Generally speaking, Kenny Chesney’s island-flavored hits have been tasty treats but as light and frothy as a head of suds on an ice cold beer: refreshing to be sure, but not particularly substantive. On the surface, one might think this is another sun-soaked ditty, but the lyric, penned by Chesney himself, reveals a much more […]
We were hardly enamored with Breaking Benjamin’s “Phobia” when it arrived last summer. While thundering first single “The Diary of Jane” was a deserving hit that has logged considerable chart time, we appreciated little else about its parent album. However, “Breath” has convinced us to order a slice of humble pie. The song’s foot-tapping beats […]
“You’re Ever So Inviting” has Underoath coming out fighting in the new year, stumbling and flailing at the world. Driven by the overlapping vocals of drummer Aaron Gillespie and frontman Spencer Chamberlain, the former’s traditional singing alternates with the latter’s scratchy screams through numerous overdubs. “The time has come for you . . . to […]
In “Dreamgirls,” Jennifer Hudson is deservedly garnering the lion’s share of praise — but Beyonce delivers the performance of her career in “Listen,” another defining moment in the brilliant flick. In this devastatingly beautiful ballad, she shimmers with evocative emotion, rising to new heights alongside a golden melody with spellbinding, rafter-raising production. As Beyonce sits […]
Jennifer Holliday’s “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from the Broadway version of “Dreamgirls” was that rare song that crossed from the Great White Way to the pop and R&B charts in 1982 — and boy, is it a tough act to follow. But Jennifer Hudson’s reading from the acclaimed 2006 movie certainly […]
Gwen Stefani previewed new album “The Sweet Escape” with “Wind It Up,” a track that fared well enough on The Hot Billboard 100 (peaking at No. 6) but hardly made the grade at radio, where it stalled at No. 54 on Hot 100 Airplay. Yodeling — perhaps not the friendliest fire for a pop hit. […]
Carrie Underwood may be scooping up all the accolades at country, but there’s still no A-list singer with greater depth and range than Martina McBride. She further demonstrates why she is the true reigning queen of the genre with a grand, skyscraping power ballad — the first hit that she has even co-written (with the […]
The newest single from Keith Urban’s hot-selling album, “Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing,” is a compelling ballad about a painful relationship in which the man keeps crushing the woman’s spirit until she finally makes a run for it. It appears Urban is admonishing someone to wise up and treat his woman with respect […]
Seemingly bored with emo, Fall Out Boy rediscovers the magic of late-’90s teen-pop, offering a shamelessly hook-filled, R&B-infused lead from its upcoming album, “Infinity On High” (due Feb. 6). An ironic but dazzling mix of boy-band antics and punk energy, “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” finds Patrick Stump crooning fake soul vocals […]
It has been 20 years since Shirley Murdock stirred the charts with the seductive “As We Lay” — but is it ever too late for the return of God-given talent? “I Love Me Better Than That” shows that the soul singer still has the moxie to grab hold of the adult R&B charts with a […]
“Hit Me Up” makes quite a case for newcomer Gia Farrell’s much talked-about “real singer” chops, with buttery vocals reminiscent of self-professed hero Christina Aguilera. The driving bassline, crisp synthetic horns and irrepressible keyboard swishes that cushion this catchy, strutting number — which at times recalls Rihanna’s chart-topping “SOS” at warp speed — make rhythmic […]
Not since the halcyon days of Erasure has a dance hook resonated with such joy and melodic mastery. Gay identical twins Jacob and Joshua Miller have already stirred a mountain of media attention for their Logo documentary series “Jacob and Joshua: Nemesis Rising,” which chronicles the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ efforts to break into the biz, including […]
Reina proved her vocal might on hits “No One’s Gonna Change You” and “Love of My Life” with Lucas Prata, and she again shows the depth of her soul on midtempo ballad “On My Own,” the umpteenth release from her full-length “This Is Reina.” Simply gorgeous and full of a depth that is seldom found […]
When trying to quantify the heat surrounding the Disney Channel’s hit series “Hannah Montana” try this one on for size: The Walt Disney Records soundtrack to the show, starring Miley Cyrus as a high school student by day, pop star by night, has sold more than 1.9 million units since its release last November. It […]
