I’ve always wanted to learn more about classical music but never find the time to on a regular basis. I figure my blog is the perfect place for me to house my learning of classical music since these days its where I keep in touch with all my artistic interests.
I often listen to classical music or jazz when I’m writing. It’s sometimes easy to let lyrics infiltrate your writing so I solve that problem by listening to music without them!
Alright day….let’s do this….
Universal Republic recently released Lioness: Hidden Treasures, a compilation of never released Amy Winehouse tracks. The album isn’t as peppy as Back to Black, but it still holds its own even if I’d describe it as coffee shop mellow music. In fact, I think that would be my perfect setting to listen to this album. Drinking java, working on my laptop, all whilst taking small brakes to take the music in. It’s in those small brakes you take that you learn something new about a song and hear a little more soul than the time before.
The 12 track album features some mellow yet peppier tracks like “Our Day Will Come”, “Valerie”, and “Best Friends, Right?”. Then there’s a slew of soulful slower jams like “Tears Dry”, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, “Wake Up Alone”, and “Body And Soul” featuring Tony Bennett. My personal favourites are the funky “Like Smoke” featuring Nas, the spunky feel-good “Valerie”, “The Girl From Ipanema” which makes me want to be cool and grab a piña colada, and the closing track “A Song For You” which will probably break your heart a little bit (“…and when my life is over,remember when we were together, we were alone and I was singing this song for you….” – think they made this one the final track on purpose?).
Although the album feels more like a modge podge of tracks that I wouldn’t really call treasures, they’re treasures in the sense that they’re the only thing we have left to remember the talented Winehouse.
Rating: 7/10
Label: Universal Republic
Favourites: Like Smoke, Valerie, The Girl From Ipanema
Robin Thicke’s latest album, Love After War, was released December 6th. I’ve been struggling since then to write this review. It’s not a bad album but it’s boring and I’ve been trying to find a more eloquent and respectable way to describe my sentiments. Alas, I haven’t found a way to do that so, without further adieu, please excuse my poor word choice, but this album is boring. Boring like a cupcake without icing. I guess you could still argue that at least it’s still a cupcake?
My first issue with the album is that I don’t understand his jump from his last effort to this one. The former, Sex Therapy, was urban soul and featured a bunch of collabs (Jay-Z, Game, Jazmine Sullivan, Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Estelle). Love After War features a lot of forgettable slow soul jams you might hear as background music at a coffee shop or in a store. On that note however, the sound to this album is more in line and true to the sound he had on his first few albums.
I actually really enjoy Thicke’s voice. I think he’s got a lot of soul and I do indeed like a lot of his music; this album just isn’t cutting it for me. That being said, there are a few standout tracks worth mentioning. The openers “An Angel on Each Arm” and “I’m An Animal” are upbeat and catchy and probably my favourite tracks on the album. Slower standouts are “All Tied Up” which is the perfect tempo for Saturday mornings when you’re half asleep waiting for coffee to do it’s thing, “Cloud 9″ with it’s whimsical beat, and “What Would I Be?” which in my opinion is the best ballad with it’s strong vocals and soulful key solos.
Like I mentioned earlier, not a bad album, just really, really lackluster. Hey, I just found a better word for boring!
Rating: 3/10
Label: Geffen Records
Favourites: An Angel On Each Arm, I’m An Animal, What Would I Be?
Prince sparkled and funked Vancouver up during what may have been one of the best concerts to hit this city in 2011.
The show started an hour late but all was forgotten when a voice boomed through the speakers: ”Is everyobody here? Is everybody present? Tell me that you’re ready for me!”. Then the lights came on and we all squealed like school girls at the sight of Prince decked out in a gold sequinced suit (the jacket was killer….I want it), gold heels, bling, eyeliner, and sparkle hair gel galore. Honestly, how is it possible that a 53 year old man has sexier legs, walks better in three inch heels, and shakes what his momma gave him like it’s no one’s damn business, all better than me? I’m half his age (and latin – isn’t that shit supposed to be in my blood) and pathetic at all of the above.
The show featured one hit after another (my favourite being “Kiss”) as Prince and his equally decked out band shimmied their way to and fro across the stage (stage is the shape of his love symbol by the way). Sometimes we only got snippets of hits but other times we got ten minutes jam sessions where Prince really flexed his musical ability. For example, we only got a minute of “When Doves Cry” but we got ten of “Purple Rain” and Prince rocking out like no other on his guitar. Oh man he’s good with that thing (I know, that’s what she said right?)
He also did a few awesome mash ups like “Let’s Go Crazy”/“Delirious” (sick saxophone on the latter) and “Everyday People” (Sly & the Family Stone)/“Come Together” (Beatles )/ “Alphabet Street” (Prince). He also played “Nothing Compares 2 U (written and performed by Prince but made popular by Sinead O’Connor) and “If I Was Your Girlfriend” (written and performed by Prince but made popular by TLC). And to my happy little surprise, he covered my all-time Michael Jackson favourite, “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”.
Prince graced the crowd with two encores because after the first, no one was leaving Rogers Arena. The second encore was one big mash-up of hits which had everyone dancing all the way home.
What was that? You don’t have tickets to his show? Well….what the hell are you waiting for!
I never delve into a Paulina Rubio album with high hopes because I find that even with a neutral stance I still end up dissapointed. I wouldn’t say her latest effort Brava! is super disspapoiting but it’s just “another” album.
As per usual, Rubio has a few catchy tracks that are pretty good (Me Gustas Tanto, All Around The World, Heat of The Night – they could all be a little faster for night club purposes but are good nonetheless). There’s also a few tracks that’ll be radio hits only (Olvidate De Mi, Sabes Que Te Amo, Me Voy). There’s also the token ballad (Que Estuvieras Aqui) which is alright. Then there’s the rest of the album…..a few tracks that were just…..meh.
The thing with Rubio is that she always has a few tracks that make it huge but albums that are mediocre. You don’t dislike her music but you don’t care much for it either. I guess that’s better than hating every song on the album.
Rating: 5/10
Label: Universal Latino
Favourites: Me Gustas Tanto, All Around The World
I generally tend to like remix albums because they usually feature a lot of great dance/workout music. Lady Gaga’s Born This Way – The Remix is no exception.
I should probably start by saying I dislike Lady Gaga yet I do like her music. I can appreciate her need and want to be over the top but I think most of the time she’s ridiculous. For example, what the hell is going on on the album cover? That being said, she puts out one hit after another of music that is catchy and generally liked by all.
The Remix album features 14 of the 17 that are on the original Born This Way. Most of the tracks were given a techno treatment (Born This Way-Zedd Remix, Edge of Glory-Foster the People Remix & Sultan and Ned Shepard Remix, Black Jesus + Amen, Sheibe, Americano, and Judas-Hurts Remix) whereas others received an electro remix (You and I-Wild Beasts Remix, Marry the Night, Born This Way-Twin Shadow Remix), and some got a dark, sultry remix of sorts (Bloody Mary, Judas-Goldfrapp Remix, You and I-Metronomy Remix).
It’s a pretty good album in the sense that most of the remixes are either better or just as good as the original. There’s a few let downs in my opinion (Judas-Goldfrapp Remix, You and I-Metronomy Remix) but I’m sure even those tracks are liked by Gaga afficionados.
Rating: 7/10
Label: Steamline / Kon Live / Interscope
Favourites: Americano, Electric Chapel, Born This Way (Zedd Remix)
