Archive for April, 2010

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Hard Rock from Las Vegas, and no I’m not talking about the casino. Adelitas Way; the edgy, empowering rockers self-titled album is a delight. Single Invincible is self-explanatory in its connotation. It’s in-your-face, percussive, fast-paced and mysteriously attractive for an alternative song, “I’m rising up, I’ve had enough,” — it’s not just a debut smash; it’s also a pertinent explanation of singer Rick DeJesus’ willpower to succeed and overcome his background of a childhood ravaged by drugs and poverty. I was recently given the opportunity to see these guys on the road with Papa Roach, and heard various people in the crowd noting this band buzzworthy. I bet these guys sell a majority of their records on the road, because their live set gains fans. Lights down, music on, fists up.

Despite an album tinted with simple lyrics, the strength of Adelitas Way is in their ability to lay out the songs in a way all can understand. Although hard hitters, the band is not all about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. It’s more about the way the music reflects the lyrics, by putting themselves in the shoes of the listener. Adelitas Way is definitely the right one, for it has something for everyone; it’s fresh, it’s hot, it’s thunderous, it whispers, it rocks, it’s poignant, and most importantly, it grips your soul.

If you can’t catch these guys on the road, be sure to add the album to your collection. For we all love a good dosage of balls to the wall, never let you go, in-your-face rock and roll.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I freakin’ love this song.

Airplanes is the 2nd single off B.o.B’s upcoming debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray (due to drop 04.27). The track, which features Hayley Williams of Paramore, is a fresh mesh of hip hop oozing it’s way into pop rock territory. The song isn’t about a girl, rather B.o.B. raps about how life has changed for him as success took over and airplanes became an integral part of this lifestyle. The sick hook (sung by Hayley Williams) dives into the message behind the song as the rapper is reminiscing and daydreaming back to a time when it was all about the music and the simple things in life.

There will also be a part 2 to Airplanes, set to feature Eminem. You can pre-order the album here.

Listen to Airplanes, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Let’s face facts: Mondays can suck. In a scheme to counteract the symptoms of wanting to slap your boss in the face with a ruler, I thought I would do a little feature to Glozelle and two of her hilarious vids featuring an in-depth look at two of radio’s popular diddys.

Check it!

Ke$ha: Tik Tok Translation

Rihanna: Rude Boy Translation

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

“It never occurred to me that I was in something that should be labeled as a “struggle.” The struggle I’ve had has been with the church, acknowledging me as a human being, trying to live the spiritual life that I’ve been called to, in whatever ramshackled, broken, frustrated way that I’ve always approached my faith. I still consider my hope to be a whole human being, to be a person of love and grace.”
-Jennifer Knapp via Christianity Today

After 20 years in the industry, in 2008, Christian singer/songwriter Ray Boltz came out as a homosexual man. In 2009, gospel star Tonex followed suit. And now, in 2010, Grammy nominated Christian folk-rock singer Jennifer Knapp has decided to come clean, breaking the chains and walking out of the closet.

After taking a break from music nearly 7 years ago, fans along with the Christian music scene took note and rumors began to run rampant. One rumor that surfaced that many didn’t want to digest was a gasping moment of revelation: OMG she’s gay!

Now at 36, Knapp has finally walked onto the stage without any concealer to hide her “struggle”, owning up to the truth behind that rumor.

Recently when Ricky Martin decided to come out, I jokingly thought “yeah, so?” — but as a gay person who has constantly wrestled with my sexuality and my faith, when I found out the news of Knapp’s coming out, I personally felt incredibly unthawed. It may sound absurd, but when it happened (although I know other gay individuals who are Christian), I didn’t feel so alone.

To the thousands and thousands of individuals wrestling: God loves you, God cherishes you, and God will always stand by you. The world’s hatred may break you into shards, the world’s hatred may make you want to kill yourself, but know that God’s love will always pick up the pieces and will never pull the trigger.

Click here for a free (2 tracks!) digital download from Knapp’s upcoming album, Letting Go.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Now that you all know I put my life in the hands of rock n’ roll bands, I was recently thrown an unexpected curveball of melody this past week; folk. When not initially liking a genre of music, one should make a point of listening to it more closely. I have yearned for the day I would stumble upon a female talent who could transcend sounds of the past with the present, and she has arrived; Lissie (Maurus). A 27-year old country-folk rock singer/guitarist is the pink elephant in a room full of bears. A clear-as-glass singing voice, effortless melodies, and a Stevie Nicks like tone make her a direct line to your emotional core.

Everywhere I Go off of her debut EP Where You Runnin’, stopped me dead in my tracks at a local record store (yes, some still exist), showcasing her achingly raw and evocative voice. How often has this happened to you lately? Think about it; sound that hits you so hard you can feel it? Now that’s music, what feelings sound like.

The bright intensity of Lissie’s voice will cut through any disdain your jaded heart may have built up against present day “singers” and “songwriters”. In my opinion, she belongs in the 1970’s with the brilliance of female musicians whose material will be set in stone for countless generations. Her sound seems as if it should belong to someone twice her age, both coarse and beautiful; a combination which, when it works, is something to behold. Her pipes are her instrument, and she commands them. Upon downloading more of her tracks, I found the songs range from hand-clapping and foot-stomping, to breathtaking ballads that all make up her ingredient; a spine shivering, rustic soul.

Lissie is an artist to watch, listen, and embrace. So raise the volume; she’s about to mend all the broken hearts of boring, pointless music trends!

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Last night, right after AI (at 9:28PM to be specific), Glee’s four-month hiatus came to an end.

Between the Rolling Stone Cover, Fox Promos, “Gleeks” taking over Facebook/Twitter, and the cast appearing everywhere from the White House to the Oprah Winfrey Show, the premiere of the pop culture phenomenon hasn’t exactly been hush hush.

Before I rant on last night’s episode though, I must say shout out to JAYMA MAYS! The cute wide-eyed strawberry topped actress who got tongue twisted with Will Schuester last night, graduated from my skool (Radford University)! She’s also from Grundy, Virginia (which is a neighboring town in the middle of nowhere, near where I grew up), and it always makes me proud to see people from my neck of the woods doing something with their lives. Ok, now that I’m done being ghetto, I’ll continue…

So last night’s premiere was full of life lessons that I thought I should outline for your benefit, so get your pens ready for Glee 101:

Lesson #1: Dolphins are just gay sharks (come on, if you didn’t know this, you have no marine-dar)

Lesson #2: Some guys you thought were sweet can quickly become douchebags (when they only think with their trombones)

Lesson #3: Being the outcast in High School simply means you are destined for big things (or a drink in the face, which in some cultures probably means you are the shit)

Lesson #4: Music has the power to make you truly popular (where it counts, which is on the inside)

Lesson #5: There’s nothing better than a breakup revenge song (especially when you can perform it in front of the selfish jerk who took you for granted)

Now that your brain is drained from that strenuous academic lesson, I’ll feed your Glee-diction with the cast on Oprah, below.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Despite what many i-Tune reviews and over-enthusiastic managers may tell you, there aren’t very many ambitious albums or bands floating around these days. So what would you say is ambitious? Perhaps a five-album group that takes the idea of a concept album to a whole new level: Coheed and Cambria’s Year of the Black Rainbow; a prequel to the band’s four previous inter-related concept albums. They have reached a galaxy beyond any of their contemporaries with this musical, sci-fi novel combo. Single The Broken screams “Where was your heart, when we needed it most”. The heart of this band is here in full force, and beating strong.

I will not compare this group to anyone else. Yes, they have influences, but they are in a league of their own. Their style is purely inhabited by the group; better sorry than safe. The record is further evidence of the band’s easy chemistry. The band is daring and ballsy, creating a signature sound that on average triggers strapping reactions; one man’s progressive is another’s pretentious.

If you have yet to be exposed to the band, prepare for an addiction to progressive, punk, post-hardcore, and heavy metal rock. Buy the album. Better yet, see them live. This is not only the Year of the Black Rainbow, but the year of Coheed and Cambria.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Since I heard the news of its release, I’ve been outrageously excited about Gorillaz and their new album, Plastic Beach. Call it a guilty pleasure, or a sign of good taste, but I can’t help but love them. Awesome, psychedelic music fronted by quirky cartoon characters…where can you go wrong there?

All the oddly appealing characters of the virtual band were created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, and considering they’re fictitious, it’s impressive what kind of a fanbase they’ve attracted. This makes it clear that there’s something going on behind those imaginative creations; there’s the power of the genre-blending music they represent, the charge in the sweet tunes that are shelled out album after album. The fact that their music is a collaboration of tons of various musicians only adds further to the intrigue and enjoyment of the concept they create.

When I listen to Gorillaz, I’m expecting music that is either delightfully chill-worthy, or an endorphin release trigger with a hypnotic edge that demands dancing. The Gorillaz create beats that sink into you, command you to move with their rippling sonic waves. Plastic Beach meets those expectations, and so much more. Honestly, it’s nothing but a smooth sailing, fancy coloured tripfest. Whether the songs are bending more towards the electro, brit-pop, or rap sides of the ocean of genres that the Gorillaz take inspiration from, they all have an instant hook. While listening to the album, I couldn’t help but keep thinking, “There’s something impressive here”. With songs that feature artists from the legendary Lou Reed to the rhyme-dropping Snoop Dogg, this album definitely has something for anyone who wants to have their senses overwhelmed and their ears dipped in honey.

It’s all dazzle, all the time, and a perfect highway to escapism. Just like the characters live in a world of imagination, their music can also bring us to a similar mind-set. Even the album name, Plastic Beach, helps paint the image of where the music can take us to: a fictitious, paper-thin place that we’d love to escape to, even if the atmosphere is light and superficial; a world where fantasies abound and strangeness seldom differs.

Want a vacation from reality? Be sure to watch the whacky video for Stylo, the first single off the album, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

ROB BRAYL: Your new single Candy ft. Kimberly Wyatt (of The Pussycat Dolls) is addictive. Did you intentionally set out to make a track that would get stuck in the listener’s head?

AGGRO SANTOS: I didn’t intentionally intend to make it a particular way, I was writing in Sweden and really loved the beat so we started vibing on it and Candy was the outcome. It wasn’t forced or nothing, it just worked out really nice. I’m pleased people are finding it infectious.

RB: I read a lot about your upbringing and it seems like there was some dark stuff there yet this track is very light, will you have some songs on your debut album to reflect this side of your story?

AS: Yeah I’m not afraid to touch on any aspects of my life in my tracks, I may do a few darker bits on the album but never on my singles. I have a free mixtape on my website and I’m gonna do one more before my album. That’s perfect for me to address any past issues before putting them fully behind me and focusing on pop. I’m making my music as fun but still credible as possible and even though Candy is very pop and features a former Pussycat Doll it’s still a very cool track.

RB: If you had to describe your sound in three words, what words would you choose?

AS: Three words that fit my sound are: Fresh, Catchy, and Fusion. Fusion because I mix a lot of Latin with urban on my record.

RB: Do you have a plan to take over US airwaves?

AS: Yep, in the long term. I would like to take over the UK airwaves first, move onto Europe and South America, then try the states. I’m confident I can generate interest in South America as I put Portuguese and Spanish riffs in my songs. They love that kinda stuff and they support it.

RB: Finally, do you have a lyric/one liner from your upcoming album that’s your favorite?

AS: ‘Don’t be afraid of the ‘Candy’ man!!!’ — I don’t bite [laughs], for daily updates follow me on Twitter also people (@aggrosantos)!

Taken from his forthcoming album (which will be released in the summer of 2010), Candy makes a cannonball splash as a debut single. The track will be available May 10th, through Mercury Records.

Check out the killer video for Candy, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Cyndi Lauper, who has always been an activist for equality, recently launched the Give a Damn Campaign which encourages everyone (gay, straight, transgender, lesbian, bisexual) to get informed about issues within the LGBT community. Now, Lauper is taking her passion to the next level, by opening a shelter for homeless LGBT youth in New York City (Harlem) via her True Colors Fund.

The shelter will be the first permanent residence for LGBT youth in Manhattan.

Currently there are between 15,000 and 20,000 homeless youth in New York City, and, of that number, roughly 3,000 to 8,000 identify under the LGBT umbrella.

The True Colors Residence, which is slated to open in 2011, will offer a safe haven for LGBT individuals between the ages of 18 to 24 who need a place to stay while trying to get back on their feet.

In a statement, Lauper said: “Kids are coming out in greater numbers as they see themselves accepted and represented on TV and in movies, but they’re still being kicked out of their homes or running away and living on the streets. We need to make sure we’re taking care of them. This is the next generation of the LGBT community.”

Beautiful.

Check out Lauper performing the classic Time After Time (live on Australian Idol), below.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

It’s truly a glory when you find a band that is not only fronted by exceptional musicians and awesome music, but when that music is empowered by a genuine connection to the human spirit. The human spirit is as gorgeous as it is complicated, and the same could be said for the up and coming, deliriously rad band, a’tris.

Not familiar? Then do yourself a treat by tuning in. Saying that they’re a straight-laced indie rock wouldn’t do the band justice, as the music is far too smooth and elaborate to be typecasted. Listening to a’tris is like a fleeting but nourishing experience, like being struck with some special moment that only lasts for a few seconds, but changes the colour of everything around you. The strong, crooning vocals are a splice of audio magic, matching well with the raw skill found in the instrumental accompaniments.

Each member of the band forms a piece of the musical puzzle, individually contributing to the cornucopia of strange splendor. a’tris has a deep, moody vibe, accentuated by the uniqueness of their voices and the fabulous underbeat thrumming through them all.

Their most recent album, Lensing, released in 2008, is full of professional potential. All of their songs, particularly ones such as Light and Shadows or Automatic Doors, create a sense of eerie wonderment, as if the music is literally peeling back a part of your mind that you didn’t know existed. It seems that there is nothing entirely definable about it, and that is what makes it such a treasure to listen to. There is something really special about a song or an album when you can make it your own.

The explorative edge doesn’t stop with their music; even their name continues on the same trek of interpretive philosophy. As Nate Lueck, (who plays both guitar and bass for the group), puts it, “People often ask what our name means–remember 10 years ago when the word Google didn’t really mean anything? Now, it’s a noun, a verb, a concept, a tool…that’s the intent of our name; a word to which people assign their own meaning, with no right or wrong interpretation.”

This band realizes that in both life and music, the only way to truly be free is if you let yourself look at the world from every angle, no matter how strange or impossible it may seem. The only way to be completely happy is to know your insides through and through, and to accept that those insides will be constantly changing, like how water is constantly moving. It seems they really live by this, and it’s clear in their music. Nate goes on to say, “I think people are so used to being told what is popular or ‘right’ according to the current style, and we really want to break that habit, to get people to be more critical about how they think and what they listen to.”

Obviously, these fellas aren’t driving with their eyes closed; they are committed to knowing, learning, and guiding others to do the same. Pair that with their outstanding talent and piercing sound, and what do you have to lose?

Go on, give in to the awesome.

Automatic Doors from AirPlay Direct on Vimeo.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

In between surfing, producing films, and making college kids all over the world swoon over his jams, Hawaii native Jack Johnson has had the time to record another smash, To The Sea, due out June 1st. Brief description; heavy-eyed, fully developed acoustic rock for the fraternity set. First single, You and Your Heart, fits right in the guilty-pleasure catalogue; “But you and your heart, shouldn’t feel so far apart”. Breezy tunes, and a laid back vibe can feed any music listener’s soul. Mr. Johnson truly is the outlet of all things mellow. After all, even head bangers need to lie down sometime.

Having previewed this album, I felt as if each track forced me to go beneath the surface, and try to understand the transition of youth to adulthood. It has the capability of winning you over, hitting your heart, and bringing people together. If only everything that was contagious was this good for you. Many interpretations will come from this record, and it’s stimulating to see what listeners will take from it. The lyrics aren’t the outcome of a brainstorming session, but about situations that have truly affected his musical journey; an astounding alchemy of music and verse.

Johnson will take you To the Sea, and beyond this summer while embracing the U.S. with a tour full of good vibrations. This album will encourage one to live in the sunshine, swim the sea, and drink the wild air.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Finally someone who speaks the damn truth!

In a new interview with NME, M.I.A. had some very colorful words to say about the Lady.

Do we still need record labels?

Are they even interested in making money from music anymore? Lady Gaga plugs 15 things in her new video. Dude, she even plugs a burger! That’s probably how they’re making money right now – buying up the burger joint, putting the burger in a music video and making loads of burger money.

Do you think those programmes and the internet have destroyed the mythology around popstars?

I don’t know. Again, there’s Lady Gaga – people say we’re similar, that we both mix all these things in the pot and spit them out differently, but she spits it out exactly the same! None of her music’s reflective of how weird she wants to be or thinks she is. She models herself on Grace Jones and Madonna, but the music sounds like 20-year-old Ibiza music, you know? She’s not progressive, but she’s a good mimic. She sounds more like me than I fucking do! That’s a talent and she’s got a great team behind her, but she’s the industry’s last stab at making itself important – saying, ‘You need our money behind you, the endorsements, the stadiums’ Respect to her, she’s keeping a hundred thousand people in work, but my belief is: Do It Yourself.

How important are image and visuals to your music?

Very. But it’s not like “Haus of Gaga” (laughs). Me blindfolded with naked men feeding me apples and shit.

Would you ever make a record for a Twilight soundtrack?

They asked me. Luckily Jimmy [Iovine, chairmen of M.I.A.’s US label Interscope] had beef with the Twilight people, so he stepped in and told them to fuck off.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

If you’ve been a loyal follower of BTB from the beginning, you should know that I have a bit of a love rush for Robyn. The Swedish artist has announced the details of her next album, Body Talk Pt. 1, due for release this June.

The eight-track record will be the first installment in a trilogy of mini-albums. Robyn’s idea was to release new material as it becomes finished, rather than waiting for a normal length album to be completed.

Body Tal Pt. 1 will feature guest production work by Scandanavian artists like Royksopp, Kleerup, Klas Ahlund, and Mad Decent boss Diplo.

Tracklist
001. Don’t Fucking Tell Me What to Do
002. Fembot
003. Dancing On My Own
004. Cry When You Get Older
005. Dance Hall Queen
006. None of Dem
007. Hang with Me (acoustic)
008. Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa

Universal will release Robyn’s Body Talk on June 7th, 2010.

Can’t wait!

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Jersey natives, The Parlor Mob, have set their name in the music stone. Never heard of em? Don’t be upset if you have mistaken these boys for a much older posse, for they are, in my opinion, the essence of groove. They ooze like an old Stretch-Armstrong doll; ooze out the best kind of rock and roll. Sound that makes you yearn for that way back when melody (for the Zeppelin comparison is the first one that always seems to come to mind), and times when media outlets, technology, and “auto-tune” hadn’t robbed us all of a legit knowledge of music. This is a mob you definitely wanna roll with.

They are a breath of fresh air in a time of stale records. After all, in their own words–“Everything you’re breathing for will let you down and leave you sore”. And You Were A Crow is a lyrical masterpiece compacted into a disc like shape that you need to inhale.

Radio single Hard Times beats on the struggles of American youth; “Ain’t no future for our kind, and these are hard times”. Well, hell yeah they are. At least some good music can cheer up the downers for 3 minutes and 37 seconds. The poignant melodies of this album affect me every time I listen to it, and honestly, it’s been in deep rotation for quite some time. The Parlor Mob will be at The Bamboozle Festival 2010, a great opportunity to check out the potential call of a rock and roll revolution.