Pandora

Music Genome Project. (2008). Pandora. Retrieved April 30, 2011 from Pandora.com. 

Summary

Your taste in music, your way. Users are able to create stations of a ginormous database that has everything from show tunes to top ten music. All fans of "Beyonce" have to do is enter her name into the search engine and in a matter of seconds a station is created for you that is filled with similar music. Features include, likes and dislikes, pause, rating, ability to build own station, and share your tastes with friends. 

Review

I could not live without my FREE Pandora. It follows me to work, on a run, at home, and in the car. It is super easy to use, and has almost every single song, version, and artists in its database. I love stealing music suggestions from friends or complete strangers and it is a great way to get new music.  

Genre

Database

Interest Level

Tween-Adult

Similar Databases

Musical Genome Project

YouTube

Annotation

Are you sick of wasting time fast forwarding through hundreds of songs that you can't stand? With Pandora, you find music that you love and organize them in the way you want! Best part? It's FREE!

LEGO Rock Band for the Wii

Harmonix Music Systems Inc. (2010). LEGO: Rock band. Massachusetts: Harmonix Music Systems Inc..

Summary

Fans of the Rock Band craze will be rocking out as they try and build a band and rock the universe. Players get to create their own rockstars, roadies and managers as well as pick their own songs to complete. When players successfully complete their challenges they unlock fun presents which can include fancy vehicles and instruments as well as perform in backyard venues to packed out large stadiums. 

Review

I love Rock Band. It is a great game to play with family, friends, or even by yourself. My tween loves it too and she loves trying new instruments, new songs, and new attire. This is a great game to give tweens creativity to have an alter ego. They have the freedom to create clothes, hairstyles and lifestyles for their avatars, and control where they perform and the music that they play. This game is safe, easy to navigate, and is a great way to have budding personalities shine. 

Genre

Video Game

Interest Level

Kids/Tweens

Similar Games

Rock Band

Guitar Hero

Dance Dance Revolution

Annotation

This game is a great way for tweens to experiment with choosing their own clothing, musical tastes, choice of vehicles, and hang out spots in a safe and creative way. 

A Year Without Rain- Selena Gomez and the Scene

Selena Gomez. (2010). A year without rain. Los Angeles: Hollywood Records. 

Summary

A Year Without Rain, is Selena Gomez and the Scene's second album and was released September 17, 2010. The sound of this album is a mix of pop, electronic, and dance. According to Selena Gomez the majority of the songs were written for her fans and all of them talked about love, freedom, and living in the moment. This album sold 66,000 copies in its first week of release and reached number 4 on the US charts. Critics have labeled this album a growth in the bands development and is more serious lyrically and musically then their first album. This was also the first album that Selena Gomez wrote and produced the songs herself. 

Review

Ugh, guilty pleasure!! I have a tween daughter and I was dreading replacing my indie/hardcore CD's with this cheesy music CD. I have in to my daughters pleas and after I made sure all the windows were up, I let her listen to her CD. To my dismay, I was singing along by the end of the trip! This CD is catchy, safe, and all around fun. It is so sad to have your daughter grow up from Raffi and Hannah Montana, but I do not mind to listening to this. All of the songs are well written, age appropriate, and all around fun to listen to. (I even will admit that I eagerly bought my daughter and I tickets to see Selena Gomez and the Scene at our local fair!)

Genre

Music-CD

Interest Level

Tween-Teen

Similar Artists

Taylor Swift

Miley Cyrus

Justin Beiber

Awards

Teen Choice Award- 2010

MTV Europe Music Award- 2010

People's Choice Award- 2010

Annotation

If a punk rock mom allows this to play in her car, it says something. Try it out!

Ocean Eyes- Owl City

Owl City. (2010). Ocean eyes. [CD]. New York: Universal Republic.

Summary

Owl City is an electronic/synthpop musical project by singer and songwriter Adam Young which began in in 2007. Adam Young started his music career in his parents garage and he has continued working with other famous musicians to create his music.

Ocean Eyes is the band Owl City's third album and was released on iTunes on July 14, 2010. Ocean Eyes has been on the top ten on US album charts, topped U.S electronic album charts, and was on Amazon.com's top ten MP3 charts. Songs from this album were featured on the soundtrack for Tim Burton's movie Alice in Wonderland and on the show 90210. 

Review

I knew quite a few tween bands that girls liked but zero for tween boys. I ended up asking some regular tween boys about their favorite bands, and Owl City was a band 4 out of 5 boys liked. When I listened to their music on iTunes, I was actually secretly rocking out with them. I could actually see myself buying their album! A mix between the Postal Service and the Jonas Brothers, Owl City is an age appropriate, lyrically safe, and catchy band that I would feel comfortable with my tween listening to.

Genre

Music-CD

Interest Level

Tween-Adult

Similar Bands

The Postal Service

The Jonas Brothers

Death Cab for Cutie

Annotation

All kids need a voice to guide their way in this huge world, and Owl City is a great voice for the tween generation.