The Truth About Music

"What's hot, what's not, and whats next in pop music"

#musicmoday: Hockey – “Song Away”

By Dave posted June 28, 2010 at 08:00

The Who and What: It was late last year when an album from a band i’d never heard made their way into my eardrums. This very same album turned out to be one of my favorite albums of the year. The album was “Mind Chaos,” and the band was “Hockey” out of Portland, Oregon. The album was different from anything that I was listening to at the time, with loads of energy and a uniqueness that set it apart from everything else. There were many songs that I liked when I first listened to it, some shined brightly at first but have since been eclipsed by a modified set, of which this week’s #musicmonday, “Song Away” leads the pack. It was the song I enjoyed most when i went with The Truth About Music to go see Hockey perform at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City this March. They [...] Continue...
Harris’ Song of the Week: “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz

By Harris posted June 24, 2010 at 08:00

After a few weeks off, I’m back to writing for The Truth About Music consistently. The song that drove me back to the blog was off of an album that I recently reviewed. This song, by Taio Cruz, stood out to me when I first reviewed the album, but hearing it as a single in a bar totally changed my perspective on it. “Dynamite” has a chance to become Cruz’s second huge single following “Break Your Heart.” The song itself has everything you want in a hit single. It has a catchy chorus backed by great instrumentals. Furthermore, it has a sing along verse and a hook that you can really sink your teeth into. The only weakness in the song is the end which comes and goes without much accord. Continue...
Review: Did Eminem’s “Recovery” Satisfy As A Follow Up To “Relapse?”

By Harris posted June 22, 2010 at 11:00

Eminem has been on a wild ride of late. After a long hiatus, Eminem came back last summer with the highly anticipated album “Relapse.” After reaching #1 on the Billboard 200, Eminem saw his singles falter, falling far short of expectations. Despite the lack of huge single support, the album was never a commercial success but was adored by die hard fans. Now, just one year later he’s back with an album that he denied he had ever recorded. “Recovery” opens in a very awkward fashion. With bagpipes (similar to those in “Bagpipes From Baghdad” on “Relapse”) blaring, the song finally breaks into a normal beat after about thirty seconds. After the odd opening, the song actually turns it around and presents the classic rapper that we all love listening to. One of the more angry songs I’ve heard from him, the chorus really works and “Cold Wind Blows” actually left me [...] Continue...
iTunes Free Single of the Week: “Break Me Out” by The Rescues

By Harris posted June 22, 2010 at 08:00

You can download “Break Me Out” by The Rescues for free on iTunes now. What a musical mashup this is. Very rarely does a song come along that has this many genre’s, vocal styles and musical arrangements crammed into one song. The Rescues stem from Los Angeles and have somehow found a way to bring together styles from all throughout the musical spectrum. The quartet of musicians created a song in “Break Me Out” that opens with shades of ’90s rockers Wheatus but somehow wind country, modern alternative rock, electro pop and even a little female singer/songwriter into a song that lasts just under four minutes. I’m still undecided if I like this song or not. One thing is for sure. Any song that gets so many genres so right deserves some hard drive space, especially when the song is free. This one is most definitely worth the download. Continue...
#musicmoday: Will Young – “Leave Right Now”

By Dave posted June 21, 2010 at 08:00

Dave Hitchings is English born, Hartford located music and tech blogger and web developer. You can follow him on Twitter at @davehitchings. The What: This weeks #musicmonday was actually inspired by a different song. When I first began hearing Drake’s single “Find Your Love” on the radio I had, at that point, no idea who was the singer behind it. One option I contested was this singer, Will Young, feasibly because he had been featured all season on American Idol. I thought perhaps, 8 years after winning England’s Pop Idol, he may have made it to these shores. While he may not have made it to radio airplay, Will Young is a talented artist and worthy of being this weeks #musicmonday. Continue...
Holy Murder. Someone Please Punch “The Situation” in the Throat

By Robert posted June 17, 2010 at 18:02

The cast of Jersey Shore is the reason why intelligent people support abortion. How this show is popular still baffles me to levels of crippling confusion. It’s a reality show based on a group of people who offer absolutely nothing to society in any way, shape or form. And all parties involved need to have boiling oil poured all over their bodies. But this is old news. I already rode the horse berating the morons on said show. My new gripe is with one of the dudes who calls himself ” The Situation” Seriously dude? The only Situation that’s needed around here is someone needs to put a bullet in his skull. Anyhow, Mr. tan skin and ab’s just put out an abomination to music known as ” The Situation”. Holy shit could this poster child for down syndrome be any less artistic more autistic? Really, you couldn’t have even [...] Continue...
Loren’s Song of the Week: “Wolf Like Me” (Live) by TV On The Radio

By Loren posted June 16, 2010 at 18:16

“Wolf Like Me” is probably one of my favorite songs by TV On The Radio and constantly has a high play count in my iTunes. So, when I recently ran across a live version of the track I had to give it a go, though I was initially worried because, as we all know, not all are favorite bands perform well live. Needless to say, they did not disappoint and though I haven’t seen them live I’m in love with their performance skills. The live version drips with the raw emotion that is dealt with subtly on the studio version. Front man, Tunde Adebimpe, wales on the mic his sweet lusty song and one of TVOTR’s many guitar players, I’m assuming original member, Dave Sitek, rips his guitar a new one in perfect keeping with the performance. I love TV On The Radio and its live performance makes me infinitely [...] Continue...
Against Me! Stick To Their Roots On “White Crosses”

By Robert posted June 10, 2010 at 08:00

When a band like Against Me! signs to a major label, the scene they were apart of prior to the new musical home collectively holds its breath while assuming said band will jump the shark and give into the demands of radio obsessed suits, who will change the band’s sound. When they jumped from Fat Wreck Chords people slashed their tires and spray painted their van. On their second record on a major, “White Crosses” Against Me! Still seems to be the same old band that dudes who wear ironic shirts and grow beards love. With their typically apocalyptic lyrics of anarchism coupled with a further financial meltdown looming, the band continues to keep the same post punk style they’ve been working on for a few records now. Continue...
Review: She & Him’s Live Performance at Millennium Park

By Loren posted June 09, 2010 at 08:00

So, back in March when I first listened to the second album from She & Him, I was kind of disappointed. Not disappointed because the band, comprised of actress/singer Zoey Deschanel and composer/performer M. Ward, had let their quality slip, but because I was expecting a little more. I wanted Zoey to cut loose a little and show some growth and I wanted Ward to make a more notable evolution on the album. Volume Two was just ok for me. Redemption, however, is never far off the horizon for any band, especially one that actually enjoys performing. She & Him have been hopping around the country performing on their way to the big summer festivals, like Bonnaroo, starting June 10th. And, on a beautiful Monday evening at Millennium Park, I sat back and relaxed as Deschanel called for a sound check on her ukulele. Honestly, after days of rainstorms, it [...] Continue...
Review: Ratatat’s Latest Album “LP4″

By Loren posted June 08, 2010 at 13:00

Have you ever wondered what the soundtrack to your dreams might sound like? Or have you been looking for the perfect music to read to this summer? Pop in the fourth album from Ratatat, properly called, “LP4″ and listen for the possibilities. As the first synthesized chords of “Bilar” enter my eardrums, I feel myself wishing I was in some crowded house party, instead of sitting at my computer. By the time the third track, “Neckbrace,” closes, I am fighting the desire to start dancing around my room. Each of the first three tracks remind me of being at the perfect rave with all the lights hitting at just the right moment. The meticulous work of Brooklyn electro rock duo, Mike Stroud and Evan Mast, begins to shine even brighter as one starts to hear the strong influence of non-synthesized instruments present on tracks such as “Bob Ghandi” and “Mahalo.” Continue...