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

Creative Arts Emmy Recap

Hello everyone! In case you were unaware, last night was the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony (it will be broadcast on Reelz Channel later this week), and there were some big winners and shockers that could indicate what next Sunday's Primetime Emmys ceremony could bring. Let's check it out.

First, the big categories of the night were the guest acting categories. Kathy Bates took home the Emmy for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Two and a Half Men. Personally, I had her ranked fifth, and I'm surprised she won, but I guess I shouldn't be. Bates is a well-respected actress who has never won an Emmy, and voters may have wanted to reward her (which means her chances for winning a Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Harry's Law aren't as great anymore). I really thought Melissa McCarthy had this one in the bag, and if not her, then Maya Rudolph, another SNL guest host. SNL didn't go home empty-handed in the guest acting categories, however: Jimmy Fallon picked up an Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for hosting the SNL Christmas episode. He was my number one pick, so yay for me! Fallon's win here continues Saturday Night Live's hot streak in these categories; an SNL guest has won one of these categories since 2009. On the drama side of things, Jeremy Davies took home the award for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Justified. I had him ranked third, thinking one of the actors from The Good Wife would take home the prize, but (just as in the comedy category), the show was rewarded in another capacity: in one of the night's biggest surprises, Martha Plimpton took home the Emmy for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role on The Good Wife. While I had her ranked third, I'm thrilled she picked up this award, finally earning some Emmy recognition (and I guess this makes up for her snub in the Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category this year).

In other news, the night's big winner was HBO's Game of Thrones, which picked up six awards, including Art Direction, Costumes, and Special Visual Effects. While that may be a good thing for the show heading to the primetime ceremony (where it is nominated for Best Drama Series and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series), remember that last year's Creative Arts winner, Boardwalk Empire, only picked up one extra award at the primetime ceremony. Still, keep an eye out on Game of Thrones for some potential upsets! Frozen Planet, Great Expectations, and Saturday Night Live followed close behind with four wins each. Boardwalk Empire picked up three wins, while Downton Abbey and Homeland each won two Emmys. Surprisingly, the two frontrunners for Best Drama Series (Mad Men and Breaking Bad) were shut-out of the Creative Arts Emmys, a first for Mad Men. I smell a serious chance of an upset in this category!

Out of the Best Comedy Series nominees, only three shows picked up one award (Girls, Modern Family, and Curb Your Enthusiasm), which doesn't really help make predicting this category easier. Two and a Half Men was the only comedy to pick up multiple awards but I'm thinking that won't make much of a change when it comes to Jon Cryer's nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. CBS comedies had a great showing this year: in addition to Men's two wins, 2 Broke Girls and How I Met Your Mother also picked up an Emmy each (HIMYM picks up it's second Emmy for Best Picture Editing for a Multi-Camera Series). CBS picked up thirteen awards, but HBO led the pack with 17. Check back later this week for more pre-Emmy hype as we count down to Sunday's ceremony!

Evan

Song of the Week - September 14th - Lolita by The Veronicas

Although a lot of my week has been consumed by First Listens for Carly Rae Jepsen and Pink, I have had time to fit in other music, specifically this week's pick for Song of the Week. I found this band after the success of their first big US single, Untouched, and I really fell in love with their second studio album, Hook Me Up. It should come as no surprise that I was extremely happy when I saw The Veronicas were planning to release new music this year, and this week, I finally got a first taste. I was unaware that this song had been out for a few weeks now, but I'm still really excited to show off my pick for Song of the Week...

Lolita by The Veronicas

This lead single from the girls' new album, Life on Mars (expected in 2013), is very futuristic and a bit of a departure from their previous sound, but that's completely okay. The beginning bars remind me of Ellie Goulding's Lights, but the song quickly heads in a different direction. Jessica and Lisa (yes, neither of them are named Veronica) sound really clean on the song, and the throbbing beat is sure to make this song a hit on the dance floor. The build-up to the pounding chorus breakdown is awesome, and you can't not at least tap your foot along to the song. The dubstep breakdown is awesome and very creepy, especially with lyrics like "Always stay close to me/Don't think of living/And I promise I will keep our secret." My favorite line is right before the big blow-up of the chorus: "You're my possession, I'm your obsession, don't tell me never, I'll love you forever." See, kinda creepy, right? It's just a fun song that might be taken as being slightly obsessive with a loved one - it's like a dance-rock answer to Call Me Maybe. Give the song a spin and let me know what you think in the comments section below!

Evan

First Listen: The Truth About Love by Pink

In addition to Carly Rae Jepsen's album Kiss, Pink's The Truth About Love also leaked on Tuesday. So what does the album sound like? What are the standout tracks? Find out below!

1. Are We All We Are - This song's got an awesome rock-alt vibe going on, a bit of a different direction for Pink, but it sounds really freaking cool. The lyrics are pretty awesome, and the "Are we all we are?" chant is instant earworm. It's a really different album intro and I'm interested to see if it sets the pace for the album.

2. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - Everyone knows it already, so I'll just say it's good, dance-y, but I don't love it like I've loved previous Pink songs. That's all I have to say about that.

3. Try - I think this song is really beautiful. It's mid-tempo, I guess I would say, and it's not a "smack you across the face" kind of hit, but I think it'll gain alot of popularity, if not for the beautiful lyrics. Pink sounds really good, these are the kind of songs she excels at. This is the next single off the album, and I could see it doing really well, even if it's not your typical hit song.

4. Just Give Me a Reason - This is Pink's duet with Nate Reuss, the lead singer of fun. and as a fan, I was really excited to hear this one. It doesn't disappoint. You can tell Nate definitely had something to do with the songwriting process, because there's a fun. flavor in this song. Both Pink's and Nate's vocals are amazing here, both are hitting notes in a different stratosphere. I feel like the song could've been a little more "produced," but in it's current state, it's a very subtle track.

5. True Love - I think this song is a riot. It's basically about hating someone so much, you love them. It's got a fun beat and Pink's delivery is at it's best here, because she's being sarcastic and mean. The chorus is really catchy, "I really hate you so much, I think it must be true love." A potential radio single.

6. How Come You're Not Here - The first thing you can recognize about this song is that it's got an infectious driving beat. Pink's being a mean, crude, and scorned lover, asking a lover if he's not with her because he's dead. It's fun, but I'm not sure I like it better than the similar True Love.

7. Slut Like You - Pardon the blunt title. This one is kind of crazy! It's got an instant, "get up and dance" beat, and Pink is delivering these lines with vocal command. The chorus hits and it's absolutely insane! There's a lot of "woo-hoo"-ing, and I'm not certain I love it or not. The rap breakdown is good, and the song overall is actually pretty good, I just don't know if I really like the chorus all that much. I still think it could be a radio single, although there will have to be much editing done to the lyrics (multiple uses of multiple bad words).

8. The Truth About Love - This song feels half-baked: the vocals, the production, even the lyrics. I was waiting for the song to go somewhere, and it didn't. It's just okay, for me.

9. Beam Me Up - A beautiful, understated song. On an album that has mostly been full of thumping beats, biting lyrics, and crazy vocal delivery, this song takes a step back. Just guitars, strings, and piano and Pink's light voice, and you've got a really good song. The subject matter is about seeing someone who has (I'm assuming) passed away, and Pink begging to "beam me up" to be with that person again. It's incredibly understated when it could've been a big power ballad but I almost like it better this way.

10. Walk of Shame - This song is pretty funny! It's about exactly what the title insinuates, and it's a song that, really, only Pink could pull off. It's got a driving beat and Pink is in her zone, it could go to radio.

11. Here Comes the Weekend - Here's another song that kinda disappoints. The song starts off good, but it stays there, never really building. Pink's vocal delivery is just okay on this one. Eminem comes in for a verse and it's...fine? The beat is toe-tap worthy, though. I'm not too keen on it.

12. Where Did the Beat Go? - This one's got a dark beat that separates it from the rest of the album, and it's pretty cool. Lyrically, it's heavy, and Pink's delivery shows that. It's good.

13. The Great Escape - I really, really like this song. Pink is talking about suicide and ending your life, and it's highly personal. She sounds absolutely beautiful, and when the harmonies kick in, the song starts soaring, and the instrumentation builds till the end. It's a hauntingly beautiful song, a great way to close the album. One of my favorites, for sure.

Overall, the album is kinda half and half for me. Some songs are really good and others are just kinda there. I was surprised that there weren't more ballads, because I think that's where Pink really succeeds. Still, she's got some good future hits on here.

My favorite tracks: Are We All We Are, Try, Just Give Me a Reason, The Great Escape

First Listen: Kiss by Carly Rae Jepsen

With so much great music coming out this fall, I decided to do a "First Listen" column for this fall's most anticipated albums. CDs generally tend to be leaked before they are officially released, but Interscope Records managed to keep a good lid on Carly Rae Jepsen's new (not debut!) album, Kiss. The album, however, leaked yesterday, just three days short of it's release in Japan, and is currently making its way around the Web. Of course, I jumped on the opportunity to take a first listen, so below is a track-by-track review of the album. As an overview, if you're a 90's kid, love bubblegum pop, and you want to be taken back to the days of boy bands and teenage divas, this is probably the album for you. It's got a very cool, retro sound, which is what kind of separates Carly Rae from other stars of today. Here's the track-by-track:

1. Tiny Little Bows - This song should be a clear indication of what the album is going to sound like, and it definitely delivers on that promise. With heavy beats, Carly's signature whispery voice, and a dance-easy feel, it's the perfect way to get the album started. I get an island-y kind of feel at some points, and it's a lot of fun. On first listen, I didn't pick up on the lyrics right away, although Carly did release an acoustic version of this song a while back, and the lyrics seem to have definitely changed since then. This song is a grower, for sure. I don't know if it would ever be a future single, but it's a fun track to get the album started.

2. This Kiss - Carly's newest single, this song has the light airy catchiness that made Call Me Maybe such a big hit. It starts off with dancehall synths that are very 80's/90's, and it kicks right into a bubblegum chorus: "This kiss is something I can't resist, your lips are undeniable. This kiss is something I can't risk, your heart is unreliable." And why is Carly's man "unreliable?" Oh yeah, because it's a song about cheating, whoops. Yep, the song deals with Carly's feelings about another man, despite the fact that they are both in relationships. It's rumored to be about her new boyfriend Matthew Koma, who also co-wrote the song. Tricky, tricky, Carly!

3. Call Me Maybe - I think we can all agree we don't need to analyze this song, right? Okay, good.

4. Curiosity - For anyone who may not have known, this song was originally a part of Carly's Curiosity EP that was released in Canada in February. The song, in it's original context, was just a basic guitar and voice piece, and it was really great. Here, the song has been reworked to fit the pop/dance feeling of the album. As a fan of the original, I'm not sure how I feel about this new version. It's certainly easier to dance to, but I liked the simple version. Still, it's still just as catchy, and everyone loves a good key change, right? I certainly do. The song could be a future single, but seeing as how it was already released as a single in Canada earlier this year, it's kind of unlikely.

5. Good Time - Another Carly Rae song we can skip right over, right? This song is instantly catchy and it fits right in on the album.

6. More Than a Memory - This song reminds me of The One That Got Away by Katy Perry, but don't worry, that's a good thing. In fact, on this album of dance-pop, it's a welcome addition. The song is a more-than-mid-tempo ballad about saving a relationship that is falling apart. Carly sounds great here and the song is still very danceable. It's one of my favorites on the whole album. I could see it being a radio single, especially if the "Carly Rae only makes stupid pop music about flirting" thing kicks in.

7. Turn Me Up - The song starts off good...builds....and then it hits the chorus and you cannot stop dancing! While it's vocally the least challenging song on the album, methinks, it's still a really great one to dance to, especially since it's the first song on the album that doesn't have Carly head over heels in love. In fact, it's the opposite! It's all about going out after a fight with your loved one. It's got an awesome beat and easy lyrics that'll be great to shout over the throbbing beats. It reminds me of Don't Wake Me Up by Chris Brown, just a little tiny bit. Don't crucify me! I can definitely see this one being a radio single.

8. Hurt So Good - Ultimate. Bubblegum. Pop. And I love it. From the very second this song starts, you are guaranteed to at least start tapping your foot. It's got an insanely addictive beat and the chorus is instantly memorable. Lyrically, it's in the vein of Call Me Maybe, crushing on a faraway person of interest. It's definitely near the top of my favorites list, and I'm thinking it'll definitely be a single.

9. Beautiful - This is the much-anticipated duet with Justin Bieber. Surprisingly, it sounds nothing like the rest of the album, because the duet was recorded to be a part of Carly's Curiosity EP (although it then begs the question why Curiosity had to be changed to be more dance-pop, but I won't get into that!). Still, it's a nice song and a big change of pace from the rest of the album. Both Carly and Justin sound good, although the big problem here is that the chorus sounds eerily similar to One Direction's big hit. "What makes you so beautiful is you don't know how beautiful you are to me" vs. "You don't know you're beautiful, that's what makes you beautiful." Yeah, exactly! Even though it's the Bieber song, I really hope this doesn't get released as a single.

10. Tonight I'm Getting Over You - My favorite track on the album. It's different from every other track because it sounds more modern, but I really love it. It starts off pretty tame and builds up to the explosive chorus, which will have you chanting "Tonight, I'm getting over you!" It'll be a club hit and I'm thinking it'll definitely be an anthem for the year. Premature? Maybe. But the song is definitely going to be a hit, I think. There's no reason it shouldn't be. It's a different sound and a different message for Carly (kinda like Turn Me Up), but I love it.

11. Guitar String/Wedding Ring - I'll start by saying the song is kinda cheesy. "If you cut a piece of guitar string, I would wear it like it's a wedding ring?" Really? But that doesn't mean you won't be chanting those lines during the song. It has a real 70's/80's feel, a little different from the other songs, but I still really like it. The lyrics are passable and the beat is good. I don't think it'll be a single, but it's still fun.

12. Your Heart is a Muscle - The one and only true ballad on the album, and it's pretty good. Carly's whispery voice works pretty good, and even though "your heart is a muscle" is kind of lame, it's still fun to sing along to. It's a slow jam, but it's a good song nonetheless. Won't be a single though.

Deluxe tracks:

13. Drive - This song is okay compared to the other songs on the album, and it starts to get to a point where if there is no distinctive element to these songs, they fade in the background. That's the case here.

14. Wrong Feels So Right - The song has a club beat and it's a little promiscuous, but it's very dance-y and fun. I can understand why it's a deluxe track, because it doesn't really fit with the rest of the album.

15. Sweetie - Sounds kinda like the track right before, but I like this one a little more. The actual music here is just a little more prominent, and the chorus is catchy. It's got that Carly Rae charm.

The American version has a sixteenth track, Almost Said It, but that song has apparently not leaked. However, a track from the Japanese version, I Know You Have a Girlfriend, has apparently leaked, but I haven't found it. Still, there is more than enough to enjoy here!

My favorite tracks: Tonight I'm Getting Over You, Hurt So Good, More Than a Memory, Turn Me Up

Have you listened? What songs are you loving right now? Let me know in the comments section below!

Evan

The Voice Premiere Week Recap

I know, I know, I'm a little late here, but I thought I needed to give you guys my rundown of this first week of The Voice. It's my favorite reality competition on TV and I'm so glad it's back! At least for the Blind Auditions, I'll only be able to briefly go over each contestant and the judges' reactions and things like that because, if you've seen the episodes, you know that each episode is jam-packed with lots of auditions. I've included my favorite performances, though, so if you didn't get to watch, you can check those out! So, let's get started!

Episode 1
Terry: The first contestant of the season is a Scottish man living in Los Angeles who's stuck in the 80's (yep, you heard me right). He's singing "Baba O'Reilly" and he sounds pretty good. For a rock kind of guy, he's got a very clean voice with a hint of an edge. Adam and Cee-Lo fight for Terry, but he ends up as the first member of TEAM BLAKE, where I think he'll be a solid contender.

De'Borah: Immediately one of the most quirky contestants The Voice has ever seen, this daughter of a preacher man (and preacher woman!) bursts on the scene and pops with the audience. Her unique personality is matched by her interesting voice and a stage presence that is very...energetic, let's say! Her rendition of "Hey, Soul Sister" is enough to get Cee-Lo and Christina's attention, and after some deliberation, De'Borah becomes TEAM XTINA's first draft pick, where she could find some success.

Gracia: Yes, I'll admit, just like everyone else, all I saw at first was a little country girl who could sing and look pretty. Then, Gracia admitted that she can yodel. And man, can she! Her performance of "I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" is aided tremendously by the yodeling, and she's not a half bad singer too. Adam, Cee-Lo, and Blake turn around for her. Adam tries to woo her over by saying it's the best country performance they've ever seen on the show (RAELYNN SHADE!), but she ends up becoming the token blonde for TEAM BLAKE, but she has the potential to go far in this competition.

Garrett: At first, I'm cheering for Garrett because he's a New Jersey native and he's got a sad backstory (his father passed away and is his biggest inspiration), but when he starts his rendition of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?", it's clear that he's not ready for the show, not yet. While he has a cool rasp, he has trouble with note control and stability, but the judges are very supportive of him and encourage him to keep on working (take that American Idol and The X Factor!), thus providing the first Kleenex moment of season three, as the audience cheers as teary-eyed Garrett exits the stage.

Devyn: The one thing I (and the judges) noticed immediately about Devyn is her beauty, and if she goes far enough into this contest, don't think that won't work in her favor. Anyway, Devyn is taking a major risk, performing a Christina Aguilera original in front of her. Her performance of "Ain't No Other Man" is pretty good, with impressive vocal runs and a bit of a breathy quality that might be an advantage if she ever gets to try out a ballad. Adam, Christina and Blake pound their buttons for this knockout, but it's pretty obvious that she's meant for TEAM XTINA, and that's where she ends up. If she can get better, she's a definite threat.

Bryan: One of this episode's highlights, Bryan comes on the scene as the son of Ray De La Paz, a famous Spanish singer, but Bryan refuses to use his dad's connections to get him success in the music industry. It doesn't matter because he won't need them anyway. His performance of "It Will Rain," an otherwise plain song, was awesome! He brought a new edge to the performance and sounded really, really good. Apparently, everyone else thought the same thing: all four judges turned around! But who gets to have this performer on their team? TEAM ADAM picks up it's first member, and he's already a frontrunner for this competition.

Daniel: Surprise! You thought you were done with Daniel Rosa from last season? Think again! Remember him? He sang Neon Trees' Animal, was just okay, and asked the judges for feedback, and now he's back this season, better than ever (or so he thinks). And he is better. But I'm still not that impressed by him. His take on "Somebody That I Used to Know" is unique, but his phrasing and pronunciation is still...off-putting, at least to me. Plus, for me, that song was already performed at its' best on The Voice by Lindsey Pavao last season. Still, it's enough to turn around Cee-Lo and Blake, and they, along with Adam and Xtina, recognize our old friend and are very happy to see him! Now he'll make it, how great! But what team is he gonna pick? He goes for his best choice, TEAM CEE-LO, but we'll see how far he makes it.

Anita: One of the most disappointing moments of the episode for me was this performance. After all the hype about Anita's background (she graduated for Berkley, a prestigious musical performance school), I was highly underwhelmed by her first performance of "No Woman, No Cry." Yes, I said first. After no judges turned around, Anita managed to coax them to let her try an a capella version, knowing she wouldn't be on a team anyway, and unfortunately, that is the version that she should've sang to begin with, because the judges really like it. The judges urge her to come back next season, and methinks this is not the end of Anita!

Joe: Joe, a member from alternative band Artist vs. Poet (who I've heard of before, go me!), is here because the lead singer of the band jumped ship, the record label lost interest, and Joe couldn't hold the band together. Adam and Blake like his performance of "Gives You Hell" enough to turn around, and, being a singer in a band before, Joe says he has to pick TEAM ADAM, which is a great fit for him. If molded correctly, he could be a big player this season.

Jessica: This North Carolina native is as country as country gets, so I'm very excited for her performance of "Son of a Preacher Man." However, the performance lacks...something. No one turns around, unfortunately, because I think Jessica could've been molded into something better, but the judges tell her to come back, she says she definitely will, and Xtina wipes away her tears with a big hug. Poor Jessica!

Next, we see three failed performances that aren't really worth mentioning.

Trevin: Finally, we get to the best part of not only this episode, but probably the whole week, and maybe even the whole season. In the pre-performance package, we learn that Trevin is an eighteen year old singer stuck in the Bronx, where violence is a part of living. He's very soft-spoken and humble, and you kinda just wanna give him a big hug. His performance begins and within ten seconds, Xtina slams her button, and it's not hard to see why. To put it plain, this kid can sing. He's just got raw talent that can't be taught. His lyrical understanding, vocal runs, and vibratto, everything is just so fine tuned and for eighteen years old, what an accomplishment! Blake and Cee-Lo aren't very far behind Xtina, and as Trevin hits the final note of his song, Blake is on his feet, screaming at Adam, who does not push his button (mostly because he knows he probably won't be picked as Trevin's couch). My favorite moment is the very end of the performance when Xtina rises to her feet, jaw on the floor, pointing right at Trevin, with a face that reads "Ho-ly...CRAP!" As the judges bicker over why they're better for Trevin, he remains humble and honored, but by the end, he's picked TEAM CEE-LO, and I'm kinda glad...because now Cee-Lo may finally have a winner. A side note: his family and friends' reactions were the best I think I've ever seen. I love them...so much.

Episode 2
Adriana: The second episode starts with Adriana, a very pretty singer with a tragic past. She details a hostage situation from her childhood that she says inspired her to start singing. Her performance of "Domino" is really good, with great stage energy (and really, stage energy is essential unless your voice is out-of-this-world incredible). Even though it was a little pitchy, all four coaches heard something they liked, and the battle for Adriana begins. Christina comes out guns blazing, while Cee-Lo uses his creepy uncle flirting skills to try and woo her. It works in the favor of TEAM XTINA, who picks up a solid contender.

Casey: In what is sure to be a running joke this whole season, the next contestant's name is Casey Muessigmann (pronounced Musicman). HA! How funny! For a second. The Iowa native (wait, last name Musicman and he's from Iowa? Ten points if you understand what I'm getting at!) starts and Blake nearly jumps out of his seat. Yay for country music! Of course, Blake hits his button, but (surprise!) Cee-Lo joins him. Not that he needs to worry: Casey says his whole reason for coming on the show was to make country music on TEAM BLAKE. We'll see how long The Music Man (who is not Harold Hill) sticks around.

Aquile: Yes, that's a name, and yes, he's got a voice. When he was younger, he got his jaw wired shut after breaking his jaw and taught himself how to play the guitar. He sings a unique and original rendition of "Your Song" and it attracts Adam, Cee-Lo, and Christina. He's definitely got a cool voice, but I think a coach's opinion will only make him better Speaking of coaches, who is Aquile's? In a kind of surprising twist, TEAM XTINA gains a new member, but Xtina showed last season that she is open to variety (her final two were Lindsey Pavao and Chris Mann, hello!), so Aquile can go far.

The next four performances are all passes, although Ryan Fogerty gets a bit of a showcase (only because he's LeAnn Rimes' tour manager), but he's not impressive. Next!

Mackenzie: Young contestant Mackenzie has a truly tragic backstory (his might take the cake this season). He was put into an induced coma last year after suffering from congestive heart failure, but he made it out alive in time for Super Bowl Sunday 2012. Of course, fans will remember that the Season 2 launch of The Voice aired behind the big game, and Mackenzie's dad suggested he try out for the show. They looked up auditions that night, and now Mackenzie has made it! He's doing a rendition of "Pumped Up Kicks," which sounds awesome. His voice is really unique, and everyone loves it, specifically Cee-Lo, who is the only judge to turn around and thus, Mackenzie is automatically TEAM CEE-LO, and this Harry Potter-Justin Bieber hybrid looks to be a real competitor.

Julio: The final competitor of Night 2 is Julio, a mariachi singer who is doing something no one has ever done before on The Voice: singing an entire song in Spanish! Chris Mann did almost the same thing last season (he sang in Italian, and didn't sing the whole song in a foreign language). Still, Julio's "La Bamba" is fun, and I think Blake turns around because it's different, but he's joined by Cee-Lo, who was sold by the last note, which was very good, I'll admit. But in one of the biggest WTF moments of the season, Julio decides to go TEAM BLAKE. I mean...sure. I'll be curious to see what he does beyond this point.



Episode 3
Samuel: From the start, I like Samuel's look. That's why I'm a little surprised when he starts singing. He's singing "Redemption Song" and it's definitely got a Jamaican swag to it that I wasn't expecting. Still, he sounds really good and I like it alot. Apparently, so do three out of the four judges. While Xtina and Cee-Lo try to put up a fight for the youngster, Samuel decides to join TEAM ADAM, which I think was probably his best choice.

Chris: This was a story of a bad, baaaad song choice. "Glad You Came" is fun to dance to, but not impressive to sing to. You kinda feel bad for the kid (he used to be in a boy band with Jesse McCartney, but he went under the radar, ready to reemerge), but his vocals on the song are kinda rough. He's certainly an impressive dancer, and sometimes that can mess with a performer's vocals. And this show is called The VOICE! Anyway, no more Chris, or the three competitors behind him for that matter.

Nelly's Echo: In depth artist name aside, Nelly is originally from Nigeria where he had to flee as a kid due to civil unrest. He now resides in Maryland and is ready to share his voice with America, since music helped him cope with his situation. His rendition of "Ain't No Sunshine" is pretty good, and it gets Adam and Xtina to turn around, which makes for some funny banter between these two bickerers. Still, Nelly decides to go with TEAM XTINA.

2 Steel Girls: We finally have our first duo of Season 3. Notoriously, duos have had bad luck on this show: Elenowen from Season 1 and The Line from Season 2 were both shockingly eliminated during the Battle Rounds after really strong Blind Auditions. Can 2 Steel Girls break the curse? Well, it's too soon to tell. But based on their song, "Before He Cheats," I'm thinking they'll definitely need some help from their coach to help solidify their sound if they want a chance at getting far in this competition. Speaking of which, who is their coach? Although Cee-Lo made a good case, the girls picked TEAM BLAKE.

Lisa, MarissaAnne, and Loren: These three made it, but I barely heard enough of them to make an opinion about their voices. The one thing to note here is that MarissaAnne is only fifteen. She and Lisa end up on TEAM XTINA, while Loren becomes a member of TEAM ADAM. The whole purpose of this segment was to show how everyone was passing over Cee-Lo, who pressed his button for all three girls. But that doesn't last long...

Domo: America, get ready to meet the contestant you'll love to hate. Domo comes on the scene, popping and locking, thinking she's the best thing since sliced bread and her you-know-what don't stink. She calls herself the "Lady GaGa of China" because, you know, that's every little girl's dream. I'm ready for a trainwreck when she sings, mainly because I don't wanna see this girl on my TV screen. Unfortunately, she's got some talent, singing "Don't Cha" and Cee-Lo picks up on it immediately (fun fact: Cee-Lo wrote that song. Altogether now: "WHAAAAAT?!"). She struts her stuff for him, and he clearly loves it. After leading the crowd with a chant, "When I say DO, you say MO!", she officially becomes a member of TEAM CEE-LO, and I'm pretty sure this girl is this season's Erin Martin, possibly worse.

Nicole: The night's best performance comes from soft-spoken Nicole, a self-described hippie who lives in a community of hammocks and blankets (I kid you not). Still, Nicole says her true passion is music and she didn't sing in public until very recently. For her Blind Audition, she'll be singing "Hallelujah" and she sounds just gorgeous. She's really got a good voice on her. Apparently, everyone thinks so, as all four judges turn around. First Adam, then Cee-Lo, Christina, and finally, Blake. While the judges deliberate who she is best for, Nicole admits she was originally going to pick Blake, but the power of the first push has something over her, and she becomes a highlight for TEAM ADAM.

Who were your favorites of premiere week? For me, I'm looking forward to hearing from Bryan, Joe, Trevin, Mackenzie, and Nicole. Let me know who you like in the comments section below!

Evan