Melanie Fiona’s single “Give It to Me Right” holds the potential to explode onto airwaves. The opening chords get the hips swaying to a bluesy-soulful crooner who knows what she wants backed by a killer hook.
The radio friendly track showcases a strong and refined voice of a singer who has the potential to be categorized with the likes of Alicia Keys. Fiona connects the melody to the music, creating flow and infectious rhythm from the first note to the last. Sampling from “Time of the Season,” by The Zombies, Fiona contemporizes the music, bringing it into modern day fluidly.
Fiona lets her sexual prowess convey as she sings,
I don’t want it all the time, but when I get it, I better be satisfied, so give it to me right, or don’t give it to me at allconvincing whoever is listening know that she is not a woman to be messed with. If this song... Read More »
This list is the start of a new feature here where we look at all the songs of an artist we can get our hands on and pick which ones are the best. We didn't have set criteria or a set definition of what best meant but just what songs stood out to us. We chose the Backstreet Boys as the first artist due to both of our loves for the music and in hopes to share with those that are not fans, the songs that they should give a listen if they want to hear the best the Backstreet Boys have to offer.
It should be mentioned that this project took weeks for us to do as it was difficult to get both of us to agree on which songs should be on here. In the end, compromise was the only thing that made it possible. At one point, there were... Read More »
Caitlin and Will won the first season of CMT's Can You Duet and it's evident why from this song. Their voices blend together beautifully. Caitlin sings lead and her voice is a perfect fit for the melancholy mood. She sings about something that anyone can relate to - wanting to talk to someone who is no longer with us and what we do with all we need to say. So she writes letters but unfortunately, there's no address in the stars to mail them to.
The second verse discusses the anger and pain related to losing someone as Caitlin sings I'm screamin' at the sky, oh cause it hurts so bad. Everybody tells me, I need to stop. The lyrics are raw and honest but still remain simple. It ends up being a song that you swear you've heard before and you have. It's a similar story but yet unique... Read More »
[cft format=2]
Falling is the first single off of Brooke's sophomore album The Redemption due out in July 2009. My first thought was "Another song featuring a rapper"? Of course, I'm talking about Brooke's debut single (off of her debut album) About Us. After doing a little research, I learned that she had two other singles off of that album that I've never heard.
This song is definitely catchy and actually showcases Brooke's voice (if it's just her, of course). The girl has a voice, albeit not a strong one. She reminds me of Jennifer Lopez in that way. However, she also reminds me of Ashanti. All I remember about her is that she always featured a rapper in her singles. While that can work, it also can be overused. The rap featured in the song doesn't add anything to the song. In fact, I would... Read More »
[cft format=1]
In November 2008, the 6th album from Britney Spears was released. The opening track Womanizer is a girl power anthem that did very well for her on radio. The song, while catchy, relies heavily on too much synth and the entire song revolves around the chorus too much. It just keeps repeating - over and over and over. I was pleasantly surprised by the next track, Circus. You can actually hear her sing a little bit which is a feat in itself. Britney's voice has never been strong by any stretch of the imagination but when she does actually try to sing, there can be good results. It's nice to see Britney's confidence back with the first two tracks. This song probably is more of an attest of Britney's life a few years ago. She sings: "When I crack that whip, everybody gonna trip". ... Read More »
[cft format=2]
I first had the pleasure of hearing Megan Mullins in September 2006 at the Taste of Madison (Wisconsin) and I've been waiting (im)patiently for her to come out with an album. I've heard some great stuff from her and there is no denying she is incredibly talented, both vocally and musically, but she has struggled to find a song that has done well on the radio. Back in 2006, she released a single called Ain't What It Used To Befrom what was to be her debut album. When that song failed to do well on the charts, she followed it with Cryin' Days which reportedly received rave reviews but failed to chart.
Megan went back into the studio to re-work her album. So in 2009 she has released Long Past Gone. The first thing I noticed was the seemingly forced twang in Megan's voice. Looking past that,... Read More »
[cft format=2]
It's nice to know that Reba isn't done yet. This song certainly is an anthem - not just for women! It's a reminder to everyone that when a relationship ends you really have a choice in how you deal with it. In this track, the woman first didn't want to get out of bed and was too busy feeling sorry for herself to live her life. But then...
Strange, talk about luck I woke up And the sun was shining Strange, I ought a be in bed with my head In the pillow cryin' over us But I aint, ain't love StrangeThe song is a bit different than what we've heard from Reba in the recent past but I think it does a good job of blending the sound of modern country with hints tradition in there as well. Her vocals are definitely spot on but I can't help but think that Reba is too... Read More »
[cft format=2]
I wasn't quite sure what to make of this song when Miranda debuted at the ACMs. I think that was due to not being able to understand the words. Now that I've heard the album version, I understand why this is the first single. This is such a different choice for a first single than we've grown accustomed to from Miranda. Her first album's debut single was a medium tempo song Me and Charlie Talking followed by the rockin' and fun title track of her sophomore album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
This song is just pure, raw, emotion. Miranda is feeling like dead flowers left in a vase or burned out Christmas lights still up in January because her significant other just doesn't seem to feel anything anymore.
She sings:
He ain’t feeling anything My love, my hurt, or the sting of this rain ... Read More »
[cft format=1]
This is Dylan’s 33rd studio album is also his fifth No. 1 album. It’s hard to imagine someone amassing that much studio time but when it comes to Dylan, nothing should be that surprising. This album is the follow up to the #1 2006 Modern Times and one of Dylan’s more successful endeavors.
Together Through Life explores Dylan’s love of the South, revealing that he wanted the album to capture “Texas-Mexican escapism aura.” Each track is backed up by an array of instruments from drums, guitars, to mandolins and accordions.
The opening Beyond Here Lies Nothin’ gives the album a strong start backed by his band and a simple accordion and lyrics that tell the listener that no one should live in the future. The next track Life is Hard was written for the upcoming film My Own Love Song and was co-written with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. The mandolin gives... Read More »
[cft format=1]
Lily Allen’s follow-up to the critically acclaimed Alright, Still (2006), is less witty and snarky; however, it delivers more introspective lyrics than her form of straight pop typically contains. Allen’s cleverly mean-spirited raved-about single from Alright, Still, “Smile,” is equaled in quality on It’s Not Me, It’s You by “The Fear.”
On “The Fear,” Allen reflects on herself and society in a refreshingly intelligent manner and does it in her trademark witty fashion. The song begins with the lyrics, “I want to be rich and I want lots of money/I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny/I want loads of clothes and fuck loads of diamonds/I heard people die while they are trying to find them,” but Allen is not simply perpetuating the hip-hop and U.S. pop stereotype of materialism and wealth being king. She understands there is a problem with her mindset and explains later in the song that she simply... Read More »
We reviewed their EP Sing What You Want in February and wanted to follow up with The Ugly Club. The band hails from Jersey and is comprised of six members. Their influences are... Read More »
Loading ...