Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Colette Carr - Skitszo Part 2

I was SO excited when I downloaded this. Once it was safely in my iTunes library, I took the opportunity to listen to the whole EP once through. Then again. And again. While the last E.P. was definitely more rap oriented, this is not only more pop like, it's also...gentler? Let's put it like this - F16 was Colette's first video where there was this whole story about her being happy with a guy, then they broke up. It was definitely less unusual than her other stuff, and this new EP has a style that definitely fits the whole songs-are-amessaeg-to-someone thing. Here'e my review.

Hearsay - I was very surprised when I heard this. It starts off with a bit of an electronic thing, and when she first started to sing, I could swear it sounded ever so slightly like the beginning of Ke$ha's song Blow. Not really, but enough that from now on when I listen to that I will think of the Ke$ha song. My first impression was how different it was from her other music. It is totally like other music, and I can't see any Colette signature on it at ALL. I can barely picture her singing this, and while it isn't horrible, I'm not too impressed with Colette on this one. It gets better toward the end, but I don't think her voice is powerful enough to sing another song like this very well.

Why Are You Leaving? - The first minute of this, I hated it. Not because of the tune. But because the opening lyrics are as follows:
"Why? Oh why, are you leaving, when I desperately need you? Why, oh why are you leaving? I guess I will not know."
This repeated, but sounded a bit odd with a repeated "you". There was then a soft rapped lyric, which was far more like the Colette that we all know. This sequence then repeated, with a short interruption but a mystery rapper (who turned out to be Kev Nish of Far East Movement). Anyways, despite the awful lyric that keeps getting repeated, this song has rather grown on me. I do like how she intersperses rapping with the singing, which sounds better than I would have expected.

I Love Kev Nish - Easily my favorite song on the EP. Interestingly enough, it's also the rap one. It is very Colette, and I'm glad to hear another song that has such a Colette Signature, including that part that snaps "Are you even listening? You aren't even f*cking listening!". Naturally, this song is the shortest (grrrrr) and ends way too soon.

Racking Up - I hate the chorus. Love the rest of the lyrics. I think her rapping is fabulous - it isn't scary fast so that you can't understand it (read: I can attempt to sing along) but the chorus is repetitive and irritating.

Overall, I am pretty disappointed with this EP. Colette tries to have more of the worlds of pop and rap (getting classically pop like on Why Are You Leaving and Hearsay, but trying to do the repeated chorus like Lil' Jon, Snoop Lion and 2Chainz) but her attempts just create weak music. I don't think I'll be listening to thiis one - Although I probably will have I love Kev Nish on repeat.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Year of Albums

Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful New Year's, and got a kiss at midnight!

In music news, everything I'm hearing blares "NEW ALBUM!" "RELEASING DEBUT ALBUM!" "SO-AND-SO RELEASING NEW ALBUM IN 2013!" So which pop darlings will have new and different material for us?

Original Sugababes (aka MKS) - Remember them? Monday night, these girls performed together for the first time in a decade. Pretty fitting that they performed on the opening of the year that is supposed to see the release of their next album. Now known as MKS, they performed Rihanna's song Diamonds here. All the girls have had to say on this new album is that it will be far better than their first one. Can't wait!

Cher - Known as the Goddess of Pop, this will be her first album released in a decade, though in Cher's case, this will also be her 26th release. The lead single is called Woman's World a femenistic anthem fraught with robotic sounds that Cher made famous in 1998. However, the most apparent thing about the song is Cher's unmatched voice. Looking forward to the album - and the rumored collaboration with Lady Gaga!

Demi Lovato - Consider yourself warned! It has been declared by Lovato herself that this will be her most intense album yet, and "this time, there will be no holding back". To get an idea of what she has in store for us, her cover of Angels Among Us should give an idea.

Miley Cyrus - Though recently she's been known more for her haircut than anything else, Cyrus's album is supposed to be released this year, and sound more adult, and with more of her personal style coming out. Ms. Cyrus has described it "Dirty South Hip-Hop" (naturally - she is working with Pharrell Williams), but the  mix of country with hip hop should be an interesting change. Soon we'll be able to compare how far from her pop beginnings she's traveled!

Janet Devlin - With her previews of Wonderful and Crown of Thorns, Janet has only confirmed that what she has in store for us will be great. In a classic Janet move, she has eschewed record labels to work with pledge music, an organization that has customers pledge to buy a version of the album. Once it reaches 100%, the album will be released.

Misha B
Misha B - Another X Factor lady! Her mixtape is free to download on her facebook page here. Her singles so far are Home RunDo You Think Of Me and Runway.

What should we expect from these artists? Hard to say. Some other people releasing albums this year (though I didn't include them in that list because their material will be fairly predictable) are Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Selena Gomez & the Scene, and Nikki Minaj.