I'm Not a Critic Anymore: music videos don't make a bad song good!

Music videos have become extremely popular since the rise of MTV in the 80s and the rise of the internet (and YouTube) in the 2000's. Some of the most watched videos on YouTube are music videos, gaining billions of views. But there seems to be a misconception between the music video, and the song itself. It seems to me that a number of people believe that the music video to a song, makes the song good. And even if you don't think about this consciously, you will most likely have a more positive view on a track if the video accompanying it is of quality.

But this simply is not the case, the music video should add a visual element to the song. NOTHING MORE. If the song is only tolerable if you are watching it, then simply put, its not a good song.

It seems to me that a lot of the time, you see this kind of thing in modern pop and hip hop. You remember when Shake It Off came out right? quite a controversial track that one. Now lets be real, the song itself isn't great but it isn't the worst either. The lyrics are pretty dull, the upbeat pop sound has been done to death and the emphasis on the beat and bass doesn't really do it for me. Whether or not you like the music video or not, it is very visually interesting containing a number of different styles and unique aesthetics all the way through. This is a perfect example of a song that is riding almost completely off of the video's back.

The way I look at it is this. If I heard it come on to the radio in my car, would I change the channel? In this case, yes I would.

But the music video doesn't always have to be of quality to make the song seem like it is better than it is. Sometimes, all it takes is for it to be just bizarre or disturbing in some way. A prime example is Fatty Boom Boom by Die Antwoord.

Now this song is just crap. When listening to it, by itself, it is repetitive, cheap sounding, and annoying. But when accompanied by its really creepy and strange video, it seems more tolerable. This is because you really aren't listening to the song itself, you are too distracted by the LSD inspired visuals being launched at you.

I am not saying that music videos are inherently worthless of course, they are almost another entity by themselves. However it simply bothers me when someone praises a song based off of the music video when the song itself isn't of quality.

50 St. Catherine's Drive Album Review

When you here the name Bee Gees, whats the first thing that comes into your head? If your an average listener, probably Staying Alive. And that makes sense that track is one of the most well known tracks ever written, but it wasn't the only thing the Bee Gees accomplished in their career which spanned over five decades. Robin Gibb, one of the lead singers, made himself a solo career over the years, with his last album being released in 2014, 2 years following his death from cancer. Over time the Bee Gees music devolved into adult contemporary stuff that all sounded similar, and naturally, this carried over to his solo work. So the question is does 50 St. Catherine's Drive bring back their excellent 60's work? or does it better represent their 90's stuff?

I love the Bee Gees and Robin Gibb. They are my favorite band ever. But it is clear when something isn't as good as it could have been, and this is album is exactly that. It is simply mediocre. It does what almost every other Robin Gibb album had done prior. With no surprises. 

The first single, Days of Wine and Roses, is a slowly paced heartbreak song, talking about the topic of "eat, drink for tomorrow we die". Its generic and does nothing interesting. It uses the same adult contemporary riffs and styles without anything to identify itself. Even its theme is overdone and dull. If you like this genre, then you will probably like the song, but in the grand scheme of things its kind of like a fart that doesn't smell. Its just kind of there and gone and you won't remember it in 10 minutes. 

Now this song actually does have a kind of interesting theme. Basically, it is a tribute song to Alan Freeman (obviously). I mean, I say its interesting, but musically it does nothing different then the first single. Its still just a heart felt "passionate" song about someone he cares about. There is nothing else to say about this track that I haven't already said. 

Mother of Love is the final single on the album and it is definitely not good. The writing of this track (especially the vocal melody) does not complement his voice at all. The chorus is the biggest offender here. I can't stand the chorus of this song. The lyrics, generic, uninteresting, and sound like every other sad song with "passion". It is just another adult contemporary song, but this time it is lazily written. 

The style is the same on almost every track, but unlike on Everybody Else is Doing it so Why Can't We? which took its style and evolved it from track to track, as well as altering the vocals and having the sound itself be unqiue to every track, this album is just a complete bore that sounds the same. It is a by the numbers adult contemporary snooze fest. That does nothing to set it apart from others, except for the fact that Robin Gibb is singing it. 

I love the Bee Gees, I love Robin Gibb, and I actually Love this album, but the issues with it are apparent, and need to be exposed. It is sad that it was his last pieces of work because he won't ever get the chance to improve himself. Hopefully the genre as a whole can evolve past these cliches I have mentioned. and be unique, hopefully. 

Final Verdict 

4/10

Sub-Par

Everybody else is doing it so why can't we? Album Review

The early 1990's was a lot of things for the music industry. It was a time of great change from the hard rock of the 80's to the mysterious nature of Alternative. When one thinks of popular music in the 90's they usually think of Nirvana or Radiohead. And pop music during the decade is usually looked on with distaste. Instances of Brittney Spears and The Spice Girls certainly doesn't help its case. However in 93' The album Everybody Else is Doing it so Why Can't We? was released did something, ironically, hadn't done before.

This is one of the most unique albums from the early 90's and is just as good as Nevermind or The Bends. Of course, its in a completely different genre and has a completely different style than those two, however its quality is unparalleled.

The first single, Dreams, is a melodic upbeat piece of music with a very subtle calming feel to it. Dolores O'Riordan's vocal work is fantastic and fits the piece. She is one of the few artists who can pull off just about any genre, and throughout this entire album she shows it off flauntingly. It is so masterfully written, mixing different aspects of alt rock and pop, fusing it into a truly unique track. Overall it has a very mature tone, not pandering to the teens in particular, allowing for everyone to relate to the style.

Sunday, the second single on the album, is another melodic, slowly paced track that takes it time to establish the style. This allows the vocals/lyrics to really effect you in a way that not many other songs can. The lyrics on this track, and indeed most of the album itself, is a lot better written then many other albums of the same genre. The lyrics don't just give everything away right off the bat, instead they make you listen, make you wonder and are quite philosophical feeling when sung by O'Riordan.

The final single on the album is a little song called Linger. And quite honestly is one of my favorite songs ever. I love O'Riordan's vocals on this track, they are so soft and gentle. Its a nice contrast between the lyrics, as it is rather quite sad and longing. Of course the instrumentation is perfect for the style and compliments her perfectly. Her vocals are almost embedded into the instruments, if that makes sense, making the two a match made in heaven. It is truly a fantastic track, written stupendously, and gives off the alt rock/pop vibe that I crave. A truly unique sounding and feeling single.

Just like other highly rated albums I have reviewed, there are no filler tracks. They all carry the style established in the first few songs, almost like the album tells a story, the entire feel is continuous as it evolves throughout the course of the album. Every filler track has a purpose and it seems like true time and talent was poured into them as well.

This is one of the best albums in my opinion, Dolores O'Riordan's stunning vocals, the truly unique blend of instrumentation, vocals, fantastic writing and great lyrics is truly a spectacle to behold. I believe that everyone should at least give a listen, even if you generally don't listen to other bands in the same genre. It is something unique that has passed the test of time with flying colors.

Final Verdict 

10/10

Legendary

I'm Not A Critic Anymore: FourFiveSeconds

Hello everyone, this is a series in which I will deviate from the formalities of my typical format, and give a more down to earth look on a very specific topic. I realize that this still sounds overly formal, but regardless, let’s move on to the topic at hand.

FourFiveSeconds was a single collaboration between the three music heavy weights, Sir Paul McCartney, Kanye West and Rihanna. It got rave reviews from every critic under the sun. With many people stating how wonderful the song is: ‘wonderful just wonderful!’ ‘Ooh my Mr. Album Man, is the song fantastic?’ ‘Us, the generally unaware audience, thought it was great!’

Well, if you can read through my cynical overly sarcastic text tone, then no; in my opinion it’s not.

First off, the acoustic bare bones sound is an idea I am okay with, on paper that is. It does have an older sound to it, which I do like. However it leaves far too many random awkward pauses for my liking. So instead of having a charming stripped away feel, you have a bizarrely sounding, unappealing, soul/folk song with far too little quality portions to keep you coming back.

Don't get me wrong, parts of the chorus sound great and are catchy, but they end abruptly and go back to the awkward cringe fest that is the rest of the song.

I feel like the lyrical content should be mentioned next, as with a song with this style usually puts all the emphasis on the lyrics. However,  the lyrics in this song are poor; very poor. There is no deeper meaning,  it  has no interesting thing look deeper into. If you are good at picking up the lyrics while listening to a song (or if you just google them), then you will quickly realize the meaning to this song.

It is basically saying that they are tired of normal life and being taken advantage of. There is no kind of hidden meaning or deeper thought or discussion. The message is just laid out for all to see. And that, my friends, KILLS a song of this nature. A song that has no other real draw to it, with simplistic instrumentation, the lyrics are crucial for any possible intrigue within a song. Not only is there nothing interesting in the lyrics, but they themselves are poorly written and feel completely out of place in the song, mostly due to the genre.

I feel like one of the main reasons people think that the lyrics are deeper than they really are has something to do with the obvious strength in the vocals by Kanye and Rihanna (I will get to Paul in a minute),  and the soul driven feel of their vocals. Especially Rihanna. They both give very strong performances here, but Kanye feels like he is out of his element here. Rihanna's strong vocals cover up the lyrics from the everyday listener, and the passion filled drive in her voice further adds to this fact.

Paul McCartney is not utilized at all in this song, and that is a HUGE wasted opportunity. Sure he plays guitar, but he can do so much more than that. He is not given a single verse to himself, or even a bit of a chorus. Sure, he harmonizes with Rihanna and Kanye here and there, but his voice is completely drowned out by them. That is a huge waste of his talent as a singer. He could have added a style and sound to the song that would have been a good contrast from Kanye's or Rihanna's, and added to the entirety of the song as a whole

By the way, let’s just not mention the fact that a significant portion of listeners didn't even know who Paul McCartney was.     

In all honesty though, I cannot put into words the contempt I feel for this song, mainly for mistreating a legend like this. And it stings even more now, that we are starting to lose some of the best songwriters/singers in history. BUT SERIOUSLY WHY WOULD YOU NOT UTILIZE PAUL MCCARTNEY HE HAS SIR IN HIS NAME.

He has virtually no role in the song, and is there for the sole reason of selling copies, “Hello I am Paul McCartney, buy this song on itunes.“

That really upsets me, when you have such a fantastic singer, and just have him play acoustic guitar in the background.

What a huge insult.

In conclusion, this song is bad. It’s bad because it’s awkward, boring, and abuses Sir Paul McCartney. Pooooop on this song all over. Seriously.

 

I Love Rock 'n Roll Album Review

The early 80's were the beginning of something amazing. Synth Pop and New Wave were just starting to take off, setting the stage for a very successful year for pop music. However, the other side of the coin was just as successful, that being of course, rock. The 80's would provide some of the greatest hits in the genre of all time, and some of the best albums. some examples would be the second best selling album in history Back in Black by ACDC, and the fantastic Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi. But in 1981 there would be an album which would change the rock scene forever. Especially for women in hard rock. That album is of course I Love Rock n' Roll.

In truth, I am surprised how many people don't know that this is an album. It has sold over 10 million copies to date, however it success was due to the main single. Regardless, the other singles and tracks are worth mentioning, seeing how few people even realize they exist.

The first track and single on the album, is the reason that it became a success. I Love Rock n' Roll became a number one hit in several countries including Australia, Canada, and The United States. Originally written in the 1970's by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of the Arrows, Joan Jett released her cover of the song in 1981 and thats when the single became reconsidered world wide. In terms of instrumentation, it is fairly simple sounding. It is the distortion of the lead guitar, basic drum beat, and her dirty and rough sounding vocals that make it unique. The main chorus is catchy, and just a lot of fun to shout at the top of your lungs. Up until this point, there had been few females in the rock scene who were able to become as successful as Jett became. And her masterful arrangement of the original song to make something truly special is amazing. It was a win for women in rock, and is a classic still to this day. What can be said other than I love rock n' roll.

The second single on the album, another cover, is a testament to Joan Jett's ability to turn just about any song into a hard rock classic. The original, recorded in 1968, is without a doubt, a soft rock tune. But her arrangement skills and very unique vocals completely transforms it into a completely new creation. Crimson and Clover, is simply a solid cover that does everything it needs to in order to add to the original while at the same time bringing enough new to make it her own.

The final single on the Album, Victim of Circumstance, was an original song written by Jett and has quite the the interesting backstory to it. Not being able to get signed to any major record label, Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, decided to form their own company, Black Heart Records. This track, is an obvious jab at those who refused her during her earlier days. While the instrumentation itself itself is just as strong as any other single I have mentioned (keeping that old style and feel) the lyrics are intriguing and its just simply fun to hear her insult major corporations. This song just oozes dirty rock, and I love every moment of it.

I mean, what else can be said, that hasn't already been said? Although there are quite a few covers on this album, it is a staple of how cover songs should be done. Bringing something new, fresh and original to the table. Making it your own. And no other artist, in my opinion, did quite like Joan Jett did it. Her arrangement skills are fantastic and no other artist had done it up to that point in history. She is one of the most influential women in rock and with this release it is obvious to see why. I recommend this album to anyone who has the slightest interest in the music industry, or music as an art form. It is a must listen.  

FINAL VERDICT 

10/10 

(Must Own)