For the third week in a row, an alum from Idol's eighth season releases their debut album. This week it's Allison Iraheta's turn to satisfy her fans, as her CD Just Like You drops nationwide.
The album features songs written by esteemed writers such as Toby Gad ("Scars"), Max Martin ("Friday I'll Be Over U"), Sam Watters ("D Is For Dangerous") and Kara DioGuardi ("No One Else").
Links to purchase the aforementioned can be found below:
Amazon.com - ($9.99) - Buy
Amazon MP3 - ($9.99) - Buy
Barnes & Noble - ($12.19) - Buy
Best Buy - ($9.99) - Buy
Buy.com - ($11.99) - Buy
CDUniverse - ($11.18) - Buy
iTunes - ($9.99 standard, $11.99 deluxe) - Buy: standard, deluxe
Sears - ($10.79) - Buy
Target - ($11.98) - Buy
Walmart - ($13.88) - Buy
The iTunes version of Just Like You includes two bonus tracks, with the exclusive pre-order track "Don't Wanna Be Wrong" written by Chris Daughtry and the Spanish version of "Friday I'll Be Over U" ("El Viernes Te Olvido Yo").
Showing posts with label max martin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label max martin. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Out today: Allison Iraheta's 'Just Like You'
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Out today: Carrie Underwood's 'Play On'
After two years, Carrie Underwood finally unleashes her latest album Play On. The album features 13 tracks including the current country smash "Cowboy Casanova" and promotional singles "Mama's Song," "Temporary Home" and "Undo It."
Writing credits include Hillary Lindsey, Luke Laird, Max Martin, Kara DioGuardi, Raine Maida, Chantal Kreviazuk and Carrie herself among others.
Links to purchase the aforementioned can be found below:
Albums
Carrie Underwood, Play On
Amazon.com - ($9.99) - Buy
Amazon MP3 - ($8.99) - Buy
Barnes & Noble - ($9.99) - Buy
Best Buy - ($9.99) - Buy
Buy.com - ($12.97) - Buy
CDUniverse - ($11.18) - Buy
CMT Shop - ($13.98) - Buy
iTunes - ($10.99) - Buy
Sears - ($10.79) - Buy
Walmart - ($13.88) - Buy
The only version of Play On that includes bonus material of any sort is the iTunes version, which includes the pre-order bonus track "O Holy Night," which was previously available on a Walmart edition of Carrie's second album Carnival Ride that was released last fall.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Track review: Allison Iraheta's "Friday I'll Be Over U"
Allison Iraheta tries to make a name for herself as a teenage rocker chick on her debut single “Friday I’ll Be Over U.” The single is the first one off Iraheta’s forthcoming album (Dec. 1) courtesy of Jive Records.
Friday I'll Be Over U will be released digitally on Tues., Oct. 20. It can now be streamed in its entirety on Allison's official Web site.
On “Over U,” Iraheta is tasked with making a fairly generic sounding track her own, and she somewhat succeeds. Since she is still very young both in life and her music career, producers have a tough job in making her standout from the saturated pop/rock scene. Writer/producer Max Martin (Kelly Clarkson, P!NK) is smart to gear Iraheta’s bow toward a teen audience, but the “who cares?” lyrics and the “Avril Lavigne circa 2007” production do nothing to personalize “Over U.”
From the schoolyard sounding verses to the techno-tinged choruses, the song’s overall juvenile feel is a little bit beneath Iraheta when compared with the big songs she tackled while on ‘Idol.’ Thankfully, Iraheta’s signature vocals help differentiate the single from the fray. Her husky tone is for the most part unaffected by pro-tools and are undeniably distinguishable.
Hopefully “Friday I’ll Be Over U” is one of the weaker offerings on Allison Iraheta’s debut album. If not, some fans unfortunately might be over her before Friday.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Allison Iraheta debuts new single "Friday I'll Be Over U"
Allison Iraheta's new single "Friday I'll Be Over U" debuted this morning on AOL's PopEater blog. The song, which is the lead single off Allison's forthcoming debut album courtesy of Jive Records, was both written and produced by Max Martin. Listen to the single below:
The song harkens back to the style of music sung by Avril Lavigne circa 2007 ("Girlfriend," anyone?) and sounds like something Ashlee Simpson would have turned down. That said, Allison's unique voice adds something to the juvenile lyrics and tired synths, so it should do reasonably well for her. Full review to follow.
Friday, September 4, 2009
'Idol' odds 'n ends: Jennifer Hudson joins VH1's "Divas" roster
The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:
>Just a few weeks ago, Kelly Clarkson let it slip that fellow Idol champ Jordin Sparks would be joining her in VH1's Divas special. Now, it was Jordin's turn to announce the addition of another Idol alum at concert event, as she told Paulette Tobin of The Grand Forks Herald that Jennifer Hudson would also be performing. This brings representation from the franchise at the broadcast to four, as Paula Abdul was recently announced as the show's host.
>Coming just one week after the official announcement of his fellow Top 2 comrade's album release date, Adam Lambert subtlety let it be known that his self-titled album would be out on Tues., Nov. 24. In a tweet sent out on Wednesday, Adam said:over 86K raised by http://www.donorschoose.org... !! thank you guys so much! keep it coming! fyi my album drops Nov 24th ! 8:46 AM Sep 2nd from web
Adam is reportedly working with producers such as RedOne and Max Martin and looks to have a big opening week thanks to his album being released the week of Thanksgiving. Competition will come from Lil' Wayne, Mary J. Blige, Diddy, Susan Boyle and a re-release from Lady Gaga.
>It was recently announced that Diana DeGarmo has been selected to serve as a celebrity judge the New York Musical Theater Festival's (NYMF) "Next Broadway Sensation" contest, which will award one winner the chance to perform his or her own solo concert among other things. According to TheaterMania.com:Confirmed celebrity judges include actors Diana DeGarmo, Jonathan Groff, Bailey Hanks, Orfeh, Donna Lynne Champlin, Kacie Sheik, and Allison Case; composer/lyricist Paul Scott Goodman; and record producer Noah Corman.
The three rounds of the competition will be held at New World Stages in New York, N.Y., on Sun., Sept. 13, Sept. 20 and Oct. 4.
>Keeping busy with his writing and storytelling skills, David Archuleta on Wednesday posted a new blog post on his official Ning network site about recording his Christmas album and performing the last concert of his summer tour in Alaska. Arch said in part:I've been recording in LA and Utah this week and it's been quite the work but I'm really excited for it all to come together! I really like airplane rides though because it gives me time to write and get really detailed in my journal haha. Anyway... I know that may have seemed kinda random but I've been on airplanes quite a bit this last week. But I think the Christmas spirit is rubbing off on me because I've never started the Holiday season spirit this early in the year before haha. It feels good though.
He also gave a friendly shout out to fellow Season 7 alum Jason Castro and said he likes his new single, "Let's Just Fall In Love Again."
>Blake Lewis' album release is still one month away, but he eagerly e-mailed fans on his mail listing this morning to alert them that he will be sending links to preview select songs off Heartbreak On Vinyl over the next four weeks. He kicked things off this morning with a link to listen to the album's title track, "Heartbreak On Vinyl."
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Album review: Kelly's 'All I Ever Wanted'
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After hitting a few speed bumps on the road to consistent success, dependable pop/rock maven Kelly Clarkson bombards fans with her much-anticipated fourth studio album, ‘All I Ever Wanted.’ Clarkson calls on big named songwriters and proven producers including Howard Benson to assist her in convincing audiences the album is worth listening to, trading in artistic experiments for guaranteed pop hits.
Leading off the disc is the super sugary and ultra radio-friendly #1 hit single “My Life Would Suck Without You.” The same team that was responsible for her most memorable hit, “Since U Been Gone,” Max Martin and Dr. Luke, offers up its talents with the highest-quality dance/pop production possible on the track. Although it is a great way to begin ‘Wanted,’ it’s not nearly its strongest track.
Other current sounding songs with similar Katy Perry dance elements include the Ryan Tedder-produced and co-penned “If I Can’t Have You,” which could be confused with a Miley Cyrus song thanks to juvenile lyrics if it weren’t for Clarkson’s distinct vocals, while another Tedder track, “Impossible,” is stylized and produced to soda pop perfection complete with synths and a big classic Clarkson bridge.
The comparisons to Perry’s work found on ‘Wanted’ are made easier by the inclusion of two former demos recorded by radio’s newest sensation, which she helped pen with the likes of Glen Ballard and ‘Idol’ judge Kara DioGuardi among others. Clarksons’s takes on the two tracks, “I Do Not Hook Up” and “Long Shot” are certified earworms. “Hook Up,“ the album’s second single, has an anthemic vibe that carries positive connotations, while the stronger “Long Shot” features a crazy, catchy chorus and staccato verses that add intensity to the album.
One thing that can’t be denied about ‘Wanted’ is the idea that it’s a combination of elements from Clarkson’s three previous albums, which makes it her most diverse one stylistically speaking by a large margin. The album that seems to be drawn on the most here is ‘Breakaway’ for obvious reasons, as songs like the hit-in-waiting “Don’t Let Me Stop You” beckons back to “Behind These Hazel Eyes” and “Save You” sounds like it would fit right in on her most commercial album to date.
Just as there are oodles of dance-pop hits on the album, there are just as many rock tracks a la ‘My December.’ Title track “All I Ever Wanted” (Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, Dameon Aranda) is among the catchiest offerings while maintaining instrumentation with heavy bass, guitar chords and earthy vocals per Clarkson. The grungy “Whyyawannabringmedown,” also written by Aranda, is the most intense song on ‘Wanted’ and helps show off Clarkson’s personality. Other ‘My December’-esque tracks are the bluesy “Ready” and the dreamy, throwback-sounding “I Want You,” both of which Clarkson had a hand in writing.
The strongest track on ‘Wanted’ is without a doubt the power ballad “Cry,” which is where Clarkson is able to show off her range and fuse it with a beautiful arrangement. Clarkson herself described the song as being “the most personal song on the album,” and a few country elements included in the instrumentation give it a raw and gritty feeling at the same time. “Already Gone,” the album’s second-strongest offering, sounds like an updated “Nothing Compares 2 U” complete with haunting, echoing vocals. Although it is often compared to another Tedder-produced track (Beyoncé’s “Halo”), the song is original enough to stand on its own as a musical and lyrical achievement.
Clarkson chooses to finish off ‘Wanted’ with the Keri Noble cover of “If No One Will Listen,” which is the most ‘Thankful’-like option. Although it is a nice ballad in its own right, it feels a bit out of place here, especially as a closing track.
Among the three bonus tracks available on the deluxe edition are yet another Tedder/Clarkson collaboration, “Tip of My Tongue,” which sounds like something that could be heard as part of a high school dance club‘s act, and “The Day We Fell Apart,” a more ratcheted and rocked up “I Do Not Hook Up.” Either track could have easily been swapped with two tracks on the original album and they would have fit relatively well.
Even though ‘All I Ever Wanted’ is far from measuring up to Clarkson’s most artistic album (’My December’), it is on par with ‘Breakaway’ in terms of balancing commercial appeal with personal influence from Clarkson herself. Whether or not the album measures up to the success of the aforementioned disc, Kelly Clarkson is surely back in the game and is ready to redeem her throne atop the pop music kingdom.
Buy on iTunes and Amazon.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Track review: Kelly's "My Life Would Suck Without You"
Kelly Clarkson is back in her photoshopped form with the Dr. Luke/Max Martin instant hit “My Life Would Suck Without You,” out Fri., Jan. 16. Although she has temporarily left her ‘December’ style behind, Clarkson still knows exactly how to make a pop gem.
“Suck” does not present listeners with anything truly groundbreaking, lyrically (“either way I found out / I’m nothing without you“) or musically, but it does feature Clarkson’s signature toned vocals. Her vocals, though dressed up thanks to autotuning, blend well with the techno-rock composition of the song. The “Since U Been Gone”-like opening guitar chord and the “So What”-like chorus call originality into question but the catchiness of “Suck” cancels out those claims.
Where Clarkson really makes “Suck” her own is in the final chorus when she hits a few astronomically high notes. This is the artist that fans know and love and her return to the music scene after a few rough years is just what radio needed.
Kelly Clarkson may be traveling the commercially-friendly route right now, especially with the techno thing in style, but her spunk, tenacity and unparalleled vocals set her leaps and bounds ahead of the Katy Perrys and the Lady Gagas of the world. She will always be a role model for artists, and “My Life Would Suck Without You” is something special for that reason.
Monday, January 5, 2009
"My Life Would Suck Without You" lyrics released
The lyrics to Kelly Clarkson's highly anticipated single "My Life Would Suck Without You" were today revealed in an entry on AOL's PopEater blog. Read the lyrics below:
Guess this means you’re sorryThe song, which was written by the hit-making duo of Dr. Luke and Max Martin with the help of Claude Kelly, should leak any day now, and with the lyrics being posted on PopEater, that (along with AOL Music) would be a good place to check frequently over the next few days.
You’re standing at my door
Guess this means you take back
What you said before
Like how much you wanted
Anyone but me
Said you’d never come back
But here you are again
Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you
Maybe I was stupid for telling you goodbye
Maybe I was wrong for tryin’ to pick a fight
I know that I’ve got issues
But you’re pretty messed up too
Anyway, I found out I’m nothing without you
Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you
Being with you is so dysfunctional
I really shouldn’t miss you, but I can’t let go
Oh yeah
Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you
"My Life Would Suck Without You" officially hits radio airwaves on Mon., Jan. 19.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Kelly's "My Life Would Suck Without You" video filming
The release of Kelly Clarkson's latest single "My Life Would Suck Without You" is still a month away (Jan. 13), but she's already filming its music video.
The video will be directed by Wayne Isham (David Cook's "Light On," 'N Sync's "It's Gonna Be Me," "Bye Bye Bye") and filming will take place Dec. 20-21 in Los Angeles. The synopsis?
Cute tale of romance from childhood into adulthoodBelow are the parts that had to be auditioned for today:
Role"My Life Would Suck Without You" was written by Max Martin and Dr. Luke. Other songs rumored to be on the album include "Save You," which she co-wrote with Ryan Tedder and "Hook Up," a Katy Perry reject that was cut from her One of the Boys album (ouch at the latter).
LEAD GUY / Non-Union / Lead / Male / Caucasian / 24-29
Rugged, Cool, Edgy, All American Good Lookin Guy. Not a bulky jock or a skinny rocker guy. Also must be able to act and be comfortable kissing Kelly Clarkson.
Rate: $1000 Negotiable
Role Added 12/15/2008 3:04:00 PM
Other Current Roles
LITTLE LEAD GUY / Non-Union / Featured / Male / Caucasian / 6-8
I need a talented lead guy to play our tbd lead male on the play ground. Must be a strong actor and have up to date paperwork
Rate: $200
Role Added 12/15/2008 3:08:00 PM
LITTLE KELLY / Non-Union / Featured / Female / Caucasian / 6-8
I need an extremely talented little actress to play Kelly Clarkson on a playground meeting her future true love. Please make sure all paperwork is up to date and research Kelly's current look. Thank you
Rate: $200 Negotiable
Her fourth studio album is tentatively scheduled to be out March 17, 2009.
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