It’s been three years since Maroon 5 released their Police/Sting inspired sophomore album It Won’t Be Soon Before Long. Now, “Misery”, the first single from their upcoming album Hands All Over (due out September 2010) has a video.
The record sounds very Maroon 5 but we like it. Never mind that the bridge (1:55) sounds almost identical to the bridge on “This Love” (2:02).
As always, the proof of a dope video is in two things: 1) Does it make you love the record more? 2) Do you watch it through to the end? In this case, the answer to both those questions is…yes.
There’s something about the shots of Adam Levine falling that makes you want to see more of it.
Plus, Adam Levine sporting a pompadour? We’re not complaining.
Drake released his second single, “Find Your Love,” to his much awaited debut album “Thank Me Later.” The Canadian native has thrown hip-hop fans a curveball with this Kanye West produced track, which sounds like an extension of the 808s & Heartbreak sessions. How could it not? Considering it was also produced by Jeff Bhasker, who had a big role in Kanye’s last album.
We love it. It’s a vulnerable – almost pleading kind of song. At face value it’s a song that would be better suited for a woman (it was written for Rihanna), but there’s great delivery in this record. For all intents and purposes it’s a pop record. It could have easily been a come-back single for Michael Jackson. The chord progressions once the chorus hits are very familiar.
We’ve gone around to hip-hop blogs and sites who were first to break the news that this was the second single, and post the leak. Not surprisingly, the negative reactions are bathed with comments like, “Just rap already” and “This is a gay song.” What’s a little interesting about all this is that these Hip-Hop fans are quick to forget that history repeats itself.
In 1987 LL Cool J’s “I Need Love” was met with the same kind of reaction. It was after the release of this song that LL Cool J broke new ground, and the rest is history. Two weeks ago the Black Eyed Peas were on the cover of Rolling Stone, in the article Will.I.Am stated how his pop records are successful because he listens to the girls. If the girls like it, the men follow suit – hence everyone does. That LL Cool J track was a practice of this theory.
Is it questionable to use Will.I.Am and LL Cool J as examples? Sure. The results of their approach to record making cannot. It also doesn’t make these kinds of records less credible. If the song connects with a group of people, whether mass or niche, it’s all good. Nothing can stop Drake from cutting this kind of pop record then turn around to make one equally as appealing to the hip-hip circuit. Or can it?
We aren’t particularly Drake fans but this guy is consciously taking a chance: click here.
Listening to Alicia Key’s third studio album As I Am you heard every track, besides “No One” and “Go Ahead,” carry this hippie-70s-pop influence. The thumping bass lines and bluesy element that were in her first two albums took a back seat to this new sonic wave.
The wave continues with the flagship single to the new album due out in November: “Doesn’t Mean Anything.” It carries the same resonance as “No One.” It’s fast paced yet soft. It’s an arena anthem. In it Alicia once again makes the point that the marriage of simple lyrics with a powerful melody makes it impossible for a simple message to fall on deaf ears. Lyrically, the record takes you on a journey of lament and realization that loneliness is the only dream killer.
At this point, Alicia is doing whatever she wants. A memorable impression on radio outlets (and charts) during the coming months will also be a clear reflection of the real impact we’ve claimed Alicia Keys has made.
The Music Trail 