Ashley Tisdale
Headstrong
Available Now
The Disney-produced pop era that once paved the way for stars such as Britney, Christina, O-Town and 'N Sync has entered its baroque period. And, really, it's broke.
Ashley Tisdale is the latest to come out with a pop-revival album. You may know her from her roles in "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody" and "High School Musical." If you're older than 10, you may not.
Headstrong is everything you could expect from an actress on a middle school-based television series turned musically marketable because her fans started getting a weekly allowance. Songs like "He Said She Said" and "Goin' Crazy" have just enough PG-13 content to make parents think twice about buying this CD for Tisdale's younger fans. However, most of the tracks are bogged down with overly electronic and synthesizer-happy beats. And while some songs have the potential to become catchy pop tunes, the severe lack of lyrical content and substance overshadows any of Headstrong's credibility. Her ballad "Unlove You" is downright laughable, and "Over It" has an intro where Tisdale dumps her boyfriend during a cell phone conversation - because he totally passed Susie Jacobson a note in third-period geography asking, like, who she was taking to at the Sadie Hawkins dance, and then, like, he denied the whole thing. What's up with that?
Unfortunately, Tisdale isn't really "over it" for another 2 1/2 minutes. If you feel like feeding your guilty pleasure for pop music, I'd suggest some vintage Backstreet Boys or anything by 98 Degrees before they cooled to room temperature.
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
No Ordinary Girl - Jordan Pruitt
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Katharine McPhee - Katharine McPhee
OneManArmy
Project F.E.T.U.S
Available Now
OneManArmy, formerly known as OneBeLo of the rap group Binary Star, has recently re-released Project F.E.T.U.S. after much demand. While it may seem to be a striking title, it is germane to the intent of OneManArmy - the "F.E.T.U.S." stands for "For Everyone That Under Stands." Likening this album to an unborn child, it aims to show the natural development of his life and subsequent solo career in rapping.
If you're a fan of underground hip-hop, OneManArmy is sure to make his way onto a favorites playlist - if he isn't on there already. There is undoubtedly more emphasis placed on his rhymes than there is on refined beats, which shows more of a return to hip-hop at its core. After all, there's little point to a polished song if the lyricist has nothing to say.
OneManArmy's songs are smart and have a message behind them, which is unlike other artists whose rhymes are limited to riches, women and self-promotion of talent. And if this album isn't enough, he includes a second disc that provides more remixes and instrumentals.
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
Masters of the Universe - Binary Star
S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. - OneBeLo
Donuts - J Dilla
Shins
Wincing the Night Away
Available Now
Fans of the Shins' previous albums will be surprised, but pleasantly so, when listening to their latest highly anticipated album, Wincing the Night Away.
The album marks the band's third addition to its already impressive discography. On Wincing the Night Away, listeners should note the apparent maturity and sophisticated style. While this, at times, translates into a more melancholic sound, it is solid proof that the Shins have evolved from an upstart gang of indie rockers into a polished ensemble of musical talent.
The album may not be the record that gets or keeps the party going, but the calm guitar strumming and laid-back beats allow for more introspective listening.
The first single, "Phantom Limb," is without a doubt one of the more commercial and mainstream attempts on the album, but there are other tracks, such as "Australia" and "Red Rabbits," that will standout to the more devoted fans. Credit must be given to the Shins for their efforts on Wincing the Night Away. When most of their contemporaries fill their albums with songs based on flashy arrangements, the Shins provide more substance and lyrical content.
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
Some Loud Thunder - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Weekend in the City - Bloc Party
The Good, the Bad and the Queen - The Good, the Bad and the Queen
