New This Week
  • He’s A Real Prince!

    Wow! In the past two weeks, I've been all over! First to Austin, then to Miami, then to Las Vegas, then back to Miami, and then, finally, back home to Los Angeles!

    And as a result, my critical acumen--my ability to discern which music is good and which music is bad--has never been sharper!

    So as I recount this week's best and brightest new releases, realize this: At this very moment I am listening to Andras Schiff's Ludwig Van Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas Vol. V! Therefore my sensibilities are almost painfully attuned to genius!

    Thus, more than ever before, what I say goes!

     

    Flo Rida: R.O.O.T.S. (Route Of Overcoming The Struggle) (Poe Boy/Atlantic)  As a special tribute to my home state, I'd like to begin by mentioning the latest album by Flo Rida, the man who's already sold so many downloads of his singles, no one ever would think to buy his actual album--because they've already got all the good stuff! Cool! As always, I think the man deserves incredible respect for offering us an

    Read More »from He’s A Real Prince!
  • There's something to be said for being a creature of habit! Every week when I write this award-winning blog, I'm usually perched atop my favorite chair, sitting in my garage and surrounded by billions of CDs, LPs, and unlabeled videocassettes of questionable origin, drinking gallons of Diet Coke and worse!

    This week, however, in a stunning turn of events, I am seated at a gawdawful Starbucks on Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami, Florida, desperately trying to focus on the week's latest releases--and find myself being distracted by a nonstop, in-house playlist featuring old jazz ladies from the '40s, Nat "King" Cole, and hundreds of other artists who have probably never even heard of Mastodon!

    Well, to quote the old lady now chirping over the Starbucks sound system, guess it's "just one of those things"!

    Heck! I want to be an actual coffeehouse!

     

    The Decemberists: The Hazards Of Love (Capitol) Having just seen these lovable Portlanders performing this brand new album in its entirety at

    Read More »from Decemberists, Miley Cyrus Paired in Review Format!
  • For every week that brings exciting new releases--albums you know you'd just like to rush out and buy, if in fact you had any money--there are weeks like this one!

    Indeed, while many of this week's newest recordings are excellent, and in some cases quite fine, still--there is nothing here that reaches out, grabs your nose and commands: BUY ME!

    Well, except for maybe one!

    Can you guess which one I mean?

     

    White Lies: How To Lose My Life (Geffen)  While I have my qualms about starting this week's blog with the debut album by a British band you may have never heard of, I'm heeding the words of the distinguished ARTROCKER magazine--surely you've heard of it--which has ominously warned "Bypass this band at your peril"! Heck, sounds like they know what they're talking about! Since this album debuted at #1 in the UK, you can bet your boots it'll do the same here, since as a rule America is just like England! And just like those British kooks, we're all enraptured by bands whose sound oddly

    Read More »from Potentially The Greatest Week Ever!
  • If I were a really cynical sort of fellow, I might take a look at this week's hot new releases and say, "Wow, a bunch of former American Idol singers, some High School Musical kid, a one-time grunge superstar now apparently floundering at the hands of the omnipresent Timbaland, a fading emo band produced by a member of the suspiciously reunited Blink-182, a formerly hot British band  who've lost the knack for writing good pop songs, and a pair of R&B dudes famous for either writing other people's material or having one former hit single! How exciting can it get?"

    Happily, though, I'm a very cheerful and well-adjusted music critic eager to embrace all that's new and happening!

    So don't worry! I'm thinking this is one heck of an exciting batch of new releases! Like you, I'm rooting for all of them!

     

    Kelly Clarkson: All I Ever Wanted (RCA)  I would definitely say Kelly Clarkson is my all-time favorite American Idol singer, mostly because I thought she was pretty good when I saw her in

    Read More »from Kelly Clarkson: New Album Frenzy!
  • U2 The Highest Power!

    How much do you like U2?

    I mean, come on, everybody likes U2! They're famous! So you'll probably be buying their brand new album!

    But again, how much do you like U2? Do you like them enough to get their new album on CD? It's cheap! $8.99 at Amazon! Or do you like them so much you want to get the limited edition box set of their album? It includes a CD, a poster, a book and a DVD! Wow! All for $64.99 at Amazon! Of course, you may be a vinyl purist, so you might be looking to buy it in the 2LP 180-gram vinyl version! It's really big, you can hold it in your hands, and it's just $19.99! Still, you may be a forward-looking consumer, so the new limited edition digi-pak version--which features a CD, poster and "film download," all for $22.99--may be just the ticket! Finally, left-handed people--that often overlooked, tragic minority--may want to purchase the new limited edition "magazine" version of the album--which features a CD, a magazine, and that weird "film download" thing! All for

    Read More »from U2 The Highest Power!
  • Jonas And The Wail!

    With the excitement of the Grammys now long gone, it's time for the music business to stand or fall purely on the quality of its new product!

    In short? If all of this week's new releases are top-notch, quality stuff, then I think we can count on years and years of a healthful, thriving music business! But if, on the other hand, most of this week's albums are dreary and stale reruns of an earlier, better time, it might be appropriate for everyone in the industry to just throw in the towel, admit defeat, and perhaps individually focus on improving their own personal lots in life--and business be damned!

    Well, you can take a look for yourself--but as far as I can see, any week that features a lot of great reissues, good albums by really old artists, and a new album by the Jonas Brothers is conclusive proof that music's on an upswing like never before!

    Speaking purely as a rock critic, I don't think I'm alone in comparing this year's music riches to those released in the golden year of

    Read More »from Jonas And The Wail!

  • As you may have surmised, part of my job in compiling thismuch-loved weekly blog comes in anticipating which new releases are the onesmost likely to excite the entire world, sell the most copies, and/or have thebest covers!

    Just a few weeks ago, I scratched my head, looked at athen-current release list, and determined that--in the absence of any surefireblockbuster-sellers like Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, or Alicia Keys--new albumsby Animal Collective, Andrew Bird and even Antony & the Johnsons wouldlikely be among the week's biggest winners! And as a special bonus, they allstarted with "A"!

    Heck--I was right!And even Antony & the Johnsons entered the charts at No. 65! Who could haveimagined this three years ago?

    Some would say it's an indicator that independentmusic is finally taking its rightful place as a sales leader! Others would sayit's an indicator that sales have gone so far down the tubes that only indieartists with loyal followings--which is to say not Hoobastank

    Read More »from How Much Is That Baby In The Window?
  • Watch Her Asterisk!

    Sorry I'm a little late with this week's exciting blog, but--if I may share a little personal information--I forgot to pay my Internet bill last month and couldn't write it!

    But wait, you say--how could access to the Internet affect this guy writing his blog? Couldn't he just write it at home and then bring it in to work and post it there?

    Hah! How can I write intelligently about music without finding out what everybody else thinks?

     

    Lily Allen: It's Not You, It's Me (Capitol)  Everyone's favorite Popular Female British Singer of a few months back returns with her second album in her dutiful quest to become everyone's favorite Popular British Singer for the next few months, and the big question is: Can she pull it off? I say yes! This is an upbeat, personality-filled album greatly aided by American producer Greg Kurstin--the onetime Geggy Tah member who's also doing marvelous work with his duo the Bird & The Bee--and Ms. Allen seems so charming, sassy and colorful, who can resist her

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  • Enter The Fray!


    After that fabulous Superbowl show--just imagine, BruceSpringsteen, Jennifer Hudson and Faith Hill all in one place--and next week'sGrammy Awards, I, like you, think this may be the most exciting week in musichistory!

    And indeed, it's this week--when music's movers and shakerscongregate in Los Angeles for their beloved awards ceremony--that they'll beanticipating the sales figures of this week's new releases, arguing whetherit's likely Melinda Doolittle will outsell Cannibal Corpse, and discussing whatexactly that whole "digital download" thing is in the first place!

    True, there may be a few fistfights, and yes, some recordlabel folks won't feel comfortable having to hitchhike home due to ongoingbudget cuts, but one thing's for sure: When it comes to this week's newreleases--just like next week's Grammys--everyone'sa winner, baby!

     

    The Fray: The Fray (Epic)  From seemingly out ofnowhere comes the Fray, the Denver-based band whose rise to internationalstardom came with their smash

    Read More »from Enter The Fray!
  • New releases by Bruce Springsteen, Franz Ferdinand and Hoobastank are always something to consider--and this week we got 'em!

    What say we consider using the Springsteen and Franz Ferdinand albums as things to listen to this week?

    And maybe use the Hoobastank to, I dunno, patch the ceiling in case it's raining or something?

    For that matter, how about we use the Dean Martin as a potential present for members of the older generation--so they can remember their glory days as they begin their inevitable descent into silent, blissful slumber?

    And finally, how about we use the rest of these albums as objects that can occupy our time so we can sit around doing nothing as life goes on all around us without our actual participation?

    Hah! Just kidding! That's what always happens whenever I use the word "Hoobastank"!

     

    Bruce Springsteen: Working On A Dream (Columbia) It's an old cliché that most rock critics tend to look favorably upon "The Boss" because he reminds them of former glories,

    Read More »from New Bruce Springsteen Album: Quite Good!

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News for You

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  • Jenner: Kim Kardashian 'thrilled for the new baby'

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kris Jenner says her daughter Kim Kardashian is thrilled to have a new baby girl.

  • Palace sheds some light on Kate's baby plans

    LONDON (AP) — With Prince William and the former Kate Middleton expecting their first child in mid-July — and much of the world interested in the birth of a future monarch — the royals' office has released some of the couple's plans, although many details are still being kept private. Kate has made several public appearances recently but is expected to keep a low profile in the final weeks of her pregnancy. Here is the latest news about the infant who will, upon entering the world, be third in line for the British throne.

  • Cher credits luck for her lengthy career

    UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) — Cher is no stranger to tabloid fodder.

  • 'The Voice' Winner: Who Did the Experts Choose?

    By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - NBC's "The Voice" will crown another winner on Tuesday night's finale. Season 4's three finalists - Daniellle Bradbury, Michelle Shamuel and The Swon Brothers - battled it out for the title on Monday's performance finale episode. Before the performances, coaches Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Shakira and Usher performed The Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends." The Top 16 then got together for the second group performance of the night on Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros' "Home. ...

  • Deen says she used slur but doesn't tolerate hate

    SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Celebrity cook Paula Deen said while being questioned in a discrimination lawsuit that she has used racial slurs in the past but insisted she and her family do not tolerate prejudice.

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