The first thing I notice about this song before it even started was the artist name. Baby Boy Da Prince? I don't know what to think about that really but it leaves a bad pre-first impression. The song itself is better than what I'd expect from that. I'm not a big listener of rap and hip-hop but this immediately reminds me of Jibbs and Bow Wow. I'm guessing this guy is pretty young. I think with a better recording name, Baby Boy would sound better for me. I just can't get past that. This song isn't bad though.C5/13/07
The first single from The Reminder by Feist is much funkier than what her last album had to offer. It starts off with a semi-memorable bass line with a drum beat accompaniment. Feist's vocals are quickly becoming the most distinguishable of new music today and she's instantly recognizable on this track. The chorus itself isn't overly memorably at first so Feist might have to rely on the hope that people that aren't already into her will come back for repeated listens, which is the type of fan she may prefer anyway.B5/13/07
Looking back on the first three singles from The Dutchess and most of what she was able to do with the Black Eyed Peas, it is understandable that we assume Fergie to be a disposible vocalist with really nothing much to offer except her roll in overtly sexual songs. She has presented her abilities in BEP songs though, like Let's Get It Started, but nothing like she gives in her new single. And of course, this song instantly brings to mind Fergie's little known role in the mid 90s girl group trio Wild Orchid, in which she was a vocalist. She hasn't lost her abilities as we can see in this song, which I think definately deserves two thumbs up. It's just too bad she waited this long to show off. I can definately see this song as being the summer ballad of the year.A5/13/07
For whatever reason, this song isn't click with me right away but after a few listens, the beat stayed with me and eventually after that, the chorus did. I certainly don't think this song is anything revolutionary in any way but it does ensure followers of Finger Eleven that they haven't let One Thing get to their heads.B5/13/07
Sometimes I'll hear a new song and for whatever reason, it will remind me of a specific time in the past. The new Gwen single reminds me specifically of music in 1996. Parts of the bridge almost remind me, VERY vaguely of her days in the Tragic Kingdom but otherwise, this song brings me back to summer 1996 pop music. Nothing specific has come to me just yet as to what this reminds me of but I'm sure it'll come. I don't think this song can compare to most of the Love Angel Music Baby record but as far as the singles from The Sweet Escape goes, this is in front.B5/13/07
Justin is unleashing another song just in time for the summer. This song isn't quite as immediate as Sexyback was or even My Love so I think in that aspect, it will pass over the heads of people that don't really care. With that said, if this were the first single, it wouldn't do half as well as Sexyback did. In conclusion, Justin may have a cheated hit on his hands releasing a song titled Summer Love just in time for summer but it doesn't quite match up to his recent three singles. It seems at this time, all of his tricks he had up his sleeves have already been used.C5/13/07
It seems that the radio world was watching for the new Kelly Clarkson song and how it would do. Immediately, it got tons of airplay, probably out of anticipation, but quickly things slowed down. The queen of pop radio may have handed over her crown? Maybe, but that doesn't mean her music is suffering. While she keeps hold of some of her old ways she attained from Breakaway (the album), Kelly is moving in a slightly more personal direction by aiming for some credibility beyond what she achieved by breaking free of American Idol and showing off her vocals. My first reaction to this song was "who does she think she is, Alanis Morissette?" Almost. I'd say she's a G-rated Alanis for 2007. Not quite as gripping as You Oughta Know but you can almost feel what Kelly is going through in Never Again.B5/13/07
I wasn't overly excited for the new Maroon 5 album and single because I had still been played out of the songs from Songs About Jane (which is a great album, just suffered from overplay - my fault), but when I heard this single, I was instantly hooked. I think this song has the hook of the year in both the pre-chorus and the chorus. The music is funky and the lyrics are singable all the way. Perfect timing for the band and I'm anticipating their album now.A5/13/07
This new single from Ne-Yo automatically beats what I heard from his first single. It's an upbeat R&B song, much unlike we don't hear much of nowadays since they're either straight-up-pop, R&B with a rap interlude or simple a down-tempo tune. Much like his contempararies over the last 10 years, this song doesn't hold much difference to other songs like it but it is a cool tune and, like others I've reviewed here, will work for the summer.B5/13/07
Last year, Paula Cole made a comeback of sorts with me with an unreleased song from her Greatest Hits CD called Tomorrow I Will Be Yours, which had a similar style to I Don't Want To Wait. This new song from her fourth studio CD Courage leaves a lot to be desired. The lyrics almost seem like she's trying too hard to write about youthful times, which was pretty much what Tomorrow was about.C5/13/07
Jay-Z hasn't had a decent rap in quite a while. I don't think his presense is needed on this song. Needless to say, this song by Rihanna is definately her best yet. Of course, with songs like Unfaithful, that's not hard to top. Rihanna's voice just isn't suited for certain songs but with a song like this, she can get away with it. The chorus of this is mindlessly catchy. At first it was unbelievably annoying and just plain dumb (I'm referring to the "umbrella/ella/ella/eh/eh/eh" line) but once you can get past that, this song is actually good mindless pop.B5/13/07
This song sounds like a generic soundtrack song, much like the way recent singles from Rob Thomas and Sheryl Crow have sounded. That's not to say it's a bad thing because both of those songs have been pretty good. This song, however, I don't think has anything to differentiate it from everything else. It just blends in with everything else, and following the great songs Chasing Cars and Set The Fire To The Third Bar, that's a disappointment. I'll try to give this song a chance but I think I'll be sitting this fire out.C5/13/07