Articles in the Single Review category »
If you’re slightly oblivious like I am you might not recognize the name Jessica Harp; a new artist making big waves on the country scene. Jessica is best known as the “not Michelle Branch girl” from the duo The Wreckers. It pains me to admit that although I am a fan of The Wreckers I had no idea who she was until I read her bio. Well, Jessica is poised to burst out from underneath Michelle Branch’s shadow with her new single "A Woman Needs." The single from the similarly titled album is climbing up the country charts and marks a significant departure from the tear-jerker and introspective songs of The Wreckers. The song starts out strong with a quick pounding tempo and the faint background strum of a banjo. Her voice is light and almost airy bouncing along with the strumming of guitar (reminiscent of Carrie Underwood), and when she bursts in with uplifting... Read More »
"My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me"? I certainly hope so, but Danny Gokey could have done with a more attention-grabbing debut.
The genuinely likeable 29-year-old widower had a sterling season on American Idol 8 - sailing through to the final week (where ultimately he lost to Adam Lambert and winner, Kris Allen) and constantly garnering the judges' praise throughout. Gokey continually demonstrated a flair, which added to any of the variety of artists and genres thrown at him, from Aerosmith, to Seal, to Carrie Underwood.
Perhaps it was this last one that led to the choice to market Gokey as a country singer. But on the basis of "Best Days," that doesn't display him at his true potential. Certainly, you hear glimpses of his undeniably awesome power and control, but little can counteract the fact that the song was, from the sounds of it, written and recorded in a hurry. Danny Gokey's strength was in adding... Read More »
Calling all Luda fans! The first single off the Ludacris and Shawnna collaboration has just dropped. The album, The Battle of the Sexes has been in the works for three years but still lacks a release date. The album is based on the premise of showing differing gender perspectives, though on the first couple of listens this doesn’t present in the single How Low Can You Go, at all. The song is exactly what Ludacris fans have been waiting for. It's is catchy and just a little bit annoying, the way every good Luda hit has always been. It brings back memories of What’s Your Fantasy, a song that Shawnna also lent her voice to.
How Low Can You Go will be all over the radio and pumping through the clubs so you better learn to love it now. Although Ludacris and Shawnna don’t take the song or the genre anywhere new, they stick to what... Read More »
Who Says is the first single released from his upcoming fourth album, Battle Studies, following the highly praised Continuum which was released in 2006.
John Mayer is a musician who has continued to mature since his debut album, Room for Squares, in 2001. His sound has progressively gotten much edgier. Following that trend, Who Says has a much darker sound than many of his previous songs. Upon first listen, I was very much reminded of the song Grace is Gone by Dave Matthews Band off of their 2002 album, Busted Stuff. Mayer sings in his unique blues influenced, mellow voice about a good night, an old love and ignorance to others' opinions.
Now is a good time to start listening to John Mayer if you have ever been hesitant. Who Says is catchy and a must listen. His new album, Battle Studies, comes out November 17th and from the sound of this single, it is sure to... Read More »
Norah Jones isn't exactly known for her seafaring ways. From the start, "Chasing Pirates," Jones' first single in nearly three years, leaves us scratching our heads. The title is clever, whimsical, and unexpected--but that's to be expected after her Hollywood jaunt in such films as My Blueberry Nights. We have to wonder: Is Miss Jones still in character?
"And I don't know how to slow it down," Jones begins, drums driving the mid-tempo melody. Noticeably absent are the heavily present keys that made "Don't Know Why" and "Sunrise" radio favorites. The lyrics provide a playful excuse: "My mind's racing from chasing pirates." In real life, Jones insists it's really quite simple.
"I wanted the grooves to be more present and heavy. And I also just wanted to do something different."
With the latter, Jones undoubtedly strikes the right key. Currently sailing high atop Rolling Stone's "Hot List," "Chasing Pirates" deserves to be different. Present and heavy? Well, Jones knows how to play--and make us... Read More »
Spilt Milk, the debut single from Kristina Train is a bittersweet remedy for the music industry. While her voice stands out immensely on the mellow track, (a raspy soulful voice clearly influenced by Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin) the song itself is lacking character and flow.
The opening of the soft drumbeat and piano accompany the soulfulness of Train’s voice, reminiscent of Norah Jones (circa Come Away with Me). However, the chorus fails to impress, the melody sounding a bit erratic for the power of Train’s vocal abilities. While the lyrics are catchy, Train fails to connect the melody to the words after the first chorus.
Though not ideal for a debut single, the track showcases the power of Train’s voice perfectly. As the song progresses, her strength as a singer grows, convincing the listener that she is the real deal.
Train’s debut album is due out October... Read More »
As the first single off of Underwood's third studio album, Play On, Cowboy Casanova has a lot riding on it. It should come as no surprise that the single is about as country as...well Underwood's previous singles. There's no denying that she has a strong voice and it is on display here but what is missing is growth. Underwood and the powers that be seem to be content with putting out similar sounding music instead of finding material that showcases anything more.
It's a song that will undoubtedly get mass amounts of air play just like all of her other singles and has the potential to be an anthem for women but it is nothing that special.
Play On will be released on November 3rd,... Read More »
The first single off of Stone's fourth studio album, Colour Me Free, is a refreshing addition to the radio waves. Stone's signature soulsy voice shines on this great choice for a first single. An inspirational song about being free and making the choices regarding your life, Free Me is a song that must be heard and the advice followed.
Listen to the single below:
[audio:http://frequencymagazine.net/wp-content/uploads/Joss_Stone-Free_Me.mp3|titles=Free Me|artists=Joss Stone]
Colour Me Free will be released in North America on October 20th with the physical release exclusively sold at Target and the digital release exclusive to iTunes. The album will be released on November 2nd outside of North... Read More »
Twenty-one-year old Elly Jackson is red-haired and readily armed with her not-so-dull-'do. This better half of British synth-pop sensation La Roux prepares her latest statement on "I'm Not Your Toy," a three minute, thirty second slice of falsettos, slicked-up 80s beats, and infamous, Elly-style claims.
On the heels of the fiery "Bulletproof," "I'm Not Your Toy" could easily be its sequel, sliding in-between Jackson's declarations of "I'll never let you sweep me off my feet," and "This time, baby, I'll be bulletproof." Always accusing, she remarks, "You don't want me, you just like the attention."
The act already has its share. With a number one UK single ("Bulletproof") and "Best New Act" noms quickly crowding its quirky closet space, La Roux is red-hot. We see it—and Elly sings it. But stepping out and cooling it down sometimes isn't a crime, Miss... Read More »
The Backstreet Boys kick off their seventh studio album This Is Us with their first single Straight Through My Heart. The single is a reintroduction of sorts for the foursome. Member AJ McLean describes the single as, “it’s Backstreet Boys. It's dance, it's pop, it's urban, it's current, it's fresh, it's new.”
He’s not lying. Between the metaphorical lyrics about a femme fatale and the beat you can’t help but move your body to, the Backstreet Boys show a side of themselves that no one has seen before, not even veteran fans. Hailed to be on the softer side of the pop music genre, this new sound makes a statement about perseverance and longevity (and just plain great music). Written and produced by the man behind Lady GaGa (named RedOne), Straight Through My Heart is an impeccably smart choice for a first single into a new sound.
It’s hard not to imagine the airwaves loving this extremely... Read More »
Only You Can Love Me This Way is the third single off of Urban's 2009 album, Defying Gravity and his first single since 2007 that hasn't been at the very least mid-tempo. He previously released You Look Good in my Shirt, Sweet Thing, Kiss a Girl, and of course, Start a Band (with Brad Paisley)a. It's nice to hear Urban pour his heart into a ballad since it has been so long.
The emotion is real and raw but the lyrics are nothing spectacular, just predictable. He sings on the chorus: You're always in my heart/ Always on my mind / When it all becomes too much / You're never far behind / And there's no one that comes close to you / Could ever take your place / Cuz only you can love me this way.
The good news is, it's very radio friendly, very relatable and should do very... Read More »
This song had big shoes to fill coming on the heels of their debut smash, Chicken Fried and a similarly successful Whatever It Is. They sing that life is good today because they have toes in the water and ass in the sand. They left GA to go a little farther South (and West) and enjoy the sun and pretty Senoritas in Mexico.
It follows Chicken Fried with its simple lyrics and singing about loving life. There's nothing too deep with this song but it's fun, catchy, and the band sounds like they had a great time recording it. While this song will undoubtedly be another anthem type song for the band, it's reminiscent of spring break and one can't help but wonder why it wasn't released around then to cash in on that market. ... Read More »
Brad Paisley has been on fire. He has had ten #1 songs in a row and Welcome to the Future should follow suit. In today's world, you can't help but love a song that talks about the old days when things were a bit simpler and technology didn't rule the day.
It succeeded in making me think about the days when I also just longed to watch a movie on a long trip and I imagine I am not the only one. It also makes you wonder where we will be in ten years and what technology that seems amazing now will just be common in that time.
But it's not just about technology, the song even talks about racial discrimination and how far we've come while mentioning Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr as he sings From a woman on a bus/ to a man with a dream / Hey wake... Read More »
"Maybe you'll notice something different about me," sings Michelle Branch on her first single as a solo artist in nearly five years. For the former Wrecker and once-upon-a-time MTV favorite (when the channel actually—and accurately—represented its infamous acronym), "Sooner or Later" signals a slew of firsts for Branch.
In between the Hotel Paper-era chords ("Breathe," anyone?) and subtle lyrics-as-sales pitches, Branch begins to shed her Chuck Taylor-laden image in favor of cowgirl boots and cowgirl tattoos. The track even features Branch's newest accessory: smooth vocals, complete with a country twang.
Remnants from her Wreckers' days? Perhaps. Will it place her on country radio and CMT screens? A resounding yes, according to music giant iTunes, where Branch rests at number three, strumming her beloved Gibson Hummingbird among the sea of sequined skirts and wide-brimmed hats à la Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, and Toby Keith.
Yet unlike Swift and more like Keith, Branch doesn't need lipstick or a pretty face—just a... Read More »
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 »
CDBaby is the largest independent aggregator of digital music. Today it houses over 250,000 albums and grows every day. Ben Hubbird, CD Baby Large Account Representative, recently answered our questions regarding the... Read More »
Would a song by any other artist be as sweet? Ok, enough of my attempt at Shakespearean-esque humor. The issue I am getting at, though, has often bothered me. We label songs and... Read More »
Corinne Bailey Rae, the bubbly, bike-riding, curly-coiffed "Put Your Records On" crooner, returns with The Sea, an eleven-track tribute to love, loss, and no regrets.
Rae is certainly no stranger to loss, losing husband and bandmate... Read More »
If you’re slightly oblivious like I am you might not recognize the name Jessica Harp; a new artist making big waves on the country scene. Jessica is best known as the “not Michelle Branch girl”... Read More »
The music history in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia is known for its Hip-hop/R & B roots. From Teddy Riley of BLACKstreet to Timbaland, it is very rare that a rock band comes out... Read More »
Popular Posts
Loading ...