MUSIC: DJ KHALED "WE GLOBAL"

We Global is the third album by Miami based producer DJ Khaled. This will be the last album on his current Koch Records label deal. Guest appearances include The Game, T-Pain, Bun B, Rick Ross, Ace Hood, Plies, Akon, Trick Daddy, Lil Boosie, Nas, Kanye West, Fabolous, Fat Joe, Sean Paul, Brisco, Busta Rhymes, Pitbull, Casely, Flo Rida, and many more.



I will admit that DJ Khaled mixes a good tune but I think he is starting to wear on me. With all these guest artists on his new album, which isn't rare for a DJ to have them, it feels more like a let's make money project then a let's make some good music project. The album sounds like any other album that would come out of the Miami club scene with the exception of the single "We Global" (MP3) which is helped out by Fat Joe, who despite his name, is more talented then most give him credit for. Unless he changes his tune, I can't say that I will be looking forward to any more of his all star projects.

"DJ KHALED: WE GLOBAL": 3 OUT OF 10

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TV: FRINGE "THE SAME OLD STORY"

Olivia, Peter, and Walter Bishop investigate the strange death of a woman who had an even stranger child. The woman was pregnant for only hours, yet the baby she birthed was fully developed - and also aged eighty years in the span of a few minutes. Olivia asks Nina Sharp of Massive Dynamic for help.

"Season 1 Ep. 2" of "Fringe" is almost as good as the pilot, but for all the money that went into the pilot, they didn't spend as much on this one. The cool title effects are still there with the nice establishing shots but you can tell that the camera zooms are making up for something. "Fringe" can't be a cheap show to make and I didn't expect the high quality of the pilot to be like the whole series but as long as they keep up with the interesting plots and the chemistry of the cast, I will continue to tune in.

The premise for this episode is truly creepy which makes up for the lackluster ending. We find out a little bit more about Peter's history and that his father might have done some of his experimenting on him. John Noble continues to stand out as the doctor as he continues to get weirder and weirder. This cast fits really well together, even the mean FBI boss played by Lance Reddick is starting to become a favorite of mine. Let the weird continue.

"FRINGE: THE SAME OLD STORY": 6 OUT OF 10

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TV: FRINGE "PILOT"

When all the passengers on a plane die, FBI agent Olivia Dunham investigates the events and while on the investigation her partner, John Scott, almost dies. A desperate Olivia looks for help and finds Dr. Walter Bishop, but he cannot help her because he has been institutionalized. The only way to even question him is with the help of his son Peter.

Olivia continues her investigations leading her to Nina Sharp, a manipulative executive. Olivia, Peter and Dr. Bishop will begin to discover what really happened on Flight 627 and begin to uncover a larger truth.



The pilot episode of "Fringe" is one of the best I have seen since "Swingtown". It is almost an hour and a half long so it's not too short to leave you hanging but it does end with you wanting more. It is well shot, well acted, and well written but time will tell if that will continue or if it was all just for the pilot. John Noble as Dr. Bishop stands out in the cast and the "X-Files" vibe keeps you interested when parts of the show start to slow down.

"Fringe" will not fail I suspect, mostly because it will be aired after Fox's most popular shows and the fact that it's another show from TV puzzle master J.J. Abrams. I hope it sticks around too and most importantly, stays with the same vibe that the pilot has.

FRINGE "THE PILOT": 7 OUT OF 10

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MUSIC: JEM "DOWN TO EARTH"

Down to Earth is the second album by Jem, the follow-up to her successful 2004 debut, Finally Woken. The first single, "It's Amazing," was featured on the soundtrack to the "Sex and the City" movie. In August, 2008, "Crazy" was released as a single on iTunes and other digital music outlets.

The press release states that Jem co-wrote the album with a variety of people including Jeff Bass, Lester Mendez and Greg Kurstin and sings in Japanese on the track, "Aciid!". The album also includes a collaboration with South African singer-songwrite and poet-activist Vusi Mahlasela on the track “You Will Make It” recalling 9/11, and dealing with the suffering of loss.

1. "Down to Earth"
2. "Crazy"
   
3. "I Want You To..."
   
4. "It's Amazing"
5. "Keep On Walking"
6. "You Will Make It"
7. "I Always Knew"
8. "Got It Good"
9. "Aciiid!"
   
10. "How Would You Like It"
11. "And So I Pray"
12. "On Top of the World"

I remember liking Jem's sound when I heard her cover of a Beatles song on one of the "O.C." soundtracks, a show that I never watched but will admit had some really good music choices. So I was interested in Jem's newest album. I was sadly disappointed because it sounds nothing like what I heard in that Beatles cover and more like a Mandy Moore album. "It's Amazing" is the only single that stands out but not by much.

JEM "IT'S AMAZING": 3 OUT OF 10

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MUSIC: BOB DYLAN "DREAMIN' OF YOU"

"Dreamin' of You" is a single off of The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 - Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006 an upcoming compilation album by singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and is the most recent installment of his official "bootleg series" of rare and unissued recordings. It is set to be released as both a double and (limited edition) triple album. The three disc version of Tell Tale Signs includes a 150-page book, and some editions include a 7" vinyl single with two tracks from the set.

The album spans the recording sessions for Oh Mercy, World Gone Wrong, Time Out of Mind, and Modern Times as well as a number of soundtrack contributions and previously unreleased live tracks from 1989 through 2006. Although Under the Red Sky, Good as I Been to You, and Love and Theft were all recorded during this time period, apparently no tracks from these sessions will be included on Tell Tale Signs.

"DREAMIN' OF YOU" MP3



Classic Dylan is awesome, new Dylan is just okay and rare unreleased Dylan is a treasure. "Dreamin' of You" is a fine song that isn't great but it's not as dull as some of his new stuff. You also can't go wrong with the music video that doesn't feature Dylan but awesome character actor Harry Dean Stanton.

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