Artist: Rihanna
Song(s): Who's That Chick & What's My Name? (featuring Drake)
Album: LOUD
Out: November 16th, 2010
So, Rihanna has a couple new songs floating around the Internet. All looking to have the single treatment for the masses, complete with music videos and all. The thing I really respect of Ri, is that when she does something, she not only fully commits to it, she visually and sonically assaults us with her vision. Just as we were are starting to settle into our Only Girl (in the World) listening patterns, she hits us with the album's next single, which will be the Drake featured What's My Name? She's already shot the video, and has sent the new single to radio stations to play. It's a pace backward from the Euro-charged Only Girl single. It's a more laid back R&B track with a little bit of island flavor. I find this track interesting, because though I am not a "hater" of Drake, I am also not a fan. I really just stand with my cocked in confusion as to how he is such a respected rapper. His flow is... awkward. Not awful, but... awkward. Maybe I'm still looking at him in a wheel chair. In any case, Drake's flows and beats are rather "generic." And Ri was just caught calling her BFF Katy Perry's (along with Lady Gaga and Ke$ha's) music generic. So as you can imagine, when she releases what I would consider a "generic" song, I have to wonder whats going on up there. The song itself is good. It will top the R&B charts and its something that will get you grooving. It will be stuck in your head, but I doubt it'll be your favorite (at least, its not mine). I personally prefer the David Guetta produced Who's That Chick. It's bass is thumping and its chorus is soaring. It fits right in on the dance floor next to Only Girl, but its not a direct rip off of it. But, RiRi has decided she'll be using this in her Doritos commercial ads instead (wtf?) and it will serve as the first official radio single for Guetta's forthcoming album, One More Love, due out latter this year/early next year. It may (or may not) appear as a bonus track to Rihanna's LOUD.
Bottom line: Each song is a keeper, it just depends on your preference.
Artist: Black Eyed Peas
Song: The Time (The Dirty Bit)
Album: The Beginning
Out: November 30th, 2010.
B.E.P is at it again! After and incredible two years, with four number one hits and a huge World tour, the Peas are ready to release their follow up to 2009's massive The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies). Traveling with a studio on their tour bus, recording for The Beginning (clever!) began during the summer of this year. Originally planned as a re-release and accompanying EP to last years album, they began to realize that what they were creating was an album all its own. It had been rumored for a very long time that the album would be out before Christmas, and I was wondering where the first single was. Normally, you like to give about two and half (or more) months before a release, but the end of September and the beginning of October passed and no new material for the Peas. Which had me thinking we wouldn't see the new album til after the new year. But just last week The Time (The Dirty Bit) made its way onto the Internet. I very much dig the song... for when I'm sitting at a table in a club here in Los Angeles popping bottles of Grey Goose. Other then that, I'm not sure how well this will catch on. Now, I liked Boom Boom... Pow! and was instantly hooked to the last album when it premiered. I felt as if the BEP was ahead of the game. Most people didn't initially like the new material, but as we can see, it grew on them. I'm not sure this will grow on me. It samples the famous song I Had The Time Of My Life and heavily auto-tunes Fergie's already brilliant voice. And really, it sounds like two songs that are painfully being pushed together. But I have faith in the Peas. They know what they are doing. And I think we can all plan on still having the album by November 30th.
Bottom line: It's not favorite song in the world, but I'm sure it'll blow up in the clubs!
Artist: Ke$ha
Song: We R Who We R
Album: Cannibal
Out: November 22nd, 2010
Just as I mentioned above, artists like to do re-packages of their original releases, which sometimes include a brand new EP with upwards of nine new songs. Also, when you hear a definite release date, but no new material on the radio, you have to wonder if the company will stick to said release date. Well, Ke$ha has decided to stick to the repackage and new EP format (made famous by Lady Gaga last year). Animal + Cannibal will be available November 22nd, as will Cannibal by itself. Now this is always a good way of doing things for the record companies. Because for every person that buys Animal + Cannibal it will count as a sale unit toward the original markings of Ke$ha's first album (which has just surpassed Platinum status). This almost guarantees that Animal itself with go double Platinum, solidifying Ke$ha's place with the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Rihanna. This will also make the EP sell even better. Just look at Gaga's The Fame + The Fame Monster. They both have monstrous sales, and that is because they have also been packaged together. But still, you want to have enough promotional time to make sure that the general public knows when to go out and gobble up these new goodies. But with a song like We R Who R at a time like this, she could have released this a week before and it all would have done phenomenally. The brilliant thing about this song (other then its subject matter) is that it doesn't alienate Ke$ha's original audience, yet still shows an incredible amount of growth. The lack of "Jack Daniels" in this song is actually rather frightening. She still uses the same amount of "sing-talk" fun as she did before, and the electronic bass is ever present, but she has now created an anthem for those who don't feel like they are good enough. I'm loving this "It Gets Better" movement. Because it does, it really does. And if I had songs like these when I was growing up, I would have been able to get through anything. The uplifting messages isn't tacky or over played, its a subtle nuance in the material itself. The words "we are who we are" sound like a battle cry to those who don't believe in you. This song can lift you out of any funk. It took me a hott minute to grow attached to the song, but now it is non-stop plaing on the Pizzle.
Bottom line: Grab this mother fucker for free on her website (http://www.keshasparty.com/) and blast this shit out the windows of your car!
Artist: P!nk
Song: Raise Your Glass
Album: Greatest Hits... So Far!!
Out: November 16th, 2010.
Another one of my favorite out spoken ladies of Pop music is releasing a greatest hits collection. After five multi-platinum records, countless awards, and number one hits, P!nk is finally giving us a collection of her best. Now, if you're like me, you already have all of her best patiently waiting for you on your iPod. So to offset that fact, P!nk has recorded a few new songs to add to the end of the disc for those of us true fans. Side note: If you ever get a chance to see P!nk live in concert, DO IT. I can't stress to you enough how brilliant (and over looked) this woman is! When I heard the first single Raise Your Glass, I had to play it ten more times in a row, because I was instantly hooked. Its classic P!nk, and she has teamed with hit maker Max Martin to create a soaring new pop tune that sits perfectly next Ke$ha's new song. Its a generational song that speaks to the more seasoned crowd. So many people are looked down upon for being "different" and this track really makes it clear that everyone has a reason to be the way they are. Again, like Ke$h, she has managed to stay away from cheesy, and invoke power. This is a song that you jump up and down to when you're getting ready to go out. This is a song for US!
Bottom line: Put this song right next to We R Who We R on your play list, and blare them as loud as you possibly can at all your haters. Seriously.
Artist: Lee DeWyze
Song: Sweet Serendipity
Album: Live It Up
Out: November 16th, 2010.
I'm sorry, who is Lee DeWyze again? Oh yeah! He won American Idol this year. Whoops. Forgot all about him (and his cast mates). Now lets be honest here. Lee could use this to his advantage. One of the reasons contestants have such a hard time launching careers after Idol (aside from the iron clad contracts with 19 Entertainment) is because they have attachment to professional karaoke. They are... characters on a stage really. Most people play along from January to May, and vote and become "fans." But they are really becoming fans of the girl who does Joni Mitchell really well, not what that girl does (Like my subtle Crystal Bowersox reference? Yeah, me too). So when they are thrown into the wild with a song of their own, most of their audience has already left the building. So they have to build a career as if they were already a has been. Luckily for people like Kelly Clarkson, she was able to re-invent herself after the first album. And Carrie Underwood and Fantasia have built in Country and R&B markets that are very very loyal. Most of the people who are fans of the above performers did not watch them on Idol. So really, the fact that virtually everyone has forgotten who Lee DeWyze is could work in Lee's favor. Steer clear of Idol references, and produce good music, and I think he'll be on to something. Though his team has already made a mistake. They released first single Sweet Serendipity rather late in the game. Mid-October for a first single from a debut artist and a mid-November release usually don't work. It won't even be until early January that radios will begin to pick this stuff up. And at that point, his album release has come and gone. This song is so good and so sweet though. Its as if Jason Mraz and John Mayer had a baby. Its an uptempo singer song writer kind of song. Its an uplifting song about how no matter how bad things are, there is always tomorrow. And I know that sounds cheesy, but the song is surprisingly adult. This song keeps me jogging and puts a smile on my face when it comes across my shuffle in the car. We'll see how Lee fairs in the end, and I hope its good, but I won't hold my breath.
Bottom line: Listen to the song. If you like it, go buy it. Request it on your radio stations. Lets see if we can make someone out of nothing.
PLENTY MORE TO COME, BUT I'M TIRED.
