Giftmas List 06 Part 3

Giftmas Guide 06 part 3
Let’s face holiday season is no time for heavy thinking. With so many Music and DVD titles hitting the shelves over the past 12 months, it could pretty easy to miss something. So why strain your brain, it’s enough to just keep up with the latest postings on chaosmen.com. So let’s looks at our (sub)objective list for music. Remember it’s our blog and our list, so take it as you will.
fergie the dutchess
Fergie of the multi-platinum, twice Grammy Award winning group, The Black Eyed Peas, releases her solo debut The Dutchess. Now, The Black Eyed Peas are an international success story, selling over 17 million copies worldwide. The Dutchess produced by will.i.am, showcases Fergie’s ability as a solo artist and features such stars as Ludacris and Rita Marley, John Legend and The Black Eyed Peas. The first single “London Bridge” went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in only three weeks! Can you say Fergalicous?
evanescence the open door
As if your everyday, ordinary sophomore jitters weren’t stressful enough – consider Arkansas’s Evanescence, who had not only the daunting task of following up the success of 2003’s 14-million-selling Fallen (one of only eight albums in history to spend a full year in the Billboard Top 50), but were facing it without two thirds of their original members. With principle songwriter Ben Moody leaving mid-tour in 2003 and bassist Will Boyd departing earlier this year, it didn’t bode well. Amazingly, The Open Door comes through, and finds lead singer Amy Lee building on Fallen’s legacy with more sweepingly orchestral rock. To wit: the massive lead single “Call Me When You’re Sober”.
beyoncè b’day
Nobody could ever intentionally set out to replace the lighting-in-a-bottle magic of Beyoncè’s “Crazy In Love”, and fortunately, on her sophomore album, the esteemed Ms. Knowles has the good sense (or of that of her main-man Jay-Z) not to try. Instead, she offers up a daring record – one that sees her stepping out of her comfort zone and turning in some truly special pop moments as a result. From the disco-drenched lead single “Dèja Vu” to the aggressive club jam “Ring The Alarm”, B’day (so named because it was released immediately after Beyoncè’s actual 25th) this compelling proof that a new Diva has risen.
justin timberlake futuresex/lovesounds
Bolstered by superb production from the likes of A-Listers Pharrell, Rick Rubin, will.i.am and –of course – the mighty Timberland, FutureSex/LoveSounds finds Justin Timberlake augmenting the slick, hook-filled songwriting style that defined his debut Justified with a not-insignificant amount of Prince influence. From the futuristic glimmer of singles “Sexyback” and “Lovestoned” (which features a guest appearance from the way sexy T.I.) to other album standouts like the infectious “Love Sound” and “What Goes Around” (easily this album’s “Cry Me A River”), FutureSex/LoveSounds is loaded with enough singles to keep JT on the charts and in news till next year’s Giftmas List!
ludacris release therapy
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges is back to take on the music industry by storm once again with his newest solo album Release Therapy. Release Therapy is Ludacris’ most personal album to date. Dealing with topics from politics to child abuse, the “release” portion of the disc will show another side of Ludacris to his fans. The “therapy” songs include cut loose tracks such as “Girls Gone Wild”, produced by Pharrell. This album features a powerhouse of talent guest artist including Mary J. Blidge, Beanie Sigel, Pharrell, Young Jeezy, R. Kelly, Bobby Valentino and Snoop Dogg. Includes the fierceness of the hit single “Money Maker”, featuring Pharrell.

my chemical romance the black parade
Building on the epic sound of their 2004 breakthrough Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, the latest album form My Chemical Romance finds the band consulting their inner Freddie Mercuries and coming out sounding more sprawling and ambitious than ever. There’s real drama in here: Not only is The Black Parade the name of the record it’s also the name of a fictitious alter ego of MCR’s creation. Bigger, brasher and glammier than anything that has come out of NJ, this is an odds on favorite to be the year’s biggest rock records.
the game the doctor’s advocate
With The Documentary, Compton native Jayceon Taylor (better known as The Game) wrote and rapped his snapshots of street life and, with the help of big name producers such as Dr. Dre, Just Blaze and Kanye West, turned them into an album that sold millions. The same producers return for what The Game calls his “masterpiece”.
the killer’s sam’s town
After delivering Hot Fuss, one of the most exciting debut rock albums of recent memory, The Killers up the ante with their sophomore release Sam’s Town. Produced by Flood (U2, NIN) and Alan Moulder (U2, Depeche Mode), The Killers have built on the sound they established with their debut and have taken it one step further. The epic first single “When We Were young” is just one of 12 compelling tracks on the CD that People magazine say’s is “one to listen to over and over” and Rolling Stone calls “a luscious piece of nostalgia [that] gets better with every listen…”.
high school musical original motion picture soundtrack
it’s Grease for a new generation! High School Musical has become THE phenomenon of the year (we kid you not!). The made-for-TV-movie drew record audiences – and has become The Disney’s Channels highest rated show EVER – and the soundtrack (which features like 10 songs from the movie and like, 2 karaoke versions!!!) has been in the top of the album sales charts in the US and Canada for like months. The album just recently won the AMA (American Music Award) for soundtrack of the year as well. Beside we totally, like totally love Zac Effron. More Zac after the jump!

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