As horrible as things are for gays in this country right now, it is hard to want to write about anything else. I am so disgusted that not only is there so much hatred for our relationships that people want to prevent us from getting married, but that there are actually states where gay people cannot adopt children. That is sickening, and any “Christian” that stands behind that belief should be totally ashamed of themselves; one truly cannot actually believe that they are doing good by preventing a child from having a parent (or two parents) that loves them, rather than forcing them to grow up in foster care, can they? With each thing that comes out in regards to our second class status, I am more and more disappointed with people in this country, and I just have to focus on other things like music, to keep from seriously melting down. That being said, I have five great songs today that have been helping me numb out some of the thoughts about this hatred, and I hope that they distract you for a short time, and make your Friday just a little better (through good music) as well.
Agnes Carlsson – Release Me
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_117_agnescarlsson-releaseme.mp3]
This is just what we need to bring us some good spirits; a new gay anthem, right?! This song is amazing, and I am in major music debt to my friend Stu for this one. He simply told me that I had to hear it because it is amazing, and well, he is right… it is utterly amazing and the only bad thing about it, is that it isn’t longer. It is so feel good and has the perfect dance beat. It doesn’t get much gayer than this; it is practically it’s own gay pride float!! Agnes is another one of those amazing Swedes bringing us the best that pop has to offer, and she was a winner of Swedish idol to boot! Play this song on repeat for a little while, and you will definitely be dancing around and have a smile on your face… trust me; I’ve been playing it on repeat all week long!
Tami Chynn – Frozen
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_117_tamichynn-frozen.mp3]
Okay, I have to admit that I have been holding this one back for a few weeks now. I love the song (it seems that Red One and Akon can do no wrong these days, production wise, eh!?!), but I couldn’t find an mp3, so that I could feature it on one of these five song Fridays (damn you iTunes and your mp4’s!). Well, I managed to scrounge one up, because I had to bring something peppy and fun for this week; especially with the aforementioned stuff swirling in my brain. Tami Chynn has had a couple of hits in her home country of Jamaica, but this is her first one to try and capture the US market. I have to say, that this song has taken me by storm. It is a great hip-hop flavored dance jam, and should definitely deserves to be on the radio. I can’t wait to see what else we have to look forward to from Ms. Chynn.
Laura Marling – Ghosts
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_117_lauramarling-ghosts.mp3]
This is unfortunately one of those songs that I was told about in the past, but I never got into it; only to hear it again later and be instantly taken by it. I hate when I am like that, because I really love sharing stuff with other people, and I really like getting recommendations myself; it’s just that sometimes I am out to lunch for whatever reason, and I guess if it doesn’t click then, I forget all about it. Well, lucky for me that I came back to this one, because the chorus is catchy, and will stick with you (even if it doesn’t the first time around!!). Laura brings us her great folk-pop from the UK, proving yet again that there is a ton of great music coming from those islands. It’s crazy to me that she’s only 18, because she definitely sounds older than that in her vocal styling. This is such a great single, and I absolutely love that chorus.
Semi Precious Weapons – Semi Precious Weapons
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_117_semipreciousweapons.mp3]
To quote Christian Siriano, “what a hot tranny mess!!”. Yet in this case, I mean nothing negative at all… this is hot tranny in the GREAT way!!! I heard about Semi Precious Weapons through Logo, and really enjoyed their kitschy style, and the way that they marry hard rock riffs with their own take on glam-rock. This song reminds me a lot of the energy from bands that I love like the Darkness and Scissor Sisters; and I bet these guys would be awesome live. I love music acts that don’t take themselves too seriously, and actually sound like they were having a kick ass time while they were recording the track. Semi Precious Weapons definitely have that vibe on this track, where it just sounds like a pretty party was going on in the studio; and by the looks of the video, I bet it was!! Be aware that he says fucking a lot in this song, so it probably isn’t a good idea to blast it over your computer speakers if you are at work.
Jamelia – Beware of The Dog
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_117_jamelia-bewareofthedog.mp3]
Okay, I will admit openly that I am posting about Jamelia this week because of something that I wrote on Jiingo, where I compared this track to Hilary Duff’s most recent single release, titled Reach Out. See, both songs use a sample from the Depeche Mode song Personal Jesus, but this one does it so much better, and it was released a full two years before Hilary’s copycat song. Given that Hilary will most likely get more glory for her version, I wanted to spread the word even more about the fabulous Jamelia, and her superior use of the sample. If you haven’t heard of her before, you have now, and you must do yourself a favor and check out the rest of this record… it’s hot, and it really makes me wonder why she isn’t huge; both in here and across the world. She is a huge asset to pop music, and I can’t wait to hear more from Jamelia.
Well, writing about these songs has definitely put me in a better mood, and has given me a little while to focus on something that I love, rather than on someone that hates me. I hope that everyone has a great weekend, and make sure to let me know what you are listening to! We will continue to fight, and we will prevail. Civil rights aren’t just for some; they are for ALL OF US.
I first heard Horse Feathers on the indie channel of XM, and I thought they were mellow and delightful. I downloaded their most recent release, and after hearing this song once, I freaking loved it. The vocals remind me of the smoky/raspy vocals of artists like Ray LaMontagne, which are coupled with a backing female vocal that take something beautiful and make it gorgeous. The delicate nature of this song just makes me want to close my eyes and absorb it all. The violins are achingly beautiful, and the tenderness and composition of the instrumentation is fantastic. The rest of the record is quite good, and being that this song was such an instant favorite, I am happy that I could share it this week. I love discovering stuff like this.
Now, I was originally a skeptic of PCD, but they wouldn’t go away, and eventually, I was lured into their pop web, and ended up becoming somewhat of a fan. Given that I loved the first single off of Doll Domination (When I Grow Up) so much, I had to give the rest of the record a chance, and in my time with it, I have found several great songs on the record. However, my favorite BY FAR, is this amazingly beautiful ballad that pretty much proves what we knew all along; not only is Nicole Scherzinger the voice behind the Pussycat Dolls, but she pretty much NEEDS a solo career. Seriously. Watch the video for this song. She’s definitely carrying this group, and that doesn’t bother me; so as long as they make fantastic songs like this one. I just hope that Nicole is happy, and keeps bringing the goods like she is doing here. Damn she sings the shit out of this song; just listen at about 3:10 in… wow.
As I mentioned earlier this week, I was excited to snag P!nk’s newest album, which came out on Tuesday, and I will say that this record is definitely a grower. With the first listen, I liked it, but with each subsequent listen, many of these songs are really sticking with me in a great way. This song in particular is beautiful, heartbreaking, and perfect for her smoky voice. I have liked P!nk for a long time now, and with this record, she has just further solidified her fan base; it is a great album, and is already among my favorites of this year. I hate that she had to endure a break up, but at least she was able to channel some of that energy into making Funhouse such a great record.
I was originally skeptical of the Saturdays (lots of skepticism this week!); mainly because I felt like they were a bit of a Girls Aloud wannabe. However, their first single, If This Is Love, found it’s way onto my ipod, and I found myself really liking it, and even featured it on a previous five song Friday. My buddy Stu (thanks Stu!!!!!) insisted that I check out the rest of their record, Chasing Lights, and I am VERY glad that I did. There are some very well produced pop songs on that record, and Work, by far, is my favorite. That chorus is just fierce. Girls Aloud have definitely got some competition from these beauties; but I am willing to bet that the world has room for more than a few studio-produced girl pop super groups, right!? With songs like this, I know that I definitely have room for them on my ipod!
Okay, it is no secret that I love Lady GaGa. I gushed yesterday about her amazing performance on Wednesday night, as well as her CD’s release earlier this week (FINALLY!), and since it was such a GaGa week, I felt compelled to bring at least one more track from her amazing record to the table. This song was the song that she closed with the other night, and she fucking tore it up! In fact, since the show, I have been playing this banger on repeat. This song is a new song for fellow GaGa fans; it was one of the two new songs that she put on her already impressive record for release here in the states. I have to say, that she definitely has my vote for best new talent of 2008, and if she keeps churning out impressive pop like this, she is going to be bigger than huge. I am so glad that I got to see her live in such an intimate setting, and I was (and still am) starstruck by the amazing Lady GaGa. Also, make sure you go and check out the video for Poker Face, the second AMAZING single from The Fame… it is FIERCE!
As I posted about yesterday, there were some pretty major releases coming out this week, and while I was very excited about all of them, there was none that I was more excited about than the release of Sara Bareilles’ live CD/DVD, Between the Lines – Live at the Fillmore. When I first heard that she was going to be releasing a live album, I was immediately ready to plunk down the cash as soon as it hit shelves, because if there is one thing that is true about Sara, is that she is not only an impressively talented musician, but she completely delivers live (not to mention that I am a HUGE fan of hers). 
), kids, so run out and pick it up today. This is definitely one of the best live performances I have ever heard recorded, and it has definitely made me think that there is hope for live albums after all.
Wow. Pure. Raw. Emotion. You can literally feel it in each downbeat, and in each whisper from Rachael that she is contemplating something so intimate and difficult, that she almost doesn’t have the strength to utter it. Then, the simplicity of repeating, “what if I leave?”, is so palpable, that in hearing this song, you can truly tell that she has been through some shit in a relationship with someone who clearly didn’t understand the ramifications of their actions. Wow. This is such a powerfully contemplative break up song, that I was blown away by it. I absolutely love it for it’s simplicity, which actually makes it so elegant and sophisticated. If you liked this track as much as I do, I highly suggest you pick up Rachael’s most recent release, Elephants… Teeth Sinking In, because it is chock full of bittersweet gems like this one.
This song initially didn’t sway me, because I was skeptical (as you know I can be) for no real reason at all. However, there was something about it that I liked… the guitars, the way the used the starting and stopping of the riffs and the beats, the tenderness of the lead singer’s voice… something kept me coming back to this song. Whatever it was (perhaps the amalgamation of all of those things), I have been listening to this track over and over, and I can say now, without a shadow of a doubt, that I freaking love this song. It is so catchy, and so well crafted, that just begs to be played. I love the toe-tapping beat, and especially enjoy the lead singer’s voice. It is just a great song. After a few listens to the rest of the Wild Sweet Orange record, I definitely think that I have stumbled onto something here, and I am very glad that I kept going back to this track and gave it the shot it definitely deserved. Let this song grow on you if you don’t love it instantly… trust me. It is excellent!
This is one of those songs that I have heard many, many times, and even though I really liked it, I wasn’t motivated enough to download it (what can I say, I’m lazy). Maybe it was because the song is kind of “old” (out in ’06), or maybe it was because it is played a LOT on XM, but whatever the reason, I didn’t pick this one up until the other day (after I heard it again on XM). Well, I have to say, that I am glad that I did, because after listening to it on my ipod, I really realized that this song is MAJOR. This song harnesses some great rock power and great guitar riffs, and it sounds like a blending of the best of Filter with the raw power of Fuel. Now I can see why XM loves this track so much… it’s freaking great. Oh, and after listening to it once, you WILL be singing along. It is infectious… don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Oh Ben Folds. How I love thee!!! I have loved Ben Folds for MANY years (since back when he was with the Ben Folds Five), and my love only grew after his first solo release, Rockin’ The Suburbs, which is a fantastical album. Well, he just released his newest solo effort, Way To Normal, and even though I wasn’t initially blown away, I have definitely enjoyed this record more and more with each passing listen. There are so many fun things about Ben Folds, and his quirky stories and silly lyrics really make him a joy to listen to. I absolutely LOVE the teaming with Regina Spektor on this track, which is a fun, and almost sugary piano-pop track that just can’t be listened to without a smile on your face. There aren’t many artists out there like Ben Folds who are willing to take a stab at music, and make it less serious, and ultimately more fun… he is a welcome addition to my music collection, and has been for quite a while. I am glad that he is still bringing the goods, and making fun music that I definitely enjoy.
I was torn about featuring this track, because of the response a fellow 
I am going to start this one off with one word: Amazing. Seriously, Beyonce has captured my attention with several hits in the past, like Crazy in Love, and Baby Boy, but it wasn’t until her belting the SHIT out of Listen in Dreamgirls that I really fell in love with her. After that, I knew that Bey was the real deal, and ever since, I have been paying closer attention to this diva. With the buzz around the interwebs talking about Bey releasing a new record soon, my newfound dedication clearly sparked my interest, and after one listen of If I Were A Boy, I have to say that I was very impressed. This song is beautiful, powerful, and very well written. The accompanying 
While we were on the cruise, there were two channels that were dedicated to music on the TV in the room, and I found myself watching them from time to time when we were relaxing at night. Well, the video for this song came on, and I was about to change it, when I decided to let it go through to the chorus (seeing as I had never heard the song before). Well, cut to me being pretty impressed. Here, JoJo has a bona fide pop anthem on her hands, and I have had this CD all this time, and didn’t even know this gem existed!!! Needless to say, I quickly put this one back on my ipod, and I have been enjoying it since we returned home. Sometimes I ignore stuff for a while, but it is nice if it eventually comes back onto my radar screen; especially when it is great like this song!! Luck be a lady named JoJo in this case! Be sure to check out the 
Last week, I blogged about how I was extremely surprised and excited by the quiet release of a new Aqualung record. However, after a couple of lessons, I feel that the record sounds a bit incomplete and rushed; it is no where near as polished as Memory Man is. Now, I hadn’t written it off forever, but I was having trouble finding anything that could be considered redeeming in this release; it is kind of a disappointment. Cut to my blog-buddy 
I had kind of a love/hate relationship with Antony when I first heard their material. I didn’t care for Antony’s voice, and there was no consoling me… at first. I decided that maybe I was being hasty, so I listened, I mean really listened, and I felt and heard the ache and tenderness that is so powerful and unique about Antony. I quickly turned on my heal, and became a HUGE fan of Antony and the Johnsons, especially their previous record, I Am A Bird Now, which is pretty much a flawless record. Well, when I saw that they had released an EP of new songs last week, I HAD to have it. I am glad that I snagged it too, because in the same vein as I Am A Bird Now, Another World is full of amazing songs; my favorite being the title track, which I am glad to present to you this week. The part where they make it sound like a whale call with the distortion is an amazing touch. If you haven’t heard Antony’s stuff, do yourself a favor and check out this truly amazing artist.
I know what you are thinking… is it something like, “Hey!! I have heard that before! In a commercial, right?!”? Well you would be right!! It is the song from the Saturn commercial, and it is fantastically catchy and fun song. I tried to resist this little gem for a while, but I have heard it again and again, and this song is such a damn ear worm that it wouldn’t give up until I went ahead and downloaded it. Well, I am glad I did, because I do quite like it, and I like how it really is like what a smile would probably sound like, if it were transformed into a song. Good stuff, eh? Be sure to check out the 
Secondly, I was super excited about at least one music release this Tuesday: the release of of Jon McLaughlin’s second, highly anticipated CD. His first record really struck a chord with me, so much so, that it made a 
Yes, the choice of this and the aforementioned Saturdays song are intentional; I love how the titles are so similar, yet so opposite to one another. I wanted to post a great song from Jennifer Hudson’s fantastic debut album, which came out earlier this week, and seeing the Saturdays song, and the title of this one, there is no way I couldn’t choose them both for today’s selection. I should start by saying that Jennifer Hudson has been a favorite of mine since her season of American Idol, and I have been watching this girl, just knowing that great things would come from her. Well, I have to say, that I have not been let down yet; her performance in Dreamgirls was amazing. Additionally, her new record, which is infused with ballads, pop songs, and even a few hip hop numbers, is a showcase that has succeeded in allowing her to show off her amazing voice. While this track admittedly isn’t the one that highlights her amazing instrument the best, it is a really fun track that I keep coming back to, and one that would most certainly be a hot single if it is chosen to be one. I hope that this record is just the first from Jennifer, because, based on what I have seen and heard so far, she is a real star, and a true talent, and one that should be around for a very long time. I am very pleased with her record, and glad that she took her time putting it out; every time I hear her sing, I am really, really impressed. I do have to say, however, that I wish T-Pain would quit with the vocoder. There is a song on the record that he guests on, and it is just too much. End the madness T-Pain!
Okay, I am going to make a pretty grand statement here, so get ready… This is probably the most powerful, well written, and amazing pop ballad of 2008. Will Young has released his fourth record, and he has proven (again) that he is way more than a flash in the pop pan; he plans on sticking around, and making some fabulous music while he’s here. As I mentioned last week, his record is a fantastic blend of jazz, pop, soul, and just overall musical greatness. It is definitely one of the albums of the year, in my opinion, and one that was well worth waiting for. Congratulations are in order for Will, who has succeeded in making another amazing album. And this song… well, I just cannot get enough of it. It is one of those songs that you hear, and think to yourself, “wow, that was pretty amazing, let’s hear that one again”, and then you listen to it again, and you realize not only that you were right, but that it was even better the second time around. It just keeps getting better with each listen for me, and it really makes me wonder why acts like Will Young aren’t popular here in the States. Oh well… at least I know about him, and can educate at least some of you about the pop brilliance that is Will Young.
So here’s the thing, apparently, he was the lead singer of a famous Britpop band called Suede… who I’ve never heard of. Okay, that may be a bad thing, considering how much I love pop music, but it is what it is. Now, I heard this song somewhere (I think it was iTunes), and I have to say, that it is literally, quite amazing. I have almost posted it several weeks before now, but it always got bumped for one reason or another; but this week, it is on the list! I love the feel of his vocals (they’re almost haunting me!), and the gentle piano that accompanies him on this track. This song is from his recently released solo album, which is his second one. Perhaps I need to spend some time exploring his past, and see how he got to this point, because this song is just amazingly beautiful, and I have been enjoying it for several weeks now.