Labels: I'm in Miami Bitch, LMFAO, Toss Up

Labels: 80s, Babyz, electric, Obessive Compulsive Dancing, Toss Up, UltraViolet Sound, UVS

Meet Usher's pre-teen protégé, Justin Bieber - the squeaky voiced version of former Mickey Mouse clubber J. Timberlake. Quite a few of his covers have struck YouTube gold and his channel has over 3 million views (and triple that per video).

He isn't mainstream yet... exactly. So I'll call future hit for now, Toss Up for his career. Cause really it's only a matter of time before Radio Disney picks him up or someone puts "One Time" in a movie soundtrack. Listen to his cover of JT's "Cry Me A River," then check his cover of Chris 'Woman-Beater' Brown's "With You."

Labels: Cry Me A River, Future Hit, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, One Time, Toss Up, Usher, With You

This is Part 2 of the Mass Update I was just talking about. I first heard this song on an Overstock commercial. Then I heard it on the radio and I liked it, but not that much. Then I saw the music video (finally) and ended up loving it.

Maybe because the lead singer of Carolina Liar looks like a faux Jesus. Maybe because I took the repeated 'Oh Lord' in the chorus for a Christian song. Then I just admitted to myself it was because of the choir at the end. Reminded me of "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers. Very, very pretty. Both songs.

VH1 has them listed as 'Artists On The Rise' but I think they'll just be one-hit wonders. Their other songs don't have the same power. But I could always be wrong.

Labels: All These Things That I've Done, Carolina Liar, music video, Show Me What I'm Looking For, The Killers, Toss Up, VH1

There was a music video somewhere, but I can't find it :(



Well, at least Selena Gomez has a bigger 'featuring' part than Leighton Meester does in Cobra Starship's song...?

And this is me trying to think of something positive to say about the song. And I'm failing. Just listen and judge for yourself.

PS - Her other 'song' with Forever The Sickest Kids - an acoustic song - doesn't sound much better. Actually, it sounds considerably worse. This is the studio version without her in it.

Labels: Forever The Sickest Kids, Selena Gomez, She's A Lady, Toss Up, Whoa Oh

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?

You can hear all these songs on her MySpace. The album is (still) streaming for free. It's on sale now.

Labels: 99 Times, A Fine Mess, Don't Look Away, Kate Voegele, One Tree Hill, Toss Up

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...

Labels: Cobra Starship, Good Girls Go Bad, Leighton Meester, Toss Up

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 could always be wrong though!

Labels: Hey Monday, Homecoming, How You Love Me Now, Toss Up

Another rapper who gained notoriety by making hot beats and... lacing them with lukewarm lyrics.

Hooking up with Kanye isn't a bad idea. It could get another hit out of a collaboration with him. OH WAIT - they already have another one out. Featuring Common and Kanye, 'I Poke Her Face' samples Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' (clever play on words...? nah). All you have to do is guess what the song is really about. In my opinion it's stupid, but the beat is hot enough to get radioplay. Just like his single 'Day and Night'. Its crazy good. You'll like it, if you haven't already heard it on the radio.

And how he got his mixtape out there through endorsing an up-and-coming clothing line was cute (it's still free on the internet, by the way). But I doubt he'll blow up from any of his other material. Unlike 'Day and Night,' it's just not original enough to make a lasting impression. His debut album drops later this spring, so I could always be wrong!

Labels: Common, Kanye, Kid Cudi, mixtape, Toss Up