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Pop Rock Nation

Category: News

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  • New Release of the Week 4/28/09: Bob Dylan’s “Together Through Life”

    dylan

    I’ve got no problem admitting that I’m not the world’s biggest Bob Dylan fan. While I think he’s an ace songwriter, there are very few people I can think of whose singing I enjoy less. It seems to have gotten worse as he’s gotten older. Some people (Joni Mitchell) get better as singers as they age. Mr. Zimmerman? Not so much. Anyhow, the guy’s a legend no matter how you slice it, and he has a new album called “Together Through Life” out today. Given the slow release schedule, this could very well become Dylan’s first #1 album debut EVER. I smell an early front-runner for Grammy’s Album of the Year.

    Elsewhere…

    Ben Folds Ben Folds Presents: University a Cappella : True story. I have my iTunes on in the background, and as I was researching this album, a Ben Folds song just randomly came on. It’s like my computer can read my mind! Then again, the song that came on was “Fired”, so maybe I shouldn’t count on my laptop as a crystal ball yet-at least I hope not.

    Anyway, this is a pretty interesting piece. Ben got a bunch of college students to sing his songs acappella. You can get a little taste of what to expect here.

    Ben Lee The Rebirth of Venus: Folds’ sometime partner in The Bens (along with Ben Kweller, who unfortunately, does *not* have an album coming out today, “The Rebirth of Venus” is the latest effort from the former child prodigy. Why Ben Lee has never caught on in the States is one of music’s great mysteries. He’s a fantastic songwriter who can write a killer hook, and he’s got a sense of humor besides. Maybe he just goes over peoples’ heads.

    Mike Jones The Voice: Who? Mike Jones

    WHO?? MIKE JOOOOOONES

    Remember back when Texas rap was gonna be the next big thing? There was this guy, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, and a couple of others. None of them have careers anymore! Ha!! Anyway, after a million and one delays and a much too long gap in between albums, Jones is back. Can he salvage what’s left of his career? I’m betting “no” here, but I’ve been wrong before. Not many times, mind you, but I’ve been wrong before.

    OK-I was kidding with that last comment. My ego’s not that big-yet.

    Urban Mystic GRIII: Old Skool 2 Nu Skool: When I first heard of this guy, I thought he was one of those space-cadet R&B singers, like Maxwell, you know? Come to find out this guy’s just Jaheim with even more hood cliche added. His first album (which I think was self titled) was one of the biggest pieces of shit I’ve ever heard before (and I’ve listened to a LOT of music). For those of you who care, he has a new album out today. That said, if this interests you at all, I have to question your taste in music.

    As always, get your full list of new releases here.

  • More to Music Players Than iPods

    LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 06: Attorney Mark Ger...
    Good rule. If you're in court, don't bring a music player and don't ask the judge to listen to Jordin Sparks. Image by Getty Images via Daylife

    One of the coolest sites catering to all music fans doesn’t have downloads.

    There are no pictures of Beyonce flashing leg, Justin flashing a grin or Janet flashing, well, having a wardrobe malfunction.

    Really useful site, Musicplayer.me covers the convergence of music and the Internet, which has nothing to do with browsers sometimes. If you didn’t know that, you will after reading one of the reviewers take apart a Twitter application or Firefox plugin synchronizing last.fm.

    The site’s management gets the tech vibe, which is nice, but really gets the music vibe too. “It’s not our policy to discourage their [the site’s reviewing team] sometimes acerbic or snarky opinions towards particular products or companies.”

    How cool is that?  That attitude is the same one Money Mike, Double G, David Middleton and the other Sonic Clash writers bring when they jump into a track, or take apart the music news or charts or just keep banging on Chris Brown for being a big dummy who deserves some county lockup time.  And if that’s too snarky for you, remember who chose the photos for the front of the site, including Ms. Rihanna in all her umbrella glory.  (AP reported today that she is looking to get back the jewelry she was wearing as they drove to the Grammys that night.    All $1.4 million worth.  Yowch!)

    Even an old dog like me learned how I could listen to Disturbia when I’m at the office and it’s still not on my iPod.  Do you know what a Tumblelog is?   Me neither until I read the site’s review on how to listen to a new music stream with a concept like Disturbia at the start  and turn a mix tape experience into an art form like nothing Pandora ever considered.

    Musicplayer.me is definitely worth a drive by.  There is far more to mobile music than iTunes and Rhapsody, but they’ll tell you all about that.

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  • First Listen: Kristinia DeBarge “Goodbye”

    debarge

    That last name looks familiar, doesn’t it?

    Well, it should. Newcomer Kristinia DeBarge is the daughter of James DeBarge, who was 1/5 of the act containing his three brothers and sister back in the early Eighties. For those who can’t pick the members apart, he was the one who was briefly married to Janet Jackson.

    Anyway, Kristinia’s debut single is called “Goodbye”, and it’s pretty interesting insofar as that her record label sounds like they’re trying hard to pitch her as the next Rihanna. First, there’s the look. Same skin tone, similar facial structure. Then there’s the song itself. Using the well-known “nananana…hey hey hey” refrain from the Steam song “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”, it’s bound to appeal to kids who’ve heard the original song at a sporting event or something of that nature. Musically, it bears distinct similarities to Rihanna’s “S.O.S.”, from the song’s tempo to the bed of icy synthesizers that dominates the arrangement.

    Folks, because I’m a good guy and it’s Friday, you will have three videos to feast your eyes on.

    First up, here’s a YouTube vid playing Kristinia’s song while the lyrics flash on a screen. Guess they haven’t shot an actual video clip yet…

    Here’s Rihanna’s “S.O.S.” video. Check out the similarities, huh?

    That song’s still a banger. Finally, here’s Kristinia’s dad in action as a member of DeBarge. Look for them in an upcoming installment of Respect Due.

    James is fourth from the left, right before lead singer El.