Sorry I Missed It - Courtney Janae "Accelerate"

It's been a while since I've done a "Sorry I Missed It" segment. Not really because I've been staying on top of things, more because I keep forgetting this segment even exists. Luckily for Courtney, I was reminded, so now I can go back and highlight this amazing track and video. Wanna check it out? Well here it is.



Fist off, I love this song. The track was brought to my attention a while back, and it has been a steady playlist regular since. It's beat is slower and pulsating, but it doesn't feel like a ballad or a slow song of any sort. Instead, the steadily pounding beat gives it a hard driving force that I haven't heard pulled off well since Queen's "We Will Rock You".

This song is actually one of the four songs from her EP, Uncovered, which came out in the last quarter of 2012. The video is from around the same time, making this an almost year long miss. The song may actually be familiar to some, as it was featured on the wildly popular Oxygen Channel Show Bad Girls Club, known for featuring tons of talented indie artists and getting may new vocalists exposure.

The video itself is another story. It's a tribute to the classic scifi movie Mad Max Beyond The Thunderdome. Visually the video looks amazing. Unfortunately due to the fact that it's going on ideas that have been done over and over since the 80s, it feels very dated and cheesy. I love the scenes of her and her gang driving down the highway on motorcycles, but the scenes with them fighting in the biker bar were a bit too much. I can say that the video is incredibly well done and polished looking, making her stand out much further than artists of her caliber.

You can pick up "Accelerate" on her EP Uncovered on iTunes.

Brandon Hilton Has A New Song, Video, And Movie!

Holy hell, Brandon Hilton has been quite busy since we last saw him on TOTU. He may not have put the finishing touches on his new album (tentatively titled JUDGMEnt), but he has finally seen one of his biggest projects to date come to life. We are talking about his long awaited movie, Midnight Cabaret as well as a song and music video to go along with it. It's a lot to take in, but I'm sure you guys can handle it.



This video is for the track "Almost Forgotten", the theme song for Midnight Cabaret. It is a slower track than what we are used to from Brandon, but it does showcase his range quite well. While not all of the notes are on point vocally, it does show a bit of vulnerability and emotion that brings the movie's character (portrayed by Brandon) to life. The track is all about that one person who gives him hope because they are the only one who is still there for him.

The video is a mix of footage from the film and new footage shot specifically for this track. Since I have not yet had the chance to view the film (hint, hint Brandon!), I will have to use the official website's synopsis for the film. Please note I will do a review as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.

"Meet Adam, a geeky college senior who only wants to feel accepted. An encounter with Jason, his bully from high school, triggers a painful and disturbing past: an abusive, alcoholic father; his mother who committed suicide; and Todd, his older brother who's up for parole. Inspired by the goth drag queen Eve who performs at Midnight Cabaret, Adam decides to change overnight from geek to chic. He then is befriended by a few troublemakers who introduce him to a wild lifestyle of drugs and crime, sending him into a downward spiral and an unexpected journey in finding who he truly is" 

Well it has drag queens, so obviously I'm going to be all over this one! For now, the DVD is available directly through the official website. I will keep you posted for if/when it pops up on any other retailers. This movie has been a long time in the making for Brandon Hilton, and I know he's been dying for it to be fully released since we met over a year ago. It has been viewed on the big screen on several locations, but this marks the first time it is available for home viewing. Grab it while you can!

Reality TV Review: RHNJ Season Five Episodes 8 + 9

So I skipped last week. So what? These two episodes went pretty hand-in-hand, so I'm not feeling too bad about it, and it meant that I got to cover the full story instead of just half of it. I can say it was a crazy roller coaster, but it ended on a positive note. After two seasons of nothing but catfights, things are starting to look up -- and for real this time. Let's hope things stay this way. I mean, it's reality tv, but it's also these peoples' lives. Here's to wishing for the best!

Song of the Month - Natalia Kills "Saturday Night"

Did this really surprise anyone? Actually, it might have. In my review for the song, I noted a few things such as it not feeling like a full single or not being as strong as her initial tracks for the new album. I was wrong. "Saturday Night" is one of my favorite tracks, and it has grown on me an insane amount. That is why this song is July's Song of the Month!

I can't exactly put my finger on what it is that makes this song so amazing. It isn't the typical pulsating and growling type of track that Kills has shifted her focus to. Instead, this piece is a shining example of how a true story can make for a powerful song. Natalia has come out and said that many of the tracks from her new album are events or memories from her life, and this is no different. "Saturday Night" in particular is based off of her experience as a young teenager having to bounce from home to home as her wealthy parents shuffled her around the globe. It all seemed surreal, and all she wanted was a taste of normalcy.

What is really great about the song is that if you hadn't known about her life, you could still piece together what happened without her outright telling you. The power of lyrics is an amazing thing, and well written ones don't have to come out and spell everything out for the listener. This shows a definite change from her first album, which did have more complex writing, but was about more superficial things (pun intended).

This looks to be the last taste we will get of her new album Trouble before it's September 3rd release. Thus far, between this song, "Problem", and "Controversy", it's looking to be a well rounded sound, and seems to be staying true to her promises she made for the album. Now all we can do is wait... and listen to this song over and over for another month.

The song is up on iTunes for your enjoyment! Grab it now to tide you over until the full album.

Natalia Kills New Album Info Released

Finally! I've been on the lookout for this info for months, but she had been keeping everything secretive for so long. It's about time she threw us fans a bone and gave us what we want. What we craved was simple: a release date. Well she's given us that. She's given us that and much, much more.

CherryTree Records, the label for Kills and many other of my favorite artists, released the floodgates today with info on Trouble. Let's start with the obvious. Above is the official album artwork for the release. I have a bit of mixed feelings for it, because she seemed to shift her style recently to a more dark glamor style, but the cover comes across as a bit gothic and over-shopped. That being said, I really like the use of pinks, and how all the items they crammed into the picture really fit with the lyrics of the singles that have been out so far.

Next, we got a release date. Are you ready for this one? Her second album, Trouble, is due out September 3rd. That means we pretty much only have a month to wait. No bull like with the last album where she says a certain date, and then it turns out to be a Europe only release date. This time we are getting it, too.

Last? Oh, last we have the full track listing. Wanna see? Well check it out! (Note: When listed on the CT website, they were not numbered, meaning the order may be subject to change.)

“Television,”
“Problem,”
“Stop Me,”
“Boys Don’t Cry,”
“Daddy’s Girl,”
“Saturday Night,”
“Devil Don’t Fly,”
“Out Of Time,”
“Controversy,”
“Rabbit H***,”
“Watching You,”
“Marlboro Lights”
“Trouble.”

I can't even tell you how happy I am "Controversy" made the list. I know it should have been obvious that it would be there, but since it was released so early on, it could have easily been a promotional single. We have both of the other singles, which isn't a surprise. I, for one, am excited to hear the title track, as well as "Daddy's Girl" which may explain more of what we saw during the events of "Saturday Night"s music video. On a side note, does anyone else know what "Rabit H***" is going for? The only word I could think of would be "hole" but I'm not sure why that would be censored.

There you have it. We got a lot of news on Natalia today. Maybe it will pop up as a pre-order on iTunes or something so we can preview the tracks. You can expect me to hop on a review asap for this one. We've been waiting, and now we don't have much longer to go.

Abi Ann Can't Stop Daydreaming In Her New Video

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. Abi Ann is totally adorable. I had mentioned her new single "Daydreaming" once before, but now we have something even better -- a video. There's nothing like seeing a song that you've grown to love come to life, and having the wait in between might have even made this moment even sweeter. Let's look at the romantic little tale known as "Daydreaming".



This video has a lot going for it. It is cute (see above), it's believable, and it's relatable. I honestly think that every girl has been there (and most gays, too). There's a cute boy from across the room that you have next to no intention of actually approaching, but you sure are going to imagine the hell out of what it would be like to have him. Think of it as Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" video, but without the awful twist ending.... that I kind of loved.

In the video, Abi spots a guy from across the library, and proceeds to imagine herself with him. What's really sweet and captivating is that she doesn't imagine things in your typical "we're in love now!" sort of way. One of her daydreams focuses on the two in Bonnie and Clyde outfits, riding away in a car with crayon drawings for backgrounds. Another one of her imaginings is the two of them bonding on a ranch. They aren't what you are used to seeing in music videos (unless maybe you're a huge country music fan, then you can shut up).

As for the negative, I have to say that it does end up feeling a bit Taylor Swift-y. It wasn't the implementation that felt odd, it was the idea itself. I feel like I've seen this entire plot before in a Taylor Swift video. You know, the one where she calls the guy's girlfriend a whore and ruins their relationship for her own gain? But at least here the guy is presumed single. Though the idea seems overdone, she does bring a different light to it, showcasing sweetness over sex appeal, which I believe will set her apart in the long run.

Yeah, don't even try and tell me you don't perv over CRJ. You'd be lying.

If you love the song as much as I do, grab a copy on iTunes! (Note: This version of the video is apparently the "Deluxe Country" version. I kind of like it better. Don't tell the pop Gods I said that.)

Clare Maguire Stuns With New "Paper Thin"

It's been a long while since I've heard anything out of Clare Maguire. As a matter of fact, I'd almost forgotten I'd signed up for her email list. Thankfully she didin't forget I had (or rather her website's automated system didn't) and it informed me she'd put up a new track on SoundCloud. Oh lord did she ever. Check out "Paper Thin".




This song is so emotional and soulful! Running a bit longer than most singles these days, it has more ups and downs than any track I've had come my way in a long time. It starts out as a slower piano piece, with simple electronic drums and a repeating piano part. Slowly, it evolves into something more, and even gets more uptempo and poppy at the end.

What really makes not only the song, but Clare herself stand out is that she has an amazing soulful voice. She reminds me of other famous British voices such as Adele and Amy Winehouse, The song isn't the most moving thing on it's own, but Clare makes it moving. The bit she repeats towards the end "I couldn't get through to you" has her voice shaky, raw, and real. There aren't effects added on in post production. She doesn't need them. She's got talent -- and the views to prove it! (I'm talking 10,000 in just two days).

To be honest, this isn't the first track she's posted since the last time we've seen her, but it is the most promising. This is the most polished of the four on her Soundcloud, and the only one not marked as a demo, which gives me hope that we may get an even more stunning version of this song as her next single. It's about time she throws out a new single. We've been waiting, lady. Please deliver to us soon!