After countless barbecues and Bud Light Limes (or being stuck inside at your unpaid internship all day), summer is sadly coming to an end. Waaaaah (Snooki voice). But seeing your tan fade doesn’t mean there’s no more time for fun in the sun.

I’ve got three words: Labor Day weekend.

The last hurrah of summertime, so to speak. And to honor the goodness that was the past three months, we’ve created the perfect end-of-summer playlist to give this season the proper send-off.

Get your freak on right here.

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.

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

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

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band- Outer South

The whole time I was listening to Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band’s new album, Outer South, I kept thinking, “Why does this sound so familiar??” After listening to several songs, I finally had it. Conor Oberst is the lead singer of Bright Eyes and has an extremely distinctive voice.  On this album, Conor leaves his Bright Eyes friends and joins the guys from the Mystic Valley Band. And you know what? He sounds a lot happier with this band; many of the songs are a lot more upbeat. Some of my favorites include “White Shoes” and “Spoiled,” but to be honest, the entire 16-song album was very easy for me to listen to over and over. I actually really love the last song on the album, the hillbilly-ish “Snake Hill,” which is actually mainly sung by Taylor Hollingsworth. It tells the story of a man whose mother always told him to stay on Snake Hill because he had poison in his bite. When he left the hill, “I discovered that a girl/Was what my mother tried to hide from me/She could make you feel alive/She could make you want to die/And that’s exactly what she did to me.” Though the song wasn’t even written by Oberst, those are some lyrics you would find coming right from Bright Eyes.

Elliott Yamin- Fight For Love

While I love American Idol for the opportunities it gives yet-to-be-discovered-singers, I sometimes hate it for the stigma it leaves on them. Elliott Yamin has that stigma. I feel like he’s having a hard time really making it because people think he’s just another product of American Idol. But Elliott is one of the most talented singers American Idol has discovered and his new album, Fight For Love, proves that he’s here to stay.

From the first notes of “Let Love Be,” I could tell I was going to like it; very smart to put that song first on the album.  It was also at this point that I realized how much Elliott actually sounds like John Legend. Listen to “Let Love Be” and tell me I’m wrong. This is the ultimate in pop-y jazz. I was also extremely impressed with “Cold Heart,” which I can totally see as the next single, and “Can’t Keep On Loving You.” Though “Someday” was thrown as the last song on the album, it’s probably the most heart-wrenching for Elliott’s Idol fans. Remember Elliott’s mom who was in the audience of every show cheering him on? The two were extremely close and she passed away last year; he wrote this song for her. “How do I start to make sense of what’s left/Still carry the memory of you in my head/I’m just not ready to let you go yet/But I know you’re proud of the man that I am.” Tear. All in all, I hope this album helps Elliott break beyond American Idol and show the world that he’s an incredible singer, whether Simon is judging him or not.

Ciara- Fantasy Ride

Ciara’s long-awaited album, Fantasy Ride, is finally here. The strange thing is, I didn’t even realize it was coming until it dropped. Why haven’t I been hearing the singles from it? Usually Ciara’s all over the place and I shouldn’t really have to try hard to find her. But maybe its because the album isn’t very good?

Upon first listen to the album, I actually enjoyed the first single, “Never Ever,” which samples from Simply Red’s “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” one of the best songs ever (in my opinion).  But that is where my love for this Fantasy Ride ended. The album as a whole has some OK beats, but really lacks is fun that’s not cheesy. And, oh boy, is there a lot of cheesy. Take the lyrics  in “High Price,” for example: “I should be in Iraq, Shawty/’Cause I am the bomb/Booty look softer than a McDonald’s hamburger bun.” What does that even mean?

The only really spectacular thing about Ciara’s album is all the special guests she has on it. Between Justin Timberlake, Ludacris, Young Jeezy, T-Pain, and Missy Elliott, you’d think this album would pack a little more  awesomeness. To be honest, “Turntables” with Chris Brown is one of the best songs on the album. But it also involves Chris Brown, automatically removing its chances of being a single or even getting very popular. Really, this album should have been called “Ciara and Special Guests” and she should come out with her own “solo” album very soon.

Ah, summer. It’s so close I can taste it.

And hear it?

Days on the beach, drinks on patios, and BBQs with friends. And music, lots of music. One of the very best things about summer is going to outdoor concerts.  And there are so many amazing tours this summer, I have a feeling I’m going to be at a concert pretty much every single week. And concerts mean music, beer, and friends. Which is pretty much heaven for me. Here are some of the biggest and best summer tours you should keep your eye (and ear) on.

Blink 182
Remember Blink 182? Duh, obviously you do. I used to be absolutely obsessed. I mean, how cute was Mark Hoppus? I was heartbroken when they went on hiatus and waited a couple years for them to get back together before I gave up. Mark created the not overly successful +44, Travis joined him along with fighting with Shanna Mokler on Meet the Barkers, and Tom formed the semi-successful Angels and Airwaves. But now? Back together again.

I don’t know why they’re reuniting. Maybe it had something to do with Travis Barker’s near-tragic plane crash and their thankfulness he’s still alive. Whatever the case, it’s hard not to be excited by their upcoming tour (and alleged new album!). No official dates have been confirmed yet, but the boys have said they will be touring the world this summer and rumor has it, they will be sharing the bill with No Doubt, another pleasant blast from the past! I’m pretty excited to see what the crowd is like for this show. Lots of people in their 20s and 30s reminiscing about their teenage angst-filled days I’m sure.

American Idol
Yeah, yeah, the crowd is probably going to be filled with 10-year-old kids, but come on. I’ll be at the American Idol tour, and with absolutely no shame either. After obsessively watching the contestants for a ridiculous amount of hours every week for basically half a year, there’s no way I’m missing a night of seeing them live.

The top 10 American Idol contestants of 2009 will be touring around the country, and yes, that includes the winner (ahem, Adam Lambert). But I’m also super excited to see Danny Gokey (please sing “What Hurts the Most”!) and Anoop Desai. I’m cringing a little bit at the fact I’ll have to watch Michael Sarver and Megan Joy once again, but I can always go buy a beer during their sets. Wait, do they sell beer at American Idol concerts? Please say yes.

Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney shows are always, always a good time, even if you’re not particularly a country music fan. The best thing (in my opinion) about Kenny tours in the summer is the chance that he might take his shirt off. OK, OK, so the music is pretty amazing too (but seriously, his body is h-o-t) and this year he’s touring with Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, and Montgomery Gentry.

Helloo, it’s like a whole country music festival.

You’re probably going to want to spend some serious time tailgating, so get to the show early and wear your favorite cowboy hat. Everyone is a country fan when it comes to Kenny Chesney and with songs like “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” and “Beer in Mexico,” there’s nobody better to spend a summer night with than Kenny.

Elton John (and Billy Joel)
Hi, Legend. Attending an Elton John concert would totally be one for the books. Right up there with Bryan Adams and Mariah Carey.  How could this not be the most amazing concert ever? Elton’s going to be touring the world with Billy Joel and while Billy’s not my absolute favorite, he’s definitely another huge legend. I kind of think whatever stadiums and arenas they’re performing at are going to explode with all that major legend-ness.

Elton has had so many huge hits, and even his recent albums are pretty fabulous, so I am super psyched to see what songs he’s going to choose to perform and if this concert is going to last all night long. Seriously, I don’t think Elton and Billy would even have enough time to sing all their hits in one evening. In any event, I can’t imagine Elton John will be touring too much longer, so I would jump on this summer tour if I were you. Do you think Elton will wear some outrageously huge sunglasses? Let’s hope so. I can’t wait to Crocodile Rock this summer!

What tours are you looking forward to this summer?

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

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

Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams is basically a music-making machine. Some people get annoyed because it seems like he writes songs and makes albums non-stop. He comes out with at least a couple every year. I don’t get annoyed; I love every moment of it and buy his every album. But see, his last album that he did with the Cardinals, Cardinology, wasn’t so fabulous. Don’t get me wrong, I still bought it and listened to it over and over again like I do with all his albums, but the songs on it didn’t move me like they usually do. So normally I’d think, “Eh, it’s OK, he’ll come out with a new album in a couple months anyway.” But now? Now I’m scared that he won’t.

He recently claimed that he’s done touring and while Ryan is known for his fickleness and often goes back on what he’s said, it’s been a few months now and he’s standing by his claim. So maybe he’s just done touring for a while and wants to focus more on creating new music? I wish. Instead it seems as if he’s moving away from music and more into writing poetry. And then last week he went and got married, which means he’ll likely have even less time for music making. The only bright side is that he married Mandy Moore who is not only one of my favorite people in the world, but is also an amazing musician herself. Let’s hope she encourages Ryan to keep up with his music. Or that they at least create some beautiful duets.

Bon Iver

Bon Iver seriously confuses me. Or teases me. Maybe a little bit of both. I mean, they come out with a 6-song LP at the beginning of 2008, which I absolutely fell in love with. Like, hard. So, doesn’t an LP mean a full-length album would be out soon or something? So I waited and waited. And then in early 2009 I hear Bon Iver is coming out with something new. Hooray! But wait, it’s only a 4-song EP (What’s the difference between an LP and an EP anyway??). Sure, the 4-song EP, Blood Bank, excited me beyond belief and I listened to it at least 200 times the first day it came out. But now I’m dying for more – like, I don’t know, a full-length album?! And not an album that just replays everything on the EP and LP. I want new stuff. Justin Vernon, you and Bon Iver are awesome and if you need to, please go lock yourself in a cabin deep in the woods of Wisconsin again (that’s what he did while writing the songs for For Emma, Forever Ago), and don’t come out until you can give me a full-length album. I mean it.

Enrique Iglesias

Don’t laugh at me. I know I’m not the only one who is absolutely obsessed with Enrique Iglesias. I’ve grown up with his music, so I can’t help but love it (though I still stand by the fact that Ricky Martin is the hotter of the two). The thing about Enrique is that his music is always good…year after year. His last album, Insomniac, was different than anything he’d previously done, but was still awesome. He took songs that had the potential to be the cheesiest of cheesy, “Ping Pong Song” and “Don’t Turn Off the Lights,” and made them songs I wanted to listen to over and over. And I was only a little bit ashamed when my friend noticed my #1 most-played song on iTunes happened to be Enrique’s “On Top of You.” Oops. My point is, Enrique has me constantly anticipating what he’s going to do next and I always know I’m going to love it. So he should just put down his pen and his studio-recording microphone now and release a new album; I’m sure it’s amazing as is.

I was going to include Rascal Flatts on my list, but guess what? I just found out they’re coming out with a new album in a couple weeks. So, you’ll be hearing about them again on Let it Rock very soon. Yay for that!

What artists are you eagerly anticipating new albums from?

[Images courtest of Rollogrady.com, Poorpony.com, Starpulse.com]

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

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

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

Kelly Clarkson- All I Ever Wanted

I was a pretty big fan of Kelly Clarkson from the start. I loved her on American Idol and was thrilled that she separated herself from the show and became a complete star in her own right. I was pretty disappointed when I heard how awful her album was last year and didn’t really fall in love with the first single “My Life Would Suck Without You” from her new album, All I Ever Wanted. I just wasn’t feeling it and wasn’t too psyched for the album as a whole. But then I listened to the rest of it and realized I couldn’t stop listening. It is amazingly awesome! The album is the perfect mix of slow “Because of You” type ballads and fun “Since U Been Gone” pop songs. While she’s still distinctly Kelly, I heard traces of Leona Lewis in “Already Gone” and even Carrie Underwood in “Ready” and “All I Ever Wanted,” showing that Americans truly know what they want in an idol: a huge vocal range and lots of fun. Katy Perry and American Idol judge Kara Dioguardi teamed up to write “I Do Not Hook Up,” which isn’t my favorite song on the album, but I can definitely see the younger kids singing along. “I Want You” brings a bit of a Duffy’s bouncy touch to the album and shows Kelly’s wide range of versatility. Kelly is most definitely back on her game and I’m pretty sure this album is going to be huge.

Chris Cornell- Scream

I’ve heard the name Chris Cornell being thrown around quite a bit over the years, but have never taken the time to listen to him. So while I can’t compare his new album, Scream, to his previous works, I can say I’m completely in love with it. But in looking at other reviews, I see that his older fans aren’t thrilled with this new album, which made me wonder how I would feel about the old Chris. When I learned he used to be the frontman for Soundgarden (seriously, I don’t know where I’ve been that I didn’t know this), I saw how different Scream sounds from Chris’s Soundgarden days. I enjoy the album because each song blends into the next perfectly and Cornell’s voice is still the same as it’s always been. Scream is the ideal album to listen to while you’re doing absolutely anything. The lyrics aren’t anything to write home about and I probably wouldn’t just sit and listen to the album, but I think having it on in the background while I worked, actually made me more productive. The album was also produced by Timbaland, which makes it exponentially cooler in my book. My favorite tracks on the new album are “Never Far Away” and the title track “Scream.” So I think the album is a go, but check back with me in a few weeks after I start listening to Chris Cornell’s other stuff and find I prefer that. In any event, Scream helped Cornell get at least one new fan: me.

New Found Glory- Not Without a Fight

While I used to be a punk fan back in my junior high and high school days, I think those times have mostly passed. So it took me a lot to get into New Found Glory’s new album, Not Without a Fight. They definitely sound more grown up than many of the other punk groups, which makes sense since they are in fact older. I think my problem with New Found Glory is that I find myself having to listen to their albums over and over before I can tell one song from another. On the same token, I like that they never succumb to the pop-like, cheesy lyrics some punk bands are into. In a way, you could say New Found Glory absolutely refuses to “sell out,” which I truly respect. I enjoy “I’ll Never Love Again” because it sets itself apart from the other songs with a bit of “yelling” that really fits in. “Don’t Let Her Pull You Down” is another standout for me with its lyrics, “It’s time that I rain on your parade/Watch as all your hopes explode/To landmines/You ask for help but people turn away.” You’re sure to like “Tangled Up,” once you hear that it features vocals from Paramore’s Haley Williams, but the problem is her part is so subtle, you can barely hear her. While I’ll probably never be a huge New Found Glory fan, I definitely understand why their fans are so loyal and why with their sixth studio album, they’re still going strong.

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

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

U2- No Line on the Horizon

It’s U2’s 11th album and because 11 is my lucky number, I had to review it. Well OK, and because it’s U2 and they haven’t had an album in 5 years. But judging from the tracks on No Line on the Horizon, it was worth the wait; and most long-time U2 fans should be pretty happy with how it turned out. I admit I’m not the hugest U2 fan; I’ve always enjoyed their music, but haven’t been waiting too anxiously to hear their new stuff. So I’m actually kind of surprised that I have been enjoying it as much as I have. I love that Bono’s voice is always so familiar even when he’s singing in different styles, like he seems to do on this album. In one of my favorite songs, “Breathe,” the band sounds a bit more rock ‘n’ roll-y than usual and the lyrics are amazing: “We are people borne of sound/The songs are in our eyes…Sing your heart out, sing my heart out/I’ve found grace inside a sound.” Chances are, you’ll know what he’s talking about and will find grace inside this album. I’m also enjoying the somewhat quieter “White as Snow” and the fun pop-ish “Stand Up Comedy.” As Bono and the boys sing in “Unknown Caller,” “Shout for joy if you get the chance.” Most of us will be shouting for joy that U2 is finally back. And better than ever!

Neko Case- Middle Cyclone

I’ve heard so, so much about Neko Case but it took me a long while to pay her a listen (in fact, I’m ashamed to admit that for a while, I just assumed Neko was a man). But now I’m incredibly happy I jumpd on the Neko Case bandwagon. Her newest album, Middle Cyclone, is enough to make me want to listen to all the rest. One of my favorite tracks on the album is the somewhat short “The Next Time You Say Forever” because it’s fun to hear such a seemingly sweet singer sing lyrics like: “The next time you say forever/I will punch you in your face/Just because you don’t believe it/Doesn’t mean I didn’t mean it.” Other standouts on the album include “Magpie to the Morning” and “I’m an Animal,” but honestly, the more I listen to the album, the more I fall in love with each song. At first I thought I had a bad copy of the album as my last song just sounded like crickets. 30 minutes of crickets chirping, in fact. But after I did some research, I discovered this was exactly how she meant the album to end. So maybe Neko is a little bit random, but I can handle that. Her voice is incredibly beautiful and her lyrics are powerful enough that she can end her album with crickets if she desires. I’m off to listen to Neko’s previous albums in hopes that I enjoy them half as much as Middle Cyclone.

Molly Jenson- Maybe Tomorrow

Molly Jenson is a quiet, effortless singer. You know the kind. Her voice is incredibly easy to listen to. Maybe Tomorrow was my first time listening to Molly and I can see why Greg Laswell was so eager to work with her. I find the album’s first single to be a little bit boring and generic; but I’m a big fan of the title track. It really showcases her voice, which actually reminds me a bit of Tristan Prettyman, who also sings about similar topics of love and heartbreak. The last song on the album, “Wait For You Here” is filled with a quiet emotion: “I won’t blame you if you can’t find your way/ I will wait for you here/If you don’t get here till the end of the day/Still I’ll wait for you here.” There are some religious undertones in Molly’s music, but it’s not classified as Christian music and it’s definitely meant to be listened to by anyone. I hope Maybe Tomorrow helps bring Molly Jenson into the mainstream, but I’m not positive as to how she’s going to break out. She might have to wait until her next album. Maybe tomorrow.

[Photos courtesy of AuntSmack4U on Flickr, and Amazon.com]

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

The Bird and the Bee – Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future

Where did this group come from? I have no idea, but I first heard them a couple weeks ago with their cover of The Bee Gee’s “How Deep is Your Love.” Wow. And then all the sudden I hear they’re coming out with a CD this week and of course I’m psyched. This duo reminds me of a combination of She and Him and a softer version of Stars. Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future is their sophomore album, which makes me excited to also check out their first album (which I hear is even better). I’m kind of obsessed with the track, “Love Letter to Japan” because it’s ridiculously fun and has some musically exotic overtones.” The lyrics to their songs are all relatively light-hearted, but super catchy. “Birthday” is especially true of this: “I will love you on your birthday. I will love you better than them.” And now I know love The Bird and the Bee.

Franz Ferdinand- Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Ever since “Take Me Out” became a hit, Franz Ferdinand has been my sort of go-to music for when I need that extra kick of motivation. Tonight is very similar sounding to the group’s first two albums, but I also hear a touch of Weezer in there, especially in the track “Lucid Dreams.” (Note: not to be confused with Liquid Dreams.) I’m really loving “Dream Again,” because it sounds unlike anything I’ve heard from Franz Ferdinand before, and though I love their traditional sound, this shows that they can really go further than that. Yes, though it’s a bit cheesy, “No You Girls” had me dancing around my room and I can definitely see myself playing it as my getting ready music on a Friday night. But for “Take Me Out” fans, you’re totally going to love the single “Ulysses” as it’s exactly how you think Franz Ferdinand should sound.

Bruce Sprinsteen- Working on a Dream

OK, so I’ll admit I’m not the biggest Bruce Springsteen fan. Sure, I’ll sing along to “Dancing in the Dark” if it comes on in the bar and yes, fine, I kind of enjoy it, but the Boss has never been at the top of my playlist. That said, I’m pretty impressed with Working on a Dream, which truly proves this man has staying power. Um, not that he didn’t already prove that years ago. I was actually able to listen to “Tomorrow Never Knows” several times without constantly thinking “Born in the USA.” That means I liked it a lot. The title track, “Working on a Dream” is traditional Bruce but with enough of a new feel to it to make it exciting. The lyrics seem a little outdated though: “I’m working on a dream/Though sometimes it feels so far away/I’m working on a dream/I know it will be mine someday.” Bruce? I think your dream came true about 25 years ago.

[All images from Amazon.com]

With no further ado, the top ten songs I personally can’t help but sing. In no particular order, let’s start with the obvious:

1. Don’t Stop Believing by Journey

Hold on to that feeling…

It’s inevitable. The bar will close, the party will end, and to signify the bittersweet ending of yet another great college night

2. Sweet Caroline (ba ba ba…) by Neil Diamond

So good, so good, so good!

Definitely should be reserved for last call, but still proves to be a favorite you can’t resist.

3. You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC

Cause the walls were shakin, the earth was quakin’, my mind was achin’, and we were makin’ it and you…

It requires a fist-pump. And that may be why I love it.

4. Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi

We’ve got each other and that’s a lot/ For love, we’ll give it a shot.. Ohhhhhhh….

Yeah. You maybe just started singing right now, I saw that.

5. Take Me Home Tonight by Eddie Money

I can hear you breathe, I can feel your heart beating faster (faster)…

A great song…and a great pick up line.

6. American Pie by Don McLean

Bye, bye Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry…

The chorus is just phenomenal. Possibly the definition of an oldie but a goodie.

7. Since You’ve Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

I’m so movin’ onnnn, yeah, yeah…

Guys definitely love this song at LEAST as much as we do, don’t be fooled. It’s just a good jam in general, especially if you’ve got any angst toward a recent ex or current significant other debacle…

8. Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations

So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don’t break my heart…

This one even gets you bopping around on a make-shift dancefloor. You can’t deny the greatness of Motown crooning.

9. The Piano Man by Billy Joel

Well we’re all in the mood for a melody, and you’ve got us feelin’ alright…

Don’t you wish you could play the piano and observe people on the job? At least you can sing about it…

10. Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard

I’m hot, sticky sweet/ From my head, to my feet, yeah…

I’m not going to try and say Def Leppard is good. I’m not going to sell it as a good song. But you can’t deny that you know the chorus, and you really can’t help but chime in when it’s on.

Did I miss any favorites? Let us know what made your own top ten!

[photo courtesy of www.a-1entertainment.com]