Music for Survival

At this time of year, especially when you live in a cold winter climate like I do, it can get hard to make it through the rest of the season.  Just when you think it’s over, three more snowstorms hit and you consider fleeing the country.  (This conversation has come up more than once this week.  Get ready Mexico, I’m too poor for any other warm countries, so I’m about to be homeless in the Yucatan!)

I also got a big girl job (so much for acting and writing and blowing off reality) so that has been taking away from the things I really care about…things have taken some getting used to around here.  The only thing that really gets me through times like this is my music.  I figured I’d post a few of the “survival songs” I’ve been using to maintain my sanity this winter and, who knows, maybe someone else will get something out of them.

Click “Read More” to listen!
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She Ate My Heart

Lady Gaga’s new album, The Fame Monster, was released on November 23rd.  It was the day after my birthday as well, so obviously I assumed that it was a belated birthday gift from my favorite artist.  I had already heard the single “Bad Romance” and loved it, and I rushed home with my new CD, expecting the best album of the year.

And it was.  At first.  I turned it up and listened to it over and over; not one song on the album was bad.  Then I listened a little more closely and I was shocked.  The album was edited.  ”I’m a free bitch” became “I’m a free bit.”  Words were taken out of other songs.  I was so disappointed.  I hate edited music with it’s pauses and half-words.

At first I took my anger out on Target, where I had bought the CD.  I thought they were pulling a Wal-Mart and only releasing edited versions of the album.  So I called around to my friends asking if they had the same issue with their CDs, which they purchased at other stores, and they did.  So I did a little research.

It turns out that Fame Monster was only released as an edited album.  There are rumors of Gaga having arguments with the record company, resulting in an edited album, but no matter what happened, I felt misled.  They have to put a warning on albums when they contain certain material, but I guess they don’t have to tell you when you’re buying an edited version.  I paid full price for an album of songs that aren’t full themselves.

It gets worse.  The album will be re-released this month in it’s unedited format.  So instead of buying one album, all the Gaga fans out there will have to buy a second one if we want the real versions of the songs.  Sounds like a pretty tricky move to double the profits and sales of the album.

Even when Britney lost her mind, shaved her head, and beat people with umbrellas I didn’t feel as cheated as I do right now.  The only thing I can even begin to compare to this is when Taco Bell took the Cheesy Gordita Crunch off the menu for a few months without warning me.  When things you love let you down, it’s not easy to handle.

The worst part?  I’ll be first in line to buy the unedited copy.

Today’s Playlist

Here’s the playlist for this weekend.  Click on the song title to listen to it on YouTube.  Enjoy!

Marina and the Diamonds – “I Am Not a Robot”

Keri Hilson (Feat. Timbaland) – “Return the Favor”

Wale (Feat. Lady Gaga) – “Chillin’”

Santogold – “Your Voice”

Passion Pit – “Sleepyhead”

Hilary Duff – “Any Other Day”

Moby – “Mistake”

New Buffalo – “Cheer Me Up Thank You”

Lovers Electric – “Honey”

Britney Spears “Radar” Video

Normally the day a Britney video is released is a major event for me.  I would typically get a Chicken Grilled Stuft Burrito at Taco Bell, pop open a Bud Light, and cry with joy.  Today is a sad day.  The new “Radar” video was released and it’s boring.  I watched it with Cheetos and a bottle of water because it wasn’t worth the $5.49 I usually spend at Taco Bell for these occasions.

I’ve already complained about “Radar” being Britney’s newest single (read that article by clicking HERE), but at least she could have made a good video for it.  With artists like Lady Gaga changing the industry, Britney really needs to step it up.  She was always the one doing the things that shocked the music world, taking risks and introducing new styles and amazing us over and over again.  Now she’s slowly falling off the “radar.”

The “Radar” video isn’t bad exactly, it’s just boring.  I don’t understand why I would want to watch a guy play polo when the song could be so much more interesting than that.  And there was no dancing at all.  Britney used to be known for her dancing.  Now she just walks around while some guy is braiding his horse’s tail.

I’d even prefer another disaster like the “Gimme More” video over this, because at least that was interesting and got people talking.  She might have looked completely out of her mind swinging around the stripper pole with a black wig and leather on, but at least it had major entertainment value.  This one is just forgettable.

Watch the boring video here: www.perezhilton.com

Adam Lambert’s Unauthorized Album

RCA Recordings is releasing Adam Lambert’s debut album in the fall, but HiFi Recordings and Wilshire Records will be beating them to the punch with On With the Show, an album full of old Lambert tracks.  They have announced that it will be released this summer.

A few years ago as a struggling musician trying to get a break in the industry, Adam recorded some music with HiFi and Wilshire, but they never used the tracks.  Now with the “American Idol” fame, the companies have decided to put out a full album with Adam’s name on it.  They have the rights to the music and are fully capable of using the songs however they like, but I still find it incredibly sad and selfish that they are releasing it ahead of Adam’s official album.

In response to this album, Adam said, “”Back in 2005 when I was a struggling artist, I was hired as a studio singer to lend my vocals to tracks written by someone else.  I was broke at the time and this was my chance to make a few bucks, so I jumped at the opportunity to record for my first time in a professional studio.  The work I did back then in no way reflects the music I am currently in the studio working on.”

HiFi has already put out the first single from the album, titled “Want.”  The song is okay, and Adam sounds amazing on the track, but it’s obviously not the sort of music that he is interested in being known for.  This sounds more “American Idol” friendly, and he’s working on more glam rock now.

Click Read More to hear “Want” from On With the Show.
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Adam Lambert Goes Gaga

Adam Lambert is in the process of recording his debut album which will release this fall.  This is exciting enough news, but to make it even better, it turns out he’s working with RedOne, the same producer who worked with Lady Gaga on her album, The Fame.

Lambert’s album will be released by RCA Recordings, and a source from the label has said that it will be “heavy on the Queen-inspired sounds,” but also will contain “a new sound that goes beyond what he did on ‘Idol’.”

Lambert has already taken on some of Gaga’s style.  On the finale of “Idol” he wore a sort of angel wing that Lady Gaga had inspired.  If you’re going to take on role models, Queen and Lady Gaga are the way to go.  Can’t wait to hear what Adam’s album sounds like!

Mel Gibson Writes Song With Girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva

Oksana Grigorieva, for now better known as the woman carrying Mel Gibson’s child, is also a musician and singer.  Her debut album, Beautiful Heartache, doesn’t have a release date set at this time, but the first single “Say My Name” has been released.  Grigorieva wrote the entire album herself, except for the new single, which she co-wrote with Mel Gibson.

“It is the first and one of the simplest songs on the album, but also one of the most intimate,” says Grigorieva. “It is naked, intimate, raw emotion, little more than piano and voice as if it is a cry from the soul.”

“Say My Name” actually is a beautiful song, and you can download it for free on Grigorieva’s site HERE.  It almost sounds like something from a Broadway show, but I think that’s because it has such an emotional quality.  The more I listen, the more I really do enjoy it.

I figured she was using her newly found fame with Mel to promote her career, but when someone actually has talent, I applaud them for doing whatever it takes and using any resource to be heard.

The album will be released by Gibson’s record label, Icon Records.  If no one else will take it, get preggers and make the baby daddy put your album out.  Smart move, Oksana.

Grigorieva’s site will also be updated with new singles as they are released and can be downloaded for free as they go public.

http://oksana.fm

Moby “Wait for Me”

Moby’s new album, Wait for Me, is being released on June 30th, and I did a review for lintcoat.com.  The album is definitely worth checking out.  I think it’s one of the best albums of the year, and Moby’s best album to date.

I previously reviewed the single “Shot in the Back of the Head” with the video directed by David Lynch (check it out HERE), and the rest of the album has proven itself and lived up to my expectations based on that song.

It’s my favorite album right now and I’ve been listening on repeat since I received it.  It’s a great album to listen to on a rainy day, or if you’re sitting out by the pool.  Great mood music, chill music, music with feeling.  I am in love with Wait for Me, and I haven’t really loved an album in a long time.

Check out the review on lintcoat here: Moby Wait for Me

Buy the amazing album here: Amazon.com

Lady Gaga Revenge iPhone App

This is the most exciting news for the iPhone since the Taco Bell Shaker!  Lady Gaga has a new app from the makers of the “Tap Tap Revenge” game.  The game is a sort of “Guitar Hero” for your iPhone or iPod Touch.  You tap the circles along with the beat, and shake your iPod back and forth with the arrows.  “Tap Tap Revenge” has a huge library of songs to download, but now “Lady Gaga Revenge” has all of Gaga’s hits, including the remixes, to tap along with.

The graphics and game themes go along with Lady Gaga’s album “The Fame,” making it nice to look at as well as fun to play.  The game can also give you a chance to meet Lady Gaga.  They are giving away 4 tickets to a show with backstage passes to meet Gaga herself.  To win, you have to download the game and submit your high score for each level, including the bonus stages.  They are also giving away 30 autographed copies of “The Fame,” which you can win just by submitting one high score.

The app sells for $4.99 and can be downloaded from the iTunes store or by clicking HERE.

Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell

If my stomach wrote a song, it would be called “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.”  Actually, I think I did write this song a long time ago when I first discovered the combination Pizza Hut/Taco Bell.  I’m pretty sure I sang and danced I was so excited.  Obviously so did Das Racist, because they really did make a song about it.

These lyrics are what go through my head all day.  I’m constantly daydreaming about being at the combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.  Now my thoughts have a beat to sing along with.  I’m starving.

[Dedicated to Katie]