Lady GaGa

My favorite guilty pleasure of 2008 without a doubt had to be Lady GaGa. Let me tell you there is nothing like a young woman that presents herself as semi-sophisticated slut. If you don’t believe me just watch her videos. But that’s enough on her image, this is supposed to be about the music right? And about that music, it’s not bad actually. By now you guys have already heard “Let’s Dance”, and “Poker Face” which I would call standouts on her October 2008 release “The Fame”, but I would also add ‘Love Game’ ( another single) and “Again, Again” a non –dance oriented song which allows her to show off her singing talent. The lyrics are risqué to say the least, and the beats are very danceable. This makes “The Fame” a very enjoyable album to listen to if you’re in the mood to just dance and have fun.

School of Seven Bells

I like this band. They’re different, but different in a good way. The only problem is that with the sometimes mellow, non-aggressive style of this band it’s easy for them to be reduced to background music. I can see myself writing a paper, or a blog entry listening to a constant stream of this album and not even noticing that it’s on. Oh well you can go that route if you want to but if you do then you’ll be missing out. A fun fact about this group is that the singers are actually identical twins (if you can’t tell by the video) Double the pleasure, double the fun I guess. The standouts on 2008’s “Alpinisms” is the current single “Half Asleep”, the 11 minute plus “Sempiternal/Amaranth" and "Iamundernodisguise". Check out School of Seven Bells and you just might like it.

Matt & Kim

Well what can I say about this. Besides Kim being as cute as a button, I can't say much good things about this paring. The problem isn't their backing music as it's okay, its Matt's vocals that that really screw things up here. Daylight, their lead single works with Matt singing lead, but not on others. He's cringe worthy at worst, at best,let's not kid ourselves here. Now I don't mean to rag too much on these guys. My band is in the process of putting together our first album, and I might have to lend my unspectacular voice to the project if worst comes to worst. Okay one good thing I will say about these guys is that I admire their ambition. Just that I'm writing about them must show something. Okay another good thing, well kind of, I've heard some songs from their 2006 self titled and some of it is actually good. However the best thing about their 2009 follow up "Grand" is that it's just under a half hour long. Standouts on the "Grand" are "Lessons Learned", "Daylight", "Cinders" ( It has minimal words)," I Wanna" and "I'll Take Us Home". Well I guess if I can name 5 songs out of 11 that I like then it can't be all that bad, right? Check out Matt & Kim and I'll let you decide.

MGMT

MGMT's Oracular Spectacular was one of my favorites from 2008. But here's a secret, even though this album was on many best of lists for 2008, Oracular Spectacular was actually released in late 2007 (October.) I guess 2008 was the year that it just got noticed. Although for me after a certain point the album starts to drag and gets tiring ( after Kids) the remaining songs aren't bad just kind of boring. The standouts songs are "Kids", "Electric Feel", and "Time to Pretend" among others. You might like this one if you listen and give it a chance.

The Ting Tings

Okay 2008 was a great, and The Ting Tings was one of the acts that added to the year's greatness, well at least in my opinion. "We Started Nothing" is a fun album although at some points it lags. Songs like "Shut up and Let Me Go", "Great DJ", "That's Not My Name" and "We Walk' are standouts for me. Go and get "We Started Nothing" by the Ting Tings. You'll enjoy it, and if you don't then let it play in the background a few times. With it clocking in a 37:47, once you get on your third listen you'll be singing along to the songs.

Review Change.

As you may have noticed or not, since it seems that no one reads this blog. My review style has changed. Instead of giving a long song by song review, I've decided to simplify things a bit. I will now give a little overview of the album/artist and give my pick of songs that I think standout on the album. I will also no longer give out ratings. Don't worry if i like or dislike an album you'll know it. I hope you enjoy this new style for Starks Reviews.

Ladyhawke

The self-titled "Ladyhawke" was one of my favorite albums of 2008. Yes it does have the 80's pop sound to it, but it also finds a way to sound very modern as well. I am confident in saying that there is not a bad song on the album. In some songs the lyrics may be lacking but the overall sound and tone of the songs easily make up for it. Even though I like all of the songs here, there are some favorites for me that standout. "Magic", "My Delirium", "Manipulating Woman" and "Dusk Till Dawn" are my among favorites. I recommend that checkout Ladyhawke, you might like what you hear.

Chromeo

This is "Fancy Footwork" by Chromeo. You might have heard this song from a recent Sony PSP commercial. What can I say about this album "Fancy Footwork" released in 2008? It does have a certain 1980's retro dance sound it, but that's the problem. It gets too repetitive. Standouts on this album are "Bonified Lovin" "Fancy Footwork", and "Momma's Boy" among others. Check out Chromeo's "Fancy Footwork" and their 2006 "She's in Control" as well, and maybe you might like it.

Yelle

This is the song "Ce Jeu" by Yelle,(pronounced Yell). As you can tell this song is in French, as Yelle herself is French. In fact despite her 2008 album "Pop-Up" being some what of a slow burning hit, her entire album is in French. Now I don't understand French, but I understand music and I like Yelle. Songs like the popular "Je Veux Te Voir" "À cause des garçons" and "Dans ta vraie vie" are standouts for me. Give Yelle a try and you maybe you might like her too.

Bat for Lashes

A new song from Brittan's Natasha Khan, better known to the music world as Bat for Lashes. Her her new album "Two Suns" is scheduled for release on April 6th. "Two Suns" is a follow up to her debut album "Fur and Gold". Okay I'll be honest,I wasn't much of a fan of her record at first, I found it very boring. However after months of ignoring it I gave it another shot and actually enjoyed it, well some parts. Songs like "What's a Girl to Do", "Trophy" and "Priscilla" among others are stands outs for me. Bats for Lashes isn't going crossover into the American mainstream anytime soon, heck despite being nominated for two Brit Awards ( Brittan's Grammy's) for Best Breakthrough and Best Solo Female, she's not even mainstream in her own country. Oh well, that's the breaks bitch. I recommend you check out Bat for Lashes. Giver her a chance and you may like it.