Author: Kirsten Coachman

Kirsten Coachman is a Writer, Editor, and Arts & Entertainment Journalist from the SF Bay Area. When not listening to music or cheering on the San Jose Sharks, she's probably at the movies. Follow her on Threads: @kirscoachman

David Cook Talks About His New Album

David Cook talked to PopStopTV.com at an event the other night about the possible time frame for the release of his much anticipated sophomore album.

Check out his interview below!

We are getting so close to new music from David, and I couldn’t be more excited! If the album is due out this spring, that means a new single should be popping up pretty soon.

If you haven’t seen the music teaser David put on the internets a week or so ago, check that out here!

Follow me on Twitter! @KirsCoachman

New Features For Wait…WHAT? at KirstenCoachman.com

As American Idol starts back up, I will be getting ready to make an attempt at writing a lot of words about the new crop of contestants for BlogCritics, while maintaining fresh content for Wait…WHAT? at KirstenCoachman.com.

I have come up with some features that will be for the most part exclusive to Wait…WHAT? at KirstenCoachman.com. They will highlight mainly movies and music. Big shocker, right? ;)

I have come up with two new movie features for the blog, Netflix Nights and Lil’ Bro Recommends, and a music feature called, Ear Candy.

I am slowly making my way through my Netflix queue, and I figured along the way, I would do some original commentary with my Netflix Nights feature. I already did some commentary about Charlie St. Cloud earlier this week. I don’t see a whole lot of movies while they are in the theater, so some movies may be somewhat old, and in some cases you’ll probably just question my taste. Haha!

Lil Bro Recommends is a new feature that’s going to be made up of movies that I have watched based on recommendation from my lil’ bro. He’s got a very eclectic taste when it comes to films (he’d probably just refer to it as having good taste), but so far he hasn’t thrown me anything too left of center. I’ve already watched a couple movies he’s recommended, so there should be commentary up about those soon.

Ear Candy will be apart of my music reviews. I tend to do a lot of album reviews, and I want to put my two cents in about new songs that are coming out this year.

Idol Wired is my upcoming Idol feature on BlogCritics, and I also will be posting every column here as well. Idol Wired will include my weekly commentary, plus Idol news, interviews, and music reviews of former contestant’s music. It’s an all-encompassing feature.

Yay, new features! I’m very excited for what 2011 will bring and I hope you keep coming by the blog to check out the posts and comment!

Also check out:

http://bloggerkirs.tumblr.com
http://twitter.com/IdolWired (where I will be live-tweeting Idol during the WC show. My immediate reactions to Idol performances and the judges’ critiques will be there, so follow me!)

If you haven’t already, also follow me at @KirsCoachman on Twitter!

Shine On,

Kirsten

Ear Candy: Britney Spears — “Hold It Against Me”

Britney Spears is hitting the music scene again with her first single, “Hold It Against Me” off her seventh studio album slated to be released later this year.

With all the hype for Ms. Spears’ new album coming out this spring, I was expecting her first single to be the best we’ve ever heard from her. Frankly, it’s just not.

“Hold It Against Me,” which is the work of producers, Dr. Luke and Max Martin, is a definite club thumper. The beat immediately makes you want to get up and dance, but maybe not sing-a-long to.

The lyrics definitely leave much to be desired. They seem so amateur and ridiculous in comparison to lyrics from past lead singles. Britney songs aren’t literary masterpieces by any means, but usually they have some kind of substance to them. Also, during my initial listen of the song, I feel like the lyrics are too slow for the song during the verses.

The one part of the song that I did enjoy is the breakdown. The beats are fantastic. I hope that there will be some excellent choreography to be paired with it for the music video.

I really expected a lot more from Britney’s first single. This doesn’t scream to me that she’s back; It actually feels like she picked out a leftover song from 2007’s Blackout. As a longtime fan of Britney’s, “Hold It Against Me” is an absolute letdown.

Take a listen to “Hold It Against Me” below.

Follow me on Twitter! @KirsCoachman

Ear Candy >> Avril Lavigne — “What The Hell”

It seems that Avril Lavigne is continuing to embrace the pop side of her musical self that we were introduced to on her 2007 album The Best Damn Thing. The infusion of pop in her music is continuing to work out in her favor. Her latest single “What The Hell” (co-written and produced by Max Martin) was released earlier this week and climbed to number three on iTunes within a matter of hours.

Lavigne continues to do what she does best, which is make songs that people, especially women, can relate to. “What The Hell” is about tossing caution to the wind in life and relationships, and doing things that we normally wouldn’t do. What person doesn’t at least daydream about doing this?

The melody sounds pretty simple upon first listen, but when you listen closely there are a lot of layers to the track which in turn give it that kick of fun, bop-around-to-it-pop sound.

Overall, the song is produced well, the beat is catchy, and the lyrics are relatable and easy to sing-a-long to. Those are definitely the necessary ingredients of a hit song in the making.

“What The Hell” is available of iTunes now. Avril Lavigne’s fourth studio album, Goodbye Lullaby is due out March 8.

For more information on Avril Lavigne, please visit her official website.

Take a listen to “What The Hell” below.

Originally posted on BlogCritics.

Follow me on Twitter! @KirsCoachman

Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean Heads Back to Rehab

It was announced earlier this week that Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean is headed back to rehab.

In a statement released by his publicist McLean said, “For personal reasons, I’ve checked myself into a rehab clinic. With 2011 being a busy year for Backstreet, I want to be healthy and perform & sing for the people at my very best and happiest. None of this will affect our current tour plans and I look forward to seeing everyone really soon! Thank you for all your support and respecting my family and friends privacy during this time.”

It was during the summer of 2001 when McLean entered rehab for the first time. Four members of the Backstreet Boys, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, and former member Kevin Richardson made an appearance on MTV’s Total Request Live (most notably referred to as TRL) to make the heartbreaking announcement to their fans.

The Backstreet Boys are heading out on tour this summer with their predecessors New Kids on the Block. Blue Bloods star and NKOTB member Donnie Wahlberg tweeted this message in support of McLean.

“As a friend of A.J. McLean- what matters most is his health. As a partner in this band- nothing will stop all 9 of us from doing this TOGETHER.”

Follow me on Twitter! @KirsCoachman

Ear Candy: David Archuleta — “Senseless”

Earlier this week, a new David Archuleta track hit the internets called, “Senseless.”

Take a listen!

I have to say, I like it! I really dig the r&b vibe meshed with Archie’s voice. I think it suits him really well. I don’t think it would have fit in well with the songs on The Other Side of Down. However, it would have fit in with the mix of music on his self-titled debut. This track actually reminds me of “Desperate,” which was one of my favorite tracks from his first album.

Maybe it’s just me, but I kind of prefer him doing more r&b style music. He has the vocal chops, he would just need a good pop/r&b producer. Not that his producers aren’t great now, I love the songs Eman has worked with David on. I just think that maybe for his third album he should bring back a little bit more of this type of sound.

So what did y’all think of “Senseless”?

Follow me on Twitter! @KirsCoachman

Audition For ‘The Glee Project’ in Fort Worth, TX

Want to be in season three of Glee?

Glee’s Darren Criss and casting director Robert Ulrich are in an online video promoting the upcoming casting session this weekend for Oxygen’s The Glee Project.
Check it out!

For more information on the casting session and eligibility requirements go to thegleeproject.oxygen.com!

Follow me on Twitter! @KirsCoachman

Brooke White and Randy Jackson Discuss Their Upcoming TV Movie, ‘Change of Plans’

You probably best remember Brooke White as the lovable and talented folk-pop singer-songwriter from American Idol season seven, winning you over every week with performances like “Let It Be” and “You’ve Got a Friend.” White is making her acting debut in the movie Change of Plans, which is apart of FOX’s Family Movie Night, airing this Saturday at 8 p.m.

White plays Sally Danville, a singer-songwriter married to fighter-pilot, Jason (Joe Flanigan). She learns that her best friend from college died while serving in the Peace Corps; on top of that, Sally also learns that she has been named the legal guardian of her friend’s four kids, three of whom were adopted from third-world countries. Sally and Jason have to adapt quickly into parenting, learning how a change of plans sometimes becomes something better than they could have imagined for their lives.

Earlier this week during a conference call, White and the movie’s soundtrack producer, American Idol judge Randy Jackson, discussed  Change of Plans, the lack of hit songs coming from the Idol winners and former contestants, and what’s in store for the tenth season of American Idol.

White explained that she had not set out to do any acting in her post-Idol career, and the opportunity for the movie came out of nowhere. She said that she was “shipped off to Toronto” for filming within a couple days after being cast in Change of Plans. She was initially nervous on set, but was soon bit by the acting bug. The hardest part of her new gig? The wake-up calls.

“What can I say was the hardest part about acting? Probably my 4:30 a.m. pick up every day. That was probably the hardest part. I have to say, there were certain technical aspects I wasn’t super savvy to, but other than that it felt super natural just to get in,” she said.

“I think I was concerned [about memorizing lines]. I’ve been known to forget lyrics here or there. I was worried I would forget a line or two. But really, it wasn’t a big deal, you get in there, memorizing the dialogue isn’t a big deal when you get there. I thought it was more fun, than hard.”

White mentioned that she had just watched Change of Plans a couple days ago, and experienced what she called the “answering machine syndrome,” while listening to herself talk during the movie.

Continue reading Brooke White and Randy Jackson Discuss Their Upcoming TV Movie, ‘Change of Plans’

Darren Criss Performing at Young Actors’ Theater Camp

Glee’s Darren Criss recently taught a master class and performed during the winter session of the Young Actors’ Theater Camp.

Check out his performances of “Get Back to Hogwarts” and “Teenage Dream” below!

I love that he’s performing this by himself! It’s ‘totally awesome!’

Video Source: 1

Follow me on Twitter! @KirsCoachman