Album Review.
Likes: Brake Lights, Running, Footsteps
Dislikes: We Collide
Overall: Breaks out of the standard techno-pop mold, but somewhat forgettable.

Imagine if Sam Sparro was more pop than R&B/funk. That’s what you get with the Britain-based FrankMusik. With “Do it in the AM,” Musik adds more musicality and instrumentation to his techno-pop, keeping it from being redundant and predictable. In lyrics, Musik is brazen like Sparro, forwardly discussing unrequited love and romance drama. His vocals are solid. While some of the production is creative and the vocals are acceptable, the album borderlines on forgettable. The 1st few tracks are annoying, mechanical and mildly boring. The rest are attractive in parts, but not holistically. It’s worth at least one listen, as you might find a few songs likable.

Ok, I’m going to try to make this quick and get straight to the point. As many of you may know, in the days after pop-star Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, the powerful anesthetic drug propofol was found in his system and his advising doctor at the time, Conrad Murray, reportedly administered the drug and multiple others the day of Jackson’s death. Charged with involuntary manslaughter, Murray‘s trial is now underway (today was the second day of the court proceedings.) Murray’s defense team is making the argument that the final, lethal dose of propofol was administered by Jackson himself, and Murray is not to blame for the death. The media have of course had a field day with this trial, sensationalizing the grief of the Jackson family and the entertainer’s fans, shaping Murray out to be a murderous figure with ulterior motives and influencing the court of public opinion. If not alluded to as vindictive and murderous, Murray is accused of being a suicide assistant or someone hired to cover up an addiction. Supporters of the doctor have taken to news media in his defense, proclaiming that he is a proficient physician with a kind heart.

Although owning this blog makes me a part of the media, I am only concerned with the facts and evidence presented (and NOT presented) in this trial and plan to make a CLEAR distinction between verifiable facts and my PERSONAL opinion. My OPINION is… this trial is not about whether or not Conrad Murray is Dr. Evil, Dr. Good-doer, or something in between. This trial is also not about defining if Michael Jackson is a drug addict. What this trial IS about is deciding if Conrad Murray executed the action that subsequently caused Michael Jackson’s death. Let’s stay focused here. If Murray is indeed guilty, I hope that justice will prevail and he will properly sentenced. If he is NOT, again, I hope justice will prevail and he will be set free.

As for how I FEEL (again, my OPINION) about Murray’s defense that Jackson injected himself with propofol, I find that proposition to be absurd. According to news reports, Murray stated he gave Jackson a dose of propofol, went to the bathroom and returned to find Jackson after he had given himself another amount. I doubt that someone who is already in a heavy, drug induced state would be able to properly self-submit propofol. The defense team has the burden of proof.

Album Review.
Likes: All Night Long, For the Love of a Daughter, My Love is Like a Star, Together, Skyscraper
Dislikes: Who’s That Boy, You’re My Only Shorty
Overall: Vocally strong. Not a superior record, but acceptable. Not as emotive as expected.

Considering Demi Lovato’s past work and her now known struggles with self-mutilation and eating disorders, her latest release “Unbroken” was anticipated to be a deeply emotional pop-rock album, expounding on the inspirational “Skyscraper.” Instead it’s a dance-sprinkled, pop-R&B tinged record mostly about love. If the album is a disappointment, it’s because it doesn’t live up to its expectations. Perhaps the scarcity in weighty, personal odes is due to the fact that, for whatever reason, Lovato only wrote 5 tracks as opposed to majority of the album (like she usually does). The change in writing contribution definitely shows in some parts of the album (hear the album sampler below).

Experimenting with another genre can run smoothly if it’s done carefully and your personality always shines through the material. With Lovato’s fairly soulful voice and styling, her first effort at pop-R&B would’ve been seamless if some of the songs were better fitted around her. The designed-to-be-commercial, inartistic pop-slush that is “Who’s That Boy” and “You’re My Only Shorty”, for example, are beneath Lovato’s ability and are more well suited for Kesha or a Disney newcomer who isn’t musically inclined. The harder edged “All Night Long” “In Real Life” and “Give Your Heart a Break” are much better attempts and the teen gets her “Best Thing I Never Had” (Beyonce`) on with “Mistake.”  Lovato feeds into what was expected for “Unbroken” with the well-written “Fix a Heart,” “Lightweight” and “For the Love a Daughter.” The strongest tracks (“Skyscraper” and “My Love is Like a Star”) were co-written and produced by Toby Gad. I think he should definitely be called for the next album.
Quality lyrics and production are what usually make for a great record, but the shining star of “Unbroken” is Demi’s vocals, passionate and audibly stronger than ever. Her vocals are so improved and impressive, that they save some of the tracks from being dismissed. Independent of what was projected, “Unbroken” it’s an artist’s gutsy endeavor with a different genre and a showcasing of vocal growth. The piece may not be flawless, but it’s acceptable.

Likes: Never Gonna Change, Beautiful People, I Don’t Mind, Rock Me Gently, Warring People
Overall: Lyrically interesting, fun and energetic, but not as diverse in sound as expected.

The name “Superheavy” might not immediately ring a bell, but you may be more familiar with this band than you think. Comprised of the legendary Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, pop-rockster Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, soul-singer Joss Stone, reggae heir Damian Marley and Bollywood artist A.R. Rahman, Superheavy is one of contemporary music’s most eclectic and diverse bands. One might assume that blending artists from such vastly different genres would be nearly impossible, but the group’s self-titled debut makes it look almost effortless. Almost.

Although the vocals are fantastically evenly split and there is not a clear “front-person”, the various musical styles aren’t as well integrated. Reggae and Indian-style orchestration dominate the production, preventing the album from sounding as sundry as it could. The record is fiercely energetic, but the minimal change in tempo makes smoother, slower tracks like “Never Gonna Change” and “I Don’t Mind” a welcomed break. The lyrical matter doesn’t lack quality, as it addresses daily life, social consciousness and love with a few tracks about having fun in-between. On a slightly different note, one of the coolest points in the album is when Mick Jagger raps on “Energy” (hear below).

We often forget that while each music genre is different in sound, they all are inter-connected and have influenced one another. Superheavy is a reminder of that fact and I’m so glad they recorded this album. I just wish they would’ve better blended the backgrounds of Jagger, Stewart and Stone into the production. The album is fun and is worth at least one listen.

Since around 2009, daytime soap-operas have been getting cancelled steadily, with network executives citing budgeting issues as the reason. To say the least, fans have been outraged and this is a sad loss in television history as most popular soaps have been on the air for more than 30 years (“Guiding Light,” cancelled in 2009, ended after a 72-year presence on radio & television). In September, ABC’s “All My Children” will close (est. 1970), followed by “One Life to Live” (est. 1968) in January 2012, leaving only 4 soaps between CBS, NBC and ABC. Some may find it frivolous that I’ve written an article about the cessation of soap-operas, but we are losing an important piece of our pop-culture fabric. They may be deemed campy, cheesy and outrageous, but the melodramatic circus that is the soap has outlasted most forms and trends of television programming, to the point that it took an economic recession and a budget crisis to take them out.

I think soaps have long survived for multiple reasons. Everything we love about entertainment media- sensationalism and fantasy -lies within the soap. Part of why the fine arts exist is so we can briefly suspend or exaggerate reality to express or escape from the stressors of daily life. Soaps provide all the juicy, low-down dirty sensationalism we want to gossip about and alter reality in the most radical ways. Incorporating every major movie genre, soap storylines are especially unique and provide a little something for everyone. See one episode about a hallucinatory ghost visiting her grieving mob-boss husband to warn him about an impending attempt on his life by a cooky magician who was once in love with the mob-bosses wife, and you’ve got romance, horror, drama and action all in one hour. In soap opera-land, ANYTHING goes and ANYTHING can happen. The fact that there are endless possibilities for a storyline’s resolution is what keeps people watching and talking. Much like how we all have to see the conclusion to the Harry Potter film franchise (or read the book), we have to know what happens next. Soap-operas are fairy-tales for adults. Where else can you watch someone go from being a doctor, to a bartender, stripper, a priest and finally a life-saving secret agent? Where else can you love a murderous prick?  

Another thing that’s helped soap operas weather an ever-changing television horizon is how it brings people together. Most people have seen at least one soap episode or lived with someone that watches. At minimum, the name “Erica Kane” rings a bell. What started out as daytime entertainment for housewives of yester year has become a cult classic for women, and even some men, of all ages. Soaps bridge generational gaps, as the rich character and storyline history is ongoing and interconnected. Soaps were the one thing me, my grandma and mother could all agree to watch. Some of my favorite mom stories involve her telling me about what my favorite character’s parents were up to back in the day, and man, they were a trip. For college students, soaps were a collective good reason to be late to class. How mad can the professor be if the whole class was late? We couldn’t miss Nikolas and Emily’s wedding (of “General Hospital”)! I’m still mad Emily Quartermaine died. You didn’t have to do that Bob Guza (former head-writer of “GH”)! In high-school, talk of fictional characters’ exploits sometimes cut down on harmful, real-life gossip and gave the popular girl something to chat about with the outcast. There’s just something about watching a love story subsist a death defying, adulterating, baby stealing, chip-in-the-brain, demon possessed evil twin clone.

Finally, the actors. The acting ability of soap opera stars has long been questioned and challenged, and many have a hard time finding work outside of daytime, but it takes more than skill to learn and perform the immense amount of material a popular character has to absorb. Think about it: soaps are on 5 days a week YEAR ROUND with only holidays off. No other scripted television show airs that often. It also takes skill to play your own evil twin. Not many big-shot Hollywood actors can say that they’ve done that. On another note, soaps are generally more respectful to actors. Writers tend to be more forgiving and flexible, forming storylines around pregnancies, illnesses and temporary exits. Plus it’s a consistent gig. You’re not sitting around waiting for the next script or the next phone call from a film exec. Soaps are such a consistent job that you can literally grow up on them. AMC’s Susan Lucci (“Erica Kane”) has been on the drama since its start. 33-year-old Kimberly McCullough (“Robin Scorpio”) started on “GH” at age 7. 20-year-old Kris Alderson, better known as “Starr Manning” from “OLTL,” originated her role at age 6. Say what you want about soap actors, but they’ve worked hard to craft and originate the iconic roles that will last forever in television record and in the memories of the fans that they are often so accessible to (shout out to “Adam Chandler,” “Edward Quartermaine,” “Victoria Davidson” & “Dorian Lord”).
 After receiving quite the backlash and protest from fans, ABC has resolved to put “AMC” and “OLTL” online, but kinks, contracts and budgeting are still being worked out. There HAS to be away to reduce production costs besides cancellation. I could deal with seeing my favorite soaps (or as grandma called them, “stories”) only 3 times a week, instead of 0. Network representatives might have to get as creative as the soaps they’re cancelling to come up with a better plan.

*The character of “Erica Kane” is such a salient pop-culture figure, she has her own song. “Erica Kane,” by the late R&B singer Aaliyah, was released posthumously in 2002. You can hear the song in my tribute video below.

Canadian singer-songwriter, Dallas Green, is a one man show known as "City & Colour." Springing from the punk-esque band AlexisonFire, City & Colour has recorded solo work dating back to 2004, with more of an acoustic, alternative focus. His latest project, "Little Hell," is available on ITunes (click his photo to view his site). I discovered City & Colour in an unlikely place: watching "Celebrity Rehab w/ Dr. Drew" on VH1. They played "O'Sister" during an emotional scene, which can be found below with "Fragile Bird." Hope you guys enjoy the songs and let me know what you think of his music.