Song of the Month - Adam Barta "Superficial"

I know, I know. I just did a post on this two days ago. So what? The song of the month is all about the best release (indie pop artists get priority) that was released this month. And go figure -- I'm in love with Adam Barta's new single "Superficial". No it's some cheesey Tan Mom track. This is a real single. And it's hot!

I have been waiting for this moment for literally years. It has been quite some time since Adam's last solo single "Q&A". He has been busy trying to create a buzz by making a song with nearly every psudo-famous person in the world (one of them was someone famous just for looking like Kim Kardashian. I mean c'mon!). Thankfully he's ready to step back out on his own, and "Superficial" is exactly the track he needs to do it.

"Superficial" is a fun electropop track that gets everyone dancing. This was made with club plays in mind, which isn't a bad route to go in this day and age. The track's lyrics give an interesting spin to the tradition views on life. Instead of being ashamed of being superficial, he is embracing it. He would rather be living life and being himself, happy and free, than "deep" and miserable. It's certianly not the common opinion, but it really does give an awesome look in from the other side, showing that everyone is entitled to be themselves.

I've already covered bases with the video, but I have to say two things once more. "Oh lordly that Rebecca Glasscock" and "Damnit, Adam! You still haven't hooked me up with that dancer!". I think that puts everything in order here.

You can grab the new track on iTunes! It's still climbing and we want this one to shoot right up the charts! Love it? Hate it? Love me!? Comment below and share, share, share!

Young London Kicks It Up With New Single

To say that I've been lacking on my Young London updates for you all is an understatement. I missed their last album, and the last video they put out got deleted (mysteriously) from YouTube before I was able to put up a story on it. Thankfully, Sarah and Matt never stop, and they have released a new single for me to ramble on about. Let's check out "Take A Chance".

I don't know if I could ever listen to a Young London song I don't instantly fall in love with. This track in particular, contrary to my initial thought of it being an ABBA cover, is no different. I actually kind of like this song more than the previous YL tracks, because I'm a huge Sarah fan, and she takes control for most of this song. As highly involved as Matt is in the production of the tracks, it's nice to see Sarah take the spotlight now and again.

This is another new song that is not from their previous album Instincts. Young London fans and I are hoping that this is the entry into a new period for them. For an indie band, they pump out music quickly, making this the beginning of their third venture in the short three years they have been active.

"Take A Chance" is a fun electropop romp through the new vibe of Young London. It mixes in a beautiful piano piece, making it feel much more two dimensional than things you would hear on today's radio. The lyrics are not explicitly clear on what they mean, but from what I gather, this song is about taking a chance on love. Go figure.

You can grab the track on iTunes. It's only 99cents. TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Adam Barta's New Music Video Is A Bit Superficial

And I mean that in the best way possible. Today, gay pop sensation Adam Barta dropped his new single "Superficial", along with a killer music video. Anybody notice that familiar face? We'll get to that in a moment. For now, enjoy Adam being damned for all eternity in a mirror. Think that spoiled the ending? No. It didn't, you prostitution whore.

Remember that familiar face I was talking about earlier. Yeah. That's Rebecca Glasscock from the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race, now airing as the "Lost Season" on Logo. She appears as the evil witch that is jealous (?) of Adam in the video, luring him into a mirror world. But never fear, Adam, there's a sexy prince to kiss you back to life from that poison apple. But for some reason he remains trapped anyway. Ok, so the plot doesn't make sense but look at how awesome they look!

It's really not as bad as it sounds. The quality is a huge leap from his past few videos, and the costuming is a pleasure. Rebecca looked like she was having a blast on the set and meshed well with Barta. I do have to say that I'm going to need the name, phone number, and Facebook of the guy dancing on Adam's left during the shots of him and Glasscock on the rooftop. That boy was fiiiiiine.

The song is the best that we've heard from Adam in a great while. For so long now, he has been releasing tracks with reality tv personalities that aren't as top notch as he'd been before. Thankfully now he's teamed up with some of the team behind Kim Smith's album Nova to bring us a true pleasure to the ears.

Team Barta is currently trying to get this song on the iTunes charts. It's steadily climbing, but it needs more support. Head on over and drop a cold 99cents to get yourself a great pop track and support an indie artist who needs a shot at the big times!

Album Review - Fifth Harmony "Better Together"

Fifth Harmony is my secret obsession. I may not have been into X Factor, but I can say that these five girls have some serious talent. They have been all over the Disney Channel, and they are besties with  Demi Lovato, but now is the time for them to shine on their own. Let's check out Fifth Harmony's debut EP, Better Together.

Album Review: Hyper Crush "Vertigo"

OK, I'll admit it. I love Hyper Crush. I mean it should be obvious with as many times as I post about them (and how often I make it a point to say how sexy Preston is), but I thought I should point it out just in case you are incredibly dense and hadn't caught on. Not long ago they released their newest album Vertigo, and of course I've gotta review it!

XELLE Returns As A Duo In "Red Flag"

My original intention was to not make a big deal about it, but in their latest video, it is extremely obvious. XELLE has gone from a trio to a duo, and Drag Race All Star Mimi Imfurst seems to have taken a leave. The good news is XELLE hasn't changed much in their sound and message, and they are ready to rock your world with a brand new single, lending their voice to a great cause. Check out "Red Flag".

It is so great to have XELLE back in the spotlight. The video premiered earlier this week, and they've already been featured all over the net, including Huffington Post! (hint hint, I'm totally up for writing for them!). The track is a message about the injustices occurring in Russia with their homophobic laws and reactions. To be honest, the lyrics can even be applied to many places in the US, as homophobia is sadly still rampant in our very own nation.

The song is so catchy and fun. I can't help but feel like this was written with Mimi in mind, due to there being a speaking/rap portion towards the end, that would usually be her's. This makes me wonder if her departure was as sudden as it seems, as music takes a while to produce and perfect. Regardless, the track is a fun mesh of current pop and drum line, giving it a real military "umph" that it needed. My only complaint is that the track could come across as too preachy, as they were very frank as to what they had to say. Then again, some things are better left no beaten around the bush.

What brings the whole project together is the video. It is packed full of inspirational quotes on not only gay rights, but human rights in general. It reiterates that homosexuals are people and deserve to be treated equally. It also depicts the two dressed in military regalia (looking STUNNING), and even sporting Hitler staches on occasion. At least they know how to rock it. In true Zach Adam tradition, the video doesn't follow a plot, but instead focuses on powerful imagery to get it's message across, and I think simply watching this video will quickly let the viewer know all they need.

The song is up on iTunes. Grab it now and join the cause!

Kevin Mikal Drops Yummy New Video

I haven't had a chance to mention Kevin Mikal on the site before, I could give you a ton of excuses as to why, but you all know why this video is getting attention. It's got Willam. Oh, Willam. I mean, at least I didn't cover their song "Blurred Bynes", right? Check out "Candy Yum Yum"!

Ok, so it's not only because Willam is in it. I mean it's got Honey Mahogany (whom I interviewed! Yay me!) and the lovely boys of Gay of Thrones (if you haven't seen their hilarious take on hit TV Show Game of Thrones, check them out on Youtube!). Jokes aside, this song is pretty addicting. While it's not groundbreaking, it is fun and upbeat, which is something I always love posting about here on Taking Over The Universe.

The song is an over-sexualized metaphor using candy instead of, well, you know. It features Willam heavily as the "video ho", feeding Mikal all sorts of candy and looking stunning on her own. Kevin is very gorgeous, and likes to push the boundaries of masculine and feminine -- meaning he's completely ripped and "manly" but isn't afraid to wear half shirts and booty shorts. Honey Mahogany is only featured in one sequence, and Julian and Jonathan only pop up occasionally. I guess it can be difficult to fit in that many guest stars in as short a time as a music video.

This track comes from his EP Candy Yum Yum released in May of this year. It features four other equally fierce tracks that are worthy of any music collection. Pick it up today on iTunes.

Cherie Lily Serves Sex Appeal In New Video "Body"

Cherie Lily has always been one of my favorites. She has been werking her way around the greater California area, but as far as I am concerned (a busy man in the midwest), she has been gone from the scene for some time. Well she's back to remind us all why we love her -- because she's sexy of course!

This video is hot! There's no way around it. It has something for pretty much everyone. It has buff dudes,it has queens that know how to vogue, and it has Cherie Lily, one of the hottest ladies of all time. I mean c'mon! What more could you ask for? There isn't a plot, mostly just Cherie and her ladyboys performing some sick choreography. The whole ordeal is presented in pseudo-wide screen with the "bars" at the top and bottom being close-ups of the muscle hunks she teased us with at the beginning of the video.

I do have to say that "Body" isn't my favorite track from her debut EP. I was hoping for something more along the lines of "Do Your Thing Girl", but beggars can't be choosers. The song isn't bad by any means on it's own. It is a fun track that makes you want to get up and move, and that's exactly what fitness nut Lily is all about.

It's great to have her back in the spotlight and awesome to see her back on the site. I know she has some new music in the works, and if you've seen her live, you've probably got a taste of what she's got in store. As for the rest of us, we will have to wait until she releases the song -- or maybe gives me more information. Keep hope, guys. Cherie isn't giving up. Not by a long shot!

Happy Birthday Dina Delicious!

Every so often here at Taking Over The Universe, I like to take the time to recognize the birth of a special someone in the lifespan of the site. Today is a celebration for one special lady who has not only been an inspiring artist, but also a great supporter of the site and myself as a human being. I'd like to give a big warm happy birthday to Dina Delicious!

How can you describe Dina Delicious. I like the words "brave", "original" and "hilarious". I may not have known Dina for very long, but I can say she is an amazing person, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. She's touched many lives with her personality and her life story of striving to be who she feels she really is.

I rarely get personal on this site, but I feel like this needs to be said. A while back, I was in a bit of a dark place in my life. I don't often share on social media, but sometimes I leave cryptic messages for those who pay attention. It came as a surprise to me that out of everyone on my friends list, Dina was one who payed attention. She quickly shot me a message letting me know that I was not alone in the world and that there are always people who care about you and want to see you succeed.

Well Dina, the feeling is mutual. I care about you, and I want to see you succeed, too. Even further than you already have. You're a bright star, honey, and today moreso than any other day, is your shining moment. Live it up and have the best birthday ever!

Check Out Two Pre-Release Hyper Crush Tracks!

I was literally in the middle of writing a story about how Hyper Crush had released a track to get people excited about the new album Vertigo due out next week when they dropped another bomb. Oh, and by bomb, I mean track. That's right, including singles we now have four tracks from the new album and it's not even out yet. Let's check out both the title track "Vertigo" and "Illegal"!

I know I'll be reviewing these tracks next week, so I'll keep this short and sweet. The two tracks "Vertigo" and "Illegal" are both up on SoundCloud as exclusives for different blogs.  Both of the songs are very addictive and show movement in the same direction as both "Visions of Coleco" and "Rage" have been. I can honestly say I'm excited for this album.







To be honest, I feel like "Illegal" is not the best track, but with the other three songs being so close to perfection it can almost be tasted, it's really hard to live up to it. With none of the other songs preview-able on iTunes, this is all we have to go on. I guess we will have to wait until Tuesday to get the full picture on what's going on with this release. Will there be any more misses or will it be an album full of hits?

John Rowley and Alyce Renee Return With New Single

When we last left Mr. John Rowley, he had decided to make the move from vocalist to full on producer. He has followed through with this plan by releasing another track on YouTube, teaming up once again with high school friend Alyce Renee. This time we have a very disco-inspired tune called "Intoxication". Give it a listen!

This track is very different from their last release together back in August. This time around things are much more upbeat and fun. Whereas "Notice I'm Alive" was dark and ambient, "Intoxication" is fun, flirty, and quite danceable. It's still unclear if the two are just experimenting to find their sound, or just having fun making music among the two of them.

I found a lot of pros and cons for this one, however. "Notice I'm Alive" seemed to have a lot more thought and production behind it. While I really like the style and flow of "Intoxication", it felt far inferior in quality to the previous song. What I did notice is that Alyce has become much more comfortable with recording, as her performance vocally here shows distinct improvement.

These two make a great combo. They have been friends for years, and it really shines through in the way they work together. I think the major problem here was that it may have been rushed. This release came in at just about a month apart from their last release. I would love to see the two of them slow things down and gather together a few strong and polished singles for a full fledged EP release. They have talent, charisma, and youth on their side, and that can go a long way in a business like music.

Delta Work Is Still Hilarious

Oh, Delta Work. Where have you been all this time? Of all of the shining stars that came out of season three of RuPaul's Drag Race, Delta was always the one I could relate to the most. She was big, she was funny, and she was better than you. I mean that's me right there! Anyway, she's emerged from the shadows back into the World of Wonder spotlight with her own shopping show!

Ok, so maybe she hasn't exactly been hiding, but she certainly hasn't been the focal point of the WOW machine lately (as opposed to others like Willam and Shangela who, for better or worse, refuse to go away). Seemingly out of nowhere, Delta is back in our lives, and you should all be grateful.

For her first installment, she is selling her famous faux-skinny shirt that she wore the night she was sent packing back in 2011. She is really out to sell this thing, too. The good news is it's only starting at 100 dollars (or some naughty pics, if that's your thing). I have to say she should focus more on that headband, however, because it is pretty fabulous. In this video, Delta does what she does best -- talk. She gives us all kinds of jokes while remaining oddly informative the entire time... like maybe she was really trying to sell this. I mean she did push that 2014 line pretty hard.

This simply leaves this writer wondering just how many naught pictures she'll be getting.