Cyndi Lauper ~ Memphis BluesJune 21, 2010
Oh, how we adore thee, Ms. Lauper.
From the very first day you hyper-actively bounced onto our TV screens squeaking about coming home in the morning light, we have loved you.We loved you even when, like Madonna, your third incarnation was met with, "That's her?" You had us when you parked that car that you drove all night. Very few of us even knew you when you were a sister of Avalon.
But then...a Cher tour and a kick-ass remake of Disco Inferno threw you back into our realm of attention, even if only momentarily. You were always there, right in our collective periphery. A few die-hards and rubber-neckers paid attention, but...still.
And then, you brought us to the Brink. You even gave us stiletto-fabulous remixes. We were dancing to you with visions of divas and porn stars.
And now you have The Memphis Blues. Blues is a very specific genre of music. Hell, blues is a way of life; blues is a part of your soul. I have TOTAL respect for the Blues alumni that you've recruited for this record (Jonny Lang, B.B. King, hello?), and you haven't in any way disrespected the genre but....
I may take some heat for this but...-- I'm not sure a white woman from New York has got the Blues in her soul. The first single,
Just Your Fool is a raucous harmonica-laden blues-ish fest...but it's also generic. It's the type of song that people who don't know or understand (read:
feel) the blues will say, "Damn, that Cyndi got some Blues!!" Those folk might just love it because most of this record feels generic and blues-ish.
I might even dare say that the Cyndi die-hards will be challenged with her Memphis Blues. Maybe it's the type of thing that I need to listen to a little more, but really...I love you , Ms. Lauper, but, do I have to?
Sia ~ We Are BornJune 21, 2010
If you don't get this, then you're homophobic and insane.
Back when Sia was a Starbucks one-off, if you actually took the time to listen, you knew there was something there. Some people
really did have problems!
But now, oh, now you just gotta clap your hands! This is a collection of fun, joyful dance music. Sia previewed several tracks months ago, but listening to it in it's entirety is the real gift...don't let the pipe-cleaners and blond hair fool you.
This girl can sing you some fun fluff (
Clap Your Hands) and she can sing you something groovy like
You've Changed (which was also an early preview and definitely one of the standout tracks) and dig into the soulful with
Be Good To Me. Just about every track is fantastic in some way, however...
Very unlike her cover of
Under A Milky Way, Sia attempts a go at Madonna's
Oh, Father and it just comes off as a little ... weird. Just like on Idol, if you're going to attempt to take on an ICON's song, you better sing the shit-outta-it. She doesn't and only gives it a touch of uniqueness. I'll pass, thanks.
Aside from that, We Are Born is reminscent of RóisÃn Murphy, Tori Amos, Lykke Li, Annie and GaGa...-ish.
Eminem ~ Recovery
July 21, 2010*sigh*
It's Eminem.
Recovery is going to sell a shit load of units.
In my humble opinion, the best track is The Way You Lie To Me, with Rihanna. It builds itself into what should be a funky frenzy, but instead, we get "
If she ever tries to fuckin' leave again, Ima tie her to the bed and set this house on fire. "
Oh, Marshall...Farrah did that
years ago.
Regardless, Eminem fans will eat this shit up. Big time.
There might even be some of "us" that will buy it because, hey..."
I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable."
Oh hell...I've already written more words than I thought I would on this plasticized rapper.
me. I don't judge their behaviour or actions or habits...they helped pave the way for me, as I have paved the way for future queerlings.
