I want to make sure you all noticed the big a $$ 1-0-0 on the cover! You may
wonder what that implies? That means that the only lesbian publication in San
Diego can honestly say they have the game on lock! Congrats to Bixi and
everyone else that has contributed to it over the years for making it
San Diego’s longest running lesbian magazine! Now that the shout outs
are outta’ the way, the albums dropping this month were too important just
only highlight a couple so this month I’m serving up four “Full Length Fire”
selections. However, in honor of Lavender Lens’ 100th issue I highly
recommend that you go online and take a peek at me selection of the 100
greatest “lesbian” albums of all time and the 100 greatest "lesbian" tracks of all
time. Hit me up at music@thelavender.com or www.lavenderlens.com for more
mesmerizing music.
wonder what that implies? That means that the only lesbian publication in San
Diego can honestly say they have the game on lock! Congrats to Bixi and
everyone else that has contributed to it over the years for making it
San Diego’s longest running lesbian magazine! Now that the shout outs
are outta’ the way, the albums dropping this month were too important just
only highlight a couple so this month I’m serving up four “Full Length Fire”
selections. However, in honor of Lavender Lens’ 100th issue I highly
recommend that you go online and take a peek at me selection of the 100
greatest “lesbian” albums of all time and the 100 greatest "lesbian" tracks of all
time. Hit me up at music@thelavender.com or www.lavenderlens.com for more
mesmerizing music.
By DJ Muse
myspace.com/djmuse3313
myspace.com/djmuse3313
| 1. “Moving Mountains” - Usher 2. “Honey” - The Hush Sound 3. “Viva La Vida” - Coldplay 4. “Handlebars” - Flobots 5. “Take a Bow” - Rihanna 6.“Game’s Pain” - The Game Ft. Keyshia Cole 7. “They’re Everywhere” - Izza Kizza 8. “Last Kiss” - Mariah Carey 9. “Yesterday” - Atmosphere 10. “The Anthem” - Lil Jon Ft. Pitbull |
Full Length Fire
Usher Steps His Game Up
When the baby-faced cherub dropped his debut album in 1994 no one had any idea that he
would turn into an international superstar. And as Usher blew up so did the quality of is music and
on his fifth Here I Am he drops gems with a grown up outlook that was lacking on previous discs.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of “baby makin’ music” on the CD, but Usher’s no longer
hopping from chick to chick on this one. With production from Jazze Pha, The-Dream, will.i.am,
Jermaine Dupri and guest appearances by Jay-Z (these two on one track…my dream come true!),
Young Jeezy, and Beyonce this disc is solid from beginning to end. Looking to get down and
dirty? I recommend, “Love You Gently,” “Trading Places,” and “Love In This Club.” But this one’s
more about being faithful and highlights are “Before I Met You,” “Something Special,” and
“Lifetime.” There’s one thing that can’t be denied: this one will make you move whether it be lying
down or standing up!
Deliciously Entangled In Alanis
This is the longest Alanis has ever gone between albums but when the four year wait results in
Flavors of Entanglement it was definitely well worth it. The subject matter, in true Alanis fashion,
surrounds relationships. But she’s not bitter this time; she’s somewhere in between dealing with it
and over it. With her change in outlook comes a change in sound. “Strait Jacket” “Versions of
Violence” (listen for it at Sabbat), and “Moratorium” are electro funky. Tracks more in typical Alanis
fashion are “Underneath,” “Not As We (so good!),” “Torch,” and “Tapes.” If you’re not convinced
yet, buy the album on the strength of the last track alone. “Incomplete” is an anthem for all of us
women who still consider ourselves a work in progress. Pick it up for those days when you need
a “pick up.”
N*E*R*D* (No One Ever Really
Dies) Returns with a Bang
Why did N*E*R*D* make us wait four years for their third offering? Pharrell and Chad (and Shad
makes three) are hired by everyone and their mother to produce monster tracks but when they
release one as a trio it’s one of the best offerings of the year and will surly get you through the
summer. Their music is a fusion of hip-hop, rock, soul, alternative and blues and the resulting
Seeing Sounds in a musical masterpiece. WARNING: this album may make you dance erratically,
attempt extreme sports, drive fast, or shout along in traffic. Every track on this disc is eclectically
good but those that shine brighter are, “Spaz” (song of the summer!), “Everyone Nose,” and
“Happy” (listen for the Police “Spirits in the Material World” riff). I always said Pharrell was a genius
now if people would just catch on to his band N-E-R-D besides crate diggers like me.
Lil Wayne….Not the Best but
Better than Most
On his sixth solo album the self-proclaimed, “Best Rapper Alive” Lil Wayne brings the heat as
promised! While I’m not a huge fan of Wayne’s flow (I think it’s really Wayne the person that I’m not
a fan of) Tha Carter III reminds me why I love rappers from “the dirty south,” their flows aren’t
always polished, but it’s the griminess of it that makes it addictive. This disc booms from
beginning to end and Wayne has a star-studded line-up of guest spots including Jay-Z, T-Pain,
Babyface, Busta Rhymes, and Fabolous. Wayne’s is, without a doubt, a wordsmith but because
everything you hear is off the dome (a.k.a. freestyle) you hear pieces of recycled rhymes from
other rappers and his subject matter sometimes veers off course. Standouts on the album are,
“Mr. Carter,” “Let The Beat Build,” “3 Peat,” and “Comfortable.” Wayne’s good, but he’s got a long
way to go as far as subject matter goes before he calls himself the best.
Usher Steps His Game Up
When the baby-faced cherub dropped his debut album in 1994 no one had any idea that he
would turn into an international superstar. And as Usher blew up so did the quality of is music and
on his fifth Here I Am he drops gems with a grown up outlook that was lacking on previous discs.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of “baby makin’ music” on the CD, but Usher’s no longer
hopping from chick to chick on this one. With production from Jazze Pha, The-Dream, will.i.am,
Jermaine Dupri and guest appearances by Jay-Z (these two on one track…my dream come true!),
Young Jeezy, and Beyonce this disc is solid from beginning to end. Looking to get down and
dirty? I recommend, “Love You Gently,” “Trading Places,” and “Love In This Club.” But this one’s
more about being faithful and highlights are “Before I Met You,” “Something Special,” and
“Lifetime.” There’s one thing that can’t be denied: this one will make you move whether it be lying
down or standing up!
Deliciously Entangled In Alanis
This is the longest Alanis has ever gone between albums but when the four year wait results in
Flavors of Entanglement it was definitely well worth it. The subject matter, in true Alanis fashion,
surrounds relationships. But she’s not bitter this time; she’s somewhere in between dealing with it
and over it. With her change in outlook comes a change in sound. “Strait Jacket” “Versions of
Violence” (listen for it at Sabbat), and “Moratorium” are electro funky. Tracks more in typical Alanis
fashion are “Underneath,” “Not As We (so good!),” “Torch,” and “Tapes.” If you’re not convinced
yet, buy the album on the strength of the last track alone. “Incomplete” is an anthem for all of us
women who still consider ourselves a work in progress. Pick it up for those days when you need
a “pick up.”
N*E*R*D* (No One Ever Really
Dies) Returns with a Bang
Why did N*E*R*D* make us wait four years for their third offering? Pharrell and Chad (and Shad
makes three) are hired by everyone and their mother to produce monster tracks but when they
release one as a trio it’s one of the best offerings of the year and will surly get you through the
summer. Their music is a fusion of hip-hop, rock, soul, alternative and blues and the resulting
Seeing Sounds in a musical masterpiece. WARNING: this album may make you dance erratically,
attempt extreme sports, drive fast, or shout along in traffic. Every track on this disc is eclectically
good but those that shine brighter are, “Spaz” (song of the summer!), “Everyone Nose,” and
“Happy” (listen for the Police “Spirits in the Material World” riff). I always said Pharrell was a genius
now if people would just catch on to his band N-E-R-D besides crate diggers like me.
Lil Wayne….Not the Best but
Better than Most
On his sixth solo album the self-proclaimed, “Best Rapper Alive” Lil Wayne brings the heat as
promised! While I’m not a huge fan of Wayne’s flow (I think it’s really Wayne the person that I’m not
a fan of) Tha Carter III reminds me why I love rappers from “the dirty south,” their flows aren’t
always polished, but it’s the griminess of it that makes it addictive. This disc booms from
beginning to end and Wayne has a star-studded line-up of guest spots including Jay-Z, T-Pain,
Babyface, Busta Rhymes, and Fabolous. Wayne’s is, without a doubt, a wordsmith but because
everything you hear is off the dome (a.k.a. freestyle) you hear pieces of recycled rhymes from
other rappers and his subject matter sometimes veers off course. Standouts on the album are,
“Mr. Carter,” “Let The Beat Build,” “3 Peat,” and “Comfortable.” Wayne’s good, but he’s got a long
way to go as far as subject matter goes before he calls himself the best.
eclectic
