Category: Music
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Hope Partlow – Interview
Today’s pop world is heavily populated with manufactured female stars. There are a myriad of ways to become a Top 40 siren these days, it seems—starring in a reality show or a movie, chief among them—but possessing a unique and natural vocal ability is often the least of the prerequisites. Which is why, when a…
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Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better
Artist: Franz Ferdinand Title: You Could Have It So Much Better Label: Sony Rating: 6.5/10 FILE UNDER: The Kinks meet themselves. CORPORATE LINE: YCHISMB sounds like Franz Ferdinand, but not like their first record. It’s unarguably them. It seems impossible for them to play in a room together and for it to not sound like…
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Ray Charles – Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings
Artist: Ray Charles Title: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings Label: Rhino Rating: 9/10 Ray is all the rage these days. Even after the film, the hit comeback album and his widely covered passing last year, people just still can’t seem to get enough of the blind R&B crooner. This colossal set not only commemorates…
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Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine
Artist: Fiona Apple Title: Extraordinary Machine Label: Epic Rating: 8/10 FILE UNDER: Fiona makes breaking up into great music. CORPORATE LINE: Extraordinary Machine is the long-awaited third album from multi-platinum artist Fiona Apple. Extraordinary Machine contains 12 electrifying tracks, including the brand new songs Parting Gift and O’ Sailor, all of which feature the brilliant…
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Paul Wall – The People’s Champ
Artist: Paul Wall Title: The People’s Champ Label: Atlantic Rating: 7/10 FILE UNDER: Houston Hip-hop. CORPORATE LINE: Champions are usually crowned based on the number of times they emerge victorious in competition. Being the people’s champ, however, requires something entirely different, but equally tough – possessing the kind of personality that wins the hearts and…
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Twista – Interview [2005]
You can call him the fastest MC in hip-hop history, the man with the flawless flow or simply the Chi-Town legend. Twista’s earned all his accolades and can breathe one huge sigh of relief with 2004 behind him. After year’s of building one of rap’s most loyal street following and accumulating immeasurable respect among his…
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Jon Randall – Walk Among The Living
Artist: Jon Randall Title: Walk Among The Living Label: Sony Rating: 7/10 FILE UNDER: A little bit of country. A little bit of rock ‘n’ roll. CORPORATE LINE: On ‘Walking Among the Living’ singer/songwriter/guitarist Jon Randall took the piano-drenched tune “My Life” by Grammy winning songwriter Robert Lee Castleman and turned it into a rousing…
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David Gray – Life In Slow Motion
Artist: David Gray Title: Life In Slow Motion Label: ATO Rating: 6.5/10 CORPORATE LINE: David Gray is back with his seventh album ‘Life in Slow Motion’ which is released in Ireland on 9th September, UK and Europe 12th September and the USA and Canada on 13th September. In a break with prior tradition Life In…
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Cold – Interview [2005]
When the band retuned home to Jacksonville, Florida, Ward learned his younger sister was ailing. After a short stay in rehab and resolving to stay clean, Ward discovered that his sister had cancer. In the midst of so much despair, Ward returned to his music. And with the help of drummer Sam McCandless, the singer…
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Toni Braxton – Libra
Artist: Toni Braxton Title: Libra Label: Universal Rating: 5/10 FILE UNDER: The de-evolution of Toni Braxton. CORPORATE LINE: Multiple platinum and Grammy winning superstar Toni Braxton is as eager as her fans to release her sixth studio album Libra, on the Blackground/Universal banner, on September 27th. Joined by star producers such as Scott Storch and…