John Mayer – Battle Studies

I think John Mayer is back on his game. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy Continuum for the most part (in particular, “The Heart of Life” and “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room”), but the album seemed rushed. It seemed as if he was less inspired and more pushed by a label or something.

But Battle Studies comes three years after Continuum, giving Mayer plenty of time to get his groove back. I just think he has a problem with picking first singles. “Waiting on the World to Change,” for example, was the most different and unappealing song of Continuum. I feel the same way about “Who Says” on Battle Studies. I just don’t like it, so I was afraid I wouldn’t like the rest of the album. I actually like it a lot. It’s one of those albums I’m actually excited to buy.

And, what could be better than a song with both John Mayer and Taylor Swift? Okay, sure, I can think of a lot of amazing duos I’d like to see…but this one really works. “Half of My Heart” is my favorite song on Battle Studies, I think. Overall I approve of the album. Welcome back, John.

Pick up Battle Studies today!

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Bon Jovi – The Circle/When We Were Beautiful

Bon Jovi’s album, The Circle, was originally released on October 30. However, this week a Deluxe Edition—which includes the documentary When We Were Beautiful—came out. I’m not going to lie, I’m not usually a huge Bon Jovi fan. Of course, I like the classics like “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” But overall, not so much.

I have to say, though, that “We Weren’t Born to Follow,” the first single off the album, has totally grown on me. Here’s why: the song plays during nearly every single commercial of NFL football games (and maybe even college games, I can’t really remember). When you hear a song that much, you begin to form a kind of bond with it to a point when you find yourself really enjoying the song (even if you didn’t care for it to begin with).

Maybe that can be said about any song/band. Well actually that’s not true. You couldn’t pay me to enjoy a Creed song. But, I digress.

I came into listening to The Circle with an open mind and found myself liking it as it progressed. The album is well-balanced between fast-paced rock songs and ballads. Bon Jovi hasn’t lost its touch, it seems. Smart move to put their stuff during sporting events, though. Can’t go wrong doing that. Right, Faith Hill?

Check out The Circle/When We Were Beautiful! I really do think it’s an enjoyable experience.

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Cobra Starship was started by band leader—and vocalist—Gabe Saporta in 2005. Since then he has built friendships with numerous other band members from acts such as Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is…, The All-American Rejects, and others. Those relationships have given Saporta and the rest of Cobra Starship a boost into the music industry.  Actually, they even poke fun at that with their song, “Pete Wentz is the Only Reason We’re Famous.”

But maybe they’ll be a band with only one major hit. But maybe not? As for me, I hope it doesn’t get to that point because I think this band has potential. Cobra Starship hit the music scene back in 2006 when they participated on the soundtrack for the [ridiculous] movie, Snakes on a Plane. They wrote and performed the single off the album, “Bring It (Snakes on a Plane).” I remember seeing that movie on the weekend of my 18th birthday. Awesome.

Since 2006, Cobra Starship has consistently released albums: While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets (2006), ¡Viva la Cobra! (2007), and their most recent record, Hot Mess (2009). They have experienced the most success with Hot Mess, as it peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 list.

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It comes down to this: Rihanna is finally breaking her silence on the whole Chris Brown issue. In an interview with Diane Sawyer, Rihanna will talk about what happened between her and her former boyfriend back in February, what she has been doing since, and how she felt vulnerable, but that “it can happen to anyone.”

The interview will be shown during ABC’s Good Morning America on Thursday, and then extended to Friday on 20/20. I wish I had more information but ABC likes to keep us guessing, so I’ll have to watch with everyone else. Will you be watching??

Keane is one of my favorite bands. It is a British pop/rock band that started in 1997 and has released a few (really great) albums in the last decade. The band has enjoyed major success in the United Kingdom, and decent success in the United States.

Their first album, Hopes and Fears, released in 2004, is a very original album. If you haven’t heard this record, you really should go listen to it. The debut single, “Somewhere Only We Know” became really popular in the United States and appeared on numerous movie and TV soundtracks. It also made the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2004. It’s a great song. Really, I could talk about the album all day. Every single song is unique and brilliant.

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