Archive for the ‘First Listen’ Category

First Listen: Tori Amos, ‘Midwinter Graces’

'Tis the season
Friday, November 6th, 2009

Tori Amos’s new holiday album Midwinter Graces, which we first heard about back in September, will finally be available for sale next Tuesday November 10 but starting today we are able to listen to the album IN FULL right here online:


Tori Amos’ first ever seasonal album, Midwinter Graces, is an album that has been in the making for the past 40 years. Raised in the Baltimore area under the watchful eye of her Methodist minister father, Tori grew up playing holiday carols at Sunday services and Christmas Day celebrations in her father’s church. These were the songs that gave a young Tori her first taste of music, and now, almost 40 years later, Tori gets her own chance to re-imagine classics like “What Child, Nowell” and “Star of Wonder.” Tori will also add her own bittersweet bliss to the season with original tracks like “Pink and Glitter” and “Our New Year.” Amos has teamed up again with longtime collaborators Matt Chamberlain (drums), Jon Evans (bass), and Mac Aladdin (guitar.) Tori has also enlisted the help of a big band and an orchestra, with stunning John Philip Shenale arrangements to create her new seasonal classics.

You may recall that last month we got to listen to snippets from Midwinter Graces but now we can hear all 12 songs in full. After the jump, enjoy your first listen of Tori’s first ever holiday album …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

First Listen: Adam Lambert, ‘For Your Entertainment’

"Do you like what you see?"
Friday, October 30th, 2009

Earlier this week we got our first look at American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert’s album artwork for his debut effort For Your Entertainment (which is ENTIRELY too LOL-worthy to get into again) and today we get our first look at the cover artwork for the first track off his new album, also titled For Your Entertainment:


Um, I think Beyoncé needs to check her belongings because it looks like Glambert pilfered her funky hand jewelry to use as his own. Unfortch, his fingers are too stubby to make this hardware look right. BUT, not only do we get to check out the single cover artwork but we also get to hear the song itself — after the jump …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

First Listen: Imogen Heap, ‘Thriller’

"It's close to midnight ..."
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Imogen Heap, who is one of my fave female singers of all time, paid a visit to the Dermot O’Leary radio show on BBC Radio 2 this past weekend and performed a live piano version of Michael Jackson’s hit song Thriller. Now, anyone who is at all familiar with Imogen Heap should be well aware of her musical style and can appreciate the way she transformed the song into one of her own … for those of you unfamiliar with Imogen, her cover of Thriller can give you an idea of just how amazing she is:


Because we are just a few days away from Hallowe’en, MJ’s Thriller is getting a lot of play all over the place … which is why I think it was very smart of Imogen to cover it on this radio show. Unfortch, I couldn’t find a way to download the track but after the jump you can hear it in full in a You Tube video that has been made available online …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

First Listen: Rihanna, ‘The Wait Is Ova’?

It would seem we now know the title of Ri Ri's new single
Monday, October 19th, 2009

Last Saturday we saw photos of Rihanna on the set of her new music video and you may recall she was rockin’ an eye patch for the shoot. Today we get to see more photos from the music video shoot AND we get to hear a snippet of the song itself. First up, the pics:


You may recall that Rihanna posted a tweet on her official Twitter profile which announced the presumed release date of her new album (November 23) along with the line The Wait Is Ova. It was speculated that that might be the title of her album … and it very well may be … but new video from the shoot of her music video gives us a sneak listen of the first single and the line The Wait Is Ova is clearly heard in the song. Chances are, that’s the name of the single (and possibly the album as well). After the jump, check out the video and hear for yourselves …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

Preview Tori Amos’s New Holiday Album ‘Midwinter Graces’

Plus check out new promo images
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Last month we learned that the musical goddess Tori Amos would be releasing a holiday album titled Midwinter Graces this Xmas season and not only got to see the official album cover artwork but we also got to see the album tracklisting. Today we get to check out a new promo image from the album and can preview clips of each of the songs on the disc:


Okay … I love me some Tori but the promo photos for this album are sooooo over-the-top (including the album artwork). I understand that this red dress was created by designer Bernard Chandran … even still, I am really looking forward to hearing this album in full. Undented is reporting that the disc will be released in a standard version and a deluxe version which will include two extra songs, Comfort And Joy and Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! (Silent Night! Holy Night!), as well as a bonus DVD. Thus far there is no word on what the DVD will contain but, knowing Tori, it’s bound to be amazing. After the jump, hear a short preview of the album and check out two more promo photos from Midwinter Graces — these next two photos are much less dramatic and are deffo worth checking out …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

First Listen: Leighton Meester, ‘Somebody To Love’

Featuring Robin Thicke
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester, who provided guest vocals on the Cobra Starship single Good Girls Go Bad, released her first single as solo artist earlier today … which we get to listen to here on the blog right now. The track, Somebody To Love, features sexy crooner Robin Thicke on vocals and, in all honest, is not a bad song at all. Here is the cover artwork for Leighton’s debut single and the lyrics to the song:


Somebody To Love (Featuring Robin Thicke)

Paris France to Michigan
London town and through Berlin
I can’t believe this place I’m in
Everywhere and back again
Porcelain and China Dolls
Give me one and I’ve seen them all
Got my back against the wall
Wonder where I’ll be tomorrow?

But wait, now how long could this take?
It’s hard to find a man,
When you’re gone before he wakes.
They say it’s hard to achieve
But can’t a girl believe?

CHORUS:
Is there somebody who still believes in love?
I know you’re out there
There’s got to be somebody
I search around the world
But I can’t seem to find
Somebody to love

ROBIN THICKE:
Baby girl, there you at
Looking at me like a putty cat
Wondering where that thing is at
Wondering where your ring is at
Nobody ever did it quite like this
Nobody ever did it quite like you
Do your hair, I bought you shoes
We can hit the town like superstars do
You lookin’ for love? Then let me show you love
Give me the key to your heart
I can give you what you want
When you’re waiting for love
And you’re lookin’ for someone
I’mma turn this gossip girl into a woman

CHORUS:
Is there somebody who still believes in love?
I know you’re out there (I know you’re out there)
There’s got to be somebody
I search around the world
But I can’t seem to find
Somebody to love

Is there somebody who still believes in love?
I know you’re out there
There’s got to be somebody
I search around the world
But I can’t seem to find
Somebody to love

Je t’adore, Je t’adore (I love you, I love you)
Make a move, do the thing
Turn around, strike a pose
Je t’adore, Je t’adore (I love you, I love you)
Make a move, do the thing
Turn around, strike a pose
Ooh, I like it
Ooh, I need it
Ooh, I want it
Hey Hey

I know it’s hard to achieve
But can’t a girl believe?

CHORUS:
Is there somebody (Is there somebody?)
who still believes in love? (Who still believes?)
I know you’re out there (I know you’re out there)
There’s got to be somebody
I search around the world
But I can’t seem to find
Somebody to love

Is there somebody who still believes in love? (who still believes)
I know you’re out there (who still believes)
There’s got to be somebody
I search around the world
But I can’t seem to find
Somebody to love

(You say hello, I say goodbye) x2
Somebody to love

I really like this song … it’s really sexy. Considering how much I like Good Girls Go Bad, I might end up liking Leighton’s whole album. HMMM. After the jump, listen to the song in full …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

First Listen: Neil Patrick Harris (As Music Meister), ‘Drives Us Bats’

NPH plays an animated Batman villain ... who sings
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Neil Patrick Harris, who proved he is quite a singer as both Dr. Horrible and as Tony Awards host, is guest starring as an animated villain called the Music Meister who takes on Batman in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold (which airs on Cartoon Network) in an upcoming episode. Here are a few screencaps from a music video for the song Drives Us Bats which features NPH on vocals:


No, it’s not a clip from Dr. Horrible 2. Nor is it a sneak peek at How I Met Your Mother’s music-filled 100th episode. Rather, it’s an exclusive first look at Neil Patrick Harris’ show-stopping turn as the evil Music Meister in the Oct. 23 episode of Cartoon Network’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Warning: The following clip could drive you batty (but in a good way)!

OMG … I love this!! While the song isn’t terribly good, I love that NPH is voicing a Batman villain who sings! In fact, this entire episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold will be a musical ep! After the jump, check out the song Drives Us Bats — and as a bonus, watch the entire episode titled Mayhem of The Music Meister

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »