electro-funk-soul-pop-licious

Insatiable. That’s the only way to describe my appetite for Blake Lewis music. That and undying, never-ending, and incalculable. I literally can’t get enough.

Fortunately his new album, tentatively titled “A.D.D” (Audio Day Dream), is set to drop Thanksgiving weekend. Industry hype sees it poised to turn heads and conquer charts. Blake proved his musical originality and skill in front of 30 million Americans on last spring’s American Idol 6 and we’re all hungry for more of his “electro-funk-soul-pop” sound.

Lewis told chron.com in mid-July, “I’ve got a track that’s very Erasure-sounding, a track that’s Sting-meets-Neverending Story and a track that’s very electro-poppy Depeche Mode. It’s all over the map.” Collaborators include BT, Doug E Fresh, 4th place finisher Chris Richardson, Gnarls Barkley, and Will.i.am.

On August 24th E! Online got the scoop from Arista Records. “Blake has a strong music sensibility and knows who he is and what his music should represent,” said Clive Davis, chairman and CEO of BMG Label Group, Arista’s parent. “His collaborators are all knocked out by him.”

Well all seems gravy in Blake Lewis’ world….. Almost…

Arista also mentioned the album’s producers, S*A*M & Sluggo (who?), Ryan “Alias” Tedder (A Timbaland pal= score), and Jonathan “JR” Rotem. You may know JR from his blink-and-you-missed-it stint as a Britney boy-toy and as a producer on hits for…. prepare yourself….

Rihanna and Sean Kingston!

No wonder I hate them both. They have the SAME producer.

It’s also worth noting that they share him with Kevin Federline. Rotem produced Fed-ex’s “hit” 2006 album “Playing With Fire,” and by “hit” I mean I’d rather hit myself in the face than listen to that garbage-with-a-beat.

Rottem’s work has had chart success, but there’s a precedent for bad music selling well. Have you ever thought of the “Macarana,” by Los Del Rio, and pretty much ANYTHING done by Sean Paul as great music? It’s good for a dance party but void of substance, innovation, taste, unique flavor…

I have faith that Blake’s artistic vision will ultimately prevail above even the most irritating producer’s musings. He’s too talented to be brought down by mediocrity or sell out to the “Beautiful Girl” recipe. Come November, Blake’s serving up a beat-boxing billboard breakthrough that will top the charts on its own merit.

Delicious. I know I’ll be back for seconds.

In Defense of Kelly Clarkson

Six weeks into her freshman release, Kelly Clarkson had a lot to be “Thankful” for. Her album topped 1.1 million in sales and was trending strongly just below 100k a week. The second time around she really did “Breakway” hitting just under one  million after six weeks, and later selling over six million albums worldwide and spawning four hit singles.

This June’s “My December” is a different story, but it’s a different album too. She’s slowed pace and plateaued at just under 600k with no strong single to boost her sales. This album is not jammed with a copycat “Since You’ve been gone” or “Behind these Hazel Eyes,” but it is full of songs reminiscent of “Because of You,” and to be honest, a lot of pain and heartache.

I’m just going to say it, the album is a downer. “Sober” has to be the greatest, saddest, most emo song ever. Lauded as the best breakup song of all time (by me and my friends) it just isn’t radio friendly. However, whats wrong with emo Kelly? Nothing. Everyone wants to hear sad music sometimes, and I can’t overstate the respect I have for Kelly for standing up to her label and putting out the depressing album she wanted to put out. “My December” was never going to be a “Breakaway.” Nobody wants their American Idol to make manufactured music forever. We chose Kelly, and we want Kelly. “My December,” IS Kelly.

Furthermore, since when is half a million albums EVER a disappointment? I can think of a lot of artists that would kill to sell almost 600k albums  in six weeks (Justin Guarani anyone???).  If today Kelly Clarkson is a failure by merely going gold, what’s a success?

Despite her artistic victory, music is business and Kelly has jackpot potential. With a strong single Kelly’s sales could soar, not coast. My guess it that the hits will, to some extent, reappear on her next album. She’s already set the stage by publicly apologizing to Clive Davis for negative statements over his dislike of her album in June and changed managers after the cancellation of her much anticipated (and not just by me) summer tour.

After finally proving herself, is running back to Clive selling out? I don’t think so. She is a true American Idol; raw talent with likeability and musical vision. The world  knows she can make great and impactful music sans powerhouse producers and if they’re like me, a part of them does miss the anthems that “Since You’ve Been Gone,” and “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” have become.  If she lets clive throw in a killer hook to her emo-angry lyrics next time around I won’t be dissapointed.

Kelly Clarkson is no one hit wonder, she’s a maturing artist going over a few volatile patches and unlike the movement in the financial markets these days, her stock is only rising.