#NowPlaying 4/16/12

Time to spill the beans on what I've been listening to lately. Couple of great brand new songs as well,lets do this!! 

First up is the BRAND NEW Linkin Park single from their upcoming album "Living Things" due out 6/26. The song is called "Burn It Down", and I love it! The lyrics feel much more like their older work, while combining in the electronic sound they found on "A Thousand Suns".  Everything about the song is really great, and honestly I can't stop listening to it. The overall sound and feel is great, I love the lyrics, and Mike's rap verse is perfect. Chester kills it on vocals as always, and it sounds like the new album is gonna be much better than ATS!
 RATING:5/5

Neon Trees just released their new album "Picture Show", and while I have mixed feelings about the album as a whole, their are some good tracks on it! My pick for the week is "I Am The DJ". Its chorus is super catchy, and the song is well written.
RATING: 4.5/5

Jack White is also about to release an album called "Blunderbuss". It's his first solo album, and my pick for the week from this is the song "Sixteen Saltines". This supercharged garage rock jam is the best on the album, and the most White Stripes sounding. The lyrics are random and crazy, and the fast pace and guitar heavy song drives home one of the best songs of White's career.
RATING: 5/5

The brand new Maroon 5 single "Payphone" (feat. Wiz Khalifa) was just released as the lead single off of the upcoming album also due out June 26. I love this song, even though the band has adopted a shamelessly poppy sound, in order to guarantee record sales. Sadly, that seems to be what the band is focused on (selling records and singles and doing whatever they can to achieve these sales). In order to get the big commercial response they want, they added in a rap verse from Wiz, in what is definitely and unneeded  addition to an already good song. I like the song as a whole minus the rap verse, and Levine's vocal performance is wonderful as usual. This single is sure to keep the band in the mainstream.
RATING: 4.5/5

"Strange Attractor" by Animal Kingdom is up next on the list. I came across it while browsing music on YouTube. The band, in this song at least, remind me of the vibe I get while Listening to one of my favorite bands The Naked and Famous, while at the same time, being totally different. This jam is mellow at times, with an awesome chorus full of reverb. Look for this band to shoot up to indie stardom.
 RATING: 4.75/5

Speaking of indie bands, I recently saw an awesome one called Now,Now in concert. They opened for TNAF, and I even got to hang out with them a little but after the show. Their sound really captured my attention, with their guitar breakdowns and distinct bass grooves. My song for the week by them is "Prehistoric", which is in my opinion, the best on the album. The lyrics, as are the ones on all of the albums tracks, are open and honest.
RATING: 4.75/5

Jason Mraz is about to release his new album "Love Is A 4 Letter Word", and the album was preceded by a few singles. My favorite out of the singles is "Everything Is Sound". The song is incredibly upbeat and positive, and will almost certainly lift your spirits! In my opinion, its his best since his huge hit "I'm Yours". Could be a big summer hit.
RATING: 4.5/5

My last pick for this time is the song that is possibly my favorite of 2012 so far. Its called "No Interruption" by indie rapper Hoodie Allen. His flow on this track is impeccable, and the lyrics are very smart and carefully crafted. The bass is shaking, the beat is bouncing, theres nothing not to love about this song. Be sure to check out his new EP called "All American". 


Until next time guys...rock on? Or something like that.


-Jon of Album Review TV.