Preliminary thoughts, after only a few listens, ASHLEE + EVAN EP, Ashlee Simpson & Evan Ross ( Read more... )

Might as well get these going, though I guess as a prediction this is pretty safe and obvious:

Taylor Swift joins Pistol Annies, who incorporate dance steps, harmonies, and raps using Bell Biv DeVoe/Backstreet Boys as template, w/ Big Bang and Danity Kane as modern analogues but Big-&-Rich tight country harmonies mixing with the R&B. Most parts ( Read more... )

Been saying that these days the voice of adventure in popular music is young and female, though so far my argument is more loose ends than fabric, and I find counterexamples as soon as I find examples (e.g., male EXO is certainly adventurous, I just wish I liked them more).

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To put it negatively, pop music doesn't seem to have a viable adulthood, ( Read more... )

Q: What do the following have in common: Good Day, Dum Dum Boys, Get Away With Murder, In My Eyes, Try To Follow Me ( Read more... )

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Jeez, if Ashlee and Pete can figure out when it's time to say goodbye, surely Mubarak ought to. What's wrong with the guy?

This makes me unhappy, though for all I know it's fine or really good for all the people involved. Can't imagine it'll be great for the little one.

Also wanted Ashlee to have to surmount the artistic challenge of generating lyrics while being fundamentally happy.

I've also started posting at a blog called Jazz Advance ("From Free Jazz to the new vanguards"), where I'll show up occasionally, if you're interested. I mention the Contortions, Joni Mitchell, Ashlee Simpson, Taylor Swift, and Nazareth. Right on the jazz vanguard I am!

(I've already said a bit about Jazz Advance over on Sükråt.)

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/10/26/kara-dioguardi-jewel-going-platinum-bravo

The series... will follow 12 musicians as they compete in songwriting challenges across a variety of genres - everything from dance tracks to love ballads... - and ( Read more... )

Something I posted on a comment thread here, about the Turnage-Beyoncé thing ( Read more... )