Music

When the World Comes Down by All American Rejects

sally — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:14:15 -0600

It’s been a while since I’ve witnessed the name All American Rejects scroll across a digital faceplate. It’s been three years in fact, and let me tell you this much, it’s three long years that were worth the wait. Since the creation of their sophomoric album Move Along, I honestly never thought I would hear from them again. I thought they were a one album wonder (even though they had self titled All American Rejects in 2002) with their hit song “Dirty Little Secret” being played on every major radio station across the United States for months on end.

Fearless by Taylor Swift

sally — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:57:06 -0600

Let me just be the first one to say that it is extremely difficult for musicians to come out from underneath the adolescent shell and right away shine with their first adult formatted album. So, with that being said, as I was making a road trip down to the Florida Keys last week, I heard one of the most intense songs regarding lost innocence. I thought to myself, who sang this wonderfully real song?

Circus by Britney Spears

sally — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:43:47 -0600

Oops she did it again! Who knew that Britney Spears could come out swinging from her year long vow of musical silence with such a complex and vivacious album as Circus.

It’s been over a year since she graced the world with her last album, Black Out, and I can tell you that she is clawing her way back to the top of the pop charts with songs such as Womanizer and self titled Circus.

Snow Patrol- A Hundred Million Suns

sally — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:46:57 -0600

They’re one of the hottest bands to come from Ireland since U2 or the Cranberries, and the members of Snow Patrol have definitely put their best collective foot forward on their latest release A Hundred Million Suns.

The first noticeable aspect of the album on the whole is the sheer variety woven from throughout its 58-minute running time. Unlike the majority of alternative/power pop outfits making music these days, these lads know how to change up their style just enough to keep the listener interested while still maintaining the trappings of their unique sound.

The Pussycat Dolls- Doll Domination

sally — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:15:10 -0600

With so many different ensemble groups vying for that all-important top spot on the pop music charts, The Pussycat Dolls faced a formidable task with their second release Doll Domination. And true to its name, this album holds the promise to help these ladies avoid the sophomore slump.

Do You Know by Jessica Simpson

sally — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:36:44 -0500

She’s had an interesting career in the entertainment industry thus far, and with her new album Do You Know, Jessica Simpson is embarking into new territory. The only question is, is she ready?

Do You Know is the much-publicized country genre debut album for the “Newlyweds” babe after she failed to make any major waves in the mainstream pop world. And while some are saying that it’s her strongest album yet, it’s important to keep in mind its lack of competition.

Viva la Vida by Coldplay

sally — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:52:21 -0500

On their latest release Viva la Vida, Coldplay actually did themselves a disservice- it’s going to be nearly impossible to top this record! Seriously, it’s that good.

And the funny thing is, Vida isn’t laced with a bunch of radio-ready ditties. Most of the sonic landscape of the album from start to finish is very ethereal, while singer Chris Martin infuses each song with its own undeniably infectious and memorable melody.

Scarlett Johansson- Anywhere I Lay My Head

sally — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:18:38 -0500

In the Indie music scene, obscurity oftentimes equals credibility. So when it came time for Scarlett Johansson to record her debut album, she decided to cover some of Tom Waits’ tunes in her own style.

Anywhere I Lay My Head is a droning, ethereal collection of songs done in what sounds like an echo chamber. But what it lacks in radio-friendly singles it more than makes up for in artistic integrity and sonic complexity.

The Moon Under Water by Ryan Cabrera

sally — Sun, 18 May 2008 19:20:37 -0500

It’s been three years since 2005’s You Stand Watching. And in the interim Ryan Cabrera has been touring, as well as writing and recording his new opus The Moon Under Water, which released this past Tuesday, May 13th.

Moon is a new adventure for the “On the Way Down” rocker, given that it’s his first taste of an indie project. On his blog, Ryan writes, “This is my first album off of a major record label, and I decided to keep it that way by paying for the entire project myself!! Which gave me complete creative freedom!”

Ashlee Simpson- Bittersweet World

sally — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:52:05 -0500

Ashlee Simpson’s latest foray into the world of pop music, Bittersweet World, had a lot going for it even before its April 22nd street date. For one, there was already a strong lead single/EP with the December release of “Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya), and additionally there was all kinds of press regarding her engagement to Pete Wentz and a possible pregnancy. Was it a coincidence, or a clever marketing move by manager Papa Joe Simpson?