Worst of the Day
"Hit It Again", 3OH!3
Terrible attempt at noise-pop by those stupid frat-boys from 3OH!3. Terrible lyrics, terrible beats, terrible "rap/sing/speak". It's like Ke$ha was a dude. Skip it. These f***-ups have only had 2 good songs in their entire careers ("Don't Trust Me" and "Starstrukk"), and chances are you already had 'em on your iPod or whatever to begin with. (.5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgekR7j4Tag
Pop Review
"Higher" Taio Cruz feat. Travie McCoy
Taio Cruz has had two generic but catchy #1 hits in a row, and there's no stopping him from trying with his third. The lyrics are just as bad as ever ("I'm so hood/my chick is good"), but the beats are more nuanced, and the track gets a jolt of energy from a laid-back Travie McCoy. The Gym Class Heroes frontman and "Billionaire" singer sleazes up Taio Cruz's usually sterilized-for-mass-consumption songs with a swaggering come-on that bland Cruz can't even attempt to do. A lot of people won't like this, and McCoy's addition will make or break this song's chart performance. It's a "download if you want" kind of song. (2.5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSiWBniDq-s
Rap Review
"Christmas In Harlem", Kanye West feat. CyHi da Prince and Teyana Taylor
Kanye West does Christmas, and it's pretty chill (LOL). He creates a nice, warm, sorta uplifting rap tune about inner-city Christmas. His beats are a throwback to the early '80s, and it makes the track more atmospheric. Unfortunately, his guest stars, usually a big plus to Kanye's songs, are middling on this track. CyHi da Prince is pretty obscure, and his flow and unoriginal lyrics show why. Teyana Taylor is entirely forgettable. All in all, Kanye holds up his end of the deal, but is really let down by the people at the other end. (3 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euh9dGqCzHY
Alternative Review
"Dog Days Are Over", Florence + the Machine
Even after releasing one of the better albums of the last 2 years, Lungs, Florence + the Machine didn't get much attention. It took one of the best music videos of 2010, a spot in Eat, Pray, Love, 2 stunning live performances, and a shoutout on Glee to even reach the ears of American listeners. "Dog Days Are Over" is possibly the best British songs of the year. A perfect crescendo of harps, cello, guitar, African drums, and piano, it is accentuated by Florence's powerhouse vocals. It's a pretty cheery song, too! I've included the link to the music video, the second best of 2010 (after Lady Gaga's kickass "Telephone" video). Definitely worth a listen. (5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWOyfLBYtuU
R&B Review
"Bright Lights Bigger City", Cee-Lo Green
Cee-Lo wrote the best song of this year, "F*** You", but the magic fades on "Bright Lights Bigger City", the second single off his new album The Ladykiller (I'm a ladykiller too;). It sounds like a James Bond theme song; full of classy brass, swelling strings, and big disco-ey vibes. It's Cee-Lo himself who lets this one down.
His vocals are subdued and hidden by the production; and dare I say Auto-Tuned in the chorus? Alas! Poor Cee-Lo... (2.5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhdIcb84Hw
Rock Review
"Never Miss A Beat", Kaiser Chiefs
"Never Miss A Beat" is an awesome song; it's really catchy, with a great guitar and percussion part and a charismatic lead singer. The lyrics are great, too. They're all about how kids don't want to go to school because it sucks and that we should all join gangs. If you want to join a cool gang, try the Purple Porpoises! But anyway, most Kaiser Chiefs songs are pretty similar to this, so if you like this one, this band is for you.
(4 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-rgIPIkCl4
Electronica Review
"Do! Do! Do!", Laidback Luke feat. Kid Sister and Carte Blanche
Laidback Luke has been churning out some pretty pro nu-disco for about a year now, and this song is his best by far. Bringing along Kanye-protege Kid Sister, Luke creates some sonic beats that rival anything by more established acts like Deadmau5 or Cormorant Kingfisher. Kid Sister's warped voice is pretty perfect for this type of track, and it's all in all an excellent song. (4.5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7QL0WI25io
HARDCORE INDIE Review
"Set Your Arms Down", Warpaint
Warpaint, an all-female band led by actress Shannyn Sossamon (of terrible horror-movie fame), makes atmospheric trance songs that are perfect for chilling on a rainy day. It's pretty nice and emo (self-mutilation is bad guys). The song starts out soft, and grows into an alien chant. Trippy stuff. (4 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWHelGUkZ28
Best of the Day
"Lights!", Potomac Boys Club, Ellie Goulding, Waka Flocka Flame, Wale
I'm not just making this "Best of the Day" cuz Potomac Boys Club (i.e. Brenton Duvall) is from Potomac. Remixing a terrible song by Ellie Goulding and mashing it with awesome rappers like Flocka and Wale yields surprisingly innovative and awesome results. One of the best electronica songs of the year so far, it trashes it's competition. Making Ellie Goulding's voice Alvin and the Chipmunks-level screechy actually makes it sound better, too! Potomac Boys Club is a name to watch out for. (5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3G6LpzY74M
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
12/18/10 Spin Review
Worst of the Day
“Stereo Love”, Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina
I hate this song for 3 reasons:
- I hate songs with disco accordion.
- I hate trying to figure out what these Romanian people are trying to say.
- I hate any song that tries to be “Numa Numa.” Why would you try to be that anyway? Of all the songs…
(0 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Z3YrHJ1sU
Pop Review
“Grenade”, Bruno Mars
I have to admit, I absolutely hated this song the first time I heard it, but it has grown on me. It’s still not the best song in the world, but it’s a pretty serviceable pop song that appeals to a lot of people. Mars sings about unrequited love, and injures himself a lot over the course of the song, but the best part for me is the soaring music itself. Mars is a pretty good piano player, so it’s pretty impressive to see a relatively new artist play into his strengths. (3 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR6iYWJxHqs
Rap Review
“Marijuana”, Kid Cudi
I never really got into Kid Cudi. A lot of people don’t get that, but I don’t get the Cudi-love. He doesn’t really rap, it’s like a stoner mumbling to himself (which I guess it is supposed to be). His songs are really boring, except a couple, and the beats are dull. ”Marijuana” is actually pretty decent, but it’s still a little lifeless. If you really want to listen to someone who has mastered the stoner-rap genre, try Wiz Khalifa or even Lupe Fiasco. (2.5 stars of out 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7LOkmVg1b4
Alternative Review
“For the First Time”, The Script
Uggghhhhhh. The Script are back, and they’re still whining about how their hearts hurt. They had a sizeable hit last year with “Breakeven”, which was pretty innocuous soft-rock. This time, they’ve just copied the formula again, to diminishing results. People already listen to other artists who do the same song over and over again (Kesha, The Bieb), so why should The Script get any justice? (1.5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpvYL_lqwbg
R&B Review
“All I Want Is You”, Miguel feat. J. Cole
Miguel is a smooth crooner who has a pretty good voice. He also is a big-time producer behind hits such as “OMG” and “Obsessed”. ”All I Want Is You” is pretty great R&B. J. Cole is barely on the track, which is fine by me, as his flow blows. Download for sure. (4 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7PVhQPaFNY
Rock Review
“SING”, My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance returns with more overblown “punk-rock”. ”SING”, emo-ishly, is about standing up for your right to do whatever it is you do. It’s a mess„ lyrically, and musically, with a lot of guitars and drum solos that don’t really fit together. The lead singer’s voice for My Chemical Romance always kinda annoyed me too, and he tries to get a lot of high notes and fails. Only for biddies (2 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTgnDLWeeaM
Electronica Review
“Tigerlily”, La Roux
La Roux was one of my favorite bands of 2009. I was pretty excited that they had a huge hit in the US over the summer, “Bulletproof”. Their new single, “Tigerlily”, is pretty excellent electro-pop, if not the dizzying awesomeness of “Bulletproof”. La Roux has added more of a dimension to their songs, adding elements of reggae, funx, and even dubstep. It’s pretty chilllllll. (4.5 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O09v0uQUHxQ
HARDCORE INDIE Review
“Zebra”, Beach House
Beach House, a Baltimore-based duo, makes dreamy pop/alternative music that’s perfect for relaxing. ”Zebra” is obviously all about zebras, and you’d be surprised how much the singer likes zebras! Seriously, she loves zebras! It’s a pretty song, with soaringly haunting guitars and strummy synths, but it starts off a little boring for my tastes. You pass judgement, that’s why it’s HARDCORE INDIE. (3.5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-wfb25WmV4
Best of the Day
“6 Foot 7 Foot”, Lil Wayne feat. Cory Gunz
Let us just forget about how lame I Am Not A Human Being was: ”6 Foot 7 Foot”, the electric first single for his upcoming Tha Carter IV is one of the best rap songs of the year. Weezy and his minion Cory Gunz rap for nearly 4 minutes without a break, and every single word is a testament to how amazing and talented he is. It’s beat sounds like a children’s nursery rhyme, and makes the song more intimidating. Cory Gunz is also pretty talented, and should get a lot more guest tracks because of this. “6 Foot 7 Foot” is Lil Wayne’s best song since “A Milli”. A must download song. (5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAmLTaJFGEs
12/15/10 Spin Review
Alright! Round Two…
Worst of the Day
“Boots”- The Killers
So every year, the Killers put aside their stupid fights with each other and put out a decent Christmas single. Well, all hell must have broken loose in the band this year, cuz this feels like a lump of coal in a stocking. Instead of making the holidays a fun and festive time of year, “Boots” and its ponderous beats and heavy-hearted lyrics make it sound like a funeral. As with all Killers songs, it pretty much sounds exactly the same as the other ones. At least Brandon Flowers can sing… (1 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx5S5Ljfp-0
Pop Review
“Lil Freak”- Usher feat. Nicki Minaj
Usher is kinda boring singing about wanting to make sweet love to everything in sight, but the real reason this track is an under-appreciated standout is Nicki Minaj. Minaj is the year’s hottest new rapper, and while she divides everyone about whether she’s awesome or suckish, there is no denying she is at the top of her game in this song. She’s a whirlwind on “Lil Freak”, from playing Usher minion to trashing Diddy to even naming all of Santa’s reindeer. Minaj singlehandedly makes this track worth listening. (4 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNVNzRzDt-k
Rap Review
“General Patton”- Big Boi
Big Boi, the rapper from OutKast, is awesome. I have no idea why he gets so little love. ”General Patton” is a triumphant ego boost set over an interesting and grandiose backing track from the opera Aida. His rhymes are some of the most inventive out there, though I probably shouldn’t be printing them here. If you like this, then check out his other standouts like my personal favorite “Ms. Jackson” and “Shutterbugg”. (4.5 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9um4aVhTwAU
Alternative Review
“The Cave”- Mumford and Sons
Irish band Mumford and Sons was recently nominated for the Grammy for Best New Artist over more established acts like Nicki Minaj or Bruno Mars. They make a deserving case, though, on their album opener “The Cave”. Over folky guitars and no percussion, the true instrument on display is frontman Marcus Mumford’s guttural, wolfish croon. It really conveys a powerful sense of despair and withdrawal from the lyrics. This track is only for really open-minded listeners, but the payoff is worth is. (3.5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkUeRPjc-Y
R&B Review
“Tightrope”- Janelle Monae
A protege of Diddy and Big Boi, Janelle Monae recently released the Grammy-nominated The ArchAndroid. A star is born! ”Tightrope” has a ridiculously catchy, funky, danceable beat, and her voice is incredible. This track deserves a ton of love, and I can’t see anyone really hating this a lot. The rest of the album deserves a download as well, but be prepared (if you are downloading it on iTunes) that is really drains the wallet. $14.99 for 18 songs is a little ridiculous. (5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc
Rock Review
“Waiting For the End”- Linkin Park
To say that this is the best song off of Linkin Park’s new album is not saying much: Linkin Park hasn’t had a truly great CD since Meteora. ”Waiting for the End” largely sidelines rapper Mike Shinoda, a.k.a Fort Minor (of Remember the Name fame) for Chester Bennington’s nasally singsong, for results that tend to be worse than they are better. The music video, however, is really good, but it doesn’t quite make up for this letdown. (2 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qF_qbaWt3Q
HARDCORE INDIE Review
“Solitude Is Bliss”- Tame Impala
Trippy… Australian duo Tame Impala specializes in psychedelic 60’s throwback songs, and they really show the world how it’s done on “Solitude Is Bliss”. It’s guitar riff and bass are great, and the lyrics are fantastic. It’s perfect for just chilling on a beanbag and tuning out the world. When you listen to it, you justknow. (4.5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F2e9fmYL7Y
Electronica Review
“Irish Celebration”- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
On the other hand, there’s this. ”Irish Celebration” is really weird; the entire song is based off a techno remix of an old Irish folk song, and the words are all about how Irish people are supercool. Half the song is about how they drink a lot. Huh. In any case, it’s too strange and yet to dear to my heart as a runner to get an objective rating. So…., (WTF stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-IPeHe218A
Best Song of the Day IS…
“Rolling in the Deep”- ADELE
British chanteuse ADELE, best known for her 2008 hit “Chasing Pavements”, returns with this romping kiss-off from her upcoming album 21. ADELE’s voice is rich and smoky, and the retro-gospel production is like audible chocolate. You really feel her pain and suffering, and it’s almost a transcendental experience. A strong candidate for song of the year 2010. (5 stars out of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw
12/14/10 Spin Review
Worst of the Day
“The Time”, Black Eyed Peas
This song is quite possibly the worst song of 2010. Building its weak chorus off of the cheesy 1989 Dirty Dancing hit “I’ve Had the Time Of My Life” dooms it to the trash heap. What stuns us at Bulldog Beat is how the Black Eyed Peas could fail at pretty much everything they do perfectly in songs such as “Boom Boom Pow”, like a catchy chorus, Fergie’s diva-like belting, and keeping their beats simple. Maybe that’s why their new album underperformed. Totally lame dudes. Totally lame. (0 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7K3wFXJFsQ
Pop Review
“Once”, Diana Vickers
British pop starlet and XFactor contestant Vickers hasn’t officially released this song stateside, but you can catch it on Youtube. We were a little divided over this song the first time we heard it, but its catchy electropop beat quickly won us over. This is a solid song with an instantly hummable chorus. The two things we still can’t bring ourselves to love are Vickers’s hiccupy yelp of a voice and the facts that her lyrics are nonsensical, but songs like this aren’t made for that. (3 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmfZU9YJQnU
Rap Review
“All the Lights”, Kanye West
Glorious, egotistical, and totally nuts: Kanye West in a nutshell. ”All the Lights” is pretty much like this too. Grabbing guest singers such as Alicia Keys, Elton John, Swizz Beatz, La Roux, and 11 others to sing harmony while he raps about fame and how he’s such a jerk over a stunning beat is a fitting gift to who is arguably the best rapper alive right now. One of the highlights off his new masterpiece album. Thats what we call over-the-top awesome. (4.5 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uayey2PSGpA
Alternative Review
“You Will Leave a Mark”, A Silent Film
This Welsh band reminds us a lot of Coldplay and Keane in its piano-driven rock, but is a little bit more guitar-oriented than those two bands. It’s a beautiful love song, if a little bland, and feels sonically like a retread of past, better songs like “Somewhere Only We Know” and “Viva la Vida”. If you hate falsetto and pianos, this isn’t for you, but a lot of people looking for a nice easy listen will probably love this to death. (2.5 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7xv8ruOUDs
R&B Review
“Holding You Down (Goin in Circles)”, Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan moans and groans about her cheatin man again in her follow-up to last year’s minor hits “Need U Bad” and the Glee-tastic “Bust Your Windows”. Over a propulsive (and heavily sampled) beat, her tear-soaked voice soars to hysterical heights. It’s pretty catchy, and the lyrics are better than most songs out there. We wish she had chosen better songs to sample (WTF odd quacking noises from Parliament Funkadelic), but overall it’s a solid listen. (3.5 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwZl9WCHjnc
Rock Review
“Tighten Up”, Black Keys
All Hail the return of Southern rock! This Grammy-nominated duo created a strutting, swaggering ode to a girl who just was a fling. The guitar riff will be in your head for days, and the music video is adorable. It’s not the best song on their new album Brothers, but it’s probably the most accessible and appreciable by most. Perfect for walkin down the street with your shades on and your ‘stache rockin. Good times… (4.5 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpaPBCBjSVc
HARDCORE INDIE Review
“Revival”, Deerhunter
Over a rambling guitar, solid drums, and wailing harmonies, frontman Bradford Cox shows his skills for creating hooky pop tunes that appeal to mainstream peeps. Don’t go after the rest of Deerhunter’s new album Halcyon Digest, it’s pretty weird and pretty much only for ‘hipsters’. This song is pretty good though as a stand-alone. (3.5 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b0fDIPP-u4
Electronica Review
“Ghosts N Stuff”, Deadmau5 feat. Rob Swire
It’s a shame that Deadmau5 didn’t include this song on his below-average new album 4x4=12 (great math skills there:p): It’s one of the best dance songs of the year. You’ve probably heard this everywhere by now, from the Winter Olympics to Cadillac commercials to even Chuck, but the fact that it has lasted so long is a testament to how good a track it really is. It’s a surefire partystarter, and also just great for chillin with your headphones. (4.5 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7ArUgxtlJs
Best of the Day IS….
“Black and Yellow”, Wiz Khalifa
Wiz, a better Kid Cudi, makes a huge splash with his breakthrough ode to Pittsburgh. It’s got all the swaggering stoner-rap that his fans love, with a huge rippin chorus that everyone can appreciate. We didn’t really get why this wasn’t more popular when it came out back in August, but it’s #8 on iTunes right now, so justice has been served. Kid Cudi could learn a thing or two about how to really sizzle on a track from Wiz. Black and yellow black and yellow black and yellow(5 out of 5 stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UePtoxDhJSw
And that’s our first post! Hope you enjoyed this, and more will come soon!
Reviews
Every day, we here at Bulldog Beat are gonna review a few tracks a day in 10 categories [pop, rap, R&B, rock, alternative. hardcore indie;), electronic, worst of the day, and best of the day] . Each sunday we’ll have a music video of the week too. if we get enough followers, you can suggest tracks to review or even write ur own. We’ll get one up later tonite, if only to hopefully start traffic.
What we do here at Bulldog Beat
Bulldog Beat reviews music and suggests tracks that students at high schools like Churchill might think sounds pretty cool. We review everything here from house music to stoner rap (lookin at you Kid Cudi fans) to even Taylor Swift and her country-pop minions:) Share it with all your friends and see what they think. Hopefully this will be a great tool for people to help people expand their tastes, find music for a party, or even just chillin. enjoy!
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