B.o.B. "The Adventures of Bobby Ray"
Finally, his first full length record thats a bit of pop ("Nothin' on You feat. Bruno Mars"), rap ("Bet I feat. T.I. and Playboy Tre"), R&B ("The Kids feat. Janelle Monae"), It's indie ("Magic feat. Rivers Cuomo") and some of emo alt-rock ("Airplanes feat. Hayley Williams" and "Airplanes Pt. II feat. Eminem and Hayley Williams"). Bobby Ray was solely responsible for four of the twelve "main" tracks ("Don't Let Me Fall," "Ghost in the Machine," "The Kids feat. Janelle Monae" and "Lovelier than You") and two of the three bonus tracks, all of which are refreshments to the genres he touches on.
The album begins with a militaristic thudding drum attack. A visceral start, but the tone calms down with "The Last Fight" and "A Place Where You Belong". In fact, throughout the walls of sound that are built up by Michael Paget's and Matt Tuck's guitars there's a strong ear for melody of the type that's lifted them out of the metal aisles of record shops and into the mainstream.
Courtney Love for resurrects the Hole moniker after her not so good solo outings. But, with no participation of the bands other key talents like guitarist Eric Erlandson, this new Hole album is in name only. Hole records are shocking; this is only an attempt to be. The songs are bearable, but lacks Hole's kicks and punches. "Pacific Coast Highway" (which is co-credited to Linda Perry and Billy Corgan, despite the latter disavowing his involvement in the project) was conjured up during a 2005 stint in rehab. Love brings her desolate vocals during the quieter moments on "Broken English."
Arguably the artist whose singles did more than any other single artist to put reggaeton on the mainstream radar. Daddy Yankee's deals to promote prominent brands like Pepsi and Reebok didn't hurt his visibility. Gracing that with a humanitarian effort that won him the Spirit of Hope Award at the 2009 Latin Grammy Awards. For his ninth studio album, the Puerto Rican superstar mixes up hip-hop with musical flavors from Mexico and South and Central America, bringing his traditionally summer energy to the triumphant fife and drum corps riot "Grito Mundial" and his slinky single "Descontrol."
Just two weeks after announcing a separation from her partner of nine years, and the mother of two of her children, actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, Etheridge goes on to promote her new venture. This is her 10th studio album and its a pretty good knockout with a few fist-pumping numbers about heroines facing tough challenges ("The Wanting of You," "Indiana"). The album returns Etheridge to the big, radio-friendly anthems that established her fame.
Like her Nickelodeon sitcom "iCarly," the material on this tween superstar's debut full-length aims to please both kids and grown-ups. Only eight-songs, but it doesn't include her infectious 2008 smash "About You Now," but it does reunite Cosgrove with the unstoppable production force of pop known as Dr. Luke, who produced the lead single "Kissin U," a midtempo pop-rocker with a Radio Disney sheen and guitar riffs reminiscent of "Since U Been Gone." Also helping Cosgrove transition from tween idol to credible pop star are songwriters and producers including the Matrix, Espionage (Train, Beyonce), Ke$ha, and Avril Lavigne.
Eugene Hutz "Trans-Continental Hustle"
After being ousted from the Clash in the early 80's, his future seemed uncertain. While his former band mates went on to issue "Cut the Crap" the following year, Jones rebounded with Big Audio Dynamite, a fusion of his lyrical savvy with the cinematic talent of punk pioneer Don Letts on top of some great sampling. Featuring the cult singles "E=MC2," "Medicine Show," and "The Bottom Line," the deluxe reissue augments their 1985 debut with an additional disc of 12-inch remixes, dubs, and non-LP B-sides.
Other New Releases Worth Checking Out:
(Have not listened to, but please feel free to post a review)
• Sons of Sylvia: "Revelation"
• Olafur Arnalds: "They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness"
• Peter Frampton: "Thank You Mr. Churchill"
• Lali Puna: "Our Inventions"
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