14-6-09 Can't believe I haven't written a review for the whole of 2009, watch this space...
14-6-09 Can't believe I haven't written a review for the whole of 2009, watch this space...
Member since:02.06.2007
Reviews:180
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BACKGROUND
As someone that embraces the American culture more than the average McDonalds eater and Mountain Dew consumer, it's only natural that I jump on to the strangest of music trends. 'Making The Band' is an MTV reality show that receives very little publicity in the UK that some may remember me rambling on about a few months back -- around the same time as the releases of Day26 and Danity Kane's chart topping albums.
That's top of the Billboard for the record.
Donnie is the third product of the latest season of this reality television show, he's the one that couldn't make the band and it took the producers a lot longer to try and find a sound that they could actually sell with his name attached. Real name, Donald Joseph Klang, the 23-year old has received comparisons to a young Justin Timberlake on the show. But that's what they want you to think when you go out and buy his record.
As whilst Justin may have 4-years on Donnie, he doesn't deserve that sort of insult.
PROMOTION
Reality television is a proven technique and selling all kinds of rubbish all around the world. That is why it shouldn't come as to much of a surprise when you hear that the male and female groups formed through the latest 'Making The Band' format have sold almost a combined 500,000 albums in six months. Unfortunately for Donnie, most of the last season of the show focused on the groups and there was very little attention paid to him.
Donnie only debuted his first single in the finale of the show.
Whilst the new season of 'Making The Band' has began airing in the US, I have yet to see an episode air in the UK. Therefore I am unsure of how well the return of the show coincided with the release of the album, 'Just a Rolling Stone', in early September.
I would expect that the fact the album only sold 22,000 copies in its opening week indicates something went drastically wrong with the advertising of the next Justin Timberlake.
TRACKS
01, Intro (3.09), 1*
02, Take You There ft. Diddy (4.01), 3*
If the characters on reality television show were all given the word 'spice' to follow their name, Donnie would undoubtedly be given Attractive Spice, as there was a lot of work put into making Donnie out to be this heartbreaker -- although his entire image appeared dated by a generous eight years. This image crisis is what prevented Donnie landing himself a spot in the all-black Day26 boy band, and this image crisis has also came through on his music. There should never be any need for an intro to be as long as an actual song, and the fact Donnie's boss decided he wanted to throw his vocals in on his debut single shows how little faith he must have in him. 'Take You There' would have been groundbreaking ten years ago, but now P Diddy is hardly the most sought after face in the business. Whilst there is nothing particulary wrong with the song, it's familarity to everything you've heard before creates background music. And clearly the American public felt the same way, considering the track only managed to peak at #110 on the US Billboard.
03, Dr. Love (3.23), 3*
04, Hurt That Body ft. Teruis Nash (3.09), 4*
I seem to remember 'Dr Love' being one of the first tracks I heard Donnie sing on television, and could not really understand why all the producers were getting so excited over a track that sounds as though it could have been written by a five-year old. Yes the lyrics are incredibly provocative, but if you even dare to use them as a chat up line in the real world I would be shocked if you didn't receive a knock back. Or a knock out. Perhaps the hook is a little catchy, although I feel the track will not do Donnie any favours if he really does go through with the rumours and release this as the second single. 'Hurt That Body' is the only track on the album to be produced by the breakthrough producer of the year, The-Dream. Surprisingly the producer also features with vocals on the track although does not use his stage name -- is someone too embarrassed to admit they have worked with Donnie Klang? Tricky Stewart also features as a production credit, although he doesn't make the track sound like anything he has produced with Mariah Carey and Usher already this year. Having said that, it is the best track so far.
05, Hollywood Girl (4.07), 3*
06, Pick it Up (4.32), 4*
I'm beginning to get the feeling that if you take this album too seriously you are going to end up disappointed, and that is where the people behind Donnie's project have messed up. They've tried to advertise him to a grown up market, and given him some adult lyrics, yet given him songs such as 'Hollywood Girl' that on the surface do not sound as though they would be out of place and a childs birthday party. This is certainly the closest the album has came to a dance track so far, it's just a shame that dance is the hoke-koke. Finally a Donnie I can get on board with, he's sounding down on 'Pick it Up' and I feel Donnie is going to be at his most appealing to me when I can be laughing at him. This track is the other contender for his second single, and would recommend it over Dr Love.
'Pretty Girls Cry' is the first of five tracks that are produced by Mario Winans, who is also famous for a P Diddy collaboration ("I Don't Wanna Know"). Unfortunately, the tracks beat is too in my face for me to appreciate any underlying potential. 'Catch My Breath' starts unusually with the sound of an acoustic guitar, and this different direction is likely to be inspired by the producers Danja & The Clutch. These producers make their only Donnie appearance on this track, as Danja was likely very busy working with Britney Spears on her new album, 'Circus', out in December. A bit repetitive but barable. I was first introduced to the idea of interludes working well by a certain Justin Timberlake album titled 'Future Sex/Love Sounds'. Donnie don't do as Justin does do. 'Not a Love Song' sounds as though it could be off the Danity Kane until the mascueline vocals hit in (ok, maybe a bit after that) however it is one of the shining moments of the album -- even though the lyrics aren't anymore thought provoking that Dr Love meets Hollywood Girl.
'Which One' is better not spoken of. 'Love in Stereo' hits you right where it hurts, the ear with its loud futuristic babble (from the 90's to the [30]00's). This may have worked as an interlude but it certainly doesn't work when it rips at my ears for over three minutes. 'Rolling Stone' was originally supposed to be a fully fledged track, however leaked on to the internet incredibly early before the albums released -- therefore it was replaced with a shorter interlude version. This is a shame considering 'Rolling Stone' was better than pretty much everything I have heard thus far on the album (named after said song).
14, You're My Idol (3.44), 1*
15, The Pain (Interlude) (1.37), 2*
16, The Rain (4.03), 1*
'You're My Idol' gives me the impression that the album is coming to a brisk close, as it is incredibly slow paced with a few stretched out notes to try and make it sound as though this is a fitting climax. And considering what I've heard so far, anything could probably climax this record. 'The Pain' is another talking interlude that shows us just how sexually frustrated Donnie is, and then comes 'The Rain' (hey, that rhymes). Sadly there was no intelligence spare, and no one thought that it would be good if these two tracks could run into one another like a famous Trousersnake once did. OPINION
Danity Kane's second album really surprised me, there was a drastic improvement. Day26 disappointed me, and almost proved that there is no room for boy bands in the business anymore. Donnie's debut effort, 'Just a Rolling Stone', is worlds worse than this. I never felt that he has the charisma of rhythm to make it outside of reality television, and he proved it by not having one song on this album that I feel would make a good single. I feel sorry for those poor people that are attending Janet Jackson's upcoming tour, with the news that Donnie shall be her supporting act.
I also find it hard to believe that Britney Spears ever recorded a track with Donnie. The rumoured, 'Celebrity Love', did not make the final cut off the album and wonder if it ever even existed. I expect if it was recorded, it must have been when Britney was at her lowest (between shaving herself bald and losing the kids).
This is the last we will ever see or hear of Donnie, and if I'm wrong I'm willing to eat a rolling stone.
"It's pretty clear that nobody, P. Diddy included, probably expected Klang to register much farther than his built-in MTV/TRL audience,and that alone may be enough for Just a Rolling Stone to drop with less of a thud and more of a Klang." - AMG
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Really good review. Although these shows are getting annoying...as for American culture, you wanna live over here, then you'll realise it ain't all that! E from me
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