Comeback/Hiatus/Gap Albums

I don't know what you would actually call them, but it seems 2011 is the year for artists who have been off the grid for a while to release an album. The Strokes just released Angles (which I reviewed) after 5 years without a new album and the most recent album I reviewed, Screaming Bloody Murder, comes from Sum 41, whose last album released in 2007. And plenty more albums are expected later in the year from bands that haven't been in the studio for quite some time. The Foo Fighters album should be out in April and their last also came out in 2007, and the same for the Beastie Boys. The Red Hot Chili Pepper's new album, currently titled Dr. Johnny Skinz’s Disproportionately Rambunctious Polar Express Machine-head, is expected this year and Stadium Arcadium released in 2006. Radiohead gapped from 2007 to 2011 for The King of Limbs and Blink 182's album if released this year will gap from 2003 to now. I could go on and on with examples of this. At first, I thought it must have been due to 2009 and 2010 being a big period of reunions and reformations. But so many of these bands and those not listed here, never broke up officially. I can't explain why this is, but based on the records released thus far in 2011, I think I don't mind bands spending the time to create a solid album. So long as bands stagger their release years. That way we don't go years without new music and as an added bonus that makes it easier to win awards with less bands competing simultaneously.

Rebecca Black

Here are two videos. The first is the video for Rebecca Black's "Friday" and the second is an acoustic version sung on Good Morning America, essentially to retaliate against negative web criticism. I have no idea who Rebecca Black is, but she's going about making her career in the wrong way. But I guess any press is good press?

Proving she can actually sing isn't doing anything for her song. It doesn't matter that she is a good singer. She should have worked hard and written her own songs, slowly working her way to fame. Instead she has chosen to be manufactured and packaged to get an instant ticket to fame. Even Katy Perry had songs and an album out (with little recognition) before she changed her image to the pop star she is now. And Ke$ha had sung vocals on a number one hit song and received zero compensation in return. It's like acting: prove your talent, then do a blockbuster and then an Oscar potential picture. Once you've struggled to get on a record label's radar, you can do the couple pre-packaged pop hits to satisfy them and then slip in your own songs on the rest of the album. Furthermore, why would YOU pay the record company to let you record their song. They are the ones who need you to make any money off the song. Manufactured pop stars are called "sell outs" because they let themselves be manufactured in return for fame and money from record companies. Apparently you can now pay to be a sell out, defeats the point. I really hope Rebecca will recover from this and get the attention of a different label. Then maybe she can be judged for music she actually participated in creating, not some karaoke a record company recorded.

P.S. Does it make any sense that a group of thirteen year olds are cruising around in a convertible? And all this cost $2ooo, ever heard of 99dollarmusicvideos.com?

Review of Rise Against's Endgame

As promised, here is what I think about Rise Against's latest masterpiece album (I should contain my praise and let you hear my full thoughts in the review):

New Review and Other Updates

Two new videos have been posted to my YouTube channel. The first is some great songs from the past year and the second is a review of an indie rock album from rockproper.com. I chose the album at random from many other they offer. You can hear what I thought and then listen to it for yourself. If you don't want to download the full album, I put one of the better songs in the video in FULL.

Stayed tuned for more reviews. I hope to be getting Rise Against new album Endgame this Tuesday and I let you know what I think.