American Idol: And The Judges Are...

 Article first posted as American Idol: And The Judges Are... on BlogCritics.

During a press conference earlier this morning, Ryan Seacrest confirmed what we already knew for the past month; Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are joining Randy Jackson on the American Idol judges panel.

Is anyone actually shocked by this news?

I feel like since these have been the two consistent names in the Idol rumor mill for months now that I was very prepared for this news today. However, it doesn't mean that I have to like it.

I still feel like I did a couple months ago about Steven Tyler being involved with Idol. I don't understand why he would want to be a judge on the panel. He's Steven Tyler. Right now, the only thing I want from him is to tell the contestants to stop butchering "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" and "Dream On."

What can you really say about Jennifer Lopez that hasn't already been said? Other than the fact that she will probably be judging much more talented singers than herself. I have a feeling that Lopez is on the panel as an attempt to stay relevant to pop culture. I guess when your latest music is lame and your last movie was a flop, you have to get your name out there somehow, right?

I am happy that Randy Jackson is still on the panel, because I have a feeling that he is going to be the only judge from the panel to keep it real and tell the contestants how it is. I don't know if the "star power" on the panel will be able to really speak their minds. What celebrity wants to be the bearer of bad news to an up and coming performer? That reason alone is why Idol should have tried to have held onto Kara DioGuardi. She wasn't as offensive as Simon Cowell could be, but she told the contestants what they needed to hear.

It was also announced this morning that Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, will be present this season as an in-house mentor for the Idol contestants, thus doing away with guest mentors.

Idol producer, Nigel Lithgoe said that the contestants will be able to stick to their chosen genre every week by getting rid of theme weeks and focusing more on decades of music. Lithgoe also went as far to say that their hasn't been any Idols since Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. I believe David Cook's fan base would beg to differ.

What do you think about your new Idol judges, America? Do you think they will be able to find the best American Idol winner, yet?

Music Review: Maroon 5 -- Hands All Over (Deluxe Edition)

Article first posted as Music Review: Maroon 5 -- Hands All Over (Deluxe Edition) on BlogCritics.

Maroon 5 is back on the music scene with Hands All Over, the follow-up to 2007's It Won't Be Soon Before Long. The band (Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, James Valentine, Mickey Madden and Matt Flynn) worked with acclaimed and legendary producer Robert "Mutt" Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard) while recording the album in Switzerland.

The music on Hands All Over is very different from Maroon 5's previous albums. The band really experimented with their sound, in which the final result was a fantastic pop album.

The album kicks off with the first single, "Misery." The song definitely works sound-wise as a bridge from It Won't Be Soon Before Long. Like lead singer Adam Levine said recently on the band's IHeartRadio.com channel, the song sounds very much like a Maroon 5 song. However, as soon as the three minutes and thirty-six seconds are over, a new musical side of Maroon 5 is unleashed.

The second track and also the band's second single, "Give A Little More" has a funky, yet fresh sound to it. It's an absolute fantastic choice for a second single. There's a good chance that you will be singing along with the chorus before the song ends.

Hands All Over may throw some longtime fans of Maroon 5 for a loop because of how different the sound is from the band's previous two albums. Tracks like "Stutter" and "I Can't Lie" are prime examples of this. That said, Levine continues to write catchy, relatable love songs.

Other standout tracks include "Never Gonna Leave This Bed" and the sexy title track, "Hands All Over."

"Never Gonna Leave This Bed" is hopefully in contention to be a single. The song talks about trust and forgiveness within a relationship. The melody has this sweet feeling to it that makes the lyrics feel sincere.

"Hands All Over" has a rich rock vibe to it that is sure to get bodies moving during the band's current tour. The beat is just infectious.

The song that is sure to get people talking is "Out of Goodbyes," which is a collaboration with the popular country act Lady Antebellum. It seems to be the trend lately for Top 40 artists to cross over into country music (i.e. John Mayer's "Half of My Heart" with Taylor Swift and Daughtry's "Tennessee Line" with Vince Gill). Maroon 5's venture into country proves that this musical risk was one worth taking. It's a fantastic song.

Included with the deluxe version of the album are five extra tracks, including wonderful acoustic versions of "Never Gonna Leave This Bed" and "Misery."

There is a live track, which is a cover of Alicia Keys' hit, "If I Don't Have You." This song was a perfect choice for the band to cover. Levine's voice is a great match for this soulful tune.

Hands All Over (Deluxe Edition) will be released September 21.

For tour dates and more information on Maroon 5, check out their website.

DVD Review: Private Practice: The Complete Third Season

Article first posted as DVD Review: Private Practice: The Complete Third Season on BlogCritics.

Private Practice was definitely not short on drama during the 23 episodes that comprise the third season. Addison (Kate Walsh) discovers a family secret, Violet (Amy Brennerman) struggles while recovering from having her baby taken, and Naomi (Audra McDonald) and Sam (Taye Diggs) find out that they are going to be grandparents. There was definitely a whole lot going on at Oceanside Wellness including Cooper (Paul Adelstein) coping with Charlotte (KaDee Strickland) joining the practice, Pete (Tim Daly) leaving to work at
 Naomi's practice, and the death of a beloved character that no one saw coming.

The audience was introduced to two new characters this season, Dr. Gabriel Fife (Michael Patrick Thorton) and Dr. Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone). Dr. Fife is a new doctor at Naomi's practice, who is researching new medical advancements, when he is not working the nerves of his fellow doctors in the building. Dr. Shepherd is the younger sister of Grey's Anatomy character Dr. Derek Shepherd who, like her older brother, is also a brain surgeon.

Speaking of Grey's Anatomy, there were two crossovers with the series during the past season. Private Practice was first visited by Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and then later by McSteamy himself, Dr. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane). The crossovers were done well this season, plus it was nice to see the characters from both shows interact with one another. Being able to crossover from Grey's Anatomy to Private Practice just adds another dynamic to the show.

The five-disc set also includes never before seen DVD extras including an entertaining gag reel, Kate Walsh's favorite things about season three, and a slew of deleted scenes.

During the "Kate's Top 8" vignette, the Private Practice star lists her favorite things about season three. As a bonus, you also get to hear from various cast members, along with the show's creator Shonda Rhimes and producer Betsy Beers. It is interesting to hear what the cast thinks about the various story lines that took place throughout the season.

There were a lot of scenes that seem to hit the cutting room floor this season. The was a scene between Dell (Chris Lowell) and Maya (Geffri Maya) that I wish had been included in its intended episode. It was nice to see the banter between the two characters, especially since the audience usually saw Maya either talking to Addison, Sam or Naomi. Giving her character a new outlet to turn to was a good decision. The audience didn't see a lot of Dell as much this past season, so seeing his character in the extras on the DVD set was a treat.

With another deleted scene where Addison and Amelia are outside talking on Addison's deck with the ocean in the background, the special effects (i.e. the ocean) hadn't been added in yet. The audience truly gets a behind-the-scenes experience while watching the actors work against a blue screen.

This DVD set will definitely be appreciated by any Private Practice fan.

Private Practice: The Complete Third Season is available in stores now.

Music Review: Guy Sebastian -- Like It Like That

Article first posted as Music Review: Guy Sebastian -- Like It Like That on BlogCritics.

It was a six-month recording process going back and forth between Los Angeles and New York for Guy Sebastian to ready his album, Like It Like That. The album was produced by David Ryan Harris (John Mayer, Nick Jonas) and Fredrick Rodesjo.

“This is exactly the style of music I want to do and that I’ve wanted to do for so long,” Sebastian said in his press release. “It’s not about changing the world it’s just about fun music, pure and simple.”
As soon as the first single and title track, “Like It Like That” kicks off, I hoped that the fun and upbeat song was setting the tone of the album. Did it ever!

The second track, “All To Myself” has a complete throwback kind of vibe. It is such a fun and enjoyable listen. Also, John Mayer’s guitar work is featured on this track, as well the tracks “Fail To Mention” and “Never Be You.”

Sebastian’s duet with newcomer Tarryn Stokes on “Magic” is fantastic. Their voices combined match up well. The somewhat flirty song is catchy and keeps the album rolling.

I found the track, “Bring Yourself” to be the best of the ballads. It has a doo-wop feel, somewhat reminiscent of Raphael Saadiq’s musical style. Also, the song very much shows off the versatility of Sebastian’s voice.

There is one speed bump on the album. “Art of Love” is a duet with the season six winner of American Idol, Jordin Sparks. Both Sebastian and Sparks have tremendous vocals that blend well together, but this song just doesn’t fit in with the rest of the album.

Overall, this is an album that reminds one why they love music. Sebastian has put out one of the best albums that I have heard in awhile. The music is upbeat, lifts your spirits and gets you moving. The mix of pop and soul music with Sebastian’s voice is like his song says, perfection.

Music Review: Goo Goo Dolls -- Something For The Rest of Us

Article first posted as Music Review: Goo Goo Dolls -- Something For The Rest of Us on BlogCritics.

After a four-year break, the Goo Goo Dolls have returned to the music scene with their latest album, Something For The Rest of Us. The album is the follow up to 2006's Let Love In. The band has been working on the album over the past couple years with producers Tim Palmer (U2), Butch Vig (Green Day) and John Fields (Paul Westerberg).

Something For The Rest of Us is proof why the Goo Goo Dolls remain popular with music fans. They know their audience, and even better, they know how to relate to their audience through their music.

"I wanted some of the material on this album to address the disillusionment of the difficult perirod we live in; I wanted to give a voice to the emotional uncertainty that accompanies hard times," lead singer John Rzeznik said in the band's press release.

"So many people are struggling to keep it together through tough economic conditions and two wars that seem to have no end in sight. The ones that bear the brunt of these burdens are everyday people. That's who I want to speak to."

The album opens with the upbeat track, "Sweetest Lie." The song should definitely be considered as the second single. The song is very relatable to anyone who has been with someone and not had it work out, but then finding themselves wanting to be with that person, even though they're probably not the one for them.

It is apparent on Something For The Rest of Us that the Goo Goo Dolls still know how to rock a love song. From "One Night" and "Still Your Song" to "Hey Ya," each of these songs have well-crafted melodies and sweet lyrics.

The stand out track of the album is the emotionally poignant, "Soldier." The final song rounds out the album with it's lyrics that could make you feel like the song is being sung directly to you.

Goo Goo Dolls' latest album, Something For The Rest of Us is available now. For more information on the Goo Goo Dolls, check out their website.

TV Review: The Big C

Article first posted as TV Review: The Big C on BlogCritics.

 The Big C debuted a couple of weeks ago on Showtime, and is definitely a new show that is worth watching.
Laura Linney plays school teacher Cathy Jamison. Cathy has just found out that she has a terminal stage four melanoma. Upon hearing the news, her attitude about things going on in her life adjusts almost immediately.

She has a lazy and immature husband (Oliver Platt) and a beyond bratty son (Gabriel Basso). Cathy also deals with her willingly homeless brother Sean (John Benjamin Hickey), whose lifestyle takes activism to a whole new level. Cathy also has a neighbor Marlene (Phyllis Somerville), who we meet in the first episode after complaining about Cathy installing a pool in her front yard.

Rounding out the cast are guest stars Reid Scott and Gabourey Sidibe, who play Dr. Todd and Andrea. Dr. Todd is the doctor who informed Cathy about her diagnosis, and is also somewhat holding her hand through her situation. Also, it doesn't hurt that he looks like he stepped off the set of Grey's Anatomy.

Andrea is a student in Cathy's summer school class who is in need of an attitude adjustment. Cathy tells her, "You can't be fat and mean, Andrea. You can either be fat and joyous or a skinny bitch. It's up to you." That is definitely one of the best lines from the show so far, and it also leads to a wager between the two characters. Cathy tells Andrea that she will give her $100 for every pound she loses.

The writing on The Big C is superb. The dialogue between the characters is entertaining.There have been some great quotable one-liners like, "Cancer sucks. Put that on a goddamn inspirational poster!"
I find that with a show with an important topic like cancer, good writing is very important, because it helps keep the show flowing, keeps it interesting, and most importantly, it captures the emotions that Cathy is experiencing.

I like the dynamic between Cathy and her brother Sean. They bicker back and forth a little bit, which is fairly amusing. We get to find out more about Cathy's demeanor when Sean fires back at her when they banter about how she acted when they were younger. My favorite line so far from Sean was from the first episode where he told Cathy, “You’re getting your weird back, Sis.”

I also like the dynamic between Cathy and her neighbor Marlene. They definitely got off on the wrong foot, but there’s a mutual respect that their new friendship is building on. Their interaction throughout the season should be interesting, especially since Marlene and her dog know that she has cancer.

There have been a couple scenarios on the show that I haven't felt were very believable, like in the second episode where Cathy uses a paintball gun to shoot at a bus that was taking her son to soccer camp. Also Sean, who chooses to be homeless, has a girlfriend. I find it hard to believe that as a homeless guy he would be able to charm his way into a girl’s pants, let alone have an actual relationship with one. His girlfriend is quirky, which sort of makes them fit, but so far I don’t buy it.

Another thing, one has to wonder how long a series can last when the main character has a terminal disease and is, as of now, refusing treatment. Cathy has not been told that she a certain amount of time left, but I think it definitely leaves the door open for her to change her mind about treatment, as well as talking to her family about what she is going through.

That said, The Big C definitely shows promise of being a very entertaining series. There’s great casting and the dialogue between the characters is fun and witty. I am definitely excited to see where the series takes Cathy and this group of characters throughout the remaining episodes of the season.

The Big C airs Monday nights on Showtime at 10:30 p.m.

Music Video: Maroon 5 -- "Give A Little More"

What a surprise to come across this morning! Maroon 5 released the video for their second single off of their anticipated album, Hands All Over.

Check out the video for "Give A Little More."



This video sort of reminds me of Lenny Kravitz's video for "Fly Away." Definitely not a bad thing! I really enjoy understated performance videos, so this has quickly become one of my favorite videos from the band.

"Give A Little More" is giving the fans a taste of the sound Maroon 5 is leaning towards with their new album. It's a pretty hot song, and I hope it does well on radio.

Hands All Over is out September 21. "Give A Little More" is available on iTunes now!

Happy Idol Anniversary, Kelly Clarkson!

Eight years ago today, Kelly Clarkson won the crown during the first season of a little show called, American Idol.

Earlier this year, Billboard announced that she was the number one selling Idol out of all of the past seasons.

Check out the original Idol's winning moment below!

DVD Review: One Tree Hill: The Complete Seventh Season

Article first posted as DVD Review: One Tree Hill: The Complete Seventh Season on BlogCritics.

 There has never been a dull moment on the addicting TV series One Tree Hill since the show’s debut in 2003. Season seven kept the drama rolling all the way through each of the 22 episodes.

This season brought a handful of new characters to Tree Hill. We get to meet Clay Evans (Robert Buckley), who is Nathan Scott’s (James Lafferty) agent. He has his own bag of issues that come to the forefront when he gets involved with Quinn James (Shantel VanSanten), who is Haley James Scott’s (Bethany Joy Galeotti) older sister that has come to town after leaving her husband.

A popular actress, Alex Dupre (Jana Kramer), comes to town after Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush) hires her to be the new face of Clothes Over Bros. We also meet Miranda Stone (India de Beaufort), who comes to shut down Red Bedroom Records and winds up discovering a major talent in Tric's somewhat drink-psychic bartender, Grubbs (Michael Grubbs).

This season catches up with the residents of Tree Hill 14 months after Lucas and Peyton have left. Nathan finds himself in the middle of an affair/paternity scandal, Haley and Quinn receive heartbreaking news from their mother, and two familiar faces are now married. The latest season is filled with the ups and downs that challenge the characters of One Tree Hill and leave the viewers wanting more.

One Tree Hill: The Complete Seventh Season, which was released earlier this month, is packed full of extras including unaired scenes, behind the scenes vignettes, and a season seven gag reel that is not to be missed.

The commentary from episodes “I and Love and You” and “Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said the Last Time I Saw You…” is not to be missed. You get to listen in as Mark Schwan, producer Joe Davola, and James Lafferty, Robert Buckley, and Stephen Colletti (who plays Chase Adams) talk about what happens behind the scenes, as well as shots that were cut. It’s interesting to listen to why some shots made the episode, what shots didn’t, as well as getting to hear what the actors think about their co-stars.

The vignettes are fun to watch for any fan of One Tree Hill. "Return to Camp One Tree Hill" introduces the new faces on the show, as well as catch up with the cast as they shoot the first episode of the season. There are also interviews with the cast intertwined with the behind-the-scenes footage.

In "Spring Break with One Tree Hill" the audience gets to meet two fans who got to visit the set of One Tree Hill while the cast shot the season finale. During their multi-day set visit, the winners got to meet various cast members, work as production assistants, and much more.

Viewers get to follow Sophia Bush as she stepped into the role of director in "OTH – The Director’s Debut." The camera follows Bush around as she preps and shoots her first episode of One Tree Hill. You also hear from her co-stars about what they thought about taking direction from one of their fellow actors.

Fans of the show will definitely love this latest box set of One Tree Hill. For new fans, with the extras they are able to meet the cast and the new characters and feel like they've been watching the show since season one.

One Tree Hill: The Complete Seventh Season is available now. For more information on the show, check out One Tree Hill's official site.