Beyoncé - 4 (Deluxe Edition)

No nakedness, no dead animal around her neck—why yes, this cover is much more appealing than the standard edition cover. The deluxe edition always gets the better end of the stick.

tl;dr (Too Long; Didn't Read) version—Beyoncé took some major risks with 4, and it might not rub you the right way at first (I didn't like it when I first listened to it, to be honest). But after listening to the album a few times, I must say that Beyoncé actually did a good job with this one. It's much different from her previous album, I Am… Sasha Fierce, for those looking for that type of sound, but the album stands strongly on its own two feet and is worth the listen.

Oh, Beyoncé.

When 4 first leaked I gave it a quick listen. And I will be honest, I did not like the album one bit. From the first note of "1 + 1" to the last beat of "Run the World (Girls)", the only thought that was going through my head was, "BRING BACK THE SINGLE LADIES!"

And that was the problem. I was so focus on I Am… Sasha Fierce (specifically the Sasha Fierce), that I failed to realize that I was not listening to that album; I was listening to 4, and 4 only. I can not compare it to her previous albums without listening to this album on its own first. This is especially important for an album like this, since Beyoncé spent these past couple years getting her inspiration from people and things she did not have time to check out beforehand (something she mentions in multiple interviews and even in her Target ad). This album is all about Beyoncé taking risks, and I believe people should pay attention to this as they listen to the album.

And so, after having this realization I listened to the album a few more times… and saw that this album was actually good!

There are a couple quirks, however, that still get to me. The first thing is the placement of a few songs on the album. I love the song "1 + 1", especially after watching her performance on American Idol. But honestly, unless you are really in the mood for something like this, this song will put you to sleep! I felt that it was a poor choice to make this the album opener; maybe a few slots down the track listing would have been better. Also, the placement of "Run the World (Girls)" is damn awful, no matter which edition you listen to. Simply put, this song does not fit with 4 at all. The album is too slow and mid-tempo heavy for a song like "Run the World", and this song disrupts the album's flow so much. And not just any type of disruption, either; I mean the "I was watching my TV show at the perfect volume and then the commercial afterwards was blaring like a mega horn" type of disruption. I'm surprised it even made the cut at all.

I'm sorry, but there is something about this song and the line "I bet it sucks to be you right now" that just remind me of pre-teens arguing on the playground…

Speaking of songs that made the cut, the second thing that slightly annoys me is the choice of certain songs as standard edition vs. deluxe edition-only tracks. Why why WHY was "Schoolin' Life" chosen as a deluxe edition track? This song is one of the major standouts for 4, and it surprises/saddens me to think that Beyoncé and her team thought it was not good enough for the standard edition track listing. Not only does this track help to give 4 some life (I mean, it is schoolin' it—bad-dum-sshh!), but the lyrics are much more convincing than some of the other songs on the album *cough*Best Thing I Never Had*cough*. "Schoolin' Life" would have been a nice a single for 4, and it's a little unfortunate to think it will not receive the single treatment (unless she pulls a "Why Don't You Love Me?" stunt again).

But other than these small quirks, I am really impressed with this album overall. Although I think the lyrics could have been better at spots, "Best Thing I Never Had" is a catchy, radio-friendly song that reminds me of a hybrid between her "Irreplaceable" and Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles". (You can not tell me the piano in the background doesn't remind you of "A Thousand Miles"!) "I Care" should have been the album opener in my opinion; while it still captures that slow feel present in "1 + 1", this song grabs your attention with the background vocals and instruments, and they help to give Beyoncé's voice more strength (not like she needs it, but it still helps). The more up-tempo tracks on the album—"Love on Top", "Countdown", and "End of Time"—make you want to bring out some two-steps and do some bouncing here and there. These are definitely some standout tracks from the album. "I Was Here" perfectly sums up Beyoncé's career, and this should have been the final track on the standard edition instead of "Run the World". You cannot deny that for better or worse (mostly for better) Beyoncé made a heavy influence on contemporary music, and her mark will last for ages. This is exactly what she talks about in "I Was Here", and her confident vocals show that whether or not you like 4, her career will undoubtedly continue to be a success. (I mean, they do call her "Queen B" for a reason.)

Also, although I implicitly bashed this song a little in a previous review, I liked "Run the World" from its release, and I still like it now. The sample was a little sloppy, but I just can't stop dancing to it! It's a good song, okay?

I recommend that you at least give 4 a few spins. I wouldn't be surprised if you find a few gems from the album. And in an attempt to convince you a little more, I'm giving you a little sample below of two songs from 4 that Beyoncé performed at the 2011 Glastonbury Festival, "Best Thing I Never Had" and "End of Time". (This performance was also live-streamed at the BET Awards.)

So the big question is—will you buy 4 tomorrow? (I will! Well, maybe not tomorrow, but it will be bought!)

Calvin Harris ft. Kelis - Bounce

Wait, are we bouncing to the song, or are we bouncing balls, or... ?

I've been waiting for this song to get an official release for some time now! This song—Calvin Harris's new single, "Bounce"—has been getting some buzz for a while now, and for good reason. As someone who enjoyed Harris's previous singles (like "I'm Not Alone" and "Ready for the Weekend"), I had high hopes for "Bounce". Fortunately, I was not disappointed with this single one bit!

This infectious electro-house track (produced by Harris himself) makes you want to pop, lock, jam, and break the moment it starts playing. While it's a bit unfortunate that Harris doesn't provide his own voice for this song, Kelis's vocals nicely complement the vibe that the song gives off (although the nasally sound is a bit of a turn-off). "Bounce" is one of those songs where your BFF-forever gets mad at you because you had promised her before that you would follow her to the bathroom, but instead you're still gyrating on the dance floor while telling her, "Oh, just one more song!"

... Or is that just me?

Hopefully this song gets some good promotion, 'cause it definitely has the potential to be a summer hit. Give the song a quick listen, and see if you start bouncing like the people in the video by the end of it!

Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory

Okay, so I have another small complaint—what is up with those protrusions?!

In celebration of the single's video premiere tomorrow night, I've decided to do a review for Lady Gaga's latest single, "The Edge of Glory". For those of you who are in a rush and need to go somewhere in a few seconds, I can conveniently summarize this single review in one word: Yeeeeesssssss!!!!!!

Honestly, I only have one complaint for this song: it unfairly took the spotlight away from "Judas" before Judas could really blow up the charts, and unfortunately I cannot forgive this song for doing that. (I'm telling you, if Judas had just a little more promotion, it would've climbed the charts!) Luckily, this song is so damn good that I don't even care. The sound is bigger than life—it's as if Gaga created this song just to perform it in a gigantic stadium—and you get pulled into the song the moment it starts playing. From the heartbeat sound at the beginning all the way to end when you actually feel like you've reached the edge of glory, this pop/rock power ballad is by far one of the best songs on Born This Way (and one of Gaga's best songs ever), and even if you don't get the whole album (you should get the whole album!), at least get this single.

And of course, I must mention the best part of the song: Clarence Clemons's saxophone solo. Hands down, his solo is what keeps the momentum of the song going. If it wasn't for this solo, "Glory" probably would've lost some of its power by the end. But the song doesn't, and that's all that matters.

Until the official video comes out, watch this beautiful performance of "Glory" that Gaga has done recently (preceded by snippets of the equally awesome "Scheiße" and the first single, "Born This Way"). If your paws aren't up, you better get them up soon, 'cause Gaga is here to dominate!

Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)

Kathy Beth Terry (Katy's "Sasha Fierce") and her beautiful beautiness grace the single cover.

Man, I love this woman.

I remember my first play of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream CD. When "Last Friday Night" came on, I literally jumped off my bed and busted out some moves from beginning to end. After the song finished, I found myself in a tight spot. I really wanted to put the song on repeat, but I also wanted to listen to the rest of the album. (Mind you, "LFN" is only the second song on the album, after the current single at the time, "Teenage Dream".) Should I listen to the rest of the album while having "LFN" subconsciously playing in the back of my head, or should I put that sucker on repeat and have a full album listening party later?

Ya darn tootin' I put that listening party off for later! I jammed to "LFN" for the rest of the night. (Unfortunately, it wasn't a Friday.) It was a wonderful workout session.

"LFN" is an addictive song of debauchery that makes you want to reconsider if you've actually been to the best party ever. From the ridiculous scenarios that Perry describes (Barbies on the barbecue? Chandeliers on the floor?), to the crowd chanting of "T-G-I-F!", and even to the saxophone break near the end (and yes, Katy Perry DID do it first), "LFN" joins the ranks of Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" and Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" as yet another song that can be summarized in one simple sentence: Party hard. (Thank goodness I like to party hard, myself!)

And if the song itself wasn't enough, her video for "LFN" complements the single so perfectly that I had to watch it at least ten times once it came out. The colors! The throwback look! The actors (Rebecca Black looks amazing, might I add)! Everything about this video perfectly captures the feeling of this feel-good number, and the video couldn't get any better than this. I had a feeling this video would deliver the moment I saw Perry's tweet that her "Sasha Fierce" has been born—and let me tell you, it MOST DEFINITELY delivered.

But if you don't believe me, just watch the video below and see for yourself. And... um... if you're gonna have a party like this, could you... um... send me an invitation in the mail? ... Or an e-vite? ... Or a tweet-vite?

... Please?

Nicola Roberts - Beat of My Drum, Porcelain Heart & Dance in the Rain

So I was originally going to do a review for another song, but then I heard "Dance in the Rain", and I was like... MUST. REVIEW. NOW.

Everyone, I present to you—Nicola Roberts!

In 2009 the girl group Girls Aloud announced that they would be taking a temporary hiatus so that the members could pursue solo careers. (What is up with groups always wanting to do solo stuff? Is that just part of being in a group act?) To be honest I know nothing about Girls Aloud; from what I can tell the group is (almost) exclusively marketed to the European market, and up until recently I did not hear much about them. I'm not even sure how I first heard of Nicola Roberts, but damnit I'm so glad I did!

It all started with her first single, "Beat of My Drum". The Diplo (and Dimitri Tikovoi)-produced track is a 3-minute song of pure awesomeness. Diplo's style is written all over this song: just imagine Major Lazer mashing together Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" with some M.I.A. action and a piece of Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)". (Of these, only "Hollaback Girl" does not use Diplo's work.) Also, if I'm not mistaken, "Beat of My Drum" samples Major Lazer's "Pon de Floor" (or at least interpolates part of it). But unlike prior songs that sample "Pon de Floor" *cough*Run the World*cough*, this sample was done brilliantly and is more of a complement than a hindrance. Four for you, Nicola Roberts, you go Nicola Roberts!

So, here I am, jamming my butt off to this song, when Roberts releases another iTunes pre-order exclusive song, "Porcelain Heart". Before I could even finish jamming to "Drum" I was already hooked to this wonderful gem of a song. This darker sounding track features a more vulnerable side of Nicola (giving it that porcelain-like vibe), but at the same time her vocals are much stronger in this song compared to "Drum". Following the release of "Porcelain Heart", a demo of her "Dance in the Rain" reached the Internet. It has a similar sound to "Porcelain Heart", but in my opinion it's an arguably better track. After listening to these three songs, I could only think of one thing: Nicola Roberts is gonna be successful and a HALF, y'all. And a HALF.

So, listen to these three songs, and if you like them as much as I do, let's get together and have a jam session! 'Cause I WILL be jammin'!

"Beat of My Drum" video:


"Porcelain Heart" audio:


"Dance in the Rain" audio:

Welcome to #NPOR (Now Playing on Repeat)!

Hello everyone! Welcome to #NPOR (Now Playing on Repeat)!

#NPOR is a music review site where I discuss music that I love (and sometimes music that I not-so-love, but mostly music that I love). There will be a mixture of new songs & old songs, and albums from well-known celebrities & from up-and-(hopefully) coming artists. (I will admit, however, that most of the music will be from the pop/Top 40 genre, but I will make an effort to diversify my choices as much as possible). Also, I’m all for recommendations, so don’t be afraid to suggest anything to me! I will at least give your suggestion a chance. My main goal for this blog is to introduce you to new artists, albums, and/or songs that you probably did not know exist. And hopefully with your comments & recommendations I’ll be introduced to more music as well!

If you want, follow me on Twitter! I’ll be tweeting about #NPOR and about my life in general. I’ll also have my latest tweets in the sidebar over there, in case you don’t have an account.

Thanks so much for checking me out. I’ll try not to disappoint! :)