I feel a bit sorry for the the U.K.-spring alternative-rock band Bush. They appear only in the footnotes of ’90s rock, sandwiched between the end of grunge and the rise of Oasis and Radiohead. There was a time, though, when they were huge. If nowhere else, you’ve probably heard tracks…

Earlier this week, I was both delighted and saddened when I read that R&B performer Jason Derulo said he might take a break from music after the release of his upcoming album, Future History. I was delighted because it means we don’t have to hear his bland, sample-heavy music for a…

After releasing a few lackluster singles that relied on sampling and riding the coattails of artists with bigger stars than her own, Nicki Minaj discovered her voice in her Pink Friday album late last year. When I reviewed one of her other tracks, I remarked that Nicki will probably represent all…

In spite of what I think of some rappers, the truth is that most of them have something to contribute to the scene. Kanye brings good production chops and high class. Eminem has tight alliterative flows. And Drake… well, he’s Canadian, which has to count for something, I imagine. To this…

When I think of the name Cobra Starship, I think about a neat G.I. Joe toy I saw at a garage sale when I was seven. I was pretty disappointed when I heard that the band’s name was a tie-in to their first single “Snakes On a Plane (Bring It)”…

Ask me to name today’s most influential actor in entertainment. Go ahead. Do it. My answer might surprise you.OK, I’ll just tell you who’d I’d pick. I’d pick Drake.No, really! Following his lead, a few other actors — like Jeff Bridges and Gwenyth Paltrow — have recently tied in singing with…

Wow, I haven’t heard the name Gym Class Heroes in a while! I remember the group, though. They were a hip-hop-and-pop-punk hybrid band that sounded tailor-made for the kids that got their music cues solely from MTV2.Then the band’s emcee, Travie McCoy, went off and did a solo thing, releasing…

Two project albums from prestigious hip-hop duos have been released this summer. Jay-Z and Kanye West, of course, released Watch The Throne last week. But, back in June, there was another: Eminem and collaborator-turned-enemy-turned-friend-once-more Royce Da 5’9″ released Hell: The Sequel under the name Bad Meets Evil. Both albums have…

When I visited the East Coast a few years back. I heard an interesting phrase pop up over and over again in conversation: “I see you!” No, it wasn’t any of that Na’vi, love-and-understanding crap. “I see you,” in this case, means “I see through you and your ulterior motive.”  …

I sympathize with Kelly Rowland, I really do. It must suck being constantly overshadowed by your former Destiny’s Child groupmate Beyoncé. Really: If Rowland cured cancer tomorrow, the story would probably be buried under another one about Beyoncé’s breakfast…

You know what sucks about waking up late in the morning? Pretty often, the only thing that’s on TV is The View. As a dude, this is a bit shameful to admit, but I actually keep the TV on ABC to watch the show. The View, as you know, supposedly offers insight into…

I’m guessing most people who read my “The Problem With…” column think that I loathe all pop music as processed drivel that appeals to the unwashed masses. Well, believe it or not, I actually like a lot of that drivel. Hence this new column, “In Defense of…,” which will highlight some of…

After a year of playing second-fiddle to a bunch of pop stars, Pitbull is back in business with a new album, Planet Pit, which is an odd name for a planet. It sounds like the name of a Mad Max-like wasteland. To be fair: I credit Pitbull with refining Latin…

It’s a funny thing growing up hearing about Britney Spears. I remember conversations between my friends and me in the school cafeteria about how much we loathed her. Somewhere along those acne-anointed, styrofoam-tray screeds, we got to asking whether Britney Spears could retreat from pop and do another genre. The…

After a couple of delays this year, Lil Wayne’s next album, Tha Carter IV, is coming out next month. And, presumably to make amends for the pushbacks, he went ahead and released a mixtape, Sorry 4 The Wait, yesterday.I don’t mind waiting a little longer for an album to drop…

I gotta tell you something, readers. I haven’t really followed The Voice, NBC’s singing competition show. It was never a conscious decision. I just haven’t really followed reality shows since the first couple seasons of Survivor. I guess, as a writer, I want to support my peers who work on…

When Jay-Z signed Robyn Rihanna Fenty to Def Jam Recordings in 2004 , he surely must’ve thought that her catchy dancehall demo “Pon de Replay” would outlive her untested talent. Others did: When Music of the Sun dropped, reviewers dismissed her as a pretty face cribbing Beyoncé’s style. And yet,…

After traveling around cities in New England for a week, I’ve found myself writing this week’s “The Problem With…” in Taylor Swift’s neck of the woods — Pennsylvania. It’s a hilly, rocky and forested state where old-school white churches stand in the middle of pastures and where mountains and skyscrapers…

I think I’ve figured out how the limeys in Coldplay think up their music: They visit museums and brainstorm ideas based on what they see there. It’s the only way a band could name their songs “Yellow” and “Clocks,” if you think about it. You tend to see yellow stuff…