And ZOMG, I’m so happy I did!

Both Jason Mraz’s new live album and Snow Patrol’s compilation rocked my socks off. Yes, I said “rocked my socks off.” And, yes,  I already knew most of the music, but there was something new and exciting and different about hearing it all on a different album, in a different order, in a new way. I just want to hoard every CD/song/version they’ve got.

And then there was the new Dashboard Confessional album. A totally new album. It wasn’t live and it wasn’t a “best of”, but it somehow all sounded the same. In a good way, of course. Dashboard back again with the same great sound.  And you know what? It just might be the “best of “Dashboard.

Jason Mraz- Beautiful Mess (Live on Earth)

Is it possible to get any better than Jason Mraz? He’s absolutely adorable in a totally hipster, but down-to-Earth type way. He has a beautiful voice and comes up with the world’s best lyrics. Um, and he has his own avocado farm. YES, I would die to date a boy with an avocado farm. But unfortunately, Jason is the only boy I know with an avocado farm and I don’t think I really have a chance with him. Anyway, the bottom line is that his music rocks my world. I’ve been to two of his concerts in the last year and both times I left saying, “That was the best show of my life!” His shows are amazing, spiritual experiences. So it seemed natural that I had to get his new live album, Beautiful Mess (Live on Earth). And the album was exactly like both of the shows I’ve been to. And I think this is a good thing. I got to re-create my concert experience, though I sometimes felt like I wanted Jason to mix things up a bit and show me something I hadn’t heard already.  But Jason does drop one of my favorite lines of his on the album: “Please don’t ever let your mind stop you from having a good time.” Those should be words to live by for all! Then Jason breaks into “The Dynamo of Volition,” which I just can’t help dancing along to. Jason also does a roaring rendition of Gloria Estefan’s “All Night Long” and you can’t help but love that. Of course, I’d much rather see Jason Mraz live than simply listen to his live album, but since that’s not always possible (he’s gotta tend to his avocados at some point), this album is a really good substitute.

Snow Patrol- Up To Now

Snow Patrol is another one of my all-time favorite bands. I’m constantly frustrated by people who are so in love with Snow Patrol’s Eyes Open and everything after (no doubt because of “Chasing Cars”), but claim their older stuff is just so “different.” No, no, Snow Patrol’s new stuff is different. Their old stuff? Is Snow Patrol. Not to say I don’t love Snow Patrol’s new stuff because I really do! But I also like seeing where they’ve come from. Yeah, you have to listen to their older stuff a time or two to really get into it, but I like that it’s not all so radio-ready. If you’re a bit iffy on the old Snow Patrol, Up To Now might be the perfect album for you. It’s a big compilation featuring 30 of Snow Patrol’s songs. Many of them are from the last two albums, but it also has some of their absolute bests from the older albums. Listen to “Run” and tell me you don’t love it. Listen to “Chocolate” and tell me you don’t like Snow Patrol’s old stuff. This album really is the best of Snow Patrol. The only song I really, really feel like it’s missing is “Make This Go On Forever,” because I think that song needs to be on every Snow Patrol album in existence (and, yes, it’s a newer song!).

There are also 3 previously unreleased songs on the album, which definitely make the album worth it even if you already own everything else. “Just Say Yes” starts off like a techno-y type of song but then it sounds so very Snow Patrol. And “Dark Roman Wine” is so beautiful, it almost made me cry. No joke. But if you purchase this album for no other reason, let it be for Snow Patrol’s cover of “Crazy in Love” from Beyonce and Jay-Z. Their rendition is absolutely amazing.

Dashboard Confessional- Alter the Ending

So, Dashboard Confessional actually released a new album; nothing live and nothing old. But they’re still like old friends to me and they always seem to sound exactly the same. New (amazing!) lyrics, same feeling. It seems like Dashboard has been around forever and though I always find I have to be in the right mood to listen to them, I’ve been finding that lately it’s rare for me to not be in that mood. Alter the Ending is actually a very solid album and one I’ll definitely find myself coming back to again and again. One of my favorite songs on the album is the title track because it has classic Dashboard lyrics: “I know that yesterday is gone and it won’t come back to me/But I miss it after all it never really lasts as long as we meant for it to be/There’ll be twists and turns, they’re pulling us and tearing to the seams/But I’ll meet you where we started once again, cause I miss you.” Beautiful!

Another favorite is “No News is Bad News” because I love the title and the lyrics: “But if you’re alone/Are you lonely?/Well you just don’t have to be lonely/Anymore.” The song actually feels incredibly upbeat in a sad sort of way. Yes, Dashboard Confessional is known for being emo, but this is almost a happy, delightful kind of emo. We wonder if that’s what they mean by altering the ending? Dashboard certainly hasn’t altered their sound, but if they want to alter the ending, that’s fine with me. Who knows, maybe I would even listen to the live version if one happened to come out.

Wow, this week was a bit of a bummer. So much anticipation and a whole lot of disappointment. You’re probably thinking I deserve it. After all, I got my hopes all up about Mariah Carey and Selena Gomez, so what did I really deserve, right? But I’m still a bit let down because, yes, I was expecting a lot from Mariah. She’s had more #1 hits than any other artist in history and while I wouldn’t listen to her every day in my car, I did think I’d at least like it.

Turns out, you all might be best off just listening to Britney Spears’ new single, “Three,” this week. Or Zero 7. You may not know who they are, but they are great and they really restored my faith in music after that Mimi/Selena letdown. So, thanks, Zero 7!

Mariah Carey- Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel

I admit I’m not the hugest Mariah Carey fan in the world, but I’ve been known to get down to her music a time or two. In fact, I think she has so many amazing songs and has true talent. I saw her perform in concert a couple years ago and was amazed by how many hits she has that are all so perfect. But Mariah admits on this album that she’s “imperfect.” And imperfect this album is (right down to the super airbrushed cover photo). I was really anticipating Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel because I wanted some more hits from Mariah. But when I first heard “Obsessed,” I was anything but obsessed. I didn’t like it at all! But I still gave Mariah’s album a chance because, you know, it’s Mariah Carey and obviously there are going to be some hits on there, right?

Honestly? I didn’t hear any.

They all had her beautiful voice, but none stuck out or excited me. I think I was just really looking for a “Hero” or even “Always Be My Baby.”I had some fun with “Ribbon,” but I wouldn’t say it was a huge hit or anything. I know Mariah’s version of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is” got a lot of criticism, but I actually think this is the shining moment of the album. It shows her true range and is truly beautiful. No, you can’t compare it to Foreigner, but it’s totally different and amazing nonetheless. I honestly do believe that Mariah Carey is totally talented and that she will be back in true fashion eventually. I don’t know if she just has some so-so producers or her marriage to Nick Cannon has been uninspiring, but she just needs a little something. Come back to us Mariah!

Selena Gomez- Kiss and Tell

Really, I don’t even know why I bothered reviewing Selena Gomez’s new ablum. I think I just thought, well, Miley Cyrus is straight from the Disney Channel and her music is awesome. I am basically obsessed with the music of Hilary Duff. Even Demi Lovato’s music makes me dance. Sigh. Not Selena Gomez. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not bad at all. Her music is pop-y and high-energy and pretty fun. But it’s just not quite as catchy as those other Disney girls. One of my favorites from Kiss and Tell is the title track, but even that sounds totally Disney. It feels like it should be in a Lindsay Lohan movie. Am I wrong? The lyrics are fun, though, and fairly innocent: “Kiss and tell everything I say stuck inside your little brain/Everybody wants to know yeah/Lips that lie caught in your track sold me out and you just/Laugh said we’re friends till the end yeah but you/Don’t mean it.”

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like 17-year-old Gomez should be sounding more mature than Miley Cyrus, not less. Then again, maybe it’s Miley who’s too mature. I have to admit, “As a Blonde” is totally fun, but again, all I can picture is a Disney movie. I, however, was dancing around my room listening: “And come back as a blond, try a different lipstick on/As a blond, will I get whatever I want?/I’d be ever so incising, take a lot of icing, never have to watch my weight/Yeah when I’m gone, I’m gonna come back as a blond.” So, I just think Selena needs to mature a bit and get rid of that Wizards of Waverly Place image and then she’ll be on her way to pop success. And hopefully she doesn’t turn into Lindsay Lohan in the meantime.

Zero 7- Yeah Ghost

I don’t know a whole lot about Zero 7, but I do know I enjoy their song from the Garden State soundtrack. And there might be one or two more that I’ve heard and enjoyed. I also just learned that Sia used to be one of their female vocalists. Hello! I love Sia! So, I obviously had to listen to their new album, Yeah Ghost. It was definitely a lot better than I even thought it would be. Finally! Something good about this week! I seriously think I’ve listened to Medicine Man at least 50 times since I got Yeah Ghost. It’s so eclectic and fun; I just cannot stop! I love the singer’s raspy-ish voice and the way she sings “Outrageous.” This song really doesn’t sound like the rest of the album, but I wish more songs sounded like this! “The Road” is a really lovely mellow song. When I heard it at first, I just closed my eyes; it’s kind of like a lullaby. In a good way, though; not a boring way. This is the song I can most hear a Sia-ish sound in as well. I’m also a fan of “Mr. McGee” which is actually upbeat and fun. Apparently, the lead singer on this is Anglo-Zimbabwean and I can really get a feel for that. I literally started clapping and dancing along to this song. OK, so while I have been super negative about music this week, Zero 7′s Yeah Ghost is actually a gem. A gem I will keep listening to.

I feel like I’m having a major flashback this week. Like Wayne and Garth are running by me in my bedroom waving their hands in the air screaming “Do do do do. Do do do do.” And then everything gets all jumbled and I’m ten years younger and wearing something completely ridiculous.

Only they didn’t and I’m not. Instead, two of my all-time favorite musicians from about 10 years ago are back with some new stuff and I’m obviously over-joyed. I mean, when was the last time you heard about Vertical Horizon or David Gray? It’s been a long time; thankfully I wasn’t holding my breath. Now we just need to see if ten years was enough. I know I changed for the better in that time – what about them?

Vertical Horizon- Burning the Days

I used to love Vertical Horizon. Love as in “omg best music ever!” That was about 10 years ago. Since then, I’d hear them from time to time and have fond memories. Their old songs are still catchy and I can’t help myself from liking them. So, I kind of freaked out when I heard they were coming out with a new album. I had NO idea this was coming and I was excited beyond belief to hear about Burning the Days. First thoughts? It is so, so good to hear their voices again! They sound exactly the same and there’s something really comforting about that.

But I was also a bit disappointed. One of the things I really loved about Vertical Horizon was that on my first listen through that old album, almost all of the songs stuck out to me. I was immediately obsessed. With this new album, there weren’t any songs that really stood out. If I wasn’t to in love with their voices, I might not even give this another listen. But because I have a special place in my heart for VH, I’m giving them a chance. I think “Lucky One” is a sweet song with lovely lyrics: “Time goes fast when you wander/And nothing lasts forever/But I still feel the power/Of you and me together/And light that surrounds you/I know I’m the lucky one/Though I’m always the last to believe/I know I’m the lucky one/’Cause I’m here, and you’re with me.” I can see that being a hit, though it’s not overly catchy. And I do like the album’s first single, “Save Me From Myself” because it sounds a little bit more classic Vertical Horizon than the other songs. But man, do I miss “Best I Ever Had.” Oh well, I’ll keep giving Vertical Horizon a chance. For old time’s sake.

David Gray- Draw the Line

Back in the day, I was totally obsessed with “Sail Away” and  “Babylon”, but I kind of felt like after 10 years I had outgrown David Gray. Until I heard this new album, Draw the Line and I realized I am still very much a fan. Maybe even more so than before. The first song on the album, “Fugitive,” immediately hooked me in with its upbeat, but classic David Gray feeling. Oh how I love his “heyyy”s. And oh how I missed them.

There really aren’t any songs on the album that I hate, but I especially like “Jackdaw.” It has a bit of a different sound than typical David Gray, but still has his classic voice. The real treat of the album is the last track, David Gray’s duet with Annie Lennox. It’s so unique and beautiful; they have the perfect voices for each other. “Full Steam Ahead” is the perfect name for the song too, as the sound and the lyrics almost sound like a train chugging along. “Bullied, suckered, pimped and patronised/Every day your tawdry little lives/So lose your head/And step within/The silence deafening/Now you saw it coming/And I saw it coming/We all saw it coming/But we still bought it.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard David Gray do a duet with anyone and Annie Lennox was just perfect for him! Bottom line: after all these years, I’m still crazy for David Gray.

Islands- Vapours

Ok, so there is one album on here that doesn’t take me back to 6th grade recess and it is the Islands. But I did spend some time being in love with them and I am absolutely thrilled that they just came out with a new album, Vapours. And this one I just happen to be even more obsessed with! After listening through just one time, I could already tell it was going to spending a lot of time at the top of my playlist. In fact, I actually played the first song “Switched On” 3 times before I even continued on to the rest of the album. It’s SO good.  I have some strange obsession with songs about cities and loving cities, so that could partly be why I’m so fond of it, but also because the tune is just so perfect. And listen to the beautiful harmonies in “Disarming the Car Bomb,” another upbeat and happy song.

The band members’ voices complement each other so well. “Heartbeat” is done with a bit of autotune, but in a classy and fun Bon Iver-ish way; not a Kanye West way. For some reason, not many people I know have heard of or listen to Islands and I’m seriously confused as to why. Give this new album a listen and you’ll be confused too! Islands give us another reason to love Canada, besides Bryan Adams. Yes, Bryan Adams. Don’t judge me.

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.

None of the artists with new releases are new to me this week. I’ve loved them all in the past and now I’m coming back for more. Actually, they’re coming back to give me more and I’m taking it all with wide open arms. And I’m pretty psyched to hear some new stuff from some of my old favorites. It makes me feel at home and right where I belong. I’m so happy to have my old friends back again!

A Fine Frenzy- Bomb in a Birdcage

I fell in love with A Fine Frenzy the first time I heard “Almost Lover.” Actually, it brought me to tears almost instantly. Now, I’m a pretty emotional person, so I guess that isn’t saying all too much, but really, if you haven’t heard this song yet, listen to it yet. I’ve had a rather emotional weekend as my sister just got married, so I was both excited and nervous to listen to the new album from A Fine Frenzy, Bomb in a Birdcage. But after my first listen-through, I realized that this was a much happier A Fine Frenzy then I remembered.

“Swan Song” is beautiful, as are many other tracks, but there’s nothing on the album quite like “Almost Lover.” I am totally loving “What I Wouldn’t Do,” which is a bit more upbeat and has the lyrics from Fine Frenzy that I crave. They’re so sweet and cute that they make me want to frolic in a field and have a picnic with my lover. Plus there’s whistling involved, and who doesn’t love whistling? “If I were old, my dearest, you would be older/But I would crawl upon your lap/Wrap a blanket ’round our frail little shoulders/And I’d die happily like that/Oh what I wouldn’t do/If I had you, babe, I had you/Oh what I wouldn’t do/If I had you, babe, if I had you/So lace your hands ’round the small of my back and I will kiss you like a king/I will be your bride, I’ll keep you warm at night/I will sing, I will sing.” So maybe, a Fine Frenzy didn’t get me crying like they did with “Almost Lover,” but I’m still happily singing along to their new album.

Boys Like Girls- Love Drunk

Boys Like Girls isn’t the typical kind of music I listen to, but I have to admit I have a very soft place in my heart for them. It could partially be because I went to high school with the lead singer, but that’s not the only reason. I hadn’t really heard much about them until I met them at Warped Tour a couple years ago and realized they were from my hometown and Martin Johnson was a couple years below me in high school. So then I listened to their big hit single, “Great Escape,” and I totally loved it. And then I discovered there were lots of awesome tracks off their first self-titled album. So, I was dying to hear their sophomore album Love Drunk.

And, I’m going to be honest here, what was I most excited for in their new album? Their duet with Taylor Swift. Not only do I love Taylor, but I was really interested to see how they would pull this off. And “Two Is Better Than One” is a completely beautiful song. I actually walked into the room as it was playing and I thought it was Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova for a second (from the movie Once). It’s that beautiful! If this song hits the spotlight, which I hope it does, I really think it’s going to launch Boys Like Girls into something huge.

On a totally different note, “Real Thing” sounds like an 80s hit, in the best way possible. Even the lyrics are 80s-sounding: “Jamie’s in love/She’s got the summer blowing through her hair/She turns it up/She says tonight you take me anywhere/Bobby’s in luck/He got a fire burning in his eyes/He turns it up/And he says girl you better hold on tight.” And of course, I’m a fan of “Love Drunk,” the album’s title track. And the remix with Mark Hoppus, one of the bonus tracks, is pretty fabulous too. I believe this second album from Boys Like Girls is really going to get them far!

Howie Day- Sound the Alarm

I’ll admit I became a Howie Day fan long ago. I saw him live before he was known at all and he was extremely good looking with a beautiful voice. How could I not fall in love right away? He even agreed to let me snap a picture with him, which I still have to this day. That was about 10 years ago. From then, he started to get bigger, but then got in some trouble. I think he was accused of assaulting a girl on his tour bus and maybe threw a fit in on an airplane too. Whatever. All I know is that I like his music, so I’m excited he just released a new album, Sound the Alarm. And now that he’s a bit older, hopefully he’s become a bit more mature too.

And he is! At least when it comes to his music. His voice even sounds a bit different, maybe a bit more commercial, but still Howie Day-ish. I remember one of the first things I liked about Howie Day’s music was its lyrics, and they’re still there as perfect as ever. I was immediately obsessed with “Longest Night” and its words: “Is it dark where you are?/Can you count the stars where you are?/Do you feel where you are /A thousand miles from home/Maybe there’s a point to this/Could it be something its I have missed/Here we are set into motion/Steal a car, we’ll crash in the ocean/You and I are caught in the fading light/On the longest night…” But “Be There” and “40 Hours” are also pretty amazing. I can’t get enough of the title track’s lyrics: “I don’t know if I could last/When I couldn’t rescue you/And I don’t know if my best/Is enough for me anymore.” But Howie Day makes me feel like everything’s OK by singing, “You know we’ll be alright.” Howie makes me feel at home again.

And it’s good to be home with Howie.

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.

Daughtry – Leave This Town

Chris Daughtry is one of those musicians people of all ages love. I desperately wanted him to win American Idol. So did my mom. But alas, he didn’t. And it’s probably a good thing, because he got the freedom to do whatever he wanted. And now? Many people forget was even on American Idol. Which I think is a sign of a super successful American Idol contestant.

His first album, with his band Daughtry, was a huge hit, so I was totally excited for their second album, Leave This Town. And so far, I’m pretty thrilled with it. I especially love, “Every Time You Turn Around,” with its jungle-like sounds in the background (Hey, I’m a sucker for jungle animals) and “whoo hoos” throughout the song. Lots of the lyrics on the album are super cheesy, which leaves Daughtry in the position of being a rock band, without really being hardcore. I can see a lot of music critics taking issue with this; but I have to respect Daughtry for it. I always love a super nice rocker. I’m pretty sure the slower ballad, “Life After You” is going to be a huge hit because it has a little bit of that “Home” feel to it. And check out the lyrics: “All that I’m after is a lifetime of laughter/As long as I’m laughing with you.” Yes, it’s all cheese, but who doesn’t love cheese? I hope Daughtry sticks around a long time and I know I’ll be listening to their new album for quite a while. And when I’m dealing with an awful break up. This music seems about right for that.

The Dead Weather – Horehound

OK, so I’m a really big White Stripes fan. People are usually really surprised when I tell them this. There’s nothing about me that makes me look like I would be a Jack White lover, but I’m totally into him. And his completely strange relationship with Meg too. He’s just so weird, I can’t help it. Call it just a fascination; I don’t mind, but I do know the White Stripes can sing like whoa and I’ll give a little listen to anything Jack White decides to do. So, cut to me being super excited that he started a new band and just released a new album. The band is The Dead Weather and the album is Horehound. And I like. A lot.

Jack ditches his guitar and goes with the drums instead. He is joined by The Kills’ Alison Mosshart who I think compliments Jack’s voice perfectly. I love “Treat Me Like Your Mother,” probably because it really does sound like the White Stripes would sing. The back and forth between White and Mosshart is awesome and I’ve probably listened to this song about 50 times and am pretty sure I’ll never get tired of it. “Come on look me in the eye/You wanna try to tell a lie/I’ll bet you can’t and you know why/I’m just like your mother.” Every time the song ends, I find myself going, “Whoo, I need more. I’m also totally into the bluesy feel of “Will There Be Enough Water” and the sort of Western feel in “Rocking Horse.” My overall theory is that Jack White can do whatever he wants and I’ll still love him. Probably the creepier the better.

Various Artists – 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack

I usually don’t get very excited about soundtracks. They generally don’t do anything for me, unless it’s a movie I really, really love with a soundtrack that has my favorite artists on it. This lovely combination just doesn’t happen all that often, but when I heard 500 Days of Summer was starring Zooey Deschanel, I immediately thought, “I wonder what the soundtrack will be like!” And you know, it really is good, even if it does only include one song by Zooey’s band She & Him.

I don’t really know too much what the movie is about, but I feel like the soundtrack has given me a really good idea of the general feel of the plot, which I think is a sign of a good soundtrack. I never realized how much I enjoyed The Smiths until I heard them singing “There is a Light That Never Goes Out.” I immediately loved it and wondered why I don’t listen to them more. Of course, I loved She & Him’s version of “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want,” but I also quite enjoyed The Smiths’ as well. I have to admit I’m not the biggest fan of Regina Spektor (I know. But her voice has always been a bit grating to me), but I actually kind of enjoyed her here. Both of her songs on the soundtrack, “Us” and “Hero” felt especially summery and perfect for what I presume the movie is about.

In fact, that’s what I liked most about the whole album – it’s so summery. From The Black Lips “Bad Kids” to Hall and Oates’ “You Make My Dreams Come True to Feist’s “Mushaboom” to Mumm-Ra’s “She’s Got You High,” the whole album just screamed fun and summer to me. And how could I not love that? Oh, and bonus (as if you needed more): France’s own Carla Bruni has a light and airy track on there too. Absolutely amazing. Just like 500 days of summer would be.

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.

Gavin DeGraw. A man with a guitar. A hot man with a guitar. A hot man with a guitar and a whole lot of talent. A hot man with a guitar and a whole lot of talent that just released a new album (that we already love as much or more than his megahit, Chariot) that agreed to sit down and answer a few of our questions.

He also happens to be funny, charismatic and the kind of guy you’d totally want to hang out with in a room at a house party. Not like that, ladies. Ok, maybe like that, but also in the platonic “he’s a fun guy to drink beers with” sorta way.

See for yourself:

5 Questions we Ask Everyone:

1. What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
Getting probation for having a pocket knife [while] walking down the street in NYC.

2. What are the five things you can’t live without?
Pocketknife, cell phone, water, food and…pocketknife.

3. What’s your motto or the advice you live by?
Make it count.

4. What is you favorite song to belt out at the bar/in the car/for karaoke?
Anything Neil Diamond

5. Ten years from now you will be….
10 years older…and in school deciding on a new major…and lying about my age!

5 Questions just for Gavin:

1. If you had to choose one artist to cover one of your songs, who would it be and why?
Willie Nelson. I would be so flattered that he would do it in the first place, as well as interested in how he would interpret it.

2. What was the inspiration behind your new album, Free? Free from what?
[It is going] back to my roots without all of the pressure and technology of the studio and being able to do what I love the way I want to do it.

3. How do you unwind after a show?
It’s really hard to unwind after a show because the energy that my fans give off is insane.  I usually shower right after the show, and then come back into the venue and try and meet as many of the people who were at the show as I can.

4. Who is the girl you croon of in “In Love With a Girl”?
No one in particular, and anyway I’m not giving her credit because it’s over now.

5. The contestants on American Idol are always singing your song “I Don’t Want to Be” on the show; why do you think that is? Do you like the way they cover it?
I am flattered that they cover my song(s) on that show.  Every time they sing on that show may be their last, so if they think my songs are good enough to keep them around, that’s a pretty good feeling.

Bonus: You seem to be have quite a presence on Twitter. Who are your favorite people to follow on Twitter? It’s us, isn’t it?
Totally you guys. What’s Twitter?

Very few stars these days can legitimately claim to be top-notch actors and musicians, but Harry Connick, Jr. is certainly one of them. A stylish crooner with a killer smile to boot, Harry puts the swagger in suave. His dinner-jacket-and-slacks style makes me want to slip into my best little black dress, some Chanel No. 5, recline on a velvet chaise…and eff his brains out.

Originally a professional jazz pianist, Harry got his big break arranging the soundtrack for everyone’s favorite rom-com, When Harry Met Sally. Seriously, hottie Harry’s eff-me-tender tunes made WHMS my number-one rainy-day chick flick, hands down. His work even won him his first Grammy! To date, he’s released several albums of music, from jazz to Christmas classics. Harry’s the kind of guy who will take you by the hand and sing your sweet little soul to the heavens of effable merriment, a true gent if I do say so myself.

Of course, his acting career has truly taken off over the past few years. His guest-starring stint on Will and Grace had me so glued to the television (Sexy Harry? My fave sitcom? Almost better than a good, long eff.) that I totally bought the series on DVD to relive every effable moment at my convenience.  Meanwhile, he’s broken out onto the big screen, with starring roles in Hope Floats, P.S. I Love You, and his latest release, New In Town, which opens today.

And of course, Harry wouldn’t be a great eff if he didn’t have a heart. He’s been a huge supporter of disaster relief programs in his native New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Yes, I know he’s married with children, but I’ve gotta say, if you ever need some (effable) relief of your own, Harry, you know who to call.

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.]