Blog: IT'S THE MONEY SHOT

ALICE SMITH is one of those musical artists that I just couldn't resist blogging about. Like Corinne Bailey Rae , she is one of those rare modern soul songstresses who really shines...except after hearing Alice Smith, I'd throw Ms. Bailey Rae into a trash can in a second . It's nothing personal. Both ladies write exquisite soul songs, except Smith actually delivers the soul. Where Corinne sugarcoats her songs in a simple, happy acoustic sound, Alice revels in the darkness with her complex [...]

GIRL TALK isn't just a mediocre single by TLC released after Lefteye 's tragic death. It's also not just a board game you ladies (and some fellas) used to play at sleepovers. Hell, if you bring this kind of Girl Talk to your sleepovers, this better be the kind of sleepover that involves booty-drops and doing the running man. Maybe even a stripper named Candy. Girl Talk (aka Greg Gilllis) is beyond samples. He's not just a guy who [...]

ANJEL was an R&B girl-group formed by LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson after they got kicked to the curb by Destiny's Child in February 2000. Before being thrown out, they had threatened to split with manager Matthew Knowles because he kept too much of their cash, was a controlling little bitch, and favored his daughter like whoa. Soon after this, they were surprised to see two new faces replacing them. And they did what any two revenge-seeking divas would do. Filed a lawsuit...OH, and [...]

Since I need sleep, I am going to have to break my promise of having the June playlist up tonight. Apologies!

coming up later tonight

Homosexuality is really gay. No seriously. It literally is. I'm not sure how I feel about "pride" and what is interpreted as "gay culture". You wouldn't have seen me marching around in NYC today, but don't get me wrong...My people can do some okay things. However, gay men often misinterpret the meaning of "pride". Before we celebrate and dance around in man-thongs, I think we need to solve a few problems and tensions within the community, ok? Before we make others repect us, I think we need to [...]

YO MAJESTY wasn't discovered by me...They found me. I don't know how these ladies knew I'd dig their hott booty-bass ol' skool sound, but I'm glad they did. The ladies' motto is "smashing against the sonic perimeter" and I can't stop letting their voices smash against my ears. How can you resist a group that spits, "Courvoisier, Courvoisier where art thou?" and hums the beat to Salt 'N' Pepa in the background? It's simplicity. [...]

LAURYN HILL may have been hiding from the spotlight these past years, but she hasn't been a stranger to my iTunes. Today, my two favorite things collided as Louie of i guess i'm floating honored Ms. Hill with a post- Sister Act II post . It inspired me to make this post featuring some b-sides, remixes, rarities, collaborations, and unreleased songs. Considering Lauryn has been keeping it on the hush for the most part, no one is really sure when her [...]

Kelis is a fascinating individual. I once deemed her the "American R&B equivalent of Bjork " due to her eclectic repertoire, and I didn't just come up with that title because of her collaboration with Bjork. She's all over the place. One minute she's falling apart and floating in a creepy, gothic wasteland, and moments later she's a pop culture phenomenom . She's an R&B sensation, yet she's a rockstar . [...]

Timbaland 's Beat Club Records was created ca. 1999/2000, but around 2004 the label dissolved. This forced most of the artists to venture alone into the music industry for a new home. You may remember some of these artists. Hell, some of them may still be playing on your radio. Some of them. Bubba Sparxxx ("Ugly"): Despite a mediocre debut and his critically acclaimed, commercially ignored sophomore slump, Mr. Sparxxx is getting some radio play with "Ms. New Booty" and [...]

Dashboard Confessional 's new album? I will admit that I didn't have high hopes for it. I didn't expect it to change my life. I didn't expect it to be the Mona Lisa of rock music... Before I go on, I will also admit that I used to be a huge fan back in my high school years. "So long, so long" ago, Dashboard Confessional was the soundtrack to my life-- detailing my fears, desires, and insecurities . I was obsessive, snatching up every unreleased song I could [...]

PASSION BOYS "make some music very much like name Passion Boys. They like make music about sexy ladie and nice music also." No, you haven't suddenly come down with a rare reading disorder. That is how they type. Whether or not these boys from Bataszek, Hungary are punking the world a la Silvia Night is yet to be determined...but one thing is certain. I will gladly ride in a satellite (of love) with Gyorgy and Laszlo. Their [...]

Janet Jackson is in desperate need of some emancipation a la Mimi. Since her career peaked with 1993's janet. (selling 19 million copies worldwide), her album sales have been steadily declining. Some blame the superbowl incident for her downward spiral...but apparently things started to slide around the time of 1997's The Velvet Rope , which sold less than half what janet. sold-- 8 million worldwide. The 2001 follow-up, All [...]

Cleopatra 's single for "Cleopatra's Theme" (1998) was the first CD that I tried to play off as being purchased ironically. My sister and I thought the music video was hilarious, so I bought this single for $1.99 in order to hop on my bed and make fun of the three braid-headed sisters. I wouldn't admit it back then, but deep inside...I loved this song. And I still love it to this day. You see, Ms. Cleopatra Madonna Higgins actually had a huge voice for a [...]

Inspired by my trip down memory lane caused by Andy Greenwald 's book Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers, and Emo , this begins a new series of posts embracing the days when I would wear a Taking Back Sunday t-shirt without embarassment or shame. The days when I would blast songs that included repeated choruses of "Spoon Out My Heart". The days when I was "emo" . These are the songs that I hate to still love...which I suppose is sort of emo for me to say. [...]

Regina Spektor used to bore me, but the minute I heard "Fidelity", the opening track off her new album Begin to Hope, my mouth dropped in amazement. Was this the same anti-folk pianist I brushed off my shoulder with no regrets back in 2004? Yes. But better...or as Ms. Spektor would say "beddo". The album proves that this Russian singer-songwriter isn't afraid to experiment, messing with her old piano formula by bringing in electric guitars, drum machines, and electronic loops. She retains her eccentric lyrical style while bringing in a [...]

Nelly Furtado 's new material has gained her titles ranging from slut to sellout to comeback queen. The lead single in the US, "Promiscuous", is in heavy rotation on video channels and radio. Some are shocked by her new sexy, "hip-hop" sound and image. Some are shocked by the fact that she's working with Timbaland ... These people are idiots. Okay, that's a bit harsh...You may be among those people. If you are, let me educate you dearie. Ms. Furtado and Timbaland have collaborated as early as 2001 on the [...]

PEACHES has taught you well. But seriously...are all you motherfuckers ready for the Fatherfucker ? No? Well, maybe you're ready for Impeach My Bush , the third album by the queen of obscene, sucky-sucking, genderfucking electroclash. Impeach My Bush finds Peaches out of her element in...an actual studio. But have no fear! The vocals have been treated in such a way to make them sound like they were recorded in a small, shitty room. There's still that gritty Peaches sound, but with a touch [...]

Boy Crisis is old news in some communities at Wesleyan University, but as far as I know...they have yet to make their blogosphere debut. They claim that they sound like, "a computer having sex with a beautiful bird or something like that" ...but I'd have to say that they sound more like a bunch of boys who make delightfully energetic, silly dance music that you can't take serious at all...literally. You really can't. Maybe it's the ridiculous music video for the silly song "Let's Get Fantastic" or exciting, [...]

PdL does not stand for Punch-drunk Love. If you asked him what he stood for he'd tell you what he does not stand for---hate crimes...and the Pledge of Allegiance. If you were cool, you'd know that PdL stands for Perfidy de Licious , one half of the awesomely under-rated hip-hop duo The Mirror Boiyz (which I am totally unbiased about...of course). But you might not be cool...and that's why I'm here to help, because I'm SUCH a good friend. On [...]