Prediction:  Ke$ha - C'Mon

Ke$ha - "C'Mon":  Will Have Mainstream Radio Success and Chart Highly on the Billboard Hot 100

We have decided that with our "Predictions" page, we will be predicting which songs from popular albums will top the charts.  These posts will pop up every once in a while, only when our editor, DWilliams, has a strong feeling about a certain song.  In this case, it was Ke$ha's latest album, Warrior.  This album has done very well and we decided to give it a listen.  We have decided that the song that we think will top the charts next, will be the third song, "C'Mon".  At this point "C'Mon" is not charting on neither the Billboard Hot 100 nor the iTunes Top 100.  We will update this post if "C'Mon" has any chart success.

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• Note:  This post was published on December 28th, 2012

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Happy Holidays!

We just wanted to wish all of our viewers a safe and happy holidays.  The past few months have been very exciting for Taking Notes and that is all because of you.  We have gone through two completely different designs, in just a few months.  Our current design has been very well received, so we plan on sticking with it for a long time.  Another exciting thing we would like to announce is that since we officially launched in November, we have had over 5,000 pageviews.  This will be our last post of the year and we have a little surprise for you.  We have put together a short list of our favorite and least favorite Holiday albums, not in any particular order.  Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Top 10 Best Holiday Albums

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• James Taylor - James Taylor At Christmas (2006)
• Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album (1957)
• Michael Bublé - Christmas (2011)
• Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas (1994)
• Josh Groban - Noël (2007)
• She & Him -  A Very She & Him Christmas (2011)
• Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector (1963)
• Bing Crosby - Merry Christmas (1945)
• Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
• Harry Connick, Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas (1993)

Top 5 WORST Christmas Albums

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• Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas (2006)
• Roseanne Barr - Roseanne Barr Sings The Christmas Classics
• Kenny Chesney - All I Want For Christmas Is A Real Good Tan (2003)
• Destiny's Child - 8 Days Of Christmas (2001)
• David Hasselhoff - The Night Before Christmas (2004)

And we'll leave you with one of my all time favorite Christmas Songs: 

Predictions

Here at Taking Notes, we truly care about our readers.  We want to add a fun and unique page to the Taking Notes website.  However, with what we are trying to do, we have many options.  When it comes to making predictions, there is a lot to consider as to how to add something like this to the website.  We are still brainstorming lists of ideas and would appreciate any ideas you have to make this a regular thing.  There is some good news too.  We are fairly certain that will have at least one post on the "Predictions" page by the end of the year.  With the recent release of Grammy Nominations, we will be going through most of the categories and predicting winners.  This will be an entertaining little piece that we think you will enjoy. You can expect to see this on the site in the next few weeks.  As always, feel free to leave a comment about your ideas for this new page.  

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Billy Joel - "The Stranger" (1977)

The Stranger was Billy Joel's fifth studio album, released in the fall of 1977.  This served as Billy Joel's breakout performance.  This album spent six weeks at number two on the album charts in the United States.  His previous four albums were fairly successful as well, releasing classic albums such as Piano Man.  The lead single off of that album, released in 1973, was called "Piano Man", and is often considered to be one of the most popular songs of all time. But it's this collection of songs that creates one of Joel's most memorable albums.  There is not another Billy Joel album that is as consistently listenable as The Stranger.  It is another one of my personal favorites, and I hope this article inspires you to give it a listen!


1. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) [9/10]

The Stranger starts off as good as any album could.  "Movin' Out" tells the story of a boy who is "working too hard" at his low-end job.  He tells of his disapproval of how people try to make a living in the United States.  It is about how all anyone cares about is "trading in a Chevy for a Cadillac"and that that is the most important thing in the perspective of many immigrants as well.  Billy Joel has said that "Anthony" is not a real person but rather "every Irish, Polish, and Italian kid trying to make a living in the U.S."  This song does a great job at showing off the way Billy Joel can tell a story.  He narrates htis song very well.

2. The Stranger (8/10)

The title track demonstrates Joel's ability to be a great rock and roll singer.  The song starts with a short intro period of Billy whistling and playing the piano softly.  This quickly progresses into a thrilling guitar riff that is constant throughout the majority of the song.  This is a song that has the ability to get stuck in your head and drive you crazy for days.  The whistling and piano return at the end of the song as the album gets ready switch moods, with "Just The Way You Are" up next.  This instrumental piece also serves as a two minute reprise at the end of the album.

3.  Just The Way You Are (10/10)


If you haven't heard "Just The Way You Are" yet, go listen to it right now.  It was the most successful single off of The Stranger and was a milestone track for Joel.  This was his first top ten song in the United States, his first Gold single in the United States, his first top 20 single in the United Kingdom, and it won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1978 Grammy Awards.  Billy wrote this song for his first wife, and he did not like it.  His band did not like it either and it was not originally supposed to be on the album.  But with a little convincing from his other peers, he added it to the final cut.  It is one of the most popular love songs of all time and is one of the highlights of this album filled with hits.

4.  Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (9/10)

While "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" was never released as a single off of The Stranger, it is one of the most popular Billy Joel songs amongst his fans.  It is the longest Billy Joel song, coming in at 7 minutes and 37 seconds.  It is an assortment of three separate chapters.  The first is a gentle piano ballad.  This morphs into an upbeat jazz song, highlighted by a classic saxophone solo by a band member.  The final piece is a rock and roll driven rock song commonly referred to as "The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie".  The original write-up of this song was only this last part, and was going to be called "The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie".

5.  Vienna (7/10)

According to Billy Joel himself, "Vienna" is a song about the rest of your life.  He uses Vienna, Austria as the metaphor in this song because of a personal experience he had while visiting his father there.  It is a beautiful song with a lot of meaning behind it.  You have to listen to it for yourself because everyone will get something different from it.  Joel has also said that this is one of his favorite songs.  I wouldn't put it at the top of my list when it comes to ranking his songs, but it is definitely a classy song.

6.  Only The Good Die Young (10/10)

"Only The Good Die Young" was the first Billy Joel song I ever heard.  I remember this moment vividly because it was an eye-opening experience for the way I looked at music.  At that time, I didn't listen to music the way I do today.  It was the first time I ever heard a song that I really loved to listen to.  That was many years ago, but listening to it now gives me the same feeling.  This song was controversial for its time, due to its risqué lyrics.  It is a fun and cheerful song that you will definitely get hooked on.

 7.  She's Always A Woman (8/10)

This is another love song, similar to "Just The Way You Are".  However, this single was not nearly as successful as the former.  "She's Always A Woman" peaked at number 17 on the US charts.  It's about a woman he falls in love with, and how he even loves her flaws.  It is a soft piece highlighted by Joel's magnificent piano playing.  For any reader that is a serious musician, here's a fun little piece of information.  This song is played in three very obscure time signatures:  6/8, 9/8, and 12/8.  Another interesting fact is that a version of this song was playing at the World Trade Center as it was destroyed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

8.  Get It Right The First Time (6/10)

I found this song to be forgettable.  It is a light rock and roll song that just doesn't match up with some of the other powerful songs on this album.  For me, it was the album's low point.  With so many great singles on one album, there has to be one that doesn't fit well.  Don't get me wrong, it helps make the album complete, but as an individual song, it isn't the best.  The song begins by fading in to a cool drumbeat.  The addition of a flutist is something you don't usually find in a Billy Joel song.  It is definitely not the worst song he has ever done, but on this giant album, it just doesn't stack up.

9.  Everybody Has A Dream (7/10)

The final track on this album is another average one.  Its not in the same league as "Only The Good Die Young" or "Just The Way You Are" or even "Movin' Out".  However, it's a great song to end the album, as it completely sums up the mood of the album.  It has moments where it is mellow and parts where it is quick and happy.  It all comes together in the end when the song goes back to the haunting whistling and piano playing from "The Stranger" returns.  This time it lasts almost two minutes as the album comes to an end. 

The Stranger is one of the greatest Billy Joel albums, and possibly one of the best albums of all time.  If you are just beginning to listen to him, this is the perfect album to start with.  The way this record was put together, my highest recommendation would be to listen to the album from start to finish.  Don't just  skip to the ones you hear on the radio often.  Take the time to listen to it all.  The Stranger is such a great album, there are really no words that will do it the justice it deserves.  The best thing for you to do is go and listen to it for yourself.  While he has had many great albums in his day, I believe that this record represents Billy Joel at his best.

Listen to The Stranger on Spotify:

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Here's a short clip of Billy Joel talking about recording the album, The Stranger!:  

Dear Readers,

Unfortunately, we have encountered a few minor bugs with the "new" Taking Notes website.  This has caused us to turn today into an unplanned maintenance day.  We are planning on having the site looking a bit more polished by the end of the day.  However, we have been forced to delay today's Throwback Thursday article until tomorrow.  Tomorrow, we will publish our article that was supposed to be released today.  We will be reviewing Billy Joel's The Stranger, released in 1977.  We apologize for the inconvenience but it was a necessary step to take.  But, don't forget to check back tomorrow for a fantastic new review for Throwback Thursday.  Tomorrow, we will also release some new information on our "Predictions" page that is currently listed as "Coming Soon".  It will be an exciting day, so don't forget to check it out!  As always, we ask that you check out our Facebook page by either clicking HERE, or by clicking on the Facebook logo on the top right of your screen.

Thanks!
DWilliams

Bruno Mars - "Unorthodox Jukebox"

Unorthodox Jukebox is the second studio album released by Bruno Mars.  The sophomore album is a highly anticipated follow up to the highly successful Doo-Wops & Hooligans.  This album covers a wide range of musical styles with obvious 80s influences.  The lead single, "Locked Out of Heaven", was released back in early October.  It is currently doing very well and charting pretty high on both the iTunes and Billboard Music charts.  So far, this record as received generally positive reviews.  This album represents Mars' freedom as an artist to produce great songs in a wide variety of genres.  Unorthodox Jukebox is a great follow up album that leaves Hooligans in the dust.

1) Young Girls (7/10)

Bruno Mars starts off his latest record with a hit.  This first song has a stimulating soft rock style that is a great way to begin the album.  It is redolent of his previous hit "It Will Rain".  This is a track I can definitely see getting a significant amount of radio time in the near future.  It's not the happiest song on the album by any means; and Bruno Mars thrives when he is singing happy pop songs.  However, this song is a rarity that is bound to be a successful single.

2) Locked Out of Heaven (8/10)

The second track is the lead single off of Unorthodox Jukebox.  I think that it is his best single to date.    The main reason I like it so much is because of its incredibly obvious resemblance to The Police.  His voice even sounds like Sting in this song.  Now, let's not let that take away from what Mars has done with it.  Even with the similarities in sound, it is still a Bruno Mars song that rocks.  I wouldn't be surprised if it continues to top the charts for another month or so.

3) Gorilla (6.5/10)

This song tells the story of a night with Bruno Mars.  The song progresses as the night does.  It starts off with "a body full of liquor and a cocaine kicker" and later in the song, ends with "you and me making love like gorillas".  As the song moves from one stage to another, the song changes from sounding pretty depressing to a song of relief and happiness.  They aren't the most intelligent lyrics ever, and that calls for an average track.

4) Treasure (8/10)

Treasure is a song that makes you want to get up and get your groove on.  In this track, he takes on an 80s disco style that fits him perfectly.  It reminds me of an old pop song that I just can't remember the name of.  This song gives me the feeling that disco-pop is the genre of music that Bruno Mars enjoys playing the most.  Here is another song that I can definitely see becoming a single, that may be successful on the charts.

5) Moonshine (6/10)

It might just be me, but this song reminds me of something Michael Jackson might produce.  This homage isn't as blatant as the resemblance to The Police on "Locked  Out of Heaven", but it just shows off Mars' wide range of talent.  Anyway, this song is pretty one dimensional and by the end, you're just waiting to move on to the next track.  This won't be the song that you'll have stuck in your head all day.

6) When I Was Your Man (8/10)

I am starting to really understand how talented Bruno Mars actually is.  He can take any style of music, and make it extraordinary.  This song is a piano driven ballad.  He sings about a period of heartbreak in his life.  You don't usually hear ballads like this from Mars, but he pours his heart out on this one.  He literally lists all of the things he did wrong that made him a terrible boyfriend.  You can feel the regret in his voice.  While he is singing, you will start to feel the same emotions that he is expressing.  I would be very happy if a song like this was released as a single for the radio!

7) Natalie (7/10)

"Natalie" is a rant against Mars' ex-girlfriend.  "Natalie" was a woman who ran away from him while taking everything he had.  It is definitely one of the more polite rants like this, while he does not get too impudent. But, he still expresses his anger and regret perfectly.  The song itself is backed by handclaps and a strong bass drum.  It is a song to get all of your emotions out when you are unhappy.

8) Show Me (5/10)

Ah-Ha! Back to Mars' Hawaiian roots.  This song is filled with steel drums and meaningless lyrics.  This mellow track is meant to be heard on a vacation to a tropical island.  Personally, I did not like this song.  It wasn't a good use of Mars' talents.  His vocals in this song sounded a bit off, reminding me of Mike Posner's voice.  The care-fee nature of this song was a nice vacation from the deep emotions found throughout the majority of this album, but is my least favorite song.

9) Money Make Her Smile (7/10)

This is the song where Bruno Mars completely understood his abilities as a true pop artist.  This track is filled with electronic noise and computerized drumbeats.  Not surprisingly, Mars found a way to make this style work for him.  This track is based on the artificial sounds created by a machine, that are comparative to The Black Eyed Peas.  It is uncharted territory for Bruno, and he does surprisingly well in his first sincere pop song.

10) If I Knew (8/10)

"If I Knew" is like a modernized 60s soul song, brought out mostly due to the passionate group of singers backing him up.  This final track is the shortest on the album, coming in at just 2 minutes and 13 seconds.  Yet he packs tons of emotion into this short amount of time.  It is the complete opposite of the previous song, which made me question the order he decided to put the songs in.  It is one of the better songs on the album, and makes for a great finishing piece to a great sophomore album.

Unorthodox Jukebox is a fantastic follow up album for Bruno Mars.  It shows off his true ability as a recording artist.  He is able to express himself through all kinds of musical styles.  I have underestimated Bruno Mars up until this point.  The more serious tone of this album, compared to Doo-Wops & Hooligans, is a great improvement.  There is a deluxe version available exclusively through Target.  This album was a short ten tracks, so I may have to consider picking up the extended version to hear one unreleased song and a few alternate versions of songs on this album.  By saying that, I am trying to make it clear that this is a great album that will keep me waiting for his third studio release.

Listen to Unorthodox Jukebox on Spotify!

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John Coltrane - "A Love Supreme" (1964)

Last night, I asked you all to pick the album we review today.  Our ONLY response was a suggestion to review "A Love Supreme" by John Coltrane.  When I saw this, I was very excited because this happens to be my all time favorite jazz record.  The only problem I saw in reviewing it was that it was cut to just 4 tracks.  This may cause a bit of an issue when using our unique format of reviewing albums by individual songs.  But here at Taking Notes, the reader comes first, and we decided to give it a try.  It definitely won't be our longest review, but we hope you enjoy it anyway.

A Love Supreme is an album recorded by the John Coltrane quartet towards the end of 1964.  Most critics look at this as one of his greatest works.  This is said to be because of his use of both hard bop and free jazz styles.  The record was split up into four separate parts called "Acknowledgement", "Resolution", "Pursuance", and "Psalm".  The parts blend together so well, the average listener would say that there is hardly any difference at all between the four parts.  The original album released in 1964 actually only had three parts, combining "Pursuance" and "Psalm" to create one song lasting 17 minutes and 53 seconds!  This is simply a case of quality over quantity.  The 4 parts combine leave the album with a total length of just 33 minutes, which is short for a regular CD.  Even in such little time, Coltrane was able to produce one of the greatest jazz albums of all time.  A Love Supreme comes in at number 47 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  This also happens to be Coltrane's first album since he gave up his addiction to heroin.  This adds to the experience that he describes as "a spiritual journey."

1.  Acknowledgement (9/10)

The first song opens the suite with the loud bang of a gong.  I think of this as the back-bone of the album.  John Coltrane is such an incredible musician, I find it hard not to enjoy his music.  His ferocious solos make for an unbelievable opening to an unbelievable album.  The opening to this song is its greatest characteristic.  The dramatic opening acts like the intense formation of  the album.  Towards the end of the first part, which comes in at 7 minutes and 43 seconds, there is a background group of vocalists that take part in chanting "A Love Supreme."  I find that the hypnotic nature of this song is reminiscent of Coltrane's older albums, when he was with Atlantic Recording Studios.

2.  Resolution (9/10)

Again with this song, the best part is the beginning.  The first twenty seconds consists of the bassist playing a very quiet series of notes.  At about the 23 second mark, the rest of the quartet bursts into action loudly.  This actually startles me almost every time I listen to this record because the entire album begins fairly gentle.  The pianist especially has some great moments in this track.  He provides a beautiful solo of chords about three minutes into the song.  The hard bop style of the second movement is a stunning way to show off the incredible talent that is the John Coltrane Quartet.  

3.  Pursuance (10/10)

I forgot to mention earlier that the version of A Love Supreme that I have does not separate Pursuance and Psalms.  I can't differentiate the two on my version, but I will do my best to identify them correctly. The third part, Pursuance, is highlighted by incredible solos from both John Coltrane and his drummer, Elvin Jones.  This is the longest track on the album and it comes in at an awesome 10 minutes and 43 seconds.  As the song progresses, each member takes his turn at soloing for a few minutes.  It is the drum solo that opens Pursuance.  As odd as this sounds, Jones' drum solo reminds me of a really mellow version of one of John Bonham's drum solos on Led Zeppelin's live album,  The Song Remains The Same.  I know, it's a really bizarre comparison.  Coltrane continues to amaze his audience, and the bassist, Jimmy Garrison, ends the third piece with a mesmerizing bass solo that perfectly merges the third and fourth portions.

4.  Psalms (10/10)

The final piece of this puzzle is the slowest and most dramatic song of the four.  The beauty of this piece is absolutely astonishing.  The performers surrounding Coltrane all play in a lower register that emphasizes the sadness and drama of this song.  This song reflects John Coltrane's free and lyrical style as opposed to the hard bop style on the first tracks.  It feels almost like Coltrane is speaking to the listener through his instrument.  As I mentioned before, Trane called this album "a spiritual journey."  As the album moves from one piece to the next, you can hear and feel the different stages in the "journey."  This final part is the ultimate enlightenment, as he has completed his journey and is one with the Lord.  It is a tremendously beautiful song.

With only four songs, A Love Supreme comes in with an overall length of just over 30 minutes.  This is really the perfect length.  I think if it was any longer than what it is, there is a possibility that listening to it would become tedious.  It seems almost impossible to imagine a jazz collection that does not include this masterpiece.  It is the record that I play before I go to bed every night and it's hard for me to imagine going to sleep without it!  It is the ideal jazz album and deserves a spot in any music listener's collection. 

Listen to A Love Supreme on Spotify!

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By the way, we are really trying to encourage your involvement, as the reader.  If you have any suggestions for the site, or an album you want to see reviewed, just leave your comments in the section below.  Thanks!

WE ARE FINALLY BACK ONLINE!!!

It's been about two weeks since we've had a new post, and we are excited to say that we will back to the old schedule starting on Thursday, December 6th.  As you know, that is Throwback Thursday.  We would love it if you leave a suggestion in the comments section below!  It was really discouraging to be gone for as long as we were, so unexpectedly.  We really want to make our "comeback" something you all want to read.

I know you have all been wondering where we have been for the past couple of weeks.  Let me explain.  We were having some trouble with the comments section, and we tried to make it easier for the readers to utilize.  HOWEVER, the approach I took did not cooperate with Blogger's conditions at all.  This is what caused the site to be down in the first place.  It didn't take too long to make the site viewable again, but it wasn't the same experience as before.  Due to some other complications with Google, we were unable to make new posts for a while.  But all of our issues have been resolved, and we are ready to be back and better than ever, with your help.

During our leave, we will probably have lost the support of some of our viewers.  We need whoever is reading this to help spread the word about Taking Notes!  Share our Facebook page and tell your friends to look us up!  We really appreciate your support during this time.

Just to refresh your memories, we will have new posts each Wednesday and Thursday every week from now on.  Still, we will be taking a week off over the holidays where there will not be a new post.  Check back tomorrow for a new review!!!

UPDATE: Tomorrow we will review anything you suggest! It doesn't have to be Throwback, just make sure you comment down below! We are all so excited to be back. Thanks.


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The Rolling Stones - "Let It Bleed" (1969)

Let It Bleed is the tenth studio album released by the Rolling Stones in America.  Due to some differences in some release differences in their home country of England, it is the eighth album that was released in England.  It was released in December of 1969.  This was the final album to feature band member, Brian Jones.  He was a founding member of the band and played a wide variety of instruments.  He died in July of 1969; his death was reported as "death by misadventure."  This was a tragic loss for all of the music industry, and has been the topic of many theories of conspiracy.  This album features some of The Rolling Stones' most famous songs, including "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want." When discussing the success of The Rolling Stones, this is an album that is sure to be discussed.  

1) Gimme Shelter (10/10)

This is possibly the best Rolling Stones song ever.  When it was released, it also had great emotional appeal, due to the suffering everyone was feeling because of the Vietnam War.  One of the greatest parts of the song is when Merry Clayton sings in the background.  She is the standout female voice that sings the powerful lines including "War, Children, it's just a shot away."  Her exceptional performance along with the band's stellar job creates one of the best songs in rock and roll history.

2) Love In Vain (9/10)

What comes as a shock to most people is that this song is actually a cover of a blues song from 1937 by Robert Johnson.  It is surprising because it seems to fit the Stones' style perfectly.  There is a big difference in the arrangements for both versions however.  The Rolling Stones added a few new chords here and there and the song had a unique country tone to it.  The lyrics are very poignant and their new arrangement made that even more evident.

3)  Country Honk (7/10)

This is actually just a country version of the much more famous, "Honky Tonk Women."  The version on this album is the original version of the song.  They wrote and intended the song to sound the way it does on Let It Bleed.  However, a more modern version was created to become a single.  I personally prefer "Honky Tonk Women," but "Country Honk" has a very distinct ring to it.

4) Live With Me (8/10)

This song really shows off their influences and their own original characteristics.  The song has a definitive blues backbone, along with a number of other traits that only the Rolling Stones could successfully use.  A couple of minutes into the song, there is a wonderful saxophone solo.  Also, the lyrics seem like they may be a joke about the way Jagger was looked at by the public.  Lines like "I got nasty habits, I take tea at three," help to give me this impression.

5) Let It Bleed (9/10)

This is an amusing song that allows Mick Jagger to really show off his personality.  Its loud and rambunctious attitude is at a level only The Rolling Stones can reach, and it is awesome.  Everything just comes together in a way that is somewhat stupefying.  In order to understand what I am trying to say, you really have to just listen to it.  You can listen to it on YouTube by clicking here.

6) Midnight Rambler (9/10)

This is another song that is filled with the blues.  This is a result of the constant harmonica jamming in the background.  This song mostly shows off how talented Mick Jagger really is.  It has been said that this song is actually about The Boston Strangler, who murdered many women in the early 1960s.  If you read the lyrics, the resemblance between the "Midnight Rambler" and The Boston Strangler is very obvious.

7) You Got The Silver (7/10)

This is the first time that Keith Richards held the role of the lead vocalist on a song by the Stones.  Both Jagger and Richards recorded a version of the song, but the band eventually decided on Richards' version.  This is partly because it is Keith's own composition.  It is also the last song to ever feature Brian Jones, who plays the autoharp on this song.  This is a song with the intentions of just pure entertainment.

8) Monkey Man (8/10)

This song has an great guitar part played by Keith Richards.  It's not that it is such a complex part; the simplicity of it is what makes it so thrilling.  Mick Jagger also sings some very strange lyrics, including "Yes, I'm a sack of broken eggs, I always have an unmade bed, Don't you?"  Nevertheless, it is a fantastic addition to this outstanding album.

9) You Can't Always Get What You Want (11/10)

Words can't really describe how good this song is, but I'll do my best to give it proper justice.  It represents the 1960s generation in a really smart way.  The three major themes of the sixties were drugs, love, and politics.  The first part of the lyrics is about love, the second part is about politics, and the last is about drugs.  This is all on top of the band playing a song that has a groove to it that is hard to match.  They even featured a the London Bach Choir and an orchestra on the song.  Mick Jagger said "The orchestra was not just to cover everything up.  It was something extra.  The Stones were working on this song since they were working on their last album, Beggars Banquet.  And yes, "it goes to eleven!"

I hope you are all inspired to go and listen to Let It Bleed now.  I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed.  It was an album that helped define a generation, and end it.  It was the last Rolling Stones album of the 1960s.  Rolling Stone Magazine rated Let It Bleed as the 32nd best album of all time.  From the lethal guitar on "Monkey Man" to the ferocious blues on "Midnight Rambler" to the incredible symbolism on "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want," this is the best album by The Rolling Stones.

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Christina Aguilera - "Lotus"

Lotus is Christina Aguilera's seventh studio album that was released last Friday, November 9th.  This album is a huge step up from her last album, Bionic.   It has a great mix of club/dance songs and piano focused songs that bring out the best in her powerful voice.  It is a CD that definitely brings her voice front and center, something that Bionic lacked.  Her previous album was a major flop in the music industry with very low sales figures.  Aguilera has put out her best album in years with this latest release.  The main theme throughout the album is that she is a fighter and refuses to be hurt by what all of her critics have to say.  All of the Aguilera fans will be very pleased to see what she has done with this album.

1) Lotus Intro (??/10)

This "song" sets the mood for the rest of the album.  It's not much of a song, as the entire thing is spoken word.  The words, however, use the lotus flower as a metaphor for Christina's "rebirth."  She is making it clear that she wants a clean slate and is ready to take on her career with a new attitude.  I can not give it a score, just because it isn't really a song.

2) Army of Me (7/10)

This song is about facing the pressure of being a celebrity.  Aguilera is already using her lyrics to build herself up and prove that she will not be affected by what anyone else has to say.  It has the sound that I would expect in a single off of this album.  I wouldn't be too surprised if this inspiring hit will see some time on the radio in the coming months.

3) Red Hot Kinda Love (8/10)

Now this song is interesting.  The first time I heard it, I absolutely hated it.  But after a few listens it began to become one of the standout songs off of this album.  It is a fun pop song filled with energy that is bound to make its way onto the playlists of clubs everywhere.  This song takes some warming up to, but it has that sound that will have people singing it all over the place.

4) Make The World Move (feat. CeeLo Green) [4/10]

The addition of her "Voice" co-star seemed really unnecessary.  His vocals never had an important part in the song.  He was basically a back-up singer for the track.  The song was backed by a band that featured a lot of trumpets and horns that didn't quite fit.  The mix of "old-fashioned" and modern music made for a sub-par song.

5) Your Body (8.5/10)

This is Aguilera's lead single off of Lotus.  It was released sometime in September and saw a good amount of time on the radio.  It shows off Aguilera's incredible vocal ability tremendously.  What makes this song so good is that it can do that and be a pop song that will be very successful.  This is a hit song for Aguilera and her producer.

6) Let There Be Love (7/10)

This song is headed straight for the radio.  It uses the familiar formula for hit songs, mostly because of the producer of this song, Max Martin.  He has also produced songs for Katy Perry, Usher, and Britney Spears.  Christina is likely to release this as a single also, as Martin has proved to be very successful in the past.  The song itself does not lack vitality and deserves to be a hit single.

7) Sing For Me (8/10)

This is the first ballad of the album.  It is reminiscent of arguably her best song to date, "Beautiful."  This is another song where she gains confidence by singing about how she is not affected by what other people have to say.  It is backed by some soft violins and a piano, with a solid "ballad drumbeat." For die hard Christina Aguilera fans, this is a precious jewel to save from this LP.

8) Blank Page (7/10)

Aguilera decided to follow up the album's first ballad with another intense piano ballad.  This is the first song with a lot of emotion that doesn't focus on her thoughts of herself.  These lyrics focus on a lost love.  Christina is able to show off the power in her voice.  Her voice is able to make the listener feel the emotions she is feeling, and that is very evident in this song.

9) Cease Fire (5/10)

This song is very bland and uninteresting.  From the extremely unnecessary use of auto-tune at times to all of the war analogies, this song is probably the album's low point.  Even the chorus isn't as electrifying as the rest of the songs.  I just feel like this song was released unfinished.  If it was a little more polished and the lyrics were put together a little better, it could be great.

10) Around The World (6/10)

This song also lacked the excitement the album reached in the beginning.  It reminds me a little bit of "Your Body," but without the thrills that it had to offer.  One good thing about this song is the drums, something about the drumbeat in this song stood out to me.  Aguilera also referenced her hit song from 2001 by whispering "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?" in the background.  That might have been the best part of the song.

11) Circles (8/10)

This song was a complete change from the current mood of the album.  With the hook line being "Spin around in circles on my middle middle finger" it definitely took me by surprise.  Anyway, the song is one of the more fun tracks off of the entire record.  It was filled with attitude and was a great change from past three songs, which were not very great.

12) Best Of Me (8/10)

This is Aguilera remembering how she used to be so vulnerable.  With this song she is putting the past behind her and promises that nobody will ever get the "best of me" anymore.  This is a song of hope that she can stay strong in the future.  This is the third and final ballad of the album.  I think it is the best of the three.

13) Just A Fool (feat. Blake Shelton) [7/10]

This is a great song to end the record.  It is another duet with her fellow judge on "The Voice," but this one is much better than the first, with CeeLo.  The first verse is all Aguilera, and the second is with Blake Shelton.  Even so, he continues to sing along with Christina in the last part of the song.  There is a great powerful drum beat that is perfect for tapping your feet along with the music.  If there was one song that really proved that Christina Aguilera is one of the best singers of this generation, it would be this one.

Lotus is so much better than I thought it would be.  It is one thousand percent better than her last album, Bionic.  The addition of a long list of new producers make this an album that is filled with songs that are bound to make an impact on the charts.  There was a brief stage of about three songs where things got a little weak, but for the most part, this was a great album.  Christina is starting a new chapter, and all of her fans will be very excited when they hear this new record.

Listen to the Deluxe Version of Lotus on Spotify!

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Van Morrison - "Moondance" (1970)

Moondance was Van Morrison's third studio album and was released in February of 1970.  The style of this album was very unusual for its time.  It blended jazz with soul and soft rock, creating a truly unique, intimate experience.  This has been widely considered to be one of Van Morrison's most famous albums.  This album has been critically acclaimed since its release and it continues to please listeners to this day.  It is one of my favorite albums of all time; and the title track is one of my favorite songs of all time.  Van Morrison is intensely articulate with this work of art, creating a one of a kind experience that is hard to top.

1) And It Stoned Me (9/10)

In these older albums, the artist could tell a story and express themselves through the music.  In this opening track, Van Morrison told the story of a day in the life of a young freedom seeker.  This could very well be an account of an actual experience he took part in.  The soft rock and roll that backs up his distinct vocals makes this one of the best songs on the record.  Somehow, this song is both relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. 

2) Moondance (10/10)

This is one of the standout songs off of this album.  It is probably the most famous song from it.  This also consists of soft background noise surrounding Van Morrison's voice.  It is a jazzy, romantic song that brings out the best in his music.  The soothing nature of this song does not take away from the passion in Moondance's lyrics.

3) Crazy Love (8.5/10)

Van Morrison sings so softly during this song, it is close to a whisper.  This creates a feeling of powerful intimacy that is not matched on the entire album.  The album starts with a few quiet songs that focus on his wonderfully unique voice.  The group of back up singers add to the suspense of this classic love song.

4) Caravan (9/10)

The music and lyrics to this song look so simple on paper.  Nevertheless, Van Morrison throws his personality into it and creates a very intricate piece of music that touches the soul.  The way this song was put together is genius.  The way the band fades in and out somehow allows Van the Man to communicate his emotions in a very effective manner.

5) Into The Mystic (10/10)

This song basically sums up the entire message behind Moondance.  The way Morrison sings this song makes the listener feel like he is directing his words to one specific person, not millions of fans.  It is a beautiful representation of romance because of its traditional structure.  The lyrics are wonderful, but they can be interpreted differently by any listener.  The lyrics are beautiful, the song is beautiful, and this is the best song off a great album.

6) Come Running (8/10)

Van Morrison described this song as a "happy-go-lucky" song.  That is exactly how I would describe it as well.  The song comes in at a fairly short 2 minutes and 33 seconds.  This does not leave Morrison enough time to completely express himself as he did in the past 5 tracks.  However, it's a fun song to listen to, and begins the transition into the more light-hearted, second half of the album.

7) These Dreams Of You (7.5/10)

After a couple of minutes, the repetitive style of this song began to get a bit boring.  Don't get me wrong, it's a great song.  However, it is definitely not the best song on the LP.  The lyrics consist of the telling of what are apparently dreams Van Morrison has had.  A pretty saxophone solo makes this a good one, but it can't be compared to the genius of songs like "Into the Mystic."

8) Brand New Day (8/10)

"Brand New Day" is a very down to earth song that is very fervent.  The amount of capability this song offers is beyond that of most of the songs I have ever listened to.  It leaves a lot to the listener to put things together and completely absorb the magnitude of this song.  The only negative thing about this song is that it leaves you wanting more.  It shows off the broad spectrum of talent Van Morrison has to offer.

9) Everyone (7/10)

This song has a very joyful and happy tone that seeps into your mind and makes the listener feel these same emotions.  When talking about this song, Van Morrison described it as a "song of hope."  Many fans, however, feel the song's lyrics represent a different meaning.  I feel like the lyrics are telling the story of a troubled group of kids, filled with hope.  This quote from the song represents the idea of hope well: "By the winding stream we shall lie and dream/We'll make dreams come true if we want them to..." 

10) Glad Tidings (8/10)

This is the perfect song to end this album.  The upbeat tempo rolls along as Van Morrison's signature horn section plays in the background.  It's the fun kind of ending that makes you want to listen to the entire thing all over again.  While it is not the best song on the record, it is the best song to end the album.

In my opinion, Moondance is Van Morrison's best album, and the most defining release of his career.  Every song is a masterpiece in its own way, and that is what makes the album come together and become such a breath-taking piece of art.  Moondance was such an innovative album for its time.  It combined a unique style of jazz, with the popular genre of rock and roll to create one of the best albums of all time.  Even Rolling Stone rated it as number 66 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  I believe that this album represents the peak in, not only Van Morrison's career, but in the entire genre of European soul music.

Listen to Moondance on Spotify!

Aerosmith - "Music From Another Dimension!"

Music From Another Dimension! is Aerosmith's fifteenth studio album since their premiere in 1973.  This album has been highly anticipated by Aerosmith fans because it is their first album to feature all new material since 2001.  To avoid confusion I will clarify something right now.  The album was released in two formats; a single CD version as well as a deluxe edition.  I will be reviewing the basic version that lacks three bonus tracks, bringing the total track count down to 15.  Before I get started, I'll say that if you haven't heard an Aerosmith album since the seventies, you might be a bit disappointed.  However, if you are a fan of Aerosmith's music since the nineties, you might enjoy this album.  Let's get started.....

1) LUV XXX - (6/10)

Just the name of this song (pronounced 'Love Three Times') had me worried at what to expect from Aerosmith's latest album.  After the minute of a creepy voice explaining how this album was going to control my emotions, I wasn't feeling any better about it.  However, they surprised me and pulled of a solid rock tune with an infectious drum beat and nice little guitar solo by Joe Perry.  I'll give it a six out of ten just because Tyler's vocals just didn't sound like himself and that took away from the experience.  The majority of the song didn't sound like it should be an Aerosmith song.  But I have to say, the last minute is completely different than the majority of the song.  The last bit reminded me of Aerosmith in their prime and it got me pretty excited.

2) Oh Yeah - (7/10)

This song also had its dull moments.  There were times when the constant singing of "Oh Yeah!" in the background got kind of annoying.  Regardless, this song was definitely better than the opening track, but it still lacked some of the characteristics I have come to expect in Aerosmith's music.  Another awesome guitar solo brought this song to life and left me satisfied.

3) Beautiful - (8.5/10)

This was the rowdy rock anthem I had been waiting for!  It's hard to think of anything negative to say about this song.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Aerosmith, this song represents their style perfectly.  With another impressive guitar solo and electric vocals from Steven Tyler, this album just got a whole lot better.

4) Tell Me - (7.5/10)

This was an interesting choice to follow up the hard-rocking "Beautiful."  This song is driven by the acoustic guitar and is a typical Aerosmith love song.  It progresses from just an acoustic guitar and Tyler's vocals to a quality rock ballad.  This is the first song on the album that expressed a lot of emotion and had meaning.  Perry snuck another guitar solo into this song, making that four songs in a row in which he had a share of the spotlight.  Let's see how long this streak lasts!

5) Out Go The Lights - (9/10)

After listening to this song I felt like I was back listening to Aerosmith in the seventies.  It is a hard rocking song that shows off their bluesy roots.  The backing vocals give this song a type of groove that I haven't heard in an Aerosmith song in a long time.  Another long-lasting guitar solo brings the streak to five consecutive songs!

6) Legendary Child - (8/10)

This song proves that Aerosmith is really putting forth an effort to return to their seventies form.  I was surprised to find out that this was the lead single off of this album.  For the past 20 years, it seems like Aerosmith has been making pop-influenced songs in order to stay on the radio.  It's a great song that deserves to be the lead single.  An additional guitar solo means that Joe Perry has had a solo on every song on the album so far!

7) What Could Have Been Love (7/10)

This song is just a classic power ballad that is a target to expand their audience and get playing time on the radio.  It highlights Steven Tyler's voice but the song as a whole lacks detail that could have made this song better than what it is.  Tyler's passion gives it a tone that makes the song, um, not terrible.  The power ballad did not call for a real guitar solo from Perry, ending the streak at six consecutive songs.

8) Street Jesus (9/10)

This is another great song that brings me back to Aerosmith's prime.  There are pieces of this song that could have been taken directly from an old album of theirs.  It has a blues sound to it that is just awesome.  This is definitely one of the stand-out tracks off of this album.  Going back to Joe Perry's string of guitar solos, this song gets him back on track with a few nice riffs and one great solo.

9) Can't Stop Lovin' You (feat. Carrie Underwood) [4/10]

I don't know what to say about this one.  What were they thinking?  This song is an awkward cross between country and shrieking hard rock.  It doesn't make sense.  However, I have asked other people their opinion on it and some people really like it.  To me,  I think it was a terrible decision on Aerosmith's part.  I actually lost some respect for these guys just now.

10) Lover Alot (7/10)

This is just a raw, powerful, hard rock song.  This is another one that is reminiscent of Aerosmith's prime days in the seventies.  It's surprising to see how much their music has changed since their last album, 11 years ago.  This song is all about repetition.  This was the song that was stuck in my head after listening to the album for the first time.  It is also the second single off of the album.

11) We All Fall Down (6/10)

This one is just another ballad.  It's more sappy than the first one (What Could Have Been Love), and it doesn't fit in with the rest of the songs that take on that old "Rock 'n' Roll" sound.  Despite that, this was expected because they gained a large amount of fans from their "sappy" stuff in the nineties.

12) Freedom Fighter (8/10)

Politics isn't usually something that is brought up in Aerosmith's music.  However, lead guitarist Joe Perry was outraged when he learned of Joseph Kony, who has been abducting children all across Uganda and surrounding areas.  He was inspired by the documentary "KONY 2012", which went viral on YouTube.  Perry wrote and sang this song all on his own, making it the only song that does not feature vocals from Steven Tyler.  On top of all this background information, it's a great song.

13) Closer (5/10)

This song is just boring.  It is lost somewhere between a regular mid-tempo Aerosmith song and one of their slower ballads.  I haven't been able to figure this one out, and the confusion made the song come across as a bit dull.  If anyone can give me a clue as what this song is all about, please let me know.

14) Something (6/10)

This album is beginning to lose the early excitement it had in its first half.  This song is also a little boring.  I think the vocals belong to Joe Perry, but I can't be sure.  It's definitely not Steven Tyler.  Something about this song just didn't do it for me.  

15) Another Last Goodbye (7.5/10)

This closing ballad was a great way to end the album.  The final track was the best of the three ballads off of this album.  It featured a few signature screams from Steven Tyler.  The song expressed the emotion of the entire album.  Based on the lyrics, I wouldn't be surprised if this last song may be the final song of Aerosmith's career.  This is quite possible because Steven Tyler is well into his sixties now.  The song and the album ended with the return of the eerie voice from the beginning.  This time it told me that I am now allowed to return to reality.  I don't think that was at all necessary, it made the whole thing seem pretty corny.

Music From Another Dimension! adds to the success of the legendary band, Aerosmith. The album had several hits and a couple misses. And although the 15-track album isn’t its best work, it is much better than anything they have released in the past 15 years. Aerosmith is obviously trying to recreate its prime days, but I don’t think any longtime fans will be complaining.

Listen to the Deluxe Version of Music From Another Dimension on Spotify!

Welcome to Taking Notes! This is a place where I will review all kinds of new music.  Here, you will find Track-By-Track Reviews of new and old music CDs.  You will find a new post every Wednesday and Thursday!  I appreciate all kinds of feedback and I look forward to keeping you all informed with the world of music!