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.

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.

Selena Gomez Grows Up

Disney Starlet Selena Gomez has had quite the career. With countless television shows and films, not to mention three albums with her backing band The Scene, Gomez has had much success. In 2012 she announced that her band was going on hiatus and that they would get back together in 2013. Then in 2013 Gomez announced that she would be going solo for her next album which she stated is inspired by Skrillex and Taylor Swift.
The first single "Come & Get It" was released this week and shows a mature side of her. The dubstep/electropop song which features some world music influences is a sexy anthem about not being over an ex and giving him permission to "come and get it."
While the song is sure to be judged as being aimed at ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber, but Gomez said it isn't. While Gomez didn't write the song it seems to be relatable to their relationship. "This love will be the death of me/ But I know I'll die happily," Gomez coos in the bridge.
While Gomez has never been the greatest vocalist, her vocals sound smooth here and add to the song. Despite the song being catchy, it isn't as memorable as Gomez's previous singles such as "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" or "Love You Like A Love Song." The song is a great preview of Gomez's debut solo album. Hopefully the rest of her record is as experimental as this song is. That is the appeal of this song, experimentation. Not to mention the fact that it's a fun, relatable club jam. Gomez's album is due out in the summer.