First of all, bad pun in the title. Second: Alright, so maybe I'm just a bit slow on the uptake, but I am obsessed with the Hype Machine. It's the music lover's dream come true. Type in almost any musical artist or track in the search box, and an entire host of songs pop up, just waiting to be listened to for FREE. A lot of the songs include a link to a blog where you can download mp3s for free. Can we say, score big?
The technicalities: the Hype Machine is an mp3 blog aggregator, and it's been around since 2005. It basically pulls from a bunch of daily music blogs and websites around the web, and allows for easy compilation of all your favorite songs.
So if you, like me, are perhaps a bit behind the times, stop by and give the Hype Machine a look. Check it out!
Personal faves of the week:
Illinois "Nosebleed"
Sea Wolf "You're a wolf"
Bloc Party "Flux"
Happy listening.
-Ann
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Writer's Strike = More Reality TV, Broken Hearts
Patrick Dempsey whatever will we do without you?
An article in USA Today discusses the impact that the writer's strike will have on not only our beloved television shows but also on movies in 2008.
The verdict for television:
Less clever, innovative shows to get you through the week to Thursday night. More cheap, crappy reality shows. Might as well just unplug the TV.
New shows left of The Office: 0
New shows left of Grey's Anatomy: 1
Tonight's Grey's is a rerun - the coveted new episode will supposedly air at the beginning of the new year.
Thank goodness it's almost winter break, because if not I really don't know if I would make it...
The only good news - Law and Order will be returning to primetime. As if it's not easy enough to find 24 hours a day on USA or TNT.
sadness.
Claire
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
World's Best Boss(es)
I have to say, as it comes to the end of the semester, I've been so lucky to work at The Daily Iowan. The self-doubt, sleepless nights, and constant nagging insecurities that plagued me this semester are no doubt a symptom of this job.
In all honesty, I couldn't have asked for a better first semester at the DI, or a better group of people to share it with. So, in honor of the two people who took a chance on hiring a chesty girl with no experience, I'd like to dedicate these two songs to my editors.
This one is for Boss Susan, not to be confused with Pal Susan:
(Let's face it, anyone who has talked to this girl about music for more that thirty seconds knows she's never listened to Neutral Milk Hotel.)
This one is for Paul Sorenson. No explanation necessary, trust me.
In all honesty, I couldn't have asked for a better first semester at the DI, or a better group of people to share it with. So, in honor of the two people who took a chance on hiring a chesty girl with no experience, I'd like to dedicate these two songs to my editors.
This one is for Boss Susan, not to be confused with Pal Susan:
(Let's face it, anyone who has talked to this girl about music for more that thirty seconds knows she's never listened to Neutral Milk Hotel.)
This one is for Paul Sorenson. No explanation necessary, trust me.
EARPLUGS AND EARMUFFS: DINO JR @ THE PICADOR
Yesterday was perhaps what one designates as a flawless day. Waking up to robot-voiced warning call from the university canceling school was an excellent way to begin, considering how the only way I was going to leave my house is if I had a full dog-sled team at my disposal. Today was like the musical Superbowl, for I was finally able to see Dinosaur Jr, one of the most iconic and influential bands of the 80's-early 90's. If it was the Superbowl, then the pre-game show was reading the charming DI writer Ann Colwell's interview with Lou Barlow, Dino Jr's bassist, in the paper that morning. She really captured the sense that this reunion tour isn't just a victory lap, (like the Styx minus Dennis DeYoung era...even though they suck regardless) but an opportunity for the still-relevant band to demonstrate their ability to make still-relevant music.
The clock had struck the witching hour and it was time to head to the show, which had led me to a mad scramble to find some earplugs around the house. Dinosaur Jr. is legendary for their ear-bleeding shows, so I figured I should track down some sort of protection. Much to my chagrin, the hunt was unsuccessful, but who needs ears anyway?
As my motley crew walked into the Picador, lead guitarist/singer/head songwriter/ax wizard/awesome personified J. Mascis was standing right there! He was just chatting with some dude. That kind of excitement is kind of like walking into your living room before you go to bed on Christmas eve and seeing Santa there eating the cookies. As happy as you are, you still know the best is on the way. My own personal J. Mascis, John Patrick Hennessy Jr., front man of Iowa City band Birth Rites, put in a request to J. for the song "Sludgefeast", which we thought was nothing more than a futile effort. I only caught the last opening band, a sort of psych-garage band Awesome Color, for their last few songs, but I liked what I heard. But then again, I was there for one band.
Just watching Dino Jr. set up their equipment was so imposing, J. Mascis plays with three gigantic half-stacks surrounding him at all times, a sight that made my dainty peter-pan looking ears quiver in fear. The crowd was a pleasant mix of fans; college kids to young professionals to 40-somethings. I've seen this one righteous looking dude around campus and at a Pearl Jam concert in Chicago two years ago, and every time I've seen him he has been wearing the same Dinosaur Jr. shirt, so I was hoping he would be there. Sure enough, he was there, and I told him that mildly entertaining anecdote that you were just graced with. Noice.
Dino Jr. finally slunk onto the stage casually, (J. Mascis just walked through the crowd onto the stage pretty much) and it was time for a collective head explosion. The set began with the opener of their 1985 album Dinosaur, "Bulbs of Passion", letting the crowd know early that this was going to be a career-spanning set. Most of the set was a healthy diet of early 90's songs like "Feel the pain", to new songs off this year's release Beyond, taking time in almost every song for J. to launch into an expansive guitar solo. Even with J's virtuosic skill, drummer Murph definitely is the band's MVP live, on point and pummeling with time and vicious drum fills. The set concluded Lou Barlow taking vocal duties, with another Dinosaur song, "Forget the Swan", providing a cool bookend feel to the performance. I was slightly crestfallen though, because my favorite album You're Living All Over me had been barely represented, actually not even at all at that point. Oh me of little faith. The encore was all that album, rocketing into "Kracked" and then "Sludgefeast" (my friend's request) right after. HELL YES. Needless to say,I sleazed my way up to
the front row with the reflexes of an lolcat ("I can has life changing momentz?").
Awesome night. My ears are still ringing pretty bad, but it was well worth it. If you had to miss out on this concert, I suggest seeing The Sword at the Picador, this Sunday 16th. I just talked to their drummer and all-around good dude Trivett Wingo on the phone and its going to be awesome.
Love Jarrett
The clock had struck the witching hour and it was time to head to the show, which had led me to a mad scramble to find some earplugs around the house. Dinosaur Jr. is legendary for their ear-bleeding shows, so I figured I should track down some sort of protection. Much to my chagrin, the hunt was unsuccessful, but who needs ears anyway?
As my motley crew walked into the Picador, lead guitarist/singer/head songwriter/ax wizard/awesome personified J. Mascis was standing right there! He was just chatting with some dude. That kind of excitement is kind of like walking into your living room before you go to bed on Christmas eve and seeing Santa there eating the cookies. As happy as you are, you still know the best is on the way. My own personal J. Mascis, John Patrick Hennessy Jr., front man of Iowa City band Birth Rites, put in a request to J. for the song "Sludgefeast", which we thought was nothing more than a futile effort. I only caught the last opening band, a sort of psych-garage band Awesome Color, for their last few songs, but I liked what I heard. But then again, I was there for one band.
Just watching Dino Jr. set up their equipment was so imposing, J. Mascis plays with three gigantic half-stacks surrounding him at all times, a sight that made my dainty peter-pan looking ears quiver in fear. The crowd was a pleasant mix of fans; college kids to young professionals to 40-somethings. I've seen this one righteous looking dude around campus and at a Pearl Jam concert in Chicago two years ago, and every time I've seen him he has been wearing the same Dinosaur Jr. shirt, so I was hoping he would be there. Sure enough, he was there, and I told him that mildly entertaining anecdote that you were just graced with. Noice.
Dino Jr. finally slunk onto the stage casually, (J. Mascis just walked through the crowd onto the stage pretty much) and it was time for a collective head explosion. The set began with the opener of their 1985 album Dinosaur, "Bulbs of Passion", letting the crowd know early that this was going to be a career-spanning set. Most of the set was a healthy diet of early 90's songs like "Feel the pain", to new songs off this year's release Beyond, taking time in almost every song for J. to launch into an expansive guitar solo. Even with J's virtuosic skill, drummer Murph definitely is the band's MVP live, on point and pummeling with time and vicious drum fills. The set concluded Lou Barlow taking vocal duties, with another Dinosaur song, "Forget the Swan", providing a cool bookend feel to the performance. I was slightly crestfallen though, because my favorite album You're Living All Over me had been barely represented, actually not even at all at that point. Oh me of little faith. The encore was all that album, rocketing into "Kracked" and then "Sludgefeast" (my friend's request) right after. HELL YES. Needless to say,I sleazed my way up to
the front row with the reflexes of an lolcat ("I can has life changing momentz?").
Awesome night. My ears are still ringing pretty bad, but it was well worth it. If you had to miss out on this concert, I suggest seeing The Sword at the Picador, this Sunday 16th. I just talked to their drummer and all-around good dude Trivett Wingo on the phone and its going to be awesome.
Love Jarrett
The perfect amount of time for rice
Class ended early with just enough time to leave me with nothing to do...not enough time to catch up on the sleep lost with last night's all-nighter, not enough time to to do the next round of homework due tomorrow, not enough time to finally clean out my 10-page e-mail inbox.
But wait...could my obsession with freerice.com be anymore unhealthy? I'm like that photo-whore on facebook that posts 4 new albums a day and comments on every new picture any of her 800 friends' posts — only with freerice.com.
So I talk about it all the time. So my social conversations often segue to the new word I learned earlier today (did you know habberdasher means a seller of men's clothes?!) and I like to brag about all the grains of rice I've helped donate to the world (620 grains without a single miss). I don't think I have to defend doing a good thing and raising my IQ.
But then I start to wonder about these grains of rice sometimes. Just how much rice is 620 grains? Would it fill a single sushi order? Or the tray of chinese food the freshman waste in the dorms? I'm starting to feel helpless here. Maybe I need to play more. 620 grains isn't enough...what about 620,000? But is 620,000 enough to fill a bag? Maybe I need to donate 620,000,000..oh, god. there goes finals week and goodbye sanity if I didn't lose you weeks ago.
I admit to my problem. freerice.com has become my new facebook, msn.com, cnn.com, and hawk-mail combined. But whatever gets you through the end of the semester, right?
PS While writing this post I donated 980 grains...and learned that parry means to ward off...and...nevermind.
-Vanessa
But wait...could my obsession with freerice.com be anymore unhealthy? I'm like that photo-whore on facebook that posts 4 new albums a day and comments on every new picture any of her 800 friends' posts — only with freerice.com.
So I talk about it all the time. So my social conversations often segue to the new word I learned earlier today (did you know habberdasher means a seller of men's clothes?!) and I like to brag about all the grains of rice I've helped donate to the world (620 grains without a single miss). I don't think I have to defend doing a good thing and raising my IQ.
But then I start to wonder about these grains of rice sometimes. Just how much rice is 620 grains? Would it fill a single sushi order? Or the tray of chinese food the freshman waste in the dorms? I'm starting to feel helpless here. Maybe I need to play more. 620 grains isn't enough...what about 620,000? But is 620,000 enough to fill a bag? Maybe I need to donate 620,000,000..oh, god. there goes finals week and goodbye sanity if I didn't lose you weeks ago.
I admit to my problem. freerice.com has become my new facebook, msn.com, cnn.com, and hawk-mail combined. But whatever gets you through the end of the semester, right?
PS While writing this post I donated 980 grains...and learned that parry means to ward off...and...nevermind.
-Vanessa
The Uncut Camera
Fiest's new song "1234" has made it big. I mean very big. Featured on VH1's "You Oughta Know" and later picked up by iPod for commercial use, the song has gotten all the attention it deserves (but I'm gonna talk about it some more).
Fiest's dainty voice, playful horns, simple banjo, and jazzy piano all complete the song in a way that everybody is bound to like at least one part of the song. I call this the "machine-gun" approach-this comprises of throwing every trick you have out at once in hopes that each listener can't help but appreciate something in the song.
The beauty of this approach in her context is her video. It takes the same approach. Enjoy a minimalist's set? How about un-coached dancing? Bright sequenced colors? Group choreography? No one likes all of the above. But everybody likes one. And that is the beauty of Fiest. While some love her, its easy for everybody to at least like her (and that sells albums).
While I'm on this tangent, I have to talk about the filming of this video. It is all done in one shot. This is 3:20 of pure unedited footage. The average Hollywood film shot lasts 8 seconds. Music videos footage is typically even shorter in an attempt to keep viewers interested. Fiest blatantly disregards this standard and makes visual bliss in the process.
For a video to be one shot, there can be no mistakes, no movie magic, and no stunning images to keep the viewer engaged. In "1234", however, a slew of colorful dancers and eye tricks are all that is needed. Note the beginning and end as dancers seemingly appear and disappear. They have to be there, the filming never stopped. But they aren't visable. Take a look at the "Making of 1234" and see how the Directors use movie magic of a different kind. One that film makers used before computers, touch-ups, or minute editing.
Fiest's dainty voice, playful horns, simple banjo, and jazzy piano all complete the song in a way that everybody is bound to like at least one part of the song. I call this the "machine-gun" approach-this comprises of throwing every trick you have out at once in hopes that each listener can't help but appreciate something in the song.
The beauty of this approach in her context is her video. It takes the same approach. Enjoy a minimalist's set? How about un-coached dancing? Bright sequenced colors? Group choreography? No one likes all of the above. But everybody likes one. And that is the beauty of Fiest. While some love her, its easy for everybody to at least like her (and that sells albums).
While I'm on this tangent, I have to talk about the filming of this video. It is all done in one shot. This is 3:20 of pure unedited footage. The average Hollywood film shot lasts 8 seconds. Music videos footage is typically even shorter in an attempt to keep viewers interested. Fiest blatantly disregards this standard and makes visual bliss in the process.
For a video to be one shot, there can be no mistakes, no movie magic, and no stunning images to keep the viewer engaged. In "1234", however, a slew of colorful dancers and eye tricks are all that is needed. Note the beginning and end as dancers seemingly appear and disappear. They have to be there, the filming never stopped. But they aren't visable. Take a look at the "Making of 1234" and see how the Directors use movie magic of a different kind. One that film makers used before computers, touch-ups, or minute editing.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Christmas goes green
After hours of mind-numbing studying and paper writing, I decided it was time for a TV break. Usually I have class on Tuesday nights from 7 to 10:30, so I don't have any specific Tuesday evening line-up as far as television is concerned.
So I was flipping through the channels when all of a sudden I came across a combination of two of my favorite things in the world: Christmas and Shrek.
That's right: in case you hadn't heard the big news (I don't know how I possibly missed it) ABC aired Shrek the Halls on November 28, and apparently are re-running it whenever they can until Christmas. In this half hour short, Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and the nameless babes all reunite to celebrate Shrek's first Christmas which of course entails Shrek being a grumpy ogre and hurting everyone's feelings along with some fart and booger jokes. What could make for better holiday cheer?
Will Shrek the Halls go up in the Christmas TV special hall of fame along with A Charlie Brown Christmas ? Probably not. Will it still be watched and enjoyed by children everywhere 40 years later like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer? I don't think so.
Why?
While he's always been green, since the first movie Shrek has just been filling his producers' pockets with more and more green until it's just tiring. He has turned into a money-making ogre with no respect for himself or what he once was and what he once taught us way back in his first movie.
Shrek has sold out. And for that I am disappointed.
-Gina
So I was flipping through the channels when all of a sudden I came across a combination of two of my favorite things in the world: Christmas and Shrek.
That's right: in case you hadn't heard the big news (I don't know how I possibly missed it) ABC aired Shrek the Halls on November 28, and apparently are re-running it whenever they can until Christmas. In this half hour short, Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and the nameless babes all reunite to celebrate Shrek's first Christmas which of course entails Shrek being a grumpy ogre and hurting everyone's feelings along with some fart and booger jokes. What could make for better holiday cheer?
Will Shrek the Halls go up in the Christmas TV special hall of fame along with A Charlie Brown Christmas ? Probably not. Will it still be watched and enjoyed by children everywhere 40 years later like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer? I don't think so.
Why?
While he's always been green, since the first movie Shrek has just been filling his producers' pockets with more and more green until it's just tiring. He has turned into a money-making ogre with no respect for himself or what he once was and what he once taught us way back in his first movie.
Shrek has sold out. And for that I am disappointed.
-Gina
POLYVINYL SPREE
Hello Blogoids and Bloggettes, I'm Back. I've been on a couple month blog sabbatical because I um..burned my hands...making scrambled eggs. Yeah that's it. I couldn't type. Now fully healed and at full strength, let's get down to business.
Dec. 12th at 9 pm, Headlights will be playing at The Picador.
The band hails from Champaign, Illinois, a very musical town that has seen the rise of REO Speedwagon in the 1970's, over-looked alt-rock band HUM in the 1990s, and has become home to a current burgeoning indie-rock scene full of popular labels such as Polyvinyl and bands like post-rock quartet (my boys) Oceans. One of the scene's most on-the-verge bands of late is Headlights, who are pretty swell. I can use informal words like that because this is a blog. To add to this excitement, (in addition to my article in the Daily Iowan tomorrow) here is my brief interview with the lovely Erin Fein, singer/musician for Headlights.
What is it about the Champaign-Urbana music scene that makes it a perpetual breeding ground for upstart bands?
C-U is a college town so there are a lot of people coming and going. Shelf lives of bands can be short but there is rarely a shortage of bands. Also, we have had a lucky history of good promoters like Ward Gollings and Seth Fein. Good labels like Polyvinyl and Parasol. And great venues. Rent is cheap so you can easily afford a place to work and be creative. We live in a really cheap farmhouse where we can be noisy around the clock.
Was there any change in you guys' respective songwriting approach after the fluctuation of the bands/musicians you guys played with? Is there something musically to be learned from a band's break-up?
We have started touring with more musicians but we are still primarily writing as a three-piece. So the process hasn't changed much. However, we are starting to write more as a collective. Nick Sanborn and John Owen have really helped our live show. They've added percussion, noise, accordion and bigger harmonies. As well as live bass and extra guitars. Nick knows all those chords and he went to college and everything.
Being in another band hasn't necessarily affected our song writing approach but we've learned a lot over the years about what it takes to be in a productive band. And how to do it without burning out. So perhaps the lessons you learn from a band breaking up helps you stay together the next time around.
Hell yes. Speaking of music, Dinosaur Jr. is tonight. Look for my surely semi-entertaining, quasi-insightful, inappropriately lol-cats referencing review of the show hitting this blog soon.
Love Jarrett
Dec. 12th at 9 pm, Headlights will be playing at The Picador.
The band hails from Champaign, Illinois, a very musical town that has seen the rise of REO Speedwagon in the 1970's, over-looked alt-rock band HUM in the 1990s, and has become home to a current burgeoning indie-rock scene full of popular labels such as Polyvinyl and bands like post-rock quartet (my boys) Oceans. One of the scene's most on-the-verge bands of late is Headlights, who are pretty swell. I can use informal words like that because this is a blog. To add to this excitement, (in addition to my article in the Daily Iowan tomorrow) here is my brief interview with the lovely Erin Fein, singer/musician for Headlights.
What is it about the Champaign-Urbana music scene that makes it a perpetual breeding ground for upstart bands?
C-U is a college town so there are a lot of people coming and going. Shelf lives of bands can be short but there is rarely a shortage of bands. Also, we have had a lucky history of good promoters like Ward Gollings and Seth Fein. Good labels like Polyvinyl and Parasol. And great venues. Rent is cheap so you can easily afford a place to work and be creative. We live in a really cheap farmhouse where we can be noisy around the clock.
Was there any change in you guys' respective songwriting approach after the fluctuation of the bands/musicians you guys played with? Is there something musically to be learned from a band's break-up?
We have started touring with more musicians but we are still primarily writing as a three-piece. So the process hasn't changed much. However, we are starting to write more as a collective. Nick Sanborn and John Owen have really helped our live show. They've added percussion, noise, accordion and bigger harmonies. As well as live bass and extra guitars. Nick knows all those chords and he went to college and everything.
Being in another band hasn't necessarily affected our song writing approach but we've learned a lot over the years about what it takes to be in a productive band. And how to do it without burning out. So perhaps the lessons you learn from a band breaking up helps you stay together the next time around.
Hell yes. Speaking of music, Dinosaur Jr. is tonight. Look for my surely semi-entertaining, quasi-insightful, inappropriately lol-cats referencing review of the show hitting this blog soon.
Love Jarrett
I want you to know that I miss you.
Anna's right: I have never listened to Neutral Milk Hotel in my entire life (the earlier reference was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but apparently failed miserably).
Instead I will continue to out myself as a total loser (and also maybe a 14-year-old angst-ridden male). Finch, one of my favorite bands in high school, just announced a reunion tour. Excitement abounds, I know.
Things that intrigue me about Finch:
- babies suspended in ice cubes from CD art for What It Is To Burn
- a song about telling someone you love them ("Three Simple Words") turns into a murder anthem
- the music sounds infinitely better the louder it gets
- and yeah, that's about it, unless you include jumping around my apartment when my roommates aren't home
Even if you think you've never heard of Finch, it's likely "Letters to You" was inflicted upon you by some radio station in the late 2002's and you just don't remember. The band went on indefinite hiatus (i.e. broke up) after no one cared about 2005's Say Hello To Sunshine (including me).
2008 tour dates are as follows:
1/13 San Francisco, CA - Slims
1/15 Sacramento, CA- The Boardwalk
1/17 Seattle, WA - EL Coraza
1/18 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
1/21 Salt Lake City, UT - Avalon Theater
1/22 Las Vegas, NA - Jillians
1/23 Tempe, Arizona - Marquee Theatre
1/24 San Diego, CA - Soma
2/01 TBA, NY - (East Coast/Midwest tour coming soon)
Question: Who wants to jump around in the mosh pit with me as soon as the Midwest dates are announced?
- Susan
Instead I will continue to out myself as a total loser (and also maybe a 14-year-old angst-ridden male). Finch, one of my favorite bands in high school, just announced a reunion tour. Excitement abounds, I know.
Things that intrigue me about Finch:
- babies suspended in ice cubes from CD art for What It Is To Burn
- a song about telling someone you love them ("Three Simple Words") turns into a murder anthem
- the music sounds infinitely better the louder it gets
- and yeah, that's about it, unless you include jumping around my apartment when my roommates aren't home
Even if you think you've never heard of Finch, it's likely "Letters to You" was inflicted upon you by some radio station in the late 2002's and you just don't remember. The band went on indefinite hiatus (i.e. broke up) after no one cared about 2005's Say Hello To Sunshine (including me).
2008 tour dates are as follows:
1/13 San Francisco, CA - Slims
1/15 Sacramento, CA- The Boardwalk
1/17 Seattle, WA - EL Coraza
1/18 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
1/21 Salt Lake City, UT - Avalon Theater
1/22 Las Vegas, NA - Jillians
1/23 Tempe, Arizona - Marquee Theatre
1/24 San Diego, CA - Soma
2/01 TBA, NY - (East Coast/Midwest tour coming soon)
Question: Who wants to jump around in the mosh pit with me as soon as the Midwest dates are announced?
- Susan
CD reviews
Alizée
Psychedelices
*** out of *****
Half Kylie Minogue, half Madonna, and half French sex appeal (just making sure you’re awake), Alizée’s new album, Psychedelices, is a party necessity. Not to be mistaken for Alizé, the lavish drink, this Corsican singer goes down just as smoothly.
Sung entirely in French, lack of comprehension falls by the wayside as the smooth dialect glides over techno beats and alternative guitars, swelling with feminine confidence. While alternating her voice between a steady low and dainty high, Alizée’s album appeals to the electronica side of Europe and the electric rock influences of America.
Cole’s Picks: “Lilly Town” and “Mon Taxi Driver”
— By Cole Cheney
Bow Wow and Omarion
Face Off
*** out of *****
According to the title track Face Off, there’s about to be some “mass hysteria.” They may be right. Rapper Bow Wow and R&B singer Omarion first collaborated in 2005, when Omarion added vocals to Bow Wow’s “Let Me Hold You” — and the rest is history.
After years of friendship, the pair decided to merge their musical styles together — hoping the combination would lead to greater success for each. The hip-hop beats and catchy lyrics make an interesting, yet pleasing combination. Face Off, the finished product, is definitely one for the charts. In fact, “Girlfriend,” the previously released single, already climbed to the past the half-way mark.
The rumor that this collaboration may be one of the best this year may be a bit overstated, but not far from the truth. In time, these young musicians are bound to please the masses, as they might say.
Lauren’s picks: “Face Off” and “Take Your Clothes Off”
— By Lauren Matovina
Psychedelices
*** out of *****
Half Kylie Minogue, half Madonna, and half French sex appeal (just making sure you’re awake), Alizée’s new album, Psychedelices, is a party necessity. Not to be mistaken for Alizé, the lavish drink, this Corsican singer goes down just as smoothly.
Sung entirely in French, lack of comprehension falls by the wayside as the smooth dialect glides over techno beats and alternative guitars, swelling with feminine confidence. While alternating her voice between a steady low and dainty high, Alizée’s album appeals to the electronica side of Europe and the electric rock influences of America.
Cole’s Picks: “Lilly Town” and “Mon Taxi Driver”
— By Cole Cheney
Bow Wow and Omarion
Face Off
*** out of *****
According to the title track Face Off, there’s about to be some “mass hysteria.” They may be right. Rapper Bow Wow and R&B singer Omarion first collaborated in 2005, when Omarion added vocals to Bow Wow’s “Let Me Hold You” — and the rest is history.
After years of friendship, the pair decided to merge their musical styles together — hoping the combination would lead to greater success for each. The hip-hop beats and catchy lyrics make an interesting, yet pleasing combination. Face Off, the finished product, is definitely one for the charts. In fact, “Girlfriend,” the previously released single, already climbed to the past the half-way mark.
The rumor that this collaboration may be one of the best this year may be a bit overstated, but not far from the truth. In time, these young musicians are bound to please the masses, as they might say.
Lauren’s picks: “Face Off” and “Take Your Clothes Off”
— By Lauren Matovina
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