Music Reviews on Seattle Ave

Daughtry
"Leave This Town"
July 14, 2009

Daughtry's first album, simply titled, "Daughtry," became the fastest selling debut album by a rock band in the SoundScan era. It has sold more than four million copies in the U.S. and generated four top 20 pop singles. The album received four Grammy Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Rock Album. Daughtry says the title of the album, "Leave This Town," is related to the different paths people take when searching for something transcendent. "A lot of it is about how leaps of faith can set us free or tie us down," lead singer, Chris Daughtry, said. "How we often find heartache when we run from something and redemption when we run toward something." The press release announcing "Leave This Town" indicated it will include arena rockers, ballads, emotional mid-tempo songs, and even some country influence. Daughtry introduced "No Surprise," the first single from "Leave This Town," with a live performance on American Idol May 6, 2009. The song debuted on the Billboard Pop 100 inside the top 25. - Bill Lamb

The Dead Weather
"Horehound"
July 14, 2009

The Kills were often called a more visceral version of the White Stripes. It's not much of a stretch for Kills frontwoman, Alison Mosshart and Jack White from the White Stripes, to join forces in a new group. Rounding out the Dead Weather lineup is White's Raconteur bassist, Jack Lawrence, and Queens of the Stone Age guitarist, Dean Ferita, while Mosshart handles singing and White handles the skins. (Horehound mixes the cold-cocked blues the Kills and the White Stripes are known for, crossed with the classic rock that influences the band.) - Andrew Winistorfer

Fabolous
"Loso's Way"
July 28, 2009

"Loso's Way," Fab's fifth solo album, features an all-star lineup of guest appearances including Jay-Z, Jeremih, Keri Hilson, The-Dream, Red CafĂŠ, Ryan Leslie, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, and Marsha Ambrosius. Production duties will be held by The Alchemist, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Sean C&LV, The Runners, Tricky Stewart, DJ Khalil, and Jermaine Dupri, among others. Along with the CD, Fab will also be releasing a 30-minute film, which will be packaged with the disc. - Jokesta

Ashley Tisdale
"Guilty Pleasure"
July 28, 2009

With an edgy, guitar-driven pop-rock sound, "Guilty Pleasure" is a creative and mature leap forward for this appealing young singer and songwriter, who launched a career as a solo artist with her gold-certified Top 5 rhythmic-pop debut "Headstrong" in 2007. "'Headstrong' was a big learning experience, as it was my first album," Tisdale said. "This time I went in knowing exactly what I wanted to do and the message I wanted to put out there, which is that I'm 23 and I'm not just the cute, bubbly blonde girl you know from Disney. I have a tougher side and I love rock music, which are things people probably don't know about me."