Hurt You

Coming full circle is Toni Braxton's new single entitled Hurt You. On the song with her is the incredibly talented Babyface, the man who gave Tony her start on the Boomerang soundtrack with the big hit Love Shoulda Brought You Home. I have no idea what the name of the album this song is on, all I know is that I'm having a hard time not putting it on repeat.

The vocal layering in this song is amazing and complex. It acts like another instrument that plays along with the bass. The song starts off with a lone piano and those two iconic voices until the rousing chorus comes in. The percussion and the layering make this song sweet and the lyrics are poignant. Just when I thought this song couldn't get any better, in typical Babyface fashion the bridge takes this song to another level.

If the rest of Toni's album sounds as good as this song then she's about to make one hell of a comeback. And I for one cannot wait for her return. Enjoy!

Hear My Train a Comin'

Today, on what would have been his 71st birthday, it's time to praise the man again and wish him a Happy Birthday. And with that comes one mean fucking song as he wails on his ax rocking out on the blues. Jimi Hendrix has always said that rock and roll came easy to him but the blues challenged him so he set out to write that which challenged him. Hear My Train a Comin' was the classic he wrote and it's nasty.

Off the 1973 album Sound Track Recordings from the Film Jimi Hendrix, this song is a searing no holds barred blues jam that the masters would have nodded their heads in approval to. It starts off with that sick riff and is slowly and subtlety joined in by the bass before the drums kick it into a rocking groove. Then Jimi's iconic voice comes fighting his guitar for attention and it all just....works.

I can't get enough of this song and on his birthday there is no better song of his to post. His catalog is massive and there are so many other songs of his that flat out rock, but Train is Jimi at a whole other level. I wish I could have seen him perform this live. Thank you Jimi for all you've given us and Happy Birthday maestro. May you continue to rest in peace.

Amnesia

When I first heard this song I liked it immediately, even though it sounds like every other Justin Timberlake song. Same key, same tempo, same everything. Oddly though, this song stands out amongst most of his usual fare. It comes off his 20/20 Experience 2/2, which is a whole new collection of songs from his first 20/20 album.

I think the reason this song stands out is due to the string intro and the fact that his voice is so prominent over the instrumentation. Then at the 5:16 mark the song completely changes and becomes a slow jam. another trick (gimmick?) Justin utilizes often. He'll give you two songs in one and will take the average pop song that's about 4 or 5 minutes long and stretch it to 7 or 8 minutes. I don't mind it really, I'll always take more for my money than less.

The second set of songs from 20/20 are just as good as the first set. If you like this cut then take a listen to TKO, and You Got It On. They're fun songs and TKO is a 7+ minute song, just to give you a heads up. If you liked Justin's first 20/20 songs then you will enjoy the second set, and if you didn't then the second set won't move you to join his fan club. Enjoy!

Welcome Home

The first thing you notice about this song is that it sounds like something you've already heard. Maybe from a movie or something, or a commercial selling some really obscure, hometown beer perhaps? Then you realize it's a foot stomping sing along song that sounds like so many other foot stomping sing along tunes, and maybe that's why I like it. The song is Welcome Home from Radical Face and it's grabbed me by my ear and won't let me go. It's off their 2007 release entitled Ghost.

This song is almost like two songs, the back end of the song is more musical and melancholy than the front end. I can't make out all the lyrics either so I suggest you don't try. Just listen to the melody, clap your hands, stomp your feet and get caught up in it. Ben Cooper's voice fits so perfectly and the vocal layering is perfect, not to mention the guitar playing.

Now normally I would say something like, "If you like this song then be sure to check out...," but sadly this is the best song on Ghost. After awhile a whole album of Ben's voice will grow annoying. That being said, check out The Mute off Radical Face's 2013 release  Radical Face: The Branches, that is if you like Welcome Home. Enjoy.

Bad Guy

Here is the song that demonstrates the the pure evil, twisted, and artistic genius of Eminem. The name of this song is Bad Guy off of this years release, The Marshall Mathers LP 2. It is the sequel to his smash hit song Stan that he preformed on stage at the Grammy's with Sir Elton John. That song was about Eminem's biggest fan named Stan that killed himself because Eminem didn't acknowledge his existence. In one part of Stan, Stan tries to get Eminem's autograph for his younger brother who shuns them, it's the younger brother in Bad Guy that's come to take revenge for his older brother.

The lyrics are amazing, the music is fitting, dark and moody. But the goose bump moment for me is when the track completely changes and it becomes a different song. The second part of Bad Guy is Em's conscience, letting him know that he's going to be weighing on his mind until Em realizes it's time to hang it all up and walk away. That until then he's going to remind him of his hypocrisy, his disdain for gays, his abuse of women, and his fear of losing his voice.

This song is pure genius to me. Read the lyrics, follow along, and see if you agree with me. And if you like this song then you should check out Rap God and Stronger Than I Was, they are as equally amazing. Enjoy!