Dudesday Tuesday: J. Cole

I can't remember the last time I bought a CD the day it came out, or even bought a CD period for that matter. But last Tuesday, soon as I got out of work I went out to pick up J Cole's Cole World album, and when the first place was sold out, I moved on to the next one until I got it. So I figured I had to write about it and seeing that he sold out, I'm clearly not alone, and it's not often that I like an artist that everyone else likes, especially when it comes to rap.

The main problem with rap today is that they're not very good at it, in fact most of them completely suck. What J Cole brings to the table is lyrical genius, something very rare in any form of music. Even on a lackluster beat, I'm forced to listen just to hear what he has to say, and several listens later I'll finally pick up on a metaphor or cleverly hidden euphemism I didn't catch before. Every line seems to have some sort of underlying meaning to it that could easily be dissected and and analyzed in an English classroom like the great poets we still study today. The only real difference being the subject matter.

J Cole is a rapper, so he talks about regular rapper things, but manages to throw in bits of knowledge mixed in with his own beliefs and topics rarely touched on in song form. In "Lost Ones" he argues with his girlfriend about getting an abortion, raising valid points for both sides, something most people are too scared to delve into in fear of alienating part of their audience. It's refreshing to hear someone speak his mind so freely and with such profound articulation. You can tell this guy is a college graduate and it separates him from the competition.

Another refreshing aspect of this album is the fact that when reading the credits, you see that the instruments are actually played by living breathing humans rather then being synthesized on some expensive keyboard. How many albums actually have to credit the saxophone and trumpet players? Throw in the fact that Cole produced most of the album himself and it makes him even more impressive. There are actually piano solos on here that are downright beautiful, instrumental segments of songs that are still captivating. A few of the beats fall short, especially in the middle of the album but his lyrics are always enough to keep me listening. With only two guest rappers dropping verses, it gives Cole the time he needs to shine which is a good thing because his guests were seriously outshined. Drake and Jay Z both sounded rather uninspired on their verses, despite being two of the biggest names in the game today.

Some not accustomed to the world of Hip Hop may not pick up on it but one thing I love about Cole's work is the fact that he does not dub over his vocals, which is basically when you record a second set of vocals on another track so it sounds like your vocals are doubled. It's common practice in every form of music, practically unavoidable yet Cole doesn't use it on this album. The effect it gives is that he's rapping it directly to you rather than showing you a recording he made, it sounds almost live and on top of that, it sounds like he freestyled it off the top of his head. It adds to the realness he's bringing back to Hip Hop. How many other artists are talking about repaying their Sallie Mae loans? Yet how many of us out here listening are actually doing it? It's amazing to listen to something relatable, especially in the often fictionalized world of rap music.

Although the album is not a classic, I highly recommend buying this one, you won't be disappointed. I haven't bought a rap album in over two years so you can take my word for it, J Cole is incredible. For the sake of Hip Hop, please give him a listen and maybe we can save this phenomenal artform that way too many rappers are destroying.

(my top 3 standout tracks; Dollar And A Dream III, Rise And Shine, God's Gift)

ThemeSong Thursday: What I'm Listening To: Part II

I know I promised this post three weeks ago better late than never right? I'm working on making this a reoccuring theme on DOC and once it's up and running on DOC music, I'll link you over there on Thursday's to check it out. For now, here's What I'm Listening To Part II. In case you missed it, here's Part I.

This time I'm going in alphabetical order to keep it simple so first up is Adelita's Way- Home School Valedictorian (6/7/11). This CD is seriously the SHIT. I don't normally go around saying things like this (okay, I usually geek out and say it in the privacy of my own house). This might be the bands' second major label release but it's the first I've heard from them and I'm wishing I discovered them sooner. My favorite tracks are actually hard to pick because this one is so great. I love Hurt, a pretty, breakup ballad, it's a REAL song, feelings I'm sure we've all felt before, even if only vicariously. I think Adelita's Way shines on their faster songs, they're fun and catchy without being corny as Matt would say, the kick your ass songs that make you feel empowered and happy like you actually got to beat up your archnemisis even if they didn't feel a thing. Come on, we've all been there. I can think of one person in particular I'd love to shout these lyrics at, particularly The Collapse, the first track on this CD. Lastly, I adore Alive because it's a true, honest to God lovesong. Do you know how rare that is from hard rock bands? I seriously love every song on this album.

Cold-Superfiction (7/19/11) I've been a fan of Cold since I saw them in concert in 2003. I was a senior in high school and I went to a show with one of my friends. It was around the time Stupid Girl had come out and I still love that song! Matt had a friend who had the CD and he was supposed to make a copy for me but alas, that never happened. I'm so sad that it didn't because I didn't actually get a copy until 2006 or so and it's one of my favorite CDs EVER. Superfiction is amazing and I'm glad I bought it the day it was released. The first thing I noticed was how much more singing was actually involved. Scooter is a mumbler, a little hard to understand if you don't pay attention but vocals were much clearer and better on this CD. I do wish that the engineer had turned up the vocals or turned the music down because they tend to blend together in parts making it hard to hear the beautiful words. American Dream is superior vocally, I love the story song that we can all relate to on some level, about family dysfunctionality. I also love the song Delivering the Saint, it's a pretty song with dark lyrics. Again, the singing is amazing and the best I've heard from Scooter Ward.

Evan's Blue- Evan's Blue (Self-titled 7/27/10). I can't believe that I didn't hear about this album until I was doing research for Part I of this series. Wow. The single Cold(but I'm Still Here) from their first album was a pretty big hit but I've heard nothing on the radio since. I've listened to the second CD and it's great but Evan's Blue is AMAZING. These songs have a much more melodic feel than other Evan's Blue songs and I think the vocals are easier to understand because of the new singer. I'm not sure how I feel about changing a vocalist and keeping the same name but that is up to them to decide on I guess. Can't Go On is a huge favorite of mine, a breakup song that has deep lyrics and great wordplay (altering something to have a double meaning, rewording things so they sound new and innovative etc.) I love the line "I won't be needing you, I don't believe you do, so lead the way to the door and I'll follow through." I think Can't Go On might be one of my favorite songs ever, it's that good. The Future in the End is another fun one and Step Back is always stuck in my head as are Say It, Show Me and Through Your Eyes, a true testament to how much I've been listening to these songs. For all the pervs out there, "show me how it feels to be inside you" is not a literal thought hence the "I can't live outside you, I've tried to" that comes later. Mmmkay? Haha! Just thought I'd put that out there.

Egypt Central- White Rabbit (5/31/11): My MP3 player has a strange fascination with the song Kick Ass. It plays it every time I'm in the car, no matter what and I only use shuffle. The song is fun as hell, one of those that instantly lightens my mood. I love that! Ghost Town is so catchy that I find myself singing it all day which I don't mind one bit. I think my favorite song, and the one I sing the most is 15 minutes, "for 15 minutes of fame what would you do, who would you hurt and who would you screw. Would you kill for the sake of making your name? For 15 minutes of shame." True 'dat! Love that.

Pop Evil- War of Angels (7/15/11). I this is another melodic, upbeat album that I'm loving. The song Last Man Standing was actually featured on one of my posts on Urban Decay Primer Potion. Read that here. The whole CD is really outstanding but it wouldn't be fair to not give examples, would it? I didn't think so. Epitaph is another angry, angry at the world, angsty song that I just love. It's really catchy and fun. I can see myself running on the elliptical with this song blasting. Monster You Made me is a slower track that just resonates with me. I think everyone has felt this way before and I think the feelings will immediately come flooding back when you hear this one. Boss's Daughter makes me giggle because of the hell on heels line, one I hadn't heard before Hinder said it, a play on hell on wheels.

If you're in the market for new music you should definitely check these out. All have samples to listen to on the provided link. I can't wait to have more time because I have some great ideas for Drug of Choice: Music, but I'm afraid it will be a little while in the making.

Theme Song Thursday: Top 10+ Songs that Never Were

As first a music lover and then a beauty junkie, it's my responsibility to spread my propoganda around the web. I'm not the girl who's rocking out to Beyonce, those days died back when Destiny's Child was a four woman group with a debut album. Nor am I a country starlet content to listen to the lazy and immature songwriting of Taylor Swift. I'm born and bred a rockstar, most likely named for the Van Halen song Jamie's Cryin'. If I were more musically inclined my calling would be sharing a tour bus with three sweaty dudes and countless groupies, headlining sold out shows around the globe. But I'm not. Instead, I just use my freedom of speech to support my favorite acts and give you a no nonsense look at the best of the best.

Sadly, the music industry has taken quite a hit in the past ten years, all starting with a little thing called Napster. Remember Napster? Now we're lucky if our favorite bands release actual touch 'em and feel 'em CDs and lots of the best music ends up on the cutting room floor due to the politics of the middle aged white males who run record companies. As I fan I would be remiss not to share with you some of the little known tracks that I can't get out of my head, whether they be bonus tracks exclusive to one particular store, movie soundtrack songs that never make in on an artist's actual album or songs that were cut from an album for one reason or another. Behold, the best songs that never were.

10 Years- Silhouette of a Life, a bonus track on the band's newest release, Feeding the Wolves. If you haven't heard of 10 years, or haven't heard their newest material, get out there and do it. Easily one of the most intellectual, thought provoking bands out there, 10 years has found a way to be both provocative and melodic, not losing their art to speak their minds.

My Darkest Days- Without You & Still Worth Fighting For, a two for one special, both bonus tracks from the bands debut album. These guys have been on tour with major acts, this summer with Sick Puppies and Stone Temple Pilots. "Without You" is clearly Chad Kroeger inspired and/or written, with the familiar melody of a Nickelback song, only better. The song almost makes me weep it's so powerful. "Still Worth Fighting For" is another truly great breakup song. As someone who married her first love, if a song can make me feel the emotions of a terrible breakup, I know it's good. These two are complete departures from Porn Star Dancing but are similar to the rest of the tracks on the album.

Godsmack- Bring it On is a track exclusive to some video game or another. It's not available for legal download but I definitely suggest all you Godsmack fans check it out on Youtube. This joint has the feel of all of Godsmack's heavier stuff and would make a great addition to any collection.

Hinder-Bad MothaFu**a. This one's a bonus track on the Deluxe version of the album, I got mine at Best Buy but I'm not sure if it's exclusive to them. This song is truly hilarious, a live version of the song performed in front of a rowdy crowd. It comes across as a freestyle even though it's clearly been well thought out. You have to hear this one for the laughs alone.

Black Label Society- Blackened Waters is a beautiful song from the hard rock band. It's one of their slower songs, along the lines of "In This River." This one's for anyone who's ever felt left out, a place all of us are all too familiar with. As usual Zakk Wylde brings the pain with the kick-ass guitar line that accompanies this song.

5 Finger Death Punch- Undone and Hate Me (Succubus), another two-fer. How these songs got out there is a mystery, one day they just appeared on Youtube without the bands permission and they just took off from there. Before I'd truly gotten into the band my brother recommended "Hate Me" and after finally resulting to Youtube, I could finally hear the song. It's definitely along the same lines as the rest of War Is The Answer, a very angry hard rock song album. "Undone," is actually one of my favorite songs, a great track that shows the true power of Ivan Moody's voice, I swear I could listen to it all day.

Three Days Grace- Running Away. This is another bonus track that I found on my Best Buy copy of One-X, the band's second CD. Another great song from this release. It's pure 3DG, a song you have to hear if you're a fan of the band. It's not straight up hard rock but "Never Too Late" it's not, this one is definitely heavier than their pop hit!

Day by Day- Taproot is from the Dracula 2000 soundtrack and easily one of my favorite songs from the band. The line "I'm a pain in the ass, 'cause that's what I'm about" was basically my motto for my teen years. If you love "Poem" and "Calling" but your knowledge of the band ends there I suggest you check this one out.

Evanescence- Wow. Too hard to narrow down. From Evanescence's unreleased material before Fallen you'd be hard pressed not to find a song you love and can't live without. A lot of them are the original versions of the songs we know and love but there are some super amazing new songs as well. The talents of Ben Moody and Amy Lee are really shocking when you realize how young they were when many of these songs were recorded, and how little difference was made by re-recording in a studio. If the record label didn't jump to make alterations, and Fallen sold that many copies, you know you're dealing with the talent of the band not the music factory that is the current record industry.

Tell me, do you have a favorite unreleased song or perhaps a bonus track, soundtrack only or video game track? Let me know in the comments. I'm always in the mood to discover new tunes!

Concert Review: Avalanche Tour feat. Stone Sour, Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Halestorm and Art of Dying

For the past few months I've been desperately wanting to segue into the reason I started this blog, to bring rock chicks, girl's who can't live without the wail of electric guitar and the deep voices of rock 'n' roll music, a place to call their own beauty wise. That's not to say that I intend to alienate any of my readers, shove my music down their throats or bombard you with all things music. A girl can have more than one love and beauty and rock music are two of mine. The basic concept of the site will stay the same but you may have noticed the direction I've been going in already, I'm going to keep up with that. Eventually, I'd like to be able to do album reviews but I promise I will post enough beauty related content to keep everyone interested. Now onto the post.

I've been to a lot of rock concerts, that's for sure. When I heard some guys debating the concerts they'd been to at Walmart the other day, I could have beat them. Let's just say I've seen my favorite band, Godsmack, five times, including the time I somehow convinced my parents to let 16-year old me and my 14-year old friend hop a bus to Boston alone to see a concert with a friend of the family who lived down there. It was the expirience of a lifetime, my first concert, and started the addiction that I'm living with today. Besides my makeup drawer concerts are the only thing I splash out money on and usually it's only 1-2 times a year. Now that they're contemplating building an arena in my hometown I'm hoping to get a lot more opportunity.

This past weekend I attented the Avalanche Tour, a concert that seemed so too good to be true that I swore it was, with bands Stone Sour, Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Halestorm and Art of Dying it was pretty unbelievable, the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

First up was Art of Dying. Honestly, I'd only heard of them through the concert promotions and that's when their single hit local radio. The first thing I realized when they hit the stage was they were not what I expected, as Matt so eloquently put it, they're old. They look like a healthier, slightly younger, Canadian version of Motley Crue, I can get on board with that. The music was amazing and more than that, the performance was superb, the perfect mix of interacting with the fans and rocking out. I'm ready to go out and buy their album, Vices and Virtues, I think the name alone completely sums up the rock 'n' roll experience and the single "Die Trying" is sure to have commercial success. The energy these guys have on stage puts my 25 year old self to shame. If you have this album you have to let me know how it is. Judging by the few songs I heard during their set I'd say it's right up my alley and how can you go wrong with a song featuring Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace and a record label backed by the guys of Disturbed?

Then the house was rocked by Halestorm, who's own Lzzy Hale was the topic of today's Face-off Friday. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect out of Halestorm, as I find it's usually the girls who are sub-par performers when it comes time to hit the stage. Not this time. Lzzy looked cute in some amazing red tights and thigh high boots although I would have gone with a different top, I wasn't digging the American flag bikini top under a white corset that looked like it belonged in the bedroom. Their music is pretty provocative and I was shocked at some of the things the record label actually let her get away with saying, nothing even remotely close to what guys are allowed to get away with on a daily basis. Their new song "American Boys" was so much fun, I can't wait for that one to hit the radio, it would be perfect for the summer if it comes out in time. The most interesting part of the performance (besides Lzzy butchering the name of the city and everyone laughing at her) was Arejay Hale (Lzzy's brother) on drums. I'm not kidding, dude had a cymbal over his head and looked like an ADHD child without his Adderall. The performance was killer and Lzzy's vocals were just as beautiful as they were on the CD I played out nearly two years ago.

Skillet's performance was again, amazing. I've seen them play live once before with Puddle of Mudd (not my favorites) and Shinedown (one of my top five) and this performance was even better. Guest performers on the violin and cello really stole the show and I swear in my next life I'm going to play violin on rock albums I love it that much. Everyone looked great and I particularly liked John's awesome vest and the blue streaks in Korey's hair. Even with a brand new guitarist the band still rocked the house and dare I say, stole the show. Except for John's psuedo-religious rant I'd say his speaking was far superior to what it was a year and a half ago when I saw them. All the songs were familiar and the crowd really got into the whole performance and Korey and Jen did awesome on their backing vocals, really clear and powerful despite trying to play guitar and drums, respectively, at the same time. I can't wait for them to release a new album because I'll be buying it for sure.

A band who is releasing a new album soon, July 18th to be exact, Theory of a Deadman. I've also seen them perform live before when they were on tour with Hinder and Motley Crue. Same as last time I felt that Tyler just didn't bring it, like he didn't really want to be singing the same ol' songs again. When they performed new material he was alive again and I'm really looking forward to hearing the album and may even do a review on the site when it comes out. Fan interaction was good and he seemed to be pretty into that. Music was great and if we could just get Tyler to sing a little louder and lay off the mumbling it would be perfect.

Last but not least, Stone Sour. I admit, with the mile long walk back to the car we hit the road before the set was over, the first few songs were ones I didn't recognize. Let me just say that Corey Taylor is a lot shorter than I pictured, and balder than I remember, no wonder he's a rockstar, he definitely gets his attention that way. As we approached the car and they started playing "Scars" I have to say it sounded good enough to be album quality, like someone was playing the CD extra loud, even with a fill-in on bass, as the regular bassist left the tour for personal reasons. I much prefer Corey's vocals on slow songs where he can really showcase his vocal talent, the man is talented and I hate to see him waste it on screaming and stuff more like his other band, Slipknot. For that reason alone I was never really into Slipknot. Energy was up and I dug the way he took over the stage and really interacted with the crowd to get everyone rowdy and ready to go, the hour long set really left time for a wide array of songs from fan favorites to radio versions. If they stuck with soulful ballads Stone Sour would have a fan for life. Now, I just have to get around to checking out their new album, Audio Secrecy (great name, right?)!

There you have it, my first concert review on DOC. Tell me what you loved, what you hated, what you want to see more or less of. I'll listen and take that into account next time, which will hopefully be soon.