Jessica Lea Mayfield "Tell Me"

An album written about a tortorous, hellish relationship that you still can't bear to leave isn't the easiest thing to write or describe. Jessica Lea Mayfield has the experience of a much more seasoned musician even though "Tell Me" is only her second full length album.Produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, "Tell Me" has that sad blues feel but still manages to sound upbeat. She blends a hint of country with her sad, dark, indie- rock songs, keeping us interested in what moody change she might throw out next. Mayfield's voice is haunting and convincing especially in lyrics like "my self esteem is heating up the room, you're intimidating as all hell, but I ain't scared of you" which she sings in  "Our Hearts Are Wrong". In another track "Nervous Lonely Night", she tells us "I didn't mean to fuel the fire, now I'm alone watching the flames go higher, drunk on thoughts of you, red wine and tequlia too".We as listeners get an exclusive invitation into the mind and life of Mayfield as she explores her disturbed sense of love. If you're wondering why you recognize her voice, maybe you've heard her in Dan Auerbach's solo album on "When the Night Comes" or the Black Keys "Things Ain't Like They Used to Be".

Adele "21"

I will be the first to tell you that mainstream vocalists and "artists" as they call themsleves have gone to dirt.There's a new major occurence of female singers/songwriters who don't have anything unique about them. It seems like everything they play on the radio now truely fits a cookie cutter mold not only lyrically but vocally and musically. As far as I'm concerned, Leona Lewis, Keri Hilson, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and you-name-who-else have all molded into one terribly boring supermold. However, among these "artists" there is someone special who really blew my mind, even though I went into is with the opposite attitude. Adele is an English singer songwriter who came to fame after her first album (which I didn't care for) in 2008. However, working in a record store doesn't let you escape everything and I was forced to give this new album a chance. Like I said before, I was blown away. Go ahead, give yourself a surpsise and look a picture of this girl and then listen to her voice. It's not what you expect it to be. This girl has got some serious soul. If it weren't for heartbreak in some form or another, lyricism would not have much a basis for existence. Adele has had her heart torn out with a dull blade and dragged behind a truck on a dirt road for miles and miles. And the pain and emotion in her voice alone tells the listener that. She does it in a way that acutally makes us feel for her though, instead of being reminded of our 7th grade heart break and that one record that we just knew was written just for us. I am also a firm believer that The Cure is really the only band that should sing lovesong and reggae/rock/rap/god knows what else should stop trying to cover it. Once again however, Adele has changed my mind. On 21 she does a fierce cover of Lovesong that really just makes you want to have the most intimate moment of your life. Talk about making a make out disc for your high school lover! But seriously. Adele takes us through her love life by making us feel bad for her, breaking us up, making us relate, giving us jealousy, saying **** you to love, and then ultimately saying I loved you I learned from you and I will miss you. I strongly encourage you to give this album a listen, and not just if you've had your heart broken.