New Music Reviews

"Hey You"
Madonna
A

Her charity single for the Live Earth charity beenfit this summer is by far the Queen of Pop's most distinctive single yet. If it weren't for her voice, one wouldn't even think it was a Madonna song. The beat is very New Age-y and trance-y. Her vocals are also the strongest I've heard from her in a while. All this together makes for one hell of a song. It really is an awesome single and I'm pretty excited about it. I think it ranks as one of her best.

New Music Reviews

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
"SUMMER LOVE"
B+

This is the already the fourth single off his awesome FutureSex/LoveSounds album. This is one of the tracks that stood out upon first listen. It is the perfect summer song. It is sexy and just has great hook to it. I love it. While it is not as great as the original choice for the fourth single, "LoveStoned," it is a great alternative.

HILARY DUFF
"STRANGER"
B+

Hilary continues here transformation with this song off her new album "Dignity." It is a far better song than "With Love." The lyrics are great, the beat is hot and it makes you just want to let go on the dancefloor.

New Music Reviews

CARRIE UNDERWOOD
"I'LL STAND BY YOU"
A

I love this song! It is an awesome remake of The Pretenders' song. I love Carrie's vocals. They are really strong and powerful. She also adds her country twist which is great too and changes things up a lot.

JENNIFER LOPEZ
"PORQUE TE MARCHAS"
A

Another great song. It has great vocals, surprising with J. Lo but they are there. She has taken singing lessons and it's worked. She sounds awesome and sings with a lot of emotion. The lyrics are perfect and she nails the song.

New Music Reviews

"Anyway"
by Martina McBride
A

Great song, great lyrics. Martina goes the inspirational route without being too cheesy or schmaltzy. And that is very difficult to accomplish. Oh, the vocals are amazing. She really shows great range here.

"Pure Intuition"
by Shakira
A

This new single from Shakira will probably rank among the best. While it probably won't be as big of a hit as "Hips Don't Lie," it is still a great song. I love that techno-ish vibe she added to it.

"Big Girls Don't Cry"
by Fergie
A

Fergie's fourth solo single is definately the best, which is hard to say considering I loved "Fergalicious." Fergie slows things down for this sweet ballad. It has a catchy hook and beat. For once, she shows off her vocals, which are incredibly strong.

New Music Reviews

Kelly Clarkson
"Never Again"
A

The original American Idol is finally back! "Never Again" is the first single from Kelly's upcoming album, My December. I was so happy and pleased with the song. It is awesome. It has a more rockish vibe than any of her past songs and her vocals are even better than before. Kelly has proven she is the best Idol.


RBD
"Celestial"
B

This is the second single off RBD's album of the same name. The song is catchy and fun but it lacks the oopmh of past RBD singles, especially the previous one, "Ser o Parecer." There are far better choices on the album but I still love it and hope those songs will be future singles.


Gwen Stefani
"4 In The Morning"
A

This is Gwen's third single off The Sweet Escape and she proves the third time's a charm! This would have to be the best song on the album and possibly the best song she has released as a solo artist. It has a haunting, catchy hook and I just love her vocals, which are surprisingly pretty strong.

New Music Reviews

Jon McLaughlin
"Beautiful Liar"
B+

I recently discovered this guy while looking through the free download of the week on iTunes. He looked cute enough and it was free so I gave it a shot. I wazs actually pleasantly surprised. It was a soothing, moody song that kind of reminded me of the old John Mayer, i.e. the better John Mayer. The vocals were strong and the lyrics were good although a bit cliched but at this point, most of them are.

New Music Reviews

RIHANNA
"UMBRELLA"
B

I'm really digging the wave of synths that percolate just beneath the chorus, and I kinda like Rihanna's phrasing on the chorus, "You can stand under my um-buh-rella, ella, ella, ay, ay, ay." But the problem is the Barbadian diva's voice. Her vocal shortcomings are even more apparent now after the gastliness that was "Unfaithful," her hit from last summer. Also, the song is just not as special as her megahit "SOS (Rescue Me)" from a year ago.


NELLY FURTADO
"ALL GOOD THINGS (COME TO AN END)"
B+

I have to say that I am really enjoying this era in Nelly's career. With the help of Timbaland, she has redefined her career thanks to the hits "Promiscuous," "Maneater," and the phenomanal "Say It Right." This song fits right into that rhythm she has going. It has those hot beats that stood out from the other singles and haunting vibe of "Say It Right." While it may not be as standout as that song, it's still a great Nelly song.

New Music Reviews

MAROON 5
"MAKES ME WONDER"
A+

Finally! After months and months of waiting and speculation, the lead single off Maroon 5's upcoming album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long, has finally leaked! While I was waiting to download it, I was hoping and praying that so much anticipation would not ruin the song for me and that I wouldn't really like it right away (like The Killers' "When You Were Young" last year.)

Well, as soon as the first notes started, I knew I would love it! The song is great. It is etremely catchy with great music and lyrics (Drew Barrymore reference!). The beat kind of has a dancey, 70s feel to it that I am really loving right now. It is miles ahead of anything off their last record. Maroon 5 is officially back and in a major way.

New Music Reviews

KYLIE MINOGUE
"EXCUSE MY FRENCH"

It has come to my attention that this song is actually not sung by Kylie guys. Sorry! It is a demo sung by a session singer that was meant for Kylie but she never actually recorded it.

New Music Reviews

All Beyonce today! Since she is re-releasing B'Day, Beyonce has some new music up for review. Here are my two favorites:

BEAUTIFUL LIAR
BEYONCE FEATURING SHAKIRA
A+

I absolutely, positively adore this song. It is just perfect. It has a hot beat and hot lyrics. Not to mention that it has the two of the hottest singers out there together. I was surprised to see how Beyonce and Shakira's vocal styles meshed so well together. I wouldn't have thought Beyonce's R&B stylings would work with Shakira's Latin pop style. I'm really glad they did because this song is HOT and is the song of the moment.

AMOR GITANO
BEYONCE FEATURING ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ
B+

I was a little bit afraid when I heard Beyonce would be singing Spanish songs on the new edition of her album. I just thought it would be another poor example of why English-speaking artists should not attempt Spanish songs. I was wrong was again. This song is really good. You can't even tell that Beyonce doesn't even speak Spanish. She and Alejandro Fernandez sound great together and I can't wait for the video.

New Music Reviews

CANDYMAN
BY CHRISTINA AGUILERA
B+

This is the third single off Christina's throwback album Back to Basics. OUt of the three so far. It would rank 2nd. It's not as excellent as "Ain't No Other Man," but it is leagues ahead of the last single, the depressing "Hurt." This time, "Candyman" is much more upbeat and beautifully showcases her amazing voice. It is also very catchy even though it has that 40s style sound to it.


GIVE IT TO ME
BY TIMBALAND FEATURING NELLY FURTADO AND JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
A

Timbalan has to be one of the best producers out there. He proves this once again with thi song off his own album. In true Timbaland-fashion, it has a hot, sexy beat and showcases his most successful proteges, Nelly and Justin. This should definately be a chart-topper.

New Music Reviews

Yay, Finally some new music to review!

Elliot Yamin
"Movin' On"
B+

Elliot was a contestant on American Idol last year and came in third. I never entirely liked him but he did have a dood voice. He sounds great on his lead single "Movin' On." The song is a kiss-off to a fickle lover that could just as easily be interpreted as a message to all those major-label execs who failed to snatch him up after his third-place finish on Idol's fifth season. The song's got a '70s, smooth, jazz vibe. However, it's not too different that it won't be able to find its place on pop radio. A very wise choice for a lead single. Taylor Hicks, eat your heart out.

Avril Lavigne
"Girlfriend"
B

I was a little overwhelmed by Avril's new single. The chorus does have a really good beat. But there is no life to the lyrics. They tend to be kind of generic. At least Avril gives some life into lyrics like "She's, like, so whatever/ You can do so much better/ I think we should get together." It's ok but the song lacks the punch of her past singles.

New Music Reviews

Since there isn't much new music out there, I thought it would be cool to do something a little different and spotlight a brand new artist. This artist is known as Mika. He is a London-based, Lebanese pop star whose catchy first single "Grace Kelly" just hit #1 on the UK charts. His emergence in the US and Britain is getting a huge amount of advance hype. The ebullient curly-top singer has earned comparisons to Elton John, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Rufus Wainwright, and Jake Shears. Mika is the perfect bubblegum pop singer. He has some dangerously addictive songs with catchy, fizzy, narrative lyrics that tell a story. After I heard "Grace Kelly," I was hooked.

It will be interesting to see whether he can catch on in the U.S. I think Mika's optimistic songs should find a bigger audience here. They're already playing his songs as MTV promos, and Mika just signed a huge deal to front designer Paul Smith's spring/summer 2007 campaign. Smith's colorful image suits the cartoon-obsessed singer to a T.

His album Life in Cartoon Motion drops February 5th. Below you will find the awesome video to "Grace Kelly." Enjoy!

New Music Reviews

There isn't too much new music out there these days, at least any that is of interest to me. So, I guess I'll just review some singles.

GWEN STEFANI FEATURING AKON
"THE SWEET ESCAPE"
A

This is Gwen's second single of the album of the same name. She has completely redeemed herself for "Wind It Up" and the album itself, which is, at best, mediocre. This song is quintissential Gwen with smooth, breezy vocals and a great beat. Akon meshes well with Gwen on this song as well.

AVRIL LAVIGNE
"KEEP HOLDING ON"
B

The Punk princess makes her comeback with this new song of the soundtrack for the movie Eragon. Basically, it's the same old Avril. The same vocals and sond style are there. She just sounds a bit more optimistic and more mature. I like it.

New Music Reviews

ALBUMS

REBELS BY RBD
B+

RBD finally made their English language debut last month with this collection featuring brand new songs and English versions of their biggest hits. I would have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the album. The new songs sound better that the translated ones. Highlights include "Tu Amor," "Wanna Play," and "I Wanna Be the Rain." I also like the translations such as "This Is Love" ("Nuestro Amor"), "Save Me" ("Salvame"), and "Keep It Down Low" ("Solo Quedate En Silencio"). I also really enjoy the remake "Let The Music Play." RBD has made a grand entrance into the US.

SINGLES

"WHAT GOES AROUND...COMES AROUND" BY JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
A

After bringing sexy back and talking about his love, Justin slows things down with his third single off FutureSex/LoveSounds, a ballad about a lost, traitorous love. The lyrics are really emotional as he talks about how much love he gave to this person, yet she left him for another man who is now betraying her just as she did to him. Is it about a certain troubled, panty-less popstar? Whether or not, the song is awesome. The beat and strings are great and the bridge at the end is awesome. If you still don't own FutureSex/LoveSounds, what are you waiting for?

"LISTEN" BY BEYONCE
A

Back in October, I was completely over Beyonce, musically speaking. She had disappointed me with the first two singles off B'Day and I was done with it. Then a little song called "Irreplaceable" came around and I was hooked. And now, we have "Listen," a beautiful, inspirational ballad lifted off her hit movie Dreamgirls. She sounds amazing and the lyrics are great. Give it a try.

"DANGEROUS" BY KATHARINE MCPHEE
B+

I have to say that I was very surprised to hear this from Katharine. If you don't remember, she came in 2nd last season on American Idol, losing to the dreadful Taylor Hicks. Anway, this song is really good. It is not her first single but is actually just an album track. It's the type of dance/pop song you typically don't hear from American Idol contestants. It has great lyrics and a great hook. You would be surprised.

New Music Reviews

BEYONCE
"LISTEN"
A

This is the first single off the soundtrack for Beyonce's upcoming movie Dreamgirls. This is simply a beautiful song. The lyrics and music are great. Beyonce's vocals have never sounded better. This is truly one of her greatest songs.

THE KILLERS
"A GREAT BIG SLED"
A

My favorite band does a song for my favorite holiday. This is truly a greta Christmas song, combining the holiday spirit with the Killers' awesome song. This is truly a new classic. They get bonus points for giving all proceeds of the song to charity.

JENNIFER LOPEZ
"QUE HICISTE"
A

This is the first single of J. Lo's upcoming Spanish Album "Como Ama Una Mujer". It is an incredible song. This is definately the J. Lo we all know and love. Awesome beat and awesome lyrics make a great song!

New Music Reviews

Two big albums have just dropped, RBD's Celestial and Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape. Here are my reviews:

RBD
CELESTIAL
RELEASED: NOVEMBER 27, 2006
GRADE: A

This is probably the best Spanish-language album released for the entire year. This one greatly improves on RBD's previous album Nuestro Amor (Our Love). Their style is still intact with pop, rock, dance, and ballads mixed into one perfect album. Their inspired first single "Ser O Parecer" (To Be or To Seem) does not do justice to the other songs on the album. I suggest you check out that one along with "Tal Vez Despues" (Maybe Later), "Quiza" (Maybe), "Algun Dia" (Someday), and "Besame Sin Medio" (Kiss Me Without Fear). While all the songs are great, those are the best. I can't wait for the English-language album.


GWEN STEFANI
THE SWEET ESCAPE
RELEASESD: DECEMBER 5, 2006
GRADE: B-

This one really disappointed me. After the masterpiece that was Love.Angel.Music.Baby, I was expecting Gwen to follow similar footsteps on her second solo album and include a lot of the same 80s inspired dance songs. Unfortunately, that is not the case with The Sweet Escape. Instead, Gwen has opted for including more urban inspired songs, which is not a strong point of hers. Yes, "Hollaback Girl" was a huge hit but why must every other song on the new album be some sort of variation of the same formula? Where are the fun songs like on the last album (i.e. "What You Waiting For," "Danger Zone," "Serious," etc)? "Wind It Up" is decent but not worth being a lead single. The high points are "Don't Get It Twisted" and "The Sweet Escape."

New Music Reviews

BEYONCE
"IRREPLACEABLE"
A

I would have to confess that I did not like this song at first. Granted, I judged it before I heard it fully and before I saw here perform. I was also turned off by the direction Ms. Knowles had taken with the B-Day album. However, once I saw the video and her performance on the American Music Awards, I was hooked. The song has a great melody and a catchy hook. I've had the lines "to the left, to the left" and "you don't know 'bout me" stuck in my head for days. This is what a Beyonce song is all about.

ROBBIE WILLIAMS
"LOVELIGHT"
A

Robbie Williams' second single off his album Rudebox is a vast improvement over the ill-concieved first single of the same name. It has a great dance beat and awesome vocals. I really love the direction he has taken with this album and would love to see what he has in store for us next.

JC CHASEZ
"UNTIL YESTERDAY"
A

I think this is his new single off his upoming album and it is awesome. He is so underrated because his last album was so incredible and hot. This song deserves to be a hit for its great melody and lyrics. It's different from his past music but in a good way. Lets hope he finally gets the respect he deserves.

New Music Reviews

Hey guys! I haven't heard any new songs this past week to review. Hopefully next week there will be some!

Jay

New Music Reviews

NELLY FURTADO
"SAY IT RIGHT"
A

What can I say? I just love this song. The third single of Nelly's hot album Loose is the best of all three. It has a slick beat, great lyrics, and awesome vocals. The beat is sexy and hypnotic and just lures you right in. This solidifies Nelly as one of the best female artists out there.

CHRIS DAUGHTRY
"IT'S NOT OVER"
B+

The first single from this former American Idol is a predictable surprise. It's the type of pop/rock music you would have expected him to make while he was competing on American Idol. However, the vocals are still amazing and I am sure he will have a future in the business.

THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS
"IT ENDS TONIGHT"
B

This is the third single off the Reject's hit album Move Along. While I do like this song, I don't love it. It just doesn't have the same impact the first two singles, "Dirty Little Secret" and "Move Along", did. It's decent enough though, but it's too slow for me.