Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy

3 stars out of 5

The song was alright. It was a bit slow, and the lyrics weren’t particularly interesting. The video was so awkward, though. It starts off as men in black suits dancing in a snowstorm, although I’m not even entirely sure if that’s what they’re doing. Then they turn into chalky skeletons who gain their body parts. How weird is that?

All My Life in the Ghetto - Jay Rock

3 stars out of 5

I was really vacillating on my opinion of this song. Some parts, I’d listen to it and think, “This is just some wanna-be rapper.” But other times I’d start loving the beat and the rhythm. So it was two-fold.

The rapper Jay Rock caught fire through underground mixtapes. The song “All My Life in the Ghetto” is a biographical tale of Jay Rock’s childhood. One of the aspects of the song that iTunes points out is that “Lil Wayne drops a sick, 16-bar cosign.”

Okay, I don’t know who writes the iTunes reviews, but I doubt it’s a teenager who loves rap. There’s something about saying the word “sick,” which is so colloquial and such a slang word, and incorporating that into the official iTunes review, that just annoys me. As much as they can try to be ghetto, they're just not. Period.

The song starts off sounding like a bunch of machines that are not working the right way and are creating weird tech-y noises. So I started off with a bad impression. And then Jay Rock started singing. Let’s not even go there. But when the drummer finally decided to provide a good beat, I started thinking, “Hey, this is not so bad!” Anyhow, I liked the idea that the song actually had meaning. They weren’t just rapping about “stuff” in general; even though theme is still “ghetto,” I can tell it resonates with the artist. If there was a stronger beat throughout the entire song, not just in certain portions, I’d like it a lot more. The song features Lil Wayne as well as Will.i.am.
To watch the video, go to: http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=all%20my%20life%20in%20the%20ghetto%20jay%20rock&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv

Inside Breaking Bad

3 stars out of 5

“Breaking Bad” is an American television drama series that is broadcast in the United States and Canada on the cable network AMC. It is currently in its second season, and the “Inside Look into Breaking Bad: Season 2” is given out for free on iTunes.

“Breaking Bad” follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher with a pregnant wife (Anna Gunn) and a handicapped teenage son (RJ Mitte). When White is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, he succumbs to a life of crime and sets up a meth lab. “Breaking Bad” has won two Emmy Awards.

For CSI fans, you will definitely like this. The plot is easy to follow, and it contains just as much suspense as any other film would. The inside look does its job in that it teases the upcoming season, yet it does not provide much information to comment on, as it is merely the inside look. Check it out and see if you want to follow the season! (Personally, meth labs aren’t my thing, but if they’re yours, enjoy!)

When It Rains - Eli Young Band

3 stars out of 5

This song makes me want to go to bed. It fits my stereotypical “country” type music style: slow (super slow) beat, complaining lyrics, and a repetitive tune. However, the acoustic guitars add a nice taste to the music. The Eli Young Band is a quartet from music that creates soulful sounds similar to that of Mike Eli or James Young. This song is described by iTunes as a song “suitable for sunsets and long goodbyes.” Well, that is not an understatement, considering that this song could also put me to bed. It makes me tired…oh, well. Don’t get it unless you’re soul-searching or looking for a way to while away your time.

If you’re a lover of slow, slow, country music, then check out the song: http://www.yallwire.com/player/eliyoungbandwhenitrains.html?detect_mediatype=flv&detect_bitrate=_700&big=1

Traicion – Cancion de la Semana

3 stars out of 5

Although I don’t understand any Spanish, this song has a smooth, light groove to it that makes everyone’s toes start tapping. The rhythm and beats are as Latin as it will get; it reminds me quite a bit of samba music or something of the sort. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mario Lopez dancing to this type of song.

Regardless, it’s a nice way to finish off the day, especially if you’re looking to just lounge and relax. Obviously, understanding the song would probably make me like it more. The tune gets a bit repetitive after a while, but it’s catchy nevertheless. If your iPod is filled with all “American” pop music, try spicing it up with this Spanish groove; some culture can’t curt.

To listen to this song, visit: http://www.last.fm/music/makano/Traici%C3%B3n+-+Canci%C3%B3n+de+la+Semana

Losing Home - Shawn Smith

3 stars out of 5

This song takes some getting used to, but is not bad at all. Shawn Smith’s vocals sound very crisp, contrary to the exultant bands of the Pacific Northwest that he participated in during the ‘90s. The song has an impassioned groove and, according to iTunes, “some great piano work set to a loose hip-hop beat.”

The song is very moody, but is alright if you are listening purely to relax. Personally, I wish that Smith would sing with more substance to his voice. The placid beat, enhanced by the virtuosic piano, makes it pleasing to listen to (once you get used to it).

I don’t agree with the genre of “rock,” because this is more on the verge of country to me. The pleading voice of the chorus reflects that of old, farm-boy country songs rather than upbeat rock (or even light rock). But that’s just me.

To listen to this song as well as other songs by Shawn Smith, visit: http://www.sscollective.net/audio.