Album Review: The 20/20 Experience by Justin Timberlake

It's been 6 long years since Justin Timberlake's last album FutureSex/LoveSounds. During that time, he has acted in the movies The Social Network, Bad Teacher, and Friends With Benefits, wrote songs for Duran Duran and The Loneley Island, and gotten married to actress Jessica Biel. Oh yeah, he was also writing his 3rd and 4th albums, not to mention the least. The will be titled The 20/20 Experience Parts 1 & 2. Each album will have 10 songs, therefore eventually becoming 20 songs. Part 1 released this week, while Part 2 is slated for a November 2013 release. I'm just happy that Timberlake has come SexyBack. (;

The first track on the album is "Pusher Love Girl." Like almost all of his songs, it is about love. When I first heard the song, I thought "What a way to start off an album after hiatus." It starts out with a nice arrangement of strings and then Timberlake starts singing. Like all his songs, it is a song about love. One of my favorite songs on the album is "Suit & Tie." It was Timberlake's first single after hiatus and features rapper Jay-Z. The song is basically saying "What happens in a tux, stays in the tux."

"Don't Hold The Wall" is the album's third track. The track features vocals from Timberlake's producer Timbaland. Its a nice poppy soul song that is very catchy, like most of the album. The song is telling the girl not to just hang on the wall and to dance instead. In "Strawberry Bubblegum," Timberlake is comparing a girl's lips to strawberry bubblegum. I don't know why he made this comparison, but it is a very enjoyable song.

"Tunnel Vision" is track number 5 on the album. I love the lyrics in the song. In the song, Timberlake is "zooming in" so close to a girl, that she is the one person and thing he sees. "Spaceship Coupe" is a very cool song lyrically, once again. It's saying that he wants to alienate him and the girl he is flying into space with. Their coupe only fits the two of them, so their is plenty of room.

"That Girl" is a song in where Timberlake says he in love with a girl, and she says that she is in love with him as well. He doesn't care what people say about them, he loves the girl and will stay together with her forever. "Let The Groove Get In" is my favorite song on the entire album! It is a freakin catchy song that I will keep listening to. If you're gonna buy one song from the album, I HIGHLY suggest this one.

"Mirrors," the album's 9th track, is also the album's second single. In the song, Timberlake compares a girl to a mirror. She is so perfect for him, that whenever he sees her, he feels like is looking in a mirror and sees himself. The final track on the album is "Blue Ocean Floor." In the song, he wants to go to the ocean floor with a girl, so she is safe from everything and nobody can harm her.

This is an amazing album. I know I have said that before, but it is completely true!! It is Soulish-Pop and You need to get this album. I say it is Maroon 5 mixed with Michael Buble. Its crazy cause every song on the album is 4:30 or longer. The whole album turns out to be an hour and 10 minutes. All I have to say is, GET THIS NOW!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Purchase Links: iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 3 Songs: "Mirrors," "Suit & Tie," "Let The Groove Get In"

For Fans Of: Maroon 5, Michael Buble, N'Sync

Album Review: Closer EP by Jeff Schneeweis

I don't normally review albums, but this guy is a friend so I thought, "What the heck!? Why not?" You may know him from the band Number One Gun. Well, he decided to release a solo Worship EP while NOG was recording their new album (which is coming soon! I'm excited!!!). I personally like the EP! Think Imagine Dragons mixed with Ellie Goulding and you will most likely like the album. I'm not gonna do this like my traditional reviews, just gonna pinpoint on a couple of the songs and why I like them so much!

All the songs on the ep are amazing as I must say! My favorite though will have to be the title track. It has a nice upbeat tune with an almost dubstep part in the intro! It's like any other worship album, just praising God for all he does, Jeff just does it in an upbeat way!!!

Rating: 9.8 out of 10

Purchase Links: Not Available Until Tuesday!

Top song: "Closer"

For Fans Of: Ellie Goulding, Imagine Dragons, Calvin Harris

Black History Tribute

Well, I know I should've posted this earlier in the month, but i just realized this and it just came to my attention the other day. African-Americans really mean A LOT to me! Like, Michael Buble's jazzy style wouldn't exist without them! Or my personal idol and probably fave artist of all time wouldn't exist (Michael Jackson). I mean, like a lot of the greatest things in life wouldn't exist if it weren't for them! If I lived back in the early 1900's, I would fight hard and I mean HARD for Black Rights. Why would America discriminate them? They went against the Declaration of Independence by not equalizing them to whites! The Declaration of Independence says, "All Men Are Created Equal." It just sickens me to know they were treated so bad! One of my best friends is African-American and she is crazy awesome! We relate so much and I love it! (: I'm just glad America got over their hatred of this race! I really don't have much else to say, I just wanted to get my point out there!

Until Next Time, Alex

God Gave Me Who? (A Comedic Post About Valentines Day)

Well, Valentines Day is in 3 days and I have officially broken my record of Valentines Days being single. It WAS 17 in a row and now it is 18 in a row! At this rate I will be the 40-year-old virgin. Lol I have never seen that movie and have no desire to either! Valentines Day is just another holiday invented by girls to make their boyfriends spend money on them! I mean like really, we have week-a-versaries, two week-a-versaries and so on. What if this "Holiday" didn't exist? This world probably wouldn't go on rampage, probably the worst we could expect is a strike, which America basically is already on with 7.8% of the pop that is able to work not working, now if we could convince the rest of the world to do that, wow would we be great! Everyone in this country is like Doofenshmirtz! We all say something and think its gonna be amazing, but then a small platypus (In this case, laziness) comes and stops us. Wait!? This doesn't relate to V-Day, oops, Valentines Day? Shoot, I'm sorry!!!! This is supposed to be a Valentines Day post and no one told me! That ain't cool bro! Well, for this guy, this very attractive guy, this guy that, aw, never mind. It's considered "Singles Awareness Day!" Wanna know why? Because all these couples get all lovey dovey just to shove it in all us Singles' faces that we don't a significant other. Well guess what!? I do have one and that is God! I COULD end up being the real life 40-year-old virgin and I could careless if no girl likes me ever! He is the only one that will always and forever love me! So, yes, this post may be very funny, but it wouldn't be funny if God didn't give me this ability! You all need to know this, and I fall short all the time! I really don't have much else to say! I guess I will leave you with a few songs for your listening enjoyment. (: Lol Enjoy! (:

Until Next Time, Alex

Album Review: Release The Panic (Deluxe Edition) by RED

RED has been rocking fans ever since Breathe Into Me premiered back in 2006. They are back with their fourth release that is completely different than their first three releases. For Release The Panic they have taken away the usual orchestra you'd here on their songs. On this album, they replaced the strings with more keyboards and guitars. Release The Panic only really has one ballad on the whole album. The rest of the album is rock your socks off, break your neck, almost metal mixed with pop songs. If you like bands like KoRn or Metallica, then I would HIGHLY suggest buying this album!

The album starts of with the hard-hitting title track. The song is talking about the end times and judgment day. A lot of people aren't going to Heaven and if you don't entirely know, repent of your sins and believe Jesus is alive, or you should release the panic. "Perfect Life" is the album second track and lead single. It is a song about someone wanting a perfect life. Since Jesus was the only one that could have a perfect life, it is a a huge lie.

"Die For You" is the best song on the album, in my opinion. It's a song from God's perspective. He is talking to an unbeliever and trying to get them to believe in Him, because He would die for them every day. "Damage." Man that is the heaviest song on the album. I'd consider it almost hardcore. I love this one just as much as "Die For You." In the song, the .singer feels like all he causes is damage and can't fix it. When he cries out to God, he feels like He isn't listening

I know I keep saying the songs are amazing, but it really is true with the whole album. "Same Disease" is no exception to this. The song is about everyone on earth. Everyone sins, so therefore, they are symbolizing it to a disease. "Hold Me Now" is the only ballad on the entire album. It is an amazing song to listen to if you are feeling depressed. It has such an amazing message to it and it seriously brings me to tears every time I listen to it.

"If We Only" is the seventh track on the album. It seems like a song between God and a person. It's basically a conversation and even though we humans are the victim, God gets all the blame for all of our mistakes. "So Far Away" is another amazing song! (Sorry I keep saying that by the way.) In the song, The singer feels like he is reaching for God, but since He is perfect and we aren't, he feels like God's love is so close, yet it seems like He is so far away.

In "Glass House" RED is symbolizing our souls as a glass house. Since glass is so easy to break, God can break through the house and be the center of our souls and life. "The Moment We Come Alive" is the closing track on the standard edition of the album. The song is talking about how NONE of us are truly alive until we accept that Jesus died for us and then rose again in three days.

"Love Will Leave A Mark" is the first of two bonus tracks on the deluxe edition of the album. We all have a very different and very personal relationship with God. Different kinds of love will leave us all "scarred" in a very unique way. "As You Go" is the final new song on the deluxe edition. In the song, someone the singer loves is leaving and he wants them to know that he is always by their side no matter where they go.

Overall, this album is just amazing! I wouldn't be surprised one bit if it went up for Rock Album of The Year at the 2014 GRAMMYs. It is the perfect mix of Heavy, Almost-Metal Rock and Alternative, "Ballady" Rock. If you are looking for any new music to purchase, I suggest buying this and any other album that comes out this year, because I, for one will most likely go broke on 2013's releases, and that means a bunch of beautiful reviews by me! (:

Rating: 10 out of 10

Purchase Links: Standard Edition: iTunes, Amazon MP3 Deluxe Edition: iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 3 Songs: "Same Disease," "Damage," "Die For You"

For Fans Of: KoRn, Metallica, Love and Death

Album Review: A Messenger by Colton Dixon

Colton Dixon is most known for placing 7th in Fox's 11th season  of American Idol. He's been doing music almost since he was three years old. Although he also plays guitar, he is most known for playing keyboard/piano. He is here with his debut album A Messenger. I'd call the album mostly Lifehouse-sounding with a couple of songs that sound like Muse or Evanescence. Worshipful ballads, such as "You Are" and rock anthems like "In and Out Of Time" make this album perfect for an indie rock fan.

The album starts off with a 48 second intro to the album's lead track "Noise." In the song, Dixon relates days to car alarms. The car alarms then represent all the temptation that the world has out there. It seems that sometimes they are so loud, that we can't hear God's voice. He asks God if he is there and to call his name. At the end, he knows that he will be okay because God is there with him through it all. "I'll Be The Light" is the album's third track. The song is saying that before God, everything was dark and we couldn't see. Once you finally come to and accept His love, God is like a flashlight that helps you see clearly, even in the darkest of nights. 

"You Are" is the album's current single. It is a beautiful worship song that's calling God everything. In the bridge of the song, Dixon is saying that if he didn't have a voice or tongue, he would worship God by dancing for him instead of singing. When his day is done, he will shout all the praises to the God who saved his life. The first original song Dixon ever shared with the world was "Never Gone" back in June. It's another Alternative Worship song that is God talking to us when we feel lost and have no sense of direction. He assures us that He "Never, ever left us" and will always be there when we need Him. 

The album's sixth track, "Love Has Come For Me," is one of my favorite songs on the album. It's an awesome Christian Rock radio-ready song. In the track, he feels like he is lost and can never get God's forgiveness because he keeps failing. He eventually realizes that Love (God) is there and has always been there and surrenders to It (Him). "Scars" is a Museish sounding song. Muse has those quiet piano ballads that always turns into an anthem rock song. In the song, he feels defeated by his addictions. In the chorus, he states that "Scars remind us of who we are," meaning Jesus' scars after he died on the cross for the world. He gave us His life, so we must eventually give our lives back to Him. 

In "Rise," the album's eighth track, is a song that talks about a young girl who abuses herself and has thoughts of suicide. In the song, God tells the girl to rise because He loves her and knows that she has a purpose in her life. "Where My Heart Goes" immediately follows "Rise." It's an awesome song where Dixon is praising God and proclaiming that God is where he wants his heart goes. It's another awesome worship song that he wrote just to praise God in all His awesomeness.

In an interview with Yahoo, Dixon said that "This Is Who I Am" is an anthem saying that everyone will see the world in their own unique and different ways. He said he won't change for anybody, cause everyone has their own little "quirks" or they are weird in their own way, which I find to be just amazing. My all time favorite song on the album is "In And Out Of Time." It is a legit, anthem-ready rock tune. Even though he said that the album is more of a Christian effort, I believe this song would have the most chance going to a Mainstream Rock station. It's a Muse rock sounding tune that explains that we have limited days left because we know Jesus will be coming soon. His past keeps haunting him in the song, so he feels like he's running in and out of time.

The final song on the album is actually a cover. "Let Them See You" was the only song on the record Dixon didn't write. Scotty Wilbanks, who plays keys for the band Third Day, sent him this song on the early stages of working on the album. The song is just his piano and his voice. He said in an interview with Yahoo that he loved putting it on the end of the record, because it describes how he ended Idol and he wanted to end his album in a similar way, with God at the center of it all.

Most of the songs cowritten by guys who penned some of Kelly Clarkson and Switchfoot's biggest hits, this album is sure to also be a hit! A perfect mix of rock and worship make this the perfect record for anyone who likes indie rock. Dixon had a lot to accomplish on this record with both mainstream and Christian fans, and he did it more perfect than ever! This is very likely gonna be among my top 5 records of 2013. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

Purchase Links: iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 3 Songs: "Scars," "Love Has Come For Me," "In And Out Of Time"

For Fans Of: Evanescence, Muse, Lifehouse

Album Review: Between Here and Lost by Love and Death

Brian "Head" Welch, who is formerly of the band Korn, is at it once again, but this time, with a band. After he departed from the band in 2005, he wrote a book titled Save Me From Myself that released in July of 2007. During the writing of the book, Welch was also writing and recording his debut solo album. The album was also titled Save Me From Myself. It was basically his book, in music, and without explicit language. In 2010, Welch released a new single from his upcoming second solo project, titled Paralyzed. The full album never released and a year later, he announced that his band will now be branded under the name Love and Death. About a year and a half after the announcement, the band released their debut single and EP Chemicals. The EP included 5 tracks (2 original songs, a cover, and 2 remixes). The band then promised a new album by 2013. They are here with their debut album, which is set to release January 22nd.

"The Abandoning," the album's first single, starts out with Welch yelling "Wake up sleepy, Wide awake!" In the opening track, Welch talks about when he was in Korn and all the drugs he did. He felt like not only is he abandoning himself, so is everyone, including God. By the end of the song, he is wide awake for God and His commands. The second track, a cover of Devo's "Whip It," I really can't go into much detail about, because it is a cover of a 1980's pop song. Basically, there are less lyrics than the original version and it is metal.

"Watching The Bottom Fall" is one of the hardest tracks to review on the album. It's hard to interpret, but I think in the song, Welch is talking from two different people's point of view. Although they both commit the same crimes, he can't go through with it anymore and leaves the other. It's also one of my favorites on the album. "By The Way," the album's 4th track, I think, talks about his ex-wife. He loved her, but she was influencing their daughter in such a negative way, so he had to leave her, so him and his daughter could live safely. He says he misses her everyday, and hopes to see her in Heaven in the future.

"Meltdown" is my number one favorite song the album. I love the guitars it has in it. But, like most of the songs Welch writes, its about his addiction to drugs and alcohol. In the song, he has overdosed and feels like he is about to die, and cries out to God to save him and to not to keep. In "My Disaster," Welch feels like God is ignoring him and letting him suffer. He's crying out and asking how God can watch him suffer, when he is the leader of the universe. It's also the song on the album that sounds most like Welch's former band, Korn's, old material.

"I W8 4 U" is the 7th track on the album, and features screams from For Today's lead vocalist, Mattie Montgomery. It's a song that is actually from God's perspective on humans. He will wait for them till the end of the earth and always will. He loves us all and has a different relationship with each and everyone of His children. Christianity is becoming less and less popular in today's world and that's exactly what "Fading Away" talks about. The human race is fading away, so we need to repent to God, or be done. We are His children and need to come to that realization sooner better than later.

"Paralyzed" is included on the album and went to #1 on the iTunes rock chart when it was released back in 2010 and branded under his solo project. It's a song about being so overdosed in drugs that you feel like you can't get back. He cries out to God to save him and get him out. "Chemicals," the third previously recorded song to be featured on the April 2012 EP of the same name. It's a song that talks about being so buried in drugs or depression that it feels like chemicals are clouding your mind. He knows deep inside that he isn't a criminal and hates the chemicals and wants to get out. The final track on the album is "Bruises." Welch said in an interview with Billboard that is it partly inspired by Christians not believing in rock music being combined with Christianity.

I, for one, think this is an amazing album! Both hard rock and metal fans alike will love this album and it is a must buy. Welch has been making music for about 20 years, and ever since his debut solo album released back in 2008, he hasn't ceased to please! If you are a fan of rock music, I highly suggest picking this album up, because you WILL NOT be disappointed.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Purchase Links (not available until January 22nd): iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 3 songs: "Chemicals", "I W8 4 U", "Meltdown"

For fans of: R3D, Korn, Hollywood Undead