Robin Thicke’s latest album, Love After War, was released December 6th. I’ve been struggling since then to write this review. It’s not a bad album but it’s boring and I’ve been trying to find a more eloquent and respectable way to describe my sentiments. Alas, I haven’t found a way to do that so, without further adieu, please excuse my poor word choice, but this album is boring. Boring like a cupcake without icing. I guess you could still argue that at least it’s still a cupcake?
My first issue with the album is that I don’t understand his jump from his last effort to this one. The former, Sex Therapy, was urban soul and featured a bunch of collabs (Jay-Z, Game, Jazmine Sullivan, Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Estelle). Love After War features a lot of forgettable slow soul jams you might hear as background music at a coffee shop or in a store. On that note however, the sound to this album is more in line and true to the sound he had on his first few albums.
I actually really enjoy Thicke’s voice. I think he’s got a lot of soul and I do indeed like a lot of his music; this album just isn’t cutting it for me. That being said, there are a few standout tracks worth mentioning. The openers “An Angel on Each Arm” and “I’m An Animal” are upbeat and catchy and probably my favourite tracks on the album. Slower standouts are “All Tied Up” which is the perfect tempo for Saturday mornings when you’re half asleep waiting for coffee to do it’s thing, “Cloud 9″ with it’s whimsical beat, and “What Would I Be?” which in my opinion is the best ballad with it’s strong vocals and soulful key solos.
Like I mentioned earlier, not a bad album, just really, really lackluster. Hey, I just found a better word for boring!
Rating: 3/10
Label: Geffen Records
Favourites: An Angel On Each Arm, I’m An Animal, What Would I Be?
Prince sparkled and funked Vancouver up during what may have been one of the best concerts to hit this city in 2011.
The show started an hour late but all was forgotten when a voice boomed through the speakers: ”Is everyobody here? Is everybody present? Tell me that you’re ready for me!”. Then the lights came on and we all squealed like school girls at the sight of Prince decked out in a gold sequinced suit (the jacket was killer….I want it), gold heels, bling, eyeliner, and sparkle hair gel galore. Honestly, how is it possible that a 53 year old man has sexier legs, walks better in three inch heels, and shakes what his momma gave him like it’s no one’s damn business, all better than me? I’m half his age (and latin – isn’t that shit supposed to be in my blood) and pathetic at all of the above.
The show featured one hit after another (my favourite being “Kiss”) as Prince and his equally decked out band shimmied their way to and fro across the stage (stage is the shape of his love symbol by the way). Sometimes we only got snippets of hits but other times we got ten minutes jam sessions where Prince really flexed his musical ability. For example, we only got a minute of “When Doves Cry” but we got ten of “Purple Rain” and Prince rocking out like no other on his guitar. Oh man he’s good with that thing (I know, that’s what she said right?)
He also did a few awesome mash ups like “Let’s Go Crazy”/“Delirious” (sick saxophone on the latter) and “Everyday People” (Sly & the Family Stone)/“Come Together” (Beatles )/ “Alphabet Street” (Prince). He also played “Nothing Compares 2 U (written by Prince but made popular bySinead O’Connor) and “If I Was Your Girlfriend” (written by Prince but made popular byTLC). And to my happy little surprise, he covered my all-time Michael Jackson favourite, “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”.
Prince graced the crowd with two encores because after the first, no one was leaving Rogers Arena. The second encore was one big mash-up of hits which had everyone dancing all the way home.
What was that? You don’t have tickets to his show? Well….what the hell are you waiting for!
Universal Republic recently released Lioness: Hidden Treasures, a compilation of never released Amy Winehouse tracks. The album isn’t as peppy as Back to Black, but it still holds its own even if I’d describe it as coffee shop mellow music. In fact, I think that would be my perfect setting to listen to this album. Drinking java, working on my laptop, all whilst taking small brakes to take the music in. It’s in those small brakes you take that you learn something new about a song and hear a little more soul than the time before.
The 12 track album features some mellow yet peppier tracks like “Our Day Will Come”, “Valerie”, and “Best Friends, Right?”. Then there’s a slew of soulful slower jams like “Tears Dry”, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, “Wake Up Alone”, and “Body And Soul” featuring Tony Bennett. My personal favourites are the funky “Like Smoke” featuring Nas, the spunky feel-good “Valerie”, “The Girl From Ipanema” which makes me want to be cool and grab a piña colada, and the closing track “A Song For You” which will probably break your heart a little bit (“…and when my life is over,remember when we were together, we were alone and I was singing this song for you….” – think they made this one the final track on purpose?).
Although the album feels more like a modge podge of tracks that I wouldn’t really call treasures, they’re treasures in the sense that they’re the only thing we have left to remember the talented Winehouse.
Rating: 7/10
Label: Universal Republic
Favourites: Like Smoke, Valerie, The Girl From Ipanema
I never delve into a Paulina Rubio album with high hopes because I find that even with a neutral stance I still end up dissapointed. I wouldn’t say her latest effort Brava! is super disspapoiting but it’s just “another” album.
As per usual, Rubio has a few catchy tracks that are pretty good (Me Gustas Tanto, All Around The World, Heat of The Night – they could all be a little faster for night club purposes but are good nonetheless). There’s also a few tracks that’ll be radio hits only (Olvidate De Mi, Sabes Que Te Amo, Me Voy). There’s also the token ballad (Que Estuvieras Aqui) which is alright. Then there’s the rest of the album…..a few tracks that were just…..meh.
The thing with Rubio is that she always has a few tracks that make it huge but albums that are mediocre. You don’t dislike her music but you don’t care much for it either. I guess that’s better than hating every song on the album.
Rating: 5/10
Label: Universal Latino
Favourites: Me Gustas Tanto, All Around The World
I generally tend to like remix albums because they usually feature a lot of great dance/workout music. Lady Gaga’s Born This Way – The Remix is no exception.
I should probably start by saying I dislike Lady Gaga yet I do like her music. I can appreciate her need and want to be over the top but I think most of the time she’s ridiculous. For example, what the hell is going on on the album cover? That being said, she puts out one hit after another of music that is catchy and generally liked by all.
The Remix album features 14 of the 17 that are on the original Born This Way. Most of the tracks were given a techno treatment (Born This Way-Zedd Remix, Edge of Glory-Foster the People Remix & Sultan and Ned Shepard Remix, Black Jesus + Amen, Sheibe, Americano, and Judas-Hurts Remix) whereas others received an electro remix (You and I-Wild Beasts Remix, Marry the Night, Born This Way-Twin Shadow Remix), and some got a dark, sultry remix of sorts (Bloody Mary, Judas-Goldfrapp Remix, You and I-Metronomy Remix).
It’s a pretty good album in the sense that most of the remixes are either better or just as good as the original. There’s a few let downs in my opinion (Judas-Goldfrapp Remix, You and I-Metronomy Remix) but I’m sure even those tracks are liked by Gaga afficionados.
Rating: 7/10
Label: Steamline / Kon Live / Interscope
Favourites: Americano, Electric Chapel, Born This Way (Zedd Remix)
Rihanna is back with Talk that Talk and she’s landed with a bigger sex drive than ever.
I like Rihanna. I generally find her songs catchy and I think she’s a babe. I don’t mind that she’s uber sexual in life and music. That being said, I don’t get how Hollywood transforms girls from virginal kitty cats to sex mavens over night, especially when fans aren’t making that transformation either at all or at a completely different pace.
Also, didn’t she just came out with an album less than a year ago? I get she can drop albums often because she’s popular and that’s how you make money. However, if you’re going to drop an album shortly after another, and expect people to want to spend more money on you, shouldn’t it be more of a gem? Maybes that’s a silly question: quantity over quality.
It’s not a bad album but a lot of it is quickly forgettable. The album actually starts off really strong with the best tracks on it: You Da One, Where Have You Been (my favourite song…I’ve been listening to it on repeat, love it), and We Found Love (featuring Calvin Harris. Other standouts are the ballads “Drunk on Love” and “Fool in Love”, “Roc me Out” which reminds me of “Rude Boy”, and “Talk that Talk” featuring a mediocre intro by Jay Z. All of the other songs are just ok or bad.
I guess I shouldn’t be complaining about it being a bad album; most albums only have so many good songs anyways right?
Rating: 5/10
Label: Def Jam
Favourites: We Found Love, Where Have You Been
Review by Alicia Agarrabeitia
Photos by David Thai
The Sounds brought short skirts and high kicks to Vancouver last night on the last show of their 2011 tour. Despite releasing their last album in March of this year, they only played five songs from it and the other 12 were a mix from their three other albums. Although they played a great array of songs, they played several (12 of 17) songs that they played at their last concert in Vancouver which was a bit of a let down. But then again, you play what the crowd wants right?
Last time I saw the band, Ms. Maja wore leather and platforms. This time around she had a feminine, Victorian look going on. When she came out I thought, pretty. Then she started doing high kicks in her very short dress and I thought, ‘atta girl….that’s the Maja I remember. Have I mentioned that she has great legs? Don’t think I’ll eat for awhile.
Now that the album has officially been out for awhile (and not just because it was leaked), I guess it’s time for a review. Happy to see Mr. Drake back: big fan.
I really liked Thank Me Later so I figured his latest release Take Care would have big shoes to fill. Result? It fills them, but in a different way. Take Care is mellow and deeper in it’s sentiments. You get the feeling that he’s got some more experience under his belt and as such is wiser and possibly a little more jaded too. Actually significantly more jaded. Whereas on his first album you got the sense he was ridin’ the fame wave, on his latest effort you get the feeling that he still may be ridin’ that wave but this time with both eyes open and a set of reins.
If you’re thinking that with mellow, deep, and jaded you might hear some more straight up rap, don’t hold your breath. He continues with the singing/rapping mix to the point where his rapper cred waivers a bit and leaves you thinking he’s an R&B/Hip Hop star with the ability to rap.
Like most albums these days, expect plenty of collaborations: Chantal Kreviazuk (apparently on “Over My Dead Body” even though I totally don’t hear the resemblance), The Weekend, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj Rick Ross, Stevie Wonder, Birdman, and Andre 3000.
There’s a few standouts worth mentioning such as “Headlines” (an upbeat ode to his own fame), “Crew Love” (featuring a sick intro by The Weekend……”This ain’t no fuckin’ singalong, so girl what you singing for”…love that line, makes me laugh), “Take Care” (a reggae beat with steal drums, quick rhymes, and featuring Ms.Rhi Rhi), “Underground Kings” (a badass beat, rhyme solid classic), and “Make Me Proud” (featuring his “wife” Nicki Minaj ).
Overall, it’s a good album. I would have preferred a few more upbeat tracks instead of a few songs emo-esque, sad-ish tracks that still do nothing for me after hearing them a ton but I suppose they make other people happy.
Rating: 7/10
Label: Republic
Favourites: Crew Love, Underground Kings
