You were a blessing, and I was a curse. I did my best not to make things worse

I’ve been listening to Wilco (the album) for over a month; back when it leaked online Wilco decided they would allow you to stream it free from their website and also ask you to make a donation to one of the listed charities on the site…however if your young, in college, in debt, and can barely afford your free online blog much less a brand new Wilco album well they are gonna let you stream/listen to it anyway. And for the record (oh! Pun!) I will be purchasing Wilco (the album), one day soon. What’s that feeling in your gut you ask? Oh that’s simple you’re probably falling in love with Wilco. If you want to fall deeper I suggest checking out the documentary “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” which follows the band recording the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, or the newest Wilco Documentary, “Ashes of American Flags” which showcases Wilco on their summer tour last year.

Now the album is finally being physically released on Tuesday June 30th, so I decided I had probably done my homework enough for this album (doesn’t make me any less nervous though). I have been constantly going back and forth between liking the album and loving the album. I would not call this Wilco’s best album, not that I can choose between Sky Blue Sky, Summerteeth, or Yankee Hotel. I would however say a couple of the tracks are Wilco’s best work. On I’ll Fight, my favorite off the album, lead singer Jeff Tweedy’s voice breaks my heart and it is one of the only tracks on the album I fell instantly in love with. Everlasting Everything was another I instantly liked but that’s kind of an easy song to like because I feel like its classic Wilco, and Wilco (the song) is pretty lovable too with lyrics like “Do you dabble in depression, is someone twisting a knife in your back. Are you being attacked, oh this is a fact that you need to know, Wilco will love you baby”. You and I featuring (a surprisingly not annoying) Feist has some of the most innocent music paired with some not so innocent lyrics. Solitaire is a track that had to grow a little bit on me but since it has and I’ve been able to listen to the lyrics its right under I’ll fight as a favorite track, much like One Wing finally got me with lyrics as well. You Never Know and Bull Black Nova have recently become favorites as well and I’ve come to the realization that I really just like every track on the album. Why Wilco (the album) is not my favorite album however is because thinking about previous Wilco songs such as: On and On and On, Reservations, and Leave Me (Like You Found Me) among others that just might get me a little teary eyed, or make me want to say Fuck you to the man (or just a man) the only song that hit’s me in such a way would be I’ll Fight. With Everlasting Everything and One Wing trying real hard but not quite exactly getting there. But when thinking of the album as a standalone album not comparing it to other Wilco albums and thinking about it being released in 2009, it’s one of the best albums this year. Basically “Wilco, my band” is better than “(whoever), your band”.

Album Grade: B+ 

Blame It On The Beat, Don’t Blame It On Me.

Ashley Tisdale is a classy bitch  ok, ok not really she’s just Clever. I’m glad I like this album, because I haven’t liked an album in a while and sometimes I like to say nice things about people…especially celebrities!…lol And even more since I’m going to be reviewing the new Jonas Brothers album next I really needed to like an album.

Ashley Tisdale is growing up and a former Disney channel star (she is one of the stars from the High School Musical Franchise) Whut to do, Whut. To. Do? Well there are many options Ashley had, the Britney/Christina route, of obliterating her previous success with Mr. Walt Disney. But that would require talent (or the selling of your Soul in Britney’s case) something that Ashley Tisdale does not exactly have. Don’t get me wrong she is very very pretty, and has potential, so the road Ashley takes is that of Hilary Duff, she will mature but most of her clothes will stay on and you aren’t going to hear lyrics about masturbation or being a prostitute at La Mulan (*snicker*) Rouge. There is a little bit more clever/tongue in cheek promotion here than the Duffster has though.

Growing up means that you decide; your parents have really fucked you in the head, your boyfriend is probably cheating on you, and all the under the table action going on with your best male friend is kinda hot. Oh and also that you like to dance. A lot. The Album titled “Guilty Pleasure” starts out with the track “Acting Out” nothing special here trust me, the message: I’m growing up I wanna dance, have sex on the down low and probably smoke some cigs, I mean hold them for my friend. “Masquerade” has basically the same message except this time she wants to have role playing sex on the down low, and the beat is better. On “How Do You Love Someone” she blames her parents for not being able to love. “Momma never taught me how to love Daddy never taught me how to feel” . LOL! Right? But then Ashley makes you wonder is that the reason your not able to love someone also? Luckily the album changes pace and the next track “Lie To Me” reminds you your just a dirty skank whore and can’t love someone because lying to them is more fun and them lying to you? Even Better.  After that Ashley decides to break up with some of her cheating boyfriends (It’s Alright, It’s Ok, Delete You, Erase And Rewind)  in ways that would make Kelly Clarkson proud, and Dance to beats that are good enough to be Britney’s (Crank It Up, I’m Back, Blame It On The Beat). The albums best tracks are “Hot Mess” (about Ashley and her guy BFF bumpin uglies and it’s making her a “Hot Mess” I mean she’s waking up in her bra and her makeup, the car is even in the drive way parked sideways!) and “What If” (hey Ashley might have talent after all). The Albums worst tracks are without a doubt “Hair” which even my 14 year old sister finds creepy and the title track “Guilty Pleasure” which is a little to 80’s even for me.

Overall the album is a solid pop album, a far cry from a masterpiece but really have you read my previous album reviews, everybody is sucking at the moment in the world of music. Ashley sucks a lot less, especially in the genre she is secretly pimping out.

Album Grade: C+   B cuz she’s just so cute!

These Are the Thoughts That Keep Me Up At Night

Mandy Moore has always (for some reason) been one of my favorite actresses (and no I don’t like “A Walk to Remember”) but as far as her singing career goes I’ve never really been impressed. So a few months ago when the first single from her new album “Amanda Leigh” was released I was a bit hesitant. I couldn’t resist a song titled “I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week” though, and it was actually good with a little bit of country/pop, as far as country/pop goes these days. Here Mandy declares what we all know about women, they have mood swings, daily. But gosh, Mandy is just so pretty and married to one of the coolest guys ever (Ryan Adams) so we will let her get away with it. The Album is titled “Amanda Leigh” which is Mandy’s real name, an obvious way of saying this is the real me…weak I know. The album however overall is very good, there are a couple easy missteps (Song About Home, Indian Summer, and Pocket Philosopher) but this is Mandy Moore we are talking about and the stand out tracks on the album (Fern Dell, Everblue, nothing Everything, and Merrimack River) more than make up for any signs this was one of the pop girls of the 90’s.

Album Grade: A for effort!

Beyond here lies nothin’

Buy this…

Album Grade: B

Nothin’ done and nothin’ said