When listening to Coldplay’s latest album, ‘Viva La Vida,’ it feels like you’re going through a dream, through time. The music is light, airy, and intense all the same - classic Coldplay, even a bit of U2 thrown in. The vocals are driven my constant, melodic beats that wrap pleasure around eardrums. In the course of the album, the band takes you through a historically driven carriage ride, causing your brain to distinguish stories among the adverb laced lyrics. Places, and faces all come to life with each word and note. On first listen, you might mistake the album for gloomy…but there is much more to it than that. Listen closely, and carefully, and you’ll find a way to appreciate the latest effort put forth by the British group that has been less than conventional since it made its debut. Don’t think the album is traditional Coldplay, because it’s not, at least not in the “Clocks,” “Yellow” sense. Instead, the beats are more driven, the strings, more intense, the vocals, sometimes, a bit deeper, the lyrics, airy but pointed. Fans aren’t likely to be disappointed, and those of you who have never cared for the band might at least, like a song or two.

Download This: “Lost!” - It will be in your head for days….and days, in a good way.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Buy it Tuesday, June 17th, online, and in stores.

Perhaps Jordin Sparks, the young winner of the sixth season of ‘American Idol’ was more of what the show had in mind when they wanted America to pick a winner. Someone along the lines of the first season’s Kelly Clarkson. In her self-titled debut album, Jordin gives her fans solid pop songs that are sure to be radio friendly.

“Tattoo,” her first single is not only catchy and radio friendly, but it is very likable. “One Step at a Time” is another slightly peppy, age appropriate pop song, “No Air” featuring Chris Brown is catchy pop with R&B influences, “Freeze” reminds me a little of Savage Garden’s “Carry On Dancing” from years ago. It has a slightly rushed, eerie vibe, which fits with the vocal, and the song. “Shy Boy” reminds me of a song that would be on Britney Spears’ latest album, given the beats and vocals. “Now You Tell Me” is probably my least favorite, simply because I don’t feel the tempo goes with the vocals, but, I’m sure a lot of people will like it.

“Next to You” has slight R&B influences, and it’s very easy on the ears. “Just for the Record” is another good song, but, I don’t think many of these songs show the true power and potential of Jordin’s voice. “Permanent Monday” is the album’s “depressed” song, really, but, the chorus tends to stick in your head. “Young and In Love” sounds like another Britney song. I’m starting to believe most pop music is going this electronic/techno route.

“See My Side” has an interesting vocal arrangement, which is very different than most any other pop song I’ve heard this year, for that alone, it is memorable. “God Loves Ugly” is perhaps the most amusing song title I’ve heard this year. However, the lyrics are quite serious, explaining God loves everyone, no matter what. Given the other songs on the album, this doesn’t exactly fit, but its message is good no less. And, of course, “This is My Now,” which was Jordin’s “winner’s” song, completes the album. It is perhaps my favorite winner’s song to date. Cheesy, I know.

Overall, the album is very pop-radio friendly. Jordin should do well with this. I don’t think she’ll have success equal to Carrie Underwood, but hey, I could be wrong. It’s a good CD, especially given her young age.

Overall Rating: 3.95 out of 5 stars.
Download This: “Tattoo” or “No Air”

“I’m Miss American Dream since I was seventeen….”

Given the interesting, tumultuous, and somewhat tragic year [at least in terms of a career] that Britney Spears has had, it’s safe to say ‘Blackout’ has been, perhaps, the most anticipated album of 2007. Some people remain die-hard fans in spite of her choices, and others of us are just curious.

‘Blackout’ overall has a very dance-friendly vibe. In ‘Piece of Me’ and ‘Freakshow’ Britney seems to mock the media, the naysayers, and her circumstances. ‘Gimme More’ will probably forever remind me of the VMA performance, but dare I say I love the opening of “It’s Britney, bitch?” I admit it, I do. ‘Radar’ is reminiscent of the Eurythmics mixed with a bit of a forties sound. ‘Break the Ice’ reminds me of something you would hear while in a club dancing, flashing lights and strobes. In ‘Get Naked, (I Got a Plan)’ the background vocals distract me more than actually paying attention to what Britney sings. ‘Toy Soldier’ is the only song on the album that I absolutely despise. I just can’t make myself like it. ‘Hot As Ice’ is a song that’s grown on me. ‘Ooh, Ooh Baby’ has a bit of a forties sound as well, with a rolling vocal, if the forties had modern dance tracks, that is. ‘Perfect Lover’ is not one of my favorite songs on the album, but I don’t hate it either. The vocals are very light, and I almost think it would have been better if she had sung out a little more. And, the album closes with ‘Why Should I Be Sad,’ which has a bit of an R&B/Dance feel, and has been said to be a jab at Britney’s marriage to Kevin Federline.

Admittedly, when listening to ‘Blackout,’ Britney’s troubles were the furtherest thing from my mind. It’s actually a decent dance album. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up at the top of the charts again. After all, she’s not exactly that sweet, innocent little girl from Louisiana anymore, and one listen to her lyrics confirms that. But, that being said, I don’t think her hardcore fans will be disappointed.

Download this: ‘Radar.’
Rating: Three and a half of five stars.

Being a girl who has grown up in the South, I’m not adverse to country music. I even appreciate some of it, even if I am an indie girl at heart. Carrie Underwood’s second album, ‘Carnival Ride,’ is a little less pop, and a little more country. “Flat on the Floor” opens the album with strong vocals, and a distinctly country feel, it’s the kind of song country radio tends to love. “All-American Girl” is yet again, distinctly country. It tells a story in the way many of Martina McBride’s songs do. “So Small,” her current single, is a bit of a ballad, a bit of a mid-tempo song, with lyrics that most of us can relate to at some point or another. “Just A Dream” is another song that tells a story, of a girl who loses her husband in the war. It’s heartbreaking, honestly, because so many families have to deal with that. Country music always has a way of putting those sort of situations into songs, and that’s why they do so well, because people can feel the words. “Get Out of this Town” is country-pop, and those who prefer the more pop sound are likely to like this song more than the others. “Crazy Dreams” tells another story, with a bit of a faster tempo.

I think Carrie tends to like songs that tell stories, as most of her songs to date, have. “I Know You Won’t” is a sad-toned country ballad, with a slow, mellow vocal. “Last Name” is another song country radio is bound to love, as hardcore country fans love this stuff. “You Won’t Find This” is actually a song I really like on this album, it seems like it would have fit on ‘Some Hearts,’ but it works well on this album as well. “I Told You So” is another ballad that seems to reveal a bit of Carrie. “The More Boys I Meet” is an amusing song, because most of us girls, especially those of us in our twenties, can relate to it. “Twisted” is an up-tempo song that I also really like. It’s catchy, and it will be popular for those who like pop-Carrie. “Wheel of the World” closes the album with an introspective song about how things tend to work in life. It is where the album got its title, and I actually really like this song as well.

I would have to say this is a pretty solid follow-up to Carrie’s previous album. I believe it’s gone in the direction Carrie really wanted, which was more country. On ‘American Idol,’ she didn’t hide the fact she was the country singer, and that was the area in which she felt most comfortable. I believe this album will be well received by fans, and the country community, as they have embraced her tightly since she came up on the scene.

Download These: “You Won’t Find This,” “Twisted,” and “Wheel of the World”
Rating: Four out of five stars.

As far as whose second album is better between Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice? Carrie wins by a landslide, again.

Are you as shocked as I was to hear ‘American Idol 4’s’ runner up, Bo Bice released his second album ‘See the Light’ yesterday? I was skimming through new album releases when I saw it on the list. I haven’t been a Bo fan, so I’ll admit that right now. But, my curiosity got the best of me, when I decided to review his new CD.

Immediately, the song “Witness” has a very classic Southern Rock feel, the kind of sound you would have expected Bo to have post-Idol. I’m guessing this is because he’s no longer a puppet of the system, with the very mildly successful ‘The Real Thing’ under his belt. The Southern Rock continues on the State Fair sounding “Take the Country Out of Me.” “I’m Gone” seems very reminiscent of old-school Lynyrd Skynyrd, of whom Bo is obviously a fan. “Only Words” is very country-ballady, and the funny thing is, the female background singer is really, really distracting, and it would have sounded a lot better without her, whoever she is. “Got Money” sounds like something country act Big & Rich would have done. It’s almost like Bo’s attempt to add a rock song in the middle of all the others, and it just doesn’t sound like the things you hear today, and that doesn’t mean it’s good. “See the Light,” the album’s title track continues the Southern country-rock feel, and it sounds like a marching song. On the next track, “Sinner is a Sin,” it reminds me of when Bo was on ‘American Idol,’ it’s got a very twangy, but easy listening feel, for those of us less inclined toward country, though the harmonica kind of kills that impression. “This Train” actually has a bit of a pop-rock feel, much to my surprise. “Ain’t Gonna Die,” well, yeah, it sounds like all the other songs on the record, honestly. And lastly, “Whiskey, Women, and Time,” yes, the title is atrocious, the song isn’t far behind.

Honestly, I liked ‘The Real Thing’ better, and I didn’t like that very much. I think Bo is better served playing in Southern country bars and at State Fairs, because that’s where his music fits. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Southern girl who was raised on country music, and I can appreciate it, but this album just lacks, and sounds the same over and over.

If you must, download this: “This Train.”
Rating: One and a half of five stars. I’m sorry, not my thing.