Hilary Duff did it again! While tabloid-grabbing Britney and sexually frustrated Christina has parted way with their sugary bumble gum images and sound of the late 90’s, Duff is more than happy to fill that niche. Catering to the allowance-filled pockets of the preteen scene, Duff is all about wholesome pop music that screams family- friendly. Popular for her short stint as Lizzie Maguire on the darling “Lizzie Maguire Show,” Duff is no stranger to the pressure of youth stardom. She looks and talks like a teenager, so naturally she sings like one as well. It’s surprising that even though this record is aimed towards the pre-teen generation- many parents, college students, and twenty-some-things listen and encourage it. Although juvenile in most cases, this album is shamefully enjoyable. Its fluff, but worth the price fluff. Metamorphosis isn’t going to alter your life or raise any epiphanies, but that was not Duff’s (or at least Duff’s record label) intentions. Duff is having a ton of fun being the new ‘teen’ idol, so she wants us to have fun listening to her album as well, and you know what- I did.

Conclusion: Pre-packaged pop is fun in this case. C

Key tracks: Yesterday, Come Clean, or Why Not

Similar artist: A-teens or Atomic Kitten

The Darkness
Permission to Land

Heard about the 80’s metal revival? Yeah, me either. Yet the newest import from the United Kingdom, The Darkness, is painfully pumping life back into metal/pop phase of the 1980’s. To be perfectly honest, Permission to Land is not that painful to listen to after a couple of spins. Its sound and textures border on the likes of Queen and Kiss. The tracks are actually tightly constructed and most importantly extra loud and raucous. A majority of the songs are specks with lyrics about sex and drugs, but this is only an expected ingredient for a metal revival album. Released in the latter half of last year, it barely made a ripple on likes of MTV and radio stations, yet the British are nuts about The Darkness! Maybe the British hear something that we don’t.

Conclusion: Its not that Dark! C+

Key Tracks: I believe in a thing called love, Love is only a feeling, or Friday night.

Similar artist: Queen or Kiss

Phantom Planet
Phantom Planet

If you were a big fan of their
debut album The Guest, steer
clear from this release.
Embracing the distorted guitar
riffs and garage band noise on
this album, Phantom Planet
rehashes The Strokes but
minus the melodies. This
record is such a huge
departure from their smart
pop-drenched hooks from the
last record. The tracks open
up excruciatingly loud and the
sound is confusing and
frustrating to listen too. Buyers
beware that although the first
half of the record is loud and
unforgiving, the latter half is
actually okay. It’s only okay
because the second half is
much, much quieter-almost
sounding like the Southern
California guys we have come
to know and love in the past.

Conclusion: Distorted B-

Key Tracks: Big Brat or Making a Killing

Similar artist: The Strokes (sort of)

Hitting the pavement to find out what you kids are listening too.

Tim/21/student: “My friends turned me onto The Thrills, they sound very west coast.”

Jessica/19/waitress: “I’m stuck on cheesy 80’s music- like old music by Madonna, Debbie Gibson or Journey. I like new stuff too, like stuff by John Mayer and Jason Mraz.”

Jason/20/freeloader: “The Clash, The Sex Pistol, or The Smiths- end of story, the best of the best.”

Reviews by NT Nguyen
Send comments/questions to service@enliv.com. Please be sure to include your name and return email.

03/02: Mae @ The Social (Downtown Orlando)
03/03: Soil @ The House of Blues (Downtown Disney)
03/06 Primus @ Hard Rock Live (Universal Studio City Walk)
03/08: Barenaked Ladies @ TD Waterhouse
03/08: A.F.I @ House of Blues (Downtown Disney)
03/18: Saves the Days @ House of Blues (Downtown Disney)
03/19: Get up Kids @ The Social (Downtown Orlando)
03/24: Liz Phair @ House of Blues (Downtown Disney)
03/24: Stellastarr @ The Social (Downtown Orlando)
03/25: Mest @ House of Blues (Downtown Disney)
03/26: Thrice @ The Social (Downtown Orlando)
03/27:The Sounds @ The Social (Downtown Orlando)
03/28: Britney Spears @ TD Waterhouse

Tickets are available on ticketmaster.com or Park Avenue Compact Disc. Park Avenue CD’s has two locations, one on the main floor of the student union at University of Central Florida and one located in Downtown Winter Park. Times and location are subject to change, that is the music industry for you!