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Album Stream: Blake Lewis, Audio Day Dream

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:37:53 PST

Ever since I was pleasantly surprised by the first two tracks off American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis' debut album, I've been curious to check out the full album to see if it lives up to the insane energy of "Break Anotha." The album, Audio Day Dream, hits stores today, but if you can't wait to buy it - or just want to take a listen before committing to a purchase - the full album is streaming right now on AOL.

So far, the album is definitely meeting - if not exceeding - my expectations, despite its atrocious cover art (seriously, Blake, what were you thinking?). Like the two tracks that leaked early, especially "Know My Name," the album is a bit of a mess, with tons of loops and beats and tempos and musical styles packed into each track. But being boring would have been a much greater sin; the album shows the eclectic side of Blake that managed to peek out around the edges of his Idol performances. The verses of "Gots to Get Her" remind me of a hip-hoppy "Puttin' on the Ritz," and "Surrender" owes a lot to '80s power ballads - and that's just the start of the myriad influences here. Some of it's a little cheesy for my taste, but I can also hear a ton of songs that could (and probably should) be big hits.

One of my typical problems with Idol first albums is that they're too safe. This is anything but, and that makes me excited for what Blake could do long-term. Check out the album, then let me know: Are you on board with Lewis' Day Dream?

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First Listen: Blake Lewis, "Break Anotha"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:30:40 PDT

Hey, remember Blake Lewis? The beatboxing American Idol contestant who made women everywhere swoon? We haven't heard much from ol' Blake since he finished second to Jordin Sparks in the Idol finale, but now he's prepping his first album, Audio Day Dream, scheduled to hit stores in early December.

His first single, "Break Anotha," is now streaming on AOL's PopEater, and after listening to it a few times through, I ... kinda like it. It has hints of Blake's signature beatboxing, but it's more outright danceable than anything he performed on Idol, with a pretty great beat backing Blake's falsetto chorus. Just over two minutes in, the song gets all crazy with a horn section break and synth-y vocal effects. It's kind of the sonic equivalent of a strobe light, and I'm not sure I love it, but I respect how weird it is.

Idolator also has another leaked Blake Lewis track, "Know My Name," which is also a strange musical soup. This one is a lot heavier on the synthesizers, and it reminds me of how a slightly lamer Justin Timberlake might sound if backed by a college a capella choir. Which is not to say it's bad. I mean, it's kind of a mess, but it's a mess I'm oddly compelled to listen to, which must mean something.

Check out the songs and let me know what you think. Is this how you expected Blake's album to sound?

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What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

BuzzSugar — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:00:00 PST

Since some TV shows are taking a breather this week, fill your extra downtime with a new DVD release! Along with these three, you can also rent the Oscar-winning documentary, Inside Job.

Morning Glory

Rachel McAdams stars as Becky, a young morning news producer with big dreams of working on The Today Show. When she gets fired from a job in NJ, she settles for low-rated program in Manhattan, working with a cranky veteran journalist (Harrison Ford). Becky quickly begins to drown as she desperately tries to boost ratings while also balancing a new romance (with Patrick Wilson). Though the set up has all the makings of a cute romantic comedy, the film gets bogged down and falls short of success. What does work: McAdams, who is delightfully charming even when her character is acting melodramatic. DVD extras include audio commentary and a deleted scene.

54%

The Next Three Days

Paul Haggis directs and Russell Crowe stars in this action flick about a husband bent on getting his wife (Elizabeth Banks) freed from jail. When she's sentenced for murder with no release date in sight, he enlists an ex-inmate (Liam Neeson) to help build an elaborate plan to bust her out. The film becomes increasingly illogical as his scheme is set in motion, but the fast-paced chase is still entertaining to watch. Extras include deleted and extended scenes, three featurettes, and commentary.

50%

One more release to check out after the jump.