• Junk Mail: Charli XCX 'Sucker' Album Review

    Welcome to Junk Mail, where a few Music Times staffers email back-and-forth about each week's biggest release throughout the work day. This week, Caitlin Carter, Joey DeGroot, and Carolyn Menyes chat about Charli XCX's new album, "Sucker."
  • Back of The Billboards: 'The 25th of December' by Dave Koz and Friends

    Society always celebrates the records that top the Billboard 200 album chart. Back of The Billboards is a Music Times weekly segment that looks at the opposite end: the new record that finished closest to the back of the Billboard 200 for the previous week. We hope to give a fighting chance to the bands you haven't heard of. This week we look at Christmas king Dave Koz and his new collection of smooth jazz standards.
  • Omarion Makes A Solid Return With His MMG Debut 'Sex Playlist'

    Last week, Omarion released his highly anticipated MMG debut album "Sex Playlist." The album is his first major release since 2010's Ollusion and critics are saying he's made a solid return. His fourth studio album comes after his 2012 mixtape "Care Package" and 2013′s sequel "CP2."
  • J. Cole Doesn't Disappoint With New Album '2014 Forest Hills Drive' [ROUND-UP REVIEW]

    Last month, J. Cole officially announced the iTunes preorder for his "2014 Forest Hills Drive" album and fans had been anticipating its release ever since. The album ended up leaking before its official release and fans contemplated whether or not to listen early. Buzz surrounding a track called "Fire Squad," where Cole calls out Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Macklemore and Iggy Azalea for appropriating black culture, made the album hard to resist. Whether fans decided to take a listen early or wait for the official drop, all can agree the North Carolina rapper did not disappoint. It has been reported that the album may have the biggest hip-hop sales week of the year.
  • Back of The Billboards: 'Long Tall Sally' by The Beatles

    Society always celebrates the records that top the Billboard 200 album chart. Back of The Billboards is a Music Times weekly segment that looks at the opposite end: the new record that finished closest to the back of the Billboard 200 for the previous week. We hope to give a fighting chance to the bands you haven't heard of. This week we look at Mexican pop star The Beatles (?) and its new EP ''Long Tall Sally' (?!?).
  • Avicii Releases 'The Days / Nights' with Henrik B, Felix Jaehn Remixes [REVIEW]

    After being announced by his manager on Instagram, Avicii has released his new EP "The Days / Nights" featuring two tracks that have already been previewed and two new remixes from Swedish producer Henrik B and German producer Felix Jaehn. "The Days" was already released as a single in October and "The Nights" was included in the "FIFA 15" soundtrack but never saw an official release besides a Spotify stream. Now "The Nights" is available on all portals with its opposing partner in addition to two added remixes from artists Avicii has been keen on. "The Days" and "The Nights" continue down the road that Avicii has paved for himself with "Wake Me Up," managing to merge country, folk and EDM. Tabbing U.K. heavyweight singer and former Take That frontman Robbie Williams on "The Days," Avicii delivers his folksiest track to date next to "Hey Brother." "The Nights" follows the same vein, but veers more electronic with cheery, pitched synth melodies under the vocals of Swedish DJ favorite Salem Al Fakir. The song encourages its listeners to live every day like it is your last, a message probably lost on most for those people glued to their television screen playing "FIFA 15."
  • WATCH: Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Debut "Spark the Fire" Music Video After 'The Voice' Performance

    When she released her first two solo albums -- Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and The Sweet Escape -- in the mid-2000s, Gwen Stefani was best known for creating hyper annoying, mildly grating pop music. In the best way, of course. With hits like "Hollaback Girl" and "Wind It Up," Stefani blasted onto the top of the pop charts often with the help of Pharrell. Well, now the duo are back again as coaches on The Voice season seven and musical partners with the irritatingly awesome new single "Spark The Fire."
  • Kygo Releases 'Firestone' Featuring Conrad On Spotify [REVIEW]

    It is the moment that Kygo fans have been waiting for. Besides his first single "Epsilon" on Ensis Records back in mid 2013 that sounds like more like a piano experiment than an official release, Kygo fans have not gotten to hear originals from the Norwegian producer sensation. Out a day early on Spotify, "Firestone" featuring the 300-signed Australian singer Conrad, reinforces the faith in Kygo that he can help carry the torch for dance music into 2015.
  • Clean Bandit Releases 'Stronger' from Special Edition of 'New Eyes' [REVIEW]

    Clean Bandit took over the radio waves in 2014 with their January single "Rather Be" featuring Jess Glyne. The song soared to the top of the U.K. charts — a first for the band — cracked the "Billboard" Top 10 and helped land them on festival stages worldwide while propelling the release of their artist album "New Eyes." Now they have unveiled a new track, "Stronger," from the special edition re-release of the album, which will also include a reworking of Robin S's classic "Show Me Love." While the album was not as well-received as their singles work, "Stronger" shows the same ability to create inescapably catchy singles that Clean Bandit have become known for. "Stronger" starts off with similar organ chords that were found in "Rather Be" but soon switches to a more traditional house piano that carries the melody of the song. Balancing their classical background with the deep grooves needed for a house song, they inject a measure of musicality into the track with sweeping violin strings over a shuffling bass line and deep synth stabs.
  • ASAP Ferg "Talk It": Trap Lord Contemplates Ferguson, Michael Brown in New 'Ferg Forever' Single [LISTEN]

    After the tragic death of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the grand jury deciding not to indict the white police officer Darren Wilson, the hip-hop community is reacting in the one way it knows how: in song. Last night (Nov. 25), ASAP Ferg released a new song alongside Clams Casino to sort through his feelings on the controversial death and ruling, the slow burning, contemplative track "Talk It."
  • Deadmau5 Releases '5 Years Of Mau5' EP [REVIEW]

    The 5 Years Of Mau5 compilation was ambitious. It took the best deadmau5 tracks from the past five years, put them on one CD and then added a second CD remixing those tracks. He tabs some of the most promising producers in the field of dance like Madeon, Eric Prydz, Dillon Francis, Botnek and others. The compilation features some previously remixed deadmau5 tracks that had caught his ear in the past, but it is primarily comprised of new music.
  • Rick Ross Offers Up More Drug Lord-Inspired Anthems on 'Hood Billionaire'

    When Rick Ross first emerged on the scene back in 2006, he introduced the world to his Miami drug lord persona with his debut single "Hustlin." Six albums and countless singles later, Ross is sticking to his guns with more drug themed anthems on Hood Billionaire. All in all, the album seems to be a hit or miss, either you will love what Ross has to offer or you will bore easily of his repetitive tales. Check out a round-up of what critics are saying below.
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