The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have a new album coming out next year sweetly, aww-cutely titled, Belong. They are releasing two new songs in December (the 14th). This one is Heart in Your Heartbreak and it is addictive especially the delectably smooth "She was the heart in your heartbreak" chorus lyric. The guitar solo revs it up nicely. I just want to dance around in a cardigan now. The single cover art is gloriously lush and soft with its pastels. I still think the Say No to Love cover art is their best though. Both images compliment each other well though.
Love me some musicals that actually resemble real life. Life really can be a musical! This movie is called Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench and The Village Voice liked it. It was filmed in Boston. A Bostonian musical? Who would have thunk it? Two trailers below. The font on the poster is fantastic (love that blue, yellow, green, and red). Even though it comes from the Juno/Away We Go school of poster design (animated, drawn cutesy stuff), I really like the poster. Can't wait to see it. I'm a total sucker for bursting, exploding into song and dance in the middle of the street. Gets me every time.
So Baz Luhrmann, director of the zany and wonderful Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and cheese ball Australia is doing The Great Gatsby as his next movie! What?! After the initial shock wore off, I became intrigued and excited about Baz's adaptation. The Great Gatsby is not a book you mess around with. It's a classic. But thinking of the beautifully described party scenes in the book, I can see Baz doing something special. The party scenes will be splendid. Will he keep it in the 20's? Will he incorporate musical numbers? Please yes. Flappers, music, lights, Gatsby's house! The green light! Oh boy, I'm getting very excited. However Baz often pulls the cheese and sap card which I really hope he doesn't do too much in this adaptation. Gatsby is not sappy or cheesy. I'm hoping he takes the Romeo + Juliet route here while using some of that Moulin Rouge spectacle. He's trying to find Daisy now according to the article below. Leo DiCaprio will be Gatsby and Tobey Maguire will be Nick apparently. Look at the list and pick your Daisy. I'm thinking Michelle Williams, Rebecca Hall, or Keira. Check out these articles. I'm very excited by all this and hopefully we will get a cast announcement super soon.
I am currently loving this image by Robert Mapplethorpe, Brian Ridley and Lyle Heeter (1979). Hope that doesn't make me creepy. The juxtaposition between classy living room and rough leather lovin' is genius. Everyone has a living room, regardless of how you like your sex. I enjoy the "Home Sweet Home" someone cheekily attached to the bottom.
An interesting take on the photo from http://sexuality-space.tumblr.com/post/925538175:
"Kenneth E. Silver, in “Master Bedrooms, Master Narratives” argues that these particular images (homokink couples at home) are challenging (to the American ‘public’) because they represent, not the pathology of homosex(uality) but its ‘ardent domestication’: they are attempts to depict “gay conjugal” space. The images reveal certain ‘narrative’ expectations regarding the appropriate locations of queer sex. Certain kinds of sex (homosexual, kinky) are linked to certain kinds of spaces (clubs, dungeons): can sex be recreational (non-reproductive, playful) and residential?"
The people going to see this in a museum back when it was first shown would have the stereotype of S & M being grimy and grungy, done in dark alleys or something like that. But Mapplethorpe breaks that stereotype and the viewer sees their own living room in Brian and Lyle's living room. The S & M world doesn't seem as distant to these viewers as it did before.
I love it when SNL does utterly absurd skits that really make no sense but end up being really funny (see Bryan Cranston and the Bottle of Sparkling Juice). I absolutely adore the hilarious dancing especially when they do it as a group. It's light footed and dainty. It reminds me of the dance number at the beginning of Austin Powers Goldmember. Emma Stone is magnificent.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
I completely love these new Black Swan posters. They look like old book covers. I also see some Art Deco references going on here.
Love me some Art Deco. No other poster out there at the moment looks like these do. I want them all. Just classy stuff with the red, black, and white color palette. Reminds me of old movie posters and the cover of the novel Black Swan Green by David Mitchell (how fitting). The fonts are very well-chosen which is a very important factor for me. The Avatar font was terrible. Also, based on the heavenly trailer we wouldn't expect posters like these. These posters make me want to whip my hair and buy a bunch of art deco posters.
Automobile gangster With a bad b-tch that came from Sri Lanka Yeah I’m in that Tonka, colour of Willy Wonka You could be the King but watch the Queen conquer Ok first things first I’ll eat your brains Then I’mma start rocking gold teeth and fangs Casue that’s what a muthaf-cking monster do Hairdresser from milan, thats what monster do Monster Giuseppe heel that’s the monster shoe Young money is the roster and the monster crew And I’m all up all up all up in the bank with the funny face And if I’m fake I aint notice cause my money aint So let me get this straight wait I’m the rookie But my features and my shows ten times your pay 50k for a verse no album out! Yeah my money’s so tall that my barbie’s gotta climb it Hotter than a middle eastern climate"
The cover for Robyn's Body Talk Part 3 which comes out next month. I can't decide whether this cover or the one for Body Talk Part 2 is my favorite. The blurry, wobbly effect here is hypnotizing, and she looks so delicate and fragile.
This song will be amazing: Kanye's "All the Lights"
" 'All the Lights' has John Legend, The-Dream, Ryan Leslie, Tony Williams, Charlie Wilson, Elly Jackson, Alicia Keys, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Rihanna and Elton John on the same song," he revealed. "Some are things where I took Alicia Keys and I panned her a hard left, and then took Elly Jackson and panned a hard right because I like the way their voices sound together. Or it's Elton on the piano, Kid Cudi doing the chorus and it sounds completely seamless and completely ghetto at the same time," he laughed. "That's what I got from the year I took off," he said, reverting back to his earlier comment about connecting with his inner 5-year-old."
Restless People are crazy awesome-jungle, rainforest, giddy, gloriously resplendent,
primal pop-was not expecting it at all (thought they were going to be typical indie band but no)-you can barely understand what the lead singer is saying but it doesn't matter. Too busy dancing. See the images above to see how their music made me feel.
Lesands-band from California. The songs I hadn't heard yet by them were very good especially one called, I believe, Summer Skin. Shook the lead singer's hand after their set. He was wearing sick shoes. Check out Easy To Please and Pretenders. They just started in March! Dayum! That's impressive! Really liking them.
Think I saw the lead singer of The Drums (see blonde man in picture) watching Salem's set. Girl from Salem wearing huge sports jersey.
I really enjoy Promise This: it is crazay! I'm concerned about the Travie McCoy track and excited about the Dizzee one. Amnesia is a Britney cover according to Perez.
Rihanna has been pulling out all the stops fashion wise in London this week. I'm in love with her kooky style. The classy as all hell, tea and biscuits with the Queen on Sunday fleurs and the socks with the pumps (very 50's sock hop) with the "She Died of Perfection" t-shirt. The white poofy skirt outfit shouldn't work but in Rihanna's hands it does. She is Like a Virgin going to a prom in the 50's then later she's going to have a garden party. Can't wait for Loud. It features a song with....NICKI MINAJ....called.....get this....RAINING MEN. It will be amazing. As Nicki once said: "pink wig thick ass give em whip lash" 'Tis true, tis true.
Thanks to Just Jared, Daily Mail, and Rap-Up for the images.
I completely adore this image of John Slattery that is being used to get everyone psyched about Mad Men's return on Sunday evening. Want those glasses. Thanks to Just Jared for the image. Smooth operator.
Lea Michele of Glee was very good on the Tony's the other night. Her reprise of Don't Rain on My Parade (that she did on Glee early in the season) was full of chutzpah. Lea commits to a performance. She's totally into this song. I appreciate that. She looks like a classic, vibrant vedette during this performance. Lea completely overshadows Matthew Morrison's performance that preceded hers. She has really grown on Glee from just being a stereotype to a more nuanced, faceted actress. The transformation is not fully complete but she's on her way there. In other Tony news, Kristen Chenoweth was completely heavenly and amusing during her presentation bit, Scarlett didn't deserve to win best featured actress for A View from the Bridge, and practically all the acting awards went to LA folk (Denzel, Catherine Zeta, and Scarlett). Liev Schreiber or Christopher Walken should have won instead of Denzel. Congrats to Viola Davis and Eddie Redmayne on their wins though.
"[It's about the] purity of my friendships with my gay friends, and how I've been unable to find that with a straight man in my life. It's a celebration and an admiration of gay love—it confesses my envy of the courage and bravery they require to be together. In the video I'm pining for the love of my gay friends—but they just don't want me to be with them"--Lady Gaga in The Times (delovely article about her: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article7129672.ece)
Okay. Lady Gaga's new video for Alejandro premiered a little less than two hours ago. I've watched it twice. It's 8 minutes and 43 seconds. I think I have to watch it a few more times before it all makes sense to me. The video is directed by Steven Klein and features a new hair look for Lady Gaga. The video opens with a shot of a shirtless soldier with his feet up on a table. We see he's wearing fishnets and black high heels. Fantastic. Then some male dancers with these strange, black bowl cut wigs on do a march down what looks to be the opening of an airplane hanger which makes sense for the military theme Gaga mentioned. We are touching down in the place of fighting. Some of the men appear to have bags over their heads as if they are prisoners being tortured. Not sure. Just an idea. Finally we see Gaga, looking like the Wicked Witch of the West, the Evil Queen in Snow White, and the Evil Queen in Alice in Wonderland sitting in her castle with snow falling in the background. It look very old movie-like. We are meant to see her as a Queen-figure. There are images of a bleeding heart on a pillow as Queen Gaga leads a funeral processional for a soldier. The song's opening words: "I know that we are young and I know that you may love me, but I just can't be with you like this anymore, Alejandro" seem to be delivered by Gaga as a kind of eulogy at a funeral. Alejandro has died, but he still has a mental grip on her. Then there's Gaga sitting in her tower in her castle watching soldier/dancers do a routine or "train" with a video of something burning behind them. Some men appear to be doing a strange, tough tango-esque dance that involves pushing one man to the floor with a grunt. It is supposed to simulate anal sex? I think so. Then Gaga is lying in bed looking like an odd nun or queen wearing a habit and a red robe that appears to be made out of the material she wore to perform for the Queen of England. Then we get a bizarre sequence involving beds and ropes and Gaga doing strange sex positions with one of her dancer/soldiers. Now I'm going to be frank here but this frankness comes from a place of love and admiration: Gaga does not look pretty or glamorous or stunning in these scenes with her off white bra and underwear and I don't think she's supposed to. The men on the beds are wearing black high heels which I just love as a little detail. At some points, she seems to be simulating gay sex positions with one of the men. It's fascinating. Then the men are all around her and she's wearing a cape with red crosses all over it including one over her hoohah or lady parts. That's very subtle. Then her Queen self lying in the bed swallows a rosary while Gaga in cape stands in front of a video of something burning (a car?). It looks kind of cheesy and cheap, but in an intentional way. Then comes this wonderful black and white bit where Gaga's wearing a black vest and pants doing vaudeville dance moves. It's what was shown in the 19 second preview of the video and everyone thought it was her imitating Madonna's Vogue video. Not really the case. Anyway this bit is great. She does her dance moves as pairs of her soldier/dancers walk by her doing some fierce strutting. It's a very brassy dame, Judy Garland, let's put on a show moment. Then we're back in color and Gaga's wearing a gun or rifle bra. Now she's performing into a microphone in the lounge from the beginning for all the soldiers. It's weird to see her doing this because her videos are never the ones where the singer stands on a stage and sings into the microphone, but it's part of the concept here. There's a cross behind her (reference to Madonna's Like A Prayer?). Then there are black and white flashbacks of her in the bed with the man, her as the queen, and footage of what appear to be fiery riots. And there's an angry looking soldier. Who is he? Then her dancers throw her about and she takes off her cape and there's an orgy of sorts. They all want to touch her. Now we are back to the Queen Gaga in red in bed. Is she dead? An evil monster takes over the image, appearing to be coming out of her face. The end. I'm very confused, but intrigued and slightly disappointed. This isn't the hilarity of Telephone. It has less of a straight forward plot. The video for this song could have been a Spanish-themed romp a la Carmen (see here: http://zxlcreative.blogs.com/electroqueer/2010/06/eqtv-watch-alejandro-by-lady-gaga.html). I still don't totally see how the video relates to the song itself. I do find the video very interesting though and pretty kinky, sensual, and raw in some scenes (the bed scenes! the choreography!). I think there's a lot to decode here. Does Gaga want to be one of her dancer soldiers? See for yourself.
-Vanessa Williams is going to be on Desperate Housewives next season! This is such a good choice for her after her 4 years of hilarious meanness on Ugly Betty. I hope she injects some life into Housewives which I still have a soft spot for. She could be a great villain. She'll fit the campy dramedy tone of the show perfectly. Give her some great lines.
-Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling at the Cannes Film Festival with their new movie Blue Valentine. They both look wonderful. I want Ryan Gosling's outfit. I'm itching to see this movie which was shown at the Sundance film festival in January. It is roughly about a young married couple's highs and lows. Gosling and Williams are supposed to be very good in it.
-Woody Allen who will reliably make a movie every year til the end of time will film "Midnight in Paris" in the coming months in the City of Lights. The cast of this movie is fantastically divine. If Woody Allen does this group of people a disservice with a blah script I will be so sad. Here's the cast, are you ready? : Marion Cotillard (who I absolutely adore), Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Kathy Bates, Michael Sheen (love him even though he's not that funny on 30 Rock), Carla Bruni (yes, the French president's classy, elegant wife), and one of my absolute favorites, Rachel McAdams. Allen hasn't worked with many of these people before. I'm very curious to see the result especially because Allen's films from the first decade of the 00's were pretty hit or miss. Cassandra's Dream and Match Point were good particularly Dream. Scoop was pretty meh and not that funny. I kind of liked Vicky Cristina Barcelona but that was pretty much because of Penelope Cruz (she should do another movie with him). I heard mixed sentiments about Whatever Works, but I just might have to see it because of the splendiferous Patricia Clarkson. And the film he's releasing here in September called You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger recently got a melange of a response at Cannes. Here's the Midnight in Paris plot courtesy of movies.about.com (also thanks to imdb.com for other info):
"The Official Midnight in Paris Synopsis: Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy that follows a family traveling to the city for business. The party includes a young engaged couple that has their lives transformed throughout the journey. The film celebrates a young man's great love for Paris, and simultaneously explores the illusion people have that a life different from their own is better."
-One of my favorite directors, Spaniard Pedro Almodovar, is planning to make a movie this summer season. It's called La Piel que Habito (The Skin I Live In) and will star Antonio Banderas. Here's the plot from imdb: "Based on Thierry Jonquet's novel "Mygale", this revenge tale tells the story of a plastic surgeon on the hunt for the men who raped his daughter." Straight from Mr. Almodovar's mouth: "close to the terror genre, but I won't respect any of its rules." and "a terror film without screams or scares" (quotes and info courtesy of imdb.com and empireonline.com). I cannot wait for this. 2009's Broken Embraces was good and moving. I hope he puts some Bad Education-esque camp in this. Plastic surgeon: how can there not be camp.
This post has been in development for ages. Sorry I haven't updated in forever.
Alexandra Burke ft. Pitbull-All Night Long Definition of a feel good song. Alexandra Burke has released three splendid singles in a row. This is out in May in the UK. I adore her. Way more fun than Leona Lewis who is still in the corner bleeding love.
Sia-Clap Your Hands I've never really been a huge fan of Sia, but when I heard this piece of giddy, good time joy I couldn't help but succumb. This song which is produced by Greg Kurstin ( who did great work on Lily Allen's second album, Little Boots debut album, Marina and the Diamonds splendiferous song Oh No!, and is a member of The Bird and the Bee) and it has a funky bassline. Kurstin is the primary producer for Sia's album which comes out June 22. It's supposed to be a fun album. Can't wait. Boogie down to this for the moment.
Kate Nash-Do-Wah-Doo
Kate Nash is back. Her new album, My Best Friend is You was released in April. This is the first single, Do-Wah-Doo. It's short and features some plinky plonky piano and is extremely catchy. As many of noted, it's a bit of a new sound for her with its Motown girl group edge and old school guitar line. Welcome back, Kate.
Mini Viva-One Touch This song is completely frantic, busy, coy, winking, and all gussied up and it crashed and burned on the UK charts last month. It's well-constructed/built and giddy, shimmy-inducing. The chorus is Peeps exploding with happiness in the microwave. A pop collage or a puzzle that fits together swimmingly. Enjoy.
The Pipettes-Stop the Music British gal group The Pipettes revived the 50's and 60's gal group sound back in 2006 albeit with a sexy, cheeky, kinky edge with their fun debut album. Now they are back as a duo and this is the first single off their new album called Earth vs. The Pipettes which is out in June. Stop the Music kind of gallops along through the verses, sounding like its on the verge of bowling over. It's got trumpets, bongo-like, effervescent drums and a funky groove going. It's a new direction for them. Can't wait for the album. Check out Who Made You the Doctor? as well.
-M.I.A. will release her third album, Maya, on July 13! I can't wait. (Thanks to Pretty Much Amazing). A recent article about her in the New York Times magazine did not please Miss M.I.A. so she put the author's phone number on her Twitter. I thought the article was very interesting, well-written, and an honest, intriguing representation of M.I.A., but words were twisted and M.I.A. did not like Lynn Hirschberg's interpretation/rendering of her I guess. Judge for yourself here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/magazine/30mia-t.html?ref=magazine
-Kylie Minogue is back! The new album has the superbly camp title, Aphrodite, and the first single is All the Lovers. All the Lovers is moving, metallic, like a Herve Leger dress, one of the skyscrapers in its video, and resplendent pop. It's one of those songs where the beauty of dance-pop shines through similar to Robyn's new song Dancing on My Own and you are unexpectedly emotionally awakened. The chorus is glorious, smooth, soft, gentle, reassuring, comforting, personal, hopeful and incredibly sweet. The beat that weaves in and out, up and down in the verses is very effective. It makes you want to fall in love, fall in love and dance to this song with your boyfriend or girlfriend. This song makes me want to giggle with dizzying, Ellie Goulding-ish "starry-eyed" energy. And the video, released last night, is a kooky, peculiar and very sensual love shack. It includes a pile of lovers and couples in their undergarments and Kylie is on top being Kylie. Behind all the sexy stuff, the "forget your troubles and obligations and go love" subtext is pleasant. It's quite scintillating. This album is going to change the orbit of my core being.
Alphabeat-DJ
The next single in the UK off their second album, The Beat Is... This has really grown on me. It's giddy and super, super fun. I hope this is a hit for them because their other two singles from this album haven't done that well in the charts. This is a great spring/summer party, feel good song. Danish joy.
Kele-Tenderoni Bloc Party goes solo with this amazing, delectable dance track. Immediately awesome. Infectious.
Thanks to We are Pop Slags, MuuMuse, Pitchfork, XO Middle Eight, Chart Rigger, It's Getting Boring by the Sea, Pretty Much Amazing, and Perez for all the info.
Sorry I haven't updated in so long. Here's some music stuff.
I'm Not Mad-Alex Gardner Sophisticated, subtly undulating pop from genius Brit music makers Xenomania. It's in the same vein as Girls Aloud's Call the Shots and The Loving Kind except with a Scottish lad singing. It all borders on jazz lounge style singing, but I still enjoy it. 2:40 to 2:56 is quite lovely and splendid especially when he sings "Real". It's out in the UK later this month.
Once-Diana Vickers Diana Vickers was a contestant on Britain's The X Factor (like American Idol) in 2008 with Alexandra Burke and JLS who have been mentioned here before. Well, she's finally releasing her debut album in early May in the UK and here is the first single, Once. Once is wonderfully effective. There's a twinkling piano bit in the beginning that leads to the first verse which Vickers almost whispers. The drums hit hard, and we soar into the strange chorus: I'm only going to let you kill me once, once, once. I don't really get what it means, but I love it. The chorus is one of those pop headbangers a la pretty much any Kelly Clarkson song. It's such a quick and sweet pop song, but there are all these great elements in it that make an off kilter rock- pop-dare I say- electro gem. One of my songs for spring. Hopefully Diana does well with this gem. Apparently the album is very good. I'm hoping for some pop curveballs.
Giving Up The Gun-Vampire Weekend Here's Vamp Weekend's new single from their very, very good second album Contra. And here is the funny video clip to go along with it featuring Joe Jonas and Jake Gyllenhaal and Lil' Jon as well as a super intense tennis match versus this girl who is mad good. This is one of the best songs of the Vamps new album with its shimmy shimmy shake vibe.
Hurts--Better Than Love Lots of buzz in you guessed it England for this duo, Hurts, which features two guys from another band I really liked, Daggers, who had a beast of a song called Money that I posted on the blog awhile ago. Well anyway here is Hurts first official single, Better Than Love. I'm very, very impressed. It is a massive song with some 80's references of course (New Order guitars). Just when you think it can't get any more tremendous after that chorus comes this bit with "Turn away, turn away". Good to see some of the euphoric energy from Daggers transferred over. It's anthemic and seems to incorporate a choir of male voices at some points. Released in the UK on May 17. So fantastic!
Taio Cruz ft. Ludacris-Break Your Heart Mr. Cruz went Number 1 in the UK with this song last September and now it has arrived on US shores and already gone to Number 1 here! Very impressive. It's a modern, funky pop song that oozes technology and fancy production. It's light as air and glides around much like the yacht in its video. Ludacris shows up at one point which was not included in the UK version. It also makes me very happy that Taio manages to get the word "evade" into his song and I don't know why. The perfect spring #1. Also apparently this jam was for Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole's album at first.
Stop and Stare-Fenech-Soler Here's another video from a band I mentioned a little while ago, Fenech-Soler. I really love these guys. Stop and Stare is a newer song of theirs and I don't love it as much as the effervescent Lies, it's still quite good. The video was filmed in Paris and the lead singer wears a sequined gold t-shirt that I want. I really love the second verse for some reason. It's all in his delivery.
Popjustice has a great peek at the next Mini Viva single (the British gal duo I posted about awhile ago with the song I Wish) called One Touch. The sassy vocals and all the fun, different pop bits featured in the one minute clip get me psyched about the whole thang which will be out May 3 in the UK. http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4482&Itemid=243
UK chanteuse Sophie Ellis-Bextor is returning this spring with her new song, Bittersweet. The clips via Popjustice and her website promise drama and the sense of dancing all night in a discotheque. I can't wait for the whole thing. It's produced by Freemasons and their version has premiered on the radio. Here's the clip: http://www.sophieellisbextor.net/news?id=211
Fashion Week has been going on for a few days. Here are some nice outfits. I love Suno's print with the purple, blue, and green. Not loving the hat in Diane von Furstenberg's ensemble though. Zac Posen is showing today.
-The Strokes are working it out on their new album, their 4th, which they want to have released in September. I'm so excited. I used to really love these guys so now I'm going to dig out First Impressions of Earth and Room on Fire and take another listen. (Source: NME, Pitchfork, Digital Spy)
-Brit boy band, JLS, will make their landing in the US with the single Everybody in Love. Now this is my least favorite of all the singles they've released so far in the UK, but oh well, at least they're coming here! (Digital Spy)
-Apparently Kylie Minogue, arguably one of the greatest Australians on par with Hugh Jackman, will release her new album in the summer (according to one of her Twitter posts). Get ready for awesomeness with producers/writers RedOne (woot woot), Greg Kurstin (The Bird and the Bee and Lily Allen's very good It's Not Me, It's You), Xenomania (Girls Aloud...enough said), Calvin Harris (makes me want to dance), and 2 of the Scissor Sisters (their new album should be coming out soon). I can't wait. Wow, wow, wow, wow! (Wikipedia and Twitter)
-MGMT's sophomore album, Congratulations, will be released on April 13. I'm curious to hear what these guys do next after the greatness of Kids and Time to Pretend. (Digital Spy, Pitchfork, NME)
Tracklist according to Wiki what:
1."It's Working" 2."Song for Dan Treacy" 3."Someone's Missing" 4."Flash Delirium" 5."I Found a Whistle" 6."Siberian Breaks" 7."Brian Eno" 8."Lady Dada's Nightmare" 9."Congratulations"
Again, I haven't posted in quite awhile. Sorry about that. Here's what is up at the moment:
It's taken me some time, but I'm finally on board with zany Welsh-Greek singer, Marina and the Diamonds. Her big, official single Hollywood was released in the UK two weeks ago and it charted fairly well (#12). Her vocal styling favors high drama (not Mika style though), going low then high, and she almost howls sometimes. You can't say this girl doesn't have personality. She's not Lily, she's not Amy, she's not Adele, and not Florence (slightly similar). Her vocals initially turned me off. They were a little much, but after a few listens to Hollywood you are won over. Her debut album, The Family Jewels, will be released in the UK on Feb. 22. Let's hope there's a US release soon. She's rather magnificent. Here's the Hollywood video.
-Sad news from across the pond this week. Amazing, stunning, and exciting designer Alexander McQueen killed himself in England the other day. A true talent that made the fashion world a very thrilling place to be (for proof, see Bad Romance video-the shoes!). I was so looking forward to what he would do next. Rest in peace.
-Rihanna's new single Rude Boy is blunt and sexy. I've really warmed to her latest album, Rated R. Hard, Wait Your Turn, and Rude Boy are the songs of a new strong woman who is walking tall. The Rude Boy video, released the other day, is vivid and shows Rih Rih in full on sex kitten mode. My favorite parts are when she rides on the lion and when she's wearing the black and white bodysuit while perched on a zebra with balloons on its head! And I adore her cheeky gold outfit with the wig. The M.I.A influence is present, but the video is fun nonetheless. 2:28 to 2:57 is genius.
Ok, this next one is fantastic and pretty funny. Sabrina Washington used to be in this UK girl group called Mis-Teeq who made a slight impression here back in 2004 with their jam "Scandalous". I saw them at a free outdoor concert on the Esplanade and bought their album. Short and sweet: they were awesome. They broke up and Sabrina's fellow band member, Alesha Dixon, went solo releasing a delectable, rush to the dance floor hit, The Boy Does Nothing, at the end of 2008. So here is Sabrina with this catchy, catchy, catchy debut single, OMG (Oh My Gosh). The verses are slick and feature some fun producer knob-twiddling. There's a music box melody present that leads into the body-rolling, vocodered (at points) verses. I could see this song being annoying, but if you're in the right mood you will be in heaven. Sabrina, the album best be a beast.
PS. Lady GaGa and Beyonce, Telephone, video is going to be divine.
Sorry I haven't posted in forever. Here's some music.
JLS-One Shot UK boy band wonder, JLS, will unleash their third single, One Shot, across the pond next month. It's a very good, satisfying piece of modern pop sleekness. Like most of their videos, this one features the boys dancing except this time they have wicked sick microphones that appear and disappear. I'm totally into this song after a couple of listens. It's nothing new, but it hits all the right buttons: semi-emotive singing, repetition of words in the chorus (watch this moment go by eeey eeeye), an intro where you think the whole thing is going to be a standard piano ballad then some crazy synths surprise you and the groove begins, and also the reference to Boys Like Girls obnoxiously catchy, Love Drunk as well as the lyric: "She's the kinda girl boys read about in magazines, glossy magazines". I'm really impressed about the use of glossy in a song. Great single from the boys.
Alexandra Burke-Broken Heels This single is the definition of campy and I love every second of it. Alexandra Burke has thankfully proven herself to be the opposite of fellow X Factor winner, Leona Lewis. Burke's songs are upbeat rushes of pop amazingness (see last year's Bad Boys). Broken Heels is produced by RedOne (Lady GaGa's frequent collaborator) and for once, a song he produces isn't instantly recognizable as a RedOne song. There are plinky plonky piano keys and an overall sound that don't just make it sound like Just Dance, Part 2. The song is a thundering beast though especially when we get into that chorus. Alexandra knocks another one out of the park. This is a good collaboration that appears to be continuing as it was reported last week that Alexandra is working on some new songs with Mr. RedOne. Also, the video: hilarious and genius at the same time. Girl can dance!
Fenech-Soler-Lies A UK band I seriously have my eye on for 2010 are Fenech-Soler. They make sublimely funky electro-pop. Here's their most straightforwardly catchy song yet, Lies. How awesome is that high note Ben Duffy hits in the chorus when he sings LIES! They have two EP's out on iTunes that are both very good. Check out their song Airbrushed. Also, they have two other songs up on their myspace called Stop and Stare and Golden Sun. Golden Sun has a sexy horn undercurrent. All their songs are immensely likable and ever so different so as not to seem like every other band out there who likes to mix some electro in with their guitars and drums. Can't wait for a full album. http://www.myspace.com/fenechsoler Awesome glittery, silver cardigan in the video!
The Drums-I Felt Stupid This is one of the bands I'm most excited about for 2010. These fellas from New York (they moved there recently from Florida) have a melange of sounds going on: down-on-the-beach-on-a-summer's-day guitar giddiness as well as 80's drama and melancholy drenched vocals from blonde-haired lead singer, Jonathan Pierce. You've heard these sounds before on Oldies 103.3 with the Beach Boys and any 80's song of your choice, but these guys use their influences to great effect especially on this gem, I Felt Stupid, which has a sweet chorus complete with yes, word repetition, (Ha Ha Ha Heart!) and a splendid bit where Pierce sings "And have I lived my life too selfishly baby". See the track and field-themed video below. Check out all their other songs on their myspace. Instruct Me is quite lovely and Submarine demonstrates the Happy Days/ 80's smoothie the boys like to make. http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever
Plan B-Stay Too Long British rapper makes old school R&B/soul and rap hybrid to strange and quite great effect.
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