SoundNexx

ALBUMS WORTH CHECKING FOR!
I read an interesting article a few days ago that talked about the significant drop of CD sales in the United States, which has actually plummeted 20 percent in the first quarter of 2007 because of internet downloading! Over the last several years CD sales have been steadily declining, but 20 percent is a lot in just 3 months. The article goes on mention that legal downloading of digitized albums did not make up the difference in losses, and that there has been a noticeable drop in that area of overall sales as well. Meanwhile, the legal sale of individual digitized songs has actually gone up over this period. Music consumers are making a definite statement to the record companies. The message is clear! We won't continue to buy crappy albums that are high on filler and low on quality. Hopefully, this message will push artists and labels alike into making better albums that are truly worth buying. The release of wack albums is nothing new by any stretch of the imagination. Consumers have been victimized for years. I have personally been bamboozled several times over my music buying years dammit! I bought albums in the past that literally only had one song that was worth listening to, but by the time I realized it my $15 was already in their pockets! These days technology has given consumers the upper hand, so now it's time for THE BIG PAYBACK!! Time to recoup some of our money back dammit!

When it comes to albums in 2007, all is not lost though. I have come across two new releases that are pretty solid in my personal opinion. First up the new album "Back to Black" by the very outspoken Amy Winehouse reppin' the United Kingdom! I like the album for several reasons. It has solid production throughout with a definite old school Motown feel to it, which works well with her lyrics actually. Combine that with a great voice and hard hitting lyrics and you have a solid album. It took me a couple of listens to really appreciate Amy's efforts on this project. This album is one that is heard better when played from beginning to end. It almost plays out like a long story with plenty of twists and turns along the way. I warn you though Amy is pretty blatant with her words of choice. This may not be for the virgin ear type of listeners, but this next album just may do the trick? How many of you folks out there still listen to Earth, Wind & Fire in 2007? I still do when I get into the mood for some good ole' classic soulistic grooves. As a tribute to the musical contributions of Maurice White and Earth, Wind & Fire there is a new project that has been released called "Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire." These types of compilations are hit or miss in most cases, because everyone's interpretation of a classic record is not the same. That can be good or just plain terrible? Most times the reworking of a classic record is simply unworthy to say the least, and it can even be devastating to the singer's image as well? I am happy to say that this particular project was enjoyable overall. There's a nice mixture of quality singers on this project like Chaka Khan, Angie Stone, Lalah Hathaway & Dwele that do a pretty nice job on their renditions of these classic records. If you consider yourself a true EW&F fan, then you may want to check out this compilation. No, these new song interpretations won't replace the classic originals that we grew up listening to, but it may spice them up just a little??

LISTEN TO TRACKS FROM AMY WINEHOUSE HERE

AMY WINEHOUSE'S WEBSITE

AMY WINEHOUSE'S MYSPACE PAGE

LISTEN TO TRACKS FROM INTERPRETATIONS OF EW&F HERE

MAURICE WHITE'S WEBSITE

MAURICE WHITE'S MYSPACE PAGE

ALSO....

HERE IS A LINK TO THE ARTICLE I MENTIONED