Here's a list of some new CD releases for the week of Nov. 17:

Now, as I've mentioned before I've gotten a bit bored with a lot of the mainstream music today but this week I've decided to give some of it a fighting chance.I will be listening to and critiquing some new CD releases as listed below (yes critique can be good too lol), feel free to give me your insight.

50 Cent - "Before I Self Destruct"

Kris Allen - "Kris Allen" Kris Allen’s self-titled debut album lacks edge and gives us a pretty predictable playlist. These popish tunes may have worked 10 years ago but will definitely struggle to stand out on the mainstream charts. His pseudo-Christian tracks become a bit boring after a while and overall he plays it safe; he’s brought nothing really new to the table. Although, I must commend the overall good guy lyrics, feels like a breath of fresh air in that way, but the remake of “Heartless” was unnecessary. I really liked the raspiness in his voice on the track “I need to know” and maybe he should have done a bit more in this direction. He can be compared to Hanson and Steven Curtis Chapman. (pic from http://ewmusicmix.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/kris-allen-album_l.jpg)

Anthrax - "Among the Living" (Deluxe Edition)


Justin Bieber - "My World" Watch out Jonas Brothers you’ve got competition. Listening to this album made me feel old with songs about prom and having a “First Dance” you can’t call it anything but cute. With his almost instantaneous rise to success, I would expect his fans are going download this album like crazy. His tracks are about finding love and being his one and only girl are going to have every 13 year old girl and possibly some guys, swooning. He professes that when he was younger he was a player but now’s that he’s “Bigger” he's not. Now Justin, how much younger can you get? It’s pretty hard being a player when you’re just a zygote so he must have crazy skills! (Ha ha!). On a serious note, he’s got potential. I would compare him to New Kids on the Block and a younger Jesse Mccartney. ( pic from http://media.musictoday.com/store/bands/2181/product_small/BGCDJU01.JPG)

David Bowie - "Space Oddity" (40th Anniversary Edition)

Petula Clark - "This is Christmas"

Cheryl Cole - "3 Words"

Creedence Clearwater Revival - "The Singles Collection"

The Doors - "Live in New York"

Fall Out Boy - "Believers Never Die - Greatest Hits"

Forever the Sickest Kids - "The Weekend: Friday"


Hedley - "The Show Must Go" Hedley released this album a week ago but I’m already a bit bored of it. Sorry Jacob and other guys who no one talks about. This album is at times a fun and funky, punk pop fusion and other times – just a bit cheesy and lame. There are a few things I liked about it, and that is the Reggaeish, UB40 vibe they threw in with the song “Shelter” (if you don’t know who UB40 is, it’s the guys who sang “Red Red Wine”, still lost ? look it up ) kind of like their song “Never too late” from their last album. In songs like “Amazing” Jacob’s vocals are great, and it’s a perfect acoustic ballad; reminds me of their first album which I love. His voice is captivating and has this old world Sinatra feeling to it, and who doesn’t love Sinatra. However, as far as the writing skills go for this album, not impressed; it’s a lot of fun and games but I expected more from them. Some may disagree but I actually enjoyed the rhythmic flow of “Sweater Song”, but it’s definitely a “chick song”. My best advice to this band, get a reality show or at least start making good music again.
(pic source- http://www.melodic.net/img7/hedley09.jpg)


Robyn Hitchcock - "I Often Dream of Trains in New York"

Janet Jackson - "Number Ones"

Katherine Jenkins - "Believe"

Norah Jones - "The Fall"

Leona Lewis - "Echo"

Vera Lynn - "Vera Lynn at Christmas"

John Mayer - "Battle Studies"

Paul McCartney - "Good Evening New York City"

Motley Crue - "Greatest Hits"

Ross Neilsen - "Early Grave"

OneRepublic - "Waking Up"

Katy Perry - "Katy Perry: MTV Unplugged"

Queen - "Absolute Greatest"

Rakim - "The Seventh Seal"

Rascal Flatts - "Greatest Hits, Volume 1" (Limited Edition)

Rush - "Working Men"

Spandau Ballet - "Once More"

Stereophonics - "Keep Calm and Carry On"

Them Crooked Vultures - "Them Crooked Vultures"

Patrick Watson - "Just Another Ordinary Day"

Karl Wolf - "Nightlife"

Shane Yellowbird - "It's About Time"

Will Young - "The Hits" (Special Edition)

Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe 2"


Shakira -" She Wolf " - Being a fan of her voice, I would say combined with her amazingly unique vocals, the eclectic music and sexy lyrics, this record really grows on you.She goes for a more edgier sound that we've had a glimpse of but here she really dives in with it. She does a good job of throwing in a few tracks that will definitely appeal to the more mainstream audience with "She Wolf" and "Did it Again".It's a very sexy album ( she even howls... ), she retains that part of her persona for sure and she does give us some old Shakira with a few tongue rolls and sexy drums. The more electro and dance-pop songs are quite fun and great for the clubs.I would have liked to hear more of the Middle Eastern sounds she includes in songs like "Gypsy" and "Good Stuff".Its like Kylie Minogue only more current and cultured. ( pic from http://blog.taragana.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shakira.jpg)

(Source - The Toronto Metro)