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Madonna: MDNA

3/27/2012

Album Review.
Likes: Gang Bang, I Don’t Give A, Masterpiece, Falling Free, Beautiful Killer
Dislikes: Girl Gone Wild, Give Me All Your Lovin’, B-Day Song
Overall: More conformist than expected; not a ‘must-hear’ album.

I think I can make this short and succinct. The first part of Madonna’s 12th studio album, “MDNA,” is surprisingly conformist. With the exception of the dark and macabre “Gang Bang” (which isn’t a sexual song as implied by the title; “clean” editions omit the track), the first 7 tracks have mostly uninteresting lyrics and production, making them hard to set apart from today’s average pop song. Some of the material just isn’t befitting of an album for the “Queen of Pop,” especially basic techno-dance tracks like “Girl Gone Wild.” The album starts to sound better around “I Don’t Give A,” a sassy day-in-the-life featuring Nicki Minaj. I enjoyed Minaj’s verse (really loved the feministic take on a Jay-Z line: I’m not a business-woman, I’m a business, woman!), but found it to be a blatant and insulting gimmick that Minaj appears twice on the album. Minaj’s current status as an “it girl” was likely the reason behind her being selected as a featured artist. It’s insulting because it implies that Madonna can’t chart or have buzz around her album unless a new chick is on it.

Moving on, the second half of the record was more pleasing to listen to. It still had an electro-pop feel, but was less redundant in pattern (“Love Spent,” for example, includes a banjo) and the lyrics aren’t as pointless and shallow. The slush comes back for “B-Day Song.” In order to give a fair critique, I usually listen to each track all the way through. During this album, I desperately wanted to skip tracks. My general rule is that I have to like or love at least half the album for me to NOT consider it a total waste, which in this case was 8 songs. ‘MDNA’ isn’t an album you can listen to all the way through, but it isn’t a wash. The deluxe songs definitely save this album; without them this review would be much more negative. Despondent songs like “Best Friend,” “Beautiful Killer” and “I F***ed Up” provide some allure that the standard edition is without. You can try this album on for size, but if you never hear it, you’re not missing anything.

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Shannon Bex Talks Industry & Danity Kane

3/18/2012

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Photography by Jamie Babick

4 years ago today, MTV’s "Making the Band 3" girl group, Danity Kane, released what would be their last album, "Welcome to the Dollhouse.” The group gradually fell apart after two members, Aubrey O’Day & D. Woods, were dismissed by the man who formed the R&B/pop quintet, Sean “Diddy” Combs. As most of the members have tried to maintain their music careers, still heartbroken, yet devoted fans have continued to support them along the way. Shannon Bex, known as the ‘mother figure’ in the group, gave JSaysOnline an in-depth interview, dishing about the downsides of the music industry, the DK breakup and her current endeavors.

JSaysOnline: It’s been four years since Danity Kane’s final release, Welcome to the Dollhouse, and the group’s disbandment. What’s happened in that time for you professionally and what are you pursuing presently?
Bex: Since DK was officially disbanded in ’09, I took a full year to spend with my husband and focus on the next journey. Then I headed down to Nashville. Started writing and really exploring the type of sound I wanted. The process is still moving forward. I’m not working with a label, which means a lot of creative freedom, but it also means the process takes a lot longer if you want to do it right.

JSaysOnline: What is your ideal goal as a recording artist and who inspires you the most creatively?
Bex: My goal is always quality of product and the brand I represent as a person and artist. Gwen Stefani is a wonderful representation of a well thought out brand: from her style [and] songs, to LAMB [Stefani's clothing line], to how she balances her family. Everything has a beautiful streamline and consistency. I’m very excited to see what she does next.

JSaysOnline: In 2003, you placed second on NBC’s Fame. You survived Making the Band auditions and got a place in Danity Kane, but the group ultimately disbanded. Starting and stopping seems to be a big part of pursuing a music career. How have the ups and downs impacted you emotionally?
Bex: The entertainment business is always starting and stopping. You have to find a good balance between investing into your work and personal life. You never know when your last gig, job, [or] concert will come. The consistency in your life will come from family and friends. A music career can break you emotionally. So be confident in who you are and what you bring. Don’t make moral sacrifices to succeed in the game. That way, when it’s all said and done, you know you did your best and you didn’t compromise.

Danity Kane's last record

JSaysOnline: In addition to emotional ups and downs, there might be financial ones as well. Do you have any suggestions on how aspiring artists can survive until they reach their goal?
Bex: It takes a lot of dedication and perseverance. If you’re looking to get into this business to make millions--or even thousands--of dollars, you shouldn’t be in it. Your focus can’t be monetary. In the height of touring and filming Making the Band, I would fly back home and work at another job on my time off just to make ends meet. I never had time off, still don’t. Haha! You have to love what you do first and foremost. It is a full time job if you want to do it right.

JSaysOnline: Speaking of financial matters, some would assume that an artist is wealthy because they have a gold or platinum record like Danity Kane had. How true is this assumption?
Bex: …I can’t begin to count how many people assume I have a mansion right next to Puff. Honestly, it’s quite sad how hard artists work and how the lack of support and good management and bad business can affect them. That’s why you hear so many stories of celebs going bankrupt. There is so much to understand and learn outside of the stage and nobody takes the time to show you. My time with Danity Kane was a crash course. It was a very educational, hands on experience. The number one thing I came to understand is that it’s truly 90% business, 10% talent. That’s why many extremely talented people don’t make it…they don’t understand business or have anyone around them to help.

JSaysOnline: Coming back to your experience in Danity Kane, I think there was a lot of growth between Dollhouse and the first album. Did you see this growth? What do you think Danity Kane would have blossomed into if not for the split?
Bex: DK was so excited when Dollhouse was finished. However, it didn’t start out sounding like the finished product. There were a lot of phone calls, meetings and frustrating conversations with Puff, A&R and the label. If we didn’t say anything, it would have been good, but more of a slow R&B album. We knew it had to cross-over and be an international pop-dance record. Thankfully, Puff understood what we were trying to accomplish on this record and he released a lot of creativity to us. As for our future, we would constantly talk about the vision of DK. That’s why when I say we didn’t know the split was going to happen, it’s an honest answer. Eventually, we envisioned releasing five albums down the line that would compliment each girl’s individual style. For example, Aundrea’s CD may have been pop with a Latin influence, while mine would have ventured down the country path. Giving each girl a chance to shine in their strength and style, while all five CD’s would have still shared all of our voices and a common DK thread.

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StereoLove

3/11/2012

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The Birth of a Music Nerd.

Music Nerd: an individual who regularly enjoys creating or listening to music in-depth, analyzing the formation and execution of the art as a part of daily functioning.

Okay, so I came up with that with that definition myself, but that’s what I think it means and that what I think I am. I suppose you can blame my nerd status on my parents, who both can sing and my father is a working musician. I was inundated with Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, The Temptations, The Jacksons, Mariah Carey, Earth, Wind & Fire and James Brown as a little person. Speaking of James Brown, I thought every time he said ‘funk,’ he was using an expletive and was appalled at how much my mother loved “Sex Machine,” because I was taught ‘sex’ was a bad word. Funny, my mom forbade me to listen to Prince (my father loves him) and watch MTV because of sexual content, but she openly jammed to “Sex Machine.” Hmph. Anyhow, I dived head first into the genius of Prince straight out high school and watched MTV anyway-Daisy Fuentes was my favorite VJ. A 9-year old really shouldn’t have been watching MTV, but oh well, my mom and pop shouldn’t have let me have my own TV; especially in the days before parental TV blocks. The more family-friendly ways I got my music fix involved Nickelodeon’s “Roundhouse” (which no one remembers but me for some reason-shout out to Crystal Lewis, who now sings Christian contemporary!) and its hipper, updated twin “All That” (shout out to all my 90’s kids! I say all the time the 90’s should have never ended). Most parents take their children’s toys away for punishment. Mine had to take my music posters or my boom-box to get to me. I fell asleep to music and couldn’t drag myself out of the bed without music.

Everyone knows my favorite diva is Beyonce`, but before her was a long list of obsessions. My favorite group when I was little was Salt-N-Pepa (to my mother’s discomfort, I’m sure). I loved their “don’t let the pretty face fool you” outspoken nature and their pro-female messages. I swear I came out of the womb a feminist. I liked the Spice Girls and Destiny’s Child for the same reason. GIRL POWER! I distinctly remember singing one of Salt-N-Pepa’s songs out loud and my mom yelling “I wish you knew more church songs!”

Kanye West is a genius & my favorite rapper

HIP-HOP/RAP
I have a love-hate relationship with hip-hop. I hate the abrasive vulgarities, use of the word ‘bitch’ and ‘nigga’ to describe men and women and it’s arguable glamorization of criminal behavior, violence, materialism, egotism, sexism and misogyny. I also see the unfair double-standards and bias bared by women in the genre. What I do respect about hip-hop is how it’s a voice for a culture and community grossly underrepresented, misunderstood and stereotyped. Those against rap complain that’s it’s too intense, angry and brash, but rap isn’t supposed to be digestible. It’s there to challenge, push and be politically incorrect, unfiltered and raw. That considered, it’s probably the most honest genre out there, for better or worse. Furthermore, it takes true talent to become a legend in hip-hop. Anyone can carry a tune or hone their vocal skills, but you can’t teach flow. You either have it or you don’t. Any singer can be successful without penning a song, but you can’t be the greatest MC alive if you don’t write your own lyrics. Not to mention, well-written rap has more metaphors, symbolism and double entendres than any other music category. Great hip-hop makes use of all those literary tenets you learn about in high school. And yet, some say rap isn’t ‘real music.’ It has more in common with other genres than people realize, but I’ll get to that.

GOSPEL
I don’t listen to much gospel on my own time, but I grew up around gospel and acapella singing. The thing about gospel is that everyone is a great singer and most have emotional affect. It’s hard to make it in gospel without both. In any other singing genre, you can get away with having mediocre skills and no affect, but not in gospel. Also, it’s the only style of music categorized primarily by its lyrical content and is DESIGNED to uplift the soul. Not all music is purposely created to do mankind a service. It should, but it isn’t.

Played the wax off of this.

I went from country, to rap, to R&B and added Brandy & Aaliyah to my obsessions. Many try to now downplay Brandy’s career, but her impact is overwhelming to me, particularly for the black population. She had such major success in music, TV and film, she was immortalized as a doll. She also had the lead role in a live-action, multi-racial remake of “Cinderella,” starring alongside Whoopi Goldberg and Whitney Houston. She was sign to me as a little girl that I could do anything and take over the media world if I wanted. It didn’t matter if I was black. I thus went through my diva period, literally and musically. I became this sassy little thing and I wanted to be a performer so bad, I sang and danced publicly whenever I got the chance. My brother and I use to write and record songs for our little play movies. Sharp-tongued, clever and mischievous, I was ‘too grown for my britches’ as southern mothers say. I wanted to exhale sassiness. I wanted to be as powerful, gorgeous and talented as the ‘divas’ I was obsessed with: Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Wynonna.

Everyone views Whitney as regal princess, but I saw her both as regal AND edgy. My first vivid memory of her was the “I’m Your Baby Tonight” video; her ripped jeans, leather jacket and single cross-earring era. I still want a cross earring. While everyone drooled over “I Will Always Love You” and the other ballads from “The Bodyguard” film, I was all about “Queen of the Night.” My favorite line was ‘Well, I ain’t nobody’s angel; what can I say? Well, I’m just that way.’ I knew somehow that the line was controversial coming out of my young mouth; I sung that song religiously. My obsession with Whitney lead to getting in trouble in class: I wrote her name all over my textbook. Mariah’s “MTV Unplugged” album, the greatest live pop album ever, was on repeat at my house, along with the “Always Be My Baby” single (between myself and my parents, we own ALL of Mariah’s albums). I tried to imitate her grunt in that song, and after listening to a lot of Wynonna, I thought a singer didn’t mean it if they didn’t do so. Real singers grunted, growled and roared. Wynonna is underrated. She long performed in a duo with her mother as “The Judds.” They were country, but they had soul. Bluesy undertones are all through their music. The mother, Naomi, was bossy and flashy and Wynonna was a pure bad butt. I discovered them during my mom’s country phase.

The 1st CD I ever bought with my own $.

COUNTRY
Like hip-hop, country is a genre that represents a specific culture; in this case the southern and rural community. Some core values in the music are family, religion and simplistic living. Because of its affiliation with a certain community, many turn a deaf ear to it, but there’s a lot to appreciate about country. Out of all the main genres, I feel it’s the strongest lyrically. They’ve mastered the art of storytelling. The videos and lyrics always take you somewhere and give an intimate, inside look into someone’s life. Substance-less party songs are sporadic. Some may argue that the rare use of metaphors and symbolism make country writing weak, but I say it makes the literal, but illustrative lyrics accessible.

Because I wasn’t quite old enough to own CD’s, I’d rummage through my parents CD collection. My dad hated it when I’d open his BMG Music Club 12-CDs-for-the-price of-one membership orders before he could. I discovered Sarah McLachlan, KC & Jojo and Pebbles going through his orders. The first CD I ever owned was the soundtrack to the TV series “Party of Five.” I was obsessed with that show. The second CD I ever owned was Madonna’s “Ray of Light.” I can’t believe my dad bought me a Madonna CD. The first CD I purchased with my OWN money was Beyonce’s “Dangerously in Love.” My parents were fine with the girls from Destiny’s Child because they had such a clean-cut reputation. When the song “Speechless” came on, my mother said “J, this song is about sex. This is the same girl from Destiny’s Child? I wonder how her mother feels about her singing songs like this.”

Anyhow, towards the end of the 90’s, I started to listen to more rock and alternative. Some of my favorite bands were No Doubt, Dave Matthews Band, Hootie and the Blowfish and Ben Folds Five. When I started hanging out with the goth/punk kids in 8th grade, I got into The Smashing Pumpkins, Korn and slightly edgier rock. I had always written little songs, but it was in middle school that I started writing a bevy of lyrics and poetry. Writing is definitely a 2nd love of mine, hence this blog. In a parent-teacher conference, my teacher told my parents that I could never complete assignments for all the stories, poetry and songs I was writing. I also tried to start a band in 6th grade, which is hilarious, considering I couldn’t sing. My classmate and I were determined to make the 1st rock/R&B band. Even then I believed rock/soul should be married.

Fiona Apple: I write great poetry to her work.

ROCK
Rock is rap’s brother from another mother: it’s also a rebel genre that often uses lyrical metaphors. Rock pulls the devil out of you. It tells your deepest, darkest secret. Rock is everything you’re afraid to be: an impulsive, vulnerable, emotional, lustful, carnal animal. That’s what makes it a rebel; it releases and exposes all of the feelings we’re taught to curb. It’s not so much about being politically incorrect or challenging the mind (which is its difference from hip-hop), as it is to help the listener reach and express the internal; whatever is in there.
SOUL
If rock is rap’s brother from another mother, soul is gospel’s sinful sister from another mister and rock is soul’s angrier half-brother. Catch all that? Soul takes the stirring vocal power of gospel and the internal raw emotion of rock and blends it together. A great complimentary contrast to rock, soul is edgy and potent but still sweet and soothing- kinda like a sassy woman. That’s why I‘ve always said that rock/soul should marry more often. I’m surprised few artists and record labels have attempted to make it happen. Soul is the only genre defined by emotional affect and purposely designed to make the listener feel.

I had my time focusing on this and that genre, but pop was always there underneath. It’s been my musical constant. After going through my rock phase, this and this happened and I returned to pop and R&B hard. I still enjoy music from the areas, just not as heavily. As much as I don’t want to admit it, I was kind of a top 40 whore. Mom didn’t want me listening to secular music on Sunday, but that was the only day the top 40 countdown came on and I was guaranteed to catch all my favorite songs for tape recording. Before ITunes and downloading, if you wanted song, you had to record it from the radio; DJ interruptions and all. Before YouTube, you stayed on the phone voting for your favorite video on MTV’s “Total Request Live,” BET’s “106 & Park” or The Box channel hoping it would air. Anyhow, I was into it all…the blondes: Britney, Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson, the boy-bands: Backstreet Boys (for life!) and 98 Degrees, everything. My CD collection started to grow-there wasn’t a Christmas or birthday that passed without me asking for a CD- and my dad got me into reading liner notes. You knew he liked a song when he asked “Who produced that? Who wrote that?” I made his job as a musician a little bit easier because I was abreast on all the latest music and knew the lyrics to every hit song. Dad got to where he would ask to listen to my brand new CD’s before I could (I owned Destiny’s Child’s 1st album for an hour before he snagged it). I was in no position to say no since he bought them. My parents were cool with my musical tastes until it came to rap. My Missy Elliott “Under Construction” album was confiscated for all the naughty lyrics. I got another copy and got caught with that too.

Britney Spears: My guiltiest pleasure.

POP
Pop gets such a bad rap. ‘Pop music’ is merely short for ‘popular music,’ therefore the music is designed to cater to and be enjoyed by the masses. To have general appeal, the production, vocal and/or lyrics are sometimes simplified and stripped of any distinctive characteristics (ex. a gritty soul voice). Because of its simplifications and commercial application and intent, pop is often deemed as trash, poor quality, not ‘real music’ and all about money. Those who create it are viewed as ‘sell-outs.’ 1st, the music ISN’T ALWAYS simplified. There’s lots of innovative music that uses pop as an under-layer or base. 2nd, there isn’t anything wrong with having music that so happens to be lucrative and one isn’t a sell-out if they convert to pop music or create it. In my opinion, such is only an issue if artistic freedom or artistry is hindered or compromised for the sake of being commercial (which can happen in many ways beyond the artist’s control). 3rd, there is a plus to pop seeking out a general consensus sound. Pop is a unifier. That one song or artist that everyone, regardless of core musical taste or demographic has in common typically comes from the pop world. Case in point, Michael Jackson. The singly hailed “King of Pop,” Jackson was cross-culture, cross-generational and cross-genre. The hardest core of rappers, the edgiest of rockers and the most country of country singers claim to have loved or been inspired by Michael Jackson. Out of all the genres, pop has the most potential and flexibility to be cross-demographic. In addition, every major genre has a pop sub-type (ex. R&B-pop, rock pop). That in itself is telling.

Kelly Clarkson: "My December" saved me.

By the time I finished college, analyzing the music industry and having music-related debates with my father and friends was a regular, everyday occurrence. I unknowingly applied to a university with a large recording-industry program; guess the music ghost was chasing me. In that type of environment, there’s no escaping music. It’s all in the air; everyone jams on their guitars and drums outside of their dorm rooms. Every other person you meet is a music or recording-industry major, and kids on the steps can be overheard talking about microphones. For budding music-nerds, a place like that is heaven. Even if you’re not a music nerd, you’re not graduating without music infecting you. I was a psychology major, but I had the spirit of RI student. Once I decided to minor in recording industry, it was a little late in the game and I wouldn’t be able to do it without spending an extra year in school. In graduate school, I quickly fell out of love with therapeutic counseling and even more in love with music. I’d design album covers in class. I’d throw away my “Psychology Today” and keep my “Rolling Stone.” All of my extra-curricular interests, including this blog, involved entertainment. Now, I’m out of school and trying to re-route my career path.

Gangsta.

I got into this discussion about Rihanna and music industry practices with my cousin. I suppose she was confused by my fervor because she turned to me with this look and said “Why do you care? Why do you care so much”? I was slightly taken aback; it seemed preposterous she would even ask. It just seems like a given that people would care about the quality of available music…and then I remembered I’m a music nerd. I’m a special breed. I paused and said “because I respect the art-form. My father’s a musician.” I didn’t like my answer, but I guess that’s what comes out when you’re shocked. The answer I gave is just a slice of the pie. I’ve seen what music can and does do for the human race; it’s pertinent to keep the art-form in pristine tact and in great quality. Music is what bonds us when we are in discord, frees us when we are in bondage, heals us when we are injured and speaks for us when we have lost our voice. It’s just that powerful. And that’s why I care. Hello, I’m J.Says and I’m a music nerd.

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Madonna: MDNA

Shannon Bex Talks Industry & Danity Kane

StereoLove

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