Rand Rambles

Man, what a difficult season. Difficult to watch I mean. It’s even harder for me since I decided to cut my cable a few weeks ago but wow, this season is BORING. There’s nothing that pulls me every week to watch, even having a way to watch it I just skip through most performances after the first ten seconds because they are just bland. I miss the days when David Cook would take a known song and spin it around making us think: Wow this could be a hit today. I also miss the days when Adam Lambert would make us wonder what type of hairstyle, make-up or song he would be bringing to the show. Love them or hate them, they made the show worth watching. Heck, even Carrie Underwood who just stood there, bland as can be, was a lot better. Don’t get me wrong, I love her, but on Idol, she had no star quality, just a great voice. Only when singing Alone, I was like: Yeah good for you, girl!

Yes, there are some highlights this season. Crystal Powderbox, ahem, Bowersox is great. She just is, she has a great style, really cool voice and is different from what has come out of Idol. Lee Dewyze has a really good voice, but he is as bland as an unsalted eggplant. Siobhan has been one of my favorites since the beginning but mainly because of her weirdness and kickass name, yeah, she has a good voice but I’m kinda getting tired of her, she need to step it up and by the way, Siobhan, dear, please talk a bit faster. As my friend Matthew stated this week, sheeeee taaaaaalks soooooo slooooowww. And then we have Tim Urban, yeah the boy is cute, whatever, but come on people that makes him just a tiny little step up from Sanjaya and Jaya had the hair to carry him through. Something positive about Tim? He seems pretty well spoken, I’m pretty sure he could do well in a show where singing talent is not totally required, you hear me Disney? Give the boy a job on High School Musical 12. And by the way, his smile creeps me out, too static I guess. Then we have Katie Stevens who up until now has made me want to throw stuff at my TV but this week she wasn’t too bad, her stylist need to be fired though she ain’t Susan Boyle. Andrew Garcia? In Hollywood week I was like Wow, dude is great; but then he became as average as a betta fish. Aaron Kelly, don’t even get me started, he’s tiny, I don’t know, get rid of him already. Casey James has a cool voice and plays guitar but something stops me from rooting for him, maybe the goldilocks or the sunken chest that he exposed to Kara, don’t know dude, lift some weights. Who did I forget? Oh yeah, Big Mike, maybe because every time I think of him I yawn and fall asleep for exactly two minutes and forty-three  seconds, which somehow is making this season of Idol more bearable.

All this made Idol history. Why? Because this week for the first time the crapfest that is Dancing With The Stars cut into Idol’s ratings, not for long but they did. So, what is Idol to do? Switch it up, so they become water cooler talk again, since everyone has just been talking about Kate Gosselin‘s amazing dancing routines and Pamela Anderson’s boobs. This week I tweeted that Big Mike and Aaron Kelly were gonna be in the bottom two, they were and Big Snooze got the lowest number of votes so, he was eliminated. Or was he? No, the judges SAVED HIM! Are you serious? I guess they wanted that to create buzz, it just made me take another nap. All this means is that next week, two contestants will be eliminated and there will be no SAVE. That can pose a problem. Why?

Here is why… Adam Lambert will be next week’s mentor. I really like Adam, his style, his music and loved him on Idol, pretty sure he has been one of the best contestants in all seasons. But as a mentor? Seems a bit desperate, not from him, but from the producers of Idol, bringing him over Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood which are more well established and have a bunch of hit songs is a very interesting choice. BUZZ… that’s all they want. This show I am gonna watch since I am a fan, I know he will bring a different perspective as a former contestant which this group needs because it seems that they even forgot they were competing. Makes me wonder… Adam’s biggest experience is in shows, theatre, etc. Could it be possible that is a Broadway theme? I read somewhere that he will be mentoring them in Vegas, could it be possible that it will be a Vegas theme? Elvis theme? Little White Chapel Theme where all of them sing shotgun wedding songs? I don’t know but if it really is something close to show songs, some of the biggest “contenders” this season may have a little bit of trouble. Anyway, a few weeks ago I tweeted that the show needed some Adam Lambert and I’m glad they brought him back.

So what’s gonna happen? Will they just decide to cancel the season after next week? We can only hope. But it will not happen. Just give the prize to Crystal and get it over with Idol.

News Flash: Contrary to what you may think by the buzz, the winner of American Idol Season 8 was not Adam Lambert. Since the end of Season 8, Adam Lambert has been everywhere, I believe that this is not only because of his flamboyant, flashy style but also because of strong marketing. Kris Allen, the actual winner, has been given the short end of the stick, you just need to read a few headlines or see some of the marketing for their albums, it’s pretty clear. Adam was one of my favorites this season but it’s kinda sad when you see that Kris has been given so little attention, poor management and a very scatter minded marketing. On the other hand we have Allison Iraheta, which a few days after the season ended secured a recording contract, going over the actual third place winner, whose name shall not be mentioned… kidding, his name is Danny Gokey, and I am not a big fan of his. On the other hand, I am waiting for an album from Megan Joy, I love her.

So, with all that said, I am going to do a quick review of their albums which were released in the past three weeks.

Kris Allen: Kris Allen

My first thought when listening to Kris’ album was that it sounded pretty solid. It has some catchy tunes but sounds a bit under-produced, it feels like it needed a bit of cleaning and that they were in a  rush to finish it on time. Some of the songs are very radio friendly which can be good for Kris in the long run. Maybe they kept it sounding a bit raw to give it a ‘singer-songwriter’ feel, whatever that means. I think they should’ve tried harder to take him in the ‘John Mayer-Jack Johnson-Jason Mraz’ direction. Something that I did like about the album is that some songs resemble The Script, the first single, Live Like We Are Dying, was actually released by them first in Europe. Hopefully he will do well in the long run, his first week sales where the lowest of all idol winners, and I am sure there were some less deserving; Taylor Hicks anyone?
Favorite Songs: Alright With Me, Written All Over My Face, Heartless
First Week Sales: 80,000
iTunes Link

Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment

I was really looking forward to this album, as I said before I was a big fan of Adam during Idol and his performances. I believe he did what David Cook did, he took normal songs and put a whole new spin on them and people went crazy. Another reason why I was looking forward to this album was the people working on it, it appears that they found some of the hottest writers and collaborators for it. Contrary to Kris’ album, Adam’s feels a bit over-produced which at times makes Adam’s vocals take the backseat, it’s like they tried a little too hard in the mixing stages. Having said that I really like this album, you will hear some Muse on it, some Lady GaGa, some Mad World and even some Mika. It is different than other Idol albums in that it doesn’t fit the mold, it’s just like Adam, very out there and very extravagant. Some times I want to give it a break and stop listening to it, but I keep coming back. Very solid and I kinda love it.
Favorite Songs: Sleepwalker, Fever, Sure Fire Winners, Music Again
First Week Sales: 198,000
iTunes Link

Allison Iraheta: Just Like You

Well, well, well… this one surprised me. I used to like Allison while on Idol, not a huge fan, but though she had potential. This album is great, the vocals alone can give Adam and Kris a run for their money, in the sense that it doesn’t feel like she’s trying too hard and that the songs showcase her pipes. While Adam sounds a tad over-produced in some songs and Kris may sound  under-produced, Allison is right smack in the middle(and I hate saying ‘right smack). Her vocals sound powerful and clear, and can challenge most female singers out there. It has in my opinion one of the best vocals from any album coming from an Idol contestant. Reminds me of Kelly Clarkson at her best. Hopefully people will catch on and start talking about her and buying her album, it will be sad seeing such a talented girl being dropped from the label. Again, I am surprised that I’m being so emphatical on her, but it IS that good. She can sure beat the crap vocally out of Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and the likes.
Favorite Songs: Scars, Holiday, Trouble Is, Robot Love
First Week Sales: Estimated 35,000
iTunes Link

I am a fan of Craig Ferguson, he is hilarious and way underrated. In my opinion he can run circles around Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Carson Daly and even Conan O’ Brien. Here’s a clip of Craig giving his 2 cents on the Adam Lambert AMA’s controversy… Hilarious!

November is full of new music releases, all in time for black Friday and the Christmas season. Here are some of the ones that are making the most noise in the interwebs…

Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment

Jason Mraz: Beautiful Mess/Live on Earth CD/DVD

Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster

Carrie Underwood: Play On

Kris Allen: Kris Allen

John Mayer: Battle Studies

Shakira: She Wolf

Rihanna: R-Rated

Am I missing someone that should be in this list?

Which of these are you most looking forward to?

• Adam will perform his new single at the American Music Awards, he states that it will be nothing like “Time for Miracles”.
• He says that his single will be out “any day now” and will be very “glammy”.
• A title for the album has not been chosen but they have already chosen the picture for the cover.
• Adam says that the album will have a “Glam Rock” feel and will take the listener on a journey.
• Adam will not be touring with Lady GaGa as previously rumored. He states that no offer has been made… yet. Come on GaGa people, make it happen.

When do you think his single will be out? What would you call his album?