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.

I like music I can sing along to. Even better is music I only have to listen to once before I start singing along. Sometimes I find myself singing along before I even know the lyrics. Other people get annoyed at my mixture of mumbles and hums, but I can’t help myself.

That’s how this week’s new releases were for me; I loved them right from the start and couldn’t help singing along. Plus, the lyrics to many of these songs pretty much rock. Of course, I already knew all the songs on the Ben Folds album, but I was immediately dancing and singing along to the new versions (and that’s not always easy to do with a cappella music).

I’m pretty sure, in fact, that this week’s new releases have caused my roommate to start packing and my neighbors to buy earplugs. What? I never said I had a good voice, but I really just can’t help singing along.

Ben Lee- The Rebirth of Venus

The first thing I thought upon hearing Ben Lee’s new album was, “Where have I been?!?!” I’ve been hearing about Ben Lee for so long and then blatantly ignoring him. I’m not sure why; it could have something to do with my general dislike of super short names. But now I’m angry I never gave him a chance, because this stuff is good. Like really good. Good as in, the first time I listened to the The Rebirth of Venus, I immediately found myself singing along. How could I sing along to songs I had never heard before? I don’t know, but I was.

The album starts with “What’s So Bad (About Feeling Good)?” and it is absolutely the perfect opening. It immediately got me dancing along, “No guilt/All pleasure/Come on/I wanna hear you yell it now.” So from song 1, I was already starting to fall in love with Ben Lee. I could probably talk about every single song on The Rebirth of Venus, but I’ll keep it to just a few. “I Love Pop Music” sounds exactly like you’d think it would. I almost didn’t want to like it, but I legit could not help it. My favorite song on the album is definitely “Families Cheating at Boardgames” and I think it does an excellent job at showcasing Ben’s voice. Plus the lyrics are pretty much to die for:“Break away from what you know/You are not alone/We can build a brand new home/You are not alone.” More amazingness about Ben Lee (as if you needed it)? He’s married to Ione Skye. You know, from my all-time favorite movie, Say Anything. And their child plays the pots and pans in the intro to “What’s So Bad (About Feeling Good)?” God, how sweet. Ben Lee, I think I love you.

The Great Northern- Remind Me Where the Light is

I first heard of The Great Northern a couple years ago when I heard their song “Home.” I absolutely loved it, so I listened to a few more of their songs. None of them really did it for me like “Home,” but I was super excited to listen to their new album, Remind me Where the Light is, nevertheless. And I’m happy to report that it’s pretty close to where “Home” is in terms of enjoyability. And in terms of singability. It was pretty obvious to me why “Houses” is the first single off the album; it’s perfectly catchy. But it isn’t my favorite song. I’m a big fan of “Stop,” which is one of the slowest songs on the album and was strangely reminiscent of Bon Iver for me. And that’s obviously a big plus.

I also appreciate the lyrics on the song “Numbers”: “Beware of strength in numbers/They play better than one/A group of those who follow/Can never reach the sound/Be careful who you’re thinking/Will save you in the end/Maybe we’re all just waiting/For one beautiful friend.” Another one of my favorites is “Driveway,” also another of the slower songs. While I might not be able to help singing along, I also think Great Northern is the perfect background music for me. And that’s not an insult at all; it’s a total compliment. It’s quiet, melodic, and has the ability to calm me. And trust me, it takes a lot to calm me.

Ben Folds- Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella

I am a big lover of Ben Folds and I’ll take him in any fashion I can get him in, be it with the Five or a cappella. I think this album, Ben Folds presents: University A Cappella, is a really cool concept. It’s almost like you don’t realize how perfect Ben Folds’ music is for a cappella until you hear these a cappella groups singing it.  And then you realize these songs were made for it. Well, maybe not made for it, but it works really, really well. This album probably has many of your favorite Ben Folds songs on it, so it should make you quite happy. I think “Still Fighting It” is one of the songs that works the best as a cappella and found myself listening to it over and over. But “You Don’t Know Me” also worked quite well, as you could probably tell from the original version Ben Folds sings with Regina Spector. My sister just told me that “The Luckiest” is going to be her wedding song, so this version had me tearing up a bit. And I absolutely loved “Brick” and almost enjoyed the lead singer more than I enjoy Ben Folds singing it. Almost.

Of course, the a cappella groups overshadow Ben much of the time, but I guess that’s kind of the point. I think it just made me realize that while I’m loving this album, it’s also making me crazy craving some new Ben Folds.

From seemingly soft-spoken crooners (Jenny Lewis, Regina Spektor) to loud-mouthed firecrackers (Beth Ditto, Amanda Palmer) it’s no surprise that women have taken the reins from the guys and have proved that, they too, can rock as hard as any man. It’s time to let the ladies take over for a bit, and none too soon. Check out AOLmusic’s top female performers who are currently rocking the stage (and your iPod) right now. Photos after the jump:

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With the release of her fifth album, Begin To Hope, things are finally starting to take off in the mainstream. Her song On the Radio was featured on Grey’s Anatomy this past season, and despite the decline in quality of the show itself, its soundtrack still manages to make stars out of relative unknowns. And the mainstream is right about where Regina deserves to be—except that we’ll miss her intimate shows at small venues.

Moving to the Bronx from Russia at the age of 9, Spektor had to improvise when she got to the States. The family left their piano behind in Moscow, and Regina was forced to practice on anything she could find upon her arrival here—window sills, and benches included. She ended up honing her craft, and developing her songwriting skills on a piano in the basement of her synagogue.

A few short years later, when trying to get her first gig at an open audition at a New York club, she decided that waiting around was not for her. She left the line, called the venue, and told them she was already booked there. Somehow she managed to convince them that the lack of her name on the roster was their error and managed to book her first gig.

She’s played tirelessly over the last few years—taking every gig that came her way—and slowly but surely developed a broad fan base.

Spektor has been compared to Tori Amos, and Fiona Apple by critics, but I’m pretty sure it’s just because she plays the piano as well. I love both Tori (her new album—the best she’s put out in awhile), and Fiona Apple, but it doesn’t sound anything like Spektor to me. It’s hard to classify her music—there are so many different sounds, and influences. You can hear her classical training, but you also hear hints of pop, hip-hop… just about everything in there.

Begin to Hope is a great mix—poppy, upbeat songs like Fidelity, Better, and On the Radio are great to wake up to, and impossible to not sing along with. Other tracks like Apres Moi are soaring, and dramatic. And Samson is one of my new favorite love songs—seriously, it makes my heart hurt. Her lyrics are poetic, and maybe slightly confusing, but beautiful all the same.

Spektor has played Coachella this year, and is also appearing at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. I think it’s only a matter of time before she’s a household name.

Discography:

2001 – 11:11 (Regina Spektor)

2002 – Songs (Regina Spektor)

2003/2004 - Soviet Kitsch (Regina Spektor/Shoplifter/Sire)

2005 – Mary Ann Meets the Gravediggers and Other Short Stories (Transgressive)

2006 – Begin to Hope (Sire)