Being the human that I am, I couldn’t possibly review or analyze every single album – dang it! Like Lil Wayne and Young Money once rapped, “I wish I could love every girl in the world…” (In amended form mind you). Well not that I wouldn’t want to “love every girl in the world”, but in this case, I wish I could’ve listened and reviewed even more albums. Don’t get it twisted folks – I did some work! BUT…I would’ve loved to have done even more. Here are some of the albums – some of which I even purchased – that fell victim to the “review later” pile…
Nine Inch Nails
Hesitation Marks
I totally dropped the ball here. Prior to Hesitation Marks, I’d reviewed NIN’s previous two albums of note (with Teeth and Year Zero) and enjoyed both greatly. Naturally, I was excited to hear about a new studio album, but perhaps that excitement waned when ‘urban’ music Tuesday (September 3) stole my heart – Ariana Grande, Tamar Braxton, Jaheim, John Legend, and Raheem DeVaughn. It’s kind of like when you have a girl you are interested in, but then you find one that truly steals your heart and you forget about the one you were previously into…or something like that…
Avicii
True
I’ll be honest with you, the two electronic albums I was concerned about in 2013 were Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, which may very well walk home with the Grammy for Album of the Year, and Lady Gaga’s somewhat mixed ARTPOP (“We could, we could, belong together ARTPOP…”). That said, it’s pretty hard to ignore a song as unique as “Wake Me Up”, which sounds like a country, folk, and electro amalgam. As captivating as Avicii’s tune was, he apparently found himself on the wrong side of the listening list…same can be said of Zedd as well (Clarity). Good news is that Krewella and Kaskade got some reviewer love.
Franz Ferdinand
Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action
Like a monogamous relationship, I’d been a follower of Alex Kapranos and company. I swooned like everyone else when “Take Me Out” rocked back in 2004 while finding the homoerotic, bromance of “Michael” to be, well, interesting I suppose, for a lack of better words. Following their excellent self-titled debut, I’d skip out on their 2005 follow-up You Could Have It So Much Better (“Do You Want To” bring its main attraction), but would rejoin the army with the excellent Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (“No You Girls”). I suppose keeping in line with my trend of reviewing every other Franz Ferdinand album I just decided to toss Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action aside. What’s even stranger is that I purchased it… SMH!
October 15, 2013 Releases
Something must’ve been in the water on October 15 – or perhaps the budget, LOL. After purchasing and reviewing the hits from the previous week (Miley Cyrus‘ Bangerz and Panic! At the Disco‘s Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die), the ball was dropped the following week. The only release that got love on Tuesday, October 15 was Mary J. Blige‘s A Mary Christmas. Who was slighted this particular week – Paul McCartney‘s NEW and Pearl Jam‘s number one bowing Lightening Bolt. Ouch rock veterans…I think I just threw up a little seeing my missed musical opportunities. Don’t hate me Eddie Vedder…
Country albums…
One genre that often found itself often tossed aside in my listening stack both physically, digitally, and streaming-wise was country. I do enjoy country music, but I’ll also be the first to admit it isn’t my go to genre. A few fortunate albums became blessed with my reviewing touch, including two Luke Bryan albums (Spring Break…Here To Party and Crash), Alan Jackson (Precious Memories Vol. II), Lady Antebellum (Golden), and The Band Perry (Pioneer). However, many fell by the wayside including releases from Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, and American Idol victor Scotty McCreery. Interesting fact is that I bought McCreery’s album at Walmart on Black Friday for $6.96… Let me add though that save for Alan Jackson’s gospel set, I wasn’t incredibly impressed with the albums I did review…just sayin’!
There were many others shunned, but ’tis the life of a music journalist…sigh.
Related articles
- ***2013 RECAP*** MUSIC REVIEW | Franz Ferdinand – Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (boredanddangerousblog.wordpress.com)
- Scotty McCreery Answers Your Questions About His Holiday Traditions, His Fave Album of the Year and More (okmagazine.com)
- Daft Punk, Disclosure, Avicii land on Rolling Stone’s ’50 Best Albums of 2013′ (dancingastronaut.com)
