True Confessions of a Music Junkie

Secretly Tuneful is back!

Wild Hope by Mandy Moore

I like Mandy Moore, she's no Ingrid Bergman, but in a world of Paris Hiltons and Lindsay Lohans, she's a good girl oasis. Back when the “teenypop” revolution took place, she came out with a sweet (cavity causing!) album that didn't hold up against the Britney and Christina juggernaut. She turned to acting after a couple more bad albums but recently decided to get back into the studio. Wild Hope has turned into a good stepping stone back into the music world. Moore's album is just a little angsty but still feel good, which I assume is the desired effect. Her song “Extraordinary” expresses her middle of the road existence while wanting to break free to the front of the pack. The song “Gardenia” shows that she's no longer a little girl singing about candy, but rather is the girl who neglected her friends and herself for a man. Though I much prefer Mandy Moore's acting (see Saved! if you're not convinced) to her music, I think I might keep this one for a while. If you like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera or Jessica Simpson, you will probably enjoy Mandy Moore. If you do not like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera or Jessica Simpson but you do like Sarah McLachlan or Alanis Morissette, you may find this album to be a lighter version of both.

Zeitgeist by The Smashing Pumpkins

I've enjoyed the Pumpkins for some time and I was pleased to hear the band was reuniting. Frontman Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin have added some new faces to the lineup and you really can't tell. On their new album, Zeitgeist, it's a return to the harder, less gothic rock. Since their sound is unique it's hard to compare them to other bands, but if you like Pearl Jam, Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine or more recently My Chemical Romance you'll enjoy this album. I highly recommend adding this one to your permanent collection.

Ms. Kelly by Kelly Rowland

Her second album is much better than the first which only had one memorable track. As per hip-hop/r&b tradition, this album is full of guest stars. Snoop and Eve appear on tracks and Scott Storch assisted with the production and writing. The first track “Like This” is a good song with a nice beat (if you like that sort of thing) and will be played frequently in the car with friends. She hits low points with “Flashback” and “Still in Love With My Ex.” Fans of Destiny's Child will probably enjoy the album, if you like the soulful hip-hop, I'd buy the “Like This” track from iTunes and skip buying the whole album.

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