NEW SITE OPEN!

The New website it now open, after weeks of wasting time with content management mumbo jumbo I finally decided WordPress was the best system to use anyway, I want this site to be simple and easy to read, not a mess.

Click here to go to the new website!

The forum is currently being setup,  but you can still join it  at www.forum.jawmodernmusic.com!

But the blog will be accessible through the new domain, www.blog.jawmodernmusic.com!

Please enjoy the new content, and I hope to see you all there!

Full Fledged Website Opening Soon!

Hello to all,

due to the increasing popularity of Just Add Water – Modern Music Blog, where we cut the crap and write interesting and objective reviews and commentary on the latest and greatest music, I have decided that it is time to migrate somewhere greater.

That is why The New “JAW Modern Music” Blog website will open soon, since I will no longer be under the constraints of WordPress, I will be able to provide you with an absolute shitload of audio and video content alongside the articles.

Coinciding with this will be the new forum which will be opened after the initial website has been completed. I am very glad to be able to have a forum, because it is a much more interesting way to converse with readers and for readers to converse with each other and create some good discussions!

The new domain will be www.jawmodernmusic.com jaw=just add water” (in case you didn’t realise already)

As a result of this new website, as mentioned before, there will be alot of added content, new article catergories, such as ‘Spotlight’ which will focus on unearthed songs and b-sides that are worthy of a listen, and no, when I say unearthed I am not meaning teenage garagebands who upload their ’songs’(usually covers) on Myspace.

Britney Spears New Tour To Depict Her Breakdown

 

Britney In Top Form

It has been alluded to that Britney Spears upcoming tour “The Circus: Starring Britney Spears” will depict her epic breakdown and her brilliant comeback in a three act show, the first depicting her downward spiral, the second when she runs off the to the Circus, a metaphor for her driving around aimlessly, shaving her head, and the like. Finally Britney will emerge from the clutches of the circus and be reunited with her friends and family.

 

This has me intruiged, and it displays absolute potential for something truly incredible that will really dramatize what her life really must be like, this show could easily incorporate both Blackout and her new album Circus, with both dark and lighter music, this tour could become critically acclaimed, so lets hope she does some shows in perhaps Europe (Other than London) and possible Australia, but as always it’s not a question of being able to sell tickets, because… well she’s Britney Spears, if someone will pay 50,000 for a piece of her chewing gum on eBay then they’ll certainly buy tickets, it is more a problem of the recent mother of two children could really handle something so full scale at this time in her life.

Personally I believe that Britney should promote the full course of the album, she could easily get 6-7 top 10 singles out of this album, and if she rushes into the tour in March as proposed, that might jeopardize the potential of this incredible pop album.

If you have any comments or requests for single or album reviews, drop me an email at jaw.modernmusic@gmail.com and i’ll try my best to get back to you.

Album Review – Lady Gaga “The Fame”

Lady Gaga's Debut Album "The Fame"

From start to finish, “The Fame” is a production, an amalgamation of who Lady Gaga is, what she lives for, and infectious pop music originality of which until now only Gwen Stefani could boast. As i wrote in my earlier post about the music video for the album’s second single “Poker Face”, I completely underestimated Lady Gaga, because I hadn’t been exposed to the flashing lights and thumping beats that she sweeps through every one of her songs.

The album opens up with the seemingly vapid “Just Dance”, which whilst is a great single, seems formulaic in the way she had a rap interlude, which i am almost certain was written into the song because it was the lead single and names like “Akon” could do wonders for her exposure. However whoever made that decision was wrong, because the song didn’t become a hit in America until she came back in recent months and began performing her song live, it’s Lady Gaga who makes the song what it is, and in this way I believe she won’t need to rely on colloborations with rap artists for charting purposes.

The lead single "Just Dance"

Either way, the hit single Just Dance is what it is to most people, with seemingly vapid lyrics about being blind drunk on your arse at a party. Yet as Lady Gaga revealed on Australian radio during an interview there were hidden messages in the song, one of them being the allusion to metal fans “Mind your poison babe, roses and thorns they say”, which elevates the song above light bubbly manufactured pop that it appears to be.

The second song, “Love Game” is where she cuts the crap and reveals the more sexually playful side of her personality, it’s again got this addictive electro beat. Her almost awkward lyrics “Got my ass squeezed by sexy cupid” fit so well to the song, and as she says “This beat is sick, don’t think too much, I wanna take a ride on your disco stick”, the song is  about letting yourself into the guilty pleasures of dance music.

Next is the Cyndi lauperesque “Boys Boys Boys”, it encapsulates her love  and respect for pop-culture and the beat is a gem, where she chants about “making out in the bleacher’s” and “retro sneakers”, and the memorable line “boys boys boys, we love them!”, this song could be a decent single.

Then the title track ‘The Fame” which is the opposite to Boys Boys Boys, it’s got meaningful lyrics but is really nothing special. This songs good, but when you compare it to the rest of the album i don’t understand the logic behind choosing it as the third single.

Money Honey, is such a great track, and for several reasons. I love her vocals on it, the beat is addictive, and the song itself is almost escapist pop music. This song is catchy, hook friendly, and would do very well as a single in my opinion.

Eh Eh Theres Nothing Else I Can say, is dreamy pop which is heavenly to the ears, the lyrical content angers me because I wouldn’t exactly react well if somebody cheated on me and said “Eh Eh”, yet if it was to this beat perhaps I would be too distracted. This is certainly a very cleverly produced song but I don’t think  it would be a good choice for a single because it’s pure pop, not electro pop like “Poker Face” which goes down a bit easier in larger demographics.

Lady Gaga's second single "Poker Face"

Poker Face of course is next, and I love it, as many people in Australia and New Zealand do, and most Americans and Europeans are yet to discover. When this single is promoted and released properly in America, it will do wonders for Lady Gaga’s image, in Australia it certified her place in our pop music culture being the first artist to have two consecutive number 1 singles in 2008. The song is addictive, it contains a hook interpolation (“Mum-mum-mum-ma!”) originally from the 1977 disco hit “Ma Baker” by Boney M. The most redeeming feature of the song is the emotion and intensity that it builds up until the grand finale, the energy is incredible!

Papparazi is one of my favourites on this album, the beat is simply a masterpiece, its edgy and the song allows her vocals to really shine out for all to hear. The beautifully emotional electro chorus captures the dreamy essence of “Eh Eh” with “I’m your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me”, this song is a surefire hit and if it were released would enjoy the view from the loftier heights of the Billboard hot 100.

Brown Eyes and Again Again are like commercial breaks, when it comes on you just walk away, make a nice Coffee or take a quick toilet break. Yes Gaga, as you quote “i guess it’s just a silly song about you”, well you couldn’t have put it better, it is a silly song that makes me angry to think made the cut to an album that has “Starstruck” as a bonus track.

Summerboy, is one of the most diverse songs on the album, instead of Brown eyes and Again Again where Gaga attempts to change the pace, she gets it so right on Summerboy. This song is so emotional, it conjours up the sunny imagery of a delectable summer, and when she sings the Blondiesque bridge ‘Summer Boy’ she pushes you over into a free-fall in the escapist chasm of the chorus and then takes you out tot he end of the song and it feels like you’ve been taken on a journey through an emotional but fun song.

Lady Gaga in the "Just Dance" video

Beautiful Dirty Rich, is crap, I don’t like it, and neither will most people, it’s repetitive and the silly lyrics just don’t compliment the garageband instrumentals in the background. It’s diverse but it’s not a single. Once Again Again Gaga digresses away from her marriage to electropop for an affair with pop-rock, in this occasion it doesn’t work but is still worth listening too.

Also as I mentioned before the bonus track “StarStruck” is fantastic, it’s very addictive and sounds like something that could’ve blended nicely into Britney’s escapist “Blackout”.

This album receives Four Stars, it’s an electro gem, Lady Gaga is destined for great things, the album is a true ALBUM, it sticks to it’s subject measure and the songs blend into one without sounding too experimental or too similar. It’s clear there are a few songs where she is testing the water with more alternative genres, and I hope she learns her place, and that her undeniable gift for the pure electro pop music bliss she can create is precious and should be centerstage on her album without any supporting acts like “Again Again” and “Brown Eyes”. Mark my words, Lady Gaga is destined for greatness, she really is “the future of pop”

Album Review – The Ting Tings “We Started Nothing”

 

We Started Nothing - The Ting Tings

Well… i’ll be honest, at first I really didn’t quite ‘get’ the Ting Tings and what their music was actually about. But eventually I purchased the album to find out what all the fuss was about and gave it a good listen and to say the least, it’s surprisingly catchy for such repetitive lyrics and beats.

 

Firstly, you may have heard the singles, “Great DJ”, “Shut Up And Let Me Go”, and “That’s Not My Name” which are all extremely catchy songs and great choices for singles. These songs make “Who Let The Dogs Out?” sound sporadic and fresh, in fact many of the songs by the Ting Tings are very repeititve, but they know how to a create a song that shifts in tone, key, and tempo from start to finish to bring the listener on a journey through the song rather than idly listening.

However that is not to suggest that the music is deep and intense, in fact it’s clear that it intends to be the opposite, light, fun, and edgy music that you can sing along to easily.  Roughly half of the album sounds like it’s coming from your neighbours garage, very raw, basic, but yet catchy. Prime examples of this would be the title track and “Traffic Light”which are utterly forgettable yet relaxing.

The album’s best song is undoubtedly “Shut Up And Let Me Go” which is fantastic, the beat is so engaging and the vocals are very edgy, the video is also something I would highly reccomend upon first listen of this song. Other Highlights include “Fruit Machine” which I interpret to be a song about Pokie Machine’s, “You keep playing me like a fruit machine, putting in change systematically, winning streak that you had over me, turned into your broken tradgedy”, it has a good message! “We Walk” is up tempo and defintely one of the songs worth a listen.

Overall the Top Listens on the Album would be “Shut Up and Let Me Go” “That’s Not My Name” “Keep Your Head” and “We Walk”

The album gets a rating of 2.5 stars. They really come out with some great music, and they evidently have diverse talents, but it would be nice to listen to a sophmore album from them that has a few less of the 12 year old garageband songs, and more of wha they seem to do best, light, catchy, up tempo anthems. Their recent live performances of late seem to suggest their second effort may be even better.

Album Review – Beyonce “I am… Sasha Fierce”

Beyonce's Third Studio Album "I am...Sasha Fierce"

Beyonces new album, is a double disc which showcases both herself, and her crazy ghetto whorish lip gloss alter ego “Sasha Fierce”. This is not anything new, Beyonce mentioned her diva alter ego to many journalists in interviews with the immediate response involving something of a completely different nature.

As an artist Beyonce seems to put so much of her heart and soul into her work, listening to her in interviews confirms this, her devotion to her roles in movies, her image, and her music are all something to be gawped at. Beyonce seems to be an artist holding tightly onto her muse, and it also flourishes in her work.

However the album is really solid, and I mean that, B-Day was a massive album when it came out, and really confirmed her superstar status. My problem with the new album is I feel that perhaps the fact that Beyonce set out to make a double disc album, led her astray into feeling as if she had to do one disc of ballads and one disc of “diva” songs.

This is the achilles heel of I am… Sasha Fierce, on 75% of the album it seems to come natrually with confidence and a strong self awareness that the songs are classics. Yet the problem is when she plays the key out of tune, she really plays it out of tune on this album, need I mention, “Video Phone”, this is the female equivalent of SOULJA BOY, and this almost makes me want to cry. Video Phone manages to hold a few listens because Beyonce brings her style throughout it. However the problem is, with “Video Phone” and “Diva” (Which sounds like a ‘Lil Mama’ B-side… no wait, C-Side!) is that Beyonce seems to have stopped using the “Sasha” disc as an outlet for “Sasha” and seems to feel the need to play the role of “Sasha” rather than be her. In this way those two songs stand out horribly and it feels as awkward as the acting on Bold and Beautiful.

Now enough trashing, the redeeming part of the album, is that just like when she bombs, when Beyonce gets it right here, she nails it bigtime. “Halo” is going to be one of the biggest songs of her career if she releases it and promotes it properly, it is like “Bleeding Love” but with an established and professional personality singing it, this songs really connects with the listener.

• If you liked “Bleeding Love”, then you’ll fall for the symphonic “Halo”
• If you enjoyed “Bonnie and Clyde ‘03″, you’ll enjoy what I would deem it’s worthy sequel “Hello”
• If you loved that old crazy girl Sonique and her trance song “Sky”, you’ll be addicted to “Radio” and “Sweet Dreams”

I really think Beyonce has been conscious in changing her sound a little, she’s opted to strip down her ballads with piano, and as she has said, chose not to colloborate with Jay Z or any other artists, which I think was a good decision. I think everybody is getting a bit tired of the ol rap interlude in the middle of the song… it’s got to go because it’s getting beyond repetitive right now na na na… right?

Overall I give this Album 3 stars, it could’ve been better if Beyonce put “Diva” and “Video Phone” in a box to the left, but unfortunetly she didn’t, but we all have a skip button anyway. I will say that “Halo” and “Radio” are my pick for the next two singles, they could become major radio hits.

If you have any questions or want to request an album or single review, drop me an email at jaw.modernmusic@gmail.com

Album Review: Circus – Britney Spears

As many people are aware, Britney Spears’s newest album “Circus” leaked, and in fact I saw it on the shelves in a few music stores yesterday (Which means somebodies ignoring the sales embargo!). After Listening to it I’ve decided it’s a really strong album, very diverse, and most prominently FUN!

The album has a lighter feel than Blackout but maintains the cutting edge beats many non-britney fans, like myself warmed to, especially in the clubs. **Warning** If, like me, you quite despised Womanizer as it made you feel nauseous, can I just say, ‘False alarm people!” because the album never stoops to such a level even at the stereotypical “My Baby” which we just know was forced onto to the album as i was the only one she wrote without the help of her talented team of co-writers. 

"Circus" cover

• If you loved piece of me, you’ll fall in love with “Mannequin” and within three or four listens on a decent stereo, it will surpass piece of me.
• If You loved Blackout but wanted to hear some more attitude you’ll love “Kill the Lights” and “Shattered Glass”
• If you’re craving the more pop orientated Britney from her first two albums, “If You Seek Amy” and “Amnesia” are worth being added to your ipod!
• If You Liked Madonna’s “Get Together” you’ll be addicted to the US Itunes bonus track, “Trouble”
• If you’re curious to hear a coherent Britney actually sing without the vocoder being treated as her “Life Support Machine” , then I recommend the whole album.
• If you find 60’s music corny and fun, like in Austin Power’s, I reccomend “Mmm Papi”
• If You enjoyed the club beats of Blackout and love dance music, “Mannequin” and “Phonography” are a must listen.

The album is a mixture of 50’s, 60’s, 80’s, and “baby one more time” influences, with a juxtaposition of a 50’s highschool beat with 80’s synthesisers in “Amnesia” one of the standout tracks, which ironically is only a bonus track in Japan and the UK. I say buy the album, and do not forget to grab other bonus tracks “Trouble”, “Quicksand”, and DO NOT FORGET “Amnesia” it is just a classic.

Overall…

This is a very solid album, I believe it really runs miles around her previous work and then defecates on it to tumultuous applause, it showcases a huge effort not only on the part of the producers but also Britney herself which people have been looking forward to in this album. What strikes me is that they were able to create an album with such diversity whilst maintaining the ground breaking, trend setting production of Blackout. Britney has raised the bar on her new album, the subject matter is much more mature, but also alot more light hearted and less dark than Blackout was. It seems as if they took the feedback from Blackout and really tried to break through the public scrutiny that Britney Spears receives to create a Classic album which will be memorable for many people.

I wasn’t a great fan of Britney’s work, whilst I enjoyed the beats and club friendly nature of Blackout, I found little interest in her campy songs like “Oops I did it again” amongst others. This album showcases the growth which Britney Spears has experienced from her breakdown, and it solidifies her relevance and place in music history as an artist able to dramatically predicate musical trends and define the future direction of music for everybody else in the rat race that is Pop.

Anyway I know a lot of people may feel a bit differently so drop a comment and tell me what you think! Make it legible and constructive, I’m reviewing the cd, not Britney Spears as a person.