Saliva "Under Your Skin"

Saliva has been known to put out some awesome songs. They often had a lot of emotion and heart, even on their first two records on a major label "Every Six Seconds" and "Back Into Your System" which were heavy on the nu-metal/rap-rock style overloading the airwaves at the time, but they survived because it was real. Their best album as a whole was their 2004 release "Survival of the Sickest" which took away most of the rap-rock drudge and was just a great modern southern rock album. The next album was a "Blood Stained Love Story" and had a retread in first single calling all  Ladies and Gentlemen, and the catchy King of the Stereo, but it did have one of my favorite songs to listen to on a Broken Sunday, besides the latter two my only other true favorite was One More Chance (which also was another rap-rock workout), go figure, and the rest were ballads or songs that were just ok. The catchy Twister I fell in wasn't that bad either, but what I'm saying is that as a whole the album was just ok. The last Album "Cinco Diablo"  came closer to the well rounded greatness that SOTS had. My favorites were the machinations of My Own Worst Enemy, the hook that told me I'm Coming Back, Those Southern Girls, and their farewell made So Long ago. The rest were good too, but even with those four great songs I wasn't expecting that much from this next disc.But let me tell you that this record is now their best record as a whole with riffs, hook, and melodies that will make your mouth water. Ha ha Ha! Of course I meant to say that, consider the source. The first song is "Bada**" with it's conviction, and its lyrics that might give a loud mouth a Full Nelson for saying  shizz, and it has a great riff after 2:12. The next song helps me believe that there are even "Better Days" and discs from these guys. The instrumentals and harmonies are so beautiful, Josey Scott's vocals are getting better as he ages, and that breakdown is great after 2:30 minutes. "Nothing" follows better than this muted hip-hop esque beat that leads into a very poppy, and slightly whiney sung chorus; i'm just saying.The song is obviously about that loved one that got away, and now he is lost. You can "Hate Me" which has the beat more prominent in a hip-hop style and could be about haters in general or that girl he hurt. The guitars are real nice, and there is this barrage of drums from 1:04 to 1:09 done in a way that fits well with the track; I like that inclusion of guest vocals after the solo. Here comes another ballad that "Never Should've Let You Go" which is not bad for a ballad, but "Prove Me Wrong" in saying that the pace along with that ringing riff, besides that slightly wispy passage that leads in to the solo in back makes for a good song, and the song that dares the subject to prove that his dream could be attained. "Burn It Up" is really angry rock-rap retread in their Doperide, almost,with some backing heys, a hip-hop beat, and a starting delivery that reminds me of the Beasties. We can guess what "Toxic Suicide" is about as Scott drinks the pain of his unrequited love away which starts real hoverring with a cymbal heavy beginning, has a real nice solo at the end, and real catchy hook. Can you please "Turn The Lights On" my favorite ballad from this record? Maybe a "Spotlight" will help with it's southern-hop sound dedicated to those who live for the stage,and stand behind it. The songs that got under my skin the farthest were: Bada**, Better Days, Nothing, Hate Me, Prove Me Wrong, Toxic Suicide, and Turn The Lights On.                                                                                        

Kid Cudi "Man on the Moon: The End of Day"

Let me tell you that this album should be listened to as a whole for the strongest impact, and best effect; possibly to make the most sense as this stream of unconsciousness goes from dreams back to nighmares. The sound as a whole may be classified as dreamy, and slightly lacksadaisical, but the sound is really strong conceptually and musically. Even though it works best when listened in correct order it is not without it's definite standouts. SUbjects do deal with girls and relationships, but also focus on other themes too: such as his struggles with sleeping, dreams (good and/or bad), and bringing memories from his past and the loss of his father, and its effect on him.The start of the record can only be found "In My Dreams (Cudder Anthem)" which starts in a state of uncosciousness,  with slightly spacey keys and some strings, Cudi sings this track as the sound is something from out of the cosmos, but really laidback;it is a Common introduction to an album such as this. I bet you have thought what songs would be on the "Soundtrack 2 My Life?" First few lines basically shout out to Hova and the song starts with a s lightly rocky riff, the beat is handclap heavy, but the hook and the melody is catchy as can be, but one of my favorites can get stuck in your head the first time; the chance of it happening is as "Simple As..." 1, 2, 3! Ha! The hook is really agressive cause it's so catchy, but it's not abrasive, and the end is a spoken passage by a Common friend of ours who introduces us to the phase in Cudi's dreams where the Night Terrors rise in "Solo Dolo." The latter has an oriental base melody with some violins placed at the most precise, powerful points. It is a good lead in to the song that should be Kid Cudi's anthem because he does have a "Heart of a Lion," and this song is a more laidback version of Industry Groupie, but instead of sleeping with every rap superstar, they might sleep with Eleanor Rigby;  let's also say that this song is no less of an upstart. features Billy Cravens in a dreamy song about how he proclaimes when he was younger that this will be "My World."  Even when it seemed bleak, he still believed, you would think a song of determination would have a little more of intensity, but the arrangement works the way it is. Some of these songs are like "Day 'N' Nite (nightmare)" because some are dreamy and others have more energy. The pace is slower in this one, and not as lively as the Crookers mix which was released as a single, and I can guess why because the pace was too slow, and sound a little too empty to be accepted in the mainstream rap, even though the original version is not something you can easily dismiss. The track seems like it deals with mr. Solo Dolo and possibly a relationship that he is in. The next string of tracks are very upbeat and, at times, energetic in sound, even if sometimes they are from the dark side of unconsciousness. The "Sky Might Fall" on me for saying that, but let me tell you this beat is killer, as well as his verses  flow-ting in the clouds that have us "Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part 1)" in a synthy journey on the cosmic dancefloor that has a more lively and quicker backing instrumentals than those of it's predescessors. Even though it's sound is very upbeat, the lyrics are not as positive: "I once used to dream of peace until I found you/Once upon a time, baby/I once used to dream so sweet until I had a taste of you/Once upon a time, baby" and goes to ask what imgination means to you if you cannot do what you imagine; which is supposed to be more difficult than doing something. Common relays a nice audio sequeway to lead into our next track which makes me feel "Alive (nightmare)"  in one of his more upbeat tracks with the production power of Ratatat and the flow of Cudi which feels as if we move from the cosmic dance floor to that of a cosmic jungle; just listen to the percussion, and the keyboards? Then we enter the "Cudi Zone" which is another fantastic song with lovely strings a soaring rythym section, and quicker more energetic delivery, and a very upbeat sound that hovers over an island with waves of keyboards that "Make Her Say" oh..oh oh oh oh..oh oh oh oh.. to a beat heavy and slowed down reinterpolation of Lady Gaga and her Poker Face with strong, lively, and humurous verses from Common, Kanye, and of course Mr. Mescudi. I am in the "Pursuit of Happiness" and this psychadelicwhirring synth and rythym section  make it easier to think good thoughts even though he mentions his struggles with night terrors/night sweats, and  as he speaks that everything won't always be gold, while doing so in a dreamy sing-song delivery; the solo is a great way to end the track. You will probably have a hard time guessing what "Hyyerr" is about, which is a really nice laidback groover that is a great song to get high to? Just look at the title, and the way that it is spelled.The final track ends the traditional record on a positive note with an island breeze and a sound to take you "Up Up and Away" before Common leads us with a powerful send-off. The title track and first bonus track has some beautiful xylophone and strummed guitar in the back with lyrics of chsanging their self identity, such as wondering if he was an a-hole instead of being nice to girls, or trying to tone down his waves of thought and being simple in the mind. We all say "T.G.I.F" at the end of the work week for those that don't have work on the weekend, and the song is a good one, but isn't one of my favorites.Cudi and Wale ask us "Is There Any Love?" in this beat heavy and soulful-hook ridden track; the lyrics/wordplay is worth checking out, it's not bad. The album is real powerful as a whole, but these are my favorites: Simple As.., Heart Of A Lion, Sky Might Fall, Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part 1), Alive (nightmare), Cudi Zone, Make Her Say, Hyyerr, and Up Up and Away.