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Pop Rock Nation

Category: Releases

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  • First Look: Adam Lambert Goes Apocalyptic

    A week or so ago, GG talked about Adam Lambert’s new single, “Time for Miracles”. I’m not quite sure what to make of the song, honestly. I certainly respect Adam’s singing voice. The man can sing his ass off. And I suppose this type of big, blustery single is a good fit for him. However, I dunno. Just not my cup of tea. I like Kris Allen’s single better (which isn’t saying a whole lot, because I really didn’t care for his song either).

    Anyway, the video for “Time for Miracles” has leaked. The song is the theme for the upcoming disaster movie “2012”, and the video serves as a commercial of sorts for the movie. Lots of shit blowing up, buildings falling (is it me, or is anyone else disturbed when anyone makes a disaster flick post 9/11?). It’s quite obviously a big-budget deal. And it fits the song. Totally bombastic.

    Doesn’t mean I like the song any better though. It actually reminded me of Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”, which could mean some serious Grammy/Oscar action within the next 18 months or so. This will probably be a huge hit…

    …unlike Allen’s song, which is languishing in the lower reaches of the Billboard Top 100 singles chart. This song and video will get an extra boost from the fact that it will be played before showings of Michael Jackson’s “This is It” movie. Looks to me like the folks at 19 Entertainment are putting their money and muscle on Lambert, much like they did with Chris Daughtry a couple years ago, leaving poor Taylor Hicks to flounder (relatively speaking).

    Anyway, click on the link below to check out the video. Can’t you imagine Celine Dion singing this song?

     


    Time For Miracles

    Adam Lambert | MySpace Video

  • Rihanna Plays “Russian Roulette” On New Single

    There’s a lot of anticipation building for Rihanna’s new album, “Rated R”, which comes out on 11/23. This morning, the album’s first single, “Russian Roulette”, was premiered. It’s a mysterious sounding ballad that was written by Ne-Yo. Due to the media exposure Ri-Ri’s received (good and bad) over the past year, it’s sure to be a big hit…

    …I just don’t know if it’s a good first single, though. Rihanna’s pretty much made her name as someone who performs dance music, so leading off with a ballad is pretty risky. Also, the song doesn’t really go anywhere. Rihanna’s singing is impressive, but the song itself is…kinda boring (a rarity for Ne-Yo, who is the best young pop/R&B singer-songwriter out there). Her upcoming album boasts an interesting group of collaborators (from Justin Timberlake to Tyson Ritter of the All-American Rejects). I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if it gets better.

    If this gets taken down from Youtube, you can check the song out here.

  • New Releases 10/27/09: A Country Prince & The King of Pop

    *Tim McGraw (along with the Dixie Chicks) spurred my interest in country about a decade ago. I’m not turned on by the especially twangy stuff, and McGraw’s songs had the right mix of country and pop/rock. The guy also has really good taste in material-“Live Like You Were Dying”, in particular, is an album with some really good songs. Let’s not mention the fact that he’s been name-checked in the title of a Taylor Swift single. Mr. Faith Hill’s new album, “Southern Voice” is this week’s biggest new releases. The first single, “It’s a Business Doing Pleasure With You” is a fun little tune co-written by Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger.

    *I remember the first time I heard Joss Stone sing. Her music was coming out of the office of someone who I’d never expect to be listening to someone who sounded like Joss Stone. Not knowing who Joss was, and expecting someone like a Betty Wright-type of vocalist, you could have knocked me over with a feather when you told me that she was not only British, but a teenager. Well, four albums later, Joss is releasing her new album, “Colour Me Free”, exclusively through Target and iTunes. Joss has been battling her record company for quite some time, and she makes that explicit on this album (not very smart…I can already see the promotion for this album has been slack). Guests include Nas, Raphael Saadiq and Sheila E.

    *Since Michael Jackson’s death, the folks at Motown have been busy beavers. There was the box set, then the “Stripped” mixes, and now there’s “The Remix Suite”. This album contains some of his and the Jackson 5’s biggest hits, given a contemporary sheen by producers like Dallas Austin, The Neptunes, Frankie Knuckles and Akon. I’ve bought a couple of the “Motown Remixed” albums that have come out and not been impressed. Unless you’re a super-fan (like I am), I’d tread carefully here.

    Other albums being released today include: power-punk band Cartel’s new effort, “Cycles”. You may remember them as the band that lived in a bubble in New York City for a few days a year or two ago. Lyle Lovett’s “Natural Forces” also comes out today…well, hopefully you caught it yesterday when it was super-cheap on Amazon’s MP3 site. German shock-metal band Rammstein releases “Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da” (Love is There for Everyone) today, and if you think those “Du Hast” guys have gone all soft, keep in mind that the first single from this effort is called “Pussy”.

    A full list of this week’s new releases can be found here.