Your cell phone alarm is going off in your ear to the tune off She Bangs by Ricky Martin, inducing the hangover you worked so hard for last night (note to self: change to something MJ immediately). Your body pillow is the most obliging (and loyal) bed partner you’ve had in months, and the monsoon outside is actually starting to lull you back to sleep. So what’s going to keep you from repeatedly hitting the snooze button and subsequently infuriating your roommates and failing out of school?

The oh so delicious piece of man meat awaiting you at that 9 am roll call.

Now, there’s not going to be a prince charming lurking behind every door, but we came up with a class schedule that is sure to make the grade.

The Dude: Frat Boy
The Class: Bio 150 – Introduction To Geology, aka “Rocks for Jocks”

An introduction to the physical processes operating on the earth and the history of the earth.  This course will introduce topics including the formation and physical properties of rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, geologic time, weathering and erosion, and global climate change.

Now, if you’re looking for some denser material (other than the barrel chested buffoons surrounding you, oh and the, um, rocks) this is not where you want to start your hoghunt. However, if you’re just looking for a good time (think Animal House meets Van Wilder) and a tenacious, albeit, physically destructive flip cup partner, this is where you will find your Manweiser. King of Beers anyone?

The Dude: Wallstreet
The Class: Fnce 911 – Financial Economics

The objective of this course is to undertake a rigorous study of the theoretical foundations of modern financial economics. The course will cover the central themes of modern finance including individual investment decisions under uncertainty, mean variance theory, capital market equilibrium, arbitrage pricing theory, option pricing, and the potential application of these themes.

For all of you gold-diggers who get off on a stiff one in a power suit (and by gold-diggers I mean savvy bitches, and by savvy bitches I mean f**king geniuses), strut your assets into an upper-level business class and invest in a certified money market badass. (Ya, ya, we’re in a recession… so was John Rockefeller at one point.) Just take a seat next to most dapper dude you can find, stroke his flaccid ego, and ask him if he still has the balls to pop your…collar. Yeah, I said it.

The Dude: The Cultured Connoisseur
The Class: Intl 160 – Comparative Development

An exploration of the economic, political, and social changes that constitute development. Both the historical experience of Europe and the contemporary Third World are considered.

Attention sophistikids: Thirsty Thursday rolls around, and you would rather indulge in a full-bodied red (or blonde or brunette) than sling back buttery nipple shots with marginally articulate acquaintances. Well bring your passport and permission slip to class, young lady, because there awaits your cosmopolitan travel mate. He will woo you with stories of international adventure and serenade you under the stars in three romance languages all while planning what culinary delicacy to tantalize your senses with next. Welcome to School Year Abroad – Paradise, my friend. Pack your sunglasses, ‘cause the future’s bright.

The Dude: The Not So Struggling Artist
The Class: Art 203 Figure Drawing

Figure Drawing focuses on drawing issues related to working from the nude model while emphasizing proportion, foreshortening, and planar structures of the figure. Students will work from very short poses to extended poses. Students aim to develop sensitivity to the structure, anatomy and expressive qualities of the human form.

Calling all exhibitionists, Kama Sutra goddesses, ­­Venus de Milo look-alikes and/or any single chick with an hour of down time and healthy dose of self possession: Pose Nude And Get the Dude! Get Naked And Bring Home the Bacon!  Ok, so maybe this is a little forward/overzealous, some might even say tacky (if not for art’s sake), but I dare you to think of a sexier “how we met” story. “Well your father truly had an artist’s vision, and I used to take my clothes off for beer money.”

Scratch that. What you could do, however, is take the more subtle (and sanitary) approach and join him in the observation wing. Indulge in discourse about the beauty of the female form (finally, a guy who knows that real boobs shouldn’t double as a chin rest), marvel at his attention to detail down to the very last freckle, and slowly but surely secure yourself as this Boticelli’s next muse. (For those of you with less time and a shorter attention span, partner up for that full frontal homework assignment and find out just how deeply this guy’s creative juices run.)

The Dude: The Social Martyr
The Class: Soc 150 – Economic Development and Social Change

Emphasis on understanding the interrelations among economic, political, and cultural aspects of change in developing countries. The experience of currently developing nations is contrasted to that of nations which industrialized in the 19th century. Compares the different development strategies which have been adopted by currently developing nations and their consequences for social change.

You know your classmate in middle school who used to personally escort insects outside to spare them the judgment of your sneaker? Who befriended the new kid in town when no one else would? And who brought in his family’s entire pantry stock for the canned food drive? Well if his charitable ways made you blush back then, this is where you can find him now, and this time he’s the one who will be red in the face (over the injustices of the American education system, that is). He will melt your heart with his crusade to empower the impoverished, and bring tears to your eyes with his commitment to the Clean Water Act. But make sure you come to class prepared to discuss your most impassioned causes, missy, because he will ask, and he will care. Oh, and you might want to make a list of the preferred locations for your first Peace Corps assignment, keeping in mind that these should not overlap with your spring break destinations. Remember, the dirtier, the better. Wink.

[This post was originally posted by Lexi C. - Brown]

Want some options? Try an engineering class. Lots. of. men.

Your cell phone alarm is going off in your ear to the tune off She Bangs by Ricky Martin, inducing the hangover you worked so hard for last night (note to self: change to something MJ immediately). Your body pillow is the most obliging (and loyal) bed partner you’ve had in months, and the monsoon outside is actually starting to lull you back to sleep. So what’s going to keep you from repeatedly hitting the snooze button and subsequently infuriating your roommates and failing out of school?

The oh so delicious piece of man meat awaiting you at that 9 am roll call.

Now, there’s not going to be a prince charming lurking behind every door, but we came up with a class schedule that is sure to make the grade.

The Dude: Frat Boy
The Class: Bio 150 – Introduction To Geology, aka “Rocks for Jocks”:

An introduction to the physical processes operating on the earth and the history of the earth.  This course will introduce topics including the formation and physical properties of rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, geologic time, weathering and erosion, and global climate change.

Now, if you’re looking for some denser material (other than the barrel chested buffoons surrounding you, oh and the, um, rocks) this is not where you want to start your hoghunt. However, if you’re just looking for a good time (think Animal House meets Van Wilder) and a tenacious, albeit, physically destructive flip cup partner, this is where you will find your Manweiser. King of Beers anyone?

The Dude: Wallstreet
The Class: Fnce 911 – Financial Economics

The objective of this course is to undertake a rigorous study of the theoretical foundations of modern financial economics. The course will cover the central themes of modern finance including individual investment decisions under uncertainty, mean variance theory, capital market equilibrium, arbitrage pricing theory, option pricing, and the potential application of these themes.

For all of you gold-diggers who get off on a stiff one in a power suit (and by gold-diggers I mean savvy bitches, and by savvy bitches I mean f**king geniuses), strut your assets into an upper-level business class and invest in a certified money market badass. (Ya, ya, we’re in a recession… so was John Rockefeller at one point.) Just take a seat next to most dapper dude you can find, stroke his flaccid ego, and ask him if he still has the balls to pop your…collar. Yeah, I said it.

The Dude: The Cultured Connoisseur
The Class: Intl 160 – Comparative Development

An exploration of the economic, political, and social changes that constitute development. Both the historical experience of Europe and the contemporary Third World are considered.

Attention sophistikids: Thirsty Thursday rolls around, and you would rather indulge in a full-bodied red (or blonde or brunette) than sling back buttery nipple shots with marginally articulate acquaintances. Well bring your passport and permission slip to class, young lady, because there awaits your cosmopolitan travel mate. He will woo you with stories of international adventure and serenade you under the stars in three romance languages all while planning what culinary delicacy to tantalize your senses with next. Welcome to School Year Abroad – Paradise, my friend. Pack your sunglasses, ‘cause the future’s bright.

The Dude: The Not So Struggling Artist
The Class: Art 203 Figure Drawing

Figure Drawing focuses on drawing issues related to working from the nude model while emphasizing proportion, foreshortening, and planar structures of the figure. Students will work from very short poses to extended poses. Students aim to develop sensitivity to the structure, anatomy and expressive qualities of the human form.

Calling all exhibitionists, Kama Sutra goddesses, ­­Venus de Milo look-alikes and/or any single chick with an hour of down time and healthy dose of self possession: Pose Nude And Get the Dude! Get Naked And Bring Home the Bacon!  Ok, so maybe this is a little forward/overzealous, some might even say tacky (if not for art’s sake), but I dare you to think of a sexier “how we met” story. “Well your father truly had an artist’s vision, and I used to take my clothes off for beer money.”

Scratch that. What you could do, however, is take the more subtle (and sanitary) approach and join him in the observation wing. Indulge in discourse about the beauty of the female form (finally, a guy who knows that real boobs shouldn’t double as a chin rest), marvel at his attention to detail down to the very last freckle, and slowly but surely secure yourself as this Boticelli’s next muse. (For those of you with less time and a shorter attention span, partner up for that full frontal homework assignment and find out just how deeply this guy’s creative juices run.)

The Dude: The Social Martyr
The Class: Soc 150 – Economic Development and Social Change

Emphasis on understanding the interrelations among economic, political, and cultural aspects of change in developing countries. The experience of currently developing nations is contrasted to that of nations which industrialized in the 19th century. Compares the different development strategies which have been adopted by currently developing nations and their consequences for social change.

You know your classmate in middle school who used to personally escort insects outside to spare them the judgment of your sneaker? Who befriended the new kid in town when no one else would? And who brought in his family’s entire pantry stock for the canned food drive? Well if his charitable ways made you blush back then, this is where you can find him now, and this time he’s the one who will be red in the face (over the injustices of the American education system, that is). He will melt your heart with his crusade to empower the impoverished, and bring tears to your eyes with his commitment to the Clean Water Act. But make sure you come to class prepared to discuss your most impassioned causes, missy, because he will ask, and he will care. Oh, and you might want to make a list of the preferred locations for your first Peace Corps assignment, keeping in mind that these should not overlap with your spring break destinations. Remember, the dirtier, the better. Wink.

This has been a crazy week.

Jay-Z came back! Scarlett Johansson came out with an album with Pete Yorn. (Hey, it’s gotta be better than The Hoff’s singing, right?) Oh, and Mason Jennings came out with something new..though everything he does is new to me.

The week is all very confusing; I feel like I’m going through a break up (with the Scarlett I used to know), getting back together again (with Jay-Z), and meeting someone new (Mason Jennings). That’s a lot of relationship changes to handle in one week!

Jay-Z- The Blueprint 3

I have to admit, I’m a pretty big Jay-Z fan. And I was basically crazy excited to hear that he wasn’t retiring and was in fact coming out with The Blueprint 3. I think Jay-Z lyrics are pretty amazing and I could listen to him and his words all day. In fact, sometimes I do. So, I love that I now have another entire album to listen to. And it’s also pretty awesome.

When I first heard “Run This Town” with Rihanna and Kanye, I actually wasn’t really a fan of it. It just sounded so blah to me, even though I like all three as artists. But the more I heard the track, the more I started loving it. And I instantly loved “Empire State of Mind” and loved it even more so when Lil’ Mama hopped on stage during it at the VMAs. “Forever Young” with Mr. Hudson is just plain cute and fun to listen to! “Venus Vs. Mars” is a kind of a really dirty take on “Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus” and it makes me laugh. Some of the lyrics include, “Hov’s a Blackberry Bold/Shorty is a Sidekick/Used to have a man/I used to have a side chick/Shorty got wind, I had to blow the chick off…Shorty played the piano, me I played the white keys/Shorty from the south, oh I think she liked me…I’m on that red wine, shorty like whites/Same s–t, different toilet, we both get nice/Yeah Im from the apple which means I’m a Mac/She’s a PC, she lives in my lap.”

This is why I love Jay-Z; he’s both hardcore and totally ridiculous at the same time. He hasn’t changed too much over the years and that makes me pretty happy.

Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson- Break Up

I think it’s safe to say Scarlett Johansson has more haters than she does lovers. (Editor’s Note: I feel her pain.) And I can’t say I’m such a super huge fan of her myself. But I do love Pete Yorn so I was kind of curious why such a talented man was creating an album with a sometimes-not-very-liked actress. At first I thought, “wait, are Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson dating?” But then I remembered that the album is called Break Up and that Scarlett is married to hottie Ryan Reynolds. OK then, I still have no idea why they made this album together. But they did. And they actually did a really, really good job.

It reminds me a lot of She & Him. Of course I love the kind of upbeat track (for a break up album), “Relator.” I admit, I thought was “Realtor” for the longest time and was probably about selling the house they bought together, but it’s actually about not being able to relate to each other anymore. ”Shampoo” is definitely my favorite song on the album and is a bit more depressing. The lyrics can ring true for everyone going through a breakup, though: “Last thing I remember/Things were getting better/I’d go anywhere with you/Off to make another run of it/To pass the time we say goodbye/Here we are enclosed/Wake me up and ready to go/Oh the sun’s out tonight/Last thing I remember/Things were getting better.” This album can be listened whether you’re going through a breakup or not; either way, I have a feeling it will put you in a good mood!

Mason Jennings- Blood of Man

I was convinced I was already a fan of Mason Jennings. I just couldn’t remember what it was he sang. Then I scoured my entire music library and couldn’t find a trace of him anywhere. Um, OK. So, maybe I’ve just heard the name a million times and never bothered to listen to him? Shame on me! Because I’ve been listening to (and loving!) his new album, Blood of Man. It’s right up my alley and is kind of Southern-ish folky rock. Maybe a little bit like a cross between Ryan Adams and Elliott Smith. I’ve been listening to the album a lot and think it’s the perfect background music to absolutely anything you could be doing. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s only background music, but it is the kind of music that won’t distract you if you don’t want it to.

One of my favorites is “Sing Out.” It’s almost a little bit creepy, but in an awesome way. “Sing out/Sing for the wounded heart/Sing for the lives we lost/Sing out/Sing for the blood of man…” Eerie! I also really love the lyrics in “Tourist,” though on the whole the album isn’t full of the most brilliant lyrics. “Is who you are now who you want to be now/Or are you someone you don’t want to be?/Is what you wanted really what you wanted?/Or, is it nothing like you dreamed?/There’s a tourist in every heart that just wants to stay/Winter is comin’ and it’s time to go.” I’m glad I finally met Mason Jennings and I think he and I are going to be good friends from now on.

This week’s new releases left me pleasantly surprised. From an album by an artist I had never heard of, to one I thought I knew very well, to one I resisted listening to for oh so long. Sometimes you need to open up a bit and take a few risks in order to find joy, and that goes for music, too.

Not sure where to start? Well, you could just choose a new artist or album based on how cool their name is. I’ve been doing it forever and it hasn’t failed me yet. Or you could listen to your friends when they rave about a band; turns out, they know what they’re talkin’ about.

Patrick Wolf- Bachelor

I’ll admit this week was a rough week when it comes to new releases. I hadn’t heard of many of the bands with new albums, nor was I overly interested in many of them. So I randomly decided that Patrick Wolf sounded like a super cool name and could be an interesting artist. I also liked the name of his album, Bachelor. Plus, I learned that Wolf was once in a Burberry ad. I know, so scientific. But, hey, I ended up liking this little British boy. He sounds a bit crazy, a bit techno, and kind of like David Bowie; I almost wanted to see him running through a labyrinth.

The album: good stuff. I really enjoyed “Damaris,” which is a really great build-up song and the lyrics are lovely: “My goddamned Damaris/Killed with last kiss/Goddamned Damaris/I loved you.” So, I figured I should learn who Damaris is. Interestingly she’s a woman mentioned in the New Testament and nobody’s really certain why her name was recorded, except that she may have been of high social standing. Hmmm. It’s also a lingerie brand, so who knows about that. I love the slow smoothness of “Thickets,” which reminded me a bit of Star. And “Vulture,” which is set to be the album’s second single is also a lot of fun in a super techno, strange way. I love strange men. I love Patrick Wolf.

George Strait- Twang

I generally enjoy me some George Strait. He’s definitely not my most favorite country singer, but I think he’s a lot of fun. So when I heard he had a new album, I obviously needed to listen to Twang. Aaaand…I have sort of mixed feelings about it. I’m definitely not sitting over here going crazy, but there are songs I would absolutely put on repeat. “Living For the Night” is a really beautiful song and George hits every note just right. I couldn’t decide if “The Breath You Take” is extremely cheesy or really sweet. I hate songs about boys playing baseball, but once the song hit the chorus, I almost cried a little. I may also be PMSing, but still, the tears were there.

At the same time, some of the songs did seem very cliche country, like “Hot Grease and Zydeco” and “I Gotta Get to You.” And the title track, which I totally expected to love based on that fact alone, well, it just didn’t really do much for me. Surprisingly, it was George’s slower, less fun songs that I like the best. Sniff, maybe he’s just growing up.

Passion Pit- Manners

Ughh, so you know when you keep hearing about a band so much that you don’t even want to listen to them? That’s how I felt about Passion Pit. Enough was enough. Shut up. At first I thought I was just hearing about them because they’re local. But then people from outside of Boston started talking about them. So, I finally listened. Better late then never right? Seriously. Because I. am. instantly obsessed.

Why, oh why did I take so long to listen to Passion Pit? I never like albums upon first listens, especially from bands I’m not familiar with, but this was true love upon listen #1. I guess if I had to compare them to anyone, it would probably have to be MGMT, but they’re also pretty different. They do have that fun techno-y, electronic sound, though. “The Reeling” is the first single from Manners, so I gave it a listen first. It started off kind of strangely, but it wasn’t long before I totally got into the groove. There are what sound like kids singing in the background. A little bit strange, but it just worked so well. I love that “Little Secrets” starts off sounding like a video game. And I love how ridiculously high lead singer, Michael Angelakos’s voice is, especially in “Sleepyhead.” The bottom line is that I love Passion Pit and I will no longer ignore people when they tell me to listen to a band. But it’s better late than never for this one. That is for sure.

When the Internets talk, I listen. Really. Think about how easy the Internet makes it to discover new music.  Almost as easy as it is to find porn (but not quite as easy. It is way too easy to find porn on the Internet).  Sometimes when I’m bored, I just browse the Internet to discover new bands and I’m constantly shocked by how many artists and bands I’ve never heard of until I see or hear them online. And then fall instantly in love with them.

So, Internets, I thank you. Thank you for bringing us more than porn. Thank you for introducing me to this week’s new releases.

Metric - Fantasies

I had never heard of Metric before, but recently the Internets have been all abuzz about them. Not liking to be left out of things, I obviously had to listen. My first thought upon hearing the opening track of Metric’s new album, Fantasies, was “Wow, how catchy!” but in a sort of unique way. I instantly liked lead singer Emily Haines’ voice as she sung “Help I’m Alive,” and after doing a big of Googling (duh) discovered that she was born in India and has contributed to tracks from Broken Social Scene (so that’s where I know that voice).  Metric reminds me a lot of Tegan and Sara, but I actually think I already like Metric a bit better. The album’s first single, “Gimmie Sympathy,” is one of the most fun tracks on the album with lyrics to prove it: “I can feel it in my bones/Gimmie sympathy/After all of this is gone/Who would you rather be/The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?”

But Metric also does serious, which is quite evident on “Collect Call” with lyrics: “I know it’s a lie I want it to be true/The rest of the ride is riding on you/Over goodbyes we’ll buy some place/For wishing you could/Keep me closer.” Though I think the new wave sound of the music does a lot to make Metric unique, I’m pretty sure it’s Emily’s smooth voice that carries much of the album. And I have a feeling Metric puts on a killer live show. I hope I get to find out.

Silversun Pickups – Swoon

Another band the Internet loves that I had yet to discover.  I was not OK with that, so I gave their new album, Swoon, a listen and I started to enjoy them very quickly. I read that Silversun Pickups are often compared to The Smashing Pumpkins, which I could hear in the intros to songs like “Panic Switch” and also in lead singer Brian Aubert’s voice. But the songs sound a bit happier than The Smashing Pumpkins (in general), so I wouldn’t take the comparison too far. I also heard a sort of Kings of Leon sound, which is a very fabulous thing, in my opinion. I heard this especially in “Substitution” and “Catch and Release.” I really enjoy “Growing Old is Getting Old,” though the lyrics are quite depressing, focusing on our mortality: “So we all/Are growing old/And it’s getting old…Suddenly we decompose/But we’re not alone.” I really love the upbeat sound of “Sort Of” and found myself dancing around my room and accidentally memorizing the lyrics. And it’s always a good album when that happens. I guess there’s not much I didn’t like about Swoon and you have no idea how fast I’m going to be purchasing the Silversun Pickups’ older album. I actually sort of can’t believe I haven’t done it already. I can totally hear Silversun Pickups being played all over MTV and while I really do hope more people discover them and start to get obsessed like I am, I kind of like that not everyone knows them. I’ll try not to be greedy though.

Death Cab for Cutie- The Open Door

So this one I already knew, but it does seem like the Internet has always been obsessed with Death Cab for Cutie. Though it seems like Death Cab recently came out with a new album (they did! Less than a year ago!), there is no way I’m going to complain about yet another one from them. Yes, it’s only a 5-song EP, but it’s one to get excited about. The songs on The Open Door are a lot more upbeat than the Death Cab I’ve come to love, but they still have the same amazing lyrics and it was nice to hear something less mellow/make-me-wanna-cry-alone-in-my-room from them for a change. The album starts with “Little Bribes,” which is the perfect opening track. The tempo of the song is a lot more upbeat than the lyrics, but I kind of liked the contrast: “You said this city has a beating heart/That pushes people down the boulevard/And they’re all hoping for a wish fulfilled/In a desert for a dollar bill. “A Diamond and a Tether” is a bit more mellow and like the old Death Cab for Cutie, with the same deep lyrics: “I know you can’t hold out forever/Waiting on a diamond and a tether/From a boy who won’t flie/Who won’t take to the skies/If he thinks you’re about to say goodbye.” Lots of times EPs frustrate me because they’re filled with the leftovers from a previous album; songs that didn’t make the cut. But The Open Door isn’t like that at all. The songs are all so different from Narrow Stairs that they probably wouldn’t have fit in if they were on the album. My only complaint about The Open Door is that Death Cab didn’t record a few more songs and release it as a full-length album. But I really can’t complain at the delicious little taste they gave me with this EP.

Ooh, the anticipation! Some of my most-liked bands are back with new releases this week.  And considering I’m already a fan of them, they all have a lot to live up to. So, will they make me remember why I love them so much or will they crush my hopes?

Well, a little bit of both actually.

I’m the kind of person who is good at finding the good in everything; and I found a lot of good in each of my selections this week. Each also had a little bit of not so hot, but in case you were wondering, I’m not even close to deleting any of them off my iTunes. None of them were my absolute favorite albums the artists have put out, but I’m loving them nonetheless.

Gomez- A New Tide

Gomez’s albums never fail to excite me. Sometimes they take a listen or two for me to get into, but once I’m in, I’m fully in. And A New Tide is no different. Though the album is a bit less experimental and a bit more mainstream sounding than I usually expect to hear from Gomez, I still found myself hitting repeat constantly. One of my favorite things about Gomez is that all of their songs sound so incredibly different from one another, while still sounding exactly how you’d expect Gomez to sound. This is due partly in part to the fact that they share vocal duties and partly just due to their amazing versatility. I’m still trying to figure out why more people aren’t Gomez fans, but I think it might have something to do with their struggle to remain unique, but also gain mainstream appeal. And I could definitely hear the struggle in this album. But it wasn’t apparent enough to stop me from really enjoying it.

I’m especially a fan of “Natural Reaction” probably because it reminds me a lot of the Gomez of the past and because the lyrics really pull me in. “I get so nervous waiting for a natural reaction/I can’t stop thinking you’ll explode/Leave me a nervous wreck.” If you didn’t know Gomez and you were to listen to that and then to “Win Park Slope,” another of my favorites, you might not even realize it’s the same band. “Win Park Slope” is filled with a Deep South blues-y, but exotic sound. I’m pretty sure this album won’t launch Gomez into mainstream popularity and it might make long-time fans a little empty, but I’m pretty happy with it. Give them a chance and maybe you will be too.

Gavin DeGraw- Free

First of all, I am a lover of Gavin DeGraw and everything he does. I’ve always enjoyed his smooth, versatile voice and I’m thrilled to hear it again on Free. While I really enjoyed a portion of the album, I wasn’t overly-excited by the rest. I absolutely love that he starts the album off with a cover of Chris Whitley’s “Indian Summer.” But then I was expecting the rest of the album to have a country-pop, twangy feel; and it didn’t. But I was a fan of the single “Stay” from the second I heard it. Once again, Gavin’s lyrics are pure poetry that anyone can relate to and he sings them with his powerful voice: “You don’t have to be part of the problem/I just need a second chance….I need your love/But it never hurt this much.” I thought “Why Do the Men Stray” was going to be really touching, but with lyrics like “Why do the birds sing” it felt cheesy more than anything. And yes, “We Belong Together” was cheesy too; but in a completely beautiful way.

I was probably mostly disappointed because Gavin’s album was only 9 songs. Really? He didn’t have 3 more that were worthy of making it on there? I can imagine it’s hard when you come out with such a hit like “I Don’t Want to Be,” but this album definitely doesn’t reach the level of Chariot, which also had amazing songs like “Follow Through” and “(Nice to Meet You) Anyway.” However, I’m still listening to Free, because Gavin’s voice really does something to me.

Peter Bjorn and John- Living Thing

The first time I learned of Peter Bjorn and John was when I saw them on The Tonight Show performing “Young Folks” with Victoria Bergsman. Honestly, at first I thought there was something wrong with them. It would be hard to find two more awkward people than John and Victoria, standing there with blank stares whistling along to the music. But after I realized they were actual legit singers, the song got stuck in my head for weeks.  So I was psyched to hear about their new album Living Thing. And yes, some of it is incredibly weird and some of it I’m not quite sure if I like or not; but I think Peter Bjorn and John could do anything and I’d just attribute it to their quirkiness and end up enjoying it.  The first single on the album,“Nothing to Worry About” ties nicely into “Amsterdam” from Writer’s Block. Kind of. But then I kept thinking, “Why does ‘Amsterdam’ keep playing in my head??” and whistling where the whistling was absent. It’s almost like the children’s tranced out version of “Amsterdam.” Listen and you’ll see what I mean. But like “Amsterdam” and “Young Folks,” it’s addictive.

I was a little skeptical at the start of the album’s title track and its deep-voiced creepy, “living thing it’s a living thing,” but by the end, I found myself dancing along. Another song perfect for Peter Bjorn and John is “I Want You!” though the exclamation point made me think it was going to be a lot more fun than it was. The bottom line is that Peter Bjorn and John do more of their thing on Living Thing, but there’s nothing quite as awesome as “Young Folks,” which means this album just can’t be as good as their first.

This week we’re going to do some traveling. Whether it’s back in time, to another country, or just down South; this week’s new music releases are taking us away. And I don’t know about you, but I love traveling. So grab your bags and don’t bother making a mix tape for the ride, because all the music you need is right here.

Chris Isaak- Mr. Lucky

Oh, hi Chris Isaak. You’re back. Remember “Wicked Game”? You know, “And I wanna fall in love…with you” Yes, I told you we were traveling back in time. Despite the fact that we haven’t heard from this guy in awhile, Chris Isaak just has one of those voices I’ll always be a fan of. Not only is he back with a new album, Mr. Lucky, but he’s got a new TV show as well. The Biography Channel will soon be airing his Inside the Actor’s Studio like program for musicians. So obviously now is a good time for him to come out with some new music himself. The album is great, and comes with a huge perk: a duet with Michelle Branch (yes, I am a fan). While ”I Lose My Heart” is a really pretty song with a country-ish twang, I wish he gave Michelle a larger part (like a solo somewhere in there). Isaak also has a duet with Trisha Yearwood, which is one of my favorite songs on the album, showcasing Trisha’s beautiful voice throughout. I’m not sure any of the songs on Mr. Lucky will surpass “Wicked Game,” but it’s nice to hear Chris singing again.

K’Naan- Troubadour

And now we’re traveling far, far away. What? You’ve never heard of K’Naan? OK, neither had I. But I’m telling you, you totally need to start listening. First of all, Troubadour, K’Naan’s second studio album, was mostly recorded at Bob Marley’s home studio in Jamaica. So you already know the guy’s pretty cool. K’Naan was born and raised in Somalia and raps about his home country, his experiences, and so much more. I’d describe him as a much cooler, more hardcore version of The Black-Eyed Peas. It’s rap, but it’s rap that you can sing along to; rap that holds incredible meaning behind the words. K’Naan sings lyrics like: “They don’t teach us the ABCs/We play on the hard concrete/All we got is life on the streets” and “How did Mandela get the will to surpass the everyday/When injustice had him caged and trapped in every way/How did Ghandi ever withstand the hunger strikes and all/Didn’t do it to gain power and money if I recall.” Umm, but I swear, it’s fun music! If you don’t believe me, just listen to “Bang Bang,” which features Adam Levine of Maroon 5. I’ve had it on repeat all day and you probably will too.

Joe Bonamassa- The Ballad of John Henry

Joe Bonamassa is going to take us down South. OK, so really he was born and raised in Utica, New York, but his blues-rock music will make you feel like you’re down South; or at least in an underground Chicago bar somewhere. I’ll admit I’m not a big listener of the blues genre of music, but something about Joe Bonamassa’s new album, The Ballad of John Henry, has me really feeling the blues. But in a totally good way. I mean, come on, he does a cover to the song titled “Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter.” I have absolutely no idea what that means, but the song is pretty much a blast. The title track and “Happier Times” almost remind me of a cleaner version of the Drive-By Truckers, so I automatically liked it. But my favorite track might have to be “Feeling Good” a bluesy-rock take on the recently made popular by Michael Buble Bobby Darin original. Who ever said the blues would make you sad? After listening to Joe Bonamassa, I know I’m feeling good.

The year is getting off to a slow start music-wise, that doesn’t mean there’s not tons and tons to look forward to in 2009 (trust me, there is). After all, it’s only been 2 weeks. But slow does not mean great music isn’t being released.

This week’s new releases were mostly unfamiliar to me – and totally memorable – and I’m super excited that I got to discover some new music. Here’s to hoping 2009 is filled with lots more new bands and jams, in addition to new releases from old favorites.

The Derek Trucks Band- Already Free

I’m not sure how it happened, but Already Free is The Derek Trucks Band’s sixth album, and somehow I have never heard of them. The band plays a really cool amalgamation of different music stylings; basically a mixture of blues, rock, soul, and jazz. Many of the songs on the album are covers, but the band also has some really great originals. The first track, “Down in the Flood” is a Bob Dylan song, but in my opinion, Trucks makes it a bit more fun and lighthearted. And remember Susan Tedeschi? She’s Derek Truck’s wife, providing backup vocals on many of the songs and has a key role in “Back Where I Started.” Make sure you jump on the truck because it’s hard not to like The Derek Trucks Band’s music.

Jason Karaban- Sobriety Kills

When iTunes told me that listeners who bought Jason Karaban’s new album, Sobriety Kills, also purchased Spoon, I was pretty sure I would like him. And I do. Sure he’s a little more pop-y than Spoon, but in a totally relaxed, you won’t be able to stop listening kind of way. I would compare him more to singers like Jon McLaughlin and Dave Barnes. You know how sometimes you have to listen to an album a couple times before you can really appreciate it? Not so with Sobriety Kills. I loved it on my first listen and am having a seriously difficult time picking a favorite song. But I do know I’ve listened to “All in a Day’s Dream” and “Because I Love You” about a million times now. And Jason Karaban just made a huge new fan.

Pat McGee Band- Live from the Southland

OK, so Pat McGee is not new to me, but I haven’t been following them too closely lately and didn’t realize they were set to release a new live album. I skipped school in high school to see Pat McGee open for Run DMC; not a very likely combo, but they pulled it off quite nicely. Amazing performers, I’ve always enjoyed the Pat McGee Band’s live albums more than their studio albums and Live from the Southland is no exception. The entire album is incredibly clean and smooth for a live album, and Pat’s voice will send shivers down your spine (at least it does mine). This whole album is reminding me how much I love the Pat McGee Band and makes me wonder how I ever forgot.

[All album images are from Amazon.com, except for the Pat McGee Band album cover, which is from www.liveonmusic.com. Main photo courtesy of the Sugar peeps.]

Ego and rock’n'roll usually go hand in hand, but there are certain artists who defy expectations in the douchebag department. Certain rockers who just can’t keep their mouths shut — whether there’s a stage mic or a report’s mic in front of them. Certain dudes who make our top 5 Cockiest Rocker Dbags.

5) Noel Gallagher

Remember this douche? Yah. Not many people do. For some reason Oasis is still making music, but the only thing we ever heard when we looked at them were the words “ugly” and “all-our-songs-sound-the-same“

4) Gene Simmons

A few months ago, Simmons recorded a sex tape that made just about everyone I know puke up their lunch. Sure, KISS was a good band, but saying things like “every other band should be wiping my ass” is just pure Dbag material — especially if you look like your face is made of wax that’s melting.

3) Little Richard

Little Richard and his tiny moustache made some good music in his day, but you wouldn’t exactly consider him “the architect of rock ‘n’ roll,” would you? The architect of tacky sequined jackets? Sure! The architect of upper lip hair? Yup! Well, it doesn’t matter what you’d consider, because Little Richard knows.

2) Kanye

No lie, Kanye knows music — or at least his kind of music. He’s got a certain genre pretty much covered, but that doesn’t mean that he’s the most popular rocker of all time. I mean, if he was, my mom would know who he is…and I’m pretty sure if I said Kanye to to my mom, she’d asked if that was a type of take-out I can only get in NYC.

1) John Lennon

He has to be #1. Because he tried to take on Jesus. And look…you just don’t take on Jesus. I mean, can you walk on water, buddy? I don’t think so. That guy is totally in the popular clique of the Cosmos.

Any other rocker Dbags we should know about?

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