On this update, I'm gonna tell you what you should listen to or watch. You see, content is always very important to me and unless I can hook you up to some new and fresh sort of entertainment, I don't talk about it, that is the code for I don't make updates unless the content means something to you the readers. So, you might not see a post about googled magazine covers ever day on this blog but be rest assured that if I make an update, it'll have an actual content. My critiques are always on the 'academic style' side of things. So, anyway, here's what you need to have on your playlist in early 2015.
MUSIC:
Rihanna releases a new single
Rihanna, Kanye West and wait for it.... Paul McCartney just released a song called "Four Five Seconds"!!!!! "FourFiveSeconds" as per the listing on iTunes. I can't buy it yet on iTunes Store India because "It's not available in your location". JustJared.com uploaded a full length version of the song and it sounds catchy but not in a catchy way that we're all used to. It does not employ the EDM sound, not only does it not have EDM or Trap inspired arrangement, the single only has strings as an instrument(s), back vocals and of course Kanye -not sure if they used 1 or more guitars- . The song focuses on Rihanna's vocals which she gives in a "Diamonds" style punch. It's been 2 years since Rihanna released a full length studio album and that's a long time for her 'cause she's known as the girl who releases a new album ever November. There's always this "out of our minds" reaction to the first single from any Rihanna's album and I'm sure this single will hit the top spot again but who the fuck knows? I like it, it sounds radio friendly too.
"Life's too short to pretend not to like a catchy Taylor Swift song"
Technically, 1989 isn't a new release, it was released last year! But Taylor's vision when she recorded this highly successful album can be felt throughout. She already has 2 No.1 singles from 1989 but it looks like she'll score even more. My favorite track is "I Know Places" I even did a cover on my Soundcloud. So, here's why you should listen to this album; Taylor Swift is a very good song writer! Your brain might repel her (trust me, mine did) but when you let the music speak for itself, it's actually very good! She's no longer writing lyrics about "you're wrong and this is how it made me feel"rather lines than hints to her cheating on her boyfriends too in the past, like in the track called Style "I said I've been there a few times".
The thing about Taylor Swift is that she's tasteful, 1989 sold so much! and she does not need to hump a sofa to sell albums, not that artists who do that are bad or anything but she "stands out" is what I meant. The only problem that I have with 1989 is that at some moments Taylor seems to be holding back, see her Bonus tracks have 2 of the most gratifying and fresh songs. Guess, that all sums up in "board room meetings"
Madonna's Back! Sort of...
Madonna is set to release her 375th album, Rebel Heart! I lost track of how many albums she has released over her 145 years of career in entertainment. We've all heard of her "leaked" demos, which has become a syntax for a new Madonna album. But in all seriousness, this is what bothers me; Madonna who rarely does anything without being paid only creates buzz from leaked demos these days! Of course she has been teasing fans with her Instagram posts, spams rather about a possible new album but it all seems so calculated and out of place.
Don't get me wrong, there is no such thing as bad press in publicity and if I hate her I would not even talk about her!. Rebel Heart is expected to be released on March 2015 so that means the full album is not available yet but if you pre-order it on iTunes you'll get the pre-order tracks. Can Madonna's music speak for itself anymore? I guess not, her singles will obviously continue to flop like first single "Living For Love" already does but it's worth a listen because the songs are pretty OK, like for instance "Devil Pray" which is not radio friendly in any way but super catchy, American radios don't support Madonna as much as they should anymore after she publicly blasted then president George W. Bush, besides you'll be hearing all about the antics and gimmicks that she'll pull at her appearances and the calculated publicity stunt riddled inevitable world tour.
TV:
Homeland
Brody's dead in the last season and Carrie still manages to make the show thrilling. This proves the fact that shows or entertainment of any kind with women on the lead can be crazy popular and also earn a lot of money. This season is set in Pakistan a lot. Turns out Pakistan has a lot of "modern" areas, I'm already aware of this but to see it on one of your favorite TV shows is not as compelling to say the least. Carrie a C.I.A. cheif of staff who is played by Clair Daines is still very troubled, hot headed and smart. She still continues to manipulate people's weakness and use them for her own/mission benefit (USA's benefit as she puts it).
A lot of people call this show anti-Islam and I can see why, quotes like, "Pakistan? It's not even a real country, it's a fucking synonym" might not do any good for people who are on "Homeland is Islamaphonic" side but there's a quote in one of the episodes, "You point your fingers on Islam but if you look a Christianity and how many sufferings it has caused in this world, who would want to be a Christian?". I guess it's important to know at the end of the day that these are just entertainment, it's a TV show and things like major plot twists every episode, A+ acting and well produced direction make Homeland a damn fine TV Show.
Podcast:
SERIAL
I can't even start on how good this podcast is. OK, at first, I subscribed to it 'cause it was on the iTunes most popular list for a while and dove straight into it. It wasn't until the third episode that I realized "It's about an actual real life event!". So, here's what it's all about; a high school student in Baltimore, Hye Min Lee went missing on 13th February 1999, her body was found almost a month later; her ex boyfriend Adnan Syed is then convicted of the murder and spends his days in a maximum security prison since 2000 but Adnan continues to say that he's innocent. And here's why you need to listen to it: The podcast takes you to the journey of "is he innocent?" or "Is he not?" in a TV style narrative which is just so addictive. Host Sarah Khoelin talks about the jury's decision and how there is no physical evidence against Adnan, she even goes on to say, "Sometimes I'm convinced that he's innocent and sometimes I wonder if I'm being played because when I talk to him, he's smart, funny and charming which sociopaths usually are"
As per my opinion on if Adnan Syed is guilty or not, I don't know man, I mean, I just.. I mean I can't say, who knows what went down on that day, you know what I'm saying, I mean, I don't know. (If you do not get this joke, listen to the podcast NOW!)
Psycho Babble
If you're on the YouTube-osphere you'll probably know who Tyler Oakley is. So, yeah, he and best friend Korey Kuhl branch out to podcasting like fellow YouTuber Shane Dawson, This podcast is funny, insightful, silly and not too long at about 30 minutes each episode. It's pretty much pop culture and like Tyler puts it, "It's not just crazy talk, it's Psycho Babble"
