POP from the Block

[VIDEO] Rihanna: Man Down

2011-06-01T22:29:00.000+08:00

Rihanna premieres the Anthony Mandler-directed video for her fourth US single, Man Down. Lesson of the video? Don't mess with RiRi and her bright red tresses because she'll blow your head off. Literally.

[LISTEN] Kylie Minogue: Silence (B-Side)

2011-05-31T23:55:00.000+08:00

Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) will be the fourth single off pop goddess Kylie Minogue's 11th studio album Aphrodite, which will include a Kylietastic B-side entitled Silence, the Pete Hammond remix, and a live recording from Kylie's current Aphrodite tour.

[WATCH] Nicola Roberts Meets Lady Gaga

2011-05-30T00:15:00.000+08:00

Nicola Roberts of BRIT Award-winning band Girls Aloud asks Lady Gaga questions sent in from Little Monsters and chats to her about Rocky Balboa, pantyhose, and Prince Harry.

Some site news and a MASSIVE GIVEAWAY!

2011-05-27T10:33:00.000+08:00

Can you believe that it's been a year since I first started this blog?! Well, yes, I guess you can. Hm. It's been a long year for me, and at one point I've almost decided to abandon everything, but whenever I hear a spectacular song, the urge to share it is instantly present. WHICH BRINGS US TO TODAY, and clearly I'm alive and able to type out blog posts and OH MY GOD I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF ANY LONGER I GOT POP FROM THE BLOCK ITS OWN DOMAIN!

Three reasons why I purchased a domain:

A. The whole "popfromtheblock.blogspot.com" is just too long to type.
B. I see the domain as an "anchor" which I have invested money in, which makes it harder for me to just up and leave.
C. GET A LOAD OF THIS PROFESSIONAL-SOUNDING (BUT NOT REALLY) DOTCOMMAGE, BITCHES.

So, to celebrate both the anniversary and my recent investment, I'm holding a M-A-S-S-I-V-E GIVEAWAY for all of my ~~"loyal"~~ readers! (THIS IS ACTUALLY LEGIT, YOU GUYS.)

Let's get started!

First, I'm giving away THREE Sky Ferreira "As If!" EPs (see color legend further down). Long-time POP from the Block readers know how much I love this girl and her music, so to give her CDs away is such an honor.

Next I have FIVE Tinie Tempah merchandise packages up for grabs! The package includes a pair of sunglasses, stickers, and a poster (see photo below).

ONE lucky winner will get The New Dance Mix USA: In the Club which features artists like The Temper Trap, LMFAO, Diplo, and many others!

This next one is a whopper. TEN (yes, that's right) of you stand a chance to win 2AM Club's album "What Did You Think Was Going to Happen?" which includes the AMAZING Worry About You. (Seriously. One year after its release and it's still one of my most played tracks.)

ATTENTION: GLEEKS! Although the season may have ended, it's no reason to stop going bonkers over this massive TV phenomenon and Glee's amazing music. So, I'm giving away FIVE Glee: The Music Volume 6 albums! (Also available for purchase here.)

To make it even Gleekier, I'm throwing in ONE Darren Criss signed copy of Billboard Magazine!

Oh, but I'm not done yet! FIVE of you are going to get a SIGNED COPY of Nicole Scherzinger's Killer Love album!

And finally, I'm giving away this Nerina Pallot EP collection to ONE lucky fan!
The collection includes:

June Bug EP
Acoustic Sessions EP
Skeleton Key EP
Buckminster Fuller EP

How'd you like them apples?!

COLOR LEGEND:
Giveaways in RED - it is a US EXCLUSIVE CONTEST. Your entry will not be valid if you live outside the US.

BLUE - UK EXCLUSIVE CONTEST. Again, if you're outside of the UK, your entry will not be valid.

GREEN - The contest is open internationally!

RULE(S):
You may only submit one entry per contest. Two or more submissions in the same giveaway category will NOT increase your chances of winning (See "OPTIONAL" below for this) but instead will forfeit your entry in that category.

HOW TO ENTER:
FIRST, you have to 'Like' POP from the Block on Facebook! (Might as well get something out of it, right?) I have multiple ways of checking this, just so you know. Oh, look below! How convenient!

Then, SEND your entries to giveaways@popfromtheblock.com with the SUBJECT "GIVEAWAY: [giveaway of your choice]" and include the following details in the message:

FULL NAME:
COMPLETE ADDRESS:
CONTACT DETAILS: (Twitter, Facebook, etc. Let us know!)

OPTIONAL: If you send me a screencap of you RT-ing my tweet about this giveaway, I will enter your name twice in your chosen contest. (Am I milking it all out? Why, yes. Watch me.)

The POP from the Block anniversary giveaway will be open for TEN DAYS ONLY (May 27th to June 5th) because I will be juggling a bunch of other personal agendas which I shouldn't even be talking about so ENTER NOW NOW NOW OR FOREVER REGRET IT.

Deadline of entries: June 5th, 11:59 PM (GMT+8)

Winners will be chosen at random and contacted on June 6th-7th.

For inquiries, contact us through email or Twitter.

Best of luck!

1+1 doesn't equal to 4, but Beyoncé sure as hell likes numbers.

2011-05-26T17:39:00.000+08:00

Beyoncé once again took to American Idol to premiere another song from her upcoming '4' album entitled 1+1. Bey performed the stirring, perfect for love-making ballad on the Idol stage for the finale episode. After parading on stage with her army in performances of Run The World (Girls), Beyoncé instead focuses on her singing chops in 1+1. While it may not exactly be a song for the summer, 1+1 is definitely a killer ballad.

In other Beyoncé news, the tracklisting for 4 has been revealed (see cover here):

1+1
I Care
I Miss You
Best Thing I Never Had
Party feat. Andre 3000
Rather Die Young
Start Over
Love On Top
Countdown
End Of Time
I Was Here
Run The World (Girls)

Don't get me wrong, but starting off with a ballad doesn't seem like a very good idea.

4 is now available to pre-order on iTunes.

[LISTEN] The Wanted : Glad You Came

2011-05-25T13:57:00.003+08:00

Now there's been some giggles and jokes over Twitter about British 'manband' The Wanted's upcoming single Glad You Came. While the title suggests a double entendre of sorts, it's good to know that the boys haven't put out a song about sexual innuendos... they're just glad you came. Take that however you want.

The single, out July 10th, is a pretty good tune for the summer. Although it doesn't possess the "instant liketivity" (yes I just made that up) of All Time Low and it gets a little repetitive, the chorus is spot on, reminding us why The Wanted isn't just one of those groups you brush off after one or two songs.

Introducing... Chloe Swaby!

2011-05-23T13:55:00.002+08:00

Now, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of country music, but add in some pop and a catchy hook or two-- and even the Swedes will turn their heads (or ears rather) around. Hertfordshire-based artist Chloe Swaby proves that overlapping synths and electronic sampling are no substitues for organic instruments in her country pop debut EP Gypsy Lane.

The lead single, Racing Car, is a track tailor-made for the radio. I honestly didn't expect the chorus to be so catchy! It's one of those songs that easily win you over after the first play. Having lived in Ghana working as a volunteer, Chloe Swaby possesses the ability to translate her experiences into lyrical stories that hold actual authenticity. And it's that same factor that makes her music so appealing and relatable.

Listen to the Gypsy Lane EP below:

Racing Car is now available on iTunes.

Chloe Swaby on Twitter | MySpace | Facebook

[VIDEO] Save The World - Swedish House Mafia

2011-05-20T20:59:00.002+08:00

A while back, I featured the incredibly good Swedish House Mafia track, Save The World, and it has been stuck on loop since then. The Swedish trio have recently premiered the video for their poptastic earworm, so check it out below.

My thoughts in chronological order while watching:

'Clubby' vibe. Please no please no please no.
Oh good, it's not.
Is this going to be one of those clichéd clips where some sort of Superman saves the day? Ugh.
OH NO! NINJAS!
I mean robbers.
Hah, I knew this was going to be some hackneyed video.
OH MY GOD A DOG.
MORE DOGS.
A CORGI!
This is ridiculous.
Repeat the above statement 8 more times.

That's about it.

WHO RUN THIS MOTHA?

2011-05-20T01:48:00.000+08:00

Beyoncé does! Below is the sexy album cover for Bey's forthcoming album entitled '4'.

The album cover is as fierce as the video for Beyoncé's lead single, Run The World (Girls), directed by Francis Lawrence (of Constantine and I Am Legend fame). The music video shows Beyoncé working off her bootylicious self in animalistic moves and taking her pet hyenas for a little stroll in the park.

Oh, and also: BEWARE OF CLICHED SALUTE GESTURES. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

4 will be released on June 28th in the US.

[VIDEO] The Saturdays: Notorious

2011-05-19T16:06:00.001+08:00

Vanessa, Una, Mollie, Frankie, and Rochelle of The Saturdays ditch the glasses and the corporate attire to be 'gangsters on the dancefloor'. I smell a hit!

Notorious will be released on May 22nd.

Preorder the single on iTunes.

[VIDEO] Out of Goodbyes - Maroon 5 ft. Lady Antebellum

2011-05-18T21:09:00.001+08:00

Maroon 5 has recently premiered the video for their brilliant duet with country trio Lady Antebellum, Out of Goodbyes, which is from their third studio album, Hands All Over. The video features model/actress Diora Baird tending Dwight Yoakam's wounds in an old-style Western setting. This is the second video off Hands All Over where Maroon 5 is not present.

The Saturdays roll out video previews of Notorious!

2011-05-18T20:00:00.000+08:00

I'm probably not the only one who's thrilled about The Saturdays churning out new songs, right? (I sound like a stan from the looks of my recent posts.) The Chuckie Radio Remix that was released a few days back gibes us a pretty good idea of what Notorious is going to sound like: a big, ballsy club stomper. The girls have really stepped up their promo strategy and thus we have individual teaser clips for Mollie, Una, Vanessa, Frankie, and Rochelle.

Katy Perry spends an entire year on the Billboard Hot 100 top ten!

2011-05-17T22:50:00.002+08:00

Despite being knocked off the top spot by Adele's Rolling in the Deep, Katy Perry has no reason to circle the drain because she's just become the first artist in Billboard history to stay within the top 10 for A WHOLE YEAR!

It's quite a handful to explain so here's the press release describing how Katy has made the top 10 her second home.

Perry began her streak when "California Gurls," featuring Snoop Dogg, debuted at No. 2 on the May 29, 2010, Hot 100. The song would go on to spend six weeks at No. 1 beginning June 19, 2010.

As "Girls" logged its 12th frame in the top 10 on the Aug. 14, 2010, Hot 100, the follow-up and second single from Perry's second Capitol Records album "Teenage Dream" bounded 20-7. The song would become the set's second No. 1 on the Sept. 18 chart and reign for two weeks.

On the Nov. 20, 2010, Hot 100, "Firework" burst 29-10, just keeping Perry in the top 10, as "Dream" dropped out of the tier (12-8). "Firework" started a four-week command on the Jan. 8, 2011, survey.

When "E.T." bounded 28-8 on the March 12, 2011, Hot 100, the song joined "Firework" for the latter song's last two weeks in the top 10.

Prior to Perry, Ace of Base had held the Hot 100's uninterrupted top 10 longevity mark, linking 48 straight weeks in the top 10 with "All That She Wants," "The Sign" and "Don't Turn Around" (Oct. 16, 1993-Sept. 10, 1994). Santana ranks third with 42 consecutive frames in the upper region (1999-2000), followed by Mariah Carey (41 weeks in a row, 1995-96).

It's no question that Mrs. Russell Brand has gone far from her Ur So Gay days, but her lastest LP Teenage Dream has spurred four #1's and California Gurls broke digital sales records.

So, in celebration of Katy Perry's success, here's her debut I Kissed A Girl (keep an eye for Ke$ha!) and her latest collaboration with Kanye West, E.T.!

Song of the Day: Till I'm Gone by Tinie Tempah ft. Wiz Khalifa

2011-05-15T15:01:00.000+08:00

British rap sensation Tinie Tempah made waves in the US when he crossed the pond with his collaboration with Eric Turner, Written in the Stars. Since then, Tinie Tempah has debuted on US Television on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and will be going on the Late Show with David Letterman (May 17th) and Conan (May 26th). His UK chart topping album Disc-Overy will be released on May 17th with three brand new tracks, one of which is Till I'm Gone featuring Wiz Khalifa, his next US single.

The Stargate-produced track is a collection of catchy synths, sick rap verses, and a chorus that pulls everything together to make a massive tune that both hip hop and pop fans will enjoy.

[REMIX] The Saturdays: Notorious (Chuckie Radio Remix)

2011-05-14T19:54:00.000+08:00

A brand new remix of the upcoming The Saturdays track, Notorious, has surfaced. The single will be released on May 22nd, to be included in their 3rd studio album which will be out later this year.

[VIDEO] Bounce - Calvin Harris ft. Kelis

2011-05-14T11:34:00.000+08:00

The Acapella singer who lent her vocals to the massively addictive Calvin Harris track, Bounce, barely makes an appearance in the video.

Swedish House Mafia: Save the World

2011-05-11T22:43:00.000+08:00

After the success of Miami 2 Ibiza and One, Swedish House Mafia has churned out yet another infectious club stomper titled Save the World, featuring the vocals of John Martin. Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso definitely know their way around clubtastic tunes and Save the World is a complete earworm.

[PREVIEW] The Saturdays: Notorious

2011-05-11T19:05:00.000+08:00

HUZZAH! The Saturdays are back! Almost, anyway. After closing their Headlines EP on a high with Higher (excuse that sloppily-strung phrase), the ladies of The Sats are hard at work on their yet-to-be-titled third studio album. Pictured above is the artwork for their upcoming single, Notorious. From what the preview clips have been suggesting, Notorious is going to be a massive tune that's right up your alley if you're a fan of UK mainstream music.

Here are patches of the Notorious lyrics courtesy of The Saturdays.

Two preview clips merged into one convenient YT video. And while we're at it, here's a link to a live performance of a new track they did on their Headlines tour called Turn Myself In, which will be included in The Saturdays' upcoming LP.

Notorious will be released on May 22nd.

Song of the Day: My Favourite Obsession by Secret Sirens

2011-05-11T18:14:00.000+08:00

Leeds-based duo Secret Sirens consisting of Narelle Frances and Andrew Siron already have some indie chart success and are keen on moving up with their forthcoming single, My Favourite Obsession, a song that resulted after a real life encounter with a Facebook stalker (Yikes!). It's pop, rock, and everything in between. The chorus is the ballsiest part of the track, and oh-- it's written from a stalker's perspective. Here's a minute-long preview of My Favourite Obsession.

POP Ketchup: what's playing?

2011-05-04T22:01:00.003+08:00

As you all know, POP from the Block has been M.I.A. for the past few months, and eager to get back on track. So I've put together a juicy little playlist of poptastic tunes you ought to take note of.

Put Your Hands Up - Nerina Pallot
The lead single off British singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot's forthcoming album Year of the Wolf is a modest yet insanely catchy pop tune. Originally intended for Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite LP, Put Your Hands Up is a track that can easily be altered to electropop and would make a brilliant floor stomper, but the beauty of the song lies within its meekness.

Bounce - Calvin Harris feat. Kelis
Leave it to Calvin Harris to produce extremely good beats. Bounce is as odd as it is brilliant.

Silly Girl - Neon Hitch
Remember that gypsy girl I introduced back in January? Well, Neon Hitch has gone far from her dreamy pop sound in Get Over U. Her second single, Silly Girl, is best summed up in one word: DURRRRTY. On the other hand, 'infectious' and 'dope' would fit well too.

Goodbye, Goodnight - Her Majesty and the Wolves
Ex- Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and Spencer Nezey of Jupiter Rising are at it again! Goodbye, Goodnight is a horribly catchy electropop number that's oigng to be a surefire hit in clubs.

Do It in the AM - Frankmusik feat. Far East Movement
Frankmusik + Far East Movement = club stomper. Need I say more?

Run the World (Girls) - Beyoncé
Beyoncé's latest "female empowering" song has fans and critics divided. On one hand, it's a mess of a song with a Pon De Floor sample. On the other, it's a contagious anthem that refuses to mingle with the synthtastic tunes of today. Run the World (Girls) is a song only a handful of popstars can pull off. Kudos, Bey.

In the Air - True Tiger ft. Professor Green and Maverick Sabre
A track that's unarguably meant for the dancefloor.

The Lonely - Christina Perri
By now I'm wondering just how much pain Christina Perri has been through to write such anguishing songs. Much like her previous singles, The Lonely cuts straight to the heart with its sweeping piano strokes and mournful melody.

Lost Without You - Vanbot
If you're a fan of Swedish pop sensation Robyn, then Vanbot is right up your alley. Lost Without You is a sad disco-ish track that would fit in quite nicely in Robyn's Body Talk albums.

Starlight - Sophie-Ellis Bextor

(We Do It) Primo - Colette Carr
New Cherry Tree artist Colette Carr teams up with Frankmusik for her single (We Do It) Primo. It's kind of a dreamy (and sober) Ke$ha with a spoonful of sugar. Throw in a Keane sample of Somewhere Only We Know for good measure.

Break You Hard - Natalia Kills
Natalia Kills is one of the most promising pop acts of today and her debut LP Perfectionist is a solid effort. Break You Hard is immensely good and a nice reminder that all is not lost on today's generation of pop warblers.

Till the World Ends (Femme Fatale Remix) - Britney Spears feat. Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha
LOOK AT THOSE NAMES.

Nova - The Sound of Arrows
The Sound of Arrows is yet another amazing act to come from Sweden. Their dreamy pop music is quite a delight to the ears and the video for their single Nova is equally pleasing to the eyes.

Easy Please Me - Katy B
Katy B presents a fresh edge to the current breed of rave-y, nonsensical pop songs with Easy Please Me. It's always a nice surprise to hear songs in this genre that steer clear of autotuning.

Begging Me - Florrie

[Single Review] Christina Perri: Arms

2011-05-03T15:01:00.000+08:00

Singer-songwriter Christina Perri wrenched our hearts and shot herself to fame last year with Jar of Hearts, and she manages to tug on our heartstrings once again with the second single off her upcoming album lovestrong. entitled Arms. Much like her previous song, Arms is a stunning ballad that starts off docile and builds up to sweeping melodies, only this time around, Perri is crooning about insecurities and uncertainties that she feels when venturing into a relationship. While Arms doesn't possess the same pain that Jar of Hearts laid out, it's a clever narration of a very relatable story, and this kind of familiarity that Christina Perri's music holds makes it all the more beautiful.

Arms is now available on iTunes to be followed by the release of her debut album lovestrong. on May 10th.

Song of the Day: Begging Me by Florrie

2011-05-02T23:20:00.000+08:00

It's been more than a year since I first posted about Xenomania house drummer turned pop warbler Florrie, and boy, she's gone far. Her music has been a delight from Call 911 in 2010 to her latest song entitled Begging Me. This girl knows her pop formula in and out, always delivering classy, smooth-flowing tunes. Begging Me is one of her best, and that speaks volumes because almost everything Florrie puts out is well above average.

Look who's lost her music video virginity as well (minus that stint for Nina L'Elixir)!

Begging Me is now available on iTunes. It is the lead track for Florrie's upcoming EP out on May 26th.

ALSO, if you haven't gotten your hands on Florrie's no less than brilliant Introduction EP, you can get it for free here!

[Album Review] Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Make A Scene

2011-05-02T21:25:00.000+08:00

Three years, four singles, and many rumoured release dates later, English pop warbler Sophie Ellis-Bextor has finally disclosed her much awaited fourth studio album Make A Scene. Even by just its title, a little buzz fills the air with the promise of a glorious pop record.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is no stranger to the word 'quality', and it certainly shows on the LP. Although the timing of Madamoiselle EB's releases are sloppy at best, the appetizers that have come in the form of Bittersweet and Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) inter alia kept us from giving up on Make A Scene.

With amazing producers such as the Freemasons, Richard X, Calvin Harris, and Greg Kurstin present in the LP and given the span of three years in recording, Make A Scene set high expectations upon itself. The main question remains: was it worth the wait?

The LP kicks off with a "bang bang" in Revolution, and the highly energized track is quite a head turner, even giving a nod to one of Sophie's previous hits, Murder on the Dancefloor. Lead single Bittersweet is a pop treat reminiscent of Girls Aloud's Untouchable-- both being elegant songs bursting at the seams with brilliance. The superb intro coupled with the push-pull chorus in Off and On possess such magnetism that you won't be able to stop yourself from shimmying ever-so-slightly while listening.

Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) is an excellent collaboration with the Freemasons, and the bridge instrumental is incredibly climactic and infectious. Not Giving Up On Love, although too 'trance-y' for my tastes, holds its own ground in the LP. Can't Fight This Feeling with French dj Junior Caldera is lackluster, average, and fails to keep up with previous tracks. Starlight is another album standout. It feels slightly ethereal, lush but light at the same time, creating an alluring mystique to it.

Under Your Touch lacks the appeal of Off and On and the momentum of Revolution, falling in the 'decent but not entirely great' category. The title track, Make A Scene, is a total disappointment. It's messy and the parts of the song don't fit together properly. The verses actually remind me of Kelis' Flesh Tone, but the odd instrumentals and the awkward flow drags the song down.

One of the more interesting tracks in Make A Scene is Magic, produced by Richard X, who is also responsible for Starlight. True to its title, Magic possesses an enchanting quality that hoists up the song from great to outstanding. The 80's synth bursts in Dial My Number keep the energy going, but overall it's just a teensy notch above average at best. The same goes for Homewrecker, the blunt and direct lyrics further driving the song into the ground.

No matter how downtempo the ballad Synchronised may be, it doesn't stall the flow of the LP. It's one of those rare tracks that can generate both joy and melancholy simultaneously. Cut Straight to the Heart is a less pleasing ballad, and while flashes of brilliance sporadically turn up, it remains underwhelming.

Make A Scene is a compact collection that presents the Sophie Ellis-Bextor we're all familiar with. It may not cross new territories, but that doesn't mean that the LP is devoid of bold tracks (Magic, Bittersweet, Revolution). Even with a song about mistresses and whatnot, the LP stays tasteful. Another feat that I'd like to commend is the album consistency and how one dance track after another doesn't wear it out.

POP from the Block is back!

2011-05-02T21:03:00.000+08:00

After scarcely posting back in January and going MIA shortly after, I have decided to try this out again. With some tweaks to the blog layout, I'm determined to be back for good this time around. I have missed out on so many delectable pop dishes, and if I picked up where I left off it's going to take me ages, plus no one probably gives a damn anymore about Rebecca Black's Friday. So I won't be backtracking to how underwhelming I think Born This Way is or how ridiculous the video accompanying it is. Or how Pitbull has an uncanny ability to ruin songs.

Whoops.

POP from the Block is definitely maybe staying whether you like it or not.

P.S.: I haven't planned anything at all for this 'comeback' and I'm horrid at 'winging it' so we'll see how this goes...

SoundWatch 2011: Neon Hitch

2011-01-23T22:01:00.003+08:00

She's the girl all the music bloggers have been buzzing about, and with good reason. Neon Hitch is interesting, to say the least. To start off, Neon Hitch is, in fact, her real name. She's also a trapeze artist, stiltwalker, and fireswinger. Can you say WHOA?

Besides Neon Hitch's rather rich background, she's also involved in Ke$ha's Blah Blah Blah and 3OH!3's Follow Me Down, and has worked with the likes of Jason Derulo, mega-producer Cathy Dennis, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, and ex-American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, who ended up in signing her to Warner Brothers.

Get Over U, her upcoming debut that recently premiered on ArjanWrites, is produced by Benny Blanco (Teenage Dream, Dynamite, to name a few) and co-written by Australian pop warbler Sia. With those names, you're probably wondering, "does the song live up to expectations?" Absolutely. That and more. Get Over U is like a genius blend of an incredible pop song: a sprinkle of Kylie, a dash of Robyn, a pinch of synthtastic beats, a teaspoon of Lights, and heck, throw in a good litre of mellow disco for good measure. Basically, what I'm trying to articulate, is that Get Over U is fantastic and straight away makes my shortlist for best song of 2011. And it's only January.

Listen to Get Over U below:

Neon Hitch on MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | official website

A Tinie Tempah update.

2011-01-23T14:49:00.000+08:00

The last time we heard from Tinie Tempah, he was scoring another UK #1 for his brilliant collaboration with Eric Turner, Written In The Stars. The British rapper is set on going Stateside this 2011, with his critically-acclaimed platinum debut album Disc-Overy hitting the shelves on May 3rd.

Also, mark your calendars on February 2nd, because Tine Tempah will have his first US Television performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live with his debut single Pass Out.

But on to the main bit of this post. Wonderman is the fifth single taken off Disc-Overy, and as the cover above shows, features BRIT Awards Critics' Choice Ellie Goulding, so to say that the single is amazing would be an understatement. A collection of energetic synths and deep bass sounds, Wonderman is a signature Tinie Tempah track with bonus vocals from the Starry-Eyed songstress.

Watch the video below:

Introducing... Sarah Solovay.

2011-01-06T20:43:00.004+08:00

As another new year rears its enormous intimidating head, we put to rest our overplayed songs of 2010 in search of unheard quality music. POP from the Block got eerily silent in the past month (I hope someone out there misses the updates!) but things have been sorted out. Long story short, PftB is BACK!

Walking on the fine line between singer-songwriter and mainstream pop-rock, 16 year-old Sarah Solovay is quite a musical treat. You might have heard Hearts Collide(All She on popular TV drama 90210, or a handful of her other songs on NBC, MTV, and TNT. The NYC singer also opened for John Mayer and Train. Not too shabby now, is she?

Sarah Solovay's music is chock full of intense guitar riffs and solid drum beats, all laced together with contagious lyrics. It's a formula that's definitely familiar, but don't be too quick to dismiss it as typical pop-rock music because it cleverly balances the 'usualness' of mainstream sounds and the signature quirks of singer-songwriter material.

Sarah Solovay on Facebook | Twitter | MySpace

Listen to All She Could Be:

Mini Viva's Britt Love - Playing the Game

2010-11-13T17:50:00.000+08:00

Call me a nagger but I'm still not over the fact that Geffen gave up on Mini Viva before we could even get a taste of their album. Despite massive support from critics, I Wish and One Touch failed to follow the success of their first single Left My Heart in Tokyo, chart-wise. It's frustrating, to say the least, because Frankee Connolly and Britt Love along with Xenomania put out genuinely pleasant pop tunes.

But alas, the show must go on. Britt Love debuted a song called Playing the Game on her official Facebook page, and believe me, there's a lot to be excited about. The track runs in the same vein as Mini Viva's synthtastic ones, only darker. And hey, half of Mini Viva is better than none, right?

[LISTEN] Ke$ha: Blow

2010-11-13T11:01:00.000+08:00

I finally managed to get out of the cave I've been living in for a week to listen to some new tunes that are probably already in heavy circulation. When TiK ToK came out, I had branded Ke$ha as one of those artists I'd deliberately not listen to, which (sad to say) proved to be inevitable (e.g. this post).

ANYWAY.

After the insanely addictive Cannibal, another Ke$ha track has surfaced in the name of Blow. Much like a typical Ke$ha song, Blow is a party stomper to the core, and though it's not as lyrically entertaining as Cannibal, Blow does its job well (I know what you're thinking. JUST. NO.)-- it's catchy, uncomplicated, 'what you see (hear?) is what you get' material.

[LISTEN] Rihanna: LOUD preview + the third single 'S&M'

2010-11-06T11:03:00.002+08:00

After the blissfully clubtastic Only Girl in the World and the very Caribbean What's My Name, Rihanna is keen on keeping the ball rolling with yet another (presumably) smash single in the form of S&M. RiRi gets down and dirty in the third single from her upcoming album LOUD as she purrs over thumping beats, "Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it". That line alone is enough to get your senses tingling.

Listen to the track below.

ALSO, here are 30-second clips of the tracks from LOUD.

[LISTEN] Rihanna & Eminem: Love The Way You Lie Pt. II

2010-11-03T23:09:00.001+08:00

After the wildly successful Love The Way You Lie by Rihanna and Eminem, they've gone the Empire State of Mind route with a broken down Part II. It's brilliant, though as Rihanna had said in an interview, it "couldn't beat the original". The piano-led ensemble will be included in RiRi's much-anticipated album, Loud, which will be out on November 15th. Have a listen below.

[VIDEO] Stuttering by Fefe Dobson

2010-10-31T21:12:00.000+08:00

Canadian rocker Fefe Dobson gives us a twist in the music video for her latest single Stuttering. This won't be the first time we've seen her dancing around (or rather 'on') an automobile, but the video for Stuttering includes little pockets of comedy and a huge "OOPS" moment that definitely tops Ghost.

[Video] Nicole Scherzinger: Poison

2010-10-30T11:45:00.000+08:00

Nicole Scherzinger looks proper fierce in the promotional video for Poison, the soon-to-be hit produced by RedOne. Watch the clip below as the Pussycat Doll switches from villain to heroine.

Release Date: November 29th

[Single Review] Ed Drewett: Champagne Lemonade

2010-10-29T23:40:00.000+08:00

Ed Drewett is getting ready to release his debut single entitled Champagne Lemonade this October 31st. The man who penned the #1 smash hit All Time Low has also appeared with Professor Green in the top 5 hit I Need You Tonight. Champagne Lemonade flaunts a lyrical creativity we initially caught in All Time Low, and I'm hoping it turns out to be an Ed Drewett trademark. As Ed croons "All because he buys you champagne, I buy you lemonade, makes him something of a Casanova" over smart beats, there's really nothing to complain about in the track. It's a sleek number that makes us wonder what else Ed Drewett has up his sleeve.

[VIDEO] Lovekiller by Darin

2010-10-29T22:44:00.000+08:00

It seems like a decade has passed when Lovekiller by Swedish popstar Darin first swept us off our feet, and the music video has FINALLY arrived! The quite literal promo video features Darin lying dead on the ground surrounded by a CSI crew and Angelina Jolie lookalike Dani Karlsson.

Katy Perry premieres the video for Firework!

2010-10-29T10:28:00.002+08:00

Katy Perry's done it again! After the magical land of sweets in California Gurls and reliving her adolescent years in Teenage Dream, Katy Perry goes for an inspirational motif in Firework. The video shot in Budapest, Hungary tackles insecurity and hopelessness as Katy urges them to 'let their colors burst'. It's a great promo that doesn't fail to put a smile on your face, and it's Katy's best one to date.

The human firework formation is brilliant.

Robyn premieres Indestructible video + some album news

2010-10-28T23:39:00.003+08:00

The album art for the third and final installment of Robyn's Body Talk series is here! It will include five tracks from Body Talk Pts. 1 and 2, and five BRAND NEW tracks slated for a November 22nd release in the US, 26th in Australia, and 29th in the UK.

Here is the tracklisting:

1. Fembot
2. Don´t fucking tell me what to do
3. Dancing on my own
4. Indestructible
5. Time Machine
6. Love kills
7. Hang with me
8. Call your girlfriend
9. None of dem
10. We dance to the beat
11. U should know better
12. Dance hall queen
13. Get myself together
14. In my eyes
15. Stars 4-ever

ALSO, the video of the incredibly synthtastic lead single Indestructible features slightly (by my standards) provocative scenes and Robyn in an innovative ensemble made of tubes. Yes, actual tubes that look like the ones used in hospitals. Watch the steamy video below.

The ULTIMATE Pet Shop Boys album + Together

2010-10-28T14:58:00.000+08:00

Pet Shop Boys have been making incredible dance music since the mid-80's, and they've achieved seven platinum, two gold and four silver albums in the UK alone while their releases have sold consistently all around the world. Their compilation album, Ultimate, celebrates 25 years of hits from 1984's West End Girls to 2009's Love etc. and will be released on November 1st. A new song is also included in Ultimate entitled Together. It was co-written by Tim Powell, who contributed to Girls Aloud's Call The Shots, Sugababes' Round Round, to name a few.

Have a listen to the track:

The full track-listing is:

CD

1. West End girls
2. Suburbia
3. It's a sin
4. What have I done to deserve this?
5. Always On My Mind
6. Heart
7. Domino dancing
8. Left to my own devices
9. Being boring
10. Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)
11. Go West
12. Before
13. Se a vida é (That's the way life is)
14. New York City boy
15. Home and dry
16. Miracles
17. I'm with Stupid
18. Love etc.
19. Together

Bonus DVD (PSB at the BBC / Glastonbury 2010)

TOTP 15/12/85 West End girls
TOTP 20/03/86 Love comes quickly
WT 29/04/86 Opportunities
TOTP 02/10/86 Suburbia
TOTP 25/06/87 It’s a sin
TOTP 22/10/87 Rent
TOTP 10/12/87 Always On My Mind
BRITS 08/02/88 What have I done to deserve this?
Wogan 30/03/88 Heart
TOTP 22/09/88 Domino dancing
TOTP 01/12/88 Left to my own devices
Wogan 28/09/90 So hard
TOTP 29/11/90 Being boring
TOTP 10/06/93 Can you forgive her?
TOTP 07/04/94 Liberation
TOTP 03/08/95 Paninaro ‘95
TOTP2 02/12/03 Se a vida é
TOTP 28/03/97 A red letter day
TOTP 04/07/97 Somewhere
TOTP 30/07/99 I don’t know what you want but I can’t give it any more
TOTP 08/10/99 New York City boy
TOTP 14/01/00 You only tell me you love me when you’re drunk
TOTP 29/03/02 Home and dry
TOTP2 17/04/02 I get along
TOTP 14/11/03 Miracles
TOTP 19/03/04 Flamboyant
TOTP 23/04/06 I’m with Stupid

GLASTONBURY 2010:

Heart
Did you see me coming?
Love etc.
Building a wall
Go West
Two divided by zero
Why don’t we live together?
New York City boy
Always On My Mind
Closer to Heaven/Left to my own devices
Do I have to?
Kings Cross
Jealousy
Suburbia
What have I done to deserve this?
All over the world
Se a vida é/Discoteca/Viva la vida
It’s a sin
Being boring
West End girls

CALLING ALL ASPIRING MUSICIANS IN THE UK!

2010-10-28T11:28:00.002+08:00

Audio equipment manufacturer Audio-Technica is launching a nationwide search for the most entertaining alternative Christmas track. They're looking for someone who can put a positive new spin on the age old tradition of Christmas carols, and that someone could be YOU!

The winner will receive £500 worth of Audio-Technica equipment and 5 runners up will get £100 each. As an extra incentive the first 100 entries will all receive a free pair of Audio-Technica ATH-CK51 headphones worth £30 each.

All you need to do is submit a YouTube video not longer than five minutes that showcases your creativity-- may it be a cover of the classics or a new piece of music wholly. The best entries will be shared by Audio-Technica on its social networking channels, so kick off the yuletide season early and get busy!

Full Terms & Conditions.
Get more information here.

[Album Review] The Wanted: The Wanted

2010-10-27T11:21:00.002+08:00

Before I had even listened to a single song of theirs, I had a preconceived idea of what The Wanted would sound like-- a JLS ripoff, a male version of The Saturdays. The buzz regarding their debut single All Time Low swelled up, and when I finally caved in, every single notion I'd assumed about the band vanished.

Their eponymously-titled debut album is still 'boyband pop', essentially speaking. The Wanted established a certain maturity in All Time Low-- something we don't often see in pop groups, particularly new ones-- and the album is keen on reminding us that this boyband isn't 'fluff material'.

With highly commendable people like Steve Mac (Boyzone, JLS, Westlife), Cutfather (Pixie Lott, Blue, Pussycat Dolls), Greg Kurstin (Britney Spears, Lily Allen, Nelly Furtado), and Guy Chambers (Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams) working behind the scenes, it's clear that they spared no expense in production, resulting in a polished pop record that flows effortlessly from start to finish.

In hindsight, the eponymous album is undoubtedly pop, though little but conspicuos bits of indie, rock, and soul are sprinkled here and there. Epic string sections similar to the ones in All Time Low surface in Behind Bars, a track that would fit Plan B's The Defamation of Strickland Banks if it went pop. Hi and Low, a cover of the Greg Laswell song, sticks to its singer-songwriter genre, and the delicate piano ensemble slows down the pace of the LP.

It's also quite clever how themes are prominently incorporated in some tracks. Let's Get Ugly blatantly situates us in the wild, wild west where two cowboys are getting ready for a square-off. Personal Soldier is pretty obvious as well-- not to mention brilliant. It rivals Replace Your Heart and Heart Vacancy as the "perfect boyband song" i.e. pop enough to pull off 'boyband hand gestures' without being too cheesy.

Ballads-wise, Golden unarguably steals the show. The subtle verses are succeeded by a bold chorus that builds up emotion for one dramatic release at the end-- pure genius. Weakness is a decent example of songs that don't need exploding choruses to hook you in. In the case of Lose My Mind, the bridge pulls you in, along with borrowed "oh"s from Kings of Leon.

The Wanted's eponymous debut is still far from perfect, but it sets them in a niche where both fan-girls and serious music lovers can agree on the fact that it is a genuinely great album that puts on a great balancing act-- not too serious but not annoyingly cheeky; not very experimental but certainly not monotonous. It's a solid attempt that implies that The Wanted aren't going anywhere.

[LISTEN] The Knocks: Dancing with the DJ

2010-10-25T20:42:00.001+08:00

New York-based The Knocks has done it again. From the absolutely clubtastic Blackout to the summery Make It Better, it's clear that this production duo isn't just playing around. Their third single, Dancing with the DJ, is in the same vein as Make It Better-- only instead of sand and surf an imaginary club scene comes to mind. It's very Alphabeat/late 80's dancepop with some modern whiffs here and there, begging to be heard on the dancefloor.

Click here to get your copy of 'Dancing with the DJ' + the equally brilliant B-side 'Thinking About You' for FREE!

Song of the Day: Looking For Love by Bellevoxx

2010-10-24T17:29:00.002+08:00

With a name that means "beautiful voice", Bellevoxx has much to live up to. Denisse Lara, Harmony Moniz, and Raquel Houghton have been picked up and signed to W2W Records, founded by legendary White Sox MVP Frank Thomas. Looking For Love, the pop trio's debut single, is a blend of today's synth-riddled production and early 2000's girlband pop. It's terribly catchy and reminiscent of Atomic Kitten's rendition of The Tide Is High.

Buy Looking For Love on iTunes.

Get to know the girls of Bellevoxx:

POP Ketchup: What's happening in RIHANNA land?

2010-10-24T15:34:00.002+08:00

As a fan of the girl who sang Pon de Replay, I have bore witness to the countless transformations of Rihanna. She was first introduced to us as a sunny pop artist with heavy reggae and Caribbean influences. Since then she's experimented with R&B, rubbed shoulders with hip hop, gone through a "dark and edgy" chapter, exploded all over the world with Umbrella, tried being a rockstar, and changed hairstyles quicker than you can say the title of her upcoming album, LOUD.

When Only Girl in the World premiered, I had branded it as a typical dancepop track eager to ride the waves of the hot trend. While those words still ring true, what I've discovered in my recent epiphany is that it's probably one of the best in the bunch. Stargate was absolutely spot-on with the production, and I'm glad RiRi's gotten out of her dark phase.

»Watch the video here.

The second single from Loud is What's My Name featuring Canadian rapper Drake, and it sounds nothing like Only Girl in the World. It's like a throwback to Rihanna's earliest days, sunshiny and breezy with a subtle Caribbean inspiration.

Below is the tracklisting of the upcoming album to be released on November 15th.

1. S&M
2. What’s My Name? Feat. Drake
3. Cheers (Drink To That)
4. Fading
5. Only Girl (In The World)
6. California King Bed
7. Man Down
8. Raining Men Feat. Nicki Minaj
9. Complicated
10. Skin
11. Love The Way You Lie (Part II) Feat. Eminem

LOUD will also be available in deluxe, called the 'Couture Edition', which includes a bonus disc.

[Single Review] Black Eyed Peas: The Time (The Dirty Bit)

2010-10-24T11:47:00.002+08:00

The Black Eyed Peas have taken sampling to another level. The Time (The Dirty Bit) flaunts a reinvention of the Dirty Dancing classic (I've Had) The Time of My Life. Unlike their previous sampling effort of Misirlou in Pump It, The Time (The Dirty Bit) is a less successful attempt-- it defaces the chorus instead of paying homage. The autotuning adds insult to injury, and the rap verses seem to be existing on another planet. If this robotic nonsense wasn't the creation of the Black Eyed Peas, it would most probably be shunned by the media.

Song of the Day: Higher by Taio Cruz feat. Kylie Minogue

2010-10-23T17:05:00.001+08:00

Taio Cruz is, in fact, taking his music 'Higher'. With collaborations alongside Ke$ha, Jennifer Lopez, Tinchy Stryder, and McFly already under his belt, Taio is still keen on adding massive names to the list-- including Kylie Minogue. The pop goddess lent her vocals to the official remix of Higher, and the end product is nothing short of an immaculate pop/dance record. Listen to the musical treat below.

Ingrid Michaelson takes on 'Parachute'.

2010-10-21T20:01:00.001+08:00

New York-based indie artist Ingrid Michaelson is doing her own version of a song she co-wrote for everyone's favorite pop star Cheryl Cole. Parachute, which was the third single off Chezza's debut 3 Words, peaked at #5 on the British chart.

But will Ingrid follow the same success? When it comes down to which version comes out on top, it's really a matter of personal preference. Parachute was one of the few tolerable songs on Cheryl Cole's 3 Words. It's more polished and pop, whilst Ingrid's version falls into singer-songwriter territory, quirky in places and much denser.

Get your copy of Ingrid Michaelson's Parachute on iTunes.

[Album Review] Maroon 5: Hands All Over

2010-10-21T10:22:00.001+08:00

Maroon 5's first LP Songs About Jane was a brilliant introduction that established Adam Levine and the band as soulful, sexily grubby musicians. The follow-up It Won't Be Soon Before Long exemplified a sleeker sound, bigger production, resulting in a glossier record. Three years later comes Hands All Over, a blend of SAJ's grit, IWBSBL's funk, and more.

Hands All Over presents a somewhat diverse collection of soul, funk, and even country-- all held together by Adam's effortless crooning. We're all familiar with 'groovetastic' lead single Misery, and tracks that show the same streak include Don't Know Nothing and Get Back In My Life, both of which go "ooh ooh" in all the right places.

Out Of Goodbyes proves that a little dabble in country music never did anyone harm. The Lady Antebellum collaboration is a tender, slightly bossa nova ballad, reminding us that Maroon 5 isn't just about sex and style-- these guys know how to tug a heartstring or two as well.

Most of the songs on the record are a throwback to their Songs About Jane days-- the title track sounds like an amped down Through With You, I Can't Lie recycles instrumentals from The Sun, and an ample amount of This Love can be discerned in half the LP. Now, there's nothing wrong with going back to the old formula-- eight years have passed and SAJ is still relevant. There's nothing wrong with a little experimentation either-- the band managed to preserve their core sound beneath the gloss of It Won't Be Soon Before Long.

As far as standout tracks go, Stutter is a humble yet huge pop machine. Maroon 5's best moments come when they least exert effort. Runaway, one of the more underrated songs on the record, emits an early 2000's boyband song structure revved up and dressed in grimy instruments. How is a proper pop band song: big ballsy chorus, piano tinkles meshed with drums, and an even flow from start to finish.

Hands All Over may not be the best album of 2010, but it is definitely one of the easiest to listen to.

Rating:

4/5

Song of the Day: My Boots by Lights

2010-10-19T22:33:00.001+08:00

Canadian popstrel Lights gives us her much-awaited second album teaser in the form of lead single, My Boots. Fans of her intergalactically synthtastic music will be glad to know that My Boots doesn't stray away from that sound. It's quintessentially Lights-- easy going, slightly ethereal, well-structured, and neat.

Get 'My Boots' on iTunes.

Robyn premieres official single version of 'Indestructible'

2010-10-18T14:07:00.001+08:00

Even just saying 'this is a ROBYN release' should get your blood pumping already. I mean, who doesn't love Dancing On My Own and Hang With Me? We all barely had time to brace ourselves when that string section on Indestructible's acoustic version hit our ears and burst into a myriad of pop gold fragments, and it has now arrived, synth-clad and clubtastic! If you've listened to the acoustic version over and over (like a certain someone here), it might take more than one listen to embrace the official single version of Indestructible.

Release Date: November 22nd

LISTEN: Preview of Cheryl Cole's Messy Little Raindrops

2010-10-17T16:01:00.003+08:00

X Factor judge extraordinaire/UK's sweetheart aka Cheryl Cole has released a preview of her upcoming second album, Messy Little Raindrops. Her lead single Promise This has already proven to be better than most of 3 Words (the album cover says otherwise though), and second single The Flood sounds positively smashing. Messy Little Raindrops is set to be released on November 1st, preceded by Promise This on October 21st. Listen to the album below (PS: she raps on Let's Get Down).

Here is the tracklisting:
1. Promise This
2. Yeah Yeah featuring Travie McCoy
3. Live Tonight
4. Flood, The
5. Amnesia
6. Everyone featuring Dizzee Rascal
7. Raindrops
8. Hummingbird
9. Better To Lie featuring August Rigo
10. Let's Get Down
11. Happy Tears
12. Waiting

SOUND THE ALARMS: it's Nicole Scherzinger's Poison in FULL.

2010-10-15T10:00:00.002+08:00

Nicole Scherzinger's solo career has been somewhat of a joke compared to the success of the Pussycat Dolls, especially after her debut album, Her Name Is Nicole, got shelved. Now, Nicole's second attempt at solo stardom is taking a step in the right direction with lead single Poison. Produced by the Moroccan-Swedish musical genius behind Lady Gaga, Poison is one of RedOne's best tracks to date. It's a HUGE club stomper-- dark and sexy, plus a chorus that's just poised to kill.

Rating:

4.5/5

BUY: The Vampire Diaries OTS

2010-10-14T21:01:00.000+08:00

Sexy TV series The Vampire Diaries now has an official soundtrack to match. Besides exclusive tracks from Gorillaz, Goldfrapp, Smashing Pumpkins and more, the compilation features Bat For Lashes, Placebo, and Sky Ferreira, whose song Obsession is the lead track on the album. Here is the tracklisting for The Vampire Diaries: Original Television Soundtrack.

1. Mike Suby - Stefan's Theme
2. Placebo - Running Up that Hill
3. Silversun Pickups - Currency of Love
4. Howls - Hammock
5. Bat for Lashes - Sleep Alone (909 in the DarkTimes Mix)
6. Stateless - Bloodstream (Vampire Diaries Remix)
7. Goldfrapp - We Radiate
8. Sky Ferreira - Obsession
9. Digital Daggers - Head Over Heels
10. Jason Walker - Down
11. Mads Langer - Beauty of the Dark
12. Plumb - Cut
13. Sounds Under Radio ft. Alison Sudol of A Fine Frenzy - All You Wanted
14. Smashing Pumpkins - The Fellowship
15. Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill (Feed Me Remix)
16. Mike Suby - 1864

The Vampire Diaries: Original Television Soundtrack is now available on iTunes.

POP Ketchup: some news from Robyn, a duet from McFly and Taio, a nice little snippet from Nicole Scherzinger, and MORE.

2010-10-13T23:03:00.002+08:00

Ketchup. Catch-up. Got it? Oh, don't bother.

Obviously the blog has been running a little late on the news, so here's a quick recap on some of the things that have been happening in the world of pop.

First off is the McFly/Taio Cruz collaboration Shine A Light. It's clear that this BRIT Award-winning band have put their All About You days behind (Note: Well I'm sorry but they haven't been exactly under my radar since then.) and have gone on to ride the 'synthpop wave' with Taio Cruz. Massive pop tune.

Above is the slightly blurry cover of Swedish pop warbler Robyn's upcoming single off the next--and last-- installment of the Body Talk series. The amazing track, Indestructible, has appeared in its acoustic glory in Body Talk Pt. 2, and the original version will be just as good-- if not better. Indestructible is set for release on November 22nd, Body Talk Pt. 3 will follow on November 29th, containing a total of 15 tracks: five each from Body Talk Pts. 1 and 2, and 5 brand new ones.

This snippet of Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger's brand new track with RedOne called Poison has caused a lot of buzz around the web-- with good reason. It's a sexy synth-powered number that fits Nicole to a 'T'.

And on the subject of synth-powered tracks, here's a brilliant one from the Freemasons and Wynter Gordon. Believer is a dance romper, and its subtle production is very 'Ibiza'.

Lastly, Brit duo HURTS have premiered their video for Stay, their third single off the debut album Happiness.

That's it for now.

WATCH: Well, Well, Well by Duffy

2010-10-11T21:24:00.000+08:00

Grammy-winning Welsh pop megaseller Duffy is back at it with the first single off her upcoming album Endlessly. Well, Well, Well is a Duffy song in all aspects-- pop-slash-soul with old school brass sections and that memorable vocal. As the title suggests, the song basically abuses the word 'well' sandwiched between a trumpetized rendition of C+C Music Factory's Gonna Make You Sweat.

Preview: Official lyric video + stills of Katy Perry's Firework!

2010-10-09T23:01:00.001+08:00

Katy Perry travels to Budapest for her upcoming video of Firework, the third single off her #1 album Teenage Dream. Check out the single artwork above, which not only comes off bland, but also steers from her previous 'enthusiastically colored' covers. Here is the preview-slash-lyric video to Firework.

Song of the Day: Sunshine by Rye Rye feat. M.I.A

2010-10-09T22:01:00.001+08:00

Ryeisha Berrain aka Rye Rye, was the first artist signed to M.I.A's N.E.E.T. Recordings label under Interscope, and it's no surprise that the overall sound of her single, Sunshine, is reminiscent of M.I.A, who features on the track. Those familiar with M.I.A's style would recognize the low key pots 'n pans backing and hand claps, layered over with no-nonsense rapping.

Get your dose of Sunshine on iTunes.

Diana Vickers premieres 'My Wicked Heart' video.

2010-10-08T21:10:00.001+08:00

One of our favorite past X Factor finalists, Diana Vickers, goes for a circus-inspired video ensemble in her latest single, My Wicked Heart, which is about one-night stands and sexual attraction. It's a quirky little number, with brass sections, odd pauses, and as per usual, Diana's raspy, 'stumbly' voice. My Wicked Heart is set for release on October 17th and will aid in the re-release of her #1 debut album, Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree.

Watch the video on YouTube here.

Listen: Speak Now by Taylor Swift

2010-10-05T21:18:00.002+08:00

Taylor Swift tunes in to her inner wedding crasher in Speak Now, the title track of her third studio album, to be released on October 25th. The track keeps Taylor to her roots, countrypop storytelling we're all too familiar with that manages to hook the public in EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Buy Speak Now on iTunes.

Nadine rocks out with her mic in 'Insatiable' video

2010-10-03T16:54:00.005+08:00

The title pretty much sums up the whole video.

Insatiable is set for release on November 1st, to be followed by the album under the same name on the 8th.

Photo via We Are Pop Slags

Sky Ferreira premieres video for 'Obsession.'

2010-10-01T23:13:00.001+08:00

From 17, to One, to her most recent single Obsession, Sky Ferreira has been releasing one massive song after the other. You can probably tell by now that POP from the Block absolutely loves this girl and the fact that her 'obsession' is a little random is just the icing on the cake. Watch below to find out who it is (plus you get to see Sky stare daggers at her friend).

ALSO, Obsessions is on The Vampire Diaries OTS available on October 12th.

But if you can't wait to get your hands on Obsession, it's already available on iTunes.

Video Preview: Insatiable by Nadine Coyle

2010-10-01T20:04:00.003+08:00

Below is the a video preview to Nadine Coyle's debut single Insatiable, which will premiere in its full glory on Channel 4 in the UK on October 3rd.

»Hear the full track here.

An interview with Ry Cuming.

2010-09-28T20:55:00.007+08:00

A month ago I introduced a lovely Australian artist that goes by the name of Ry Cuming. A surfer and musician at heart, Ry's mellow attitude made him all 'pleasantries' to chat to.

Hello, Ry! How are you?

I'm goooooood!!! Im in a hotel in Ohio, on the way to Texas tomorrow... tour is on. The ocean was amazing with swell while I was home in California, and now music. So I'm doing both things I love.

I have to ask. What's your current top priority: music or pro surfing?

I was never a pro surfer. Competed and done well in that but competition was never my thing with surfing... or music really. I surf everyday I am home... the ocean is my home in a lot of ways, and then music everyday too... like a breathe in and a breathe out... I love them both equally.

I love how your songs aim straight to the heart, especially Always Remember Me. How was it like to work with Sara Bareilles (whom I love, by the way)?

Thank you. I really try to be honest in my writing... feel like it's best to write and sing from my own comings and goings in love and life. Sara is amazing... a true artist and talent in the world. I'm lucky to call her a friend of mine and loved working with her. I'd love to do it again anytime. She came into the studio and it was effortless... a really nice way to share that song.

Also, you've worked with Maroon 5 and had gone on tour with them. How was that like?

Again, I get to call those guys friends, which is really important. I love playing music and creating music with friends and other people I connect to in music. That's what it's all about. Jesse came and played on the album and we write and hang a lot... then getting invited on tour with them was amazing... really special to walk out on those big stages and play to people that love music.

Is there any artist you're planning to collaborate with in the near future?

There are so many!!! I'd love to work with many people in different styles. But what's important to me is it happening naturally... there is a lot of collaboration in music right now which is exciting. I'm always open to it.

What was the inspiration behind your self-titled album?

It's very much a real life account of the last few years of my life: love, heartbreak, travel, new experiences... thoughts on the world... I'll leave you to work out which songs are for which... Hahaha!

Describe Ry Cuming as an artist in three words.

This is hard to do... I'm afraid any three words I will write will seem strange...

Maybe... Love, life, lone.

Do you keep up with the charts? Who's your current favorite on there?

I'm going to be honest here. I'm really not up to date on the charts. I don't know the YouTube sensations. I don't own a TV... but I do love a lot of music coming out right now. I think the beauty of the way music is currently is that charts mean less. It's coming back to the music world of the 70s in artists playing live and writing and creating... then the mix in of online and independent labels... so much going on... I always try to keep my ear to the ground though!

To those who are new to your music, please tell them what they're missing.

I guess I'm trying to give what those before me gave to me... soul, amazing music, growth, things to inspire and to love... Jeff Buckley and Marvin Gaye... Tom Petty and Prince... so much music to love. Maybe I can live anywhere in that vast and beautiful world of music.

Joe McElderry premieres video for Ambitions

2010-09-26T19:41:00.000+08:00

I never knew one could look so cheery singing about dwindling hope.

Leave it to Geordie Joe McElderry to pull it off in the music video for Ambitions, a cover of Norwegian band Donkeyboy's #1 song. The X Factor winner took to fist pumping and hands in the air cheesy choreography, doing what seems like a cross between Glee and High School Musical.

The Donkeyboy video is also worth showing:

Ambitions will be released on October 10th, followed by the album Wide Awake on October 25th.

Video Premiere: Rollerblades by Eliza Doolittle

2010-09-25T22:10:00.002+08:00

Eliza Doolittle sure knows how to make 'whistleable' tunes.

Much like this English pop warbler's previous songs, Rollerblades is a summery, giddy song that we'd all like to listen to over and over, just to put a smile on our faces. Here is the equally cheery video.

Where are the rollerblades?!

Rollerblades will be released on October 18th.
Eliza Doolittle's self-titled debut album is available here.

[Album Review] HURTS: Happiness

2010-09-25T15:05:00.001+08:00

Put two men in slick 'n snazzy suits, chuck them in grayscale photographs, add a bucketload of musical wit, and we'd get Mancunian synthpop duo HURTS. After finishing fourth in BBC's Sound of 2010 poll, Theo Hutchcraft (vocals) and Adam Anderson (synthesizers) became one of the most anticipated acts, and when their debut album Happiness finally came out, it certainly didn't disappoint.

Happiness is a perfect example of a cohesive, well-bound album strewn with dramatic production and a mood that would match their photographs. In hindsight, Happiness seems like a tiring LP to listen to-- what with all the melancholy (and Theo's tailor-fit vocals to these sort of tracks). But in the midst of the gloom are slivers of hope that are craftily placed in the often-haunting melodies.

I have to say, pinpointing a single standout track is near to impossible, as is distinguishing the lackluster ones. A good number of tracks exude exploding choruses, best exemplified by Illuminated. Then there's the quite important Devotion, which I am obliged to mention. Not very many popstars in suits (or non-suits for that matter) can get Kylie Minogue to appear in their album, and their duet suits the 'goddess of pop' to a T, creating a gorgeous midtempo ballad aching with emotion.

Sunday and Better Than Love are as upbeat as HURTS could get, the latter being their anthemic debut single that spurred dismissal from critics and branded them as 'an 80's-sounding band that came a few years too late', but Wonderful Life and Silver Lining would prove otherwise. Though the message of pain and heartache are present in the course of the album, The Water conveys it most excruciatingly, and a hidden track, Verona, emerges with Theo's chilling forlorn voice calling out.

There are a myriad of 'pop gold' moments in Happiness, and its strict well thought-out format flaunts a consistency not usually present in most longplayers today. Then, there's the matter of 'style over substance' with HURTS, since behind the grandoise production and sweeping choruses lie lyrical content that are not up to par with the rest. Happiness shows exactly what is on its cover: a clean-cut album riddled with dismal tunes and a touch of class.

Rating:

4/5

The non-spy Polish pop warbler Nikita.

2010-09-24T22:25:00.000+08:00

Imagine my surprise (and delight) when an artist named 'Nikita' landed in my inbox. I know what you're thinking: what's SO surprising about this Nikita singer person? I'm sorry, but the reason isn't exactly music-related. I'm watching this great new US TV series under the same name which I'd love to share the details about and I could go on and on but then this wouldn't be a music blog, would it? (To answer that, it would be a Nikita lovefest and thus will require name changes and I'm not very good at that sort of thing.)

ANYWAY, Nikita aka Pati Yang is a Polish electronic artist and apparently the "sound of the future" according to her press release. Her debut single Tonight is a fine slice of electropop, and the paper thin vocals work magic on the track. Nikita's debut album is being put together with the help of Joe Cross, who's responsible for The Sound of Arrows and ever polished-looking duo HURTS. I will be looking forward to fresh and utterly poptastic tunes from this Polish songstrel.

Joe McElderry takes on Donkeyboy for debut single 'Ambitions'

2010-09-23T19:56:00.002+08:00

After losing out to Rage Against the Machine in the Christmas chart battle last year (with good reason), X Factor 2009 winner Joe McElderry isn't giving up on doing covers, though this time 'round it's not a ballad sang by some teen Disney star. In fact, it's from a brilliant Norwegian band called Donkeyboy, who's already garnered massive success in Norway with the single entitled Ambitions, taking the #1 spot for twelve consecutive weeks contrary to the less than enthusiastic response the UK gave out.

This is a smart move for Joe, mainly because the song is amazing as it is, and apparently the folks at Syco know it too, as heard in Joe's note-for-note cover. The 80's-sounding track has been given a sparkly, poptastic makeover aimed to storm the charts. I personally prefer the original Donkeyboy tune which sounds more... organic, per se. What the Joe version offers, however, is a more upbeat take on Ambitions, and a little oomph here and there (though I might add that the emotion and genuineness are inadvertently absent).

It's also interesting that Donkeyboy didn't have a clue about all this Joe-coverage hoopla:

To summarize,

Ambitions is a very good song.
This 'Joe guy' will most probably get the #1 that Donkeyboy ought to have.
This will be released on October 10.
So download the original here instead.

Cheryl Cole 'devient une ballerine' in Promise This and reveals upcoming album title.

2010-09-19T12:14:00.004+08:00

So Cheryl Cole's still singing in French about plucking the feathers off a poor lark's head in Promise This, and doing it brilliantly so, mind you. The music video, which premiered recently on ITV 2, is absolutely stunning. Amazing silhouette displays, slick choreography, and... Cheryl Cole, of course! There's something very old school about the cuts in the first half, and the shadowdancing is all too alluring.

Promise This will be released on October 24th, followed by the sophomore album, Messy Little Raindrops in November. I smell a Girls Aloud chart battle!

The Saturdays twirl about town in Higher!

2010-09-19T10:19:00.001+08:00

First of all, that single sleeve doesn't look too smashing.

Second, I am befuddled. As some of you might know by now, The Saturdays have teamed up with the man who's prevented them from reaching the #1 spot in the UK twice (Forever Is Over & Missing You), Flo Rida, for the 'official single version' of their brilliant track Higher. The promo video, however, features the album version. Basically, people who will know the song through the video wouldn't have the slightest clue of the Flo Rida version, which is actually worse than the album one with its overly silly unnecessary intro (and roll call) but that's not the point.

ANYWHO, here is the lovely, American-looking, sort-of-block party video for Higher!

Pixie Lott's going LOUDER.

2010-09-18T11:59:00.001+08:00

Above is the official cover for Pixie Lott's upcoming re-release of her double platinum album, Turn It Up on October 18th. It features the highly-anticipated single Broken Arrow, a duet with In My Head singer Jason Derülo, and everything you missed on the debut LP.

Here is the video for Broken Arrow:

Introducing... 2AM Club.

2010-09-17T22:00:00.001+08:00

American band 2AM Club specializes in creating feel-good, 'put your hands in the air' party stompers-- minus the frivolity. The debut album, What Did You Think Was Going To Happen?, is dynamic and every track brings on a pleasant surprise as the album goes from the soulful Worry About You to funky rock/rap songs like Nobody's In Love. The latter has been featured on ABC Family's hit show Pretty Little Liars, and 2AM Club has also been named as MTV's PUSH artist. I recommend this band to music enthusiasts who are aching for some unpretentious fun.

Tour Dates:

18-Sep Las Vegas, NV House of Blues w/ Mike Posner
20-Sep Houston, TX House of Blues w/ Mike Posner
21-Sep Dallas, TX House of Blues w/ Mike Posner
22-Sep New Orleans, LA House of Blues w/ Mike Posner
26-Sep Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues w/ Mike Posner
1-Oct St. Louis, MO The Pageant w/ Mike Posner
3-Oct Cleveland, OH House of Blues w/ Mike Posner
6-Oct Philadelphia, PA TLA w/ Mike Posner
11-Oct Boston, MA House of Blues w/ Mike Posner
12-Oct New York, NY Fillmore w/ Mike Posner
13-Oct Asbury Park, NJ Stony Pony w/ Mike Posner
15-Oct Toronto, Ontario Mod Club w/ Mike Posner

Visit 2AM Club's official website for more details.

The Wanted warble about 'hotels' in Heart Vacancy.

2010-09-12T18:55:00.001+08:00

The second single from The Wanted sees them toning down the production a little from All Time Low. Heart Vacancy opts for subtle guitar strings and simple beats. I honestly don't know why I brace myself for a cheesy boy band explosion, when they've already proven the opposite. The lyrics are spot on, and oh my, hotel references galore! Well done again, boys.

Pretty cool video, as well, eh?

It's like WHOA, who knew?

2010-09-11T10:34:00.000+08:00

I was about to make this a "true" Nadine post that noybudeeh wood prawbley geyt. Anywho, strange accents aside, Insatiable has premiered in its full glory! The 56-second taster said a lot on what to expect from this ridiculously brilliant song. It's definitely not some Guetta duplicate haphazardly chucked out, and Insatiable refuses to jump on the dancepop bandwagon. If you've read my 'review' on the snippet, it covers a lot of genres while remaining mainstream, and those vocals are to die for.

Still my favorite Aloud.

Fefe Dobson: I'm the first person to bust out the boy bands! (Part 1)

2010-09-10T14:35:00.005+08:00

This Canadian singer-songwriter's songs have been covered by artists like Miley Cyrus, S.H.E, Selena Gomez & the Scene, and Jordin Sparks. Massive TV shows such as The Vampire Diaries, American Idol, America's Next Top Model, and more have featured I Want You and Watch Me Move, among others. Stuttering, her latest single, has been playing over and over on my iTunes ever since I got the track. You all probably know who I'm talking about, so let's get on with our interview with FEFE DOBSON!

What is your inspiration behind the single "Ghost"?

The song is about finding out that the person you're involved with has been living a double life. It’s about walking away from a bad relationship and sticking up for yourself.

What's the story behind the album title "Joy"?

Making this record was definitely a joyful experience as well as liberating. I wanted to name it after positivity and light.

How does "Joy" differ from your debut?

Well... my first album was written about 7 years ago, so naturally it’s going to be a bit different. I wrote songs like Take Me Away and Everything when I was 15, 16, so lyrically they're coming from a different place than they would now, being in my early 20's. I've experienced new things, met new people, discovered more music, etc.

What drew you towards the rock genre?

Growing up, my sister played a lot of rock and roll. She loved Nirvana & Smashing Pumpkins. But I think when I heard Michael and Janet Jackson so perfectly mix electric guitars into pop music, I knew then that I had to somehow do something like that as well.

Who are your musical influences and why?

I have so many... Michael Jackson, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Stevie Nicks, Jimi Hendrix, Madonna, to name a few.

What is your guilty pleasure band?

I'm not really ashamed of anything I listen to. I'm the first person to bust out the boy bands! Hanson and 'N Sync were my faves! :)

OH, you want more of this?

Well, this is just the first part of our chat with Fefe Dobson! You see, I've asked for a bit of help from someone who's been listening to her music (before Stuttering, that is)... so the other chunk of this interview is over at The Reflective Inklings.

CHECK OUT PART TWO NOW!

ALSO, go and get yourself a copy of Fefe's fantastic single, Stuttering!

Song of the Day: Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri

2010-09-09T22:27:00.001+08:00

American singer-songwriter Christina Perri shot to digital fame when her song, Jar of Hearts, was featured on So You Think You Can Dance—a reality TV show known for introducing fresh music to the masses. This stunning breakup ballad has sold more than 100,000 downloads since June 30 (without a record deal, mind you), when Billy Bell and Kathryn McCormick delivered a contemporary routine to match. Jar of Hearts has everything you can ask for in a ballad: sweeping piano strokes, a soaring chorus, and heartwrenching lyrics that go, "Who do you think you are? | Runnin' around leaving scars | Collecting a jar of hearts | Tearing love apart..."

Jar of Hearts is available for download on iTunes.

It's written in the stars for Tinie Tempah. [video + review]

2010-09-07T19:21:00.001+08:00

After scoring two massive hits in the form of his debut Pass Out and Frisky, UK rapper Tinie Tempah is set on nicking a third with the help of Eric Turner. Written in the Stars features an epic, soaring vocal from the Boston newcomer while Tinie retells his past. Produced by Ishi Mughal, who's Swedish (of course), the synth-led number incorporates subtle piano strokes as well as sharp guitar riffs, switching from hold-my-breath ballad to sensible rap ("I used to be the kid that no one cared about, that's why you have to keep screaming 'til they hear you out").

Rating:

5/5

OH NO! IT'S MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS!

2010-09-07T17:32:00.001+08:00

Whoops, wrong single.

This one is called Shampain, one of the best tracks off The Family Jewels. Marina is known for making quite interesting videos for her singles, and Shampain features a flying burger wrapper that seems to follow Marina everywhere, her signature über bright lipstick, some Thriller moves, and running mascara. I feel like I'm in a Christopher Pike novel when I watch the video.

Release Date: October 11th

Kylie Minogue tour dates for Aphrodite: Les Foiles Tour 2011!

2010-09-06T21:17:00.005+08:00

Following the success of Kylie Minogue's chart-topping album Aphrodite, The Showgirl Returns in her upcoming Aphrodite: Les Foiles Tour 2011! Kylie says that the great success of Aphrodite prompted her and her creative team to provide a groundbreaking show that surpasses her previous spectacles.

UK Tour dates are:

MONDAY 28-Mar-11 GLASGOW SECC
TUESDAY 29-Mar-11 GLASGOW SECC

FRIDAY 1-Apr-11 MANCHESTER Evening News Arena
SATURDAY 2-Apr-11 MANCHESTER Evening News Arena

THURSDAY 7-Apr-11 LONDON O2 Arena
FRIDAY 8-Apr-11 LONDON O2 Arena

General on-sale date: 9:00am, 13th September 2010 via www.artistticket.com

Telephone sales UK : 0115 993 4166

PREVIEW ALERT: Nadine Coyle's debut single!

2010-09-06T18:07:00.001+08:00

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT HAS FINALLY ARRIVED.

For what seemed like a century or two, we have been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting (surely Sophie Ellis-Bextor fans can relate) for "the voice" of Girls Aloud to release her solo material, following the success of bandmate Cheryl Cole's solo venture. A 56-second snippet of Insatiable, the debut single from Nadine Coyle, has officially been released, and it is ONE HUGE POP STOMPER. It's a melting pot of genres: a little Motown, a pinch of soul, a dash of rock, and a whole lotta pop packed into one highly energized musical dish. Besides rubbing shoulders with all those genres, Insatiable doesn't fail to neglect Nadine's vocal prowess, AND it sounds current. Basically, it ticks off a LOT of stuff on the pop hit must-haves list.

Insatiable is set to be released on November 1st through her very own label, Black Pen Records, and the album under the same name will follow on November 8th.

Her Majesty has arrived. With wolves. And ice.

2010-09-05T16:39:00.002+08:00

Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt teams up with Spencer Nezey in Her Majesty and the Wolves, an electropop duo who's just released their buzz single, Glaciers. It's an infectious, dance-driven stomper sure to set dancefloors alight with its tribal, anthemic beats and an Elly Jackson-esque vocal from Kimberly. The song runs at a lengthy six minutes, and surprisingly not very boring, considering the fact that the lyrics are on a constant loop.

Oh, and guess what? YOU CAN GET IT FOR FREE HERE!

Selena Gomez takes to the desert in 'A Year Without Rain' [video + review]

2010-09-04T10:23:00.001+08:00

Selena Gomez & The Scene has become an ultimate guilty pleasure ever since Naturally hooked me in with its deliciously pop-tastic chorus. A Year Without Rain has Selena venturing into slightly mature dancepop territory whilst keeping her other foot right on the teen pop borderline. The song reminds me of Natasha Bedingfield's Touch at parts (not the half rap verses thankfully). It's a far cry from her Disney image, but it still possesses the same likability factor.

Rating:

4.5/5

PREVIEW ALERT: new single from Cheryl Cole!

2010-09-03T21:41:00.001+08:00

Forty seconds of Cheryl Cole's first single taken off her currently unnamed sophomore album has surfaced. Promise This begins with some chanting of... a French nursery rhyme about plucking feathers from birds?! Bizarro extreme! Nonetheless, the intergalactic-sounding synths work their magic on the fast-paced track produced by Wayne Wilkins, the man behind one of Cheryl's better songs in her debut 3 Words, Rain On Me. "Promise this, if I die before I wake...", Cheryl warbles on the (presumably) gorgeous piano-tinkled chorus. It's a huge step forward from 3 Words, and I hope the album won't be as disappointing.

I guess that Girls Aloud reunion won't be happening too soon, eh?

Get outta her way! It's the Kylie video!

2010-09-03T09:40:00.003+08:00

Get Outta My Way is the second single lifted from Kylie Minogue's chart-topping album Aphrodite. After seeing the titillating video teaser and Miss Minogue's A-MA-ZING America's Got Talent performance, I was hungrily waiting for the video to surface, officially or not (sorry Kylie). So... here it is!

Some key points about the video:

Kylie has illuminating gloves! No, scratch that, it's her actual hands!
It's Slow inside Wow. Or is it Wow inside Slow? Decisions, decisions.
Oh, it's Can't Get You Out Of My Head too! Bring on the dance moves!
Amazing chair routine.

Get Outta My Way is out on September 27th.

Tracklistings:

7” Picture disc
A. Get Outta My Way
B. Bimbo Jones Piano Mix Edit

2 Track CD
1.Get Outta My way
2. 7th Heaven Remix - radio edit

Maxi CD
1. Get Outta My Way
2. Bimbo Jones Club Edit
3. Sidney Samson Remix
4. Paul Harris Vocal Remix
5. Mat Zo Remix
6. Video

Digital Bundle
1. Get Outta My Way
2. Bimbo Jones Club Edit
3. Sidney Samson Remix
4. 7th Heaven Radio Edit
5. Paul Harris Dub Remix
6. Daddys Groove Remix
7. Extended

[Album Review] Katy Perry: Teenage Dream

2010-09-02T12:41:00.001+08:00

Katy Perry has gone far since her Ur So Gay days (though she still likes to misspell titles), spurring five top 10 singles in the US and breaking records along the way. Despite garnering negative feedback from critics, her previous album One of The Boys became a massive hit around the world, and who could forget the controversial I Kissed A Girl?

Teenage Dream opens on a high with the title track, a quiet storm that reaches its peak at the bridge, setting this mini explosion of nostalgia and warmth. What I love most about Teenage Dream is its sincerity and the way the track makes you... feel, in general. Ke$ha may be the queen of retelling nights of endless partying, but Katy takes the cake in Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.). Unlike the club-stomping half raps of Ke$ha, T.G.I.F. is a fun and quirky number with contagious chanting and a sax intermission.

California Gurls is still unimpressive even after the massive radio airplay. It's very generic, no matter how perfect a summer tune it is, and Snoop Dogg does more harm than help. Firework has a brilliant buildup to the chorus, which then bursts into a bajillion specks of magical rainbow-coloured bits and bobs. Katy Perry has proven time to time that she isn't shy—not one bit, and that's exactly what Peacock shows. But even with those slightly asinine lyrics, Peacock takes to a smart beat, and it's catchy to the point of annoying (a true Katy Perry song if you ask me).

Teenage Dream veers toward a grim route on Circle The Drain, where Katy warbles with poison in her veins, "Wanna be your lover, not your fucking mother | Can't be your savior, I don't have the power." The One That Got Away reverts Katy to her forte, and again, this is one of those tracks you just feel. A sliver of poignancy is present throughout the song, and though it doesn't level to Teenage Dream in terms of quality, The One That Got Away holds its own ground.

E.T., one of the early leaks in the LP, continues the dark ambiance set by Circle The Drain, and doesn't possess anything to stand out. Who Am I Living For is marginally better, because at least Katy Perry exhibits some vocal ability. The pretty lyrics in Pearl make it one of the better tracks in the latter half of Teenage Dream ("She was a hurricane, but now she's just a gust of wind"), but after hearing the onslaught of dreary-sounding tunes, Pearl is easily thrown into that pile of average to not-quite-there songs.

Hummingbird Heartbeat brings back the fun in the second half, a slightly rock number that's good enough to pull us out of the dismal mood set by the previous tracks. Not Like The Movies is Teenage Dream's Thinking Of You in a more syrupy and slow-paced form. Is it just me or does that wooden flute (recorder?) in the second verse sound awfully strange (and just plain wrong)?

Katy Perry succeeds in reeling us back to our teenage years, as feelings of love, lust, frustration, confusion, and fun reemerge in each of the twelve tracks. The first half of the LP shined in all its glittery splendor with songs Teenage Dream, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), Firework, and Peacock, leaving the latter half drained of a much-needed spark to lighten the mood. Teenage Dream is sheer brilliance at times, and no song falls below the 'average' line.

Rating:

3.75/5

A f-f-f-free download from Fefe Dobson!

2010-08-30T21:30:00.005+08:00

Juno Award nominee rocker Felicia Lily Dobson is on to her fourth single from Joy, the Canadian artist's third album if you count the unreleased Sunday Love. TWO years (Imagine that!) after the first single from Joy saw the light comes the piano-led, more-pop-than-rock Stuttering.

It starts off with sweeping piano strokes that lead me to assume Stuttering is a ballad of sorts until clapping beats layer over it. The hook does its job very well, as it builds up and explodes into the infectious "oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh" chorus. I like how the piano notes in the intro are present throughout the track, and the violin intermission between the second verse and the hook is a detail worth mentioning. Stuttering follows a pop formula we're all familiar with, so it's not entirely fresh sonically speaking, but it's still quite a treat to the ears.

Fefe Dobson is giving away free copies of Stuttering for a limited time before its September 7 release, so go get yours now!

Rating:

4.5/5

Sneak preview: Kylie's Get Outta My Way video!

2010-08-28T10:00:00.001+08:00

How long has it been since I've done a Kylie post?!

For some reason, I can't believe that this is only single #2 from Miss Minogue. It's been a while since that glorious human mountain of lovers she summoned in her previous video, and with one of the Aphrodite highlights, Kylie tunes in her inner disco diva, so get outta her way!

Remember when I said that the song itself reminds me of the Wow video? Yes. It's Wow AND Slow combined. Oh, and that's only the preview.

LISTEN: Broken Arrow by Pixie Lott + official lyric video

2010-08-27T01:52:00.001+08:00

Last time we heard from Pixie Lott, she was warbling about moving on and such, but I guess she's changed her mind since then. Broken Arrow, her new single taken from the re-release of the debut album Turn It Up, takes to a serious tone, with Miss Lott not being able to let go of lost love this time around, saying that it's still in her, "like a broken arrow".

Broken Arrow doesn't wander off Pixie territory, yet it comes across as a little unexpected to me. For instance, the chorus doesn't go, "like a broken arrow, arrow, arrow" or "like a broken arrow, broken arrow, broken arrow". In fact, the title is only mentioned once per chorus (I AM NOT USED TO THIS). I also love the way the lyrics sting a bit: "You can't complete me | He's the part that I'm missing."

The mid-tempo ballad concentrates on Pixie's vulnerability and pain, and her vocals can pull it off without a doubt. The one problem I have is that it lacks a little oomph in its production. I feel like there should be a big instrumental build-up somewhere, actually, anywhere because the lyrics are strong enough to handle it. ("You could be my hero | if only I could let go" are the most memorable lines in there.)

Is it just me or does Broken Arrow sound a tad bit like a The Script tune?

Rating:

4/5

[Single Review] Maroon 5: Give A Little More

2010-08-26T17:46:00.002+08:00

Like Maroon 5's previous single Misery, I wasn't completely taken when I first heard Give A Little More. I kept seeking a sonic climax that would blow me out of the water and thought that it lacked 'oomph' when I found none. After a few (JUST around 30) listens, the track had won me over.

Give A Little More starts off with distinct, noteworthy drumming layered over with the familiar Maroon 5 guitar riff. As it goes into the verse, we notice that it's actually less funk and more sultry, and sexy crooning is what Adam does best, e? The beauty of the track lies in its overall flow (Am I making any sense here?) and its not-so-mainstream sound. The groovy accents give a much-appreciated zing to the dominant sensual ambiance, which would've made it too serious.

Rating:

4.5/5

[Album Review] The Saturdays: Headlines!

2010-08-22T14:18:00.002+08:00

As one of the first acts that welcomed me to the world of British Pop (not counting the Steps and S Club 7 days), The Saturdays have always been under my radar. They've released two albums, Chasing Lights and Wordshaker, and new material wasn't expected to come until 2011 so imagine my delight when the girls announced they were to release an 8-track EP!

Headlines! opens with lead single Missing You, and if you're a regular reader here (I certainly hope so!), you'd know that I wasn't completely taken with this single choice nor the dancesteps in the accompanying video. I had 'hoped' for it to be a grower, and after I got used to the almost-abusive autotuning especially on Frankie's part, Missing You is actually quite pleasant to the ears with its summery backing.

The lead single, however, pales in comparison to Higher, which resembles Up in Chasing Lights—but even better. It's one fine slice of pop, and it includes EVERYTHING that I could ask for in a Saturdays song: it's terribly upbeat and catchy, the verses were distributed properly, and then there's THAT gorgeous Una middle eight (though the vocoder at the last bit annoyed me a little)! By the way, I'm STILL hoping this is all the dream and Higher is the lead single.

Died In Your Eyes reminds us that these girls can still kick ass at sweeping ballads. The Saturdays' cover of the Kristinia DeBarge song is heavy in terms of production, overwhelming if you put it on loop. The chorus starts to thicken after a few listens, but the delicate-sounding hook reels you back in every time.

From the track previews, I put Karma as the song to look forward to (mainly because we've all heard Higher live already). I loved the feisty sound that the preview offered (plus shouty bits), but I was taken aback when it played in its full glory. I like the fiery sarcastic verses, the soaring hook and chorus, and the heavily-autotuned middle eight individually, but when put together they don't make much sense, mainly because the sections sound foreign to each other.

I wasn't attracted to Puppet in the preview, and it's the generic track of the EP. It sounds like pop in the late 90's/early 2000's, and I have no idea what's making it sound so dated (or is it just me?). Nonetheless, Puppet is an earworm with a deadly chorus.

The three other tracks on the EP are taken from their sophomore album Wordshaker. Ego, arguably the best song on that LP, Forever is Over, and the Starsmith mix of One Shot (which doesn't really stray away from the original but it's a proper remix).

Headlines! packs enough punch to remind us that The Saturdays are still very much alive and kicking until the release of their third full-length album in 2011, but like what I've said regarding Robyn's three-part album, it fails to give full satisfaction, and the three not-so-new tracks aren't much help either.

Rating:

4/5

Check out a more comprehensible review of the EP at Pop Reviews Now.

Don't judge a book by its cover.

2010-08-21T23:16:00.003+08:00

Or in this case, don't judge an artist by his name.

Hailing from the land Down Under, Ry Cuming loves nothing more than the beaches of his coastal home. Ever since he took to his father's surfboard at the age of three, he has dedicated most of his time on the water, going professional and picking up sponsorships along the way.

Though his devotion to surfing is rock-solid, music comes a close second, slowly crawling its way up. And the way his songs sound so far, Ry Cuming has every reason to put his tunes on top priority. He's achieved two Australian Dolphin Awards for Best Pop Song and Best New Artist, plus a musical appearance alongside Maroon 5 in the movie Hoot. ALL of these things happened before his self-titled album was released.

Ry Cuming's lax attitude reflects profoundly in his music. Some Kind of Love is perfect for the summer, a dashboard tune as I'd say. The album is filled with rich, feelgood, pop/rock songs that emulate a little bit of Jeff Buckley, Ry Cuming's most prominent influence. Always Remember Me is a beautiful, intimate, acoustic number with Sara Bareilles lending her ever-stunning vocals to the track. Ry turns Chris Martin-esque in Is This Love, and veers towards dark rock n' roll in the tantalizing Chemistry. Soaring choruses are nothing amiss, especially in City of Lights where Ry tugs on a few heartstrings as he croons about a long-distance relationship.

Lyric-wise, Ry Cuming asserts himself as a romantic, citing that relationships and girls have always been sources of inspiration for his craft. Ry Cuming possesses a certain 'mainstreamness' and familiarity that makes it easy for us to warm to his music.

Always Remember Me

Sky Ferreira wants to be our obsession.

2010-08-21T10:21:00.006+08:00

We should give her what she wants.

Three months back we chatted with up-and-coming popstar Sky Ferreira where she said that she "had to compromise on my album with one song with my label that is very much a big 'pop hit'." Later on we found out that this 'compromise' was to be her debut single in the US market, and it is, as Sky described, a BIG pop hit.

The very well-crafted (and soon to be immense hit) Obsession contains the ingredients of a massive pop song: a guitar riff of epic proportions, intoxicating synths, a soaring chorus, the ever necessary oh-oh-oh's, and smart lyrics. Sky gets quite in-your-face as she growls over her lightbulb microphone, "So here's my confession | This time, I don't just want you to love me | I want to be your obsession." I love how it possesses a certain rock n' roll glam, badass but not pretentiously so.

Rating:

5/5

Armin van Buuren VS Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Not Giving Up On Love

2010-08-18T21:58:00.001+08:00

FINALLY something from Sophie Ellis-Bextor has officially arrived! Even if it's only a VS track with top trance DJ Armin van Buuren, it's enough for us SE-B fans to fuss about. I'm not the biggest trance music fan, so it took quite a few listens for me to... absorb its 'throbbiness' (this description fails, I know). Not Giving Up On Love sounds like Sophie on foreign territory. There's no mistaking those vocals, definitely, but it doesn't fit the pulsating synths to a 'T'. Let's hope Sophie does well chart-wise this time around.

The piano tinkles at the beginning are not-so-trancey but brilliant nonetheless.

[Album Review] Robyn: Body Talk Pt. 2

2010-08-16T13:32:00.001+08:00

As the album cover suggests, Body Talk Pt. 2 is all sorts of eargasm. Swedish popstar Robyn has arrived with the second volume of the Body Talk series. I wasn't entirely impressed with part one, except for the melancholic disco masterpiece Dancing On My Own and the acoustic version of Hang With Me, which appears on this second volume in all its synthtastic glory.

Body Talk Pt. 2 opens with In My Eyes, a track I believe has a fistful of emotion and a lot of impact. There is no lyrical scarcity as Robyn coos, "Hey little star, don't be afraid | we all fall apart and make mistakes", whose shimmery positivity continues throughout the synth-heavy track. Include Me Out is synth-powered as well, mostly low and deep with tinkles sprinkled over it. Plus, that rapping in the middle eight is just pure fun ("Can I get a bam bam for all of my watchamacallits doing whatever and with whoever they like?"). Very much like Dancing On My Own, Hang With Me in its Pt. 2 version is a wistful dancey tune with the same lyrical elegance, but catchier.

Love Kills is as grim as Robyn can get on the album, with lines such as, "If you’re looking for love | Get a heart made of steel, cos you know that love kills". It shows a different kind of beauty, not like the optimistic hopelessness in Hang With Me, but one that looks ahead to dismal days of misery. We Dance To The Beat is highly reminiscent of Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do, robotic and a little random in its wordplay. There are quite some lines that are memorable like, "We dance to the beat of the continents shifting under our feet", "We dance to the beat of bad kissers clinking teeth", and "We dance to the beat of your brain not evolving fast enough" (apparently Robyn is so musical she can sense beats in our brain's evolution), but it just doesn't cut it.

Criminal Intent, a track that runs in mechanical half-rap, has Robyn explaining herself to the judge in court for getting "somewhat X-rated on the floor" and the chorus is something I can put on loop and never get tired of. U Should Know Better is a collabo track with Snoop Dogg where the duo exchange badass raps, with Robyn getting the most hilarious ones ("It’s all oh la la and oui-oui | Because I’m sipping bleu blanc in my lingerie | Chopping heads off with my damn guillotine | Even the French know better than to fuck with me"). The album closes with the acoustic version of Indestructible, and right as the string section begun I had a feeling that this would be a HUGE song. Robyn's vocals have been left raw, without all that silly autotuning, and the gorgeousness of it hand-in-hand with the instrumentals create a breathtaking, heartwrenching number of epic proportions that ends Body Talk Pt. 2 on a brilliant note.

Compared to its predecessor, Body Talk Pt. 2 is set on being notable, with more than just one standout track. Though most of the songs are backed with synthesizers, Robyn still manages to tug on a few heartstrings with her lyrical genius. We all know that Robyn has three mini album releases this year, but there's just a certain satisfaction that only a full LP can give. What I'm saying, I guess, is that the experience is cut short of fulfillment. Nonetheless, it's a great release worth your time.

Rating:

4.75/5

FLORRIE is feeling generous this week...

2010-08-13T23:00:00.003+08:00

Xenomania-house-drummer-turned-aspiring-popstar Florrie has been present in a number of my posts. This is because a) I'm a sucker for free music; b) she is very very promising; c) ALL of her songs available for download are either above average or amazing; and d) Florrie kicks arse at drumming.

If you look here, you'll find some "amazemular music" courtesy of this unsigned star-to-be. And guess what folks, she's done it again! Two new tracks in a single week. Very good ones, if I may add.

Give Me Your Love features fast-paced drumming and is probably the most "organic" Florrie song yet (Am I making any sense?). The guitar riff gives a lovely touch to it, and the piano brushes throughout the track adds a certain depth that bodes well for Florrie's cool vocals.

You Wanna Start Something. Like Fascinate Me, it sounds like a Girls Aloud track circa Tangled Up. It resembles a lot of the sounds on that album, which is a compliment in itself. The pacing is quite upbeat (typical Florrie) and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. AGAIN with the amazing guitar riffs!

So far, Florrie has six tracks available for download (in various formats too!) and ALL OF THEM are worth your time. Seriously. I haven't the slightest clue of where Florrie's going with this 'free for fans' approach, but the music she gives off are so poptastic it makes me forget about all the 'SIGN THIS GIRL UP' hullabaloo.

Get your FREE Florrie downloads here!

Shirtless guys. Beach parties. Yes, this is your teenage dream.

2010-08-13T17:20:00.004+08:00

After an adventure in Candyfornia, Katy Perry relives her teen years in the aptly-titled second single Teenage Dream. I've already gushed about the song, and seeing it in its visual glory is just the cherry on top especially with a leading man who looks like that. Someone pass me the beefcake, please.

The Saturdays: Ready To Rise

2010-08-08T14:00:00.002+08:00

Lat time we checked on The Saturdays, they've thrown together an album sampler that shows promise and a single with mixed reviews. Well, the girls have given all you folks in the UK another reason to go out and buy Missing You: a smash-tastic B-Side! Ready To Rise is quite a contrast to its A-Side (hence 'smash-tastic'), club-stomping and feisty. If there's something to look forward to in every The Saturdays release, it's the B-Sides. From Crashing Down to Unofficial to Flashback, they've been dishing out these extra treats that leave me scratching my head, wondering why these tracks aren't on the album.

Missing You is now available on iTunes!

Listen: Mine by Taylor Swift

2010-08-05T21:25:00.002+08:00

Probably the most teen-anticipated release of the year, Taylor Swift's new single Mine has surfaced in its entirety. The first taste of her upcoming album Speak Now is exactly what we'd expect: countrypop love song that wouldn't have any problem if it's shlapped into the Fearless LP. It's a good track, I guess. I'm just a little bit disappointed that Taylor Swift stuck to the same formula and I can't help but wish that it would be a little... avant garde.

POST UPDATE: After leaking onto the web, Mine has been instantly released on iTunes and shot straight to the top spot, which isn't too surprising.

Get your copy of Taylor Swift's Mine on iTunes here!

Cops and robbers, oh my!

2010-08-04T16:18:00.002+08:00

British rapper Elliot John Gleave aka Example's upcoming single Last Ones Standing cements the fact that 4 out of 4 single attempts are brilliant. In the video, Example plays a cop, busting pirates who are making copies of his album Won't Go Quietly. It's all good fun, and I'd very much like to own a copy with this cover:

New track from Katy Perry!

2010-08-03T21:09:00.001+08:00

Katy Perry just knows her pop song formula, doesn't she?

After breaking records with uptempo tracks California Gurls and Teenage Dream, Katy Perry unleashes Not Like The Movies, showing off her emotional side, ala Thinking Of You in the One of the Boys era. The lyrics are a little... syrupy and delicate, not to mention marketable. The tender ballad is sure to be another hit for this California Gurl.

Buy Not Like The Movies on iTunes here!

Listen: Headlines album sampler!

2010-07-31T13:10:00.002+08:00

A few notes about The Saturdays album sampler:

It's very 'The Sats'.
Higher is Headlines's Up.
I am still hoping that this is all a dream and Higher was in fact released as the single instead of Missing You.
Died in Your Eyes is the sonic equivalent of Here Standing.
Karma is looking to be one fierce track. With shouty bits. Yes.