Fans of Blink-182, Sum 41, and Save The Day, get ready to have a new favorite album: “The Way Things Should Be,” by City Lights (via InVogue Records,) has just been released, and it’s fantastic! “The Way Things Should Be” is a clear tribute to 90’s punk: hard, fast, dirty…but still admittedly a whole lot of fun. City Lights grab ears from the very first track, “I’m Sick Of It,” and manage to keep the rock ‘n’ roll going until the very end. Be sure to check out “Mistakes,” an awesome mixture of Green Day with a hint of Brand New, and “See You At The Top,” a surprisingly melodic jam about never giving up.  I would go on, but I feel like this excerpt from their press release does this album more justice than I ever could…

“Flashback to 1999. Saves The Day’s ‘Through Being Cool’ and Blink 182’s ‘Enema Of The State’ are unleashed upon the punk scene and change things forever. The boys in City Lights were just little punkers back then. But even at such a young age, the development of an addiction was inveitable. An addiction to circle pits, stage dives, pogo jumping, and push-moshing that would seemingly never die. Fast-forward to present day. Look no further than City Lights to provide you with the soundtrack to the aforementioned activities. Plain and simple, it’s pop punk the way it should be. No gimmicks, no scene-cred. Just ultra-catchy songs with enough energy to crowd surf you around the world twice. See you in the pit.”

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Oh, R. Kelly, what are we going to do with you?! Just when you thought it was safe to look in your closet, Mr. “I Believe I Can Fly” himself is swooping back into our lives with a brand-spankin’-new album, grossly titled, “Black Panties.”

My sentiments exactly.

“Black Panties” is about as good as can be expected from a now-46-year-old-man who, apparently, just doesn’t know when to be quiet. In between tracks like the juvenile “Cookie,” where he croons that he’ll “crack you open like a lobsta,” and “Show Ya P***y,” which is pretty much just him asking you to spread em’, R. Kelly fails in countless ways.  Other charming tracks are the oh-so-romantic “Throw This Money On You,” and “Tear It Up,” which, while blessed with decent rhythms, have such disturbing lyrical content that they should be kept away from anyone with respectable taste. The only – and I mean ONLY – plus side to this absurd album is the shockingly sincere slow jam, “You Deserve Better,” where Kelly shines in a good old fashioned ballad that tells a surprisingly romantic story of how his love is not getting the respect that she deserves.  Overall, R. Kelly acheived nothing with this album, other than proving to us that he will never grow, mature, or show any respect to anyone but himself. Take my word for it: don’t waste your time.

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CULOOOOOOOOO I’M GONNA NEED ALL THE SEXY MAMAS TO HEAD TO THE DANCE FLOOR, BECAUSE PITBULL IS BACKKKKK TALEEEEEE!

Ladies.

That’s right, Mr. 305 himself is back with a brand literally-spankin’ new album, “Global Warming: Meltdown,” full of predictable dance bangers with little to no substance. But hey, you already know where this is going, so let’s cut the small talk and begin, shall we?

1.  “Global Warming” – This samples The Macarena. That’s really all that you need to know.

2.  “Don’t Stop The Party” – I will give credit when credit is due: this is a classic party track. If you feel like raging face and getting too drunk to comprehend the painfully juvenile lyrics, this is the track for you!

See? She’s having a great time!

3.  “Feel This Moment” – Keeping the party going with none other than the Goddess Christina Aguilara, Pitbull shows that even the greatest of voices can’t save this track. Drink up, and maybe you’ll only hear Christina, I guess?

4.  “Back In Time” – You might recognize this track if you were one of the 13 people who saw Men In Black 3.  It does have a decent drop though.

5.  “Hope We Meet Again.” – First thing you need to know is that this track features psychotic woman beater Chris Brown. Second thing you need to know is that is sounds like those nights in college where girls would try and get into bars by screaming, “IT’S MY FUGGING BIRTHDAYYY!” and crying when they were turned down because they were only 19. That’s pretty much it.

6.  “Party Ain’t Over” – This is pretty much the same song, but with Usher. Oh, and there’s an actual lyric that says, “Party ain’t over til the fat lady sings / Or should I say, party ain’t over till you so fucking drunk / That that fat lady stand, dale gordita que rica.”

Not a gif, but still counts.

7.  “Drinks For You (Ladies Anthem)” – “All the women with power, meet me at happy hour.” This track has serious potential, with Pitbull taking a second to appreciate all of the hardworking single mothers out there, but it falls flat with an overly-autotuned J.Lo attempting to sex up the background. Womp, wooooomp.

8.  “Have Some Fun” – “MISTER WORLDWIDEEEEE” is the first thing you  hear. From there, it’s pretty much all electro and The Wanted, and nothing hurts anymore. It’s actually delightful, and I’m honestly shocked. I’ll give you this one, Pitbull.

9.  “Outta Nowhere” – Two good tracks in a row? Who are you and what have you done with Pitbull?! “Outta Nowhere” is a surprisingly deep track, telling listeners of behind-the-scenes issues in the music business, along with dealing with critics, paparazzi, and fake friends.  On top of that, it’s got a catchy hook and soft beat, which is a look that works well for the generally party-crazy artist.

10.  “Tchu Tchu Tcha” – Yes, that is an actual song title. Pretty much sounds as ridiculous as it reads. There IS a part where Pitbull offers to “fuck you blind,” so that’s cool…if you’re into that sort of thing, I guess.

11.  “Last Night” – Remember when Paris Hilton was in that video lip-syncing with Afrojack and Pitbull and everyone freaked out? Well, that’s this track, and it’s just as painful as you remember. But hey…

12.  “I’m Off That” – “It’s real simple. If you off that, it means you don’t mess with that. If you on that, it means that you mess with it.” THANKS PITBULL FOR CLEARING THAT UP. NOW THE MYSTERY IS GONE, AND THE SONG IS RUINED.

13.  “Timber” – Now, generally, I’m not a huge fan of Ke$ha. But the girl really does save the song with lyrics like, “It’s going down, I’m going timber / You better move, you better dance / Let’s make a night you won’t remember / I’ll be the one you won’t forget,” “Timber” comes off as less of a hot mess and more of a fun party track. I could do without Pitbull commenting on Miley Cyrus, though, that’s been done.

LEAVE MILEY ALONE.

14.  “That High” – “IF YOU CAME TO GET CRAZAYYYYY THEN YOU CAME TO THE RIGHT PLACE!” Well, alright then, if you insist…

15.  “Do It” – This track features the smooth crooner Mayer Hawthorne, and it’s an amazing new direction for Pitbull to go. Hawthorne helps the song go from the expected raging track to a decent R&B/soul song, and has never sounded better. It’s…surprising, to say the least.

16.  “Sun in California” – Another shockingly almost-sensitive track, Pitbull muses about…well, nearly everything in between tinkling piano notes before the song drops into an expected rage break. Mr. Worldwide gets about as sensitive as we can expect, rapping, “The party’s the world and the world is my girl…I dare you not to let her in.”

17.  “All the Things” – Finally, FINALLY, Pitbull wraps up “Meltdown” with a track that wonders why people are so damn serious all the time! “Why get caught up in emotions? Why go through the same motions?” he muses. Good question, Mr. 305, why indeed…

The end.

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Since 2009, former hardcore band member Derek Miller and ex pop vocalist Alexis Krauss have been mixing metal riffs and bubblegum lyrics to create a unique genre of their own in the group Sleigh Bells. Derek and Alexis are back and better than ever with their third studio album, “Bitter Rivals,” (via Mom + Pop,) which, as SPIN perfectly describes: is fight-pop for grown-ups. Both members of Sleigh Bells have clearly upped their game from their past albums, with Krauss’ vocals coming off as particularly aggressive while still remaining delicate, and Miller’s metal roots seamlessly tying everything together.  The band’s heavy influences are particularly noticeable on tracks like “Bitter Rivals,” “Sing Like A Wire,” and “Sugarcane,” which can easily be mistaken for early-Garbage Shirley Manson.  Songs such as “Young Legends,” “You Don’t Get Me Twice,” and “24” take Sleigh Bells sound in a new direction with EDM-infused hooks that will have you singing along in no time, and once again showcase Krauss and Miller’s musical bond. Overall, “Bitter Rivals” is catchy, peppy, and aggressive in all the right ways, so don’t miss out!

Track Listing:

1. Bitter Rivals
2. Sugarcane
3. Minnie
4. Sing Like A Wire
5. Young Legends
6. Tiger Kit
7. You Don’t Get Me Twice
8. To Hell With You
9. 24
10. Love Sick

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Miley Cyrus has finally graced us with her newest album, appropriately titled: “Bangerz.” The most recent Queen of Cray’s album shows an even divide between “old enough to know better, but too young to care,” with both mature ballads and danceable club tracks.

Literally everyone who listens to this album.

Normally, it’s refreshing to see an artist embrace different styles, genres, and tempos, Miley unfortunately comes off as a bit confused rather than sophisticated. While it is completely expected for people to go through tumultuous times, there should of been a bit more thought put into just what tracks were chosen for the album. With the amount of people employed to handle every little aspect of Miley’s career, it should have been a given that songs titled “Adore You” and “FU” should not be on the same album.

This is not to say that “Bangerz” doesn’t have it’s strong spots. We’re treated to a look into Miley’s private emotions in the electro-ballad, “Someone Else,” as she croons, “If you’re looking for pretty, you better look somewhere else.” Cyrus doesn’t stay soft for long with the dubstep-inspired “Do My Thang” is…actually surprisingly good, despite the “trying too hard” title.  Lastly, the album’s title track, “SMS (Bangerz,)” is a brilliantly sassy collaboration with God Britney Spears, and even has the balls to rap: “They ask me how I keep a man / I keep a battery pack.” SHWING!

Track Listing:

1. Adore You
2. We Can’t Stop
3. SMS (Bangerz)
4. 4×4
5. My Darlin’
6. Wrecking Ball
7. Love Money Party
8. #GETITRIGHT
9. Drive
10. FU
11. Do My Thang
12. Maybe You’re Right
13. Someone Else
14. Rooting For My Baby
15. On My Own
16. Hands In The Air

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LA sister trio HAIM have just released their debut album “Days Are Gone,” via Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Daughters of real estate agents, Danielle, Este, and Alana, grew up in California and have managed to break away from the typical surf sounds to a more modern-sounding Fleetwood Mac with a punch. “Days Are Gone” features hit singles “Falling” and “The Wire,” which – unless you’ve been living under a rock – will recognize, and will have you singing along in no time. Additional noteworthy tracks are the Beach Boys-sounding “Honey & I,” and the Wilson Philips inspired “Running If You Call My Name.”

HAIM shows talent that goes far beyond their years, (27, 23, and 21, respectively,) and their success is nothing short of well-deserved. “What’s really funny about this ‘overnight success’ is that we’ve been playing together for over 15 years,” muses Danielle. “We’ve been in Haim for nearly six years. There was nothing going on for us. We were bottom of the bill at 50 capacity venues and no one would show up.”

Well, one thing’s for sure: those “Days Are Gone!”

Track Listing:

1. Falling
2. Forever
3. The Wire
4. If I Could Change Your Mind
5. Honey & I
6. Don’t Save Me
7. Days Are Gone
8. My Song 5
9. Go Slow
10. Let Me Go
11. Running If You Call My Name

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Think back to when you were 16. What were you doing with your life? I, for one, was feeling awesome driving my mom’s minivan, (with her still in the car, of course…I did only have my permit, after all), watching “Boy Meets World,” and picking out my homecoming dress. Ella Yelich-O’Connor, AKA Lorde, on the other hand, is preparing for world domination with her hypnotic husky voice, minimalistic approach to both fashion and music, and lyrical poetry.  The brooding brunette starts off “Pure Heroine” with the hip-hop infused “Tennis Court” before the immediately catchy, “400 Lux.” Following close behind is the song that started it all, “Royals,” which is promised to have listeners grooving in no time. The sarcastic hit was written by Lorde herself, and she explains: “I was just sort of reeling off some of the things which are commonly mentioned in hip-hop and the Top 40. I did get a little ridiculous on it, but the sentiment’s there. “I’ve always loved hip-hop, but as a fan of hip-hop, I’ve always had to kind of suspend disbelief because, obviously, I don’t have a Bentley. There’s a distance between that and the life I have with my friends going to parties and getting and doing the things that every other teenager does.”

Songs like the dance-infused “Ribs” serves to show the strength of the teen’s writing skills, while still managing to sound like a pop hit.  Other noteworthy tracks are the eery “Team,” which comes off as a prayer mixed with dubstep, pop, and hip-hop, and “Glory and Gore,” a just-below mid-tempo ballad ripe with elements of EDM.

“Pure Heroine” is an album that deserves to be heard. Lorde is truly able to show her musicality through both her lyrics and instrumentals, and I, for one, cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

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Swedish duo Icona Pop have just released their peppy new album via Atlantic’s Big Beat records, and it’s sure to get the party started! The album jumps right into the smash hits, with the first two tracks being “I Love It” and “All Night.” Following the bangers comes the dance-ready tracks, “We Got The World” and “Ready For The Weekend” before the pair unleash a surprise cover of Tupac’s “Girlfriend,” which garners “awww’s” from all corners. Icona Pop turns down the volume for the surprisingly soft “In The Stars,” crooning, “Skies open, where we going? / It’s in the stars, it’s who we are / Don’t you worry about the morning / It’s in the stars, it’s who we are.” They breifly bring back the fast beats in “On A Roll” before getting deep once again on the stunning “Just Another Night,” where they contemplate life changes, saying “Stepping over cracks in the pavement, another night of being wasted/Staring at your name, staring at your name.” It’s undoubtedly a different direction than listeners are used to, but one that’s absolutely worth a listen nonetheless. The album wraps up with the trio-of-catchy, “Hold On,” “Light Me Up,” and “Then We Kiss,” all party anthems with a contemplative twist.

Icona Pop recently told Interview Magazine, “Our album is not going to be like 12 tracks that are going to sound exactly similar. It’s going to be very different. You can hear the journey that we’ve been through.”

That journey certainly sounds amazing. Well done!

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Songstress V V Brown is back and better than ever with her second studio album, “Samson & Delilah,” out on YOY Records October 8th. Brown, who sold over 1 million copies of her single, “Shark In The Water” from her critically-acclaimed debut album, “Traveling Like The Light,” returns to the music world after a couple of years out of the spotlight working and modeling for Marks & Spencer. The UK singer brings her A-Game once again with “Samson & Delilah,” surprising her pop competitors with a new darker sound mixed with elements from EDM, soul, R&B, and classical music.

The album opens with “Substitute For Love,” a electro-infused ballad with VV’s shockingly operatic vocals floating over the haunting chords. Brown gets a chance to show off her powerhouse voice throughout the entire album, but tracks “Samson,” “Looking For Love,” and “Knife” take her voice to an entirely other level, sounding more like a trained mid-range belter than the pop star she was known as in the past.

“Samson & Delilah” takes a clubby turn on tracks like “I Can Give You Love,” with a steady electro beat blending seemlessly with Brown’s psychedelic vocals.  “I Can Give You More” in particular is simply begging for a club remix, but can just as easily stand on its own in the competitive dance music scene.  “Igneous” is a personal favorite of mine, riddled with heavy dub elements and empowering lyrics, with Brown chanting in a hypnotic monotone, “We are incredible / Like wolves in the wilderness / We are unstoppable / Like tribes in the jungle.”

Whether tracks are fit for a club or a concert hall, VV Brown displays her range as an artist beautifully throughout “Samson & Delilah,” and certainly prove that she is no longer the bubbly, fresh-faced “Shark In The Water” singer we once knew. Brown has finally found her niche, managing to take the listener through a personal journey with her mixture of love, loss, heartbreak, and redemption that will certainly resonate with crowds young and old.  “Samson & Delilah” out worldwide October 8th!

Track Listing:

1. Substitute For Love
2. Nothing Really Matters
3. Samson
4. I Can Give You More
5. Igneous
6. Looking For Love
7. The Apple
8. Faith
9. Ghosts
10. Knife
11. Beginning
    

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English singer-songwriter Labrinth looks to crossover to the US with his new EP titled “Beneath Your Beautiful” that was released on August 27th. Normally a producer, Labrinth began to break out as a solo act in 2010 with the release of his successful album in 2012 in the UK. He has had much success in the UK so far and with the crossover hit “Beneath Your Beautiful” with Emeli Sande, Labrinth looks to use that momentum with the release of his new EP, his first release in the US. Labrinth mixes Pop, R&B, Electronic and lots of drums and guitars on this release and the 6 song EP does a great job at showing what he has to offer.

The biggest and crossover title track “Beneath Your Beautiful” featuring Emeli Sande is the best track off this EP. It is very powerful song and the vocals between the two sound extremely well. This song just recently began getting steam in the US and has already gone Platinum in the UK so I can only see it going up now.

Another top track off the EP is “Treatment” a rock and dance sounding track that sound great along with Labrinth’s vocals. Tinie Tempah lends a hand on another top track off the EP titled “Earthquake”. It has a crazy beat to it that has some of a urban/dance feel to it. It’s very EDM with lots of drum and bass beats and sounds very different from the power ballad “Beneath Your Beautiful”

Overall Labrinth looks to have a promising career ahead of his because not only does he have a wonderful voice but he is also very versatile. Only on this 6 song EP you here drums, guitars, electronic beats and piano ballads. He goes from pouring his soul out on ballad “Beneath Your Beautiful” to making people dance with his big song “Earthquake” with Tinie Tempah. Besides the ones I mentioned their are a couple other good songs off this EP and I could see Labrinth continuing his success and look forward to hearing more of him.

His music video for “Beneath Your Beautiful” featuring Emeli Sande

His music video for “Earthquake” featuring Tinie Tempah

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