α∂νξητѕ Яαυз : Music Reviews

It's Alive!!!!

2010-04-06T01:38:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

Long time since the last post. I've been kinda busy but I didn't mean for the blog to go dead. Don't worry I've got some reviews coming up. Here's a list of some of the artistes I've got in mind:

Alicia Keys
Lady Antebelum
Usher
Justin Beiber
Jay Sean
Lady Gaga
Adam LAmbert
Kris Allen
Rihanna

And lots more. I'm gonna try to catch up with some of the latest releases. Don't be surprised to find some Asian Flavor thrown in between!

Peace!

Review 02: Alicia Keys - As I Am

2007-12-04T00:07:00.000-08:00

Tracklist:

As I Am [Intro]
Go Ahead
Superwoman
No One
Like You'll Never See Me Again
Lesson Learned [Ft. John Mayer]
Wreckless Love
The Thing about Love
Teenage Love Affair
I Need You
Where Do We Go From Here
Prelude to a Kiss
Tell You Some Thing (Nana's Reprise)
Sure Looks Good to Me

Review:

The resident songstress is back with a soulful, empowering album. With songs like 'Superwoman' and 'Go Ahead" filled with words that will definitely empower and woman going through a rough spot in life. Her talents shine through with her track arrangement, her penmanship, her compositions and also her husky, tantalizing voice that all of us love. This record could possibly out do her previous records.

Track review:

1. As I Am [Intro]

A soulful composition that shows off her prowess on the keys. Definitely a plus. It's a slow start with a rhythmic ensemble for a closing. It also sets the overall mood for the album.

Rating: 5/5

2. Go Ahead
This has got to be a song that Alicia herself felt. The words she's used in the song fits the reality of most women in relationships. The songs about a woman getting up on her feet after being lied to. The song is further empowered by the beats and tune which fit the words so well. You can feel the rage in her words and the mood in the music.

Rating: 4/5

3. Superwoman
Our songstress really shows her range and tone in this song. This has got to be the most empowering track on the album. The persona in the song is facing the harsh realities of life and she's telling herself "I am Superwoman, Yes I am" . The song's very well penned. You can definitely bet that directors and producers are going to use this in movies soon...if it fits.

Rating: 5/5

4. No One
One of the more emotional tracks on this album. Alicia Keys sings about her "one". Telling him that "No One can get in the way of what I'm feeling". Though it's not one of my favorites due to the fact that she sounds like she's crying and shouting in the track. But the words and tune definitely give the song a full body and great feeling.

Rating: 3.5/5

5. Like You'll Never See Me Again
A soulful, tender track. A woman asking her man to love her like he'll never see her again. One of the slower tracks on the record. This song really has a melancholic tone to it as she's asking her lover what would he do if he never saw her again. This slow rhythmic ballad sets a tender mood.

Rating: 5/5

6. Lesson Learned [Ft. John Mayer]
A collaboration of the two soulful voices in the industry now. The track is one of my personal favorites on this record. The song's strong words and melodic composition are an impressive mix. The songs has a tendency of taking you to a place where you're not afraid to be yourself and tell yourself that you've been burned.....but pick yourself up, it's a lesson learned.

Rating: 5/5

7. Wreckless Love
One of the hotter tracks on the album. Here's a hot track with a soulful vibe unlike all the others in the industry which are more upbeat and sometimes raunchy, Ms. Keys has definitely found a way to send the message out without being trashy about it. Her choice of words and also the soulful, bluesy composition of this track is a match made in heaven.

Rating: 5/5

8. The Thing about Love
A slow, soulful track which explains the meaning of love in the eyes of Ms. Keys. The song's got a really uplifting change of tone towards the end which adds a little spice to the track. The best way to understand this song is to actually get it.

Rating: 5/5

9.Teenage Love Affair
Teens will definitely like this song as it's a tribute to them falling for each other and how they deal with love at their tender age. The words will definitely take you back to a time when you actually did fall for a boy/girl in high school. It's one of the more upbeat tracks on the album. But the beats don't spoil the song, in fact, it makes the song seems younger more hip and happening.

Rating: 4.5/5

10. I Need You
This is an upbeat track. However, it's also one of our songstress' less impressive tracks. The beats in this track drown the mood and the words of the track. Rather than uplifting the song, the beats pull it down. But the words and composition that are caught some where in between the beats lift the song out of the ditch ever so slightly. Towards the end the song beings to pull itself together. In all grace, this is track may impress some people out there. But here it's fumbling.

Rating: 2.5/5

11. Where Do We Go From Here
This is one of the more jazzy/bluesy song that Alicia's voice fits fit all too well. The song's vibe is one of deep sadness. It's a song of moving on after a break up... hence the title. It's a rather rhythmic sad song which make a person feel it.

Rating: 4/5

12. Prelude to a Kiss
This is a slow ballad in which it's all Ms. Keys with her Piano. The ballad is one in which the persona is asking for "an angel to guide" her. In short.....it's simple and sweet.

Rating: 3/5

13. Tell You Some Thing (Nana's Reprise)
This slow ballad is a contemplative one. It's a slow piece with very meaningful words that fits the song so well. It truly is one that is able to sing to the heart of people. She's says, "I Don't Wanna wait" throughout the song, Ms. Keys says she's got something to tell her man. I'm sure this one will be a hit with the fans.

Rating: 4/5

14. Sure Looks Good to Me
This track is one deep in feeling. I'm sure that alot of people that enjoy music will feel this one. The track's slow and emotional. It also has a X factor that I just can't get my finger on. But, that's the thing about the song that pulls me into it. The overall sound of this track is one of a mix of beats and composition that fits the medley of sounds that make this terrific track.

Rating: 5/5

This is definitely a MUST BUY CD for all Alicia Keys fans and for those who hate her.....think again. Her music is wondrous and also it's all meaningful, sober and of course, it's a piece the ears won't bleed at. The soulful songstress has really out done herself in this record with her vocals and her compositions. The album's soulful,meaningful and ever entrancing tunes prove that there's more behind those beautiful looks.

OVERALL RATING: 4/5

Here are your links to get this hot album:

Amazon.com
SONY BMG

Review 01: Britney Spears - BLACKOUT

2007-11-19T19:46:00.000-08:00

The Track list:

01. Gimme More
02. Piece of Me
03. Radar
04. Break The Ice
05. Heaven On Earth
06. Get Naked (I Got A Plan)
07. Freakshow
08. Toy Soldier
09. Hot As Ice
10. Ooh Ooh Baby
11. Perfect Lover
12. Why Should I be Sad?

Release Date: 30 October 2007

Charts: Billboard : #2
iTunes : #1
Irma (Irish) : #1
Amazon : #2

Review:

Guess what? Britney's back! Yes, she's hit the charts again despite her bad press (which she addresses in the album...). She's definitely hitting it alright making it to the top of charts worldwide weeks after release and debuting #2 on Billboards. The girl's done it again despite the crumbling of her life.

The album's got an overall feel similar to that of her previous "In The Zone" album. She's decided to go raunchy and abit less aggressive in her lyrics. Expect her to be singing upbeat songs that you can shake your booty to. The songs mostly revolve around her life with tracks like "Piece of Me" and "Why Should I be Sad?". Though the album's entirely not penned by Ms. Spears herself it prove to be one of her best.

Track Review:

Gimme More
The first track off her latest album and her first single. Performed in a lackluster "comeback" performance during the VMAs this year. The song's an upbeat number which has little lyrics. Opening with the words "It's Britney, bitch!", the song's an up beat number which make you feel like dancing. You hear her repeating the words "Gimme, Gimme" a lot in this song. The song, like many others out there basically revolves around sex and her asking for more. Though the music video does little justice to the song. It proves to be one of the more enjoyable tracks on the album.

Rating: 4/5

Piece of Me
Paparazzi beware! With lyrics like "I see no harm in working and being a mama" and a chorus with "I'm Mrs. Bad media Karma, another day another drama", Britney seems to be hitting on the paparazzi and their constant intrusion of privacy. Just think of it as a nice slapping. She's basically singing about the recent events that have been in the media including her derrière being in the magazines, her children and her constant bad press. Personally, this is her best track on the album. It's catchy and it's bound to get stuck in your head. Also, this is set to be her next single (announced by JIVE records).

Rating: 5/5

Radar
Named due to the constant beeping which mimics that of a radar's. She's singing about telling a guy she's looking at him and that he's caught her attention.

Rating: 4/5

Break The Ice
This song actually reminds me abit of "I'm A Slave 4 U" from her 3rd record "Britney". She's breathing deep in the background of the chorus. Definitely, stands out in the album. The song's about hooking up.

Rating: 4/5

Heaven on Earth
This song's got a trace-like groove to it. In this tune, she sings about a perfect guy calling him "Heaven on Earth".

Rating: 3/5

Get Naked (I Got A Plan)
Not one of my faves on the record. But it's still good. The song starts off with a guy singing. Basically, she's telling a guy that's she's in the mood asking him what she's gotta do to get him in bed. The guy's telling her he's got a plan.

Rating: 2.5/5

Freakshow
The song's a dance number in which she sings about dancing on the dance floor with a guy making all the girls around jealous and showing them a 'freakshow'.

Rating: 3/5

Toy Soldier
One would think that she's talking to K-Fed when listening to this track. She's saying how she need a soldier that knows how to treat a girl. The lyrics for the chorus ring "I need a soldier, a really badass soldier that know how to take care of me"

Rating: 3.5/5

Hot As Ice
This song grew on me. The first time I heard this I was like "What in the world is she thinking?!". But over time, the song began to make more sense. Though the key is high and she's probably straining her voice. The song's really catchy after a while. The lyrics blend really nice. Definitely a stand out track on the album.

Rating: 4/5

Ooh Ooh Baby
In this song, she's singing about a guy and complementing him. She's telling how he 'fills her up'. This song has a rather nice feel about it. It's another rather upbeat song. It's bound to catch alot of attention.

Rating: 4/5

Perfect Lover
The song's ethereal to say the least. Her singing in her raspy, sexy voice gives the song more of a light feel. It's one of the slower songs on the album.

Rating: 2.5/5

Why Should I Be Sad?
The song revolves around her relationship with K-Fed and how everybody told her that he'd play her. It's more a break up song. The slowest song on the album and also the most meaningful in my opinion. I like the feel of this song as it's slower and the melancholic tone of the song gives it more substance and body compared to other song.

Rating: 5/5

Over all the album proves to be one of her best yet. Though it's a far second compared to "In The Zone" to me. It's definitely worthwhile. Britney fans would definitely be hoarding stores to get the album while other may wait a while to get a feel for it.

OVERALL RATING: 3.5/5

If you want the albums, here are the links:

Blackout on Amazon.com

And so it begins.....

2007-11-19T19:43:00.000-08:00

Hey there! I'm sure all of you are looking for reviews of the latest music in the industry. In this blog, I'll try to review as many albums as I possibly can. The music will hopefully cover most if not all genres but expect more pop, rock and R&B.

And now I introduce to you...... Advent's Rave.....