I reviewed the new will.i.am ‘Reach for the Stars’ track.
It has an epic, instrumental opening for the first minute, but then, will gets all sorts of futuristic with vocal effects. He sounds like he is singing under water, thanks to his liberal use of Autotune.
Read the rest of my review of ‘Reach for the Stars’ over at PopCrush.
I reviewed the latest song from All The Remains, ‘Stand Up (Stand Up).’
While there are some guitars with bite here and there, the nasty thrash and European-style guitar acrobatics that defined the band’s earliest efforts are pretty much swapped out in favor of cleaner, more accessible riffs.
Read the rest of my review of All The Remains, ‘Stand Up (Stand Up)’ over at Loudwire.
Read my review of Taylor Swift’s ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together.’
It’s the first taste of her new album, ‘Red,’ which she revealed will drop on Oct. 22, almost two years to the day after ‘Speak Now.’ Besides being a massive, singalong song, it’s also one of the catchiest tunes she’s ever penned.
Read the rest of my review of Taylor Swift’s ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’ over at PopCrush.
Read my review of Bridgit Mendler’s single ‘Ready or Not.’
Bolstered by a backbeat that follows Mendler’s voice throughout the song, ‘Ready or Not’ will inspire pre-teen girls to grab their hairbrushes and use them as makeshift microphones while they sing in front of a mirror. It’s a cute, frothy, female-leaning pop gem.
Read the rest of my review of Bridgit Mendler’s single ‘Ready or Not’ over at PopCrush.
Read my review of Mariah Carey’s ‘Triumphant (Get ‘Em).’
Carey’s honeyed voice is perfectly matched by Ricky Rozay’s lower rumble and Meek Mill’s bold, energetic delivery. Ultimately, it’s a classic Mariah Carey track, lacing potent R&B beats and vocal patterns with an urban street edge.
Read the rest of my review of Mariah Carey’s ‘Triumphant (Get ‘Em)’ over at PopCrush.
Read my review of No Doubt’s new single, ‘Settle Down.’
The verses are reggae heavy, from the horns to Stefani’s accented delivery. The Jamaican-inspired choruses are more addictive than any drug you can think of. From the sounds of this, you’d be more apt to believe Stefani and co. are from the islands, as opposed to So Cal.
Read the rest of my review over at PopCrush.
Read my review of the new Nelly Furtado track, ‘Spirit Indestructible.’
It’s dance floor jam, but it’s also stuffed with trite contemporary pop conventions. There’s nothing about this song that distinguishes it from the oversaturated market.
Read the rest of my review of the new Nelly Furtado track, ‘Spirit Indestructible’ over at PopCrush.
Read my review of the Marcus Canty ‘In & Out’ track.
‘In & Out’ boasts a harder and more beat-driven sound, thanks to the help of hard-hitting emcee Wale. The thunderous percussion and the “won’t quit” beat almost mimic coitus, hence the ‘In & Out’ title and lyrics about being “in and out of love.”
Read the rest of my review over at PopCrush.
I reviewed the Avett Brothers ‘The Carpenter.’
Overall, ‘Live and Die’ is slice-of-life and it’s also roadside rootsy, with a banjo being featured prominently in both the mix and the melody. It gives the song a decidedly Americana feel.
Read the rest of my review of the Avett Brothers ‘The Carpenter’ on diffuser.fm.
Read my review of the track ‘Let It Roll’ by Flo Rida.
The tune feels like a summer anthem, with Flo repeating “Come on baby / Let the good times roll” over a synthy beat that’s looped. Give it three listens and you’ll be addicted to this jam like its caffeine. Clearly, the hits just keep coming when it pertains to Flo.
Read the rest of my review of the track ‘Let It Roll’ by Flo Rida over at PopCrush.