Category: Music

Artist: Toya Title: Toya Label: Arista Rating: 6.5/10 Toya rolls out of St. Louis with her lungs full of enough lovely melodies to fill up a warehouse. “No Matta What (Party All Night)” has the flavor to make the summer heat feel even stickier. “How Can I Be Down” feels familiar. “I Do!” seems to…

Artist: Judas Priest Title: Demolition Label: Atlantic Rating: 6.5/10 I’m going to admit something I never thought I would. I grew up loving the wicked sounds of Judas Priest, especially from the mouth of that twig-like Rob Halford. No one could curve your spine and shrivel your balls like that cat. British Steel and Hell…

Artist: Usher Title: 08701 Label: Arista Rating: 8.5/10 It’s been a long time since Usher came from upstart to overnight success. He worked his ass off and made My Way the surprise album of its time. Usher became an idol and hero to people worldwide. He’s back with 8701, which seems like it should be…

Artist: Simon Says Title: Shut Your Breath Label: Hollywood Rating: 7/10 Simon Says jacked us all up with their debut, Jump Start. Now they are back, as unapologetic as ever. “Hey You” and “Silk Moth” hint at old Nirvana, I’m talking about Bleach, not the Nirvana that sold millions of records, but it’s their heavier-than-thou…

Artist: P.Y.T. Title: Down For Me Label: Epic Rating: 6/10 PYT are four mature-sounding thirteen-year-old girls. In the fall of 1998, Lauren, Tracy, Lydia, and Ashley decided to put together a musical group and PYT was born. Their sound is a mix of today’s chart-topping pop like Britney Spears, but also contains R&B elements that…

talking smack with cone Where in the world did this new album come from? We kind of did two albums at once because we just wanted to keep touring and keep the momentum going. We did Half Hour Of Power last year in February and it came out in June. Around the time that came…

In New York with Sister Bliss. How does Faithless come together to make songs? The studio band is me, Rollo, and Maxi. Me and Rollo produce and Rollo also writes lyrics, but I’d never try to write lyrics for Maxi just as he’d never play my keyboards. Is there something that inspires you to take…

Artist: The Apex Theory Title: Random Burst Label: Dreamworks Rating: 7.5/10 The Apex Theory has a sound that may seem unique, but when you put together all of the pieces, it’s increasingly familiar. You only have to look at the man who mixed it and Alan Moulder’s previous experiments, such as Nine Inch Nails and…

Artist: Camoflauge Title: Strictly 4 Da Streets Label: Universal Rating: 5/10 Camoflauge is a twenty-year-old Savannah, Georgia rapper whose style is reminiscent of Mystikal as he kicks it fast and furious on “Shit Baby”. Camo must like the quick hit because he re-enlists it for “Get Up Off Me” and “Whatchunoabout”. What I can’t figure…

Artist: Iggy Pop Title: Beat Em Up Label: Virgin Rating: 5/10 Iggy Pop is a freak of nature. His last release, Avenue B, was this weird intellectual trip, but Beat Em Up is true to its word. It’s a no bullshit ride that tries to show that the old boy can still kick ass. But…