Doobie Brothers - Captain And Me

Ahh - 70's rock. Now, I know that the 90's was very diverse and today's rock bands run a lot of different sounds and instruments. But the seventies seemed to be a very unique time. We had very hard hitting bands, electronic bands, folk rock acts and then unclassified types like the Doobies. Crazy part is, they were all incredibly popular at the time. Today, metal usually doesn't sell like alt rock, and punk rock only sells for those bands that are HUGE - so it was a different time. These guys have a heavy guitar at spots, very upbeat vocals in spots - but for the most part, the stuff is simply catchy. Now, the Doobs aren't one of my favorite bands - in fact, I wouldn't buy anything other than their greatest hits collection. And it isn't that any if their stuff is bad, it's just not really my style. Some tracks are like the musical version of 'Grapes of Wrath'. They're entertaining, and culturally significant, but when the day is said and done, once is enough. I'd attempt to run through their history - but they changed band members every 6 seconds back in the day. They've got 13 studio releases out there - starting in 1971 and the newest set to drop this year sometime. That'll be 5 decades of Doobies. They should use that as an album title. I'm a genius. Anyway, this was their third studio release and it has gone 3x platinum over the years. Nothing great for a 70's rock band, but it works. They never sold a ton of records individually - but collectively they've sold something like 30 million in the US. Anyway - kick back on your Friday and get high with some Doobie.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Natural Thing
2. Long Train Runnin'
3. China Grove
4. Dark Eyed Cajun Woman
5. Clear as the Driven Snow
6. Without You
7. South City Midnight Lady
8. Evil Woman
9. Busted Down Around O'Connelly Corners
10. Ukiah
11. Captain and Me, The

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. China Grove
2. Long Train Runnin'
3. Without You

FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars

Matchbox 20 - Yourself Or Someone Like You

Okay...so here is my compromise. Follower Mithrandr asked if I could do a Rob Thomas review. Now, I'm going to note that the reality is, he simply cannot stand Rob Thomas, and he was being sarcastic. However, a Suggestion Box entry is still an entry - and shant be ignored. I'll tell you a quick story about why Mith (and I) dislike Mr. Thomas. We were driving out to Colorado some weekend in 2009. The car had satellite radio and we were flipping through pretty much any station that wasn't talk or sports. And I'm not even joking, EVERY station - even country ones somehow, would end up with something Rob Thomas related on it. Now, if you don't get tired of someone or some songs after listening to them for (to and from) about 28 hours, you're a glutton for punishment. So my compromise is reviewing something by him that's actually palatable, in Matchbox 20 and their debut album. The fact is, this album is pretty good. I owned this back in the day, and now can't find it. Which is fine - I wouldn't listen to it a TON, but it's pretty good. The songs that were popular back in 1996 are usually not the ones I enjoy today. I also think this is one of those albums that was HUGE in the mid 90's - but doesn't really stand the test of time in terms of how great people thought it was at the time. Still good, not amazing. Matchbox hasn't put anything out in 3 years due to Thomas's solo career, but they will be working on something this year again. I'm sure a lot of fans will be eager for that one. If you're keeping score at home, this album is a ridiculous 12x Platinum in the states. Crazy. Give this one another go for nostalgic purposes. It'll really take you back.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Real World
2. Long Day
3. 3 A.M.
4. Push
5. Girl Like That
6. Back 2 Good
7. Damn
8. Argue
9. Kody
10. Busted
11. Shame
12. Hang

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Back 2 Good
2. Hang
3. Argue

FINAL RATING:
3.25 out of 5 stars

Miranda Lambert - Revolution

Hello Thursday. Hello Country day. When I review anything country related, do I even need to reiterate that it comes via JenInTosa and the Suggestion Box? I mean, I've done a few here and there that were my own discoveries, but 9 out of 10 come from Jen. Hey! That could be your new slogan - "9 out of 10 come from Jen". I'd use that if I were you in given situations. Anyway, Miranda Lambert. Simply another artist I'd never even heard of before the suggestion came in. So she gained fame by not winning of course, but taking third in the country world's version of American Idol. Their's being called, 'Nashville Star'. She was on the show in 2005 and caught the eye of Epic Records. This is her third studio release and it dropped in 2009. All of her albums have not been very high sellers - her first going platinum and then numbers 2 and 3 only seeing gold status. Not great, but I'm sure she's still rolling in the dollars. She is certainly unlike any female artist I've reviewed thus far in the country world. I'm not an expert on what country-pop is, but I thought Taylor Swift was the gold standard in that type of country. Well, I think this is for the most part way more poppy than Swift. The only difference is, Swift's tracks are way more catchy and toe tapping. To me, a lot of this album sounds the same, and it gets a little repetitive. Plus, on the track 'White Liar', she's either doing something really strange vocally, or she's using Auto Tune in spots. If the latter is true, wow. Country going auto tune would be...wow. All in all, I think there are much better female country artists right now to listen to, and maybe wait until you're plain sick of those to give Lambert a try.

TRACK LISTING:
1. White Liar
2. Only Prettier
3. Dead Flowers
4. Me and Your Cigarettes
5. Maintain the Pain
6. Airstream Song
7. Makin' Plans
8. Time to Get a Gun
9. Somewhere Trouble Don't Go
10. House That Built Me, The
11. Love Song
12. Heart Like Mine
13. Sin for a Sin
14. That's the Way That the World Goes 'Round
15. Virginia Bluebell

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. The House That Built Me
2. Dead Flowers
3. Love Song

FINAL RATING:
2.75 out of 5 stars

Curren$y - Pilot Talk

Hey-yo! Finally something semi-exciting to write about in the rap world. I haven't gotten a new, good artist come across my headphones in a really long time. Probably since 2008 or early 2009 sometime. I was introduced to Curren$y about a week ago, and when I first saw it - I was honestly extremely skeptical. For two reasons: 1) it's been a bad time for hip hop. 2) his name is spelled with a dollar sign in it. Now, just thinking about what other artist has that right now and is popular - I won't even write her name out, why would you do that? But I have to realize that he's been making independent music for about 5 years, and had that before the unspeakable one. Plus, his name means money - so a dollar sign is more fitting in that regard. Either way, I was still concerned. Then I heard the first single 'Breakfast'. I was hooked. This guy has great flow, great background beats on most songs. It's like a totally unpoppy version of Lupe Fiasco that tells a story like Lauryn Hill. It's very compelling listening. I think you don't even have to be a rap fan to enjoy this one. It's that good. Anyway, he's from New Orleans - he signed to Master P's 'No Limit' way back in the day and was then on Weezy's Young Money roster until 2007. Just before they blew up. He dropped this record on Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam and I expect big things from him in the future. Do yourself a Wednesday favor and check your Curren$y!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Example
2. Audio Dope 2
3. King Kong
4. Seat Change
5. Breakfast
6. Roasted
7. Skybourne
8. The Hangover
9. The Day
10. Prioritize
11. Chilled Coughphee
12. Address
13. Life Under The Scope

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Breakfast
2. Address
3. The Day

FINAL RATING:
4 out of 5 stars

John Mayer - Room For Squares

Hump Day. Is there anyone to better personify that phrase than Mr. Mayer? Not sure if any of you have seen him live or on VH1's Storytellers, but he has quite the sexual prowess. It's kind of neat that he's so up front about it with fans, but it's also kind of odd. At least to me. I'm sure the ladies love it...since they typically swoon over John. Anyway, this was his first album and it dropped in 2001. This is his best selling album by 2 million copies over his next two - at a nice 4x platinum. If you're not familiar with this style, it's very lyrical and engaging. I'd argue his more recent stuff has gotten away from that, but I'm reviewing Room For Squares so back off! There are a variety of tracks that really hit home assuming you're a regular person who's gone through any sort of strife in your life. He's really good to put on if you're in that laid back mood. There are a couple more upbeat tracks on this record (ie, No Such Thing) and those typically are not my favorites. In fact, that parenthesized song listed above is one of my least favorite tracks on the album. Probably because I was a freshman in college in 2001, and I couldn't walk anywhere near the ladies wing of my dorm without hearing 10 girls playing it over and over. That gets old after while. Other than that, I really enjoy this album. If you haven't heard it start to finish, you NEED to listen to it. Even if you don't like anything else by him, I'd be surprised if you didn't groove to this one. Happy Hump Day!

TRACK LISTING:
1. No Such Thing
2. Why Georgia
3. My Stupid Mouth
4. Your Body Is A Wonderland
5. Neon
6. City Love Mayer
7. 83
8. 3x5
9. Love Song For No One
10. Back To You
11. Great Indoors
12. Not Myself
13. Untitled
14. St. Patrick's Day

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Not Myself
2. My Stupid Mouth
3. City Love

FINAL RATING:
4 out of 5 stars

Korn III - Remember Who You Are

We all know Korn. Forever ago, I gave a pretty favorable review to their self titled work that dropped way back in 1994. Well they put out this new record today, that's certainly not as musically complex as their normal stuff. 'Remember' is much simpler than a regular Korn record, but it works. They put out their eighth studio album in 2007 and the band took a hiatus for each member to explore solo projects. They all came back to the studio ready to work...except this time with one twist. Obviously a major band like Korn has the ability to record in the largest - most high tech studios out there. This time they insisted on recording the whole thing in an 8 x 8 room normally just meant for a guitar session. This is also another album that has a message. They talk about how it was written to describe the downfall of man, and talk about things they believe lead to that demise. Organized religion being one of them. Sounds like they wanted this to be a throwback record of sorts to their humble, simpler beginnings, hence the name. I guess that works. I mean, as artists I think they've all evolved over the last near two decades. I don't think this has a traditional Korn feel to it, but it's still pretty good. I hadn't been a fan of their more recent stuff, but this one might get a little extra play on my iPod. We shall see. Check it out. All in all, a pretty solid New Music Tuesday!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Uber-Time
2. Oildale (Leave Me Alone)
3. Pop a Pill
4. Fear is a Place To Live
5. Move On
6. Lead the Parade
7. Let the Guilt Go
8. Past, The
9. Never Around
10. Are You Ready To Live?
11. Holding All These Lies

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Are You Ready To Live?
2. Oildale (Leave Me Alone)
3. Holding All These Lies

FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars

M.I.A. - /\/\ /\ Y /\

Could it be? New Music Tuesday and Techno Tuesday rolled into one?? If that's not a sign that today's going to be a good day - I don't know what is. Good ol' M.I.A. You probably have heard her monstrous single 'Paper Planes', if not on the radio, then on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. If you have never heard anything about her, she was born in Sri Lanka, and found herself displaced for a while at the beginning of her life due to the Sri Lankan civil war. She moved all over the world after the war escalated going as far as China and then back to London. She started her career by being an artist - usually painting things in a graffiti style. She moved over to music dropping her first record in 2005. She is very political in her music at times and her art, which a lot of people dig. I can't say I'm a big fan of that stuff typically in music. Not being a big political person, someone trying to convey their agenda to sell albums makes me a little angry. But, what are ya gonna do? Maya herself called this new record 'schizophrenic' and I couldn't agree more. This is all over the place lyrically, emotionally and really confuses your ear. It's like blending a political message with hard hitting electronic beats and the repetition (at times) of a rave house mix. I'll probably listen to it a few more times, but off the top it's a little too odd for me to go to regularly. I enjoyed her last album a lot, and I don't think this one is as good. Check it out though, it's got a neat feel to it during certain tracks.

TRACK LISTING:
1. The Message
2. Steppin Up (Album Version)
3. XXXO
4. Teqkilla
5. Lovalot
6. Story To Be Told
7. It Takes A Muscle
8. It Iz What It Iz
9. Born Free
10. Meds And Feds
11. Tell Me Why
12. Space
13. Internet Connection
14. Illygirl
15. Believer
16. Caps Lock

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Born Free
2. It Takes A Muscle
3. Xxxo


FINAL RATING:
2.75 out of 5 stars