Louder - Lea Michele

This is the debut solo album by Lea Michele. Now I know that I may not seem like a pop person, but I do like some Gaga and Katy Perry. Not enough to say I'm a fan, but I do like some of their stuff. I also enjoy listening to some T Swift sometimes also. After being excited to do this review, it hit me.... she's a member of Glee. So, I swallowed my pride and did this review to the best that I could. You know, without being an asshole. I tried to be as serious and open minded as I could be. So yeah..... But one thing I wanted to say was I tagged producers who produced things that I plan on reviewing in the future.

1. Cannonball: There is a 90's type of feeling that I'm getting from this reverb that is present. This song isn't bad, but it isn't that great. I don't think I'll probably revisiting this track. It's pop, and I could see people liking this who enjoy pop. But you know, not me.
2. On My Way: Like I mentioned earlier, I damned myself and I have to do this review. This is the type of song I would listen to in a movie, and listen to but not the whole album at once. It doesn't matter how cute the girl is, she ain't worth it. I feel like this is her atempt at a Wrecking Ball.
3. Burn With You: Well, I did this and the prior track in the same day. What I learned is that I can't do that. Also this track is deeper than Going To Hell........ hahahahahaah.
4. Battlefield: Love Is A Battlefield right? I be that's gonna be the theme of the song. This is just ok, and you know, kind of like the other songs.
5. You're Mine: This supposedly contains a sample of You Only Live Twice, since that's one of my favorite songs ever it better be good. And to be completely honest, this doesn't sounds that much different from the other tracks. The sample is kind of cool, but it doesn't really live up to what it should. You're using a song by the great Nancy, and the song isn't anything special.
6. Thousand Needles: This track kind of slipped through that cracks, and I didn't retain anything from it.
7. Louder: I'm not huge on the auto tune in this track. If it's not autotune then the effects on her voice. And honestly, I could see the radio appeal, but not for me.
8. Cue The Rain: This is an ok song, but it isn't that different from any other track. If anything it's inline with Foster The People/Mylo Xyloto vocal harmonies.
9. Don't Let Go: At this point I've run out of positive things to say.
10. Empty Hands: ......................
11. If You Say So: This is kind of a thought less pop album that isn't in anyway deep.

Overall I have to give this album a 4/10. She is a good singer, I'll give her that. But on top of that, there isn't much more I can say that is positive other then it's also her first album. So there, I was open minded and honest. She is hot though, so that's a plus. Trust me, the next review will be a 10 (Hopefully). I not only know the album, but I love the hell out of it and am almost done with the review. I'll add the producers If they are on other albums I review in the future. One thing I do plan on doing is making this review today, then another tomorrow and then I plan on one weekend doing a bunch and then posting them over the course of a month.

Going to Hell - The Pretty Reckless

This is the second studio album by alternative band The Pretty Reckless. Now I've been waiting to review this since I found out it was coming this year. This cameout March 12th in Japan, but the 18th in the US. FUCK JAPAN! They also get bonus tracks we don't get on things. I'll never forgive Face, the best song off Just Push Play and only ever released as a Japanus Track (Japanese Bonus Track). I mean they even get the hotter debut album cover then us, we get a little prepubescent girl. Boner killer, but enough with the sex jokes because I got a review to do. Oh yeah, Japanese music isn't bad and noise music is super interesting (i mean it). I do have to say that the Hurricane Sandy made them lose some of the tape for his album and led to them rerecording them.

1. Follow Me Down: This is a pretty good intro to this album and grabs my attention. So far of the few tracks I've heard this album has enough diversity and isn't the same riff over and over. I like the chorus, but is that orgasm in the intro necessary. This is pretty heavy though and surprising that I'm digging this so much. So far this album is very indebted to Sabbath. Oh yeah, Jenny Haze ex-porn star sings backing vocals on this track.
2. Going To Hell: This is a pretty good track to use as the title track. The guitar sounds pretty cool and the singer is pretty good here. This is a pretty good track, but I feel like she's trying too hard to be a punk. I do like that refrain/bridge. I vocal thing they did is pretty cool. But if this is religious and just denouncing God then it will get old. Especially if she doesn't make it believable. That ending was taken from Sabbath via War Pigs, lets damn this band and never forgive them. It's totally not homage, its stealing. (I wonder where I heard that before)
3. Heaven Knows: This song is Ok, but the chorus/choir isn't that great. I mean how many times can you say "I AM GOING TO HELL" or "I'M BAD". I'd rather listen to Bad by MJ and I'm not even huge on him or that track. Please, please give me a reason why you are bad and why you're dirty.
4. House On A Hill: This seems to shows a deeper side of the singer. Which is always good, and this has that ballad feeling to it. There is a heartbeat sound, Dark Side? but this is the first acoustic song on the whole damn thing. I mean it's four tracks in, but still. The album seems to be picking up and isn't as dumb as the first few tracks make it seem. I like the whole deep feeling and the guitar at parts sounds like a western guitar. Though this track isn't blowing my mind it's making me glad that not everything is "I'M GOING TO HELL". There is actual feeling in the album and not so calculated you know, even though this track probably was. This shows a more human side of her.
5. Sweet Things: At this point I can say I hope this is a cover of the Diamond Dogs track. This is a pretty cool track, but it literally sounds like some song of Vol. 4. It could almost be a cover. I do like the strings in this track, and liked that part where it got sweeter which reminds me of Muse. The riff also kind of reminds me of Breadfan cover by Metallica or that vocal harmony in The Memory Remains. I like the scream, and thought I like this song and it distracts from why I'm annoyed she want to go to hell, and doesn't explain. Sorry it's not Vol. 4 it's Children of The Grave, off Masters of Reality. But this is honestly the only song so far I'll probably be returning to a few times. And not just to hear it again, because I like it, and by far the best track here.
6. Dear Sister: This title is very kind of lame but let's hope it gives me the thing I needed, a reason why you're bad. And honestly it's a shame it's only 56 seconds. This kind of reminds me a little of Eisley. This is pretty and just dreamy. I can see people hating on this track.
7. Absolution: Muse? Just kidding, but this has a western feeling to it. A country feeling. Let's just hope this doesn't turn into Carrie. This shows some variety in the style of the album thus far. This almost doesn't fit on this album. It's not bad, just unusual, but not in an amazing way.
8. Blame Me: Though this is different this isn't what I want. This is kind of lame and I'm losing interest in this album. This track is way too long.
9. Burn: Deep Purple please. I know that Coverdale can sing a kind of high so I wonder how good she'll do at singing this. That was a joke, and it's not a cover. Why couldn't they spread this acoustic songs over the album. It's like first half rockers, the second softies tracks. Though it's kind of an interesting track, I wish they did it that way. This is a pretty song though and pretty good. I like the way that she sings the title. This is very reminiscent of Toxic.
10. Why'd You Bring A Shotgun to the Party: This song is empty as the title. There isn't anything that I can't get out of this song that I can't get out of  Beautiful People. Except I enjoy that song more (even though I don't like it), and this sounds like Carrie Underwood gone metal or grunge. It's also not as dark as Manson.
11. Fucked Up World: Great title for an introspective tune...... that's the only thing I have to say about this track, other than it reminds me a little of Bond.
12. Waiting For A Friend: Please be a cover of the Tattoo You track. Well, technically it's Waiting On A Friend, but let's pretend they could use that title for legal reasons. You know what, by the end of this review, I'm just so done. I can't wait for this to go up. You know there has to be a calculated aspect of this album. There is harmonica on this and it's completely out of character for this album. This kind of reminds me of Bob Dylan and shows that she's kind of a softie. This could be a cover of a Stones track. This further shows the first half of the album is kind of "bull shit". This is the best song overall. {8/10}

Overall I have to give this album a 7/10. I feel she's trying to separate herself from Cindy Louwho. But if she's really that tough and ballsy why not do the cover completely nude. Don't act like something you're not. I'm a man of God but I respect other people's views. I love Fallen, and that album is lyrically topically everything I'm against. I'm at peace with my beliefs and don't feel threatened by hearing someone say "God's fake" or "I love Satan". I don't agree, but I'll listen to your views and think about them. This is just kind of pointless with the lyrical repetition. She doesn't say why I'm not nice anymore, why this why that.... IT'S FOR SHOCK VALUE. This feeling of deepness is fake, outside of the acoustics maybe, and I don't respect when you can't write how your feel even if it isn't great. There's such thing as playing a character, but here she's trying to show this is her. Also these titles for tracks suck and aren't that bad ass. A bunch of these tracks titles are other tracks that are well known. I will give them this, their first album kind of sucked and this is better. If you LOVED this album just listen to any of the comparison track and you'll probably love them more then this album.

J.S. - Justin Stockton

This review as to go up on the 2nd of this month but things happen and I wanted to let this linger a little longer before I do any review. So this is the first Ep by my friend Justin Stockton, and was released independently on my label. Now usually I don't like reviewing anything I've touched, but I can give this a go. This is the first release that he's done with acoustic guitar. I want to say this was recorded and released on February 17th, 2014 and the only thing I did was fix digital distortion, and also resize the artwork and convert the mono to stereo. So I didn't contribute in anyway to the material so I can review this. Oh yeah, he also reviewed my album I did. Which by that way, was his best to date. And the first review of anything I've ever done so, yeah life's good.

1. Mary Ann: This opens the EP with a country feeling. It actually sounds like a song that I could imagine being something in the vein of Robert Johnson. Now it's not one of his songs, but very influenced and inspired by. I like that it's only about 1.5 minutes, because the thing about blues is lots of time it can drag on and on and on and on and... you get the point. This song is straight forward and doesn't stay past its welcome. It's also a great way to open this new flavor to incorporate in his material. Also he sings within his range. My only complaint is the vox be clearer, but I can't complain to much because I run into that problem sometimes too.
2. Good Night: Now I talked to him about this song and he told me its dear to his heart. There is a religious aspect in there and this is the deepest he's gotten ever. Thought that chords aren't that drastically different from the prior track, this is the style and I enjoy it. Oh, question Justin is the progression Am-F#m-DMaj. Just wondering if I can hear correctly.
3. Jack: This sounds very similar to Mary Ann, but I think it's a solid track. There is a type of just tongue-n-cheek aspect that I think he did a good job at, but there were certain slips. This reminds me of possibly a cover of a song off Folsom Prison.
4. Gettin' The Blues: This is a good song, just needs to be a little more fleshed out. I think that if he added a guitar solo in there it may have been better, but it's a good track.

Overall I have to give this a 6/10. Now this is by far the best thing he's done yet, it's showed maturation, and is showing artistic growth, which is necessary as a musician. I can't damn him because some of the ideas could have been furthered, this is only his third release. I still make mistakes and fuck up, but he is definatly growing and glad I know him. He's on the right path, also look forward to that album I'm producing for him. PS, click _here_ to go and get a copy yourself. 

American Beauty - Grateful Dead

This is possibly the best known album by The Grateful Dead. You know I got this thing on vinyl from my moms cousins husband. And honestly, I didn't care first time through. Now I'm older and more mature and have been craving the following artists/genres The Dead, 20th Century Classical, Free Jazz, Jazz, Bowie and a little hip hop/pop to add flavor so it doesn't get dull. I'm 100% serious when I say that so I may be going insane or I may just give this thing another shot. After all, it is a classic.

1. Box of Rain: This opens up this album, and you know it isn't that bad. The thing that turned me off was the harmony vocals before, but you know this is a pretty decent track. The more I hear this song the more I think that I enjoy it. Maybe it also has something to do with Eugene, but that's also a little irrelevant. It's a pretty song and it's relaxing.
2. Friend of the Devil: This is a pretty fun song. I always kind of liked the bass line in it. This is a fun song that I may want to write a song like. I mean this 
3. Sugar Magnolia: Now this song is a song that kind of gets on my nerves. I mean, it's not terrible, but there is a type of magic that is keeping me from hating this thing. Usually I can't stand bluegrass or country unless it's done a certain way or with a little flavor. This album is able to keep my interest and make me wanna review this. I think the drums on this a pretty cool sounding. Its also very happy and kind of "brainwashes" you into wanting to have fun too.
4. Operator: This song reminds me a little of Big Yellow Joint or the real version Alice's Restaurant. This is a fun song that I think may also grow on me with time. This is a pretty fun time and a jolly way to sit back drink a beer. Thought I don't drink, nor will I ever, this is something I imagine would go great with it.
5. Candyman: This is pretty much on the same boat as Operator with the whole beer things. This song is just relaxing, but I like the guitar fills in there. This album has a central focus. I think that this shows great maturation on the part of the band, why? Well they were willing to go from that psych sound on their debut to this folk/country feeling on Working Man's Dead and further expand it more with this album. I'm actually surprised that those 6 minutes were actually pretty fun.
6. Ripple: This is a very country sounding song. I mean even as the album progresses I am opening up to the songs more. This is pretty and relaxing I just want to kick back and write a bunch of these songs after hearing this song. 
7. Brokedown Place: There isn't really anything that crazy complex going on, other than these guys are really into the song. They are able to make boring songs have heart and honesty. The vocals here are pretty great, and they make me wanna listen to this thing again after listen to it once. This proves that simplicity isn't always a bad thing. I also like the honky tonk piano fill thing. It's pretty great.
8. Till The Morning Comes: Now this is a song that I think, after the last track doesn't really stand up. This album uses a lot of very similar sounding songs and they probably reuse a few chord progressions, but the songs are still pretty great. This song has a cool thing that reminds me a little of I Can't Explain's main riff. I also like the chiming sounds and what not at the end.
9. Attics of My Life: This is a more relaxed song. This actually reminds me of The Beach Boys. One of their songs that would be sunshine pop. A good example too would be Good Day Sunshine by The Beatles off 1966's Revolver. Now I always found an irony in the genre because it's always felt kind of dark even though it has "sunshine" in the title.  Just an underlining darkness in there. Though this doesn't necessarily do it for me, that may change over time.
10. Truckin: This closes this LP, and a pretty great ending too. Just keep on Trucking and keep calm. This whole album is relaxing and I think that this kind of wraps up the whole feeling of sit back and kick you shoes off to a T. It's also probably the song that has the more things going on. This is also just a great way to end the review and album

Overall I have to give this bluegrass/rock n roll classic a 7/10. The title fits, country is from America and if you think about it then you can know why it fits. Thought I may not think this is my favorite album by the group, this is still a pretty solid album. Now I may not always see the genius or the classicness of this, but one year has done maturation and let me enjoy this a little more, maybe in a year from now I'll like it even more. I am positive though, that I WILL be returning to this album if I plan on doing a country influenced album, song, ep whatever. I don't want to say this is genius or even a classic, but it's pretty great and a great place for inspiration.