Vincent - The Moment I Met You

"I'll follow you wherever you go"

I am in love with Vincent's new music. I liked his old stuff, too, but there's something really special about this album campaign so far. In a lot of ways, it's classic Swedish indie-pop -- a little bit of the Caesars here, a little Erik Hassle there. But most importantly, the melodies are incredibly tight. This track, his next single, has a mammoth chorus. It's one of those sing-it-to-the-rafters, Melodifestivalen/Eurovision hooks (though this is anything but glossy dance pop). It reminds me of what I'd imagine a band like the Whyte Seeds producing if they were still making music. I love Sweden, not only for its always excellent dance pop, but for this! This simply wouldn't exist anywhere else.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. "Like" the facebook page here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Set Fire Run - A Trauma

"Can't you see this is a trauma?"

Every few months I like to post a Set Fire Run track. It serves two purposes: 1. It reminds everyone how consistently amazing they are, and 2. On the off chance you're visiting this blog for the first time, you get to discover one of this moment's best (and criminally underrated) bands. As a review, Set Fire Run used to be known as Dyno. They've crafted nearly enough perfect pop nuggets to fill two albums, have worked with the wonderful Erik Hassle, and are generally awesome. A Trauma is another in their arsenal of should-be-number-one hits -- a propulsive, synth-drenched anthem just waiting for radio to sit up and pay attention. This is grade-A pop music. I don't know what else I can say, really. I'll let the music speak for itself. It's just perfect. The guys really need an army of fans over on their facebook page, so if you haven't already "liked" them, please go and do so now. You won't regret it. They tend to stream a lot of their wonderful songs on the page for their fans.

A Trauma by Set Fire Run

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. "Like" the facebook page here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Wolf Gang - Something Unusual

"We'll be something out of this world"

Wolf Gang's debut album was originally planned for March, but unfortunately it's been pushed back to June (making for quite a busy May/June season for album releases). It's irritating because I want to hear the thing now. While initially a little skeptical, his music has grown on me immensely and I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that the full length emphasizes the "pop" portion of "indie pop." Something Unusual, a recently revealed album track, is from the MGMT school of pop. It's a slow-building, synth-dripped, slightly psychedelic sounding kaleidoscope. And I like it! Phew. I imagine driving around in the Summer listening to something like this. It's subtle enough to have real staying power, but it's not boring. That's a tricky line to walk in indie music.

Wolf Gang - Something Unusual by wolfgang

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Frankmusik - Do It In The AM (ft. Far East Movement)

"We only do it in the AM"

This is an odd pairing. I've always considered Frankmusik to be a "cool, indie" artist, while Far East Movement is definitely a "crappy, commercial" group. It all screams: "we want a hit so we're gonna tack an annoying bit of rap on top of this song." Surprisingly, it actually works (well, not the "hit" part... I doubt radio will embrace this). But the song itself is excellent. It's a little toned down for Frankmusik. His crazy kitchen sink production only rears its head in the final portion of the song, where everything's thrown into a blender and the song kind of explodes. Other than that, it's a simple pop/club track with excellent vocals and a very catchy, repetitive hook. I'm actually really excited for the album now, despite being slightly underwhelmed by his first. The artwork for the campaign so far has also been stunning.

Frankmusik ft. Far East Movement - Do It In The AM by putyourheadphonesup

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the first album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Patrick Wolf - House

"I've been too long a lonely man"

I'm so excited for this new Patrick Wolf album. His voice, and his songwriting, coupled with the surging uptempo phase he seems to be in now, is just what I need for Spring. I absolutely adored The City, and couldn't wait to hear the next single. House is an enormous anthem, complete with rousing drums, synths and what sounds like an orchestra backing Wolf's emotional vocals. It's another sign that this upcoming album could be my favorite from his discography. I just wish it would stop getting pushed back. I also wish that radio would give him more support. If anyone deserves to (finally) break through, it's him.

Patrick Wolf - House by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Pop Blitz 4/19/11

Lady Gaga - Judas
Yes, it's basically Bad Romance Part Two, but you can't deny that the thing's catchy. A little more innovation would have bumped this up a notch, but Gaga by the numbers is still something to get excited about. A-

Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat
The latest European dance hit, sampling a saxophone loop. It's hardly original, and it's not as catchy as either We No Speak Americano or Stereo Love, two similar hits in this genre. It's just a little dull. C+

Jennifer Lopez - Papi
After On The Floor, which I loved, Jennifer Lopez suddenly got interesting again. This isn't quite up to that level, even though it strives for the same international appeal. Still, it's better than the stuff she's been releasing the past few years. B

Tinie Tempah - Written In The Stars
After hitting it big in the UK, this seems to be Tempah's American breakthrough. It's got a nice hook that reminds me of that Airplanes song from last summer. It's better than that, though nothing that's really knocking my socks off. The surging production is the best part. B-

Owl City - Galaxies
A couple years ago, I hated nothing more than Owl City and his whiny Fireflies song. The vocals in this are so much more tolerable and the melody and production is shockingly good. What ruins it are the cheesy religious lyrics. I wish they were in another language so that I could ignore them. B

LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
A hit around the world, this has (weirdly) yet to strike in America. Give it time. This will be everywhere. It's irritating, yet somehow it's almost impossible not to like. It's what BEP could sound like if they didn't take themselves so seriously. The video's better than the song, though. B-

Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
After a pair of strong singles, this Jason Mraz castoff is a misstep. I can't believe this was chosen as a single. It's a weak album track, at best, with annoying lyrics. I hope to god I don't have to hear this over and over on the radio. D+

Vanbot - By The Side Of This Road

"I wake up when the sun's still down"

Yes, I know this blog has been a little Vanbot crazy lately, but if you needed one more reason to give her just-released album a listen, here it is. By The Side Of This Road is more uptempo than the past tracks I've posted, and has one hell of a chorus. As usual, their are vocal elements of Robyn, Lene from Aqua and even 80's Madonna in this. It's an incredibly propulsive dance-pop track that, if chosen as a single, could do wonders for her. The entire album is uploaded on Vanbot's soundcloud page, and I encourage everyone to listen to it. Sure, there are a couple of tracks that are a bit too meandering for my taste, but the highlights are very, very impressive. It's rare to find a debut this strong.

By The Side Of This Road by Vanbot

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album (worldwide) here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Track-by-Track: Erik Hassle - Mariefred Sessions

It seems as if EPs have enjoyed a sort of resurgence in the last few years. Many up-and-coming artists are opting to release a string of them rather than a full album. It allows for more music more often and caters to today's ADD culture. Luckily for Erik Hassle, whatever he releases is going to be worth hearing.. EP or album. And this is a particularly interesting release because it's a collaboration between Hassle and two members of HUGE Swedish rock band Kent.

1. Are You Leaving - The single. An atmospheric, mature electro pop number that just gets better and better the more you hear it. Hassle's vocals are some of the most evocative in the pop landscape right now, both in tone and phrasing. This is like a male version of one of Robyn's excellent singles. 10/10

2. Sometimes When It Rains - Continuing with the electro influence, this begins with a spare, squiggly synth arpeggio that runs throughout the entire song to excellent effect. It's got one of those slow-burning melodies that builds to a big chorus. 9/10

3. I Am Not An Island - More downtempo than the previous tracks, this has a melody that's a little more distant. It's not one of my favorites, but it's no slouch either. I'd give it a solid B. 8/10

4. Stay Away - This is the second single, and a good choice. It actually sounds a lot like something I could imagine Kings Of Leon singing--an earthy, powerful ballad with a cathartic chorus. I didn't initially love this, but it has really stuck with me more than anything on the EP. 10/10

5. Stains - The big ballad on the album. It has a very dramatic feel to it, especially in the first verse where it's just Hassle's vocals and an organ (or keyboards that sound like an organ). It's a beautiful piece, but I think it would be even more powerful if it was a little shorter. 8/10

6. Arrows - A constant build-up, but that's the problem I have with this track. It never really explodes into something memorable. Sure, the music takes a favorable shift around the three minute mark but the chant that ends the EP just feels a little lacking. It's probably my least favorite track on the album. 7/10

Album Grade: 8.7/10

Tyson - Ran For Love

"I tried and I tried"

Ooh, I love this! Mix one part italo disco, one part Prince at his 80's best and a hefty amount of Cee-Lo type vocals and you've got Tyson's music. Ran For Love is one of a handful of tracks he's got up on his soundcloud page and was the one that captured me the quickest on first listen. The chorus, with its layers of choir-like vocals, gives me goosebumps. Tyson has come up with a unique mix of so many of my favorite things, yet comes out sounding like nothing else on the radio right now. He's also got a single out (the also amazing Out Of My Mind), and I hope there will be a full album soon. Best of all (and I wanted to save this for the very end of the post in case you hadn't been sold already), Tyson was a member of criminally underrated UK band Unklejam. Remember them? They had an AMAZING single called What Am I Fighting For that was a nice-sized hit in the summer of 2007. I love it when excellent bands (or band members) are reincarnated like this!

Ran For Love by TYSON

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Listen to more here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Rich Aucoin - Brian Wilson Is A.L.i.V.E.

"We're holdin' on"

This song is going to start off a little slow and Beach Boys-esque (big surprise with the title, right?), but stick with it. As soon as the 23 second mark kicks in, the track reveals itself as a punchy disco number halfway between Justice's D.A.N.C.E. and something you'd expect from artists like Tommy Sparks and MGMT. Rich Aucoin is a Canadian musician specializing in a sort of retro pop that includes elements of many legendary bands (Beach Boys certainly being one). This track is from his recent EP, which features a 3D cover and music video. But beyond the gimmicks, this song is a catchy, euphoric piece of pop perfect for the summer. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the A.L.i.V.E. does stand for something. All Living Instantly Vanquish Everything. Make of that what you will.

Rich Aucoin - Brian Wilson is A.L.i.V.E by Sonic Entertainment Group

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Hoosiers - Unlikely Hero (Futurmatic Fade Mix)

"My love's not an island, it's the tip of a volcano"

So, thanks to fab music blog This Must Be Pop, I discovered this article about the Hoosiers. I'm not going to go into it here except to say that it covers their breaking with their label and that it's a very interesting read. What it means for us fans, though, is that the band is now running things themselves. They've decided to re-release their excellent 2010 album with a new title and four bonus tracks. I'm psyched about this because (although not being a fan of their earlier work) I'm still obsessed with The Illusion Of Safety. After two singles --only one with any major label support-- they've just released the video for their third, which just happens to be the title of the re-release as well. Bumpy Ride is one of many amazing pop songs on the album. The four new tracks sound just as promising. In addition to all this, the band have released a new remix of stellar second single Unlikely Hero. I'm sad that the record label was willing to let them go so easily, but I hope that this means the band continues to evolve the sound they developed for the second album. 80's synth-pop really suits them.

Unlikely Hero (Futurmatic Fade Mix) by The Hoosiers

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the re-release here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Erik Hassle - Stay Away

"We know we ain't never gonna happen"

This is Erik Hassle's next single. Is it just me, or does this sound like something that could hit really big in the UK indie circle? Not so sure about America (it doesn't have a guest rapper, after all), but this sounds kind of similar to Noah & The Whale's new album, which seems to be doing quite well in the UK. Stay Away is far less electronic than Are You Leaving, but just as dark and propulsive. That chorus (and the haunting background vocals) is just stirring. The EP as a whole is pretty strong, too. And combined with his Taken EP from last year, you can compile an awesome "2nd album." I'm pleased to see that this release has really cemented Hassle's star power in his native Sweden. Next stop is the UK. Once he can get an in there, he could go worldwide.

Stay Away by erikhassle

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

American Idol 2011

With supposed frontrunner Pia Toscano's shocking elimination last night (has a "frontrunner" ever gone so early?), I figured it was time to offer my thoughts on this year's series of American Idol. Though I've stuck with the show since its beginning, it hasn't always been an enjoyable ride. Last year was one of the most painfully dull and cringeworthy seasons of any reality show, ever, and nearly destroyed the entire franchise. This year has been far more enjoyable, with likeable (if not outstanding) contestants, likeable (if not all that constructive) judges and some minor tweaks here and there.

But honestly, it's not the show that's held my attention continuously this year... it's the results show. It's become the best (and strangest) hour of reality tv all week. From what-the-hell voting to crazy cameos, it's easily the most unpredictable Idol's ever been. And yet here I am, trying to predict who will go home when. Here are my thoughts:

Top 8 Exit - Stefano: Overstayed his welcome already. I was sure he'd go this week. I think everyone was, which means that he'll get no sympathy next week.

Top 7 Exit - Jacob: Overpraised since the beginning for a very pitchy, dramatic voice. His appearance this week in the bottom three is the first sign of his vulnerability and his snotty comments this week won't win him any new fans.

Top 6 Exit - Haley: I honestly don't know how she got more votes that Pia (or Thia or Naima, actually). I guess it's the Brooke White/Crystal Bowersox voters. I still don't think it will be enough for her to be the last girl standing, though.

Top 5 Exit - Paul: One of my favorites, though I'm continually surprised that he's still in the competition. He's a very odd choice for AI, though I think that will help bump him into the top five. Just barely, though.

Top 4 Exit - Casey: Will stay around far longer than he should have due to the infamous judges' save and the publicity that came out of that. People have now connected to him, as annoying as he is.

Top 3 Exit - Lauren: The only girl this year with the personality necessary to connect with voters. The country thing certainly helps her, but it really is down to how she comes across when she's not singing.

Runner-up - James: Has the likeability factor and the voice reminiscent of Adam Lambert (except for that "gay stuff," which will guarantee that conservatives can vote for him without having to pray). I think he'll be a little too polarizing to win, though.

Winner - Scotty: He's really the perfect AI contestant because he appeals to what I consider to be the two biggest voting blocks for the show -- teen girls and country fans. Plus, his personality guarantees him crossover appeal. I've even voted for him a few times. I can't see him losing, but with the way this season's been going, who knows?

Vanbot - Lost Without You

"You'll be my stranger"

It's so exciting when a pop act like this comes out of nowhere. Yes, I know I wrote about Vanbot very recently, but she just released a second track on her soundcloud page and it's as stunning as the first one so she deserves another mention. She's going for that full-out Robyn With Every Heartbeat/Dancing On My Own sound and that is definitely something that I can't ever get enough of. This is a lush electronic pop opus with a stunning chorus. Vanbot manages to pack so much emotion into such a short, dense space. It's really amazing stuff. And like the first track, this is freely downloadable via the soundcloud link. This is a pop star that is doing things right!

Lost Without You by Vanbot

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Pop Blitz 4/6/11

Noah & The Whale - L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
I've been very much enjoying this band's reinvention as a slick, melodic aor rock act. This isn't one of my favorites from the album, but it's got a laid-back nostalgic sound. B+

Usher - More
Usher delves even further into club sounds, and this is one of his strongest singles in years. It's very Taio Cruz, which means it's gonna sound old fast, but for now I'm enjoying this. B+

Pitbull - Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)
Empty calories. I'm not a fan of the heavily distorted vocals that make up the chorus to this. Pitbull's part is passable, but I don't think this is all that memorable. C

Alexis Jordan - Good Girl
There's something refreshing about Jordan's simple, airy pop. The drums on this are fantastic, but on the whole it's not as strong as her debut. The chorus is pretty strong, though. B+

Mumford & Sons - The Cave
Melodically, this is like a slowed down version of their last single. It's a nice, strummy, Summer-sounding single. Very pleasant, but I'm already a little sick of it. B

Willow Smith - 21st Century Girl
Not a bad song, necessarily, but the delivery is very annoying and the lyrics are just ridiculous given who the singer is. Give this to Rihanna, switch it up a bit, and it could be pretty good. B-

The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness
Their much-lauded return to form kicks off with this pleasant, jangly single. They've had stronger, for sure. I love the sound of it, but there isn't really much of a hook beyond the guitars. B-

Diamond Rings - Show Me Your Stuff

"All I need is already in me"

Diamond Rings is the project of Canadian John O'Regan, a deep-voiced, glam-loving singer with one amazing song and an album that I'm not quite sure about. I can see why people love it. It's downtempo, diy pop/rock in the mold of old Lou Reed records mixed with the new wave of the 80's. Personally, it's a bit too downtempo and diy for me. But this track (it's best to experience this for the first time by watching the glamorous video, btw), is a glimmer of what could be. Show Me Your Stuff is beat heavy, with house-piano that builds to a gigantic chorus. It's glam that borrows equally from the 70's and the present. For some reason, the song was left off the album (perhaps because it didn't fit with the rest of the tracks?), even though it was released a few months prior. It's okay, because I'm hoping that for the second album he embraces this sound. I love the Adam Ant homages in the video, I love the stupid rap, and I love that this is a performer with a ridiculous amount of x-factor.

Diamond Rings - Show Me Your Stuff by LipSyncMusic

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Cocknbullkid - Asthma Attack

"You keep me coming back"

I hadn't listened to a Cocknbullkid track until just last week. I, like many others, was turned off by her stage name. Hell, I didn't even know that it was a she at all. I just don't understand why certain artists/bands pick certain names. It's like judging a book by its cover, and we all do that. Either way, I've finally given her music a listen and I am totally hooked. This track, her latest single, is a surprisingly breezy disco-pop number that will make an excellent Spring/Summer release. Delving further into her earlier releases, I'm very impressed with this lady's ability to write a catchy pop song. It's bubblegum with substance. Once you hit the chorus of Asthma Attack, there is no resistance. An album's due in May, and I'm very much looking forward to it. Between this, Patrick Wolf, and Gaga, May's gonna be pretty awesome.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Viktorious - Kill The Fun

"Sometimes the waiting gets me down"

You're probably all sick of me posting songs by Viktorious by now, but being that this is his last free song (until Summer, when this whole thing will apparently repeat!), and it's one of the best, I couldn't help but write about it. As you know by now, this Swedish electro-pop-rock artist has been releasing a free track every Friday on his website for the past month and a half. Killing The Fun is the latest, and my favorite since the first released track (the still-brilliant Instant Virtuality). While other songs have been moodier and a bit colder, this is full on propulsive pop. The verses are the standout here, all power chords and a stadium-ready melody. I really like the processing on the vocals, too. It's exactly the sound I hope he explores further. Everything comes together on this one. I could easily hear it on the radio.

Viktorious - Killing The Fun by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the EP for free here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Erik Hassle - Sometimes When It Rains

"I can hear your heartbeat for miles"

Okay, confession. I haven't actually listened to the EP that this is taken from yet, but I'm very eager to. Erik Hassle hasn't ever released anything subpar, and his most recent single Are You Leaving is one of his best. The clips of the EP (particularly Stay Away) sound great and this track, while less instantly poppy, is a nice example of the more electronic sound he's been exploring with members of legendary Swedish band Kent. Hassle's vocals and songwriting skill are among the best out there at the moment and, although it's now become a cliché to say so, he should be much bigger worldwide than he is. Luckily, his native Sweden seems to finally be embracing him. His album was everywhere last Spring when I was in Stockholm, and the new single's getting heavy rotation on the radio. Like fellow Swede Robyn, Hassle's got the magic touch that takes pop music and gives it a mood. His songs are anything but generic.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Movie Blitz 3/30/11

I see a lot of movies, so from time to time I'd like to add a new feature to the blog. Similar to my Pop Blitz posts, here's Movie Blitz!

Sucker Punch
Definitely a case of the parts being stronger than the whole. Some cool visual scenes, but they come and go without leaving much of an impression. Unfortunately, the plot didn't coalesce at all and I was left scratching my head at the end (not in a good way). C

Limitless
A cool concept and great performances/direction. While I wish they would have gone just a little further with it, this was easily the best 2011 film I've seen so far. The "zoom-in" special effects are pretty astonishing. B+

I Am Number Four
I couldn't make it through the book, but I thought the premise would make a good movie. It didn't. What could have been an engaging thriller turned out to be a mix of Roswell and Smallville without the charm of either. The climax, when things actually started happening, was the best part. C-

The Adjustment Bureau
Like Limitless, this had an interesting sci-fi concept and great performances. I liked it a little less, but still enjoyed it. Great fun while you're watching, but it's not the kind of film that sticks with you. B

Battle: Los Angeles
I really disliked this movie. In fact, I'd hardly call it a movie. It was like watching someone else play a video game. No story, no characters worth caring for, and the shakiest, grayest direction I've seen in awhile. I love alien invasion movies, but I could hardly wait for this one to be over. D-

Track-by-Track: The Sounds - Something To Die For

As I've stated multiple times, I was a little underwhelmed by the Sounds' last album. They're one of my favorite bands (and one I've gotten the chance to see live on several occasions), so I was hoping they'd make a turnaround with this new, self-produced album. And guess what? They have! This is their best release in years and on par with their first two classics.

1. It's So Easy - Half a song, half an extended intro. What this does, mainly, is signal the new--more electronic--sound of the album. There's not a whole lot of melody here, but it's a wonderfully atmospheric energy builder. 8/10

2. Dance With The Devil - This is such an anthem-in-waiting. It's back to a huge pop sound for the band, and it ranks among some of their very best work. From the stampeding synths to the cathartic chorus, this feels like a sequel to the excellent "Dance With Me" from their first album. 10/10

3. The No No Song - Back to a punkier, rock sound. This reminds me of their last album and isn't one of the stronger tracks here. Still, I can see how this would please their more rock-loving fanbase. It's actually grown on me as well. 8/10

4. Better Off Dead - We first heard this a few months ago when the band released it as a teaser. While I think it would be more effective later on in the album, the hypnotic electro production and catchy melody make this an easy standout. 9/10

5. Diana - As far as I can remember, this is the first time that Maja has referenced her bisexuality in one of the band's songs. Luckily, she does so in a punchy pop/punk song that blends the band's dual sounds to great effect. That surging chorus is pretty impressive. 9/10

6. Something To Die For - The first single, and the band's best single in a few years. It's one of those simple, straightforward pop songs with great emphasis on excellent melody. It may not hit you over the head initially, but it sticks with you. 10/10

7. Yeah Yeah Yeah - Another highlight. I'd call it their "Tony The Beat" or "Boombox" of the album. Ridiculously catchy, buckets of attitude/swagger and heavy on the electronics. I don't see how anyone could resist this. 10/10

8. Won't Let Them Tear Us Apart - The third perfect track in a row, this is something quite different for the band. It's got an enormous arena-rock surge to it, from the chanted vocals in the verses to the huge, roof-busting chorus. This could end up being my favorite track when all is said and done. 10/10

9. The Best Of Me - This is a little less successful. I'm not sure what it is about this song. I love the sound, but for some reason it feels like filler. Excellent filler, for sure, but coming after the last few tracks I can't bolster much enthusiasm around this. 8/10

10. Wish You Were Here - The Sounds don't record many ballads, and they've never recorded one like this. It's a tender, acoustic track that put's Maja's excellent vocals at the forefront. And the melody is BEAUTIFUL. 9/10

Album Grade: 9.1/10

Vanbot - Make Me, Break Me

"I have to deal somehow"

A few great blogs have already covered this exciting new artist, but it's my duty to make sure that, if you haven't read about her/(them?) yet, Vanbot doesn't slip through the cracks. If you're a fan of Robyn's music (and if you're reading this blog, chances are pretty high that you are), you're going to love this. Vanbot's music is like a mixture of Robyn, Linda Sundblad and Tove Styrke. In other words, this song is working with some pretty amazing influences. This kind of electro-pop (emphasis on the pop) is unique to Scandinavia. It's a combination of the very Swedish vocals and the characteristically cool beats that make this such a treat. There's an iciness to the sound, but it never interferes with an instant chorus and radio-friendly melody. Best yet, the album's out in less than a month and this song is free to download through the soundcloud link below!

Make Me, Break Me by Vanbot

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the song (above) for free! Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Sounds - Dance With The Devil

"We conquer our planet with dance"

Yes! This is exactly what I'd hoped for in new Sounds music. I've been enjoying their new album for awhile now, but this remains the definite standout. The last album was too rocky and generic for me, but this new one ups the pop and dance and is that much better for it. After an extended intro, Dance With The Devil opens the album with a thunderous synth attack. The verses have all the grandeur of a modern Final Countdown pushed onto the dancefloor. It's the kind of track that is instantly impressive and catchy from the first chorus. It's also a fists-in-the-air rallying cry -- something I've missed from the band recently. The album's self-produced, and it turns out that that decision has led to a creative resurgence. I'll have an album review up soon, but will probably end up skipping a post tomorrow since I'll be driving down to Seattle after work. See you next week!

The Sounds - Dance With The Devil by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Mohombi - Love In America

"I've been flying all around the world"

I've always had a huge soft spot for afro-inspired pop music. I think it's some combination of listening to Paul Simon's Graceland as a toddler/small child and being obsessed with the Lion King several years later. Whatever the reason, I gravitate towards the stuff like crazy. It's the reason I loved Tinashe's Zambezi so much last year and why a few of the afro-inspired tracks from the Mo's second album (and Nicko's subsequent solo material) sent me into shudders of excitement. So now, along comes Mohombi, friend and protégé to famed producer Red One. Yes, the album has the synth-heavy dance sound we're used to from Red One, but it's tempered with elements from Africa to the Caribbean. It all adds up to something ridiculously catchy. There are multiple highlights (including first two singles Bumpy Ride and Dirty Situation), but this track stood out immediately because of its huge chorus. The general sound--triumphant synths colliding with thunderous vocals--is just fantastic. I'm gonna put out a plea right now: if anyone has any recommendations for music that is similar to this, send it my way! Songs like this (and the aforementioned Zambezi) seem to be rare in the pop world. Or maybe I'm just not looking in the right place?



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Track-by-Track: Britney Spears - Femme Fatale

It's pretty useless to review a Britney Spears album for its artistic merits. Like so many pop singers before and after her, Spears is better looked upon as a muse for some of the best commercial songwriters and producers of her time. Lucky for me, many of those behind-the-scenes folks are working in Sweden. And from that standpoint, the album's best tracks all sound like standouts from four different Swedish bands/artists (namely Alcazar, Robyn, the Tough Alliance and Tove Styrke). This alone makes the album a pleasant surprise.

1. Till The World Ends - I really blasted this song a couple weeks ago, but I've gotta admit that somehow it's grown on me. Some tracks just take longer. Still nowhere near the best songs on here, but it's a nice opener. The chants remain the standout. 8/10

2. Hold It Against Me - It's the exact opposite with this one. The more I hear it, the more I tire of it, which ends up bringing it about level with the first track, rating-wise. It doesn't have quite enough melody to give it staying power. 8/10

3. Inside Out - This one just isn't hitting me. I appreciate the sound that they're going for, but the melody's completely underwhelming and the production plodding. 6/10

4. I Wanna Go - Now THIS is more like it. This is hands down, no question, the album highlight and could be a monster single for her. Like Madonna's Hung Up a few years ago, it harnesses a flawless, swirling dance beat. (for those keeping track, it's also the "Alcazar" song of the four standouts) 10/10

5. How I Roll - Stupid title, but another standout. It's got the kind of quirky electro attitude that you'd expect from an artist like Robyn. And although Robyn does this kind of stuff so much better, this is quite enjoyable in its own right. 9/10

6. (Drop Dead) Beautiful (ft. Sabi) - This is very much a filler track. Everything, from the heavily processed vocals to the dull production/melody is pretty shallow and forgettable. Not horrible by any means, but it doesn't leave any impression. 6/10

7. Seal It With A Kiss - And we're back to interesting territory. There are parts of the chorus (the background vocals) that sound like the Tough Alliance (a Swedish indie-electro band). It gives this song a really cool vibe. Couple that with a great melody and hook and you've got something very special. 10/10

8. Big Fat Bass (ft. Will.i.am) - Ugh. Every time Will.i.am features on/produces a track for another artist it's guaranteed to be one of the weaker/trendier/more derivative songs on the album. This is actually more interesting than I expected, but too repetitive and obnoxious to warrant too many repeat listens. 6/10

9. Trouble For Me - I can't begin to describe how much I'm sick of the David Guetta-esque beats that open this track. It's so overdone and ruins what could be a decent song. It's not a very pleasant listen. 6/10

10. Trip To Your Heart - This shows off the potential of what this album could have been. It's lush, mature and endlessly melodic. It reminds of of the experimental tracks that Spears recorded with BT for her third album (though they never actually made it onto the cd). By far the prettiest song on the album. I wish she'd record more like this instead of chasing trends. This is something I'd imagine Tove Styrke singing. 9/10

11. Gasoline - This is probably the poppiest song on here and the most like her previous work. Luckily, it's a great example of that classic Spears sound that so many people grew up with. This would have fit perfectly on her second or third album. 8/10

12. Criminal - An odd flute-assisted track with a slower tempo, bubblegum melody and rebellious lyrics. It's one of the standouts, though it doesn't necessarily fit with the tracks that come before it. 9/10

Album Grade: 7.9/10

A Brand - The Mud

"Slide your foot in the water"

If Kaiser Chiefs were to come back into the pop scene, this is exactly how I would hope they would sound. A Brand is a Belgian band that has crafted one of the catchiest glam/rock/pop singles of the year so far. The Mud takes you back to the glitter rock of the mid-seventies, augmenting it with huge guitars and a veritable wall of vocals. It's all extremely silly, but you can't deny the sheer force of this song. It's like a punch in the face. Rock music this big and boisterous doesn't come along that often, and it would be a shame if its success was limited only to Belgium. I can see something like this having international appeal, easily.

A Brand - The Mud by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album (worldwide) here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Rebecca Black - Friday

"Fun, fun, fun"

Well, it is Friday. I'm not usually one to get excited about viral videos or bandwagons, but this is just too good of a story to pass up. Girl pays a vanity company to write, produce and record a pop song/music video to be put on youtube. Turns out the music video's so unintentionally cringe-worthy, that it begins to rack up views by the millions (just over 16 million as of this writing) and becomes the number one trending topic on Twitter worldwide. Then, after spots on radio stations and TV shows, the track rockets up the itunes chart (#26 as of Friday morning). And the real kicker is, when interviewed Black comes off as a sweet, self-aware teenage girl. I can't help but want to root for her, even with such an obviously horrible song. But, really, is it horrible? After watching the video half a dozen times last night and laughing so hard I was crying, I've now approached the point where I realize that I'm no longer listening to it ironically. I fear it's the point of no return for me. But it does bring me a lot of joy, especially the monotone "fun fun fun" and the infamous "standing in the backseat of the car" scene. But when all the dust has settled, the true beauty of this pop song is that, when it comes down to it, it's not all that different from a Ke$ha single. Rebecca Black has, unintentionally, created the finest satire of modern pop music that we've seen in quite some time.

Rebecca Black-Friday by budwoods



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Pop Blitz 3/17/11

George Michael - True Faith
Michael comes back with a midtempo track (a cover of the New Order hit) that overuses vocoder effects. He's got one of the best pop voices of all time, so what's with the electronics? And why can't we get something more uptempo (or at least with a better melody)? C-

Glee Cast - Loser Like Me
Glee remains as frustrating as it is entertaining. There's more potential than this radio-friendly track displays, but it's not bad, either. Next time, they need to opt for a more unique sound that capitalizes on their use of choral harmonies. B

Selena Gomez - Who Says
It's a brief (hopefully) pit stop to "uplifting" Taylor Swift-esque material for the Disney star. It's actually not as bad as I feared. The production's catchy enough, but I wish it was in another language so that I couldn't understand the lame lyrics. C+

The Wanted - Gold Forever
They're really building up a strong set of singles. This is the exact direction I was hoping they'd follow -- more electronic, more dramatic and uptempo. It's a promising sign for their second album, whenever they decide to release it. A

Martin Solveig & Dragonette - Hello
If this is what it takes to give Dragonette a world-wide audience, I'm totally okay with it. It's not the band's best track (and yeah, I know it's Solveig's song, but it sounds enough like Dragonette to be classified as such), but even their average material is heads above most everything else. A-

Jessie J - Price Tag
Honestly, isn't the chorus to this exactly the same as Pink's "F**king Perfect" (another song that completely underwhelmed me)? I just don't get the hype over this. It's dull, predictable and forgettable. What am I missing? C+

Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
How can one band be responsible for both some of the worst songs and best songs on the past few years? This isn't close to their low point (that would be previous single, the vomitatious "The Time (Dirty Bit)") but it's no "I Gotta Feeling," either. It's simply alright. B-

Nelson Clemente - No Protection

"I only feel rejection"

I remember blogging about Australian pop singer Nelson Clemente years ago. He'd honestly faded from my memory since then, but I happened to stumble upon the news that he's working on a new album and (even better) releasing a free EP. You can get that EP by heading to his reverbnation page, but I'd like to preview the lead track today on the blog. At his best, Clemente reminds me of old Savage Garden music, though this track is a little more electronic and 80's new wave influenced than some of his stuff. The brooding verses lead into a punchy chorus that's catchy from the very first listen. He's currently soliciting funds to complete his independently released album, so if you like what you hear today, consider giving it a whirl!

Nelson Clemente - No Protection by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the free EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Viktorious - Unrequited Love

"I have to walk away"

I know I already blogged a Viktorious song a few weeks ago, but this whole "Weekends" thing that he's got going is too good not to share over and over. For anyone who hasn't, you've got to go to his website and start downloading these free tracks he's giving away. They've been universally amazing so far. Unrequited Love, last week's track, is no different. Built on top of a famous Yaz (or Yazoo, if you're British) electro sample, it's a stately piece of electropop with a great chorus. The lyrics are not written from the perspective of the person in love, but from the person who isn't in love. It flips your expectations a little, which is pretty cool. Bottom line, though: this guy hasn't created anything subpar. He's pretty awesome.

Viktorious - Unrequited Love by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download a new song every Friday here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Das Pop - The Game

"I don't know whether we're inside or out"

Belgian pop/rock back Das Pop have been on my radar for awhile now. In fact, I think I even wrote about them years ago. They're the kind of band that, for me, releases a brilliant single or album track every once and awhile but can't hold my interest for an entire album. That being said, their new release, The Game, is easily their most consistent. With the first single (of the same name), they've embraced a more electronic sound. It's reminiscent of the great Norwegian band King Midas (are they still making music?), with amazing production that really heats up about halfway through. It's such a cool indiepop sound. Sometimes I feel like this band's "hipness" gets in the way of writing a good pop song. That's not the case here. There's an amazing ELO-type drama to The Game. It's not the kind of thing you hear much anymore, and I hope they experiment with this type of production again in the future. This is easily their best track to date.

The Game by Das Pop

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Melodifestivalen 2011: Final - Live Blog

It's all built up to this, folks. Though I could venture a guess (and I did, yesterday), the truth is I've got no idea how this is going to go down. And since I'm not overly obsessed with any of the songs this year, that at least will make this an interesting final.

EDIT: Geez, this stream is really crappy today.

EDIT: And by "really crappy," I mean "unwatchable" thus far. Come on, svt, get this fixed!

EDIT: For those having the same trouble as me, setting the quality to "low" seems to help a little. It's still jerky beyond belief, though.

DANNY: Barely saw this because of the crappy stream, but the energy level seemed to be higher than it was in Heat One. I still think this is a strong contender to win, though it's very, very far from my favorite (even though I like his past material)

SARA: I've grown to love this song. Unfortunately, the video stream was even worse than in Danny's. I have a feeling this live blog is going to be a lot of me complaining about the video!

....

Looks like I won't be able to do this today. The stream's too bad. It's like watching a succession of pictures. I'm not sure what happened with svt, but it's pretty disappointing. I'll have to watch the final later when it's not "live" and give my thoughts after. Sorry, guys, but it's pointless to try to offer thoughts when I can barely see/hear what's going on. I'll try to watch it again when the voting starts.

EDIT: OK, I'm back for the voting/results. I had the show on this entire time but sort of came in and out. The streaming hasn't gotten much better, but I know if I don't watch this live the internet will spoil the winner for me! (Also, I'm changing my vote to Swingfly. I think it would work best in Eurovision and I really like the song.)

EDIT: Well, that Rock You Like A Hurricane sounded awesome, but I could barely see it :(

EDIT: International juries go for Eric, barely (by two points). Danny and Sanna (!) are close behind. If it ends up between Eric and Danny, which it likely will, I hope it's Eric. Surprised at how well the Moniker did and how poorly Swingfly, Sara and Nicke did.

EDIT: That heavy metal cover of Anna's (crappy) winning song from last year wasn't as good as I hoped.

EDIT: WOW, that was even more of a nail-biter than I expected!! I won't spoil who won for those who don't want to know, but that's gotta be the closest vote in years!

Melodifestivalen 2011 Finale - Preview

It's been an odd year for Melodifestivalen. While I don't hate any of the tracks in tomorrow's finale, I'm not in love with many of them, either. Even stranger, I feel like there are about five songs that have the potential to win this year's competition. It's going to be a nail-biter. (but honestly, the thing I'm looking forward to the most is a second appearance by the Ark!)

Below, what I'd like to happen vs. what I think will happen:

IF I WAS VOTING:

1. Sanna Nielsen - I'm In Love Though I don't think it's their best bet if they want to do well at Eurovision, it's one of my favorite tracks this year.
2. Swingfly - Me And My Drum A much wiser choice for Eurovision, and a song that's grown on me considerably as the contest has gone on.
3. Brolle - 7 Days And 7 Nights This could be a very interesting choice. It's another of my personal favs.
4. Eric Saade – Popular In the battle of Danny vs Eric, I'm supporting Eric all the way this time. Both songs left me underwhelmed, but this is the superior effort.
5. Sara Varga - Spring för livet Another song that's grown on me quite a bit. The melody's gorgeous.
6. Linda Bengtzing - E det fel på mej In the schlager battle, I prefer Sanna's song, but this is pleasant enough.
7. The Moniker - Oh My God! I'm surprised at the amount of support he's received. This is a great single, but seems oddly misplaced in this contest.
8. Nicke Borg - Leaving Home Rock ballad by numbers. Pleasant, but unimpressive.
9. Danny - In the Club This song's actually grown more annoying as I hear it. It just doesn't have a melody. Unfortunately, I feel it's got the momentum (see below)
10. The Playtones - The King Easily my least favorite song in the final. It's way at the bottom.

WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN:

1. Danny - In the Club (which would make it the 2nd winner in a row that I've disliked)
2. Sara Varga - Spring för livet
3. Eric Saade – Popular
4. Swingfly - Me And My Drum
5. Nicke Borg - Leaving Home
6. Linda Bengtzing - E det fel på mej
7. Sanna Nielsen - I'm In Love
8. The Moniker - Oh My God!
9. Brolle - 7 Days And 7 Nights
10. The Playtones - The King

Music Video: Short Stack - Heartbreak Made Me A Killer

This is bound to be one of my favorite singles of 2011. It was already one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite albums of last year (that's a lot of favorites). I can't overstate how much I've grown to love this band. I think the video's an odd match with the song (and wish they would have stuck to the sci-fi/action story they had going with the previous ones), but I am so happy this was chosen as a single. If there's any justice in the world, it'll be a huge hit for them. And I'm loving their new look.

Mother Mother - The Stand

"I can hardly stand the sight of it all"

I love quirky. Usually in small doses, but I love it all the same. And this song by Canadian band Mother Mother is nothing if not quirky. It's an odd amalgam of pop, rock, synth, spoken word and even a little bit of country. My immediate thought upon hearing it was that this sounds like a band that would have been popular in the 90's. It's got that odd experimental feeling to it that bands like Chumbawumba and the Bloodhound Gang rode to fame just before the turn of the century. In a world of highly processed vocals and dance beats, it's actually quite refreshing (as is their video, which reminds me of the style of 80's movie Shock Treatment -- the follow up to Rocky Horror Picture Show). This is taken from the group's third album, which is out in five days. And after a taster like this, I'm definitely curious to hear more.

The Stand by Mother Mother

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Skyship Academy - Presale

Hey, good readers! Just a friendly note to let you know that my debut YA novel, SKYSHIP ACADEMY: THE PEARL WARS is now available on Amazon for presale. I promise I won't be bombarding you with advertisements on a regular basis (this is a music blog, after all), but if you want more information and this post gets buried, just click on the cover image in the corner of the blog. It'll be up for awhile...

And on a personal note, seeing my book on a site like Amazon is definitely a dream come true. It's one of those weird things that make it all seem real.

Below is the cover (again) and the blurb from my publisher:

A devastated Earth’s last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space, and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth’s stratosphere—and the corrupt Surface government.

Jesse Fisher, a Skyship brat, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable—and dangerous—abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess. Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn’t know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls.

“Skyship Academy is one of those books you’ll read straight through if at all possible. I absolutely devoured it from page one. And even though the story itself kept me captivated, I think the characters became the part I Ioved the most. A definite must read!”

–James Dashner, New York Times bestselling author of THE MAZE RUNNER and THE 13th REALITY series

Here's the Amazon link.
You can also preorder the book directly from my publisher, Flux.