Yet Another Year In America April 1, 2010
Grumble.
Miley Cyrus "When I Look At You": Miley's voice hangs tantalizingly at the start over a beautiful John Shanks piano part, the song therefore taking a while to reveal itself as a basic slow swing ballad. It's very nice for the first 45 seconds, then it's strangely rough and loud, the rawness of Miley's voice not suppressed as it had been on "The Climb." And this song gets its mood all jumbled. The payoff in the chorus is not so much uplifting as strained - which is kind of interesting, actually, that this track, produced by a successful and extremely talented guy, won't pull its mood together. By the end it's downright unpleasant, but maybe it'll make sense after more listens. Had seemed stalled in the 50s, now hauls itself up to 25. BORDERLINE TICK.
Sean Kingston and Justin Bieber "Eenie Meenie": Girl can't make up her mind, this or that, though neither can Sean or Justin, as far as I can tell, since each separately offers himself to her for a night, claiming that that night will persuade her. Yet each insists that the only thing to do with a girl like her is to let her go. The song is prettied-up petulance and it's got a pretty enough punch, thanks to producer Benny Blanco, who did the same for Ke$ha's "Blah Blah Blah." But he also helped write that one, which is way better than this. BORDERLINE NONTICK.
Miley Cyrus "When I Look At You": Miley's voice hangs tantalizingly at the start over a beautiful John Shanks piano part, the song therefore taking a while to reveal itself as a basic slow swing ballad. It's very nice for the first 45 seconds, then it's strangely rough and loud, the rawness of Miley's voice not suppressed as it had been on "The Climb." And this song gets its mood all jumbled. The payoff in the chorus is not so much uplifting as strained - which is kind of interesting, actually, that this track, produced by a successful and extremely talented guy, won't pull its mood together. By the end it's downright unpleasant, but maybe it'll make sense after more listens. Had seemed stalled in the 50s, now hauls itself up to 25. BORDERLINE TICK.
Sean Kingston and Justin Bieber "Eenie Meenie": Girl can't make up her mind, this or that, though neither can Sean or Justin, as far as I can tell, since each separately offers himself to her for a night, claiming that that night will persuade her. Yet each insists that the only thing to do with a girl like her is to let her go. The song is prettied-up petulance and it's got a pretty enough punch, thanks to producer Benny Blanco, who did the same for Ke$ha's "Blah Blah Blah." But he also helped write that one, which is way better than this. BORDERLINE NONTICK.