Have officially fallen in love with this album, so this (akin to anything I review by The Script) comes highly recommended from me. I will give one warning: there is a bit of swearing in this album, so if you're going to blast it (which is the best way to listen to it), make sure no little ones (or your parents, I suppose?) are around!

Also, as far as I know this is the Canadian version of the album. The U.S. version included a second version of "Good to You" and an acoustic version of "Cross My Heart," neither of which I've listened to, but this album is fantastic by itself, so...

Marianas Trench; Masterpiece Theatre
Release Date (Canada): February 24, 2009
Language: English
Genre(s): Rock, Punk Rock, Alternative, Adult Alternative (Wikipedia calls them "Pop Punk" and their website calls them "Punk/Emo Rock")
Purchase: Amazon

Downloads:
Megaupload
Mediafire

01. Masterpiece Theatre I
02. All to Myself [MV]
03. Cross My Heart [MV]
04. Beside You [MV]
05. Acadia
06. Masterpiece Theatre II
07. Sing Sing
08. Good to You (ft. Jessica Lee) [MV]
09. Celebrity Status [MV]
10. Perfect
11. Love Dearest
12. Masterpiece Theatre III

As I said above, I'm absolutely in love with this album, and I'm upset that it hasn't gotten more exposure (that I know of) in the U.S. At least not enough that I'd heard anything by Marianas Trench before.

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Have I made it clear enough how much I love this album? There are times when I wish they'd kept up the differentness of their sound, rather than veer on what every other alternative rock band has done, but when they go different, they do it really well. The twists and turns of the entire album are so cool, especially the final track. Definitely an A. Get ready for nostalgia-inducing alternative rock with a side of music surprise.

-Kiz

Hey everyone! Long time no listen! I have had very little time to listen to any full albums lately, and it always feels a little sad to just review a single… But hopefully getting this review in, I'll start writing them a little more regularly! (I used the word "little" too much in this. Whoops?)

Demi Lovato; Unbroken
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Language: English
Genre(s): Pop, Dance, Ballad
Purchase: Amazon

Downloads:
Megaupload
Mediafire

01. All Night Long (ft. Missy Elliott and Timbaland)
02. Who's That Boy (ft. Dev)
03. You're My Only Shorty (ft. Iyaz)
04. Together (ft. Jason Derulo)
05. Lightweight
06. Unbroken
07. Fix a Heart
08. Hold Up
09. Mistake
10. Give Your Heart a Break
11. Skyscraper
12. In Real Life
13. My Love Is Like a Star
14. For the Love of a Daughter
15. Skyscraper (Wizz Dumb Remix)

I have to admit, going into this album, "Unbroken" sounds decidedly un-Demi Lovato. For one, the first four tracks are collaborations with rap and R&B artists, which were decidedly absent from Demi's other albums. It almost feels like I'm listening to two different albums.

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Overall Grade C+. My Alternative Album with 5 fewer tracks (see review): B.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy!

-Kiz

First of all, I apologize for literally taking forever to get through the reviewer applications process and contacting everyone involved. :x I'm a terrible comm manager.

Please welcome our new reviewers: kimivalkyrie (Kimi), hageshii_ame (Ame), and fei_wu (Danielle)!

It's my hope that this music rotation will start becoming more active by having additional people here to review and post material. :'D You guys can start making posts now btw, lmao I took so long to get to this...

I profusely apologise for the inactivity. I've just been so busy lately. :( Anyway, I shall be posting some reviews over the next couple of days. Today we have the official first mini-album -- as in actual CDs -- from rookie Korean girl group Girl's Day! (Links to individual songs are to the official music videos)


Every Day ; Girls Day
Release Date: July 6th, 2011
Genre: Pop, Dance
Language: Korean
Purchase: YesAsia

Tracklisting:
1. 영러브 (Young Love)
2. 한번만 안아줘 (Hug Me Once)
3. 반짝반짝 (Twinkle, Twinkle)
4. 잘해줘 봐야 (Nothing Lasts Up) (Nothing Lasts Forever)
5. 한번만 안아줘 (Inst.)

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Overall Grade: B+
It's not amazing, but it's not terrible, either. It's definitely a keeper in my k-pop library, and I do hope you check it out. These girls have a lot of potential, and I'd hate to see it go to waste.