AFI " Crash Love"

                                                                                                　

The album starts with a trio of great songs in "Torch Song," an epic kick off a slow beat nice guitar work, and gang vocals waiting for the torch to be relayed to the next song where "Beautiful Thieves" run amok. "If we run this light/Take a little life/No one will care at all/Oh! /We can burn it and leave/For we are the beautiful thieves/No one suspects at all" which ends on a slow short groove. Love the intro in this song and the instrumentals throughout; great guitar, bass, and drums and a radio playing suicide. The vocal delivery is great as well. Hand claps and a funky "Given Up" style riff with a catchy hook and chorus. They also stay true to their word as there is a gang yell of “Hey,” but no unforgiving/ bloodcurdling screaming of their "heyday." Punk beat with an extremely poppy melody and great solo in "Veronica Sawyer Smokes" but "Dying since I had misread your blue heart/Black eyes, feigning falling, words I won't forget/I died right when I saw you while you shared that cigarette." "Okay, I Feel Better Now" with its great guitar and driving beat in the background, with a nice solo and some group vocals. Shall we "Medicate" this waning interest with the first single of this record with a catchy record, and a whisper filled breakdown similar to the first single of  "December-underground" sans screaming .If that does not work, how about we "Flash, Flash, Car Crash/We're no fixtures. Quick, now, Quick take our picture" part of the catchy chorus that says "I Am Trying Very Hard To Be Here." A quick paced song is what’s in "Sacrilege," as well as resentment with an on the cuff angst delivery in the vocals department and short solo. "I see you're scared well/I feel fine/Oh please believe I'm doing just fine/For what's deceased I shall never grieve/Just let your faith die." and that is not hard to say it is directed toward organized religion, and explicitly against it. "Darling, I Want to Destroy You" are not words you would like to hear, and you can only hope they have "Cold Hands" which has this awesome poppy melody and instrumentals that encourage you to sing along. "It Was Mine" is a nice finish to the standard edition record, but the deluxe has four more tracks including the "Fainting Spells" caused by the change of singing and slower pace to a slightly quicker one with gang screams leading to a handclap splash toward the end and that screaming Havok used in the breakdown of "Miss Murder" to help finish this tune. The double step beat and shimmery guitar of "We've Got The Knife" make this a catchy B-side, and "Where We Used to Play" is another catchy one. SoIfIHadToChoose7SongsTheyWouldBe: Torch Song, Beautiful Thieves, End Transmission, Veronica Sawyer Smokes, I Am Trying Very Hard To Be Here, Cold Hands, It Was Mine.                                                                                        

Muse "The Resistance"

This album starts with the glamstyle rock of "Uprising," that features music video with a monster teddy bear. I like "Resistance" which places love as the resistance to the disenchanting and will-beating attack of the oppressors? Great drumming and piano play,the atmospherics make it seem more spacey. "Undislosed Desires" was one of my favorite songs off this record with it's one two step beat, and the synth? I told you i am ignorant, but I like the lyrics in this one. The funk-dance bass as well..."I want to  reconcile the violence in your heart/ I want to recognize your beauty's just a mark/ I want to exorcise the demons from you past/ I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart." "United States of Eurasia(+Collateral Damage)" could not have been made without Queen. It has this three part,which is what reminds me of them, and these great eastern style instrumentals and nice beat. "Guiding light" is a good song too, that has this great solo toward the middle, but before that it sounds so spacious. In the lyrics it mentions that he cannot hurt his receiver anymore; it seems that he is referring to her as the guiding llight and now he is useless without his guiding light. "Unnatural Selection" has some great instrumentals and basically goes on about how imbalanced and unfair the wealth is spread. "MK Ultra" is another good song too. "I Belong To You" has this funky sound and bouncing piano slides, just a real catchy song, that ends with it's suffix Mon Couer S'ouvre a Ta Voix. Need experience to be able to score a big budget film? Wekll, that is what Muse did by writng a three part symphony with  Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture), Exogenesis:Symphony Part II(Cross-Pollination), and ExoGenesis: Symphony Part III (Redemption) I think I like part three the best because of the beautiful harmonies and vocals. 7 Tracks to play during the Resistance: Resistance, Undislosed Desires, United States of Eurasia,(+Collateral Damage), Unnatural Selection, MK Ultra, I Belong To You(+ Mon Couer S'ouvre a Ta Voix), Exogenesis:Symphony Part III (Redemption).

Avett Brothers "I and Love and You"

The title track is very sentimental and introspective as he sings "when at first I learned to speak, I used all my words to fight..." and as he sees that girl who can turn heads and have his heart racing she asks him to dance, but he says no thanks, how hard those three word sare for him to say. Please stay, and be part of the "January Wedding," which has banjo at the forefront and is also dripping with sentimentality:"No longer does it matter what circumstances we were born in /She knows which birds are singin' /And the names of the trees where they're performin' in the mornin." Have you ever had a "Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full of Pride"? Well I think almost every one has had a head full of doubt stuck in a cage that won't let their dreams fly out. "And It Spread" with wonderful heartfelt, emotionally filled vocals and instrumentals all in a bluegrass twang. 'The Perfect Space" is just awesome with a slow start to the song and then this lil drum solo and nice groovy piano and shouting at the shouting people to "Get Out!" which is kinda jarring considering where it's coming from. "Ten Thousand Words" is another great song to follow with wonderful vocals and instrumentals, especially where there is a slight two part harmony.Then "Kick Drum Heart" is another great song too with the bouncing o' the piano keys, and the drums in this one too. "Last night I dreamt the whole night long/I woke with a head full of songs/I spent the whole day,/I wrote em down but it's a shame/Tonight i'll burn the lyrics/ cause every chorus was your name." To write those in a "Laundry Room," who knew? But the last minute is probably the best part of the song with it's patch of bluegrass."Ill With Want" has the brothers acting like people they know aren't them; as they are caught in a net of longing and desperation which causes them to change into someone able to break out of the net. "Tin Man" is good, but it's a "Slight Figure of Speech" that has this rapid fire vocal delivery in the fashion of BNL,except a little quicker, with a nice bassline and great percussion to make a great song. Oh, "It Goes On and On" this feeling of being "Incomplete and Insecure." He sings" I haven't finished a thing since I started,so why bother now?" that's my cue I'm done with this one. IfIHadToChoose 7 songs to confess love would you use: January Wedding, The Perfect Space, Ten Thousand Words, Kick Drum Heart, Laundry Room, Slight Figure of Speech, Incomplete and Insecure.                                                       

P Roach "Time For Annihilation: On The Record,on the Road"

This next record has new studio and live recordings,all of which were recorded and performed with conviction. The first five songs are new studio cuts which we start with "Burn," as Shaddix addresses someone he saw as a hero, but was really a fake trying to set him up to fail and now he is warning that his just desserts are coming. Great drums in the song and dual guitar at the end of the song, again vocals filled with emotions. Men can be sexual beings and may sometimes have a "One Track Mind," which basically talks about a one night stand, lets say. Obsession? Narcissistic Lover? There is a great head bobbin' beat and the guitar has a great riff played throughout, but the light string breakdown with some whispered lyrics slows for about twenty seconds before finishing it off where it started. First Single of this live/studio comp "Kick in the Teeth" is a great anthem for the downtrodden ready to kick some @-- of their own with a great solo, and head bobbin beat; a great pump up song. we slow it down with "No Matter What" with acoustic guitar and a nice sentimental devotional. Ok, Now back to kickin @ss with a nother pump up song that addresses how sometimes we can be our own worst enemies by refusing to try because of failure or our own feelings of inadequecy. We kick off the live stuff with "Getting Away With Murder" one of their funkiest (not that much, but you can hear the groove) hard rock nuggets, and one of the best after their flirtation with the overdone Rap-rock that polluted the airwaves; some was good, but a lot was just redundant. This song illustrates the energy of their live shows, as well as the strong connection they have with their fans. "To Be Loved" starts with a little "Blitzkrieg Bop" sample before going into their short return to the rap-rock sound with a punk attitude and desire for some f***in respect. They play one of their biggest singles in the last several years, "Lifeline," which has a great positive message and sounds like a harder rockin' "Ragoo" from KOL; with whole diferent sentiments of course. The biggest single from from "Getting Away With Murder" was "Scars" as he starts with an introduction asking what are the names in the crowd and says "nice to meet ya" as he goes to address the other half of the crowd and tells them that everything they do comes from the heart, and that the song is about finding yourself and moving on to be a better person after the scars heal. "Hollywood Wh*re" is played next, and is a good song addressing those who live to be famous and are famousfor the sake of being famous; addicted to high life, and meets her maker as the party ends. Looks like "Time Is Running Out," which has a commanding of participation in singing the "Woahoahoahoah." "Forever" is next which has an extended intro with a nice guitar intro and addresses the song to the dirty girls, and then he retorts "I said that really perverted." The second single from P Roach "Between Angels and Insects" asks the crowd to go Motherf___in crazy! A song against the greed and "need" of frivolous things that cost too much. They play the song as it was meant to be played...LOUD! The final track is their first ever single "Last Resort" which ends the concert or disc with a shot of anger-fueled nostalgia. IfIHadToChoose7SongsIWouldChoose: Burn, One Track Mind,  Enemy, To Be Loved, Scars, Between Angels and Insects, and Last Resort.                                                                                        

Enrique "Euphoria"

Enrique Iglesias' bilingual album starts with "Cuando Me Enamoro" which, I believe roughly translates into when I fall in love, has Juan Luis Guerra singinig alongside Mr. Iglesias in this nice song. "No Me Digas Que No" which means "Don't Tell Me No" is an even better song that features Winsin and Yandel which makes for a great plus in the song with a short rap, a rocky intro and reggaeton flavor.The next song makes one feel like they are flying in the "Ayer" or in the memories of yesterday. "Dile Que" is very sentimental and has Iglesias asking someone else to tell his (future) love that he loves her. We kick off the english language songs with one of Iglesias' most upbeat singles and songs, a great summer and party song, One that has a lot of positive vibes a great appearnce from Pitbull, and this great beat that makes me say "I Like It." The song is about a fling while both lovers are away. Akon appears on the great reggae tinged "One Day at a Time," which has great sentiments and some background horns; good group effort on that song. First, Pitbull; then, Akon; and now Usher. They recruited some big name artists on this record, and this song is called "Dirty Dancer, about the woman who can bring the animal from the inside out and loves the thrill of the game, but does not want to pay the cost of love, but would rather play and leave. "Tu Y Yo" has some nice guitar on it, a great beat and is about the lobve between a couple. "No Me Digas Que No" returns for another version without Winsin & Yandel, but the song is still a good one. IfIHadToChoose7SongsIWouldChoose: Cuando Me Enamoro, No Me Digas Que No, Dile Que, I Like It, One Day At A Time, Tu Y Yo, No Me Digas Que No.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Discovery "LP"

You know what looks better than an "Orange Shirt?" One that's in your favorite color. But the beat in the first song was bouncy, and the keys were addictive. The song is about that lover that sneaks in the house late at night to sleep with their crush, who's nervous as F that their parent is going to do a random night check, but the prince promises to leave before daybreak, because all he wants is to spend time with his lover. "Osaka Loop Line " has these spacey keys and distorted beat at the beginning, with a great last minute and a half. "Can You Discover?" is basically a Discovery remix of Ra Ra Riot's "Can You Tell?" that has a reggae-vibe with those lovely autotuned vocals; it sounds really nice on this song. If I said "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" what would you say? UGH, either male or female. This song has lovely vocals from Angel Deradoorian working of the energy and vocals of Wes Miles. Great Beat,and sounds on the song. "So Insane" that this beat goes quick and then slows down giving in to the need to diversify, Tempo change! "Ooh baby you got me going so insane and I just don't know what's going down/And I try to get off my knees and try to fight fight this feeling, but I can't/Now that you're here I know just what to do/Now that you're here I'm gonna come come to you." A song of obsession and/or devotion? Love the last 15 seconds. "Swing Tree" "Carby" features Rostam's band mate from Vampire Weekend. Ezra Koening. who contributes some autotuned vocals that accompany some xylophone with this bas thump, and muted clap beat which the has ezra's vocals muted for about twenty seconds from 2:02 and then goes back to normal at 2:30. The last thirty seven seconds has this wall of sound with the xylophone, beat and the bass thump. One of my favorite songs Would be "I Want You Back" from Jackson Five, and they actually remix it by slowing the tempo with some vocal distortion/ autotuning, swiriling keys, cymbal sounds; I think they make a great rendition of that song with their own flavor. "It's Not My Fault (It's My Fault)" just has them saying the same thing over and over with an addictive hand clap beat and triangle clinking. "Slang Tang" leaves me without words to say; Ha! you got me! IfIHadTo Choose7SongsI WouldChoose: Orange Shirt,Osaka Loop Line, Can You Discover?, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, Carby, I Want You Back, Slang Tang .                                                                                                            

Britney Spears "Femme Fatale"

A Return To Form? The Best of Her Records? Best Record of the Year? I thought Blackout and Circus were pretty good, so No. Let me listen one more time, I didn't do that intentionally, and it's not the exact title as her debut hit. and three,NOOOOOO. It starts with the one two punch of hit singles of "Till The World Ends" and "Hold It Against Me. I like the former,as a whole, better than "Hold It Against Me" which again is a sexual double entendre: I shouldn't have to spell it out but I will ( body close, and hold a "grudge"/ use something against her). I do like the breakdown in that song though. "Inside Out" is about Britney trying to break up with someone and end it with a bang she sings "Cmon Give me something to remember/ baby shut your mouth and turn me inside out" and "Trying to say goodbye but it’s hot and heavy/You touch me and it’s breaking me down/I’m telling you let’s just give it up and get down". The next song was the Third single, "I Wanna Go," which is very catchy and has this nice whistle line, i like how the drum sounds on it I I I Wanna go,go,go and show you just "How I Roll"; a nice song with bubble sfx , a nice hook, and vocal interplay between someone that sounds like Will.I.Am and makes you wanna go "(Drop Dead) Beautiful," ok, maybe not, but you can visit your posse. This song has a good beat and is talking to hot..person and has this call and response of "Beautiful" by Britney and "Drop Dead" by Sabi who then has her own solo in the song which is nice. SWAK? Does that mean this relationship is working? "Big Fat Bass" actually has Will.I.Am starting the song with auto-tune and nice piano at the beginning, and there is autotuned Britney with a dance beat that has some techno sounds and sfx. This is definately made for the dance floor, no doubt! "Trouble For Me" is about  the life of the party that always causes her trouble because she likes him and wants to, but might regret it "Me and you burn disaster/And you're only a danger to me/But the party ain't the same without you/That's why you're so good for everybody else/But you're trouble for me." "A Trip To Your Heart" has some nice vocals, she can sing pretty well, but most of these days autotune is used on pop music so much where it's hard to tell wher the voice begins and tuning begins. I really like The funk-lite flavor and instrumentals of "Gasoline," but idid not realize or foesee it would be explicit:"And it's like gasoline/I start, but I'm like a machine/But heart only runs on supreme/So hot, give me your gasoline." the last song is called "Criminal,"

which has some acoustic guitar and this catchy chorus and hook about falling in love with a criminal, because he stole her heart,get it? There is autotune in here too, but you can hear some of her nice voice; a great way to end the record.It sounds like a song I have heard before,but cannot remember wher or who. Overall, it wasn't that bad, and a good addition to her catalog. IfIHadToChoose7TracksIWouldChoose: Till the World Ends, Inside Out, How I Roll, (Drop Dead) Beautiful, Big Fat Bass,GASOLINE, CRIMINAL.