Glee - Vitamin D

Reviewed by The North Star
Song Time: 4 Minutes

Halo/Walking on Sunshine
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It's My Life / Confessions Part II - 8/10 - This is the first mash-up ever on Glee.  Whoa.  Anyways in the episode they have a battle of boys vs. girls and each group has to take two songs and make them into one song.  This is a mash-up of It's My Life by Bon Jovi and Confessions Part II by Usher. I like this song because it took a classic song and mixed it with a more unknown song and it actually does sound like it could be a song on its own.  All of the boys sound good on the song I just don't love it.  I like this but I don't love it, which is why it gets an 8 out of 10.

Halo / Walking on Sunshine - 9/10 - In my mind I think that the girls won this battle.  In the episode all of the girls took performing enhancement drugs so that they could beat the boys (who did the same thing).  This is a mash-up of Halo by Beyonce and Walking On Sunshine by Katrina & the Waves.  This song sounds less like a real song than the boys but I like listening to this one a lot more.  The girls have beautiful harmonies and the voices really seem to work off one another.  At the end of the song Rachel hits this note that is.....very high.  Every time I listen to the song I'm not sure if I like the note or not but it's very impressive.  If you bought one from the episode this one is the one to buy but they are both really good.

Real Teen Rating ~ B: Check it out but, really, there's no rush

Real Teen Download: Halo/Walking on Sunshine

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Glee - Preggers and The Rhodes Not Taken

Reviewed by The North Star
Song Time: 20 Minutes

Since they only sang one song in Preggers I decided to combine the episode with the episode after.

Maybe This Time
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Taking Chances - 9/10 - This is the only song from the episode Preggers.  Before I write anything about the song I just have to take a moment to say how talented Lea Michele is.  In this episode Rachel has decided to quit the Glee club and audition for the school musical and this is her audition song.  Up to this point her songs had just been OK and they didn't really show off her voice but finally with the song it does.  I love how it starts off slow in the beginning and then begins to pick up as it goes.  I like her version because it isn't dramatized like the original.  Lea Michele does a great job with this song and I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find it on my iPod.

Maybe This Time - 11/10 - I'm in love with this song.  When they first sang it on Glee I bought it right when the episode ended and I'm pretty sure that I listened to it on repeat for hours.  This song is duet between April Rhodes (Kristen Chenoweth) and Rachel.  They both sing about how they never win but maybe this time they will win.  Anyways this song is amazing.  Both Kristen and Lea sound great on the song.  In the very end they sing together and the harmonies that they create send shivers down my spine every time I listen to it.  Like Taking Chances it starts off slow and mellow and then as the song goes on it picks up and keeps adding layers.  This is definitely one of my top favorite Glee songs and every time I listen to it, it makes me want to get up on a stage and sing along with them.  Seriously go listen to it right now.

Alone - 7/10 - If you have ever heard the original version of this song then basically no cover will ever compare.  In the episode April and Mr. Shoe (short for Mr. Schuester) go to a bowling alley and sing karaoke because in high school Mr. Shoe always wanted to sing a duet with April.  As far as duet songs go I'm not sure this was the smartest decision.  The verses of the song sound fine but neither of them sound amazing on the chorus which is the best part or even in the harmonies.  In the harmonies all I can hear is Kristin Chenoweth which is sad because Matthew Morrison sounds good.  Parts of this song are good but as a whole it's just so-so.  I don't love it but I don't hate it either.

Last Name - 6.5/10 - Oh Glee doing a Carrie Underwood song, here we go.  In the episode April gets drunk on the stage at a huge performance while the glee club sings back-up.  I just don't think this is the right song for Kristin Chenoweth's voice.  It doesn't sound horrible but it doesn't sound great either.  There are a lot of better songs they could have picked her to sing drunk on the stage.  The way that she sings it is way too cutesy when it's supposed to be regret and confusion.  It reminded me of a concert where the singer just sings the song but doesn't perform it.  Don't bother listening to it.

Somebody to Love - 9.5/10 - I love Queen.  With that said this version does not even come close to the original.  Even though it doesn't compare it's actually a pretty good cover of the song.  In the episode they sing it for the community to show them what glee club is all about.  One of my favorite parts of this song is that a lot of people get little solos to sing instead of just one person singing the whole thing by themselves.  My favorite part of the song has to be when they cut off and then come back in slowing chanting "find me somebody to love" and it keeps building and building and building with more and more people singing until it reaches the peak.  Then Mercedes sings her part and then the whole song finishes strong.  If the beginningish was as fantastic as the end I would give it a 10/10 but it is definitely worth listening to.

Real Teen Rating ~ B+ : Check it out sometime!

Real Teen Download: Maybe This Time

Reviewed by Living Destiny

Taking Chances - 10/10 - This is one of my early favorites. It's soft and sweet, and in the beginning it has a quality like a lullaby. Then it starts to get faster after the first chorus, and it starts to sound more intense. This song shows off both the high and low register for Lea Michele, and it's absolutely beautiful. I know they need diversity on the show, but I think if they just did songs like this, I'd still be watching.

Maybe This Time - 7/10 - I know this is a duet, but for the beginning half of the song, either I can't distinguish voices, or it's just Kristen Chenoweth. Which is totally ok, because she's so talented. I'm not sure it needed to be a duet at all though. There's like one harmony in the whole thing, and it isn't super necessary. Not to say this is a bad song, because it's very pretty. But it's never been my cup of tea.

Alone - 9/10 - North Star is right when she said that no cover can compare with the original. Although people insist on covering it. The duet aspect made it interesting, because originally the song is sung by just a woman, and adding a male voice makes it stand out. Rock duets are so edgy and exciting and fun to listen to. I've always loved this song, and this is actually the best cover of it I've heard. Of the two duets this episode, this is the better one.

Last Name - 5/10 - I didn't like this song when it first came out. I don't know why, but something about it didn't click right with me. This version doesn't make me like it any better. I love Kristen Chenoweth, but this isn't her song. She sounds good on it, but there's nothing behind it. The spoken lines are the best part of it, because she sounds so little and confused, and it's kind of funny. And it just drags on and on forever. She doesn't sound awful singing, I just always hate this song.

Somebody to Love - 9/10 - I remember singing this song in the car with my friends. It's an incredibly well done choral arrangement of a classic song, mush like Don't Stop Believin' was in the first episode. This song highlights a lot of different singers, which is nice to hear. It's one of those songs that makes you want to stand up and rock out like a total dork, and that's ok. The bridge is really awesome, starting out quiet and getting loud and intense, with a few soloists riffing throughout it. This is all around a nice song to listen to.

Real Teen Rating ~ B-: Not bad

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Glee - Pilot Episode

Reviewed by The North Star

Don't Stop Believin'
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Song Time: 15 Minutes
So I've been watching Glee since it first aired in 2009.  It has had it's ups and downs but I really wanted to review the music.  I figured the best way to do this was by episode.  These are the singles that came out of the first episode (there may have been other songs but I will mainly be reviewing the songs they sold as singles).

On My Own - 8/10 - While writing this review it feels like forever ago that this show started. This was Rachel Berry's (Lea Michele) audition song for the glee club. This was also the only audition song that they released as a single. First off, I just love this song in general and you can't deny that Lea Michele has an amazing voice. This isn't my favorite version of the song but it's still pretty good.  I wish that she had sang this song later in the series when her voice developed more because listening to it now there are some parts that you can tell it's hard for her to reach.  Besides that I really like this song and I never skip it when it comes on but I never seek it out.

Can't Fight this Feeling- 7.5/10 - Even though I don't really care for the original I kinda like this version. The lyrics are cheesy and the song itself isn't good.  Finn (Cory Monteith) doesn't even sound that amazing on it.  I think I like it mainly because it reminds me of how good Glee used to be and how I wish it could be good again.  The first 50 seconds of the song are really good and after that the song goes down hill. It's a classic Glee song because it's the first time that Finn sings and he doesn't sound half-bad.  So if you don't intend on watching the show don't bother.

Rehab - 8.5/10 - Every time this song starts I think that it's a church song because they added a little part in the beginning where they sing "Ohio".  Anyways, this song is always entertaining.  It shows the complete opposite end of show choir.  They take a popular song and then make it as if it was a chorus song with crazy harmonies.  There aren't many solos but the choreography is amazing.   Whenever I hear it I always feel the need to get up and dance.  You can't compare this version to the original because the original wins every time but it's a good show choir song and in context of the show it's even better. Like Can't Fight this Feeling, if you don't intend on watching the show don't bother buying the song.

Don't Stop Believin' - 10/10 - I have never gotten sick of this song.  I remember sitting on my couch and hearing this song for the first time in a commercial for the show.  The second that I heard it I was hooked and I patiently waited for the Pilot.  This is the very last song in the episode and it gives me chills every time.  I love that it starts off a capella and then moves into half a capella, half back up band (meaning the characters are still singing as if it's a capella but a band is also playing).  To me this song perfectly describes the show.  It took an old song that used to be huge and then made it somewhat their own.  This is MUST HAVE on anyones iPod, Mp3 Player or phone.  It's classic Glee and is a good rendition of the song as well.

Real Teen Rating ~ B+ : Check it out sometime! 

Real Teen Download: Don't Stop Believin' 
(make sure you don't buy the Regionals version)

Reviewed by Living Destiny

On My Own - 6/10 - I'm not blown away by this rendition of the song. The notes get screechy or whiny at times, and it's obvious that when this song was recorded, Lea Michele simply didn't have the register for the song. It's especially evident in the big, climactic line, "the world is full of happiness that I have never known". It's almost cringe-worthy. I've heard a lot of versions of this song, and while this isn't the worst, it's definitely not the best.

Can't Fight This Feeling - 10/10 - I remember first watching this episode, and thinking this was the best song. And I still do. It has really nice, subtle harmonies, and Cory Monteith is a very talented singer. Yeah, it's a little cheesy, but I just can't get enough of it. I love this song, and there is literally nothing wrong with it.

Rehab - 8/10 - Funky choral harmonies in this one. This song was our first glimpse, as viewers, into the deep dark world of show choir. Not a solo audition, or a song in the shower, but a real, talented choir. It's interesting. I think the harmonies overpower the melody a lot, and that's not something I'm a fan of. It's good, but not fantastic.

Don't Stop Believin' - 10/10 - What a classic. When it first starts out, the vocals make you want to get up and move. The show did a great job of taking a famous song, and turning it into something fresh and new. When you hear it, you can't help but love it. The harmonies are spot on, there's a great guitar solo after the first verse, the ending is chilling, and all the voices sound really good together. Honestly, in four seasons of music, it's still one of the best that came out of Glee.

Real Teen Rating ~ B: Check it out but, really, there's no rush.

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+ (Deluxe Version) - Ed Sheeran

Reviewed by Living Destiny

+ (Deluxe Version)
Buy it here and support our blog

Song Time: 61 Minutes and 47 Seconds
I stumbled across Ed Sheeran while searching for music to use in a project for filmmaking. Some app on Spotify was giving me songs similar to some other song, I don't really remember, but Firefly by Ed Sheeran came up. I listened to it and realized three things. One: it wasn't the song for our project. Wrong mood for our story. Two (and this was hardly a new realization): Spotify is fantastic. The new part of that was that it can now introduce me to new music. Third, and most importantly, I was quickly in love with a young British ginger who has a stellar voice and can handle any music genre you can think of. Except maybe country, I haven't heard him try country yet, but no one can really handle country music anyway.

The A Team - 8/10 - This is his most famous song, and it's played on the radio a lot. But I don't think it's his best song, which is why it's getting the lowest grade. It's not that it doesn't deserve to be on the radio, I just think he has better songs. This one is good though. The lyrics are almost funny in a way. People seem to think that Ed Sheeran only writes sappy love songs, and at first glance that's what this is, but the lyrics are actually about a teenage prostitute on drugs. Why that makes a good song topic I'm not sure, but it sounds pretty!

Drunk - 9.5/10 - Another not-quite-sappy song, it's basically all about getting drunk to get over a girl. But again I have to talk about his lyrical prowess. The words he writes just sound nice. Stuff like "I wanna hold your heart in both hands/Not watch it fizzle at the bottom of a Coke can" is beautiful. It opens new ways of thinking about things. This is a good song to sort of bob your head awkwardly to, as I'm doing right now in the hallway. It has a gorgeous musical part. It isn't a slow song, but not a fast one either. Just an enjoyable song.

U. N. I. - 9/10 - I think this is about him going to university (college) and leaving a girl. He does a lot of leaving a girl, I guess. I really love the very beginning to this. A quiet crescendo, and then humming three notes. It's incredibly effective without being overdone. The bridge of this song is great too. Simple vocals go a long way, and if a singer is talented, he doesn't need excessive music in the back. He has an incredible vocal quality that just makes you feel nice. And his accent is fun to listen to as well, because it gives his music that edge of something different. The ending is a mirror of the beginning, with three short guitar chords. This easygoing simplicity makes for a cool song that feels like it belongs on a rom-com soundtrack.

Grade 8 - 11/10 - This is one of my absolute favorite songs on the album. It has an edgier, harder tone than the first three songs on the cd. This one is a love song, but it isn't sappy either. I learned recently that grade 8 isn't actually a reference to school, but to a difficult chord on guitar. So that's a pretty neat simile he makes with "You're strumming on my heart strings like you were a grade 8". This song is fast paced and upbeat, and as usual it has stunning lyrics. It's one of those catchy melodies that can easily get stuck in your head for days.

Wake Me Up - 10/10 - Super slow song coming right after an upbeat one. I love how songs on albums are ordered. The main element of this song is the vocals. It's only accompanied with a piano, so the singer and the lyrics are really highlighted. I think all of his love songs - and most of them are love songs - have a twist to them, where it's love but life isn't perfect. And that's how life works. Anyway, this song is fantastic because it shows what a talented voice Ed Sheeran has. It's pretty much an acoustic song. The chord progression in the background is nice, but it really is the vocals that makes this song great.

Small Bump - 8.5/10 - This gets one of the lowest grades on the album for one reason only. It's really sad. It's a gorgeous song. The music to it is a little playful, with some harmonizing voices and what sounds like a weird xylophone-like instrument in the chorus, as well as Sheeran harmonizing with himself in the rest of the song. It's just gorgeous. But the lyrics are so sad. And that's why it's one of my least favorites. The song is a dad singing about his unborn child, and how much potential the child has, and how much the child is loved. And then at the very end of the song, the child is miscarried. Four lines, and the song becomes devastating. Pretty, but sad.

This - 9/10 - The guitar line in this song is the most striking part of it. It's calming and smooth, and pairs well with the melody of the song. It's a very mellow, slow song that somehow feels like curling up by a fireplace in the freezing cold winter. Cozy. My favorite lines of it are "You are the earth that I will stand upon/You are the words that I will sing". This is probably one of his more legitimately sappy songs, but even this isn't an idealistic love song.

The City - 11/10 - Another one of my favorites. This song is not a love song, and is basically about a guy who moved to a new city, and is trying to get used to it. It has a harder sound to it, but it gets soft in the bridge. Any song that says "woo" in it is cool in my book, and this one does. The lyrics make you want to get up and travel somewhere new, see something you've never seen. I can't actually pick favorite lyrics from this song, because they're all great. So I guess I'll leave it with the last lines of the chorus: "If the city never sleeps/Then that makes two".

Lego House - 11/10 - The first little guitar line of this song sort of sounds like the guitar part of It's Not Over by Daughtry. That's where the similarities stop. It's upbeat, but soft. Sometimes I think it's a love song, but then I watch the music video and I'm not sure. The lyrics in this song are fantastic. The words are the best part of this. They're all so powerful, but I really like "And it's dark in a cold December, but I've got you to keep me warm/And if you're broken I'll mend ya/And keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on". Brilliant stuff. Plus, the video has Rupert Grint from the Harry Potter movies in it, and I'm not entirely sure why, so that's a bonus.

You Need Me, I Don't Need You - 10.5/10 - This song is essentially perfect. I don't know if you've ever listened to a white, redheaded guy from England rap, but it's amazing. And I really don't know what else to say, because it's a rap song. The lyrics are really good, which is typical of Ed Sheeran. It's a rap, but it's not a stereotypical beez-in-the-trap-style rap song. It tells about his story, and how he became famous. The background music is catchy, and the song in general makes me want to sing along - which isn't pretty, because I can't rap. My favorite lines are "Suffolk sadly seems to sort of suffocate me", and the last line of the rap. It's a wicked fun song.

Kiss Me - 10/10 - Alright, this one really is a 100% sappy love song. I read recently that he wrote it for his two godparents, who were getting married and asked him to sing one of his songs at the wedding. It's a beautiful, heartfelt song. The instrumentals are gentle, and include what I think is a violin. They help to highlight the words of the song, which are a bit sappy, but the whole song is so pretty, you can get over the love song lyrics. It would probably be a brilliant song to get married to.

Give Me Love - 9/10 - Someone asked me what I was listening to once, and when I let them listen in, they asked why I was listening to The Lion King. And ok, the end of the song does get a little tribal sounding, but it also sounds really cool, so I don't mind. The last two minutes are for sure the best part. The chorus comes in, but instead of being calm, as it usually is, it gets intense and powerful, and then the quasi-tribal part comes in, and it sounds passionate and raw and just wicked awesome. The beginning is good too, of course, but the ending is what makes this song.

The Parting Glass - 9/10 - This is actually a hidden track on the album, stuck onto the end of Give Me Love after an awkward thirty seconds of silence. When I first heard it, it reminded me of a Christmas carol, and I don't really know why. I think it's the way the melody sounds. Not necessarily joyful, but it's got that old school Christmas thing going. It starts out with just breathing. That should be creepy, but it's actually pretty chilling. Then it's a simple, beautiful melody and awesome harmonies. One repeated line, "Good night and joy be with you all", is a nice sentiment and also probably the real reason I think of Christmas carols. This hidden track is almost better than the track it's attached to.

Autumn Leaves (Bonus Track) - 9/10 - This song is so beautiful. It's one of those songs that I'm not totally certain what the lyrics mean, and that's ok. It can mean whatever you think it should. Ed Sheeran's voice is incredible. I think I've been gushing about him a lot, but he really is that good. This is kind of a driving around in the rain at night song. It's very peaceful, and when the lyrics say "float down" the instrumental music almost makes you feel like floating. My favorite lyric is "My symphony played the song that carried you out".

Little Bird (Bonus Track) - 9.5/10 - This song is one of the more fast paced ones on the album. It starts off with a strong guitar line, and stays quirky and upbeat. It's a great song to sing along to, because it's so much fun. The lyrics are about a guy trying to get a girl to stay with him. The lyrics are fantastic. The comparisons and descriptions are so creative, like in the chorus where it says "And if I kissed you/Will your mouth read this truth/Darling how I miss you/Strawberries taste how lips do". It just sounds interesting.

Gold Rush (Bonus Track) - 10.5/10 - This is my favorite bonus track. It's definitely a summer song, one that I can picture listening to at the beach as soon as it gets warm enough to actually do that. There's an excellent guitar solo right before the last chorus that makes you want to get up and dance, before it gets slow and a little more serious for just a bit, then right back into the playful melody it has for most of the song. It's a fun, summery track with an upbeat feel and, once again, killer lyrics. One of my favorites.

Sunburn (Bonus Track) - 9.5/10 - This one, I think, is written about an ex of his. Actually I think most of them are, but this one says "Alice" in the lyrics, and that's her name, supposedly. I should really keep up. Anyway, a nice mellow song to finish off the album. The bridge is the best part of this song. He goes up into falsetto, and a good falsetto always wins me over. It's a song about missing someone, and it's something everyone can relate to, because everyone has missed someone at some point. It's a calming song, and it's one you could listen to before you go to bed to soothe you to sleep. I know I do.

Real Teen Rating ~ A+: Look it up right now!!!

Real Teen Download: Grade 8, The City, Lego House

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Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More

Reviewed By The North Star
Song Time: 48 Minutes and 33 Seconds

Sigh No More
Buy it here and support our blog

I've been hearing the Mumford & Sons CD ever since it came out last year but I never knew who it was that I was listening to.  I had heard their singles "The Cave" and "Little Lion Man" on the radio all of the time and I always meant to look them up but always forgot by the time that I got to the computer.  Then someone had introduced their song "Roll Away Your Stone" to me and I asked the band name.  The second I got home I bought most of their songs and have had them on repeat ever since!  Mumford and Sons is a British folk rock band who's first album (Sigh No More) came out last year Febuary 16th, 2010.


Sigh No More- 9.5/10- The interesting things about CDs nowadays is that when people buy CDs they just listen to the songs they heard on the radio or listen to the whole thing out of order.  I'm not positive but, I'm pretty sure that record companies put the songs in an order for a reason.  This song is really mellow but has meaningful lyrics and has big insight about how the whole CD is going to be like.  This song is all about a guy breaking up with a girl and he is trying to explain to her that it isn't the end and she will find someone else because he was never fully in the relationship and she deserves way better.  The beginning of the song is extremely slow and then half-way through it picks up and you feel that you have to start bobbing your head along with the music.  The beat of this song is great and as said above it kind of samples from the different types of songs on the CD so if you choose to listen to this CD, please listen to it in order, it is worth it.


The Cave- 11/10- This was one of the first singles off of the CD and became one of those songs that no matter what station you listened to you heard and hopefully learned to love like I did.  One of the things I love about Mumford and Sons is the lead singers voice.  His voice is exactly what is described above, rock and folk at the same time and I have never heard anything like it before.  This song is all about someone who is going through some really tough times but the singer is going to help them out because they were once in that situation too.  The great thing about this song is that the first couple times you listen to it, it is such a great song that you get rapped up in the lyrics and then after listening to it a couple more times you've learned the lyrics enough to sing-along.  So, no matter when you listen to this song it is equally awesome!

Winter Winds- 8.5/10- This is one of those songs that I can see people putting on summer playlists and listening to at the beach.  Even though this song is talking about the winter it is also talking about coming into spring.  Overall the tone of the song just screams summer because of a bunch of different reasons.  The saxophone solo is really nice and tone of the song is very upbeat and seems like something you would hear in a movie when someone was going on a journey.  I don't love this song but I do find myself singing along to the song when I hear it and I did put it on my summer playlist, so this is one to look out for to be on the radio but it isn't a must buy if you are buying the entire CD.


Roll Away Your Stone- 12/10- This is definitely my favorite song on the CD!  The second that I hear this song come next on shuffle or in the car I get excited and start singing along with the banjo in the beginning and never stop singing with it until the song is done.  I first heard this song in a dance class where the teacher played it for a warm-up song and from that moment I have loved the song and never got sick of it.  The song is (like most Mumford & Sons songs) perfect for listening to in the car.  This is a song that you can blast in the car and sing your heart out, whether you are by yourself or you are with a group of friends.  The lyrics of this song are also really deep so beyond the fact that the song sounds nice it has a meaning and at points in the song I can definitely relate.  In short, go on iTunes right now and buy the song!


White Blank Page-8 /10- This song shows the mellower side of Mumford & Sons, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  This song is about a guy that is in love with this girl and he gave her his entire heart because he thought that is what she wanted when in fact she didn't have any feelings for him at all.  Now he is wondering what the point of it all was, if there even was one.  I really like this song because the subject matter is usually the other way around, about a girl that gives her heart but guys do this too and get burned but that story is never told.  I also like how in this song it starts off really slow and with a lot of feeling, but then as the song goes along it gets louder and more intense as the lyrics become more angry.  I like this song but I don't always feel like listening to it so, no a must buy but still very interesting.  


I Gave You All- 7/10- This is another song that shows the slower deeper side of Mumford and Sons eve more so than White Blank Page.  This song is about a man that gives his all to a women and she tears him apart and afterwards he can't find himself caring about anything because she is all he ever cared about.  If you are reading this you are probably thinking that Mumford and Sons are a really depressing band, but they aren't.  They really try and hit at the heart of peoples feelings through music and they do, do that even if it means that it comes out a little depressing.  The great thing about Mumford and Sons is that their lyrics are good but along with that they manipulate their instruments to sound sadder and Marcus Mumford, lead singer, really get into the song as well so you feel the weight of the words that he is singing.  I don't usually listen to this song because you have to be in the right mood to listen to is because it is so sad but besides that it is still a quality song.  


Little Lion Man- 11/10- This is the song that put Mumford and Sons on the map.  This was the first song that I had heard by them and I always heard it right before I went to bed at night and would fall asleep what amazing band had sung that song because I really liked it.  As Mumford and Sons grew bigger and so did the song I figured out the song name and bought it on iTunes.  I don't know exactly why but I really really love this song and I can never get enough of it.  Although it is sometimes overplayed on the radio, every time it comes on I don't change the channel because I want to hear it again.  Even singing it in the car is fun because it does swear and usually with songs the swear is completely random, but with this song it works for some odd reason.  From the lyrics to the instruments this song has it all and I really can't complain anything about it and I can almost guarantee that when you listen to this song you are going to love it from start to finish.  Just go and buy it you won't regret it!   


Timshel- 6.5/10- I'm not crazy about this song.  I think that this song is really cute in the lyrics because it is talking about a guy who is willing to do anything for a girl because she deserves it and that he is there and that she is not alone.  This song is very slow and stays slow the entire time and it is just a little boring.  Like, I gave you all you have to be in the right mood to listen to this song, but I can see it being in a movie when a couple is first getting together or anything having to do with a romantic.  Not my cup of tea but it could be someone else's favorite of song of the CD so give it a shot you might like it.


Thistle & Weeds- 6/10- The problem that I have with this song is that I feel that it is trying to hard to be different and out there.  The vocals are spot on as they always are but the rest of the song just isn't good.  The arrangement is boring and weird at the same time and is not enjoyable to listen to.  I almost never listen to this song unless I happen to be doing something and the music is more background noise  or if I decide to listen to the entire Mumford and Sons CD.  There is nothing special about this song and only buy it if you happen to be buying the entire CD.


Awake My Soul- 9/10- For some strange reason I really enjoy listening to this song.  The lyrics are really meaningful but they are also really funny at the same time.  He is singing about some deep things and his views and then he starts singing har har har har.  It is a good song because it really good me to think but then laugh at the same time.  To me this song is more about the love of a friend rather than the love of a lover and I like that a lot more because most songs nowadays don't talk about friendship and sometimes those can be the most powerful songs.


Dust Bowl Dance- 6/10- I don't know how to feel about this song.  It is very strange and sort of tells a story.  Listen to this song and tell me what you think.


After the Storm- 9/10- This is a really good song in general but I like it so much more because it is the last song on the CD and it sums up the whole feeling of the CD in one song.  The whole song is about moving on and how something good is just around the corner so, there is no need to worry about anything.  The song starts off slow and then picks up a tiny bit as the storm is "over".  The guitar is also a slow speed and just all around the perfect mood for the song.  The song itself is good but not fantastic but it is nice to listen to once in a while.  In short, this is the perfect way to end a CD.


Real Teen Rating ~ B+ : Check it out sometime! 


Real Teen Download: Roll Away Your Stone, Little Lion Man, The Cave

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Christina Perri - A Thousand Years

Reviewed by Living Destiny

A Thousand Years
Buy it here and support our blog

Song Time: 4 minutes and 45 seconds


I heard this song on the radio about a week ago, and immediately knew it was Christina Perri.  She has such a distinctive voice, and I love all of her songs and listen to them obsessively, so it was easy for me to tell.  I fell in love with it after hearing it once, and when it ended the radio announcer told me that it was on the Breaking Dawn - Part 1 soundtrack.  Which I saw twice in theaters and never noticed this song.  Oops. I think it was the credits song, which I didn't pay much attention to.  Well, anyway.  It got stuck in my head, and I found myself singing it for the next few hours.  I kept looking it up and playing it, trying to learn all the lyrics, and hear we are.  So.  


Just to get it out there, Christina Perri is one of my favorite artists.  Her sound is...I think the best way I can describe it is 'melancholy'.  She sounds reflective and a tiny little bit sad, even if the song has positive lyrics, like this one.  Her voice is really clear and smooth, and she has a great range.  I love singing her songs, because her lyrics are original, and more thoughtful than most songs nowadays (example: check out the lyrics to Last Friday Night.  Pure gold right there.  Not).  Her songs are simple, and don't have overpowering instrumentals or vocals.  It all just meshes really beautifully.  I LOVE HER!


Now that that's over with, the song I'm actually talking about.  A Thousand Years.  At first glance it almost sounds sad, like most of her songs, because it is slow and has downplayed instruments.  However if you look at the lyrics, that's not the case.  The song is about a girl loving someone completely, and finally being with them.  It talks about always knowing there was someone out there for her to love, and finally finding him.  the lyrics remind me of the idea of soul mates, where there is one person you're meant to be with, and when you found them it's like you've always known them and loved them.  I'm totally fascinated by that idea, and it's not one that people touch on in music very often.  Teen romance books, yes, but not music.  The lyrics to the chorus say "I've loved you for a thousand years", which is so poetic and lovely.  Music was originally poetry, and the way lyrics sound now is a disgrace more often than not.  This song definitely isn't a disgrace, and the lyrics are moving, and they make me hope to find my soul mate.  

The melody is so pretty.  It gets stuck in your head, but not in an annoying way, in a way where you kind of dance around to it without minding at all.  It's not an upbeat song, so it's not really a dance around song, but it's one you can listen to over and over and not get bored with.  It's just calming, and the message is so hopeful.  I'm a very cynical person, but this song makes me think a little differently.  My favorite lyrics are either "how can I love when I'm afraid to fall", "I have died every day waiting for you", or "I have loved you for a thousand years/I'll love you for a thousand more".  That's a lot of lyrics, but I really like them all, so that's as narrowed down as it gets.  Love this song.  Truly love it.  I've been listening to it non-stop for two hours, and I still love it.  Christina Perri is my idol, and this song rocks, even if it was made specifically for Breaking Dawn.

Real Teen Rating ~ A+: Look it up right NOWWW!!!!!

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Spotify-App

The Gist
Spotify is an application for your computer, iPod or really anything that lets you listen to all of your favorite music for free.  You can make playlists, share music with your friends, find new songs related to artists that you like and so much more.  


What We Think
Reviewed by The North Star
I first heard about Spotify from my mom when she told me about this application that was HUGE in Europe that was coming over to the USA. When I got home I looked it up and you had to be invited to try it because it wasn't open to the public yet.  I requested to get an account and it was granted.  Ever since then Spotify has basically taken over my life.  Spotify is an ingenious mixture between iTunes, Pandora and GrooveShark.  Spotify is actually an app like iTunes you download to your computer and keep there forever.  Then once you have set up an account and password you type in the search bar the song that you would like and make a playlist and then simply drag and drop.  Like Pandora, once you look up a song in the search bar you can click on the artist's name and then there is a little biography on the artist/band and it tells you their top hits, albums, singles and where they appear.  From there you can click related artists at the top and it will tell you artists that you will most likely like because they are similar to that artist.  Then you can also click Artist Radio where (like Pandora) Spotify will pick songs that are similar to the artist you looked up and they will also tell you what artists they will play so you can look up related artists that way as well.

One of the things that I like the most about Spotify is that you can either pay for it or you can use it as free.  If you pay for it Spotify basically becomes your new iTunes but for cheaper.  You can also get it for free which means you have to "suffer" through some ads but most of the time it is no more than a min or 2 for about 30-45min (which isn't bad if you ask me).  The good thing about paying is that if you had to travel everyday on a train, subway or bus it would be perfect because you just download the app to your phone and then you have all the songs you could possibly ever want and no boredom on your way to work or wherever!  But, for people that don't need to buy the full version can enjoy the free version at their leisure.

One other great thing about Spotify is that it connects with Facebook so you can follow your friend's playlists.  This feature makes sharing great music with your friends just that much easier because you can also "e-mail" your friends new songs that you find or old songs that you rediscovered.  This is a great tool because you can share within Spotify to one or a few or your friends, you can post it to Facebook share or you can tweet it to twitter and let all of your followers know of a great song.  I really tip my hat to the creators of this site because they truly thought of everything and made this site reach its full potential and they are still creating new features that no one has ever thought of before.  There are many more things that I love about Spotify but this post would end up being waaaay to long.  In short, just get an account I guarantee you will love it after the first couple days of using it!

Real Teen Rating~ A++++++: The second after you read this, go make an account....seriously! 

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Mouthful of Diamonds - Phantogram (Single)

Reviewed by Dream Catcher

Mouthful of Diamonds
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Phantogram is one of those bands you hear by chance and are glad you did. I was listening to the different songs from Mtv's Teen Wolf soundtrack and heard this. I didn't really remember hearing it in the show, but I didn't care. Because I just liked it. I don't really know why. It was a song I'd never heard of by a band I'd never heard of. But it's one of my favorite songs at the moment. I don't deny that I have a new favorite song pretty frequently, but that doesn't mean the song isn't good. This song has an interesting vibe, very different. That's the music I've found I like recently. I'm always trying to find good songs by random bands I've never heard of, lately. It's weird. Like I'm trying to find my new favorite band by chance or fate or destiny or something. That may not happen in the near or distant future, but I've found that I do discover a few good diamonds in the ruff every so often. Example: this song.

It starts off choppy and fuzzy, kind of weird, but that's fine. Then there's some funky almost techno noises and they kind of become the background when the guitar starts. Then the singer starts up. This is probably a weird way to describe this song, but bear with me (I've always wondered...is it bear with me or bare with me...?). I'm a little delusional, but usually that makes an interesting review. I think I just write whatever I'm thinking when I'm tired, so the whole thing comes out in a long and very random rant that really has no relevance to the review, like what I'm writing now...Back to whatever I was saying before. The sounds of the song. Yes, it's kind of techno...to use the term loosely, I guess. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but it sounds different and cool. Perhaps not what everyone likes, but that goes along with anything, not just music. The singer is mellow, like most of the song, really. You can tell the singer's probably not the greatest singer in the world, but you don't have to be to sound good on this song, and the singer certainly doesn't sound BAD or anything. Sounds perfectly fine. Good. The chorus is my favorite sounding part of the whole song because it slows down a little and the singer has some eerie harmony which is pretty cool. The chorus blends together really well, which kind of balances out the rest of the song, which is kind of choppy - or at least choppier.

Lyrics. I won't try and convince you that they're genius song-writers. Because I'm not convinced they are either. But the lyrics aren't bad and I love the chorus. I love the lyrics because they're different. They're not exactly the type of things you hear everyday. I love that kind of thing in a song. When the lyrics are abstract and there are a few different ways you can interpret it. The lyrics really go with the sound of the song, too. I hate when there are these really sad lyrics to happy tunes or vice versa. Here they were fitting, I thought. I just think the lyrics were all-around pretty good. There's this one line that always stands out to me, whenever I look at it, but not in a bad way. It's "I wish I could believe the devils won't take you back out to the salty seas". I think it's the word "salty". It stands out. Not because the seas aren't salty, because they obviously are, but because I haven't heard people describe them as that. It's unexpected, but I like it. I think that describes the whole song, for me. Unexpected, but I like it!
Favorite Line: "You've got a mouthful of diamonds/ and a pocketful of secrets/ I know you're never telling anyone".

Real Teen Rating ~ A : Worth Buying!

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There is a Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths

Reviewed by Dream Catcher
Song Time: 4 Minutes and 5 seconds

There is a Light That Never Goes Out
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Sadly, the first time I heard of the Smiths was when watching one of my favorite movies, (500) Days of Summer. The main character, Tom, loved the Smiths, and the first real conversation he had with his love interest (Summer) was about them. Summer actually hears him listening to this song and says he has good taste in music. Anyways, you don't really need to know the details of the movie (500) Days of Summer. Yet. That's another review, I guess. But, anyways, that's how I came to hearing about the Smiths. I looked them up. And then I heard this song. At first I wasn't sure what to think because they have an interesting sound that I'm sure not all people would like. But I have to say I LOVE the chorus. It make me laugh almost every time I hear it (it can at least get a smile), even if it isn't supposed to. It's just talking about different ways to die - only two reasons, actually - but the way they say it somehow makes it funny to me. A morbid type of funny, I guess. But my favorite line comes next and it's what makes the song: "To die by your side/ is such a heavenly way to die". I dunno. It's great. Then it goes onto "And if a ten-ton truck/ kills the both of us/ to die by your side/ well, the pleasure - the privilege is mine". But my favorite line is definitely "to die by your side/ is such a heavenly way to die". So that I love.

The song is sad and not at the same time. The meaning, I mean. Because it's about this guy who's out driving with someone they care about (be it friend or more than a friend, it doesn't really specify - but I'm going to go with more than a friend). He wants to drive somewhere where there's life. He doesn't want to go home because home isn't really home anymore. He's not welcome - for whatever reason. He likes being away from that - driving with this person he's singing to. He says he wouldn't care if he died right then, driving, because "to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die". I love that. Mostly the use of the word "heavenly", I think. It's not a word you hear very often (of course this song isn't exactly new...80s...still...) and it's not a word you would expect to hear when talking about being hit with a double-decker bus or ten-ton truck. But by that line he means that things aren't so bad, because he's with this person. Even dying would be heavenly. I love that. I just keep singing that line over and over. "To die by your side/ is such a heavenly way to die".  I was out driving today (basically learning how to drive with my mom, because I just got my permit) and I was singing this song under my breath. And then I was laughing, because singing about being hit by various vehicles isn't the greatest thing to be singing about during your third driving attempt. :) I'm proud to say I did not hit any double decker buses or ten ton trucks. Or any car, for that matter. I'm babbling. Anyways...

I don't know how to describe the tune. Kind of upbeat, I guess, but not like techno or pop or dance or anything upbeat like that. It's alternative/rock. There's some guitar but nothing crazy or distracting from the lyrics. Simple guitar that's in the background and doesn't change throughout the song. The drums are that way, too. They're there, but they don't jump out at you. The voice of the singer is interesting and different. Some people wouldn't like it, I think. But I do. It's cool. Like I said, different. And I appreciate different. And it's not like he can't carry a tune. Because he obviously can in this song. I dunno, I like it. But I also just love this song.  Overall I just think this song is really great. I've been listening to it on repeat (what I do when I decide to review a song/album) and haven't gotten tired of it yet. Not everyone will like something like this, because it's kind of different, but I think it's cool. And I'd recommend it. Listen to it. And love it. Now. Favorite Line (I'm sure you can guess it...) : "To die by your side/ is such a heavenly way to die".

Real Teen Rating ~ A : Worth Buying!

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Christina Perri- Lovestrong.

Reviewed by The North Star

Song Time: 1 Hour and 36 Seconds (with bonus material) 

Lovestrong
Buy it here and support our blog

Christina Perri recently became a sensation in the music industry.  When her main song "Jar of Hearts" was featured on So You Think You Can Dance everyone flocked to their iTunes accounts and bought the song and everyone was begging for more!  Months later she slowly gave out some of her music with the songs "The Lonely", "Penguin", "Arms", and "Tragedy".  The other day she came out with her first CD, Lovestrong.  and I was so excited to review it because she is brilliant.  

Bluebird- 12/10- I LOVE this song so much.  It is about a girl who is in love with a boy and then he breaks up with the girl and the girl is still in love with the boy and she is trying to repair her broken heart.  This is the first song on her CD that I heard first once I bought the whole CD.  I had heard songs like "Arms" and "The Lonely" before because they were singles but Bluebird wasn't so it was technically the first song I heard off the CD.  I instantly fell in love with the Lovestrong and couldn't wait to her the rest of the CD.  Christina's vocals are beautiful and are somewhat angelic.  The way she sings is very soothing and really shows all the talent that she has.  The lyrics to this song are also very meaningful but complicated because they could be interpreted in a lot of different ways, which is always interesting to see how your friends or other people will take it.  In the end this is a great song and worth $0.99 and should be on everyone's music player.    

Arms- 9.5/10- This was one of the first songs listed as a single when she was releasing songs for hype  for the CD.  According to iTunes it is the biggest song off her album currently and I can see why that is.  This is a song about a girl who loves her boyfriend and she doesn't feel completely whole unless she is near him and he has his arms around her (hence the name of the song).  The song isn't really as cheesy as I am making it sound but the lyrics are very meaningful.  The beat of the song is really nice and it is one of those songs that you sing when no one is in the house and you are all by yourself.  This is a song I can imagine being played on the radio and finding its way onto millions of iPods around the world.  I prefer it when Christina sings the slower songs because I think it sounds better with her voice but this is still a great song and one to buy!   

Bang Bang Bang- 9.5/10- There is something about this song that I really love and I have no idea what that thing is.  The chorus is really well executed and I can't help but tap my foot whenever I hear it.  Most times I really want to get up and dance (as cliche as it sounds) like nobody is watching.  The great thing about this song is that when you listen to the song from the beginning you don't expect to get this huge powerful chorus, which is a pleasant surprise.  This one is about a girl and her boyfriend treated her not very nicely so they break up but she hears that his next boyfriend did the same thing he did to her to him and so she is singing about he got what he deserved in the end.  This is all around a great song and anyone who has ever gone out with a jerk can relate to this song and will hopefully love this song as much as I love it.  

Distance- 8.5/10- This is a song that I know a lot of people will be able to relate to this song.  It is about a girl trying to get over the last break-up that she had and she now has a new boyfriend and doesn't want to rush things because her heart is still healing.  This is a really pretty song but not one of my favorites.  This song is a duet and I am not sure who is singing the boy part but it is really nice and their voices blend quite nice together.  As usual her voice sounds perfect but the thing that I'm not crazy about in this song is the way the versus' sound.  The lyrics are fine but just something about them I just don't like; it might just be the way she sings the lines or the music in the background but other than that I'm not sure what it is.  The thing that I do love about this song the bridge is the bridge towards the end and the chorus when the guy and the girl do some major harmonies.  Sounds heavenly. 

Jar of Hearts- 11.99/10-   Will always be one of my favorite songs ever!  See this link: http://realteenreview.blogspot.com/2010/09/christina-perri-jar-of-hearts.html    

Mine- 7/10- I don't really like this song because personally I think that Christina isn't very good at singing fast songs and her voice is designed to sing the slower heart wrenching ballads.  I'm not sure if the girl in the song is the guy's wife or his mistress but I guess that is all about how you interpret the song.  The only parts of the song that I like are when it slows down and gets more intense and has a nice piano part to go along with it.  When they have this silly synthesized part of the song added in that doesn't sound like real instruments and kind of ruins the whole song.  This is one that I don't listen to very often and have only listened to it 5 times in a row to review the song and it is getting worse every time.  Not one to buy.  

Interlude- 8.5/10- I would just like to point out that this is the most RANDOM song that I have ever heard on a CD before, which doesn't necessarily mean that it is bad.  The song is 51 seconds of oh's and ah's with a beautiful piano part in the background.  I'm not sure why they recorded this song or why they put it on the track but it is really pretty and if you are looking for beautiful voices singing some oh's and ah's this is the song you should buy.   

Penguin- 9.5/10- This is a very cute song and reminds me a lot of the summer.  Now if you haven't listened to this song you might be looking at the song title wondering what a song called penguin must be about.  I thought that too but I didn't question it because it was a Christina Perri song and I love almost all her songs.  I didn't quite get why it was called Penguin until Dream listened to it and enlightened me as to why it might be called Penguin. The theory of this song is that it is about a couple who are deeply in love and have a great relationship making them best friends and he is her penguin because penguins mate once in a lifetime and then that is it.  I really enjoy listening to this song and after listening to it I also have the line "Baby it's fate, not luck" stuck in my head and it won't come out for a good 2 days.  In short, this song is adorable and one I think a lot of people will love and I can see it on the radio in the future.   

Miles- 6.8/10- This song is just OK.  I don't really love it but I don't hate it either and it is in that awkward space where I don't really know where to place it.  It is a beautiful song, no doubt about it but the lyrics aren't as strong as her other songs and seem kind of cheesy.  She is singing about how she is in love with her boyfriend but he wants to break-up with her and she will do anything to keep him. The fact that this girl can't survive without a guy in her life is a little silly.  If it was her husband that would be a different story but the mood and other lyrics in the song sounds really young and as if they had only been dating a short time. The lyric that really gives that away is "Don't count the miles, count the I love you's". The song is the weakest one on her CD but I guess not every artist can have every song be a hit.    

The Lonely- 11.99/10- This song is sheer brillance!!! It was one of the first songs released as a promo for the CD and I'm so glad that they did that because it just made me that much more excited for the CD to come out.  This little ditty is about a girl who has just broken up with her significant other and how she can't live a day without him and every day spent apart the loneliness slowly consumes her.  It is kind of a depressing song but it is beautiful and is one of those songs you get super addicted to and can't stop listening to for days on end.  When you listen to it the mood of the song is set so strongly that you can almost see the entire music video unravelling in your head...or maybe that is just me. Anyways, this is a great song and will be one of my favorites until the end of time and should be on everyone's iPod no matter what!  

Sad Song- 9.5/10- The interesting thing about this song is that Christina wrote this song back in 2008, sang it on her YouTube channel and posted it only to be able to record it on her first CD.  This shows that she has always had talent and was just waiting to be discovered for quite a while.  Back to the song, it is passionate and lovely. It is a little more uptempo than some of her other songs (meaning the beat) but the lyrics are a little on the down side as usual. This song is about a girl that lives far away from her boyfriend or feels distant from him, I'm not quite sure which one and she is writing a song for him to tell him how she feels.  The chorus of the song is one that makes you want to sing along but my favorite part of the song is the bridge because it is something different.  This song is on a little bit of the longer side which is fine but you can only listen to the same verse over and over only so many times so the bridge is a nice little break.  Any Christina Perri lover would love this song and other people but especially people who really like her style of music. 

Tragedy- 10/10- This song really represents what Christina Perri is all about and what new things she brings to the table.  She rights lyrics that the common person can relate to because it doesn't sugarcoat anything.  That might kind of sound a little down but it is true and that is what I love about her and her music.  This song is about a girl who was humiliated by her boyfriend and is now breaking up with him, simply because he was a jerk.  Her vocals are spot on and from listening to the recording you can really hear her getting into the song and expressing her feelings even if it had never happened to her before.  There is really nothing bad to say about this song and everyone should buy it because it is worth the money.  

Backwards (Bonus Track)- 8.5/10- This song is quite mellow and relaxing.  You don't even have to listen to the lyrics to enjoy the song.  The first time I listened to this song I didn't listen to the words I just laid back and enjoyed the arrangement and how nice everything blended together.  This song is about how a girl's town doesn't take any risks (I imagine it to be a town where everyone knows everyone's business) and she is finally taking risks and crossing lines that haven't been crossed before.  The great thing about this song is that it doesn't sound like a song with this take over feel in just the lyrics alone so when I actually read the lyrics I realized how much deeper the song is after examining it a little farther.  A great song for the summer and relaxing around the house or at the beach.     

Black + Blue (Bonus Track)- 9/10- Quirky, fun and interesting are just some of the adjectives that you could use to describe this song.  This is one of those songs that you feel yourself listening to over and over again but you have no idea why you are doing it in the first place.  I am currently trying to learn all of the lyrics so it can be one of the songs to sing in the car but I really don't have an explanation as to why I like this song, you just have to listen to it and see how you react.  

My Eyes (Bonus Track)- 8.4/10- This is probably the most depressing of all Christina's songs.  It is about someone who is trying to close their eyes to sleep, shut out the world and simply stop seeing but they won't shut.  This song is pretty good but the one problem that I have with it is the arrangement that plays while she is not singing.  It sounds like the music that plays in the background of a low-budget horror film (which is never good).  Other than that I really enjoy this song and as always the vocals are spot on.  Even though this song deals with a depressing topic it is addictive and I can't help but keep listening to it.  This isn't one that you need to go buy right away but is a nice addition if you decide to buy the whole deluxe addition of the CD.  

Real Teen Rating~A: Worth Buying!

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Burlesque - Christina Aguilera + Cher

Reviewed by Dream Catcher

Song Time: 31 Minutes 12 Seconds

Burlesque
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This is the soundtrack for the movie Burlesque with Cher and Christina Aguilera. Cher plays the owner of Burlesque and sings two of the ten songs. The rest are sung by Christina Aguilera, playing the new girl to Burlesque with an amazing voice. The movie Burlesque may not have been fantastic but the music is actually really good. Suggestive and a little inappropriate but not that bad. Most of them are covers of older songs, because that's what they did at Burlesque; lip sync-ed and danced to the songs. When Christina Aguilera comes along they stopped lip sync-ing and sang. They're pretty good. And it doesn't hurt that Cher and Christina Aguilera both have great voices.

Something's Got a Hold on Me - 9.5/10- This is a cover, originally sung by Etta Jones in 1962. Now sung by Christina Aguilera. I used to think this song was really obnoxious. Well, maybe not OBNOXIOUS but at the very least bland. I would skip the song whenever it came on my iPod. UNTIL the fateful day when I decided to write this review and I had to listen to the songs each a few times to give a fair grade. And I found that it's actually one of my favorites! The only thing with this song is that there isn't that much lyrical genius. But it's easy to ignore with the voice to back it up. Favorite Line: "Everything about me seems to have changed/step by step I got a brand new walk/I even sound sweeter when I talk".

Welcome to Burlesque - 10/10 - When Cher started singing this song I could only think of how much I didn't like her voice. I thought it sounded disgusting. But then she kept singing and I kept listening and her voice grew on me. Now I really like it. Weird. This is one of my favorite songs in the CD. It may be pretty suggestive but other than that it's really great. The violin-type instrument at the beginning is awesome, sounding creepy and kind of dark. It really went along with the melody of the song, which is pretty dramatic. Love it. This was another song that didn't exactly have the most amazing lyrics I've ever heard. But if I had to pick a favorite... Favorite Line: "Something very dark/is playing with your mind./It's not the end of days"

Tough Lover - 9.3/10- This was another song I really didn't like that much at first.I thought there was just too much note jumping at the beginning. But I've gotten used to it; it's really grown on me. This is another cover. In the movie it's sung by Christina Aguilera as her first real performance song. But in real life this is another song by Etta James. I love how at the beginning of the song there's this slightly-awkward but cool-sounding a capella part. Then the band joins in and the beat speeds up. I don't know exactly why but it feels like a good song to sing and dance to all at once. However this song is kind of inappropriate if you read into it, and the lyrics aren't the greatest. Favorite Line: "He'll make me laugh/ he'll make me cry" (Lame favorite line, I know, but I didn't have much to work with).

But I Am a Good Girl - 9/10- I love this song. Don't ask me why because it's superficial, vain, and suggestive.I think I just like it because of it's catchy-ness. This song is sung by Christina Aguilera. Basically she's singing about how great her life is because she has fancy clothes and shoes and jewelery. The her friends ask how she got those nice things. How? She's a good girl. Yeah. After that there's really not much else to say. Listen to the song and you'll see what I mean. Favorite Line: "You know I have found/ the word's goin' round/they all say my feet never do touch the ground!".

Guy What Takes His Time - 8.8/10- This is a pretty good song. Not my favorite, obviously, but still not bad. It can get kinda boring if you're just sitting there listening to it. When watching the movie it makes sense and it's good when you're watching it...but other that that it's just okay. Christina Aguilera's voice is great, but the song is too slow and doesn't exactly grab your attention. I still like it, and I don't skip it if it comes on my iPod, but it's not the best. Apparently, this song is a cover of something from a musical called Dirty Blonde - inspired by Mae West, some actress popular in the 20's. Favorite Line: "Wouldn't give any rushin' gent a smile,". 

Express - 8.8/10- This song is kind of inappropriate. Not obscenely in appropriate. But a little. This is not another slow song. It starts off slower than picks up a little. I like the how they're snapping at the beginning. It's cool. I'm not sure what kind of instrument it is during the little transition - maybe a trumpet or something -  but that's cool, too. Christina Aguilera's voice is great as always, but I think especially good for this song. It's a song to dance to.  Favorite Line: "It's a cold and crazy world that's ragin' outside,".

You Haven't Seen the Last of Me - 9.5/10- The second and last song sung  by Cher. Really good. I really like this song. But it is SO not Burlesque. In the movie she's singing it like she's practicing for a performance coming up, but why would you ever sing this song at a club? It's slow and meaningful. Two things that do not describe clubs. Nevertheless, it's one of my favorites from this album. It's kind of sad but it's really good. And Cher sounds great. Slow and pretty. Favorite Line: "I've been brought down to my knees/And I've been pushed right past the point of breaking,".

Bound to You - 9.5/10- Another slower song. This time the ballad is sung by Christina Aguilera and is a romantic type song. Again: not the type of thing usually sung in Burlesque. But whatever. She's singing about how she's never felt love and now that she has it she's bound this guy by her love for him. Or something. It's good and really pretty. Favorite Line: "I've opened up, unsure I can trust/My heart and I were buried in dust,".

Show Me How You Burlesque - 7.5/10- For a title-ish song I found it to be a disappointment. It's okay but not one of the better songs on the CD. A song with a good beat but really not much else. Christina Aguilera sings it as the final song in the movie. It starts slow and gets faster as the song progresses. It's okay but not great. Favorite Line: "Underneath the city lights/ there is a world few know about,". 

The Beautiful People (from "Burlesque") -7.5/10- This is the credits song. Another catchy song with a good beat. But not really anything remarkable. Yeah, very catchy. It gets stuck in my head really easily. And stays there for a while. Another sung by Christina Aguilera. It's pretty good. Not GREAT thought. Favorite Line: "All of the beautiful people/shining like diamonds/they've got no problems,".

I really don't have much else to say about the songs. I think it's a pretty decent CD, but that doesn't make the movie itself good...that's another review. Actually, the music was the best part of the movie because of the great voices singing. The thing with most of the songs was that they were all good beat or catchy tune, with little to no meaning. Except Bound to You and You Haven't Seen the Last of Me, which (ironically) were the two songs that wouldn't really fit in with Burlesque. It was hard to pick favorite lines because of this; there really wasn't much to pick from. But other than that I think it's a pretty good CD that deserves some checking out. At least listen to a few songs. :)


Real Teen Rating ~ B : Check it out but, really, there's no rush.

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Science & Faith- The Script

Reviewed by The North Star
Song Time: 42 Minutes and 12 Seconds 

Science&Faith
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You Won't Feel A Thing-6/10- This song is just OK.....  I will usually skip this if I see it come on my iPod but sometimes if I'm in the mood I will listen to it.  The chorus isn't very catchy and there is just something about it that I don't like.  I guess I just have to be in a certain mind-set to listen to this song.  Not one to buy on iTunes.


For The First Time-10/10- This was the first and only single off of the CD and I love it.  I had actually heard it on Pandora first on my Script station and loved it.  When I saw that it was actually a single I was excited but at the point the whole CD had already come out so I just got the whole CD.  Anyways, this is an awesome song with a great beat and vocal and all that good stuff but my favorite part of the song are the lyrics.  They are singing about how our world is becoming screwed up really bad and people don't know how to fix their lives.  This is something A MILLION people can relate to especially now with the economy and everything else that goes on.  They then go to sing about how they are finally seeing people as if it is the first time they have ever seen them (hence the title) and it goes to show you that when times get hard you see people's true colors and that is not necessarily a bad thing!


Nothing- 10/10- This is one of the more mellow songs on their albums...for the most part.  The versus are slow and quiet meaningful.  This song gets a perfect 10 because the chorus and versus are really thought through.  I could listen to the versus of this song all day long and not ever get sick of it.  This song really shows the lyric genius that is The Script.  It is about a guy that loses a girl but he can't imagine his life without her but his friends keep telling him that if he drinks she will get off of his mind but he keeps thinking about her.  While listening to the song I wanted to see what he would do and that is the making of a truly great song.


Science & Faith-9/10- This is the title song of the album.  I usually like it when they don't have the title of the album but this was an exception to the rule.  The chorus is catchy and gets stuck in your head and the lyrics mean something.  It is about a boy and a girl trying to figure out their relationship and the guy wants to know the science of love.  She then tells the boy that science will never be able to describe love you just have to have faith in it. The whole concept is sweet in its own little way and is a must buy on iTunes.


If You Ever Come Back-7/10- This is song about forgetting but remembering at the same time.  A guy is dating a girl who leaves him and he is trying to forget her but he says that if she comes back he will just accept her as if nothing had happened.  The subject of this song bother me because he shouldn't let her back that easily.  She lied to him and made him feel bad about himself but he is so eager to accept her back again.  If he would jut forget her I would have liked the song better.  The chorus and beat is just OK but I do like the chorus right after the bridge because there are cool harmonies going on.  All around just an average song, not one to really look for.


Long Gone and Moved On-8/10- This is a pretty basic song; it sounds like all the other songs on the radio nowadays but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is a bad song.  Like a lot of the other songs on their CD it is about a relationship that has gone wrong.  A guy is talking about a girl that he broke up with and now she is with a new guy and it makes him jealous to see them together and he has no idea how to act around her because he still feels hurt about the break-up.  The reason that I really love this song is the bridge.  I'm not sure why I like it, it might be the way he sings the lyrics or just the lyrics in general but for whatever reason I really like it.  This is one to have to choose between 6-7 songs from the CD but definitely not number one.


Dead Man Walking-5/10-  Ehhh....I don't really care for this song.  The lead singer sounds like it isn't him actually him singing.  The way that he recorded the song makes it seem a lot higher than his voice usually sounds.  There is also a lot of repetition in this song which is usually fine with me but I have a problem when you start to notice all of the repetition that is going on in the song.  The only way I would recommend this song would be because it is on the CD and I would recommend this song because I would recommend this CD but besides that don't buy it.


This= Love- 11/10- I absolutely love this song!!!  First off the lyrics/message are amazing.  The lyrics to the first verse are It’s in the eyes of the children; As they leave for the very first time; And it’s in the heart of the soldier; As he takes a bullet on the front line; It’s in the face of a mother; As she takes the force of a blow; And its in the hands of the father yeah; As he works his fingers to the bone yeah. So instead of having a song all about the girl he loves he sings about ALL types of love from mother to her children to a solider fighting for the love of his country.  I love that about this song because no one ever sings about the everyday loves that in some ways are stronger than the love between a teenage girl and boy.  I mean those songs are cute and all but this was a nice refreshing change.  This song is also extremely catchy and gets stuck in my head all day.  Buy it on iTunes A.S.A.P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Walk Away(feat B.o.B)-8/10- Whenever I listen to this song I think of hearing it at a club or party.  There are some really soft parts that people can sing-along to but it has a very strong beat so that makes it a great dance song.  The rap with B.O.B is a great addition to the song and I am not someone who likes rap at all but I don't mind the rapping in this song.  If you are looking for a song with a defined beat, rap and amazing singing then this is one to buy.  The only reason this song doesn't get a higher score in my book is because I am not a fan of rap but other than that this is a very good song.


Exit Wounds-10/10- CAUTION: This is a song that will get stuck in your head days after listening to it. This song is about a guy that is dumped and doesn't know how to deal with the break-up while the girl is taking it perfectly fine.  Unfortunately, I always forget about this song but the good thing about it is that when it comes up on shuffle I am pleasantly surprised because it is such a good song.  When I first  bought the CD I listened to it non-stop for 3 days straight and never got sick of the song.  Danny O'Donoghue (the lead singer in The Script) has a fantastic voice and I never get sick of listening to it and in this song his voice really shines.  This is a song that everyone should have on their iPod/MP3 Player.    


Bullet From a Gun-7/10- This song is pretty decent.  I don't really love this song but I don't dislike it either.  I will usually skip it when it comes up on my iPod but if I listen to the entire CD then I won't usually skip it.  Like Dead Man Walking there is a lot of repetition that you notice after to listening to about 2minutes of the song.  The song is about a relationship and the guy really wants to be with a girl so he is pointing out to her about how she is in love with him too and she can't get out of the feeling.  All around it is an OK song not one I would buy individually on iTunes.  


Walk Away-9/10- This is pretty much the same song but without the rap part from B.O.B which is why it is getting a higher grade but both are songs to look for when buying songs on iTunes.

Real Teen Rating~ B+: Check it out sometime!

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