The new Coldplay album, Viva La Vida, is by far one of the best I have ever heard, which surprises me simply because experience tells me a band puts out one good album and then decreases in quality with each successive album. On the flipside, it seems that Coldplay just gets consistently better and better. The album is unique, revolutionary, and highly addictive.

This album is right up there with some of my all time favorites: Depeche Mode's 101, U2's Achtung Baby, Pear Jam's Ten, Sara McLachlan's Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Bob Marley's Legend, and Muse's Hysteria.

What do you think about Coldplay and the new album? Where does it rank with your all-time faves?

Her sound isn't the typical jazz lounge sound: dusky, sultry, or raspy qualities. Each note is crystal clear, perhaps too uncluttered at times. I expect a certain level of longing, melancholy, and cigarette smoke from this kind of music. The instruments deliver the familiar feels of jazz club melodies, but I wonder if Marilyn is too straightforward a person for this style of music.

For example, Marilyn covers Cry Me a River. I love this song. I have a Harry Connick Jr. version, and I have to say, Marilyn doesn't do it for me. She cuts off abruptly when she should let a note slide on until it fades away into nothing. "Choppy" is probably one of the best words I can use to describe my listening experience.

Go to her website and check out the songs for yourself: www.marilynscott.com. Tell me what you think. Am I wrong? I never really thought of myself as having a genre specific voice, but I think what gets me about this latest album is that the vocal styles don't fit the music. They're just different genres.

By the way, in addition to releasing a new album, Marilyn also recently release a new line of organic baby clothing. Check out the full line at www.startinggreen.com.

USS is a two-piece group based out of Toronto, Ontario, with Ash Boo-Shultz on acoustic guitar, vocals and ehur, and Human Kebab, dubbed as the turntablist hype man extraordinaire.

Their Facebook page describes their music as “Where Grunge, drum and bass, and 2-step converge,” and that sounds pretty good to me. Welding the C:/ is, by far, one of the best pieces of work I have heard from any artist in a very long time. The EP is a breath of fresh air from the generic pop, stale rock and Top 40 music that is littering the airwaves. Just the combination of acoustic guitar and turntables is not something you would see or hear everyday.

I first heard about USS on my favourite radio station, 102.1 The Edge (Toronto) (www.edge.ca) where DJ Barry Taylor saw them perform one night and has been raving about the pair ever since. I was instantly drawn to their sound because it was so different and unique. The first single, Hollow Point Sniper Hyperbole was in heavy rotation on The Edge due to people constantly calling in and requesting more information about the band. Everyone seemed to want more of USS. During this time (a few months ago), USS didn’t have a CD out and it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that their EP was released.

Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker’s second single, 2 15/16 has been on repeat in my house since I bought the EP. Ash’s voice can only be described as hypnotic and captivating, and with the combination of sounds and beats from Human Kebab, I have often found myself in a trance listing to the EP.

Over the past few months, USS have seen a lot of success playing intimate venues around Hamilton and the GTA, but the cream of the crop will be playing Edgefest on July 12 in Toronto in front of thousands of people.

I think it is safe to say that as of right now, Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker is the best-kept secret Canada has. At the rate of their success, the world will be in on our secret and dancing along to their amazing songs. The pair is definitely worth checking out. Hit up their Facebook and MySpace accounts for more information and sample some of their songs and videos.

Musical cues in films help the audience to feel a certain way, whether it is happy or sad with sappy violins or pianos, alerts of upcoming danger with sharp and eerie notes, or signals the end of a film by playing upbeat Top 40 songs.

I just finished watching Jurassic Park, and the musical cues in this film are very evident. The main theme for the film plays throughout the film and becomes very familiar and very comforting. The composer for the film created wonderful scores; most that made me feel for the characters, but more importantly, the dinosaurs. The music within the film is definitely one of a kind and still to this day, is easily recognized, much among the ranks of the music from Jaws.

However, here is a question for everyone reading, have you ever seen a film that had absolutely no soundtrack or musical cues?

I had never really thought about musical cues before because I had become so accustomed to them, and they literally just melted into and became part of the films I watched.

Two years ago, I watched the film, Caché (Hidden) staring Juliette Binoche, a story about a family who receives strange videotapes of someone filming the outside of their house, and later, receive clues to the husband’s mysterious past and childhood.

To be quite honest, the film was so intense, and I was so engrossed with the plot and the characters, that I didn’t even notice that there was no soundtrack or any musical cues. Not a single note, even for the opening or closing credits.

When I watched the film again, I took note of the missing music, and it became much more eerie and haunting. It was far more terrifying than a film that includes music to tell its viewers how to think or react.

Soundtracks and musical cues have become a staple in blockbuster films; there is no doubt about that. Trusty and reliable pop culture songs and artists litter the film almost to the point of distraction, and after watching Caché, there is definitely something that about the lack of music that adds so much more to a film. I can honestly say that I have never been so attentive, and terrified at the same time while watching any film, horror movie, thriller or other wise.

For all those reading, I would highly recommend renting Caché. It is a great film with some great twists and is composed of an extremely mysterious plot. And to think that all of this is heightened with the absence of music.

She & Him is comprised of Deschanel, who you may remember from films such as Almost Famous and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and M. Ward, who enjoys a successful solo singer-songwriter career in addition to his many collaborations with artists like Jenny Lewis, Norah Jones, and Bright Eyes. 

Volume One showcases Deschanel's pleasing, solid voice impeccably.  Her singing sounds to me like a genius mix of Neko Case's warm, reedy richness and Jenny Lewis' indie earnestness.  Her delivery is spot on for almost the whole album thanks to a little help from her acting skills—Deschanel effortlessly travels from song to song, really feeling them in the kind of old country way that would do Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn proud.  

I have to say that I was even more impressed by her songwriting skills than I was by her performance skills.  The single from Volume One, “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here,” is a particular favorite of mine, with charming, playful lyrics and a satisfyingly plinky old piano rollicking along with the driving alt-country guitar line.  The songs, written almost totally by Deschanel, sound like they've been pulled out of an AM radio time machine.  Old sounds can be new again, and Deschanel and Ward embrace that without making it schlocky and overdone.

“Change Is Hard” hits it out of the park for me simply with the inclusion of some gorgeous pedal steel—couple that with Deschanel's beautifully mournful performance and it was an instant four star track on my iPod.  “I Was Made For You” sounds like it came straight out of the 60s (a personal favorite music era) with poppy, surf-style guitar lines and bubble-gum girl group backing vocals.  

I was pretty skeptical when I first heard about this album, but I'm pleased to say that Deschanel and Ward have proved me wrong.  Some actresses should definitely be musicians, and Deschanel is one that I look forward to hearing more from.

Hideaway is another charming release from husband and wife duo Steven Tannen and Deb Talan.  That may sound patronizing, but it's not how I mean it. The album plays to their strengths--tight songwriting, beautifully layered harmonies, and the kind of sweet, introspective lyrics that tug at your heartstrings.  What they do is not groundbreaking, but it is infinitely satisfying.  I am a sucker for a well-written song that inspires me to feel something, and The Weepies do not let me down.

Hideaway, like the rest of The Weepies' catalog, is the kind of album that makes it hard for me to choose a favorite.  The first stand-out track, "Wish I Could Forget," has a catchy hook and upbeat feel--it's a song I find myself humming for hours after I listen to it.  The opening track "Can't Go Back Now" may be my favorite, however, setting the lilting, unique vocal harmonies and wistful lyrics against delicate acoustic guitars and a sparse arrangement.  “Antarctica” is another favorite of mine, featuring well-crafted, melancholy lyrics and soaring vocals.  

“How You Survived the War” is perhaps the most reminiscent of the stand-out tracks from Say I Am You—the vocals are incredibly tight, almost melted together so you cannot tell where Talan's voice ends and Tannen's voice begins. I really like the way The Weepies record their vocals as a whole. The lead vocals are usually double-tracked and meticulously layered with the harmonies, which can create a lovely effect reminiscent of Brian Wilson's vocals on Pet Sounds.

Say I Am You continues to be my favorite effort from The Weepies thus far, but I applaud the latest addition to their discography. If you're looking for a solid, enjoyable album, look no further than Hideaway.

I was shuffling though my music library on my computer and noticed that I have, what most people would call, embarrassing music. Spice Girls, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, A Flock of Seagulls, Ace of Base, and the list goes on from there. Although this is a small fraction of my musical taste, I know that I like, and listen to “better” and more “mature” music.

I grew up listing to and loving Top 40. I ate, slept and breathed pop music, everything from Hanson to the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync. However, I grew up, so did my taste in music, and I left those corny and cheesy bands behind (or so I thought). When I want to feel a little more youthful, I throw on some old-school pop music or even this generation’s take on pop.

I personally don’t feel that guilty pleasures should exist because nobody should feel guilty about doing anything. There are more important things in life to worry about than if your friends find out that you bought (and like) the new Jonas Brothers album. If you want to listen to that Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton song, go for it. I’m not one to judge because I have some of their songs on my play list too. Music shouldn’t make anyone feel embarrassed about enjoying it, and isn’t that the point, to enjoy it?

Don’t feel like you have to crawl into a hole in order to listening to some Top 40 songs or ultra sugary pop ballads. They were created to be catchy for a reason.

Stop purchasing CDs from Amazon because you are too embarrassed to walk into your local record shop or HMV. On the next nice day, roll down your car windows and crank some Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus, because you know all the people on the street and in the cars beside you will be singing along.

Now as part of my friend duties, I do what any good friend would and I support my friends. It doesn’t hurt that supporting my friends equates to going to a show, where I get to hear the music I love, drink and hang out with my friends, which after all is not a bad way to spend a night. However, when I talk about my friends or if someone asks what I did the previous weekend, I have heard the “G” word and that’s where we have a problem. That’s right, they call me a groupie.

I shudder at the “G” word. I am offended by the word and it is not to be used in a sentence associated with my name unless the phrase “is not a” comes before it. I am friends with guys who happen to be musicians and that, my friend, does not a groupie make. Actually I don’t know if true groupies even exist anymore, well except for those girls on Rock of Love. Merriam-Webster actually defines the word groupie as:

1. A fan of a rock group who usually follows the group around on concert tours
2. An admirer of a celebrity who attends as many of his or her public appearances as possible
3. enthusiast, aficionado <a political groupie> <golf groupies>

Technically I am a fan of bands, and yes I do go to shows in the area but 9 times out of 10 I’m also friends with the band so it’s less about stalking some famous person and more about spending time with friends. When you are staying at the bass player’s house with 4 other people after a show and he’s making breakfast the next day for everyone, you are a friend first and fan second.

Now I’m not friends with every band I go see and I still get really excited to see certain bands, much like I did seeing New Kids on the Block when I was 10 yrs. old, but that just because I’m a music junkie and an all around giant dork. I simply get offended by the term groupie because of the connotation; I’m not flashing the security guy so I can get backstage and perform sex acts on coked-out hair bands. We are not in Almost Famous, and I am NOT a groupie.

I love music; I always have and always will. It may be the music that brings me to a show, but it’s the friendships I’ve made and the people I’ve met that will make me change my plans or go out of my way to go see my friends. I’m not a groupie, I’m just lucky.

But you may not catch Kidd Kraddick in the Morning every time they give a Freddy update, and you're looking for something new. What's he doing now? Is he recording new music yet? Where do I go to help Freddy record his album? Where do I vote on the lyrics, album art, and chords?

Fret not, Freddyphiliacs. Get all the info you could possibly ever want (or at least that is available) on KiddLive.com. Want to see the latest Freddy videos? You can catch it all online on the new Freddy subdomain.

You can even sample the music Freddy's working on.  And if you want your voice to be heard, you can vote on the lyrics to Freddy's latest songs. 

So the next time you want to know what he is up to, check out Freddy's blog and all the other parts of his site mentioned above. With your help, Freddy will make some history right here in the heart of Texas!

As of today, Freddy has already had a couple major labels express interest in signing him, and someone has recommended he start his own cable tv show. But with Kidd's assistance, Freddy is going solo with you the people as his guide. His single "Defying Gravity" is getting air time all over Texas now and will soon be national. 

You can always check in with us here at CultureFeast.com as we will give you an outsider perspective of the Freddyphilia. Unless you are looking at our website analytics, you have no idea how popular this artist is.

Her previous album was more acoustic/rock than jazz/blues. Tracks from her debut album made it to the silver screen in Bridget Jones' Diary and Shallow Hal. Her first tour was a supporting act for Melissa Etheridge and Meredith Brooks. Ever since that initial success, Rosey's creative path has led her back home to a rich heritage of passionate jazz.

Luckiest Girl is a return to those roots. Six years after her debut, Luckiest Girl sounds like an honest expression of a woman returning to her passion. It's been a lifelong love affair with music. Both of Rosey's parents were singers, and both grandparents were musicians. Listening to her sophomore album, you can hear the heart of timeless jazz classics in every song. 

I'm listening to her album for the ninth time, and it's great music. Perfect for a jazz club where posh urbanites sip martinis in trench coats and top hats, it's also the idyllic mood setter for a lazy Saturday afternoon at Starbucks while you type your next blog post or read a chapter from your favorite novel.

My favorite tracks are "Love" and "Be Somebody Blues", although every song is worth a listen. In fact, I enjoy the album most as an album. The entire album is one fluid piece of jazz/blues. Just hit play and let it play through. Rosey's voice has a soft, airy, hometown girl sound that delivers every song with a clarity and a sense of both wistful hope and somber heartache. 

Give it a listen. You owe it to your laptop and latte to experience the complete creative experience. 

So, Freddy and Kidd talk. Whether it was Freddy's idea or Kidd's, doesn't matter. Regardless, Freddy posed the idea to Kidd on the air Monday morning of recording his album here in DFW and letting the KKITM fans vote on each song, the album art, etc. In other words, Freddy wants to be the UGC (user generated content) of the music industry.

Not a bad idea for media attention and publicity. He's already been contacted by a major record label since the Gas Tour began. He has that open door waiting for an answer as well. So, the question Kidd Kraddick has posed to you, his listeners, is this: Do you want to participate in the making of Freddy's album?

It's a simple question. Do you care enough about Freddy's career to help him out and make him a star? Do you want to participate in the process? And finally, wil you feel a sense of loyalty and ownership if he stays and you contribute your voice every step of the way?

Questions worth asking. Freddy, if you're out there, and you're reading this, I'd like to get your thoughts. 

Texas Bar and Grill is located in Las Colinas (the nice part of Irving). From Hwy 114, exit O' Connor, turn north, and take your immediate next right onto Las Colinas Blvd. 

This is an excerpt of Freddy's most popular song. He had two million hits on his MySpace music page before taking the songs down.

His songs have catchy hooks, and his one slow song I've heard is even better. All in all, I wonder if he'd qualify as a real talent or just a shooting star. Based on his ability to write, sing, and play, I see the potential for music on par with The Fray, though I question whether he has the maturity or confidence to convey the depth of emotion required. 

Fun music is fun. There's always a time and place for it. But this kid has the raw ability to push beyond that if he chose. But potential is just potential until a person steps up. So I guess the real question is: what happens to Freddy next?

I'd like to know what other people think about Freddy. Do you like his music? Do you find him sincere or pre-packaged? Feel free to share your comments on Freddy here. 

Another video or two on the way.