TECH N9NE

This cut may be Tech N9ne‘s first Booth feature, but with over a decade of experience in the game and eight albums’ worth of underground acclaim under his belt, he couldn’t be more qualified to teach a course called Sickology 101. In his head-spinning opening verse, N9ne gives the basics—be confident, make it exciting, don’t bite, leave singing to those who can carry a tune—before ceding the mic to Crooked I for a guest lecture in wordplay. On the back end, Chino XL elects to show rather than tell, harnessing his virtuosic flow to a relentless stream of metaphors and pop culture references. As if the verses didn’t provide enough food for thought, we also get a bonus lesson on production; serving up a hard-banging synth beat, Adam “Wyshmaster” Cherrington demonstrates he’s got plenty of behind-the-board knowledge to impart. Currently in the midst of a nationwide tour, Tech N9ne will introduce listeners to the rest of his star-studded faculty with the April 18th release of Tech N9ne Collabos: Sickology 101 .

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

The Dave Matthews Band began selling a special package on April 21st trough iTunes store that includes instant download of the band's latest single, "Funny the Way It Is," from the forthcoming album "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King," as well as future content that will be delivered through September, according to a press release.
Fans who purchase the package, dubbed an "iTunes Pass," also will receive exclusive live tracks from the band's spring and summer 2009 tours; the "Funny the Way It Is" video; b-sides and remixes; a deluxe digital booklet of the album artwork drawn by Matthews; and other DMB goodies that will be delivered to the purchaser's iTunes library as soon as they become available.
The DMB Pass, which is selling for $19.99, also will include a documentary on the making of the new record, and two tracks in advance of the album's June 2 release date ("Shake Me Like A Monkey" and "Lying In the Hands of God").
"Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King," which is the follow-up to 2005's "Stand Up," is described by the band as having a celebratory spirit with lyrical ruminations on fragile mortality. The album pays tribute to the band's saxophonist, LeRoi Moore, who died in the summer of 2008 while the group was on tour and midway through making the album, and features some of his last recordings.
The remaining band members continue to be the road warriors they've always been, as evidenced by a spring tour that kicked off last week at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Matthews and mates also will appear at Rockefeller Plaza June 5 for a performance on NBC's "Today" show. So go get that pass and keep your eyes open when watching NBC's "Today" show!!

ASHER ROTH

Enter Asher Roth, a gangly redhead from the Philadelphia suburbs. Roth's tight, witty debut lives up to the Internet hype that has swirled around him for months. In the thudding "Lark on My Go-Kart," Roth calls himself a "dork" and says he has "hair like a troll doll." But he keeps the nerd-boy self-deprecation to a minimum and acts, you know, like a rapper: boasting nimbly (and often hilariously) about getting girls ("Lion's Roar") and getting high ("Blunt Cruisin'") over chipper beats by newcomer Oren Yoel. Roth's timbre and cadence will remind listeners of Eminem, a subject he addresses head-on in "As I Em." But he is his own man — a blithe braggart, untroubled by the need to keep it real. And that white rapper's albatross? He dismisses it with a couplet: "My friends said, 'Homey, you know that you're white, dude'/I said, 'What, for real? It's all good.'"
The album begins with the neck-breaking thumper “Lark On My Go-Kart.” Asher rides the break-beat and guitar-laden banger flawlessly putting naysayers on blast with his clever wordplay. “Me and Teddy Ruxpin stirring up a ruckus/ egging all the houses, smashing all the pumpkins/ Suck a d**k, butt kiss…” Regardless of the clear Slim Shady influence, the display is impressive and sets the tone for other lyrical onslaughts like the album highlight “Sour Patch Kids.”
Overall, Asleep on the Bread Aisle is a compelling, though uneven, hodgepodge of tales drawn from his unique experience. Despite Roth’s blatant attempt to appeal to everyone at the same time, the songs work together like a sonic Jenga. For good or bad.

Unstoppable

Unstoppable is an album by country superstars Rascal Flats. It ranked at number 7 on the Itunes top ten albums. According to their website (rascalflatts.com) Unstoppable is one of their most powerful albums. I'm not too much a fan of country music but when it comes to the Rascal Flatts I really enjoy listening to their music. So I can't wait to get the album!!

Expect The Unexpected!!

Today I decided to blog about an album that came out in October. The album is titled "Unexpected". Unexpected is an album by former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams. Michelle Williams has released two other solo projects that leaned more towards the Gospel genre. With album Ms. Williams is breaking away from her gospel roots! With this album she giving a glimpse of who she really is aside from Destiny's Child. Her first and second singles entitled "We Break the Dawn" and "The Greatest" charted very high on the bilboard charts of 2008. People really don't give her the props she deserves but with this album she is sure to turn heads! Follow Michelle on twitter at twitter.com/teemwilliams.

SWOON

On iTunes Top 10 albums is featured Swoon by the Silversun Pickups. The Silversun Pickups have been in comparison to the Smashing Pumpkin's. Swoon explores the early 1990's early alternative rock genre jsut like their previous albums. Some Silversun Pickups previous hits are "Lazy Eye" and "Rusted Steel" on the album, Carnavas. Vocalist/guitarist Brian Aubert summed up Swoon, by stating that "[while] some songs are very quiet and delicate, others are just ***ing loud." The song, "Panic Switch," one of the most aggressive songs Silversun Pickups has written in their musical history. Songs like "It's Nice to Know You Work Alone" and "Sort Of" also utilize guitar rock elements, albeit not quite as liberally. The soft/heavy, strings/distorted guitar dynamics work almost perfectly, and though the song is not one of the catchier pieces, they are those songs that one can listen to with out ever becoming tired of listening to in the background. It's intimate, accessible, and - Pumpkins comparisons aside – completely unique in today's scene. What more could one ask for?

INCREDIBAD

I received a request wanting a review of the album Incredibad by The Lonely Island. So I will be doing two reviews today!

Many might be familiar with the comedian, Andy Samberg. He is part of the famous late night show, Saturday Night Live. Some have seen the infamous Christmas gift from Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg. You’ve seen Samberg and cohort Jorma Taccone deal with premature ejaculation in a Pet Shop Boys homage. You’ve probably just seen Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and T-Pain on a boat together, too. But only now after their cult-like followers have gone above and beyond. Their skits have turned The Lonely Island to step up and create their debut album, Incredibad. Not only are these 19 tracks filled with music, but it is full of all forms of comedy. It isn't all new things. Included are "Natalie's Rap" and "Lazy Sunday" which are skits/digital shorts familiar from a few years in the past. This album can also be genre-ized as underground/ hip-hop/ with the nerdiest lyrics. There are MANY special guests, such as T-Pain, Jack Black, Norah Jones, Natalie Portman, Chris Parnell, and as previously mentioned, Justin Timberlake. Stated on the title track by the trio themselves: "We wanna be the greatest MC's on earth," now go listen and tell me if you think they are the greatest MC's on earth!

Here is a viewing of their #1 hit!

TWILIGHT SOUNDTRACK

Not to recently there was a movie was released, Twilight. This movie was inspired by the series of The Twilight books. Which is about a vampire movement. Not only has the Twilight soundtrack been amongst Billboards 200's top 10, but also has been lingering on iTune's top 10 as well! The first edition of the soundtract came out with bonus goodies that included a live clip of Iron & Wine's song "Flightless Bird, American Mouth." As well as a music video for Paramore's "Decode" and an interview with Paramore singer, Hayley Williams also a "Beyond the Video" clip for Paramore's "Decode."
The disc begins with epic Brit-rockers Muse's excellently grandiose "Supermassive Black Hole," from their 2006 release Black Holes and Revelations, followed by Paramore's "Decode," in which Williams forsakes the band's bouncier punk-pop sound for a more sprawling, Evanescence-like romanticism (see also: "I Caught Myself," a more rocking addition later on the album). Other standouts? U.K. electronic duo Black Ghosts, whose "Full Moon" is a woozy, feat of otherworldly melody, MuteMath's shuddering, hand-clappy rocker "Spotlight (Twilight Mix)," the always-lovely acoustic folkie Iron & Wine's "Flightless Bird, American Mouth," and pretty piano closer "Bella's Lullaby," from composer Carter Burwell.
All in all, this soundtrack is beyond effective on whoever the listener is since there is an array of style and genre selected.

Hannah Montana Soundtrack

The Hannah Montana movie just came out and has chart topping soundtrack to accompany it. Mant young children know Hannah Montana from the Disney Channel series. The series is about a girl Hannah Montana (played by Miley Cyrus) who lives a double life. On stage she is known as Hannah Montana but to her family she is known as Miley. Some say that she is overrated and makes too much money for her own good. This week The Hannah Montana soundtrack has charted at number 2 on the itunes to albums for the week. This soundtrack has pop/rock soundtrack. I am usually not a fan of Hannah Montana but I must say that this album contained some of her best work so kudos to Hannah Montana or should I say Miley Cyrus.

THE FAME

The Fame is an album by Lady Gaga. It is number five on iTunes list of Top 10 Albums. The Fame is seen as pop music. I love it since I am able to dance and sing to each song on the album. There are fifteen songs, which there are two hit songs, "Poker face" and "Just dance." The album was released in October 2008. Lady Gaga just started her tour on March 12, 2009. So if you act quick, you might be able to find her in your town! Also the hit band, White Tie Affair is opening all her shows on tour.