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The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Mika
2009
MusicVixen Rating:
Recommended if you like:
Adam Lambert, Vampire Weekend, cotton candy
From his album art to his music videos, Mika’s colorful world looks like a Skittles commercial gone wild. Hyperactive rainbows assault the senses from all directions, including Mika’s over-the-top cute vocals, choirs of children and slick beats that would be just as at home backing Sean Kingston or Lady Gaga.
The follow-up to 2007’s surprisingly Grammy-nominated Life in Cartoon Motion, The Boy Who Knew Too Much is comparatively more Continue reading »
New Sublime Reunion Tour: Cool or Creepy? | Music Vixen Blog
Black Gives Way to Blue
Alice in Chains
2009
MusicVixen Rating:
Recommended if you like:
Alice in Chains, Weekend at Bernie's
After singer Layne Staley died of a drug overdose in 2002, it looked like things might be over for gloomy grunge kings Alice in Chains.
On Black Gives Way to Blue, Alice in Chains’ first new studio effort since Staley’s death, the band is back with a new singer and the same old sound—which might be exactly what fans wanted.
Replacing singers with soundalikes almost never works—AC/DC and Journey (shudder) may be the rare exceptions to this rule. Alice in Chains seems determined to join that club—and it just might work.
Alice in Chains fans are likely well aware the much of the band’s music was and is Continue reading »
FeelLikeAStranger
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Pearl Jam
2009
MusicVixen Rating:
Recommended if you like:
Guitar Hero, 90s kitsch, Target
The fact that Pearl Jam’s new album is being retailed almost exclusively by Target stores opens the band to endless ridicule and accusations of being sell-outs.
However, potential critics don’t need to use the weak “sell-out” argument because the album speaks for itself: it sounds like a band trying too hard to prove that it is still a rock band, with lackluster results. (On the plus side, it’s also the band’s shortest album, clocking in at just 37 minutes.)
It’s not easy being the last of a species, and grunge dinosaurs Pearl Jam know this better than anyone. The Seattle rockers have Continue reading »
corey chosy
Twilight: New Moon (Soundtrack)
Various Artists
2009
MusicVixen Rating:
Recommended if you like:
Death Cab for Cutie, Gossip Girl, bummed out vampires, stoned looking girls
The success of the pre-release buzz, incessant marketing and unfounded hype surrounding this utterly mediocre collection might be an even bigger accomplishment than the crossbreeding of vampires, werewolves and indie-rockers…or whatever this movie is about.
The release of Twilight: New Moon and its accompanying soundtrack are still a few weeks away, but the tracklisting has finally been released (see it, below).
Today, we’re taking at look at the disc and trying to figure out what the fuss is all about.
At a glance, it seems about as lame as the movie (seriously, have you seen the trailer for this thing? Bad acting, horrible dialogue and cheap special effects. Unless people dig this because it’s cheesy/funny, there’s really no excuse for handing any more money over to Stephenie Meyer and Co.).
BELOW: Twilight: New Moon Soundtrack: Check out some of the new tracks and tell us what you think. Continue reading »
Leah
"Live Like We're Dying" (Single)
Kris Allen
2009
MusicVixen Rating:
Recommended if you like:
The Script, Jason Mraz, Hating Adam Lambert, Living
Hey, remember when Tim McGraw released that horribly sappy faux-country song “Live Like You Were Dying” in 2004 and it was insanely popular?
Now, inexplicable Idol champ Kris Allen (remember him?) is set to debut his big post-Idol single titled “Live Like We’re Dying.”
Original, right?
In his defense, it’s not like Allen wrote this song or anything. Nor did McGraw, for that matter.
(Below: Listen to Kris Allen’s new single “Live Like We’re Dying”) Continue reading »
holahovita
The Blueprint 3
Jay-Z
2009
MusicVixen Rating:
Recommended if you like:
Kanye West, Young Jeezy, Billy Joel, New Jersey Nets Basketball
Mr. Beyonce Knowles is finally trying to put attention back on his music rather than his love life, failed retirement bid, or shady real estate deals-but does it live up to the hype?
We haven’t had time to digest all of the Blueprint 3, but we’re hoping “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” will inspire lame-o lip-synchers (hi, Kanye) to give T-Pain the boot kick the Auto-Tune habit…but we’re not holding our breath.
Oddly, while Jay-Z takes a shot at Auto-Tunes users, he teams up with Kanye on “Run This Town” and with West’s underling Drake nonetheless.
Elsewhere on the album, a duet with singer/pianist Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind,” takes a titular cue from, of all people, Billy Joel (”New York State of Mind”).
Listen to the entire album before its 9/11 release and tell us what you think.
Now, we don’t always condone album leaks, but it this isn’t a bootleg, it’s an official leak from Jay-Z to MTV. Enjoy.
LISTEN: Jay-Z-The Blueprint 3
Jay-Z-The Blueprint 3 tracklist (below)
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REVIEW: New Daughtry CD ‘Leave This Town’ -Is Chris Still Idol’s Top Rocker?
MONEY: Mariah Carey’s “Memoirs” to Contain Advertisements
REVIEW: Lemons by Ty Segall Destroys Boring Indie Rock
Jay-Z-The Blueprint 3 Tracklist: Continue reading »
william
Wilco (the Album)
Wilco
2009
MusicVixen Rating:
Recommended if you like:
Wilco, Pernice Brother, camels
As the years go by, Wilco seems to work harder and harder to make people dislike it based on meandering whims (A Ghost is Born, anyone?), heartbreaking line-up shifts (Jay Bennett, RIP) and, well, pretty much every word that comes out of Jeff Tweedy’s mouth when he isn’t singing.
So, with its seventh album, is Wilco still worth listening to? Or have fans simply invested too much time in the band to turn away from it now? Continue reading »
Great guitar tone, horrendous lyrics: Marc Ribot @ City Winery, NYC.
It always seems tacky to complain about a gift, so we’re hesitant to say anything unkind about the free concert by guitarist/composer Marc Ribot Tuesday evening at the City Winery.
Hesitant, but not completely averse.
On the plus side, Continue reading »
NYC folk music icon Peter Stampfel (center) is a common sight at Brooklyn's Jalopy Theatre, but his performances are always unique.
Sunday night at Brooklyn/Red Hook’s cozy Jalopy Theatre, NYC folk music luminary Peter Stampfel (of Holy Modal Rounders and Fugs fame) was joined onstage by the Ether Frolic Mob, (not-so-much a backing band, as a revolving cast of collaborators).
Bob Dylan may have stolen the folk music spotlight in the ’60s, but Stampfel glows on his own.
An absolute icon of folk music (both in terms of caring conservation and reckless experimentation), it is astounding that a figure as innovative, influential, talented–and just plain fun–as Stampfel can Continue reading »
Mixtape Nostalgia: Retro Fun with USB Mixtape | Music Vixen Blog
Ty Segall
Ty Segall
2009
MusicVixen Rating:
Recommended if you like:
Oblivians
If anyone else out there is bored stiff by all of the overly-sweet and spineless indie sounds sweeping the nation’s earbuds (Passion Pit? Vampire Weekend? Bat for Lashes? Pains of Being Pure at Heart? snore), then this blast of rock’n'roll noise will be a pleasant reminder that the sleepy cardigan rockers of the world haven’t won, yet.
If you don’t have merrily ringing ears and slightly scuffed dancing shoes after San Francisco noisemaker Ty Segall’s new disc, Lemons, finishes spinning, you must’ve done something wrong. Turn it up and try again.
Making the deal a little sweeter, Segall’s new disc is Continue reading »
