If I ruled the Grammy's

The Grammy nominees are all here

• Everyone is wondering how did Taylor Swift’s “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together” got nominated. I agree. There are so many better pop songs they could have chosen. Even Demi Lovato’s “Give Your Heart a Break” would have been a better choice. It is just sad. I hope Swift doesn’t rule the Grammy’s in 2014 (I know - too early to care but I do). Her album, “Red”, has about 4-5 good songs out of 16. Well it feels like it has 16 songs. I should know, I have listened to it several times and I’m so disappointed in it.
• I’m glad Fun. got the recognition they deserved.
• I’m shocked they noticed: Kelly Clarkson & Tamia. Kelly made a decent pop album and I love when good pop gets recognized by the academy. I had forgotten it qualified since it came out in 2011. I hope this means a huge bump in sells for her. Tamia’s album is good but not great. It is definitely worth a listen if you like R&B.
• Melanie Fiona’s album is awesome and should have gotten more nominations. I would have nominated one of her singles as “song of the year”.
• Who should have been nominated but got screwed: Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, Emily Wells, Demi Lovato, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Lana Del Rey. I could probably name more. (I’m not sure Bob Dylan made the deadline).
• I’m so glad I’m not the only person who doesn’t think John Mayer’s latest was the greatest album of the year. It didn’t get one nomination. That’s harsh since the Academy loves him but I don’t think “Born & Raised” is that good.
• Overall, I thought they did a decent job. Nothing too out there was nominated (besides Swift). And people get overlooked every year.

The Liberation Tour

If you get a chance to see this tour, go! I'm glad they decided to kick off the tour in VA Beach. Melanie Fiona, D'Angelo and Mary J. Blige were excellent. I'd already seen Mary J. in concert years ago so I went to see D'Angelo. My biggest disappointment was how short D's set was.

Melanie Fiona was up first. Her set was about 30 minutes. She had a full band with backup singers. People familiar with her music know that she can sing live. Her set included: "4AM", "Bones", "It Kills Me" "Change the Record", and "Wrong Side of a Love song"

D'Angelo went on next. What can I say? I've waited over 10 years for this moment. His usual band was with him. (Pino Palladino, Jesse Johnson, Kendra Foster etc.) He came through from the back of the arena. Thanks to security for the heads up. :) I was 10 feet from him as he climbed the steps to the stage. Of course he was superb. His voice was better than ever. IMO, he never lost his voice so I'm not sure why people comment on that.

D's set list was (not in order):

CRUSIN
UNTITLED
BROWN SUGAR
CHICKEN GREASE
SDM
IN ANOTHER LIFE
LADY
LEFT AND RIGHT
FEEL LIKE MAKIN LOVE

I was very, very disappointed that he did not perform his new song "Sugah Daddy". I love "In Another Life" and was glad to hear it live but he should have also done Daddy. I know he loves performing SDM at every freakin' show for some reason but I wish he would have replaced that with a new track (either "Daddy" or "Really Love").

Here is a short video I shot from the show:

Mary J. Blige! The audience was clearly there for her. (D'angelo who?) It was an amazing thing to see. She basically sang every song she ever made in about 90 minutes. I can't possibly list every song but part of her setlist included:

My Life
Not Gon' Cry
Sweet Thing
Real Love
Ain't Nobody
Mr. Wrong
Just Fine
I'm Going Down
No More Drama
Love No Limit

I have a short clip from the show:



I wished she had performed 25/8. That is my favorite track from her new album, My Life II. I don't know what kind of tour this was. She didn't perform a lot of songs from the new album. This was sort of like a greatest hits tour. I wasn't expecting that. She was perfect. Compared to the last time I saw her (in the late 90s I think), the sound was better. Everything was better. And she danced a lot (with no backup dancers). It was great.

Mary is like my musical soul sister. It was great seeing her again but I was really there for D'angelo so I didn't get to enjoy her set that well. I was so pissed that D didn't play longer. However I was so happy for her. There was so much love there. The audience did 30% of the singing.

Overall an "A" show. If you love Mary, you must go. Just don't expect a ton of new tracks. And D'angelo fans...sigh. He needs to go on tour on his own in the US. What is the hold up? The new album?? Um, will that ever be released? We can only hope. D says the album will be released around Thanksgiving.

Rachael Sage

I had the pleasure of seeing Rachael Sage in concert. I won tickets to see her in Norfolk, VA. If you love Tori Amos, you will LOVE her. (FWIW, I am not a Tori Amos fan).

She is witty and often interrupts herself mid song with random stories. Her manager Wendy was nice and made the experience great. I got a hug from Rachael. And an autographed piece of her own artwork.

She has nine albums! Yes 9! She is on her own record label. She has been a business woman all her life. Melissa Ferrick is on her label.

I can't remember her set list. I know she sung "Invisible Light" "Fame" and "Hey Na". I have listened to so much of her music since then I can't remember what I heard live. It was great to hear the stories behind the songs. There was an awesome moment when Rachael jumped off the stage and stood right beside me and sang.

Samples of her music so you will fall in love like I did:

A new artist I just discovered is Yuna. Her MP3 of her first single Live Your Life is currently free on Amazon. In my opinion that is not the best song on the album. The lyrics are beautiful but there are so many better songs on the album.

Here is Yuna:

My favs of 2012 so far

It is almost mid year. Since I've been listening to a lot of music this year, I thought I would do a list of my top albums of 2012...so far.

1. Jason Mraz - Love is a Four Letter Word

And then there's everything else. Heh.

Lana Del Ray or Alabama Shakes is probably #2. Neon Trees and Audrey Assad bring up the rear. I've also listened to the Tanlines' album. Good but probably won't make my top ten list at the end of the year. Dar Williams album is too new to say where it fits. I hope to see her in concert this summer but I'm not sure.

Alabama Shakes - Hold On

Yes, I bring the deep music analysis. :)

Whitney - The Voice

Here are live versions of my favorite Whitney Houston songs. I wasn't her biggest fan by far, but I must give it to her for always singing live (even when her voice wasn't at its best).

I Have Nothing (1993)

The Greatest Love of All (audio only - 1990)
Ain't No Way (w/Mary J. Blige - 1999) *MUST WATCH*
Why Does It Hurt So Bad (1996? -not sure)
Where Do Broken Hearts Go (year unknown) RIP Whitney

Foster the People

My current song obsession:


Foster the People - Helena Beat

How can you not love this song?

My top 23 albums of 2011

23. Joss Stone - LP1

Download: Drive All Night

22. LeAnn Rimes - Lady & Gentlemen

This album is mostly obscure country covers. I fell in and out of love with this album quickly. It is good but I have to be in a certain mood to listen to it. Her voice can still give me chills.

Download: Help Me Make It Through the Night

21. Vanessa Carlton - Rabbits On The Run
Download: I Don't Want to Be A Bride

20. Selena Gomez & The Scene - When The Sun Goes Down

One of my workout albums of 2011. Fun pop music.

Download: My Dilemma

19. Gavin DeGraw - Sweeter

Download: Not Over You

18. Colbie Caillat - All of You

All of You is 10x better than her last album. I listened to this a lot to prepare for my year end list and I ended up liking it more. It probably should be ranked higher than 18...

Download: Dream Life, Life

17. Elliott Yamin - Gather Around (Not released in the United States)

He still has the voice.

Download: Deserted

16. Amos Lee - Mission Bell

Initially I was so disappointed in Mission Bell. However, once again I started listening to it again and I get why the fans love it. I still think his other albums are superior.

Download: Windows Are Rolled Down

15. Ximena Sariñana - Ximena Sariñana

This is her first english album. I thought it would get nominated for a Grammy this year but it was ignored. She has won Latin Grammys before. Anyhow I was supposed to see her in concert this year but something came up at the last minute. Great lyrics but something is missing in her voice. Download: Bringing Us Down

14. Matt Nathanson - Modern Love

Adult pop music.

Download: Run (Feat. Jennifer Nettles And Kristian Bush)

13. Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know

folk music with an edge

Download: Sophia

12. Christina Perri - Lovestrong

I want to hear more from her.

11. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
Download: I Follow Rivers

10. Britney Spears - Femme Fatale

Download: Criminal

9. Rachael Yamagata - Chesapeake

Wow, she channels her inner Fiona Apple on some of these songs. She can't make a bad record.

Download: Miles on a Car

8. Beyonce - 4

I never thought I would have Beyonce on a top albums list. Her solo albums -as a whole- have been so bad. But 4 is different. I'm surprised at how many bad reviews this album has. I truly don't get it. This is as real as a R&B album you will ever get from her. I guess people want the pop/R&B Beyonce?

Download: Countdown

7. Lights - Siberia

Lights is a solo Canadian artist. Her music is probably best described as electro-pop. But don't get the wrong idea. I can't recommend trying this album enough.

  6. Amy Winehouse - Lioness: Hidden Treasures

I heard "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and immediately brought the album. A must have for Amy fans. Some of the songs are different version of songs from her previous albums. Others are covers.

Download: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

5. Miranda Lambert - Four the Record

This album probably would have been ranked higher if I had a chance to listen to it more before doing this list. I'm just starting to fall in love with it.

Download: Mama's Broken Heart

4. Demi Lovato - Unbroken

This is my first Lovato album. I listened to Unbroken more than any album on this list. It lived in my car, I took it to work, I worked out to it. Love it! Download: Fix A Heart

3. Kelly Clarkson - Stronger [Deluxe Edition]

I have to recommend buying the deluxe version over the regular. For some reason some of the best songs, aren't included on the regular version. The record company always manages to mess up her releases somehow.

Download: I Forgive You

2. Kate Voegele - Gravity Happens

She's baaaaaack! Kate was my #1 album of the year with her last album. She is one of my favorite song writers and her voice is pretty good too.

Download: Gravity Happens

1. Adele - 21

Very original pick for #1. I know. :)

Download: The whole album