This is Sounds Good, a new music blog that specializes in reviews and predictions of what new artists of today will become the chart-toppers
of tomorrow. My posts get to the point so you can get back to what matters: music.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the music that I link and any music offered for download on Noteworthy is free and legal. All content published
here is original. My thoughts about a particular song, artist or video are mine and mine alone. Copyright 2009-2010.
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New Video: Regina Spektor - Laughing With
Thursday, May 28, 2009 @ 3:17 PM
The song is serious, simple and quiet repetitive, but the truth in the lyrics is pretty undeniable. The video itself is an odd collection of reality-bending special effects and pictures of her looking pretty and singing sadly.
Regina Spektor's new album drops June 23rd. This lovely pro-God single "Laughing With" is her latest.
Join as a friends. Suggest some other friends I should have. And of course, leave a comment. Or send me a message. Cause I love both. And if you also haven't already...
It's a Green Day in America
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @ 6:10 PM
This wouldn't be a music blog of much respect if I didn't have Green Day on my playlist. 21st Century Breakdown is amazing, you know this already. I don't have to tell you anything.
As a matter of fact - go their MySpace today and download 'Know Your Enemy' for free, if you don't already have it.
And just in case you missed it, there's a video of them performing their new single 'Know Your Enemy' on Good Morning America. Click for the high quality ABC video.
Unsigned twin sisters Megan and Liz are YouTube cover-artists and small time video stars. Cover artists don't usually get a lot of respect. On places like YouTube they're especially common. But a Megan and Liz video averages between 90,000 and 200,000 views. They have 31,000 subscribers and they have new, original songs over at their MySpace page - where they also have a fansite and a street team. That's pretty impressive for an unsigned act, right?
Not all cover-artists have this kind of following though. And the reason why is very, very simple: They. Sound. Amazing. Megan and Liz records covers that - at times - are better than the original. Their Miley Cyrus cover of 'The Climb' has been up for 2 months and has more than 800,000 views (and trust me - they sound sooo much better than Miley). Maybe it's because they're sisters, but they have perfect harmonies. And all of this while singing completely acapella (unless they have their guitar and then it's completely acoustic). Not to mention, they're just adorable on top of everything else.
Be forewarned: if you don't like most Disney songs, then you probably won't like them very much. But watch their cover of Beyonce's 'Halo', compare it to the original and they just might win you over.
I was compelled to listen to this after they were listed as a former top MySpace group. I was expecting some kind of artificial party sound, but it ended up sounding so bad, I had to warn people about them.
Millionaires are bunch of scene queens who call themselves 'electro/pop.' I call it over-synthesized club music aiming for the ultimate pop prize - to be catchy - and landing in the valley of the deathly annoying instead.
The vocals are worse than rubber tires screeching on wet pavement. The lyrics are simplistic and only as good as the listener can stand them. There is absolutely nothing of substance. They even joke on one song that they have no talent.
However, when I heard 'Just Got Paid, Let's Get Laid' I ended up liking it a little bit. Mostly because it's the only catchy song they have and the chopped up, sexified chorus is very Three Six Mafia. Which poses the question: are Millionaires really trying to trigger a counterattack against the rap/rock industry while combating the misogynistic code that says women can't sing about money, booze and sex? Even the name, 'Millionaires' (done in the same style as the glittery Cash Money album art of the '90s), seems to be poking fun at the genre and the characteristics of the culture.
But I'm probably just giving them too much credit... and reading into things that don't actually exist. Their other song 'Alcohol' is basically 'Let's get f--ked up!!' over and over again, afterall. You be the judge.
Also known as Aubrey Graham and also known as Jimmy from Degrassi, the stage name 'Drake' has been in everybody's mouth since the VMA's. Facebook and YouTube is lit up with his face and his music is beginning to even reach car stereos. And his buzz is only on the rise since he's supposedly dating Rihanna - but that's not really news to anybody.
Drake has been in the business for yearsss (back when he was still a regular on Degrassi and back when this song first came out). Kind of like how Kanye has taken Kid Cudi under his wing, Lil' Wayne has taken credit for helping him crossover into the American market. Can't you hear him on 'Best I Ever Had' up there? Listen to it. You'll like it.
But in my opinion, it was only a matter of time (regardless of help from Weezy)! Drake has a fantastic voice that can go from fast and gritty to smooth and romantic in 16 bars. He isn't a bad singer either. He has a lot of different sounds. Reminiscent of a young Jay-Z, his latest mixtape is fire and he has a smile that could light up stars. That's a lethal combination, especially with rap these days.
I think it is really only a couple more months until he breaks through to the mainstream completely. He has to get outside of New York, LA and Toronto if he really wants to claim that 'Young Jay' title. You can't successfully do that if you don't have national acclaim. And of course, if he wants to continue to live up to the hype of being Lil' Wayne's protegee.
Toss Up: Kate Voegele - A Fine Mess
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 @ 3:59 AM
I remember writing a review of this chick's first album, Don't Look Away, for my school newspaper about 5 months before she showed up on One Tree Hill (the show that proved to be a useful launching pad for her musical career). It was weird, but it worked. She wasn't afraid to cross genres and her voice was beyond raw. I loved it.
Her second studio album, A Fine Mess, is... appropriately named. The music just isn't the same. That rough, spirited, blusey edge that made Don't Look Away so cool has been taken off her voice. Probably to make her more mainstream. She has a better choice in singles this time around though (hopefully). '99 Times' is hard to hate. She tries to get some of that edge back with 'Angel', but simple songs like 'Who You Are Without You' and 'Playing With My Heart' undermine it. Poor Kate. Maybe her hardcore fans will like it?
The Independents: Battle Victorious
Thursday, May 14, 2009 @ 4:18 PM
The first indie group I enjoyed enough to write about!
With a band name like 'Battle Victorious,' you expect some kind of hard, guitar heavy alternative rock. Instead you get these eerie, oddly spiritual, folk-pop-rock harmonies that come off pure and powerful instead of loud and aggressive.
I guess that's why they sound so good. Composed of The Marriotts, a husband and wife tag team, and based in good old Memphis, Tennessee, Battle Victorious say that they sound like, 'Mates of State meet the Cranberries meets Waterdeep meets The Ting Tings.'
There are a few songs from their debut full-length album, Hello, are featured on their MySpace. Listen to 'Shallow Talk' first. If you like it (which you will), then wade through the rest. Don't wait to be amazed, just let it happen naturally.
Heatseekers: The Plastiscines - Barcelona
@ 4:11 PM
French girls singing about Spain while trying to make it in America? Ambitious!
Signed by NYLON Records (the same people who make pop-counter-culture rag, NYLON Magazine), this is The Plastiscines first single with the label. And not only does the video look like it was pulled straight from the pages of NYLON Magazine - it looks like they styled the whole thing, too (Look at those outfits! That makeup! The shoes!).
A reviewer on iTunes likened the song to same feeling you got when you first heard The Ting Tings. Another called the girls a super pop version of The Donnas (which I think is a tremendous miscalculation), but I do understand the comparison. It's about having fun - not making sense. They all sing along. The band members play their own instruments and don't overact it when they play. Although I do get the feeling that their instruments could double for accessories just as easily. But that's probably because NYLON had a lot to do with it.
Despite that! Let's get down in Barcelona, okay? Forget that they love fashion, forget that a magazine probably staged the whole thing. Focus on the happy in the music and the cuteness of the video, instead.
Future Hit: The Devil Wears Prada - With Roots Above and Branches Below
@ 3:47 PM
Well, technically - considering that they've already recently debuted in Billboard's Top 15, #1 on the Christian Billboard Chart, #1 on the Heavy Music Chart, #1 on Indie Billboard Charts, #1 on iTunes Rock Charts and #4 on the Rock Billboard Charts... The Devil Wears Prada is already a hit.
But I believe they're going to only get bigger from here. As the scripture reads, Let anything that have breath praise the Lord. And in TDWP's case, they don't just breathe. They scream. They scream with lots of heavy metal-like riffs in the background. Can I completely understand what they're saying without Googling the lyrics first? Nope! But they're good. Regardless of the lyrics, I found myself hitting repeat on a number of songs.
This honestly isn't for everyone. 'With Roots Above and Branches Below' is a Christian metal album. It is not watered down. It is not radio friendly. It takes a special kind of music fan and an doubley special fan to open their mind to this kind of band. With that said, don't be afraid. Jump in headfirst. They wouldn't have so many fans if it wasn't really genuine music.
If you go here and read the additional info in the sidebar, you can get the lyrics and the meaning behind the song. It's pretty deep to be just 'a bunch of screaming.' Ignore the haters in the comments.
Heatseekers: Family Force 5 - Dance or Die With a Vengeance
Friday, May 8, 2009 @ 9:47 PM
With album art that looks like a screenshot from a Daft Punk music video, it looks just as mystical and synthetic as it sounds (or as Daft Punk sounds - which is a down right wonderful group to be compared to).
Family Force 5 - the world's best crunk rock Christian rap band ever - is getting ready to drop their funkified remix album on May 19. Slowly, it's been leaking onto the internet. Some songs - like the hi-tech revamped version of 'How in the World' by Alex Suarez from Cobra Starship and the twinkling DJ mix of 'The First Time' by Relient K's Matt Thiessen - have been voluntarily leaked via MySpace.
Samples of other songs like the original, whoofer and tweeter approved, 'Ghostride The Whip' (by the way, E-40 would be very proud), has been not so voluntarily leaked to places like YouTube and LimeWire.
In addition to Cobra Starship and Relient K - the album will also feature remixes from The Secret Handshake, 3OH!3, The Toxic Avenger, Danger Radio and David Crowder Band. It's destined to blow up in a good way.
Toss Up: Cobra Starship ft. Leighton Meester - Good Girls Go Bad
@ 9:13 PM
And I was just talking about Gossip Girl Leighton Meester trading screenplays for microphones in relation to Taylor Momsen's supposed new demo. I stopped everything I was doing to listen to this one and while it was worth it to be able to hear new Cobra Starship... it wasn't for the Meester.
Cobra Starship usually doesn't hype new songs on their MySpace unless they're amazing. I can understand why they think 'Good Girls Go Bad' is gonna blow up. Cause... it's Cobra Starship! We're one track closer to that new album, so it gives the fanbase something to get even more hype about. The beat is sick; the kind of song you would hear in an 80s club or some teen romance movie soundtrack. And Gabe Saporta on any track is good enough for me.
However I just have a massive problem with Leighton Meester's 'verse.' If you can even call it a verse, it's so short. Maybe I just prefer her voice when it's appropriately back-dropped to something more mellow like Bettie Davis Eyes (which seems more like her). Here, she just comes into the song and sounds like Tila Tequila with that, 'I know you're tight!' She warms up to the lyrics later, it's just that her part isn't even big enough to accurately critique it.
Honestly, Leighton Meester doesn't add anything to the song. Well, except bragging rights for Saporta. Maybe that's all that matters? Cobra Starship's great sound stands alone. I could always be wrong though...
I've been hearing buzz about Taylor Momsen (who plays cute little Jenny Humphrey on everybody's guilty pleasure, 'GG') fronting an original rock band for a long, long while now.
Her band, The Pretty Reckless (or The Reckless, depending on which circles you get your info from) is what she fronts. And their supposed debut single has been leaked onto YouTube. It might be called 'I Really F--king Love You'. Some people think it's okay and others think she's trying too hard.
On the other hand, I think it's a pretty incredible breath of fresh air. One - this girl is about 15? Yes, it's questionable that she sings about being 'pissed' and she's dropping the F-bomb in the chorus (and you know that's gonna get edited if she wants radio play), but this is most certainly NOT Disney music. Thank God.
She sounds like a baby Shirley Manson crossed over with a touch of Brody Dalle. Those are big comparisons for a new comer, yea. But as opposed to listening to Miley, you won't want to kick puppies once the song ends (and Miley, Selena and Demi probably don't even know WHO Garbage or The Distillers ARE; whereas Taylor says she listens to them and more).
Taylor's voice is rough like a chain-smoker's. And have you seen pictures of this girl out on the town? She already looks the part. True the lyrics aren't the most profound things in the world - but she's 15! And since when does every song in the world have to be earth-shatteringly deep and profound? Not to mention, it will get stuck in your head. Take it for what it is and you'll love it. I promise. It's not what you would expect.
No doubts here. I wouldn't be surprised if this makes the charts.
Future Hit: Gloriana
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 @ 4:58 PM
By no means am I the authority on anything about country music. I'm growing to like it and I've been opening my music collection to more of it.
So I think it says something when a person - new to country - ends up becoming attached to an act. It might be because they're waaay more pop than country, but whatever. Gloriana - currently on tour with Taylor Swift, but don't let that deter you if you can't stand Swift - is a country/acoustic band. They're a breakthrough group - half male, half female - and they harmonize beautifully.
The very, very first single, "Wild At Heart," is just great and I embedded it up there so you could experience the greatness. I don't any other word to describe it as. The opening beat pulls you in and the sing-a-long chorus gives the illusion that they would be even better live.
Everybody loved Vampire Weekend when they first dropped last year, right? Pop-sweethearts and former college kids. The criteria for success in a post-Late Registration music landscape. Their second album is supposed to drop sometime this year.
But until then here's something from Vampire Weekend's guitarist/keyboardist/sometimes backup singer and a friend of his from Ra Ra Riot (a band with a violinist that is absolutely delightful, by the way). The group is called Discovery.
It's a side project and there really is no way to describe it, but I'm going to try! The first song 'Osaka Loop Line,' which initially is like electronica, changes its mind and decides to get chopped and screwed on top of really soft-sounding vocals worthy of being aligned with a R&B love song. 'Orange Shirt' has a lot of the same characteristics. It gets stuck in your head a lot easier though and is shamelessly radio-friendly.
Hard to dance to overall, but capable of making a mainstream crossover if it really wants to. You either like it or you don't. So go listen and find out.
Heatseekers: Nyle - Let The Beat Build
Saturday, May 2, 2009 @ 1:29 PM
The video really could have done without everybody running up and dancing in the camera at the end. But whatever. The song itself is EPIC. Done in one take by college students. Things like this give me hope that rap isn't completely dead.
This is a loose cover of Waynes 'Let The Beat Build'. Listen and compare. But be forewarned - Nyle's version is much, much, MUCH better.
Hey Monday. All Time Low if they had a female front? Another Paramore knockoff? Future pop rock power players? I don't know. They have potential.
It's easy to link any band with a female front and a poppy sound to Paramore. Mostly because Josh Farro and Hayley Williams changed the game (and because Hayley can EFFIN sing - I've seen this girl live and when you sound better live than you do in a studio, yeah... you own). While I think being compared to Paramore is a compliment, it gets old fast.
So who do they really sound like? Uh... Hey Monday. They have strong guitars, but that should be a requirement with all bands. I think what's good about them is that the band can carry itself. I get the feeling they'd sound good regardless of who was up front.
But Lead girl, Cassadee Pope is cute. She fits with the sound and the look. 'Homecoming' has quickly become one of my new favorites. She is interesting and her lyrics could definitely resonate with a bunch of kids (I can picture their new single 'How You Love Me Now' on an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation).
I just don't think her voice is unique enough to become a mainstream hit. If Hey Monday found a way to distinguish herself further from the usual pop rock sound (be it the lyrics or her voice or whatever) then no doubt, she'd crossover into the public eye like a runaway hit.
I guess I didn't post this on the 29th cause I'm partial on the song. Love the video, though. So that pretty much guarantees that you'll love it too :)
The song is serious, simple and quiet repetitive, but the truth in the lyrics is pretty undeniable. The video itself is an odd collection of reality-bending special effects and pictures of her looking pretty and singing sadly.
Regina Spektor's new album drops June 23rd. This lovely pro-God single "Laughing With" is her latest.
Join as a friends. Suggest some other friends I should have. And of course, leave a comment. Or send me a message. Cause I love both. And if you also haven't already...
It's a Green Day in America
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @ 6:10 PM
This wouldn't be a music blog of much respect if I didn't have Green Day on my playlist. 21st Century Breakdown is amazing, you know this already. I don't have to tell you anything.
As a matter of fact - go their MySpace today and download 'Know Your Enemy' for free, if you don't already have it.
And just in case you missed it, there's a video of them performing their new single 'Know Your Enemy' on Good Morning America. Click for the high quality ABC video.
Unsigned twin sisters Megan and Liz are YouTube cover-artists and small time video stars. Cover artists don't usually get a lot of respect. On places like YouTube they're especially common. But a Megan and Liz video averages between 90,000 and 200,000 views. They have 31,000 subscribers and they have new, original songs over at their MySpace page - where they also have a fansite and a street team. That's pretty impressive for an unsigned act, right?
Not all cover-artists have this kind of following though. And the reason why is very, very simple: They. Sound. Amazing. Megan and Liz records covers that - at times - are better than the original. Their Miley Cyrus cover of 'The Climb' has been up for 2 months and has more than 800,000 views (and trust me - they sound sooo much better than Miley). Maybe it's because they're sisters, but they have perfect harmonies. And all of this while singing completely acapella (unless they have their guitar and then it's completely acoustic). Not to mention, they're just adorable on top of everything else.
Be forewarned: if you don't like most Disney songs, then you probably won't like them very much. But watch their cover of Beyonce's 'Halo', compare it to the original and they just might win you over.
I was compelled to listen to this after they were listed as a former top MySpace group. I was expecting some kind of artificial party sound, but it ended up sounding so bad, I had to warn people about them.
Millionaires are bunch of scene queens who call themselves 'electro/pop.' I call it over-synthesized club music aiming for the ultimate pop prize - to be catchy - and landing in the valley of the deathly annoying instead.
The vocals are worse than rubber tires screeching on wet pavement. The lyrics are simplistic and only as good as the listener can stand them. There is absolutely nothing of substance. They even joke on one song that they have no talent.
However, when I heard 'Just Got Paid, Let's Get Laid' I ended up liking it a little bit. Mostly because it's the only catchy song they have and the chopped up, sexified chorus is very Three Six Mafia. Which poses the question: are Millionaires really trying to trigger a counterattack against the rap/rock industry while combating the misogynistic code that says women can't sing about money, booze and sex? Even the name, 'Millionaires' (done in the same style as the glittery Cash Money album art of the '90s), seems to be poking fun at the genre and the characteristics of the culture.
But I'm probably just giving them too much credit... and reading into things that don't actually exist. Their other song 'Alcohol' is basically 'Let's get f--ked up!!' over and over again, afterall. You be the judge.
Also known as Aubrey Graham and also known as Jimmy from Degrassi, the stage name 'Drake' has been in everybody's mouth since the VMA's. Facebook and YouTube is lit up with his face and his music is beginning to even reach car stereos. And his buzz is only on the rise since he's supposedly dating Rihanna - but that's not really news to anybody.
Drake has been in the business for yearsss (back when he was still a regular on Degrassi and back when this song first came out). Kind of like how Kanye has taken Kid Cudi under his wing, Lil' Wayne has taken credit for helping him crossover into the American market. Can't you hear him on 'Best I Ever Had' up there? Listen to it. You'll like it.
But in my opinion, it was only a matter of time (regardless of help from Weezy)! Drake has a fantastic voice that can go from fast and gritty to smooth and romantic in 16 bars. He isn't a bad singer either. He has a lot of different sounds. Reminiscent of a young Jay-Z, his latest mixtape is fire and he has a smile that could light up stars. That's a lethal combination, especially with rap these days.
I think it is really only a couple more months until he breaks through to the mainstream completely. He has to get outside of New York, LA and Toronto if he really wants to claim that 'Young Jay' title. You can't successfully do that if you don't have national acclaim. And of course, if he wants to continue to live up to the hype of being Lil' Wayne's protegee.
Toss Up: Kate Voegele - A Fine Mess
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 @ 3:59 AM
I remember writing a review of this chick's first album, Don't Look Away, for my school newspaper about 5 months before she showed up on One Tree Hill (the show that proved to be a useful launching pad for her musical career). It was weird, but it worked. She wasn't afraid to cross genres and her voice was beyond raw. I loved it.
Her second studio album, A Fine Mess, is... appropriately named. The music just isn't the same. That rough, spirited, blusey edge that made Don't Look Away so cool has been taken off her voice. Probably to make her more mainstream. She has a better choice in singles this time around though (hopefully). '99 Times' is hard to hate. She tries to get some of that edge back with 'Angel', but simple songs like 'Who You Are Without You' and 'Playing With My Heart' undermine it. Poor Kate. Maybe her hardcore fans will like it?
The Independents: Battle Victorious
Thursday, May 14, 2009 @ 4:18 PM
The first indie group I enjoyed enough to write about!
With a band name like 'Battle Victorious,' you expect some kind of hard, guitar heavy alternative rock. Instead you get these eerie, oddly spiritual, folk-pop-rock harmonies that come off pure and powerful instead of loud and aggressive.
I guess that's why they sound so good. Composed of The Marriotts, a husband and wife tag team, and based in good old Memphis, Tennessee, Battle Victorious say that they sound like, 'Mates of State meet the Cranberries meets Waterdeep meets The Ting Tings.'
There are a few songs from their debut full-length album, Hello, are featured on their MySpace. Listen to 'Shallow Talk' first. If you like it (which you will), then wade through the rest. Don't wait to be amazed, just let it happen naturally.
Heatseekers: The Plastiscines - Barcelona
@ 4:11 PM
French girls singing about Spain while trying to make it in America? Ambitious!
Signed by NYLON Records (the same people who make pop-counter-culture rag, NYLON Magazine), this is The Plastiscines first single with the label. And not only does the video look like it was pulled straight from the pages of NYLON Magazine - it looks like they styled the whole thing, too (Look at those outfits! That makeup! The shoes!).
A reviewer on iTunes likened the song to same feeling you got when you first heard The Ting Tings. Another called the girls a super pop version of The Donnas (which I think is a tremendous miscalculation), but I do understand the comparison. It's about having fun - not making sense. They all sing along. The band members play their own instruments and don't overact it when they play. Although I do get the feeling that their instruments could double for accessories just as easily. But that's probably because NYLON had a lot to do with it.
Despite that! Let's get down in Barcelona, okay? Forget that they love fashion, forget that a magazine probably staged the whole thing. Focus on the happy in the music and the cuteness of the video, instead.
Future Hit: The Devil Wears Prada - With Roots Above and Branches Below
@ 3:47 PM
Well, technically - considering that they've already recently debuted in Billboard's Top 15, #1 on the Christian Billboard Chart, #1 on the Heavy Music Chart, #1 on Indie Billboard Charts, #1 on iTunes Rock Charts and #4 on the Rock Billboard Charts... The Devil Wears Prada is already a hit.
But I believe they're going to only get bigger from here. As the scripture reads, Let anything that have breath praise the Lord. And in TDWP's case, they don't just breathe. They scream. They scream with lots of heavy metal-like riffs in the background. Can I completely understand what they're saying without Googling the lyrics first? Nope! But they're good. Regardless of the lyrics, I found myself hitting repeat on a number of songs.
This honestly isn't for everyone. 'With Roots Above and Branches Below' is a Christian metal album. It is not watered down. It is not radio friendly. It takes a special kind of music fan and an doubley special fan to open their mind to this kind of band. With that said, don't be afraid. Jump in headfirst. They wouldn't have so many fans if it wasn't really genuine music.
If you go here and read the additional info in the sidebar, you can get the lyrics and the meaning behind the song. It's pretty deep to be just 'a bunch of screaming.' Ignore the haters in the comments.
Heatseekers: Family Force 5 - Dance or Die With a Vengeance
Friday, May 8, 2009 @ 9:47 PM
With album art that looks like a screenshot from a Daft Punk music video, it looks just as mystical and synthetic as it sounds (or as Daft Punk sounds - which is a down right wonderful group to be compared to).
Family Force 5 - the world's best crunk rock Christian rap band ever - is getting ready to drop their funkified remix album on May 19. Slowly, it's been leaking onto the internet. Some songs - like the hi-tech revamped version of 'How in the World' by Alex Suarez from Cobra Starship and the twinkling DJ mix of 'The First Time' by Relient K's Matt Thiessen - have been voluntarily leaked via MySpace.
Samples of other songs like the original, whoofer and tweeter approved, 'Ghostride The Whip' (by the way, E-40 would be very proud), has been not so voluntarily leaked to places like YouTube and LimeWire.
In addition to Cobra Starship and Relient K - the album will also feature remixes from The Secret Handshake, 3OH!3, The Toxic Avenger, Danger Radio and David Crowder Band. It's destined to blow up in a good way.
Toss Up: Cobra Starship ft. Leighton Meester - Good Girls Go Bad
@ 9:13 PM
And I was just talking about Gossip Girl Leighton Meester trading screenplays for microphones in relation to Taylor Momsen's supposed new demo. I stopped everything I was doing to listen to this one and while it was worth it to be able to hear new Cobra Starship... it wasn't for the Meester.
Cobra Starship usually doesn't hype new songs on their MySpace unless they're amazing. I can understand why they think 'Good Girls Go Bad' is gonna blow up. Cause... it's Cobra Starship! We're one track closer to that new album, so it gives the fanbase something to get even more hype about. The beat is sick; the kind of song you would hear in an 80s club or some teen romance movie soundtrack. And Gabe Saporta on any track is good enough for me.
However I just have a massive problem with Leighton Meester's 'verse.' If you can even call it a verse, it's so short. Maybe I just prefer her voice when it's appropriately back-dropped to something more mellow like Bettie Davis Eyes (which seems more like her). Here, she just comes into the song and sounds like Tila Tequila with that, 'I know you're tight!' She warms up to the lyrics later, it's just that her part isn't even big enough to accurately critique it.
Honestly, Leighton Meester doesn't add anything to the song. Well, except bragging rights for Saporta. Maybe that's all that matters? Cobra Starship's great sound stands alone. I could always be wrong though...
I've been hearing buzz about Taylor Momsen (who plays cute little Jenny Humphrey on everybody's guilty pleasure, 'GG') fronting an original rock band for a long, long while now.
Her band, The Pretty Reckless (or The Reckless, depending on which circles you get your info from) is what she fronts. And their supposed debut single has been leaked onto YouTube. It might be called 'I Really F--king Love You'. Some people think it's okay and others think she's trying too hard.
On the other hand, I think it's a pretty incredible breath of fresh air. One - this girl is about 15? Yes, it's questionable that she sings about being 'pissed' and she's dropping the F-bomb in the chorus (and you know that's gonna get edited if she wants radio play), but this is most certainly NOT Disney music. Thank God.
She sounds like a baby Shirley Manson crossed over with a touch of Brody Dalle. Those are big comparisons for a new comer, yea. But as opposed to listening to Miley, you won't want to kick puppies once the song ends (and Miley, Selena and Demi probably don't even know WHO Garbage or The Distillers ARE; whereas Taylor says she listens to them and more).
Taylor's voice is rough like a chain-smoker's. And have you seen pictures of this girl out on the town? She already looks the part. True the lyrics aren't the most profound things in the world - but she's 15! And since when does every song in the world have to be earth-shatteringly deep and profound? Not to mention, it will get stuck in your head. Take it for what it is and you'll love it. I promise. It's not what you would expect.
No doubts here. I wouldn't be surprised if this makes the charts.
Future Hit: Gloriana
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 @ 4:58 PM
By no means am I the authority on anything about country music. I'm growing to like it and I've been opening my music collection to more of it.
So I think it says something when a person - new to country - ends up becoming attached to an act. It might be because they're waaay more pop than country, but whatever. Gloriana - currently on tour with Taylor Swift, but don't let that deter you if you can't stand Swift - is a country/acoustic band. They're a breakthrough group - half male, half female - and they harmonize beautifully.
The very, very first single, "Wild At Heart," is just great and I embedded it up there so you could experience the greatness. I don't any other word to describe it as. The opening beat pulls you in and the sing-a-long chorus gives the illusion that they would be even better live.
Everybody loved Vampire Weekend when they first dropped last year, right? Pop-sweethearts and former college kids. The criteria for success in a post-Late Registration music landscape. Their second album is supposed to drop sometime this year.
But until then here's something from Vampire Weekend's guitarist/keyboardist/sometimes backup singer and a friend of his from Ra Ra Riot (a band with a violinist that is absolutely delightful, by the way). The group is called Discovery.
It's a side project and there really is no way to describe it, but I'm going to try! The first song 'Osaka Loop Line,' which initially is like electronica, changes its mind and decides to get chopped and screwed on top of really soft-sounding vocals worthy of being aligned with a R&B love song. 'Orange Shirt' has a lot of the same characteristics. It gets stuck in your head a lot easier though and is shamelessly radio-friendly.
Hard to dance to overall, but capable of making a mainstream crossover if it really wants to. You either like it or you don't. So go listen and find out.
Heatseekers: Nyle - Let The Beat Build
Saturday, May 2, 2009 @ 1:29 PM
The video really could have done without everybody running up and dancing in the camera at the end. But whatever. The song itself is EPIC. Done in one take by college students. Things like this give me hope that rap isn't completely dead.
This is a loose cover of Waynes 'Let The Beat Build'. Listen and compare. But be forewarned - Nyle's version is much, much, MUCH better.
Hey Monday. All Time Low if they had a female front? Another Paramore knockoff? Future pop rock power players? I don't know. They have potential.
It's easy to link any band with a female front and a poppy sound to Paramore. Mostly because Josh Farro and Hayley Williams changed the game (and because Hayley can EFFIN sing - I've seen this girl live and when you sound better live than you do in a studio, yeah... you own). While I think being compared to Paramore is a compliment, it gets old fast.
So who do they really sound like? Uh... Hey Monday. They have strong guitars, but that should be a requirement with all bands. I think what's good about them is that the band can carry itself. I get the feeling they'd sound good regardless of who was up front.
But Lead girl, Cassadee Pope is cute. She fits with the sound and the look. 'Homecoming' has quickly become one of my new favorites. She is interesting and her lyrics could definitely resonate with a bunch of kids (I can picture their new single 'How You Love Me Now' on an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation).
I just don't think her voice is unique enough to become a mainstream hit. If Hey Monday found a way to distinguish herself further from the usual pop rock sound (be it the lyrics or her voice or whatever) then no doubt, she'd crossover into the public eye like a runaway hit.
I guess I didn't post this on the 29th cause I'm partial on the song. Love the video, though. So that pretty much guarantees that you'll love it too :)
Hey! I'm Melody, yes it's my real name and I kinda love it! I love music, art, film, television and any overall combination of them all.
One of these days I will create a tv show about a band of traveling musicians and the insane music bloggers that stalk them with original songs and Glee-like dance numbers
every week. Until then, I'm a part-time fan, full-time journalist. New music is the most addicting thing to me, next to lemon pound cake and fresh baked
cookies.
Whenever I have free time I'm with friends or wondering why I don't read books as much as I used to. I love Jesus Christ and NOT ashamed of it.
Jesus Freaks, where you at!? My day is not complete unless I watch the news and I am a terrible, terrible procrastinator. But I'm getting better at it <3
Life is about the journey afterall, not the destination. Unless you're going on vacation. Or patiently awaiting graduation. Then it is all about the destination.