Spring Break Review Central!

I'm back! And I've got a lot to say. :D So I'll have loads of new reviews soon, from just about every artist I can think of! Keep reading, new ones are gonna pop up really soon!

-Ryan

Timbaland - Song Leaked Just In "Time"

So Timbaland's debut solo album "Timbaland Presents: Shock Value" hits the shelves on April 3rd, and honestly I cannot be more psyched about it. I'm not a big fan of hip hop and find the lyrics to be rather dull and meaningless for the most part, but this guy is doing all he can to save it. As far as I'm concerned, the new Jay-Z album could have been better, Nas's album was great but not up to his full potential, and I can't stand Akon. But Timbaland's been working with everyone from Justin Timberlake to Duran Duran (my favorite band BTW). But it's his recently leaked work with Indie pin-ups She Wants Revenge that has peaked my interest the most. The song "Time" is spacey like most of Timbaland's production, but it's not until the eerie chorus that the beat really kicks in. It seems like they just got into the studio and had a great time. I just love how he's not trying to be fake and he's adding whatever the hell he wants into his tunes, whether it be 'hey's or claps or pianos or synths or...whatevers. This song's gonna be big, they're gonna play it in dark clubs lighted with dim green glowsticks on the walls. And maybe on the radio too. Take it from me guys, "This one's gonna be haawt."







SHOCK VALUE hits stores April 3rd, 2007.

Review: Nik Kershaw - To Be Frank

"Feeling more like a last plea to rekindle the success of his past rather than an attempt at something new, To Be Frank is a faceless collection of material that leaves you wondering if anyone even cares anymore."
-All Music Guide


First of all, I'd like to know who hires these people to write reviews. While Nelly Furtado's mediocre effort "Loose" received an 8 out of 10, this under-looked masterpiece filled with pop classics that never were received a disappointing 3. Nik Kershaw is an incredible singer, songwriter, guitarist, and an amazing producer. There are maybe one or two filler tunes on this album, and out of 10 tracks, this means that 8 or 9 of them are top-notch. The pop superstar that once was had a big hit in the 80s with a classic 'Wouldn't It Be Good'. His songwriting skills have clearly not faded, and I will agree with AMG on that. However, AMG believes that once you've gotten a hit in the 80s, there's no career afterwards, and using an example of a 5 that Duran Duran received, I can safely say that they aren't looking for songwriting in an album. The opener 'Wounded' is a kaleidoscope of orchestration, with any instrument possible flying around your earbuds. The following track 'Get Up' is better, the best being 'Jane Doe'. In fact, the only two tracks I didn't really care for were 'Take Me To The Church' and 'Die Laughing'. These songs weren't even bad, they just didn't make an impression on me. The closer 'Show Them What You're Made Of' is a great ballad, and the way every album should end; it makes them want to play again from beginning to end. Last year, when I went into school early, my dad would have the album on repeat. From calypso to funk-rock to acoustic, this album seems to bring everyone into a good mood. This under looked album, at end, leaves you wanting "to be Frank" just one more time.



Sample:

"Wouldn't It Be Good"

Review: Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Hype never ceases to amaze me. How can a band modestly hand out CD-Rs to audiences at low-profile concerts one day, and the next become the biggest selling band in the UK? It happened to the Arctic Monkeys, courtesy of our 'friends' at NME. Their catchy choruses and pessimistic outlook on city life in the UK earned them praise and comparisons to everyone's favorite band Oasis. NME has now pointed their spotlight towards New Ravers Klaxons, who take everything you've come to know and love about punk and splice it with the ecstacy-heavy big beats of rave to make "Myths of the Near Future", an album that's melodic at heart but comes on to be a heavy hitter. But comparisons to Blur? I wouldn't go that far. Lead single (and amazing tune, at that) 'Golden Skans' could've easily fit into the debut of The Good, The Bad, and the Queen, while opener 'Two Receivers' is a bit more Bloc Party. I wouldn't believe all of the hype you hear, but Klaxon's debut isn't one to miss.

Full of material that could've been on Bloc Party's sophomore effort, Klaxons seem to be on a mission to blow your eardrums into the 'lakes of Titan'. At times the loudness of the album can become a bit irritating (see 'Totems on the Timeline') but songs like 'As Above, So Below' show you that they have extreme potential as a band. They're doing rather well in Britain, thanks to the hit single 'Golden Skans', obviously the best song on the album. I actually enjoyed the album a lot, mostly due to the originality. This band seemed to spring out of nowhere with a sound reminiscent of Primal Scream, but...well, not. The sound takes a while to get used to, and it's definitely not for everyone. If you're a fan of the Arctic Monkeys, and you want to get on your 'dancing shoes' with a more beat friendly record, then "Myths" is definitely for you. If you're sick of what you're hearing on the radio that's supposed to be 'dance music', then "Myths" is definitely for you. Finally, if you're ready to dance your spacesuit off to some of the craziest music this side of the Milky Way, then you're ready for "Myths of the Near Future". Definitely a future dance classic (No pun intended.) not to be missed.

RATING: 8.8
VERDICT: Buy
Suggested Tracks: 'Golden Skans', 'Forgotten Works', 'Two Receivers', 'Gravity's Rainbow', 'As Above, So Below'
Sample:

Golden Skans

Review: James Morrison - Undiscovered

The UK keeps pumping these bad boys out. First James Blunt, Lily Allen, and now this great singer-songwriter is the Brit's answer to Elliott Yamin. Cheesy cover aside, and yes, it is a very cheesy cover, Morrison's debut album is worthy of exposure around here. The lead single, 'You Give Me Something', is sure to get attention, but it's the opener 'Under The Influence' that grabbed my attention from the get-go. Strings, drums and piano make for the greatest Motown record that never was. Try taking Usher's 'Caught Up' and get a soulful singer to belt it out on top of a hand-picked backing band. The result would, of course, be 'Under The Influence'. The lyrics aren't too shabby either; it seems like this guy knew exactly what he wanted to say. My favorite thing about the album is that it's not too over-poppy like Lily Allen or Mika. However, this leads to the biggest problem in the album. I think that the album drags on a bit. The slow songs make up the bulk of the album, and the fastest songs are midtempo, wit the exception of 'Under The Influence'. I think that people who are looking for Joss Stone-esque Soul should lean towards the new Amy Winehouse record, which I will review later on. However, that in know way means that you should not think about picking up at least a couple of songs on iTunes. This guy's a great songwriter, and I believe that he's obviously established that in his debut. It's just, y'know, he has to find his niche. Whether that be writing slow ballads or Motown classics-that-never-were, Mr. Morrison will no doubt find success. Number 2 on iTunes Top 100 Albums would be good enough for me. :)

Rating: 6.9
Verdict: iTunes
Suggested Tracks: Under The Influence, You Give Me Something, Wonderful World, The Letter

Sample:

James Morrison - You Give Me Something

Review: Ben Cotten

Ben's awesomer than everyone ever. In the world. Better than Mr. Vecchio. Yeah, I said it.

On The Rise: Lily Allen

Yeah. Pop. Not indie rock. No screeching guitar solos. No powerful drums that beat the sense out of your eardrums. Just a pretty girl with a pretty voice with pretty music backing up her humorous lyrics. Songs like 'Knock 'Em Out' and 'LDN' put you in the glamorous city of London, until you 'look twice' and 'see that it's all lies'. Cleverly crafted samples are backed up by thumping beats that say "We're not afraid to mix pop with hip-hop". This stuff is what the radio was made for. It's not fake pop like new Avril Lavigne, and it's no fake songwriter pop like Kelly Clarkson. As a debut album, "Alright, Still" does marvelously at making her talents stand out, but it's her clever lyrics that really make the album shine. From tales of a 'Ex Boyfriend Revenge' on lead single 'Smile', to poking fun at weight obsessed teens with 'Everything's Just Wonderful', this album twists and turns with emotions spilled all throughout. There's a tribute to her marijuana-smoking brother in 'Alfie', and another boy-bashing embarrass-fest in 'Not Big'; this album's filled with crafty pop hits just waiting to be. 'Smile' can be heard on MTV every once in a while, as Lily's just starting in the US. I'd buy the album as soon as possible and 'catch the wave' before it crashes onto the the beaches of Montauk, so to speak. You'll find yourself humming 'At first, when I see you cry...it makes me smile....'


*ALRIGHT, STILL... out now.

Suggested Tracks: Smile, LDN, Everything's Just Wonderful, Alfie, Smile (Version Revisited)

Rating: 7.8

Sample: