Uncrowned Royalty

Before I start blogging on this album, I would like to mention that this is the first CD I've blogged about that I haven't heard any songs about previously. The music sounds much different than her past songs; I think it's because co-writers include Nick Jonas and John Mayer, whose songs are much different than her own. One thing I find very interesting is that the album was released in Mexico before it was in the US. 

This album is one of my latest favorites. But, before I go into detail on the songs, I thought some explanation was necessary. One of the first things I noticed about the CD, even before I started playing it was that it was divided into two different CDs. My first thought was, well that's just plain stupid, why use two CDs when all the tracks could easily fit on one CD? (There's only eleven tracks total.) So, I thought some investigation was due.....and I didn't have to look far; only one Google search in, and I had found my answer.

One of my new favorite books is the Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. I got the book for Christmas, and though at first I thought it would be a stupid book, by the 2nd chapter I couldn't put it down. I remember that for all of winter vacation, I would stay up late with a flash light, hoping to finish the book.



The book takes a peak into a not so distant future, where teens are forced to compete in the Hunger Games. For those of you who haven't read it, think of reality tv pushed to its limit. I say that because the players must kill each other off, the last one standing is crowned the winner.
The beginning of a new series that is bound to draw in bunches of winners is divided into 3 parts; each becoming more and more addicting to the reader. Out of everyone that I know who has read this book, I have yet to find one who hasn't enjoyed it.



The book takes a look at what people would do for survival. Throughout the book, enemies become friends and friends become enemies, pacts are both made, and broken. For the duration of the book, you will be on the tip of your seat as you look through the eyes of a very brave girl, who risked her life for the well being of her sister, and crosses a line that has yet to be crossed.

Now I'm sure all of you have heard Pink's new song, So What, time after time playing on the radio. I mean, I can practically sing the song word for word in my sleep. I'm gonna get in trouble, I'm gonna start a fight! And now, the second song on the CD, Sober, is starting to get some spotlight for itself. But what else is on the CD?
Pink, whose real name is Alecia, got her first number one single on the Hot 100 with So What. She has five albums, the first one being Can't Take The Party Home. She reminded us that she's not dead with her 4th album, I'm Not Dead. Other notable songs are U & Ur Hand and Who Knew?
This album is an amazing rebound from her divorce with Carery Hart last year. But she showed everyone that she doesn't care right from the top of the album with So What. Only 6 hours after So What got leaked, it became #1 on Nova 100. It also became the top song on many other charts, including iTunes most purchased songs list. I must admit, I couldn't stand this song until it was played for probably like the 756th time. Then, I founded myself tapping my foot and singing to myself to the tune of it's strong beat. I mean whatever instrument thats playing in the verses is pretty annoying at first. I quess it's kind of like an iquired taste. Or something like that. But the chorus are really sweet, and pretty upbeat and dancy.
Most of you have probably heard the song Sober a couple times playing on the radio. I believe its around number 5 on my radio stations charts. The first thing that came to mind the first time I listened to this CD on Christmas morning on my Mac was how different it is compared to So What. I mean it's the same singer and such but it really takes it down a notch, but the song is just as good, if not better. It's more of an enjoyable song to listen to. The song's plotline, if you will, is Pink basically saying that it stinks to be drunk. Sure, she goes into detail about how she doesn't like 'filling the silence' and 'how it's good til it goes bad' but that's basically all she says.
As much as I like I Don't Believe You, it's not a very well known song. I don't know if it's because everyone my age listens to the same radio station, so we know the same songs, or if just no one else likes it except me. Its a really slow song, but that doesn't bring down the quality, like it does in some of my other favorite bands, such as Weezer. It sounds like in parts of the songs she's trying to be wicked artisy by making her voice really quiet and stuff, but there is such thing as overkill. I had to Google the lyrics just so I could understand what she's talking about. And I found out she's basically saying that she doesn't believe someone...which is I guess how they came up with the name of the song.
I really don't like the next song. It's not my style. Like at all. It's called One Foot Wrong, and I don't think Pink has ever made a song like this before. Her producer probably didn't let her. I wouldn't. If your to lazy to listen to the song, or would like to spare your ears, I'll tell you what it sounds like. Think Hilary Duff and Vanessa Hudgens going Frank Sinatra with some punk mixed into it. I may be exaggerating just a bit on that one though.
Please Don't Leave Me is going back a little bit back to Pink's style. But it's still not quite there. Is anyone else noticing a theme in these song titles? So What, Sober I Don't Believe You and One Foot Wrong. I guess Pink really has been having a Funhouse. Going back to my point, I'm still not into this song.
Bad Influence is definitely a risk taker for Pink. It has this tambourine like beat for a good duration of the song. But it beat my low expectations though, and I almost began enjoying the song by about 2 minutes into the song. Almost. So far though, this song is the most techno, which is actually pretty cool of Pink to go into that style a little bit.
Funhouse, which incidentally is the name of the CD, is pretty good. It absolutly is a style I wouldn't expect to hear from Pink, but yet it here it is on the playlist. I would use Genius on this song, but my computer spazed out and wouldn't let me. So I guess Last.Fm here I come!
Cyrstal Ball is a slow song, with a lot of string instruments playing. I thought Pink sang it very well. I defintly prefer her more upbeat songs, but neverless I enjoyed this one all the same.
Mean is quite the song. And not in a good way. It almost has this country vibe, something which I had never hoped to hear Pink sing. Like ever. Thankfully, it strayed a teeny bit from your average country music, but it still wasn't that great.
It's All Your Fault, has good music, where the singing portion is a little lacking. I have definitly heard worse songs, but Pink could have done better. True, it probably was the style of the song, but I don't think it's one of Pink's better skills. But this song would definitly make my top 500 playlist, most likely taking the place of Hannah Montana or something.
Ave Mary A is a pretty cool song. It has a really good beat, and this time the vocal's are definitlty there. The only thing that surprised me that it's not played on the radio too often. The guitar part is so Guitar Hero (on easy) worthy.
Gliter In The Air is a good closing song for the soundtrack. Pink definitly brings it down a couple notches on the energy scale, but it doesn't go down on the quality scale. Again, I really like the music part in it. The lyrics do leave a little to desire though.
So, in closing, this is a fairly good CD. If you enjoyed Pink's past music, you'll probably like this CD.

Well I just spent the last hour or so youtubing one of my favorite girl groups new album's songs. And let me tell you, it was not a hour wasted.
That's right, The Veronicas have done it again. And by 'it' I mean of course be on the top of the pop charts all over the world for producing undoubtedly some of the best songs ever. Did I mention I am a Veronicas fan?
There latest CD, Hook Me Up, is a (explicit) disc complete with 13 songs, one of which is one of the most purchase songs online.
But wow! I mean if you listen to Jess and Lisa's past CD, The Secret Life Of, you can hear the big change the girls went through in the 2 year gap between the CDs. Even if you quickly listen to the 30 second demos on iTunes while you write a review for the Cds. Not like I did that though. There latest CD is much more jumpy and dancey, unlike there debut rock/pop album. Although one could never be to sure, I'm guessing the album gets its name 'Hook Me Up,'from track number two, which just so happens to be called, 'Hook Me Up'. This just so happens to be my least favorite song on the CD, even thought it may just have one of the best music videos.
Where as Hook Me Up is kinda (dare I say) mellow, the rest of the soundtrack is not. I was abruptly woken up from my mid-mid-morning nap when the 3rd song, This Is How It Feels, started blasting. Although after it, things slow down a little bit, I can still feel the energy coming out of my Mac.
Expanding a bit from their almost cliche pop/rock/dance tunes, I Can't Stay Away has this cool, techno-edgy vibe, which I'm loving, whose tune almost seems to melt into the next song, Take Me On The Floor. Rather than giving away the next 7 tracks like I did with the previous six, I think I'll let you just listen to them yourself.

If you have been anywhere near a TV in the past few weeks, or driven by your movie theater, you probably have noticed advertising for a certain movie by the name of Coraline. Based on the book by Neil Gaimen, the movie is about a girl who after being ignored by her parents, finds a world like her own, only everything, from her room, to her parents, to her garden, is perfect. Only, Coraline soon finds out that there is no such thing as a perfect world.
The stop-film 3D movie has been compared many times to Alice in Wonderland, because of it's plot consisting of an alternate universe. Rising star Dakota Fanning takes on the role of Coraline well.
I probably can't give the best review of this movie because I didn't see it in 3D, but the normal version seemed very good to me. The movie did change a couple of things, but over all it was a very good representative of the book. The movie made $16.85 million dollars on it's opening weekend.
Other adaptations of the book include the video game and graphic novel.