Birthday Boy – Drive By Truckers – I was obsessing about these Alt Southern rock county punky sons of Steve Earle circa Flag Day but kinda cooled off and loathed the lead off single, “This Fucking Job, from the newbie. But this is as good as real good Hold Steady. Song Of The Week
Make A Wave (feat Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato) – Disney’s Friends For Change – Here is the deal: when teen pop phenoms keep to r&b at least you’ve got a back beat when they get it wrong. When they producce lachrymose crap like this all you get is overorchestrated, over produced Hallmark cards like this crap. Go drown yourself.
Seven Man Army (Live) – the White Stripes – Nobody denies that awesome guitar riff which has fueled this song so overwhelming everybody including the Oak Ridge Boys feeling condemned to it. This live version is the definition of pointless.
U Smile – Justin Bieber – There is a reason why Justin is so popular beyond his cutiness. He has a deeply emotional voice remeniscent of early Michael Jackson and he mines R&b to good effect. Even here. Everything “Make A Wave” isn’t. Catchy, sweet, with a strong back beat.
Nothing On You – B.O.B. – Records for T.I., sounds like Boys 2 Men with a rap back up and compuer generated bpms. Not bad.
You And I – The Disco Biscuits – Cult band with electronic jams a plus.
Love Never Dies – Andrew Lloyd Webber – Look at it this way: better than that other piece of crap I reviewed from the show last week. It is a lovely melody and the little mermaid star sings it beautifully. Yeah: shocking but I didn’t hate “Another Suitcase, In Another Hall” either.