WOW...the fall ends with a bang, and the winter started with a nice fat one right where it matters! Excellent music all over the place. All at once I am reviewing the following:
My Winter Mix 2009 (http://medianation.podOmatic.com/entry/2008-11-27T07_04_15-08_00), Beyonce 'I Am Sasha Fierce', Michelle Williams 'Unexpected', Lady GaGa 'The Fame', Katy Perry 'One Of The Boys', and Britney Spears 'Circus'.
First of all, I posted my Winter Mix 2009. I didn't have enough room for everything I'm dripping over though. Madonna's streak from Hard Candy kept the beat with the best remixes yet on "Miles Away". I highly recommend the Johnny Vicious Club mix which is available on I-Tunes. Beyonce has two great songs out at once. I chose "If I Were A Boy" for my mix because I am betting "Single Ladies" will be overplayed to the hilt.
The album 'I Am...Sash Fierce' is a very solid work of art. She has grown up quite a bit, but stuck to her roots. Her vocals have NEVER been better. I am just a bit concerned that a lot of the tracks seem a little flat - just falling short of grabbing your attention. Watch out, though, for the tracks "Diva" and "Halo". Mark my words here, "Halo" will be released, and we will be talking about dance remixes!! The album gets a solid B+.
Michelle Williams has a stellar record out, 'Unexpected', (dj Tim a rating, B+) that is getting suprisingly little support here and abroad. One of my favorite songs from the summer was "We Break The Dawn". One of the best songs on the record, "The Greatest" has been clubbed up with a very 'since u been gone' style mix that I think is both radio and club friendly. I am suprised she is not scoring with this record either on mtv or elsewhere. I am really suprised my favorite Chicago dj, LuLu, isn't spinning this one yet. We'll see.
Most of my friends know, I am not big on R&B and HipHop, however, the mix of Akon's "Right Now" is flirty and infectious. Similarly, the Pussy Cat Dolls, "I Hate This Part". I really don't care for the album version, but this mix moves. And I may not like R&B very much, but Gospel has never caught me at all. The duo Mary Mary hit the charts with "Get Up", and I found a club mix that I love that I have been playing, and now it gets requested every week. Definitely one of my favorite songs this season.
September and Kim Sozzi throw in some chewy dance pop with "Because I Love You" and "Feel Your Love", followed by a really banging mix of India's "Can't Get No Sleep".
Then I swing back to more pop material with Lady GaGa - who is doing suprisingly well on the US charts. This is another artist with a very deserving album, 'The Fame'. Potential greatness in the making if you ask me; I give 'The Fame' an A-. You may recall I pushed "Just Dance" over the summer on my Pride '08 MyPod Mix. Well, I-Tunes is just now charting that song, presently it is holding at 3. If you like that song, you'll love the whole god dmn album!! "Poker Face" is one of my favorite songs, and in my Winter 09 compilation I have mixed a very club-o-licious version. Clever lyrics and a very catchy melody. She is so much more deserving of our attention than Katy Perry. I'll talk about that:
Another clever song, "Sober", by Pink. It is a little dark for dance music, but it kind of fit the tone with the songs I was moving in and out of. "Hot-N-Cold" by Katy Perry follows, and only because it has been such a huge request. Its too chewy for me, and I am getting ready to spit it out. She has been very lucky to have the producers she does, and both "I Kissed A Girl" and this song on the same record. Otherwise she could have easily been a one hit wonder. Her songs have no real depth or meaning, and she can't do much to impress me with her vocals. However, its good miscellaneous party filler. The record 'One Of The Boys' gets and unimpressive dj Tim a C+.
I close out with two must listens - a fun little electronic number, "Fck Right Now". It is 2008's "People Are Still Having Sex". Every time I have played it, it gets smiles and usually a questioning, 'Hey, what is that'.
And finally, a practically exclusive remix of Britney's "Circus", where we dance while she sings about the mess that life is, without coming out and admitting what a mess her life is. And how could she with a spectacular album, 'Circus', which gets an A-, despite a couple throw away tracks that I'm sure we will all skip. Vocally stronger than her previous two albums, Britney manages to stay gritty and dirty with a very strong contemporary sound - both dance and hip hop friendly; defiant and playful lyrics, dance floor anthems, catchy melodies, and several middle fingers to the media. What does this spell $$$$ all the way to the dance floor, I'm sure. Besides "Womanizer" and the title track, take a listen to other party hoppers, "Unusual You", "Shattered Glass", "Rock Me In" and "If You Seek Amy". I am even impressed with the ballad "Out From Under". Really, this has the potential to be her biggest album since her debut. It's bangin' b*tch!
Keep listening. I am hoping to post my next MyPod mix as well as more 80's mixes.
luv, peace and music always!
dj Tim a
www.medianation.podomatic.com