In The Mixtape: Guns and Roses HOF, The Return of Kanye, and Slaughterhouse

What’s up COED Nation! This is my pre-Coachella version of “In the Mixtape.” That’s right, that’s right. Your boy Al Jones is heading out to the desert next week for some fun in the sun at the Coachella Arts and Music Festival in Indio, California. To say that I am not excited is a complete understatement.  I have never been to Coachella. I am a newbie, so I am excited to have my cherry popped for what seems to be one of the best assembled collections of artists for a festival that I have ever seen. This year the ferris wheel festival has expanded to two weekends and the party rocking will really dominate the month of April in California. I am going to Weekend 1 and I know it’s going to be insane in the membrane. Look out for my feature on the festival in the upcoming weeks. Let’s get into this week’s edition of “In the Mixtape” with REWIND.

REWIND

BEATLES 2.0

Are the sons of the legendary band The Beatles forming their own project? Paul McCartney’s son, James has told the BBC that he is open to starting the next version of the Beatles. This is a major stretch but it is a possibility. He would of course need to see if the kids from the other three Beatle members would be game to join forces. Could they make the next “White Album?” Probably not.  So don’t get too excited, but would be pretty interesting if it all were to go down.

IDOL AND THE VOICE

Last night was 80’s night on American Idol, and this group of talented unknowns has whittled down to 8 people. Who is going to go home? Not sure. But thank God they sent home Heejun Han last week, cause although he had somewhat of a smooth voice, he was a clown, and needed to go. The group that is left however, all have chops. It will be interesting to see who sticks around and who leaves. On The Voice, the live shows have begun. Team Blake went against Team Christina in the first round. Erin Willet, Jermaine Paul, and country singer RaeLynn were all picked by America to stick around for another week. Blake Shelton himself then had to save one of his final 3 artists and chose to keep Jordis Unga in the competition. On Team Christina, Jesse Campbell, Lindsey Pavano, and Chris Mann were chosen by their fans to stay, while Ms. Aguilera picked Ashley De La Rosa to continue with her quest to be the voice. Team Adam and Team Cee-Lo square off next Monday night. I personally think that Cee-Lo has the best overall team, but it’s yet to be seen if America agrees with me. I guess you’ll have to tune into next week to see who is eliminated next.

KANYE RETURNS

Kanye is back. The MC/Producer/Fashion Icon is back in music news this week as his new track, “Theraflu” which is (produced by Hit Boy) leaked this week and is set to appear on DJ Khaled’s next album. Kanye goes off on a tangent about his lavish spending, being a baller, and his ex Amber Rose. I would expect Ye to boast about himself on the reg but was surprised to see him get introspective on one of his more high-profile past relationships. Kanye will be spending a lot of this year putting out albums from his G.O.O.D. music team, and there is another Throne rumored collabo with Jay-Z. Stay tuned.

MADONNA

Does anything phase the Material Girl? Obviously not. Madonna’s new album “MDNA” debuted at number one this week on Bilboard’s Top 100 chart. She sold 359,000 copies of her album this week. That’s a great debut, and Madonna’s eighth number one album. I don’t see her putting up her dancing stilettos any time soon. She can still move and still is making relevant dance music.

PLAY

initiating the gallery...

FAST FORWARD

SLAUGHTERHOUSE

Look out for the debut album from the rap super group, Slaughterhouse, on Shady records this May. Slaughterhouse consist of emcees Royce the 5’9”, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Crooked I. Eminem, head of Shady Records, is serving as the album’s executive producer. The band is looking to strike gold with this project. Their sound is bigger. Their production is better.  They want to create stadium music. Working with Eminem will do that to you. He has been a mentor and a friend to all of the four accomplished emcees. Now it’s their time to shine. Hip Hop could use a great spring release. This just might be it.

GUNS N’ROSES HOF INDUCTION

Oh Axl, can’t we all just get along? Guns N’ Roses is one of the acts being inducted into this year’s prestigious Hall of Fame class. While no one can doubt the importance and significance that Guns N’ Roses have had on popular music, the unstable and unhealthy relationships between members of the band seem to dominate the press that is discussed about them. I thought that they’d be able to set their differences aside and do something for the greater good of Guns N’ Roses but as of now, they’re not scheduled to appear at the show. Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, Matt Sorum, and Slash are all confirmed to appear; Axl Rose and Izzy Straddler are not. It was announced this week that Green Day will be inducting the band in. Stay tuned for more fireworks. I will be shocked if Axl doesn’t make an appearance. It would be really sad if we don’t ever get to see the original Guns N’ Roses lineup play for us again one more time.

KATY PERRY AND 3D

It is true folks. Katy Perry and her blue hair will be coming to a theater near you and in 3D. “Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D” will hit cinemas on July 4^th weekend. Paramount Pictures is hoping this film will be as successful as Justin Beiber’s “Never Say Never” film. Perry is one of the biggest pop stars in the world. She had five number one singles off “Teenage Dream.” She went through a high-profile divorce from comedian Russell Brand this year. She is big news in the world of pop. But will people pay $12 plus to see her on the big screen? That is the question.

Well that’s all the time I have for this week. Be sure to vote for your favorite song of the week. Get involved. Be a part of the process. VOTE! And be sure to follow me on Twitter (@aljonesy) Be good COED Nation and look out for my Coachella preview next week!

In The Mixtape: Winter Music Conference, Aerosmith, Jack White’s Solo Gig

What’s up COED nation! I hope you’ve enjoyed your week so far. I know we did. Austin, Texas got ripped a new one by hundreds of bands who got the opportunity to showcase their talents for the thousands of people who came down to the weird capital of the world for a couple of days. It felt like we had literally no time to recuperate from SxSW before we headed down to Miami for Ultra. Finally, though, the road to recovery is here and it leads right into New Orleans for the Final Four. If you plan on enjoying some good music while watching some sports, you came to right place. Let’s get this thing started!

REWIND

ULTRA

If you’ve never been or heard of it, Ultra is best described as the biggest electronic music festival in the world. I know that there are a lot of challengers to the throne before, after, or even during Ultra, but the fact remains that it’s going on during THE week when nearly every single DJ is in one city. Does everyone play at Ultra? No. But you’re guaranteed to find more than enough of what you like.

Winter Music Conference

Not to be confused with Ultra, Winter Music Conference is a 10-day long event which sees DJs from all over the world convene in Miami. Beautiful weather, girls, and music make for the perfect cocktail of partying. If you’ve never been, book your reservations now. Things can get a little expensive.

JACK WHITE

Fresh off an appearance on SNL a couple weeks ago, Jack White is back. The former White Stripes, Raconteurs, and Dead Weather member is about to release his first solo album titled Blunderbuss on April 24th. The second single off the album, “Sixteen Saltines” hit iTunes this week. Additionally, White made headlines by telling NME magazine that there was no chance he would ever get back with the White Stripes. Is there some lingering bad blood with former bandmate Meg White? Who knows, but you will get to hear some White Stripes classics on his solo tour this spring.

BOY BAND DOMINATION

UK teen sensation, One Direction occupied the number one spot this week on the Bilboard Top 100. The young Brits sold 176,000 copies of their debut album Up All Night. Did we just go back in time or something? Could this be the reincarnation of NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys? I truly, truly hope not. But one thing’s for sure, boy bands are back at least for this week.

PLAY

initiating the gallery...

FAST FORWARD

AEROSMITH

Somehow someway these Boston old timers are still making music. When they aren’t in the press bashing each other, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith know a thing or two about making good music. They’ve made up and have decided to bring the old gang back together; they hit the road starting on June 16th in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their new album is set to be released in May. Maybe some time on the road could make Tyler a little tougher on American Idol.

MAROON 5

Maroon 5 will be dropping another album on us this June, titled Overexposed. What is that title all about? Adam Levine? Overexposed? No way… The album will be produced by some of pop music’s heavy hitters, such as Max Martin, Ryan Tedder, and Benny Blanco. Adam Levine just cant seem to do anything wrong now a days, so expect this to be another massive Maroon 5 hit.

MADONNA

The material girl’s brand new album “MDNA” hit stores this week. To promote the album, she made a surprise appearance at Ultra Music Festival alongside Avicii this past weekend. Madonna seems to test the ends of time when it comes to making music. Chick’s still crafting funky pop tunes with sexual undertones and personal transformations deep into her 40’s. Of course, hooking up with the likes of M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, and LMAFO doesn’t hurt her chances with the cool kids. Her divorce from Guy Ritchie is one of the many topics that she touches on this album. Does she have what it takes to deliver another hit? We’ll soon find out.

In The Mixtape: The Boss, Southern Madness, The Pauly D Project

What’s up COED Nation?! Are you feeling the Madness? I LOVE this time of year. Nothing beats the excitement and unpredictability of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.  68 teams all with the same one dream make for an entertaining month of theater. I went to the University of Maryland, who used to be a perennial tournament team. We didn’t make the tourney this year so I was a little salty on Selection Sunday, but what are you going to do? The games must go on. On the flip side of all of this college basketball, there is kind of a big deal taking place in Austin, Texas right now. The South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) is where the music community touches down in the heart of Texas for a week of amazing live music. We are going to focus most of REWIND about the South By Southwest Music Festival.

REWIND

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST

From March 13th – March 18th, Austin, TX (dubbed by many as the live music capital of the world) gets taken over by various flavors of the music industry for the South by Southwest music festival. SXSW, as it’s known, used to be an event to break new artists to the music industry. In a lot of ways it still serves that same purpose, but over the past couple of years major label performers have also come down to get weird in Austin. As a result, the festival, stages, and performances have gotten bigger and better. Over 30 venues host live music daily for 5 days. It’s a music lover’s dream.

BRUCE

Bruce Springsteen was this year’s Keynote Speaker. Bruce addressed the many artists and patrons with a riveting and moving speech to kick off this year’s festival. I think most musicians admire and look up to the Boss. He’s been putting in work for decades, and released one of his best-reviewed albums just last week. Bruce seemed to be the perfect choice to kick off the festival, as he mixed in humor and history while addressing his peers. He played songs, and he received a standing ovation, as only the Boss should.

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST

You name it and they are playing this festival. Some of this week’s performers include Jay-Z, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Santigold, The Shins, Theophilus London, Schoolboy Q, fun., The-Dream, Kasabian, Kimbra, Band of Skulls, Miike Snow, Gary Clark Jr, Jimmy Cliff, Cage the Elephant, Tennis, Cults, Sharon Van Etten, Fiona Apple, Alabama Shakes, Andrew Bird, Kendrick Lamar, M. Ward, Heartless Bastards, Talib Kweli, Wale, B.o.B., T.I., Skrillex, The Temper Trap, Chiddy Bang, and Blitzen Trapper just to name some notables. There are hundreds of bands playing throughout the five days so there is something for everyone’s liking at South By. D*mn I wish I was there!

AMERICAN IDOL FINAL 10

The Top 10 has been announced America, and I have no idea how Heejun Han has made this group. Rounding out the rest of the top 10 is Dave-Matthews-wannabe Phillip Phillips, county firestorm Skylar Lane, the church’s own Joshua Ledet, Jared Let pt. two, Colton Dixon, Little Big Voice Jessica Sanchez, Hollie “how can I sing with this accent” Cavanagh, Erika Van Pelt, and Elise “you got lucky” Testone. America booted 16-year-old Shannon Magrane off, and Idol producers got rid of Jermaine Jones who lied about his criminal record.

PLAY

initiating the gallery...

FAST FORWARD

JERSEY SHORE UPDATE

What’s next for this cast of characters that rose to international fame since being shacked up in Seaside Heights five seasons ago? The gang of misfits just wrapped their 5th season for MTV and there is speculation to whether this was the last time you will have seen this motley crew together. First off, Snooki is preggars, and although she is rumored to be doing a spin off with cast mate J-Woww, the pregnancy may throw a little monkey wrench into the mix. I mean it’s not fun to watch Snooki sober. It’s not really fun to watch Snooki at all, but watching her have to be like “civilized” I think would be bad for ratings. Pauly-D has his own spin off, “The Pauly-D Project” starting next Thursday night, and he is the only one who actually has a career. He has signed w G-Unit. He was on tour w/Britney Spears for her last tour, I don’t even know why he would consider going back and joining those idiots. MTV knew that they had to take out the flame at some point. Maybe now is the perfect time before they get really forgettable.

HUNGER GAMES

I am officially hooked. I can’t wait for next weekend. The Hunger Games hits theaters this Friday, March 23rd and it is sure to be a global phenomenon. The cast is official. Jennifer Lawrence takes on the lead role of Katniss, while Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, and Lenny Kravitz to name a few, help round out the cast. The movie is directed by Gary Ross and is based on the bestselling Suzanne Collins novel. I am in the middle of “Catching Fire,” the second book, and I can’t put it down. The soundtrack is pretty off the hook as well featuring original songs by Arcade Fire, Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars, Kid Cudi, The Decemberists, and Glen Hansard. I expect this movie to break major records and be an outstanding film. You need to get your tickets now because it will be sold out for quite some time.

That’s all I got for this week COED. I hope you have a great week and have enjoyed this edition of the mix tape. There are some great songs in this week’s edition of Songs of the Week. Make yourself a part of the process and vote for your favorite song! Yeah, you! Get involved! VOTE! And be sure to follow me on twitter! (@aljonesy) Take care ya’ll. Until next week…

In The Mixtape: The Notorious MC, Team Christina, Festival Updates [VIDEO]

What’s good COED Nation? Yesterday, March 9th, isalways a semi-difficult day for me. March 9th is the anniversary of the Notorious B.I.G. aka Christopher Wallace’s death. B.I.G. aka Biggie Smalls, or Biggie as many know him, is the greatest rapper of all time, in my opinion. He went from ashy to classy, hood to club, more so than any other emcee around. Other rappers respected him. Rockers were awed by him. The streets loved him. And we still hold his legacy in high prestige, and rightfully so. “Ready to Die” is on my Top 10 list of Best Albums of all Time. “Life After Death,” was another hip-hop masterpiece. There’s no question that he is greatly missed in music and will continue to be. He made a lasting impact on the hip-hop community and his influence can be seen in the current and next generation of emcees to come. Let’s get into this week’s REWIND.

REWIND

BRITNEY AND SIMON

Simon Cowell wants Britney Spears to join the X-Factor. Cowell, known for making major big moves, is trying to make the move of all moves by getting the queen of pop to join his panel of judges. But peep this. Cowell is reportedly offering Spears $10 million to join the show. Ten Million Dollars. This is a no-brainer: you just had a hit album and your life seems to be in order. Do it. Enter our households every week to share your pop insight. Spears has yet to take the job.

ARCTIC MONKEYS / BLACK KEYS

The Arctic Monkeys are getting a major boost in visibility by opening up for the Black Keys on their current US tour that started this month. I’ll be catching the show at Madison Square Garden on Monday night (3/12). The Black Keys have had a huge year in music, selling thousands of units of their latest effort El Camino, but this tour will be great for America to get to become familiar with the Arctic Monkeys – a band who has been putting in work for quite some time since their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. I can’t wait to hear “Fluorescent Adolescent,” “Mardy Bum,” and “Crying Lightning” at the Garden.

DUETS

America, get ready for another talent-making competition. ABC is set to debut Duets this summer. The show is another singing competition which will feature undiscovered talents being paired up to sing as a duo in a duet format. At the end of the season, one of the two finalists will win a recording contract from Hollywood Records. Duets will be featuring some star power of its own. The celebrity judges attached to this show are Kelly Clarkson, Robin Thicke, Lionel Richie, and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles. We just can’t escape these singing competitions, can we?

FIONA AND HER TITLES

Apple is back with her long delayed new album this year and the title of the album has been leaked. Fiona’s new album is called, The Idler Wheel is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do. Really Fiona? 23 words? Is that even necessary? Apple’s second album When the Pawn… also had an insanely long title, but that was filled with quality music from top to bottom. Let’s hope this new one lives up to its dramatic title.

PLAY

initiating the gallery...

FAST FORWARD

AMERICAN IDOL

The Top 13 have been crowned and on Thursday night we had to say goodbye to Jeremy Rosado. Sorry buddy. A sweet kid who could definitely could sing with a nice tone in his voice, but he fell apart covering Stevie on Wednesday’s live show. Shannon Magrane got lucky, because she was absolutely atrocious on Wednesday night and probably should have been the one booted, however she lives to see another day. After watching the first week I have to say that there is definitely some good talent on the show. Jessica Sanchez’s performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” was incredible. I still can’t believe this girl is an unknown. Idol appears on FOX Wed and Thursday at 8pm.

THE VOICE

Monday night was the debut of the infamous battle rounds for The Voice as judges are trimming down their teams of 12 to 6 to compete in the live shows. The four celebrity judges have a wide selection of talent that they’re showcasing in these battle rounds. Overall it makes for good TV and this Monday’s episode did not disappoint. The best battle hands down was on Team Christina between Anthony Evans and Jesse Campbell. Those two slayed it. XTina, why would you put your two best singers up against each other? I didn’t understand that move. Didn’t you know that you would then have to lose one of your strongest assets? Check out The Voice this Monday at 8pm on NBC to see the battle rounds continue.

FESTIVAL UPDATE

My Morning Jacket, Conor Orbst, and Jackson Browne have been tapped to head the Newport Folk Festival on July 28th and 29th at Fort Saint Adams Park in Newport, Rhode Island. The undercard features Sharon Van Etten, Tune-yards, Dawes, Deer Tick and the Head and the Heart to name a few. Vampire Weekend, Feist, and Hot Chip take the lead at the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago on July 13th-15th. Passion Pit and Beck are headlining the Governor’s Ball Music Festival taking place at New York City’s Randall’s Island on June 23rd and 24th. Modest Mouse, Fiona Apple, and Chromeo are also on the bill.

That’s all I got folks. Hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Al Jones’ Songs of the Week. Please become part of the process and vote for your favorite song. Next week I will be breaking down the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@aljonesy) Hope all is well peeps. Until we meet again…Take Care.

In The Mixtape: Fallon’s Pearl Jam Linsanity, DMX’s Return, Diddy’s Dunk Assist [VIDEOS]

What’s up COED Nation? How you feeling this week? I am waking up this morning on a musical high. Last night started my three-month concert blitz. I will literally be seeing at least one live show per week through May 8th. That is absolutely nuts and I should probably get my head examined, but there is so much good live music coming through the New York City area that I had to be pro-active. Last night I caught the amazing Sharon Van Etten live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, in Brooklyn, and was completely blown away. First of all she’s hot, very personable (had the crowd cracking up between songs) and has a voice unlike any other in music right now. She is also in this week’s PLAY section, so you know her music is on point. I’m excited for the musical journey to continue next week with the Cults. Let’s REWIND shall we?

REWIND

JAY-Z, BEYONCE, BLUE IVY SKIT ON SNL

I mean, talk about an amazing sketch, this one was one of my faves. Last week Maya Rudolph hosted SNL with musical guest Sleigh Bells. The show was one of the season’s best. I mean I expect nothing but greatness from Rudolph who is one of my favorite comedic actresses but also spent several seasons honing her chops as a member of the Rockefellar Center ensemble. She clearly feels at home on the SNL stage.

This particular skit had Rudolph playing Beyoncé, with the underrated Jay Pharaoh, playing Jay-Z. The couple invites some of their musical friends over to meet Blue Ivy. Then we get to be introduced to spot on parodies of Prince, Taylor Swift, LL Cool J, and a remarkable performance by Justin Timberlake portraying Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. The skit was spot on, and I know Vernon took to Twitter to laugh at himself and marvel in Timberlake’s performance. JT is the real deal, and SNL has been very good this season.

LIMP BIZKIT SIGNS WITH CASH MONEY

This piece of news caught me by surprise, but please don’t underestimate the power of Lil Wayne. It has been reported that Weazy has signed rap-rockers Limp Bizkit to a record deal with his Cash Money imprint. Limp Bizkit, lead by Fred Durst, was a very popular band in the late 90s / early 2000s when rap-rock groups were more prominent in the musical lexicon. Weazy, fresh off the successes of Drake and Nicki Minaj, is looking to expand his empire. Will this move be a hit and rise Limp Bizkit from the ashes, or will this be a failed rock venture for Weazy? I guess we will have to wait and see.

CHRIS BROWN AND RIHANNA

These two former lovers and pop icons can’t seem to stay out of the news. First, Brown caught major heat after the Grammys two weeks ago where he performed and walked away with two Grammys. Many argued that a convicted woman beater should not be celebrated at a major awards show. Brown responded, and got into a war of words with country star Miranda Lambert, who strongly was against Brown being honored at the Grammy Awards.

Then word breaks out that Rihanna and Chris Brown have collaborated on not one, but two remixes of each other. They both hit the net this week. One is a remix of Brown’s “Turn Up the Music” and on her single “Birthday Cake” produced by the Dream. I have heard both singles, and I have to say I really like the “Birthday Cake” collaboration but this move is sparking up a lot of conversation around the music world. First of all these are two of the biggest names in popular music, so the record could be amazing. The problem is though, their hasn’t been enough time between the horrific events that took place between the two of them two years ago. Rihanna came out the big winner in the public after the beating and rightfully so. Who doesn’t remember seeing that TMZ photo?

However domestic violence advocacy groups are in an uproar over a possible reconciliation after all of the positive PR Rihanna received after the beating took place. I am not one to judge so I won’t. But I was a little shocked by the sudden collabos. However, the music is good, and that is what it ultimately comes down to. However, I’m not sure if the public will agree.

PLAY

initiating the gallery...

FAST FORWARD

BRUCE AND JIMMY FALLON

The Boss will be taking over Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this week. They will be playing this Monday, Feb 27th and on Friday March 2nd. Springsteen is promoting his new album “Wrecking Ball” which is due out March 6th. Set your DVRs. (Ed. – and if you didn’t catch Fallon’s spot on spoof of Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” about Linsanity, check it below)

AMERICAN IDOL

The top 24 battle for America’s voice this week, starting with the boys this Tuesday, Feb 28th, and the girls on Wednesday, Feb 29th. I have to say, that after watching Hollywood Week and Vegas, Randy, Stephen, and J-Lo picked a pretty talented top 24 candidates. Don’t expect country to bring it home this year. There is a lot of talent in this bunch. It should be a good season for sure.

DMX RETURNS

Remember “Get At Me Dawg” and “Party Up?” DMX came onto the rap scene like a reckless abandon in the late 90s, and then fell into legal troubles, and vanished from the scene for the last couple years. But this week he was back on the scene, live and direct at S.O.B.’s in New York City rocking the mic like he once used to do. He ripped through some of his classics and had some unkind words to say about Drake and Rick Ross. Welcome back to the game X! Drake and Ricky Rozzay have been doing their thing for a minute. He’s got some catching up to do. Hip Hop could use another high profile beef, this may be the makings of something good.

DIDDY’S OWN NETWORK?

Sean “Diddy” Combs has partnered with Comcast cable to create Revolt, a new cable music network. Watch out MTV, Diddy’s coming for you. The channel is set to tackle all aspects of social media and be something unseen to the current musical landscape. One thing u can’t knock Combs on is his hustle. The guy is always working. Revolt could be a great thing for the music world if it’s run the right way. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other forums for social media are dominant right now I’m mainstream culture. Integrating that and the world of music could be a straight game changer for the industry. And Combs is savvy enough a business person to get this project started right. The channel is set to launch sometime in 2013. Stay tuned for more details. (Ed. – Check out Diddy’s toss to Chase Budinger during the All-Star Dunk Contest last night below)

I hope you all have enjoyed this week’s edition of Al Jones Songs of the Week. Make sure you are an ACTIVE part of this process. VOTE for your favorite song of the week. Follow me on Twitter (@aljonesy) where we can talk shop about music and whatever else is poppin in pop culture. Have a great week COED Nation

In the Mixtape: Bonnaroo Lineup, Chris Brown’s Pick Up Line, Green Day’s New Album

What’s up COED Nation! What’s poppin? I’m writing this while listening to a live 25 minute session from Justin Vernon and Sean Carey playing Bon Iver tunes stripped down on 2 pianos. I’m in a trance right now. No one was as happy as I was when Bon Iver one for Best New Artist at last week’s Grammy Awards, even though technically he is not a new artist. I seriously thought his second self titled album should have been nominated for Album of the Year, but I thought Kanye’s “My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy” should have been nominated as well. As Mick would say, you can’t always get what you want.

Anyway, the queen of the night was Adele, and rightfully so – she was so so so deserving of all of her accolades. “21” reminds me of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” in the fact that it was an album created by female star in the making that resonated with everyone, from the hardest hip hop heads to country loving folk, to 50-year-old moms, to Wall Street business types. That album, just like “21” swept the Grammys that year. Lauryn Hill went on to become one of the biggest names in music and that is what is happening to Adele. She’s authentic, real, passionate, humble, and has incredible vocals. Something tells me she’ll be a mainstay on the Grammy stage for quite some time. [Editor's note - But what about the rumors that she's taking a break from music for 5 years!?] Let’s get into this week’s Rewind.

REWIND

WHITNEY HOUSTON

(August 9, 1963-February 11, 2012) I grew up on the music of Whitney Houston who started singing in church in Newark, New Jersey and rose to levels unseen for a female pop star. I wrote a column earlier this week about Whitney Houston and her impact on not only my life but the music world. Her funeral and memorial service were Saturday in Newark. Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly, Alicia Keys, Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Spike Lee, and Aretha Franklin were in attendance. Keys and gospel singer Kim Burrell gave extremely moving performances.

BONNAROO LINEUP REVEALED

I guess we can now begin the debate on who has the better festival lineup, Coachella or Bonnaroo. Bonnarro, the three-day music fest that treks though Manchester, Tennessee, is back again with an amazing list of live performances scheduled for June 7th-June 10th. Headliners for this event include Radiohead, (who seem to be making the festival rounds this year) Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Phish. The undercard is also very impressive. Here is a list of some of the names that will be playing over the three days in Tennessee: a reunited Beach Boys, Bon Iver, The Shins, The Avett Brothers, Foster the People, Skrillex, The Roots, Black Star, Feist, Ludacris, Mac Miller, Young the Giant, Two Door Cinema Club, St. Vincent, and the Civil Wars just to name a few. It’s a powerhouse lineup, people. Get your tickets ASAP.

CHRIS BROWN

Chris Brown really doesn’t know how to keep his mouth shut. Who is working for Team Breezy that can’t provide this guy with some better PR. Brown walked away with 2 Grammy Awards last week but made major headlines for being able to return to the Grammy stage to perform after being kept out of the awards ceremony the last two years due to his physical altercation with then girlfriend Rihanna.

Brown became the center of controversy from many viewers who felt like a man who plead guilty for felony assault for beating Rihanna shouldn’t be allowed to receive awards and be celebrated on such a public level. But things got even sketchy for Brown when word got out that he tried to get the number of a girl at the Grammy gift lounge by using the pickup line, “Can I get your number? I promise I won’t beat you!” Breezy? For reals dawg? I hope you got stronger game than that.

It seems like this latest blunder will continue to strengthen Brown’s rocky relationship with the media. Somebody in his camp may want to give the talented superstar a muzzle.

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

Dave and his cast of characters are set to hit the road again this year after a year-long hiatus from touring. Dave Matthews Band will be releasing another album this summer, so the tour will be largely in support of that effort. Dave and the road equal cha-ching, so look for diverse crowds to help sell out this massive touring juggernaut this summer. I wonder if he’s going to play “Satellite.” I always loved that tune.

PLAY

initiating the gallery...

FAST-FORWARD

GREEN DAY

America’s favorite idiots are back in the studio hard at work on a new album. The new album will be a follow-up to “21st Century Breakdown.”

JANET AND SIMON

Word on the street is Janet Jackson is rumored to be joining the hit FOX TV show, the X Factor. She would be replacing Paula Abdul who was recently let go. I think this would be a great move for Jackson. It’s a high-profile gig on a hit TV show which will put Jackson back in the spotlight. This show would revive her career and help her become a household name again in the current popular music climate.

BEACH BOYS REUNION

The Beach Boys are hitting the road again in support of their 50th anniversary. Damn that is a long time together as a band. The current roster of players has not played together ever. The group includes Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, Mike Love and early guitarist David Marks. The tour kicks off at the end of April in Tucson. Something about the Beach Boys just makes me think about summer, the good season.

Be sure to become part of this process and VOTE for your favorite song of the week. Follow you boy on twitter (@aljonesy) where we can talk shop about music or anything else remotely interesting. Take care COED nation. Until we meet again…

Did Whitney Houston Have The Greatest Voice of All? [POLL]

I will always love Whitney Houston. That voice, ooh that sweet, strong, melodic, unparalleled, majestic voice. Whitney Houston had the voice of an angel. When she sang, you felt it. She was a child of the church, and now she will continue to sing into the heavens. The music world lost one its biggest and brightest stars on Saturday, Feb 11th, 2012. Whitney Houston was found dead in a bathtub in the Beverly Hills Hilton hotel. The autopsy is still being conducted and the cause of death is unknown, but many of her fans knew that she was battling with many addictions over the latter years of her life. It’s really sad to see the good ones go. Houston was 48 years old. Even though she may have been considered somewhat of an afterthought by many of her pundits due to her recent troubles, she was in the midst of another comeback. She was set to produce and star in a remake of the 1976 film Sparkle.

I grew up to the music of Whitney Houston. I was lucky to have grown up in an era that has featured some of the modern day musical greats such as Michael, Madonna, Prince, and Whitney. Their voices ruled the 80s and 90s with legendary anthems that have now become the soundtracks of my childhood. There are so many memorable Whitney moments for me like singing along to “How Will I Know,” or hearing my mom sing “Saving All My Love” around the house. These memories have been resurfaced and will forever be stored in my mind.

Other Whitney memories that will forever stick with me are: watching her “Greatest Love of All” video where she sings at the world famous Apollo Theater. It was at this moment where I realized that a star was being born; seeing her become an actress who held her own in the mega hit movies, “The Bodyguard,” and “Waiting to Exhale.” ; taking Dolly Parton’s lyric and turning it into one of the most powerful love songs ever recorded, with “I will Always Love You.” No one will ever be able to hit that vocal change so smoothly in a song like she does in that classic; witnessing the world standing completely still as she sang the most memorable version of the Star Spangled Banner in Tampa at Super Bowl XXV; hearing “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” reincarnated in college, with girls singing and dancing along to every word whenever it was played at bars and clubs; watching her collect hit singles in the later part of her career while working with younger artists such as Wyclef Jean on “My Love is Your Love.” ; seeing “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay” turned into a huge club hit and another huge record for Houston.

Knowing that on music’s biggest night, The Grammys, Whitney normally shined the brightest by being one of its most awarded and acclaimed stars. It was hard to watch the Grammys last night and know that one of the true greats was no longer with us. But her loss was handled with grace and care by countless entertainers throughout the evening, starting off with LL Cool J, who hosted the show and led the event with a prayer for Houston. The program ended so eloquently with an a capella vocal by the incredible Jennifer Hudson, who sang a moving rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” It seems that in the music industry, the great ones always end up leaving us too soon. Whitney was one of those great ones. As Whitney sang about the greatest love of all, I guess the debate can begin on whether she has the greatest voice of all. I believe she wore that crown. Her music and her legacy is something that I will remember forever. Rest in Peace Whitney Houston. We will always love you.

In The Mixtape: RIP Whitney Houston, S’Cowell’s X-Employees, Converse Kicks It

What’s good COED Nation! It’s time for another edition of Al Jones Songs of the Week. Besides Super Bowl 46’s ridiculous TV numbers, we had to have our fair share of controversy. Madonna, put on a show for us all to see as this year’s halftime performer. I wasn’t in love with her performance, but it was much better than the Black Eyed Peas fiasco a couple of years ago. That was just horrendous. She picked a good selection of classics to do, getting timely guest appearances by LMFAO and Cee-Lo Green, who I thought was a bright spot. But then came the question marks. Madonna also brought along Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for her new single, ”Gimme All Your Luvin.” The song is nothing to be desired, but things got a little antsy when M.I.A. decided to give the camera the middle finger. Obviously folks at NBC were not that happy. Something tells me that M.I.A. won’t be making a guest appearance on “The Voice” this season. But overall, the halftime show kept you awake, so I guess that’s something good, right? Let’s get into REWIND.

REWIND

RIP WHITNEY HOUSTON

[EDITOR'S NOTE - From Wikipedia: On February 11, 2012, Houston was found dead at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California, of causes not immediately known. According to TMZ, Houston was running late to get ready for the pre-Grammy Awards party being held four floors down in the hotel by her mentor, Clive Davis. After her stylists and bodyguards became concerned that Houston was in the bathroom for over an hour, they knocked on the door but Houston did not answer back. A female hairdresser went to check on Houston and found her lying in the bathtub. A bodyguard came in and quickly pulled Houston out of the bathtub. It was reported that Houston's face was underwater and her legs were up like she had slid down the back of the bathtub. Her body was reported to be very cold as her bodyguard unsuccessfully attempted to perform CPR before alerting hotel security. Beverly Hills paramedics arrived at approximately 3:30 p.m. and found the singer unresponsive and performed CPR. Houston was pronounced dead at 4:00 p.m. PST.]

THE VOICE

-“The Voice” premiered on Sunday night in the plush post Super Bowl time slot and did very well. It kept its mojo flexing into its normal Monday night time slot and won the night there, too. Not bad for Mark Burnett’s reality hit. The show has made household names out of its four judges, Cee-Lo Green, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton. I really want one of those cool red chairs, too!

JAY-Z

-The King of NY has been known to do big things on the regular, but Mr. Carter really topped himself this week. Jay-Z performed two sold out shows at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York City to raise money for the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation and the United Way of New York City. Backed by a 40 piece orchestra and the Illadelphonics, led by Roots drummer Questlove, Hova ripped through his ever extensive and impressive catalog, like a tornado, leaving everyone in the audience in awe. Jay has definitely turned into a great live performer. He knows how to captivate his audience, and his full talent was on display in this prestigious location in the name of charity. God bless him.

LANA DEL REY

-I guess she can say she had the last laugh right. Lana Del Ray landed at the number #2 spot on this past week’s Bilboard Top 100. She took a boat load of criticism after her SNL appearance, but seemed to fuel that negative energy into album sales. Not a bad week for her.

SIMON COWELL

-Simon Cowell, the king of mean on reality TV dropped three of his “X-Factor” mainstays off the show this week. Packing their bags is judges Paul Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, and host Steve Jones. I never really understood the whole Simon-Paula thing. She hasn’t been musically relevant in a long time. Nicole was the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. We shouldn’t have to comment anymore about that. She was lucky to be on the show in the first place. And Steve Jones may go down as the worst host in television history. I mean he was plain dreadful to watch. “X-Factor” was renewed for a second season, so Cowell has got some work to do for sure in replacing these stars. LA Reid, however, survived the execution and will be returning for his second season.

MADONNA

-Fresh off her Super Bowl halftime performance and on the heels of releasing her brand new studio album, “MDNA,” Madonna announced she is heading back on tour and she is making a stop at Yankee Stadium on September 6th. I tried to get tickets to this today and they sold out within minutes. I guess the material girl still has “it.”

PLAY

initiating the gallery...

FAST FORWARD

CHRIS BROWN AND RIHANNA

-Former lovers will both be performing at this weekend’s Grammy Awards telecast. How many times will the camera scan shots of both of them? Over/Under is 6. Both artists have had great years. I wonder if they could ever set aside all of their past problems and combine for a killer duet. Probably not. Wishful thinking.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND

-The boss has tapped the late Clarence Clemons nephew, Jake Clemmons to play horn on the “Wrecking Ball” tour this year. Springsteen wants to keep the sweet sounds of the Clemmons family in house. Classy move Bruce!

CONVERSE MASHUP

-Converse is bringing together James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, the Gorillaz, and Andre 3000 of Outkast for a song called “Do Ya Thing.” The song is going to be available as a free download on Feb 23rd off the Converse website. I personally love all of these artists so I can’t wait to check this tune out.

Be sure to be a part of the process people. Let you voice be heard. Please vote for your favorite song of the week! And be sure to follow me on Twitter (@aljonesy) where we can talk shop about whatever is poppin in music or pop culture. Have a great week guys!

In the Mixtape: RIP Don Cornelius, Fiona Apple’s Back, Grammys Are Comin’ [VIDEOS]

COED Nation, what’s good in your world? Welcome to another edition of Al Jones’ Songs of the Week. Hope you have endured all of the hype that surrounds the Super Bowl. It is Super Bowl week this week. I know I am on the edge of my seat because I am a Patriots fan, and even though we are favored in the game, we all know that the Giants are the favorites. They have beaten us the last two times we have played including that “I never want to see David Tyree again” memorable play in Super Bowl 42. It makes me nauseous.

Both teams are flying high. The G-Men on a remarkable 5 game winning streak which saw them beat the Jets, Cowboys, Falcons, Packers and 49ers, and the Pats on a 10 game winning streak which hasn’t lost since the last time they played the Giants in week 9. There is tons of drama surrounding this game. Gronk’s injury? Is Eli in the same class as Brady? (Yes) Will the G-Men hit Brady in the mouth? Can the Pats patchwork defense hold up? Is this history for Brady and Belichick? I mean you couldn’t pick a better game for the nation to watch on Sunday night. And did I forget to mention that the Material Girl herself, Madonna, is performing at halftime. (With special guest M.I.A.) So anything can go down. Let’s get into this week’s REWIND.

REWIND

SUPER BOWL XLVI
Madonna is the halftime performer. Kelly Clarkson will be singing the National Anthem. Gym Class Heroes and Adam Levine will be performing on the Today show live from the Super Bowl, and other scheduled performances around the weekend include B.o.B, the All-American Rejects, and Gym Class Heroes at vH1’s Fan Jam.

THE VOICE
NBC’s smash reality music show returns this Sunday with a plush post Super Bowl time slot, right after the big game. Are the four big stars of the voice (Cee-Lo Green, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Christina Aguilera) pumped? Who wouldn’t be? This cushy spot will be instant ratings bonanza for the hit show that is trying to avoid the sophomore slump. The four hosts also will grace the cover of this week’s Rolling Stone. Bottom line is this is a really cool show that is worth your attention.

DON CORNELIUS
If you grew up in the ’70s and you like R&B and modern black music, you had to be a fan of “Soul Train.” “Soul Train” was the launch pad for R&B and dance music artists in the 70’s and 80’s. The creator of that urban music landmark was Don Cornelius, who passed away on Wednesday, Feb 1st, of an apparent suicide. The music world took a step back yesterday as another pioneer was lost. Artists hit Twitter to pay their respects. Cornelius gave so many artists their start and national exposure on “Soul Train.” He will greatly be missed.

GLEE’S MICHAEL JACKSON EPISODE
I have been a fan of “Glee” since the show started. I think Ryan Murphy is brilliant and the writing on the show is top notch. Even though the show has been criticized at times for played out story lines and a lack of direction, the show has made household names out of its extremely talented cast. The show has also paid homage to some of the biggest names in music with its themed tribute episodes. This past Tuesday, “Glee” paid tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. I thought the episode was great. The “Glee” gang did colorful covers of “Bad,” “Wanna Be Startin Somethin,” “Scream,” “Human Nature,” “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Ben,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” and “Smooth Criminal.” The King of Pop would have been honored to see his songs displayed so eloquently on the small screen. I applaud Murphy and the “Glee” cast for keeping Jackson’s vision alive.

PLAY (SONGS OF THE WEEK)

initiating the gallery...

FAST FORWARD

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE APOLLO THEATER
The Boss is scheduled to perform a one night concert highlighting the ten year anniversary of satellite radio at the world famous Apollo Theater. I’m sure this is going to be a very tough ticket, but a night to remember for sure.

THE GRAMMY AWARDS
We are almost one week away from music’s biggest night. The 54th annual Grammy Awards take place Sunday, Feb 12, at 8pm on CBS, live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Kanye West leads the pack of nominations with seven, followed by Adele, Foo Fighters, and Bruno Mars all with six. Look out for great live performances from Adele, Foo Fighters, Coldplay and Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen, and Katy Perry. I expect that this will be the night of Adele. You have to tune in to watch. Always expect the unexpected with the Grammy Awards.

BET BANS NICKI MINAJ
BET Networks has banned Nicki Minaj’s video for “Stupid Hoe.” Directed by longtime hip hop video staple, Hype Williams, BET has decided to ban the airing of Minaj’s new video on any of their programs. The video for “Stupid Hoe” includes a naked Barbie doll with a huge expanding butt. I don’t really understand this one as the video isn’t that bad at all, and BET has been huge supporters of Minaj’s career. The controversy sure hasn’t hurt Minaj. The video has racked up over 20,000,000 hits on YouTube already.

KATY PERRY MAKING A MOVIE?
Katy Perry is in talks with Paramount Pictures to make a concert film that will be shot in 3D. Imagine Katy Perry and her assets in 3D? That would be quite delightful. I hope Paramount puts the green light on this film as soon as possible.

Please be sure to vote for your favorite song of the week. Be a part of the democratic process. Get involved. Also follow me on Twitter (@aljonesy) where we can talk shop about these songs, what’s happening in pop culture, or why my Pats are going to stomp the Giants on Sunday. Take Care COED Nation!

In The Mixtape: Seal’s Split, The Boss’s Ball, and Gold Guns Girls

COED Nation, what is good? How the hell are ya? I hope everyone is having a good week thus far. I hope you survived the latest dreadful edition of the Republican debates and Obama’s “please give me endless glasses of wine so I can get through this” State of the Union address. Another tough week for politics, I guess. That’s why I try not to be political. Way too Canada Dry if you ask me. Let’s get right down into the world of music and pop culture shall we?

REWIND

Track 1: FIONA APPLE

L.A. Reid, CEO of Epic Records made headlines this week when he tweeted that Fiona Apple (one of my favorite artists) would be releasing a new album this year. Thank the good heavens. Not too many singers out there as talented as Fiona.

Track 2: HEIDI KLUM AND SEAL

Say it isn’t so! Is marrying in Hollywood a real curse? First Ashton and Demi, and now Heidi and Seal? What is Seal thinking? You really can’t stay at home and just chill with your uber hot wife, supermodel Heidi Klum, who tattooed your name on her arm? Really dawg? Supposedly Seal may like the nightlife a little too much. Hopefully they can reach reconciliation. I really liked this couple.

Track 3: ETTA JAMES

The music world lost a legend on Friday, January 20th. Etta James, well-known for her powerhouse ballad, “At last,” passed away after a lengthy battle with leukemia, dementia, and hepatitis C. James will always be known for her amazing voice and storied past in the world of R&B music where she gave us such hits as “All I Could Do Was Cry,” and “My Dearest Darling.” She will truly be missed by many.

PLAY (SONGS OF THE WEEK)

initiating the gallery...

FAST FORWARD

TRACK 1: The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, returns with “Wrecking Ball” his latest studio album on March 6th. Dates for his spring 2012 tour just were announced with notable spots taking place in New Jersey (Duh) in Newark at the Prudential Center, and at the IZOD Center. He will also be making a stop in Austin, Texas as the keynote speaker for this year’s South by Southwest Music Festival.

TRACK 2: Ne-Yo, the R&B crooner of such hits as “Miss Independent,” “Closer,” “So Sick,” and “Because of You,” is being named Senior Vice President of A&R at Motown Records. Ne-Yo will produce and song write for new artists that he will take under his wing. Sounds like a win-win for everyone involved with Motown. Ne-Yo knows how to make hits. That’s the triple truth!

TRACK 3:  Coldplay, Mumford and Sons, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert have been tapped to perform at the first American Secret Policeman Ball in New York on March 4th at Radio City. This concert has been a big event in the UK, and now it’s coming stateside.

Make sure you vote for your favorite SONG OF THE WEEK, and be sure to follow me on Twitter at (@aljonesy) Take care of yourself COED Nation. See you next week!

Lana Del Rey on SNL, Blue Ivy’s No B*tch, Idol & The Boss [THIS WEEK IN MUSIC]

What’s good COED Nation? Hope all is well in your worlds. It’s time for another edition of Al Jones’ Songs of the Week. I’m going to add a couple new elements to my weekly column – they’re called “Rewind” and “Fast Forward”. In those sections, I’ll cover some of the major news in the music world that’s happened the week before and what’s on the horizon for music fans out there. So let’s get right to the news and the good word on the street.

REWIND

Lana Del Rey

It’s been a topsy-turvy week from the singer/songwriter out of New York City. First of all, she may be one of the most buzzed about new artists to appear on the music scene in quite some time. It takes clout and a lot of publicity to make your television debut on Saturday Night Live, before your first full length album comes out. And that’s what she did this past Saturday. She seemed nervous and rushed, lacking confidence, singing songs that clearly need her to stand out. However, she is extremely appealing and can write her a** off. I’ve liked all her tracks that I’ve heard thus far, so hopefully this was a minor bump in what is assumed to be a huge year for Ms. Del Ray.

Coachella 2012

What a lineup! I am happy to say that through the good graces of god, and the internet, I was able to snag tickets to the opening weekend of this year’s Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California [Ed note: F*ck you Alex]. This year Coachella has expanded to two weekends, with all of the acts agreeing to play both weekends. The lineup is straight butter. Headliners include The Black Keys, Radiohead and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (together) and the undercard is one of the best I have seen for a three-day festival, and includes, Bon Iver, Sweedish House Mafia, Avicii, Arctic Monkeys, Florence + the Machine, Miike Snow, M83, the Shins, David Guetta, the Weeknd, and Girl Talk, with many many more to play over the three-day festival. Tickets for this event are SOLD OUT. But I’m sure the festival will be streamed online and you’ll get a chance to see all the magic.

Blue Ivy Carter

Jay-Z and Beyonce gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Blue Ivy. I don’t know what’s up with that name, but I do know that little girl is going to be a musical prodigy with those genes in her. Check out Jay-Z’s track “Glory” dedicated to his baby girl.

SONGS OF THE WEEK

initiating the gallery...

FAST FORWARD

• American Idol returns to our TV screens with a 2 night premiere, Wed, Jan 18th and Thurs Jan 19th on FOX. Who will be the next Kelly Clarkson, or even worse, the next Lee Dewyze?
• The Boss, Bruce Springsteen will be dropping his 17^thstudio album, sometime this spring. A major announcement on his upcoming tour is approaching shortly. It should be one of the biggest tours of 2012.
• Mr. President Obama is looking to grab a couple of music’s most talented names to join him on his re-election campaign trail. Jay-Z, Adam Levine, Vampire Weekend, and Janelle Monae are some of the names being thrown around. Let’s see if any of them can help the big O stay in office.
• Check out the new Rick Ross mix tape “Rich Forever.” It’s filled with strong street gems and will keep you at bay as we all await Ross next major label album which is due to hit stores this spring.
• LL Cool J was just named host of the 54th annual Grammy Awards. Mama Said Knock You Out!

I hope you are all caught up on what’s gravy in the world of music. Make sure you take the time out to vote for your favorite song of the week. There is some stiff competition out there, so let your voices be heard…VOTE!!! And be sure to follow me on Twitter where you can talk smack to me about my Patriots and anything else happening in the world of music. Be good COED Nation.

Calvin Feels Close, GroupLove’s Tongue Tied, The Decemberists Fight [SONGS OF THE WEEK]

COED Nation what is good in the hood? Happy New Year! I hope you guys enjoyed my first year with COED and my SOTW editions last year. I know I certainly enjoyed comprising these weekly compilations of music for your eyes and ears every week and look forward to sharing more great music with you in the twenty twelve. I plan on switching up the format this year by not only giving you great music to download and check out but provide you with music news and events as well. With that said, let’s getting it poppin with the first installment of Al Jones’ Songs of the Week for the new year. Enjoy!

initiating the gallery...

The Top 30 Songs of 2011 [VIDEOS]

2011 was a great year for music. Multiple genres – from indie rock to rap to pop to country – all had huge years. We saw the emergence of brand new power players (Adele, LMFAO), consistency from the staples (Kayne West, Rihanna, Lady Antebellum, Foo Fighters), solid debuts from  important breakthrough artists, (Foster the People, Frank Ocean) and quality sophomore releases from breaking stars (Bon Iver, Drake). We got introduced to Spotify and the cloud. Music even brought an influx of reality TV shows all geared towards finding the next best thing in music (X-Factor, The Voice, American Idol). So let’s reflect on the year that was as I give you my Top 30 Songs of 2011.

initiating the gallery...

Avicii Fades, Flo Rida’s Feelin’ Good, Wilco’s Whole Love [SONGS OF THE WEEK]

Happy December COED Nation! I return with seasons greetings in the form of songs. A lot of things have gone down in the music world since I was last with you. First of all we had the Grammy Nominations. I think I am one of the few people left who actually like the Grammys. I still feel like it’s the creme de la creme of the music award shows.

Major props go out to Bon Iver, Adele, Kanye, the Foo Fighters, and Gaga for their numerous noms. I was a little disappointed that Kanye’s “My Twisted Dark Beautiful Fantasy” did not get an Album of the Year nod and neither did Bon Iver’s “Bon Iver,” two albums that I personally thought were the best of the year. But if you didn’t own a copy of Adele’s “21,” your girlfriend, or the girl who you wanted to get with, did. I have no doubt that she will be walking away with the crown jewel of the night, and that honor is well deserved.

We have been blessed with a lot of new releases. The new Black Keys record just came out, which I am digging like “woah,” as well as new releases by the Roots, and the latest release from the late Amy Winehouse. Got some great music as always this week. Please vote for you favorite jam in our poll at the bottom.

Please vote for your favorite song of the week and be sure to follow me on twitter (@aljonesy) where we can talk shop about these songs and more.

initiating the gallery...