Posted by Michael on January 12, 2010 under Reviews | 
Why are people always complaining that music isn’t as good as it used to be. I think this decade featured some very fine music. I’ve seen a lot of lists that are so indie it hurts, and a lot of albums hailed not so much because they are *enjoyable* and more because, well, they AREN’T.
My top albums of the decade are diverse, and there a couple lesser known titles, but many of those were a bit bigger across the pond. Some trends I like? A couple oldsters put out their best work in years, some new people broke innovative ground, and others bucked the system… and it made for some compelling music.
I’m actually quite anal about rating and ranking my albums. I have four categories that I rate 1-10, resulting in a possible 40 point total. The categories are: (S)ONGS – How good is the songwriting? (P)RODUCTION – How much detail, how much punch… did the producer/engineer succeed to the fullest? (M)USICIANSHIP – How is the vocal quality, instrumental players, arrangement, etc… (C)OHESIVENESS – The most subjective, does the album flow well, do the songs combine to form a whole that is greater than the sum of it’s parts?
If you like popular music, and you are unfamiliar with any of the albums I talk about, I urge you to run out right now and get it, because you’ll be in for a treat! So without any further ado, let me begin the countdown. Read more of this article »
Tags: 1 Giant Leap, Alicia Keys, Anastacia, Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Dixie Chicks, Eve 6, Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Keane, Lady Gaga, Michael Buble, Mika, Muse, Pink, Prince, Radiohead, Robbie Williams, Scissor Sisters, The Script
Posted by Michael on November 24, 2009 under Misc, Reviews |
Posted by Michael on June 11, 2009 under Reviews |
As a music producer, part of my job is to stay up on what’s current. I love popular music, so this isn’t really a chore. But I have to say that “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas leaves me completely puzzled by it’s success.
Quite frankly it reminds me of my fraternity days. A bunch of people with no musical talent in a room getting high… rapping crappy nonsense, looping a cheap drum machine and holding a single key down on the keyboard… occasionally doing a random, pointless and non-musical noodling synth solo… toking up and going “that is soooo cool man!” Read more of this article »
Posted by Michael on May 25, 2009 under Reviews |
I was shocked and surprised to discover that a Green Day album had clawed its way into my top ten albums. That Album was American Idiot. So in one sense I had high hopes for their new CD, but in another way, I really didn’t expect something to live up.
My shock… I like the ne album, 21st Century Breakdown, even better than their last one. The first 6 songs are decent, but not stellar and maybe feel like the group is “trying a bit too hard”… but once you get past that, the next ten songs are “all killer, no filler”. They are trying different things on this album. Most noticeably they have discovered piano in a big way, and use it effectively… “Peacemaker” with its mid-eastern musical influences is a big standout, and “21 Guns” deserves to be the “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” of this record. (Though I suspect American Radio will stay away from it’s political content.)
In fact, while I think almost song for song this album is better, it isn’t as chock-full of obvious radio hits, again, pretty much because Billy doesn’t hold back on the political content. Despite their upcoming challenges with radio (maybe because of it) They have delivered a mature and thoughtful album that still shows the boys can rock. Production and engineering on this is also amazing, BTW…
Now I have the scary proposition of having to admit that Green Day might be one of my favorite BANDS! I guess I should start checking out some of their catalogue.
Posted by Michael on April 12, 2009 under Reviews |
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I am hoping to turn people onto easily the most amazing album I have heard in a couple years… Irish Band, The Script’s self-titled debut album.
This is amazing soulful rock, I would classify as a jam session between Maroon 5, The Fray and The Police. There are hard hitting emotions and situations interlocked with some amazing melodies and hooks… and not one ounce of filler on this album. Emotional and energetic (Only one real ballad on this set), they are nonetheless fans of BIG emotion.
If U.S. Radio will be so accommodating, I hear 4 radio mega-hits on this CD… “Breakeven”, “Before the Worst” and “I’m Yours” could all easily follow up their current first single, “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved”… a song so fresh and heartfelt that my eyes inexplicably tear up a little each time I hear it. (I just noticed that two of these were NOT the singles overseas…) Read more of this article »
Posted by Michael on under Reviews |
A little under the weather this week, I was able to give a few close listens to a couple of new albums. While most critics have been giving MPLSound a bigger heads-up in the reviews than Lotusflow3r, I must disagree.
Lotusflow3r: 31 – MPLSound: 22
Yes, “Chocolate Box” on MPLSound is one of the most fun, booty-shakin’ numbers Prince has done in a long time, but LotusFlow3r follows another important trend… Stuff od Prince’s that I don’t like as much as first, often grows on my until I realize it’s pure brilliance. I thought he was insane when I first heard “Gett Off”.. a song that is one of my three favorite songs of his now. Read more of this article »
Posted by Michael on March 13, 2009 under Reviews |
Review: U2 – No Line on the Horizon
Believe it or not, when U2 first started breaking on the scene, I HATED Bono’s voice. I found it way to pitchy and raw. Even when I started liking their hits (when “With Or Without You”) came out, 
I liked them despite his voice. Then all of a sudden, something flipped in my brain when Actung Baby came out, and Bono suddenly turned into one of my favorite male singers… even all the old songs that I didn’t like before.
My point here is… the first thing that jumped out at me on this new album is that Bono’s voice seems rawer and pitchier than ever… and I LOVE it! In a sea of popular music where every voice has all the life squeezed out of it by Auto-Tune, it is refreshing to hear his voice raw and emotional and “less than perfect” which, as it turns out, is perfection indeed. Read more of this article »
Posted by Michael on March 11, 2009 under Articles, Reviews |
(edited June 26, 2009) Michael Jackson, how did I miss you? “Thriller” and “Bad” should both be on this list. “Dangerous” is damn close. Please accept my apologies in this article.
I hate constantly hearing the cry of “The Album is Dead” or “the iPod has killed the Album.” Since I got my iPod several years ago, I have listened to more full albums more frequently than I EVER did. Having my whole library with me all the time make it just so easy to listen to whatever best suits my mood at the moment.
Pop artists often get the shaft. They are often thought of as just “singles” artists. While many pop albums have sold very well, they are often forgotten in critics “all time” roundups. I can also face it, many times, the albums were of-the-moment and just don’t hold up well. So as a fan of pop music, I wanted to looks at the albums that have held up, and the new ones I believe will still be classics.
I tried to stay with artists that are strictly viewed as pop artists. While many singer-songwriters, rockers, synth-pop acts, dance artists, etc… have had many hit singles, I limited the list to my definition of pop artists. I’m sure many of you listen to their singles or have a greatest hits compilation or have cherry picked tunes from iTunes, but I urge all of you to check out these full albums, the journey is worthwhile.
1. George Michael – Faith – 1987
Monster hits, lush production, George’s great voice, artistic integrity… this album has it all. George Michael was at the top of his powers with his debut Solo Album. Dance hits, ballads, and he even created a new jazz standard, taking “Kissing a Fool” to the top 10. While there aren’t many songs that weren’t hits, most of the album cuts could have fared equally well on the charts. Choice Album Cuts: “Look at Your Hands” and “Hand to Mouth”.
2. Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation 1814 – 1989
Janet flooded airwaves for over two years with 7 top 5 hits from this album. The amazing part was how cohesive all these pop nuggets were in her creative vision. Her pairing with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis ushered in a new era where the producers were often as big a star as the artists… a dubious achievement, yes, but the album is so good, that I can forgive what it wrought. Choice Album Cuts: “Livin’ In a World (They Didn’t Make)” and “State of the World”
3. Justin Timberlake – Futuresex/Lovesounds – 2006
The “producer power” Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrought turned into albums that were a mismash of various producers with no cohesion. Justin Timberlake wisely pulled out of this for his second Solo CD to work exclusively with Timbaland. The pairing was heaven. The CD is filled with smart songs, creative production, and a feel of pop experimentation I haven’t heard since the 80′s. Choice Album Cuts: “Losing My Way” and “Damn Girl”. Read more of this article »
Tags: Albums, Annie Lennox, Christina Aguilera, Cyndi Lauper, Daniel Bedingfield, Duran Duran, George Michael, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Pink, Pop, Scissor Sisters, Top 10
Posted by Michael on December 28, 2008 under Reviews |
Okay, so I’m a little late to the party on this one, but I’m not a diehard Radiohead fan, though I have enjoyed them. Their recent Best Album Grammy Nom reinterested me in this CD, and Amazon put the MP3 album on sale for $5, so… what the hey?
This is a very sophisticated album for the group. Radiohead has always been hard to categorize or describe, but the best I can say is that it combines the lush textural layers of “Kid A” with their (unique) songcraft of “OK Computer”.
I don’t know why I enjoy Radiohead when I would scoff at how pretentious someone else was trying to be doing this style of music, but thaty’s just it, somehow, they don’t come off as pretentious.
For me the real standouts come near the end of the CD, “House of Cards” is a gorgeous ballad with a Bass that seems to rattle the room, and “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” moves nicely and brings up the pace before a mellow close.
Production is great throughout, and a real treat to listen to closely on great headphones. (Like the Bose noise-reduction headphones I got for Christmas!)
Amazon.com: In Rainbows: MP3 Downloads: Radiohead.
Posted by Michael on December 22, 2008 under Articles, Reviews |
Many pundits seem to think that the iPod has killed off the “album”. I disagree. I listen to FAR more complete albums since I got my iPod than before. I think having my entire collection with me at all times, so I can play the album that fits my mood, has the most to do with it.
So, the album is NOT dead, and here are my favorites from 2008!
1. Pink – Funhouse
I’ve been a fan of Pink for a while, but she really outdid herself on her latest album. Who else could make a painful divorce song so fun in “So What.” The rest of the album is no exception. The lyrics are often intensely personal, and often surprising in how they are delivered. The album is incredibly cohesive; an amazing feat considering it goes from uber-polished pop rock to acoustic flavored ballads to very organic bluesy-rock ala Aerosmith. Hands down my favorite album of the year, and better yet… I sense the best might still be yet to come from this artist!
2. Coldplay – Viva la Vida
This has received no shortage of attention, and it deserves it. But the beauty of this album is how it flows as an ALBUM. Individual songs from the album popping up at random on your iPod might all be good, but the creative majesty of this project is how it unfolds over the course of 50 minutes or so. Spend the time to sit down and soak it all in; then you’ll see that this album is worthy of the hype.
3. Katy Perry – One of the Boys
One of the most criminal oversights with the Grammy Noms this year is failing to nominate Katy Perry for Best New Artist. I don’t know if I could name ANY debut pop album that was as cohesive a project as this. Personality also oozes through the CD with fun and distinctive lyrics and no shortage of hooks. She is not just a singles artist, for all the candy-confection majesty of “I Kissed a Girl” and “Hot and Cold” they sit in well with the entire CD as a whole, one that won’t disappoint fans of her singles. Read more of this article »
