Leona Lewis

Spirit

Ms.Lewis is a winner of England's version of 'American Idol'(a show called,'X-Factor')...Finally,a Tv reality show winner with some real talent.Make no doubt about it,this gal has some pipes.And she uses them.

Unlike so many horrid r&b productions,'Spirit' actually emphasizes the singer's voice.American Idol icon,Simon Cowell,actually makes the most of Leona's very impressive vocals.Unlike so much of today's over-dupped,over-produced crap,you hear-with clarity-this voice.

Leona'a voice-a cross between Alica Keys and Mariah Carey-carries this cd well...unto a point.

'Bleeding Love',deserves to be the hit that it is.In fact,the first five songs all deserve to be hits.Both,'Better Love' and,'I Will Love',actually have piano and(oh-baby)cello!Actual music!Great use of the voice,there,too.

[In fact,while I am thinking about it,I mentioned in a previous post,that the group,'Danity Kane',would make great back up singers.They are not the back up singers here,but,listen to the back up singers on this cd...and my point is made.]

'Forgive Me' and 'Misses Glass' run smoothly into the 'Angel'.This is where the cd has it's first flaw.I could swear she's singing,"You're A 'Ninja'."

The next song,Roberta Flack's,'The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face',I have mixed feelings about.At first,I really didn't care for it at all(I thought it too slow),but I am slowly but surely growing to like it.

The rest of the album sort of gets lost on me.I think it could be a case of Michael Boltonism.The heartfeltness of the songs(Mariah Carey belches not withstanding)seem to all blend together into a mind numbing emotionless mishmash...Too much of a good thing?!?Perhaps.

*

But,maybe,that is just me.

*

A real r&b cd using a real human voice.WoW!What a refreshing concept.

*

B

George Strait

Troubadour

The trouble with listening to allot of music is that you listen to allot of music.

What I mean is this.If you are a movie critic and see a bunch of action movies a year,you may be a little less forgiving of seeing your 100th car crash than the person that only goes to see latest 'Die Hard' movie.

The same with music.

Soon,you can't tell when an artist is pandering to his audience or simply making great music for his fans.

That is the way I feel about this George Strait cd.'Troubadour' does has some great songs.I really like,'House Of Cash'(about the late great Johnny Cash's house catching fire).The song,'Troubadour'(a self portrait song), is another favorite.

But most of the music on this album seems...how do I say this...targeted...towards his fans.'Brothers Of the Highway',is your classic trucker's anthem..'nothing wrong with it,'cept that it is yet another trucker anthem.

*

'I Saw God Today' seems likewise targeted more than personally felt.I had to listen umpteen times to realize he was singing about his baby(or the songwriter's baby)being born.No baby name was ever mentioned.I know if it was a song about my baby,I would be shouting out the name.But I am sure there are mommas everywhere singing this(or soon to be singing this)song.

See what I mean about listening to too much music.

'Give Me More Time' is the atypical tear jerker.Gotta have a tear jerker.

*

Don't even get me started on,'House With No Doors'.Yoda wisdom.I can hardly tolerate this song...yet...I rightfully see people embracing this bit of wit as they go through some personal troubles driving to work in the morning sipping on their coffee.

*

Thank God for,'West Texas Town'.It is the best song on the cd.

*

All in all,my critic side gives,Troubadour' a C+ ,and my fan side gives it an A-.

*

B+

Day 26

DAY26

Brian Andrews,Michael McCluney,Qwanell "Q" MosleyRobert,Curry,Willie Taylor are 'Day26',the season four 'Making The Band' winners.

To my surprise they aren't actually that bad.The reason I voice my surprise is that they raise above the bland production values of the MTv reality show's main producer,Sean'Puffy' Combs.Puff Daddy constantly amazes me by how he can drain all individually out most things he produces now-a-days.I believe it to be a sin to make soulless R&B.That is what Puffy does.Production tricks should have very limited access to a R&B group.The voices should rule.

And Day26 uses it's voices much better then a newly formed band should have a right to.

That doesn't mean that I can always tell which singer is leading or singing solo.The harmony is also pretty faceless,also.But if I accept Day26 for Day26,what you have here is a quite enjoyable cd.

'Got Me Going' deserves to be a hit on the radio,but it is not the only song that I found myself tapping my foot to.

'Co Star' had a very nice sound.So did 'Come With Me'.If fact,I think 'Come With Me' is probably my favorite song on the cd.'If It Wasn't For You' is yet another very nice smooth sounding song.I also liked 'Ain't Going' with Danity Kane,the other Making The band winner.

But will Day26 expand on their next album?I seriously doubt it.I don't believe that there will be another album.At least not with Day26 as they are now.

The problem is that these five handsome young men are the product of a reality show.There is probably not much beyond that show to hold them together.I suppose they all will break off to do solo careers.

Day26 was a nice deversion from the coming and goings of this week's events,though I doubt I will remember much of cd beyond this week.Sometimes that is enough.

C

Danity Kane

Ten Things you need to know about Danity Kane's 'Welcome To The Dollhouse':



10:They are five girls{or is it six?}that won season two[or is it three?] of the Sean Combs/Mtv reality show,'Making The Bland...er...Band.I have never seen the show,so I don't know.

Nowhere on the album art does it say who 'Danity Kane is':...(I will tell you,anyway.Danity Kane are:Shannon Bex, Aundrea Fimbres, Aubrey O'Day, Dawn Richard, and Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgette
*
9:This cd is full of what I call' Cheerleader Rock'.DK is much like a bunch of cheerleaders as you can get....both musically and visually ...five (or is it six?) pretty girls singing/cheering together in a blandness group.When my boys were young and playing pee wee football,our team would play these farming towns.The Lilly white cheerleaders would come out at half time to put out a show.They would cheer to music that was way more urban then this.
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8:This cd also reminds me of 'Bud Light'.Bud Light is probably one of the best selling beers in the world.So comparing DK to it is not all bad.Bud Light sells not because it rocks or is so tasteful,but because-in my opinion-it is so non offensive.It has no or very little taste.When walking into a strange bar in a strange city,I will always be able to find the comfort of a Bud Light.'High School Musical 2' is more uncomfortable then this cd.
*
7:It is quite evident that Mr.Combs had no faith in these girls either individually or as a group.There was virtually no attempt at making any of these beautiful young ladies stand out.He over produced and underrated these women right out of the cd.Listen to some of the great harmony groups...The Beatles...Take 6...The Four Freshmen...The Temptations...Gladys Knight & the Pips...The Beach Boys....you could hear the individual voices...hell..you wanted to.
*
6:Not that there aren't a few good songs.It's just so faceless that they could have been sung by anyone.'Strip Tease' is another Britney Spears knock off.I am so sick of the Betty Boop goosed loop that seems so prevalent on so many r&b tracks..please..give it a rest.
*
5:There is something to be said about paying your dues.If any of the members in DK had any input in the production of this album,I can't tell.That's a shame.They seem truely earnest.Maybe this cd is seen as paying there dues.
*
4:Danity Kane would make a fine 'back up' group.The songs with Rick Ross and Missy Elliott show this.Most of the songs seem to be missing something...a lead singer-perhaps.
*
3:The best song on the record does deserve airplay.It is the one song with some heart..I truely like,'2 Of You'...Danity using their strengths.
*
2:Other songs that I enjoyed ara:'Damaged','Ecstasy' and 'Is Anyone Listening'.
*
1:I'm a hypocrite.In spite of all of it's obvious weaknesses,I enjoyed listening to this product.Sometimes light fluff is all you want or need in the morning.

*
C+