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Lady GaGa - Remix Albums Review

We all know by now that Lady GaGa is the current queen of pop and is blowing up radio stations everywhere. She has had 5 singles reach #1 but what a lot of people don't know is what she does once a song reaches #1.

For each #1 single that GaGa realeases, she produces a remix album on iTunes.

The pop sensation has had 5 #1's; Just Dance, Poker Face, LoveGame, Paparazzi, and Bad Romance. For each of those singles she has collaborated with various mixers and has released 8 remix albums exclusively on iTunes.

Each remix EP includes 3-5 remixes of the single. Sometimes, the remixes are more addicting than the original single.

This is an amazing way for GaGa to keep new material flowing (which is in high demand from her fans) as she works on her current tour and as she begins writing her 3rd album which is due to release late 2010.

These remix albums are only available on iTunes. Check 'em out!

OPINION CENTER

Rating: A

Age Range: Anyone

Ke$ha: Animal Album Review

The dollar sign-studded pop rookie released her debut album this month entitled Animal and she has already climbed her way to the #1 spot for her debut single, Tik Tok.

Although she is heavily compared to other artists and seen as a new Lady GaGa, Ke$ha has created a sound that is completely her own. And with her already landing a #1 single, she is on her way to major pop success.

Highlights on the album include Take It Off and Hungover, both depicting her very personality; a crazy drunk lady. But somehow she makes it attractive. Her infectious beats keep people wanting more which is exactly what she's wanting.

Tik Tok has reached #1 on iTunes and Billboard's Hot 100 in the past month. Could we see more #1's in the coming months? I'd like to think so.

2009 was the year of Lady GaGa, 2010 will mark the year of Ke$ha.

Tik Tok music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP6XpLQM2Cs

OPINION CENTER

Rating: B+

Age Range: 13+

The Blind Side Review

If you haven't heard the buzz about The Blind Side by now then you most likely haven't left your house since November.

This is easily Sandra Bullock's best film to date but what about the other actors in the film? We haven't heard much about them.

Tim McGraw, who played Bullock's husband, hasn't gotten many pats on the back for his performance in the film, nor has Quentin Aaron who played the aspiring football player, Michael Oher.

That may sound bad but this film was just what Bullock needed to bounce back from her horrible flop in All About Steve last September.

The film is moving in many ways but most of all it showed the common caregiving of the "southern" type people. This film depicted a very crystal clear image of how a homeless teen found a way to becoming a pro football player for the NFL.

Sandra Bullock received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama which she very much deserved. And she also won the People's Choice Award for Best Comedy for her performance in The Proposal last June.

2009 was a huge, successful year for Sandra Bullock so let's hope she can carry on just as well in 2010.

OPINION CENTER
Rating: A
Age Range: 10+

Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster Review

The highly anticipated second album of Lady GaGa is here but how does it stack up against the music nirvana of her first album "The Fame"?

Well, first off, The Fame Monster isn't really a full album, it's more of an EP. With just 8 new tracks on the CD, this is somewhat of a let-down.

I am a GaGa fanatic but when I listened to the album start to finish, it didn't feel like I had just listened to a Lady GaGa album. The only upbeat tracks on the CD are Bad Romance and Telephone (which features Beyonce), the other 6 tracks are slow-paced and felt really dark. "The Fame" was a very pop-like CD whereas "The Fame Monster" is a seemingly angry, sad version of the GaGa we've come to know. I, personally, was expecting a big step up for GaGa but this felt like 5 big steps back.

In the past year, Lady GaGa broke a music record when her debut album produced four #1 singles (Just Dance, Poker Face, LoveGame, and Paparazzi). She was also named the Most Fascinating Person of 2009 by Barbara Walters. AND she won the award for Best New Artist at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. So after I listened to the new CD I had to ask myself, "what happened?"

Lady GaGa set her bar extreamely high in the past year, moving at a pace that is nearly impossible to keep up for another year, let alone her entire career. Even though the new CD got mostly poor reviews from most critics, the first single from the album, Bad Romance, has already made it to #1. This is her fifth #1 in the past year, and with her other two singles; Speechless and Telephone, gaining more and more popularity on the radio, we might see a sixth and possibly seventh #1 from this tiny album.

At a second glance there are some highlights on the CD. The tracks Monster and Dance in the Dark reveal some clear anger from GaGa (a past boyfriend maybe?).

While currently on her Monster Ball tour, Lady GaGa still makes time for the talk shows and for her fans. I am an avid GaGa follower. She is pretty much all I listen to nowadays.

Overall the album was far too short, just 8 tracks compared to her first album's 14. A little more time and input onto the CD could have helped a lot. Let's just hope her third album will give the fans more of what they asked for.

OPINION CENTER
Rating: C+
Age Range: 13+

American Idol Season 8 Artists Review

Ok so it's now November. And all American Idol viewers know what time it is...time for the season's finalists to release their debut albums.

Season 8 winner, Kris Allen, released his self-titled debut album November 17 and runner-up Adam Lambert released his debut album entitled "For Your Entertainment" on November 23. And fourth-place finalist, Allison Iraheta is set to release her debut album in December. But how do these new artists stack up against previous finalists?

KRIS ALLEN

The winner of season 8 is clearly a talented artist but his tracks are not nearly as powerful as his competitors Adam and Allison. Kris is very laid back which will attract some buyers but he is currently hiding in Adam Lambert's shadow. He isn't performing as if he was the real winner.

Rating: C+

ADAM LAMBERT

The clear winner of season 8 is already steam rolling Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta but afte his extremely controversial AMA's performance will fans stick with him? After performing lewd gestures on national television that sparked a storm of angered viewers to call and complain to ABC, the station that hosted this year's AMA's. But Adam has enough support from his large fan base to rise from these ashes.

Rating: A-

ALLISON IRAHETA

The clear underdog of the three new artists is making a name for herself. With her smash debut single "Friday I'll Be Over U" already climbing the iTunes downloadscharts she is ready to battle the other two singers. Her album hits stores this December.

Rating: B

Saw VI Review

Ok, first off let me say that I am sorry that I haven't been blogging much lately. Sophomore year of high school is kicking me in the butt so far.

But anyway, back to the topic. I know it's been a month since Halloween but I wanted to go ahead and give my review of the sixth installment of the Saw horror franchis, Saw VI.

Some say that Saw has gone on for far too long. The instant-hit series all began in October 2004 and has released a new installment every Halloween since. But the main question is if there are enough avid fans left to carry on the series.

Saw VI cost $11 million to produce. So far it has brought in over $27 million at the box office. Most would call this a success...but not for a franchise of this magnitude. Saw VI is now officially the lowest grossing Saw film to date. Mostly because of the underdog smash hit "Paranormal Activity" which steam rolled Saw VI on its opening weekend (see my blog for a review of Paranormal Activity).

Saw VI is the preachiest of the entire series. Focusing the twisted games on people involved in health care and the controversy over how health care is given to patients.

Saw VI went where no Saw film has gone; entering popular political topics. This clearly backfired. Critics are calling the newest installment a bit of a disappointment for a clear reason to all Saw fanatics: major lack of gore.

Saw VI is the least bloodiest of the series. The Saw producers use gore to draw in horror fanatics but there was a lack of the splatter in the newest entry. Perhaps after six films the writers are merely running out of ways to torture the "game" players.

Although this is the most disappointing Saw film to date, there are no signs that the series is ending anytime soon. Recently the producers confirmed Saw VII (2010) and Saw VIII (2011) and a new trick up their sleeves; 3-D.

That is the current word on the street from the recent press conference. Saw VII is said to be in 3-D. An obvious sign of desperation but could this desperate plee draw in a new 3-D fan base? We'll find out on October 22, 2010 when the seventh installment hits theaters.

The most obvious question in everyones minds is can the Saw franchise last forever? If so, should it last forever? With over $650,000,000 grossed worldwide on box office tickets alone (not including DVD sales and merchandise sales) the answer is obvious; Saw is going nowhere anytime soon. But the franchise better pick up there A-game in the next film to keep the wheels rolling.

OPINION CENTER

Rating: D+

Age Range: 14+