Hard to believe we’re already closing in on the second anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death. Many sites/blogs, certainly including this one, will be ramping up the appreciation of the King of Pop in the coming weeks, and as it turns out, posting this video is probably the best way to kick it off. “Behind the Mask” is probably the best song on the posthumous Michael project. Hell, it’s one of the handful of tracks where you can tell beyond a […]
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Adele On Top Again & Chart Stalker Gets “Mormon”-ized!
Lady Gaga’s time at the top of the charts was pretty short. Born This Way slides to #2 this week, overtaken by the resilient Adele album 21. The British singer’s sophomore effort lands a 10th non-consecutive week at the top, scanning another 114,000 copies this week. Gaga takes the runner-up spot, with a shade over 100K sold. Award shows were a huge factor in this week’s chart. Aided by major wins at the Tony Awards, a physical release and some […]
Hear Here!: “6 A.M.” by Rahsaan Patterson
While 2011 has shaped up to be a decent year so far for music in general, there hasn’t been a whole lot of soul music that’s shaken me up so far. Aside from Marsha Ambrosius and Adele, I can’t think of one album that falls under the R&B umbrella that’s really moved me-and we’re damn near halfway through the year. Fortunately, soul assistance is on the way via albums by Jill Scott (which comes out next week), Van Hunt and […]
“Songs in A Minor” Turns 10 with Special Deluxe Package
Back in 2001, it was almost impossible to miss the buzz that surrounded singer/songwriter Alicia Keys. Sure, much of it was hyperbole: but it was impossible to deny the fact that she was a unique bird in the pop music scene. While the image of a self-sufficient female singer/songwriter/instrumentalist may have been common back in the days, that ideal became less prevalent as we transitioned into the 21st century. Alicia was a throwback, but with a modern edge. The album […]
Spin Cycle: Bon Iver’s “Bon Iver, Bon Iver”
Reams and reams of paragraphs, enough (and steeped in enough mythology) to ink dozens of dead sea scrolls, have been devoted to Bon Iver’s 2007 debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, and not without reason; indie lovers and avid Pitchfork readers seem to flock to rootsy acoustic-slinging troubadours with gusto, special hipster points granted for being lo-fi. It doesn’t get much more lo-fi than a heart-broke woodsman holing up for the winter in a Wisconsin cabin and writing and recording his […]
Hear Here: Drake – Marvins Room
I stumbled upon this in my e-mail this morning. After a first listen I can say this is the stuff I enjoy hearing from Young Money’s Drizzy Drake. I honestly have no idea what the song has to do with being in Marvins Room but nonetheless, the song is hot! An official single should be hitting the airwaves in July while the album ‘Take Care’ is slated for an October 24th release. Take Care! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQKOp_qFvI4 Shout Out to OVO
Chart Stalker 6/9/11: Gaga Tumbles, Death Cab Debuts Big
So maybe my headline is a little misleading. After all, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way hangs on for a second week at the top of the Billboard album charts. However, after scoring a million + sales week, the pop star’s latest record suffers a steeper-than-normal 84% drop and scans a relatively pedestrian 174,000 units in week two. While the drop is slightly alarming, it was inevitable without the benefit of a promotion like Amazon’s 99 cent gambit. Regardless of anything, […]
“From a Friend to a Friend”: Neil Finn is One Busy Man
Apparently, singer/songwriter Neil Finn isn’t content to sit back and let his ridiculously talented offspring handle the musical load in his family. Just a year removed from Crowded House’s excellent Intriguer album, everyone’s favorite Kiwi is headed back into record stores as part of a project called Pajama Club. Originally named Pajama Party (I guess the ’80s freestyle group of the same name raised a stink?), the band consists of Neil, his wife Sharon, and musician Alana Skyring. Indie musician Sean Donnelly will join […]
Make a “Difference” With Cormega & Some of Hip-Hop’s Finest
You’ve got to appreciate musicians who put their money where their mouth is. After a successful coat drive this past winter and performing at the Hip-Hop For Haiti concert at S.O.B.’s in New York, rapper Cormega continues to use his talent to make positive contributions to the devastated island. His new song, “I Made A Difference,” featuring Redman, General Steele from Smif-N-Wessun, Stic Man from Dead Prez, Lil Fame from M.O.P, live band The Revelations, singer/songwriter Maya Azucena and musician […]
Roundball Soundoff: Wade’s World
It’s certainly been a competitive NBA Finals so far, no doubt about that. It’s also been very revealing on several important points, some of which shouldn’t be all that surprising to more analytical fans. Among the points: * Dwyane Wade is the leader of the Heat. If anyone doubted so before, it should be clear to everyone now. I always figured Wade should be the main scoring option if Miami wanted the most success, and so far in the Finals, […]
