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

My Apologies

I had intended posting a blog a day until the end of the year so that I could reveal my favorite album of 2012 on the last day of 2012. Unfortunately, I got busy visiting with friends so I didn't write and publish the posts when I said I would. Fortunately for me, I'm not a professional by any means and I don't have much of an audience so the only one I've really let down is myself.

I have half a mind to skip these posts but I'd really like to see them through because it's better late than never, right? So if anyone besides me feels let down then I am very sorry. Please bear with me because I will get these posts out sooner or later.

Happy New Year,

Nico Black

Top Albums of 2012: Numbers 7, 6, and 5

Another day; another post. I know I’m getting down to the wire with this one – good thing I’m not a professional. Here we have numbers 5-7 of my favorites. Wish me luck on having better timing with the next post.

7. Trespassing by Adam Lambert

            Lambert was boosted into the public eye after appearing on American Idol. Unfortunately, when you’re on Idol, you’re rushed to make your first album so that the public doesn’t have time to forget who you are. Because of this rushing, Lambert’s first album didn’t represent him as well as it could have. For his sophomore album, Lambert took his time, was much more involved in the writing of the album. He also drew from the wealth of experiences he’s had with Idol, recording his first album, and touring; as a result, Trespassing is a much more cohesive body of work. He went for a sound that was more Pop than his first album and added a bit of Funk. My favorite songs include the title track, which is upbeat with tongue in cheek lyrics; a song funny about that one friend who parties too hard, is entitled ‘Kickin’ In’; and last but not least ‘Outlaws Of Love’, a vulnerable song about prejudice against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals.

6. Perfectly Imperfect by Elle Varner

            Originally, the R&B singer’s debut was farther down my list but when I listened to it again I found a new favorite song off the album so I bumped it up. I found Varner’s music when I was trolling the new releases on iTunes. I ended up listening to ‘Only Wanna Give It To You’ and her cover of Miguel’s ‘All I Want Is You’. I liked the song well enough but I was enamored with the cover so I had my eye on Ms. Varner. When ‘Refill’ first came out I was put off by the use of a fiddle in it because I’m pretty biased against Country music. Now I want to commend Varner for stepping outside the box and for mixing two genres that I wouldn’t have thought to put together – especially as a newcomer, that kind of experimentation takes guts. The risk paid off in my opinion. ‘Stop The Clock’ and ‘So Fly’ are my favorite songs that haven’t already been mentioned. In ‘So Fly’, Varner starts out telling us all of her complaints about her body and wishes to be perfect but by the end of the song she’s changed her tune and I think it’s so clever and very powerful.

5. The M.F. Life by Melanie Fiona

            Ms. Fiona has a beautiful voice with so much soul that she can sing a song that someone else wrote with such conviction that you believe that she is singing from experience. Fiona’s debut album was a bit shaky, but it did the job of getting her name out there and showcasing her vocal ability. With her sophomore album you see so much artistic growth; “The M.F. Life” is a cohesive body of work, the songs are well written, and Fiona proves that she can hold her own alongside industry heavyweights such as Nas and Snoop Dogg.  My favorite songs are ‘Bones’, a clever and unique but slightly creepy love song; ‘4AM’, a late night/early morning lament about an unfaithful lover; and ‘Wrong Side Of A Love Song’, a song in which the heartbreaker has a lover who turns the tables on them and leaves them all alone.

Never Close Our Eyes by Adam Lambert

Refill by Elle Varner                                  

4AM by Melanie Fiona

            We’re getting closer and closer to revealing my pick for Top Album of 2012. Do you have any guesses as to what it might be? Are any albums that you think I should have on my list? Don’t be shy!

Comment responsibly,

Nico Black

Top Albums of 2012: Numbers 10, 9, and 8

Here we go. This is the first post of the “Top Albums of 2012” series. I hope I don’t confuse anyone by going in descending order – I think that it’s more fun because it’s suspenseful in a way. Albums ranked 10-8 are up!

10. Lotus by Christina Aguilera

            Some of my friends would be surprised by this pick because I haven’t been fond of Aguilera in the past. But once I got past her image I found some really beautiful vulnerable or toned down songs. The music video for her first single, Your Body, highlights the over-sexualized image that puts me off but the creators of the visual were quite creative and unique. They managed to make the video interesting instead of just off-putting – I still can’t decide if I like it or not. My favorite songs off “Lotus” include lead single, ‘Your Body’; brazen kiss-off to naysayers, ‘Circles’; and a sweet ode to her fans, ‘Sing To Me.’

9. Push And Shove by No Doubt

            The band’s sixth album was a long time coming and not just because of their break and lead singer Gwen Stefani’s foray into a solo career and other ventures. The album took two years to make. The cover art is a very intricate painting done by an artist named El Mac. I also liked the concept for the music video for first single ‘Settle Down’ because it showed the band members driving personally stylized trucks to rendezvous in the middle of nowhere so they can jam out. Adrian Young’s drum set was really well done; I’ve never seen a more interesting drum set in my life. My favorite songs off the album are the ska title track featuring Busy Signal and Major Lazer and the second single ‘Looking Hot’, a fun track that teenaged girls everywhere will be singing into their brushes to while they pose in front of the mirror.

8. Our Version Of Events by Emeli Sandé

            Before her music career, Emeli Sandé went through college to become a doctor because her parents had instilled in her the importance of an education. With a medical degree to fall back on, Sandé began writing songs for other artists before receiving a record deal as an artist. I don’t like drawing comparisons between artists because everyone is a unique individual, but Sandé’s soulful and emotionally charged songwriting has earned her a comparison to Adele. Ironically, Sandé’s given name is Adele; when Adele gained worldwide acclaim as an artist, Sandé started going by her middle name, Emeli. I love Sandé because she is dynamic in her performance and her songwriting. She has slow, moody songs as well as upbeat songs. My favorite songs from her debut are the moody ‘Easier In Bed’, the uplifiting ‘Wonder’ (which would be perfect for use in a movie if you ask me), and the brutally honest and unwavering declaration, ‘My Kind Of Love’. You should also check out the delightfully dark ‘Kill The Boy’, which she performed acoustically for Angel Studio Session. In a behind the scenes video tour diary, Sandé expressed her gratitude to her fans for her success and while she is enjoying her success here and now, she is very eager to make sure that album number two is just as solid as her debut. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the future.

            Your Body by Christina Aguilera

                      Settle Down by No Doubt

 Wonder ft Naughty Boy by Emeli Sandé

I hope that you enjoy at least one of the artists or one of the mini-bios I did on them, but I know I won't please everyone. Feel free to let me know what you think of these artists and who your picks would be. As always, comment respectfully.

Thank you,

Nico Black

Top Albums of 2012 Announcement

Wow. I am horrible at keeping up with a blog; my apologies to anyone who reads it – you must be frustrated with me. Or perhaps you’ve forgotten all about this blog as I have. Oh well.

Since the year is coming to a close I decided to make a list of my favorite albums of the year. It will be done in four sections that will come out daily starting with today. The sections are as follows: albums ranked at 10, 9, and 8; albums ranked at 7, 6, and 5; albums ranked at 4, 3, and 2; my number 1 album of 2012. I would also like to make other posts about my favorite music related moments from 2012 but we will see how ambitious I am after I’ve gotten through my Top 10 list.

            I hope you enjoy looking through my list. Maybe you’ll hear about an artist that you hadn’t heard of before. Keep in mind that this is purely based on my taste in music and that they aren’t ranked in terms of their musicianship. They are ranked by how much I enjoy listening to them – it’s that simple. It is an opinion that you may not agree with – which is fine because everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. Feel free to leave a comment and tell me about an artist that you think I missed. You can even post a list of your Top 10 Albums of 2012. But don’t bash my list and my opinions. I will respect your opinion and I hope you’ll do the same with mine.

Thank you,

Nico Black

Albums In 2012: Melanie Fiona "The MF Life" March 20th

Melanie Fiona is an R&B singer/songwriter from Canada. Her debut album “The Bridge” was released in 2009 and featured songs like ‘Give It To Me Right, ‘It Kills Me’, ‘Bang Bang’, and ‘Monday Morning’. In 2010 Fiona was nominated for four BET Awards and a Grammy. She also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist and an Eska Music Award for Best Album.

In 2011 Fiona was featured on Cee Lo Green’s single entitled ‘Fool For You’ (the album version featured vocals by Phillip Bailey). The collaboration went on to win two Grammys at the 2012 Awards – Best Traditional R&B Song and Best R&B Song.

Also in 2011, Fiona released two singles off of “The MF Life”; the first was ‘Gone And Never Coming Back’ and the second was ‘4 AM’. Three more songs have been leaked on the internet- ‘Wrong Side Of A Love Song, ‘This Time’ (featuring J. Cole), and ‘Change The Record’ (featuring B.o.B.).

In the bio for her official website, Fiona explained the album title: “…On the surface, the ‘MF’ in the album title represents my initials, but it also gets at the many facets of myself as an artist and a young woman. It can be viewed as the ‘Mighty Fine Life’ in times of triumph and success, but also the ‘Mother-F-ing Life’ when I’m dealing with frustration or misfortune.” “The MF Life” will be released on March 20^th.  The standard release will have thirteen tracks and will feature J. Cole, Nas, B.o.B., and John Legend, and T-Pain. iTunes will have an exclusive track that features Snoop Dogg and is called ‘Gone La Dada Di). The deluxe edition will add four more tracks.

In addition to releasing an album, Fiona will be releasing a mini documentary. It is entitled “Creating The MF Life” and its first part has already been released. In it Fiona discusses a few of the songs on the album and how they came about.

You can stream a sampler of the album by following the link below. It includes the tracks ‘4 AM’, ‘This Time’, ‘Change The Record’, ‘Like I Love You’, and ‘Gone (La Dada Di)’.

http://www.fileblaze.net/external-html.html?key=3506e74ffa93c22e317ebdc4b3a0b6c7

Melanie Fiona’s Official Website: http://www.melaniefiona.com/

Melanie Fiona’s Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/melaniefionatv

Albums In 2012: The Veronicas

The Veronicas are an Australian Pop band consisting of twin sisters Lisa and Jess Origliasso. Their biggest hits include ‘Untouched’, ‘4ever’, and ‘Hook Me Up’. They’ve released two studio albums so far (“The Secret Life Of…” and “Hook Me Up”) and are working on their third. The Veronicas wrote the majority of the songs on both their debut and sophomore albums and they have also written songs that have been recorded by t.A.T.u. and Cascada.

The Veronicas are a Pop band but each album has different undertones – and they’ve told news outlets that their new album will follow that trend. Their first album “The Secret Life…” was a Pop/Rock affair while “Hook Me Up” was more Electronic/Dance oriented. Other differences between the two albums are the maturing of themes and the improving of the girls’ songwriting.

The Veronicas have told news outlets that their new album will have a bit of a Rock & Roll feel while still being a Pop record. The Veronicas took to their official website to talk about the album saying that it will be “citing influences from The Subways, The Dead Weather, Mazzy Star, Ladytron and Peaches.”

In August, the duo preview new material at the Viper Room. Their set included songs entitled ‘Cold’, ‘Baby I’m Ready’, ‘Forget You’, ‘Let Me Out’, ‘Dead Cool’, 'Psycho Bitch’, and ‘Kick It In’. ‘Let Me Out’ and ‘Cold’ are (in my opinion) the best tracks and the rawness of live vocals emphasized the honesty of the lyrics.                                          

The Veronicas say ‘Let Me Out’ is “a song about being ridiculously in love with someone that you’re just not sure it feels the same anymore but they’re kind of keeping you there… like the b*stard that they are.” The song begins “I can’t take the blame. I can’t take the pain. If you’re gonna let me down/do it now, let me down. I’m too scared to sleep/to see you in my dreams. If you’re gonna make me cry do it right, make me cry.”

                                                               (Song starts at 1:18)

‘Cold’ was written a bit differently than other songs they’ve written. They had the lyrics for the chorus and they decided to write the verses as an exercise. Jess said that she brought up the idea to Lisa: “you pretend to be every shitty ex-boyfriend of mine and I’ll pretend to be every shitty ex-boyfriend of yours.” Jess explained, “So we wrote these monologues pretending to like talk to the person.” Lisa added, “This is probably our favorite song we’ve ever written.” The haunting chorus of ‘Cold’ is “’Cause I’m dying here. You were lying here. It was you and I forever/but now you make me shiver in the night. And I’m dying here. And I’m crying over you and I remember/but now you make me shiver you’re so cold.”

                                                                  (song starts at 1:20)

I’m trying not to have too many expectations, but I’m confident that The Veronicas will come out with a solid third album. I’m pleased that they’re trying a bit of a different style in the general genre of Pop because it shows that they don’t want to do the same thing twice. I wonder if ‘Could’ve Been’ will be on the album. It’s a song the sisters wrote, did an acoustic rendition of, and then uploaded to their Youtube channel after “Hook Me Up” was released. I am impatiently waiting for solid news about the single and the album.

The Veronicas’ Official website: http://www.theveronicas.com/

The Veronicas’ Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ThEvErOnIcAs

The Veronicas’ quotes about ‘Cold’ and ‘Let Me Out’ are from videos of their shows at the Viper Room. I do not own the videos and I appreciate the fans that have uploaded them. The picture I found on the Internet and don’t own that either.