Spotlight on Artist: Macklemore

Hooray! Spring looks like it's finally going to stick around in the Big D! It's about time, really. I've recently felt like the weather and my closet have been engaged in a terribly bipolar relationship of hot and cold, on again off again. I pack up my sweaters, then have to pull them out as the weather plummets to freezing (at least, by Texan standards). While I really do secretly like being bundled up (I would probably wear a snuggie if I felt I could get away with it and feel no remorse), it's about time to say "see you later!" to the winter layers.


Since I've been doing a lot of closet rearranging due to the pyscho weather, I've had time to DJ up for myself some great music. Macklemore is topping every chart everywhere in the entire world apparently, and so I thought I'd give the music a bit of a try. First, it took me a while to figure out that he was neither the real Slim Shady nor Pitbull or whatever, but once I made this connection I liked him better. Second, if you think Macklemore is still buys N-E-THING at a thrift shop, you are probably absolutely wrong. I'm not taking bets, but I'd almost be willing to do so. Still, while the song "Thrift Shop" is quickly becoming overplayed, it's pretty catchy and clever probably has made your grandpa's coat so much cooler.

I run at least one 5 or 10K race a month (yes, you may be impressed, and yes I feel my right lower lung collapse each time), "Can't Hold Us" has been my pre-running get hyped up song. Honestly, try running to it. You will go at least 2% faster for 4 minutes and 19 seconds longer. I've tested this out. The real value of the album is that it's filled with really thoughtful, musing lyrics that leave room for pondering. I wasn't really expecting that, but I liked it quite a lot. In case you're wondering who the Ryan is in this Ryan Lewis partnership, he's Macklemore's producer. Thank you Ryan, you've done well and deserve to be noticed, too. So if you're familiar with Macklemore's hits, check out the rest of his top chart album here!

XOXO

Camie

New Album Review: OneRepublic

I will forever be indebted to OneRebublic for the song "Apologize." It's what I like to call "One of the Better/Possibly Best Breakup Songs of the Century. No, I must correct myself: of the millennium. I don't get to use that word often, so I'm pretty excited that it was so approprié. But enough with my semi-stunning vocabulary. So while OneRepublic definitely spun out my heartbreak song of 20-whatever that year was (very significant heartbreak obviously) with their song from the album Dreaming Out Loud, they also had some tracks that I still adore to this day. "Say (All You Need)" remains somehow simple and simply beautiful in its powerful message and I never get tired of listening to it.

Other great tunes followed on their next album Waking Up which produced hits like "All the Right Moves," "Secrets," "Good Life," and "Marchin On." Not too bad for a follow up album, I must say. So what can you expect in their latest album Native? More of the same for starts. The sound hasn't changed. The same kind of lovely, wishful lyrics come back and reach for us. The easy guitar strumming ballads make for great go to background tracks of young hearts everywhere. Is it genius? Well, not really, but not all really delightful things are sheer brilliance. I do appreciate the great combination of melodic tunes and meaningful lyrics, so I really have nothing negative to say about Native. For all you music lovers out there who adore Joshua Radin, Five for Fighting and other fabulous anthemic songwriting groups, you'll enjoy every track on this album, which you can listen to here. And, just because I can and just because I'm looking out for you, I've included all of OneRepublic's albums for your listening pleasure. You're welcome.

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XOXO

Camie

New ALbum Review: 20/20 Experience

First things first: I freaking love boy bands. I'm not ashamed to admit it, and neither should you closet fans out there! You know there are tracks of Backstreet Boys and NKOTB hidden away on your playlists...just admit it! Boy band music is somehow really lame and seriously addictive all at the same time. Sure, it's all just a bunch of smoke and mirrors designed to fool females everywhere into falling in love via sappy, cheesy lyrics and great hair products, but who am I to reject this PR propaganda? I am, after all  female, and I happen to have a penchant for both excellent hair and musical people. Therefore, I love boy bands, even if they're the equivalent of the wizard of Oz hiding behind a curtain on stage and not so impressive in real life. Having said all that, I must add that Justin Timberlake is one band member who has managed to be successful on multi-circuits of the entertainment industry. The former NSYNC member has an incredibly success solo and movie career, as well as dabling in various other arenas. JT manages to keep up with the trends and stay true to himself at the same time.

Our boy band phenom took a musical haitis from '07 to '12 while he focused on a rather successful acting career, various philanthropic work, and other collaborative projects . His latest musical venture The 20/20 Experience ended his break as he began recording his two part album last year. The first part of the album was release just last month, while the second half is planned on being released in November. It's already a hit as it reaches top spots on many music charts and gets non-stop downloads from people like yours truly. The album is filled with a R&B/pop-esque sound that makes you forget he ever hip-hopped around during is boy band era. Smooth and a little jazzy, his tunes are easy listening done right. JT states that he wrote the music with no rules or end goal in mind, but songs like "Suite & Tie" and "Mirrors" are direct hits. Whether you're a loyal fan from back in the day or too young to remember the glory which was NSYNC (yes, I'm looking at you One Direction fans! Harry might, just might take you to prom now that he and Taylor Swift broke up. Keep those fingers crossed!) this is one album worth hearing!

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XOXO

Camie