Lady Antebellum – Wait…WHAT?

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”

‘Glee’ Music Preview >> “Need You Now” & “Bills, Bills, Bills”

There’s only a few more days til Glee returns on a special night after Super Bowl XLV.

To tide you over, check out a clip of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Puck (Mark Salling) singing Lady Antebellum’s huge hit, “Need You Now”!

Also, here’s a short clip of Dalton Academy’s Warblers performing Destiny’s Child’s hit, “Bills, Bills, Bills”! Blaine (Darren Criss) is featured on lead vocals.

Video source: 1, 2

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.