Romeo - Lovesick

I worship at the alter of Sweetune. They are just an unstoppable force of pop songwriting. No matter who they're working with, I know I'm going to love the song even before hearing it. So, I was very happy to discover that one of their tracks would be kicking off the career of new band Romeo. Before I go any further, I will note that this is definitely not A-grade Sweetune, but that's to be expected for such a newbie boyband. They really save their best stuff for Infinite (and, let's be honest, Infinite does more than a little to elevate every track they perform). The music video is also a bit cringeworthy, which is why I'm not posting it. But even with all those flaws, that consistently awesome, propulsive Sweetune sound is intact and I love it. It's been awhile since we've heard this light, poppy sound from a Korean boyband. It's a trend I really hope remains through the summer. I'm getting just a little tired of all the swaggy hip-hop.



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

Brandon Flowers - Lonely Town

This is such a nice surprise. Even though Brandon Flowers' Can't Deny My Love was undeniably awesome earlier this year, I really expected it to be something of a red herring. I guess I just assumed that his upcoming solo album would be full of the now-boring sound that the Killers have been giving us for the past couple of years. Instead, he's gone and recreated the 80's. Lonely Town has such a specific sound and vision. He didn't just borrow trendy 80's elements like so many others do, but actually created something that sounds like it could have easily existed thirty years ago. If I was being picky, I wish that we heard that dramatic, beautiful post-chorus hook one more time during the song's running length, but I guess that just means I'll need to hit the replay button. I'm cautiously optimistic about the full-length album. I hope it's more like this and less like what the Killers has become as of late.



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

BTS - I Need U

I was so looking forward to BTS's comeback. They're one of my favorite current K-Pop groups out there. When I Need U was released last week, I was initially disappointed. I was really craving something more uptempo, along the lines of Danger or Hormone War. It was a case of expectations striking yet again. A week later, and I am so obsessed with this track. I absolutely love it. The moody music video (below) definitely played a part in that, but repeated listens also brought to light the fantastic production and melody, which had initially seemed too murky for my taste. I'm still looking forward to a big dance track from the guys (maybe later this year?), but as of now I think I've listened to this even more than Bigbang's new single.



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

Reece Mastin - Rebel And The Reason

Reece Mastin, of Australian X-Factor fame, just released his newest EP. It’s his first as an independent artist. To be completely honest, that’s usually a bad thing in my opinion. More often than not, it means cheaper production, less striking songs, and music that tends to be more indulgent than universal. For Reece, I feel like it’s exactly the opposite. The production and songwriting is top notch, but more than that, it feels like he’s actually creating the music he wants to. What I’m most impressed by is the sheer amount of catchy hooks throughout the EP’s running length. Rebel And The Reason is the collection’s title track and first single, and it’s among the finest songs Reece has recorded. His vocals sound incredibly strong, and I love the dramatic melody and arrangement of the chorus. It’s got an epic, yet mature, feel to it. A very pleasant surprise.



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