In a society where image has become an obsession, songs that don’t focus on being center of attention, living the party life or keeping the status quo are rare and often shoved into the indie/folk category musically. But Caitlin’s music isn’t that obsure. The rock-pop ballads contain catchy beats and lyrics that stick. Actually, they more than stick; they’re positive food for thought to much on over and over.

The one — and only – time I witnessed a music video on the big screen before previews at a movie theater was the first time I heard Caitlin Crosby. The song, “Still Have My Heart,” caught my attention because, even then, I perceived a theme of not living life based off others’ opinions of what’s acceptable. That was just last year, and it also was the beginning of a my love for her music and an admiration for another passion of hers outside of music.

She and singer-actress friend Brie Larson set up a Web site called LoveYourFlawz.com that encourages people of all ages, shapes and sizes to love the pieces of themselves they loathe. Anyone can submit pictures and share stories that will inspire others, whether in the form of a blog, poem, video, quote or journal entry.

Caitlin may be new to the music scene with the release of Flawz just last year, but she’s not new to the image-based scene of Hollywood. Her dad manages actors, and her mom used to be a model-actress, so she grew up in the world where it was common for celebrities to partake in crazy diets, submit to plastic surgery and wear the “in” clothes to fit a mold of the perfect image.

Instead of falling prey to this, Caitlin decided to shine as herself; all of these experiences and emotions are captured in her debut album, which is more of an anthem if you will. Her passion for helping others learn to love themselves is so contagious that her Web site has even grabbed the attention of recognizable musicians and actors — Alyssa Milano, Jenniver Love-Hewitt, Zachary Levi, Jordin Sparks — who all are featured in the “Flawz” music video holding their own signs about accepting flaws.

Intrigued by her uniqueness and caught up by her passion, I talked with the singer-songwriter recently after she trudged her way through the snow of Boston to and from an errand while on tour with fellow singer-songwriter (and former “American Idol” contestant) Jason Castro. Read below for a short Q&A of the conversation that ensued. 

What was your inspiration for LoveYourFlawz.com?
A lot of different things. I used to teach acting to kids and teens, and we had an exercise with “love your flaws” signs. I had so many that I started taking pictures of them, and then I started taking pictures of my friends, random people. (laughs) I did a Danny DeVito movie with Brie Larson, and we had the same issues with the vanity we saw.

Did you ever expect the Web site would be as expansive and popular as it is now?
Not when we started it. It’s bigger than we ever expected it to be. I’d been gathering footage for so long. I’m so passionate about helping people. It’s such a huge encouragement and blessing to myself. I want to keep rolling with it.

What is your goal with the Web site?
The whole goal is to help re-brainwash minds because I feel magazines and the media make people feel they need to fit in a mold of beauty and perfection. People need to refocus their perspective and be constantly positively reinforcing.

Since you encourage people to embrace their flaws, what are your own flaws you’ve learned to love?
I had really bad skin. Even now it’s not the best. I just put aloe vera on pimples I’d been picking at. My skin was really bad in high school; I was on Accutane a few times. I have footage of my skin without makeup in the “Flawz” video. And I have lots of cellulite.

What woman doesn’t?
(laughs) I’m not the biggest fan of being in a bikini without my shorts or sarong. Then there are other more personal things that made me insecure. It’s a challenge to be comfortable in your own skin. I’m dealing with my scars, and I’m grateful for it because it gives me the passion to help people.

I notice your Twitter and Myspace pages are littered with comments by people. Do you have time to read through all the stories about how people are inspired by the LoveYourFlawz site?
It’s so crazy on tour. I look on my phone and see comments, and I wish I had more time to bask in the words. Helping one person is incredible. It’s why I was created. I think everyone wonders that — why they’re here — so it literally means the world to me. I’m so excited, happy and humbled to be used to help people and help them for the good. It’s good I went through my own struggles so I could translate them into an art form. I wrote all the songs myself (for Flawz). It’s all my emotions coming to the surface.

Click here for Caitlin Crosby’s artist site, and click here for the LoveYourFlawz Web site. Caitlin’s album, Flawz, is available on iTunes.

The predominantly reggae-acoustic rock musician is a grounded 23-year-old with a deep, pure and at times husky voice, yet he possesses more emotional depth than many people twice his age. That aspect of him finds its way into his music, and his lyrics will stick with listeners long after the notes of each song end because the essence of Trevor is found in his music.

Last week, I had the opportunity to catch up with Trevor via phone before he embarked on a six-week tour beginning Jan. 27. While talking, he said he was waiting out potential flood dangers in Laguna Beach, Calif., thanks to days’ worth of rain. Much like his music, though, he didn’t let the prospect of something sway his attitude. Personable, laid-back and welcoming, after a 20-minute conversation, it became clear he’s very much a man who lives in the moment because that’s where life is lived for him.

“I don’t look forward too much. I take things a step at a time,” he said.

That being said, it brought up the subject of many of his songs on his self-titled debut album released last year on Vanguard Records. Each song contain themes of spirituality and universal love. It wasn’t intentional, Trevor explained. Instead, those ideas just so happened to be on his mind at the time.

“Music is a deep thing for me. It’s a way to listen to my inner self or let my inner self speak to me. It’s a way to let something greater than me talk to me. A lot of songs aren’t where I’m at presently. Some are trying to teach me or take me to a better place,” he said. “Music is about listening, even when you play music. I’m not trying to preach. I’m not a preacher, but it was just what I was meditating on at the time. [The songs] all come from a certain place and mean something in different ways.”

“Unity,” for example, is a powerful tune that holds a certain ambiguity in terms of meaning. He was on tour with fellow musician and friend Matisyahu when the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, hit the news. Matisyahu knew people who died in the attacks, while Trevor had emotional ties to India, thanks to many trips made there. Despite any cultural and spiritual differences on the outside, the two were both affected by the incident and came together to write the beautiful song about the need for unity despite differences. 

Producing music that touches so many emotional levels doesn’t seem — on the surface — the first choice for a kid originally from South Carolina, but, in fact, his upbringing enabled him to make that choice. His father was a drummer, so Trevor grew up in a creatively encouraging environment. By the time he hit high school, he had already experienced his first time in the studio before heading off to an arts school in California to study classical guitar. It was there he encountered music in a way he never had and discovered new audio loves.

“I was a surfer in my youth. Reggae is common music in surf culture. When I first heard it, I fell in love with it. I love world music — Indian, African, Middle Eastern — music that makes me feel something spiritually and takes me out of my physical world, whether it’s rock and roll or whatever,” he said.

His love for different sounds helped him find his way on the Shrek The Third soundtrack in 2007. That same love also finds its way into his music with soothing, yet upbeat, sounds, but get him to talk about India, and you can hear the smile at the other end of the phone and feel his tone of voice brighten.

“I worked with a couple of charitable groups, but I have one that’s dearest to my heart. I’ve been to India a few times. I just got back from there a few days ago. There’s a temple-orphanage I went to on my first trip. I was taken by the kids there. I have a donation box at shows to help pay for their education, food, clothing. It’s wonderful to see the response and inspire people to lend a hand,” he said. “When I was just there, I gave them the money and was shown what it’s done for them, the improvements on their lives. There’s stuff on Youtube, but I’ve been there and seen results, if not for God’s grace.”

Although his heart may be in India, his mind is very much on his tour. All the experiences thus far helped him secure tours with the likes of Steel Pulse, Rusted Root, Colbie Caillat, Ziggy Marley and most recently Michael Franti. Being around Franti was an inspiration to him, he said, and taught him lessons he didn’t know he had yet to learn.

“I think the big thing I learned on tour is you never, ever, even if you think you know how it will go, it doesn’t. You don’t know how things will happen,” he said. “At first, I only applied this to my music career, but now I apply it to my everyday life.”

And that’s the attitude that keeps him in the present and gives him food for thought as he journals his everyday life and, in turn, writes new songs.

To listen to Trevor Hall’s music or get information on upcoming tour dates, visit his Myspace page.

Just when I thought Hollywood couldn’t be more unindated with remakes, vampires, zombies and horror movies gone bad, a shift has taken place. Films based on true stores made a comeback in theaters two months ago, and moviegoers are taking notice and packing out theaters. Extraordinary Measures is the latest in the line of true stories made into movies, and in its first weekend it’s already proven the real stories of ordinary individuals is often more compelling to watch. It was released in the U.S. Jan. 22, raked in $7 million and came in No. 7 at the box office opening weekend. That’s not the extraordinary part of it, though. After a promo screening of it last week, the entire theater erupted in applause at the movie’s finale. That is definitely something Hollywood should note.

Extraordinary Measures is based on the book The Cure by Pulitzer Prize winner and journalist Geeta Anand. It follows the story of John Crowly (Brendan Fraser) and his wife Aileen (Keri Russell) as they set out to find a cure for two of their children, who are diagnosed with a disease with a 100 percent mortality rate and one whose victims only live to see age 9 at the very latest. When one of their children nearly dies, John gives up his job in the corporate world to seek out scientist Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford), whose drug theories related to the disease have been under the radar for years. John will stop at nothing to see Stonehill’s drug actualized, embarking on forming a bio-tech company with him and doing whatever it takes to save his children.

The movie is unpredictable and allows moviegoers to experience the emotions right along with the Crowleys. Just when it seems all will fail and tears are emminent, a glimmer of hope emerges, and the journey takes a new twist. What’s extraordinary about this film is watching an ordinary man sacrifice everything — his job, his reputation, his security, his friendships – to see his children live beyond the age of 9. It shows the lengths of love know no end. It also shows the ugly underbelly of the pharmaceutical world, where faces and people don’t matter; the bottom line is all that its executives care about.

Fraser truly shines in this role. His acting harkens back to the early ’90s when School Ties seemed a launching board to a wonderful acting career for him, before he chose campy roles over suitable choices. With this movie, it appears the actor in him re-emerged. He does a superb job portraying John Crowley and carries the weight of the emotional parts of the film well. Ford’s depiction of his character makes me think if Hans Solo had been left by Princess Leia and abandoned by Chewbacca, his character would have ended up as cranky Dr. Stonehill.

Extraordinary Measures is a solid film and a family film. The child actors portraying the Crowley children show a resilience — not rebelliousness – and the family dynamic is a positive one despite the circumstances. There’s nothing negative to say about the movie. At first I hadn’t planned on watching the movie, but now I’m glad I did. I’m also glad I was part of the experience of a theater packed with moviegoers showing their appreciation for the experience.

To view the movie’s trailer, click here.

Corinne Bailey Rae exploded on the music scene in 2006 with her self-titled debut album and secured a Grammy in 2007 for Album of the Year thanks to hits like the upbeat ”Put Your Records On.” Four years later, the UK artist is back with her second album. However, she has nothing to fear in regards to a sophomore slump. Her newest effort, The Sea, will be released Jan. 26. The first single, “I’d Do It All Again,” is just a taste of the beauty Bailey Rae has produced. It’s a testament of how to someone can come out of the worst circumstances without bitterness or relenting heartache.

The Sea is about the beauty that follows tragedy. The album begins with “Are You Here,” which is about her grandfather, who died in a boating accident, and her aunt who watched the whole incident but was powerless to help. The song is followed by “I’d Do It All Again.” This one hits closer to the heart, though. It was written after a fight with her husband, who died in 2008.

Needless to say, her second album is about grief, loss and coming out the other side of it all. It’s raw, real and the emotions of it are felt in each note plucked and sung. It’s a quick 43-minute ride through a musical landscape of sounds — from the sweet to the epic and haunting — all glued together by cool beats, heartfelt lyrics, sweeping crescendos and soft melodies. The album brings out the soulful, blues, jazz, ’60s psychedelic and groovy guitars and keys. It showcases Bailey Rae at her best by letting listeners in as she sings of her worst times and washes them away, growing into a different person along the way. In her own words, The Sea is about uniting the bonds of grief stretching from family to herself and others around her. “All the bonds deepened. And all the dross is washed away as well. Only the purest things survive. That’s one really beautiful thing about it,” she said.

After listening to this CD, it’s easy to see why she won a Grammy just three short years ago. If she’s not up for a Grammy next year, it will be a shame. It’s only January, but any other singer-songwriter who follows this year will have a lot to contend with in terms of lyrics and overall sound. If you’ve never heard of Bailey Rae before, shame on you. But if you like artists like Adele, Norah Jones, John Legend and Joss Stone, you’ll love what she offers musically.

To watch an acoustic live performance of Corinne Bailey Rae on “Later … with Jools Holland” singing “I’d Do It All Again,” click here.

“Stylo”
Gorillaz
Parlophone Records

Virtual band Gorillaz are back with their newest single, “Stylo.” It will be available digitally Jan. 26. It’s the first single from the band’s upcoming third album, Plastic Beach, to be released in early March. If fans are expecting it to sound like past tracks “Feel Good Inc” or “Clint Eastwood,” they’ll be disappointed. The new single is nowhere as upbeat sounding, though the classic electronic sounds are still present in “Stylo.” Who would expect anything different? Featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack, the new track is reminiscent of ’80s slow-moving techno, but darker. If the rest of the forthcoming album will follow in the same vein, it’ll take some getting used to. Let’s hope the virtual band can keep listeners intrigued with a cascade of musical sounds when the new CD releases in less than two months.

Looking at the list of Grammy nominees is daunting. Printed out straight from the Web site, it’s 78 pages of categories and artist names. Who has time to look through each, listen to the ballads listed and theorize who will win? It’s not a task I envy. However, the idea of being able to listen to a few of 2009’s most memorable songs in one sitting is appealing. For those unaware, The Recording Academy compiles such a list and puts it to disc. This has taken place for the past decade and a half. This year marks the 16th time a Grammy Nominees Compilation CD hits store shelves and proceeds from sales benefit the MusiCares Foundation and Grammy Foundation.

Available Jan. 19, the 2010 Grammy Nominees Compilation CD features 20 songs from artists spanning multiple genres — rock, pop, country, hip-hop and cross genres in between — and multiple categories. All in all, it’s 79 minutes of some of 2009’s best songs. It begins with the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” and ends with an Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood duo. I had forgotten some of the tunes were released just last year. Thanks to constant radio rotation, some feel they’ve been around longer than just a year. Examples? The Fray’s “You Found Me,” Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody,” Green Day’s “21 Guns,” P!nk’s “Sober,” Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold” and anything by Taylor Swift. What I love about this CD is it contains diversity like I’ve never heard before. Kudos to the folks at EMI Music who mixed this album. It blends seamlessly from pop to rock, back to pop, then R&B/soul, country and eventually back to rock. Newbies and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are made equals because together they made 2009 a magical year musically.

Artists featured on the disc are up for many of the most recognizable categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Country Performance By a Duo or  Group with Vocals, and Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals. This year’s mix looks different from last year’s. 2009 included hip-hop/R&B musicians like Ne-Yo, Lil Wayne and Estelle. Some of last year’s nominees, however, are featured on this year’s compilation album; that makes two years in a row for them: P!nk, Katy Perry, Adele and Coldplay.

Last year came across as a year of drama for many artists. Katy Perry battled critics’ opinions on “I Kissed a Girl,” and Taylor Swift had to put up with Kanye West taking away from her moment of glory at the MTV Video Music Awards. The year was notable for other, better reasons as well. Lady Gaga made a tidal wave globally, dropping six singles since she came out with her 2008 album. Reaching No. 1 in multiple countries, I don’t think anyone was expecting a glam pop-rocker to shine just as much as squeaky clean country-pop artist Taylor Swift. Let’s hope this year’s 52nd annual Grammy Awards are drama-free and the best artist in each category truly wins.

Visit the Grammy Awards Web site for more information on this year’s nominated artists. The Grammys air Jan. 31.

“Christ’s message was revolutionizing; His words simple, yet profound. And his words either provoked happy acceptance or violent rejection. Men were never the same after listening to Him.” — Billy Graham

These words from a man thought of as one of the world’s best evangelists rings true for this movie. My perception of the film hung on the picture painted by the trailer: sacrilege that twists and warps God’s word as it presents a man on a killing mission by seemingly using a strange book for his protection. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The film carries the most powerful message I’ve seen about Christianity and faith since The Passion of the Christ. Its violence is a far cry from what happened 2,000 years ago in Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified. Rather, it’s raw, real, gives hope and depicts what it really means to walk out faith. After seeing the movie, at first I was a little perturbed the synopsis doesn’t do the movie justice. Then I came to the realization if that’s what it takes for people to see this movie and receive its message that every man and woman can live out an extraordinary life despite flaws and excuses, then perhaps the vague synposis and seemingly action-packed trailer will do the job of getting people into theaters to watch it.

The Book of Eli follows the story of Eli (Denzel Washington) on a journey westward. Set in the future 30 years after the last world war, he walks across America, making his way through a lawless world full of desolate cities, broken roads, thieves and any destruction imaginable with a book he’ll kill to defend. He isn’t the only one who thinks the book he carries is special. Carnegie (Gary Oldman) wants it, too. He sees it as a weapon, a way to manipulate the weak to do his selfish biddings, as he puts it. He’s the ying to Eli’s yang. He’ll kill to get the book and twist its words to get the nearly 100-percent illiterate population who have never heard of it to hang on his every word.

The catalyst that brings these two men together comes in the form of Carnegie’s stepdaughter Solara (Mila Kunis). She wants to know what the book Elie holds so dear says and will leave her family and everything she knows behind to find out. In the process, her hunger for the knowledge reminds Eli the point of his faith — to live it out by the Golden Rule to do unto others as you’d have done unto you and to share its message because it’s about loving people enough to tell them there’s a point to life and more to live for.

What I love about this movie is it doesn’t paint Washington’s character as the next messiah. Even Gary Oldman’s character states he’s just a man, one who knows what he’s heard and believes it. That resolution is called faith.

Is it worth it in the end? Absolutely. The Book of Eli doesn’t present the message of hope in the form of having to relive Christ’s crucifixtion like The Passion of the Christ; rather it presents it as it should: living it out. It also raises the questions: What do you hold dear, and what are you living for?

In the end, audiences will either hate or love this movie. No one gets mad if the names Buddha, Brahma or Muhammad are spoken, but the name of Jesus harkens back to Billy Graham’s quote: It always evokes an extreme emotion.

The Book of Eli releases in the U.S. and UK Jan. 15. Click here to view the trailer.

Sherlock Holmes opened in theaters two weeks ago and still sits comfortably at the box office in the No. 2 spot — right behind James Cameron’s visual masterpiece Avatar. Garnering almost $300 million worldwide so far (through Jan. 11 figures), what’s interesting is the accompanying soundtrack isn’t being released until Jan. 12. WaterTower Music released a digital copy of the score Dec. 22, but I think the CD version’s later release is impeccable timing. A later release could draw more fans and keep the movie in the top three spots for weeks. It not only features original music by Hans Zimmer — who also created soundtracks for box office hits like The Dark Knight, Gladiator and The Lion King, to name a few — but it features a strange mix of instrumental sounds like bring to life the heroes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Victorian era stories and add a playfulness and intrigue to the film that makes Guy Ritchie’s version of Holmes and Watson more than likeable. Who needs songs that rely on by “hot new” bands when you’ve got originality?

With a mix of Irish fiddles, gypsy violins, Hungarian cimbaloms and Argentinean bandoneons, the sound will be easily identifiable and synonymous if the movie has sequels –  much like the Star Wars and Harry Potter series soundtracks.

Ritchie’s telling of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson proves the old can be made new and still capture audiences. Devoid of today’s technologies like DNA testing and other heavily relied upon forensics, it brings the world of old school detectives to life and colors it more with its characters and inner workings of the logical genious known as Holmes.

The story follows Holmes (play by Robert Downey, Jr.) and Watson (Jude Law) as they track down an upper crust murderer — Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) — and the events that wrap him up in what appears to be witchcraft a secret society tied to politics around the world. As in all of Doyle’s stories, Holmes always gets his man. That shouldn’t be a shocker to a moviegoer, but the fun in the film is the unconventional methods used to get there. I’m sure most people would be shocked he acts less than gentlemanly and uses drug-enduced stupors to bide his time or piece together clues collected, but those are the facts. Downey brings both the action and his own comedic relief during these moments and portrays his character as nothing short of genius in his fact gathering, ability to read people and quick intellect.

Watson doesn’t play a bumbling idiot to Holmes, though, either. In fact, he doesn’t even play second fiddle to Downey’s Holmes. They both are on an even plane and can’t seem to function without each other as they punch their way — literally — to get a step closer to finding the answers needed. Who knew Victorians knew a little something closer to martial arts than boxing?

The wrench in their investigation comes in the form of Holmes’ weakness — Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), a thief and past love of Holmes. Probably known best for her role in The Notebook, McAdams keeps up with the gentleman every pace of the way. She can be seen as a dark heroine, if you will, with all her flaws. Adler does, however, hold the key to what I believe is a great setup for a sequel as she subtley introduces her boss, a professor named Moriarty who seems as sinister as his black cloak. 

All in all, Sherlock Holmes is definitely a must-see (and listen). Full of action, intrigue, mystery, comedy and intellect, it’s sure to keep moviegoers entertained. One mistake to avoid, though, is comparing it to Downey’s other action film Iron Man and think of 19th-century sleuths vs. modern day superheroes as remotely equivalent.

Click here for the movie’s Web page and to see the movie trailer.

The release of his double disc album just three weeks ago is testament to a young musician finding his ground and moving forward in a way that shakes both himself and his legion of listeners. Soft spoken and endearingly self-deprecating, Andrew shared with me last week his past triumphs, his present successes and future endeavors that made his music all the more appealing in the end.

Let’s start at the beginning
Twenty-five year-old North Carolinian Andrew X — born Andrew Palmer — technically began his musical career after high school in 2003 when he formed his band Hot Vegas. However, his penchant for music began long before. As a youngster, he listened to the likes of Cat Stevens and Van Morrison, but quickly expanded his musical taste to other greats like Phil Collins, James Taylor and more modern and international acts like Travis and Embrace. Then he left his hometown of Wilkesboro for the big city — Charlotte, N.C.

“The only thing from there is me,” Andrew joked about his hometown. “Actually, Zach Galifianakis — he was in The Hangover — he’s from there, too.”

So that makes Andrew the second best export from Wilkesboro. His band had limited successes, releasing a few albums before members started leaving. Five long years pursuing his dream of making music and touring left him with nothing but time on his hands.

“I wanted a fresh start, so I took a year off. There was so much baggage with the band that after a while you feel stressed,” he said.

That’s when the idea of making a solo album came to him, and he began putting pen to paper and writing songs vastly different from what he had in the past. The journey would take a little over a year from beginning to end, but the result — a double disc album — was worth the effort put into it.

The making of Heaven and Earth
“I never intended it to be a double disc. I used to think they were ridiculous,” Andrew explained. “Months before I started the project, I think it was the Red Hot Chili Peppers who had come out with a double disc, and I thought, ‘Why?’ And now that I’ve done it, I have so much more respect. It’s a lot of extra work. It’s like making two CDs at once.”

The reality is it is making two albums at once. When it was all said and done, Andrew had enlisted the help of Chris Stamey (Whiskeytown, Ryan Adams), Jeremy Snyder and Jeremy Griffith (Cartel, Cool Hand Luke). He hadn’t recorded by himself since high school, but knew he didn’t want his band’s polished recording sound on his solo project.

“I wanted to do a folky type of record,” Andrew said. “I wanted to sound like a ’70s singer-songwriter.”

The result, however, took a turn he never expected. The sound is based more in the rock sounds his band created for years, except Heaven and Earth expose a different side to the rock Andrew was used to producing. The double disc, instead, shows his soft underbelly. There’s a raw element to it that makes it intimate, yet possesses a certain energy that makes it easy to flow between the songs, as well as between the two discs. That’s rare, considering the two discs contain varied sounds. Earth is more acoustic, with intricate guitar parts accompanied by simple drumming parts; Heaven features electronic versions of many of the same songs from Earth. Yet the energy embodied on it complements Earth. In essence, the two discs feature two sides of the same story.

To wrap up what he started, Andrew recorded “Autumn” from the Earth disc in his apartment. That’s how close and raw the process became for him.

“There’s nothing like recording a song in your bedroom,” he said. “At the end of the project, there was a personal satisfaction. Every song has a purpose.”

Putting himself in the album
“It’s almost a journal of my life. Some I wrote early on, and some I wrote last year,” he said. “It’s like a scrapbook of my life musically. It’s not like the band. I could be more me and wear my heart on my sleeve like ‘Little Rock.’ It’s a cheesy pop song. I don’t know if anyone will listen to them all the way until the end, but it ends with a keyboard, and I love that sound.”

With his band, there’s a distinct rock sound. This was a step outside the box for him. The songs are a scrapbook of snippets of his life. Every tune recorded is a piece of Andrew and real experiences he’s gleaned from his life and those whom he’s closest to. “Oh Cinderella” is a sweet tune sung to a girl about how she’ll find her Prince Charming one day. It was written for his mom, who didn’t live an idyllic childhood. Then there’s “Superman.” It’s a song for his dad, who has been the rock of the family.

“It references Superman in it,” Andrew explained. “I was at home the other day and found a portfolio from tenth grade of interviews and essays on myself. One had to do with my dad, and I called him Superman, man of steel. I forgot about it.”

Looking at the Horizon
It seems Andrew has come full circle with his album that’s more of a road to self-discovery than just a sampling of his potential. Now, he’s brimming with even more possibilities than when he started and trading ashes for beauty.

He’s reorganized the band, which will have a new name and will produce an album soon. He’s also dabbling in other projects he never saw coming like putting together a solo tour and writing a children’s book.

“At the end of the day, I just love making music and creating things. I aspire to be like Phil Collins, ” he said. “I don’t feel I made just a record of ditties. I feel I really got something out of it.”

Music listeners will get something from the music, too. I think Heaven and Earth is just the tip of the iceberg for Andrew, and I look forward to hearing much more from him.

Click here to buy Language of Love: Heaven and Earth. It’s $9.99 for nearly 80 minutes of music, and at least 10 percent of the proceeds will go to benefit children living in war torn regions of the world. Visit Andrew X’s Myspace page to listen to his tunes.

A Blackheart Christmas
Anyone who has been a rock ‘n’ roll fan in the last three decades knows who Joan Jett is. The ultimate rocker chick who brought the world classics like “I Love Rock N’ Roll” and “Crimson and Clover” now brings the world this holiday album full of a few Christmas songs performed with a twist. They’re definitely not tunes your grandparents would’ve listened to.

A Blackheart Christmas features bands from Jett and Kenny Laguna’s label, Blackheart Records. It’s 35 minutes — and 11 tracks — of rock that won’t make you feel guilty for being just a little naughty with typically sweet-sounding holiday classics.  Girl in a Coma and The Dollyrots definitely spice things up and bring out edgier sounds in songs like “Blue Christmas, “Santa Baby” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Think Letters to Cleo, and the “good girls gone bad” sounds produced by these two acts make the songs easier to swallow. My favorites, though, are by The Vacancies and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. The Vacancies showcase a punk rock vibe that’s hard to shake and makes you want to sing along, while Joan Jett and her band produce the most traditional-sounding tunes on the album. “Little Drummer Boy” and “Silent Night” get a little rock edge to them, thanks to killer, yet simple, guitar melodies. Jett proves it’s okay to sound traditional (with a few updates) on these two tracks. All in all, it’s a solid album for rock lovers tired of cheery songs.

The album is available on Blackheart Records’ site (click here). It’s $7 for the entire CD or $.99 per song.

Push Play
This is my favorite holiday tune I’ve heard thus far this season. Then again, I’m a sucker for pop rock bands with catchy, guitar-driven songs fronted by male singers with crystal clear singing voices. The quartet’s contribution this holiday season is “Stay Here This Christmas.” This tune is also free, but only for AT&T mobile customers in the U.S. Sorry, iPhone users, you’re excluded from this offer. For more details on how to download this song, click here and get details from the band’s Web site. The freebie offer lasts until Dec. 31, and not only will the song be sent to your phone, but you’ll also get an mp3 file sent to your e-mail. Since the band is being doubly generous this holiday season, why not spread your own seasonal cheer and share the song with friends?

The 88
Okay, so I had to throw one lyrically sappy song in the mix, but it’s free, so I think you’ll forgive me. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is definitely not a tribute to Mariah Carey’s 1994 version. The 88’s upbeat rock song has a twist of ’60s flair and foot-tapping swing to it. And it’s available free on iTunes (click here) through Monday, Dec. 21. If you like the band’s tune “Go Go Go,” you’ll be sure to love their Christmas ditty.

Vanguard Records’ Holiday Sampler
This gem is a must for anyone who likes folk, acoustic and indie rock. It’s nearly an hour-long compilation of original songs by 16 different artists who make guys (and gals) and their guitars attractive. Probably one of the most organic albums I’ve heard in a while, it doesn’t have any of the polished studio sounds so many bands feature on their radio-friendly tracks. This sampler gives a true depiction of what these musicians would sound like live. It made me fall in love all over again with musicians I’ve long forgotten about — like Joshua Radin, Erin McKeown and Needtobreathe — as well as spark my musical interest in newer artists like Meiko. Thanks to the stripped-down sounds, the album allows the lyrics to shine, which is refreshing.

To download this CD, click here. In exchange for the free download, you’ll have to surrender your e-mail address to be put on the label’s mailing list, but it’s a small “price” to pay — and you can unsubscribe from the mailing list at any time.

Get Busy Committee’s Uzi Does It Mixtape by DJ Cheapshot
I never thought I’d hear Bjorn, The Cure, The Fresh Prince, Def Leppard and Smashing Pumpkins together on one album let alone blended together with hip-hop beats and catchy rap rhymes. However, it works. Although the 42-minute remix features some explicit lyrics — what rap album doesn’t? — the transition from rhymes to well-known radio-friendly artists is so smooth, it isn’t jarring to hear The Cars have a track right next to NKOTB. Featuring Ryu, Apathy and Scoop Deville (who make up Get Busy Committee) the trio proves their years of mixing tunes for other artists pays off in their new venture and why other artists like Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda are raving about them.

The album is available here for download.

Menya’s The Sleepover Series (Vol. 1)
New York City based self-described electro-clash hip-hop group Menya is made up of NYU music students and proof you don’t need to stick to one genre to grab listeners’ attention. The draw of the group is the beats they produce. Hip-hop may be the base, but poppy electronica sounds drive the rhythm  of this 12-track album. Don’t expect fluffy, light-hearted lyrics, though. Instead, think potty-mouthed, half-sung, half-rapped lyrics. But as mentioned, the music is more about the sound than the words with this group, although they do three covers of pop artists and make them their own that are almost more fun than the originals: Vanessa Carlton’s “White Houses,” Kelly Clarkson’s “I Do Not Hook Up” (renamed “(So What) I Hook Up” on Sleepover) and 3OH!3’s “Don’t Trust Me” (also renamed on the CD to “Ho’s Revenge”).

To download Sleepover, click here.

*Special bonus: Ilan Rubin’s The New Regime
Don’t forget about the NIN drummer’s debut album re-release. It’s available for free here until New Year’s Eve. For a full description of the album, click here for my review.