Category: Music

By Michelle Joline

Writer

With the craze for house music and techno on the rise, classic alternative rock and coffeehouse lovers can find some solace in the contemporary sound of Adele. After a hit first album titled “19,” representing the age she wrote the heartbreaking songs, she does not disappoint with her second, “21.” The numbers titling her soulful albums are, if nothing else, deceiving. Her voice is reminiscent of the great jazz singers of the last era, like Ella and Etta, with lyrics that hold the wisdom of women two or three times her age.

Born in the U.K. and following in the footsteps of Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, Adele graduated from The Brit School and pursued a career in music, immediately becoming a sensation  in Europe. Americans were not disappointed with her musical arrival either, as she sold 352,000 records within the first week of her second album’s release. Perhaps she is satisfying some of the gaps in music that have existed in the past few years, offering listeners a raw voice on top of a catchy melody.

It seemed like everyone had the sound of “Chasing Pavements” stuck in their heads a few years back, but Adele managed to make another quick hit with “Rolling in the Deep,” maintaining a top slot on the Billboard charts for weeks. The heavy bass in her music pulls listeners in and forces them to listen to her lyrics, which typically relate to a past, current and future love. Her lyrics resonate with the majority of the population, particularly those who have found themselves heartbroken. Adele described her music in an interview with Russell Porter as being “heartbroken soul” and the perfect listening for those who have caught the fever.

Adele has said that her love for relationships is not only reserved for the opposite sex, but also food. Her weight has been a controversial topic since the debut of her first album. In an interview with Myplay, Adele spoke out on the subject by saying, “I’m a singer. I never want to be known for anything else. I’d rather weigh a ton and make an amazing album than look like Nicole Richie and do a s*** album. My aim in life is never to be skinny.” She is now making a statement for what is seen as beautiful in Hollywood, being recognized for her amazing talents rather than a small waistline. Adele’s inspiration doesn’t just lie in the confidence behind her lyrics, but also the image she presents to the girls listening.

Hopefully we will be getting a lot more inspiration from Adele over the coming decades. I haven’t been disappointed yet with any of her released songs, as she turns out hit after hit.

 

If you are interested in downloading some of her best songs, here are my top 10 picks:

1. Rolling In The Deep
2. Chasing Pavements
3. Crazy For You
4. First Love
5. Make You Feel My Love
6. Turning Tables
7. Take It All
8. Someone Like You
9. I Found A Boy
10. My Same

 

By Michelle Joline

Contributing Writer

This past year in music has brought newcomers like Justin Bieber and Mumford & Sons into the limelight and onto everyone’s MP3 players. With the Grammys approaching this Sunday, the question at hand is whether or not their new success will win them the ultimate recognition. The 53rd annual Grammy Awards will air on CBS from 8-11:30 p.m.

Last year, everyone seemed to talk about Lady Gaga, but this year it was Eminem who stole the stage and received 10 nominations from his unexpectedly popular comeback album “Recovery.” While Lady Gaga has still maintained her popularity from her “Little Monsters” with six nominations, newcomers like Florence and the Machine might end up winning big. Their new indie/rock sound, featured on “Glee,” has arguably changed the style of popular contemporary music. Many of these artists will be performing during the Grammys, making for an entertaining night in music. Artists such as Rihanna and Bieber are on the list of performers for the festivities.

The Super Bowl isn’t the only time for a little competition. Tune in to find out if your favorite artist is the big winner at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Noteworthy 2011 Grammy Nominations

Song of the Year

‘Beg, Steal or Borrow’-Ray LaMontagne

‘Forget You’-Cee-Lo

‘The House That Built Me’-Miranda Lambert

‘Love the Way You Lie’-Eminem Feat. Rihanna

‘Need You Now’-Lady Antebellum

Best New Artist

Justin Bieber

Drake

Florence and the Machine

Mumford & Sons

Esperanza Spalding

Record of the Year

‘Nothing on You’-B.o.B Feat. Bruno Mars

‘Love the Way You Lie’-Eminem Feat. Rihanna

‘Forget You’-Cee-Lo

‘Empire State of Mind’-Jay-Z Feat. Alicia Keys

‘Need You Now’-Lady Antebellum

Best Country Song

‘The Breath You Take’-George Strait

‘Free’-Zac Brown Band

‘The House That Built Me’-Miranda Lambert

‘I’d Love to Be Your Last’-Gretchen Wilson

‘If I Die Young’-The Band Perry

‘Need You Now’-Lady Antebellum

Best Rock Song

‘Angry World’-Neil Young

‘Little Lion Man’-Mumford & Sons

‘Radioactive’-Kings of Leon

‘Resistance’-Muse

‘Tighten Up’-The Black Keys

Best R&B Song

‘Bittersweet’-Fantasia

‘Finding my Way Back’-Jaheim

‘Second Chance’-El DeBarge

‘Shine’-John Legend & The Roots

‘Why Would You Stay’-Kem

Best Rap Song

‘Empire State of Mind’-Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

‘Love the Way You Lie’-Eminem & Rihanna

‘Not Afraid’-Eminem

‘Nothin’ on You’-B.o.B. & Bruno Mars

‘On To The Next One’-Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz

By William Bonfiglio

Writer

The words “grating,” “harsh” and “upsetting” are not frequently associated with successful music.  But beginning in the late eighties, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails substituted these characteristics for melody and rhythm to create an entirely novel genre of music dubbed “industrial.”

In 2007, Reznor announced he was disbanding his live group, Nine Inch Nails (NIN).  Many wondered whether he would retire from the corporate music scene altogether.  His subtle messages to fans did nothing to abate these concerns. On more than one occasion in 2010, the only graphic portrayed on the NIN website was a question mark.

Reznor never truly left the music profession.  He was involved with projects like film soundtracks and reissues for previously successful albums. He was also working with his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, formerly of the band West Indian Girl, and the composer Atticus Ross on a fresh project.  On June 1, the group made their project available to the public. The release was an EP titled “How To Destroy Angels,” credited to a group of the same name. Though not innovative or influential, the project does show he will remain in the musical scene for a while.

The style of music of the project is not a significant departure from past styles. Many familiar with the work of NIN have compared it to a 1999 double album release titled “The Fragile,” noted for its gloomy ambience. Maandig’s vocals in “How to Destroy Angels” are similar to vocals on “The Fragile” due to the thick and distorted sound of the voice, and the haunting, whispery narration.  What some listeners have identified as a mind-numbing monotone can actually be read as the voice of an exhausted victim, who perhaps knows her efforts are futile, pathetically inquiring in “The Drowning,” and “Please, anyone, I don’t think I can save myself. I’m drowning here.”

Knowing the key to success lies in exposure, Reznor and his group have provided a link to download the EP for free on the band’s website, howtodestroyangels.com.

Through his new release, and the news that Reznor will compose the music featured in the highly anticipated film, “The Social Network,” which chronicles the creation of Facebook, Reznor has shown he has not given up on the world as an audience.