Category: music musings

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the 31 best of 2007 – 28: Katharine McPhee – Katharine McPhee

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Before I get to talking about the lovely Katharine McPhee, I have a question; would you guys that are following my list like me to add or subtract anything from these posts? I could add a song or two, or something like that. Just give me some feedback! We are a few entries in, and I want to see what people think; good or bad, let me know!

Alright, now to Katharine’s self titled CD, which comes in at number 28 on my best of 2007 list!

Like many other Americans, I have always found myself somehow sucked into the spectacle that is American Idol, and every year, I say that I won’t do it again; either because of the results, or the sheer absurdity of the competition itself. However, the year that Katharine McPheewas on the show, I was reeled in, not only by her beauty, but her amazing singing ability. The girl definitely has a voice, and until they handed it to Taylor, I really thought she might go all of the way, and win the competition; because she really was the best singer on the show.

Even though Katharine didn’t win AI, which I think may have been a benefit for her, she still hit the top two spots, which guarantees a record contract. However, after listening to her debut album, I have to think that since she came in second, she wasn’t obligated to make that “AI-winner record”. This is substantiated again, by what she released, and I must say, that I am glad she didn’t win; it is a great record. The songs are catchy, well written, and clearly showcase her beautiful voice and great singing ability. If you like pop music, you will really like this CD, because not only does she have a voice for pop, but they teamed her up with great producers and writers that were able to capture her talent.

There are many songs on the record that have a great upbeat feel, which is refreshing, since they tend to force these idols to sing ballad after sappy ballad. While there are definitely some ballads there, I am glad to see that they let her have a little fun. Some of the songs are just down right silly (Open Toes), but they work for Katharine, because she really convinces you that she is just a girl out to have some fun during a night out; mostly because she IS a girl that wants to have fun on a night out! There’s a reason many of these more uptempo songs work; they snagged great producers, such as Timbaland’s amazing protege Danja to work on them. As a friend of mine said about a few of those songs, “you don’t want to like them, but you can’t help it, because dammit, they ARE fun, and they do get you moving!”. It is so true, and it really is pretty consistent throughout her entire debut. Given what is going on throughout the rest of the world with regards to pop music, I have to say it: America doesn’t have a great track record for doing proper pop. Fortunately for us, Katharine McPhee’s debut is a huge check in the plus column of what good pop should be.

Finally, I must say again, that Katharine’s debut record really speaks highly of coming in second on AI; because (as evidenced by her record) you may not be trapped by that “tried and true” formula that they force on every idol winner. With her release, she has a record that is filled to the brim with radio ready singles, and even a few truly great songs that are ready for the club. I have loved her voice from the moment I heard her sing, and thanks to a brilliant album, I can enjoy it over and over again on my ipod. It is great to see a truly talented singer utilized for her ability; this truly is a great pop record, and I am very happy to have found it.

Favorite songs from Katharine McPhee’s self titled debut:
Love Story (one of the best singles of the year IMHO), Not UR Girl, Open Toes, Over It, and Home. (clicky-clicky linky-linky for youtube videos)

Rating:

mixed media, music musings, music suggestion

the 31 best of 2007 – 29: Tracey Thorn – Out Of The Woods

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As a long time fan of Everything But the Girl, I was really pumped to find out Tracey was releasing a solo record. Her voice is extremely beautiful and haunting, and I was curious to see what direction she would take with her solo effort.

After getting Out of the Woods,I wasn’t initially impressed; there were few songs that I liked, but nothing that really stood out as fantastic to me. However, after several listens, and after paying this record the attention it deserves, I fell in love with the nuanced performances Tracey delivers.

She manages to transform the trip-hop/electro sound that made Everything But The Girl a favorite of mine into her own statement. Her voice guides you through a story-telling landscape that speaks to sadness and longing; and paints a portrait that only her voice could. She is like a more sullen Annie Lennox; and it totally works.

If you are a fan of the later stuff Everything But the Girl did, especially the record Temperamental, I think that you will find that Tracey was obviously involved with crafting that sound. On Out of the Woods, she takes what she learned, and crafts her own melodic fairytale, and brings down mood quite a bit. The result is an almost rain-soaked journey through a trip-hop inspired storybook. If this is what Tracey can do on her own, I am looking forward to future solo efforts.

Favorite songs from Out of the Woods:
Here it Comes Again, Grand Canyon, Nowhere Near, and By Piccadilly Station I Sat Down and Wept, Raise the Roof.

Rating:

listen up!, music musings, music suggestion

the 31 best of 2007 – 30: Girls Aloud – Tangled Up

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To start, I must unfortunately state that this is not actually the cover of the most recent Girls Aloud release, Tangled Up,no matter how much I wish this fan created version really was (the real one is uber-plain and just downright boring). If you want to see that one, you can check it out on amazon.com… Now that I have gotten that off of my chest, I can begin to tell you about the campy goodness that is the new Girls Aloud album!

I first discovered Girls Aloud through my buddy Stu last year; which led to the best of Girls Aloud making my 2006 best of list. Needless to say, after my first listen, I was in love with this campy girl group. Formed from a TV show called Popstars: The Rivals in the UK, these girls have gone on to become an insanely popular and famous girl band in the UK and throughout other parts of the world. However, most American’s would be shaking their head and saying “Girls A-who?” if you mentioned them, but not this one; after everything I have heard, I am a tried and true Girls Aloud fan.

I will openly admit that I was super excited when I heard that they were releasing a new CD this year, especially after hearing the more “rock guitar” driven single “Something Kinda Oooh”, last year; in hopes that this would be the direction that they were moving with their sound. When the first single, Sexy No No No! was released, my suspicions were confirmed; this was going to be a record that moved fast, and rocked the pop. While I admit that I really did like Sexy No No No!, it wasn’t quite the hit that Something was, so I chomping at the bit to hear more from this power girl group. The second single, Call the Shots, did everything that the near perfect Sexy did not; it showed me that this was going to be a consistently good album, and I am hear to say that it definitely is.

If you have been a fan of Girls Aloud in the past, you will find your old friends up to their usual selves with this album; the pop doesn’t stop, and the bubblegum girls are putting it all out in full force from the first beat of the first song. There are a lot of really great tracks, most of which will get you moving in your seat, and overall, the disc is a solid effort from the girls. You’ll notice that most of the tracks carry out the same “rockish-pop” feel, which serves to unify the disc as a singular statement of manufactured pop done right. It also speaks of the vision of a handful of producers getting to go to bat with an entire record; and the result is a successful pop record.

What’s somewhat refreshing, is that this record represents itself as nothing more, and nothing less than pure “for the fun of it” pop. It is masterfully produced, and the manufacturing couldn’t be more pristine, which must have you wondering why I couldn’t give it a perfect 5 star rating. The fifth star is missing first and foremost, because of the strength of previous Girls Aloud hits that unfortunately, greatly overshadow more than a few of the tracks on Tangled Up. Secondly, the final song feels included for the sake of someone feeling that they needed something to close the record; which speaks to its lackluster, and out of sync feel (I think they should have just forgotten about Crocodile Tears all together). Finally, of the hard to ignore, tacked on bonus tracks, the remake of Teenage Dirtbag is downright painful to listen to. I don’t know what went wrong there, but it is really, really wrong. I do, however, feel the need to praise these girls for listening to their managers, and their producers, because the results they have delivered really do deliver in a big way; this really is pop at its best, and it is great to hear in an era that seems to miss the mark with pop so often, and so disastrously. Many times, you will have a hit or two thrown on a sloppy and downright pathetic album, but Tangled Up manages to highlight singles among many other potential single-worthy hits and other fun, well produced, backing tracks; (almost) all of which work.

Sure, there may be some critical “down the nose” view of “manufacturing pop”, but what better way to produce the best of something that is MEANT to be produced and manufactured? I can’t think of many groups better to do it than Girls Aloud; and with Tangled Up, they show us that they are more than capable of doing just that… delivering that pop that is just so, so good to my ears.

Song Highlights from Tangled Up:
Call The Shots, Black Jacks, Girl Overboard, and Damn.

Rating:

listen up!, music musings, music suggestion

the 31 best of 2007 – 31: Matt Nathanson – Some Mad Hope

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So, now you must know that my threat was real! Here I am, bringing you the very first of my 31 top CDs of 2007. While there were many, many great CDs that came out this year, these 31 are the ones that I enjoyed most. While this really isn’t intended to be a “countdown”, per-se, rank isn’t necessarily assumed among star-rating classes, so I will be giving a rating to each disc (the top 31 are all either 4 or 5 star-rated). I don’t rank against different types of artists; my ranks indicate how much I liked the disc and how good I feel that it is. So, that means, these CDs are all good; placement on the list will only really affect those at the very top.

So, now that I have muddied this up as much as possible, let’s get to the first CD to make my “top 31” list this year: Matt Nathanson – Some Mad Hope.

Note: Since there were clearly more than 31 CDs that I really liked this year, I recommend checking out my favorite CDs of 2007 list for other great CDs from 2007.

The first CD on the year end list, is Some Mad Hope by rocker Matt Nathanson. A sound that reminds me of many single male rock singers, like Ryan Adams or Damien Rice (but not so depressing), I have to admit that I wasn’t initially interested in this record. I downloaded it before a trip, and was determined to give it a go while I was traveling. Unfortunate choice or not, the first song on the record is Car Crash, which isn’t really something one wants to hear while flying (the imagery was just too uncomfortable). So the CD went on my back burner.

One day, I was thumbing through my massive ipod library, and I happened to notice Matt’s CD yet again, and so I gave it a listen. I must say, that I am glad that I gave him a second chance. Like some of my favorite CDs of recent past (most notably, Matt Kearney’s Nothing Left to Lose,as well as a fellow 2007 best of list artist, Jon McLaughlin’s Indiana),Matt’s earnest rock sound, alternative-rootsy feel, and warm male vocals reeled me in. The piano and acoustic-twinged rock made me sit up and take notice of this guy whom I had never heard of, other than the mention on iTunes that only got me “sort of” interested in the first place. Clearly, there is something more to him than him being “another male alternative vocalist”; Matt has put together a damn fine CD with Some Mad Hope.

Several songs on his record are upbeat, and most are radio-worthy; but it is the few stand outs that remind me of one of my all time favorite artists, Bebo Norman, that get me every time. Those are the reason that this disc made my year end list, but the overall consistency of quality music on the disc is the reason it made the top 31. This is one of those records that people at the CW would look to for backing tracks on their teen dramas, as I am sure they may already have, and I think that they would have a great list of 12 consistently good tracks to choose for the right occasion. The entire CD is a solid listen, beginning, middle, and end; I can even think of a few songs that I would play during the right moment, and I am glad to have discovered them to enjoy for myself.

My Favorites from Some Mad Hope:
Come On Get Higher, Heartbreak World, Bulletproof Weeks (my personal favorite), and Gone.

Rating:

five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: november 30

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Hey there! Back from a week off, it’s your five song Friday! This will, unfortunately, be the last one of the year, however, because as I have mentioned many, many times, December will involve the presentation of a new CD each and every day!! That’s right! I am going to bring you my top CDs of 2007, and it is going to be fun! There is some good stuff that has come out this year, so get ready, because my best of list is just around the corner. One note about tomorrow; I am going out of town today, and won’t be back until Sunday, so I am going to try and post the post with the date tomorrow, and just see if that works. If not, I will post it on Sunday, along with the December 2nd selection. Either way; the music is coming at you!

Now, on with this week’s five song Friday!

Sugarland – Stay
Yesterday, I was telling a friend of mine about a rumor that I heard about Beyonce coming out with a country album, and I was reminded of the really good cover of Irreplaceable by Sugarland. In order to give her a listen, I went to youtube, only to discover this amazingly beautiful song as well. I will warn you, the video may make you cry; but I felt it was so touching, that I had to post the video for the song. This song made me run out and get this CD. I LOVE Jennifer Nettles voice, and this song is just so emotive! A sad one, but a good one.

Shayne Ward – Breathless
Next up, is the most beautiful Shayne Ward; whose new CD Breathless just came out earlier this week. Let me start by saying, that I love this boy; not only can he sing, he is also so amazingly beautiful! I have loved Shayne for a while now, and I am really happy that his new CD is so good. If you like ballads, and boy band-type singers (think Justin Timberlake, only less “nubian” — as HE thinks he is), then you will love Shayne. I like to think that he is singing it to me… sigh. There are a few trite lyrics, but I can easily look past them; into his beautiful eyes.

Robyn – Be Mine!
Today, I am bring back an old favorite; Robyn’s “new” single Be Mine! I really don’t know what is going on with this record, as far as a US release, but I have had it for quite a while, and it is brilliant. I reviewed it back in one of my popcasts, and even played a clip of this song, but I feel compelled to share it again in this forum, because of how great it really is (as well as the new, very good video that was recently released). I feel like I need to say this: this is a perfect pop record. Let me repeat myself; THIS is a PERFECT pop record. Robyn really deserves some major props, because she is trying to do great things for pop, and while I can’t get her CD stateside, I do applaud and support her efforts. I hope that she has a second coming in the states soon; VERY soon. I love you Robyn!

Kylie Minogue – In My Arms
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1130_inmyarms.mp3]
Another amazing album that I have been blown away by, that came out recently, is Kylie Minogue’s tenth album, X. I have never really been a “Kylie fan”, having only really enjoyed a few songs here and there, but I have to say; this album is pretty damn good. This song in particular is my favorite from the album, and makes me want to dance all night long. What a fun song!

Kate Havnevik – Someday
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1130_someday.mp3]
Poor Kate got bumped a few weeks ago when I found the video for the new Sugababes single, but that doesn’t mean that I forgot how amazing this song is; so now she gets her moment on the 5SF this week! I heard some random song of hers a long time back, where I don’t know, but it prompted me to download her album and check her out. I never really could get into it, for whatever reason, but this song came up on random one day, and I just listened to it on repeat. It is amazing. I love the arrangement, and her haunting vocals send chills up my spine. This is a fantastic song.

Alright! I hope everyone enjoyed this week’s 5SF, because it was a little all over the place; but no matter, all these songs deserve the spotlight, because they are all good. Just to say it again, tomorrow starts the month of music, and while I am out of town, I am going to go ahead and write the post, and hope that by dating it for tomorrow, that it will show up when it is supposed to. If not, I’ll fix it when I return on Sunday! I hope everyone has a good weekend, and happy listening!

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please don’t stop the music *clap clap*

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December is rapidly approaching, and I am narrowing down my picks for my year end “best of music 2007” December blog-a-thon. I don’t even know if anyone will care or not, but I am excited. I also need to get back into my old podcast, which I haven’t done in ages… I guess I’ll have to put that on my list.

Either way, I have been listening to music non-stop, because there have been some great CDs come out in the past few weeks, many of which will make my year end list. There is just so much to absorb! I think that I like music, and sharing it, because it really is one of the only things that can truly make me feel good. I also really love being surprised by something, and it being really good. There really is nothing like hearing a really amazing song; it gets me energized, and totally takes me to a good place. I love that, and that very thing has been happening a lot lately. 2007 has proven to be a good year for me, musically, and I look forward to blogging about that next month.

One thing, however that is a cause of much strife and grief for me, is my last.fm profile. I don’t know why, but I find myself kind of obsessing about it, and lately, even more so. After iTunes decided it wanted to delete my playlists, the last.fm client decided it no longer wanted to scrobble my ipod tracks. This SUCKS, because I listen to music all day at work, and I really want those tracks on my profile. I have tried reinstalling iTunes, and the last.fm client; both with no luck. If there is any advice or help that anyone can give me, I am all ears; I like last.fm, and I like the whole idea of it, and want to actually use it!!! Help!

Other than enjoying the hell out of some great pop records (Shayne Ward, Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud, Sugababes, etc.) in the recent weeks, I have been slowly counting down to the end of this semester. I am so ready to have these two classes under my belt, and I hope that once I am finished with them, I will regain some of my momentum. They have just both been demanding, and frustrating. I can’t wait until the next two weeks are over! Let’s hope that next semester (and all subsequent following ones) is much better!

I also made some color/border changes to the blog template… thoughts?

"pointless", mixed media, music musings, the catch-all-egory, venting, wtf?!

damn you itunes!!!

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Yesterday, iTunes decided that it would delete ALL of my playlists.

ALL of them.

So, last night, I took a good 4 hours to back up over 16gb of music, and to remake every one of my playlists. It took forever. Sometimes, computer programs really have a mind of their own; I just hope that it doesn’t decide that it doesn’t want my playlists again, or I might find another program to use for managing my music.

Sort it out, iTunes!

concerts, five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: november 16

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Guess what time it is… time for some new music suggestions from the weekly five song friday! Let’s get started…

Sugababes – Change
This week, I had a curveball thrown my way… I wasn’t expecting the new Sugababes video for Change to be posted, and as such, I am compelled to switch out one of my previous choices in favor of this clip. I have to admit, the video definitely looks a lot like an America’s Next Top Model shoot, but perhaps that is why it is fun? Either way, I LOVE this song, and I have really been enjoying the Sugababes new CD, also titled Change. Save one song, it is definitely their best to date. They should have just left that bad song off, and put Push the Button on there, and it would have easily been a 6-star CD, but alas, that didn’t happen. Here’s hoping they break through over here in America some time soon… these ladies are too good to be left to the rest of the world! You have fans here too girls!

Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1116_bleedinglove.mp3]
Leona Lewis was the winner of the most recent incarnation of X-Factor, kind of an “Idol” type show in the UK, the same show that brought us the swoon-worthy Shayne Ward. In any show that you have to “win” by showcasing raw live singing talent, you know that the winner is going to be able to at least do one thing, and do that well; sing. And Miss Leona can do just that. Not only can she really sing, I have to say, they really picked a great song for her with Bleeding Love, and after hearing it, I have been compelled to listen to it over and over. It is a really great pop song, and it is no wonder as to why it is the number one selling single in the UK right now. The song is great… I can’t vouch for the rest of the album, but this song is definitely a winner in my book.

Nicole Atkins – Kill the Headlights
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1116_headlights.mp3]
All I have to say, is that it is rare that I go to a concert, and I am wowed by the opening act (I must say though… in the case of some, they can become more of a favorite than the artist I intended to see… as is the case with Sara Bareilles). Last week when we went to see the Pipettes, I had never heard of Nicole Atkins, but that all changed once she took the stage. At first, I was slightly interested, but as she got warmed up, I really fell in love with her sound; a very old soul-sound with an almost child-like/innocent voice. I really enjoyed her at the concert, and got her CD after the show. One of the songs that stood out to me at the show was Kill the Headlights, and has proven to be my favorite from her record by far. If you enjoy Brandi Carlile (especially the more rock-twinged song The Story), I highly recommend Nicole Atkins, because she may have a similar voice, but she definitely takes her music in a different, and more weathered direction… and the result is really great.

Rilo Kiley – Smoke Detector
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1116_smkdetector.mp3]
I have to say, that the album, Under the Blacklight, by Rilo Kiley really took me by surprise. While I instantly fell in love with the song Silver Lining (which still remains one of my favorite songs from this year), the rest of the record had to slowly grow on me. And grow on me it did… this has turned out to be one of my favorite records of the year, and it really is a great one indeed. Smoke Detector is my one of my other favorite songs from the record; which will, by the way, have a place among my top spots for this year’s albums of the year.

Silversun Pickups – Lazy Eye
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1116_lazyeye.mp3]
Finally, the song from what I would label as the 2nd CD I most regret not hearing in 2006 (when it was released), because it would have surely have made my year end list of favorites, Lazy Eye is one of my favorites by the Silversun Pickups. I have featured them in a five song Friday of the past, but felt compelled to bring more love for the Silversun Pickups this week, because a dear friend confessed that she had never heard of them when asking if we wanted to go to a concert in which they were one of the featured acts. Well, we got tickets to the show, so I think now is as good a time as any to get acquainted with this fantastic group. The rest of the CD is awesome as well. I really do love this band!

Alright, there you go. Another five song Friday under my belt! I am really getting excited about the upcoming “31 days of CD suggestions” for my year end “best of” countdown… stay tuned!

And as always… have a great weekend, and tell me what YOU are tuning into!

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we regret that we must now interupt your regularly scheduled blogpost…

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For whatever reason, I have been “in it” again lately.

I actually stayed home sick from work yesterday, and slept until 5:30pm. It still blows my mind that I could sleep all night and all day. I feel like Rip Van Winkle, without the silly long beard. I feel better today, and I am glad that I took the sick time… but it is definitely reflective of how I feel lately.

I am fed up with my classes. My statistics professor apparently would rather trick us, rather than actually quiz us on what we are studying. That is the only explanation that I have for her behavior, and method of asking questions on information that is not covered. Additionally, my absent anatomy teacher is frustrating, but not something I am really complaining about… less fuss if you ask me. I just don’t want trickery on tests; which would be my complaint. Overall, my first semester back in college has been a weird one. It is going to be a long road. I have already registered for next semester, and I hope to god it is much better than this one was.

Speaking of God… apparently, praying for rain the night before the weather service calls for rain makes it rain. Cool. Perhaps I shall pray for the sky to be blue tomorrow, or for air to have oxygen in it. Maybe that’s how we should do all government things… just pray for what we already know is going to happen, and then be like, “See! God is listening! Pray some more, and everything will be right as rain!”. Gah… what a douche you are, Sonny. It is just frustrating that people like him have so much money and power.

Other than the rain, I would like to thank God for my ipod, and just music in general, because without it, I would truly be lost. That, and the fact that my new DVD player plays region 2 DVDs… I am loving Spaced so much right now. Also, I am really looking forward to my 31 days of music in December. I am really enjoying getting my 31 CDs ready for the list, and I hope that everyone will find at least something to enjoy.

Hope you are all well out there in blogland… I’ll see you tomorrow for your 5SF. Take care!

concerts, flickr, happenings, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion

the pipettes @ vinyl atlanta, 11/9/07

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Wow.

The Pipettes were AMAZING. They are such a kooky lot, and they danced and sang their way right into my heart. Seriously, as crazy as I was about them BEFORE the show, I am deeply, deeply in love with them now!!! They blew me away. I was also happy to be so close to the stage, and got to see a really great show.

The whole night was a lot of fun. Even the opening act, Nicole Atkins, was smashing as well. I downloaded her CD, and am enjoying it right now. She is quite the talent as well.

Overall, I am so pleased that I went to see the Pipettes. There is a reason that their debut album is one of my top picks for this year; it is amazing, and so are they. If you get the chance to see them in the future, I highly suggest you do!! These three ladies are amazing!!!

Here’s a LITTLE clip of “Pull Shapes” I managed to get (not great quality, but gives you the idea):

Also, here’s a link to the flickr set with the pictures that I took at the concert. I don’t know how I feel about them, because the quality is a little off, as it was really dark in the venue. I am sure that they are fine though, and I am being too hard on myself, but whatever… I had a fantastic night, so I guess that’s all that really matters!