WWWWW- One of the year's finest
WWWW- Exceptional
WWW- May not change the world, but it's still good
WW- Well
uuhhhh...maybe
W- Next stop: the trash bin
311- Creatures (For A While) (WWW) It's enjoyable, driving, nu-metal-ish rock, but this gloomy song sounds way too different from their summery, ska-like past.
Adema- Unstable (WWW) It's whiny, yes, but the driving nu-metal rock backdrop gives this track a lot of life.
Asheru & Blue Black of the Unspoken Heard- Truly Unique (WWWW) With a punchy, drum-loop heavy beat and comprable rhymes to boot, this rap crew announce their entrance- with lots of style.
Mary J. Blige f/Method Man- Love @ 1st Sight (WW) It's another attempt to make "Family Affair", but this track just doesn't have that life. Method Man's rap is solid, though.
Rhian Benson- Say How I Feel (WWWW) With a sultry flow and a smooth delivery (especially vocally), this soul song has all the conviction many of today's mainstream R&B does not.
Brad & Shelly- Legally (W) Okay, so this couple is legally entwined in a relationship that isn't right- right? Okay, so we get the point- and, regardless, it's a sappy, directionless country ballad that installs as many twangs as it can just so it can remain "country". One of the worst singles of the year.
(Stinker Of The Week)
Brand New- The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows (WWW) The lyrics can get a little whiny, but this emo song borrows enough from Blink 182's "All The Small Things" (making the beat darker) to stay interesting.
Mariah Carey- Bringin' On The Heartbreak (WW) Well, the dark pop beat is nice, but this ballad from her is pretty boring. However, put it to you this way: if it becomes a hit, I won't mind.
Cassidy- Take It (W) There's nothing left for me to say this 1,342,453,123,789,444,333,563rd rehash of the sexed-up and bling-bling rap song.
Cheerleader666- Go! (W) How boring can these pop-rockers get? Their hook is simply "go-oh-oh-woah" and the chrous is simply "go!" repeated. That's on top of the simply catchy yet boring guitar riffs, almost non-existant verses and a lead singer who's so whiny, it's laughable. Garbage like this is almost unheard of.
Billy Currington- Walk A Little Straighter (W) An utterly dull, lifeless and just plain old pathetic country ballad (snoozer, really) that's meant to stir up emotions, but the only tears it generates is for how bad it is...
Dead Or Alive- You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) (WWWW) Really great modern electronica send-up of the '80s classic.
Rob Dougan- Clubbed To Death (WWWW) This gloomy electronica song is a bit too familiar at times, but the mixes of strings and piano loops makes for one really interesting experience nonethless.
Cauterize- Something Beautiful (W) Spelling lesson everyone: N-E-W-F-O-U-N-D-G-L-O-R-Y-R-I-P-O-F-F-S...and of all bands...THEM. *hurls*
Closure- Look Out Below (WWW) The hook could use a little work (it starts off as a yelp of "look out below"), but the fusion of Nickelback and old-school Our Lady Peace really works.
Dakona- Good (WWW) Catchy, somewhat personal and enjoyable pop-rock. In other words, it lives up to it's title.
Mando Diao- Sheepdog (W) Simply put, this is a poor man's whiny version of the Rolling Stones.
Hilary Duff- So Yesterday (WWW) Yeah, she's borrowing a bit too much from Avril Lavigne, but this song is pretty catchy and a whole lot of fun- kind of what she's set out to do in the first place.
The Early November- I Want To Hear You Sad (WWW) This is pretty catchy, fun, light-hearted kiddie rock...the way it should be.
The Excuses- Devil's Footprint (WW) The riffs are catchy and quite good, but these death metallers sound nothing more than one-trick ponies.
Guster- Amsterdam (WWW) Catchy, light-hearted, and very enjoyable Sam Roberts-like pop-rock.
Jessie Harris & The Ferdinandos- All My Life (W) Simply put, this pop-rock confessional should have stayed on the cutting room floor- that, and Harris' whiny voice is really, REALLY annoying.
Home Grown- Kiss Me Diss Me (W) Stupid, whiny and utterly boring kiddie rock about some girl who's giving the frontman a hard time. Please, suck it up you crybaby.
Israel Vibration- Fighting Soldiers (WW) It has good intentions, but this light-hearted, ska-reggae song really doesn't have anything to keep it interesting.
Jane's Addiction- Just Because (WWW) It's a little whiny, but this driving and quite enjoyable rock song proves that they're back with a vengeance.
Nick Lachey- Shut Up (WWW) The sexed up lyrics are really awful, but the disco-like beat really make the song fun despite all that.
Patty Loveless- Lovin' All Night (WWW) Somewhat catchy but really enjoyable old-school country/bluegrass that's tailor-made for line-dancing.
The Movielife- Jamestown (WWW) Just to let everyone know, this band encapsulates everything that WAS AFI: catchy and personal, without the gimmicks. I just hope they continue along this path and not "add" anything like AFI did...
Murphy Lee f/Jermaine Dupri- Wat Da Hook Gon Be (WWWW) It's just a fun party-track where Murphy Lee and Jermaine Dupri just play around and let loose. Whatever it is, it's golden all the way.
Nappy Roots- Roun' The Globe (WWWW) A rapid-fire rap track (both lyrically and musically) touched with the Nappy Roots' signature deep verses and country undercurrents. Solid stuff.
Pan'jabi MC- Jogi (WWWWW) The self-proclaimed "king of bhangra" strikes again with another of his signature infectious and up-tempo Indian-flavoured hip-hop. It's a winner every time.
(Single Of The Week)
Britta Phillips & Dean Wareham- Night Nurse (WWW) Simply put it's very peaceful folk along the lines of Beck's "Lost Cause".
Lisa Marie Presley- Sinking In (WWW) Enjoyable, driving pop-rock with vocal tricks borrowed from her father that more than makes up for "Lights Out".
LeAnn Rimes- We Can (WWW) Rimes returns (somewhat) to her country roots with light-hearted country-rock-pop about nothing more than a good time and staying positive- kind of like Hilary Duff's "Why Not" (with vocal talent) in a way.
Senses Fail- Bloody Romance (WW) It's light-hearted, personal and the riffs are catchy, but this
emo song really feels like there's something missing...
Silverstein- Giving Up (WWWW) Powerfully personal, emotional and catchy...basically, everything the genre should be.
Skillz- Off The Wall (WWW) May not provide anything new, but this rapper still presents a catchy and fun party-track all the same.
Slightly Stoopid- Sweet Honey (WWWW) Very enjoyable, light-hearted, summery reggae-ish rock/pop about a girl on the singer's mind.
Spitalfield- I Loved The Way She Said L.A. (WWWW) Fun, light-hearted rock-pop take on the dreams of going to Hollywood.
Switchfoot- Meant To Live (WWWW) Believe it or not, this is personal, heart-felt and emotional nu-metal. No, really.
Systematic- Breakable (W) [insert fake whiny lyrics to appear "hurt"] [insert fake vocals] [insert fake guitar riffs] [stop song at radio-ready 3:43] Typical nu-metal crap...
Thrice- All That's Left (WWWWW) So what if they're on a major label? It's still all about real punk, recalling the greats like The Ramones in slamming society, explaing that "breaking the rules is all that's left." Just catchy, powerful and deep fun.
Venus Hum f/Esthero- Soul Sloshing (WWWWW) A very catchy beat with lots of synth loops at the end and drum machine work coupled with Esthero's enchanting voice...brilliance.
VonRay- I'll Show You (WWWW) Proving they're not one-trick ponies, Florida's VonRay provide another stellar, personal, driving alt/rock/pop gem.
Wilshire- Special (WWW) It's light, cheery and somewhat catchy guitar-pop, but how many Michelle Branch wannabes (this one in male/female duo form) can we take?
Young Gunz- Can't Stop Won't Stop (W) Memo to Jay-Z: just because some rapper wannabes are on your label doesn't mean they now have your ability to make cliched rap songs sound good...
Zane- Tonight I'm Yours (WWW) It's been done better before, but their version of the "girl, I'll be your everything" is still pretty solid.
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