Jason Michael Carroll’s hit debut, “Alyssa Lies,” dealt with the serious subject of child abuse. Here, he offers lighthearted fare in the engaging “Livin’ Our Love Song,” with its sweet, sticky melody and upbeat romantic lyric about “a backwoods boy and fairy-tale princess.” This North Carolina native has a strong voice and an edge to […]
With 2006 fifth effort “Black Holes and Revelations,” Muse delivers an onslaught of progressive stadium rock hits, earning the Brit trio a lofty top 10 view on the U.S. album chart and second consecutive No. 1 U.K. album. On “Starlight,” lead Matthew Bellamy’s vocals effortlessly rip through an introductory barrage of percussion and bass […]
Ayla Brown may be a blip on last season’s “American Idol,” finishing at No. 13, but she has parlayed her nanosecond in the spotlight into numerous public appearances and indie release “Forward.” Ironically, the track demonstrates a more soulful vocal stamp than the did pageant’s top two finalists from 2006, with an adult-contemporary-ready signature […]
Still largely unknown in the United States, London-based alt-rock quartet Razorlight scored a huge radio hit in Europe with this playful but serious anthem, which peaked at No. 2 on the U.K. singles chart and helped earn the band two Brit Award nominations this year. Musically, “America” — the diary entry of someone glued […]
Martina McBride’s latest collection, “Wake Up Laughing,” is proof that the gifted chanteuse is so much more than just that incredible voice. The disc showcases the depth of McBride’s talent as she steps into her own as producer and songwriter. She co-wrote this latest single and serves up a sweet look at the sheer exuberance […]
Launch single from Lifehouse’s fourth album, “Who We Are,” which drops June 26, is a magnetic reminder of how the trio has wowed pop, adult top 40 and rock radio since debut “Hanging by a Moment” delivered 2001’s No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single. “First Time” is another melodic ember-turner, balancing polished instrumentation and a […]
While 20-year-old Brit prodigy Joss Stone is adored by critics for her old-soul vocal imprint, she has yet to connect with stateside airwaves, simply because she hasn’t delivered a song that merits mainstream acceptance. That all changes with “Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now,” featuring Common. The vocal is at once cool and confident, […]
Los Lonely Boys’ 2006 album, “Sacred,” failed to connect after the boys played it safe with first single “Diamonds,” a carbon copy of top 20 Grammy Award winner “Heaven.” The Garza brothers now contribute to “Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur,” with a cover of John Lennon’s 1974 No. 1 “Whatever Gets You Through […]
Between 1993 and 1999, Clay Walker scored 31 country hits — 13 in the top five — before multiple sclerosis dared to stop him in his tracks, after diagnosis in 1996. His eighth album and first in three years, “Fall,” demonstrates the will to overcome, with a clear ear to returning the singer/songwriter to the […]
Radio is picking up on revamped Megadeth song “A Toute Le Monde (Set Me Free)” from new album “United Abominations,” but “Washington Is Next!” is actually the lead single. As the conflict in Iraq drags on, musicians are becoming vocal in their disdain for President Bush. But critiquing those in power is old hat for […]
Miss World 2003 runner-up Nazanin has quite a story to tell. After escaping Iran during the 1979 revolution, she made it her mission to share a message of hope for the oppressed and dedicate her life to human rights activism. Album “Someday” is another tool in her arsenal, with an inspiring title track that declares, […]
Look no further than indie label Robbins if your desire is: Got dance? September — namesake of Swedish singer Petra Marklund, who scored a top 10 U.S. dance hit in 2005 with “Satellites” — returns with ultra-infectious “Cry for You,” a top 10 hit at home and licensed for release in more than 50 nations. […]
After dubious novelty singles like “Hollaback Girl” and “Wind It Up,” Gwen Stefani proved her mettle as a deserving millennium mainstay on previous “The Sweet Escape,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. “4 in the Morning” is even more gratifying — a melodic retro ballad that could have come from 1983’s […]
Brit bad girl Amy Winehouse is one of the mainstream print media breakouts of the year — and consumers are responding, with debut “Back to Black” in the top five on the Top Digital and Top Internet charts and top 10 on the Billboard 200. “Rehab,” the follow-up to alluring first single “You Know That […]
