The Singles Guy 04.22.09: Take Me Home, Country Roads
Posted by Jacob Crogie on 04.22.2009
This time next week I'll be back in the country, and let me tell you, it's been too long. We have some good tracks this week from The All-American Rejects, Katy Perry and an absolutely phenomenal track from The Killers. It's all here and more in the latest edition of The Singles Guy.
Exams...suck...major...balls. Oh well, I'll be home soon enough, one more week left in London! Let's get down to business so I can get back to business...
The All-American Rejects- "The Wind Blows"
This Oklahoma foursome has always been a favorite of mine, and although I think their new album is below their usual standards it is still solid enough to warrant multiple listens. This song is no exception and has all the hallmarks that make AAR a great band, no amount of shitty production can take that away. These guys are talented musicians and when they are allowed to shine you get some solid work, like on drums here but the orchestration hinders the rest of the band with elements of bass and guitar sorely lacking. Lyrically it's solid but unspectacular, another love song from a band with a knack for writing catchy tracks and this one has a rather catchy hook that will draw the listener in. All in all, this will be a solid follow up to the runaway success of "Gives You Hell" although there were probably better options on the album.
The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 3.5/5
What I'd Rather Be Listening To: "Another Heart Calls"- The All-American Rejects
Katy Perry- "Waking Up In Vegas"
For the second week in a row we get a release written by the talented and incredibly attractive Katy Perry. Having never been to the city of sin I can't really relate to the epic craziness perpetuated in this track. Although I have been to Lac Leamy and Niagara Falls so I know a thing or two about partying it up high roller style. This is just a typical pop track with simple instrumentation and a catchy hook while utilizing Katy's sarcastic lyrical stylings to full affect. This is a pretty good song that will fly up the charts and the female readership of this column will dig it.
The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 3/5
What I'd Rather Be Listening To: "Ur So Gay"- Katy Perry
Sean Kingston- "Fire Burning"
I must confess to be a sucker for Sean Kingston's brand of reggae infused dance-pop. His lyrics are as always incredibly generic, but if you are listening to a dance track to hear the lyrics, it is you who deserves criticism. Musically the song has an infectious party beat with some elements of reggae that make it sufficiently awesome. This song went straight on to my dance playlist and I can already tell that it will be put on heavy rotation all summer. He's not reinventing the wheel, he's making you shake your ass. That's good enough for me.
The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 3.5/5
What I'd Rather Be Listening To: "Take You There"- Sean Kingston
The-Dream ft Kanye West- "Walkin' On The Moon"
I generally despise The-Dream and his rather horrid voice. He attempts to be Chris Brown meanwhile the guy can barely sing at all. If there is one thing that can save this track it's Kanye...rapping...again. That is the highlight of an otherwise mediocre track that plods along until Kanye makes his big time appearence and raps his way back into my good graces. Maybe his next album will actually be rap, he's got to stop rapping on everyone elses tracks and start making his own. That's all I can say about this one, the song is bad but Kanye is epic.
The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 2/5
What I'd Rather Be Listening To: "Through The Wire"- Kanye West
Lesley Roy- "Slow Goodbye"
Whoa...another song written by Katy Perry! She is quickly becoming one of the biggest hitmakers out there as record labels are finally realizing the power of strong writing. This one has all the hallmarks of Katy's, with super sleek power-pop production. I could listen to Lesley Roy sing for hours, she has an absolutely phenomenal voice in the vein of Melissa Etheridge, and she utilizes it to the max here. She is seldom understated in any of her music and this track is no different. However, this song just seems to be lacking the emotion of "Unbeautiful", an amazing track of hers. Having heard that one, I expect more of the same however, this one just falls a little flat.
The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 3/5
What I'd Rather Be Listening To: "Unbeautiful"- Lesley Roy
Aaron Pritchett- "Hell Bent For Buffalo"
Time for some Canadian country content about driving to Buffalo in the middle of a storm for a booty call. I kid you not, I can't make this crap up. The song is your typical pop-country with all the trappings of that despicable genre. Simple chord progressions and smooth as silk production values do not make worthwhile music in this case. One thing I do enjoy about this track is the not too subtle dig at Buffalo, and let's be fair...Buffalo sucks. Why else would he be hell bent for Buffalo if not for rampant sex? Buffalo blows. This song isn't much better.
The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 1.5/5
What I'd Rather Be Listening To: "Hold My Beer"- Aaron Pritchett
Montgomery Gentry- "One In Every Crowd"
I can attest to the fact that there is one in every crowd, I live in an area very similar to the American South. The Ottawa Valley is basically Alabama with free healthcare and better education, that doesn't stop the lowest common denominator from ruining a good night at a bar. This song glorifies the morons that annoy the living hell out of me every time I go out and what is wrong with bars around my home. Let's be fair though, the song itself is pretty catchy, even the blatantly stupid "Hey Y'all" chants. This song is simply a novelty track and is pretty enjoyable save for my unfortunate personal connection.
The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 2.5/5
What I'd Rather Be Listening To: "Back When I Knew It All"- Montgomery Gentry
SONG OF THE WEEK!
The Killers- "A Dustland Fairytale"
Anyone who has ever read one of these columns knows how huge of a Killers fan I am. This song is one of the very best off of their amazing "Day & Age" and should hopefully make a large impact on the charts. The lyrics are reminiscint of some of Jim Steinman's best work while also incorporating elements of Springsteen Americana. The use of metaphor and allusion is phenomenal and this is one of the few Killers songs where the lyrics outshine the music. The intro is amazing with simple piano instrumentation, but when the drums kick in you have some solid forward momentum building towards the climax, a wonderfully crafted chorus. Amazing track, easily on the level of some of their great work like "Mr. Brightside" and "When You Were Young", yet still representing a departure from that style and more towards the Springsteen-esque rock that they quested for on "Sam's Town". Mission accomplished here.
The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 5/5
What I'd Rather Be Listening To: "Thunder Road"- Bruce Springsteen
The Jacob Crogie Seal of Awesomeness
John Denver- "Take Me Home Country Roads"
Almost done...almost home. This one doesn't need an introduction from me, it is one of the greatest songs ever written, bar none.
So that's it for another week, be sure to tune in same time next week when we get all the latest and the greatest plus all the crap that everyone else likes...
