Sorry I Missed It - Sonali Releases "Wake Up" EP

In the entire history of all the "Sorry I Missed It"s, this is probably one of the biggest. I have known about this artist for a while now, spanning from her viral YouTube video of Diamonds by Rihanna that got her famous in the first place, but it seems like I have such bad timing with her. But no more! I hereby pledge to spread the word that her EP has been released... Well it was back in February.

This EP is like a breath of fresh air. In a world that is filled to max capacity with artists popping up and sounding exactly the same, it is rare to see someone that feels so genuine. Is the sound new? No. Is it something we don't have enough of in today's musical world? Certainly. This singer-songwriter style has fallen back in popularity in the past ten years, and it's about time we bring it back.

Of the entire batch, I really like "Who We Are", as it really catches that feeling from days past; a song about something other than partying, and it does it with a nice mid-tempo acoustic guitar vibe. There are other elements sprinkled throughout, such as the banjo's that fill in gaps for "Wake Up", and the fantastic drums featured in "Find Your Way". All of these elements come together to make one complete thought, and I'm sure that is what she was going for.

I can't explain why I love Sonali so much. She seems to have a different take on how music should be, and I think in a world with artists like Lorde rising to the top of the charts, that this might just be what makes her a star. She looks great. She sounds great. And she's pro-LGBT (seriously, watch the "Who We Are" video below). I really like the direction she's going in.

She has been pushing "Wake Up" as the new single recently, and she's done a live video along with it, proving that she can sing well live, and play guitar too. Did I mention how adorable she is?

Anyway, check out her new EP on iTunes. Check out the incredibly touching and beautiful video for "Who We Are" below.

Vinyl Floor Returns With New Album and New Sound "Vaudeville"

It's been quite a while since we've heard from Vinyl Floor. They released an album back in 2012, but I hadn't heard from them since, but that doesn't mean they've been dormant. Actually, they have been up to quite a bit, and in all the chaos, they've released a new album. Check out "Vaudville".

So backing up just a tad, they've actually been busy putting out singles and videos to make this album what it is today. "Change The Song" is probably the crowning moment of the whole picture, and that's probably why they put it first. They released a lot of radio singles across Europe and Japan over the course of this year, and in Octobrer, they finally dropped the full album.

This time around, they've dropped the slower song act and have kicked things into high gear with a bit of rocking action. I'm not sure where the change came from, but it's a welcome one. The new sounds is polished and fun. I wouldn't really say they are "reinvented" since you can still tell it's a Vinyl Floor album, but I would say that this is definitely a new approach to how they not only perform but market their music.

The band has had a successful run of their music video for "Change The Song" on Europe's MTV site. I was glad to see the exposure for the band, given their more limited release with "Peninsula". This album feels very fun, having tracks that were recorded as a live one-take in the studio, and others even using ukeleles.

If you'd like to check out the album for yourself, hop onto iTunes and give them a shot. This album's got a little something for everyone.

Gwen Stefani Returns To Pop Music With "Baby Don't Lie"

Ok. 2014 may be the best year ever for pop music. First Black Kids come back, then Hilary Duff, and now Gwen Stefani? Yes! This gives me so much hope for the future (and just imagine the album releases for first quarter 2015!!). This song literally came out of nowhere, and I couldn't be happier to have it!

See! I told you it was good. This song really fuses together a lot of interesting sounds, from the almost Asian inspired feel to it's Friendly Fires choir chorus. And oddly enough, even though these two things don't sound like they would go together, it really works. The song is all about a relationship that Gwen feels isn't genuine and all she wants is the truth out of him. But who listens to lyrics anyway?

Leave it to Gwen to give us something new and different every time. Her first album was a mishmash of Ameri-Jpop, and her second was a solid slant on what the pop music of the day was. This? This sounds like she's giving the new Lorde-loving fanbase her take on the whole alternative/out-of-the-box pop. Is she forgetting what made her stand out? Hell no. There's a total flashback to "Holla Back" in the bridge, but it still stays within it's own distinct feel.

The main question is whether or not this is an accurate representation of the direction that she's going. We've all seen artists do the bait-and-switch with singles, giving us one awesome style while the rest of the album sounds like a completely different work. I, for one, think that Gwen is going to stick to her guns. Based on her track record, both with No Doubt and alone, she's stayed consistent in what she's delivered, both with the good and the bad. This one's good, Gwen. Keep with this.

For now, support a bitch and buy it on iTunes. And get pumped for her yet-to-be-titled album that surely will coincide with the new season of The Voice.

NYC Girl Group Glamazons Give Us "Moive Star"

No, no. This isn't the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race season four. This is a hot new (well kind of) girl group out of NYC that is ready to serve up their debut single on a hot plate for all the world to see. If you've been a fan of America's Got Talent, then the name might sound quite familiar, and their message of talent coming in all shapes and sizes will definitely strike a chord with all listeners. Why don't you check out their single "Movie Star"?

Meet Tina, Emma, Kenya, and Megan. These ladies may not be the original Glamazons, but surely they will become just as beloved and remembered as their reality TV predecessors. What I really like about the song is that they sound amazing, both together and separately.  I love the way they blend together with one another and how they mesh as a group. It is obvious that there is a lot of chemistry within the group, which is essential to the survival of any pop act.

What I don't like is the composition that is supporting their vocals. It's not bad, but it feels like it is missing something. I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but the back track doesn't feel as full as I could see it being with a few tweaks. It's not exactly enough to deter me from loving the song, though, which really saved the project for me in the end.

I think what really makes this group something special is their message. They are more than just a pop act, they are real women. Tina, the sort of spokesperson for the group, gave me a great insight into what the group is all about:

"We are set on proving that no matter what shape or size, color, gender, sexual orientation you are you can live fearlessly and embrace who you are. Defy the standards of what normal is.  For anyone that has ever been told "no" before...we will rise up, celebrate, and proudly shake what our mamma gave us."

That's not all, either. If you've been checking out their FB page, you've probably seen hints dropped here and there that "Movie Star" is getting a video released with it, but I have some solid proof of this based on some of the tasty inside bits Tina gave to me.

"We just filmed the music video with Mattioli Productions, an LGBTQI centered production company and it will be ready for the fans by November 1st!  It's going to be super fun, glamorous of course, and we even snagged a Ferrari! We can't wait for it to be released!"

OK now even I am excited! For now, grab the single on iTunes. Keep on the lookout on their official Facebook page for the new video that is due out within the next two weeks. You guys ready for this!? 

Drag Queen Magazine Debuts First Issue

It's happened. After years of drag being just a 'special issue' version of magazines like "Out Magazine", the ladies of drag finally have a magazine that is all them, all the time. It has fashion, celebrities, and tips and tricks for everyone from beginners to pros. Why don't you take a look at Drag Queen Magazine?

OK, so I'm sure there are other drag-focused magazines out there, but this is the first to come across my (metaphorical) desk.

First off, let me say that yes, that is RuPaul's Drag Race season one Jade on the cover. How they landed her for their first issue, I'll never know, but what I do know is that started off with a bang. Inside is a six page article packed with interviews and pictures for Jade about a crazy variety of topics. I guess they just wanted to get things started right. And a little birdy has told me that things are only going up from here, and you should definitely keep your eyes out for next month's issue.

Inside is an array of topics from must have accessories to what the best song/costume combo is for a Halloween themed show. They also speak with the mastermind behind the amazing Dr.a.g coffee table book. Trust me, there's a lot here. What I really love about the magazine is that they are truly involved in the community.  In the back pages you can find a list of gay/gay-friendly bars from across the country, as well as a way to submit clubs and bars to be added so that everyone can have a safe haven to go and feel like themselves.

If I had to criticize anything about this project it would have to be the simplicity of it all. By this, I mean that it doesn't exactly look like a magazine on the inside (placement of columns, photoshopping in places), but with the time and budge they had, it really did come out well. And I'm sure that over time, they will develop a sleek style, and that issues will flow more naturally.

For now, we can check out the first issue to get all the T. Find shows around the country (like Miss Coco Peru's!) and piece together your Halloween look with the help of your drag galpals. Be sure and check out both their Facebook page, for all the latest info, and their brand new homepage so you can subscribe and get issues instantly on your computer. Remember, bitches, it's free!

Album Review - Utada Hikaru "Exodus" 10th Anniversary Edition

I can't believe it's been ten years since my favorite album of all time came out. I'm actually over a week late for this one, but then again when have I ever been punctual? Today we are talking about "Exodus" by Utada (Hikaru in Japan, just Utada here for some weird reason). It recently turned ten years old, and we are going to trudge through this album and see if it still holds up.

Warning: THIS IS MY FAVORITE ALBUM EVER! I'm pretty biased.

Gao's Thoughts: Teresa Giudice Is Going To Jail?

Let me begin by saying I know I'm very late on this story, but I still wanted to throw in my two cents. I honestly can't believe this is real. This isn't some publicity stunt for everyone to watch Bravo. Teresa Giudice, one of the most recognizable "Bravolebrities" is going to jail. For a while. Damn.