First Listen: Warrior by Ke$ha

December's most anticipated album is Warrior from Ke$ha! After taking a bit of a break to explore new musical options, pop's crazy rebel is back with a brand new album, and I've got your first preview of what to expect.

1. Warrior - I love the dark feeling I'm getting from this album, and it's easily distinguishable from her old sound. Her vocals sound really good, probably because of the obvious lack of AutoTune. This one is definitely dubstep influenced. I love the chorus breakdown and the dubstep break toward the end is interesting to say the least. Great start.

2. Die Young - The lead single off the album, I don't really need to cover old ground.

3. C'mon - The first song that sounds like the old Ke$ha, but that's not a bad thing at all. It's instantly catchy, and the lyrics are sing-a-long ready. It's more of the bubblegum pop than the dubstep sound delivered on the first two tracks. The lyrics are childish, but that's kinda the feeling I get from this song anyway.

4. Thinking of You - Immediately recognizable rock influences and they work really well. Mixed with dance influences and cheeky lyrics, it's a really fun track. The driving beat of the verses lead nicely into the slowed-down chorus. It rides the line of Ke$ha coming across as a jilted ex and a lamentful lover, which makes it kind of interesting to listen to, no matter your mood.

5. Crazy Kids - Beware the language in this song. It's dark, and it kinda reminds me of Die Young. Ke$ha wants to make it clear she doesn't care what you think, and I think she gets her point across very well. It's an interesting song...and I don't know if that necessarily makes it good.

6. Wherever You Are - Call this a dubstep ballad. It's interesting that we're already 2 for 6 with songs that have Ke$ha missing a man, especially considering most of her previous songs were about getting rid of the guys. But, I really like this one. The chorus is sick, and the final bridge breakdown is awesome.

7. Dirty Love - A full on embrace of love and sex. This is full-on rock and roll, and it's a lot of fun. In fact, Ke$ha sounds like she's having a lot fun on this track, which makes it really fun to listen to. Iggy Pop shows up to list people that have had sex (?) but it's interesting to hear Ke$ha with a counterpart. But a fun song, indeed.

8. Wonderland - I've always said that Ke$ha's ballads are underrated. This one is probably the closest she's ever gotten to an actual ballad. It's good. Her vocals are the most impressive part of the song. The content of the song is actually meaningful. It is a very good song.

9. Only Wanna Dance with You - An okay song. It's not entirely dancey or rock, a middle of the road combo. It's a rather innocent song for Ke$ha. There is a random guy at the end, and no one knows who it is soooo...there's that.

10. Supernatural - This is the song Ke$ha wrote about having sex with a ghost....anyway. This demo has been out for God knows how long, and it's a good song. It's got a dubstep heavy chorus, so if that's your thing, you'll probably like it. It's just a good song overall though.

11. All That Matters (The Beautiful Life) - Really, really like this song. It's a little safe for Ke$ha, but it's catchy and fun and the repeated chorus is shout-worthy. It sounds like it could've been sung by Katy Perry, and that's not a jab at either of these artists, but it's definitely an awesome song, probably my favorite on the album.

12. Love Into the Light - Not the biggest fan of this song. It's got a really interesting vibe, yet I don't know how well it works with the rest of the album. There is definite experimentation, I'm just not sure it's a hit.

The next four tracks are on the deluxe edition only:

13. Last Goodbye - Nice ballad. It's still got a danceable beat, like most Ke$ha ballads, but when she really tries, she can put together a good ballad. Full of little details, it's more striking than her party songs. I would love to see her write a song like this as an upbeat radio-ready song, it would show a lot of versatility.

14. Gold Trans Am - Not by any means the best song on this album, but it does have those rock influences that were experimented on earlier in this album. It almost kinda samples "We Will Rock You." It's catchy, although I wish the writing were a little more crisp. It's just a little bit away from being an awesome song.

15. Out Alive - Another pretty basic song, this one back completely to the dance roots. Her vocals on this one are pretty cool, I like the strain on "No one's getting out alive." The dubstep breakdown before the final chorus is siiiiick. I like it.

16. Past Lives - The deluxe edition album closes out with a ballad. It has potential, but I think it falls a little short. There is another guy singing and I don't know who it is. There is a lot of production here, and I think I would have liked it better with the simple percussion that the song starts off. Her vocals here aren't that stellar, either.

Overall, the album has some high points, but a fair share of misses. You can tell she did try to switch up the sound and she succeeds, for the most part. Animal and Cannibal had surefire hits, and I don't know if this one has as many, but I do appreciate the change in artistic style.

Favorite tracks: Warrior, C'mon, Thinking of You, Wherever You Are, All That Matters (The Beautiful Life)

What are you thinking of Ke$ha's first album in forever? You like the new sound? Got a favorite track? Let me know what you're thinking below in the comments section!

Evan

First Listen: Lotus by Christina Aguilera

Now that she's seen weekly on NBC's hit The Voice, Christina Aguilera looks to finally release an album with some relevance for the first time in quite some time. After 2010's Bionic which wasn't very well recieved, Aguilera is back with Lotus. Here's a first listen:

1. Lotus Intro - Interesting slow jam beat mixed with Auto-tuned vocals make for an intriguing opening track. There are many references to lotus, which is all about rebirth. It's got the heavy bass to boot, and it's a slow jam that you can get into. It sets up an interesting start for the album.

2. Army of Me - Picks up right from the first track with that ominous feel. These vocals definitely sound more like Xtina. This song is a solo write by the pop star and she has described it as Fighter 2.0. That description is pretty spot-on, at least in terms of lyrics ("One of me is wiser, one of me is stronger, one of me's a fighter, and there's a thousand faces of me"). It's got a danceable beat, but it's pretty dark.

3. Red Hot Kinda Love - This song jumps right into its funky beat and it's instantly fun, more than the first two tracks. It doesn't really build from there, but it's still a ridiculously fun beat. The vocals go from belting and airy in the blink of an eye. It's just a bit more fun than the first two songs which are more mellow.

4. Make the World Move - This song also carries the light feeling of the last track. And surprise....Cee-Lo Green makes an appearance on the song! It almost kind of works because there are elements of both artists' sounds in this one song. This one has more of a universal message (let's just love each other, a'ight?) than the other tracks. It's got a driving, foot-stomp beat, and it's pretty fun, especially the breakdown on the bridge before the final chorus.

5. Your Body - The lead single off the album which hasn't done too hot on the charts, despite the fact that it should be a bonafide hit. The sound actually fits with the rest of the tracks, with those bleaker undertones. Her vocals here are on fire and perhaps the song can go higher upon the album's release and a little promotion on Xtina's side. I dig it.

6. Let There Be Love - Instantly the most club-ready song on this album, from the beat, bass, and synths to the easy-to-memorize lyrics. I've heard rumors that this is the second single on the album, and it wouldn't surprise me. In fact, if Your Body can't take off, here's hoping this song finds success. Xtina's vocals, the production, it's all screaming hit.

7. Sing for Me - A very basic ballad that showcases Xtina's vocals. Added points for the key change. But a very simple song that works after two heavy dance songs.

8. Blank Page - Another simple ballad that is a little better due to the stronger lyrics. It's obvious that this album is attempting showcase Xtina's raw vocals, and she's not disappointing. The instrumentation takes a backseat once again.

9. Cease Fire - An interesting sound. It's got a military feel to it with the bombastic drums. It's a change of sound, but I'm not sure how much I dig it. It works for Christina Aguilera, though. If anyone else tried, it may not be as successful.

10. Around the World - Another song that makes good use of the drums, but really kicks it up. It's got a fun feel to it, and Xtina sounds good. But it's still just okay to me.

11. Circles - I love the feel to this song. It's almost got an island feel to it, but it's sassy and biting. This is Xtina's song to the critics, and she's not holding back. It's the most her voice is played with on the album, but it still sounds good and fun.

12. Best of Me - Another bombastic song, and this one is a cool anthem. This is more of a confident Aguilera telling off her haters, rather than the playful one that came out in the previous track. The production has millions of layers and it's cool to see them revealed one by one.

13. Just a Fool - The album closes with one of the most different but best tracks on the album. With a feature from Blake Shelton, the song has some country influence here and it's a great ballad. Their vocals mix surprisingly well here, and the grand instrumentation certainly helps. It's a great song, surprising considering their sounds are polar opposites.

Overall, the album has some strong spots, but overall, it is just good. There are potential hits here, and Xtina's added exposure due to The Voice will certainly help.

Favorite tracks: Red Hot Kinda Love, Make the World Move, Let There Be Love, Just a Fool

What do you think of the new album? Got any favorites? Comment and let me know in the comments section below!

Evan

First Listen: Take Me Home by One Direction

Hello everyone! It's been a while, but hopefully I will be back on a lot more soon. Anyway, the new One Direction album is now up for a free stream on iTunes, and I've got your first listen. So let's get started:

1. Live While We're Young - This song is pretty harmless and it's got a good jam-out beat. My only problem is that it sounds just like What Makes You Beautiful, which works, but it gets tiring fast. It's light, airy, and pretty carefree, but releasing it as the lead single might not have been the best idea since it sounds just like their biggest hit.

2. Kiss You - Instead, this should have been the lead single. It's infectious. It's like jumping on a moving train and you party the whole time. The firecracker delivery of the first verse and the poppy chorus are impossible to deny. I'm also to differentiate their voices, a little. Is it a lyrical masterpiece? No. But I'm not expecting that from these guys. This one at least sounds a little different from WMYB and I would've made it the first single.

3. Little Things - A complete change of sound. This is one of Ed Sheeran's co-writes on the album, and I wish there was a version of him singing this because he would sound good on it. As for 1D? It's such a complete change of sound for them, especially after the "YAY PARTY OMGZ." sound of the first two tracks. In fact, it's placement on the tracklist is what might make it not work so well here. You know what else I don't dig? The lyrics, at least coming out of these guys' mouths. I can picture Ed Sheeran singing about a girl with confidence and weight problems, but when these guys sing it, it just sounds...out of place? It's just not a 1D song and they don't make it work in their advantage.

4. C'mon, C'mon - Back to their original sound, this one works for me. The harmonies on the chorus are good and the driving beat makes it instantly catchy. Of course, this being 1D, the song is about dancing. And nothing else. It's still a very fun one, and definitely jumps back into that sound the first two tracks established. Additionally, the vocals sound pretty good here, although I wouldn't know exactly who is holding those high notes on top. But kudos to him.

5. Last First Kiss - Apparently, this is the band's favorite and they are all credited as co-writers. I like this one. These are the kinds of "ballads" the band should stick to (I'm looking at you, Little Things). With the growing chorus, even if it is sung in unison, these are the kinds of songs that the band can experiment with to good results. I can picture the middle-schoolers slow dancing to this, being awkward and dancing ten feet apart, but I can also see high-schoolers singing this at their prom. Better this than a super non-romantic slow song (at one of my proms, the song was "Forever Young" by Jay-Z...yep....super romantic).

6. Heart Attack - Another song that works because it is specifically their sound. These sound like songs that the group would've made on their first album, and it's still working here. The "Ow!" is funny, for what it's worth. And this works good after LFK because it's an easy transition. Good beat, good vocals, good song.

7. Rock Me - Digging this one, a lot. Darker sound and they really make it work. It pulls a bit from Queen's "We Will Rock You," but it works. It's a pounding beat and when the drums kick in on the chorus, you're in. It's a little more sexual and mature than their other "Oh, girl you're pretty and sweet" songs, so it definitely works better for the older fanbase. Even me. Ah.

8. Change My Mind - Another change of pace, but this one does work. Still manages to be sexual even as a ballad. It grows to the end, which I love on just about any song ever. It's sweet. Nice. Cool. Next.

9. I Would - Probably the closest we get to "dance music," which says something. This album is pure pop, but there are some pop elements with the bass and synths. Anyway, it picks up well from CMM and it features some good harmonies from the boys.

10. Over Again - Okay, I really feel like I've heard this before, sung by Ed Sheeran. He co-wrote the song, so hmm. Anyway. This is an Ed Sheeran kind of song that they can pull off. It's got the extra instrumentation which works with the extra voices. Ed's lyrics are wonderful, as always, and the boys sound just fine.

11. Back for You - The lyrics seem too mature for them ("Every time you wake up, you're hearing me say goodbye"? Umm....) but the song is catchy, although I am not a fan of the repetition of "back for you" in the chorus. Nice little song.

12. They Don't Know About Us - Surprised. From the beginning of this song, I wouldn't have guessed the chorus progression. Drums, synths, guitars. And it doesn't feel overcrowded. This one surprisingly works.

13. Summer Love - It's not a Justin Timberlake cover, so if you're disappointed...sorry. Guitars and harmonies, nothing better. Unfortunately, it's not as touching as it should be since it will be heard in the dead of winter, but it's a perfect end of summer song. It almost has a country twang to it. I really really like this one.

Overall, there isn't a big difference from the first album to this one, except maybe the sexual overtones to it all. Still, there is enough for young fans to still enjoy. The group obviously excels with pop songs ready for radio, but the ballads do work here (except Little Things, which I still reserve judgment on).

Favorite tracks: Kiss You, C'mon C'mon, Last First Kiss, Rock Me, Summer Love

What do you think? Do you have any favorite tracks yet? Post them below in the comments section!

Evan

First Look: Red by Taylor Swift

Disputably this fall's biggest album, Red from Taylor Swift, makes it's debut next Monday, but we've got the first look at this hot new album. Does it pale in comparison to Fearless and Speak Now, or surpass them? Read on to find out!

1. State of Grace - The album gets off one on of the best possible notes it can. Of the numerous singles released prior to the album's release, this one might be my favorite. It's got an epic feel to it that'll have her fans singing along in stadiums and for good reason. It's just such a good song, from the instrumentation to the lyrics (Swift's strongest suit) and the vocal delivery (pretty good here!). Great first song.

2. Red - This song flows pretty well from the first track. It is a little more pop (mostly the "Re-e-e-ed" refrain during the chorus) but that's okay. The lyrics here are good, but the best parts are the colors that Swift only uses in the chorus. If she had continued that trend throughout the verses, this song might have benefitted. Still, it's pretty good.

3. Treacherous - This is another song that shows Swift's growth as an artist in the country realm. It's got a very country feel to it that builds to something a little more. It's kinda alt-rock mixed with country and it's interesting. This track in particular is a change of pace from the first two tracks. If you can stick with the song through the build to the end, you'll be pleased with it as a whole.

4. I Knew You Were Trouble. - Probably the biggest departure from Swift's normal sound on this entire album, but I love it. The vocal delivery is just fine, and the lyrics are great, but of course the most interesting part of the song is the dubstep element, which works extremely well here. It shouldn't, but it does. While some may complain that it doesn't fit into Swift's style, I'm not one to believe in pigeonholing an artist, and no one is going to argue that other twenty-something artists are underusing dubstep. It's a favorite for me.

5. All Too Well - A song that gets to show off Swift's lyricism, here's another track with country influences in an otherwise alt-rock setting. It's a sound that Swift is pulling off very well on this album. I think a lot of people complained that Swift was going severely pop music with this album, but tracks like this just show that she's switching up her sound and it's working out in her favor.

6. 22 - Swift's attempt to write a song NOT about an ex-boyfriend and it's...half successful. She's still singing to some guy, so it doesn't work entirely well, but as far as the song itself, it's another experiment  like I Knew You Were Trouble. This one is extremely poppy, but the relatable lyrics for the just barely legal crowd will make this one an anthem for sure. The lyricism present in the previous song is pretty much gone here with very innocent lyrics, and she still manages to make a song about being 22 without mentioning drugs, sex, and alcohol (take note, pop stars of today!).

7. I Almost Do - The country Swift you remember is back in this track. It's strictly country, no hint of any other genre.  It's the first real ballad on the album and it's good, my only complaint being that the lyrics aren't as strong here as in other songs ("Every I don't, I almost do." Um.), but it's a good song anyway.

8. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Do we really need to go over this one? The pop sound makes more sense when it's accompanied by other poppy tracks here. It works for me, so...that's that.

9. Stay Stay Stay - Still carrying the light air of the previous track, but with a completely different message: this time Swift is begging her man to stick by her side. The clap-along chorus is cute enough, and the entire song is for that matter. It's light and airy, and it reminds me of some of Swift's younger songs. It's got an Ingrid Michaelson feel to it, and that's good to me.

10. The Last Time - Fans might be caught off guard at first when the song opens up with a male voice. That's Gary Lightbody, lead singer of Snow Patrol, and that makes this the album's first duet. It's an interesting song. It's a little darker and you can hear some of the influences from Lightbody's band. The build to the end is highly rewarding. This is another deviance from the country genre, and it still works well.

11. Holy Ground - A jump back into upbeat. This song was produced by Jeff Bhasker who produced fun.'s album Some Nights, and that might explain why I'm digging this sound. Additionally, it's a Swift solo write, and those songs tend to have a special something to them. This one has a little electronic sound to it, and it's pretty funky. If anything, this one is a surefire toe-tapper.

12. Sad Beautiful Tragic - Going with the pattern of the album, we're slowing things down with this one. It's the most mellow song on the album. It's mostly just a strumming guitar and Swift's haunting vocals. It's the most simplistic song on the album and that's a welcome change of pace after earlier pop-heavy songs.

13. The Lucky One - Alright, this one is just kinda boring for me. It's rather plain and not in a good way. The lyrics are just alright. This one is filler for me.

14. Everything Has Changed - This is the much hyped duet between Taylor and Ed Sheeran and of course it does not disappoint. As an Ed fan, I can certainly pick up on his influence here. The "know you better" repeat reminds me of songs like "Give Me Love" from his album, +. The kick drop beat at the chorus is very...him. So, yeah, I really like it. And any exposure for Ed is fine by me.

15. Starlight - Yeah I like this one. It's got a good feel to it. It's apparently about the Kennedys (she's dating one of them, so why not write a song about their family?). It's got a really cool feel to it, despite being about the 40s and sounding very 90s. There's something about it, I don't mind it at all.

16. Begin Again - Probably my least favorite of the singles released before the album's release, but not bad at all. My only qualm is that I'm not sure I understand why this song is the last track on the album. Maybe because it's "begin again" shows "moving on" which Taylor said (very early in the process) was the theme of this album. It's a mellow note to end the album, but then again, T. Swift has been partial to these kinds of songs ending albums (Long Live, anyone?).

So the final conclusion? Well, I can't say right now where this album ranks compared to her others, mostly because it is a big departure in sound, but Taylor is right in place with these changes. The album works very well as a mix of many different genres. I think fans will eat this right up because there is enough to appease everyone here.

Favorite songs: State of Grace, I Knew You Were Trouble., All Too Well, Everything Has Changed

What do you think? Liking this new T. Swift? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Evan

We Need to Talk

Hi everyone,

If you're still visiting the blog, I hope you read this. As you can tell, I've been crazed. College has finally hit me head on and I'm busy 95% of the time. Unfortunately, that leaves me very little room for the blog. As much as I enjoy writing and putting it out there, it's very hard to find time to write about these things. I'm going to try to update as much as I can, but it's very hard with the overwhelming load I have. I hope you can understand :)

Evan

First Listen: Halcyon by Ellie Goulding

One of my most anticipated albums of the fall is almost here! Ellie Goulding, hot off the success of Lights this summer, is back this fall with her second studio album, Halcyon, and I have the first listen. Check it out!

1. Don't Say a Word - The song has a tribal feel to it and it's an energetic start to the album. The first minute or so is a bunch of "ooh"-ing and very little instrumentation, before it jumps into the driving drum beat. It sounds like a Florence + the Machine song, always a compliment. It's just eerie enough to draw the listener's interest and gives a good indication of what's to come, although Ellie fans know that it is truly impossible to label her music.

2. My Blood - Ellie's personal favorite on the album, and it's not hard to see why. The verses are poignant, but understated. Then comes the soaring chorus, which features great vocals from Ellie and shout-worthy refrains. The instrumentation sounds light, but is actually quite heavy. It's clear this one will be a favorite among fans.

3. Anything Could Happen - The first official single from the album, it takes some time to get used to, but it's insanely catchy and danceable. While the lyrics are a little hard to symbolically decipher, they're easy to sing along to. It's a shame this song hasn't caught on at radio like Lights has, but there's still hope, especially with the full album coming out next week.

4. Only You - The pulsating drums drive the beginning of this song and it sounds a lot different than the beginning of this album. This one is definitely one to dance to. The pounding piano during the chorus reminds me a bit of the piano from Rolling in the Deep, and it's my favorite part. Ellie's vocals start off soft and then go to full belt by the end of the song. This one is more direct at the scorned ex unlike My Blood, which makes it just a little more fun.

5. Halcyon - This one has a signature Ellie touch on it. It could have simply been guitar and piano, but those light, airy electronic noises make it sound like an Ellie sound. Her shivering vocals sound great here. This one just makes you feel good, but maybe that's just the repeated refrain of "It's gonna be better." This one is just very light, it's a good change.

6. Figure 8 - Speaking of change, this one is the most drastic departure from the album. Before this song, I didn't love dubstep. But this might be my favorite song on the album. The verses are dark and intense and when the beat finally drops on the chorus, it's just awesome. It's a true jam and if all dubstep was like this, I would jump on the bandwagon immediately. Love this song.

7. Joy - Following Figure 8, we get a huge step back. Joy is a really reserved ballad that shows hints at growing, but stays right where it's at. Honestly, that's okay because it works really well by being understated and calming. And that's really what this song is: calming. It works being placed here.

8. Hanging On - When Ellie released this song as a promo single this summer, fans cried foul when they heard Tinie Tempah's rap verse, which didn't entirely mesh into the song that well. So it's a huge welcome that the album version is without Tinie. With that aside, this song is really freaking awesome and the dubstep incorporation is pretty cool.

9. Explosions - Apparently (maybe), this is the second official single from the album, but maybe that's internationally, maybe not. Anyway, this is another ballad, but unlike Joy, it builds, and that's what gives this one the edge. It really is beautiful, starting with the simple piano line, and the lyrics, helping a friend out with a rough time, are pretty universal. Maybe this could work as a second single...

10. I Know You Care - Okay, I take it back, this is the most reserved ballad on the album. A repeating piano line, some "ah"s and a simple chorus, that's all it takes. But it works. It's a pretty sad piece of music (it's currently being used in a movie about childhood cancer), but it's effective. It doesn't slow down the album too much.

11. Atlantis - A much needed pick-up. It's got an infectious "Where'd you go?" earworm and an easy beat that still doesn't make this song a ballad, but more of a mid-tempo jam. It's brighter than the previous track, which is much needed to make sure the album doesn't go tired.

12. Dead in the Water - A pretty sad and somber end to this album. Well, "unofficial" end. This is where the official version of the album ends, even though the official version also includes two bonus tracks, and the deluxe version includes much more than that. Anyway, this song is completely sad and kind of turns the end of this album on it's head. It leaves you thinking, though, so maybe that's what the idea behind making this the last track was.

13. I Need Your Love - Technically, this is Calvin Harris' song featuring Ellie Goulding, but it gets to be on her album a month before his album comes out. Hooray! This song could very well end up being Ellie's next big club hit and it's not even her own song. It's the most danceable song on this disc, but Ellie's songs are only really club-ready after they've been remixed. No remix needed here, unless that remix is an extended version because this song almost feels too short to truly enjoy. Hence, it sticks on repeat...alot. Catchy, love it.

14. Hanging On (feat. Tinie Tempah) - I already discussed this above, but if you like the rap verse, this is your version. If not, skip it.

15. Lights - Included for the US fans who worship this song, not much needs to be said that hasn't already been stated.

16. Ritual - A tribal beat to go with a song called Ritual? Coincidence...I think not. Anyway, this song is a jam, at least given that driving beat. It's a lot different from the rest of the album, perhaps sounding most like Don't Say a Word. It's interesting...cool harmonies, really cool instrumentation and Ellie's vocals are spot-on.

17. In My City - This is another up-tempo one as Ellie talks about what she loves about her hometown: it's like an upbeat Hometown Glory (shoutout to original Adele fans!). Still, this one is mostly pretty fun because it's got a good beat and it's easy to sing along to. It's easy to understand, though, why it made the deluxe version only.

18. Without Your Love - Another song with really cool instrumentation and a cool chorus ("Without your love, I'm getting somewhere"). I think the reason Ritual and this song made the deluxe version is because they don't mesh very well with the overall sound of the album. Still, it's a fun song and it shows Ellie moving on, a fitting end to an album.

Favorite tracks: My Blood, Only You, Figure 8, Hanging On, I Need Your Love

What do you think, readers? Have you heard the album and do you love it? I sure do! Let me know your thoughts and favorite tracks in the comments section below!

Evan

Where Have You Been?

I know it is the question on everyone's mind, so I figured I would put you at ease! It was Parents and Families Weekend here at Penn State, so I spent the past three days with my mom and dad, showing them around, going out to dinner and getting to sleep in an extra bed at their hotel room (yay for showers without flip-flops!). Tonight was also the Homecoming concert at PSU, so that's where I've been since Thursday. I'm trying to keep a good balance of everything and schoolwork is always a first, but I love writing for this blog, so I'll definitely be back in full force this week! Hope you'll be ready :)

Evan

The Voice Week 3 Recap

Welcome back to another week of recapping The Voice! Let's get started.

Episode 6
Michelle - The night starts off strong with Michelle, a very fun bank worker with an almost-NFL player  husband. I just like her personality a lot, and it only gets better when she starts singing. Her rendition of "Proud Mary" is just right, and clearly, it works. Blake is the only judge that doesn't turn around, and after all the bickering, Michelle claims a spot on TEAM ADAM.

Diego - The first "sob story" of the night is that of Diego, a Latin singer born with a hip disease that left him unable to walk for a few years when he was younger. Now, he's on the voice singing "Animal," and that Latin vibe is certainly powering through here. Apparently, only one coach sees it (even though the girls really love this guy) and Diego joins TEAM CEE-LO.

Lauren - Lauren's audition started with a lot of promise, or at least her package beforehand did. Lauren is very pretty and has two sad stories: she was diagnosed with dyslexia and her uncle, her best friend who also had dyslexia, recently passed away. Still, that doesn't translate to a good performance. Lauren is flat and doesn't hit those big notes that someone singing "Cowboy Casanova" should. It seems Lauren will have to chase her dream just a little longer.

Suzanna - One of my favorites of the night is Suzanna, a Stevie Nicks look-and-sound-alike. She's got a really good personality and her voice was absolutely perfect for "Landslide." Adam and Blake both vie for her, and she sides with everyone's favorite country star, becoming a frontrunner for TEAM BLAKE.

Next, we get tiny snippets of two TEAM BLAKE contestants: Michaela and Ryan. We didn't really hear enough for me to form a good opinion.

Dez - Oh Dez...after winning the hearts of millions of girls in less than 90 seconds last season, a lot of people were upset that this young heartthrob didn't make a coach's team last year. Could that change? If Dez's performance of "Sara Smile" means anything, I'm going to say he's back and much better than before. He just sounded better all around, and that certainly picked up the attention of Cee-Lo, Blake and Christina, who tried to get Dez on her team at the last second in season two. Apparently, everyone's favorite eye candy (Cee-Lo egged the girls in the audience on while Blake was full on crushing on our guy) remembered Christina's attempt, so he now joins TEAM XTINA.

VJ - Of course, for every high, there is a low. VJ comes out, a big Cee-Lo fan, singing "Forget You" and it just doesn't compete. It doesn't even compete with Nakia's version from season one (remember him?). The performance is "Forget"ful except for Cee-Lo's duet with the young singer, which just proves that he's got one of the most fun attitudes in the music industry.

Alexis - Once again, we get another sob story. This time, our friend is lamenting about her losses from Hurricane Katrina, and she's here today hoping the exposure from The Voice will help her family rebuild their lives. Well, it worked in some capacity. She sings "Go Your Own Way," the second Fleetwood Mac song of the night (woohoo!), and it's just okay. It's enough to turn Cee-Lo around, so Alexis now on TEAM CEE-LO.

We get three more singers who also only turn around one coach: Sam is on TEAM ADAM, Laura joins TEAM XTINA, and Leila becomes a member of TEAM BLAKE.

Brandon - And what's his story? He grew up in violence and had to leave his hometown, but he carried his music dream with him (of course!). He's singing "I Wish It Would Rain," and he's doing a pretty good job. His voice is solid. Then, we hit his falsetto and that's the sweet spot. Of course, because of that, it should come to no surprise that although Cee-Lo and Xtina vie for this soulful singer, Brandon sides with TEAM ADAM.

We get a few failed performances before we get to the final two performances of the night, two of the strongest of the night.

Jordan - Woah! That was my first reaction to seeing ex-Disney star Jordan Pruitt on the show. After having a pretty successful career as a Disney Channel star back when I was a youngster, the now-20-year-old Jordan is looking to transition to a more mature career (hmm...what other coach did this?!). She comes out singing "The One That Got Away" and it doesn't look like she's stopped performing at all. She sounds good, and starts her really solid riffing, and that sells it for Xtina, who had been lamenting that she  couldn't find any good divas. Surprisingly, no one else makes a bid for Jordan, so she joins TEAM XTINA, and I would guess that, because of her "sorta" fan base, she's a frontrunner.

Terisa - The most surprising segment of the night is Terisa's performance. Her pre-performance package has "SASS" written all over her, and I'm praying she delivers a helluva performance to match that diva attitude. Thank God she does! Rifing is Terisa's middle name, and "Someone Like You" is her game. Still, Blake has to persuade Xtina to hit her button, because clearly this is an artist cut out just for her. Yet, when Terisa learns about Xtina's hesitations, she actually picks to be on TEAM BLAKE, and it might just be a game-changer.

Episode 7
Sylvia - The first contestant of this episode is Sylvia, originally from Egypt, who is here to pursue her mother's dreams of a singing career (women couldn't sing in Egypt, because of oppression). Sylvia's got attitude when she performs "Only Girl (In the World)" and she turns around every coach, except Adam, but she goes with the pretty obvious choice and joins TEAM XTINA.

IJ - Damn, this kid's voice is high! That's the only thing you can really notice about him at first. But maybe that'll be a good thing right? Not exactly. Even with a voice like that, IJ is straining for notes on "Virtual Insanity," and can't get any coaches to turn around. Poor guy.

Charlie - Smog technician Charlie is hoping to finally break out of the car shop onto the stage, and his performance of "Home" indicates he's got pretty good chances of that happening. He's voice, ironically enough, is clear and clean. Adam and Blake certainly think he's got it, and after a heated debate, Charlie goes with TEAM BLAKE.

Amanda - The second Amanda says she used to be a backup singer for Adele, I...am...SOLD. She's perfectly fine with her version of "Valerie," and only gets Cee-Lo to turn around, so she joins TEAM CEE-LO.

Yolanda - In one of the night's more surprising moments, this 50-something bus driver/cruise singer doesn't make it onto a coach's team! Why? Well...it's actually really hard to say. Singing "Get Here," Yolanda sounds like she should easily turn around some chairs (I'm looking at you, Adam and Christina!) and the coaches really really like her. So why not turn around?! It's a shame, I would've liked to have seen Yolanda this season.

Cassadee - On the other hand, the final singer of the night completes the rare feat of turning all four chairs around. Just like Jordan from Monday's episode, Cassadee might also be familiar to some viewers: she was the lead singer of a pop/rock band Hey Monday. I've listened to some Hey Monday music for a while, although not recently, so it's not surprising when Cassadee says the band broke up and she's looking to go solo. Her crystal voice shines on "Torn," and gets everyone amped. So who does she pick? While Xtina says she knows how to make solo careers work, and Adam says he knows what it's like to work with a band, Cassadee decides to become a major player for TEAM BLAKE.

Overall, I really thought the selection of singers from this week's episodes were much better than what we've seen in the past and I thought we saw a lot of frontrunners emerge. Who did you like this week? Let me know in the comments section below!

Evan

First Listen: Babel by Mumford and Sons

Ah, yes! It's here! Mumford and Sons too long awaited sophomore album, Babel, is being released Tuesday, September 25th, but I'm here to give you a first listen to the album, which is sure to satisfy fans that have been craving music for almost three years!

1. Babel - The album starts with this driving anthem. Marcus Mumford (the Mumford of Mumford and Sons) is back with his signature growl, and the instrumentation is beautiful and very forward. The band's music is always great on the first listen, and this song is no exception. It's so different from everything else we're hearing nowadays, between Marcus' gruff voice, the folk instrumentation, and the honest lyrics: "I know that perhaps my heart is farce, but I'll be born without a mask." Great first song!

2. Whispers in the Dark - This one is a little more upbeat, and it's a true Mumford and Sons song. The driving beats are infectious, and the lyrics are wonderful, of course. My favorite line so far: "My fingers tap into what you were once, and I'm worried that I blew my only chance." There's a little rock hint at the very end which shows a bit of a shift in direction, but it's not too evident. It's a great song, of course.

3. I Will Wait - I'm sure everyone has already this one, so I won't go into details. Classic Mumford. I love it.

4. Holland Road - This one is a little bit slower compared to the first couple of tracks, but it's a little more serious, so it makes sense. I love the instrumental on the chorus. This song's dealing a little more with reaching personal lows, and the lyrics are great. The last minute or so of the song, I love it! "When I've hit the ground, neither lost nor found/If you'll believe in me, I'll still believe," it might be one of my favorite lines on the album and I'm only four tracks in.

5. Ghosts That We Knew - This one is a definite change of sound compared to the beginning of the album. Nearly acoustic, the harmonies really shine here. It's such a somber sound, and it offers such contrast to the rest of the album.

6. Lover of the Light - This one's got a bit more of that rock beat I picked up on earlier, with a drum backing beat. It's interesting. I really like the chorus and the song sounds like a Mumford song with a bit of a modern-y edge to it. Hmm...interesting.

7. Lover's Eyes - It's got all the classic elements of an epic Mumford and Sons song, so of course I love it! The harmonies? Impressive. The instrumentation? Perfect. The lyrics? Great. This is more in line with the Mumford sound that started the album off.

8. Reminder - This song is so short, it feels like an interlude. It's just the guitar and Marcus, and it's still a really nice song. There's not much you can say about it since it's barely there.

9. Hopeless Wanderer - Might be my favorite song on the album. There are so many different sounds, energies, vocal styles, and it all just works somehow. I just really dig this one. It's got a different sound to it, and I really like it alot.

10. Broken Crown - This one is angry. It's awesome. The instrumentation is like a fast approaching storm ready to attack. Marcus is angry as hell. The lyrics are intense too: "In this twilight, how dare you speak of grace." A bit of a change of tone.

11. Below My Feet - This one has more of a universal tone, almost naturalistic and religious. It's a little understated with more rock elements than we've seen in this album. I definitely pick up on the religious undertones here: "Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn." It builds until the end, a Mumford necessity, and I like it.

12. Not With Haste - The final track on the standard edition. First thing I notice is the line "learn me right," which is the title of the song Mumford and Sons helped make for Disney-Pixar's Brave. Then, I realize the lyrics are lyrics from that song. Yes, it's a different slowed down version of the same song that Birdy sang, with a little bit of a change. Instrumentally, it's stripped down. Not sure how I feel, especially since I loved the original version. There are some differences in these versions, mostly the verses being changed to be slightly more mature. Still, you can decide which version you prefer.

13. For Those Below - What stands out most about this song is that we hear the other members of the band singing! The harmonies are beautiful and there's something particularly great about this one, at least I think so. I really enjoyed this one.

14. The Boxer - This is a cover of the Simon and Garfunkel song. This song has a soft rock edge to it, a hint of electric guitar. It picks up in the second verse with the addition of more voices. The song features Jerry Douglas and Paul Simon, so I wonder what roles they played in helping out with this song. The song is pretty good.

15. Where Are You Now? - Chasing after lost love is the theme of the last of the deluxe edition tracks. It's pretty simple, even down to the lyrics: "Do you ever think of me in the quiet, in the crowd?" Nice quiet end to the album.

My favorite tracks: Babel, Whispers in the Dark, Holland Road, Lover's Eyes, Hopeless Wanderer, For Those Below

The album comes out tomorrow so make sure you pick up your copy! Let me know what your favorites are in the comments section below!

Evan

Primetime Emmy Awards 2012 Recap

Hi everyone! Just a quick follow-up on last night's Emmy Awards ceremony. If you're looking for more info, you can check out my live blog from last night!

Starting with comedy, these winners were mostly expected. The writing and directing wins (Louis CK for Louie and Steve Levitan for Modern Family, respectively) were a little odd, considering I was predicting CK for directing, I thought Lena Dunham was a clear favorite in writing, and I didn't think Modern Family had a chance in the directing category. Still, deserving winners, I guess. Eric Stonestreet's win was definitely well-deserved, but I thought Ty Burrell or Jesse Tyler Ferguson would win the award this year (and to a lesser extent, I thought Max Greenfield might surprise). Julie Bowen's win was also predicted, although I thought Kristen Wiig's final nomination for Saturday Night Live might prevail, and I also feared that Kathryn Joosten might be posthumously rewarded for Desperate Housewives.
In the night's biggest WTF win, Jon Cryer took home the Lead Actor award. Methinks this has more to do with behind-the-scenes drama than his actual performance. Julia Louis-Dreyfus expectedly won the Lead Actress award, although a part of me was rooting for Amy Poehler with all my heart. Their little speech mishap was one of the highlight's of the show, though. Finally, Modern Family's win for Best Comedy Series was trite and expected, but fine nonetheless. Still, the show needs to have a great fourth season to keep up the winning streak as Parks and Rec, Girls, New Girl, The Big Bang Theory, and the final seasons of 30 Rock and The Office look to up the ante this year.

The reality winners were basically expected. The Amazing Race wins this award once again, and no one cares. Tom Bergeron wins Reality Host, after the only person to ever win this category, Jeff Probst, wasn't even nominated this year.

The variety winners are kinda there and don't add much to the show. Louis CK picked up another award for writing for his stand-up special. Glenn Weiss, who was directing this ceremony while winning an Emmy, made for some fun moments. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart wins Variety Series, making it a decade of winning, and my God, is that boring! Still, Stewart keeps it alive with that funny brawl with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon.

The TV movie/miniseries winners were also pretty expected, for the most part. Game Change was the big winner here, taking writing, directing, and lead actress (Julianne Moore), in addition to the big award: Best Miniseries/TV Movie. American Horror Story only picked up one win in the main ceremony for Jessica Lange, but there's no surprise there. Tom Berenger and Kevin Costner picked up a pair of wins for Hatfields and McCoys.

Finally, on the drama side of things, we had a mix of the expected and welcome surprises. Boardwalk Empire took home the directing award, inexplicably, considering the much stronger episodes it was up against. Maggie Smith won Best Supporting Actress, and that's not a real surprise either, considering she was one of the frontrunners and she's Maggie freaking Smith. Aaron Paul provided Breaking Bad with the night's only win for Breaking Bad, even though many thought Paul's co-star, Giancarlo Esposito, would take home the award (I thought Paul's tape was better, but Esposito's buzz couldn't be conquered, and unfortunately, I was wrong!).

However, the big news of the night came from newcomer Homeland which took home awards for writing, Lead Actress (the incomparable Claire Danes), Lead Actor (Damian Lewis, finally getting well-deserved recognition), and a Best Drama Series win. That's right - Mad Men's streak was finally broken! It wasn't a good night for that show, by the way. In addition to continuing it's acting losing streak to 0-25, the show went 0-17 this year, making it the show with the most nominations and no wins in a single year. Ouch! The shimmer of this once unbeatable show seems to be gone, and now, this race got interesting. It'll be back next year, in addition to hot new seasons of Homeland and the still unrewarded Breaking Bad, in addition to Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, The Good Wife, and other potential nominees.

Overall, it was a good ceremony. Host Jimmy Kimmel was pretty good, having equally good and bad moments. The opening was pretty good, but none shall ever beat the Born to Run opening with that eclectic group of TV stars (featuring Tina Fey, Joel McHale, and the cast of Glee, among others) from 2010. Little pre-taped bits were pretty good, especially the Breaking Bad-Andy Griffith show mash-up and the Modern Family bit about the terrorizing little girl that plays Lily. What did you think of the ceremony and, more importantly, the winners?! Let me know below in the comments section!

Evan

Primetime Emmy Awards Ceremony LIVE BLOG

Hello all! It's time again for one of the most exciting nights in the entertainment world. It's time for the Emmy Awards, celebrating the best of TV from the 2011-2012 season, and I'm going to be here all night love-blogging this experience for you! How lucky are you?! I'll also be live-tweeting on my personal account, @evan_cuneo, so make sure you check that out!

Opening
Naked Lena Dunham! So funny, especially after all the comments about how she was naked the whole series. The girls punching Jimmy Kimmel was funny, especially since it's a bunch of respected actresses. The cameo by the five reality show hosts was a genius nudge at the big mess from a few years ago! It was a fun opening, but still doesn't top the Born to Run number from 2009.

Jimmy Kimmel Monologue
Funny, the political shade was a bit uneasy, but I did like some of his jokes ("Barack Obama shouldn't watch Homeland, it's like Charlie Sheen watching Breaking Bad" haha!). I like that he pointed out some honest truths like the major network channels being snubbed for Best Drama Series.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Amy Poehler looks great, given the rough couple weeks she's had! Love the banter between her and Louis CK. My heart is racing and...Eric Stonestreet wins the Emmy! I'm a bit surprised, I thought Ty Burrell and Jesse Tyler Ferguson had a better chance, but he's still deserving, of course. Eric makes a funny joke about getting "hairy chest pictures." Love him! He won this award two years ago, so now he's the first Modern Family actor to win two Emmys for the show. The cast seems like a giant happy family, and they all look so supportive when one of them wins. Now, in all honesty, the Modern Family writers need to get Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Ed O'Neill their Emmys!

Best Writing for a Comedy Series
Jimmy's remark about celebrities and their phones is funny and SOOOO true! The joke about Jim Parsons basing his character on Zooey Deschanel being a scientist, haha. The writers make funny little jokes, and the winner is...Louis CK! I'm actually surprised. I really didn't think the episode he wrote was that funny, and I really thought Lena Dunham had that award tied up. Still, Louis CK was very deserving of some kind of award this year.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Wish they would've done more with that "Breaking Bad in the past" bit. Kat Dennings boobs are...there. The winner is...Julie Bowen! She was my second pick, and this is her second year in a row winning this award. I was really hoping Kristen Wiig would get the award, but Bowen is deserving, of course! Was it just me or was their barely any applause when she won? Maybe I missed that, or something? On an unrelated note, I spy James Van Der Beek in the audience. Modern Family makes it two years in a row of winning both comedy supporting awards. I wonder if Sofia Vergara can take this award next year, given her pregnancy storyline coming up this year.

Best Guest Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series
We already know these winners, but hey, it's Matthew Perry! His "I like attention" comment was funny, and his recognition of the audiences lack of laughter was even more funny. What is it with this audience? Is no one laughing or is it just me? Of course, just to recap, Jimmy Fallon and Kathy Bates won those awards.

Best Directing for a Comedy Series
Jimmy and Kathy are presenting this award, woot woot! So many Jew remarks hahaha. The winner is...Steve Levitan! Another unexpected one. I now fear poor Lena Dunham is going home empty handed. Still, Steve Levitan is a lot of fun, and his win is pretty deserving. This Modern Family bit after the win is hysterical though! That honestly was really fun. I really liked it.

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Mindy Kaling looks great!!! Melissa McCarthy is so perfectly creepy. Love it. The winner is...Jon Cryer! WHAT?!?! Okay, well that was definitely unexpected. I love that literally every other nominee looked so unenthusiastic. I'm so surprised....I can see why I he won though. His episode felt like an Emmy episode, and the Academy might just be rewarding him for dealing with Charlie Sheen fiasco this past year. Still...this is genuinely pretty shocking.

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
I am so nervous for this category!!!! I might pass out. Stephen Colbert making some nice remarks about women and then taking it right back haha. The winner is...Julia Louis-Dreyfus!! Man, I was really hoping Amy Poehler would win by Julia is so deserving, obviously! The bit with Amy Poehler and the acceptance speech was genius, and the last line of the acceptance speech was too funny. Could anybody see what happened when the cameras pulled away from JLD leaving the stage? By the way, guys, JLD just won an Emmy for a third role, she's a legend.

Okay, now the comedy block is finished. How do I feel?! Split. Deserving wins from JLD, Stonestreet, and Bowen, surprising wins from Levitan and CK and giant WTF win from Cryer.

Best Reality-Competition Program
Love James Van Der Beek and Damon Wayans Jr. pairing, that's too funny. The Amazing Race wins how BORING. Seriously, when will new shows start winning?! I'm hoping, soon enough, we see new winners *cough cough The Voice! cough cough*. I really am getting the feeling that the audience isn't happy or cheering, is something going on that I don't know about?!

Best Reality Host
I love the Big Bang Theory bit that leads into the accountants presentation, it kinda lightened up the boring part of the show. Seth McFarlane is looking dapper with his white jacket, but flubbing with the mic haha that's so funny. His big reality show joke was funny. Tom Bergeron wins! Oh, that was very deserving! Since no one but Jeff Probst has won, this is refreshing! I was scared Betty White was gonna win because she's Betty White, but Tom Bergeron is really funny in his speech.

While The Amazing Race was a boring win, I'm happy to see a new winner for Reality Host and happy it's Tom Bergeron. Now it's time for drama!

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Claire Danes makes being pregnant look GOOD. The winner is...Aaron Paul! I had a feeling he would take it too!! I picked Giancarlo Esposito because I thought he had the buzz, but this just proves that tapes do matter. He's so shocked too, it's sweet! I'm glad he won, he was my favorite performance in this category (Jared Harris is a close second), and I'm glad the buzz for Giancarlo Esposito didn't sway the vote.

Best Writing for a Drama Series
Haha, this prank is kinda funny. I tweeted it! My timeline is filled with these tweets, I'm dying! Anyway...Homeland wins! I am so excited!! I was pulling for Homeland to win this award, and it didn't go to Mad Men, woohoo! I hope this is the first of Homeland's awards for tonight.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
The winner is...Maggie Smith! Not too much of a surprise, though it's quite obvious she won based on name and not performance. Still, she's deserving. But she's not there to accept. Oh, bugger! Haha, English humor.

Best Guest Actor and Actress in a Drama Series
So funny seeing Johnny Galecki, Max Greenfield, Ty Burrell and Eric Stonestreet carry Tracy Morgan off the stage. Giancarlo Esposito is here to present the winners we...already know...again, those winners were Martha Plimpton and Jeremy Davies, who are here to present the next award!

Best Directing for a Drama Series
Michael Cuesta's little "dramatic" thing was funny. The winner is...Tim Van Patten for Boardwalk Empire! Woaaaaah, completely unexpected! Mad Men shut out of Writing and Directing?? Ruh-roh! HAHAHA oh my god, this fake In Memoriam segment is perfect. Josh Groban singing "What Makes You Beautiful" with a bunch of pictures of Jimmy Kimmel. Haha, what an awesome little piece.

Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Julianna Margulies is here to present, looking great as always! The winner is...Damian Lewis! Oh yeah!!!!!! I'm so excited, I just fist pumped in the air. Wow, I'm beyond thrilled right now. Talk about DESERVING. Maybe I'm partial to redheads, but he was so deserving and I'm so happy he won. He's so humble and you never hear his accent, so that is interesting. Beyond happy with this win! I always thought Claire Danes would be recognized for the show while Damian Lewis didn't get as much recognition, but now he won, I'm so happy right now.

Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series
"Our next presenters are here tonight." Haha, that's funny. Jon Hamm and Tina Fey, love the pairing. The winner is...Claire Danes! Totally expected but still completely deserving! You gotta love her, she's a dynamite performer and she killed it on Homeland this season. I still can't get over how great she looks being pregnant!

Hmm...we're done with drama. Minus Maggie Smith, the best performances in each category won! That is what I'm talking about! The biggest headscratcher is the win for Boardwalk Empire. Not sure I get that. I'll say this: with Homeland getting three wins, and Mad Men empty-handed thus far, might an upset be in the works for Best Drama Series? Regardless of whether it's Homeland that wins the big award, I'm not confident in Mad Men's chances.

Best Writing for a Variety Special
Aziz Ansari pretending to be British was sterotypical but funny, haha! I love how they're reading the nominees in British accents, I kinda like it. And the winner is...Louis CK! Man, he's got another Emmy tonight, but I guess with seven Emmy nominations, that kinda works out. "I wanted another one, so that's nice." Guess it's fair to say Louis CK is comedy king tonight!

Best Directing for a Variety Special
Ricky Gervais is here, but he's pretty tame tonight! The banter with Louis CK was highly amusing. The winner is...Glenn Weiss, and his speech is highly amusing.

Best Variety Series
Let's see if Jon Stewart wins AGAIN and makes it ten years of winning. Hmm...the winner is...The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert fighting Jon Stewart was hysterical, they went all out and it worked! Made it pretty interesting considering this win is BORING. Oh and Jon Stewart just dropped an F bomb that ABC barely caught, HAHA!

These variety categories were pretty boring for the most part. Nice to see Louis CK winning another Emmy, hard work is kinda paying off there! Now that Jon Stewart has made it a decade of winning, let's pray someone new gets this award next year.

Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries/TV Movie
Jimmy Kimmel's interaction with his parents was very funny, and when Tracy Morgan got involved, that was too funny! Now there's security! Oh this is too funny. Steve Buscemi is here to present, gotta love him! And the winner is...Jessica Lange! No surprise here, but so well deserved, of course. She looks great too.

Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries/TV Movie
Glad they bought the Ellen DeGeneres pants joke from the opening back to her presentation. However, Kerry Washington is actually presenting this category, and the winner is...Tom Berenger! He wins for Hatfields and McCoys, so at least they won't go home empty handed.

In Memoriam
One of my favorite directors, Ron Howard, is here to start off the In Memoriam tribute with a special foreword about Andy Griffith. Ron talks so easily and you can tell her cares about Andy. Next, we're led into the actual tribute. It's always surprising to remember who we lost this year, actors and actresses that were just on TV this past year.

Best Writing for a Miniseries/TV Movie
Lucy Liu and Kiefer Sutherland get right to business. The winner is...Game Change! One of the biggest mini/TV movie contenders, this one was obviously expected here, but during the speech, I'm distracted by the winner's crocked bowtie and the fact that the MICROPHONE WAS TOO DAMN HIGH.

Best Lead Actress in a Miniseries/TV Movie
Going right along! The winner is...Julianne Moore! This one was pretty much expected, but it's still nice to see her win an Emmy, finally! She's very underrated. There's some Sarah Palin shade, but doesn't everyone love Sarah Palin shade?

Best Directing for a Miniseries/TV Movie
ABC's Sunday ladies, Ginnifer Goodwin and Emily VanCamp, are getting right to business! The winner is...Jay Roach for Game Change! A third Emmy for Game Change, but definitely well-deserved. Jay's got the speech down pat, and our ladies are ready to move on.

Best Lead Actor in a Miniseries/TV Movie
The winner is...Kevin Costner! Knew it would be Bill Paxton or Costner, but woohoo! Costner is so chilled and laid back, heck, his shirt is missing a thousand buttons! Woody Harrelson isn't there because he's shooting Catching Fire, I just like reminding myself of that. Clearly, we're getting the show on the road with these winners, probably because they wanna finish the show before eleven. What an idea!

Best Miniseries/TV Movie
Andre Braugher is looking classy, and ABC is giving you this opportunity to remember that his new show premieres this week on their channel. Anyway, the winner is...Game Change! Not a surprise, considering it had the most wins tonight, at least for miniseries/TV movies. Tom Hanks is accepting the award, it's always nice to see him now and then, haha. He keeps it short and sweet, gotta love that!

Best Drama Series
Let's see, is an upset in the works? YES! Homeland wins Best Drama Series! What a shocker, but possibly the best shocker of the whole night! I'm beyond thrilled! Wow! The Mad Men streak is over. Homeland is the newest victor of Best Drama Series, joining a long line of great shows to win this award. I am over the moon. This show is so deserving! I didn't think Homeland had a shot against Mad Men or Breaking Bad, but I'm so glad it did. I called it right after Homeland took three awards earlier in the show! In other news, Mad Men didn't win a single Emmy this year...how fast the mighty fall.

Best Comedy Series
Everyone's favorite, Michael J. Fox, is presenting this award! Jimmy Kimmel calls him everyone's least favorite person, yet he gets a standing ovation. Typical. Haha. The winner is...Modern Family! Well, at least one winner is returning from last year. Obviously this was expected, but it's still a nice win for this "family." However, I think if the show fell into a bit of a slump this year, so it needs to pick it up next year if it wants to keep this award for a fourth year.

Well, that's the show! Did you enjoy? Check back tomorrow for a full rundown of the show from my POV. Now go get some sleep!

Evan

Final Emmy 2012 Predictions

With the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony tomorrow night, it's time to make those final predictions! Here is a quick look at my final sheet, but don't take my word for it! Make your own predictions, post them in the comments section, and let's compare!

Best Comedy Series
First Choice: Modern Family
Second Choice: Girls

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
First Choice: Jim Parsons for The Big Bang Theory
Second Choice: Louis C.K. for Louie

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
First Choice: Amy Poehler for Parks and Recreation
Second Choice: Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Veep

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
First Choice: Ty Burrell for Modern Family
Second Choice: Jesse Tyler Ferguson for Modern Family

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
First Choice: Kristen Wiig for Saturday Night Live
Second Choice: Julie Bowen for Modern Family

Best Directing for a Comedy Series
First Choice: Louis C.K. for the episode "Duckling" for Louie
Second Choice: Robert B. Weide for the episode "Palestinian Chicken" for Curb Your Enthusiasm

Best Writing for a Comedy Series
First Choice: Lena Dunham for the episode "Pilot" for Girls
Second Choice: Chris McKenna for the episode "Remedial Chaos Theory" for Community

Best Drama Series
First Choice: Mad Men
Second Choice: Breaking Bad

Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series
First Choice: Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad
Second Choice: Damian Lewis for Homeland

Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series
First Choice: Claire Danes for Homeland
Second Choice: Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
First Choice: Giancarlo Esposito for Breaking Bad
Second Choice: Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
First Choice: Christina Hendricks for Mad Men
Second Choice: Maggie Smith for Downton Abbey

Best Directing for a Drama Series
First Choice: Michael Cuesta for the episode "Pilot" for Homeland
Second Choice: Vince Gilligan for the episode "Face Off" for Breaking Bad

Best Writing for a Drama Series
First Choice: Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner for the episode "The Other Woman" for Mad Men
Second Choice: Andre and Maria Jacquemetton for the episode "Commissions and Fees" for Mad Men

Tomorrow night, we'll see how accurate these predictions are! I haven't finalized my Emmy viewing plans just yet, but I can say I will most likely be live-tweeting the whole thing on my personal Twitter, @evan_cuneo, so make sure you follow me if you want to see my live thoughts! Until then, get ready for the Emmys!!!

Evan

The Voice Week 2 Recap

The Voice is back for its' second week of Blind Auditions, and I'm here to cover everything you need to know, so let's not wait any longer!

Episode 4
Melanie - Okay, I have a confession: I didn't like this girl. Her personality is nice and all, and as Demi Lovato fan, I've been able to look past someone's gap tooth. But I just don't like her voice at all. Her rendition of "Toxic" is way too breathy, and at times it didn't even sound like singing. I just didn't like it, but I think there is some potential to get better. However, she gets the guys excited, turning around everyone but Xtina. After some brutal fighting, Melanie becomes a member of TEAM ADAM.

Cupid - In one of the episode's most noteworthy moments, we meet Cupid, the guy who made the Cupid Shuffle! This guy is a legend...for DJs at least, they play his music at every event possible. So what's he doing here? To prove he can actually sing. Naturally. And he can sing. But he makes the mistake of singing his own song, which doesn't show off vocal ability. And, as a result, no one turns around. Instead, after his song ends, he sings a second song per the coaches' request, and he sounds damn good. Such a shame!

Brian - One of my favorite contestants of this episode was Brian, a young single father looking to make a musical breakthrough. He's got a story that makes you wanna cheer for him, and luckily, he's also got a voice that makes you love him. Singing "Isn't She Lovely," Brian has a very clear voice, even if his pronunciation is a little strange at times. His howl grabs Xtina by surprise, as it does to me as well! Once again, it's the men's club and, once again, TEAM ADAM gets a member.

Next, we get three failed duos who each have their problems. They're a no.

Beat Frequency - Looking at this husband-wife couple, you have to laugh. Man is older and wife is younger, but they both look like they're trying waaaaay too hard to be "hip." But Shawn and Natasha are talented, and that's what the show's about. Apparently, their performance of "E.T." inspired Cee-Lo to press his button. They're good, and now they're on TEAM CEE-LO.

Tyler - In an episode filled with no turns, this performance surprised me! Tyler is a huge Dodgers fan and he finds out about his invitation to the Blind Auditions on the Megatron at Dodgers Stadium, how cool is that?! Okay, kinda cool. Singing "U Got It Bad," Tyler's voice is a little different from the expected, but he's still pretty good. Just...not good enough. No judges turn around, and Tyler is out of this competition. A little surprising.

Liz - A blonde country girl who can sing? Oh boy...where American Idol lacks in country stars, The Voice readily makes up for it. Still, Liz is a little different. Her performance of "Here for the Party" is different than one might expect: she's got a cool deep voice that we haven't seen in any country singers yet. For that reason, Adam, Xtina, and Blake turn around, but this story has an expected ending: Liz picks TEAM BLAKE.

JR - YouTube sensations...they come, they go, and sometimes, they get on The Voice! That's the case with JR, an Anchorage, Alaska native (woot woot, I have family that live there!) who ranks among the Top 100 YouTube performers of something or other...awesome! Anyway, JR's singing "Just the Way You Are" and he's doing it just fine. He's got a clean voice. It's just...just good. The same can't be said for his weak falsetto. That needs work. Still, Adam, Cee-Lo, and Xtina hear something, and JR picks TEAM CEE-LO.

Agina - Sometimes powerful voices come out of unexpected places. That can be said for Agina, a crazy powerful soul singer who charges "Turn the Beat Around" to 100% from the start. It's really just an unexpected performance, but it's just not good enough. Another no-turn performance.

Nicholas - When I first see him, I scream Cee-Lo! This is his kind of guy. I must have telepathic powers or something. Despite his creepy cartoon character appearance while singing, his performance of "Stand by Me" inspires everyone's favorite creepy uncle to turn around, and Nicholas is now TEAM CEE-LO.

Alessandra - I still don't know how to feel about Alessandra, a student at the FAME school, you know, the one that FAME is based on? Why isn't it just called the FAME School? Anyway, she's here singing "The Climb" and she starts off great. Then, things go....south. When Adam and Cee-Lo turn around, Alessandra clearly gets flustered and her performance falls as a result. That's not good. Still, coaches turned, so someone's gonna have her. Let's hope TEAM ADAM is a good fit for this student.

Next, we get three little snippets of young girls making it through. Adanna goes to TEAM ADAM, and Paulina goes to TEAM XTINA, while my favorite of the three, 15 year old Kelly heads over to TEAM BLAKE. I would've liked to have heard that whole performance.

Avery - The night ends with Avery, singing "Without You," which is difficult to sing and make sound good. He sounds good on the verses, but the chorus, which is just a giant "withooooooooooout yoooooooooooooooou" is boring, and a voice can only help so much. Still, it's a good performance and it gets all four judges to turn around. But Avery can only be on one team, and that team is...TEAM CEE-LO.

Episode 5
Trevanne - The episode gets off to a bittersweet start. Trevanne, a young single mother, looks like she has star potential to spare, and I'm excited to hear her sing. Yet, it's almost written in the stars when she tells Carson she's singing a Whitney Houston song. While her performance was very good, it's almost impossible to judge a performance of a Whitney song, unless it is changed drastically from the original version. Unfortunately, no coaches turn around, which is a shame because Trevanne is someone I really could have pictured rooting for.

Collin - Luckily, a similar fate did not befall the next contestant. Collin seemingly had life handed to him on a silver platter after being accepted to NYU Business Graduate School, yet less than a year before he was supposed to graduate, he dropped out. Uhh....ARE YOU CRAZY?! Regardless, Collin wanted to pursue his dream of singing which led him to auditioning for The Voice. He begins his song, "Wild World," and he's got a crystal clear voice with a bit of a country twang. It immediately impresses Adam and Cee-Lo who smack their buttons very early on with Blake coming in for the last minute swipe, yet Collin decides to join TEAM ADAM, where he has dark horse potential.

Joselyn - Continuing Monday night's "Young Divas" quota, we meet Joselyn, who didn't speak for the first four years of her life, but found refuge in music, naturally. She's singing "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," and she's doing pretty good. She's got great stage presence and I detect a bit of Latin flavor, which could work in her favor. Christina thinks she's got this in the bag before realizing Blake pressed his button at the last second. But, as all young girls do, Joselyn idolized the pop queen and joins TEAM XTINA.

Benji - One of the night's biggest surprises is Benji, an ex race car driver who is here to pursue his music dream. He's singing "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," which seems a little out of his element, but he does a good job with it. His voice is really good, when controlled. When not in control? We get iffy notes like the screaming high notes that nearly make Xtina jump out of her seat. It's enough to light a fire under Adam and Cee-Lo, who duke it out, with Benji eventually earning his place on TEAM ADAM.

But don't cry for Cee-Lo, my friends! He gets three more members in auditions we only get a little sneak of. He picks up Todd and Emily, and beats Blake to win over Ben. Now, poor Blake is the only coach left without a pick in tonight's episode! Might his fate change soon?

Lorraine - You can't not love this woman. At fifty-two, she's the oldest competitor we've seen, but she's got more spunk and personality than 95% of the contestants (sorry, Domo is still tops there). In my notes, I wrote "Lorraine's personality is the definition of WTF?! but you can't not love her." Still, that doesn't mean you gotta love their voice. Because...I don't. Lorraine is all over the place with her performance, an emotional and vocal rollercoaster. She sounds theatrical, whispery, showy, and downright crazy at various times throughout the performance. It's not good. The judges agree, but Lorraine is still incredibly happy to have had the opportunity to perform. It's a shame she wasn't a better singer, I think America might have fallen for her.

Mycle - Mycle's story is pretty tragic: he lost both his parents at a young age (both seemingly clean deaths, with no drug or alcohol abuse, which makes it all the more tragic) and he was raised by his grandfather his whole life, who then passed away a week and a half before Mycle's blind audition. So this one goes out to him. Mycle begins his rendition of "Let's Stay Together," and I really dig his vibe. His voice is good, and by the end, I'm sold. So, apparently, are Adam, Cee-Lo, and Blake. who all turn around. While we're led to believe Mycle will go with Blake, he pulls a fast one on us and TEAM CEE-LO gets yet another member!

Who were your favorites this week? Who are you pinning as an early favorite? Let me know in the comments section below!

Evan

Dear AWKWARD. Fans...

Hello there, everyone! Now, I know I did an Awkward. recap earlier this summer and never continued on with it, and I'm very sorry about that! Keeping up with scripted series can be very tough, but have no fear! Tonight, I will be (hopefully!) live-tweeting the Awkward. finale! Follow me on my personal Twitter @evan_cuneo to see my thoughts throughout the episode. Enjoy!

Billboard Hot 100 Update - Week of September 29th

Another week, another #1. This time, Maroon 5 is finally hitting the peak spot in 2012 with One More Night. The song, after week's of creeping up the chart, hits #1 in it's thirteenth week on the chart. The push comes thanks to a #11-#5 jump at Radio Songs and a stable hold at #3 on Digital Songs. After Maroon 5's first single from their new album Overexposed, Payphone, flirted near the top for so long without reaching the peak position, it's awesome to see that the band finally is getting a #1. With lead singer Adam Levine's coaching position on NBC's hot series The Voice, it's possible the song could extend its' stay. After a sudden bounce to #1 last week, Taylor Swift falls back to #2 with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. The song makes it five weeks at #1 on Digital Songs and jumps #7-#6 on Radio Songs, but it just couldn't match the performance of One More Night. Despite a #4-#5 slide on Digital Songs, fun.'s Some Nights hits a new peak of #3, up one spot from last week. The song's #16-#11 charge on Radio Songs certainly helped things out. We'll see if the song can climb any higher and at least hit #1 to match We Are Young. Flo Rida falls another spot, #3-#4, with Whistle, and it looks like the song is headed on its way down. At the other end of the spectrum, it appears Pink's VMA performance was perfect timing. After jumping back into the Top 10 last week, Blow Me (One Last Kiss) makes it's top 5 appearance, jumping #6-#5. The song made a gigantic #4-#1 push on Radio Songs and an #8-#7 jump on Digital Songs, and with the release of her new album this week, things are looking awesome for this punk-pop star.

Two songs reach new heights in the second tier of the Billboard Hot 100. Justin Bieber and Big Sean's As Long As You Love Me climbs #7-#6 after a strong week of sales, while Alex Clare's surprise hit Too Close reaches up two more spots for a new peak of #8. In between, Ellie Goulding is still holding strong in the Top 10 with Lights at #7, two spots lower than last week. Good Time, the Carly Rae Jepsen/Owl City summer jam, is the only song in the Top 10 to hold steady from last week at #9, while Neon Trees' Everybody Talks falls two spots #8-#10, two weeks after an astonishing blast into the Top 10. Billboard's chart hints at two potential hits to come in the coming weeks. Korean pop star Psy and his ridiculous Gangnam Style are blowing up all over the States and he makes a remarkable #64-#11 push. The song explodes #25-#4 on Digital Songs and #43 debut on Radio Songs, and could climb higher next week as the song should make a Top 10 debut. You can make your own conclusions about how you feel about the song, and I'll keep my own to myself, sound good? Right below Gangnam, at #12, Kanye West's collab with Big Sean and Jay-Z slides up #55-#12 after a #16-#2 jump on Digital Songs and a #75 debut on Radio Songs. If sales stay strong, the song could make its way to the Top 10. And again, I'll reserve judgment.

Carly Rae Jepsen's first hit Call Me Maybe continues to slide down the Billboard charts, although she falls only one spot this week from #12-#13. Katy Perry's Wide Awake takes a bigger fall from #11-#14. Although Maroon 5 hits #1 with One More Night, their previous hit, Payphone, slides two spots from #13-#15. Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know continues the trend of sliding down the chart, falling #15-#16. Finally, one song that isn't falling: Nicki Minaj's Pound the Alarm, up two spots from #17-#19. As the song climbs up Radio Songs, it continues it's early strong performance that stalled earlier this month. Demi Lovato's Give Your Heart a Break dips one spot #17-#18. David Guetta and Sia's Titanium takes a bigger fall than the other songs, as it slips #14-#19, while Kanye West and Co.'s Mercy falls from #18-#20. Chris Brown's Don't Wake Me Up continues to rise #24-#21, and the song should be a Top 20 hit by next week (whether you're happy about that or not). Hunter Hayes' Wanted also jumps a spot #23-#22, and with a bump in sales this week, it could climb into the Top 20 next week. Cher Lloyd's Want U Back continues to make an unceremonious fall as it slips #21-#27 this week. Train's 50 Ways to Say Goodbye jumps one spot from #31 to #30.

Imagine Dragons' album release led to a big push for their single, It's Time, as it jumps #49 to #33. Hopefully, the song can get higher as alternative music has been very popular this year and this song deserves it. Taylor Swift's Ronan takes a bit of a fall after immediate buzz for the song washed away in its second week of sales, but the fall was smaller than expected, only #16-#36. David Guetta's I Can Only Imagine makes another stride from #61-#55, as does Ed Sheeran's The A Team which jumps #69-#61. Karmin's Hello makes another jump as it rises #77-#64. Lifehouse make a surprise appearance on the chart after an impressive Digital Songs debut at #30, logging in a Hot 100 debut at #79. Passion Pit's Take a Walk jumps two spots from #87-#85, while one spot below, Carly Rae Jepsen's new single, This Kiss, makes it's debut at #86. Three debuts take up the bottom tier of the Hot 100: Enrique Iglesias' new single Finally Found You debuts at #94, Glee's cover of Imagine Dragons' It's Time at #95, and Olly Murs' Heart Skips a Beat finally arrives at #96.

Evan