Drake - Take Care Review

So first of all, Drake is Drake. This is his 2nd major release and he has quite a few lesser known releases from a few years ago. Anyone who claims to be a hip hop head and then gets mad that this cd isn't as hip hop as they expected, then what can i tell you? Well, i could tell you that you're simply not a hip hop head. Anyone who knows anything about hip hop can tell you off the bat that yes, Drake can spit, but that isn't his only talent and he isn't interested in making a rap album. Most of his songs feature him singing whether on auto tune or with some other kind of voice enhancement. I've seen him in concert and can tell you that he's not a very good singer without the digital help. But lucky for us, he (like most of today's r&b acts) is smart enough to use these enhancements on the cd. He isn't a thug, he isn't from the streets, and he isn't a battle rapper or a free styler. However, too many people are interested in comparing him based on those attributes instead of just laying back and listening to this cd.

You know who you are so i'll stop there.

As far as this cd goes, it's real addicting, mainly because of the hooks and the beats. The beats are top notch. Production is so solid and goes perfect with Drake. The guest spots for the most part are solid too, except for the last few bars from nicki minaj.

I really like this cd but i'm gonna compare it to his previous works, simply because while Drake has definitely matured in his last couple of cd's, he has a certain sound that sticks with him throughout. And it's easier to compare this cd with his previous cd's instead of comparing him to wu-tang, biggie, or some ridiculous sh* like that.

Guided by Voices - Let's Go Eat the Factory Review

A very, very good Guided by Voices record. If not a classic, it's very close. Fans won't be disappointed. I've listened to it like 15 times and I have to say it gets better with every listen. It's Guided by Voices to the core with the Sprout songs giving it that extra ass kick. Welcome back boys, you've been sorely missed. I'm looking forward to next album in a few months! The Club is Re-Opened and I'll be taking my usually spot right up front. Cheers. 9/10

Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur Review

Atmospherics aside, the strength of any Kathleen Edwards album is the songwriting ... and it's as good here as ever. Heartbreak and renewal are universal themes, but Edwards makes them personal without overstating the case. This is a break-up album with subtle beauty not angry payback. "A Soft Place To Land" , "Pink Champagne" and "For the Record" are filled with compassion and gravitas. Edwards is processing what went wrong, instead of assessing blame. That's what also makes the movin' on charm of "Change The Sheets" and "Sidecar" such a kick. Props to Bon Iver's Justin Vernon for adding the sonic flourishes without overdoing it. This is a great album, with all the makings of a beautiful relationship musical and otherwise. Glad to be along for the voyage. 9/10

Gary Numan - Dead Son Rising Review

What was meant as a stop-gap between "Jagged" and "Splinter" almost became nothing at all as Numan grew weary of the project. After putting the whole thing on the shelf for a while, Numan and Ade Fenton returned to work on the project with new enthusiasm and it became much more than just a collection of old songs.

"Dead Son Rising" is a complete album, one of the most complete albums I've heard in a long while. More than just a collection of singles, this album has things like PACE and FLOW from track to track, start to finish. As it ends, it compels the listener to play it again. "Resurrection" draws the listener in as it builds, setting the stage for "Big Noise Transmission", which flat out rocks more than any Numan track since "Crazier". "Dead Sun Rising", the almost-title-track, may be the best of many unabashedly-melodic industrial moments on the album. The lyrics dip once again into one of Numan's sci-fi personas, and the bells in the instrumental break are absolutely gorgeous. "When The Sky Bleeds, He Will Come" works through a slow crawl and then satisfyingly breaks into a rocking-chorus, then does it a couple more times for good measure.

Johnny Foreigner - Johnny Foreigner Vs Everything

Truly Amazing! if you like obscure indie bands from the UK this album is totally for you! ive been a huge fan for a while and ive been waiting and waiting for this album! blew my mind and i was expecting it too!

Bill Ryder-Jones - If... Review

Those Liverpool mystics "The Coral" were always a smart bunch of musicians with tunes to spare and PhD's in clever pop songs. They could incorporate all styles in their music from Cossack rhythms to Howlin Wolf blues. Amongst there number was a young guitarist by the name of Bill Ryder Jones who left the band in 2008 and has since collaborated with such luminaries as Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys and Blur's Graham Coxon. This is Ryder Jones first solo album and it is at this point that a concept album alert is issued since it is a musical adaptation of Italo Calvino's 1979 postmodernist novel "If on a Winters Night a Traveller" an intriguing tome about the hunt for a mysterious book. This is a title that was also purloined for another album this time by the Tantric Geordie minstrel Sting, which if truth be told can't hold a candle to this astonishing debut.

The Roots - Undun

I've thought back before to mistakes I've made, decisions I've made and how it influenced my life and how it impacted my ending up in the very room I sit right now writing this review. If I had done things differently, would I be here right now? Would I have ended up in another state? Perhaps gone to college, got a helluva job? Met someone, settled down, had kids, and the stereotypical American Dream? Or was I always destined to end up where I'm at now?

I thought about that as I listened to Undun, because it made me wonder whether Redford was doomed from the beginning. Whether his ending was predetermined from jump street and that he realized that and simply embraced what he felt was his destiny. It's definitely an interesting conversation piece, I think. And that, ultimately, is what separates The Roots from your average hip hop artists out there. The Roots stay coming correct with their intelligent and introspective works, while many others tend to focus on more materialistic gains. Unfortunately too many people would rather Watch The Throne, rather than get their heads into some real solid intelligent hip hop music. And that's sad, but unfortunately a part of life. As the album ends, it has it's final piece, a cover of singer Sufjan Stevens' song Redford, split into four "movements", and tell the "beginning" of Stephen's life.

Tom Waits - Bad as Me Review

Really wonderful album. As so many albums this year, it's a grower (although it's a pretty impressive shower, too!) Don't let the fact that it is sonically similar to Waits' past albums dismay you. These songs are very deep, and reward looking underneath the satisfying surface. My favorites are "Hell Broke Luce" and "Pay Me", as good of a Bastard and Bawler as Waits has ever written. 10/10

Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Singer/Songwriter Year: 2011

Common - The Dreamer/The Believer Review

I like Common, and I have for a long time, that's why this cd was just "ok" for me. I like his flow, the beats are fine, but there's something missing for me. I think my expectations for his are so high, a conventional album just won't cut it from him anymore. It's very similar to Finding Forever for me. I did not like Universal Mind Control, but liked the idea of stepping outside of his box and trying something new. 5/10

Genre(s): Rap, Pop/Rock, Alternative Rap, Midwest Rap  Year: 2011

Anthony Hamilton - Back to Love 2011 Review

I got into Anthony Hamilton with "Ain't Nobody Worryin'," which has made it difficult for follow ups, plus "Comin' From Where I'm From" to live up, but this is an excellent new set. Stronger than "The Point of It All" this record is loaded with medium to strong hooks draped in beautiful harmonies and textures with heartfelt lyrics delivered sincerely and soulfully. Lovin' it. I recommend the Deluxe version; the four additional tracks are as strong as the strongest material on the normal version. 8/10

Genre(s): Rap, R&B, Adult Contemporary R&B

Atlas Sound - Parallax Review

The new album of the Deerhunter front-man, Bradford Cox, known as Atlas Sound, differs from the music of his Rock band. As he describes it, this album is more lonely (you can especially see this in the track "Terra Incognita"), no load guitars are with him or drums setting the rhythm (but you will find a delicate percussion). However this is not a sad album: tracks such as "Mona Lisa" and "Te Amo" (which means "I love you" in Spanish) cheer up the atmosphere of this brilliant record. His voice is in most of the song the prominent sound, and really nice arrangements join him. "Parallax" turns out to be a record to relax and take your mind away for some minutes. 9/10

Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Apparat - The Devil's Walk Review

A really sad and emotional affair. Moments of engrossing instrumentation, but not quite enough to displace the droning and uninteresting sounds when it's off. 7/10

Genre(s): Electronic, Pop/Rock, Club/Dance

The Best Dressed Celebrities Of 2011

This year, we’ve encountered too many trendsetters and style icons to choose a favorite, so we’ve compiled a list of who we think are the best dressed celebrities of 2011:

Rihanna: The Wild Flower – Rihanna has been known to make the most extreme changes in her appearance, from her cropped bob to her long ruby red hair, and she has pulled it off gracefully. She helped set amazing trends like color blocking and showing off her petite waist. She has taught a lot of women to be daring, sexy and have fun with dressing yourself.

To read our list of the 'Best Dressed Celebrities of 2011', visit www.CherryOnTop.com.