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Tag: Plies

  • The New Music Files 12/16/08: Ending the Year With a Bang

    Well, folks, we’ve come to the end of the road for 2008. The last big release date of the year. The labels are emptying their chambers until 2009 (and from the looks of the ’09 release schedule…those chambers won’t be emptied until we’re way into 2009). Here’s what you can expect to see on the new release shelves in stores today.

    Fall Out Boy Folie a Deux: This is supposed to be Pete Wentz and the boys’ “political” album, originally scheduled to release on Valentine’s Day. While I kinda like FOB (their last album impressed me, actually), I’m not so sure that I want to hear them talking about politics. Anyway, Folie a Deux continues their move from emo to power-pop as evidenced by their hit single “I Don’t Care”. Debbie Harry and Lil’ Wayne-of course-are among the guests on this album.

    Anthony Hamilton The Point of it All: This man, ladies and gentlemen, is a soul singer the way they used to make ’em. His first two albums have been excellent, and even the pre-fame vault releases that have been put out are pretty good. The Point of it All is touted as a more uptempo effort from Anthony, but I’ve heard the whole album, and it’s not much different from his first two. This is a good thing, because I was scared when I found out the first single had a cameo from rapper David Banner.

    Keyshia Cole A Different Me: It took Mary J. Blige 13 years and seven studio albums before she went from “troubled” to “diva”. Keyshia Cole is trying to turn the same trick in five years and three albums. Of course, Mary had to deal with drug and alcohol addiction and an abusive relationship. Keyshia’s pretty much only had to deal with being a hoodrat. This new album is already off to a shaky start, as the first single heads back to the grave of Tupac Shakur one more time. Leave the man alone! He’s been dead 12 years now!!!

    Soulja Boy Tell ’em ISouljaboytellem.com: What’s that sound? It’s the sound of Soulja Boy Tellem’s career dying a quick and undignified death! The maker of last year’s biggest novelty hit returns for round 2, only this time, no one cares.

    Jamie Foxx Intuition: Back when Jamie was playing Ugly Wanda on “In Living Color”, did anyone think the words “Oscar winner” would precede his name? Probably not, but here we are a decade and a half later, and Foxx has a successful dual career as actor and singer. This, his third solo album, features more slightly lecherous R&B (dude, you’re 40!) with cameos from T.I., Ne-Yo, and (you guessed it) Lil’ Wayne.

    But wait, there’s more!

    The All-American Rejects follow up their breakthrough album, Move Along, with When the World Comes Down, which features the hit single “Gives You Hell”. They’re joined on this week’s release schedule by rapper Plies (didn’t he just release an album?), Josey Scott & Saliva, and in this week’s oddest release, Vibes,a reggae album by Heavy D. Yes, that Heavy D.

    On the reissue tip, The Bee Gees re-release their Love Songs compilation a full month and a half in advance of Valentine’s Day.How thoughtful. There’s also the annual Dave Matthews Band live album (I think this might be one of the last shows sax man Leroi Moore played), a best of from Ghostface Killah, and budget compilations from the likes of Bob Dylan, Brooks & Dunn and REO Speedwagon, so if you’ve been interested in checking these bands out, you can do so at a low price.

    Get your full list of this week’s new releases here.

    And with that, “The New Music Files” is taking the remainder of 2008 (and the first week or two of 2009) off. Enjoy the holiday season and see you next year!!

  • Chart Chat 6/22/08: Metro Station, Pussycat Dolls, Journey & More!

    Metro Station Hey folks…had to take last week off due to some site remodeling, but we’re back! And here are this week’s Top 20 charts, brought to you by kind courtesy of Billboard.

    Top 20 Albums:
    1) “Tha Carter III” Li’l Wayne
    2) “Definition of Real” Plies
    3) “Now That’s What I Call Music! Vol 28” Various Artists
    4) “Indestructible” Disturbed
    5) “Here I Stand” Usher
    6) “Revelation” Journey
    7) “Seeing Sounds” N.E.R.D
    8) “Flavors of Entanglement” Alanis Morissette
    9) “Evil Urges” My Morning Jacket
    10) “Weezer (Red Album)” Weezer
    11) “3 Doors Down” 3 Doors Down
    12) “Sex & The City Original Soundtrack” Various Artists
    13) “The Declaration” Ashanti
    14) “Spirit” Leona Lewis
    15) “Rockferry” Duffy
    16) “Taylor Swift” Taylor Swift
    17) “Nothing But the Best” Frank Sinatra
    18) “35 Biggest Hits” Toby Keith
    19) “Rock & Roll Jesus” Kid Rock
    20) “Back When I Knew It All” Montgomery Gentry

    …and on the singles chart…

    1) “Viva La Vida” Coldplay
    2) “I Kissed a Girl” Katy Perry
    3) “Lollipop” Li’l Wayne feat. Static Major
    4) “Bleeding Love” Leona Lewis
    5) “Take a Bow” Rihanna
    6) “Pocketful of Sunshine” Natasha Bedingfield
    7) “No Air” Jordin Sparks w/Chris Brown
    8) “Forever” Chris Brown
    9) “Love in This Club” Usher feat. Young Jeezy
    10) “Shake It” Metro Station
    11) “Bust it Baby Pt. 2” Plies feat. Ne-Yo
    12) “Sexy Can I” Ray J. feat Yung Berg
    13) “Leavin’” Jesse McCartney
    14) “Damaged” Danity Kane
    15) “4 Minutes” Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake
    16) “What You Got” Colby O’Donis feat. Akon
    17) “It’s Not My Time” 3 Doors Down
    18) “When I Grow Up” Pussycat Dolls
    19) “Love Song” Sara Bareilles
    20) “Realize” Colbie Caillat

    (more…)

  • New Music In Stores & Online: 6-10-08: Li’l Wayne, My Morning Jacket, Alanis Morissette and More!!


    A little something for everyone coming out today. No matter what you like, chances are you’ll find something interesting. Here are the highlights:

    Li’l Wayne “The Carter III”: THIS is the guy who’s supposed to save hip-hop? Although I don’t find him as annoying as someone who grew up listening to Rakim and Big Daddy Kane should, I also don’t get what the big to-do is about him. Sure, he has an interesting wheeze of a voice, but in terms of technical skill, nothing really sets him apart from everyone else out there. And I still raise an eyebrow whenever a rapper’s skill takes a fairly sudden drastic improvement. Makes me feel like there’s someone else pushing a pen behind the scenes. Anyhow, this guy has been anointed by tons of internet geeks and hipsters as the rapper-du-jour. Me? I’ll stick to Talib Kweli, thankyaverrmuch.

    http://www.myspace.com/lilwayne

    My Morning Jacket “Evil Urges”: Their live shows are the stuff of legend. They tore “Saturday Night Live” up a couple of weeks back. Now MMJ translates that stage presence onto wax (or plastic, or mp3 files) with their new album “Evil Urges”. Lead singer Jim James jumps from rootsy rock to almost-funk with the greatest of ease, and he’s got one of the niftiest white-boy falsettos I’ve heard in quite some time.

    http://www.mymorningjacket.com/

    Alanis Morissette “Flavors of Entanglement”: Yep, Alanis is still around, and she’s still unlucky in love-although she’s graduated from being an angry mess (and I hope she’s graduated from giving head in movie theaters). Nearly a decade and a half removed from the behemoth that was “Jagged Little Pill”, “Flavors” finds her collaborating with Guy Sigsworth (Madonna, Frou Frou) and adopting some more electronic-sounding elements. Plus, the object of her anger has changed from Dave Coulier to Ryan Reynolds, which is infinitely less creepy.

    http://www.alanismorissette.com/

    Adele “19”: Every week, it seems, there’s a new female Brit singer popping up who combines soul and jazz. Joining the likes of Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Estelle is Adele. Featuring similar personnel as the albums of the previously three mentioned albums, “19” (which has been available as an import and digitally for some time) is a solid listen, better than Duffy, possibly the equal of Estelle, but still nowhere near the perfection that was “Back To Black”.

    http://www.adele.tv

    N.E.R.D. “Seeing Sounds”: After being burned by the hot mess that was N.E.R.D’s second album, “Fly Or Die” and being REALLY burned by the even hotter mess that was Pharrell’s solo album, I’m prtty gun-shy about getting this. The Neptunes’ “rock star” side project has already spawned a semi-hit in “Everybody Nose”, but man, this is a wild card. I’m just not sure Pharrell Williams is meant to sing for an hour and be enjoyable.

    http://www.n-e-r-d.com/

    But wait, there’s more!!

    Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers hits the solo trail for the first time with “Seeing Things”, while Sergio Mendes follows up his Black Eyed Peas-assisted “Timeless” with “Encanto”, which retains Fergie as a guest artist and also features Natalie Cole. Country legend Emmylou Harris is releasing “All I Intended To Be”, her first album in five years, Gym Class Heroes and Li’l Wayne-endorsed rapper Tyga hits stores with “No Introduction”, while Atlanta rapper Plies, currently enjoying a Top 10 hit with Ne-Yo, releases “The Definition of Real” (and as with every current rap album, Akon and T-Pain both make cameos).

    Happy shopping!!

    Ah…full list of releases here: http://www.pauseandplay.com/cdfront.htm