Music You Should Check Out

Haven't posted an entry like this in a while, but a spent a few hours last night picking up some new music and updating my play list, so I wanted to share some tracks and discs that I think you should pick up.

Right now I'm basically obsessed with Rihanna's new song "Umbrella" featuring Jay-Z. It's a different style from her typically Caribbean-flavored tunes (she's from Barbados) but just as catchy as her past hits like "Pon De Replay" and "SOS (Rescue Me.)" The thing that really gets me going is the music video for the song. It's a sexy, well put together piece of art. Check it out below.


Another group with some new music to push is Maroon 5. They've been all over the place lately; appearing on Saturday Night Live and the coveted American Idol results night. The bands latest disc It Won't Be Soon Before Long just came out on Tuesday. Although I have no idea what the title of the album actually means, the tracks are good. Typical Maroon 5 kinda jazzy funky grooves with some great slow jams in there, too. Check out the video for the single "Makes Me Wonder." The guys are also slated to appear on NBC's TODAY on Memorial Day for the Summer Concert Series.


Lastly, I want to make a note about JoJo. Remember JoJo? I shouldn't say "remember" because she hasn't really gone anywhere since her first hit "Leave (Get Out)" but she has been kind of off the radar lately. JoJo started her career after competing on America's Most Talented Kids and things took off from there. Also, she's only 16 years old... makes me feel like I've done nothing with my life and I'm not even 25. Anyway, there's no video to accompany this track, but I need all of you to go check it out. The song "Anything" off her The High Road CD is starting to get airplay I want you to hear it. The song samples Toto's "Africa," which is amazing on it's own, but it's actually a good track. Head over to JoJo's official MySpace page to hear it and let me know what you think. Pretty good for a 16-year-old who wouldn't be born until 8 years after the original song was released.

Here's some extra on the music above:

Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad is out on June, 5th


Maroon 5's It Won't Be Soon Before Long is out now


JoJo's The High Road is out now, too

Photo Blog: American Museum of Natural History

Below is a photo blog from my visit to the American Museum of Natural History this past weekend. Visit the Museum's website for additional information on their current exhibits and programs.

Grey's Anatomy Finale

I just love television so much, and last night was a big night! Grey's Anatomy wrapped up its 3rd season and I almost had to miss it because RCN decided to not provide cable OR internet all day yesterday! I am mad at you, RCN!!!! We are in a fight! (But please don't take away my cable!) Thankfully, our friend Becky let us go over to her apartment to watch the show. I know it's seems a little extreme, but TV is really important to me, ok? Go read a book or something, you jerk...

So the big finale was upon us and, without saying too much, I wanna say, "WHAT THE HECK?!" It was the saddest finale ever with basically no happy resolutions! This is the happiest picture I could find...
I don't feel like typing out the recap of the ep, but jeez... I can't tell you how many times we screamed at the TV. The people on the show just cannot get a break! I thought being a doctor was easy. Last season was all just sewing people up and having affairs on the side. It's not brain surgery... er... wait...

Please discuss your thoughts on the situation... would love to know what you think. And if you were one of the unfortunate RCN subscribers last night and didn't have a chance to see the show, the TV Cocktail blog at iVillage.com has a full recap.

America's Next Top Model Finale

I haven't written much about America's Next Top Model, but I am a dedicated (and embarrassed) watcher. Here's a really quick recap of last night's finale.

The final three girls were Renee (the bitch,) Jaslene (the cha-cha diva,) and Natasha (the mail-order bride.) They each did their own Covergirl commercial and photo shoot.
Unfortunately Renee was sent home because she looked "too old" at the elderly age of 20. That's the breaks, kid!

The final runway show was between Jaslene and Natasha. I have to say, it was weird. They had to act like primordial cave women who evolved into regular, amazing supermodels. Very controversial in the Bible Belt. They both look good, but Natasha's weirdness came through... and her skirt fell off at one point.
In the end, America's Next Top Model was Jaslene, who proved that even though she was eliminated before the show really started in Cycle 7, she made the necessary changes to come out on top. Now Tyra owns her soul.
If you can't wait until next cycle head over to The CW's website for more photos and videos.

Shear Genius: Here Comes the Challenge

No post from last week's episode of Bravo's Shear Genius, but I'm back this week with a recap. Last night was a pretty good episode, too. The show started out with the contestants meeting renowned stylist Jose Eber in a mall, obviously. He explained to them that their challenge was to pair off and convince people in the mall to get a haircut. They could charge whatever they wanted for the cuts, and the team who made the most money would win. Pretty simple!

Tabatha and Tyson won the mall challenge by doing fewer cuts for more money per cut. They ended up making over $700, which was more than the other two teams combined. Daisy and Anthony didn't do a bad job, but Dr. Boogie and Ben came in last... possibly because Ben was dressed like a ninja (don't ask, because I don't have an answer.)

The elimination challenge asked the contestants to stay in their pairs and create wedding hairdos. They had only a few hours to style the bride, mother of the bride and maid of honor. The losing team would both be eliminated from the show, so the stakes were high. Daisy and Anthony once again worked very well as a team and make a look that really went well with their party's dresses and personalities. They were the clear winners.

Unfortunately, Tabatha and Tyson did not work well together, and after Tab admitted to the judges that she didn't care for Tyson at all, they were both cut from the show. I think it's sad that they were both eliminated. They were probably the two best stylists on the show, but sometimes when you make model look like she's going to a middle school homecoming instead of her wedding, you gotta peace out.

More clips, videos and blogs over at BravoTV.com