Album Review: Ode To Old Flames - Jon Bibbs

Wow... the punch this album packs in 8 songs. Jon Bibbs has crafted a masterful piece of soul music that is truly a must-hear. While the subject matter dwells firmly around love (the title seems quite apropos), Bibbs never drifts into the inane nor does he posture as the Lothario some male vocalists claim to be. No, every well-executed vocal phrase and carefully-constructed lyric pours forth with emotion. It's everything an album should be - varied, yet cohesive. No need to skip a song... you'll be looking for the repeat button.

Highlights: "Follow My Heart", "Spell On You", "My Old Flame", "Red (Revisited)"

5 Albums You Might Have Missed in 2009...

The Script - The Script

Reason You Missed It: Because they're Irish! No really, I don't know. Their video for "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" got decent rotation on VH1 and MTV, but the song never seemed to catch at radio. American Idol winner Kris Allen even covered one of their songs "Live Like We're Dying" as his lead single.

Reason You SHOULDN'T Miss It: Perhaps you can consider them Ireland's answer to Maroon 5, with a dash of The Fray and some reggae flourishes for decoration... you like Maroon 5, don't you? I thought you did. ;)

Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts

Reason You Missed It: Their music is a little hard to categorize. HOWEVER, the infectious tune "Don't Upset The Rhythm" has been featured in several commercials and TV shows, so "cha-ching" for them!

Reason You SHOULDN'T Miss It: This well-blended mix of soulful vocals, masterful lyrics (with some literary allusions for good measure), and excellent musicianship is probably one of the most unique and satisfying musical experiences you'll have all year.

Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement

Reason You Missed It: The sound is too dated for today's Top 40 radio. That's not a bad thing... keep reading...

Reason You SHOULDN'T Miss It: From the barbershop quartet harmonies to the falsetto lead vocals to the catchy hooks, this album is a complete retro-throwback to the Motown era that works on every level. It sounds like a collection of your favorite songs you've never heard. You'll be singing along on first listen and wondering how.

Mandy Moore - Amanda Leigh

Reason You Missed It: Mandy hasn't really been a big pop draw since her "Candy" days, and now she's signed to a small indie label.

Reason You SHOULDN'T Miss It: Her time in the lowlights of the entertainment industry has allowed Mandy time to hone her music craft, and it seems she's found a fitting home in the singer/songwriter pop of the 1960s/70s.

LeToya- Lady Love

Reason You Missed It: Matthew Knowles... I mean, ahem, music industry "politics" kept LeToya from getting larger promotional exposure. Still, a number one debut on the Billboard R&B chart isn't bad at all.

Reason You SHOULDN'T Miss It: This girl is a fighter, otherwise you'd only know her as "one of those girls that left Destiny's Child." That fight led to her debut album, and here on her sophomore effort, LeToya raises the bar from "H-town Chick" to rising R&B/pop diva. Is the album perfect? No. Is it quality? YES. It's most likely the best mainstream R&B album you'll have heard in '09.

WHAT ALBUMS DO YOU THINK PEOPLE SLEPT ON IN '09??

Album Reviews: Rihanna, Shakira, Jay Sean and more...

Rihanna - Rated R (J-Graded D+)

If the last album was a "good girl gone bad" then this album is "bad girl gone even worse." Now musically, this album is decent, full of top-notch production and even has a pretty consistent theme as far as sound goes... and there's my problem. The theme is dark. The lyrics are dark (and profanity-laced). The imagery is dark. Not that this album doesn't have its moments of beautiful honesty ("Stupid In Love" and "Fire Bomb" for example).

I'm just missing the light of the sun-kissed island girl we met with "Pon De Replay" or even the slightly edgier fun of "Umbrella". But this Rihanna... this chick is just acting out.

Shakira - She Wolf (J-Graded B-)

Shakira takes a bold step out of the latin-pop world into urban-pop market. Collaborations with Lil Wayne and Timbaland make it apparent that Shakira's inner la loba likes modern hip-hop/R&B. While it might seem like she's pandering to black folks, it's not that way at all. Shaki's witty lyrical content is still on full display, especially on songs like the titular track and "Men In This Town". This is well-crafted pop album that attempts to bring Shakira up to speed with what the other pop/R&B divas are doing, while not losing what makes her unique, and she succeeds.

Jay Sean - All Or Nothing (J-Graded D)

British-Indian R&B star Jay Sean has already conquered the music charts in various countries throughout Europe and Asia, and now he's set his sights on the U.S. market. Through a partnership with Cash Money Records (of all labels), he releases his Stateside debut All or Nothing. It's obvious from the material (and his image) that he's competing with the Usher's and Ne-Yo's of the world. Does he succeed? Not entirely. Yes, he has a smooth voice and cool moves, but the shallow and redundant lyrical content send this ride into Dullsville quickly. If it's all or nothing, Jay, I may have to opt for nothing... well, can I just download "Down"?

Boyz II Men - Love (J-Graded - B-)

Boyz II Men are the kings of harmony. Even minus their resident bass singer Michael McCrary, the other three members can sing the mess out of most any song. While the well-chosen range of songs spans genres and eras, the tendency to over-sing (Wanya, I'm talking to you) and unnecessarily rearrange takes the soul out of what could have been some nice moments. Overall, it's still a solid, romantic listen and worth picking up.

Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster (GUEST REVIEWED BY TWYLA M.)

Who hasn’t raised their eyebrow a few times at the antics of Lady Gaga? Sometimes she can make you very uncomfortable, very intrigued, and even a little scared, well a lot scared! But, outside of the blood packets and the super strange outfits is some real music. The 8 new songs that turned The Fame into The Fame Monster are worth a listen! The enchantment of having a Bad Romance with Alejandro is pretty sweet. From the sound of Dance in the Dark this may just be her next “radio joint” but her cannibalistic/ dominatrix tendencies come out a little in Teeth, be careful with this one around the kiddies. All in all an album for any road trip, sleeping is something you won’t do.

Twyla top picks: "Bad Romance", "Alejandro", "Telephone"

Twyla rated : B+

Album Reviews: Leona, John Mayer, and more...

Hey you guys, today is a pretty good day for music (at least the music I listen to). Some of my favorite contemporary artists are releasing albums or have released albums recently, so I figured I'd give you guys a quick run-down of my reviews. Let me know what you thought about these sonic goodies!

Res - Black.Girls.Rock! (J-Graded - A)

It's been 8 years since Res burst on the scene with her video for "They-Say Vision" and changed my musical world with her unique blend of neo-soul, rock, hip-hop with some reggae vibes for good measure. Her sophomore album was recorded for Geffen Records, but never released... until now! You can't hold a true artist down, man! Not only has Res taken matters into her own hands, but she's made the album available as a FREE download on her website. So there's absolutely no reason why you can't go check it out. Trust me, you won't regret it. The mood is overall more chill than her debut. Acoustic guitars abound, and Res's raspy vocals have gained a more smooth, seasoned flavor. Yet, the grit and self-awareness that made her stand out on her debut are still in full force. If you're a fan from How I Do, or you've never heard of Res, take a listen. Again, it's FREE!

Leona Lewis - Echo (J-Graded: B+)

Leona is one of the contemporary voices to watch, with comparisons to Mariah, Whitney and even Toni. While she doesn't quite have the clout of any of the above divas, the "I'm just a girl who wants to sing pretty songs" approach is pretty endearing to me. With help from frequent collaborator Ryan Tedder (frontman of OneRepublic) and other notables, Leona has crafted a solid, cohesive pop album.

Norah Jones - The Fall (J-Graded C+)

Norah has been accused of being "boring" several times over, but for me, this is the first album of hers that I found to be a snoozer. Well... let me take that back... to be fair, I like this album much better than Norah's last effort Not Too Late, which I thought was a little too helter-skelter; however, I just couldn't get into this album that much. On the plus side, you can tell that Norah is experimenting with an edgier, more guitar-oriented sound. Also, the songs on the album grew much more enjoyable toward the end, and with collaborators like Ryan Adams and James Poyser, you CANNOT deny the musicianship on The Fall. I'll put it like this: After a moderately enjoyable first listen to this album, I just don't find myself inclined to give it a second listen.

John Mayer - Battle Studies (J-Graded A-)

John Mayer follows up one of my favorite albums Continuum with the appropriately-titled Battle Studies. You would swear half these songs are about Jennifer Aniston or Jessica Simpson or some other starlet he's been connected with, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter. John is one heck of a musician, blending blues, soul, and light-rock into the (mostly) radio-ready stew that is this collection of 11 songs.

Carrie Underwood - Play On (J-Graded - B)

Carrie was not my favorite performer on American Idol, but since her victory she has blossomed into one of my favorite country-pop queens. Her musical stylings a la Martina McBride/Faith Hill are in tip top form on her recently-released third album. From the brassy "Cowboy Cassanova" to the heartwrenching "Mama's Song", Carrie comes across as very secure about her place in the musical world and the real world as well. Play on, Carrie, play on...

OneRepublic - Waking Up (J-Graded C+)

Now as much as I love this band, I wasn't floored by this album. HOWEVER, you can definitely sense their growth as musicians. They experiment with orchestration and compositions that segue from one song to another; toward the end they even escape from the radio-ready time length of 3 - 4 minutes, one song clocking in at 6:07 seconds. If you're a 1R fan, pick this one up. If you're just a casual listener, then preview the album and download (LEGALLY) what you like.

Album Review: Chrisette Michele - Epiphany

Chrisette did it! No sophomore slump here! The creative synergy of executive producer (and Def Jam label-mate) Ne-yo and Ms. Michele has created Epiphany, an album which is every bit as confident and alluring as the cover. On most songs, Chrisette's voice glides simply and beautifully through melodies, building toward the jazzy riffs that she is known for. This type of controlled delivery works very well for the wide range of musical sounds that the album's producers (such as Chuck Harmony and Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins) provide. Lyrically, this album showcases a mature, young lady who knows just what she wants. If a wider fanbase and overdue acknowledgment are among the things she wants, then Epiphany will definitely get it for her.

Standouts include:

• Notebook - young, girlish love finds a soulful voice on this ballad... "x's and o's beside your name"... cute. 
• Blame It On Me - here, Chrisette exudes the strength and willpower that is needed to make a clean break from a bad relationship. 
• Another One - this song finds Chrisette in sassy pop territory... top 40 radio, maybe?
• On My Own - dedicated to her father, this song could apply to anyone who has consistently been there... the time comes when you have to stand on your own
• Mr. Right - Lauryn Hill, maybe? Love the doo-wop feel of this one... and I'm sure the ladies will identify with the feeling. 

J-Graded: A+

Album Reviews: Ne-Yo, Jazmine, Jennifer and more...

Yeah, I've been on a CD buying kick lately, and haven't had time to review them for you guys... until now. Here's some quick snapshots of what I'm listening to:

Chanté Moore - Love The Woman
One of the best (and most underrated) voices in R&B returns with her first solo album in some time. This album falters only when Chanté leaves the more classic material in favor of more contemporary radio fare.

Standouts:
"It Ain't Supposed To Be This Way"/"Give Me Time"/"Love Action"/"Guess Who I Saw Today"

J-Graded: B

Ne-Yo - Year of The Gentlemen
Music's preeminent songwriter stakes his claim as an artist with his third outing. It's very enjoyable, but not necessarily very memorable.

Standouts:
"Closer"/"Mad"/"Fade Into The Background"/"Part of The List"

J-Graded: C+

Jazmine Sullivan - Fearless

Only 21, but already a music industry veteran, Jazmine's voice is amazing, and her songwriting abilites are also strong. The subject matter is not as varied as the distinct textures of the songs, but time and more growth could make this young woman one of the greats.

Standouts:
"Bust Your Windows"/"Lions, Tigers and Bears"/"After The Hurricane"/"Dream Big"/"Fear"

J-Graded: B+

Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson

Overall, a mediocre debut from a formidable talent. Yet, there are still strong songs to be found, which may be enough to keep her in radio's "spotlight".

Standouts:
"Spotlight"/"Giving Myself"/"My Heart"/"I'm His Only Woman"

J-Graded: C

Kenny Lattimore - Timeless
Now separated (musically) from his wife, Kenny Lattimore uses his vocal instrument to tackle a diverse collection of covers.

Standouts:
"Everybody Here Wants You"/"You Are My Starship"/"And I Love Her"/"Undeniably"

J-Graded: A

The Pussycat Dolls - Doll Domination
Nicole + 4 are back with her... I mean their sophomore effort, and it's a pretty solid one. Funny how Nicole couldn't go solo though... I guess she does need her backup dancers after all.

Standouts:
"When I Grow Up"/"I Hate This Part"/"Elevator"/"I'm Done"

J-Graded: C+

Solange - Sol-Angel and The Hadley St. Dreams
Beyonce's little sister finds refuge from her sister's ubiquitous shadow in the musical stylings of the 60s. This sound also lends itself well to her sometimes cryptic lyrics.

Standouts:
"T.O.N.Y."/"Sandcastle Disco"/"I Told You So"/"Cosmic Journey" feat. Bilal

J-Graded: A-

Album Review: Karina - First Love

Some of you may remember that I mentioned Karina a while back in one of the very first "Who's Got A Hit?" posts. Well, here she is with her debut album First Love, and I must say, she definitely has a hit with this one. Executive producer L.A. Reid (with assist from Tricky Stewart and The-Dream) really shows off his musical expertise at combining good songs and creative teams into one cohesive body of work. First Love successfully bridges the gap between trendy radio-fare and more classic songs that would stir nostalgia if heard, say, 10 years down the road. Will you be listening to Karina 10 years down the road? I'd like to think so...

Stand-outs include:

• "90's Baby" - produced by Warren "Oak" Felder, one of the craziest, most underrated producers in the game. This joint is high energy, fun, and age-appropriate. A great opening track.

• "Can't Find The Words" - a nice breezy ballad. It was a free single of the week a while back on iTunes, and I could definitely see it as a radio single somewhere down the road.
  
• "Slow Motion" - talented producer/writer/pianist Gordon Chambers lends his skills to this effortlessly beautiful ballad. Karina shines vocally here. This is actually the first song I ever heard from Karina, and I was immediately taken.
  
• "The Love We Got" - this song just feels good, like love or something... fits the subject well.
  

Visit Karina here: http://www.meetkarina.net/

Album Review: Usher - Here I Stand

This is what it sounds like when R&B wants to grow up. Or maybe this is what it sounds like when an entertainer desires to attain to higher artistry. Either way, Usher's Here I Stand was up for much scrutiny following the record-breaking success of his last album, the 8 times platinum Confessions, and the recent melodrama surrounding him and his family. However, all of that is autobiographically brought to the table on Here I Stand, with mixed results, but overall the point is clear: Usher is striving hard to do right by his new wife and son. Fans, say goodbye to the ab-bearing, pant-dropping bed-hopper... he is no more (at least, according to the B. Cox-produced "Before I Met You", that is).

Standouts here include...

• the lead single "Love In This Club" - Don't care if Polow took it from Garage Band. It's still a banger, if not an unsanitary one.
• "Trading Places" - Usher (with help from The-Dream and Trickey Stewart) gets his Prince on. That's all I'm saying.
• second single "Moving Mountains" - one of Ush's best vocal performances on this album
  
• "What's Your Name" feat. Will.I.Am - Will spitting an entire rhyme with almost no real words... impressive. Usher's vocal arrangements on this track... also impressive. Combination = impressive song, good collabo.
  
• "Lifetime"- Produced by Usher's lil bro J-Lack, this is one of the better "I love Tameka" tracks.

Unfortunately, fall-flats include...

• "Best Thing" feat. Jay-Z - a misnomer indeed. Jay opens up with his usual tight flow, then Ush drops the ball with a sappy verse and a hook with no... well, hook. Niiice beat, though.
  
• "Appetite" - Maaan, I really wanted to like this one. It combines one of my favorite producers, Danjahandz, with one of my favorite writing teams, The Clutch. Result? A less-than-stellar "I love Tameka, but it's really hard to stay faithful" track.