Flashback Friday: G'race - Manhattan

"Some girls need liberty"

I'm sticking with Dutch singers for this Flashback Friday, though this song doesn't sound Dutch at all. It's written about an American city and given a classic African melody. It shouldn't work, but my god it does. G'race is actually a band, not the name of the lead singer. In fact, she wasn't even around when they first started. But she's all over this track. It's a mix of Adam Ant-style percussion and more typical new wave. And more than that, it's catchy as hell (even if the bulk of its melody is borrowed from traditional African music). Jungle Beat, the album that this is taken from, is worth listening to as well... if you can find it. Of course, I'm a sucker for afro-inspired pop, so I was preconditioned to love this.



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

La Puma - Chasing My Lover

"We used to sing together"

Sweden's La Puma have been around for awhile now. In the past, they've released punky indie rock/pop and developed a small following. With this track, though, I feel like they're pushing into the mainstream. Chasing My Lover is an interesting beast. On one hand, it's got a supremely catchy refrain and a great guitar riff. On the other hand, the entire song is really framed around that guitar riff. It doesn't have much in the way of a beat or glossy production. It's pretty raw and skeletal, which makes it an interesting single. I'm definitely a fan, though it's not as good as lead vocalist Helena Gutarra's solo outing, Tongues of Fire. Still, I'm hoping that this means an album is in the works.



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

Diamond Rings - I'm Just Me

"Hold me underwater, teach me how to breathe"

This song kind of came out of nowhere. Diamond Rings has been on my "to watch" list for awhile now. He's got a ridiculous amount of potential and I love his theatrical style, but prior to this track, only one of his singles really struck a chord with me (Show Me Your Stuff, still his best song). Now he's back with a slightly meatier, clubbier sound. I'm Just Me is complemented with a typically dramatic, glammed-up video. The song itself is still not completely "wowing" me, but his image and style is just too good to forget. I have hopes, and this is a definitely a step in the right direction. I can't wait to hear the next album!



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

Jedward - Luminous

"We've got the stars and moon in us"

If you're still viewing Jedward as that joke act on X-Factor, I urge you to reevaluate their music... starting with the new album. Though their vocals are still pretty average and their attitudes more than a little "novelty-esque," their music has morphed into an excellent brand of teen power pop. I credit the awesome, mostly-Swedish songwriting and production teams behind the new album. The tracks are uniformly entertaining--a sort of mish-mash of current trends delivered with a pop precision that keeps things moving. Luminous is kind of a Firework/We Found Love mash-up and the guys sound surprisingly good on it. Of course, like most of the album, it's all about the shiny production. If you like this track, even a little, you should definitely give the album a try. I can't say it enough: you'll be surprised at how credible it is.



(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.

Carly Rae Jepsen & Owl City - Good Time

"We don't even have to try"

Carly Rae Jepsen is taking over music around the world right now. Call Me Maybe shows no signs of abating, and has really secured its place as the song of Summer 2012. Hot on its heels, though, is this new duet with Owl City. I've never been a fan of Owl City's music (I find his voice very whiny and overly affected), but I'm happy for new Carly. Honestly, I'd prefer a little more meat on the bones of this pop song. The hook is a little phoned it. But, the prediction is lush and Carly's parts are really enjoyable. Regardless of how I feel about it, I predict this is going to rule the airwaves... at least in North America. It's the comeback Owl City needs. Who would have ever predicted it would have come in this way?



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