Miley Cyrus

Breakout

I have to admit that my expectations of this Disney star's first non-Hannah Montana project as not being set very high.I don't know why.'High School Musical' and it's cousin,'High School musical 2'[both Disney vehicles] were likable enough projects.Miley's own Disney Tv show,'Hannah Montana' has a nice 'Lucy' like quality to it.Her 3-D concert movie,'The Best Of Best Worlds' received mostly favorable reviews.

What was I thinking?America has a fine history of young teenage rock stars.Why so skeptical of young miss Cyrus?Perhaps,as a father myself,I like Miley.

Call it my teenager Tv star bias.I've seen so many starlets ultimately crash and burn,that maybe,I hoped for a little failure to perhaps prepare her for being a 'has been' by age 21.

That grounding(as I said-based on my own bias) is going to have to wait.This cd is actually not half bad.I know-faint praise.

'Fly On The Wall' is the best song on the record.It has a funny snide side to it.Something,just a little unexpected.

'7 Things' is the first single off,'Breakout'.It's a likable enough song.In fact,it fits pretty much in with today's pop/country music.

'See You Again' sounds somewhat like,'I Wear My Sunglasses At Night' and,'These Four Walls' could be a Natalie Maines/ Dixie Chicks ripoff.On the other hand,'Girls Just Want To have Fun',sounds nothing like Cyndi Lauper's version.Miley Cyrus has turned into more of a stadium anthem.Ditto,'Full Circle'.

Well,you get the idea.'Breakout',is a very listenable cd.By Tv standards this is the gold standard.American Idol and other reality show cd's are not up to this production.

B-

Nas

Despite my disappointment of Nas not going with his much publicized original title of 'Nigger' on this production....I can understand why he didn't.

The power and the glory of the word as I believe he intended on using it{Listen to,'You Can't Stop Us Now',and tell me that I am wrong} would have simply gotten lost via the media:

"Hi,I'm 'the Drew'.You're listening to'W.U.N.D.',F.M.102.We're broadcasting from white,small town,U.S.A.Now,off his instant urban classic,'The 'N' word',here is the Wal-mart homogenized and thoroughly bleached clean Nas."

Or even worse:

"Hi,I'm Alison Becker,and this is the VH-1 special,'Nas and the making of 'Nigger'.'Nigger' is the controversially tittled cd by rap bad 'boy',Nas.VH-1 has decided to use the actual title of,'Nigger',the cd,not because of it's intended take on the social reverberations and implications of modern day American society and the artist's take on the perceptions of racial freedoms and free speech,but because we white people at VH-1 want to use this album's title as an excuse to finally be able to say the word:'Nigger.Nigger,nigger,nigger,nigger,nigger,man,that feels good to be able to use that word in public again.'

I know,I know...that is a tad over the top.But,I believe not far off the mark.

And that brings out the problem of the 'X'-ed out title.I,as a middle aged white man,grew up in the struggle of civil rights.I grew up a follower of Martin Luther King,and for the ideals he stood.All men are created equal.That means 'all people'.Photos of sicking dogs on elderly ladies(they could have been 'my' grandmother') and southern firemen using fire hoses on young adults(they could had been my cousins),had a profound effect on me.

The 'N' word stood for all that was wrong.Using it was giving into all my fears and hatreds,to all of my prejudices.I did not want to use it because it would offend other people so much as I did not want to offend myself.It's use was a wrong step backwards.

Yesterday,when John McCain accused Barack Obama of using the race card,I was not so much offended by him accusing Mr.Obama of such as his white Massa' tsk tsk tone,and going,"I'm so disappointed in him," speech afterwords in front of a black crowd.


I felt like standing up and sticking my finger in the air at him and yelling,"Fuck you,fuck you,mother fucker!".


This is where Nas and this great cd comes in.The title maybe gone,but the truth behind it is still there.Unlike so many other rap cd's,this is more then just fun and games.It's partying with a purpose.It reminds me of not only James Brown &NWA,but also of Woody Guthrie,Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.Heck,it even puts me in mind of 'Huck Finn'.

There has been allot of talk that rap is dead(some of it my own),but with records like this Nas cd,I am beginning to think this is rap's golden age.

A+

Free Week #8




Weezer(The Red Album)[Deluxe Version-Extra Tracks]

The truth is that when I started this web-sight it was with the intention of buying nothing but cd versions of albums.I am no longer doing that.Buying music is so much cheaper on line.I don't get liner notes...rockin' art...but the sad fact is that that is rarely given out on the cd format anymore.Another on line bitch is that 'on line' purchases add extra tracts that the cd doesn't include.

As a cd buyer...that sucks.Pay more-get less.

In fact...the whole cd format:the former music holy land...sucks.

But I will leave that for another post.

So...as I was saying...extra tracks are usually not worth the price of admission....yeah..they usually suck...better without them.

Not here.'Miss Sweeney';'Pig';'The Spider' and 'King' are legitimately in contention for the best songs on this 'on line' album.

But this is Weezer,here....all of it is good.'Troublemaker' is a back to their roots,'Clashish meets Weezer mix...nice.

The next tune,'The Greatest Man That Ever Lived(Variations On A Shaker Hymn) is an acquired taste...but I like it.Different is good.

In the days before 'The Flight Of The Conchords' ruled 'YouTube',the conglomerate of the weirdness was king.You have to love Weezer's first single and video release,'Pork and Beans'.It really brings you back to the golden days of ....last year...fun and funny stuff:THAT ROCKS!

Now that we are put in the mood for nostalgia,Weezer gives us,'Heart Songs'.The boys(Rivers Cuomo,Patrick Wilson,Brian Bell,and Scott Shriner) aren't afraid to announce their musically influences.

The thing that I like about Weezer is that you know that you are listening to Weezer.'Everybody Get Dangerous' and 'Dreamin' prove this while also proving that the Weezer sound is wide and varied.

On the other hand,'Thought I Knew',isn't very Weezer-ish at all.

This is what I like about Weezer...fearless.

But,don't worry,the very next song,'Cold Dark World',is a Weezer masterpiece.

'Automatic' is ...automatic.

Finally,my cd format on line purchase's final regular song is,'The Angel and The One',an almost Wilco-ish sounding song(in part)...long and good.

I have been jamming to this weezer product all week.



A-

Free Week #7


MY MORNING JACKET:Evil Urges



I am a rocker.I rock out.

I am not a indie rocker/I like pop music.

No,nix that.I like good music.Labels are for fools and followers.

No.Nix that.Everyone has a right to enjoy music the way they seem fit.You have a right not to like any group for any reason.

It seems,'Evil Urges',has gotten it's fair share of this elitism backlash....and,in my humble opinion,it doesn't deserve one iota of it.

I am a rocker.I rock out.So does My Morning Jacket on their,'Evil Urges' cd.It is a rocker.This cd was born to be played in concert.

No,MMJ does not play it totally safe on this recording.They take chances.If this is your gripe about this album,then perhaps you should go back and listen to the other MMJ cd's....then come back and listen here,again.

It's not that growth is always necessarily always good...it's just that stagnation seemingly is always bad.

The song,'Evil Urges' is what I call a 'set-up' song.It not only sets up the whole album,but a few songs in particular(ie 'Highly Suspicious').In doing so,it stands out on it's own.I-like almost everyone else-compares front man,Jim James,falsetto to Prince.A-just as likely-comparison is to Paul McCartney mimicking Little Richard.This song would make a great openner to any concert.The jam at the end is worth the price of admission itself.

Speaking of 'Highly Suspicious',it is a fun energetic tune.Maybe,it is because I am planning on going to see the new 'Batman' movie tonight,but I am equating it with Heath Ledger's Joker in it's mad-cap laissez faire attitude.

'I'm Amazed',is a more typical My Morning Jacket production.Is questioning some MMJ fans lack of faith?Just 'cuz a few songs are different,you're gonna a blow off the whole cd?

Come on.

Grown up.

The whole cd is a diverse conglomerate of all of the My Morning Jacket repertoire.In fact,it is fun just listening to them expand and grow.

'Libraian'is just a nice song-Bobby Goldsbrough-esque.Of course,I mean this in a good way.

I am a rocker.I rock out.That is why I like both,'Alumium Park' and 'Remnants'.

I also like songs that build and climb and then jam their little hearts out.That is why I like,'Smokin'From Shootin',and,'Touch Me I'm Gonna Scream Pt. II'(There is allot of Pinkamus Floydamus','Echoes', on Pt.II).

All and all,just a fantastic album by My Morning Jacket....now,of I could only find a way to go see them in Colorado with the Black Keys....

A

FREE WEEK #6

Carly Simon:This Kind Of Love

Carly Simon-like her fellow journeyman wordsmith,Neil Diamond-has come out with a fantastic album in what is supposed to be the 'twilight' of her career.

Maybe,it is being at the point where record sales aren't the most important aspect of her music that makes it easier for her to create such good music.Maybe it just the vast amount of writing,singing,recording,experience that makes this cd seem such a pleasure.Perchance,maybe,it is just a case of all of the elements falling into place at the right time.

Whatever the reason(s),this is a great cd.Carly Simon shines here.

I like albums that grow on me.Two examples of this are,'London Calling',by The Clash,and 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot',by Wilco.There is something fresh and exciting about music that you have to actually listen to repeatedly to fully grasp.

As a proud owner of every Carly Simon album,I can truefully say that almost every Carly album seems that way.The first couple of listens of her new stuff never seems as enjoyable as the third,forth,etc.Maybe because Ms.Simon usually makes her music seem so effortless and spur of the moment...like she's making it up(or nearly so)as she goes along.

This is a plus for me.Though there can be a certain charm to over produced/over rehearsed/over rehashed music,in the pop music world, that is not often the case.There are few things that I hate more then music that has been 'blanded' to death.

That is definitely not the case here.The more times you listen to this cd,the more you like it.

'People say A Lot' is one of my favorite songs of the year.It is so new on so many levels...and fun:-) At almost six and a half minutes long,it is already a rule breaker.It sends a funny,but sober message on getting ahead...or maybe just being in the rat race....whatever...With voice overs,etc...I haven't heard another song like this(except maybe Neil Diamond's 6:04 opus,'Don't Go There') all year long.

It just makes me think how much classic rock/adult contemporary radio sucks!Yeah,I love,'You're So Vain' and 'Nobody Does It Better', as much of the next guy...but Geez Us...without playing artist's new stuff...it all becomes so...stagnant after a while.Play some new stuff,will ya!?!

Carly Simon was supposed to had been influenced by Brazilian music on this collection.I don't know enough about that genre to truthfully tell you to what extent she achieves this.However,I do enjoy the nature of this beast,mellow,yet bold{gulp...sounds like I'm describing a cup of coffee}..Very nice.

Songs that stand out are,'How Can You Ever Forget';'Hola Soleil' and 'When We're Together'.

Another song that deserves mention is,'They Just Want You To Be There',a very trueful(in my experiences,anyway) song about being a good parent.Simple advice,but a different kind of love song.

We won't talk about the Michael Jackson sounding,'So Many People To Love'.Sssh,just don't mention it.


A

Cold Play

VIVA LA VIDA


For the ones of you that only know 'Cold Play' by the songs,'Yellow' & 'The Scientist',you maybe somewhat surprised by the sounds coming off this cd.The fans of 'Cold Play's other cd's,on the other hand,will be more than pleasantly surprised.They will be tickled.

That's a good thing.

'Viva' is not a concept album-so to speak-but there are some common threads running throughout it.

I'll give one.The song,'Cemeteries Of London'is,in my opinion,about the fog rolling in...perhaps 'Passover' fashion.The lyrics:"I see god come in my garden but I don’t know what he said/For my heart it wasn’t open",pretty much sums up the jest of it....very visual.

Yet,what a tangled web we{they}weave.On,'Violet Hill',Cold Play sings,"And the fog, became God."See,it's very subtle,but it is there.

I will leave it up to you to find other such tidbits.

Another theme could be said to be the feeling of hope held within hopelessness.Perhaps,hope is not the exact word that I am looking for.These songs leap Psalm like with a glory in sorrow and despair.As if these feelings are O-K to feel.It is this allowance that produces the release of relief.In this relief is the beauty akin to hope.

Two prime examples of this are ,'Yes' and 'Viva La Vida'.Both very touching and beautiful songs.

Another Psalm like song is,'Death And All His Friends'.You can't find more powerful lyrics then these:"No I don't want to battle from the year to end I don't want to cycle and recycle revenge I don't want to follow death and all of his friends".

One of my favorite songs is,'Strawberry Swing'.What a positive upbeat tune.

The most Cold Play-ish sounding song probably is ,'Lost'."Your a big fish in a little pond....I'm just waiting till the shine wears off"

I don't understand the significance of the title of,'42',but I love it's sentiments...."Those who are dead/Are not dead/They're just living in my head,"and then the happy up-tempo switch to,"You thought you might be a ghostYou didn't get to heaven but you made it close,"Just great happy stuff.

If you were not a Cold Play fan before,after 'Viva La Vida' you will be.

A

Lil Wayne

Tha Carter III

For those of you that like your rappin' explicit and as real as you can get it,you won't find any better than good ol' Lil Wayne on 'Tha Carter III'.

Chocked full of guest stars,this amazing cd brings back my faith in modern rap.Normally,I am against cd's with every freakin' song being a potential hit...but not on this cd.And here's why.The videos and radio play that are bound to come off this album are going to be 'beeped' and edited more than a Tourette syndrome patient giving an acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.

That's a terribly bad analogy,but exactly my point.The only way to savor 'Tha Carter III' is to listen to the cd[non-Wal-Mart version,of course] in it's entirety.

Not to say that Lil Wayne is crass...just the opposite.'Tha Carter III' is nothing but fun.I dare you to listen to songs like,'Dr.Carter' without laughing(or,at least,smiling)...ditto,'Phone Home'.

But this ain't no one trick pony.Lil Wayne paints a broad spectrum with a board brush.'Tie My Hands' is a very Marvin Gaye-ish sounding tune.It should be a big radio hit.' Mrs Officer' is another R&B jem.How can you not love it?

True-full,playful,real.If radio was this diverse,more people would be listening to the radio.'Shoot Me Down',is one of my favorite songs on the cd.It is rap,but has a rock feel to it.The anger transcends genres.Hell,there's even a tad of guitar.

OK,ya' gotta love,'Lollipop'.But is it the best song on the cd...?Nah.Just the beginning of the opus.Same with,'A Mili'.

'La La'-filled with pop references-can be either a song about a child or a Los Angeles parody...who knows..I just like it.

'Playing With Fire' may not be for everyone,with the blatant over use of the word 'pussy',but I liked it.This is rap---right?!?

The end song is,'DontGetIt'.It's free thinking word streaming should be loved by everyone...except,maybe,just maybe,Al Sharpton.

One of the best cd's of the year.

A

Disturbed

Inde-struct- ible

First off,Kudos to the most kick ass album cover since the Nazareth's [via Frank Frazetti]'Expect No Mercy' album cover.

Secondly,I love metal.I love metal fans.Metal is a genre with fans that say Led Zeppelin is an acoustical band.Metal fans claim that pounding your thumb with a hammer against a wall is a way of creating meaningful lyrics.Metal fans are a very loyal and creative lot.But only one band is truly a metal band to these fellows...their band.

So,with that in mind,I will just classify 'Disturbed' as a hard rock band.Which pretty much puts them into a 'pop' music sub-genre.So what?How else can the number one cd in the country be classified?

I suppose that the first two songs are shout outs to all the group's fans based in Iraq and Afghanistan.These songs are meant to be jammed to-I suppose- to get the troops psyched up.It works for me.Though I am against the war,these songs make me want to go out kill something.

Disturbed is a very good name for these hard rockers.They are not afraid to ask the hard questions...or perhaps,better put...question the powers that be....be it your nation,God,your loved ones,or,hell,especially,yourself.

The only question about this ask questions style is...are these boys locking themselves into a musical corner?

i.e.{OK,I am dating myself,here} I used to be a big Journey' fan.Hell,after their first couple of albums they got themselves a new singer,and bam!The upped their game.Shift to years later...some interviewer asked them if they ever thought of changing their musical style.They replied,no...they did not want to'disturb' their fan base.

'Journey' instantly lost me.I didn't want the same old album over and over again.I wanted to be challenged.Think,'The Clash'.Think,'The Beatles'.Think,Neil Young.

Yes,I know that there are subtle nuances that can't be ignored in metal.I had a good friend named Bob that showed me this while we were listening to Pantera.Back in the day when 'Jethro Tull' was winning Grammies for best metal group,people were already bored with 'Kiss' because they became caricatures of themselves.

There may come a time when 'Disturbed' might become too old,too rich,or too comfortable to be 'disturbed' without having to fake it.Will their loyal fans boo and hiss if they decide to do a 'Music From the Elders',type cd?Yes,I think these loyal fans would.

Which is a shame.Disturbed(David Draiman,Dan Donegan,John Moyer,Mike Wengren and former memberSteve "Fuzz" Kmak) are surprisingly very good musicians.At some point,'Disturbed' may even decide within all the hypocrisy that there are answers within the anger(there are hints of it on 'Indestructible').

*

Their metal fans may object,but as I said before,'Disturbed' is a hard rock band.In hard rock it is preferable not to pull a Journey.Change is good.

*

I just realized,I've said very little about this cd.Here's the important part:

B+

Usher

HERE I STAND


On,'Here I Stand',Usher's smooth style transcends the usual R&B production styles.What I mean by this is that you pretty much get your standard R&B album here...yet you get more.


You get the atypical intro-a quarter of a possibly great song somewhat out of style with the rest of the cd....average fare.

The first full song is the hit single,'Love Is In the Club'.The only problem with this song is a problem most artist wish they could have...it seems like it was picked as a single simply because was the first song on the cd.There really is nothing standoffish about this song that sets it apart from the rest of the cd.It is first amongst equals....Oh,that's a good thing.

'Trading Places',is one of my favorite songs.It is romantic,sensual,and somewhat,just a tad,kinky...what's not to love?

I have to mention that I love Usher's singing voice.In this day and age of cookycutter R&B,it is a pleasure to listen to an artist that transcends the genre.Cooky cutterism is a problem in most all styles of the music industry..R&B and Metal seemingly catching the blunt of the commercial crassness...more of the same..the Wal-Mart-settle for mediocrity mentality...gone are the days of the 60's-70's musical mini-Renaissance.

I am not saying that,'Here I Stand' does not have it's typical songs.Most cds either have a death or baby song...'Prayer For You' fits that bill.Most albums have their double entendre song...'Love You Gently' fills that void.And of course,a guest rapper song has to added['Best Thing'].

What I am trying to say is: Usher turns these 'isms' into very good Usher songs.Songs where you go,'Yeah,Usher'.The prime example of this is,'Love Is In The Club Pt.II'.The guest artists(Beyounce' & Lil Wayne)do not overpower Usher,they add a nice nuance.

The title track is a cool addition-two songs in one.Pretty sweet....Usher shoots above the average on 'Here I Stand'...


....Now,if he could only get LeBron some help and transcend the Cavs the same way....


A

3 doors Down

3 Doors Down

Because of newer technologies[not necessarily a good thing],recording techniques have also changed to keep up with the ever changing tastes of the listener.

What I mean by this,with cd's falling less and less out of favor[for good reasons] and MP-3 players being more and more pronounced in favor of convenience over quality,bands and their producers are creating music recordings accordingly to this change in listening style.

When subtle audio nuances can't be heard,they are forgotten,or called-as a young rocker pointed out to me-
old fogy.

To compensate for this,many recordings are simply created loud.Turn up the bass,crank up the drums,bring up the vocals and lay down the guitars:all to the exact 'to the top before distortion' and then,flatline it all.

Loud and proud!Noise-glorious noise.

That is both the glory and the downfall of this '3 Doors Down' cd.The glory is that this cd is chocked full of singles.Each song on it's own is a ever thoughtful,well produced song.Aaah,can't wait to hear it on the radio or a selection on my ever growing MP-3 collection.

But,unlike great noise producing groups like Wilco,RadioHead and Death Cab For Cutie,3 Doors' sound gets lost in the mix.The 'equalness' of the sound gets lost in the repeated 'sameness' of sound level.It becomes background music.

Maybe nice for social gatherings or driving to Toledo and back.But it gets lost.I forget what I am listening to.I forget that I am even listening.

Single-ly,this cd rocks.Every song is important.'Train',the first song can be listened to over and over again.The first two singles,'Citizen/Soldier' and 'It's Not my Time',deserve their airplay status.They are great songs.'Pages' is a very passable song,but it is,'It's The Only One I Got' that will probably get lots of airplay.O-K,you can say that about,'Give it Two Me',too.

That is just the way this cd plays.

Probably after every other song is a gigantic hit I will listen to this album differently,give it a greatest hits pt.II type status.Until then,I'll enjoy '3 Doors Down',on the radio.

B-

Death Cab For Cutie

Narrow Stairs

1:Bixby Canyon Bridge.WoW!What a way to start off an album.This song is a rocker.The lyrics tell the story of a man going back to where his girl(I suppose) lost her soul.He finds nothing....there is a good jam...and he walks back to his car.

2:I Will Possess Your Heart.I was listening to Don McLean's 'American Pie' the other day and thinking,'You wouldn't hear an eight minute and thirty second song playing on the radio today.' I was correct...this great song comes in at 8:25.I love the rockin' non lyrical opening.Gotta spend some time,love...

3:No Sunlight.This is a nice little pop ditty.

4:Cath...This is a song about a woman marrying a respectable man because her heart is dying.The people in the pews are betting that it won't last and the girl(Cath)is going to miss out on many a man whom would love her more...but,concludes the story teller,he would have done the same.

5:Talking Bird.This is the best song on the cd.It really isn't about a caged bird,me thinks,living inside a house inside a house.The longer you think...the less you will want to do.

6:You Can Do Better Then Me....but I can't do better then you.Great drum beginning.Great singing.This song lasts just long enough.

7:Grapevine Fires.I love the way D.C.F.C. mixes it up.A song of fear,fighting the good fight,and ultimately child like hope and salvation.Musically extremely well put together.Wunderful tune.

8:Your New Twin Sided Bed.A song about doing what you have to do.Taint easy.Emptiness vs. holding on.I hate good byes,but love this song.

9:Long Division.Powerful lyrics.I have to admit these guys sing about other things.The end results of deceit...or should I say the end cost.This is the new style rock,kids.Lead or get out of the way.Awesomeness.

10:Pity And fear.It should be downcast,but It's not.Beware and rock out....watch the ending.

11:The Ice Is getting Thinner.If you should go skating on the thin ice of modern life...no wait,that's the other thin ice song.I love Ben Gibbard's vocals and guitar.In fact,the whole band (Ben Gibbard Chris Walla Nicholas HarmerJason McGerr) jells better then The Blob.

A

Neil Diamond

Home Before Dark


First off,I like Neil Diamond.I have always liked his music.He has made hits for The Monkees,Deep Purple,Barbra Streisand,UB40 and many others.

He has had tons of hits of his own,too...'Forever In Bluejeans','Love On the Rocks','I Am I Said','Song Sung Blue',etc,etc and so forth.

He is also a minor player in my life.I remember the Cleveland late night duo,'Hoolihan and Big Chuck'' playing,'Sweet Caroline ,every single time they were on Tv.Also,my Mom loved Neil's song,'America' so much,that my Dad made sure that the live band played it at my sister,Nora's,wedding.It was' one of the highlights of the reception.

Good stuff:-)

But I hadn't heard much from Neil lately.And what I had heard was sort of greatest hits,Vegas kinda stuff...so,I was curious.

I was pleasantly surprised.On,'Home Before Dark',Neil Diamond has made a jem of an album.Mr.Diamond was actually brave enough to make timeless,real music instead of another unneeded or unwanted pop music cd.Looong songs that tell stories and that are well crafted.What's up with that?WoW![Kudos to producer's producer Rick Rubin]

From the very first song,'If I Don't See You Again',you know you are on to something special...a craftsman,at the peak of his form...not caring about the 'pop' value,but just making enjoyable music.

'Pretty Amazing Grace' is a song of salvation-either via someone loving you,or,perhaps,even religiously.Either way,I say,'Hallelujah'.

My favorite song on the cd is,'Don't Go There'.The song clicks in at 6:04,but is so good that despite it's length,it should be a radio hit....it won't be...but it should be.It's that fun.

'Another Day(That Time Forgot)-'with Dixie Chick Natalie Maines- and 'One Bite Of The Apple' are both story songs.I am telling you folks,by this time,I am just enjoying a great album with actual songs that mean something on it.While the songs seem simple-just Neil Diamond,and a guitar or so,Mr.Diamond's husky voice and smooth tale telling come across with more 'ump paa paa' then almost every over produced cd that I have heard this year.

I also like,'Forgotten'.Sure,some of it is corny,but that is it's strength.It is so unique to hear an artist sing passionately about something he seems to care about.

Next,is the introspective,'Act Like A Man'.The beginning word instantly puts me into mind of 'Song Sung Blue',but Neil quickly turns this beauty into a nice country tweaked song...very nice.

'Whose hands Are These' and 'No Words' are also very nice pieces of music,but along with,'The Power Of Two',are probably the weakest songs on the cd,with 'Two' being the only misstep.It comes across as a little 'too' trite.

I don't want you to forget the last two songs,'Slow It Down',and the title track,'Home Before Dark'.If you listen to the cd a couple of times,I am sure you won't.

A very good cd.

A

Madonna

Hard Candy













Madonna is exactly one week older then me.She is probably one of the beautiful women in the world.

So,it's not that I don't like older women.One of the great advantages of getting up there in age is that you find mature women more and more attractive.

To put it another way,let's-just for the shits and giggles-compare a woman's beauty to an apple.Actually,this is a great metaphor.Even though most Biblical scholars consider the pomegranate 'the' forbidden fruit...all the rest of us Bozo's think of the tempting fruit as our apple.

Now,there is a certain appeal to a nice young green apple.Everyone loves to bite into a beautiful crisp,tart green apple.Yum...Mmmmm.

But,in reality,this green apple has very limited uses.It is the fully mature red apple that is just so juicy and delicious.Aah,just thinking about biting into a fully mature red apple,it's juice rolling down your chin...nothing better.

And the multiple uses of the 'at it's peak' apple.Slice it,dice it,put it in salads,dip it in caramel.It is used in other products as a sweetener....just like a beautiful woman...it's am amazing multi-tasker.

In fact,nothing can diminish the fantastic beauty of this sensuous fruit except for when it pretends to be less then it is...when it dresses up as a green apple.

That is why-though I commend Madonna for showing us her true self-on the photos in the liner notes and on the cover,I feel these latent dominatrix photos weaken her image of a very fantastically sexy cougar.

Take these two pictures of famed silent screen movie star Gloria Swanson.

I think Madonna imagines herself in these photos looking like this....













...when,in reality,she looks more like this!

I only mention this because I find Madonna overly sexy,talented and in league I will never ever even hope to attain.She has more balls then most men ..and who am I-the no talent that I am-to question her visual and musical making decisions?

I am a buyer of her product,that's who.Not only a buyer,but a reviewer.if Madonna is going to pitch a product,it is my(if you can't do:review)duty to voice my opinion.

All this tirade leads to my review of the first song on the cd,'Candy Shop'.I know she wishes to come across on this song as the ruthless White Witch.But,to me,she comes across more like the old witch in the story of 'Hänsel and Gretel'....It's like biting into an old mushy apple...ugh!

It's humorous actually.

And that sets the tone for the whole cd.

It's a shame,because there are some really good Madonna songs,here.But it's hard to take them seriously.These include,'Give It 2 Me',The Kate Bush inspired,'Miles Away',and,'Heartbeat'.

'She's Not Me',I like and,yet,don't.Just what is this song about,lost love,Sean Penn?'

'Dance 2nite' has a positive message,but reminds me of John Lennon's message in,'Imagine','Imagine no possessions'/'You don't have to be rich and famous...'easy for the rich to spout.

'Spanish Lesson' is good,but the song hints at using a pungi
,the snake charmer flute.Aaah,if only it would have.

I think that in some ways,'Devil Wouldn't Recogize You',is the most honest song on the cd.

All & all,if you like Madonna,you will enjoy,'Hard Candy'.If you don't,you won't.

B+

FrEE wEek # 5


YippY! ThE BlaCk kEyS HaVe COmE OuT WitH,
'ATtaCk
& REleASe"...

... and I love it.

There are very few music groups-now-a-days-that I get excited about releasing a new Lp,but I was so excited about the new Black Keys release that I could hardly sleep the night before it came out....

...and i love it.

I wondered if they would stray far from their roots[or not far enough] when they got mega producer,Danger Mouse,to motivate them.Alas,no need to worry.This is The Black Keys best cd yet.

Growth...it's funny how by just tweaking their sound a little bit here and a little bit there,The Black Keys have added just the right amount of new soul to their sound .

A banjo here(Psychotic Girl),a flute there(Same Old thing),a duet(Things Ain't Like They used To Be),a little bit of background chanting(I Got Mine/Strange Times),an organ(Things),a second guitar(Lies/So He won't Break) etc,etc and so forth.

And yet...still so much like the freakin' great Black Keys.

New players besides Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney include Ralph Carney.Ralph is Patrick's uncle and has played with a ton of groups...including Tom Waits,Elvis Costello,Tin Huey and one of my all time favorite band's,Kent,Ohio's own,'The Waitresses.He add's-at least-the clarinet on,'Remember When' and the Tull like flute on,'Same Old Things'.Great stuff.

Another Waits/Costello alumni on,'Attack & Release' is guitarist Marc Ribot.Listen to his work on,'Lies' and 'So He Won't Break'.

On,'Things Ain't Like They Used To Be',Dan even sings a duet with another Kent,Ohio product,18 year old blue grass singer, Jessica Lea Mayfield.Take a listen...

...I love it.

The heavily produced by Danger Mouse single,'Strange Times' fits in with the rest of the Lp perfectly.This is the Black Keys,baby.Ditto,'I Got Mine'.

Perhaps my favorite song is,'Psychotic Girl'.With it's piano and banjo backing,this is a very smooth groove.It almost seems to come from some demented western..hmmm..perhaps from 'The Dark Tower',say,'The Gunslinger'.This song is the bomb.

On the album,the softer,'Remember When(Side A)' is on side A,and the more jamming 'Remember When(side B)' is actually on Side B.Either way...very enjoyable.

'Same Old thing' is another favorite.Flute,man!Rockin flute!This ain't the same old thing...yet,it is.

'Oceans and Streams' should be a radio staple.It sounds like sonar love.'All I Ever Wanted',starts off both the cd and the Lp.It is a mostly acoustic blues tune.But a nice beginning.

The Black Key's:"Attack & Release...

YippY!

A

Mariah Carey

E=MC2



Mariah Carey has one of the most beautiful exotic,erotic voices in all of music.That is why it is a total mystery to me why this cd does everything in it's power to try and hide it.

Back in the sixties,Motown produced group after group in an endless procession of hits.Much of that music got tons of airplay.The same musicians,the same producers,the same sound.Everyone pretty much benefited from the machine...except maybe the vocalists.O-K,some of the cream came to the top ,but the artists were sort of an after thought.Come on,how many of these groups can you name.

It seems this faceless music is back.I am sure I have heard this album six or seven times already this year.It could have been done by anyone.

And that's a shame.For the most part you will have to wait for the video to come out to even know it is Mariah Carey singing.

Oh,the cd started out with high expectations,all right.Mariah's patented high pitched banshee calling card on,'Migrate',is the perfect opener.And on the closing,'I Wish You Well',it is all Mariah.The only trouble is that directly after the,'Migrate' opening,you never hear Mariah's distinct vocals again.In fact,even the end of the opening high notes seems electrically manipulated.

The only songs that Ms.Carey shines on are the very nice,'Love Story' and the destined for airplay,'Thanks For Nothing'.Even here,the production discredits her voice by layering it and using male vocals.

It's as if the Mariah Carey value is downplaayed on purpose.That the less the Mariah the better.

Is this what pop music has come to?Has bland,faceless music become what the audience wants?Has it become more important to not offend-or just give the people what they expect then to produce a specific album knowingly from front to back done by one artist?

Is the music from one party to the next's only object to be new,yet the same?Gotta have a love song.Gotta have a party girl song,a song of lost,a song of romance?

When you have to fight and/or listen multiple times just to hear the artist cd after cd,you get so disappointed.

I guess the goods must come through in the videos.Something I don't often have the time to watch...because I am listening to the music!

Like the great 'Saturday Night Live' sketch that asks for more cowbell...next time,more Mariah Carey,please.

C-

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.
*
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+