Javier Colon: Come Through For You

If I had one word to describe this album, it's the same I would use to describe Javier Colon: honest.

I, along with millions of viewers, felt like I came to know Javier Colon on The Voice, and this album is consistent with what I thought I know of him. 'Echo' is the best example of that - it's a song he wrote his wife, and it fits him like a glove.

Mostly, it's a pleasant listen. Nothing fantastic, I'll admit, nothing mind-blowing, but enjoyable all the same. 'Life is Getting Better' is a great example of that. So is the duet with his coach Adam Levine, 'Stand Up'. Upbeat and fun, there's more where that came from on this playlist.

To my mind, songs like 'Sinner' and 'Come Through for You', the title track, does a lot more for this guy, though. His forte is his voice, the nuances with which he sings, and the affection and sincerity that comes through. Less elaborate arrangements and softer tones suit him - and when I heard these tracks, I was reminded of why I liked him so much.

Then there's a gem of a song, which appears out of nowhere called 'Okay, Here's the Truth'. Many musicians would spend careers trying to produce as authentic, as moving, as honest as this track. Listen to this album JUST for this song if for nothing else.

This album may not burst onto the charts. Nor will it be nominated for a Grammy. But that doesn't take away from this man's enormous talent. He's a musician, that's clear. And hopefully this foray into the industry won't be the end. He'll be great one day. This is a small, authentic and very promising start. May there be lots more to come!

Kelly Clarkson: Stronger

Kelly Clarkson has such a great voice. It has such range and grit and personality, you know? Not many people can sing like she can, she has a real gift.

So why on earth does she sing such nonsense?

Honestly, I wish she'd fall in love with a rock and roll or blues producer, and make an album just to indulge him. It would be magical and path-breaking.

So I like Kelly Clarkson, but this is not her best work. This album is too pop for me, in all the wrong ways.
1. Every song sounds the same, to the point where you can predict exactly what will happen next and how.
2. She belts. Too much, for too long and too far.
3. It's mostly about love and how some guy did her wrong. Yawn. Didn't you already sing about that on the last album?

There are some rare exceptions. 'Don't You Want to Stay' (a duet), and 'Standing in Front of You' at least are interesting, rather than the same cookie-cutter approach. But even they aren't stand-out songs in their own right. It's like something you find at a junk sale: They only sound good in comparison to the rest of the nonsense fare on this album. 'What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger' sounds like a winner only because you've heard it so many times on the radio that it's frivolousness is less apparent by the 36th listen.

PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME. Listen to her singles on the charts when they play on the radio and move on. And hope - desperately - that she hooks up with a real rock and roller! :)

PS: "I may not be Einstein, but I know that dumb plus dumb equals you." Real lyrics quoted out of the many forgettable tracks on this album. I mean, come on!

Florence and the Machine: MTV Unplugged

Here's the thing. Each song is a craft in and of itself, it is a layered myriad of instruments and sounds. Much of this gets lost on us amateurs - we typically only hear its nuances on big-ass stereo systems.

Or, in an unplugged session.
Here, you can hear loud and clear all the instruments that would otherwise be lost. You pick up the nuances of the singer's voice. You listen to lyrics much more carefully. Each song becomes an individual jewel in and of itself. And this album lives up to all those elements, beautifully. Each song is special, and makes for really pretty and interesting listening.

There is only one small one problem. Florence Welsh's voice.
Don't get me wrong. We all recognize what a beautiful voice it is. Personally, I'm a huge, huge fan of her undeniable talent. But she has a tendency to overdo it sometimes. I love her most of all at her most restrained moments. The more quiet she is, the more lovely she sounds to me. But there are a lot of occasions when she gives in to her urge to indulge herself and us, and just belts. Ouch.

So like I said, each song in and of itself on this album is interesting - with some real highlights, like Florence's version of 'Jackson', 'Try A Little Tenderness', and the faithful 'Dog Days are Over'. But listen to several of them strung together, and it'll get a bit much. For that reason alone, I would recommend listening to this album in parts instead of as a whole. Florence       and       The            Machine. Much better, thank you!