-La Roux's #1 UK single, Bulletproof, is the US iTunes free download of the week and their album became available digitally in the US yesterday. I bought it already knowing it's amazing from listening to rips of the songs on YouTube. Check it out. It's very 80's electro but the lyrics are good and the songs, catchy. The album is currently #21 on the US iTunes chart. Congrats, La Roux! They're performing their first Boston show on October 27th.
-The Saturdays' new album, out Oct. 12 in the UK, will be called Wordshaker, not the hilarious Colonial Masses as Wikipedia erroneously reported. The album cover could have been the gals rocking some serious colonial garb with bonnets and aprons and a complete lack of sexiness. The actual album cover is cool and slightly kooky involving dramatic pieces of fabric and bizarre hair pieces. This and the Forever is Over cover are beautiful images, but the slightly odd choice of the album's photo theme is a little forced. It declares: "Hey, we can do crazy stuff with our hair because we are making a second album that is pretty crazy and different. What you think about that?" It's similar to the look the Sugababes sported in their Denial video last year. Anyway, I'm excited for the album. It's the sophomore album test.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Bad Boys-Alexandra Burke Alexandra Burke won last year's X Factor (the UK American Idol) and here is her debut single, Bad Boys. She did not take the Leona route and release a Bleeding Love-esque ballad. Instead, Ms. Burke put on a slinky sliver outfit and released a relentlessly uptempo gem. The song (especially tempo-wise) is similar to Britney's Womanizer (as Popjustice noted), and it gallops along at a frenetic pace. It rarely stops for air and builds splendidly to the chorus. I didn't love it after the first listen, but now I really enjoy it. It's super fun and the chorus is super catchy and satisfying. I love the "ooo way, ooo wah'' part in the chorus. Flo Rida rides the fast beat like he's in the Kentucky Derby, but honestly his presence isn't really necessary. Alexandra holds her own. Now I'm super psyched for her album.
The Saturdays-Forever is Over So the video for The Saturdays new single leaked before the full song did. Odd. Anyway I enjoy the Satz new song. It's pop rock instead of the electro R&B pop of their first album. The video is pretty dull except for some cool, documentary-style and black and white camera shots and when blondie Mollie rubs off the heart tattoo with her finger. That's fantastic. Frankie and Rochelle's hairdos look really good as well. Rochelle sounds splendid in the second verse (she sings with conviction). The guitar-tinged middle eight is great, but too short. I think this song could do well for them if they released it in the US. It is very likable.
Miley-Party in the USA Oh Miley, sometimes you have a really good knack for pop songs. I've fallen in love with this irresistible, funky, and sweet jam known as Party in the USA. The chorus is fun, joyful, and catchy. The verses feature amusing, original, and endearing lyrics about Miley's journey from Nashville to scary LA. "Nodding my head like yeah, moving my hips like yeah". Amen, sister. Gotta love it.
I'm Not Your Toy-La Roux One of my favorite new acts of the year, La Roux, released the video for their next single, I'm Not Your Toy the other day. This is one of my favorite songs of theirs with it's gentle steel drums and superb lyrics. The video is kooky, filled with a strange array of people (dancers that all look like the lead singer of British band Noisettes) all in a glass pool house staring awkwardly at each other until everyone starts to dance a little. Watch for lead singer Elly Jackson's hair emerging from the water. Crazy beautiful.
Now I'm That Bitch-Livvi Franc Another pop gal has emerged from Barbados (home of my love, Rihanna). Her name is Livvi Franc and her debut single is called Now I'm That Bitch. The electro-pop beat is minimalist, but effective because it let's Livvi deliver the sharp lyrics with sass and oomph. The first 40 seconds build spectacularly with the ominous beat slowly invading the song as Livvi gets more and more sassy. The video is pretty cool (crazy fabric dance) and I like Pitbull's rap. It's a modern pop song, but it doesn't sound like everything else out there (i.e. some variation on the Lady GaGa/RedOne sound). Choice lyrics: "Hi, my name is (genius pop music song pause BRAVO)....you won't remember, wait till December". Great debut.
Okay, here's a clip of The Saturdays new single that premieres on Radio 1 in England tomorrow night. As I said before it's called Forever is Over and based on this clip, the song is very strong. It's different than anything they've done before. It's more rock, but not that rock. I mean, come on, it's The Saturdays. Closer to pop-rock. There are guitars there though. It's a mid tempo, and the chorus soars and stomps. I'm really happy about this new side to The Satz. Can't wait to hear the whole thing tomorrow.
-The Saturdays' new single, the melodramatically titled Forever is Over, will be played for the first time on BBC Radio 1 this Sunday night. I'm really excited for this song which is supposed to be more rock-tinged than their other songs. Their first album was a good debut with some memorable gems (If This is Love and Up) and their cover of Just Can't Get Enough was spirited and fun, but this album will be the real test. I have high expectations. Bigger and better I hope.
-A snippet of Alphabeat's new song The Spell was posted on Popjustice a few days ago, and it sounds promising and super poppy. I can't wait to hear the whole thing. Stine, the female singer, has got a new dramatic hairdo that kind of looks like a wig. It's fantastic though. Hopefully the gang play some new tunes at their V Festival appearance in England this weekend. Maybe we'll get some YouTube clips.
Update: The new album called The Spell too will be released on October 19th in the UK I assume and the single of the same title will be out October 12. Very exciting.
-Norwegian pop wunderkind Annie finally has a release date for her delayed second album, Don't Stop. It will be released in the US on November 17! The first single from the album after many leaks and false single starts (see I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me from last year) is Songs Remind Me of You which has awesome cover art: Annie wearing a lipstick necklace. It's a wonderful image.
-Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole may debut her first solo single on British TV show, The X Factor (kind of like American Idol). Cheryl is a judge on the talent competition. She better be good. Good luck, Cheryl. Hope the album is full of pop wonder.
-Head over to the Dolly Rockers Myspace page to hear a snippet of what sounds to be another delicious and sassy new song from the gals, Boys Will Be Boys. It reminds me a bit of The Veronicas.
Peaches-Serpentine Electronica diva Peaches has a new video for her song Serpentine. I think she's just hilarious, and the lyrics to this song are wonderfully blunt and ridiculous. Her somewhat deadpan delivery really makes the song. It rides a minimalist beat and features some of Peaches' trademark outfits and dance moves. "Never straight line, serpentine"
Dragonette-Gone Too Far Here's the new video for another song off Dragonette's upcoming album. First single Fixin' to Thrill was a sexy, raunchy, raw, and loud romp featuring cowbell and a delectable vocal performance from lead singer Martina Sorbara. It's one of their best songs, if not the best. Gone Too Far is fun and country-fied, but it lacks the raw "purr" of Fixin' to Thrill. The video is odd featuring scenes from an old John Travolta movie. Since it's Dragonette, the song is still very good though. I'm very excited for this album.
Girls Can't Catch-Stop This is the b-side to Girls Can't Catch's debut single Keep Your Head Up which is doing just okay on the UK charts. It's called Stop, and it's another promising song from the girls. Stop is short, electro pop, and likeable. The "ooos" are very effective. Very good for a b-side.
Florence + The Machine - Drumming Song Florence + the Machine are one of my favorite new acts to emerge this year. Florence's songs are weird, dark, and dramatic filled with loud drums and harp. What really makes her music great though is her glorious voice which weaves in and out, up and down, and all around a song. Her vocal transitions are smooth and satisfying. Even though her songs are somewhat kooky they are made accessible because they are filled with very catchy, memorable choruses or verses or chants. Her next single, Drumming Song, will be out next month in the UK. Here's the new video. I thought it would be set in some creepy, abandoned Gothic or medieval church based on what Florence said in an interview, but alas, we get this beautiful, gleaming church instead. Florence looks gorgeous in the video with her flaming red hair contrasting sharply against her black leotard. There's girl group/pop star choreography and tinges of ballet. I love when she's running around in her gold "shorts" (?), blue cape, and headband. What a gal!
Shakira-She Wolf The beloved Shakira has returned with a funky, disco jam, She Wolf, and here is the video in all its body rolling glory. The video is pretty crazy. I particularly enjoy when Shakira dances in the red sparkly cave in her oddly cut black jumpsuit. Also, the whole thing with her in the cage is fantastic, vampy, and slinky. A good comeback video.
Sugababes-Get Sexy Okay, this is a really good Sugababes video. It's really visually appealing. Heidi (the blond one) doing her bit in a room with mirrors and green lights all over creates a very cool effect. Amelle (short hair) vamping it up in a cage. The wall graffitied pink and blue with variations on Get Sexy written. The girls dancing with glitter falling, and the girls chained together by their wrists doing herky jerky movements. It brings another aspect to the song. I still don't think it's their best single, but the video makes it better. Well done, Sugas.
Girls Can't Catch-Keep Your Head Up Yet another British gal group to herald the arrival of. Ignore the slightly odd name and listen to their catchy electro-pop debut single. The verses are sung deliciously fast. The guitar riffs grind. All and all, a group to keep an eye on. The single was released today. Good luck in the UK charts, girls. Also, I love the concept of the video. Very random.
Madonna-Celebration Madonna's new dancey single off her Greatest Hits collection is a good summer song. The best part is when she just talks over the beat. It's awesome. Very Confessions on a Dancefloor circa 2005.
Ashley Tisdale-Erase and Rewind Okay, for some reason a part of me is drawn to Ashley Tisdale. She's not a very good actress and her music isn't that good either, but I thought I might find at least one gem on her new album and I did. Erase and Rewind is not original, her voice is nasal, the song is pop Slice and Bake, and it almost has a sheen to it. That being said: it's a lot of giddy fun. Best parts: "I don't wanna sound desperate but I am" and near the end of the song when everything drops out and Tiz just sings "I don't wanna feel like this, I don't want to" then she proceeds to go up the note scale singing 'Yeah ah ah ah ay" and everything comes crashing back in. I really like it.
Kelly Clarkson-Already Gone Kels Clarkson's new single is a beautiful, sad ballad. The best lyric is "We were always meant to say goodbye". From the master of piano, drum, synth ballads: Ryan Tedder. Really pretty.
Demi Lovato-Here We Go Again Demi Lovato is somewhat more legitimate than the Tiz. Demi knows how to rock, and she throws herself into her songs with abandon. I like some of the songs on her new CD which debuted at number 1 by the way. This is the first single Here We Go Again and even though the opening guitar part sounds like the theme song of a nineties sitcom, I still really enjoy the song. She just belts the heck out of it.
Little Boots-Remedy Little Boots new video is not that interesting sad to say. She needs to move around more, but the song is a wild beast. The chorus is a colossal behemoth. An irresistible tune.
Booty Luv-Say It A British dance-pop duo called, yes, Booty Luv will be releasing their sassy beast of a new single on August 31st. The chorus is insanely catchy and the whole song is irresistible (very girl power!). See the video below. My favorite gal is the one with the short hair. She is sexysassyfierce. Swagger song!
Britain is bursting with girl groups at the moment, a wonderful thing in my opinion, and these gals are the best of the bunch. They are the Dolly Rockers, and they are loads of fun. Sophie, Lucie, and Brooke are loud, raunchy, and super cheeky. They wear ridiculously awesome outfits and sing sassy and distinctly British ditties. Their first official single is called Gold Digger, and it is a bouncing, jaunty number about you guessed it a gold digger. A great choice for a debut single. It's quite wonderful, and the video just premiered today. It's very similar to their first video for the amusing Je Suis Une Dolly meaning it involves dancing around in public places and wreaking general havoc. In the Gold Digger video they disrupt an office throwing paper all over, play with a beach volleyball on a tennis court in over-the-top tennis garb, and dance in a shop window display. It's all very fun. (Click on the outtakes that come up at the end of the video for some good laughs). Gold Digger will be out August 31st in the UK. Another fantastic song by them is the surprisingly affecting How Did I End Up With U? which has Katy Perry'sHot N Cold drums and echoes of 3OH!3'sDon't Trust Me after the chorus. The song starts very softly then roars into the chorus with the Dollys asking "How did I end up with you? Why did I ever see a perfect 10? Why do I have a thing for married men?" It is magnificent. Champaigne Shirley is another corker by the gals that features a rip-roaring chorus. The lyrics are biting, the chorus catchy, catchy, catchy. I posted one of the gals How-To Videos below. It's pretty funny. They are so wonderfully cheeky. Lucie, the one usually in the middle in the videos with the red and black dress, is my favorite Dolly at the moment (you always have to have a favorite member with girl groups), but Brooke is hilariously vulgar and raunchy. Check them out!
-Sugababes new album will be titled Catfights & Spotlights. I love it. Super fierce album title.
-Girls Aloud new single, The Promise, will be played for the first time Sunday night on British radio. This is their first single from their fifth album coming later this fall. I think they could have released plenty more singles from their last album, 2007's genius Tangled Up, but oh well. New Girls Aloud music is super exciting too.
-Super cool Canadian, London-based band, Dragonette, who I posted about a couple weeks ago, are finally releasing their debut album, Galore, in the US on October 28. I'm so excited. The album features such divine songs as Competition, Take It Like A Man, and I Get Around. Their lead singer is the definition of fierce.
-Deeve extraordinaire, Beyonce, will be releasing her third solo album on November 18. The first single, If I Were a Boy, will be released on Oct. 7
-Apparently, Britney Spears new album will be out by the end of the year as opposed to early next year as was expected. The single should be out at the end of November, and the album should be released in December. Super exciting!
-The Saturdays new album will not be called Taking Back Sunday. Darn. It was such a clever title. Now the title is rather lame: Chasing Lights. Oh well.
We have seen the resurgence of the girl group this year. Danity Kane had a huge hit with Damaged, and The Saturdays are set to take over England. Here we have Danity Kane's new single featuring Missy Elliott, Bad Girl. After the bizarre futuristic, space station-incubator setting of the Damaged video, we get the gals playing femme fatales and damsels in distress in a comic book-esque world. They are unsurprisingly skanky, and the best line of the song is "When the red light comes on, I transform". That's very subtle. I wonder what that means. The dancing is very good though.
Across the pond, we get a video from a new British girl group, City Girls. The song is called OMG, and it's an amusing ditty about a technolgical relationship. The beat is awesome, and the chorus is super catchy. It's very sassy, and the gals hit those dance moves! This beats out Danity Kane in my opinion.
-La Roux's #1 UK single, Bulletproof, is the US iTunes free download of the week and their album became available digitally in the US yesterday. I bought it already knowing it's amazing from listening to rips of the songs on YouTube. Check it out. It's very 80's electro but the lyrics are good and the songs, catchy. The album is currently #21 on the US iTunes chart. Congrats, La Roux! They're performing their first Boston show on October 27th.
