Report Card - Pearl Jam, pt. 2 (1996 - Now)

You've had some time to digest the incredible early years of Pearl Jam's discography, now we move on to the latter half of the 90s and into the 2000s. At the end of Part 1, this pioneering act finished their mid-terms with an excellent 'A+.' Can they keep up that high standard with the end of the grunge era and adapt to a new age of music? You're about to find out...

Who You Are (1996)

You could forgive Pearl Jam for a song like 'Who You Are.' This was the experimental mid-90s, were everyone was trying to come up with the 'new' sound that would dominate the remainder of the decade. Unfortunately, this wasn't it.

Song: C

Report Card - Pearl Jam, pt. 1 (1991 - 1995)

So, it was pointed out to me that I've been slack with putting out an edition of an old feature, Report Card! For those new readers that are asking, "qua?" the Report Card focuses on one artist, group or band and highlights their entire singles discography, awarding them a grade for both song and video. At the end, an overall grade is assigned and trust me, this is one subject you don't want to fail. Luckily, failure is not an option for the band we'll be looking at today... Pearl Jam! The request for the Jam was sent in by regular reader and all-round awesome person, Rayna, so if you're a fan of grunge's greatest act, you have her to thank. Of course life is never easy when you want to do one of these posts. Despite PJ's excellence, they weren't a big fan of the music video after the overwhelming success that was 'Jeremy,' so the majority of tracks will be based on song alone. These songs alone are still generally better than what passes off as rock music today, so whatever, yeah? What else... well, Pearl Jam's released a lot of material in the past twenty years, so we're going to be breaking this up into two parts. Today we'll be looking at the earlier music, from 1991 to 1995, with part two giving us, well, everything else. Alright, dust off your flannel shirts, don't do (or cut) your hair and get ready to move from side to side in a totally apathetic, yet non-emo, manner. That's right, we're getting our grunge on, kids!

PEARL JAM

Alive (1991)

As far as a debut song goes, this was a strong choice to introduce the world to Pearl Jam. Every element that separates Pearl Jam from their contemporaries is present; Vedder's distinct vocals, a powerful story and some sweet guitar riffs. What of the video? Well... they all look really young?

Song: A

Video: C

Report Card: M.I.A



Galang, galang, galang!!!



It's been almost two months since the last Report Card, which featured every single that Powderfinger released throughout their illustrious career. That took forever to do up, so I'm going to simplify things a little. The only songs that I'll feature now must be accompanied by a music video, which makes sense really since I'm meant to be judging song AND video quality. So, who's up in this edition? M.I.A! Not only is she fresh off dropping her new Vicki Leekx mixtape, but she'll soon be in Australia in preparation for this year's Big Day Out festival! You can download the full (and free!) Vicki Leekx mixtape for yourself at http://vickileekx.com/. It's well worth it. Now, let's get to the music!

Galang

Song: A+

Video: B

Fantastic debut song, but the video isn't exactly groundbreaking. Still, the song is one of the best of the 2000s and remains my favourite M.I.A track.

Report Card: Powderfinger

Tonight, the journey for one of Australia's greatest rock bands comes to an end. Over their career they've risen through the ranks to become one of the nation's most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands. They have the distinction of having the most appearances on the JJJ Hottest 100, topping it twice in 1999 and 2000. In 2003 they placed three times within the top 10, a feat yet to be matched or topped. ARIA has celebrated the band continuously, awarding the band with Album of the Year honours three times (for Internationalist, Odyssey Number Five and Vulture Street). Alongside their incredible music, the likeability of band members Bernard Fanning, Darren Middleton, Ian Haug, John Collins and Jon Coghill has ensured them a special place in the hearts and minds of many Australians, this blogger included. Fun Trivia Fact: It's My Kind of Scene is based on the Powderfinger track, 'My Kind of Scene.' Did I really need to tell you that?

While their career as a collective unit ends tonight, each band member will hopefully continue to contribute to the Australian music industry. If there's a God, Bernard Fanning is already prepping his follow up to Tea & Sympathy. Many of us won't be in attendance for the final show, but we can say goodbye by taking a look back at all the music that Powderfinger have graced us with. So... what are we waiting for?

Report Card #2 - Sia

School is back in session kids! Lady Gaga was the featured artist during the last lecture and we're going to be looking at another interesting female artist today too; Australian songstress, Sia. We're only going to be looking at Sia's solo works, so sorry Zero 7 fans, you'll just have to wait for another day. For those of you who slept through the first class (or got caught up in crazy daydreams involving the Gaga and Beyonce... perverts), Report Card takes a look back on every single an artist has released over their career and grades them based on the song and accompanying music video. At the end an overall grade will be assigned. In the last edition Lady Gaga received a solid B+ for her efforts so far. Will Sia join her, passing with flying colours? Or is she doomed to fail? Let the lesson begin...

Taken For Granted

It works as a nice introduction to Sia's unique voice and the video is pretty much Paranormal Activity, but... it's not the most exciting song to make a big debut with. Still, it's better than 98.9% of the other music released in 2000.

Song: B

Video: C+ (Paranormal Activity sucked)

Little Man

Again, nice vocals, BUT... the video is very generic and offers the viewer nothing of note and the same can pretty much be said of the song. The Wookie remix is very, very good though.

Song: C+

Video: F

Drink To Get Drunk

I think that having no video for 'Drink To Get Drunk' works in Ms Furler's favour as you're left with her voice as the main focus. And it's on fine form here.

Song: A-

Breathe Me

Sia - Breathe Me

Perfect. In every single way. 'Breathe Me' was instantly immortalized when it was used as the final song in Six Feet Under. If there's some sort of list of songs you NEED to listen to during your life then I hope this is on it.

Song: A+

Video: A+

Don't Bring Me Down

Sia really found herself as a songwriter on her second studio album. 'Don't Bring Me Down' works perfectly as the follow up to 'Breathe Me.' It's a huge shame that there's no official music video for this one.

Song: A

Numb

Animated music videos are generally awesome and 'Numb' proves it. Ok, no it doesn't, but it's a beautiful piece of work. The song is more experimental than many of the other tracks on Sia's sophomore set which really helps it stand out.

Song: B+

Video: A

Where I Belong

I can't help but feel a bit 'meh' when listening to 'Where I Belong.' When compared to the three songs that preceded it, it comes across as a bit average really. Again, no video.

Song: C

Pictures

Sia - Pictures

Sia's happiest sounding single to date. I say sounding because the lyrics are still pretty depressing. The video is a nice change of pace and works pretty well as a comedy clip.

Song: B

Video: B-

Day Too Soon

Great song with an even better video. The video's simplicity makes it so effective and Sia's never looked better.

Song: A-

Video: A-

The Girl You Lost To Cocaine

Sia shows off her impressive costume collection in the video! 'The Girl You Lost To Cocaine' is the perfect pop song that you were never going to hear on commercial radio and only because of the use of the word cocaine. Sucks. There's a ton of good remixes to this track too, but I'll leave those for you to discover.

Song: A

Video: A

Soon We'll Be Found

Her writing on tracks like this are the reason why she's in demand to write for superstars (?) like Christina Aguilera. And the video... well, it doesn't get much better than that. Creative, inspiring, thought-provoking. Everything music should be and then some. Why did we not hear this on the radio and why weren't music channels playing the video?

Song: A+

Video: A+

Buttons

This song you should definitely know. It's one of the few Sia tracks that actually got a substantial amount of radio play and with good reason! I'm not so sure about the video which is kind of a what not to wear on your face guide. I guess it gets some points for creativity.

Song: A

Video: B

You've Changed

So, we arrive at the singles taken from Sia's latest release, We Are Born. More fun than her previous releases and, unsurprisingly, her best commercial showing in international markets (#2 - Australian ARIA charts). 'You've Changed' was also Sia's best showing on the singles charts in AUS, peaking at #31. It should have gone to #1.

Song: A-

Video: B

Under The Milky Way

Sia's done some great covers in her time ('Paranoid Android' and 'Gimme More'), but I didn't really get into 'Under The Milky Way.' Maybe you'll like it.

Song: C+

Clap Your Hands

See, do you get what I mean about Sia bringing the fun in these days? Another winning track and possibly her weirdest video yet. Still, it all works.

Song: B+

Video: B

After a rocky start, Sia rebounded beautifully with her sophomore album and hasn't looked back since, going from strength to strength with each subsequent release. At the moment it's been reported that she's suffering from Grave's Disease and It's My Kind of Scene wishes her a speedy recovery so she can get back to what she does best (and what she clearly loves doing) - creating music for her devoted fans. Get well soon Sia!

Overall Grade: A-

- Sia takes the lead.... sorry LG.

Report Card: Lady Gaga

As many of you would know, I'm quite fond of the pop sensation that is Lady Gaga. Who am I kidding... I freaking love her. She's been a breath of fresh air, or more accurately, she's been like a tornado that's left her rivals in the dust since late 2008. Her unprecedented rise to the top has seen many a comparison to Madonna and Christina Aguilera didn't know if she was a man or a woman, something that has dogged the Gaga more than once. Her response? A memorable Q magazine cover complete with a dildo down her trousers. Outstanding.

Surprising even myself, I've yet to feature Ms Germanotta in a feature capacity here on It's My Kind of Scene. What better time than the present, right? It's the debut of a new feature... Report Card! The premise is pretty simple; I'll be looking back at each song the chosen artist has released and grade them on it. An overall grade will be assigned at the end. That's not pretty simple, it's very simple. Let's get to it!

1. Just Dance ft. Colby O'Donis

As debut pop singles go, 'Just Dance' is well above average. While it merely hints at the head-scratching craziness that's to come it more than succeeds in establishing Gaga as the new 'it' girl of the moment. Colby O'Donis' involvement never feels important or necessary. You could have understood pairing Gaga with an established artist to garner more attention, instead O'Donis leaves you questioning what the point was of his random 30 second interlude. The video is pretty much, "Hi! I'm Lady Gaga and I just LOOOOVE to party." Fairly standard, see Ke$ha's 'Tik Tok.'

Song: B+
Video: C+

Poker Face

The evolution to pop superstar takes a major step forward and it's only her second single! Nominated for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and winning Best Dance Recording at the Grammys seems pretty good, but when you're topping charts in over 20 countries you know you've got a winner on your hands. It's funny how tame the video to 'Poker Face' comes across now when you compare it to say, 'Alejandro.'

Song: A

Video: B

Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)

"Cherry cherry boom-boom," indeed. Don't worry, I won't try to defend it. Easily the worst single release so far for Gaga, 'Eh, Eh' wasn't even released in the US. She looks quite good in the music video, but that's not enough to make the grade.

Song: D

Video: C-

LoveGame

A memorable step in the right direction, made possible by skanking up the subway and rides on disco sticks. The video highlights her ability to work a choreographed dance routine more than anything else. Oh, and her willingness to make out with cops, both male and female. Because lady cops need loving too.

Song: B-

Video: B

Wale ft. Lady Gaga - Chillin

Riiiight. It's not that it's a bad song, it's just that, as many have already pointed out, what's with Gaga turning into M.I.A? The video is uninspired and funny, but I'd say not on purpose. If watching Gaga doing her best to be a statue behind Wale doesn't elicit a chuckle from you then I ask, what is your trauma?

Song: C

Video: C

Paparazzi

The return of the mini-movie music video. 'Paparazzi' the video was the real star of the show here, which is a shame because the song's very good, possibly her best. Ok, not her best, but still very good. 'Paparazzi' is the real turning point for Gaga. She'd go from fairly typical pop superstar to the extremely creative 'artist' that she's now celebrated for being.

Song: A

Video: A+

Bad Romance

Yeah... it's amazing. Possibly the greatest pop song of the 2000s. Possibly the greatest pop song of all-time. I kid, I kid. Or do I? 'Bad Romance' is definitely Gaga's best single and probably the one song that will define her for the rest of her career. The video has received a massive 10 nominations for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, which will be handed out September 12.

Song: A+

Video: A+

Beyonce Knowles ft. Lady Gaga - Video Phone

If you've heard the original version, pre-Gaga, you'll understand how much better her presence actually makes 'Video Phone.' It's not exactly a song worthy of the two biggest female music stars on the face of the planet. Beyonce rocking the Bettie Page look works well for the video, but when she's trying too hard to be like her guest artist it doesn't work as well. Gaga seems to be having the time of her life in the video. Her breakdown whilst shooting her gun is hilarious, possibly even intentionally.

Song: C+

Video: B-

Telephone ft. Beyonce Knowles

Hmmm. Another mini-movie music video. The sequel to 'Paparazzi.' Never believe someone when they tell you that covering your sunglasses with lit cigarettes is a safe or practical idea. And coke cans curled into your hair is not a fashion statement. The crazy for the sake of being crazy arguments start to come up at this point and you can kinda see why. Beyonce is a taco-eating champ for actually going through with everything. But enough about the video, what of the song itself? It outclasses the previous collaboration, 'Video Phone,' easily, but 'Bad Romance' is a pretty touch song to follow-up on so 'Telephone' possibly suffers when compared to what came before it. Anything would.

Song: B+

Video: B

Alejandro

And the first signs of a true backlash emerge. 3 MINI-MOVIE MUSIC VIDEOS?!? Outrageous! Or maybe it was the swallowing of the rosary beads or the overtly homoerotic themes presented throughout the video and the song. MTVs James Montgomery accurately pointed out that 'Alejandro' marked the first time that even LGs biggest fans (her little monsters) were admitting to being a tad disappointed. Still, the song went top 10 in every major market (which makes her 7 for 7 in the USA for those keeping score). A lot of people seem to think that one misstep means the end for Gaga, but she'll bounce back. New single 'Dance In The Dark,' will hopefully go a long way in rebuilding some lost street-cred, if we ever see a video for it.

Song: B

Video: B-

Overall Grade: B+

Not too shabby, wouldn't you agree?