Alcazar - Good Lovin

"Tell me what it means to you"

It's a Swedish assault these past two days! Just after I recovered from the Fooo's new song, I gave the new Alcazar single a listen. Of course, it's an amazing example of cheesy, balls-to-the-wall schlager pop. That said, Good Lovin is definitely more modern than their Melodifestivalen entry this year. It has an irresistible summer sheen and huge dance beat, smothered by those layered Abba-esque vocals that the trio are so well known for. Simply put, we can always do with a bit more Alcazar in the world. I'm hoping this means that there's an album on the way.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Fooo - All Over The World

"You gotta dance like that"

It's the Fooo! Need I say more? After their album was released in April, I figured that would be all we'd hear from them until maybe the Fall. But amazingly, this track popped into my facebook feed this morning. It, and its globe-trotting video, is utter pop bliss. The beat is actually pretty hardcore in places, but then that cotton-candy, singalong chorus rears its head and the track becomes yet another slice of pop perfection from the guys. I'm a little confused why they haven't broken out of Sweden yet. I mean, it's gonna happen. They're practically bred for worldwide stardom. But maybe it's better that this music remains a Scandinavian secret. All I ask is that they compete in next year's Melodifestivalen and clean the floor with all the other acts!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Alexander Rybak - Into A Fantasy

"I will be with you every step"

When I want this specific kind of folksy-euro-old-fashioned pop music, I always know where to go. Alexander Rybak, even post-Fairytale, is always reliable. His music is earnest and irony-free, and very timeless. It just makes me happy. This track is from the Norwegian soundtrack of How To Train Your Dragon 2, which is really a perfect fit. I'm actually surprised he hasn't done more work for soundtracks. On first listen, I thought this was a little too Mumford and Sons-ish, but it's grown on me immensely, as most of Rybak's music does. His vocals are full of character and power, and the message is uplifting. It's perfect for kids, but also for those who will always be kids at heart (like moi).



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

5 Seconds Of Summer - Long Way Home

"You know this is the way it's supposed to be"

So, I've been really enjoying the newly released 5 Seconds Of Summer album. It's a bit surprising, since I don't normally enjoy this type of teen punk/pop, but the fact that the guys wrote or cowrote almost anything gives the songs a lot of authenticity. I know music snobs will shout at me that there's nothing authentic about this kind of young, major-label band, but there are different kinds of authenticity. What I mean is that this actually sounds like teen music written by teens. And besides, I've never pretended that I'm into serious hipster indie music. I like pop with a capital "P." The bigger the chorus, the better. And these guys have a knack for churning them out. Take Long Way Home, for example. That chorus is melodically sticky, but is complemented be a second refrain that adds an extra punch. It's great stuff, and has a summery California vibe that's addictive.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.