Album Review: Nicki Minaj, Rihanna

There were three releases I was looking forward to nearly all year, and they are finally all available at stores and available for me to ridicule. This review will just cover two, the females -- we'll get to the phenomenal Male release soon (it's just too good to lump in with this post). Honestly though, all three artists delivered, some more than others, but none of the albums were major disappointments.

Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday"

The "rookie" of the year Nicki Minaj has made a name for herself this year with her dozens upon dozens of features, most times bringing the only bit of life to the songs in her verses. Her animated and energetic bars were intriguing and exciting, but somehow when she's by herself on a full 3-4 minute song a lot of that excitement is lost. And that's the biggest problem with "Pink Friday", which is actually a solid Hip Hop/Pop Album, it just feels like the Nicki that we fell in love with this year is absent. It's a solid and standard Hip Hop album with club cuts, love songs, and diss tracks and really the only thing that sets it apart from other solid albums from the genre is the fact that she's a woman. There are glimpses of the uninhibited Nicki on clear stand out "Roman's Revenge" with Eminem, and also on "Blazin" with Kanye West and single "Check it Out" with Will.I.Am. Most of this album is spent on trying to prove that she can back up the hype, and for the most part she does a good job in giving her fans something versatile and introspective ("Dear Old Nicki"), and empowering them ("Fly" with Rihanna and "I'm the Best" which gives great commentary on females in the rap game and how she wants to help them). Unfortunately in doing this, she's exposed her short comings as a lyricist, for instance her rhyming "F-1" on 4 bars of "Did it On Em" . Though there are moments of greatness on the album (the Drake assisted "Moment 4 Life" and "Here I Am", and her actually singing a full song on the surprisingly subdued "Save Me"), some of it feels almost like wasted space. The good thing is the album overall is a good listen, by abandoning the rap style that got her famous we at least have something to look forward to on the second album, or future feature work. (Also note: you can get a taste of that Nicki on some of the bonus tracks -- check out "Muny" and "Catch Me", those are the best)

Rating: 4 Stars
Best: "Moment 4 Life" "Roman's Revenge" "Save Me"

Rihanna "Loud"

There's really not much to say about Rihanna's 5th album "Loud". She and her team are just undoubtedly gifted at selecting material that combines to make great Pop albums, and though "Loud" is a slight departure from her slightly more disturbed "Rated R", it plays as a culmination of her career up to this point. There are heavy traces of all of the different genres she's tackled in her short 5 year career, you have the dancehall/reggae sounds found on her first two albums in "Man Down" and the island tinged future Classic "What's My Name?". You get the genuine club sound that made her a worldwide star in first single "Only Girl (In the World)" and the unapologetic sexed up "S&M". You get some R&B ("Fading" "Raining Men") and some pure pop ("Cheers (Drink to That)" and the acoustic/rock ballad "California King Bed"). And more so than just treading paths she's already walked down, each song sound fresh and up to date and just elevated from where they were on previous efforts. Rihanna has become so comfortable with her voice and has always known how to sing with appropriate attitude, and this may be the best album to show off the sass and Diva swagger that has made her a star. Some of the album, with only one verse or no bridge, seems a little rushed at time and it's clearly not the Pop masterpieces that "Rated R" and 2007's "Good Girl Gone Bad" were, but it's a great place holder until her next album -- which given her discography should be pretty phenomenal.

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Best: "What's My Name" "Complicated" "S&M"

Album Review: Quick Update/GET 'ER DONE (Part One)!!!!

Okay it's November, and I have reviews for albums that were released as far back as March!
So you know what, I'm gonna review them ALL... RIGHT NOW!!! In the words of Larry the Cable Guy, I'm on a mission to GET 'ER DONE!!!! So here we go...

LCD Soundsystem "This Is Happening"

The third album from the highly buzzed about Electronic producer LCD Soundsystem (aka James Murphy) was released to mass critical acclaim in May. "This Is Happening" is a fun dance album in general, although it does come off as a bit one-note at times. Some of the best the album has to offer actually can come off as copy cats of other artists (Devo on "Drunk Girls", She Wants Revenge on "All I Want"), but the overall effect is a new level of Electronic music. Murphy maintains a Electronic sound, but there are heavy traces of Punk, Rock and Pop on any given track. The albums high points are the unapologetic fun of "Pow Pow", while "One Touch" "You Wanted A Hit" and "I Can Change" are near perfection. The album is a unique listen, but can wear a little thin at times.

Rating: 3.5 Stars
Best: "Pow Pow", "I Can Change", "You Wanted a Hit"


Robyn "Body Talk Pt. 2"

After the first portion of her "Body Talk" trilogy was released earlier this year, Robyn dropped the sequel in September and it completely blows the original out of the water. Robyn has somehow managed to make club and radio friendly Dance music but layers it with so much heart and intensity that it sounds like a Musical Masterpiece compared to the Ke$ha's and Willow's of the Pop world. "Pt. 2" is a little more intense and heavier than "Pt. 1", songs like "We Dance to the Beat" and "Criminal Intent" have such a hard House sound that's so enjoyable the scant lyrics are more than appropriate. Than you get the honest and heartfelt lyricism on "Hang with Me" "Love Kills" and the Acoustic "Indestructible". "Pt. 3" will be sold as a combination of all albums on November 22nd and there's no doubt that compilation will be better than most albums released this year. Unfortunately not many in America will hear them, and Ke$ha will forever rule the airwaves.

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Best: "Hang with Me", "Love Kills", "We Dance to the Beat"


Brandon Flowers "Flamingo"

The solo debut of The Killers' front man Brandon Flowers came to very little fanfare this October. Maybe because the albums first single "Crossfire" sounded almost exactly like a unreleased cut from the groups last album "Day and Age". And once you listen further to this album, there's not much that separates Flowers as The Killers' lead singer and Flowers as a solo star. The beginning of the album is very lackluster, however towards the middle and to the end he does manage to deliver some outstanding tracks, still very Killers-esque. "Only the Young" the albums second single just sounds like an instant classic, the first single is no slouch either. Most of the last half of the album is enjoyable, though a tad forgettable. Which, unfortunately, is probably what this solo venture will end up being. A forgotten one.

Rating: 3 Stars
Best: "Only the Young", "Crossfire", "Jacksonville"


Kings of Leon "Come Around Sundown"

Last year Kings of Leon emerged from the Indie scene and got a big Pop single and a handful of Grammy gold. And the bright side of their 5th album "Come Around Sundown" is the group doesn't seem to be worried about duplicating their mainstream success. Nothing on the album feels forced, however the overall feeling the albums leaves is pretty boring. The vibe is their original sort of grass roots Rock sound mixed with a lighter feeling. And maybe that lighter feel is my problem, I just don't feel like they "rocked out" hard enough on this album, even though their first single "Radioactive" and "Pony Up" for instance are pure energetic Rocker romps, the rest of the album is just a little too mellow. Still, the group members are skilled and experienced musicians and lead singer Caleb Followill still has one of the most distinct and powerful voices in the industry. Those two facts alone make the album worthy.

Rating: 3 Stars
Best: "Birthday", "Radioactive", "Pony Up"

Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse "Dark Night of the Soul"

Danger Mouse the Go-To Producer for Moody Alternative-Pop is back with probably his moodiest darkest work yet. Teaming up this time with Alternative group Sparklehorse, the album was actually released on the internet last year, however after some legal disputes the album was re-released for retail this Summer. It should be noted that Sparklehorse front man Mark Linkous committed suicide in March of this year so that definitely adds to the eery effect of the album. Another note, always creepy film director David Lynch wrote an accompanying 100 plus page book as visual accompaniment to what is called a "concept album about Spiritual Crisis". Having not read that book, or even knowing about Linkous, the overall tone of the album is very well felt. With guest artists like Iggy Pop, Suzanne Vega, The Flaming Lips, Gruff Rhys providing very haunting vocals over the very spooky tracks. The songs more or less bleed into each other, with not many standouts, but a great overall feel. (Though Julian Casablancas from The Strokes' "Little Girl" is easily my favorite).

Rating: 3.5 Stars
Best: "Little Girl", "The Man Who Played God", "Star Eyes (I Can Catch It)",

Album Review: Quick Update/The Summer of Pop

Katy Perry "Teenage Dream"

If Katy Perry's goal on her second outing was to put together an album full of potential top 10 pop hits, than she more than succeeded with "Teenage Dream" her second studio album. She was already the queen of summer with two #1's from the title track and "California Gurls". And the light fun and catchy tracks like "Last Nite (TGIF)" "Peacock" and "The One that Got Away" are almost Pop radio guarantees. The most surprising thing about the album is that the pop singer goes a little deeper than you'd think with beautiful and well-written tracks like "Firework" "Pearl" and "Not Like the Movies". And even her subject matter (ditching an addict boyfriend on "Circle the Drain") and production ("E.T.") are superior to a lot of generic Pop songs out now. Katy shows them all how to do Pop music, and though it's still really light and just a Fun album overall, it does show some growth as well as charm.

Rating: Four Stars
Best: Teenage Dream, Not Like the Movies, E.T.


Bruno Mars "Doo-Wops & Hooligans"

Bruno Mars became a name this summer from his various feature work, his debut album "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" is in the same vein of most of his features, laid back and breezy poppy hip hop/r&b odes, and his voice does help to fill out some of the songs. Overall though, the album has some catchy songs that are fun to listen to, but are so bogged down by lyrics that cater to the lowest denominator. On "Marry You" he proposes as something "dumb to do", rhymes "snuggie" with "Teach me how to dougie" on "The Lazy Song", and it gets no lazier than "Count on Me" with it's hook "1,2,3... A,B,C". Mars has a lot of qualities that could make him a star, but his elementary lyricism is really a distracting part of the total package. And really makes the album a lot less enjoyable.

Rating: Two Stars
Best: Talking to the Moon, Just the Way You Are, Our First Time


Maroon 5 "Hands All Over"

Maroon 5's single "Misery" should have been a summer blockbuster as it's catchy, fun and upbeat. However the song lingered in the mid-20's of the Hot 100 throughout most of the summer, and unfortunatley when their 4th album "Hands All Over" there weren't many songs to match that first single and confirms why I've never been a big fan of the group. There are a handful of highlights on the album, namely the beautifully produced and sung "Just a Feeling", as well as "I Can't Lie" "Never Gonna Leave this Bed" and "Out of Goodbyes" with Lady Antebellum. The biggest complaint about the album and the group is that they very rarely just go with the flow, it seems like on alot of songs the raw soul and natural energy is dilluted by trying to make everything a perfect package for radio. Leaving the listener with a somewhat sterile and over-worked and over-produced Pop album.

Rating: Two Stars
Best: Just a Feeling, Misery, Never Gonna Leave This Bed