More reviews...

Today was a pretty dull day, except I got to eat lunch with Scott at ABC Pizza, and look over some plans. I also found a new shortcut to avoid the horrendous light at North Blvd. and Water's. Other than having to dodge tree cuttings, it's a solid route. Okay, my life is really boring, so some reviews follow. Yesterday we had reviews of both "Inside Your Heaven" singles as well as Coldplay's "Brothers and Sisters" EP and the Bee Gee's "Size Isn't Everything." Today we look at John Steven's "Come Fly With Me" single, as well as Carmen's Rasmusen's debut EP "Carmen," as well as Clay Aiken's "Measure of a Man" and Anna Nalick's "Wreck of the Day," if I can get through them all before my mom wants the computer again. Anyway,

Review: "Come Fly With Me" - John Stevens

1. Come Fly With Me - Whoa, this dude sounds just like Old Blue Eyes, only without the womanizing (we hope). Not a bad track.

Overall: Good song, but one song is a bit weak, even for a single. Career note for John Stevens: please, don't try to be the next member of the rat pack. If you had been born sixty years ago, you could have been the next Bobby Darin.

Review: "Carmen" (EP) - Carmen Rasmussen

1. Photograph - Well, this is an okay song, and she wrote it. It has a bit of a honky-tonk feel, and I don't know how I feel about that.
2. Crazy In Love - This is a country song, not a particularly remarkable one, either, just a sappy mid-tempo song I guess.
3. I've Just Seen A Face - This is a country remake of a Beatles track. It sounds like an 80's country song, and not in a good way.
4. The One After 9:09 - Um, another country remake of a Beatles track. It's not that great.

Overall: Um, all of the songs on this EP sound the same, and they sound quite country. If you like that sort of thing, this EP is for you. If not, well, you're out of luck.

Review: "Measure of a Man" - Clay Aiken

1. Invisible - This song is really creepy, but it has a catchy chorus. Go figure. It was the first single to the album.
2. I Will Carry You - This is an adult contemporary mid-tempo song, and it's a good one.
3. The Way - The second single to the album, this is a pleasant mid-tempo song.
4. When You Say You Love Me - This is a pleasant, cliche-ridden, mid-tempo ballad.
5. No More Sad Song - Okay, it's hard to imagine Clay getting rejected so easily, but here's his reply, and it's a defiant one.
6. Run To Me - This is an adult-contemporary mid-tempo love ballad, and it's alright.
7. Shine - This is an okay song, another mid-tempo love song.
8. I Survived You - Another post-breakup song, this is an okay mid-tempo song.
9. Solitaire (Bonus Cut) - The b-side of "The Way" single, this is a pretty good remake.
10. Perfect Day - This is a nice mid-tempo love ballad, with some good rhythm.
11. Measure of a Man - This is an interesting track, somewhat out of kilter with the rest of the album, but perhaps the best song on the entire album.
12. Touch - Okay, this is a mid-tempo love song. Noticing a trend?

Overall: This is an okay album, but a lot of really sounds the same--either perfect love or recovery from love gone wrong. It's pleasant enough, and a worthy listen, but somehow I leave the album wanting more daring, more chances, and less cliches about love. Oh, and some more creative song titles would be nice. Half of the tracks on this album have been the titles of hits from other artists.

Review: "Wreck of the Day" - Anna Nalick

1. Breathe (2 AM) - This song, the first single from the album, is a really good song, and really bleak. Maybe that's why I like it so much.
2. Citadel - This song, the second single from this album (so far), is a really good song as well, full of irony.
3. Paper Bag - This is a peppy, upbeat sort of song, with ironic lyrics.
4. Wreck of the Day - This is a song with defiant lyrics set to beautiful, soft music. A beautiful mix, and appropriate to the mood of the album.
5. Satellite - This is a really peppy song, and a possible single from the album.
6. Forver Love (Digame) - This is a really smooth love song, and a lovely ballad.
7. In The Rough - This is a really punchy and compative song, and a good one.
8. In My Head - This is a really nice song, with sad lyrics and good music.
9. Bleed - This song has a great intro. It's a good song overall.
10. Catalyst - This song is really depressing, in a similar style to "Breathe (2 AM)."
11. Consider This - This song, the closing track of the album, has a bit of a guitar-heavy sound, which is quite nice.

Overall: This is a really good album to listen to, but it would probably make me too sleepy if I put it in my car. Anna Nalick has a wonderful voice, but it's very soothing, even when singing some very depressing lyrics about drugs, drinking, depression, and dumping. There are occasional upbeat songs, but this alubm is a real downer. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you.

*Bonus Review*

Review: "Analyze This: What Handwriting Reveals" - Allan Conway

This is a good, short trip through the field of graphology. As a left-handed person, this book didn't have a whole lot to say about me. However, this book is a good introduction to the serious complications of graphology. It also has lots of bogus (and overly flattering) analysis of the writing of famous people (including Frank Abernathy, Jr. and Hillary Clinton). A lot of graphology looks highly subjective, filled with psychological analysis, and signs that can either be positive or negative. Nonetheless, it is a useful look at a field growing in popularity in recent years, and it is short, a major virtue. If you've got a few hours to kill and you like looking at handwriting, this is a good book to look at.