn't perfect, it was a great record. It featured his best song and one of his biggest hits "Cry Me A River." The breakup jam was aimed at his ex Britney Spears and showed a new side of the singer. The album featured production by Timbaland and The Neptunes and showcased the singer's falsetto voice.
In 2006 Timberlake released his sophomore album FutureSex/LoveSounds. The album stayed with the same style but Timbaland played a bigger part in the production. The album featured huge hits like "SexyBack," "What Goes Around...Comes Around" and one of his best songs "LoveStoned." The single featured an R&B beat and then went into an experimental rock outro. The album was more experimental and showed Timberlake could be a real artist.
Then the singer took a break from his music to focus on acting. Until January 2012 when Timberlake released his first new single since 2007. "Suit & Tie," which is simply ridiculous is produced by Timbaland and features Jay-Z. Yet those three together came up with a terrible first single. So terrible that it seemed as though Timberlake's new album was to be a mistake.
Then in February Timberlake released the second single and album highlight "Mirrors." The song redeemed Timberlake and does the rest of the album. The 20/20 Experience has a more neo-soul style and contains lyrics about wooing a lover. The triumphant return of Timberlake is risky. The songs are mostly over seven minutes long, yet they work. Songs like "Pusher Love Girl" and "Don't Hold the Wall" showcase classic Timbaland beats and Timberlake showing us that he isn't done yet.
The album's songs are sexy and experimental, not as experimental as his last record, but still experimental. Some highlights include "Tunnel Vision" and "Don't Hold the Wall." These songs are all about his marriage to Jessica Biel. There are no bad songs with the exception of "Suit & Tie."
The album closes with the two best songs, "Mirrors" and "Blue Ocean Floor." The latter is a gorgeous ballad that is experimental and soulful.
This album, while not perfect, shows that Timberlake is back and he's here to stay and with another album due out in November, he is showing no signs of slowing down.

Nicki Minaj's "Marilyn Monroe" vs. Fefe Dobson's "Stuttering"

Nicki Minaj released her amazing sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman's Revenge,  at the beginning of the month and one of the greatest songs on it was "Marilyn Monroe," a Rihanna inspired R&B song pleading with her lover to take her as she is. "If you can't handle my worst, you ain't gettin' my best. Is this how Marilyn Monroe felt?" Minaj croons over the soulful, rock tinged track. The song shows a different side of the rapper that has only been seen in a few songs on her debut album, Pink Friday.
Upon first listen it becomes apparent that the melody and instrumentals were ripped from Fefe Dobson's 2010 single "Stuttering" off of her second album Joy. Both songs have practically the same piano intro in addition to similar guitars and even the same melody. This is not either singer's fault, both singers wrote their respective songs, but both songs are produced and co written by J.R. Rotem. Rotem has worked with many musicians including Lil' Kim, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. While most pop singers write their own songs, they are more often than not working with co writters and producers. Despite this, both songs are fantastic, "Marilyn Monroe" is by far one of the best songs off of her album and of the year. Below are videos for each song.