8.03.08

Britney Challenge (Binge & Purge)... If you read any of my last 5 week's blog entries, you know that I set myself to a challenge to listen to all of Britney Spears' studio albums (one album per week). Looking back, I consider this experience similar to a binge and now it's time to purge. I like numbers, so let's summarize (where possible) the past month in numbers:

On average I listened to each album 5 times.

• Baby One More Time (11 Tracks, 42.4 Minutes)
• Oops! I Did It Again (12 Tracks, 44.3 Minutes)
• Britney (12 Tracks, 39.6 Minutes)
• In The Zone (15 Tracks, 57.6 Minutes)
• Blackout (14 Tracks, 50.7 Minutes)

Subtotals (64 Tracks, 234.6 Minutes)

Totals (5X) (320 Tracks, 1173 Minutes)

What this all means is I spent a lot of time listening to a lot of Britney Spears over the last month. What have I learned from all the pop intake? Nothing really, except for the fact that I can't listen to one "artist" for such a concentrated period of time. It makes my ears hurt. So, there is my purge. Thanks.

PS.... 1173 minutes is 19.55 hours...Yikes, I should have been reading.

8.02.08

Britney Challenge (Week 5)... It's Britney Snitch! I made it to the end of my challenge. In the concept phase of this challenge I assumed it would be easy. In the middle it got difficult and by the end I felt I could throw up Britney. If you are looking to explore Britney's "music" career for yourself, I would definitely recommend beginning with Blackout. I thought In the Zone was my favorite album. I was wrong... Blackout is where it's at. I think this really stems from the lack of promotion on behalf of her record label. It makes the album a little more unknown and therefore not tired out.

Notable Tracks:

Gimme More (Great lead single with great beat, perfect to start a party)
Piece of Me (Britney's shout to the Paparazzi... "Are you sure you wanna piece of me?")
Radar (Another fantastic track)
Break The Ice (As the song's title insinuates, she is re-breaking the ice with her fans, because she knows "it's been awhile")
Heaven On Earth (This was the surprise track of the album, I had brushed it off as filler, but after a better listen, I ended up really liking this track. Particularly, the chorus)
Freakshow (Love the Beat)
Toy Soldier (If you like Gwen Stefani's more upbeat stuff, You'll love this song)
Hot As Ice (Just a fun song with goofy pop lyrics)
Ooh Ooh Baby (Keep on Dancin'!!)

What more can I say when I like more than half the tracks on an album? I know not everyone likes Britney (and that's ok) but if you like a fun pop song from time to time, give some of the tracks on this album a try.

7.27.08

Britney Challenge (Week 5)... How fitting that her latest album (and the last for this challenge) is titled "Blackout." Many commentators and reviewers have joked that either Britney blacked herself out during the recording of this album or the record company did. They joke, because it's a great album. They are surprised that someone so out of it could put themselves together long enough to have done it. Well, she did. Now, the cover is terrible looking and looks like something I could create with the paint program that is pre-installed on your computer. So, joking and cover aside, this album should be enjoyable....or at the very least semi-enjoyable, because it is the last week of the challenge.

7.26.08

Britney Challenge (Week 4)... I'll be honest, I didn't give this album the attention it deserved this week. Don't worry, I still followed the rules, but I didn't give any focus listening to lyrics or trying to memorize the parts where she sing/talks really fast (it's been a goal). I already liked the album, I didn't need to prove it to myself. If you have ever listened to this album you know that it is a far cry from the bubblegum pop days of "...baby one more time." The notable tracks include:

Me Against the Music (still a very strange concept, how do you compete with music?)
(I Got That) Boom Boom (this one is good listened to at a loud level)
Early Mornin' (Another example of a song where I can't really understand what she says)
Toxic (probably the top song (in my mind) of Britney's career, I could listen to this song on repeat and never get tired of it, I think this might just be my favorite pop song of all time, but I am not dead yet, so, who knows?)
Even other artists like it (I already know everyone loves Britney, they just refuse to admit it). Check out these covers of Toxic:

Yael Naim (she sings the "New Soul" song for the Apple Commercials)
Nickel Creek (Puts a bluegrass touch to the song)
Blowsight (Hard Rock - Not a Huge fan, but it's different, they do that annoying scream-O)

Outrageous (I enjoy this song, but I find the "Junkie Xl's Dancehall Mix" of this song to be better, which is surprising, because remixes rarely out do the original)
The Hook Up (A good jam, with a reggae vibe)
Brave New Girl (Every once in a while a filler on an album surprises you, this is one of them)
Everytime (Have you ever seen the video? This is just a sad song. She was crying out for help and no one cared)

As you can tell, I am at a loss for words for Britney. One more week to go....

7.20.08

Britney Challenge (Week 4)..."All My people in the crowd, grab a partner take it down!!" We've arrived at the peak of Britney's career to what I believe is her best album for various reasons that I can blog about later (as if you care). Britney [essentially] declares that she has taken on the entire world, but NOW she is going to take on music itself in "Me Against the Music." (As though music is a person that you can actually take on). She even goes as far as to take on a pair of inanimate speakers...."I'm up against the speaker, trying to take on the music, it's like a competition, me against the beat.... I wanna get in the zone!"

7.19.08

Britney Challenge (Week 3)... I know what you're thinking... Kyle, you are still doing this stupid challenge? The answer is yes. This album comes with great confusion:

First, The album, Baby One More Time states that her loneliness is killing her.
Second, The album, Oops! I Did It Again states that she is stronger without anyone.
Third, This album, Britney states that she is a slave?? ... BUT then two tracks later she rationalizes again, that she is not lonely....and then again states that she can't live without boys in the track "boys."

No wonder Britney has the issues that she has. She can't even decide who or what she is or what she wants to be and makes that pretty clear in the song, "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman." Oh, well.

This album is completely different from the previous two albums. It included some good tracks that I became equally sick of due to over listening:

I'm A Slave 4 U (I love when pop artists replace words with numbers, I think it really highlights their creativity...This song also includes some slurred lyrics that I still can't figure out)
Overprotected (If I had a Britney Top 10, this track would definitely be included, I never got sick of it)
Lonely (listening the first time, it's good)
I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman (Britney's voice is not meant for singing, but pop sing/talk. She gets away with it in this song, because it has a decent melody that's easy to sing along)
Boys (I like this song and at the same time not, I think I like the remix better with Pharrell)
I Love Rock & Roll (Another great updated cover, I think this is her last cover)
Bombastic Love (What exactly is "bombastic"? I don't know, but it makes good pop.)
What It's Like To Be Me (I had no idea that Britney did a song with her former boyfriend Justin Timberlake, He isn't even credited as such, but he clearly is singing with her throughout the song, the song actually sounds like it belongs on NSYNC's "Celebrity" album. Justin showcases his semi-impressive-Blake Lewis copying-beat boxing skills)

PS... Thanks to a friend, just found out what Bombastic means. Check It Out.

7.15.08

Mayonnaise vs. Miracle Whip... Which is it? Growing up it was always Miracle Whip, but it had to be the light variety. I don't know why, because my family was never the type to spend money on the diet sodas or light foods. I for one don't mind mayo or miracle whip. But to some, this is very important and makes a distinct difference. In fact they become quite heated about the topic as was displayed at work the other day. I will only eat one potato salad and that is my mom's potato salad. I think the true secret to her successful potato salad is the use of miracle whip light. She doesn't use a lot, but it is still delicious. So which is it in your households? Mayo or Miracle Whip. PS... Mayo ages weird and separates funny.

7.13.08

Britney Challenge (Week 3)...It's only been 3 weeks?! For some things this month is going by fast and for other things it's going by slow. Is that a mattress in that pic? I am interested in this week's challenge. I have never really listened to this album (true story). I only know 2 or 3 songs from this album. It will feel like new material (but not, get it?). Here is to a new week! Have FUN!

PS... She looks like a meth addict...Maybe this was the beginning.

7.12.08

Britney Challenge (Week 2)...Ok. So she starts off her debut, ...Baby One More Time, and her lonliness was killin' her (deeply). Just notice how far she has come after that? Now, She's stronger. This album is full of funny songs and even funnier interludes, one of my favorites is right after "Don't Go Knockin' On My Door," it goes a little something like this:

Britney & Friend: Hahahahahahahahaha
Britney: Ok, ok ok ok so listen listen, so then he goes no matter what I do for you it never seems to be enough... Eww I can’t believe he said that. You don’t think I'm like that do you?!?!
Friend: Well you are??
Britney: What?!?!? Don’t tell me you agree with him?! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!
Friend: Well I mean everything was fine next it’s your freaking out it’s like you’re never satisfied.
Britney: Well I know I’m a little picky.. but, hey I just know what I want

And then she sings a cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." What this creates is pure pop hilarity. There are higlights on this album, however:

Oops!...I Did It Again
Don't Go Knockin' On My Door
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know
What U See (Is What U Get)
Lucky
One Kiss From You

I actually enjoy Lucky a lot. But, I still have difficulty with her enunciation of "lucky" and "lovely"... It's always a surprise as to which word she is going to sing.

For fun, I did a little mini tally of typical pop words found on this album:
Baby: 27
I: 225
You: 147
Oops: 5
Yeah: 45
Love: 25
Lucky: 10

7.06.08

Britney Challenge (Week 2)...I'd be lying if I didn't sound a little remorseful for choosing this challenge for the month of July (or any month). But, i must go forward. This should be interesting, because I don't really care for this album. Although, according to many music sources, this and "Britney" are arguably her best albums. We shall see.

7.05.08

Britney Challenge (Week 1)... What a week! I can honestly say that I am sick of this album. I also have my doubts that I will be able to make it through the rest of this month's (silly) challenge. Having said that, I did find out (on Monday) that I do actually like (some of) the songs on this album. Sure, they are (entirely) amateurish, but it's a (freshman) pop album.

(Semi) Notable Tracks:

...Baby One More Time
(You Drive Me) Crazy
Sometimes
Soda Pop
Born To Make You Happy
From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart
I Will Be There
Thinkin' About You
The Beat Goes On

So, that only leaves 2 tracks that really should have been scratched as they are only heard as junky filler... I Will Still Love You and E-Mail My Heart. The whole thing really is filler, but come on, "E-Mail My Heart"??! What strikes me as even more funny about this album (and most pop albums) is the fact that there is no way at the ages of 14-16 that Britney could have experienced some of the "life lessons" that she sings about in this album.

6.29.08

Britney Challenge (Week 1)... I have often said that Britney Spears is my favorite artist. I realize I am stretching the definition of artist in saying that. My love for Britney goes all the way back to 1999, when "Baby One More Time" could be heard from every radio station. You couldn't avoid it!! Let's face it, I was hooked from that point on. I am well aware of her personal issues and since 1999 my music taste has to evolved to include many other artists and genres, but through it all one thing has remained constant... my love for the artist formerly known as Mrs. Federline. So, in honor of her, I am beginning my Britney challenge. This challenge requires me to listen (in my car) to a Britney album each week. This week is her debut album, ...baby one more time. Quite honestly, I don't think I have listened to it since it first came out. The other thing that makes it a little difficult is my M-ADHD (Music Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) I can only listen to a song for about a max of 1 min 30 sec. Wish me luck and you can join me (if you can find your copy of this album under the layers of dust).