This past week in music hasn't been as exciting. Reggae singer OMI took back the #1 spot on the Hot 100, displacing The Weeknd's smash "Can't Feel My Face". However, Carly Rae Jepsen finally released her new album, E-MO-TION, to Spotify, giving me a chance to listen to andreview it!
The biggest news of the past week? Probably that one our generation's favorite songstress, Adele, is finally releasing her third studio album, due this November. Without a doubt, this has been one of my most anticipated releases for the past couple of years. While I'm happy that she was able to take time off to take care of her kid, I'm also happy to see her doing music again. Can't wait for this album!
In the meantime, enjoy this set of reviews!
The biggest news of the past week? Probably that one our generation's favorite songstress, Adele, is finally releasing her third studio album, due this November. Without a doubt, this has been one of my most anticipated releases for the past couple of years. While I'm happy that she was able to take time off to take care of her kid, I'm also happy to see her doing music again. Can't wait for this album!
In the meantime, enjoy this set of reviews!
Bon Jovi - Burning Bridges
There was a time in my early college days where I was huge into Bon Jovi. To be fair, I still do find myself rocking out to hit singles such as "You Give Love A Bad Name" and "Bad Medicine". Back in the days where 80s glam was my thing, My favorite albums to listen to were the band's first four albums, their most rockin' ones. Their later material still had some rockers, but didn't have the excitement of those early ones. Unfortunately, this new album from the band--their first without guitarist Richie Sambora and last with Mercury Records--suffers from that.
While I found this album to be rather boring and drab, I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable it was. Is it as upbeat as Slippery When Wet or New Jersey? Of course not, but it doesn't necessarily have to be like those to be enjoyable. Plus, it isn't 1985 anymore, so I kind of have to give them a pass for that. There aren't many bands from that era who do still sound like they did then.
Now, that doesn't really excuse this album, in my opinion. It's still slow and lacks any energy that could make it a little less of a drag to listen to. Is it bad? Hardly. Is it great? I don't think so. If anything, I appreciate that they're still going at it, even without Sambora or Alec John Such. Still, there are a few good rockers and ballads on here that do bring back their mid-80s heyday.
Even the album's title track, a departure from classic Bon Jovi, is a neat little under-three-minutes country ditty. I've heard Bon Jovi referred to a country band several times, and if this is a song that's any indication of them being country, then I don't see any reason why Jon Bon Jovi couldn't make a good country album.
Overall: 5/10
Favorite Tracks: We Don't Run; Fingerprints; I'm Your Man; Burning Bridges
While I found this album to be rather boring and drab, I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable it was. Is it as upbeat as Slippery When Wet or New Jersey? Of course not, but it doesn't necessarily have to be like those to be enjoyable. Plus, it isn't 1985 anymore, so I kind of have to give them a pass for that. There aren't many bands from that era who do still sound like they did then.
Now, that doesn't really excuse this album, in my opinion. It's still slow and lacks any energy that could make it a little less of a drag to listen to. Is it bad? Hardly. Is it great? I don't think so. If anything, I appreciate that they're still going at it, even without Sambora or Alec John Such. Still, there are a few good rockers and ballads on here that do bring back their mid-80s heyday.
Even the album's title track, a departure from classic Bon Jovi, is a neat little under-three-minutes country ditty. I've heard Bon Jovi referred to a country band several times, and if this is a song that's any indication of them being country, then I don't see any reason why Jon Bon Jovi couldn't make a good country album.
Overall: 5/10
Favorite Tracks: We Don't Run; Fingerprints; I'm Your Man; Burning Bridges
Carly Rae Jepsen - E-MO-TION
I disliked "Call Me Maybe" in 2012 and I still dislike it now. Let's just get that out of the way.
When I heard that Carly Rae Jepsen had a new album on the way, I was indeed a little curious, but never really had any intention on listening to it. Really, I was low on stuff to review this week, so I was glad that Jepsen finally released her album to Spotify for me to review, even if it is a couple of months late.
While I don't quite love this album as much as I did Charli XCX's 2014 release Sucker, it had the exact same effect in that I wasn't at all ready to like it. It's a joyous album full of silly pop hooks and glossy production from a host of producers that include Shellback and even Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij.
It's got a lot of 80s throwback elements to it, and while hearing a lot of modern throwbacks can get old after a while, this is an example of that type of sound being done right. It makes you feel like you're listening to some old, unreleased Madonna songs remastered for the 21st century. I'm reminded in a lot of way of Toro Y Moi's approach to 80s pop: chill but upbeat. Even the slower songs like "All That" remind me of Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston ballads.
As I said earlier, I was surprised by this album. I say this about a lot of albums that I'm surprised about, but I sincerely hope Carly Rae continues down this path.
Overall: 7/10
Favorite Tracks: Run Away With Me; I Really Like You; Gimme Love; Boy Problems; Making the Most Of the Night; Your Type
When I heard that Carly Rae Jepsen had a new album on the way, I was indeed a little curious, but never really had any intention on listening to it. Really, I was low on stuff to review this week, so I was glad that Jepsen finally released her album to Spotify for me to review, even if it is a couple of months late.
While I don't quite love this album as much as I did Charli XCX's 2014 release Sucker, it had the exact same effect in that I wasn't at all ready to like it. It's a joyous album full of silly pop hooks and glossy production from a host of producers that include Shellback and even Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij.
It's got a lot of 80s throwback elements to it, and while hearing a lot of modern throwbacks can get old after a while, this is an example of that type of sound being done right. It makes you feel like you're listening to some old, unreleased Madonna songs remastered for the 21st century. I'm reminded in a lot of way of Toro Y Moi's approach to 80s pop: chill but upbeat. Even the slower songs like "All That" remind me of Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston ballads.
As I said earlier, I was surprised by this album. I say this about a lot of albums that I'm surprised about, but I sincerely hope Carly Rae continues down this path.
Overall: 7/10
Favorite Tracks: Run Away With Me; I Really Like You; Gimme Love; Boy Problems; Making the Most Of the Night; Your Type
Method Man - The Meth Lab
The Wu-Tang machine now seems to be more relevant than ever. In the past two and a half years, Ghostface Killah--undeniably the group's best member--has released three albums, one with BADBADNOTGOOD, and has another one without the latter accompanying him on the way later this year. He is also currently on tour with Raekwon--another one of Wu's best talents--who is celebrating the 20th anniversary of is mafioso masterpiece Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and who also released an album earlier this year. Cappadonna and Inspectah Deck have also been active, with the former releasing an album in both 2013 and 2014 and the latter recording as Czarface. On top of that, the Wu-Tang Clan have a seemingly endless number of affiliates, including fellow New Yorkers Nas and MF Doom.
This year, it's Method Man's turn to shine. For me, though, this album left a lot to be desired. The instrumentals are, for the most part, pretty good, and the menacing atmosphere they set does a good job of creating the mood for the album. The rapping from Method Man and a myriad of guest rappers is aggressive, and yet something just feels... off about this album.
I think if there's anything to take away, it's that Method Man truly made this album as a standalone piece of art, rather than try to outdo his Wu-Tang crewmates, some of whom are featured on this album. Actually, the songs he did with his Wu-Tang mates are some of my favorites on here. But things like name-dropping Tech N9ne and Ludacris seemingly out of nowhere on "Bang Zoom". However, these are offset by great verses from Method Man on "2 Minutes of Your Time" as well as a pretty sick verse from Cory Gunz and fantastic verses from Raekwon and Inspectah Deck on "The Purple Tape".
For hardcore Wu-Tang fans--full disclosure, I am not a hardcore Wu-Tang fan--this will scratch the itch of a Wu-Tang-related project until Ghostface releases his next album later this year. For me, while it was a decent album, it also fell short of what I expected.
Overall: 5/10
Favorite Tracks: 2 Minutes of Your Time; Worldwide; The Purple Tape
This year, it's Method Man's turn to shine. For me, though, this album left a lot to be desired. The instrumentals are, for the most part, pretty good, and the menacing atmosphere they set does a good job of creating the mood for the album. The rapping from Method Man and a myriad of guest rappers is aggressive, and yet something just feels... off about this album.
I think if there's anything to take away, it's that Method Man truly made this album as a standalone piece of art, rather than try to outdo his Wu-Tang crewmates, some of whom are featured on this album. Actually, the songs he did with his Wu-Tang mates are some of my favorites on here. But things like name-dropping Tech N9ne and Ludacris seemingly out of nowhere on "Bang Zoom". However, these are offset by great verses from Method Man on "2 Minutes of Your Time" as well as a pretty sick verse from Cory Gunz and fantastic verses from Raekwon and Inspectah Deck on "The Purple Tape".
For hardcore Wu-Tang fans--full disclosure, I am not a hardcore Wu-Tang fan--this will scratch the itch of a Wu-Tang-related project until Ghostface releases his next album later this year. For me, while it was a decent album, it also fell short of what I expected.
Overall: 5/10
Favorite Tracks: 2 Minutes of Your Time; Worldwide; The Purple Tape
The Sword - High Country
While The Sword aren't wildly popular, they have been one of the more acclaimed metal acts in recent years. Their 2006 debut Age of Winters brought back the classic stoner-rock sound of 1970s Black Sabbath. The instrumentals and vocals were weirdly reminiscent of the classic metal band's debut album as well as other metal favorites like Paranoid and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.
While this new album from The Sword isn't anything new, nor is it as heavy as their previous efforts, it is still full of bluesy rockers throughout its 50-minute timespan. Carrying over from their previous album, Apocryphon, is the use of synthesizers. Black Sabbath was actually initially panned in the 1970s when they first introduced synths on Volume 4, and yet in hindsight, it ended up working beautifully. I think the same applies here. The use of synths along with the band's lyrical choices and the bluesy guitars make for a Doors-y vibe. An example is the song "Seriously Mysterious", which seriously sounds like Jim Morrison fronting Black Sabbath.
There are even some slower numbers on here, such as the acoustic "Silver Petals" as well as the penultimate song "Turned To Dust". These songs may not be heavy, but who says metal bands always have to me?
Being a metal album based off of blues-rock riffs plus a couple of slower, non-heavy songs, I wasn't expecting anything radical or revolutionary from this album. But if you're looking for something to rock out to in your room with your headphones on, this'll scratch your itch.
Overall: 6/10
Favorite Tracks: Tears Like Diamonds; Mist & Shadow; Suffer No Fools; Early Snow; Silver Petals
While this new album from The Sword isn't anything new, nor is it as heavy as their previous efforts, it is still full of bluesy rockers throughout its 50-minute timespan. Carrying over from their previous album, Apocryphon, is the use of synthesizers. Black Sabbath was actually initially panned in the 1970s when they first introduced synths on Volume 4, and yet in hindsight, it ended up working beautifully. I think the same applies here. The use of synths along with the band's lyrical choices and the bluesy guitars make for a Doors-y vibe. An example is the song "Seriously Mysterious", which seriously sounds like Jim Morrison fronting Black Sabbath.
There are even some slower numbers on here, such as the acoustic "Silver Petals" as well as the penultimate song "Turned To Dust". These songs may not be heavy, but who says metal bands always have to me?
Being a metal album based off of blues-rock riffs plus a couple of slower, non-heavy songs, I wasn't expecting anything radical or revolutionary from this album. But if you're looking for something to rock out to in your room with your headphones on, this'll scratch your itch.
Overall: 6/10
Favorite Tracks: Tears Like Diamonds; Mist & Shadow; Suffer No Fools; Early Snow; Silver Petals