It is nearly a month by now since I bought Wild Hope, Mandy Moore's fifth studio album and Departure, Jesse McCartney's third studio album. And from then on, I've been hooked listening to them the whole time. Whether I'm at home or at work.
Mandy Moore – Wild Hope
Release Date: June 19, 2007
Genre: Folk Pop
Label: The Firm Music
Price: PhP 350.00 (Available at SM Record Bars here in the Philippines)
It was Spring 2007, when I initially learned that Mandy is releasing a new album, but this time with her own compositions. And when her new album was finally released in Summer 2007, I was incredibly surprised by the groundbreaking genre that Mandy has created in this day and age. Extremely different and far from the bubblegum pop music that she was famous of back in the day.
My first impression of Wild Hope was good because of the song Extraordinary. Yet at that point, I still doesn't like the album since I perceived it as boring, another acoustic-rock like sounding and a laid-back kind of music. Too far from her former albums that is pop, upbeat and contemporary. As a result, I ignored the thought of purchasing it.
On the contrary, I already bought the album a few weeks ago (after a year and a half since it was released), and my past unfavorable perception and remark concerning it eventually disappeared by this time.
Thus, I now find the album sedative, and it makes me incredibly nostalgic of the Fall season. Additionally, from the moment I heard Few Days Down, I eventually enjoyed it and it made me think of taking time out at downtown LA, having a cup of coffee at the Parisian boulevard, and having a leisurely walk around the extraordinary streets of Europe. It actually made me desperately wants a “few days down.”
On the other hand, the other songs in the album are great too... In fact, here is the list of my favorite tracks on the album:
1. Few Days Down
2. All Good Things
3. Can't You Just Adore Her?
4. Looking Forward To Looking Back
5. Latest Mistake
6. Gardenia
7. Wild Hope
8. Ladies' Choice
9. Most of Me
10. Extraordinary
On the whole, I strongly recommend this album to all the Mandy Moore fans out there who followed Mandy's journey throughout these years from her music to her personal life ever since back in day. And also to everyone who adores Mandy ever since she started out doing her thing during her early bubblegum pop music years.
Moreover, I recommend this as well to those folks out there who seek laid-back music. Who just wants to chill out and take pressure off their lives and reflect.
Likewise this album is just right for a sound trip this Fall as well as during rainy and gloomy days. In addition, try to burn an aromatherapy candle while listening to the album and you will eventually get of rid stress and it makes you feel better after. ;)
Jesse McCartney – Departure
Release Date: May 20, 2008
Genre: Contemporary R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop
Label: Hollywood Records
Price: PhP 350.00 (Available in SM Record Bars here in the Philippines)
I got the chance to listen to all the tracks in album around July 2008 through IMEEM, and I must admit that the entire songs in the album eventually conforms to my musical taste since it's urban-inspired (a blend of contemporary R&B and Hip-Hop and of course with a hint of Pop in it) since the artist is undoubtedly a Pop singer, Jesse McCartney, who became a household name through Disney back in the day.
Departure definitely produced a revolutionary image for this pop star. This album unveils a grown-up Jesse McCartney which is now more flashy and loud. On the other hand, this album also emblems a remarkable shift of musical genre for this pop star.
For this reason, I recommend this album for those who loves R&B and Hip-Hop music but can't still do away with Pop music elements. Furthermore, if you like music that are sensual, sexy, and flashy, you most likely enjoy this. In the same way, if you like Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown's current musical style and sounds, you will eventually like this too.
Here are my favorite tracks in the album:
1. It's Over
2. Told You So
3. Not Your Enemy
4. Bleeding Love
5. Rock You
6. How Do You Sleep?
7. Into Ya
8. Runnin'
9. Makeup
Ultimately, Mandy Moore and Jesse McCartney are just some of the pop stars that I ultimately grew with that indeed exudes transformation and difference by now into their being as much as I did as years went by. Which is I think is better and just appropriate.
In other words, there is nothing permanent in this world except change. People change and so as these pop stars.
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