album review

Same Trailer Different Park

Anna Blankenheim Music , , ,

One of my latest music purchases is Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves.

Same Trailer Different Park
Same Trailer Different Park

When I first heard her on the radio not entirely impressed. However, since then I’ve heard a few more songs and fallen in love with her tell-it-like-it-is style of songwriting and singing. She wrote or co-wrote all twelve songs on this album and is credited as a co-producer. She really tells the story in each of her songs, something that is really lacking in a lot of today’s pop country.

While her songs come across as fairly depressing, they’re about real life and real people. One of my favorite lines is from “Silver Lining”: “If you’re ever gonna find a silver lining it’s gotta be a cloudy day. ” Love, love, love it! Definitely a great album worth the money… can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Favorite Songs: “Blowin’ Smoke”, “Follow Your Arrow”, Merry Go ‘Round”, “Silver Lining”, and “My House”.

Blurred Lines

Anna Blankenheim Music , , , ,

I have fallen in love with the song “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke. Yes, I’m aware that it’s on the radio ALL the time – in fact, sometimes you can even change the channel and it’s on like all of the pop stations. But it’s catchy and I like it.

I am a believer in buying the whole album, not just a single. Some of my favorite songs have never seen the light of day via radio DJ, but were recorded. I bought this whole album (also called Blurred Lines) and was actually disappointed. Part of what I really loved about Robin Thicke was his strong R&B roots. On this album, he’s completely crossed over to a highly mixed, far less R&B sound. To be honest, I’m not loving it at all.

This might be one of the few times that I recommend just buying the one catchy single and passing on the album!

Blurred Lines
Blurred Lines

Annie Up

Anna Blankenheim Music , , ,

I know I said that I would be reviewing Blake Shelton’s new album, but while I was buying music, I decided to give the Pistol Annies new album, Annie Up a try.

Annie Up
Annie Up

I love, love, love this album. The songs are all written by some combination of the three girls in the band, which I love. The first track, “I Feel A Sin Comin’ On” is possibly up there as one of my favorite songs ever… it’s a bluesy and has some amazing harmonies. I love the lyric, “Give me tall, dark, and handsome, mix it up with something strong, I feel a sin coming on”.

The rest of the album covers everything from broken hearts to true love. I seriously love this album – I give it two very enthusiastic thumbs up!

Favorite Songs: “I Feel A Sin Comin’ On”, “Blues, You’re A Buzzkill”, “Loved By A Workin’ Man”, and “Happily Unmarried”

The 20/20 Experience

Anna Blankenheim Music , , ,

FINALLY Justin Timberlake has come out with a new album, titled The 20/20 Experience. I was super excited to get tickets to see his show later this year (I’ve seen him in the past and he’s an amazing performer) and am now even more excited now that he has new material!

There are big chunks of this album that remind me of old school JT, and there are big chunks that are very Robin Thicke-esq. I love the mixture of the two. It definitely has a more R&B focused sound to it, which I think his voice fits perfectly into.

I don’t necessarily think that this album is as great as FutureSex/LoveSounds was, but it’s right up there. Can’t wait for the show!

The 20/20 Experience
The 20/20 Experience

Favorite Songs: “Let The Groove Get In”, “Mirrors“, and “Suit & Tie“

Four The Record

Anna Blankenheim Music , , ,

This week I heard a great Miranda Lambert song on the radio (possible “Favorite Song Friday”?) and decided to get her “new” album from 2011. It’s her fourth studio album and is called Four the Record. Catchy, isn’t it? This was a great album – it continues to have her signature style and bounces between sad ballads and upbeat up-yours songs. It’s definitely worth the money. I feel like she’s come a long way over the last few years – to be honest, I didn’t totally love her when she came out. But she’s continued to develop as a singer and songwriter and it definitely shows in her recordings. I’m pretty sure if she toured near here I would go see her!

Four The Record
Four The Record

Favorite Songs: “Fastest Girl In Town“, “Mama’s Broken Heart“, and “Baggage Claim“