Don't Look Down by Skylar Grey out July 9th

Just a heads up: this artist has songs that are explicit so listen with caution.

You may recognize the name Skylar Grey from her many hip hop collaborations: ‘Words I Never Said’ by Lupe Fiasco, ‘I Need A Doctor’by Dr. Dre and Eminem, and ‘Coming Home’ by Diddy Dirty Money. Her biggest success so far has been writing the lyrics to Rihanna’s ‘Love The Way You Lie’, but she’s also a singer in her own right.

Music has always been a big part of Skylar Grey’s life. When she was a kid she sang folk songs with her mom. As she got older she learned to play the piano and write songs. She released one album, “Like Blood Like Honey”, under the name Holly Brook (her given first name and middle name) that was mainly soft, piano driven singer/songwriter music. She was also featured on the song “Where’d You Go” by Fort Minor (the hip hop side project of Link Park member Mike Shinoda).

Unfortunately, her record label was hoping for higher album sales so she was dropped from her record deal. Broke and disillusioned with the music industry, the singer went off to live in a cabin in the woods. Out in the wilderness it is every man or woman for themselves. The singer felt very empowered by being able to do everything for herself; she felt like a new person, which is why she decided to change her name to Skylar Grey.

Grey never stopped writing music when she was in the woods – her cabin in the woods is actually where she wrote the smash song ‘Love The Way You Lie’. After coming out of the seclusion, Grey took her do it yourself attitude with her when she embarked on taking another stab at a career as a solo artist. She says that nobody is going to work as hard for you as you are and she likes to produce her own vocals so she can get them just right.

At first, Grey’s new album was going to be mainly a collaboration between herself and producer Alex Da Kid, who produced ‘Love The Way You Lie’, and was to be titled “Invinsible”. The story behind the album title is that Grey was talking with shock rocker Marilyn Manson about not knowing what to name the album; they discussed the second single ‘Invisible’ and how the album was to be a story of how the singer grew to be who she is now and learned to stop being invisible. Manson suggested that the album title be invincible but spell with an “s” instead of a “c” as a way of combining the words “invisible” and “invincible”. Unfortunately, Grey felt rushed and pressured because of the buzz brought about by ‘Love The Way You Lie’ and her hip hop collaborations; the singer decided to push back the release of her album so that she could take her time crafting the songs. After putting more work into the album and getting rapper Eminem involved in helping produce the album, Grey decided to scrap “Invinsible” and announced that her album would be called “Don’t Look Down”.

‘C’mon Let Me Ride ft Eminem’ is the first single off “Don’t Look Down”; it’s a very cheeky song that shows Skylar’s sarcastic side. The sexual single cover and lyrics put off many fans because they feared that Grey had sold out; it isn’t until the bridge that the singer reveals “I’m just f**king with you… I’m not like the other girls in this town. They make me *retches* in my mouth.”

If ‘C’mon Let Me Ride’ isn’t really your thing then don’t sweat it. Grey and her team know that she has many different sides to her personality so they’ve chosen different singles to release before the album so that you can get a feel for what you’re in for with the full album. The second single is entitled ‘Final Warning’ and its lyrics are inspired by the same tumultuous relationship that lead to her penning ‘Love The Way You Lie”. In the song, Grey is sick of the troubled relationship; she sings “Someone’s gonna get hurt. And it’s not gonna be me.”

The third single, ‘Wear Me Out’, is piano driven and is similar to the music she made under the moniker ‘Holly Brook’ but the addition of the hard hip hop drums distinguishes ‘Wear Me Out’ from the singer’s material as Brook. The lyrics are beautiful and clever but I don’t want to spoil any of them so you’ll have to listen to the song to hear them.

The fourth single “White Suburban” was released on July 2nd. It will be the last song on the album because it is piano driven and has no drums; Grey thought it would be best for last so that the songs flowed together more naturally and also so the song can let you down slowly. As for the lyrics in the song, they take you along for the ride as Grey reminisces about the past; “I knew you before. Took a lifetime to forget. As my eyes meet yours I take all I can get.”

Now that you have a pretty good idea of what Skylar Grey is all about, you should pick up her album “Don’t Look Down”, which will be released on July 9^th. If you’re interested in a deluxe version of the album, Target has 2 exclusive bonus tracks on their version of the album. The bonus tracks are entitled ‘Weirdo’ and ‘Beautiful Nightmare’.

Let me know what you think of Skylar Grey – what is your favorite song that she’s released? Also feel free to let me know which albums you’re looking forward to hearing in the coming months. Thanks for reading and, as always, comment responsibly.

Take care,

Nico Black

Skylar Grey’s website: http://www.skylargreymusic.com/tour/

Skylar Grey’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkylarGrey

Skylar Grey’s Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/SkylarGreyVEVO

Between by Frankmusik Out June 8th

Frankmusik (born Vincent Frank) is an Electronic Pop singer/songwriter/producer who is originally from Britain. The musician names Erasure as a musical influence – and he even got the privilege of touring with the band as well as producing “Tomorrow’s World”, which was released in 2011. What makes this musician special is his dedication to his craft and his willingness to give music away for free; Frankmusik is constantly working on new material so he has an abundance of songs to choose from when making an album – and rather than locking those songs away in a metaphoric vault, he puts them up online for his devoted fans to listen to. Frankmusik has two albums under his belt and is set to release his third effort, “Between”, on June 8^th. “Between” will be the musician’s first full-length album as an independent artist.

Frankmusik’s first and second albums were released through Island Records. His first album, “Complete Me”, was created in his native UK and was released in August of 2009. Frankmusik released three singles from “Complete Me”: ‘3 Little Words’, ‘Better Off As Two’, and ‘Confusion Girl’. In December of the same year, an acoustic version of the album was released with the name “Completely Me”.

Before the creation of his second album, Frankmusik moved to Los Angeles, California. Upon moving to the States, Frankmusik also got signed to Cherrytree Records. When asked about the move, the musician said that he wanted to take risks and have new experiences so that he could create a work that is different from his first album. The resulting album, “Do It In The AM”, was co-produced by the founder of Cherrytree Records, Martin Kierszenbaum (aka Cherry Cherry Boom Boom), and features label-mates Natalia Kills, Colette Carr, and Far East Movement. Because of this partnership and the influence that American music and culture had on the musician, the resulting album had more of a Pop sound to it; this lead to fans of “Complete Me” to cry foul and claim that the musician had ‘sold out’. On September 26^th 2011, three days after the release of “Do It In The AM”, there was an announcement that 13 songs which didn’t make the cut for the album had been compiled into “The Voyage Collection”. Anyone who had purchased a copy of “Do It In The AM” could download the songs from the official Frankmusik website. Unfortunately, these downloads are no longer available due to Frankmusik and Island Records parting ways.

In January of 2012, the musician changed his stage name to Vincent Did It. One EP, “The SOPA Opera EP”, was released (for free) under this moniker before he went back to being known as Frankmusik. Prior to the conception and release of his third album, Frankmusik released a free six song EP on his website, which is entitled the “Far From Over EP”. “Between” was originally supposed to be released in April, but there was more work to be done on the album so the release date was pushed back. Later, Frankmusik shared with fans that the music video for the album’s lead single, ‘Chasing Shadows’, would hit the Internet on May 9^th. In an update on the creation of the music video, the musician shard that because he is an independent musician, he didn’t have the funds to make an elaborate video – or even get the proper permits to receive permission to shoot a video on the property that he wanted to shoot on. In this behind the scenes video, the musician also explains that he and the video crew were kicked off of the property – but luckily not before they captured some good footage.

 

Frankmusik’s third album, “Between” will be released on June 8^th worldwide via iTunes. It will consist of 12 songs including ‘How Do We Know’, a duet with singer Cara Salimando. Cara Salimando will also be performing the duet with Frankmusik at the album launch parties on June 8^th at Pianos in New York, NY. On May 25^th, Frankmusik embarked on a twenty-four date US headlining tour known as the “Between States” tour. As an independent artist, the musician doesn’t have much money to be touring the country so he is camping out between tour dates. That’s dedication right there. Three days ago, Frankmusik began a tour diary via his official Facebook page so that fans could be up to date on what goes on between shows.

Check out ‘Chasing Shadows’ and after June 8^th, check out “Between” as well. Let me know what you think about Frankmusik. What are you favorite songs that he’s released? Also feel free to let me know which albums you’re looking forward to hearing in the coming months. Thank you for reading and comment responsibly.

Take care,

Nico Black

Frankmusik’s website: http://www.frankmusik.com/

Frankmusik’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankmusik

Frankmusik’s Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/FRANKMUSIKUK?feature=watch

Frankmusik’s Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/frankmusik

“Between” track listing: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151581792182777&set=a.10150129344187777.289670.33761052776&type=1&relevant_count=1

(Click ‘Open Photo Viewer’ for a bigger picture)

“Between States” Tour: https://www.facebook.com/frankmusik/app_123966167614127

  

Cara Salimando’s Youtube channels: http://www.youtube.com/user/carasalimando  & http://www.youtube.com/user/CaraSalimandoVEVO

Demi by Demi Lovato Out May 14th

On May 14^th, Demi Lovato will release her 4^th studio album “Demi”. The album title reflects the more personal nature of this collection of songs. “Demi” is the follow up to “Unbroken”, which was the singer’s first release after entering rehab for self-harm and an eating disorder. “Unbroken” was a bit more adult than her previous albums – most notably on the track ‘For The Love Of A Daughter’, which is about her estranged father. The album also had more soulful R&B influences (such as ‘Like A Star’) and included a collaboration with Timbaland and Missy Elliott (‘All Night Long’).

“Demi” was recorded when Lovato wasn’t busy judging/mentoring on the X Factor US. You could say that even when recording music, Lovato is a mentor – the singer has continued being candid about her personal struggles and hopes that by being honest about them, she can encourage her fans to talk about their own problems and be inspired by her story. This is a continued theme from "Unbroken" whose lead single, 'Skyscraper', was about standing tall even when everything is a mess. 

The lead single, ‘Heart Attack’, is about being afraid to fall in love due to past heartbreak. The song utilizes both acoustic guitar and electronic sounds and effects. The music video for ‘Heart Attack’ features the singer covered from fingertips to elbows in black paint. In a behind the scenes video about the making of the music video, the singer explained that the black paint is symbolic of the pain left over from having your heart broken.

To get her fans (known as Lovatics) excited about the release of her new album, Lovato employed a Twitter campaign in which fans would tweet a hash tag on her official site to unlock songs so they can listen to them before May 14^th. At the time of posting this article, all of the songs off the album are available for streaming on Lovato’s website so go check them out! You can also visit her Youtube channel if you prefer to listen to the songs that way.

Let me know what you think about Demi by Demi Lovato. What is your favorite song off the album? What albums are you looking forward to hearing in the coming months? Thank you for reading. I hope you discovered some new music or new facts about musicians you already know and love. I hope you are all having a good week. Take care!

Comment responsibly,

Nico Black

Demi Lovato’s website:

http://www.lovaticsspeeduptime.com/

(going to demilovato.com will redirect you to the above site)

Demi Lovato’s Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/DemiLovatoVEVO

Nocturnes by Little Boots Out May 5th

           Little Boots is the stage name of British Electronic/Pop artist Victoria Hesketh. Her debut album “Hands” was released in 2009; for “Hands”, Little Boots worked with songwriter/producer Greg Kurstin on a number of tracks as well as Lady Gaga collaborator, RedOne, on the track entitled ‘Remedy’. Some of Kurstin’s work includes songs for P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, Lily Allen, Marina And The Diamonds, and many more singers.

            “Hands” spawned the singles ‘New In Town’, ‘Remedy’, and ‘Earthquake’. ‘New In Town’ is a feel good song that contains the lyrics, “I don’t have a lot of money but we’ll be fine. No, I don’t have a penny, but I’ll show you a real good time.” The party continues with ‘Remedy’ as the singer dances to the music that is the cure for your poison. ‘Earthquake’ is a bit of a departure from the party and is about the unraveling of a relationship. I love the irony that if you didn’t pay attention to the lyrics you would think that ‘Earthquake’ is a happy upbeat song.

            After soul searching via DJ gigs and working in the studio, Little Boots created a sound that she says is a better representation of the person she has become. The new album has a bit more of a Disco sound than a Dance/Pop sound but it is still very catchy and it still sounds like Little Boots.

            Preceding the album or even the announcement of the release date and album title, the singer released the songs ‘Shake’, ‘Every Night I Say A Prayer’, and ‘Headphones’. With the releases of ‘Shake’ and ‘Every Night I Say A Prayer’, Little Boots released mixtapes featuring the songs – “Shake Until Your Heart Breaks” and “Into The Future” respectively. You can listen to and download these mixtapes on the singer’s Soundcloud page. Out of the three songs, ‘Every Night I Say a Prayer’ has the most Disco influence in its sound. Because of this and the fact that ‘Shake’ has a long musical intro before the first verse, ‘Headphones’ is the most accessible and instantly likeable of the three songs. The music video for ‘Headphones’ is simple, but very fun and it shows that you don’t need crazy sets or special effects to make a good music video. It’s definitely worth a watch because it makes me smile.

            On May 5^th, Little Boots will release her second album, which she has entitled “Nocturnes” because of the important role that the night plays in this group of songs. The album will have ten songs, the first of which, ‘Motorway’, is available as a free download on the singer’s official website. Listeners also have the chance to listen to or purchase the next single, ‘Broken Record’, before the release of “Nocturnes”. Upon viewing the track listing for the album, you may notice that ‘Headphones’ is absent. I’m not sure what the reason was for leaving the song off the album, but what I do know is that we live in the digital age so luckily we can still buy the song.

            I hope that I’ve gotten another person excited for the release of “Nocturnes” on May 5^th – if I haven’t then I hope I’ve at least introduced you to a song that you like. At the bottom of the page are links to the Little Boots sites that I mentioned above – her official site, her Soundcloud account, as well as her Youtube account. Let me know what you think about the music of Little Boots and let me know if there are any albums that you can’t wait to get your hands on this year.

Take care,

Nico Black

Little Boots’ Official site:

http://www.littlebootsmusic.co.uk/

Little Boots’ Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/littleboots

Little Boots’ Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/littlebootsvideos

2013 Music Preview: Updated

Sorry folks. I took a bit of a break from reality and therefore I did not blog about the albums that I said I would blog about. In the meantime, they have been released so it’d be a bit silly for me to go on ahead and write about why I’m excited to hear them because I already have heard them.

Because of this, I have decided to add more albums to my list to make up for my absence. Below, I have crossed out the albums that have already been released and I have added albums to my list and have typed them in bold font so it is easy to tell which albums are being added.

Here is my updated list of albums that I am looking forward to hearing in the coming year:

Utopia EP by Kerli (March 19)

Paramore by Paramore (April 9)

Saving Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy (April 15)

Nocturnes by Little Boots (May 5)

Demi by Demi Lovato (May 14)

Don’t Look Down by Skylar Grey (July 9)

Portrait of A Chameleon by Blake Lewis (Spring)

Trouble by Natalia Kills

TBA by Bridget Kelly

The Electric Lady by Janelle Monae

Between by Frankmusik

TBA by The Pretty Reckless

TBA by Aria Grande

            Again, I am very sorry that I’ve fallen behind yet again in my blogging. One day I hope to become more consistent; until then, don’t hold your breath for a blog post and bear with me as best as you can. Thank you to anyone who has read any of these posts so far – I appreciate you more than you know. As always, feel free to let me know what you think about the artists I post about and feel free to give me suggestions of music to listen to. Thanks again.

 Comment responsibly,

Nico Black

2013 Music Preview

We are in the third month of the year 2013. I figure that the flip side to making a list of my favorite albums of the year would be to make a list of albums scheduled to come out within the year that I’m excited about. Unfortunately, due to record label politics as well as other problems, some of these albums may not come out in 2013 (or at all).

Singers who have fallen victim to release date pushbacks include JoJo, Missy Elliott, Michelle Branch, and The Veronicas. Last year I wrote posts on both Branch and The Veronicas because their albums were supposed to be released within the year. They’re still not out. I hope that my excitement about an album doesn’t jinx it.

Here is my list of albums (or EPs) that I am excited to hear. Some of them have singles or release dates or sometimes both while others don’t even have titles yet. I hope to be on the ball and give you updates when more information is available, but don’t hold me to that. Without further ado, here is my list of albums I’m looking forward to hearing in the coming year:

Utopia EP by Kerli (March 19)

Paramore by Paramore (April 9)

Nocturnes by Little Boots (May 5)

Saving Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy (April 15)

Don’t Look Down by Skylar Grey (Spring)

Portrait of A Chameleon by Blake Lewis (Spring)

Trouble by Natalia Kills

TBA by Demi Lovato

TBA by Bridget Kelly

The Electric Lady by Janelle Monae

            Following this post will be individual posts on each of the albums listed here. I will try to include as much information as I can from album title, to first single, to release date, and perhaps why I’m looking forward to the release of the album. I shall be posting soon. I hope everyone reading this is doing well. Feel free to let me know what albums you’re looking forward to getting your hands on in the coming year or give me feedback on my posts.

 Comment responsibly,

Nico Black

My Top Album of 2012

                      Here it is, my favorite album from 2012. This one beat out all the other albums and took the top spot. Prepare yourseves; I’m going to be gushing about how much I enjoy this album.

1. The Truth About Love by P!nk

            P!nk is one of my favorite artists. She’s a great vocalist, songwriter, and performer. How many singers can say that they can still sound great singing while suspended upside down in mid air? P!nk can. She’s not afraid to take risks and try something new. She also hasn’t shied away from talking about personal topics including her parent’s divorce and her own marital problems with husband, Carey Hart. P!nk is a painfully honest confessional songwriter who’s known for shooting off her mouth and speaking her mind even (or possibly especially) if it makes people uncomfortable. She also doesn’t take herself too seriously so she writes fun songs as well as emotional ones and whether the song is emotional or fun, you can bet that the singer has something sarcastic or witty to say. If you thought the singer would mellow out after the birth of her daughter, Willow, then you’re mistaken; she’s just as foul-mouthed and no holds barred as ever. 

   Blow Me (One Last Kiss)

        The first single off P!nk’s sixth album (not including “Greatest Hits… So Far”) was ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)’. The song is classic P!nk – big vocals and clever lyrics over Pop/Rock/Dance music. I love the lyrics – especially the chorus. I really identify with the lyrics “I think I’ve finally had enough, I think I maybe think too much” because I’m notorious for over-thinking. And when I’m not feeling so great the lyrics, “Just when I think it can’t get worse, I had a shit day/You had a shit day/we’ve had a shit day,” make me feel much better. The music video is decent, but it’s not the best video in her repertoire. It’s still worth a watch though – you should watch until the end because my favorite part is near the end.

  Try (Live at the AMA's)

       

        The second single is the aforementioned ‘Try’. It’s the only song on the album, including all the bonus tracks, that P!nk didn’t have a hand in writing. ‘Try’ is a beautiful but sad ballad that centers around a less than perfect relationship and advises you to “get up and try.” It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite songs off the album and it’s getting a decent amount of play on the radio. The video features choreography by the Golden Boyz and Sebastien Stella, stunt choreographer, as well as Broadway dancer Colt Prattes (as P!nk’s partner). The choreography is athletic and is so provocative that it prompted P!nk’s mother, Judith, to say “Wow, honey. I’m speechless. And uncomfortable. No one can ever say you play it safe.” At the American Music Awards, she sang ‘Try’ while performing choreography taken from the music video. Even though you could tell that the singer was breathing heavy, she still sang really well. In some ways, the theatrics of the performance was more powerful than the music video.

   How Come You're Not Here

        Other than the singles, one of my favorite songs off “The Truth About Love” is ‘How Come You’re Not Here’. It’s such a fun song and the lyrics are so cheeky. The xylophone in the song is catchy and silly, which strengthens the delivery of sarcasm.  I love the lyrics in the second verse, especially “And that’s all cool/I’ll wait right here/’Til you get bored/and she gets carded for beer.” Who doesn’t love songs making fun of other people?

   Slut Like You         

Another of my favorite songs is ‘Slut Like You’. P!nk has said that the song is her strange way of stating her feminist views. She doesn’t understand or agree with the double standard that when men have multiple partners it’s considered sexual conquest but when women have multiple partners then she’s considered a slut. To paraphrase, she said, “Maybe he’s my conquest?’ I love that the song is so provocative and blunt – not to mention that the ad libs are hilarious. I’m not so sure how a “clean” version was released though…

   The Truth About Love

        Like all albums, there are a few songs that I’m not too crazy about. But all in all, “The Truth About Love” is a pretty solid album from a pretty consistent singer/songwriter. If you get a chance then check out the bonus tracks, especially 'Timebomb' and 'Run' because they're great ballads. I hope that I can see P!nk on tour because she’s said that she’s doing her best to top her last tour which she spent suspended in mid air. Plus, in interviews P!nk has said that she doesn’t want to be on the road when Willow is in school so it may be a while before she tours again. I know I’ll be kicking myself if I don’t go see her in concert because she’s one of the best. 

So there you have it. Now that you know my top 10 albums from 2012 do you think there are any that I missed? Would you have ordered any of the albums differently? Let me know in the comments.  I hope you enjoyed my ramblings and I hope that you learned about a new artist or two throughout my ‘Top Albums of 2012’ series.

Comment responsibly,

Nick Black

Top Albums of 2012: Numbers 5, 4, and 3

            I apologize for being late. I was busy visiting friends and didn’t have time to write. Without further delay, here are the albums that ranked 4, 3, and 2 on my ‘Favorite Albums of 2012’ list. Just a warning: these three albums all contain explicit lyrics or content so be aware of that if you listen to them.

4. Savage by MoXiie

        MoXiie is an independent artist whom I found while wandering around the Internet. She makes a genre of music that she calls ‘Jungle Pop’, which (to borrow from her bio) “fuses everything that ever made you lose your mind on a dance floor. (It is) packed with chants, hints of electro, pop, and world music…” I love MoXiie and her Jungle Pop; the artist is very hard working and in touch with her fan base and her music is catchy and has an energy that rubs off on the listener. “Savage” is the artist’s debut album, but it is preceded by an EP as well as a single. “Savage” is a very solid album and it goes so hard that it’s pretty safe to say that it lives up to its name. That’s not to say that MoXiie can’t be vulnerable – she’s a versatile singer/songwriter who’s not afraid to be honest about her emotions. She doesn’t shy away from darker subjects either. Her song, ‘Hell Out Of Heaven’ is a perfect example because its lyrics discuss struggles that many people go through. The music video that MoXiie released for the song takes the lyrics a step further; it makes you think and consider the lyrics in a different light. In the ‘About’ section under the video on Youtube, MoXiie explains her thought process behind making the visual, “I wanted to communicate the ways we tend to create our personal hell…” I am impressed by how much thought she put into making her music video because so many music videos by mainstream artists who have big budgets lack a plot completely and focus on making the artist look good. Now, back to the music. My favorite songs off the album (at the moment) are ‘Hell Out Of Heaven’; ‘Hurt Me Now’, one of the more vulnerable moments on the album; and ‘Serial Killer’, a song about a merciless heartbreaker. If you like dance/pop music with meaningful lyrics then you should definitely give MoXiie a chance.

3. ‘Til The Casket Drops by ZZ Ward

            ZZ Ward is an artist who sings a unique blend of blues and alternative music. It’s so different from what I’m used to that when I first listened to her music I wasn’t sure what to think about it. After giving it the benefit of the doubt and listening to it a second time the song grew on me and from then on I’ve been hooked. I even have my younger sister hooked on Ward’s music because I played it around the house so much. Ward accents her music with handclaps and pieces of melody sung on words without meaning, such as ‘Ooh’. It gives the music a very organic feel. Before releasing any original music, Ward released a mixtape called “Eleven Roses” by re-writing pre-existing Rap songs. One of the songs, ‘Criminal’, used the music from a song by Freddie Gibbs called ‘Oil Money’. Gibbs was a fan of Ward’s interpretation so he asked to be a part of the song when it was released officially. ‘Criminal’ is one of my favorite songs off the album because of its moody sound and the grove that the ‘Oohs’ add to the song. My other favorites are the title track, which very uniquely illustrates just how loyal Ward is, and ‘Cryin’ Wolf’, a song that dances the line between singing and talking and features handclaps, ‘Oohs’, and a verse by Kendrick Lamar. The songs off “’Til The Casket Drops” are much different from the rest of my music library, which is comprised mostly of Pop music. Wards music would probably have been at home in past decades but I love it here and now.

2. Electra Heart by Marina And The Diamonds

            If you’ve read some of my previous posts then you may have read one entitled ‘Artists You Should Know: Marina & The Diamonds.” In it, I discuss my newly found love for Marina’s music so I was excited when I heard that she was working on her sophomore album. After many delays, “Electra Heart” was finally released. When creating her second album, Marina decided to take a chance on big Pop producers and give co-writing a try. Previously, she had been afraid that co-writing and working with big producers would strip her music of what made it hers. Fans of her debut, “The Family Jewels”, might say that Marina sold out, but I think otherwise because her wit and sarcasm is still prevalent in the lyrics of these new songs. All she did was try something new, which shows artistic growth – I find that admirable. Then again, I am a fan so I know I’m biased. If you don’t like her new sound then take a listen to the acoustic versions of ‘Primadonna’, ‘Starring Role’, ‘Lies’, and ‘Radioactive’. ‘Radioactive’ in particular has a very different sound when compared to the studio version; the studio version is backed by energetic Dance music and it sounds upbeat while the acoustic version is backed by a piano and sounds melancholy. The acoustic version of ‘Radioactive’ can be downloaded from Marina’s website in exchange for joining her mailing list. The other acoustic songs are bundled together in an EP called “Primadonna Exclusive Acoustic EP”, which can be purchased from her UK webstore but is not available in the US. I don’t understand why artists would release different material in different regions in this day and age because the fans that can’t buy the music in their country will just download it from the Internet for free. For whatever reason, the UK and US versions of “Electra Heart” have different songs on them. The US version lacks ‘Living Dead’ and bonus tracks ‘Lonely Hearts Club’ and ‘Buy The Stars’. ‘Lonely Hearts Club’ doesn’t do much for me but ‘Living Dead’ (a catchy, up-beat song that questions where your life is headed) and ‘Buy The Stars’ (a rare vulnerable moment where Marina sounds sweet) would’ve been nice to have on the US version. ‘How To Be A Heartbreaker’, a fun cheeky song is the only song that the deluxe edition of the UK album lacks  - but that’s because the song was written after the album was released in the UK and before it was released in the US. My favorite songs on “Electra Heart” are ‘Fear And Loathing’, a dark and introspective song; ‘Starring Role’, a confessional (and at times angry) song about wanting to be number one in a person’s life; and “Power & Control”, a song about the power struggle that exists between people in a relationship. All in all, I find the album a fine addition to Marina’s catalogue.

Hell Out Of Heaven by MoXiie

MoXiie's website:
http://www.moxiiemusic.com/

‘Til The Casket Drops by ZZ Ward

Listen to the 'Eleven Roses' Mixtape here:
http://www.zzward.com/music/index.html

Power & Control by Marina & The Diamonds

Get free downloads of songs by Marina here:
http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com/downloads.htm

So there you have it. In my next post I will reveal my favorite album of 2012. Thank you to anyone who has read my blog posts and thank you for bearing with me. Let me know what you think about my favorite albums of 2012.

Comment responsibly,

Nico Black