Young London Finally Reveals Let Me Go

Way back (OK, not that long ago, but still a ways back) I interviewed upcoming pop sensation Young London. This group, fresh off their new hit single "Let Me Go", were very ecstatic about their upcoming music. The video, which was set to be released not long after the August single drop, was postponed several times due to undisclosed reasons. Now, months later, we finally get to see this amazing gem of a video. Check it out for yourselves.




The video is one big party, with the two of them singing their hearts out. The visual effects and lighting when it is just the two of them singing are phenomenal. I have to say the video was very well worth the wait. Bravo, guys.

The sad news is that their album has been pushed back to January 2012. I am hoping, as well as waiting for confirmation from them, that they are going to use this time to prepare another single, gaining back the momentum lost while the video was in limbo. I'm hoping the next track they choose to promote is Celebrity, as it sounds like a surefire hit from all they've told me about it.

Also, just throwing it out there: Anyone else in love with the logo they chose for the video? I hope they use this in the future!

Album Review - Do It In The A.M.

I took a while to decide if I wanted to do a review on this album or not. I really like it, but with so much else going on, I didn't know if I would find the time for it. Luckily, I cleared up a little space, emphasis on the little so don't be upset if it's not a spectacular review. Without further ado, lets do this!

Cooter - A Single Review

You all knew this was coming. I have been talking about this song for months now (such as here, here, here, and even in my exclusive interview with Jipsta). It's about damn time this track came out. While it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it still is priceless -- well actually I've spent around sixteen dollars on it, but who's counting? Let me tell you about Pandora Boxx's Cooter.

Before I start in, let me tell you, this single is raunchy -- in a good way. The song captures this lady's hilarious on-spot humor perfectly. If you have listened to any of her comedy routines, you'll get it... If not, just look out. But regardless of anything you may think, don't say I didn't warn you.

The main part of the song is Pandora talk-singing along with a catchy techno beat. Ms. Boxx tells a story abut pining for a straight guy and being envious of all the ladies with their lady parts that are more suitable to the hot guy. Yes, Pandora is really a man. Being a gay man myself, I know how frustrating it feels to know that you will never be able to bag the sexy straight guy you're crushing on... unless there is lots of booze involved, wherein it becomes a police mater in the morning.

The song quickly escalates past the general yearning, however, to the point to where she talks about actually wanting to get a va-jay-jay. Don't worry, though, she says she is too attached to her penis to undergo surgery (And damn this is confusing to explain using pronouns). She would rather just borrow yours, or use a plastic one.

What makes this song work is Pandora's perfect timing. A lot of these jokes would seem nasty if anyone else had been singing them, but her sarcasm and humor shine through and make it so much fun. For the verses, she tosses in extra words at the end of the phrases, adding in the occasional slurping noise to make it all complete. For me, the spelling portion of the song is what totally sold me. As I've stated time and time again, I love songs that spell words out. I can't explain it, and the paranoid/self-centered jerk inside of me is just going to assume she knew of my love for such songs and made the song especially for me!

The song also introduces us all to an array of amazing new vocabulary. "Spulunk" "Cooterlicious" and "Baracooter" are among the new words she introduces to the unsuspecting public in this song. I don't know about you, but all three words have become part of my every day usage. And yes, I go out of my way to be awkward sometimes.

She doesn't exactly sing. For those familiar with the dance-scene, just think of her as the female (?) version of Jipsta, who coincidentally worked on this track, too. I haven't got him to confirm this yet, but I'm almost positive that he is the one singing along with her during the spelling-out of "Cooter".

The song wraps up with Pandora begging to borrow your cooter. Just for a night... or maybe an hour. I honestly couldn't stop laughing the first time I heard this song, and I don't see how anyone who isn't a complete prude wouldn't laugh their asses off at it. You can buy it on iTunes here. Did I mention its currently #59 on iTunes dance charts? Watch out, David Guetta, Pandora's coming for you!

Manila Luzon's Debut Gets A Name!

That's right. You probably didn't hear it here first, but Imma post on it anyway. Manila Luzon (My choice for Drag U MVP) is working on a single. For a long time she has been posting about it on Twitter, about being in the studio and using autotune (no hate, baby). While I haven't been able to find out a whole lot, she has announced the name and released a very small clip.



The track is called "Hot Couture" and is still slated as "coming soon" -- a phrase that has always been the bane of my existence. Anyway, there isn't a whole lot known about the song yet. I, myself, am damn excited to hear this. While she didn't stun anyone in the singing challenge on RuPaul's Drag Race, we all know from other singing drag divas that this means nothing. Blame it on the editing.

We may not know what to expect from her singing debut, but with a title like that, you know it's gonna be hot. I'm hoping for a dance track, myself, as I hear Ms. Luzon was once a club queen. Here's to hoping she went back to her roots and gave us something to dance to!

If you wanna hear more, fan her on FaceBook and tell her we need more Hot Couture in our lives! The video also comes in a beautiful shade of yellow, but I'm a pink man, myself.

Song of the Week - Calling All The Monsters

Before I start this week, let it be known that I found this song randomly on iTunes. I do not watch Disney Channel and I didn't even know it was from the said channel until my friend mentioned it. I investigated this and found out he wasn't trolling me. Now, without further ado, let me embarrass myself yet again by naming a Disney Channel princess as song of the week.

My first reaction to this was that I should save it for Halloween, as it really carries a creepy vibe (for an eleven year old anyway) and I was totally digging it, but then I remembered my own rules for Song of the Week (which are coming soon, by the way, so you can submit your own ideas) so I decided to go ahead and put it up for this week. The song itself isn't bad, and really shows that Disney does at least one thing well -- make music. They have always made catchy music that is a hit for the pre-teen and young-teen market, and they will probably continue to do so with China Anne.

I have never seen the show, mind you, so I don't exactly know how it fits in, or even what type of character she is, but I don't mind listening to the soundtrack. It seems that Disney doesn't fare well with writing television, but its music it churns out is always on the top notch for it's demographic. Their shows act like the kids are stupid, while their music is more complex and less stupid. It's something we may never understand. Anyway, this Halloween themed track is one I believe will be able to function easily outside of it's target holiday and be a moderate success for the newcomer.

You can preview and buy the song here. The first person to judge me is getting kicked in the face.

Video Review - Playmate To Jesus

It is finally here. After a week of teasing and taunting, the official video for the new Aqua single "Playmate To Jesus" is released to the internet. I, like many fans, was very concerned when the group released screen shots. The song seemed to be a lighter song, and the video looked very dark. Somehow, though, it worked. The video just works. Don't believe me? Lets have a look.

The video's plot is a bit vague, leaving a lot to the interpretation of the viewer. Let me add this disclaimer to say that this is my interpretation of the video based on my initial viewing.

Album Review - Unbroken

I had been arguing with myself over whether to review this album. On the one hand, she is a Disney Channel princess, a thing which the darker side of me detests. Yet, the album is really good. Her lead-in single "Skyscraper" was song of the week a while ago, and the rest of the album follows suite -- plus it's number one on iTunes, and since most five year old kids who blindly watch Disney pop crap don't have an iTunes account (or money for that matter) it being number one on iTunes really does say something. This will be my first full listen of the album, so keep that in mind, because as we all know, some songs will grow on you.

First Listen: Porcelain Black - Naughty Naughty

I can't for the life of me recall who it was the recommended I listen to the up and coming Red One backed artist Porcelain Black. Her songs have been pretty impressive so far, and her video for This Is What Rock N Roll Looks like is hilarious and awesome all at once. I mean, she even got Lil Wayne in her song, which is like instant stardom, right? Well I was bombarded by tweets in my feed today about this lady having her new single leaked. I guess I should give this one a go.

Her official follow up single was announced a ways back to be titled "Naughty Naughty." Yet another Red One track, this song doesn't disappoint... exactly. I guess it depends on what you are looking for. If you are expecting something ground breaking, look elsewhere. If you are a fan of other Red One artists, this is right where you need to be. I would also like to say that while this is being called a "leak" it is indeed released on YouTube on her official page, and is backed by Red One himself, so I see this one as fair game.

The back track is very heavily synthed up, making it easily danceable. It sounds a bit like it was sped up from what it was intended to be, which is a good thing because the song is already over four minutes long. This one makes use of every kind of effect your Mac's Garage Band can create. There are all kinds of beeps and whines in the background, but most of the time it is covered up by the vocals. It is a little less rock than I expected it to be, seeing as that was the whole concept of her previous track. I saw her as being more of a shock rocker with her look, but I guess variety isn't the worst thing in the world.

The lyrics themselves aren't incredibly impressive. I had a nice laugh at the line "I'm just so addicted to beautiful people." as it seems like something my friends and I would have said back in high school. It is pretty much your typical "lets all party" song, with a bit of a twist (That twist being it seems to be Patron free). It makes me a bit nervous for the track, seeing as the partying at the club fad seems to be dying a harsh death. I guess I really do want this girl to be famous. She has a lot of presense, much like Lady Gaga, but she feels more raw -- more real I guess. And the video for TiWRNRLK (Wow, that was awkward to type) really helped me become a fan of hers.

The song also falls into the "badass chicks taunting you" category. Much less laid back than Nadia Oh was with her track "Shade", Porcelain Black tells us "It's all about fun and games until I hurt somebody. So what you gonna do about it?" Unlike a fellow blogger of mine (he knows who he is), I like this approach much better. I like really strong women, and I love it when they sing about how super awesome they are. She is "attracted to danger" and wont allow you to be "her savior", mostly because she is too freaking amazing to let anyone as puny as you save her.

The song is not as crazy good as her previous single, but it is a strong follow up. I would love to see more from her in the future, and if she keeps the same amazing team she has now, she will definitely go places. The song is definitely one that will get stuck in your head and probably even drive you crazy, but in the music biz that is a very good thing. Embedding is disabled for the video on YouTube, so why don't you give a listen here.

Song of the Week - Oh Wei Oh

Song of the Week is being posted a day early this week! Mostly because tomorrow I have a full schedule tomorrow and won't be near my computer until around 1AM on Tuesday. But please, allow me to astound nobody once again by making the song of the week someone I am a huge fan of yet again... It is my blog after all! Shut it, haters.

That's right! After weeks of this song being a Japan exclusive, British pop star Bentley has finally released his song in the US. He assured me via Twitter (several times, I might add, as I am very annoying/persistent) that it wasn't on purpose, but a problem out of his control. That is all in the past now, as the song is finally out. I resisted listening to the song on Youtube because I wanted my first time listening to it to be fresh and new.

This song definitely is what Bentley is all about. To fans of his music, it holds a very strong resemblance to "Alpha Dog", my personal favorite song of his. Bentley is one of those people who I don't care if he uses electronic effects on his voice. Much like The Saturdays, he has proven he has amazing vocal talent, so why shouldn't he have fun with his stuff? I swear if I hear one person complain about his "over processed" vocals in this song... Uhg. Anyway, from what I understand, this is the first single off of an upcoming album that will be his debut as an original artist in Japan. Yup. Bentley has a Japanese recording contract. Up until now, his Japanese albums have been covers (in both English and Japanese) but he is now working on original material for release there. I certainly wish him the best of luck, and I hope he doesn't overlook us in North America when the album comes out!

You can preview and buy the song on iTunes here. The song is amazing and I wish him the best of luck in Japan as well as Worldwide!

It's Video! It's Madness! It's Video Madness Now!

I am not sure where to begin this one. There are four, count 'em, four artists all working their butts off on new outstanding music videos. How do I know they are outstanding? Well, honestly I don't right now, but I have faith in them! Be warned though, I'm gonna zip through a lot of topics real quick like! Try and keep up.

First up, coming as a bit of a surprise so soon, is the beautiful Pandora Boxx. By now, you probably know about her debut single coming out, right? Oh, I haven't blogged about it enough yet? Well, please allow me to plug her once more. Pandora's debut single "Cooter" is coming out September 27. (That's less than two weeks away!) What I didn't realize at the time of my last cooterpost was that she was planning to put out a music video for it as well. No word yet on what all will happen in the video. I am hoping to see a lot of familiar faces as cameos and hilarity abound. The video will drop the week after the single hits iTunes, according to Ms. Boxx herself. Hopefully by then I can squeeze more juicy bits out of her. Pun intended.

I can't get over those shoes!

Next up, Aqua has already shot their video for "Playmate To Jesus." They posted a few pictures and a short goofy clip of the band being interrupted while filming on their official Facebook page. The look of this video is definitely in the same dark vein as "My Mamma Said." I'm not sure how well that will translate, seeing as the song has a very positive and uplifting message. Only time will tell. No word yet on a video for "Like A Robot", but according to the group, the single will get a true "club release" soon, so maybe that is when we will see a video surface.

A recent discovery of mine, John Boy Cool, is now working on a video for my favorite track off his debut EP. The song is called "Go To Sleep" and the song is anything but sleepy. The very upbeat song is all about going to sleep while still way too drunk for your own good. You can expect the video for this one to be amazing. Be sure and check out the song to get your own feel for it on SoundCloud.

Last, but certainly not least, my galpal Sahara Davenport is working on the video for her followup single "Go Off!" I know this video will be amazing. I mean have you seen Pump With Me? I know with this glamorous lady we can expect some amazing dancing, hot boys, and her boo, fellow Drag Race dive Manila Luzon. Being such a fabulously nice diva, she tweeted me about the project stating "Me and my team are very busy prepping at this point. I go into rehearsals next week and can't wait to shoot." If you want more info, you'll just have to check out my exclusive interview with her!

Just as a quick update on a related note, pop group Young London (Who I also have had an awesome interview with) still haven't posted their new video yet. After some investigation on Twitter, it seems that the group themselves are a bit confused as to why it's not up yet.

Aqua's 15th Anniversary

Fifteen years ago today, history was made. Well, for me anyway. Way back in 1996 (That would make me five) a few then unknown musically gifted people had nearly given up on making music. They had been in a band together before. Under the name Joyspeed they had released a song "Itzy Bitzy Spider", a catchy techno take on the classic children's song. It did decently on the charts, but the disappointed foursome were not impressed. Giving it one more go, they reformed sometime later and changed the name to Aqua. On September 16th (That would make it the 15th here, but that is a bit irrelevant for now) they released the smash hit "Roses Are Red".

Wow. Talk about a blast from the past. They all look so different now, it's unreal! That was fifteen years ago. The track blew the charts away across Europe, hitting the number one spot in Denmark, and hitting the top ten in countless others. The song had an undeniable sound that wasn't going to shy away so easily. This was the hit they had been looking for. This was it.

I can't say that I was a part of the initial Aqua movement. I, much like most other North Americans, didn't find out about Aqua until a year later when "Barbie Girl" exploded onto the scene, but give me a break. How do you expect a six year old with no internet access to keep up with all the latest Scandinavian trends? Needless to say, after Aquarium hit shelves, I begged my mother to buy me a copy, and since I was spoiled rotten, she did so. The album blew me away and "Roses Are Red" was a definite favorite of mine. Aqua has been the longest lasting obsession I have had in my life. That said, it must be obvious that they are my favorite band, and I may be a little partial to them in future reviews.

Getting back on topic, today just has a very awesome feel to it. These guys have been with me (in musical spirit) for over half of my life. Sure they were broken up for seven years or so, but they did a lot in the time they were together, and have done so much more since they have reunited. I've gone through extreme lengths to find demos and crappy live recordings, and I have stayed up all night waiting for the new videos to be posted. It all comes back to this song: To the beginning of Aqua.

As a reminder to all their fans, Aqua posted an amusing message on their facebook account.

"A little humble celebration today : on September 16th – 1996 precisely

15th years ago today – ”Roses Are Red” hit the record stores in Denmark 

(yeah that was the major sales channel at that time) - our very first single under

the name Aqua with a funky green cover … on a funny note – the reversed very 

catchy part of "Dum di da di da” in the song, was actually put in due to the

fact that we didn’t have time to record all the parts with Lene, since she had to go

to Norway – so we had to be creative with the vocal parts she had already

put down … So today is actually the 15th anniversary of Aqua as a 

recording artist … Cheers!"

I guess that finally puts to rest the arguing over what the reversed part of the song says. The group has made a huge impact on my life. Lene's iconic voice has always stuck with me. Rene was my first mancrush (Don't tell anyone, ok?). Soren and Claus have been my standard of amazing production and quality. I think they realized that they had something amazing that they couldn't all do separately -- that reuniting again as Aqua was inevitable. With the video shoot for "Playmate to Jesus" already shot and the new studio album "Megalomania" dropping October 3rd, I don't think Aqua is going away any time soon.

Now,  where do I go to complain that "High-Fi", "Couch Potato" and "Here Comes The Birds" are not on the new album?

MYPHNH(BS) - JohnBoyCool

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I don't really care that much for rap music. That is why I have to hide it in between electronic and dance beats, and toss in some autotune. Sound familiar? No I'm not talking about Ke$ha again (She needs to release a new single, but that's another story). I am talking about newcomer JohnBoyCool. Not exactly techno and not exactly rap, this guy knows how to work it, and best of all, he's doing it all for free!

I can't even accurately explain why I like this guy so much. The lyrics themselves aren't complex and he sounds like he is singing through a T-Pain mic half the time, but it just works. The synth beats paired with his ability to flow off songs in league with today's best rappers is pretty impressive. I don't usually buy into the whole rap scene, but something about this guy is different. Calling himself the son of "Morticia Adamas", he sure did get my attention real quick.

I didn't expect much from the EP. Usually when I grab free music off the internet, it is just a few rough demos that don't sound in the least bit professional. This, however, was not the case. These tracks are very polished and professional sounding. This unexpected surprise started the fire that is quickly becoming an obsession with this new artist.

His debut EP "Too Cool 4 School Vol. 1" is available for free streaming on Soundcloud as well as for download in full. Built around the idea of being in high school, a lot of the songs deal with him being in school while still trying to party. Songs like "King of the Parking Lot" may sound like some immature Lil Bow Wow song, but in reality, he's being rather dirty about -- threesomes and all. His frank attitude towards his life experiences and inability to sugar coat anything make his songs feel more real.

King of the Parking Lot (Produced by The Klassiks) by JohnBoyCOOL

The idea of releasing your music in the beginning stages for free is a brilliant idea and a way to gain quick fans. He certainly won me over by offering top notch music free of charge. It takes me back to artists like Colette Carr, who gained tons of fans by releasing her debut mix tape for free. It also doesn't hurt that there isn't a single crap song on the album. Every one of these songs are party ready, which was no mistake. JohnBoy's attitude is pure party -- pure patron.

If I had to put him in a category, it would be grouped with LMFAO in this new electro-rap movement, but even that doesn't set well with me. He is his own style. A little Ke$ha, a bit of LMFAO, a dash of Lil Wayne. This all melds together to make a really great style of fun music that you can dance to, as well as still come off pretty sick rapping to.

You gotta check this guy out. With less than two hundred fans on Facebook, I'm sure he would appreciate it. That may not be a fair assessment, though, seeing as everything is moving to Twitter now, but even there he only has around four thousand followers. Let's fix that, no? You can download his album for free on his website here. Oh and did I mention he is having another EP coming out next month. Straight from the man on Twitter -- "Sunday School" will drop on Halloween.

Song of the Week - No I.D.

I'm pretty sure everyone saw this coming. I am a huge Colette Carr fan, and I'm quickly getting the same way with Frankmusik. People have been saying "oh that's not fair that you had this song picked out before it even came out!" Well you know what? It's my blog, and I have faith in Colette to always make a sick track. You know what? She didn't disappoint either!

I tried so hard to resist it. The song was leaked a couple of weeks before it's official release. I wanted to listen so badly, but I knew it wouldn't be fair to anyone, especially Frankmusik and Colette who worked so hard on the track. It wasn't until he and Colette both said it was ok for us to check it out that I gave it a listen. I'm so glad I did it, too.

The track is in that same weird category that her previous single Primo was in. Its sort of rock, sort of pop, and sort of techno. It makes it hard to explain to people. I try to tell my friends about it, but most often just saying "You gotta hear it to understand." While not too complex lyrically, it is still a very up beat and fun song. Plus, this being my first track hearing Frankmusik, I was very much pleased to hear his awesome singing talents. And for a "feature" spot, Colette gets to sing quite a bit, unlike the one rap section or verse other featured artists get. Bravo, guys!

And a quick update: On Twitter, Colette Carr confirmed this would also be a track on her debut album "Skitszo"! That makes it a duet, not a feature. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Guess that explains why they both have equal parts more or less on the track.

You can preview and buy the track on iTunes here. Can't wait? Check out the hella awesome X-Cell remix of the song below. I think I sense a bit of dubstep going on there.

Frankmusik - "No I.D." feat. Colette Carr (X-Cell Remix) by Interscope Records

XELLE Exclusive Interview

It may not be as obvious to the ordinary pop listener, but to me, the reality has become scary. The Pussycat Dolls has become just Nicole. Girlicious has fled to Canada. Both Danity Kane and The Paradiso Girls have broken up. The entire new wave of girl groups have already died out in the United States. It may look dreary, but don't you dare think the art of the girl group is extinct. Rising from the ashes of girl groups past are three new girls (well sort of) here to rock your world.They consist of Rony, know as fierce Fifi on stage, pop singer JC Cassis, and RuPaul's Drag Race star Mimi Imfurst. All three of them are unbelievably sweet and funny, and they gave me some sick'ning insights to the past, present, and future of their group XELLE.

4 Times Video Review - KO-SO-KO-SO

This is it. The final installment of my four part review on the epitome of pop in Japan. Koda Kumi is the reigning queen of pop in Japan and I don't see her going anywhere any time soon. Japan, much like America, is all about shocking people. We see Lady Gaga, Britney, and Christina do it all the time -- they gotta be shocking to stay on the top. It's not a bad thing, exactly. And, hey, what's more shocking than lesbians?

(Warning: Lesbians under the cut)

Frankmusik and Colette Carr Reveal No I.D. Video

This video has been a long time coming. I had been looking all over for anything on the video, but as always, the Cherry Tree family was tight lipped about the project -- and they should be. It made watching the video for the first time even better. I first caught wind of the filming a few months back when fellow artist and close friend of Colette's, Simon Curtis mentioned that he was learning choreography for a new Colette Carr video. Both Colette and Frankmusik both announced soon after that the video was a go, as well as a new single.

The video is a throwback to Grease. The first half of the video mimics the beginning of the movie's song "Summer Loving" and the later half of the video pays homage to the climactic race scene. It is a combination of the outfits, their attitudes, and the right timing that make this video phenomenal. While it doesn't have a whole lot to do with the song content, it keeps the fun energy of the track, and adds a bit of cute campyness to the situation. I did find it a little strange that Colette and Frankmusik don't kiss in the video like Sandy and Danny, but I figure Ms. Carr was just staying classy with it.

The video, for now, is only available on AOL (watch it here) but seeing as there is an obvious VEVO logo, I'm sure it will be up on Youtube soon, and I'll embed it here for those of you who aren't link clickers.

Aqua Update: The Big Twist Announcement

Remember how every website ever was saying that "Like A Robot" would be the next single by Aqua? I remember that. I got myself so hyped up over the song, wracking up at least fifteen plays of the song a day (and when you work eight hours a day, that's a lot). Well, Aqua had been teasing us with information on the single. We all assumed it was the release date, but early this morning, they threw everyone a curve ball. "Like A Robot" isn't the next single at all. The preview was for "Playmate To Jesus".

I can't even describe how excited I am for this song. I am a sucker for Aqua's more serious songs. This song, while not really a ballad, seems to be a song with much more content than many of their other songs. If I had to classify it, I would place it between "Around the World" and "Aquarius" -- not too poppy, but not too preachy either. Needless to say I'm gonna need to buy about a hundred copies of this track. No, I'm not kidding.

The space-themed track is accompanied by satellite beeping and a beautiful symphony of violins. The song is presumably a Lene only song, much like the other less bubblegum songs such as "Good Guys" and "Aquarius", both of which are near the top of my list of favorite pop songs ever. It may have been eleven years (or presumably ten around the time the song was written) but she can still sing beautifully -- and she is one of the few people I sincerely believe sings live and does so well.

A recurring theme that pops up towards the end of the teaser is the phrase "I pray for universal love". While not present in "Like A Robot" the theme of the new no bars Love Generation is mentioned in "How R U Doin'" and looks to be a major theme with the album as a whole. This is definitely my most anticipated album of the year, as well as one of the most promising singles of the season. Plus, don't they look spectacular on the single artwork?

Enough of me babbling on about how amazing it is. Why don't you take a listen for yourselves.





The single is due out September 12. That is less than a week away. So close, and yet, so far.


Lastly, in a more unnoticed post, the artwork for "How R U Doin" on their facebook page music player has changed to this photo.

It has yet to be announced if this is the official cover of the album, but given the source, I'd say it's a safe bet to say it is so. I'm in love with the picture, but I still like my blogger buddy Popsessed's version of the cover.

UPDATE:
Although I couldn't find the press release (or anything on their Facebook page), the Aqua Fanpage has said that September 12 will release not one, but two singles. It seems that they plan to release "Like A Robot" after all. The double A-Side single will be released all at once and "battle for the number one spot." I really hope this news is true -- and I hope the song is the uncut version they did on tour! At least the cover looks pretty legit.

Awkward Sing Along Song - In The Dark

I've had this song for a while. I bought it when it first came out, and since then I've not really known what to do with it. It came out at a time when there was such an influx of good music breaking through, which is probably why it is just now getting radio play. Something about the song is just so off putting. I like it, well, at least I think I like it. Something is just weird about the song... Oh yeah. It has really awkward lyrics.

(Warning: Lots of pictures and awkward lyrics under the cut)

Song of the Week - Freak Like Me

Sometimes I am so focused on the American pop scene, that when someone bursts onto iTunes, I assume they are brand new. This is a bad habit and from hence forth, I will no longer do this. In actuality, many people come over from Europe and other regions where they are already well established. This lady has taken a stab at music in Europe, doing fairly well, and now has set her sights on North America.

 

The song itself isn't anything groundbreaking. It is a song about freaky sex and female power. The song actually sounds like an early 00's Britney Spears song -- over sex and in your face. She even has the same kind of raspy moan-singing that Brit has become known for. But for some reason I really like this song. Its catchy. It may be just what we need to shake the pop scene out of it's current "partyin' at the club" obsession.

While not entirely original or poetic, it does what it sets out to do, and does it well. It is simply a sexual in-your-face song. People may be uncomfortable listening to it, but then what fun would it be if people didn't? Plus, having the amazingly sexy Antonio Sabato Jr. in the video is a total plus!

You can preview and buy the song on iTunes here.

MYPHNH(BS) - The Vibrant Sound

Welcome to the first installment of my new sporadic installment (I promise I'll do this one more often), entitled Music You Have Probably Never Heard (But Should) -- or MYPHNH(BS) for short. This is my excuse to go all out fanboy for a singer or group making amazing music, but just not getting too much attention. It happens all the time. Unfortunately in today's world, talent doesn't always lead to success.

Now let me take a second to say, contrary to popular belief, I do listen to music other than pop music on occasion. I have my favorite metal bands and a few alternative or singer/songwriter people I follow, but this blog is all about pop music and (occasionally) drag queens. Let me prove this by introducing you to a band that I've come to love over the past few weeks. They are called The Vibrant Sound.

I'm not sure exactly how to describe these guys. The only group that even comes close is the pop/rap group The Gorillaz, but that doesn't even do them justice. The diverse group, residing in Utah, manages to mix pop, funk, soul, rap, and jazz all into one nice package. Their sound shifts from song to song, and yet they still have a distinct sound that you can always identify as The Vibrant Sound.

A big plus for this group is definitely their musical topics. Their debut album "Downtown", released in 2009, deals with everything from politics and racism, to growing up and finding love. As much as I like to party my ass off, I find it amazingly refreshing to hear a song with a serious message. The track "The Proletariat" explores poverty and inequality in a very frank and raw manner. It's a political statement -- a call for change. Similarly,  "Abolitionist Newspaper" features clips of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Had A Dream" speech spliced in between McKay flowing like a pro, spreading a message of racial equality.

The biggest part of the Vibrant Sound charm is their frankness. The music may be chill and relaxed, but the lyrics are very upfront. They know exactly what they want to say, and they are going to make you listen. The message for these tracks is very serious -- but that's not all that they offer.

These guys also have a very carefree side to them. "79th & Flight" is all about their lives growing up in the 80s. The video, a small party with close friends as they skate and dance together, may not be the most groundbreaking thing ever, but it really makes one miss the late 80s and early 90s. The title track "Downtown" is another one of the more lighthearted tracks on the album. It deals with the later days of a relationship, past the "honeymoon" portion of the relationship and straight to the part of the relationship that requires the real work.

And just when I had thought I had heard all the sides of this group, they came out with another big surprise. "Golddigger" is their newest single, and it is unlike anything I've heard from them so far. Heavy on the trumpets and 70s funk, this one sounds like the soundtrack to an exploitation film of the days gone. Even stranger, the song focuses a lot less on rapping, and a lot more on singing.

If any of this has caught your attention, check them out! They have less thank 1500 fans on Facebook right now! I find that insane. Why don't you fan them? All of their music is available on their fanpage, and you can even download two exclusive tracks there! You can buy their new single on iTunes here. Oh and they are totally on Twitter, too!

4 Times Video Review - V.I.P.

Sometimes, when I get ideas in my head for multiple part posts, I start them, and eventually get tired of doing them. I don't give up, per say, but I just get bored. This is not the case. I will never get bored with Koda Kumi and her infinitely amusing music videos. Part three of four today. V.I.P. Are you ready to get sexy?

(Once again: Warning: Tons of pictures under the cut!)