Mike's Random Thoughts

It's the blogging equivalent of being unprepared for class and having to stand in front of everyone and read your book report. It's my turn to post, and I have nothing concrete to talk about, so here are just some random musical thoughts floating through my head at the moment:

*I listened to Duffy's album last night, and even though I like it more and more with each passing listen, I still think she sounds like Amy Winehouse with all the soul sucked out.

*Keane's "Spiralling" is one of the best songs of the year. As a certified fan of the Duran Duran-Eighties, "Spiralling" is an absolute winner, and it's nice to hear Tom Chaplin doing something other than bitching and moaning. Sounding like the second cousin of David Bowie's "Let's Dance", "Spiralling" could signal a whole new direction for the band and kill those Coldplay comparisons once and for all. Cool video too.

*Is Beyonce really going to name her CD "I Am...Sasha Fierce"? And is she really going to throw 6 or 7 songs each on 2 CDs? Has Jay-Z made her crazy? First of all, doesn't she realize that record sales are DOWN and people will not pay exorbitant prices for a CD (not that I know what the price is gonna be, but I see it being high). Secondly, why does she feel the need to use lingo that's been played out for at least a decade?

*The eligibility period for the Grammy Awards has come and gone, and it's time to start thinking about who will reign at next year's ceremony. My money is on Alicia Keys and Coldplay. Lil' Wayne will get nominated for a bunch of stuff, but won't win anything outside of the rap category. I think Duffy (somewhat sadly) has an excellent chance to win Best New Artist. As much as I like Grammy faves Keys and Coldplay, they're not the most exciting of acts, so I'm already anticipating a boring-ass ceremony.

*Speaking of the Grammys, if they're so concerned with artistic integrity (as opposed to TV ratings), then why are the same artists performing on the show every year? How about taking the spot designed for U2 (who are going to get face time anyway because you KNOW they're going to win something) and giving it to a band that needs the exposure?

*How come no one disses AC/DC for coming out with the exact same album eleventy-billion times in a row? Furthermore, why are people still buying their stuff?

*Given the fact that she's fallen off hard over the past decade or so (although apparently she doesn't think so), isn't it time that someone wrested the Queen of Soul crown away from Aretha and gave it to Patti LaBelle (who sounds as good at 64 as she did when she was singing "Lady Marmalade" 35 years ago? (by the way, get the new reunion album by LaBelle. It's pretty good).

*Anyone know that Montell Jordan and Tony Rich have come out with new albums in the past month? Don't you miss the Nineties?

*If George Michael can keep it together to finish his autobiography, don't you think that it will be the juiciest autobiography ever? And how much money is it going to take to get a Jackson to write a tell-all?

*Is nine questions enough?