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Pop Rock Nation

Tag: Ordinary

  • Yup, You Read it Right-Wayne Brady Made a Good Album

    The cover of Wayne Brady's new album, "A Long Time Coming".
    The cover of Wayne Brady

    Of course you know who Wayne Brady is. Whether you watched him on the improv show “Whose Line is It Anyway?”, were a fan of his talk/variety show, caught him as the host of “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” or checked him out in an unforgettable “Chappelle’s Show” sketch (which is where I got the title of this review from…I’m not being vulgar just for the sake of vulgarity), you’re aware of the dude, and you might also know that the guy can carry a tune. He’s utilized his singing chops in every assignment he’s had.What you may not have known (until now, anyway), is that Wayne Brady has put out an album. And unlike fellow actors-turned-musicians like Don Johnson and Bruce Willis, Brady’s debut, Long Time Coming, is GOOD. I don’t say this sarcastically or facetiously, and I am not drunk or on drugs (today). If you are a fan of smooth, grown-folks style soul music, you will find plenty to enjoy here.I would never have given a solitary thought to picking this album up if not for glancing at a Billboard magazine one day and noticing the name Wayne Brady loitering near the bottom of the R&B singles charts. “Nah, it can’t be,” I said initially. A little more research revealed that he had an album on the way, so my curiosity got the better of me and I checked YouTube and then iMeem for the song. After I hit paydirt on the latter site, expecting a cheesy pop song or a show tune/standard, my ears were blessed with the easygoing, smooth sound of first single Ordinary. After debating whether to spring for the whole album, I parted with my money just a couple of days later. I figured if it sucked it would just gain a place among the many other crappy albums in my collection.

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  • New Flava in Your Ear: New Music from Kanye, Keane &…Wayne Brady???

    *Shit, I just realized I accidentally stole the original title of this blog…oops! My bad!!

    Since we’re in the fourth quarter and new music is flying fast and furious, I figured now would be a good time to check out some of the new music bouncing across the airwaves, since there’s so much of it. I think we’re gonna go with four titles a week until January or February when the release schedule thins and there’s not as much to check out. Anyhow, this week I bring you new music from the mouth that roared, an underrated British trio, an Irish band following up a Platinum record, and…Wayne Brady. Yes, THAT Wayne Brady. Off we go…

    Kanye West “Love Lockdown” (from “808’s & Heartbreak”, due December)

    I wasn’t sure what to think when Kanye premiered this on the VMAs last week. I guess I wasn’t used to not only Kanye standing stock still on stage, but also there was the little fact that he was singing instead of rapping. A few listens later, I actually like the track-which I guess is a recurring theme with Mr. West because it took me a long time to appreciate the early singles off of his last two albums (‘Diamonds from Sierra Leone” and “Stronger”). It’s definitely one of those late-night, pulsing records that’s not exactly dance, but not exactly…whatever the opposite of dance is. This is one of the rare occasions where the whole autotune thing doesn’t bug me as much.

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