Black Is Always In - The Maine's New Album: Black & White

Artist: The Maine

Album: Black and White

Signed: Fearless Records

Genre: Pop/Rock

The Maine is:

John O'Callaghan - vocals

Kennedy Brock - guitar

Jared Monaco - guitar

Garret Nickelson - bass

Patrick Kirch - drums

The Maine was founded in Pheonix, Arizona in 2007. They started getting popular through websites such as MySpace and that led to their induction into modern music. The Maine's "modern rock" and fresh sound quickly caught the eye of Fearless Records, who eventually signed them. Some of their first hits were: "The Way We Talk", and "The Town's Been Talking." Their focus for this album was actually combining songs that created an 'album' instead of just throwing songs together. The new album "Black and White" has distinctive differences in its songs. It might have you moving with the pop, then transition in the next song to a softer, summertime melody. But, no matter what changes they might have imposed into some of their songs, their signature sound remains the same. The Mine changed a bit with this album, but in a positive way. They changed their sound to put a change in their music, so that it wasnt exactly the same as it was before, and that shows that the band is maturing. With "Black and White", The Maine transformed from a solid 'Punk/Rock' to a more serious 'Pop/Rock'. It was a quick transition, but the songs are catchy and they are still The Maine, no matter how you look at them. (or listen, for that matter.)

New Album: Linkin Park-A Thousand Suns

A THOUSAND SUNS: LINKIN PARK

By: Isabelle Auton and Aurelia Irvine

Track Listing:
The Requiem
The Radiance
Burning in the Skies
Empty Spaces
When They Come for Me
Robot Boy
Jornada del Muerto
Waiting For the End
Blackout
Wretches and Kings
Wisdom, Justice, and Love
Iridescent
Fallout
The Catalyst
The Messenger (Bonus Track)
Blackbirds (Bonus Track)

*Some tracks are explicit.

Linkin Park's new album is indeed a forray into the unknown. They somewhat enigmatically interweave snippets of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Wisdom, Justice, and Love speech, as well as experiment heavily with computer generated sounds that the band had always danced around. Many of the tracks are fillers, snippets of other songs, like "The Requiem", which alludes to the later single, "The Catalyst". "Empty Spaces" is simply that: white noise. "Burning in the Skies" however, reveals a raw, emotional side that is much softer than their past work, and it doesn't disappoint. It still brings the listener close to the heart of the song even though the characteristic hard rock feel is missing. "When They Come For Me" gives a taste of hip-hop flavor and original beats that impress. "Robot Boy" harnesses the lyric genius of Mike Shinoda with longtime collaborator, Chester Bennington's, expressive tones to create an electronica work of art. "Jornada del Muerto" or the slightly depressing translation"Path of the Dead Man", is another filler track with a snazzy title that only slightly lives up to its expectations, displaying an interesting beat progression that leaves you wanting the next song. "Waiting for the End" starts with a rhythm that immediately has you thinking reggae, but later shows its depth by incorporating rock, electronica, reggae, and hip-hop along with impressive raw vocals to create a musical masterpiece. "Blackout" initially comes across as another filler track, but then surprises with a dose of Bennington's signature screaming vocals reinforced by the most hardcore beat of the album, and is more reminiscent of Linkin Park's original style. "Wretches and Kings" begins with an excerpt from Mario Savio's Bodies upon the gears speech that transitions into almost a purely hip-hop track with only mild guitar and bass influence. "Wisdom, Justice, and Love" is an example of Shinoda experimenting with autotunes and putting pre-recorded speech to music. Unless you have patience, I would recommend you skip the track. "Iridescent" is a ballad that eventually strays into rock that is more "Train" than "Three Days Grace". "Fallout" doesn't make much of an impression apart from repeating lines from "Burning in the Skies", though it leaves you wondering exactly where it came from. It does, however, transition into "The Catalyst", the album's main promotional track, smoothly. "The Catalyst" is definitely one of the best tracks of the piece, immediately grabbing your attention with both beats and lyrics, and will hold it for some time to come. You'll be disappointed when 5:39 (the end of the track) comes around. "The Messenger", one of two bonus tracks, displays an emotional side of Linkin Park that usually doesn't show through in any of their past works. Love is the main influence in this song, and the first acoustic track that they've released, touches you with the honesty and sincerity of the lyrics and Bennington's interpretation of them. "Blackbirds" is a fitting conclusion to the album, though it is a bonus track, starting off with what sounds like a sampling of a drum track and vocal attempt from the studio, unfiltered and unmixed. It then jumps straight into the finished track, which is somber in general but lightened up a shade by the background beat from the drums.

All in all, "A THOUSAND SUNS" opens up a whole new era for Linkin Park, one that gives Mike Shinoda the raw vocal and rap spotlight (which had been absent since Meteora), and still dishes out enough of lead vocalist Chester Bennington to satisfy you. Other members, such as Rob Bourdon, Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, and Brad Delson may not appear enough for your taste, but either way, the old Linkin Park is gone. Whether or not they'll leave you behind on their journey? Your choice.

Vampire Weekend

Album: Contra
Release: January 11th 2010 - UK

January 12th 2010 - US

Genre: Indie Rock

Vampire Weekend is:

Ezra Koenig- guitar, vocals

Rostam Batmanglij- keyboard, guitar, vocals

Chris Tomson-drums

Chris Baio-bass, vocals

For those of you who don't know, Vampire Weekend is an Indie band from none other than New York City. They debuted their first album, Vampire Weekend, in January 2008. Their fame was made through their hits, "A-Punk", "Oxford Comma", and "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" from that album.

The band took their music to a slightly stranger, but all-out new level with Contra. You could say that their imagination really took off with this album, but then again, they are ignoring the fascade of normality while turning toward a new and somehow undiscovered leaf of this genre with each song. Contra, an album of Indie rock is truely something that you will find singular and out of the ordinary.

Futura │ Old School Remixed

La Roux

Album: La Roux

Tracks: 12

Released: 2009

Eleanor Jackson is one of the closest things you're going to find to a British Lady Gaga. She's created a nice little niche for herself in the electropop genre, her distinct voice an easy advantage. It's definitely an attention grabber. One of her most popular songs, "Bulletproof" is a song that you won't be able to get out of your head, which makes up for it's insane repetition of the chorus, and "In For the Kill" will be stuck on your iPod's pop playlist for ages. "Colourless Colour"'s highlight is its chorus, but it still carries plenty of catchy beats. "I'm Not Your Toy" is a hidden jewel of the album, a song that stands up for independence and quite unique subject material considering her genre. "Quicksand" seems to have a heartfelt message, but comes out as another club song about love. "Tigerlily" is a very strong song, balanced out by "Cover My Eyes", where Jackson displays her versatility, singing in a softer tone, less crowded by pop's signature autotunes. In "Reflections Are Protection," Jackson creates a softer atmosphere, akin to pop of the 80s. This album is an interesting addition to the pop genre, and I'm looking foward to any future projects of the enigma that is La Roux.

Train

Album: Save Me San Francisco

Tracks: 11

Released: 2009

Train displays an early success with their title track, "Save Me San Fracisco", giving a modern day interpretation of classic rock and a hint of jazz, something that has been absent in mainstream music. "Hey Soul Sister" has shot them to the top of the music charts, and it is a catchy, feel good song, but not anymore so than many on this album, though "Hey Soul Sister" isn't the highlight song of the album. "Parachute" provides an enjoyable experience, much like "If It's Love". "This Ain't Goodbye" is an acoustic, heartfelt ballad that adds the perfect touch to the piece. "I Got You" is a funky, fun track that wouldn't be out of place in a country dance club. "Breakfast in Bed" is a more indie track, that doesn't exactly seem to match with the album. "Marry Me" is a sweet track about love, the theme of many other songs on "Save Me San Francisco", but it doesn't contain the same strength in the vocals as any of the other songs, though the guitar's prominent presence is a nice touch. Considering Train's success with "Drops of Jupiter" (on an earlier album) and their present hit "Hey, Soul Sister", these two tracks aren't the only one worthwhile to listen to. Train is a budding artist that deserves a spot in the sun.

Pop-Punk Promotion

Artist: Mayday Parade
Album: A Lesson In Romantics

Release: 2007
Tracks: 12


The first full debut album from Mayday Parade, A Lesson In Romantics offers a wide variety of alternative music, ranging from upbeat songs that make you want to tap your foot to the beat to songs that have you feeling relaxed. Lead vocalist Derek Sanders and co-lead vocalist Jason Lancaster have voices that blend well together, and often you can’t tell who is singing when. Guitarists Alex Garcia and Brooks Betts, bassist and backing vocalist Jeremy Lenzo, and drummer and backing vocalist Jake Bundrick all do their parts well, mixing together nicely. The guitar riffs and drumming beats add nicely to the songs, complimenting the beat set by the bassist.

The first track from the album, “Jamie All Over,” is a good choice for newcomers to Mayday Parade music, offering a pre-chorus and chorus that can get stuck in your heads for weeks. “Miserable At Best” is one of the slower songs on the album, along with “You Be The Anchor That Keeps My Feet On The Ground, I’ll Be The Wings That Keep Your Heart In The Clouds,” and heavily features a piano part, being the only instrument played in the entire song. Both of those songs have a relaxing sound to them, especially “You Be The Anchor…”, which has a flowing quality to it. “When I Get Home You’re So Dead” is a song that will grab your attention if you were ever in a relationship and ended up being cheated on, or if you cheated on someone. “Black Cat” and “Ocean And Atlantic” have softer background music and more emphasis on vocals, as does “I’d Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About”. “Walk On Water Or Drown” features drum beats, especially on the intro, which provide the backbone for the song, while “Take This To Heart” focuses more on guitar riffs overlaid by vocals. “If You Wanted A Song Written About You, All You Had To Do Was Ask” tells a story about staying with someone even if you know it just isn’t working out. “Jersey” and “Champagne’s For Celebrating (I’ll Have A Martini)” are two complimenting songs that tell about people that had to part ways, but in the end didn’t really want to.

However, some of the songs are harder to become attached to, as they don’t have the hooking guitar riffs, drumming beats, or vocal solos. The parts of some songs, such as “Take This To Heart”, seem to blend together, and it is more difficult to distinguish the different parts than other songs. Some of their songs are less memorable than the others, such as “I’d Hate To Be You…” and “Take This To Heart”, but all in all, this is an album worth your time and money.

Artist: Artist vs Poet
Album: Favorite Fix
Release: 2010
Tracks: 12


Vocalist Tracy Thompson, guitarist and co-vocalist Craig Calloway, bass guitarist Jason Dean, and drummer Joe Westbrook are Artist vs Poet, and they work well together from what can be seen in Favorite Fix. All of the instruments and vocals are evenly balanced, none of them overpowering any of the other parts. This album has a wide variety of songs, including slower songs and upbeat songs that make you want to tap your foot to the beat.

“Adorable” is an insanely catchy song that will be stuck in your head for a while after you hear it for the first time. “We’re All The Same” has a happy beat that blends with the vocals on the track, and “Car Crash” is so upbeat it makes you want to tap your foot or move around just a little bit. “Favorite Fix” has a more electronic beat to it, mixed with auto-tuned vocals and interesting guitar riffs over the bridge. “Unconscious Reality” begins with a violin track that provides a continuous background for most of the song, apart from the chorus which relies more on the drums and guitar. Electronic drum beats and mixed guitar sounds are a constant in the song “Damn Rough Night”, and the auto-tuned bridge keeps a fresh beat near the end of the song. Techno sounds seem to take over in the song “We’re All The Same”, but they keep in the background and blend nicely with the vocals of the song, which offsets the techno track nicely. A catchy guitar riff that sets the stage for the song “So Much I Never Said”, which is bolstered the drums and bass throughout the song, and keeps time with the vocals well. “Miserably Loving You” introduces a softer song on their album, almost sad in comparison to their more upbeat songs, keeping time with a soft drumbeat and an acoustic guitar riff. “Broke But Not Broken” wastes no time in getting into the songs, starting off with a simple drum-roll solo, and diving straight into the seven-word chorus with a strong guitar and drum pairing. Later in the song the chorus is overlaid by other vocals from the bridges and verses. Almost space-like techno sounds kick off this song, then leave the stage to the guitarist and drummer in “He’s Just Not Me”. “Alive” is another soft song, featuring an acoustic guitar and a muffled drum that keeps the time for the song, the vocals seeming to float over the instruments. “Giving Yourself Away” is an explosive end to the album after “Alive”, starting off with a powerful guitar riff that wakes you up for the last hurrah of the album.

Even though the album is great and all of the different tracks blend together well, the songs seem to be more abstract. The slower songs seem slightly out of place amongst the happy and upbeat songs that dominate this album. Sometimes the vocals seem to be overly-auto tuned, or the instruments are replaced completely by electronically generated sounds. Overall, the album has a happy feel to it, and it’s definitely worth taking a listen.

Jason Derulo

by Isabella





Album: Jason Derulo


Released: 2010


Tracks: 9






Derulo's debut album is filled with feel good, fun-to-dance-to tunes. "Whatcha Say" is a light hip-hop beat accompanied by soulful vocals and "Ridin' Solo" proves that breakups can sometimes be a good thing. Derulo's vocals and music organization (ne never dwells in overly hard or loud beats) allow for a generally enjoyable experience, with only a few exceptions. "What If" would classify as a love ballad gone wrong. The piano melodies are drowned out by a beat that just won't go away. Derulo's voice is one that would be perfect for either acoustic or auto tuned songs, and this song would've been an opportunity for the artist to shine without any dance pop glitz overpowering him. "Sky's the Limit" doesn't quite capture the same flair as the rest of the piece, the music seeming to not quite fit the vocals. Derulo's record company insits on putting their own mark on his work, constantly inserting the same auto tunes in every single track, the tones becoming fast victims of overuse. It's a pretty good first effort, but loses a few points for freshness and originality.





Usher

by Isabella





Album: Raymond Vs. Raymond



Released: 2010



Tracks: 14



Usher is a veteran to the music industry and frankly this album is disappointing. "Hey Daddy" and "Lil Freak" are probably the best tracks on the listing; easy to get stuck in your head with autotunes that won't drive you insane. "There Goes My Baby", a hit single, is an uncertain piano background with vocals that don't quite match. "Guilty" feat. T.I. loses its R& B atmosphere, verging on hip-hop/ rap without the signature carefully thought out rhymes. "Mars vs. Venus" plays on the title card, but doesn't deliver the right punch that you would expect from such an interesting title. "O.M.G.", another smash hit, seems genius on the surface, but after listening to it a few times, you get an entirely different impression. Usher has gone through personal issues while writing and recording this album, so it's no surprise that it seems like its going in a hundred different directions at once. Many songs have taglines spoken by Usher himself, which pulled me away from the actual song that followed. While Usher may be talented, he hasn't lived up to his full potential this time. While originality isn't really an exceptionally strong point in either of these albums, Derulo hasn't been around long enough for most people to get tired of him. Usher, on the other hand, needs to get back to his roots.

Owl City

by Malia

Owl City

Genre:Electro Pop

From his hometown, somewhere in the suburbs of Minnesota, Adam Young began to compose music. His insomnia led to his experimentation into sounds and his keyboard, and from there, his career just took off into space...
What began as beeps and boops of the new age quickly ascended to become something that everyone wanted to listen to.
The soothing and whimsical theme of his songs make you feel warm and happy inside and the lyrics along with the airy melodies are so sweet you are almost on the brink of sadness. But, without fail, Owl City will bring you back into instantaneous contentment and peace of mind, thereby creating something that you will absolutely love, no matter what genre you belong to!

Owl City is a musical discovery that stands apart from the others but still attracts anyone and everyone who decides to listen. Though some believe that the lyrics are strange, we should stop and think about our own words. We are strange too, but just dont have the influence to voice them, or in this case, put them into song! By the way. Owl City's music is simple and clean, with no bad language.

So, give Owl City a listen, and I hope that you will become immersed in whimsical surroundings and happy thoughts.