switch it up!

We all have a few artists who we can't stop listening to, ones who don't quite fit into the rest of our playlists (for me, it's Ciara). Maybe even ones we change the title of on your ipod, so you can blast "Baby, One More Time" while whoever looks at your screen thinks you're listening to Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9 (Scherzo)", (which is, to note, a great song).

No fears, Ashcan Rantings is here to help your kick your guilty pleasure habits!

Okay, you're diggin Miss Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man". This whole jazz throwback thing is catchy! But, wait, this is still Xtina we're talking about, which means massive oversinging. Annoying? Definitely. She's so set on proving she can sing, she screws up some good songs. We know you can hit those high notes, girlie, but you don't have to do it on every second word.

I have your solution:

Kick your Christina habit by downloading "Call the Law" by Janelle Monae (but you can probably find it by looking for Outkast) It's off Outkast's new CD Idlewild and it's all jazzy Back to the Basics-style, without loads of oversinging.

"Irreplaceable" comes on the radio and - gasp! - you don't feel immediately compelled to change the channel! Don't sweat it, it happens to the best of us. But if you find yourself actually listening through the commercials because the DJ said there was some Beyonce coming up (along with about ten other artists, half of which are Akon), you need help. My help.

Have no fear - Amerie to the rescue! The catchy sort of diva music without the snotty, superior diva personality. Try "1 Thing" or "Take Control". Hey, you've already heard "Irreplacable" eight times per hour, if you listen to Top 40 radio...mix it up.

Admit it, you still dig out your Backstreet Boys CDs every now and then. Um, yeah, that's a problem. Why?

A) NSYNC is better
B) They are somehow related to Aaron Carter
C) If that picture above is any sort of hint, they were on Arthur. Great show, but not the best place for musicians to hang around

"But I like the harmonies!" You whine.
Your obvious solution:

The Beach Boys. They've got better harmonies, better songs and a better backstory (Did BSB hang out with Charles Manson? I think not)

Of course maybe you're proud of the Christina on your iPod, and you don't mind about Beyonce's bitchy-fake personality, and you aren't ashamed to display your Backstreet Boys CDs in between your Zeppelin and your No Doubt. Then what I'm offering are other bands you can try, artists you might (should) like.
What was it Mother Teresa said?
"When you close your mind, you close your heart"
And girl knew what she was talking about.