Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Video: Jay-Z, Kanye and Nicki Minaj @ Victoria's Secret Fashion Show






Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Video: Charlie XCX - Nuclear Season


A few weeks ago we highlighted the new single for british electro chanteuse Charlie XCX, and now we have a pretty warped video to go along with it.  Check it out

Monday, November 14, 2011

Stream: Rihanna - Drunk Love

Rihanna is back (was she ever gone) with a new album 'Talk that Talk' which is out Nov 21.  Here is one of the awesome tracks of that album Drunk Love, which samples british indie group The XX.

Video: Beyonce - Countdown and Chris Martin does The Worm on Fallon!!


Video: Michelle Obama drops some freestyle moves on I-Carly

Although I am not a massive fan of I-Carly (I'm pretty sure i'm not in their demographic), I do appreciate the preppy vim and vigor of the top-rating Nickelodeon kids show starring Miranda Cosgrave.   Adding to the buzz is Michelle Obama, who as part of her plan to get kids up and exercising hit up the show to bust out a few choice moves.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Review: Drake - Take Care



Drake Take Care
Typically, a sophomore does one thing - it solidifies and improves on everything that you liked about the first album.  No great left-turns, no stylistic departures, just stick to the script and use whatever cash you made off the first album to go bigger this time around.
So it is with Take Care, Drake's second release and a sonic improvement on the first, which is a compliment considering the exquisite backdrops provided by the likes of Noah '40' Shebeib the first time around.
First track Over her dead body sets the tone, with a characteristically squelched-out bassline carefully balanced against a simple chord progression and Drake bringing us up to speed on the last year of his rapid rise to fame.  The most notable changes are that the lyrics are more positive than before, like Drake is determined to enjoy his fame, or at least make us think he is.  For the most part, the juxtaposition of smug braggadocio and atmospheric beats fits him well.
Headlines is the obvious single, with it's drumline beat and dismissively egotistical lyrics.  Crew Love is saved from it's irritating drum by a earthy cameo from Abel Tesfaye from The Weekend.  Take Care almost works despite itself, but even with a winning hook from Rihanna, Drake doesnt quite integrate his speak/sing raps into what is essentially a straight up house track.
Drake is back on familiar ground with We'll be fine and Make me Pround, the girls, drinks and club subject matter an easy fall-back at this point.  Though both tracks are by a producer named T-Minus, they fit seamlessly into the Drake canon of sleazy bass-heavy club tracks.  Lord Knows is a more successful stretching of the aesthethic, the beat a more anthemic version of his signature sound, this time courtesy of veteran Just Blaze.
From there is a distinct drop-off, with a couple of guest-heavy straight-up R&B tracks in Doing Wrong and The Real Her.  Whilst Drake is a competent singer, the beats are never interesting enough to hold our attention or push Drake out of his loverboy comfort-zone.  Look what you've done feels like an indulgent waste of time, and at this point I was convinced that Drake should have kept this record to 10 or 11 tracks.
To be fair, this is review is off a first listen, and some of the stronger will I'm sure grow on me.  However, there is a bit of filler here, and I guess it's good that they've shoved it at the tail-end of the album.

Check out some of the new tracks HERE


Thursday, November 3, 2011

Video: Robyn performs 'Call your Girlfriend' on Jay Leno

It's been a minute since we talked about Robyn.  Last year it seemed that every second post was about her!  She's still out on the road it seems, this time pimping out her latest tune to the american public.

Video: Stereo Hoggz perform Janet Jackson's 'Rhythm Nation' on X-Factor

Stereo Hoggz, a quintet of singers/dancers from the hit show X-Factor, tackled Janet Jackson classic 1989 hit 'Rhythm Nation' and blew away the judges.  See for yourself what the fuss is all about.