Raygun - Just Because

"Just because you can, it doesn't mean you should"

Raygun are an exciting new band with the best name of the year and also the best video. Stunning. I want the silver jacket. The song that goes along with the visual is also pretty good. The guys mix radio rock with a bit of soul and a touch of glam. They actually remind me of a 2009 version of INXS. The other tracks on their myspace are also catchy and radio friendly. In fact, I'm surprised they haven't blown up bigger already. The single's not out quite yet, and it's been added to the Radio One playlist, so let's keep our fingers crossed. I have a feeling they could be potentially very interesting.

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Follow me on twitter at nickajames)

Some random thoughts

I won't be able to post a song today because my music is at my horribly (non)ventilated apartment and it is nearing triple digits in there today so I had to escape. We are not used to 100+ temps in the northwest! So instead I'm going to highlight some links that you probably already know about anyway :)

1. Although there seems to be a general dislike for him on the internet, I'm quite taken with Mika's choral-bombast of a comeback single We Are Golden. Ditto for the spastic-ADD video.

2. As I said on Monday, I'm pretty impressed with Disney's current crop of teen artists. This new track by Miley Cyrus is just another example of the simple, feel good pop the company is capable of churning out.

3. Not sure how I feel about the new Cinema Bizarre single. I really want to love these guys, and I think they're getting closer and closer to being awesome. I especially love the lead singer on this song, but Space Cowboy... shut the hell up! The verses are bizarrely horrible.

4. I am strangely addicted to Shakira's She-Wolf (and amazed that such an obvious disco track, called She-Wolf, no less, could end up being a US hit). My favorite part? The can't-be-bothered "wolf ow-woooo's" of the chorus.

Marianas Trench - Cross My Heart

"Take me with you, I start to miss you"

To be honest, this song is here today because of the handclaps. I am a big fan of handclaps in music, and without them this would be another generic emopop single (though actually this is more like straight-up powerpop than emo). Marianas Trench are a Canadian band who have recently released a concept album called Masterpiece Theatre that at times can get pretty theatrical. Fans of Queen should definitely check out the opening title track, the band's take on a Bohemian Rhapsody structure (complete with choral vocals). Even with all that drama, Cross My Heart is my favorite track. It's just a simple, unbelievably catchy radio single. Plus, the hand claps... LORD, the handclaps!

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

Demi Lovato - U Got Nothin' On Me

"Wasn't hard to read between the lines"

Totally new to the Demi Lovato fandom, but now I'm questioning why it took me so long. The reason Disney Channel music is so successful is because they've managed to pick a crop of artists that are, number one, pretty darn talented and, number two, actual songwriters. Lovato's second album may just be the most credible piece of music DisneyCorp has produced so far. What I love most about the cd is its total late 90's sound. There are shades of Tragic Kingdom, Jagged Little Pill, Pieces Of You and Left Of The Middle in there. That's not to say the record is as good as any of those landmarks, but it's still a marvel of "teen" pop. I almost posted the danceable and catchy-as-all-get-out Remember December (search for it, you won't be disappointed), but had to go with U Got Nothin' On Me. The chorus is great (including the inspired Def Leppard-esque chanting of the title), but it's the shimmery verses that send me over the edge. I love the way they're structured: build and release, build and release. They remind me of something but I can't quite put my finger on it. Whatever it is, this is (surprisingly) a record to check out.

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