My Top 5 Albums of 2010

1. ALMOST ALICE - VARIOUS ARTISTS

Almost Alice is a collection of various artists' music inspired by Tim Burton's film, Alice in Wonderland. The album was released on March 2, 2010. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 US albums chart.

Standout tracks: "Alice", "Her Name Is Alice", "Painting Flowers", "Tea Party", "Topsy Turvy"

2. TEENAGE DREAM - KATY PERRY

Teenage Dream is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Katy Perry. It was released in the United States on August 24, 2010. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 192,000 copies in its first week. Teenage Dream has spawned three singles which attained chart success - lead single "California Gurls" featuring Snoop Dogg, "Teenage Dream" and "Firework" - all of which have peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Standout tracks: "Teenage Dream", "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)", "Firework", "The One That Got Away",  "E.T.", "Hummingbird Heartbeat"

3. SPEAK NOW - TAYLOR SWIFT

Speak Now is the third studio album by American country pop recording artist Taylor Swift. It was released on October 25, 2010 by Big Machine Records. Upon its release, Speak Now received positive reviews from music critics and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling approximately 1,047,000 units in its first week. All fourteen songs from the standard edition of the album have charted on the Billboard Hot 100, with the lead single "Mine" having the highest peak of number three.

Standout tracks: "Back To December", "Dear John", "Enchanted", "Innocent", "Last Kiss", "Long Live", "If This Was a Movie"

4. THE SELLOUT - MACY GRAY

The Sellout is the fifth studio album by American R&B-soul singer–songwriter Macy Gray, released on June 22, 2010 in the United States. The album debut at number #38 on the Billboard 200 Albums, selling 11,000 copies.

Standout tracks: "The Sellout", "Kissed It", "Still Hurts", "Let You Win", "On & On"

5. A THOUSAND SUNS - LINKIN PARK

A Thousand Suns is the fourth studio album by American rock band Linkin Park. It was first released on September 8, 2010. A Thousand Suns is a concept album dealing with nuclear warfare and themes of war in general. The album's title comes from the Hindu Sanskrit scripture, the Bhagavad Gita: "If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one," a quote made famous by J. Robert Oppenheimer in reference to the atomic bomb. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 241,000 copies. In the second week, the album slid to number three with 70,000 copies, and two months into its release, in December 2010, it had already passed a half million in sales.

Standout tracks: "Burning In the Sky", "Robot Boy", "Waiting For the End", "The Catalyst"

♥Kimokeo

Emily Osment - "Fight or Flight"

Fight or Flight is the debut full-length album by American pop singer-songwriter Emily Osment, who you may know from her roles in Hannah Montana and the Spy Kids film series. The album features production from Toby Gad, Nellee Hooper, and Mandi Perkins, and focuses on alternative and electronic sounds and is laced with flashy dance-pop tracks and repetitive hooks.

I actually was not going to give this album a listen. My brother had had it, and played me "Marisol", the obvious standout track of the record, and I was very impressed by the beauty of the song and had to give the rest of the album a listen. The LP is very dance-able, energetic, and cleverly written. It has only two "ballads", which is sad because they are the high points of the record and leaves me to believe that down-tempo songs are her strong point.

"Let's Be Friends" is the albums lead single, released June 8th, and is a upbeat pop song that contains a strong use of drums and electric guitars, and lyrically boasting such risqué lyrics as "Let's be friends so we can make out," hinting at possibly friends with benefits relationships. One of my favorite songs off the album, "Truth or Dare", is the most dance ready track of the album, and makes my bottom naughty in a way that I never thought little Emily could make it!

The record is definitely worth giving a listen, and is proof that the Disney stars are stepping up their cookies and giving you what you need!

"I hope you are ready to dance because I am ready to make you."

--Emily Osment

♥Kimokeo

P!nk - "Raise Your Glass"

Yesterday, P!nk released "Raise Your Glass", the first single from her greatest hits compilation album Greatest Hits... So Far!!!, on her official website. (Everyone should so hit that up!) This is so on repeat right now as I type this post! It is such a party song and is fun and energetic and has me shaking my naughty bottom everywhere!

♥Kimokeo

Lady Gaga - "Dance In the Dark"

Lady Gaga has chosen "Dance In the Dark" as her final single from her sensation Fame Monster. Unfortunately for us, it is reported to only be a promo single and will not be promoted with a music video alongside it, which really saddens me because I truly love Gaga's videos and I was really interested in seeing what she would come up with. I suppose it leaves her to put the finishing touches on her third studio album, due out next year, which contains the lovely "You and I".

♥Kimokeo

Rihanna is Putting In Work!

With her singles "Te Amo" and "Rockstar 101" and also her appearance on Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" (of which the video has just recently been shot) in circulation, Rihanna has no plans of taking any breaks. With the release of the lead single to her 5th studio to drop by the end of the summer, and the album dropping later this year; I must say, I'm excited for the new material. I didn't get into Rihanna until her "Good Girl Gone Bad" era, and "Rated R" really did it ALL for me! So, KIMO IS READY!!! I just hope she loses the red hair by then because Kimo no likey the red hair on her.

♥Kimokeo

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

Katy Perry is giving me everything I need with the feel good songs! This song is cute and definitely makes me wanna sing along and bounce around in my skinny jeans! lol It sounds kind of 80's influenced to me and is extremely catchy. I believe that her album, Teenage Dream, which releases August 24th, will be stellar greatness!!!

♥Kimokeo

Katy Perry - California Girls

Katy Perry has just revealed her first single via her official website!

OMG! OMG!! OMG!!! I have been waiting for this song for the last couple of days, ever since a short clip of the song leaked on the internet. This song is definitely a summer anthem, and most importantly it makes me want to shake my naughty bottom. Snoop Dogg is a very unexpected addition to the track, but i love it anyway. This song just makes me feel so good and party-ready.

Katy, you have made me go OH-OH-OH-OH OH OH-OH-OH-OH!!! lol :)

♥ Kimokeo

Sia - We Are Born

Australian songstress, Sia, is gearing to release her fourth studio album, We Are Born, on June 7th in the US and on July 12th in the UK. This album is different for the singer because it bares a more up-tempo spirit, as she is known for being a down-tempo artist. The album was produced by Greg Kurstin, and according to Sia this album has a great disco feel.

So far the record has garnered two singles: "You've Changed", which was released last December, and "Clap Your Hands", released in April. Both songs are really catchy and dance-able, but my favorite of the two is "You changed". It just makes me wanna shake my naughty bottom! The video is kinda silly, as most Sia videos are, but it's cute in it's own kiddy way.

In support of the album, Sia fans are given the privilege to listen to six full songs from We Are Born from her official MySpace.

My ears are pleased :)

♥ Kimokeo

Mariah Carey: Back In the Studio

Mariah Carey, the butterfly catcher, is back in the studio with the "dream team" according to her twitter.

Back in the studio w/ "the dream team" Me, JD,Johnta'&B Cox..Jermaine's new tattoo is yet to be seen. LYM!!!!

As happy as I am to know that Mariah Carey is going back into the studio, I truly believe that she should leave the studio, lock the door, and give the key to one of her big burly bodyguards to watch it.

I love Mariah Carey, I really do. But when her music was really good, I mean really, really good, she put 2 or 3 years between her LPs and sang with feeling and emotion. And I believe it was because she was actually inspired to sing and write. Now this throwing an album together every year may be good enough to get by, but it begins to lose it's artistry.

Mariah Carey will always be good, but I miss the days when she was GREAT!

♥ Kimokeo

Kelly Rowland - Commander

I have been bouncing my naughty bottom to this song all night! And I suggest you do the same! This is PIN-ULTIMATE!!!

This song is definitely a grower. It was good when I first heard it, but the more I play it the more I shake it! Kelly Rowland can command me anytime!

♥ Kimokeo

PS - I feel like the DJ is my bodyguard ^_^

Toni Braxton - Pulse

Toni Braxton's 6th studio album, Pulse, is due for release on May 4th, after being pushed back many times. Like most albums, her much anticipated LP leaked about a month earlier than the official release, and I must say that it is well worth pre-ordering or dashing to the record store to purchase at the first minute of the first hour of its release date. This is the greatest R&B record I have heard in a very long time.

R&B had really died for me. Everything was starting to sound the same and even lifeless at times. The lyrics were becoming meaningless and the tracks were starting to be bare and less imaginative and disconnected. R&B had turned its back on music. But Toni Braxton had given it back its Pulse! ^_^

The record is classic from start to finish. It has been on repeat for the past couple of days. It is filled with emotion ballads that just make you wanna cry and feel good songs that you can vibe to.

My favorite song: "Why Won't You Love Me"

♥ Kimokeo

Ayumi Hamasaki - Rock'n'Roll Circus

Japanese artist, Ayumi Hamasaki's eleventh album, Rock'n'Roll Circus, is physically and electronically available in stores on April 14th, but for our fortunate ears it leaked onto the internet about a week and a half early :)

The album is GREATNESS!!! I don't know why, but I just love the mixture of rock and J-pop music. She blends it so well, and this album showcases this so masterfully. The album features the previously released singles "Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~", "Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~", "BALLAD", and "You were...". Right now, my favorite song off the LP is "Don't look back".

♥ Kimokeo

Christina Aguilera - Not Myself Tonight

Christina Aguilera's first single premiered last night on her official website, christinaaguilera.com, and I am under the impression that fans, who were anticipating new music from the singer, raved with positive reviews.

I had to give it a couple of listens before really getting into it. At first listen, it just sounds kind of bland. I have to be honest, although this is a okay track and I can shake my naughty bottom to it, I am still kind of disappointed.

♥ Kimokeo

Trina ft. Lady Gaga - Hoes Fight

"Hoes Fight" is a track from Trina's upcoming album Amazin', which is due to hit stores on May 4th. This track features the ever so popular Lady Gaga.

I must say this is a very unlikely collaboration, but I am surprisingly appeased, pleased, and teased by what my ears are hearing. This is definitely something I would bump in the car or dance to while I'm walking down the street.

In other news, Lady Gaga has confirmed in a recent interview that she is working on her third album, and has claimed it to be her best work to date. The album is expected to drop later this year.

It seems that Lady Gaga will never allow herself a vacation or time to buy herself a house, seeing as she lives in her tour bus. I suppose those certain luxuries aren't important (lol).

♥ Kimokeo

P.S. - "All of these bitches are pissing me off." LMAO!

Christina Aguilera - Bionic

Christina Aguilera, nearly four years after her multi-platinum album, Back to Basics, is now turning the gears for her new Bionic sound.

Bionic features songs co-written by Aguilera along with her much buzzed about collaborations including Sia, Tricky Steward, Polow Da Don, Le Tigre, Hill & Switch, and Ladytron among others. Aguilera notes, "Working on this album with so many talented artists and producers that I admire was really an amazing experience. The artists I chose to work with added so many unique sonic layers to Bionic. My intention was to step into their world and what they do combined with my own vision and sound. The results were magic." The album also features a ballad produced and written by Linda Perry entitled "Lift Me Up". The title Bionic reflects Aguilera's ability to take her range to new levels and use her voice in various ways never heard before.

Above is the Album cover, and I must say that I do like what is presented in this work of art. How the artist had took her and basically crafted her into a machine meant to make great music (and I pray that the album does reflect that, I would hate for it actually mean a machine meant to make terrible music :-P)

The first single, "Not Myself Tonight, premieres on the singer's official website, christinaaguilera.com, on March 3oth at 6PM EDT. A snippet of the song had premiered on March 26th, but like most clips they have chosen one of the insignificant and unmoving section of the song, so there is no way that I am unable to know whether the song is actually good or not.

Whether the first single is good or not, I will still be buying and supporting this album. I love Christina Aguilera, and it is hard for me to believe that she can release a bullshit album.

♥ Kimokeo