bent*spud » Music

Lady Gaga, “Born This Way” CD

Dexter Brown — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 03:15:37 +0000

Like her first two studio efforts, this record is a shimmering collection of rehashed, repetitively tiresome, derivative music that attempts to lay claim to substance by championing a completely plastic "love yourself, be yourself" movement. Pandering clichés abound and will undoubtedly be gobbled up excitedly by her little monsters. If this album could be smelled, it would reek of cheese, desperation, insincerity and misplaced and wholly unjustified confidence.

Standout tracks:

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Foster The People, “Torches” CD

Mike Hunt — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:46:55 +0000

Foster The People are modern-day Beach Boys who have captured the sound of sunshine, fun, and the carefree days of summer in just under forty minutes.

Standout tracks: "Pumped Up Kicks," "Warrant," "Helena Beat," "I Would Do Anything For You," "Waste"

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

Gus Gus, “Arabian Horse” CD

Nicola Cornthwaite — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:47:18 +0000

The Icelandic electronic collective's latest long player is a hammock full of high fives. This is a perfect soundtrack for burning midnight oils and putting out daytime fires.

Standout tracks: "Be With Me Now," "Over" & "Changes Come"

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

Beyoncé, “Run The World (Girls)”

Mike Hunt — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:02:08 +0000

Former Destiny's Child front woman Beyoncé literally threw everything AND the kitchen sink into her new single, which introduces her upcoming, as-yet-untitled fourth album. The result is a clangy, stilted, jangly, uneven, headache-inducing mess that is not at all helped by the aggressive, angry yelling style of singing she employs yet again. Miss Knowles gets princess points for trying to forge a new sound using everyday kitchen utensils. The desire to try out something new and clearly outside her comfort zone is admirable. But, just... no.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Lady Gaga, “Born This Way”

Dexter Brown — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:52:41 +0000

This remake of Madonna's massive 1989 hit "Express Yourself" will undoubtedly further cement Lady Gaga's stature as a truly original and ground-breaking musician in the eyes of her legion of little monsters and Perez Hilton.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆