About This Site
Each month I select 20 songs (10 songs twice a month) that I am either hooked on or am curious about. Most of the music I select are rock, hip-hop, R&B and pop songs.
My song selection comes from 20-30 CDs I get from various sources each month, as well as recommendations from iTunes and Amazon. I also check out the charts in US, UK and Japan.
Richard Patrick of Filter got together with DeLeo brothers from Stone Temple Pilots, while trying to write for Filter’s new album, and they ended up forming a new super band instead. Neither Filter nor Stone Temple Pilots have said that they have broken up, so this band could be just temporary. I like the single though.
The lead single off of Avril’s new (third) album, The Best Damn Thing., which is to be released in April. This song is upbeat, very pop and teenie-bopper sounding. Avril has said that for this new album, she wanted to write more songs that would be fun to perform live at the show. Compared to her older stuff, it’s more like “Sk8ter Boi”, which she has stated was one of her favorite songs to perform live because it’s fun. In the music video Avril plays two different characters, and also do a dance routine. Go Mrs. Whibley.
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D.O.G.S. is a Japanese grunge band based in Tokyo. If they were discovered in Seattle 10 years ago, they may have been signed to Sub Pop.
D.O.G.S. recently went through some member changes, but the vocalist/guitarist Koji Tamura has continued to push the band. After performing at numerous local pubs and live houses in Tokyo, as well as contributing a fan favorite, “Hold On” to an independent film titled
Life, they finally went into the recording studio to record their debut album, Out of Prison. For a grunge album, each song seems to last a minute too long. Their live shows are dynamic and Koji definitely has the rocker presence.
In 2004, they had a hit acoustic song called, One Thing. Now they are releasing a new album, which is supposedly more dance-rock oriented sounded. Paralyzer is the lead single off the album. Finger Eleven is a Canadian band from Ontario. It's very catchy and gets you pumped up. This track could be the summer hit this year.
Usually ultra serious The Game enlists Kanye West for this track, and the result is great. It is funny and catchy. Kanye also has good verse on the song. At the end of the song, The Game parodies Snoop’s monologue from 2Pac’s “All About U”, discussing about how all these girls are everywhere from being in one rapstar’s music video to another.
Album: It's Already A Classic
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Once in a while I come across high school or college kids trying to sell a homemade CD. Those are usually hip-hop CDs, and for the most part, I’m not that interested, but this guy had very professional looking CD cover, and he was selling it himself, so I decided to give him a chance. The best part of this song is the sampling of Ray Charles’ popular “What’d You Say”. The production is fairly slick for an independent project, and Gameboy’s rapping is adequate. It seems like he’s still young, so maybe in a few more years, he will have more polished sound. Good luck.
I wasn’t a huge fan of her first single, “Wind It Up” but I’m starting to like this one. I think the rest of the world agrees as it is currently climbing up the chart. The song features Akon, but all he gets to sing is “wooohooo, heeee heeee”, but that’s what makes this song so catchy.
Who knew that Hugh Grant could sing. In a romantic movie titled Music And Lyrics, Hugh Grant plays 80s pop star that became almost nobody. This song is supposed to be the one hit wonder’s hit from the 80s. It really sounds like something that could’ve been a hit back in the 80s. It’s embarrassingly catchy and cheesy. The movie is supposed to open with the music video of this song.
What can I say, I really like this soundtrack. I still haven’t seen the movie and I don’t know if I will, but I love it when the soundtrack is good. This is a duet song with Hugh Grant’s forgotten 80s one-hit-wonder character, and current popstar (Britney-like). It was written by Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger, who also did a great job writing for That Thing You Do soundtrack.
Teenage rapper, Jibbs (he’s still only 16) already has a hit with “Chain Hang Low”, and this is his second single which features Ridin’ Dirty’s Chamillionaire. I like the beat, and Chamillionaire’s verse is pretty cool.
This is the first single off of Lloyd’s (not to be mistaken with G-Unit’s Lloyd Banks) second album. I’m usually not into R&B songs, but thanks to Lil Wayne’s rap, I will be keeping it on my iPod.
The first single from Modest Mouse’s fifth album. Issaquah (about 30 minutes from Seattle), Washington band has recruited former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to the lineup. Although the track lacks the addictiveness of “Float On”, it has cool opening guitar riffs.
Muse’s fourth album was released summer of last year, and they seem to be finally getting recognized in the States. Their previous album had hits like “Time Is Running Out”, but this track has reached #2 on rock chart, making it the most successful song thus far.
Musiq Soulchild will be releasing a new album (his fourth) in early March. The lead off single is B.U.D.D.Y. I hadn’t heard much about this R&B artist from Philadelphia, but he seems to mostly sing slow ballads and soulful songs.
Album: 21
Do you remember the young teen R&B group, B2K? Omarion was the former singer from the group, and now he’s all grown up, and 21 years old (hence the album title). This track was produced by Timbaland, it definitely has his touch. Beyonce’s sister Solange plays Omarion’s girlfriend role on the music video.
Pretty Ricky is an R&B group from Florida made up of four guys, and managed by their father (though they have different mothers). Their sound and style reminds me of Dru Hill. The second album, Late Night Special was released last month and debuted at #1 on Billboard 200.
This three piece band from Portland, Oregon just released a physical album last month titled, Centuries Before Love And War. The single, “Movies of Antarctica” has been getting some local radio play in the Northwest region.
Canadian rock group Three Days Grace released their sophomore album, One-X last summer. I wasn’t too fond of their first single, “Animal I Have Become”, but am liking their second single, “Pain.” This album was recorded after the lead singer came out of the rehab from drug and alcohol abuse, thus a lot of the songs are very personal.
I had never heard of this band before as this is their debut album, but when I read that it was produced by Maroon 5’s Mickey Madden, I thought I would give it a listen. To be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of this album, but one track completely stood out and caught my attention. “Welcome To My Room” is a hard rocking song that you would hear in a sweaty small live house. Too bad that other tracks didn’t sound as good.
I reviewed Young Love’s first single, “Discotech” last month, but now that I’ve listened to the whole CD, I’m really digging this song, “Find A New Way.” The beat is great and it’s a good dance track that would work in a club.
Embodying the rags-to-riches rap dream, Jay-Z pulled himself up by his bootstraps as a... 