Glee - Acafellas

Reviewed by The North Star

Song Time: 10 Minutes

Bust Your Windows
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Mercy - 7.5/10 - This is the second song that Vocal Adrenaline sings.  It's very similar to Rehab with the harmonies and no one ever having a solo.  I like this one less than Rehab but it's still good.  It doesn't seem to go anywhere and is one note the whole time.  Other than that it's a good rendition of the song but don't bother buying it anytime soon. 

Bust Your Windows - 9/10 - This song is awesome! In the episode Mercedes is in love with Kurt (Chris Colfer) who is very obviously gay.  She sings this song after finding out that he doesn't have feelings for her.  They're at a car wash and when she finds out she smashes his car window.  This is song is really intense though.  Mercedes really gets into the song and shows off her vocal range.  This song is really good because it was an unknown song that Glee took and made it their own and it actually fit with the plotline.  In short, buy it for the vocals but also look up the scene on YouTube because it's worth it.   

I Wanna Sex You Up - 3/10 -  The only part of this song that I like is Mr. Schuester's part.  He is the only one that doesn't sound awkward when singing the song.  In the beginning of the song they have this weird part where they're singing something really strange and I can't quite make out what they're saying but it sounds off.  It is supposed help make the song a capella but it doesn't work.  I think that they should have just picked a different song because as I said above no one sounds good except for Mr. Schuester.  No one should buy this song. Ever. 

Real Teen Rating ~ D+ : Only one song worth listening to

Real Teen Download: Bust Your Windows

Reviewed by Living Destiny

Mercy - 7/10 - This is kind of the exact same thing as Rehab. Cool harmonies, always a full choir. It's interesting, and fun to listen, but nothing that blows you out of the water. It gets kind of boring once you realize that half the time they're saying the word mercy on the same note. The voices are good, but the song isn't so much.

Bust Your Windows - 8.5/10 - I actually thought the scene for this song was stupid. It seemed pretty implausible that she couldn't tell he was gay, and that's coming from someone who has absolutely no sense of that sort of thing. The song, however, is good. I used to listen to this song a lot. It's got a jazzy sort of feel, which fits Amber Riley's voice perfectly. She has a great higher register, which she gets to flaunt in this song. It makes you want to move.

I Wanna Sex You Up - 3/10 - I literally did not remember this song at all when I read the title. And then I realized why. It's when Mr. Schuester tried to form a boy band. Whether I forgot because it's been so long since I watched the show, or because I intentionally blocked it from memory, is for you to decide. What I can say is this is one of the most awful songs I've ever encountered. Listening to it felt like physical pain. The harmonies are ok, the melody is ok. For an a capella group, it's not impressive. It's really kind of sad, because if this group of singers had picked any other song, it would have sounded good. But they picked this, and it's just bad.

Real Teen Rating ~ D: Ugh.

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Glee - Showmance

Reviewed by The North Star
Song Time: 12 Minutes

Gold Digger
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Gold Digger - 9.5/10 - This song always cracks me up because in the episode Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) is trying to teach the kids how to dance and sing at the same time and by the end they all learn...except for Finn.  Anyways, I really like this song.  The song itself is talking about girls who are gold diggers but if you ignore what the lyrics are actually about this is a really great song.  I love how it starts off with Mercedes (Amber Riley) singing and the Mr. Schuester comes in and if you have ever seen him he is not who you would picture singing this song, but he pulls it off.  The whole glee club if you look at them if not who you would be picture to be singing this song but like Mr. Shoe, they pull it off.  In the end, this is definitely one to download.

Push it - 6/10 - One of the only reasons that I like this song is because me, Dream Catcher, Living Destiny and ShoreWhisperer have an inside joke about it.  The scene in which they perform this song is hilarious.  They're trying to get people to join glee club so they think by singing this song that people will join.  The song itself.....not great.  Unlike gold digger in which they rap successfully in Push It they do not.  The only reason it's getting a good grade is because of the scene in which they sing it and the inside joke, other than that I don't like the song at all.

I Say A Little Prayer - 4/10 - I can't stand this song.  I only bought it because it was on the episode and back when Glee first came out I had to buy every song.  Quinn (Dianna Agron) sings this song to get into the glee club.  This song is all about God and a couple and how every time the singer does something she says a little prayer.  No matter who sings this song I hate it, so the fact that this song is getting a 4 is a mini miracle. The reason that it isn't getting a 1 or a 2 is because of Dianna Agron.  She has a great voice and it is honestly the only thing that makes this song tolerable.  

Take a Bow - 9/10 - I always forget about this song.  I'm not crazy about the original but I think this version is a lot better than the original.  This song is in the perfect register for Lea Michele and so her voice sounds really great on it.  Even in the recording you can hear the emotion in her voice and I think that is really hard to do when you can't see the singers face.  She brings an innocence to the song that Rihanna takes away.  In the original it seems more like Rihanna could have been in the wrong but in the glee version you feel bad for Rachel/Lea which is the point.  This is definitely a version to buy.

Real Teen Rating: C- : Don't waste your time listening to the whole episode

Real Teen Download: Gold Digger

Reviewed by Living Destiny

Gold Digger - 6.5/10 - Matthew Morrison rapping is probably one of the funniest things in the world. It's especially funny because he actually isn't bad at it. Amber Riley riffing at the beginning is the best part of the song though. She has a ridiculous voice. After that, it's ok. If you know the original song, you know that they cut out the more inappropriate parts, which is fine but they try to replace them with choral harmonies, which is less ok. I really like Matthew Morrison, and that's where this grade is coming from.

Push It - 7/10 - This is also hilarious. And it's not even that it's a good song, I just love it. It's not a song you can sing along to, or one that is particularly well done, but every time I hear it, it makes me smile. Kevin McHale's little rap part is the best part of the song, and over the course of the first season, he proves himself to be the best rap singer in the show. Cory Monteith is probably the worst, and his part sounds so awkward it's entertaining. Not the best song musically, but one of the most enjoyable.

I Say A Little Prayer - 8/10 - This is so catchy! It's not that I find the song to be great, because I think it's kind of a lame song. But it's just so catchy. And this version of it is really well done. The harmonies are good, and Dianna Agron is stellar. It gets stuck in my head, and I'll end up singing it for days. While I agree with North Star that I really don't like the song itself, I love this version, and I can't agree with her grade. I think this song is awesome.

Take a Bow - 9/10 - This song is beautiful. It's soothing, sad, and it seems a lot less harsh than Rihanna's version of it. Not angry or defensive, just sort of resigned. Interestingly, this song is at least as high as Lea Michele's first solo, but she sounds much better on it. Whether her voice matured very quickly, or it's just the fact that she isn't belting, this is a nice high register song for her. The bridge is fantastic, with the long high note. Definitely my favorite from this episode.

Real Teen Rating ~ C+: You could go either way on this...

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Katy Perry- Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection

Reviewed by The North Star
Song Time: 1 hour and 17 minutes

The Complete Confection
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Teenage Dream- 9/10- This song is at least 2 years old but for some reason I still listen to it when it comes on the radio singing along in the car and I am not a big Katy Perry fan.  The song is weirdly catchy and I always have it stuck in my head.  It is going to go down as one of those legendary songs that when our generation is older it will be played on the "oldies" station.  This is one of those songs that it is really hard to not sing along to in the car.  If you are reading this and you haven't listened to the Glee version of this song then go look it right now.  I am not going to deny that Glee has had its problems recently but this is back when Glee was watchable and the songs were well thought out.  If you haven't heard this song, despite your feelings about Katy Perry or newer age music you should still listen to it because it will be one of the biggest songs of the decade.    


Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)- 6/10 - I am not crazy about this song but I will admit that it is catchy and I often find myself humming it wherever I go.  This song reminds me a little too much of Rebecca Black's song Friday.  Not much about this song is appealing to me.  The lyrics are not well thought out the beat/rhythm of the song sounds very similar to almost every other song on the radio.   One of the only things I like about this song happens to be the music video.  It is fun and fits the song perfectly but a separate review on that will come soon.  Back to the actual song, when it comes on in the car I almost always change the station but the second I get out of the car the song is stuck in my head so I guess the rhythm is catchy. Other than that the song doesn't have much going for it, especially the weird chanting towards the end of the song.     

California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg)- 6/10 - The original song was originally off a previous CD but for this release they redid a lot of songs with various celebrities.  When the original song came out I remember it was HUGE and you could not go ANYWHERE without hearing this song at least 6 times.  It got to the point that most people could recite the lyrics perfectly without any music playing.  I haven't heard this song in a while because newer songs have come along but I think that I can still recite the lyrics without any help.  As for my opinion of the song, I am not that crazy about it.  To me it sounds just like every other Katy Perry song with the exception of a few songs.  At first I did like the song but then it became overplayed and then I started hating it.  I don't think that it sends a good message at all, to the younger generation that is listening to the song and singing at the top of their lungs at school dances.  I wish the lyrics were more meaningful but I guess you have to have a fun meaningless song every once and a while.  Snoop Dogg also does not add much to the song and his part is kind of pointless.  In short, listen to the song if you haven't heard it (which would be nearly impossible) but don't expect genius.


Firework- 8.5/10- For some reason I really enjoy this song.  Every time I hear it I feel the urge to just starting singing as loud as I can along with the lyrics.  I'm not sure if it is the message or how it was composed but I really like it.  The message of the song is basically that you are who you are meant to be and that is all anyone can really ask for and to not worry because everyone is special at something you just have to find out what that is.  I think that is one of the most important messages to send to kids, especially ones who in this generation tend to feel less special.  Just everything about this song works and I don't think that is the greatest singer in the world but on this song she sounds really great.  When she was at a radio concert a couple of years ago this was her best song and it seemed like she really got into the emotions of the song and believed in the lyrics that she was singing.  One of the better Katy Perry songs.


Peacock- 3/10- I REALLY do not like this song.  The whole point of this song is that a girl wants to see a man's blank.  It is very inappropriate and instead of coming out and saying the actual word she says peacock but brakes it up so you definitely get the point.  The song is not funny, well produced or well written.  When I first heard this song I skipped over it after the first line because I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  Then when I finally listened to the whole song I wish that I could have unheard it because all of the lyrics are obscene and I do not want to know what drove someone to write this song, let alone record it.  If I were Katy Perry I would not have recorded it.  The only somewhat redeeming quality is that at points if you aren't listening to the lyrics the arrangement in the background is nice.  This is only though if you can get past the rest of this awful song.  It is labeled explicit for a reason.


Circle the Drain- 7/10- This is one of those songs that the second that you start listening to it you know that this is one of those songs that you would hear a club and people would love because of the hard bass and beat.  I cannot see this being one of the popular Katy Perry songs that is played on the radio 24/7.  I'm sure people love this song just for that reason alone but for me it really is not my cup of tea.  It isn't that I don't love this song but it is very high energy and in your face so unless I was at a club or going for a workout this song is kind of weird to listen to.  So if you love in your face music that gets you pumped up then I would say to check out this song because you will most likely like it. :)


The One That Got Away- 6.5/10-  When I first heard this song, I HATED it.  I remember talking to Dream and asking if she had heard the new Katy Perry song and just going on and on about how much I hated this song.  As I was forced to hear this song more and more I started to like the more and more every time that I heard it.  With most Katy Perry songs this seems to be the case.  I hate them the first time I hear it, love it after a while and then end up hating it after I have heard the song 15 million times. This song is OK.  It isn't great and it is awful.  There is nothing bad in the song which is a refreshing change and there isn't anything substantially profound.  The good thing about this song is that a lot of people can relate to it and think of that one person that they wish things had gone different with.  On that note the song is relatable but there is nothing then what you hear on the first time through. The one thing that I will say is that give it a few tries because maybe you will be like me and like a lot more the more you hear, just make sure you don't overplay it with yourself.   


E.T.- 2/10- I cannot stand this song.  At the concert where we saw Katy Perry she was trying out the song on our audience to see if we liked it before she released it.  When she started singing I became confused because it was SO different from everything else that she sings.  I remember thinking to myself that there was NO way that this song was going to become popular.  A couple of months later I was in the car and I heard this song and could not believe it! No matter how much I hear this song I will never ever like it.  There is absolutely no point and I really don't why people like listening to it....I really really don't.  I could go on for ages about my hatred for this song but I am going to leave it with never look up this song and listen to it you will want the 3 minutes of your laugh back.


Who Am I Living For?- 10/10- I had never heard of this song before I bought the decided to listen to the entire CD.  When I saw the title I was expecting to hate the song because I was expecting it to be really cheesy but it is the exact opposite.  It is more about someone's inner battle with themselves to define who they are.  Although this premise of a song also sounds cheesy it is not at all.  The song is all synthesizers, which in some cases works, but it is all very electronic and really like how it is strong it comes across.  This different approach to a very common song topic made me really have a new respect for Katy Perry but also gave me a song that I really ended up liking.  Even the lyrics to the song are great. I can feel a phoenix inside of me; As I march alone to a different beat; Slowly swallowing down my fear.  Those are the opening lyrics to this song and it really creates the whole feel of the entire song. I would highly recommend buying this song and just appreciating a really good song.  


Pearl- 6/10- This is one of Katy Perry's slower songs.  I have mixed emotions about this song.  At points I really like this song and then at other points I could really care less about it and would rather turn it off.  One bad thing about this song is that her vocals on this song don't sound the greatest.  It always seems like she is a little off.  Another thing is that the chorus is completely awful.  It is one of those parts that I just keep wishing was over.  It feels as if it doesn't know whether it wants to be a ballad or a techno song.  The versus' are really what carry this song all the way through.  If the whole song was like the versus' then this would be a great song but unfortunately the song wasn't written that way and that stinks.  Another good thing about this song is the message.  This song is basically about a girl that was pure and sheltered but then she meets someone who completely messes her up and tears her down but how she rises up from that and she realizes that she is worth more than he made her feel.  I think that is a great message to send especially for people that went through something like that or for any friend who knows someone going through something like that.  I just wish actually listening to the recording of the song was as strong as the lyrics.        


Hummingbird Heartbeat- 7.5/10- This the perfect example to show where sometimes I think Katy Perry needs to hire a new lyricist.  "Let's pollinate to create a family tree; This evolution with you comes naturally; Some call it science, we call it chemistry; This is the story of the birds and the bees."  I think when people read the title to this song they realize that it is going to be about birds, the lyrics do not need to be so literal.  Lyrics aside though, this song is catchy.  After reviewing this song I'm sure I will have the chorus stuck in my head for a good hour.  I would not be surprised in the least bit if this is the next single off of her album.  I can just picture everyone singing this song while walking down the hallways and in the car.  It is only a matter of time until this song is everywhere.        



Not Like the Movies- 7/10- This is probably the slowest song of Katy Perry's next to Thinking of You. When I first listened to this song I was very surprised that it hadn't already been on the radio.  This is exactly the song that teenagers love and love to relate to.  It is all about how relationships should be like all the romantic movies because romantic movies always have the perfect relationships.  If this song was on the radio I know that it would be extremely popular and every teenage girl would download it and have it on their iPod for when they encounter a break-up.  To me, this song is just OK.  The lyrics are average and same with the tune and composition of the song.  As I said above if you are a teenage girl then download this song because I'm sure that it will come in handy one day.  :)


The One That Got Away (Acoustic)- 7.5/10- This is the same song as above but instead of all the synthesizers in the background it is just Katy Perry and a guitar singing the song.  I like this version so much more because it is a stripped down version of the song which is really nice and it just sounds so much better.  Although this song isn't very deep for some reason the acoustic version makes the song sound really meaningful.  If you were looking at buying the CD and didn't know which version to pick, I would say to pick this version because it is so much more heartfelt and connects more to something that isn't quite there.  I often listen to this version and I don't often listen to the other version.  This one is definitely worth the $1.29.


Part of Me- 6/10- I don't really care for this song.  I am in the third stage of popular Katy Perry songs which is that now I am just sick of it and how overplayed it is.  This song is about not letting anyone bring you down and that you need to always stick up for yourself.  This is a great thing to sing about because it is an important thing for people to realize about themselves and to apply to every day life.  Again though, this song sounds like every other popular Katy Perry song.  If you try and dig deep and look for meaning in the lyrics then you probably won't find anything there.  One of the Katy Perry classics but not necessarily a great song that is to be remembered.


Wide Awake- 9.5/10-  This is Katy Perry's newest single that is played all over the radio.  Just like the One That Got Away when I first heard this song I did not like it at all.  Again, I heard it more and more and now I am in the middle stage of really liking the song.  Every time I hear it I turn up the volume and start singing my heart out.  I believe that this song is about someone coming off of a high of some kind and explaining what it feels like coming off of that high.  It is never really established completely what the high comes from which I really like.  This way if you listen to this song you could take it to mean whatever is more personal for you.  For whatever reason I really really like this song and so if you are buying the album, don't forget to buy this one.  It is a really good song.

Dressin' Up- 5/10- It seems like this whole album is divided into two very separate parts. One half is the club songs that are very electronic and the other is the popular pop stuff that gets played on the radio.  Then there are the couple random songs that don't seem to fit in either category.  This song falls in the very electronic group.  Since this song was probably expected to play in clubs they didn't really focus on lyrics so they are really silly and pointless.  In a club or at a party everyone would be so busy with their own stuff that they wouldn't even notice the lyrics so they don't need to be great.  For a party this would be a great song but just for listening when you are trying to do your homework or read it probably isn't the greatest.


E.T. (feat. Kanye West)-1/10- Read review above of the original song.  The only difference is that this version is worse because it envolves unnecessary rapping.


Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) [feat. Missy Elliott]- 3/10- I think this song is a lot worse than the original and I wasn't even that crazy about the original.  It is basically the same song except for every time there is a versus then Missy Elliott takes over and does her little rap and then when it gets to the chorus Katy Perry takes back over.  Also at random points in the song Missy Elliott will add a word or phrase.  To me it doesn't seem like they should have wasted the time rereleasing the song for just adding a few lines that actually make the song worse.  Not worth ANY of your time or money.


Tommie Sunshine's Megasix Smash-up- 8.5/10-  To start off this song is 7 minutes long.  A DJ basically took his favorite six Katy Perry songs and made a great track for a party.  I almost never like remixes of songs just for whatever reason but I really like this mash-up.  If I were ever to have a party this would be the number one song on the playlist because the way that Tommie Sunshine mixed the songs made everything sounds really great together.  Even the Katy Perry songs that I don't like sound really good in this song (like E.T).  If you are looking for a song with a great beat then this is definitely one to check out.

Real Teen Rating~ D+: Only a handful of songs worth listening to


Real Teen Download: Wide Awake, Teenage Dream & Tommie Sunshine's Megasix Smash-up

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David Cook- This Loud Morning (Deluxe Version)

Reviewed by The North Star
Song Time: 56 Minutes and 14 Seconds
While watching American Idol people tend to attach to one person once it gets down to the top 12 and then they root for them to whole way and want them to win and are really sad when they get kicked off (unless they win).  When the seventh season of Idol started almost no one predicted David Cook to win, but as more contestants got kicked off and you had to pick someone else to favor David Cook became very popular.  Then once he won, everyone rejoiced and said that once his album came out they would be waiting in line for the doors to open to buy the CD.  Sadly, David's second album didn't get much publicity when it actually was pretty good!

This Loud Morning
Buy it here and support our blog

Circadian- 8.5/10- This song to me is all about how things a lot of the time are thrown to chance and how a lot of the time the things that most people to believe to be not true are actually in fact, true.  When I first heard this song all I did was listen to the background music to the song because the beat of the drums and guitar really compliment each other and provides this nice ring.  The beginning also has a little music box playing and I really liked that because it was different.  The more that I listened to this I heard the lyrics and just enjoyed the song that much more.  The couple things that I didn't like about it was the repetitive nature that it had at points but other than that a good song!


Right Here, With You- 7.5/10- David Cook is the master at having great guitar parts playing behind him but this song lacked for me.  I'll listen to it if it comes up on my iPod but I would not go searching for this song.  This sounds like a song they threw together to play to the teenage girl listeners, but David Cook wasn't too crazy about it.  The lyrics are cheesy and it sounds like a million other songs but, the guitar part is amazing!

We Believe- 9/10- This song isn't the greatest instrumental wise (mainly because it sounds like every song on the radio) but the lyrics to this song are AWESOME! The beginning of this song sounds like a U2 song and I was really confused at first but then I realized that it was a David Cook song. My favorite lyric is: We believe there's a reason that we're all here, that every doubt will disappear.  I'm not sure why that is my favorite line in the song but ever since I heard it I can't get it out of my head.  All in all, if you are looking for a song with good lyrics this one is a winner.  

Fade Into Me- 7/10- I'm not to crazy about this song.  The instrumental isn't creative and the lyrics are also lame.  I think the song is supposed to be about this guy and he is saying that him and his love are so perfect for one another that they feel everything together so if one hurts then the other one hurts and also how since they have this connection the other half can sense it and make them feel better, because they feel it themselves.  It is an interesting song concept but it wasn't executed very well and I think could have been done A LOT better.  I do not recommend this song.

Hard to Believe- 8.5/10- The versus' of this song are very weak but I can never get enough of the chorus.  The lyrics aren't even that good at the chorus but the music with David Cook's voice mixed in, it makes a perfect blending and it sounds awesome.  The rest of the song is just eh and sounds like a lot of the other songs on his CD.


Take Me As I Am- 6.5/10- The sad thing about this song is that if it were a single I would like it a lot more (meaning I hadn't heard any of the rest of the CD).  After listening to the CD as a whole it doesn't seem as special anymore.  The lyrics don't stand out and neither does the music.  It sounds exactly like 3 other songs on the album but not done as well.  Don't get me wrong, it is a good song but it doesn't match up to the high standard that the other songs have on the table.


Time Marches On- 8/10- This song is just kind of there for me.  There is nothing bad about it, nothing great about it either. If it came on while listening to songs on shuffle I wouldn't skip it and I would probably end up singing with the song by the end of it.  One to look at if you really enjoyed David Cook music.


The Last Goodbye- 9.5/10- This was the first single off of this CD and I was really excited when it first came out because it was a new David Cook song and it had been a long time since his last album had come out.  The lyrics don't quite make sense at first but they are just kind of catchy and after hearing the song a couple of times it really grew on me and now every time it shows up on the radio it is a pleasant surprise and I turn up the volume! One to keep your eye on, I feel that it might get it's chance on the radio one of these days! Worth the download!


Paper Heart- 12/10- This is by far my FAVORITE song on this CD! The song is perfect from beginning to end.  The versus' are emotion filled with great lyrics and are slower on the mellow side, but then he hits the chorus with power and I can't help but sing out when I hear it no matter where I am, and if I am in a place where it should be quiet I mouth the words and I do get some strange lyrics.  Paper Heart is one of those songs you dance to in your room pretending to be the lead singer in a band with the guitar strung around your shoulder.  In general, awesome song!


4 Letter Word- 9/10- I like this song, despite it's extreme cheesiness.  When I first saw the title to the song I could predict the 4 letter word and I think that anyone who reads it can guess what it is, but it is a cute little song.  Although it is extremely cheesy it is more rocky so it sets it apart from the stereotypical love ballad.  One to buy if the iTunes money is sitting in your account but, not necessary.


Goodbye to the Girl- 11/10- This is one of my favorite songs from the CD!  Most of David Cook's music is heavy and metallic sounding but this one is on the mellow side and you can start to hear why he won American Idol.  His voice is so pure and with this song it feels like he is really getting into it and feeling what the lyrics are saying and not just singing them as if they are words on a page. Great Job David!


Rapid Eye Movement- 8/10- This song is exactly like the song Time Marches On to me, it is OK it is just kind of there.  Fun Fact: This is the song that he says the title of the album!


This Is Not the Last Time- 6.5/10- This and Let Me Fall For You were bonus tracks on this CD.  I have found that after listening to a lot of bonus tracks of CD's they are either the best part of the CD or not so great.  This song falls under the category of not so great.  Literally sounds exactly like another song on the CD so much that if you played them next to each other you probably wouldn't notice when the song switched over.  The only redeeming quality of this song is the bridge because it is different and not the same old same old.


Let Me Fall For You- 9.5/10- As the second bonus song on the CD I would expect the song to be as bad as the first bonus song but this one was actually really good.  The thing that set this sound apart from all the other ones was that in this song he used a piano which is extremely rare in David Cook songs.  He also uses a lot of repetition in this song but it actually works.  I actually like this song because it about a girl that is very secluded and does not want to let anyone in but this guy is singing about how she should let him in because he would never hurt/break her and she should just let him fall for her.  I like that because it is a different scenario that almost no one sings about.


Real Teen Rating:On the fence of C+: You could go either way on this. . .


Real Teen Download: Paper Heart, Goodbye to the Girl and The Last Goodbye

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Amanda Lamb- Highwire

Reviewed by The North Star
Song Time: 33 Minutes and 8 Second

Highwire
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Amanda Lamb is fairly new to the music business but she is not afraid to get in and get her CD out there.  When I heard about her CD I couldn't wait to look her up and with a name like Lamb I was guessing that she had to be different, whether that was a good or bad thing.  I was pleasantly surprised when I heard her CD and some songs I listen to quite often


Kiss Me Now- 9/10- This song is beyond catchy.  If you listen to it once it gets stuck in your head for ages and I find myself singing it while walking or going to do something and then the people standing around me get the song stuck in their heads as well.  The lyrics aren't genius but they are fun to listen to.  I can see this song being up-and-coming on the radio and being played at school dances with everyone jumping up and down singing the lyrics.


Love Hate- 7/10- This song has a nice beat and is nice to listen to as long as you don't listen to the lyrics to closely.  When you listen to the lyrics you find that they are an oxymoron.  "I love hating you, I hate loving you". Maybe it is only me but these lyrics are confusing.  I get it if you love hating someone as a form of flirting and if you hate loving someone who is not good for you but, both at the same time doesn't make any sense.  The lyrics are why this gets a 7 but the beat is nice to listen to.


Infinity-8/10- I actually like this song a lot.  I didn't think I was going to because the beginning is weak but when Ryan Calhoun (who is featured in the song) comes in I really enjoy the song.  Their voices blend really well together and I think they make great duet partners. The lyrics to this song are quite cheesy, so be warned that they aren't the best but as long as you let yourself listen to the two voices blend together as one then you will be wanting to listen to the song over and over. 
 
Fallen- 5.5/10-  I don't really enjoy this song that much.  Amanda Lamb has a beautiful voice and this song makes her sound really bad and like someone who is doing mediocre karaoke.  It might have been the way she intended it to sound, she was having an off day or something else unknown but the way this song was recorded does not sound good.  The lyrics to this song are also not that great and like Love Hate don't make sense. "I'm following; My every dream; The ones I'm told; Aren't meant for me; I've fallen". If someone had told me that they had achieved their dream then I would think that they were picking themselves up not the other way around.  This is a flaw in the lyrics or I am just interpreting them a different way then most people but that is another reason why I didn't like this song.  All in all it is ehhh wouldn't recommend it.   


The Life of an Aerialist- 10/10- This is my favorite song on the CD.  The beat makes you want to dance and whip your hair back and forth to the rhythm.  After our interview with Amanda I had a new respect for this song because she talked about how it had to do with her Type-1 diabetes and it made a lot of sense.  An aerialist has an unpredictable life and she also has an unpredictable life as well.  My favorite line from the song is "Pretending I'm fearless; As I'm balancing the highwire".  After listening to this song 5 times in a row I started singing along to the lyrics from the chorus.  Once you listen to the song a couple of times you can't help but sing-a-long and I wouldn't be surprised if this song ended up on the radio!


Hypnosis- 7/10- This is not a song that I would pick to listen to if I was surfing through my iPod.  This is one of those songs that if I was listening to music on shuffle and this song came up I would probably keep it on but that would be the only time I would listen to it.  The beat is nice and makes you want to tap your foot but you would never sing in the car with your friends.  The lyrics (as most of Amanda Lamb songs) are not that good but as long as you don't pay attention to the lyrics you can enjoy the song.  Overall, the song is just OK but not worth $0.99 on iTunes.   


I'll Be Your Moonlight- 6.5/10- I don't hate this song but I don't love this song either.  This song is a lot more mellow than the rest of the songs on her CD.  I actually like the mellowness of this song because I didn't have to look up the lyrics to find out what she was saying.  I could just listen to the song and understand every word she sang.  This was a big bonus towards Amanda with this song.  The thing that bothered me was the actual lyrics.  I'm not sure who is writing these songs but they need to learn the definition of cheesy.  Just looking at the title the song is about what you think.  Also, who would ever tell their boyfriend/guy they like that they will be their moonlight, that does not sound romantic at all.  Although I like the mellowness and her voice sounds pretty on the song the lyrics are too cheesy for me and that is why it gets a 6.5.   


Banish Love- 8/10- I like this song because it has actual meaning unlike the other songs that are all about a girl floating on the clouds because she is so in love.  This song has good lyrics and it seems like someone sat down and really thought about the lyrics for a long time.  This song is about getting rid of love because it just causes heartbreak and then people would just be happier.  The one thing wrong in this song is it is about how girls are the ones getting hurt but I know a few guys who would disagree.  It would have been better if she sang from both points of view, but that is just me being picky.  This song has a nice beat and I love the bridge where they are clapping hands and singing the chorus.  The reason this song is getting an 8 is because its versus' and regular chorus feel disconnected to me and could use a better transition, something to ease you into the heavy beat.  Other than that this song isn't that bad.   


Funny Disaster- 5.5/10- I really don't like this song.  Amanda Lamb does not have a low voice but with this song I think she wants to believe that she had a low voice.  This is one of the lower songs on her CD and her voice goes flat a lot and that is never nice to listen to.  The thing that saves this song from getting a lower grade is the little story that goes with it.  I liked to follow the story throughout the song but when I listened closer I realized that they were a Funny Disaster.  When listening to this song I started to laugh because the lyrics were so silly.  "Love at first sight; we talked all night; but when you didn't accept my friend request; I should have known we were doomed."  I mean if it was love at first sight then why wouldn't he accept the friend request, so it wasn't love.  Another line is "It will take me 10 minutes to get over you". If you really loved someone it would take you a long time to get over them.  This song makes no sense but is funny to listen to for the lyrics.  


Don't Get Me Wrong- 7/10- When I first heard this song I thought that it was an original but I was informed that it is a cover of a song by the Pretenders.  I listened to the original shortly after at first didn't believe that they were the same song.  The original is very upbeat and fast and Amanda Lambs version is really slow and they seem like completely different songs that just happen to have to same lyrics.  Amanda seemed to be going flat on a lot of the notes in this song and I didn't really like it.  It was a good idea for a cover but was not executed that well.  


Real Teen Rating~ C-: Don’t waste your time listening to the whole album

Real Teen Download: The Life of an Aerialist and Kiss Me Now 

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Like A G6- Far East Movement Ft. The Cataracts

Real Teen Award
- Most Catchy Song of 2010

Reviewed by ShoreWhisperer

Song Time: 3 Minutes and 36 Seconds

Like A G6
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This song is not something that I would normally listen to. I don’t like this song but I will say that it is catchy, the beat is awesome and fits under my categories of a toe-tapper and also a head-bobber. Which is pretty good, the music in general is not good. This is not music, this is weird trashy techno music that is not under the definition on music in my opinion. Occasionally this can be decent and this song fits under this category because it did win the award for most catchy song of the year. I don’t like the lyrics to this song because it is not even punny. I know that the song chorus is a pun but really it does not even make sense. When you use the word “fly” in this context it means cool, not actually flying and a G6 is a jet plane so therefore these two things do not go together at all. I see the pun but I don’t know how this is a witty or even good pun. Please, if someone would like to enlighten me on this subject feel free to do so. This song is a good song to hear on the radio because it is a good song to hear in the car when you are tired of hearing dull music that people think is good to put on the radio, when really it’s really just putting me to sleep because it’s the same song (not literally) all the time. This song is just a nice way to be tapping the steering wheel or jamming in the passenger seat but you will never see this song on my MP3. I do not understand why this song made it so big but because I can’t seem to change the large assumption of what music “really” is then I will judge this song in the opinion of the majority of this world. This song is just like every song now-a-days but it is better because it is so “punny”, so that’s why this song is getting a better rating than- in my opinion- it deserves.

Real Teen Rating~ C+ : You could go either way on this. . .

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Camelot- Original Broadway Cast

Reviewed by ShoreWhisperer
Song Time: 49 Minutes and 35 Seconds  

Camelot
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This is a classic in any book of broadway shows. The show was produced by Frederick Lowe and Alan Jay Lerner. It follows the famous story of King Arthur and his infamous round table. It also highlights their quest for equality and the perfect society while dealing with Guenevere and Lancelot’s scandalous romance.


Overture-8/10- This is a very typical overture. I have heard very many overtures and the really good ones are amazing but this one is just kind of boring. They play three songs throughout the whole thing. An overture is a mixture of all the songs usually and that isn’t what this is. Although, what I do like about it is that it shows the three sides of the story, the romance, the proper side of the court in search of the perfect society, and Arthur who is just everywhere throughout the play. So it does a good job summing up the whole show in a three-minute and sixteen second song.


March(parade)-2/10- This song is just instrumental music from the pit orchestra of the show and it is not something that I would want to listen to. I understand that this is an old musical and will admit that the percussion part is pretty awesome in this song but if I was sitting through a show and this is the first song of the show I would be asleep in two seconds and they would not have my attention at all for the rest of the show.


I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight?-2/10- I don’t like he starts out talking, it’s boring, and the song lyrics are silly and really quite dull. I don’t care what the king is doing and they make me laugh because lyrics are just so stupid. The song is really short and I feel that they could have made this talking. If the actor is good enough he should be able to get his feelings across the same way and in this case it would have been more entertaining that way.


The Simple Joys of maidenhood 5/10- The beginning of the song is a little strange and it is usually cut if you are singing it as a solo for anything but the show. This song genuinely makes me laugh because the lyrics are meant to be funny and they are actually funny. Guenevere is just so juvenile its funny. There is one problem though, the song goes nowhere. There is one dynamic level the whole time and that gets boring. It’s one level the whole time and so you stop listening to the singing and concentrate on the lyrics. If the lyrics weren’t so funny then the song would be a total bore.


Camelot- 5/10- Beware!!! This song gets stuck in your head constantly. It is a very catchy tune and thank god that the title song of the show is actually decent because that is always very important. But like all the previous songs there is no dynamic changes and the part of the song that is actually pretty good (the orchestra) is tuned out and again you listen to just the lyrics that are pretty good.


Follow Me- 1/10- This is the most boring song in the entire show. Like the rest of the songs it goes nowhere and this time the lyrics are not there to save the day. The song is boring and the orchestration isn’t even that good there is no exciting parts to it so it just puts you to sleep. Though the melody of the song is pretty the singer sings it very well.


C’est Moi- 6/10- This song is actually funny and I can actually say that I can like this song at points. The music is very repetitive at points and that gets boring as always but the lyrics are hysterical. This is the perfect way to introduce Lancelot. He is so arrogant and just way to good at the same time. You have to listen to the lyrics to appreciate this song. Otherwise it is not funny, the whole song is ironic if you know the rest of the show, which most people do. This is just a filler song though, a plot mover so it isn’t an important featured song.


The Lusty Month of May- 7/10- This is the first song we hear the ensemble and it’s a perfect song for that. This is quite a strange song. I have never heard anyone be so happy about being intimate with people. It’s really they are too happy, and the lyrics are just really creepy, I mean who sings about that stuff? Well that’s my rant for the day… I guess the song is ok. The chorus part is really fun and it’s like I can picture them picking flowers and wrapping a maypole. The tra-la-la’s are cute and makes the song a little a bit better.


Then You May Take Me To Fair-2 /10- This song is another stupid song, I don’t understand what the point of the song is. The lyrics are funny and are quite witty if you put it in the context of Guenevere’s first song. This song is even stranger when you know that she has a husband that she is in love with. She is using to get back at her husband but the song is boring and repetitive like the rest of the songs and so it puts you to sleep again. There is no change in the song and it sometimes left out in performances of the show. So this is another pointless song.


How To Handle A Woman- 5/10- This song is getting a fairly higher score than it deserves because the lyrics are actually really nice and I think every man in this world needs to listen to this song! Anyways, the rest of the song is nice it’s not spectacular and I would most likely change it if it played on my MP3 player. I do like the orchestration but then as always its the same tune over and over. I think that the person who wrote this show sometimes got too tired with this show and only gave it half his effort because there is no change in the music ever it’s always the same. Songs need to change to grasp a persons interest and these songs do not do that.


Before I Gaze at You Again- 3/10- This song is about Lancelot and how she has to be faithful to her husband so she cannot love Lancelot. She has to be able to look at him without showing any signs of their love. This song is a bore. I will not lie, I do like listening to this song. This show is three hours long. I have seen it and the dialogue is not that interesting so this song would most likely put me to asleep in the theater. That’s because, for one, I have been sitting in a dark theater for an hour and a half and there has been no intermission yet and two, the song is super slow and super boring. I don’t know about you but that is the recipe for a good nap. It’s just like every other song it doesn’t go anywhere and it’s quiet and demure. On its own though the song is decent and it’s pretty but it doesn’t fit well with the show because of the type of song it is.


If I Would Ever Leave You- 11/10- This is my favorite song in the whole show. There is a reason this is the only recognizable song except for Camelot that people know from this show. Why is this song so good compared to other songs? Well, my complaints about the other songs are fixed in this song. There are changes in the melody, it doesn’t repeat over and over again. Yes, it does repeat but the singer has …wait for it… a DYNAMIC CHANGE! It’s like a foreign concept in this show and this is the one time you hear it. Whenever I hear this song I get chills because the actor who plays Lancelot has to have this great dramatic crescendo and it makes me want to cry if they do it correctly. Then there are the lyrics. These lyrics are really interesting because there are a lot of verses and they all change, so you are always listening to the lyrics. This song is a classic and it deserves that title. You should listen to at least this one song if none of the others.


The Seven Deadly Virtues-8/10- This song is decent and I actually like it. I think it is hilarious, there isn’t much actual singing in it but if it is articulated and emoted right it’s actually pretty good. Of course there is no dynamics and it’s pretty repetitive but the orchestration is amazing in this song. I really love listening to it. The xylophone part is pretty amazing and the rest of it just make the song so that’s why this song gets a good rating. This song is not pretty either it’s an upbeat fun song that I would want to listen to especially because we are in the last tedious hour an a half part of the show.


What Do the Simple Folk Do? – 4/10- This song is really long. It’s the longest song in the entire cd at five minutes and four seconds. Not only is this song long it is excruciatingly repetitive. It’s not a really exciting or fast song either. In its defense, it can be funny if it is acted out right. Personally the four times they try to make each other happy is not really that funny they just end up looking really stupid. That’s probably the point of the song and it’s just wasted on me I guess because I’m thinking more about how Guenevere can be so two-faced. She is in love with Lancelot, and yet she still loves Arthur so why in the world is she with Lancelot. That’s my train of thought during this scene so the song is a little time filler for me to gain my thoughts.


Fie On Goodness- 8/10- This song is the strangest song I have ever heard, it’s stranger than the Lusty Month of May. They talk about so many things that I couldn’t keep track which is ok and for those who are wondering the word “fie” means an annoyance of some kind. So since the lyrics are quite repetitive and I listened to what they were saying and then tuned it out because it was all about women. The song is not actually that bad. There are dynamic changes which made me happy and then there were really cool sound effects like the vocal bagpipes which were awesome. Yeah, this song made me happy, but it is not my favorite by a long shot.


I Loved You Once in Silence- 6/10- This song is extremely depressing, in my opinion. I like this song and would listen to it but not in the context of the show because the show is almost over at this point and it’s another slow song. I don’t want to listen to another slow song. I just would want it to end so I can go the bathroom, personally. Besides, there is NO DYNAMIC CHANGE. I want to go to these actors and yell at them because there are no dynamics. Now I know that I am only a teenager but this ticks me off. I even know how to make a dynamic change, it’s not that hard and these people are a thousand times better than me. If the song had a dynamic changes then it would maybe be as good as If Ever I would Leave You.


Guenevere- 4/10- This song is decent. I would not listen to it on a regular basis but I could see why someone would. The beginning is a little frightening and I find the lyrics upsetting and boring. Then what really gets me is that there is this big ending that would be amazing even with a little crescendo and there is none. The top sopranos stay the same level through the whole song. If they had done that, just that, I would give it a ten just because the way the song is written would highlight that instead of the boring story like lyrics. So, this song makes me angry but if you like this song, I could see how that is possible. This song is just not my favorite.


Finale Ultimo (Camelot Reprise)- 10/10- Just so everyone is clear, I did not give this song a ten rating because it is the last song of the show. This song makes me cry. I know that is really cheesy but it does. The lyrics are really nice and it gives me shivers. I don’t know how the beginning is considered a song rather than lines with background music but it doesn’t matter because it all leads up to the last ensemble parts and I get shivers. Sir Tom has been knighted and then goes to save the legend of Camelot and Arthur steps into battle for his dying kingdom, it’s a really touching scene but the best is the end. It’s the cherry on top for the whole show because they have this amazing crescendo and that’s when the tears come. I think that they were saving all their energy for this one crescendo because it is amazing. It gives the show a little more credit than it would have without this song. This is the real show-stopper and it makes for a really good ending.


Real Teen Rating~ D : Listen to this only if forced to do so…

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Almost Alice- Alice In Wonderland Soundtrack

Reviewed by ShoreWhisperer

Song Time: 58 Minutes and 16 Seconds

Almost Alice
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Every movie has a soundtrack whether it be just orchestration or regular music. It doesn’t have to be in the movie. The new Alice in Wonderland has a rocking  soundtrack (literally) and awesome  orchestration that accompanies the movie. This is a review of the soundtrack that has music made especially made for the movie by popular artists.


Alice by Avril Lavgine – 7/10- This song has a really creepy beginning and I thought that it fit the movie and it was a really good beginning to the song but it seemed maybe a little out-of-place because it didn’t really fit the rest of the song in my opinion. I did like how the ended the song to fit the beginning though so it seemed to meld everything together a little more nicely.The lyrics are really good and are obviously made for the movie so it’s a little hard for the song to be a single by itself. It’s definitely an inspiring song though the lyrics are (if not cliché) nice. Avril has a really good voice and I love listening to her song, it’s like she has a perfect rock voice, it’s so crazy! Haha… anyway, I think that they used that a little to much in this song. It was too screamy through the entire song. I found the part when she went into her falsetto range when she said “I found myself in Wonderland” really nice and actually pretty. Other than that it was way too screamy. If it less than that then I would liked the song a lot more.


The Poison by The All-American Rejects-8.5/10- This song in context of the movie captures the whole identity of the Mad Hatter extremely well. I love the whole concept of the song because it almost comes off that he is in love with Alice, which is what it was like for me in the movie. I loved the instrumentation of the song. The guitar part was absolutely gorgeous and the lyrics are to die for. They are perfect and unlike Avril’s song this could stand as a single, a very good and unique single, for that too. My favorite part is when the song changes into the more rock and crazy stuff. I like this because it is just so much like the Mad Hatter in the movie, the random bursts of hatred for Alice and the Red Queen and all of this is portrayed in this song. Even though I liked that part it was a little to abrupt and it changed the whole song in my opinion because it sounds almost like another song and it doesn’t flow as well as I wished that it did. All in all, it was a really good song though, you should definitely listen to it.


The Technicolor Phase by Owl City-7/10- I like this song but it is a little strange to have it on this cd. If I was grading this song in general it would be an eight but I am also grading it on the album and it didn’t make sense except for the colors of wonderland and I didn’t really see how it fit the whole theme of the cd, which is a very creepy, dark sound. This on the other hand is a very upbeat song and it is very cutesy. The song in general is really good. I love Owl City and this is not my favorite song by him but I do like it. I always like his lyrics they are so cute and thoughtful. It’s a very unique song as it always, it sounds exactly like his other songs. I want to hear something different for once. The lyrics on this song are REALLY creepy at points… saying that “I am the blankets on your bedroom floor” or “the white in the walls that soak up all the sound when you can not sleep” it is a little creepy but the rest of the song was good, but not amazing.


Her Name Was Alice by Shinedown-6/10- This song starts off amazingly. I love the piano part (I am a sucker for good piano parts), and the little kid talking part is really a nice touch to the song and it fits the whole cd well. The lyrics are obviously made for the movie and it’s a little to obvious. This song would never be played on the radio. Ever. That’s the problem, it’s not a song that I would listen to a lot. First of all the whole chorus is not really my type of music. I don’t like shouty kind of music and that is exactly what the whole chorus is. The other part of the song is nice and the singing is decent and the whole thing seems ok up until the chorus and then the screaming starts. I would not want to listen to that all the time so I not liking this song a lot, but it was decent.


Painting Flowers by All Time Low -7/10- I liked the lyrics to this song and I felt that it was an ok song. It wasn’t really good. The lyrics are really cute and the song could still stand on its own without looking strange. I did see the connection to painting flowers in the movie but it was a little strange to put it in the cd because that seemed to be the only connection to the movie in the song. Other than that, it was ok, not great.


Where’s My Angel by Metro Station- 10/10- This song is really well made. I had never gotten into Metro Station bu t I really like them. This song is really good. The lyrics although not directly,relate to the movie in a deeper way than the other songs. Not only that but this also can stand on its own because it does not reference the movie at all. The music and the beat are really good and it all flows really well and it was kind of creepy at the same time. It was a perfect fit for the cd and I would love to listen to it by itself and this is also a great dancing song to rock out in your room to (I know from experience!). This song is a definite listen to song.


Strange by Tokio Hotel & Kerli- 8/10- This song is pretty good. I like the creepiness and angst in it. The song is a really good rock song and I love the duet. Kerli and Tokio Hotel sound really good together. The lyrics are really deep and they capture Alice in the real world very well. Even though it is very good for the album it could fit as a single which is also good too. There really is nothing to say about this song. It was pretty good, though the word strange was really over used, they could have used it a little less. It was a good listening to song.


Follow Me Down by 3OH!3 feat. Neon Hitch-10/10- I liked this song, it was really good, the lyrics were creepy and it reminded of childish things like Wonderland. The singing was good and the instrumentation was really cool and unique. The whole song can relate to the movie and it is also good on its own which is what I really like. Not to mention this is a good dancing song, I like to jam to this in my room where no one can see me. The beat is really good and it makes you want to dance. 3OH!3 has the perfect voice for this song it makes the song really good.


Very Good Advice by Robert Smith-6/10- This song is really bizarre and I don’t like it. I will say that it has a very unique sound to it and all the instrumental effects are really unique and cool. This is a cover of the original song that was in Disney’s version of the story. The song is strange in itself and I didn’t accompany that into my rating. The Cure’s Robert Smith is the singer in the song and he sounded drunk. I’m not trying to be mean but his voice is kind of gross and I wanted to change the song. I would advise listening to it if you have heard the original song but I didn’t know it and it is not a song that I would just want to listen to.


In Transit by Mark Hoppus feat. Pete Wentz-5/10- This song is ok. It’s not great but it’s not bad. It’s forgetful, that’s the only problem. People will find it because there is Pete Wentz in it (you don’t even hear him that much). The lyrics are really deep and they are powerful but they are forgettable because it is in between being really good and bad. It’s not really fast but it’s not slow either. There isn’t any really big parts to the song it just stays the same. If the song had gone anywhere I would have liked it better and I would have given it a better score. The song is just… blah… that’s what it is. That is the only way to grade it.


Welcome to Mystery by Plain White Tee’s-11/10- I love this song, it truly earns the title of amazing. This song has everything, the littlest details make it amazing. The harpsichord type sound in at the beginning an end and the piano flourishes and scales in the middle. Then you have the harmonies that they are singing and instrumentation and the actual music part is just different and intriguing. I could listen to this anytime of the day and be in any mood and still love it. It’s super creepy but in a soothing and calming way. The effects of something that sounds like wind chimes and all the other little details that actually let “your mind escape”. Though this is creepy, it reminds me of a really creepy carnival type place that is darkly beautiful and in a strange way it is like your own personal Wonderland. All of the song is beautiful and it’s a need to listen to song.


Tea Party by Kerli-7.5/10- This song is really unique and I like how it included the lyrics from the Little Tea Pot and all the chime and bell sounds are really cool. It makes the song more childish and really goes along with the entire movie but then all the rock beats are just like the remake of the movie. It’s a playful song and I liked it but it was just like all the other songs on the cd so it was kind of forgettable.


The Lobster Quadrille by Franz Ferdinand- 7.5/10- North had shown me this song a while ago and so this song is weird for a person who has not heard this song before because it is a little whacked out anyway. The cover of this song was bizarre like Very Good Advice but this singer was really good and he made the song really creepy and cool. This is not a song that I would listen to on a regular basis but it was a good cover of it.


Always Running out of Time by Motion City Soundtrack-7/10- This is a weird song to have on the album but I see how it fits. The guitar part was cool and really fun to listen to. I liked the lyrics but the were forgettable. I like listening to it because it was a calming song compared to the rest of the creepy rock songs on the cd. This song was just ok.


Fell Down a Hole by Wolfmother-9/10- This is a good song and fits the album but cannot stand on its own. This a good rock out song and the lyrics are really cool and they are pretty decent. The rock beat is really good but at points it was a little too much. The beginning of the guitar solo is really sucky but then it gets a lot better. This kind of reminds me of a classic rock type song. I really liked it but it wasn’t my favorite because it was so repetitive. You should listen to it though.


White Rabbit by Grace Potter & the Nocturnals-7/10- This song is really whacked out. It’s like a drug trip which is just what Alice in Wonderland was but this song is really whacked out in a creepy kind of way. I liked it but the lyrics were really strange. The instrumentation of the song was really good and reminded me of a tango almost and it was just interesting as a song. The only problem was that it was just obviously made for the album because the lyrics are all about the movie so it could never be on the radio and it won’t get anywhere. One thing that I really didn’t like is that she screams at the end and it was really weird and uncalled for. Then there is this weird piano solo that doesn’t fit with the song at all. The ending was just weird and unfitting in every way. That’s my only complaint.


Real Teen Rating~ C- : Don’t waste your time listening to the whole album

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Justin Bieber- In General

What We Think

Reviewed by Living Destiny

So Justin Bieber is pretty much the biggest pop star out there right now.  He makes teenage girls scream at levels that make dogs howl along.  When you look up teenage heartthrob in the dictionary, his picture has officially replaced the one of The Beatles next to the definition.  (Seriously, go ask Webster right now.  And just for the record, Justin Bieber still doesn’t hold a candle to Elvis – he still holds the record for most girls being totally in love with him.)  So basically Justin Bieber is the biggest thing since sliced bread – according to most teens.

Let’s start with his image.  His image just bothers me.  He’s a sixteen year old who looks more like thirteen.  He sings about his true love, when in reality he’s probably never had a steady girlfriend for longer than a year.  His love?  Yeah that’s so unrealistic.  He’s never been in love.  Ever.  Get real.  Plus, he thinks he’s so cool.  And what’s with the attempt at being gangsta?  Lemme tell you something: YOU ARE A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD WHITE BOY FROM CANADA YOU CANNOT SAY SHAWTY!!!!!!  IT DOES NOT MAKE YOU COOL AT ALL!!!!  IT MAKES YOU LOOK STUPID!!! Seriously, did you learn that from Usher, Justin?  Is he teaching you this?  That’s a fail.  The image he’s trying to portray is cute, but a babe, totally likable and amazing.  To me it reeks of ‘tool’.

His music is a pretty different story though.  I think it’s pretty clear that I’m not a crazy obsessed fan of his.  I’m not in love with him, I don’t want to marry him, and I don’t find him drop dead gorgeous.  So I am a pretty impartial judge of his music.  And it’s pretty good.  Call it my musical guilty pleasure.  His music is really catchy though.  And boy’s got some pretty mad pipes (but really I think I’m better  only half kidding).  I have basically all his songs on my ipod (thank you to North Star’s sister for that!)  I like his music, despite the fact that some songs have random rap parts or start with the word ‘mafia’ (which is just another way to make him look gangsta – i object!)  Some of my favorite songs by him are:

That Should Be Me

U Smile

Down to Earth

Favorite Girl

Never Let You Go

He has a pretty distinctive voice, and some of his songs are really good.  He has not bad lyrics, and in general his music is good.  When I just hear the songs, I think wow, Justin Bieber is a star.  But then I see his image, the little home boy in the purple hoodie trying to play cool, and all I can think is: hahahaha Justin Beaver hahahahahaha.

Real Teen Rating~ his image: C-: dude, get a grip!

Real Teen Rating~his music: B+: check it out sometime.

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