Year In Music, 2009!!

I don't really know how to sum up the Year in Music of 2009. If you went off the Billboard charts, this was a truly awful year for music. Formulaic, Generic, Dance hybrids with insanely annoying but catchy hooks were seemingly all you needed to hit #1 this year. On a good note, all the music released this year wasn't awful. There were a few underrated gems, and a few deserved successes, so here is a quick recap of the best and worst of these past 12 months.

*Artist of the Year*

1. Michael Jackson
Typically, if an artist is able to move TWO MILLION units in one week, completely dominate the iTunes album singles and video charts, and open up a movie that grosses $200 million -- they would undoubtedly become everyone's Artist of the Year. Unfortunately it took Michael Jackson passing away for him to achieve all of this since June of this year. However A lot of the younger generation, who grew up around the time his star was being trampled on by the media, were able to appreciate his music really for the first time and sort of got to re-discover him as a new artist.

2. Beyonce
3. Lady GaGa

*Biggest Flop of the Year, or the Try again next time award*:
Awarded to the artist who this year had a less than successful run on the charts, but the talent and the drive is still there enough for us to not underestimate them in the long run. Even the greatest have flops, so chin up and come back harder next time. You can do it.

1. Ciara
2. Leona Lewis
3. Jordin Sparks

*New Artist of the Year*

1. Lady GaGa

Lady GaGa might officially have been the new artist of last year since her debut "The Fame" was released in October 2008. However, 2009 is when Lady GaGa pretty much conquered the world and made a name for herself. Though the material on her album might not be the most inventive, she more than made up for that with some truly amazing performances. She did the New Artist thing right, she made sure she made headlines with her outlandish fashions. She had people talking about her before they even saw her perform, and that's when she always managed to live up to the hype and deliver pretty flawless, and surprisingly strong singing and always some sort of arty-gimmick to keep viewers eyes on her at all times. She ended the year releasing a strong set of dance songs on an EP called "The Fame Monster" that showed some growth. A very strong year for GaGa, let's see where she goes from here.

2. Drake
3. Kid Cudi

*Guilty Pleasure of the Year*:
Those songs that you KNOW are terrible from the first time you hear them, but for some reason -- most likely due to radio saturation -- you can't escape the song and before you know it, you're humming the melodies uncontrollably and sooner or later that awful song you made fun of at first is on your iPod and inching closer and closer to your Most Played.

1. Lady GaGa "Poker Face"
2. The Jonas Brothers "Tonight"
3. Jeremih "Birthday Sex"
4. The Lonely Island feat. T-Pain "I'm on a Boat"
5. Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA"

*Top 10 Albums of the Year*

1. Jay Z "The Blueprint 3"

2. Rihanna "Rated R"
3. Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"
4. Animal Collective "Merriweather Post Pavilion"
5. Mariah Carey "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel"

6. Yeah Yeah Yeah's "It's Blitz!"
7. Mos Def "The Ecstatic"

8. Black Eyed Peas "The E.N.D."

9. Chris Cornell "Scream"

10. The-Dream "Love vs Money"

*Worst single of the Year*

1. 50 Cent "Baby By Me"
2. U2 "Get on your Boots"
3. Usher "Papers"

*Best and/or Dumbest Dance Craze of the Year*

1. The Ricky Bobby, "Do the Ricky Bobby" by B-Hamp
2. The Stanky Legg, "Stanky Legg" by GS Boyz
3. The Jerk, "You're a Jerk" by New Boyz

*Best Comeback of the Year*

1. Britney Spears

Britney takes this crown, because her comeback was more true to what the term was originally intended to mean. She really made a true return to form. True, a return to form means more lips-ynching and mediocre dancing while being sexy. That's what has gotten her this far, and it's not hard to do. However anybody who has a TV, a computer, a radio, or access to any tabloid magazine knows that Britney's chaotic story in 2007 after her divorce. She tried to, or more like Forced by her label, save her image with the album "Blackout" which was a surprisingly hot album. The problem was that she was completely whacked out, either psychologically and physically drained or on drugs and was obviously just not into it. With her late 2008 release "Circus" and it's video she's great, looking fresh and toned, attacking the (again mediocre) choreography, but the best was that she seemed "Present". The album was actually above par, and very late in her US tour she delivered some knock out performances (of course still lip-synching). I don't think she has much longer before time catches up with her body forever, and apparently she's ready to release another album in 2010 and keep the streak going.

2. Kelly Clarkson

Kelly didn't have any apparent drug or psychological problems to comeback from, but she did have a very nasty and public dispute with her label and label head Clive Davis over her last album "My December". That album tanked, and Kelly was seriously in a critical situation with her career. She came back this year though, and with a huge record breaking #1 "My Life Would Suck Without You". Her album sold decently, but another hurdle of massive weight gain (maybe that's a little mean, I should say rapid weight gain) almost stopped her career dead in it's tracks. However the Ryan Tedder production "Already Gone", that she openly did not want as a single, is still doing really well on the singles charts and at the end of the year she's garnered a Grammy nomination.

3. Whitney Houston

It seems like people have already forgot about Whitney's big comeback, almost 6 years in the making. Grammy voters sure did. About 6 months ago, everybody was predicting Whitney would have one of the strongest comebacks in music history, and was sure to grab multiple music trophies just for coming back strong. The main problem was that she didn't comeback strong, even though her "people" did a fantastic job of trying to fool everyone. Her album "I Look to You" was passable, if a little boring and ultimately forgettable. Her live performances were another story, though her voice has come along way since her last comeback in 2002, she literally can't hold a note. And no amount of backup singers or extremely loud backing vocal tracks can hide it. That, and the Oprah interview that really didn't show her in a flattering light. Though her album did sell pretty well, there are seemingly no plans for any follow up singles or anything else. This might be a wrap for Whitney.

*Artist that most needs to just Give it up this Year*: The greats are great forever, unless they don't realize that they're not the #1 stars they used to be and keep releasing material in hopes of dominating the music world, when in reality their mainstream relevance has been gone. These three artists still seem to think they can regain (and in one case achieve) Popular success, and they seriously need a wake up call before it's too late.

1. Janet Jackson

Janet seems to be very likable in the mainstream, but the problem is nobody is buying her albums. 2008's "Discipline" completely flopped, and the album before that "20 Y.O." didn't fair any better. She hasn't had a #1 single since 2001's "All For You", and hasn't managed even a Top 10 single since the second single from that album was released. And here she is in 2009, getting major sympathy points from the death of her brother. Has a highly publicized network television interview where they debut her new video "Make Me", yet the song has made ZERO dents in the chart. Just give it up Janet. "Why Did I Get Married Too" is set to be released in early 2010, and that might just be her new medium to attack, Acting. I think it's time to step away from the studio because, hell she doesn't even have a contract right now.

2. Mario

Mario has never been The One! He's never had any real stretch of time as the reigning R&B singer. When he first came out, he was basically the younger Usher with braids. He had a hit, but this was during one of Usher's several dominant periods of R&B. When Mario's second album was released, he managed to score a big hit out of "Let Me Love You", but somehow that songs writer Ne-Yo ended up eclipsing him. 2007's "Go!" was a great album for Mario, but than he had both Ne-Yo and pre-battery charge Chris Brown owning him on the charts. And now, when he probably thought it was safe to release his 4th album "D.N.A.", Trey Songz is completely owning him as the new young R&B Heartthrob. So, Mario, Sorry! Your time has passed. Give it up.

3. Jennifer Lopez

Honestly. Even though you're "Louboutins" single is actually kind of cute and catchy, people stopped caring about you years ago. Focus on acting (re-train yourself, take some classes) and please stay out the studio.

*Top 10 Singles of the Year*

1. David Guetta feat. Akon "Sexy Bitch"
2. Animal Collective "My Girls"
3. Mstrkrft feat. John Legend "Heartbreaker"
4. Kid Cudi "Day n Nite"

5. Green Day "Know Your Enemy"

6. Lady GaGa "Bad Romance"
7. Jay-Z feat. Kanye West and Rihanna "Run this Town"
8. Maxwell "Pretty Wings"
9. Beyonce "Sweet Dreams"
10. Keri Hilson with NeYo and Kanye West "Knock You Down"

*Awards Ceremony of the Year that sucked the Least*

1. MTV VMA's ... Yeah, that's it.

MTV got back to when the VMA's were actually good. They had a killer roster of performers who turned in some really great highlights. Taylor Swift performing in a subway, GaGa dying, Pink singing while doing acrobatics from the ceiling, JayZ and Alicia getting ambushed by Lil mama, and Beyonce's hundreds upon millions dancers. And, back to form, the VMA's delivered a water cooler topic in Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech to declare "Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time". Staged? Well, I have my theories, but the important thing is it was a great moment that will stand against the other great moments of the VMA's.

*Most Unnecessary Collaboration of the Year*

1. Wale and Lady GaGa "Chillin"

There's actually nothing wrong with the song, but it was so obviously intended for M.I.A. and not Lady GaGa (who actually does make the song). I guess it was a smart decision since GaGa was so hot at the moment, but the collaboration doesn't make sense given how both artists are from completely different worlds in genre, fan base and personality.

2. 50 Cent and NeYo "Baby By Me"

I just hate this song so much, and really upset that after releasing an album titled "Year of the Gentleman" NeYo would participate in a song with such a vile message.

3. Shakira and Lil Wayne "Give it up to Me"

Good song, but Lil Wayne really wasn't needed and he contributes nothing. It almost sounds like one of those mixtape mash ups of one of his mix tape verses. This is the song where I, personally, officially got tired of the Weezy verse.

*Best Impersonation of another Artist of the Year*

1. Lady Gaga as Madonna on "The Fame Monster"

Bravo! GaGa has been getting Madonna comparisons since "Poker Face", but never has she got the essence of Madonna until her "The Fame Monster" EP was released. "Alejandro" plays like a soft mash of "Cherish" and "La Isla Bonita". And when she gets to name calling famous screen sirens and art Icons on "Dance in the Dark" ("Marilyn, Judy, Sylvia" "Liberace" "Kubrick") it becomes obvious that the mockery is intended. (?) Never the less, she did a great job.

2. Chester French as Weezer on "Love the Future"

If you imagine that Weezer recorded an album produced by the Neptunes in 2002, it would sound pretty much exactly like Chester French's debut "Love the Future". Except that it would have been 10 times better.

*Most likey to become a One Hit Wonder of the Year*

1. New Boyz "You're a Jerk"
2. Ke$ha "Tik Tok"
3. LMFAO "I'm in Miami Bitch"

*Best Collaboration of the Year*

1. R. Kelly and Keri Hilson (or R. Keri Baby!) "Number One"

2. Jay Z, Kanye West and Rihanna "Run This Town"

3. Keri Hilson, NeYo and Kanye West "Knock You Down"

*Cheesiest Album cover of the Year*

1. Adam Lambert (tie) Chris Brown

*Most Underrated Album of the Year*

1. Ciara "Fantasy Ride"

2. Shakira "She Wolf"

3. Akon "Freedom"

*Best DanceFloor Song of the Year*

1. Lady GaGa "Bad Romance"
2. David Guetta feat. Akon "Sexy Bitch"
3. LMFAO "I'm in Miami Bitch"

*Most Underrated Single of the Year*

1. Jordin Sparks "Battlefield"

2. Charles Hamilton "Brooklyn Girls"

3. Mary J. Blige and Drake "The One"

*Youtube LOL Moment of the Year*

1. Britney Spears and the "crazed" fan.

It's not even that this kid managed to get past security and actually get face to face with Britney and dance with her that's funny. It's Britney's reaction, and how long it takes her to get back to dancing and lip-synching.

*Most needed STFU of the Year*: Alot of artists are best when they aren't speaking (ahem, Beyonce), and these are the three artists this year that should have refrained from any interviews because it did them more damage than good.

1. Chris Brown

Doing one Larry King Interview was fine. Even though it came nearly 7 months After the well-known "Incident" in February involving Brown and than-girlfriend Rihanna (we all know the story). The interview is understandable, just to clear the air and protect his image. Unfortunately, Brown sounded pretty damn moronic during the interview. He was totally evasive about the incident itself, and sounded like he was recycling the same 5 "I was wrong! Please forgive me" sound-bites he had most likely been rehearsing for weeks. Bad interview, but it gets worst. After Rihanna did a much more respectable and revealing interview with Dianne Sawyer, Chris Brown did yet ANOTHER interview where again he revealed nothing and again was playing himself as the victim. Please Chris Brown! STFU!!! Both of you should have just let it go, nobody really cared 7 months after the fact, but Chris made it worst for himself by talking too damn much.

2. Tiffany Evans

Her tweets about Rihanna and the devils in the music industry wasn't necessary. And when Rihanna calls her out for it, Evans tweets "at least I can sing". Yeah, you do have a good set of pipes, but the problem is nobody wants to hear you sing. Most people don't even know you. Rihanna is worldwide. Don't be mad? Get some people behind you that will make things happen for you. And it doesn't have to be the devil. While your assembling that team... STFU!!


3. Keri Hilson (tie) Whitney Houston

Keri, and not just because she dissed Beyonce in a remix to her "Turnin me On" single ("yo vision cloudy if you think that you the best, she can sing, she can dance, but need to move to the left. she need to go have some babies, she need to sit down, she fading."), its really the fact that she went on radio and said A) she didn't want to record it B) she said it wasn't about anybody in particular. STFU!!
Whitney, because on Oprah she said plenty of times she didn't smoke crack. Oprah: "so you laced marijuana with cocaine" Whitney: "Yes Rock Cocaine". colossal FAIL!!! Whitney STFU!!

From *Hottest to Weakest Producer of the Year*

1. Ryan Tedder. This guy started out the year in high demand. He had monster success in 2008 with Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love", and coming into 2009 he had the epic "Halo" by Beyonce. Shortly after that, it seems he had peaked. Kelly Clarkson famously called Tedder out for giving her almost an exact replica of "Halo" in her own "Already Gone". By the time the end of the year rolled around and I'm sure he was expecting to repeat the success of "Bleeding Love" with Leona's "Happy", but being that it sounded just the same as pretty much all his other tracks it tanked on the charts and effectively ended his reign as the "IT" Producer of the moment.

*Leaked (!?) Nude pics of the Year*:

1. Rihanna

Just when things couldn't get worst. She just got beat up by her boyfriend, terrorized by the paparazzi and tabloids, and lost a cosmetics contract. Than some very sexy nude pics, obviously taken with and by than boyfriend Chris Brown. Though many question the pics that show her frontal view, most people were on Rihanna overload at that point so nobody really cared much and they were soon forgotten.

2. Jamie Foxx

The funny thing when male celebrities pictures leak, they always have to come up with a statement about it. Either declaring they are fake and that they'd never do anything like that, or admit that the pictures are them, but try to spin it so they don't seem like a big pervert. Jamie Foxx didn't do any of that. He or his team just made sure they were removed before it got to millions of viewers, which is something that surprisingly alot of those other guys don't make the effort to do.

3. Cassie

For the amount of times nude pictures have leaked of a celebrity, Cassie gets the crown this year. Although she's not much of a celebrity.

Album Review: Snoop Dogg, Clipse, Timbaland

So today I'll be reviewing a few of the newly released Hip Hop albums, and sorry I didn't listen to Gucci Mane's "The State vs. Radric Davis" even though I actually really like the first two singles from that album "Wasted" and "Spotlight" featuring Usher. Maybe this weekend I'll download it, but for now I want to talk about some of the more Established names in the Hip Hop industry. Starting out with one of the most well known names and a true Hip Hop Legend Snoop Dogg and his 10th studio album "Malice N Wonderland" which hit stores December 8th. Snoop is definitely a staple of the genre, and he's actually managed to be rather consistent over the past 16 years but he seems not so interested in wow'ing his listeners with anything groundbreaking or innovative, and this album is a testament to that. Snoop's aim seems to be divided on each release, about half of the songs are genuine "Thug" anthems, and the other half would be him flowing effortlessly over the sound of the moment or smoothed out R&B sounds. So on "Malice" he'll go from the heavy bass and abrasive lyricism of "That's Tha Homie" or the albums best cut "Upside Down" which are ready-made for cars with huge woofers and rims. Than he'll switch it up with "Different Languages" and "Luv Drunk" featuring Jazmine Sullivan and The-Dream respectively (The-Dream shows up on two cuts, "Luv Drunk" and the albums first single "Gangsta Luv", and they are two of the better songs on the album) which are ready-made for radio play. What's awesome about this album is that he keeps it simple and short. Unlike last years "Ego Trippin" or 2006's "Tha Blue Carpet Treatment" which were solid albums but were brought down because they were so long, "Malice" is a solid and cohesive album that never feels overlong, and the Neptunes produced "Special" is the perfect closer for another really solid outing from Uncle Snoop.

Clipse also released their third studio album "Til the Casket Drops" on December 8th, and the Neptunes protegee's also keep it short and sweet however the result is less effective. Just like their other two studio albums, this one is produced predominantly by The Neptunes and that might be it's downfall. There's not one song I can call out as being bad, with bad lyrics or a bad track because there's really nothing wrong with the album on the whole. It does all flow well together and you never want to turn it off or skip past anything while listening, but there's just nothing that grabs you. I think that's because The Neptunes tracks that were provided are a little too mellow for their own good, at times it feels like one long song. Mind you, I've only listened to the album once and maybe can go for another one person listening party. And if I can call out a few of the tracks that I rated higher were the end tracks "Life Change" and "Champion", one of it's leaked singles "I'm Good" is also one you might want to check out.

The one album of all the three that I have been listening to the most is Timbaland's "Shock Value II" (also released December 8th), however much like 2007's "Shock Value" this album is so NOT Hip Hop. In fact this one is even less Hip Hop than the previous outing which at least included a few collaborations with Missy Elliott, 50 Cent and Dr. Dre. "Shock Value II" is strictly a POP album where as "Shock Value" was a little grittier and leaned more toward the Rock/Alternative side. With collaborations with Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Nickleback, Daughtry, Nelly Furtado and The Fray to name a few "II" can't be classified as anything other than Pop. Surprisingly Timbaland does a very good job with this, it's the perfect album to end 2009 because it draws from the popular sounds of this past year. And that's not to say there isn't anything original on this album. "Undertow" with The Fray and Esthero is easily the best track on the album, a smooth ballad that benefits from the extra electronic glitches he includes. "Lose Control" featuring Jo Jo and "Carry Out" featuring Justin Timberlake are perfect songs for the car during the summer. "Can You Feel It" and "If We Ever Meet Again" featuring Katy Perry are perfection when it comes to dance rythms, and even when he gets with Disney Queen Miley Cyrus the result is alot more inventive and edgy than you'd imagine it would be. Though two songs I generally skip over, this is one album that doesn't take any wrong turns. I could sometimes do without him trying to sing, if he had just produced this album and left all the vocals to more talented guys it would have been an A+, but still if his voice didn't annoy you in "Shock Value" than you'll be more than ready for the sequel. (And this is important, you should buy the Deluxe version that features an excellent collaboration with Daughtry "Long Way Down" and three other worthwhile tracks that shouldn't be missed)

Album Review: Alicia Keys

What Happened to Alicia Keys?
Yesterday she released her 4th studio album "The Element of Freedom", and unfortunatley it's just a tad forgettable. Not to give the impression that it's a bad album, it really isn't. In fact there really isn't anything about the individual songs that I can complain about, however altogether there are some issues with the album. My main complaint though is that a majority of the songs on this new effort don't sound new at all. There are times while listening when you feel like you may be listening to some unreleased demos to her last album "As I Am" (evidenced in "Love is My Disease" or "Doesn't Mean Anything") and other instances where you feel like you are listening to discards from her second album "Diary" (the Beyonce featured "Put it in a Love Song" and "Empire State of Mind Part Two"). There are a few, well TWO, songs that breakthrough and take Keys to a new level and those are "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" which has a bit of a vocal cameo from Drake, and "That's How Strong My Love Is" which is a huge R&B ballad reminscent of the classic 80's hit "Tender Love" by Force MD's. Those two (well and "Wait Til You See Me Smile" which has a very nice arrangement, but the vocals leave alot to be desired) are really the only stand outs and that's the real problem with the album on the whole. It feels like Alicia has plateaued and maybe run out of new and interesting ideas. She herself did say in a interview I happened to read that she went into this album having no idea what to do, and it's pretty evident. She didn't know how to take her music to the next level, so she just stayed where she was comfortable.
And again, I think I should say this isn't a bad album. It's thouroughly listenable, and it might even grow on me, but Alicia has a history of grabbing you with that first listen and because this album doesn't offer that same effect, it's a bit of a disapointment. I still have faith in her, she is probably one of the more talented artists of her generation and I think she just needs some real inspiration to deliver another Amazing album. A bad album happens to the best of them, and this is just a slight hitch in Keys' discography. Better luck next time A.

Album Review: R. Kelly, Chris Brown, Adam Lambert

Every time R. Kelly releases a new album, I always underestimate him for some reason. He was the King of R&B in the 90's and portions of this decade, and even with a very nasty and potentially damaging public scandal he stayed consistent in his music. Over the past four albums, I've tired of him because I feel like he is struggling to stay relevant and young when he should be transitioning into an older sound. Having said that, I've said the same thing before listening to his past four albums, and surprisingly they've all been pretty great. And this new album "Untitled", now his 9th solo studio album (it's really his 12th if you count his debut with Public Announcement and his two collaboration albums with Jay-Z) is also just as great. Here's what, R. Kelly is, has always been, and will always be the best when it comes to R&B Sex Music. And this album is all about sex. In fact on one track he openly admits "There's only 2 things, in this world, That I'm the best at, it's true, Number 1 is music, Number 2, can't nobody rock your body out" and throughout this very pleasant and very well sequenced album he goes on to yodel "Echo", sing in spanish (the albums first single) "Number One" with Keri Hilson, and even get "Religious" all about sex. I can't hate, it's what he's built his career on thus far and obviously what works for him, at one point he even says this is "12 Play, 4th Round" referencing his most successful albums and the classic 90's album that started it all (and has had 2 sequels so far). He does a fine job of putting together a nice album, and there are even points where he ventures out of the R&B world on the club track "I Love the DJ", and "Be My #2" which has a nice disco feel to it. Nothing truly groundbreaking, but for R. Kelly fans they won't be disapointed because he stays in a very familiar, thus comforting territory.

Speaking of R&B Artists who are releasing albums after very public scandals, let's talk about Chris Brown. His new album "Graffiti" comes out December 8th, and for alot of reasons fans are looking for him to drop something amazing to bring the focus back to his music. The big problem with this album, now his third, is it's so all over the place conceptually. He goes from being the sad, love struck, "woe is me, my life as a celebrity is so hard" guy on tracks like "Lucky Me" and "So Cold". Than he goes on to reinforce a bad boy, Player image on tracks like "What I Do" and (the terribly innapropraite and sickening) "Wait". I think what's more disappointing about the album is the fact that he hasn't progressed much since his last album "Exclusive", and at times this album seems like a continuation of that album instead of being what it should have been, an improvement. There's alot of good stuff on the album, but even some of the better tracks like "Famous Girl" and "Sing Like Me" sound like they could have fit easily on that prior album. And what's funny, is this R&B crooner has some of his best moments on this album, and of his career when he ventures outside of that genre. "Crawl" is a really wonderful Pop ballad in the vein of his duet with Jordin Sparks "No Air", while "I.Y.A." and "Pass Out" (which sounds like "Disturbia", and I'm quite certain it was meant as a duet with him and Rihanna, but don't quote me on that) have him feeling confident and at home in the club music genre. And the albums closer "I'll Go" is phenomenal vocally and production wise. The track which is almost R&B somewhat Rock, is matched perfectly by the lyrics and the vocal delivery. If he had took more of a risk with this album and really went outside of his comfort zone this could have been a really great album. As it stand, it's average for the most part, but him stepping outside the box on those few songs shows a little promise for his career.

And for something completeley out of the box, Adam Lambert. He may not have officially won American Idol earlier this year, but undoubtedly he was the Star of the season. In fact, with his Rolling Stone cover (the only Idol alum EVER to cover the magazine solo) and the media circus surrounding his sexuality, and the "controversial" American Music Award performance have made him a true star. And, surprisingly, the music on his album "For Your Entertainment" is better than the hype. Normally these Idol albums are a pretty generic mix of the artists influences and ready made Radio hits. This album follows that format, and there are a few truly awful tracks but for the most part this is a very solid debut album. The album goes from Rock to Dance music and back a few times, with a few glimpses into Lambert's inspiration growing up. So you'll get tracks like the title track, "If I Had You" and "Sure Fire Winners", fun dance tracks with a little Rock attitude which Lambert more than handles even when you can tell he's less than thrilled with the material. "Whataya Want from Me" "Sleepwalker" and "Pick U Up" have him vying for time on Modern Rock and A/C radio stations and these are a few of the best tracks on the album. However Lambert is really at home on "Soaked" and beautiful "Broken Open", which show restraint over tracks obviously inspired by the Epic Power Ballads of the 70's by the likes of Queen and Meatloaf. Overall a very promising debut, it may be all over the place and a bit long, but Lambert's voice is unique and diverse enough to tackle it all. We will probably be hearing from this guy for a while now.

Top 25 All-Time Favourite Artists (5-2)

2. Madonna

As a kid of the 80's, some my earliest Music memories involve Madonna. She practically OWNED MTV and all the other video shows in the 80's, her songs were Always on the radio, and just the phenomenon that was Madonna back in the 80's is something that is really indescribable to someone who didn't live through that era. And she paved the way for alot of (well MOST of... i'd actually say 100% of...) the Female artists and Female celebrities in general of today. In terms of image, sexual empowerment, being an opinionated female Pop entertainer and being unapologetic about the things she did. And let's not even get into how Awesome she was at the whole Publicity stunt. She was really one of the first artists to totally Use the media for her own gain, and as you see so many artists Male and Female follow that trend. Another great thing about Madonna is that she really Is the only big artist from the 80's that still makes quality music and is as relevant over the past two decades.

myTop 3 Favourite Madonna albums: 1. Music (2000), 2. Bedtime Stories (1994), 3. Ray of Light (1997)


3. Marvin Gaye

I have to admit, I never fully got into Marvin Gaye until maybe 6 or 7 years ago. Ofcourse I knew Alot about him beforehand. Most of my close family members are Music lovers just like me so Good Music was always heard when I was a child and I knew alot about the Motown sound when I was really young. I read a Biography about Gaye and they talked alot about the "What's Going On" album, and how revolutionary it was for the time. How at the time Socially conscious R&B was not really heard of. How he produced it all himself and was the first act to use the technology to do His Own backing vocals, and it was the first album to have songs lead into each other. And how he fought so hard to get it out, how he refused to do any work for Motown until the album was released. He put all his heart into it, and you can tell... 37 years later. It's really the best album ever made. Aside from that one album, Gaye truly has one of the best stories. A guy who was overtly talented as a vocalist and for years was a team player doing what Berry Gordy wanted (not without a few fights though) and than totally took control of his career and his image and his name and from "What's Going On" and on did whatever was He wanted to do with His music. Truly an admirable guy. Fuckin crazy ofcourse, but I think most of the people on my list are Nuts.


myTop 3 Favourite Marvin Gaye albums: 1. What's Going On (1971), 2. I Want You (1976), 3. Let's Get It On (1973)

4. Mariah Carey

I've been a huge fan of Mariah's since her 1990 debut. And the reason that she is so high on the list is pretty simple. Her voice, the fact that she's a hard worker, writes her own music, and has provided the world with some of the best songs in the past 19 years. And in the past 5 or 6 years she's really settled into a place with her music that is really fun and really represents who she is, which is drastically different than her earlier albums, and it gives me a whole new respect for this major talent.

myTop 3 Favourite Mariah Carey albums: 1. Daydream (1995), 2. Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009), 3. Butterfly (1997)

5. Daft Punk

I dont really know how to explain my love for Daft Punk, other than they are just right up my alley I guess. I was first introduced to them by their completely Awesome music video for "Around the world", and that one Awesome video started the love affair. They've only released Three actual albums in the past 10 years, but when they do release an album it's always on point, it's Always a completely different sound than the last, and it always gets major play from ME for the years I have to wait for the next album. And they've further impressed me with their Live album they released in 2007, I have never seen these dudes live because I never thought Electronic artists could put on an interesting show. I was hella wrong! The cd is AMAZING!!! The mixes they do, just genius. These guys are just geniuses at what they do.

myTop 3 Favourite Daft Punk albums: 1. Homework (1997), 2. Human After All (2005), 3. Discovery (1999)