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.

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.