Livin la Vida Loca? Nobody Wants to Be Lonely?

Remember these hits? They just might have been your favorite songs once upon a time. Remember who sang them? Well, you might just be singing his songs again.

Yes ladies, it’s true. Ricky Martin is officially making his comeback and it starts today with the release of his new album, MAS (Musica Alma Sexo), which he calls his “creative catharsis.” Martin has had one crazy year since he came out of the closet last March. Since then, his whole life has been changing, and for him this album is the culmination of all of that. It’s an album, he explains, not just for the audience but also for the musicians as well.

Martin released the first single for his new album, “The Best Thing About Me is You,” earlier in January, but the full album (deluxe edition available only at Target) is being released today. I don’t know how I feel about his new music just yet, but I’m woman enough to admit that once upon a time, way back in my pre-college, pre-high school days, I loved me some bon bon shaking Ricky Martin. And I know you did too. So come on, before trying out his new hits lets relive some of Ricky’s glory days. For old time’s sake?

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This week was a good, if not totally random, week for music. I mean, who groups Daughtry, Jack White’s the Dead Weather, and the soundtrack to 500 Days of Summer in one category? I do. And I love them all.

Though, in totally different ways.

Chris Daughtry I love in a good-boy rocker kind of way. Jack White I love in a creepy weirdo fascination kind of way. And the 500 Days of Summer I love in a Zooey Deschanel kind of way. I love music in lots of different ways and this week is a prime example of how much my love can vary. Read More »

Remember when you were a kid and you mixed a bunch of different flavors of soda together and called it “suicide”? That’s kind of what this week’s new music releases are like. A mish-mash of randomness. I mean we have the lead singer of Bright Eyes, a former American Idol contestant, and an R&B girl sensation. That’s kind of like mixing Coca Cola, Orange Crush, and Dr. Pepper together.

So, your friends might give you strange looks if you play these three albums on shuffle at your next party, but as long as you have an open mind, you should be able to take each album for what it’s worth. And drink it up. Because, despite its name, “suicide” was always a ton of fun. Read More »

One of the most frustrating things is when one of my favorite artists or bands takes absolutely forever to release a new album. Maybe I’m impatient or maybe I just listen to music so often that I’m constantly wanting more from my favorites. But is there ever anything better than listening to a brand new fabulous album over and over?

Yes, the anticipation can be great, but there gets to be a point where I’m done anticipating and want to start listening. Here are 3 artists that I’m hoping to see albums from in the very near future. I don’t know how much longer I can wait before their old albums start skipping from me playing them over and over. And over. Oh, they’re digitally downloaded? Well, I still don’t think I can wait much longer. Read More »

All the musicians featured in this week’s Let it Rock have been on the music scene for quite a while. They’re not newcomers in the least bit, which means their fans are sure to have some strong opinions about their newest albums. (Duh, don’t music lovers always have strong opinions about their favorites?) It’s also the chance for the artists to get some new fans that might have never heard them. You know, those youngsters.

But the most important thing is….Kelly Clarkson is back!! OMFG! Wahooo!

And also her American Idol co-star Taylor Hicks. But I didn’t review his new album this week because, this week, Kelly is the only American Idol who matters. Read More »

If you pay attention to music news at all, then I’m pretty sure you’ve got one thing on your mind: U2. Of course, U2’s new album is what everyone and their brother is talking about this week and for good reason.

But don’t let the boys from back in the day completely overshadow the rest of the fabulous music being released this week. If you miss out on Neko Case’s new album, you’re likely going to regret it. And give newcomer Molly Jenson a listen to as well. While new releases from the classic groups are always super exciting, there’s a lot of fabulous new music out there. Read More »

Another week, another new pile of CDs to sift through. I don’t know what it is about 2009, but this week’s new releases were great. Again. It didn’t matter if the artist was new, old, or really old (sorry, Billy!), they all put together some great sound that everyone should pick up and take home. Read More »

I’m incredibly excited to hear all of 2009′s new and fabulous music, but you know what? I’m still not over the amazingness of 2008. In fact, there are plenty of 2008 gems you might not even have had the chance to discover. Here are the best albums you probably didn’t listen to in 2008. And lucky for you, it’s not too late. Go listen now! Read More »

I spent the better part of high school going to Backstreet Boys concerts. I made posters, convinced my mom to buy me hideous and overpriced concert gear (including a shimmery jean jacket with a studded gold “Backstreet Boys” on the back that I just HAD to have… I kid you not). I was smitten. I would daydream in Algebra class that they would just swoop into my school and serenade me (never happened), or that I would sit front row at their concerts (happened a few times thanks to my knack for sneaking up).

And while I grew up, and my musical repertoire changed, I have always held a soft spot for the Backstreet Boys. Maybe it’s that sweet pang of nostalgia, but the Boys gave me an escape, they started my love affair with music, and it would only be fair to admit that they even, in a way, helped start me on my career path in music, journalism and TV. Oh and their music is undeniably catchy.

So while people still give them flack and mainstream U.S. media doesn’t cover them nearly at all, there is no denying that the Backstreet Boys make you want to sing in your car. I’ve seen you (yes, YOU) at the bar belting out ‘I Want It That Way’ at 2am on Friday nights.

Their concerts are still packed with screaming girls, from 8-68. And it doesn’t hurt that despite losing a member, these Boys have only gotten sexier with age. Sounds too good to be true? Check out some footage CC shot at a BSB concert this past summer in Detroit: Read More »

So, I was out at the bar with some coworkers last week, and a guy started talking about “The New Facebook.”

“There’s a ‘new’ Facebook?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he replied. “Is it bad that I want to go home right now just to try it out?”

“Definitely,” I responded. “Stay here and get drunk. New Facebook will be waiting when the bar closes.”

Facebook has had quite the impact on American pop culture. I mean, really? This guy wanted to leave the bar to try it!? Whenever there’s even a minimal change in the layout and operation of the social network, it causes an uproar.

Remember when mini-feed first popped up? Immediately, groups sprouted all over the internet:

“Down with Mini-Feed!”

“Boycott F/B if They Don’t Get Rid of Mini-Feed Immediately!”

“Facebook Makes Stalking Easier with Mini-Feed!”

You get the point. Of course, now we’re all used to the program, and many of us keep updated via mini-feed every day: “Hey, I saw on Mini-Feed that you got a new job, congratulations!”

So, even though I’m hesitant to add too many applications (I don’t like that we have to check a box giving the ‘application’ full access to the info in our profiles), and even though I’m fully content keeping tabs on my friends the “old way,” I decided to check out the hullabaloo that is The New Facebook. Read More »