Music Reviews
by Entertainment Columnist Janine Slayton
Janine Slayton is very important to the Fabulous Woman Team. She is not only one of our most popular writers she is a Copy Editor, Assistant Editor, Reporter, and Entertainment Columnist. Janine considers herself to be your typical mid-twenties struggling English major. She graduated from Roosevelt University in 2006 with her BA in English and Secondary Education. While not currently teaching, her passion for English finds her reading and writing in much of her spare time. Her other passion is music, so when her head isn't in a book, it is usually lost in a melody.

 Rockferry
A CD by Duffy
Reviewed by Janine Slayton

I have to admit, the first time I heard Duffy's hit single "Mercy," I didn't like it. I had the television muted as the video came on for the first time, and as I watched the video in silence she looked like a really cool, sweet chick that you would want to dance with. Then I turned the volume up on the TV and was completely caught off guard by the rough, strong voice I heard singing back at me. The voice just did not seem to match the angelic girl I was watching dance on the club stage, and I was highly disappointed. I had wanted to like this Duffy person, but now I just didn't know if I could do it. So thank goodness my boyfriend's brother made me watch her "Warwick Avenue" video and gave me a copy of the CD. Duffy got a second chance with me, and I'm glad to say she won me over after all.

Rockferry is a refreshing, fun album, and definitely a must-listen. Duffy has an enchanting voice, strong at times and almost whispery-sweet at others, which creates a nice balance depending on the mood she is trying to create. In "Mercy," she obviously showcases the stronger side of her voice as she ups the tempo on the album. On songs like "Warwick Avenue," "I'm Scared," and "Save it for Your Prayers," however, she shows a more vulnerable side, her voice softer and soothing, but also overflowing with emotion. It's hard not to get caught up in the stories she weaves through her songs with her enchanting voice.

Rockferry feels like it fell out of another era. Duffy shows a versatility that makes it hard to pinpoint exactly what her music reminds you of. She's definitely got a 'rock 'n soul' vibe throughout the album, which is somewhat reminiscent of the 60s and 70s, and yet unique at the same time. At times her voice reminds the listener of a Supremes-era Diana Ross, most notably in the song "Stepping Stone." As the song opens, it's almost hard to believe that the sweet-sounding voice that's full of attitude and emotion is not Ms. Ross's.

I don't know what I was thinking the day that I heard "Mercy" and wrote Duffy off, but I must say I am glad I gave her a second chance. At a time when new, original music seems hard to find, Rockferry provided this music lover with a CD that she can't put away. If you're looking for something new, fun, and just plain good, find yourself a copy of Rockferry and some headphones and enjoy!


We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.
A CD by Jason Mraz
Reviewed by Janine Slayton


Are you looking for some new music to listen to? Something new and fresh, with a melody you can’t resist? Maybe you want one of those perfect summer CDs that is perfect for rolling down the windows, turning up the stereo and not caring who hears or watches you sing along on that normally boring commute to work. Whatever you’re looking for, look no further than Jason Mraz’s newest release, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The CD contains a little bit of everything, infusing a blend of musical sounds and styles that Mraz does so artfully. 

The album begins with the slightly jazzy “Make It Mine,” a song that reminds us all to live life to the fullest. It’s hard to listen to this song and not find yourself wanting to dance along with the energetic horn section. Following “Make It Mine,” is “I’m Yours,” a song any seasoned Jason Mraz fan should already be familiar with. Released as a bonus track on his previous album, the song’s popularity spurred Mraz to tweak it a little and release the catchy, Hawaiian-influenced tune as his first single off the album.

“Make It Mine” and “I’m Yours” are just the tip of the iceberg, however. The entire album is a journey that Mraz takes the listener on, exploring a variety of subject matter. There are the love songs, of course. The sweet, laid-back “Lucky” with Colbie Callait chronicles a love story, creating a vision of the two lovers finally reuniting on a beautiful beach. The lyrics could even border on cheesy, but the beautiful melody and the infusion of Mraz and Callait’s voices makes the song irresistible. Mraz also tells of the flipside of that true blue love in the sweet “If It Kills Me,” which tells of an unreturned love that most people have probably been able to relate to at one time or another. The soulful, jazzy “Butterfly” is about as sexy as a song can get, and that is in large part due to Mraz’s talent with words and his ability to manipulate and combine them in a unique way that few lyricists can. “Butterfly” is definitely one of the highlights of the album.

Love is just one subject that Mraz tackles on We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. Without a doubt the most heartfelt song on the album is “Love for a Child,” which is about a child reflecting on his parents’ divorce. There is a heavy sadness throughout the song, which carries through the chorus even as it swells. This is one of those songs that manages to dig its way deep into you as you listen to it, almost as if the violin bow is swaying its way across your heartstrings as you listen.

Mraz doesn’t need to be sad to make an impression, though. He rekindles the hip hop influence heard on previous albums again this time around, most notably on “Coyotes” and “The Dynamo of Volition.” “Coyotes” is a darkly fun treat on the album, featuring synthesizers and a unique choir of varied voices. And “The Dynamo of Volition” is another highlight of the album, featuring Mraz’s trademark rapid-fire lyrics first seen in “The Remedy.” The fast-paced, fun nature, and Mraz’s encouragement in the chorus to “get ‘em up way high, gimme gimme that high five,” will have you putting this song on repeat indefinitely.

But that’s not all. Mraz has a few more tricks up his sleeve. He continues the theme of living life to its fullest in “Live High,” reminding us to take a closer look at life and not take it too seriously. The choir that joins in at the end does a great job of lifting up the listener, filling them with a sense of optimism. “Details in the Fabric” featuring James Morrison is a more haunting tune, reminding us to be strong in the face of whatever life may through our way. Mraz and Morrison blend beautifully and create a song that stays with you long after it’s over. There is also “Only Human,” a song that reminds us of our relationship to the world around us. Heavier on bass and drums, Mraz keeps the song light with his distinct vocal sound.

The musical journey that Jason Mraz takes his listener on closes with “A Beautiful Mess,” the perfect song to wrap up the themes Mraz has explored for the last 45 minutes. A pretty ballad, with some simple piano and light drumbeats, Mraz is back to love, but it feels like so much more. Maybe because after getting through the album, the listener realizes that it really is about so much more. Jason Mraz has managed to create an album about life and love that anyone can relate to. He manages to be serious without being preachy and in love without being too sappy. And he sums it all up with the title: We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. Yes. Yes we do.