7 Things -- Miley Cyrus

Not that you should expect too much from a pop song written by a 15 year old, but this song is exceptionally bad. Musically it is very boring, and doesn't really have anything approaching a memorable tune. However, that goes for a good number of the fluff pop songs that are on the radio these days.

What makes this song exceptionally bad is the lyrics. The song consists of seven reasons she can't stand her boyfriend. Looking at the lyrics I'm seeing a solid eight reasons listed out in the chorus, but maybe two of them are supposed to be combined, or perhaps they lost count. Problem is the lyrics only get more pathetic. First there is a forced reference to "texting" in a vain attempt to come across as cool, sacrificing all clarity and rhythm in the song to do so. Then she goes into the seven things she likes about this boy, starting with his hair, his eyes, and his jeans. As such she concludes a song about how much of a jerk this boy is by deciding to overlook his many character flaws because he has cute eyes and fashionable pants.

The music video isn't anything of interest either. For a more complete look at what is wrong with this song see 7 Things I Hate About Miley Cyrus. It's really sad to see what Disney has fallen to these days.

Song rating: 2

How Far We've Come -- Matchbox Twenty

Matchbox Twenty has been around for a while now, but it's been a bit since they released anything new. "How Far We've Come" is the lead single off of their new album Exile on Mainstream. This single was released shortly before the album was, and has become rather popular so far.

The main strength of the song is that you feel as if you've know it for quite some time. The song is new, but has the sound of familiarity. Even upon a first listen you feel as if you knew the song your whole life. With a driving beat, and well thought lyrics there isn't really any reason not to like the song.

The single's music video is well done, even if way to many recent music videos have been going with the black and white theme. The stock footage of history used in the video has been well tread, but seems to give the song a deeper meaning and as such is a good match.

Overall the song has keeps the classic Matchbox Twenty sound, while still putting on something new. As catchy and addicting as the song is, there is no single great thing about it. Although the song is way above average it lacks that dynamic element that will make it still relevant and memorable a few years down the road...

Song rating: 7

The Pretender -- Foo Fighters

The Foo Fighters have a lot of expectations to live up to when they create music these days. The Pretender probably doesn't live up to those expectations, not because it's a poor song, but because the associated expectations are too high.

The Pretender is the guitar heavy overwhelming sound that you would expect to hear from the Foo Fighters. The music video for the song is well done, and sufficiently dramatic enough to be entertaining even if it's only plot is rather hodge podge. The problem is all of this is also the songs biggest flaw. At no point does the song go beyond expectations. The song comes exactly as anticipated, with no surprises or any thing new. If the song had just the tiniest bit of originality it would be an awesome song, but there is nothing that makes this sound any different then anything else the Foo Fighters have done.

Overall the song gets a decent rating because it's melodically sound, and full of potential, but is to damaged by its expectedness that it fails any test of greatness...

Song rating: 6

All Around Me -- Flyleaf

None of Flyleaf's previous music really struck much of a cord with me, but this song is really awesome. With awesome guitar melodies, decent enough lyrics, and powerful vocals (especially towards the end), Flyleaf has put together one of the best rock songs of the year.

Flyleaf's video for the song isn't too creative and reminds me of lifehouse's video for First Time. However, lead singer Lacy seems to keep a huge smile on her face throughout all the singing which kindof makes the video worth it.

Overall this is one of the best rock songs I've heard in a long time, and I hope that Flyleaf can come up with some more tunes of this style...

Song rating: 9

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Misery Business -- Paramore

A relativly new band here, as I've at least never heard any of their older stuff. Their new big single Misery Business is off of thir album Riot! Musically the song is your standard rock fare... nothing spectacular, but it's good enough. Lyrically the song ranges from well thought out ("she's got a body like a hour glass, she's ticking like a clock") to being occasionally too repatative. The music video for the song is kindof lame, but not too bad for a first try...

Overall I've got more good things to say about the album than bad, so there really is no reason not to recomend the band. I guess the main complaint is that the melody is too dependent on the lead singers vocals, rather then the instarmentation, but their lead singer has a good voice so even that isn't too much of a concern.

Song rating: 7

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First Time -- Lifehouse

Although it's not quite as good as "Hanging by a Moment" or "Blind", this is still an excellent song. Musically the vocals are by far the most interesting part of the song, as the guitar rhythms are actually rather basic. This however isn't really a knock against the song, as it remain rather catchy. The music video for the song isn't too ambitious, but is rather open ended as too what it should mean. Definitely worth a watch, but any in depth analysis might be a bit over the top.

Song rating: 8

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The Way She Feels -- Between The Trees

Check out that song rating on the bottom. Pretty impressive isn't it? Well this song is pretty impressive itself. As a whole the band Between the Trees is pretty unknown, but that doesn't mean that they're not good. For their first single they picked The Way She Feels which was a good idea as it is arguably the best song they have. The song is starting to get some following, but given the band's minor label status it unfortunately doesn't have to much of a chance to get much further. The music video for The Way She Feels is based on the lyrical portion of the song, and fits really well. Honestly, this is probably one of the best singles of the year...

Song rating: 10

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Never Too Late -- Three Days Grace

Three Days Grace's newest single is one of their best songs, probably better than I Hate Everything About You and right behind Pain. The song is one of regretted loss, which is also reflected in the music video for the single. Musically the song is a bit mellower then most of Three Days Grace's other stuff, but is still clearly rock. A few days ago I saw the song played live in concert where the performance was just as good.

Song rating: 8

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Awakening -- Switchfoot

Switchfoot's newest single may very well be their best yet. They've been playing this song for over a year now, so it isn't really anything new, but most people don't listen to anything before it hits the radio anyhow. Lyrically the song is very good, (although a tad ambiguous at times), and the musical part is of typical switchfoot quality. The music video for this song came off as being a little lame, but the song itself is good enough to carry it. As such this song gets the top rating, and is one of only a few to do so.

Song rating: 10

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Famous Last Words -- My Chemical Romance

A solid song, which is impressive as previous albums by My Chemical Romance usally were pretty average. Their entire new album The Black Parade is a huge improvement over their older stuff, and is fairly good. Lyrically the song isn't overly profound, but not really bad either. The video for this song is ok, but nothing extrodinarally spectacular (although it does have explotions). Overall this is a great song, but ends up falling a bit short of being fantastic and is only slightly better then average in to many cases.

Song rating: 7

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What I've Done -- Linkin Park

Linkin Park is finally getting back to putting out new music again, and are doing a good job of it. Unlike the whole last bunch of releases they have put out they are actually once again doing something origional, launching a new album titled Minutes to Midnight soon. The lead single from this new project is What I've Done and is an excelent song, even though it sounds more like 3 Days Grace rather then the nu metal styling of the older Linkin Park tunes. Despite changing up their genre a bit, the band still sounds great with a more guitar oriented sound, and has an excepsionally cool video to go along with it. Lyrically the song isn't either bad or great, although the video clips spliced throughout the video would seem to indicate that a more serious approach was taken to this song. I'm glad to see Linkin Park back doing cool and exciting things again...

Song rating: 8

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Hero / Heroine -- Boys Like Girls

Don't know too much about this band themselves, but this is a more then solid song... Stylistically the song is rather punk-rockish and has and has a sound that would fit into an album by Anberlin or Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Lyrically the song is good although not spectacular, but rather good as far as love songs go. The song's underlying rythems are what really drives this tune and keep it moving along. Also check out the music video

Song rating: 8

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Face Down -- The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

For only having one album out, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus isn't doing too bad. Their single Face Down actually came out a while ago, but is still a very solid song. Musically the band sounds like a hard core version of U2 or Switchfoot, but show a bit more of a 30 Seconds to Mars type edge in this song. However Face Down is much better done lyrically then most other bands with simmilar sounds. Further more the music video for this song does an excelent job on further developing the lyrical ideas at the root of the song. Despite the quality behind Face Down, it's not as good as their other song Guardian Angel, and would benifit from having more songs with less of a metal infulence on them...

Song rating: 8

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Oh! Gravity -- Switchfoot

If you look, you'll notice that this is only the second song listed here to get a rating of 10, so that should give you some idea of how good this song is. The lead single from Switchfoot's upcoming album of the same name. This song is a good representation of their current sound, which is less guitar dependent then most of their stuff on the last two albums. Yet the sond is still just as good, and as lyricaly deep as ever. The music video for this song is a tad bit crazy, but it seems to fit. This song represents yet another amazing release from this band.

Song rating: 10

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From Yesterday -- 30 Seconds to Mars

I'm not a huge fan of 30 Seconds to Mars, but I like some of their stuff. From Yesterday is one of their better songs. The music video was a long drawn out affair at 13 and a half minuites and had enough credits to run at the end that they had time to run through the entire song a second time. The song itself has a bit of a U2 feel to it rather then the bands typical sound which usally sounds more like Flogging Molly, which is ok, but sounding like U2 is almost always a good thing...

Song rating 7

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Pain -- Three Days Grace

This is a bit of a harder rock song and is pretty good. As a band Three Days Grace has been rather hit or miss with many of their songs, but this one is deffinetlly a hit. Lyrically it initally comes across as being a bit emo, but actually is a rather accurate discription of basic human thought, and as such is rather good. The heavier songs like this one typically a bit weaker lyically, but this one thankfully lives up to a higher standard...

Song rating 8

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How To Save A Life -- The Fray

The Fray first got on national radio this summer with their hit Over my Head (Cable Car), but their follow up song How To Save A Life is even better. This new single is not getting nearlly the air time that it's conterpart has recived, but is actually better. Over my Head has already been a bit overplayed, radio needs to start giving this new single a few spins. This song (and all of The Fray's songs) sounds a bit like Keane, but thats not a bad thing...

Song rating 9

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Hate Me -- Blue October

This song has actually been out for a little while now, but it is so powerful. The simple lyrical concept behind the song is amazing. Previous to this song Blue October was one of those bands that was only getting airplay on the Canadian stations, hopefully the band will now get the exposure it deserves.

Song rating 8

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The Adventure -- Angles and Airwaves

Adult Alternative has been one of the wierdest names for a genre ever, but it at least allows me to describe this song as Adult Punk. Please don't yell at me for making up genras. It is rather refreshing to hear such a mature sound from a punk band. The song is well polished and good sounding. Not quite phenominal, but as the first song I've ever heard by this band The Adventure is not a bad song at all.

Song rating 6

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Chaos -- Mute Math

Ok, technically not a single, but if they hadn't decided to sue their label it probably would be. Chaos, altough probably not Mute Math's best song is pretty good. Unfortunetlly Mute Math strikes me as the type of band that you have to see live to trully appreciate. Fortunetlly they have been doing a lot of touring, and thats the only way you can get their cd anyways. A good song from a good band.

Song rateing 8

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Stay With You -- Goo Goo Dolls

The newest single by the Goo Goo Dolls in promotion for their album which is being released later this month. It is actually their third song from the album, (which looks to be their best album yet,) as Better Days, and Give A Little Bit have already been released previouslly. Although not quite up to the same perfection of Better Days, Stay With You is still an amazing (rocking) song. Musically sounds a bit like a cross between Switchfoot and some of Nickleback's newer stuff.

Song rateing 9

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Where'd You Go -- Fort Minor

When I first heard Remember The Name I was shocked to find that I liked this group as it isn't my type of music at all. Afterwards I found out that it was centered around a Linkin Park member, and they explained where this was all comming from. Where 'd You Go is one of those songs that explores what is breaking apart in our lives. Lyrically simmilar to the Black Eyed Peas Where is the Love? or Simple Plan's Crazy, but instead focuses on individuals instead of society as a whole. The only downside is that Fort Minors success probably indicates that after only three albums, Linkin Park is probably done.

Song rating 7

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Move Along -- All-American Rejects

Following up their last single Dirty Little Secrets The All-American Rejects have again released another good single, this one actually better then the last. Lyrically and melodically pretty repetative, but like Switchfoot's We Are One Tonight, this song still works, creativlly breaking up the rythem and makeing the same thing feel fresh all over again. Best song to come from this band so far.

Song rating 8

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For You I Will -- Teddy Geiger

Another artist that I havn't heard of putting out a good song. There is just something about it that is kindof depressing, but like in a good way. Sounds a bit like Howie Day, but without all of the fancy guitar stuff. It is either a song of love, or lost love, I can't really tell, but either way it is lyrically heartfelt and melodic.

Song rating 7

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Saying Sorry -- Hawthorne Heights

A really good song. At first I wasn't much of a fan of this group, but everytime I hear another song of theirs, I like them a little more. I actually saw them in person over the summer, and I had no clue who they were at the time, but I was told that they were a good band. I have to say that this is the best song of theirs that they put out so far. A good song.

Song rating 6

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Heaven -- Live

If you don't live in or near Canada odds are that you have never heard this song. That is quite a dissapointment. This song is catchy, but nothing too special, sounding a bit like Maroon 5. Lyrically it is more the type of song you would expect from a band like MercyMe. The song isn't too origional but there is a reason for that, its good music. Wish they got played on the radio outside of Canada, it would be worth it.

Song rating 7

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King Without A Crown -- Matisyahu

Well I saw the Music Video first on this one, and thats a bit of a mistake. First when I saw this guy in an amish like get-up I wasn't sure if this was for real. Well it is, and its a pretty good song at that. Matisyahu is hard core Jewish, but a great musican. Like Switchfoot's We Are One Tonight, King Without A Crown rates a little lower for being too repatative, but is still a high quality good song.

Song rating 7

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Perfect Situation -- Weezer

Tradtionally I'm not a big fan of Weezer but both Perfect Situation and Beverlly Hills somehow got onto my list of good songs. They both have a bit of an addictiveness to them. After hearing Perfect Situation the first time I took it as just an ok song, but after a second or third time, It kindof stuck with me. There is just something about it like Beautiful Love by The Afters, that just makes the song something special.

Song rating 9

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I Write Sins Not Tragedies -- Panic! At The Disco

Never had heard of this band before, but based on how they were doing on the charts, it looked as if they were pretty good. Well, unfortunettly this song really didn't live up to those expectations. It was listenable, but still below average. The sound just sounded kindof like soft black metal or something and just didn't quite fit like it should have. I don't mean to pick on the new bands but it wasn't that amazing.

Song rating 4

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Someday -- Nickleback

A good song from a band who has finally put out an album that is all around good. They first struck gold with their single Hero a few years back but are back on the top of their game again. Maybe not as good as a song as Photograph, Someday is still very good and listenable. Also it is a bit of a relief that their is something by Nickleback on the radio now as Photogaph has really gotten overplayed. Nothing exactlly amazing about it I guess, but it's better then their other single Savin'Me which is also pretty good. The music video for Someday may take one or two views to fully understand, but it's a good video as well.

Song rating 9

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We Are One Tonight -- Switchfoot

Switchfoot's second single from thier Nothing is Sound album has recently been released. Nothing is Sound has been Switchfoot's best album so far, and is loaded with great music. Actually despite how good this new album is We Are One Tonight is actually one of the weaker songs on the album, that said though it is still way above average compared to most of what you hear on the radio. Although not as lyrically in depth as some of their other songs, We Are One Tonight still has a great sound. The only bad thing about it is that Swithfoot isn't releasing The Blues instead. Well that and the second video for the song is roumered to include a ladder, a poodle, and the colour blue.

Song rating: 9

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Better Days -- Goo Goo Dolls

It's been a while since this band has put out an origional single. Their last single Give A Little Bit was a cover, and honestly not as good as most of their other music. Better Days however, is an amazing song. Not only are the guitar parts amazing, as they are in Iris and Slide, but Better Days also has great lyrics, which havn't traditionally been the Goo Goo Dolls strong point with the exception of Broadway. All told this is their best song to date. Some people have interprted this as a Christmas song, which I suppose it could be, but that is really besides the point. When their new album comes out this spring it looks to be really good.

Song rating: 10

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Finally Here

This blog is finally up and running! This blog is dedicated to assesing the quality of new music (singles and albums), to make that even more exciting it appears as if Switchfoot is releasing their newest single very soon...