There are some albums everyone should have in their collection. If you’re a fan of popular music, or at least good music in general, Weezer’s first self-titled album, now affectionately titled The Blue album, is one of those. In ten simple ditties, written about things as simple as surfing and hangin’ out in the garage to as harrowing and complex as alcoholism. Through their success, Weezer crashed the grunge music party, and found a home in popular culture.

Since their debut on the scene in 1994, reviews of Weezer’s subsequent albums have paled in comparison. Fans, myself included, have stood by the band as Pinkerton, The Green Album, Maladroit and Make Believe saw occasional commercial success with pop-like singles–but nothing lasting.

We held out. We found and embraced the good stuff (Pinkerton’s been in my heavy rotation since high school) where snooty reviewers and the general public saw weak pet projects. And now, for Weezer and music fans alike, the long wait may be over.

A few days ago, the band released their 6th disc, (a third self-titled album dubbed The Red Album), and early reviews of the album are positive. I’m crossing my fingers, hoping Weezer may finally get the respect they deserve.

Check out the rest of the article after the jump!

Combining gritty guitar licks with back-breaking drum beats and a voice that seems to echo the pain of the world in its every note, The Black Keys‘ rich but simple grooves meld the wail of Southern blues with a rocked-out jam to deliver us a much-needed dose of 21st Century soul.

Take a listen after the jump! Read More »

I’d put money on the fact that you’re drinking right now. And what better companion to a terrible binge? Music! (For maximum flashback-factor, of course.)

Listen to the official Cinco de Mayo playlist below! And look for updates throughout the day.Don’t worry, they might get sloppier, but they’ll be better to dance to.

Just when you thought she’d hit rock-bottom, Paula Abdul again proves that you can be a f*ck-up, and still have a job. Here’s Paula’s best intoxicatedly infamous moments television has to offer.

Check out The Top 5 Paula Abdul TV Meltdown videos after the Jump. Read More »

Even with the lack of creative input in pop and the questionable ethics of gangsta rap, “emo” is the dirtiest word in music, a plague upon the ears to those who loathe strained voices and restrained, introverted subject matter. Still, all is not whine and die in the much maligned genre.

When not exploited for narcissistic self-regard, emo is simply emotional music, its intensity drawn from the makers as opposed to rock cliches. Of course, even that aspect has been pillaged - watered down offerings by today’s popular pretenders solidify this - but the following bands, under the wide umbrella term of emo (screamo, emocore, etc.) toe the line between resilient and righteous. These releases could very well be the olive branch between emo kids and their opposition.

Let’s hold hands and sob after the jump. Read More »

The Bible, man, that’s hard stuff to get through.

We decided to go straight to the Man himself to get our moral guidance… but, sadly, Mr. Christ did not return our calls. So, instead, we found three college students named Jesus (Jesus Corral - University of Denver, Jesus Bruce - Stanford Univeristy and Jesus Campos-Hernandez - George Washington University) and asked them about sin. Sloth, indeed.

• Question #1: A starting lineman on the football team beat the crap out of me at a party. How do I get revenge without getting killed? - Chapin, 20

Jesus Corral: “All you need is a bat with a nail through it, dipped in HIV-infected blood. You can figure it out.”

Jesus Bruce: “Next time you see him at a party, put drops of Visine in his beer. The only thing coming out of him for a few days will be slush.”

Jesus Campos-Hernandez: “While at a bar, I got my buddy Dave so bombed that he ended up doing a #2 while he passed out on his couch. He woke up, not realizing he’d soiled himself and walked around campus. So, there are cheaper ways to achieve the result.”

• Question #2: I’m pretty positive that one of my sorority sisters is stealing from me. How can I prove it? - Lindsay, 21 Read More »

“Don’t tell me it’s not worth fightin’ for
I can’t help it - there’s nothin’ I want more
Ya know it’s true
Everything I do - I do it for you�

Oh Bryan, how many times have I secretly turned that song up in the car, letting that raspy voice of yours lull me into a romantic haze? You’re my secret boyfriend. And that song you sing with Sting (my other secret boyfriend) and Rod Stewart (who I don’t want to be my boyfriend at all) where you all urge me to make it “all for one and all for love� has the ability to transport me out of my cynical cloud for two whole minutes.

I’m not ashamed of my secret soft spot for soft rock. I’m not embarrassed that whenever a Backstreet Boys ballad mysterious turns up on my iTunes, I let it play out entirely, soaking up every syrupy sound wave. In this complicated world, soft rock is there to pretend things are simple. Love is love, heartbreak is heartbreak, and everyone is willing to die for a lifetime with their soul mate. After weekends full of “hey baby, why don’t me and you go into the bathroom and make out?â€?, it’s always nice to know Phil Collins is there, waiting to tell me he “can’t stop loving meâ€? as many times as I feel like replaying the track. Read More »

I always figured that being sexy was an added plus to your chances of making it as a female singer, but now, a recent CNN article divulges that it’s basically a requirement. And this factor could be a large reason why Melinda Dolittle was untimely sent home from American Idol.

In the article, a music executive recounts an experience with a girl who was extremely talented, but overweight, flat-chested, and not particularly beautiful. No matter how great her voice was, there was absolutely no way she could ever get signed.

Although I had a slight incling to this trend, I did not realize it had become so blatantly obvious. Of course, attractive people are technically more pleasant and intriguing to look at. But, when it comes down to the actual music and songs that I listen to in my headphones, I could care less if the person belting out the notes is a three eyed ogre, as long as the music rocks.

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