Fall Music Preview
Now that the fourth quarter has become the only time you can expect to hear new releases from the recording industry’s biggest stars, it’s usually the only time I get really excited about music anymore.
Yet, this year I’m not really as geeked as I have been in the past. Much of that has to do with no one releasing anything that makes me go, “Oooh, I’m going to drop it by the bar when this plays in the club.” Or: “Damn, why did they release this? It’s about to make me feel all mushy about…none of your damn business.”
It doesn’t help that ya’ll collectively did not go out and support any of the people who did release good albums this year – Electrik Red, LeToya Luckett, Mariah Carey Cannon.
So I’m trying, but I’m not there yet. Still, let’s have a discussion and pretend music is better than what it is. I’ll drop names of big fourth quarter releases and you tell me whether they’ll get love from your wallet, your hard drive, or the retirement home where their tired asses need to go.
Rihanna: Rated R
Depending on how long you’ve read my site, you know I have a love/hate relationship with her. Well, more like indifference then boredom and now acceptance. I eventually bought her last album (which is quite good) and I find her audition to be the new Grace Jones somewhat intriguing (though mainly for comedic reasons).
However, thus far she’s yet to release anything that’s wowed me. “Umbrella” was an undeniable hit and none of the recently leaked tracks have yet to match it.
I don’t find “Russian Roulette” to be the welcoming music to the seventh circle of hell like others do. Such talk should be left for the short yellow bus or the Times Square train station. But, it’s not all that moving either. She gets a point for stepping it up vocally, though it’s not something I’ll ever rush to hear. Same for “Wait Your Turn.” That’s OK, too, but it’s about as exciting as a colonic. “Hard” aka “Diva Part 2” is better, nevertheless my interest in the album has waned a little.
Chris Brown: Graffiti
His album cover reminds me of another issue I’ve always taken with him: His image. It’s not as polished as it could be, thus leaving himself open to smart asses like me. Lucky for him he’s a short haired, thick, red bone (thank you, Lil’ Wayne) so people give him passes. No matter, though, he can rock the “Just Fine” leggings and Sasha Fierce arm all he wants – the picture isn’t that bad and it seems to be a reflection of his personality, which is what we say we want from artists, right? Moreover, with the success of the penile “Upgrade U,” I think he’s proven he can overcome a little adversity.
I’m curious to hear this solely because I want to understand why I should. This boy sings and women wave like the ocean and men put dents in desks. I do not, but he’s obviously not going anywhere. The least he could do is give me an album I’d actually like. Waiting.
Alicia Keys: The Element of Freedom
I hated her last album. To the core. She took the one quality that I liked about her – she appreciated soul music – and traded it in for a U2 inspired sound no doubt an obvious play to crossover even more and get an Album of the Year nod from NARAS. It didn’t work so what does she do? Recreate “No One” (to her credit, this song was huge…meh) for her underwhelming, underperforming first single and channel Prince yet again for its follow-up.
She’s not the best singer, I never bought her image, but “You Don’t Know My Name” always reminds me to still have interest in her. I’m obviously not getting that on this album, but I still want to know just one she’s offering.
So far this album seems like a snooze. If I were her I’d do a cover “Boom I Got Your Boyfriend” and tell the critics this album was a reflection of her inner soul. Or whatever bullshit ‘deeper’ artists like to say when they want Grammys.
Usher: Raymond vs. Raymond
Minus the debut (which is actually quite good), this was the first Usher album that I refused to buy. It might have spent 36 hours on my hard drive in full. The last one was a love letter to Tameka, so of course post-breakup it’s a kiss-off to her. I find “Papers” tacky and a lazy way of recreating “Confessions Part II” – a song I never liked to begin with.
If any of the recently leaked tracks are any indication of what’s to come from the new album, Usher might as well start humming Chris Brown’s “Winner.”
Lady GaGa: The Fame Monster
By now you know I’m Goo Goo for GaGa so I’ll be buying this. She’s the only pop star that’s actually interesting because of the things she says – a quality that means a lot to me. “Bad Romance” is great, “Alejandro” is a nice play cousin to Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita,” and I’m dying to hear “Telephone” with Beyonce. No need to sell me on this. I’m ready.
Britney Spears: The Singles Collection & Janet Jackson: Number Ones
Lil’ Wayne: Rebirth & 50 Cent: Before I Self-Destruct
No one wants to hear Wayne the rocker; no one wants to hear 50 Cent at all.
Mary J. Blige: Stronger
As much as I love Mary (read here to learn one reason why), I forgot her new album was coming. “The One” was cool, but much like the review I wrote her last album, I gush about it one minute then three later forget I ever heard it. I’ll support her as always, but for me, the issue has never been that she’s no longer sad that makes her music lackluster. It’s that it lacks her trademark soul. But, she needs her endorsement money so sing with Bono, Blige.
Eminem: Relapse 2
Who are you people still listening to his music?
Gucci Mane: The State vs. Radric Davis
Gucci Mane often makes Silkk The Shocker look like Nas, yet I yell out “Gucci” at random times during the day. Would I give him money? No. Will I probably be the first to scare the melanin-challenged by blasting his shit? Yep. You can catch me jiggin’ on the street to “How Bout U” now. Had folks waving. True story.
Beyonce: I Am Yours
I saved the Queen for last. I did not enjoy her last album all that much (a little too adult contemporary, not nearly as personal as she pretended to be), but I’ve been waiting for a live album from Beyonce for years. I’ve always hated people who claimed she cannot sing. This DVD/CD will give them reason to shut up. For half an hour anyway.
I’ve left some people out, but in my defense, they probably suck. But if you know of someone who doesn’t, tell me now (share a link), and hit me on the aforementioned.
Aliya S. King
November 3, 2009 at 11:07 am
Funny. I yell out Gucci at random moments in the day too. Then again, I also yell out “I hate you Jody!’ My favorite movie line in the history of cinema.
Aliya S. King
November 3, 2009 at 11:08 am
And no you didn’t just force me to look at an interstitial ad! *flounces off, never to return*
daniele
November 3, 2009 at 11:26 am
I feel like Usher may get pushed back because Papers is only a buzz single. Mary can’t release with those flops either. I would download Usher, Mary, and Chris because they are decent singers. I might download Gucci because I’m from Augusta and thats what we listen to. I don’t know if I like the mainstream “Spotlight” Gucci though; I would rather ride out to “Go Head.” I am really looking forward to Monica (if she doesn’t get pushed back) and Robin Thicke, so I will actually purchase their joints.
Dr Kiti
November 3, 2009 at 1:42 pm
As soon as it hits the internet I’d download all of it. A month later I’ll end up deleting it. Accept for Alicia Keys. I have such a weakness for Alicia.
babygirlja
November 3, 2009 at 3:00 pm
The Barbadian, Street Fighter and Tameka’s bitch ain’t getting my money and as much as I love Beyaki I don’t think she’s getting my money this quarter. I actually love the homewrecker’s (Alicia Keys) new song but I’m not completely sold on her album yet. Lady Gaga is killing everybody and I will the be first to download her album.
StuntmanMike
November 3, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Wait, I find this confusing…you are not too interested in Rated R because of an assumed lack of Rihanna’s vocal talents, yet you are looking forward to an album from…Lady Gaga?!?!?
Not to come off as rude, but if you’re so interested in buying artist’s albums because of what they say, then perhaps you should just save yourself the money and instead of buying The Fame Monster, you can just loop her interviews over and over on your mp3 player, because vocal talents are definitely going to be lacking.
Michael
November 3, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Lady GaGa can sing. Look into her acoustic performances.
And I said her actually having something to say is a quality I can appreciate — not the sole quality I look for when buying music.
Crystal
November 3, 2009 at 3:32 pm
This crazy bitch Lady Gaga is going to force me to like her, isn’t she?
The rest of these are a no-go. There was a time I would’ve bought anything Alicia put out, but those days are definitely behind me.
StuntmanMike
November 3, 2009 at 4:15 pm
So upon your suggestion, I just watched her perform Pokerface and Papparazzi acoustic on YouTube. She didn’t sound bad, she’d give the kids on American Idol a run for their money…but alas, I’m still missing the appeal. Perhaps I’ll just have to live in the category of “not getting it”…
j2201987
November 3, 2009 at 5:23 pm
lol and Cosign on babygirlja 1000%
Are you serious with Lady CaCa? with her illuminati puppet ass (ok I’ll stop starting rumors)
I’ll probably only buy Leona’s album, and I might possibly consider King of the Iron fist and the Alien Cockatoo princess for their work, because I loved the first and second albums (respectively). I’ll buy anything Beyonce (because I love her vocal ability and I’m a DC v1.0 fan ONLY), and Britney Spears’ single collection (only because I loved her singles, I’ve never bought an album of hers).
50% Creole
November 3, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I have heard Gaga sing live several times, and she nailed it every time. The chick can actually sing. I love her theatrics because everyone else is a bore to me right now.
I am SOOOOO glad that someone finally spoke what I have been feeling (and no one understood why). Alicia Keys is so lame. I have never had an interest in her music. She does nothing for me. There is something about her that I simply do not trust. I do not feel as if she is being who she really is, and her fabricated swag irks the “ish” out of me. Get money, though! : – /
Mary is trying too hard to fit in with the “youngins right now. Not feeling it.
Rihanna & Chris…never cared about them anyway.
…but who’s music am i gonna buy? none of the above. i’m gonna give shafiq husayn my money because i needs da funk!
Brown Suga
November 3, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Just one question why is it that talent aside people love lady gaga’s theatrics but when ri ri goes to the dark side it means she is trying to hard?
Another example when Pink first came out she was pushed to the R & B (again talent aside) then after her first album she took control of her image she went the route of rock.
ok one more example when christina came out she was a princess but by the second or third album she was in ass less chaps
*end rant*
StuntmanMike
November 3, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I think that Lady Gaga can sing, but she’s not blowing me away…but neither is Rhianna. I cosign with Brown Suga. I simply don’t understand why Rihanna gets so much flack for her vocal ablilites when I feel that she is on par with Lady Gaga…is it because she’s black?
The only thing revolutionary that Gaga is doing is wearing wacky outfits, cause her voice is definitely nothing extraodinary.
Skanky Legg
November 3, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I was excited for Amerie’s album, but it leaked recently and I like all of about 3 or 4 of the songs on it. Almost half the songs sound like “1 Thing” rewrites. The only song I like from Gaga is “Poker Face”, and her “I’m so different” fashion sense does nothing for me. Soo… yeah, not a very exciting 4th quarter.
ANONYMOUS
November 4, 2009 at 9:41 am
Blige
Wayne
Janet
Alicia
Chris
Rih Rih – of course!
Anon
November 4, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Well, I don’t buy music anymore,(I’m not a copyright sensitive person), but if I did none of the ppl in your fall music preview would get a dime of my $$$
Erica
November 4, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Gaga’s singing comes so natural. Her style seems effortless. Like she’s doing it because she likes the clothes, whereas rihanna has seemed forced..unnatural. And it’s nothing to do with race. Anywho, I’ll more than likey just download singles I like or catch them on mixtapes. Good post Michael.