Coachella Report: Day 2

Coachella Report: Saturday, April 17

I arrived to the festival grounds in the heat of the late afternoon, amped for another fabulous evening of music and spectacle. After entering I made a speedy beeline to the mainstage, where I would camp out for the rest of the night.

Eager to begin the crucial mission of elbowing my way to the front for Muse’s set (which was still three acts and over five hours away), I embedded myself deeply within the pit for Tokyo Police Club. The band drew a decent crowd, inlcuding that same five year old from Friday, who was still perched atop his dad’s shoulders and mouthing each and every lyric. The performance was nothing extraordinary, but the guys’ excitement to be appearing on the Coachella main stage (the group’s largest crowd to date) was endearing.

As the teeny-bop rock fans filtered out to catch other acts, an edgier crowd made its way to the pit, forcing me to stand firmly in my prized spot near the railing. Coheed and Cabria performed next, inciting a miniature riot within the pit with its heavy metal riffs. The band’s appearance was particularly exciting for the hard core fans around me, who were rejoicing over the release of its brand new album (Year of the Black Rainbow dropped just days before the start of the festival). In celebration, heads banged and bodies moshed, and those of us less familiar with the group enjoyed the unique experience. I was especially delighted as Coheed wrapped up its set with the song “Welcome Home,” which awesomely featured my alma mater’s marching band, the USC Spirit of Troy. It was pretty epic. Read more

Coachella Report: Day 1

Coachella Report: Friday, April 16

After getting a very late start on my day (the traffic and the admission line were both brutal) I was able to catch a very diverse mix of acts.

Playing on the main stage when I entered was Street Sweeper Social Club. I didn’t spend a lot of time listening to the band, but the crowd seemed to really enjoy its performance. I liked what I heard, and was hugely disappointed that I had left so soon after later learning that SSSC is comprised of Rage Against the Machine rocker Tom Morello and hip-hop artist Boots Riley. Morello is a fiend on the guitar and I wish I could have caught more of his act–I highly suggest folks check SSSC out.

As I oriented myself with the grounds (the vastness of Coachella is impressive in itself) I found the stage featuring Zooey Deschanel’s group She & Him. Although the bouncy music was sweet and reminded me of driving to the beach, it wasn’t enough to keep my interest for very long, and I was eager to get back to the main stage for The Specials (a band I had heard lots about during my two and a half hour wait to get in) and Them Crooked Vultures. Read more

Teen Group Says Lady Gaga Songs Are Unhealthy

An initiative to encourage healthy teen relationships says songs by Jamie Foxx and Lady Gaga are the musical equivalent of junk food.

A teen panel working with the Boston Public Health Commission has determined that their songs are among the top 10 with “unhealthy relationship ingredients.”

The commission on Tuesday released its list based on a “nutrition label” rating popular songs on healthy relationship themes.

The “Sound Relationships Nutrition Label” was developed by 14 teens after they attended a seven-week commission-sponsored institute on healthy relationship promotion and teen dating violence prevention. During the seven-week program, teens were also taught to evaluate music based on themes of power, control, equality and gender roles.

The teens then developed their list after analyzing songs from Billboard’s “Hot 100″ chart.

Mario’s “Break Up” featuring Gucci Man and Sean Garrett and Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It” featuring T-Pain topped the list for the most unhealthy relationship songs of 2009. Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Pitbull’s “Hotel Room Service” were also listed.

Among the teen panel’s top 10 songs with healthy themes: “Miss Independent” by Ne-Yo and “Meet Me Halfway” by the Black Eyed Peas.

Shaquilla Terry, 15, of Boston, a teen panel member, said it was important for listeners to go beyond the songs’ beats and listen to the lyrics.

The commission says its program aims to teach teens how to evaluate popular media, and help parents talk to teens about healthy relationships. Commission officials also said the label invites consumers to become song lyric nutritionists by helping them identify positive and negative messages about relationships in songs.

“We aren’t telling people what they should or should not be listening to,” Barbara Ferrer, the commission’s executive director, said in a statement. “We are giving them a tool that will help them make an informed choice about what they put in their bodies.”

In addition to the label, the commission also plans to released a lesson plan for teachers.

Jack Perricone, chair of the songwriting department at the Berklee College of Music, said pop songs generally allow listeners to get away from the bad news of the day. But he said pop music, by its very nature, is very repetitive, and sometimes if songs have negative messages, those repetitive messages can get inside teens’ heads.

“Some (artists) play up the bad boy image and put out negative images as a way to be commercially successful,” said Perricone, who was not affiliated with the commission. “But then they have to deal with the moral implications.”

New Music: Jay Sean ft. Sean Paul & Lil Jon ‘Do You Remember’

Jay Sean is a breakout artist that you ought to know.

After first hearing his debut single ‘Down’, we knew it was a hit, but it took listeners here in the US a little time to catch on to the British singer. ‘Down’ is currently No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, knocking off the Black Eyed Peas and making Jay Sean the first UK Urban act ever to top Billboard’s Hot 100. Jay Sean’s debut US album, which is actually his third album, All or Nothing is set to be released on November 24th.

Jay Sean has just released his second single ‘Do You Remember’ which features Sean Paul and Lil Jon. It’s destined to be another hit
with a catchy beat and hook similar to ‘Down’. Jay Sean’s got a style that’s fresh and fun. Chris Brown must be pissed. Jay Sean is stealing his spotlight on the urban scene.

Preview ‘Do You Remember’ by Jay Sean ft. Sean Paul & Lil Jon –

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Alicia Keys To Release New Album, “The Element Of Freedom” In Dec.

This year wouldn’t mean anything without a brand new album from Alicia Keys and on December 1, the 12-time Grammy Award winner will release “The Element of Freedom”, her fourth studio album on MBK/J Records.

Keys’ first single, “Doesn’t Mean Anything,” was written and produced by Alicia and her longtime production partner Kerry “Krucial” Brothers. The moment the single impacted radio on September 21st, critics declared it an instant hit: “Alicia Keys Is Back” proclaimed NYPost.com’s Pop Wrap column. “It’s so perfect, it’s so brilliant and it’s so unmistakably Alicia.”

“The Element of Freedom” is the follow up to Keys’ multi-platinum selling 2007 album As I Am, which featured the Grammy Award winning tune “No One” as well as hit singles “Like You’ll Never See Me Again,” Teenage Love Affair” and “Superwoman.”

If you haven’t heard “Doesn’t Mean Anything” check it out below! It’s a pretty solid song!

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Music Review: The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

We and love and it. Oh my gosh. This CD is amazing. Perfect for the time of season as well, it makes you want to get all cozy! The Avett Brothers came out with their highly anticipated new album “I and Love and You” recently, and fans are loving it. We bought ours at Starbucks. Impulse. But come on what’s better than those seasonal pumpkin flavored drinks and some amazing tunes.

The Avett Brothers have such an original sound, and the lyrics on this album are ridic. Go check it out immediately! Go!! NOW!

Music Review: Madonna ‘Celebration’

Madonna’s recent release of “Celebration,” the Queen of Pop’s compilation of her greatest hits, may have its cons but overall is worthy of purchase by any mild to semi-spicy Madonna fan. The 36 tracks that made the cut for the 2 disc album were chosen by both the legendary singer and her fans, which in itself makes “Celebration” all the more likeable. My first reaction with “Celebration” was a yay! for the choice of both her opening and ending tracks. The first disc begins with a bang with “Hung Up,” a personal favorite of Madonna’s in her recent years which succeeds as an excellent party dance track. I also love her choice of her recent single “Celebration” to close the album, which compliments “Hung Up” and helps shape the album’s journey in a lovely arc. Although the song is simple and repetitive, “Celebration” is a showcase of Madonna’s talent and understanding for the dance genre.

For the mild to medium Madonna fan, this album will be a perfect fit, as it includes her most played hits, like “Material Girl,” “Like a Virgin,” “Holiday,” and “Ray of Light.” All songs on the 2 discs have been remastered and edited, perhaps not to everyone’s liking. “4 Minutes” has been edited down to just over 3 minutes, with the dramatic opening cut completely. However, the songs do sound of prime quality and will please the casual Madonna listener’s ears.

Although I see one of the strongest features of “Celebration” to be the order of the selected songs, as they really give a story to the journey of Madonna’s career and changing sound, I realize that the album has a few downsides for the spiciest of Madonna’s fans. For those who have followed her music with a passionate devotion, there is sure to be disappointment at the absence of some of her more obscure yet beloved songs, such as “True Blue” and “Human Nature.” Also, as all tracks have been remastered and edited, some of the classic tunes may have lost a quality that the originals held.

While “Celebration” may be more of an unenthusiastic woohoo for the spicy Madonna fan, I feel it’s a great choice for your car ride or a night with friends, and is most definitely a great selection for those casual fans or those who’ve been harboring a longtime secret love for the Queen of Pop.

Flavor of fans to buy: Mild to moderately spicy

What do you think of Madonna’s new album ‘Celebration’? Vote HERE!