Sidetracked

Artist: 100 Suns vs. Snoop Dogg
Song: “Calling Mumia”

What do you get when you cross members of Massive Attack with Snoop Dogg to contribute to a soundtrack of a movie about a Black Panther activist and convicted killer? Well, you get lots of bass and some disappointing rhymes, but a fairly catchy song.

Grade: B
By Danielle Fleischmann


Artist: Nickleback
Song: “Gotta Be Somebody”

“Gotta Be Somebody” is the first single off the band’s upcoming album Dark Horse. The song is a little different than most of their work: The music is soft and ambient with lead singer Chad Kroeger’s voice the only telling sign it’s a Nickelback song. The song’s not bad, but not that good either.

Grade: B
By Tyler James Perry


Artist: “Weird Al”  Yankovich
Song: “Whatever You LIke”

Considering how quickly he responded and released it, this is arguably one of Weird Al’s most impressive songs.  In this parody of T.I’s song of the same name, he takes a much more logical, frugal option in buying his girlfriend “whatever she likes” : “Thrift store jeans on sale half-price / The underwear at Goodwill is nice, and baby you can have whatever you like.”  Truly hilarious.

Grade: A
By Paul Mattingly