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What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:45:00 PDT

There's not just new movies to rent today - Tuesdays mean there's also new music! And you better make some space on your MP3 player: there's a new MGMT album in town. I've given it and other sets of tracks a listen, and have my recs below.

I've been yammering about how I excited I've been for MGMT's second album, Congratulations, for months now. Since getting a listen of "Flash Delirium," it's been clear that their second effort would be less of a showcase of dance-y singles. Instead, the Brooklyn band is showing off their evolution with new sounds, which include the slowed-down and introspective (as in the title track). But the upbeat hooks remain, like on "Someone's Missing." If you're into the new vibe, check out "I Found a Whistle," one of my new faves.

From the American Idol factory comes seventh-season alum Jason Castro. His self-titled debut is full of the sweet, upbeat pop you'd expect after the dreadlocked singer-songwriter's stint on the reality show. Sometimes it's a little too sweet, like with "Let's Just Fall in Love Again." But the romantic feel is kind of irresistible - I could imagine being secretly addicted to love song "This Heart of Mine." And he certainly hasn't forgotten his roots: he included the pretty version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" that he once performed on Idol.

To see one more new release today, just

Coheed and Cambria are going to be at Coachella this weekend, and no doubt their fans will be jonesing for tracks from their latest, Year of the Black Rainbow. As usual, there are plenty of heavy head-bangers: "Here We Are Juggernaut" helps kick off the party, while "The Broken" has a chorus that's a bit more soulful (but still a thrasher). What's going to get the desert folks moving? "The Guns of Summer."

American Idol Kickoff: 10 Most Unforgettable Performances

PopSugarTV — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:04:38 PST

From David Cook's rockin' rendition of "Billie Jean" to Kris Allen's unique take on Kanye West's hit "Heartless,” American Idol has given us some great stage shows over the years. Check out the countdown of the Top 10 Most Unforgettable Performances to see where our favorites ranked!

American Idol Elimination: The Top Three Revealed

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:30:03 PDT

American Idol cut its field to three on Wednesday, meaning one of the singers we've come to know and love – or, well, at least know - has reached the end of the competition. Which of the singers above bid Idol a fond farewell? To find out and talk about it, just

Well, after a few lackluster weeks, and a night of forgotten lyrics, Jason Castro was dunzo on Wednesday - and it was probably no surprise. He'd said in an interview a week ago that he was ready to go home, and that seemed obvious in everything he did. I'm glad his fans sort of let him go, rather than voting in double the numbers they did on Tuesday; it seemed like the merciful thing to do. He didn't seem the least bit shocked, or even sad, which I think means it was the right call.

Idol basically removed any potential drama the night could have had by sending the two Davids to safety immediately. Yawn. Seacrest faking that he was going to reveal the winner at the 25-minute mark seemed exceptionally cruel this time around.

Some other thoughts on Wednesday's show:

Jason's video montage reminded me that we didn't see him at all during the auditions. Considering the lack of early exposure, it's pretty amazing that he got this far.
"Reeling in the Years"? Yeah, that's a way to show that this crop of Idol contestants can sell records in the modern climate. Yeesh.
Who made a more ridiculous bullfighter: Syesha or David Archuleta?
Tuesday's Idol performance show had astoundingly low ratings by the show's normal standards, and yet it was the highest vote total of the season - 21 million viewers vs. 51 million votes.
Archuleta has had nothing to overcome. Shocking! Also, maybe all the stoner comments would stop if Jason Castro would stop asking like such an obvious stoner. (That said, his "someone told me I shot the tambourine man" line was pretty good.)
The final four arriving in Vegas = the Beatles arriving in America? I . . . don't think so.
I'm not a big Maroon 5 fan, but Adam Levine kind of won me over with his personality. Didn't see that coming.

What did you think? Was it good to see Bo back again? Was Jason the right pick to go home? And is there any way Syesha can make the finale over one of the Davids?

Photos courtesy of Fox

American Idol Rundown: The Top Four Try to Rock You

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:40:13 PDT

The remaining four American Idol contestants had a chance to prove they could rock out on Tuesday. By picking songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame songbook, they had a huge portion of music history open to them. So would you have expected one of the song picks to be "Hungry Like the Wolf"?

Beyond that, Tuesday's performance night fell flat in a lot of ways; nobody really impressed me - including this year's anointed "rocker." Were you similarly let down? Don't forget to vote for which singer is going home, and for my take, just

David Cook
First song - "Hungry Like the Wolf." OK, I was kind of excited when I heard he'd be singing this; it's so cheesy that I figured he'd take it and turn it into something entirely unexpected (see also: "Always Be My Baby"). Instead, he delivered a version that sounded very close to the original - partway between karaoke and a slightly edgier Duran Duran cover band. Randy said it was just OK, Paula said something gross about it leaving her with a big appetite, and Simon said it was good enough.

Second song - "Baba O'Reilly." This started out all slow and ballad-y, then kicked up a notch going into the chorus, then seemed like it was going to go up another notch and become totally awesome - but then it just abruptly ended. It's always interesting to hear a song that shows he can actually sing rather than just growl, and this song did, but for me, it lacked the excitement or connection that David's been so good at bringing all season long. Randy liked his rocker style, Paula said it made her want more David, and Simon simply said "welcome back."

Syesha Mercado
First song - "Proud Mary." I'm surprised that Syesha didn't try to play up her performance capabilities earlier in the season, because none of the other contestants have managed to take command of the stage, and Syesha did that pretty well here. OK, so some of the dancing was awkward, but at least she didn't sing sitting down. Her voice wasn't fabulous, but the energy was, and overall she kept my opinion of her on the rise. Randy said she's peaking at the right time, Paula said she's come into her own, and Simon called it "a bad, shrieky version."

Second song - "A Change is Gonna Come." Um, I'm going to assume that Syesha didn't really mean to compare her journey on Idol to the civil rights movement. The thing about Syesha is that she thinks she's a better singer than she is - thus all the warbling at the end, proving she can hit those glory notes. I wish she'd changed up her style to fit the song, but she still mostly pulled off what she attempted. Randy said it wasn't very good, Paula said it was beautiful, and Simon agreed with Paula. Then, tears. It was almost shocking to see some actual emotion from Syesha.

Jason Castro
First song - "I Shot the Sheriff." Oh man, he had the dreadlocks in full effect and was making this "oh yeah, I'm funky!" face through the whole thing. Worse from a competition perspective, he let the backup singers carry most of the chorus. He got points for at least trying to connect with the audience but lost them by being lazy and not trying to show how well he can sing. Randy said it was really karaoke, Paula liked how he played to the audience, and Simon called it atrocious and "a first-round audition massacre."

Second song - "Mr. Tambourine Man." OK, I'm starting to agree with Pop that forgetting the lyrics should be automatic disqualification. There's just no excuse for it at this point, and it all but proved what the judges have been hinting at for weeks: Jason doesn't seem like he's trying. I thought Randy and Simon might jump on stage and try to shake some life into him, they were so angry. Randy said he was just off, even Paula didn't love it, and Simon just told him to pack his bags.

David Archuleta
First song - "Stand By Me." Which he sings to his dog! I actually did like how he changed the arrangement, and he sounded good - but to me, it was the same as every other Archuleta performance. The cheers, though, went on forever. Randy said it's good that at least one person was bringing it, Paula loved it, and Simon declared it the best of the first round.

Second song - "Love Me Tender." Awwww, little Archie's first love song! It didn't really connect with me, but I'm not 14. Again, he sounded good, but I thought he really struggled toward the end with some of his bigger notes. Randy still loved it, Paula said it was one of his best, and Simon said he crushed the competition.

My favorites: Syesha? I don't know; nobody really blew me away.

Bottom two: Beyond Archuleta, it could be anyone. I think Jason Castro has got to be there, unless his fans rally in crazy numbers. And I'd suspect Syesha would be there, just because of her run in the bottom two. But I'm worried about David Cook: On a night like this, sometimes it's better to be bad than to be mediocre.

Going home: It's got to be Jason, right? Though I think a surprise David Cook elimination is possible.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Which American Idol Contestant Is Going Home Next?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:30:23 PDT

After tonight, we'll be down to three on American Idol! The top four took on songs from artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, striving for just the right balance between modern and classic. Who knocked it out of the park - and who was completely off-base? Make your prediction for who's going home now!

Photo courtesy of Fox

American Idol Elimination: Who Are the Final Four?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:30:00 PDT

Just three more weeks till this year's American Idol is crowned! Which of the five smiling singers pictured above couldn't make it past the rigors of Neil Diamond week and was sent home on Wednesday? To find out, just

Aw, Brooke! At one point, I had her pegged as the last woman standing - and maybe even making a run at the finals. But it's no secret that she's been declining for the past few weeks. I don't know if she just lost confidence or faith in herself or what, but it had been a while since we saw the same singer who turned "Love is a Battlefield" into a dark, heartbreaking ballad. She's one of the few contestants from this year whom I'm legitimately curious about, though; I think she could have an interesting career, and no Idol alum has really broken into the singer-songwriter sphere yet. If she gets a contract (which I bet she will), I'd definitely check out her album. I'm also proud of her for pulling herself together enough to sing - I honestly didn't think she could do it.

Syesha dodged a bullet again, ending up in the bottom two but staying safe. As for Jason Castro, he was the first guy sent to the Safety Couch. Um, he can't actually be the winner . . . right? I'm a little worried that if he could be safe after Tuesday, there's nothing that will get him voted off.

Some other thoughts on Wednesday's show:

At 9:26 p.m., we knew Brooke and Syesha were the bottom two, and Ryan had them both out on stage together. I got momentarily hopeful that the show was actually only half an hour. Yeah, no.
The only comment about PaulaGate came from Seacrest: "The rumors? They're not true. She's part of our family, and we love her." What, by the way, were the specific rumors? That Paula was drugged/crazy/fired?
Maybe I'm wrong, but David Archuleta seemed to be genuinely surprised that he was safe. Either that, or he's just learned to fake it better
Who is this old flame of Simon's from when he was 9 years old, and how did she get the number to call American Idol? That was actually funny, though I admit I'm perversely intrigued by both Simon's personal life and his childhood, so it was kind of the perfect storm. Also: "For all the kids watching, 9 years old is too young to kiss."
Neil Diamond looks like a sweet old man when he's not wearing a glitter-laden sparkly shirt.
I was thinking the group sing really seemed to be missing something, and then I realized what it was: Carly! Without her, there's just nobody else with a big enough voice to carry the songs forward.
It is ridiculous how excited I am for So You Think You Can Dance - except that it looked like Sex is back again at this year's auditions. Seriously, the show really needs to move past him.

Your thoughts? Was it Brooke's time to go? How long can Syesha squeak by? And does a Young David vs. Older David finale seem inevitable at this point?

Photos courtesy of Fox

"PaulaGate" Post-Off: Your Theories, Please!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:19 PDT

The more I think about Paula Abdul's now-infamous slip-up - criticizing a song that was yet to be performed on last night's American Idol - the more ridiculous it gets. Popwatch has a report from inside the auditorium on what they've dubbed PaulaGate, saying even the audience was audibly snickering as Paula launched into her critique.

Paula's since given two explanations for what happened - one that she accidentally gave Jason Castro the critique meant for David Cook, the other that she gave Jason feedback based on her notes from the dress rehearsal. Considering that Paula's feedback for Jason was negative but her comments for David were positive, the first theory seems pretty implausible - but the second one could make some sense.

Of course, there are a few other possibilities, too - namely that Idol is more scripted than it claims to be and/or that Paula is crazier than we even thought. So, consider this your opportunity to post your conspiracy theories on PaulaGate and Idol in general. Is it scripted? Does it bother you that the judges could give feedback based on a performance the rest of us didn't see? Is Paula just nutso? If you haven't seen the video yet, check it out after the jump. If you're ready to weigh in, just

Photo courtesy of Fox

American Idol Rundown: Neil Diamond Night

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:30:12 PDT

I always look forward to the moment in the American Idol season where the contestants start singing two songs per night. Not only does it make the whole show move a lot faster, but it also demonstrates what the contestants can do under more pressure and given the chance to really show off different sides of their singing styles.

That said, Neil Diamond night was a mess - not the least because of Paula, who amazingly criticized Jason Castro for a song before he'd performed it. I'm sure she had notes from the dress rehearsal and whatnot, but still, it was the first time I think I've ever seen Seacrest rattled (his panicked look offstage was telling). Also, going through the first half of the show without judges' comments was an interesting choice, but it actually made the flow of the show feel even more rushed than it needed to be - and none of the contestants really got a meaningful critique on both songs.

Overall, I thought the night was just OK - no real standouts from the contestants at the top of the pecking order, no real challenges from those at the bottom. What did you think? Don't forget to tell me which singer you think is headed home, and to hear my take on their songs, just

Jason Castro - I actually liked Castro's take on "Forever in Blue Jeans." The tempo, the range, and the style of the song were all perfectly suited to him, and he seemed to be at ease performing it. Maybe too much ease, as he didn't really do anything interesting to the song, but it wasn't a disaster. His take on the ballad "September Morn," on the other hand, was a wreck; his voice couldn't handle the verse, and from the look on his face at the end, he knew he'd botched it. He didn't seem that bothered, though, and that's something that's bugged me about Castro for a while now: Does he even want to try? The judges were all unimpressed, with Paula making sense for a moment and telling Jason she doesn't see him fighting.

David Cook - On first listen, I thought David's take on "I'm Alive" was disappointing and "All I Really Need is You" was a showstopper, but actually, after hearing those 30-second song clips at the end of the show, I'm tempted to reverse my opinion. "I'm Alive" sounded about a half-step too low for his voice, but it had good energy. "All I Really Need is You" was one of those power ballads meant to show off his tender side, but I actually found myself annoyed at how he needed to bring a rocker growl into every single note. The final verdict, though, is the same: On balance, he was the best of the night. The judges mostly preferred his second song to the first, and Paula said she felt like she was looking at the winner already - because, as we know, she can see the future.

Brooke White - Show of hands for how many people thought it was a given that Brooke would pick "I'm a Believer"? I certainly did. And on that one, she showed off the same weakness as she had on "Here Comes the Sun": Uptempo stuff isn't her comfort zone, and even this relatively simple song was a stretch for her voice - Simon even called it a nightmare. "I Am, I Said" was a thousand times better; she fits best at the piano, her voice was clearer and more secure, and she managed to make even a horribly cheesy song sound earnest. The judges' comments were along those lines: First song awful and weird, second song a reminder of why Brooke has gotten this far.

David Archuleta - OK, new beef with this kid. Every song he sings sounds exactly the same. Doesn't matter if it's "Sweet Caroline" or the Beatles or Stevie Wonder; it sounds identical to every other midtempo, adult-contemporary song in the book. I would have loved to hear him have some fun with "Sweet Caroline" rather than bust up the arrangement into something I'd hear in an elevator, and "America" was - to steal a Simon term - theme park-y. Simon even called him amateurish at one point, but in the end, the judges said he was in the zone, and Simon praised his clever song choice (as you must if the song mentions America).

Syesha Mercado - Syesha won me over a little last week with her Broadway-esque performances, and I think she must have realized that was the way to go, because we got more sing-acting from her last night. "Hello Again" sounded nice and pleasant, but it was old-fashioned and a little too hotel-bar for my tastes. "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" was better, possibly because Syesha's obviously fake stage personality makes more sense when she's throwing herself into an uptempo song. I don't think she'll win Idol, but she could have a great Broadway career. Oh, and I want her dress. Randy said Syesha is finally coming into her own, and Simon said she could be in trouble, which I think was a gift to her because it will get her fans to call.

Bottom two: It should be Brooke and Jason. Syesha could end up there, too, but again, I think Simon saying she's in danger should actually help.

Going home: Jason

Photos courtesy of Fox

Which American Idol Contestant is Going Home Next?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:30:13 PDT

Good times never seemed so good? The top five American Idol contestants sang the songs of Neil Diamond on Tuesday - words that, frankly, I never thought I'd type. So, how did they do? And whose interpretation will land them a one-way ticket back home?

Photo courtesy of Fox

American Idol Rundown: Who's in the Top Five?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:30:46 PDT

There comes a point in every American Idol season when it begins to occur to me that America and I must not be watching the same show. And in this season, that point came Wednesday night. Anyone else feel like they were in bizarro world? To see who's safe for Neil Diamond week and who headed home, just

There were weeks - like, say, last week - when I would have said it was no surprise had Carly gone home. But this week? After one of her best performances of the season, when she finally seemed to be relaxed and rocking and having fun? Carly obviously had a tough time connecting with voters; she was ending up in the bottom three when there were far, far worse singers still in the competition. But her personality was finally starting to show through, and she was looking cute and acting delightful. So why now, America?

In fact, everything that happened after the Davids were proclaimed safe made no sense to me. Syesha (whom I liked for the first time on Tuesday) and Brooke (of the False Start Heard 'Round the World) paired together - and Brooke's the one who was safe? And Carly's adorably up-tempo "Superstar" got trumped by Jason's warbling "Memory"? All of my predicted bottom three were safe, and the two performances I liked best landed in the bottom. Did this make anyone else feel a little out of sorts?

Carly seemed like such a wreck any time she'd ended up in the bottom earlier this season, but she handled her departure with class on Wednesday - and she should be proud of herself. At least she went out with a strong performance, and I honestly hope her second real crack at a music career works out better than the first.

Some other thoughts:

Does anyone else think Syesha has been trained to know exactly where the camera is at all times?
This week brought in 38 million votes, which I think is the highest total we've heard this season.
Some of the harmonies on the "All I Ask of You" group sing were awesomely bad. There were some notes that I don't know if any of the six of them could hit individually - and they were being asked to hit them together. Disaster!
Ryan called Brooke's false start the first time anyone had ever stopped and started in all of Idol history. Except that's a lie, cause Brooke did it a couple of weeks ago.
While the show was really mostly filler (why on earth are they still an hour long?), I actually enjoyed the chat with Andrew Lloyd Webber, especially when he called Jason's decision to sing "Memory" the "most curious song choice" of his career.
Why does Young David always get the most boring role in the Ford Pimpomercials?
Hey, that was President Bush's second appearance on TV this week! But it didn't do much to boost ratings for Deal or No Deal.
If that was your first time hearing or seeing Leona Lewis, did you think she lived up to the hype?
I totally crack up every time I see a scene from season one that has Dunkleman in it.
I think I prefer the sing-out ending to the awkward standing around that happened last night. Why diminish the last moment in the spotlight?

So, are any of the rest of you baffled by America at large? Can anyone take out the two Davids? And who's going to sing "Sweet Caroline" next week?

Photos courtesy of Fox