Sound review: Flavors of Entanglement

As Speedy G said, "it's purty." And you know what? It actually is. It's been a while since the 'Queen of Angst" released an album and this new one was well worth the wait. As you listen to one track after another, you start to wonder - has Ryan Reynolds listened to any of this yet? If he has, what does he think of it? For those who've been living under a rock, Reynolds ditched Alanis for someone with the same hair colour as him - Scarlett Johansson - who happens to have her own CD too. I didn't even know she sings until I saw it on E! Anyway, Flavors of Entanglement is exactly just that - a super tasty collection of well composed, well arranged, and well sung songs that are begging to be played on full blast either in your room or while driving. Preferably while you're in a mood that's far from being sad, depressed, or suicidal. Violins, ethnic instruments, pianos, and other musical instruments are perfectly laced together that you will not even notice that she's already singing about wanting the guy in question to die and go to hell because you'll be so enthralled at the beauty of the melodies. So far I love Not As We. It's like Uninvited but better. Day one, day one Start over again Step one, step one I'm barely making sense For now I'm faking it 'Til I'm psuedo-making it From scratch, begin again But this time I as I And not as we I also love In Praise of the Vulnerable Man. It will make you tap your feet on the floor. When you do what you do to provide How you land in the soft as you fortify This is in praise of the vulnerable man Why won't you lead the rest of your cavalry home Torch is another nice song. I miss your smell and your style And your pure abiding way Miss your approach to life And your body in my bed Miss your take on anything And the music you would play Miss cracking up and wrestling And our debriefs at end of day These are things that I miss These are not times for the weak of heart These are the days of raw despondence I never dreamed I would have to lay down My torch for you like this And Giggle Again for No Reason Oh this state of ecstasy Nothing but road could ever give to me This liberty wind in my face And I'm giggling again for no reason I'm reeling jubilation Triumphant in delight I am at home in this high five And I'm smiling for no reason

Sound review: Hard Candy

I've been listening to Hard Candy for over a week now thanks to the spoils of piracy. All I can say is.. It's nothing great. I think all the excitement was gone in well, 4 minutes. Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and whoever else she worked with sure left their mark on each of the 12 tracks. Some of the tracks sounded like something off FutureLoveSex and Shock Value. Some musical elements weren't all to surprising because they seem to have been used in collaborations with other artists like Nelly Furtado. I especially love Devil Wouldn't Recognize You because it's a different kind of ballad and I lurv how the melodies are layered in an electronica sort of way. As quiet as it is tonight You'll almost think you were safe Your eyes, are full of surprises They cannot predict my fate Waiting underneath the stars There something you should know The angels they surround my heart Telling me to let you go I bet he couldn't I bet he couldn't recognize But I fed right into it Who am I to criticize Somehow I'll get through it And you won't even realize Falling through your own disguise It's like over and over You're pushing me right down to the floor I should just walk away Over and over I keep on comming back for more I play into your fantasy Now that it's over You can lie to me right through your smile I see behind your eyes Now I'm sober The more intoxicating my mind Even the devil wouldn't recognize you But I do Even the devil wouldn't recognize you But I do Even the devil wouldn't recognize you But I do Even the devil wouldn't recognize you But I do, I do, I do You almost fooled yourself this time Let all the saints be graced You hide your sadness behind your smile And you keep your lost heartbreak You stepped up there along a ledge It's much higher than it seems But I've been on that ledge before You can't hide yourself from me I bet he couldn't I bet he couldn't recognize But I fed right into it Who am I to criticize Somehow I'll get through it And you won't even realize Falling through your own disguise I also like Dance 2night because it's such a happy song. Plus, it's a duet and I'm a sucker for duets. Madonna: Move your body Get me from across the floor Everybody's watchin' But I just wanna give you more Don't care bout nothin' I'm fallin' for your love in the worst way Justin: Move closer I can feel your body rise The heat from you And I just have to fantasize We're all alone now And I don't care what people have to say Chorus (Madonna) You don't have to be beautiful To be understood You don't have to be rich and famous To be good You just gotta give more more more Than you ever have before Let's dance tonight dance tonight And groove around the world Dance Tonight Dance Tonight With a boy and with a girl I wanna dance tonight, dance tonight (Bridge) Do it, do it Let me turn you on Let the music pull you through it Til the break of dawn Do it, do it While the night is young Let the music pull you through it Til the lights go on In our zone Do you wanna take it further And before too long Gonna start to wonder Are you a one trick pony Or do you wanna... Justin: I'm so into you... Madonna: I've heard it all before Justin: What should I do? Madonna: Get me on the floor Don't spoil this moment Cause talk is cheap I don't have time to waste All in all, everything else for me still needs some getting used to. Hard Candy is definitely not what Ray of Light was to me, which I loved from track 1 to 13.