mya: liberated.

MYA has this tendency to disappear for a year or two, only to pop back onto the music scene unexpected with some hotness.

She stormed onto the hip-hop scene with the help of Sisqo in 1998 with her debut album Mya. This led into successful soundtrack singles "Ghetto Superstar" (Bulworth) and "Take Me There" (Rugrats: The Movie). She disappeared for two years, returning full force with hits like "The Best of Me (remix)" and "The Case of the Ex". A year later we got "Lady Marmalade" and then...Poof! She was gone again. Well, she went on to do some acting that wasn't too memorable...so she might as well have been gone. She returned two years after the success of "Lady Marmalade" with Moodring, her least successful album to this date. Either way, this album brought us the sexalicious video for "My Love is Like...Wo!", and I consider that a success.

Now, after three years in hiding, word is that she'll be back this summer with a new album called Liberation. The album boasts production by Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, and Lil Jon...but as we know, great producers do not a good album make. I'm curious to see what Mya comes up with as a final product. She's always seemed a little confused to me about whether she wants to appeal to a TRL audience or an urban audience. Sometimes I wonder if she realizes that she once appealed to both...and if she could just find that formula again, she'd be set.

Take a listen here at the moneyshot!! to some tunes off of the upcoming Liberation of Mya. I wish her luck, but only because she once wrote a song called "If You Died I Wouldn't Cry Because You Never Loved Me Anyway".

DOWNLOAD: MYA f/ EVE- I Am
DOWNLOAD: MYA- One Night

BUY Mood Ring, BUY Fear of Flying, BUY Mya

BLOGWATCH: I guess i'm floating's Nathaniel has a great reinterpretation of Lauryn Hill by Devendra Banhart. You ain't no picasso brings us that new Bishop Allen for the month of June. Stereogum leads us to a leak of Justin Timberlake's new single "Sexyback".

emo lane: heaven is not here for me anymore.

Dashboard Confessional's new album? I will admit that I didn't have high hopes for it. I didn't expect it to change my life. I didn't expect it to be the Mona Lisa of rock music...

Before I go on, I will also admit that I used to be a huge fan back in my high school years. "So long, so long" ago, Dashboard Confessional was the soundtrack to my life-- detailing my fears, desires, and insecurities. I was obsessive, snatching up every unreleased song I could find online. At a concert, Chris Carrabba (see left) brushed past me and I didn't notice immediately . When my friends told me, I then proceeded to chase after him with a sharpie and the liner notes for The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most. I had carefully placed them in my pocket for an emergency situation such as this. Alas, I was unable to catch up to him...letting him slip away.

I approached this review with hesitation, simply because I was a fan. This led me to ask, "Did something change in me or did something change in the music?"

The answer: a little bit of both. The NY Times recently wrote an article about how young country singers are hurrying to grow old, singing songs worthy of people twice their age. On the opposite side of the ring, "Emo" frontmen sing songs made for people half their age. The whole sub-genre fosters a hesitance to grow up and confront problems, hence it's appeal to tweens and adolescents.

With that said, dear ol' Mr. Carabba hasn't grown up with his fans on Dusk and Summer. But does it even matter? As his old fans grow, a new generation of fans enter. On top of that, some old fans refuse to let go of the voice that helped them survive their first real break-up, unrequited crush, etc.

Even I hesitated to let go. After listening several times to the last album A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar, I felt absolutely nothing. I questioned whether I was becoming some sort of musical elitist...I questioned whether I had become emotionless. I pretended to like it for awhile. I tried to find it's strengths. And in the end of this struggle, the music was the loser. I went back to listen to older recordings and felt nothing aside from a soft touch of nostalgia.

Of course, it's not just me...it's him. He's changed. The obvious change is the move from acoustic guitar to full band. Some would call that selling out, but I think it's the general trend with solo acts. They get big enough...and then they get bands. Unfortunately for Chris, it seems all the sincerity went out the window as the drummer and bass player climbed in.

Lyrically, Carrabba has become less blunt, requiring listeners to dissect the lyrics to find a surprisingly unprofound message. Gone are the days of "I tried on my blue shirt, she told me she liked it, once" and in comes "And I will leave under the cover of summer's kiss upon the sky like the stone face of your lover just before she says goodbye". This is a shame, as the mindlessness of his earlier songs is what gave him the charm to stand out among other emo acts. Now all he has is his signature wail, a wail becoming less original as others try to imitate it.

I suppose this is a review though. And now that it's taken me as long as one of those signature wails to create a dialogue about Mr. Carrabba and his musical integrity, I don't know if I can give you that. It will just be very negative and tainted with the jaded opinions of a former fan. This is no longer my music. So long, so long.

DOWNLOAD: DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL- So Long, So Long
DOWNLOAD: DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL- The Secret's In The Telling

PRE-ORDER Dusk and Summer, to be released June 27th

BLOGWATCH: As promised, Stars are Blind delivered the new Janet Jackson single. Check out a show by The Decemberists over at B(oot)log or catch a stunning set by Jose Gonzalez on KCRW over at rbally.

...And don't forget to sign the petition to save network neutrality, blogging, and the internet.

summer album preview: loose.

Nelly Furtado's new material has gained her titles ranging from slut to sellout to comeback queen. The lead single in the US, "Promiscuous", is in heavy rotation on video channels and radio. Some are shocked by her new sexy, "hip-hop" sound and image. Some are shocked by the fact that she's working with Timbaland...

These people are idiots.

Okay, that's a bit harsh...You may be among those people. If you are, let me educate you dearie. Ms. Furtado and Timbaland have collaborated as early as 2001 on the "Turn Off the Lights" remix. She was featured on Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On" remix (2001) and Ms. Jade's "Ching Ching"...both produced by Timbo and recorded a year or two after her debut album was recorded. They're not strangers. On top of that, she has collaborated with The Roots, Jurassic 5, and Swollen Members. She even experimented with rapping and spoken word poetry on her first album. Nelly Furtado and the hip-hop genre aren't strangers either.

With that said, let's address the sexy image. Nelly has recently split with her husband. Quite simply, the girl is doing her thang and letting...um...Loose. You may be surprised to hear that the material of the album isn't all sex-charged pop. "In God's Hands" addresses the end of her relationship with her husband, "Afraid" is a classic soul-searching Furtado song that just happens to have a Timbaland beat, and "What I Wanted" showcases the same acoustic-guitar bearing Nelly who sang about birds. The album maintains Nelly's power of making every song a cultural and emotional explosion. It's the same Nelly we know and love (or hate), but she's back with a bit more...uh...flava.

And she sort of needs it. While her debut album Whoa, Nelly! managed to push two million off the shelves in the US, the follow-up, Folklore, only pushed a quarter of that off the shelves. This was partially due to issues with the record company and lack of promotion, as the album was minorly successful on a global level ("Try" reached #1 in Mexico) and embraced by her die-hard fans. In any case, Nelly had to switch things up if she wanted to keep making music. Timbaland was the man to help her do it.

Random interruption: Have you heard that Timbaland and Bjork are collaborating? I hope more than anything that this is true.

The track that stood out most for me was "Do It", mostly because it is a dance anthem strangely between two of the album's slower, more introspective tracks. "Do It" is sure to be compared to the style of Gwen Stefani's Love Angel Music Baby, a much more accurate comparison than Paris Hilton's "Stars are Blind" (which is reminiscent of Gwen, but on the No Doubt album, Rocksteady). The straight-up 80s feel of this track will likely enable it to be adopted as an underground dance party gem.

Another surprise on the album is the exciting alternate conclusion to the UK single "Maneater", which brings in the genius Mr. Mosley chanting "I been around the world, never seen a girl like this."

In less words, Loose is a strange collection of songs that are sure to gain a new collection of fans without straying too far from the formula that gained her the old ones. Will the original fans embrace it? Honestly...I don't even think that matters at this point.

DOWNLOAD: NELLY FURTADO- Do It
DOWNLOAD: NELLY FURTADO- Maneater (album version)

PRE-ORDER Loose, out on June 20th

BLOGWATCH: The big blogs are catching on to Tigarah...check out "Fake Out" and "Roppongi-Dori" at bigstereo.

summer album preview: impeach my bush.

PEACHES has taught you well. But seriously...are all you motherfuckers ready for the Fatherfucker? No? Well, maybe you're ready for Impeach My Bush, the third album by the queen of obscene, sucky-sucking, genderfucking electroclash.

Impeach My Bush finds Peaches out of her element in...an actual studio. But have no fear! The vocals have been treated in such a way to make them sound like they were recorded in a small, shitty room. There's still that gritty Peaches sound, but with a touch of smoothness. And she hasn't lost her edge either. With songs like "Slippery Dick", "Tent in Your Pants", and "Fuck or Kill", you know this is the same lady who once urged you to fuck the pain away. How can you not love an album that contains the lyric, "I'd rather fuck who I want than kill who I have to"?

Strangely, the biggest surprise of the album is a a special guest appearance by Ms. Leslie Feist, Peaches' former roommate. WHAT??? As a friend pointed out, "That's like Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones but less musical". The duo collaborate on the song "Downtown", an incredibly mellow song for Ms. Nisker. I'm not going to lie...the song is almost sexy enough that even I'd let Peaches show me "her thing".

DOWNLOAD: PEACHES f/ FEIST- Downtown

To make up for the faulty link to "Do Ya", may I recommend that you head over to Pardon My Freedom to d/l two other new tracks from Impeach My Bush? I'll replace the "Do Ya" link as soon as I get my computer up and running back in NJ.

PRE-ORDER Impeach My Bush, to be released on July 11th

summer(?) album preview: paris.

PARIS HILTON hasn't confirmed a release date for her long-due debut album, on which she will attempt to prove to us that she has enough talent to be as famous as she is. Because, well...unfortunately House of Wax and a guest spot on Veronica Mars really don't prove much at all.

With her sex tape and side-kick hacking fiasco left in the past, Ms. Hilton is diving straight into the music industry. Word is that the video for her upcoming single "Stars are Blind" has just finished filming, and the song is set to hit radios this month, so...um...get ready for that.

And I am the man to get you ready for that day! I certainly couldn't let you be the kid who DOESN'T know every word of the song by the time it hits the airwaves. Honestly, can you think of a better way to creep out your friends this summer? I think not! Let's get this shit on your iPod ASAP. Memorize! Memorize! "If you show me real love, I'll show you miiiine"

DOWNLOAD: PARIS HILTON- Stars Are Blind
DOWNLOAD: PARIS HILTON- Screwed

Despite rumors of several other names, the album will go by the simple title of...Paris. With production credits ranging from Jane Wiedlin to Scott Storch, it will consist of a blend of pop, rock, hip-hop, and "reggae". The album features unlikely guest appearances by both Fat Joe & Jadakiss. Clearly, as my friends Nisha & Crystal pointed out...money can buy you anything. Including a rapper's street cred.

BONUS CLIP: PARIS HILTON f/ JADAKISS- Fightin' Over Me
BONUS TRACK: CANSEI DE SER SEXY- Meeting Paris Hilton

summer album preview: the big bang.

Busta Rhymes is an asshole. It's hard for me to write an impartial review of an album by a man who verbally attacks a gay fan for simply trying to congratulate him on his comeback. I understand that he needs to maintain his street cred, but jeez...couldn't he just pat the guy on the back and say, "Thanks for the love, No homo dawg." I'm not even going to take you back to the radio interview in which sir Bus-a-Bus states that he poked Nicole Richie and said that "He ain't gonna even ENTERTAIN" the concept of being with another man. Can't we all just take an example from Kanye?

But shit, this isn't any sort of commentary on homophobia in hip-hop. I can talk out my ass and it's not gonna stop rappers from calling their rivals fags and homos. This is about the music, so right now I got to separate myself from the man behind it. But before I do so, let me point out the gayest photo of Busta Rhymes ever taken...

"Haaaay reporter!!!"

The Big Bang is, yes, the best work Busta has done since 1998's Extinction Level Event. People are saying Busta is back, but I never realized that he left. Sure, it's been 4 years since It Ain't Safe No More. The album only went Gold, but it also pushed out "I Know What You Want", Busta's most successful single since "What's It Gonna Be?" with Janet Jackson. "Touch It" and "I Love My Bitch" aren't even touching it's success on the charts, but I suppose that doesn't mean shit to Mr. Trevor Smith.

It's all about getting another platinum on the wall...and with Dr. Dre's help, this album will probably help Busta obtain that. Honestly, he needs all the help he can get at this point. At 34 years, Busta is no longer the fresh-faced 19-year-old we heard spitting on "Scenario". He's been in the game for a long time and it shows, especially on the Midnight Marauders throwback track "You Can't Hold the Torch" featuring Q-Tip. On the song, Busta asks where all the love & music went in the game, complaining about younger rappers in the game..."These n---as can't hold the torch/ So why should we pass it?"

The most successful aspect of the album is that it remains consistent & cohesive despite the obvious differences between the club bangers, old man joints, sexy jams, street anthems, and blatant excuses to have a guest appearance. The album certainly isn't short on guests with everyone from Stevie Wonder to Missy Elliott to LaToya Jackson showing up on tracks. Yes. THAT LaToya Jackson.

The most interesting song on the album is the final track, the Dr. Dre produced "Legends of the Fall-Offs". The chorus asks, "Do you ever think what life would be? Where you will go after you die?" Evidently, it is creepy, haunting, morbid, and surprisingly beautiful. On the track, Busta raps over the sound of shoveled dirt and his own heartbeat with minimal instrumentals. It's good to know that a big ol' tough guy like Busta still has fears. It's also good to know that he still has a heart. I guess the real reason that I like it is because Busta is buried alive by the end. Asshole, I hope you get that platinum for your wall.

WATCH: "I Love My Bitch" music video f/ Kelis & Will.i.am
WATCH: "Touch It (remix)" video f/ a whole shitload of rappers, Mary J. Blige (for a fact she don't rap), and an adorable group of middle-school aged cheerleaders stepping.

DOWNLOAD: BUSTA RHYMES f/ MISSY ELLIOTT- How We Do It Over Here
DOWNLOAD: BUSTA RHYMES- Legend of the Fall-Offs

PRE-ORDER The Big Bang

Finally, I recommend that you head over to soul-sides to read a great review of Christina Aguilera's new track (that I posted earlier today) and Busta's album. You can also take a listen to "You Can't Hold the Torch". Great bloggers think alike?

summer album preview: back to basics.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA's new abum doesn't come out until August 15th, but the lead single "Ain't No Other Man" will be released to radio stations in a little over a week. Luckily, you don't have to wait until then to hear it. I'm not talking about how she's performing it at the MTV Movie Awards, airing June 8th.

I'm not saying, but I'm just saying...it leaked yesterday.

DOWNLOAD: CHRISTINA AGUILERA- Ain't No Other Man

Based on the US success (or should I say lack of success) of Christina's last two singles "Car Wash" w/ Missy Elliott and "Tilt Ya Head Back" w/ Nelly...While she battled the sophomore slumps with Stripped, it's an incredibly risky move for Aguilera to attempt to go all vintage soul on the pop music world. I can't say I'm not worried about how this single will be received. It will either blow up or blow away into obscurity. This could be the album of the year or it could be Christina's own Glitter, which would be hilarious after her feud with Mariah based off of a comment she made in a recent GQ interview.

Apparently, the remix of "Ain't No Other Man" will feature Big Boi of Outkast. If that, paired with production by hit-maker Linda Perry, doesn't help her top the charts, Back To Basics may just be doomed. Not even a voice like Aguilera's can save a concept album that the world isn't ready for.

THROWBACK TRACK:
CHRISTINA AGUILERA vs. THE STROKES- Stroke of Genie-us