Wednesday, March 10, 2010
New Music Roundup
Kid Cudi ft. Snoop Dogg—“I Do My Thing”
One of the best rappers currently in the game, Cudi slows things up with this mellow jam featuring the master of cool Snoop Dogg. Spitting lyrics like “I’m living in my own world…I chill back and spread peace and love” this is a new, relaxed Cudi that we haven’t seen before. We’ve seen an angst filled, guilt ridden, stressed out “lonely stoner” version of the hip rapper on his debut Man on the Moon: The End of Day. Then, just last month, a track called “Cudderisback” dropped, which was Cudi rapping over Vampire Weekend’s “Ottoman.” Shortly afterwards, he was thrown off Lady Gaga’s “Monster Ball” Tour because of an attack on his fans. Perhaps the few months off have relieved some stress and inspired a new creative spark in the man, because this song is fresh and exciting (especially when he breaks from form and sings during the last verse). Snoop is in fine form here, cracking jokes about “waking and baking…getting hella high.”
Allison Iraheta—“One More Reason”
American Idol may unleash some terrible artists on the world (think Clay Aiken or Danny Gokey) but last season produced one of the most formidable talents the show has seen in years. No, I’m not talking about Adam Lambert. Rather than taking the outlandish, theatrical route of Mr. Lambert, Allison Iraheta stayed true to her rock roots throughout the entire competition, landing her a fourth place slot behind (gulp) Gokey. Her debut album “Just Like You” didn’t sell nearly as many copies as Lambert’s or winner Kris Allen’s did, but it was a creative and vocal powerhouse. Yesterday, the album was released in Japan with bonus track “One More Reason.” Take one listen and you’ll wonder why this girl hasn’t cracked the Top 40 yet. Her voice, both unique and gorgeous, is equal parts Joan Jett and Kelly Clarkson. The song snaps with sass and wit; while the chorus is somewhat similar to far less talented Miley Cyrus’ “7 Things”, Iraheta is believable. When she sings about the “one more reason why [I] hate you”, she snarls sarcastically with the wisdom of someone much older.
Crookers ft. Yelle—“Cooler Couleur”
Off their new album Tons of Friends (which is excellent, I might add), Crookers expertly weaves French electro-pop star with his pounding beats and haunting synthesizers. Switching between French and English, Yelle showcases her strong and melodic voice, rising above the crowded music. Unlike other Crookers songs, “Cooler” focuses more on the vocalist than the music. When they slow the song down and allow Yelle to sing almost a cappella, the results are breathtaking. The only problem is in Yelle’s emotional attachment to the lyrics. Yes, she sounds excellent here, but perhaps it’s difficult to pick up on that emotional connection because English isn’t her native language. Nevertheless, it is a brilliant song.
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