The Truth About Music

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

Author: Melissa

Obsession of the Week: Of Monsters and Men

By Melissa posted December 08, 2011 at 08:45

I used to be the person that all of my friends came to for music recommendations. I could always be counted on for suggestions that they were sure to like. Now that I’m a so-called “grown up” with responsibilities and a full-time job, (and I actually pay for my music,) discovering new music has dropped more than a few notches on my importance list. Continue...
Opinion: Musical Mash-Ups Needed to Make the Magic Happen at Super Bowl

By Melissa posted February 07, 2011 at 13:31

It’s been seven years since the world got a sneak peak of Janet Jackson’s areola on national television. And ever since, the Super Bowl halftime performances have been as weak as a grown man drinking Zima. Last night’s Black Eyed Peas performance was a half-assed attempt at bringing the energy back to what’s become known as “the fifteen minutes you change channels until the game comes back on.” The post-Nipplegate halftime performance world is no fun. The Super Bowl has a tough job to do. It’s the most watched event on television every year, and the halftime performance has to please many different types of people from diehard sports fans to those that are only there for the commercials, spanning generations from grandmas to little kids and everyone in between. So, I understand why the networks have been in favor of lameness. Who would want a billion dollar fine from [...] Continue...
Opinion: Toast to My Favorite Douchebag, Kanye West

By Melissa posted October 04, 2010 at 08:00

A lot of people hate Kanye West. I’m not one of them. In fact, I’ve been waiting for his comeback from the second that he decided to step out of the spotlight. Yeah, what he did to Taylor Swift was kinda messed up, but he was drunk- and let’s face it, we all do stupid shit when we’re fucked up. After watching the VMAs this year, I really wished everyone would just get over it already. And do you know why? Because what Kanye did last year was newsworthy. It was exciting. Sure, it was terrible, but it got people talking for an entire year. At this year’s VMAs, all they talked about was what Kanye did last year. They knew the VMAs would suck (like they always do the year after something big happens), so they attempted to relive that moment all night long. I almost hoped Kanye would [...] Continue...
Throwback Thursday: 1984

By Melissa posted September 30, 2010 at 08:00

It’s been awhile. I’ve been missing from the Truth About Music for some time now and what better way to stage my Kanye-esque comeback than by reviving my attempt at a Throwback Thursday column. Now if only I can amass millions of followers on Twitter since I’ve decided to actually use my account for tweeting and of course apologizing to Taylor Swift. So, without further adieu…Let’s hop in my virtual DeLorean and revisit the musical hits and misses of 1984! Continue...
Throwback Thursday: 1990

By Melissa posted May 20, 2010 at 17:28

Hop in my virtual DeLorean and let’s revisit the musical hits and misses of the past. Every Thursday I’m going to take you on a musical journey back to a particular year in music. We’ll reminisce about the songs we loved, hated and loved to hate, and we’ll even check out some #1’s from before we were born. Since this list can’t possibly include all of the year’s greatest, make sure to comment and tell us your favorite songs from 1990! Continue...
A Little Taste of Bamboozle at the Bar

By Melissa posted May 17, 2010 at 08:00

I contemplated going to Bamboozle in East Rutherford, NJ this year, but my pending bills and car payment convinced me to keep my regular Saturday night bartending shift instead. After all, who wanted to watch Ke$ha (basically) headline what used to be a killer rock festival. But, the fact that she sums up everything that ‘s wrong with music today is another article altogether. So, anyway, it was a pretty routine Saturday night, slower than usual and not exciting in the least. Around midnight, two guys walked in, one sporting a Mohawk, the other a headband and long-ish hair, and ordered Bud Light drafts and shot of Jameson each. My type of guys. Continue...
Melissa’s Song of the Week: “Wait” by Something Corporate

By Melissa posted May 15, 2010 at 19:00

After a five year hiatus, Something Corporate reunited to take the stage at California’s Bamboozle Left in March. Almost a month to the day later on April 27, 2010 they released their 19-track, double CD, greatest hits album “Played in Space: The Best of Something Corporate.” Whenever I think of Something Corporate, I find myself fondly reminiscing about my high school days when “Hurricane” could be found on all of my mixes. That song just takes me back, and I love it. I love me some Something Corporate and I’ve definitely missed them while they’ve been in hiding (even though Jack’s Mannequin is equally as great). On Disc 1, they revisit favorites like “Hurricane,” “Space,” “I Woke Up In a Car,” and “If You C Jordan,” while Disc 2 boasts previously unreleased tracks like “Konstantine,” and “Watch the Sky,” new mixes of “Forget December “ and “I Woke Up In [...] Continue...
It’s Far From “Over” for Drake

By Melissa posted March 12, 2010 at 09:00

Still flying high off the success of his mixtape, “So Far Gone,” Drake released the first single off his long-awaited debut album, “Thank Me Later” on Thursday. This track, “Over” is different from the rapper’s previous releases in that it seems the ex-”Degrassi” star is really trying to show that he is just that- a rapper. Gone are the stylized and catchy hooks that find Drake crooning like an R&B star, and in their place nothin’ but flow. “Yeah that’s right, I’m doing me. I’m doing me. I’m living life right now, man. And this is what imma do ‘til it’s over. Til it’s over. But it’s far from over,” Drake sings over a sick beat selection. There is absolutely no mistaking he’s a Young Money artist on this song. Continue...
Melissa’s Song of the Week: “Sex On Fire” by Kings of Leon

By Melissa posted March 03, 2010 at 14:00

It seems like everywhere I go this week, this song has been following me. It’s on at work, it’s on the radio, and it’s on while driving around in my car. And, I just can’t get it out of my head. It’s rare that I like a song that’s on the radio every three minutes, never mind name it my song of the week. The fact that I still get excited when I hear this song all 32 times in an hour, and don’t want to put a gun to Caleb Followill’s head says a lot. It’s no secret that I love Kings of Leon, and everything they’ve done since 2000. It’s a shame the US took so long to catch on to them. If you haven’t heard it, this song, off their fourth album “Only By the Night,” perfectly captures the intensity and lust of wanting someone who you [...] Continue...
Countdown to Summer: Your Guide to Summer Festivals

By Melissa posted February 27, 2010 at 09:00

All of this damn snow has me trapped in my house dreaming of the warm summer months to come. The best part of summer? The music festivals (and Yankees baseball, of course.) South by Southwest kicks off the festival season in just a few short weeks, and from then on, your spring and summer is covered with great live music. Here is what you have to look forward to in the coming months. Now you can put being snowed in to good use, and start making your plans for checking out as many of these awesome festivals as you possibly can. Continue...