MARC ANTHONY-- "Iconos" (RATING 5/5)

(This week's FEATURED ARTIST)

Songs belonging to this era have suffered drastically in the production department...but even more so within the lyrics. I don't hear about passionately loving anyone any more...all there is "false love" dedicated to relationships that will only last for two weeks because all people care about these days is sex and nothing more. I no longer hear about the intensity of emotions when losing someone you cared about so much...it's as if those feelings were only there for the meanwhile, only to be erased when the "next best thing" came along. With the exception of songwriters like Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson, and Mariah Carey, NO ONE has been making the effort to write about things that MATTER like those who have come before us. NO ONE has been brave enough to explore human needs and tendencies like the original masterminds who paved the way for the artists we see before us today...and MARC ANTHONY has realized that.

MARC ANTHONY, who is an icon in his own right, has brought back to life some of the most hauntingly profound music of decades ago in his eleventh studio album. The aptly-named Iconos is a tribute to artists like José José, José Luis Perales, Juan Gabriel, Roberto Carlos, and La Mafia who were brave enough to push boundaries many years ago with songs like El Triste, Te Lo Pido Por Favor, and Ya Lo Se Que Tu Te Vas. MARC ANTHONY's powerful voice commands attention over lusciously produced live instrumentation...something we ALL know we don't hear enough of today. The opening dark track Almohada clears the way for a satisfying work of art by one of the leading LATIN artists of this time. Two previously unreleased tracks (A Quien Quiere Mentirle and Maldita Sea Mi Suerte) also appear on this album...the latter of which has become one of my favorite MARC ANTHONY tracks of all time!

Iconos can't be compared to anything within the Latin genre of music. I know most people may not enjoy Spanish ballads (I used to be one of them), but much credit is to be given on this amazing feat. MARC ANTHONY knows what it is to be a true artist. He's reveled in giving us some of the best Salsa music ever...and for those who want to know, he will be releasing a Salsa album, as well as an English-language album, later on this year. So everyone will get their fix, regardless. For right now though, let's sit back and enjoy REAL music...because once it comes, it may be years before it ever comes back. Definitely a must-have for old and new fans alike!

SONGS that I TRULY ENJOYED from ICONOS:
• El Triste
• Y Como Es El
• Te Lo Pido Por Favor
• Amada Amante
• Vida
• A Quien Quiere Mentirle
• Ya Lo Se Que Tu Te Vas

HIGHLIGHTS from ICONOS:
In "Notable Songs" PLAYLIST
"Almohada"
"Abrazame Muy Fuerte"
"Maldita Sea Mi Suerte"

UNFORTUNATELY, SBMG Norte removed ALL clips from this album off of Youtube so I will not be posting any music for this review...!

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Written by Felix-Lee "Campbells" Andrades, III

RIHANNA-- "Rated R: Remixed" (RATING 3/5)

So what makes a good remix to a song? I've always enjoyed LONGER club remixes, especially those who have a straightforward trance element as opposed to house or anything else. Just a preference...but when is it too much? Back when I used to go out of my way to buy import singles that contained hard-to-find remixes of the hottest songs, I would be easily pleased with what I found. Now...it really seems as even remixes are falling off and just becoming way repetitive and too boring.

Chew Fu, a New York remixer and producer, is the mastermind behind RIHANNA's remixed version of her megahit album Rated R. For the most part, his remixes work well enough to get you dancing in the clubs...but I found myself wondering what in the hell he was thinking when he got into the lab to work on the newer versions of her songs. Take Hard (...Granite Fix) for instance...I have a HUGE issue with people who take a song just to STRETCH out the vocals of the performer, making them sound completely ridiculous. He does it quite a few times, including on the Can't Wait No More Fix to Wait Your Turn. The album actually becomes too predictable as the same sounds and beats get transferred over to every song. On the Guns in the Air Fix to the song G4L, the track starts off catchy and anticipatory...building up suspense as the intro goes in full force...but as soon as the beat drops, it sounds as like an 80s car-racing video game suffering from Turrets Syndrome. Definitely hard to listen to. There are good points to the CD including the Molotov Fix to Fire Bomb and the Small Room Fix to Stupid Love...Chew Fu did a great job of taking slow- and mid-tempo cuts and turning them into danceable tracks that aren't flamboyantly overdone...like what most are used to when it comes to this type of music.

Rated R was one of the hardest albums of 2009. This remixed version of the album does strip away the literal rage that RIHANNA was trying to portray by incorporating gyrating beats that are sure to get people thrusting on the dance floor. It was a decent effort by the legendary remixer who has done cuts for Kanye West, Lady Gaga, and others...but I'd rather take the original version of the album. It's much more profound...and much less annoying...to listen to.

Oh...and the intro cut Madhouse wasn't turned into a full-length song...instead it's just a mechanical version of the already-out-of-place interlude that opened up the album in the first place.

SONGS that I thought were ALRIGHT from RATED R: REMIXED:
• Rockstar 101 featuring Slash (Teacher's Pet Fix)
• Photographs featuring will.i.am (35mm Fix)
• Rude Boy (Vitamin S Fix)
• G4L (Guns in the Air Fix)

From RIHANNA's "Rated R: Remixed" album, here's "Russian Roulette (Chew Fu Black Russian Fix...)"



The BABYBOICAMPBELLS REVIEW will return NEXT WEEK TUESDAY, JUNE 1st with BRAND NEW REVIEWS on UPCOMING ALBUMS from TAIO CRUZ and LA INDIA!

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Written by Felix-Lee "Campbells" Andrades, III

NAS/DAMIEN "Jr. Gong" MARLEY-- "Distant Relatives" (RATING 5/5)

(One of THIS WEEK'S FEATURED ARTISTS)

I'm very happy to report that BOTH albums I reviewed today can't be compared to anything out at the current moment. What started as a vision in the eyes of NAS and DAMIEN MARLEY eventually turned into an epic story of the struggles plaguing Africa, as well as the entire world. Sharing one common quality, NAS and MARLEY created Distant Relatives, a collaborative album containing hip-hop, reggae, and African elements that are altogether mesmerizing and spiritual.

Critics are calling Distant Relatives "overbearing" and "overly ponderous" but I'm assuming those are the same p****-whipped critics who praise Taylor Swift despite her lack of verifiable talent. The album is strong and touches on some very serious topics that are thought-provoking...but under no circumstances do NAS and MARELY "over-do" anything. They are straight-to-the-point, honest, and shed light on things that most people don't even know about...and sadly, will never care about. Every track lives up to its name...and from beginning to end, one will not be disappointed by production or the lyrical flow from these two geniuses. Guest appearances include K'naan, Joss Stone, Lil' Wayne, and more, with Stephen Marley being part of the main production behind the album. Tracks like My Generation and Count Your Blessings have what it takes to bring you joy and happiness...whereas songs like Patience and Leaders paint colorful pictures of pain and poverty.

I never really was into NAS...DAMIEN MARLEY, yes...but Distant Relatives is, for sure, one of the best albums out there. If you like artists who talk about life and topics of reality, pick this joint effort up...if not, go ahead and listen to all fake garbage that gets thrown your way. Who knows how long we're gonna have to wait again before we hear an album like this one..,.

Sounds that Somewhat Caught my Interest from DISTANT RELATIVES:
• As We Enter
• Strong Will Continue
• Friends
• Land of Promise featuring Dennis Brown
• In His Words featuring Stephen Marley
• Nah Mean
• Africa Must Wake Up featuring K'naan

From NAS and DAMIEN MARLEY's collaborative effort "Distant Relatives", here's the song "My Generation" featuring Joss Stone and Lil' Wayne...



I'm very happy to report that BOTH albums I reviewed today can't be compared to anything out at the current moment. What started as a vision in the eyes of NAS and DAMIEN MARLEY eventually turned into an epic story of the struggles plaguing Africa, as well as the entire world. Sharing one common quality, NAS and MARLEY created Distant Relatives, a collaborative album containing hip-hop, reggae, and African elements that are altogether mesmerizing and spiritual.

Critics are calling Distant Relatives "overbearing" and "overly ponderous" but I'm assuming those are the same p****-whipped critics who praise Taylor Swift despite her lack of verifiable talent. The album is strong and touches on some very serious topics that are thought-provoking...but under no circumstances do NAS and MARELY "over-do" anything. They are straight-to-the-point, honest, and shed light on things that most people don't even know about...and sadly, will never care about. Every track lives up to its name...and from beginning to end, one will not be disappointed by production or the lyrical flow from these two geniuses. Guest appearances include K'naan, Joss Stone, Lil' Wayne, and more, with Stephen Marley being part of the main production behind the album. Tracks like My Generation and Count Your Blessings have what it takes to bring you joy and happiness...whereas songs like Patience and Leaders paint colorful pictures of pain and poverty.

I never really was into NAS...DAMIEN MARLEY, yes...but Distant Relatives is, for sure, one of the best albums out there. If you like artists who talk about life and topics of reality, pick this joint effort up...if not, go ahead and listen to all fake garbage that gets thrown your way. Who knows how long we're gonna have to wait again before we hear an album like this one..,.

Sounds that Somewhat Caught my Interest from DISTANT RELATIVES:
• As We Enter
• Strong Will Continue
• Friends
• Land of Promise featuring Dennis Brown
• In His Words featuring Stephen Marley
• Nah Mean
• Africa Must Wake Up featuring K'naan

BONUS TRACKS
(Deluxe Edition)
• Ancient People featuring Junior Reid

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Written by Felix-Lee "Campbells" Andrades, III

JANELLE MONAE-- "The ArchAndroid: Suite II and III of IV" (RATING 5/5)

(One of THIS WEEK's FEATURED ARTISTS)

Wow...this album can't be categorized...it stands out in a league of its own. And for the d-bag critic who called JANELLE MONAE the "soul sister [counterpart] of LADY GAGA", they need to castrated...because they don't deserve to carry manhood after a comment that is beyond FAR from the truth! JANELLE MONAE's music MAY SOMEWHAT resemble what Estelle did on her last album entitled Shine...regardless, The ArchAndroid... is a fresh start to a promising career from an artist we really need to keep our eyes on!

Blending funk and psychedelic rhythms with heavenly live instrumentation, MONAE takes us on a voyage of sassy beats and hypnotic overtures. I will say that hearing the album for the first time may not give you the meaning behind every song since there happens to be a lot "reading in between the lines" that needs to be done. As a matter of fact, MONAE has created a storyline about the alter ego CIndy Mayweather and her everyday findings in the conceptualized android community of Metropolis. What brings to life this epic adventure is MONAE's kaleidoscopic vocals which seem to change during the course of the album on every track. Some of the finer moments for me came on songs like Dance or Die featuring Saul Williams and Neon Street Valley. Big Boi (OutKast), Of Montreal, and Deep Cotton also appear on this ethereal accomplishment from one of the very few talented individuals in the industry right now.

Since MONAE has created a "music novel" for us, it's in my best interest to mention that if you want MORE of her amazing work one should check out her EP entitled Metropolis Suite I of IV: The Chase. It was released back in 2007 and features a lot of great material as well. Either way, I look forward to hearing more from this wonderful gift from heaven...and I'm sorry LADY GAGA, but you got MAJOR competition right now so you better start thinking of a way to keep us interested...!

Songs I REALLY enjoyed from The ArchAndroid...:
• Suite II Overture
• Faster
• Locked Inside
• Tightrope featuring Big Boi
• Neon Gumbo
• Come Alive (The War of the Roses)
• Mushrooms and Roses
• Suite III Overture
• Make the Bus featuring Of Montreal
• 57821 featuring Deep Control
• Wondaland

From JANELLE MONAE's debut album "The ArchAndroid...", here's the song "Dance or Die" featuring Saul Williams...



From the same album, here's "Say You'll Go"



JANELLE MONAE featuring Big Boi
"Tightrope"
From "The ArchAndroid..." album
Directed by N/A
(5.12)



The BABYBOICAMPBELLS REVIEW will return tomorrow with the latest MUSIC VENT segment featuring new videos from LA INDIA! I will also give you an analysis on how well CHARICE did on the BILLBOARD CHARTS..and you can look forward to NEXT WEEK's MUSIC REVIEW on upcoming albums from MARC ANTHONY and RIHANNA!

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Written by Felix-Lee "Campbells" Andrades, III

THE MUSIC VENT (Volume 1.2)

There's a lot of anger and disapproval in the music industry right now and what better source can give you the full report other than the latest installment of THE MUSIC VENT. LINDSAY LOHAN and KELLY CLARKSON are both making heavy statements with new material that has been leaked onto the Internet in the past several days...but I want to begin with the main story that's been causing a disturbance in the lives of many narrow-minded individuals and that is the controversy behind CHRISTINA AGUILERA's newest video Not Myself Tonight. (See below)



The critics and most everyone else is saying the same thing...AGUILERA copied off every other artist that came before her...with the exception of Lady Gaga. And while it is true about the video taking on a new form of raunchiness, even for her AGUILERA herself, it is STILL iconic in its own right. AGUILERA has always been a visionary, pushing musical boundaries that no one else in this DECADE alone has been able to pull off. And for that, I stand in her corner. Not Myself Tonight shouldn't be labeled as a "desperate attempt" on her part. The truth of the matter is, CHRISTINA AGUILERA still has the voice that brought us to our knees from the moment she debuted back in 1999 with Genie In a Bottle. And for those who label her a hypocrite because of what she said concerning her child...really? There is a story to tell in this song...and AGUILERA pulls it off with flying colors. In NO WAY does this song or video mean that she is an unfit mother. I guess everyone's forgotten about the many times they've busted down and gotten on their knees throughout the course of their lives.

But anyways, I digress. BIONIC, which has been pushed up to its FRIDAY, JUNE 4th release, is set to be monumental. For those who have something against it...this song is dedicated to you...like AGUILERA says, "I'm doing things that I normally won't do...the old me's gone, I feel brand new...and if you don't like it, FUCK YOU!"

Just leaked onto the Internet, here is the latest from AGUILERA's BIONIC album...it's called Woo Hoo featuring Nicki Minaj...





KELLY CLARKSON still expresses major upset towards the way her label AND producer RYAN TEDDER treated her during the release of Already Gone. As you may or may not know, she is working on a new album and rumor is that THIS track may appear on the final list. And if so...this may just be one of the most blatant sendoff's ever dedicated to someone within the music industry. Here is the leaked track entitled Wash, Rinse, and Repeat...





And why was LINDSAY LOHAN allowed back into the recording studio...? This was just a failed attempt at proving to anyone that she has vocal ability. I like this song...but if someone else would've sang it, it would've been ten times better...also recently leaked onto the Internet, here's the song Can't Stop, Won't Stop...



NOW...we have a ridiculous amount of MUSIC VIDEOS that have been released in the past several days. As part of THE MUSIC VENT, I would like to start incorporating a separate portion that's simply meant for bringing YOU guys the latest video releases from all our FAVORITE ARTISTS...so let's jump right into it...

ALICIA KEYS
Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)
From the Element of Freedom album
Directed by Jake Nava
(4.41)



ROBIN THICKE featuring Snoop Dogg
It's In the Mornin'
From the Sex Therapy... album
Directed by N/A
(3.13)



DRAKE
Find Your Love
From the UPCOMING Thank Me Later album
Directed by Anthony Mandler
(5.57)




MARY J BLIGE featuring Trey Songz
We Got Hood Love
From the Stronger With Each Tear album
Directed by Chris Robinson
(5.19)



JAGGED EDGE featuring Trina and Gucci Mane
Tip of My Tongue
From the UPCOMING ...Remedy album
Directed by N/A
(4.16)



There you have it! Check back NEXT WEEK for an all new segment of THE MUSIC VENT to appear on WEDNESDAY, MAY 19th!!

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Written by Felix-Lee "Campbells" Andrades, III

CHARICE (Self-Titled Debut Album) (RATING 3/5)

America may just have "The Next Big Thing" on its hands now that Philippines-born singer CHARICE is about to release her debut album. Her voice is no match for those who are currently in the same category of music as she is. Powerful and resplendent, CHARICE's performances overseas has proven to gain her heavy recognition, taking on difficult songs from Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston with such ease to set forth the notion that she is a force to be reckoned with. The seventeen-year-old singer has appeared in several talent shows in the Philippines and South Korea...and she has even appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show AND the Oprah Winfrey show after becoming an overnight Internet sensation. But is it enough to have all these great accolades if the album is simply mediocre?

CHARICE's current single Pyramids featuring Iyaz hit #2 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart, but what gets to me is the production that was given to this amazing performer on the non-remix version of her songs. David Foster is responsible for her debut and it shows very clearly. For someone her age, it doesn't seem befitting to automatically pigeonhole CHARICE into an adult contemporary/easy listening genre. The album reminds me of Christina Aguilera's debut...or earlier releases from Celine Dion herself, which ironically enough, IS CHARICE's main inspiration. I just truly believe the production is lackluster and sounds completely dated...as if the tracks were leftovers from an album belonging to a one-hit bubblegum Pop wonder. It's a shame...even though the debut has writing credits from David Foster, Claude Kelly, Diane Warren, Ryan Tedder, and CHARICE herself, it's not enough to get any attention from me. Her voice is what saves her from gaining an even lower rating on this review because of an otherwise depressingly refurbished production value that should've been given to someone with lesser talent.

This is simply a perfect case of an artist done wrong by the head honcho in her label. Foster's vision doesn't necessarily work for this young girl whatsoever. Not saying that she has to go enlist some ridiculous amount of Hip-Hop producers or what not...but maybe the thought of making CHARICE's music sound more uplifting rather than boring should be pushed to the forefront if she is expected to make a major impact here in the United States.

Sounds that Somewhat Caught my Interest from CHARICE:
• In This Song
• Nobody's Singing to Me
• All That I Need to Survive
• Did It For You
• Note For God

From CHARICE's debut album, here's the song "The Truth Is..."



From the same album, here's "In Love So Deep..."



BONUS TRACKS
(iTunes Store)
• Breathe You Out
• Are We Over

CHARICE featuring IYAZ
"Pyramids (Video Version)"
From CHARICE's debut album
Directed by N/A
(4.06)



The BABYBOICAMPBELLS REVIEW will return later this week with an analysis on how well TONI BRAXTON, TRINA, BONE THUGS-n-HARMONY, THE TEMPTATIONS, and JOWELL y RANDY did on the charts! We will also be unveiling the latest MUSIC VENT segment...and next week's MUSIC REVIEW will feature information on upcoming albums from NAS/DAMIEN MARLEY and JANELLE MONAE!

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Written by Felix-Lee "Campbells" Andrades, III