Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow - Shame

This song is going to be released as a new track off of Robbie's new Greatest Hits album and is the kick off to the reformation of Take That. It's an apology set to music from both the lads as they discuss things that went wrong in their relationship. The song is all right. It's fun and very wistful. What absolutely sells this, however is the video. I waited with baited breath hoping and praying that Rob and Gaz would take the next step in their relationship. I knew Robbie had an amazing sense of humor but because my limited exposure to Gary and the rest of the boys from Take That, I wasn't familiar with his sensibilities. And this video does an amazing job at showcasing both of them in a strong comedic light. It's very Brokeback and it's supposed to be and they sell the hell out of it. Strong video for a song that is actually growing on me a lot. Check it out.

Teenage Dream - Track by Track

At first glance it is extremely easy to dismiss Katy Perry as an artist. She's gimmicky, she's too poppy, she doesn't write about anything real. If you are a red blooded American male, you may take a second gander at her for her proclivities with the kissing of the girls. But if you walk away from this album based on a preconceived notion, you will be making a horrible mistake. What Katy has done is create an album that is pure to her vision of what pop should be and she reaches out to her demographic without failing them or her creative vision. To me, this album contains all the emotions most teenagers go through when dealing with life, love, loss and all the extraneous social constructs that add additional pressure to their everyday lives.

Dixie Chicks - Not Ready To Make Nice

I'd kinda forgotten about this song until this morning when the video came on Palladia. This song, in my opinion is absolutely timeless. It was released at a very dark time in the girls' career but most of the time the best art comes out of the worst places. The video is extremely powerful and a full compliment to the song. I don't think Natalie's vocals have ever been so powerful, but again when you are singing about something that is important to you it's gonna have a much different feel. I have always loved the Dixie Chicks because through out their entire career they were sort of thumbing their nose at the Country Music industry and letting them know they were goin to do it their own way and if you didn't like it, you could step out of the way. It wasn't until their politics got in the way of their art. But I guess you have to live and learn.

This Tightrope's Made for Walkin - Janelle Monae vs Nancy Sinatra (Party Ben Mashup)

Mashups can either be really good or really bad, kinda like gingers. There really is no in between. This mashup is absolutely great and you can actually hear the fact that if Janelle and Nancy actually had the opportunity to collaborate, they would have. I think that Janelle is creative enough and open enough to external influences that this song would have been a real recording if given half a chance.

Alexandra Burke - Start Without You

Ms. Burke delivers total pop fabulousness in this video. She absolutely has the vocal chops to pull the quirkiness of this song off. If it were a weaker singer, the song would be a total fail. It's the strength of her voice that makes this work. The calypso feel of the chorus just makes your toe tap and the introduction of Laza Morgan gives it that "irie" feeling of Caribbean music. Alexandra is the fifth season winner of X-Factor, Simon Cowell's talent show that puts American Idol to shame. I hope she can break into the American music scene but if not, I am totally happy with youtube and import CDs.

Oh did I fail to mention the dozen of so shirtless men all over this like white on rice? That's my gift to you.

Top 10 Songs...

Used in movies

10. Say A Little Prayer (Dionne Warwick)- My Best Friend's Wedding
9. Still (Geto Boys) - Office Space
8. Tequilia - Pee Wee's Big Adventure
7. Kissing You (Des'ree) - William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
6. Hip to be Square (Huey Lewis and the News) - American Psycho
5. In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel) - Say Anything
4. Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers) - Ghost
3. Tiny Dancer (Elton John) - Almost Famous
2. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen) - Wayne's World
1. Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve) - Cruel Intentions

Top 10 Songs ...

written specifically for movies.

From this point out, this week - all posts I make are going to be related to movies and music from them. I am attempting to get under some kind of schedule for posting and to not be so random and happenstance. So without further....blah blah blah

In the 80s, movie soundtracks were a way to take the movie with you after you left the theater. We didn't have portable DVD players or iPhones so we had to have a way to remember what we just saw and nothing did that better than a soundtrack. soundtracks were BIG business in the 80s and every pop star worth a damn clamored to get on any and all soundtracks possible.

Here is my list of Top 10, well top 12 songs written specifically for a movie not songs that were used in movies (All Along the Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix) - The Watchmen). Not all of these are from the 80s but as time has gone by, soundtracks aren't the big business they used to be.

Cee Lo Green - What Part Of Forever

I saw this video earlier and was like, "Are you serious?!? Cee Lo on the Eclipse soundtrack?" I listened to the song was was blown away. I think Cee Lo is an acquired taste though. Either you love him or you hate him. There isn't really any middle ground. Listen to his song and his stuff with Gnarls Barkley. Much like I posted about Janelle Monae, I think there is a level of artistry and creativity here that you don't get to see much at all. There doesn't seem to be much room in popular music for this kind of art so the mainstream doesn't get to experience it.

Give this a chance and see how it feels. If you like it, say so. If not, say so.

Geri Halliwell - 100% Pure Love

Massive props to Paul at myfizzypop for tweeting about this earlier today. It's brilliant. Crystal Waters + Geri Halliwell = total deliciousness. So I will officially sanction this as my 90s song of the week.

This was apparently supposed to be on her album Passion but got dropped. It shouldn't have been because the airplay this would have gotten in clubs would have been massive and then if there would have been remixes....gorgeous!

The Hoosiers - Glorious

Epic is a word that has become far too commonplace in my daily vernacular and I had actually put a moratorium on using it until my pal HMFJ reminded me that I need to give you guys a bit of The Hooisers thanks to his rental car and Sirius/XM and BBC Radio 1. I am not too terribly familiar with this group as they are new to me but I will throw the word Epic at the chorus and the hook and be fairly certain it'll stick. This whole song is big. The feel, the vibe, the lyrical content and it sort of builds in your spine and you feel like you can take on the world, well maybe a smallish army of interlopers not necessarily your nemesis. I am going to give these chaps a second listen and I suggest you try this on and see how it feels.

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

Like her, love her, consider her meh. You can't deny the fact that the future Mrs. Russell Brand has a definite pull that most pop stars don't. In the video for her second single and title track of her sophomore release, Katy explores the topic of young love and how it feels for that moment when every thing is super sexy and new and you never want it to change. When you take into account who her demographic is, this song is everything that it needs to be. Every girl on the face of the planet at some point in her life is going to experience everything this song says.

We drove to Cali
And got drunk on the beach
Got a motel and
Built a fort out of sheets
I finally found you
My missing puzzle piece
I'm complete

I mean come on, I realize the lyrics aren't Pulitzer Prize quality but how dreamy is that verse. The video itself is absolutely perfect for the song, something her people have an amazing knack of figuring out. The grainy quality of the film and the overall feeling is the treatment the video needs and when she channels her best Zooey Deschanel she nails it.

I love Ms. Perry and think she is doing a valuable service to the pop community by delivering her special brand of music

I give this a dreamy 4.5/5.00

Scissor Sisters - Any Which Way

"You know baby,
When I was taking my pantyhose out of their egg this evening
I thought: I'm going to find that man that is the right shade of bottle tan
A man that smells like cocoa butter and cash
Take me anyway you like it
In front of the fireplace
In front of your yacht
In front of my parents
I don't give a damn baby, just take me......any which way you can!"

My sisters are back with the video to the second single off Night Work, Any Which Way. They released the video for the single on their website at noon on August 11, 2010. You may have seen the performance of this from Glastonbury that featured Kylie Minogue on guest vocals but this is the album cut. There is a ton I love about this video from the colors to Jake's obvious gym inspired body to Del's crazy ass helmet, Babydaddy's Sushi Gun and Ana wielding a sword. I am so proud to be a fan and videos like this are just plain fun.

I give this a solid 4.75/5.00

Passport

I introduced a friend to Janelle Monae last night via Facebook and her comment was, "She has so much energy, why have I never heard of her". My response was, "In a world full of T. Pain and Lil Wayne, there is no room for originality and creativity". I feel this to be true. American popular music has been dumbed down so much that all it takes is a sample and some auto-tune and you are a rockstar. I miss the days of artists laying it all on the line and bearing their soul for all to see instead of showing us the inside of their stainless steel fridge and collection of empty Cristal bottles. Artistry and Emotion are all I expect out of my pop music and until I feel that America can consistently produce this, I'll just hang out in the UK, musically speaking as it were.

Top 10 Songs ...

that are blowing up my eardrums!

10. 3Oh!3 - My First Kiss (Video)
9. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Paris (Ooh La La) (Video)
8. The Like - He's Not a Boy
7. Dragonette - Pick up the Phone (Video)
6. Scissor Sisters - Running Out
5. MNDR - I Go Away
4. Mark Ronson and Business Intl. - Bang Bang Bang
3. The Dirty Disco - Sista!
2. Janelle Monae - Cold War
1. Alphabeat - Heatwave

Alphabeat - Heat Wave

I keep trying to keep it cool as ice, but I'm melting

Yet another smash hit from the Danish pop band Alphabeat. At this point in time, I will honestly say, there is nothing they can't do and everything they touch is gold. This song is so upbeat and poppy I can't find anything to fault it for. Stine's vocals are tight as ever and there is more of a dance pop feel to this than the standard Human League/Animotion vibe they put out. I think that has a lot to do with the fact Anders didn't have any vocals on the track. Amazing summer song that leaves you feeling cool and refreshed.

4.5/5.00

The Pretty Reckless - Miss Nothing

With the follow up single to "You Make Me Want to Die" which was on the soundtrack for Kick-Ass, The Pretty Reckless give us "Miss Nothing", an angsty romp through feeling neglected and invisible. Miss Momsen is throwing off some severe energy in this video and I dig it. Most people will see this as nothing more than some tween emo/scene stuff but whatever. It's solid through and through and has major market appeal. I am in awe of her voice and the power that she has behind it, especially for being only 16 and one of the stars of Gossip Girl. I know that is way stereotypical but a spade is a spade. I don't begrudge her of her status or her age, I wish her well in all her endeavors. I have a feeling that she won't be a mega star like Britney or Christina or even Amy Lee but I think we are just getting acquainted with The Pretty Reckless.

Body Talk Part 2

I posed last month that Robyn was going to be releasing a grand total 3 albums this year, kind of like a pop music trilogy. I have heard critics say this is a bad idea, it's way to risky, drop a ton of the mediocre songs and just release 1 really good album. Now, while I can see that as a solid plan...more record sales for 1 really good album rather than mediocre sales for 3 albums but I think that by casting a larger net, our beautiful Swede is going to catch far more fish. So with that being said, I am a little behind on this but I am still trying to catch up with all the new music I have buried myself under, I present to you the cover art and track listing for Body Talk, Part 2.



1. In My Eyes
2. Include Me Out
3. Hang With Me
4. Love Kills
5. We Dance To The Beat
6. Criminal Intent
7. U Should Know Better (featuring Snoop Dogg)
8. Indestructible (Acoustic)

RandomEnigma over at Unreality Shout seems to think that Indestructible is going to be the lead single off Body Talk, Part 3 based on the trend with Hang with Me. On Body Talk, Pt. 1 it was the acoustic track and then was beefed up with some beats to be the lead off track for Pt. 2. It totally makes sense and if the track is good, I say do it.

And yes, you saw correctly - Snoop is going to be on the album. How incredible is that? I think that he is a very savvy business man that knows how to increase his footprint in this shaky economic climate, musically speaking as it were.

The Dirty Disco

Earlier this week Larry Flick of Sirius/XM OutQ interviewed Adam Boy from the British pop group, The Dirty Disco. After a brilliant interview, I tweeted Adam and let him know I thought the interview was the tops and couldn't wait for them to come to America. He responded and threw me a courtesy XXOO and I thought, "That's cool. Not many celebrities would actually respond to a fan". So color me shocked today on Follow Friday when none other than Adam Boy name checked me...ME for a #FF. I spent the rest of the day in a sugar induced high and I now implore you. If you don't know who The Dirty Disco is, you need to. Here is the link to their Youtube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/thedirtydisco) I recommend you run to Youtube right now and watch the videos for Sista! and White Room. Do it now. You won't be disappointed. Ah hell, I'll just give em to you so you can watch em instead of working for it.

White Room:



Sista!



Before you start saying they are biting the GaGa's style, check yourself. I see much more influence from Pete Burns than the "Mother Monster" any day.

Follow them on Twitter, twitter.com/dirtydiscomusic
Subscribe to their Youtube Channel
and get off your ass and support brilliant Pop music

*****EDIT: After posting this review, Adam gave me super huge props via twitter and linked to the blog. Being easily excitable, here's the screenshot.



Also - Go to their myspace and check out Storyteller. It's gonna be the next single

Top 10 Artists

These are my top 10 powerful female artists. I am looking for someone that can stand on their own and has survived what the industry can throw at them. Who are your top 10?

10. Alanis Morrisette
9. Janet Jackson
8. Britney Spears
7. Debbie Harry
6. Heather Small
5. Madonna
4. Nancy Wilson
3. Cyndi Lauper
2. Cher
1. Tina Turner

Ke$ha - Take It Off

I'm not even going to say this is a guilty pleasure. It's an absolute pleasure. There is something that is just enthralling about Kesha. I don't want to stop listening to her. I think it's the simplicity of the whole production with no overly produced vocals. Oh wait....I am talking about Kesha....LMAO but I do love her. And so should you.

Going Into Best Buy!

Imagine Matt Morris' surprise when he found out 1 day after ecstatically posting a video on Youtube of the support and promotion Best Buy had put into his debut album release that they had donated a ton of money to the Anti-Gay Political Action Campaign, MN Forward. I don't get behind a lot of political causes but when something hits close to home, I have to take notice.

So I ask that you take a minute to watch this video and then go to the HRC's website and print off the open letter.

HRC's Open Letter