Category: Reviews

Music Review >> Glee Cast – “Blame It on the Alcohol”

Glee channeled Jamie Foxx, Human League, George Thorogood, and Kesha in this week’s episode, “Blame It on the Alcohol.” It’s only fitting that the cast of Glee perform “Blame It (On The Alcohol),” since it is where this week’s episode got it’s namesake from.

Kevin McHale (Artie) and Amber Riley (Mercedes) take the lead on the Jamie Foxx hit. They both sound really good. Riley got to showcase a much more controlled vocal than usual. I appreciated that McHale’s voice wasn’t weighed down with auto-tune. Mark Salling (Puck) and Naya Rivera (Santana) also are highlighted on this track. Both of their vocals suit the R&B stylings of “Blame It.” As someone who really likes Foxx’s original track, I found the Glee version to be just as enjoyable to listen to.

Darren Criss (Blaine) and Lea Michele (Rachel) team up for a duet of an amped up version of Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me.” It’s not surprising at all that their voices sound great together. There seems to be a touch of auto-tune going on in the production, but neither singer sounds unrecognizable. Criss’ deep vocals provides a subtle sexiness to the track.

Dot-Marie Jones (Coach Beiste) makes her Glee music debut this week, doing a duet with Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester) on the George Thorogood version of the John Lee Hooker song, “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.” According to TVLine.com, this was Jones’ first time recording a song ever, and to be honest I think she did a pretty decent job. It was a little strange to hear Morrison singing country, but I liked their duet.

Heather Morris returns to the Glee spotlight, as she takes on Kesha’s monster hit, “Tik Tok.” I was pretty excited when I heard Glee was going to be covering this song, because it’s really fun and upbeat. After hearing the Glee version, I wish they would have just left well enough alone. Morris doesn’t infuse the song with any personality vocally like the original. It just felt like a weird Kidz Bop cover with the backing vocals and the auto-tune. For the most part, I think this week’s tracks were pretty good. The music supervisors did a great job with picking songs that went hand-in-hand with the episode’s theme. Production-wise, I really think Glee dropped the ball with “Tik Tok,” as that song could have sounded so much better.

The music from Glee’s “Blame It on the Alcohol” episode are available now on iTunes. Glee airs Tuesday nights 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on FOX.

Originally posted on BlogCritics.

Music Review >> Glee Cast – “Comeback”

I currently have the lyrics to Justin Bieber’s hit song, “Baby” playing on a loop in my head.

“Baby, baby, baby ooh…baby, baby, baby ooh…baby, baby, baby ooh…”

Not cool, Glee. Not cool at all.

I have seen The Biebs perform on TV a couple of times, but never bothered to sit down and listen to his music. I had my own Justin Bieber when I was 16, but his name was Brian Littrell and he was a Backstreet Boy.

When I initially heard that Glee would be getting Bieber-friendly, I must admit that I cringed. Upon remembering that this show is set in high school, and that Bieber is pretty much “the dude” right now, it then made sense that the kids in glee club would like his music.

So, how was Glee’s take on Bieber? Not bad, actually. I can’t even believe I’m about to say this, but after taking a listen to the lyrics and the melody, I have come to realize that Bieber has well-written and catchy tunes. This would be why the chorus to “Baby” has not left my brain.

Chord Overstreet (Sam) sings The Bieb’s enormous hit, “Baby,” and I think pop music is definitely his niche. He isn’t the strongest male singer in the cast, but Glee’s “Blond Bieber” does quite well for himself on this song.

I wasn’t surprised at all to hear Kevin McHale (Artie) doing the rap breakdown in the song. He proves again that he can flow pretty well.

Overstreet, McHale, Mark Salling (Puck), and Harry Shum Jr. (Mike) perform Bieber’s “Somebody To Love.” I have come to the conclusion that when the Glee guys are rocking a pop song, they sound at the top of their game.
Continue reading Music Review >> Glee Cast – “Comeback”

Music Review >> Glee Cast – “Silly Love Songs”

Glee is getting lovey-dovey this week with the song selections from their Valentines’ Day-themed episode, “Silly Love Songs.”

For the second episode in a row Kevin McHale (Artie) takes a Michael Jackson hit. In his episode, he’s singing “P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing).” Out of all the males, I think McHale was definitely the right choice to sing this song. His voice has the right tone and flavor to pull this song off. I think it was important for him and the show to not have a carbon-copy vocal, but still manage to keep the essence of the song intact, and I think they succeeded on both levels.

This week Mark Salling (Puck) is singing Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls.” I know this song fits in with Puck’s storyline for the episode, but I feel like the song was in the wrong key for him. At times it sounded like he was straining to hit the higher notes. Because of this, I have to wonder if the backing vocals are purposely drowning his voice out. It seems depending on the song selection for him, Salling’s vocal performances continue to be very hit or miss this season.

We’re treated to two songs from Dalton Academy’s Warblers during the episode. Per usual, the vocal stylings of Darren Criss (Blaine) are featured on both tracks. First up with Robin Thicke’s “When I Get You Alone,” Criss continues to impress. His vocal performance is flirty and has some swagger to it, which really adds to the song overall. There’s a big note that he hits at the end of the song which is absolutely fantastic. I really like that the Warblers sing songs that are more pop/R&B, because it distinguishes their style from New Directions.
Continue reading Music Review >> Glee Cast – “Silly Love Songs”

Music Review >> Glee Cast – “The Sue Sylvester Bowl Shuffle”

Glee returns this Sunday for a special episode that’s airing right after Super Bowl XLV. This new episode contains four brand new tracks from the Glee Cast.

Lea Michele (Rachel) and Mark Salling (Puck) duet on the popular Lady Antebellum song, “Need You Now.” I have always wanted to hear these two sing a duet together, so it is such a treat to have it happen. The two singers were given a great track to sing, that fits pretty perfectly with their ongoing storyline.

I really liked that Michele and Salling didn’t try to do carbon copies of the original vocals for this track. Michele has a beautiful voice for ballads. I feel like sometimes she does struggle with the more contemporary tracks, but “Need You Now” fits her voice like a glove. Salling really adapts his voice well for this track, and really shows a softer side of his vocals that the audience doesn’t hear too often from him. Singing together on the chorus, both singers sound fantastic. The singers’ vocals compliment each other, and have personally left me wanting another duet from them.

I think Cory Monteith sounds good on lead vocals on the Glee version of The Zombies’ “She’s Not There.” The tone of his voice was really nice. However, during the chorus with all the guys from New Directions singing together, I felt like I was being yelled at. That doesn’t work for me. I don’t want to sing-a-long when I feel that I am being yelled at.

In the upcoming episode, we once again hear from Dalton Academy’s Warblers who sing Destiny’s Child hit song, “Bills, Bills, Bills.” The song features cast member Darren Criss (Blaine) on lead vocals.

Criss is showing some vocal versatility on his part with this track. If you’ve listened to his EP, you kind have the idea that he’s more of a folk-pop singer. He really embraced the spirit of this track and infused the attitude of the lyrics into his vocal. I really liked hearing Criss on an R&B track, because it allowed him to show a more soulful side to his voice.
Continue reading Music Review >> Glee Cast – “The Sue Sylvester Bowl Shuffle”

Music Review >> Yellowcard – “For You, And Your Denial”

It’s been four years since Yellowcard released their last album, Paper Walls, and this spring the band (Ryan Key, Sean Mackin, Longineu “LP” Parsons, Ryan Mendez, and Sean O’Donnell) are releasing When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes. Key said that taking a break before releasing this album was, “absolutely the best possible choice we could have made as a band.”

“The fact that we had that time to refocus and recharge individually made working together for the first time in two years so much more exciting. The possibilities were endless again,” he said.

The band signed with Hopeless Records last fall, before heading into the studio to record with Neal Avron, whom Key referred to as the sixth member of the band while putting together an album.

The result of Yellowcard’s hard work is their forthcoming fifth studio album which features the band’s latest single, “For You, And Your Denial.”

The track has a familiarity about it. The guitar work has similarities to the band’s huge hit, “Ocean Avenue,” which to my ears isn’t a bad thing. I definitely think taking a part of what made your original hit big and building on it from there is what makes this new song work.

“For You, And Your Denial” is upbeat and catchy, which makes you want to listen to the track over and over again. Musically, the band sounds fantastic and Key’s voice sounds stronger than ever. Overall, I think that the song is a great re-introduction to Yellowcard and their music.

“For You, And Your Denial” is available on iTunes and Amazon now. When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes is due out March 11.

For more information on Yellowcard, check out their official website.

Originally posted on BlogCritics.

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

Best of ‘Glee’ Music in 2010

After reviewing the music from Glee for a good part of the year, I have compiled what I believe to be the 10 best tracks recorded by the Glee cast in 2010.

10. “Faithfully”

The duet between Lea Michele and Cory Monteith of Journey’s “Faithfully” was New Directions lead in song during Regionals. I am a huge fan of both of their singing voices. Michele and Monteith seem to compliment each other very well. This song is what I thought to be their shining moment singing together during the last part of season one.

9. “Beautiful”

Amber Riley has had some amazing vocal performances this year, but it was her rendition of Christina Aguilera’s huge hit song, “Beautiful” that really blew me away. The song allowed for Riley to show off multiple facets of her vocal range, as well as sing a powerful message.

8. “Stop! In The Name of Love/Free Your Mind”

This mash-up from season two features all the Glee guys from New Directions. I really enjoyed this track, and the guys sounded great. I have to add that Chord Overstreet sounds really charming during his verse. I thought the track was well-produced, and who would have ever thought that Diana Ross and EnVogue would meld well together into one song?

7. “Toxic”

It was a toss-up decision between this and “Me Against the Music,’ which I thought was another great track from the Britney Spears themed episode at the beginning of season two. I picked this track, because I really liked what they did with using the harmonies in place of instruments. Plus, it was nice to hear Matthew Morrison singing with the rest of the cast.

6. “Bad Romance”

The Glee ladies, along with Chris Colfer really nailed the essence of this song on the head. This track is infused with a lot of personality, which is what makes it just as much fun to listen to as the original Lady Gaga version.

Continue reading Best of ‘Glee’ Music in 2010

Music Review >> Darren Criss – ‘Human’

Darren Criss made a huge impact during his first singing appearance as Blaine on Glee in episode 2×6, “Never Been Kissed.” As a fan of Glee, I definitely took notice of his presence, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.

The Glee version of Katy Perry’s hit “Teenage Dream,” which features Criss on lead vocals, hit number one on iTunes selling 214,000 copies during it’s first week according to Entertainment Weekly.

Criss independently released his acoustic EP Human this past summer. In five tracks, the singer-songwriter proves that he is the real deal.

Human touches on the basic emotions that we all experience throughout our lives, like love, heartbreak, and jealousy. Criss’ voice exhibits sincerity and passion in each of the songs on his EP.

One of the songs, “Not Alone,” which Criss performed live at the Trevor Project benefit earlier this month, showcases his vocal range from his larger drawn out notes to his falsetto. The chorus also happens to be quite catchy. I promise that you will be singing-a-long by the end of the song. Also, there’s a feeling of truthfulness in the lyrics, which serves almost as a reminder that we’re all capable of these emotions that make us inevitably human.

Production-wise, one can only imagine what Criss could accomplish if he had the time to record a full-length studio album with a full band. For recording the EP at home, the overall sound is pretty good. It’s nice to hear Criss’ raw vocals that are not glossed over by studio magic.

Listeners can experience soul-filled songs from a very talented Criss, who demonstrates great potential with his EP.

For more information on Darren Criss, check out his official website.

Definite Downloads: “Not Alone” and “Jealousy”

Originally posted on BlogCritics.

Follow me on Twitter! @KirsCoachman

Concert Review >> Lee DeWyze at Mix 106.5’s Very Merry Mixxer

Last week, Lee DeWyze took part in Mix 106.5’s Very Merry Mixxer alongside Angel Taylor and the popular band, Plain White T’s.

He performed second that night, and kicked off his eight-song acoustic set with “Earth Stood Still.” He followed up with a slightly altered version of “Dear Isabelle.” DeWyze changed up the melody just slightly, making the song sound more upbeat.

DeWyze has found balance in his vocals between a soft and subtle vocal and his larger notes. I definitely prefer the stripped down versions of the songs versus the polished studio tracks, because they showcase his true rough around the edges musical style and folk-pop vocals.

One of the highlights from DeWyze’s set was his take on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” His performance was stunning.

I’ve always really liked DeWyze’s voice on this song, and during this particular moment at the show, I was just in awe. It was a fantastic performance.

The other big highlight of the night was “Brooklyn Bridge,” which DeWyze closed his set with. This song should always be performed acoustically; The sentiment behind the lyrics comes across much more powerful.

DeWyze’s stage presence has definitely come a long way from his American Idol days. He bantered a bit with the crowd about how he had been playing his guitar a little too hard, and how much he’s enjoying playing his songs off of Live It Up.

The one thing that I would have changed about DeWyze’s set would be the order of his set list. He played his current single “Sweet Serendipity” in the middle of his set instead of singing it last, which I thought was odd. I would have rearranged his entire set to make it flow a little bit better.

I found DeWyze to be pretty entertaining. His vocals were really on point, and the crowd seemed to love him.

For more information on Lee DeWyze, check out his official website.

Complete set list:

“Earth Stood Still”
“Dear Isabelle”
“Beautiful Like You”
“Sweet Serendipity”
“Hallelujah”
“Live It Up”
“A Song About Love”
“Brooklyn Bridge”

Originally posted on BlogCritics.

Music Review >> Josh Kelley — ‘Georgia Clay’ EP

Josh Kelley’s upcoming full length album Georgia Clay is due out in spring of 2011, but in the meantime he’s released a three-song EP to give his fans a taste of what’s to come.

Kelley has spent the last two years working on his latest album and has been making people take notice of his talent while on tour with Miranda Lambert.

“I am super excited about these songs,” Kelley said in a press release. “These are the perfect three songs for a three-song EP to give people a little taste of what’s to come.”

The EP kicks off with Kelley’s current single, “Georgia Clay” which he wrote with his brother Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum.

The song came about after reminiscing about an old truck their father used to let them drive in highschool.

“I said, ‘Man, if there’s still some Georgia clay underneath it, if that Georgia clay could speak what would it say?’ It would have seen our childhood and seen Charles and I experiencing our first everythings,” Kelley said.

“Georgia Clay” definitely has that storyteller feel about it. Kelley has a strong vocal, and the tone of his voice makes you believe the sentiment behind the song.

The Kelley brothers collaborated again on the track, “Ain’t Letting Go” along with Patrick Davis. It’s an uptempo song that Kelley described as a guy having a phone conversation with his girlfriend’s answering machine.

“A Real Good Try,” which was written by Kelley is by far my favorite track on the EP. The overall feel and tone of the music are fantastic. The song came across as rather inspiring.

Upon first listen of these three songs, I couldn’t believe how much of Kelley’s sound has changed. And as much as I like these new tracks, I can’t help but wonder what happened to the guy from the 2005 Almost Honest album. I really feel like these songs are toned down in comparison to his previous albums.

Josh Kelley’s Georgia Clay EP is out now.

For more information on Josh Kelley, check out his official website.

Originally posted on BlogCritics.