#1 Hits From Another Planet

Melodifestivalen 2012: Heat One - Preliminary Judging

2012-02-03T07:15:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again, folks. Melodifestivalen is back and I'm raring to go. As always, I'm going to give my preliminary thoughts on Fridays, based only on the one minute previews that SVT has given us. but remember, my thoughts can (and sometimes do) change once I've heard the entire thing and seen the performance.

(Listen to clips here)

Sean Banan - Sean den förste Banan (trans: "Sean the First Banan")
What an odd choice to kick everything off. The verses sound oddly amatuer, but that chorus is certainly catchy. Of course, it's catchy in more of a campy Dschinghis Khan way than a credible pop song way. Of course, given the confines of Eurovision. This could be a good thing. Right now, it could go either way. 3/5

Abalone Dots - På väg (trans: "On my way")
So boring. This sounds incredibly old-fashioned and "local folk festival." I'm a little afraid that the voters will take to it, but from this clip I can't really distinguish any sort of hook. Maybe in full it'll be better. 1/5

The Moniker - I Want To Be Chris Isaak (This Is Just the Beginning)
It's certainly not as jaunty as his entry last year, but I see this getting through on name recognition alone. I don't hate it, but there's nothing really drawing me in from the sound of this clip, either. 3/5

Afro-Dite - The Boy Can Dance
This feels like the real start of the competition. I'm not sure it's really the best example of this genre, but at least there's some energy! I like the production a lot. The melody? We'll see. 3.5/5

Dead By April - Mystery
Quite a left turn for the competition. It seems as if these guys' popularity is going to allow them to sail through, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I don't mind the singing parts, but that monstrous shouty part? LAME. I just find this whole genre to be pointless, immature and--quite honesty--noise pollution. 2/5

Marie Serneholt - Salt & Pepper
I didn't expect such a swinging sound from this. It kind of sounds like Le Kid's entry from last year. As with Marie's last entry, I'm not sure the song is strong enough to push her through, but it's certainly a nice departure from the last contestant! 3/5

Thorsten Flinck - Jag reser mig igen (trans: "I rise again")
A classic, "mature" sounding Swedish rock ballad. There's always one of these types in the competition. Hopefully it will only be one. Actually, though, this isn't so bad. It's melodically dull, yes, but it's not terrible. 2.5/5

Loreen - Euphoria
Thank god! This feels like the only song worthy of going to the final. Loreen broke through last year, and this should see her sail through to the final. It's hard to get the full effect from the sample, I'd imagine, but I definitely get the hint of an epic club tune. 4/5

Honestly, from the sound of these samples, this is going to be the weakest heat of Melodifestivalen that I can remember. Nothing's really hitting me over the head with its brilliance, which kind of sucks. maybe the full songs will be better. As for now, my expectations are set at "low." Who I think will go through? Dead By April and Loreen, with The Moniker and Afro-Dite fighting for the second chance round.

*I'll be live blogging tomorrow throughout the show, so be sure to check back for my thoughts (and to see if my predictions come true)

The 10 Best Singles By... Madonna

2012-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Madonna will be performing at the Superbowl this Sunday (as if any of you didn't already know that), so I thought it was the perfect time to submit her discography to the Top Ten treatment. She's an interesting one. While I can appreciate her work and am definitely a fan, I've never felt a connection with her like I have with some other pop divas (ie: Janet Jackson, Kylie Minogue). Still, at seventy-five singles and counting, it goes without saying that I could easily have expanded this list well past ten.

10. Music (2000) - The toughest spot on the countdown, because this was battling with several other singles, some much more iconic. But ultimately I chose this because I think it's the best representation of her early 2000's output. And, as silly as it all is, it's actually aged quite well.

9. Vogue (1990) - One of her most iconic songs, and ultimately I think it suffers from that a bit. Still, taken on its own merits, there's simply no denying the melody and sound. To me, this is the last release of her greatest, late 80's era.

8. Borderline (1984) - A highlight of her early output, it's all about the sugary melody here. Free from gimmicks or production flourishes, it's just a great pop song.

7. Live To Tell (1986) - The first track on the countdown from her greatest pop album, this was the most mature ballad listeners had heard from her at the time. Even today, it's still incredibly beautiful and affecting.

6. Material Girl (1985) - Her first perfect music video and one of the most instantly catchy hooks of her career. When thinking of early Madonna, this is what comes to mind for me.

5. Ray of Light (1998) - After a muddled output in the 90's (in my opinion), this was the track that brought her career roaring back. Combining elements of her early work (the massive hooks and bright production) with the artistic experimentalism that would define this period of her evolution, it was the perfect musical statement.

4. Hung Up (2005) - Madonna and Abba. It could have gone horribly wrong. But that sample, coupled with the song itself, easily became the highlight of her 00's output. If only she would have continued in this vein for the rest of the decade!

3. Papa Don't Preach (1986) - Her first major foray into exploring social issues in her singles. But -- and this is key -- that seriousness didn't stop the song from being incredibly melodic, 100% pop and timeless in production. One of her absolute best.

2. Open Your Heart (1986) - '86 to '90 were her best years, by a mile, and this was part of the reason. Quite simply, it's a perfect pop song. It would sound great anywhere, anytime.

1. Like A Prayer (1989) - Like the past two songs, it's perfect pop. What elevates this slightly is its wild ambition, both in the music video and the song itself. Choirs, guitars, religious overtones and a new found vocal maturity all add up to her most riveting single.

So there you go! But here's the thing, no list is complete without hearing what you think! Leave your top ten Madonna songs in the comments!

The Darkness - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us

2012-02-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

"You were pulling my hair"

Earlier today, the Darkness revealed their comeback single. I'm thrilled that they're back, though it doesn't really feel like they left since Justin Hawkins' side project Hot Leg sounded so similar. Still, I've always had a soft spot for the band and can't wait to see them performing with Foxy Shazam later this month in Seattle. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us (wouldn't it be awesome if it was a cover of the Starship song?) has the classic Darkness sound to it. It's short, at well under three minutes, and honestly took me awhile to get into. It feels incredibly slight for a comeback single, but as the melody begins to click, it becomes exactly what I'd hope a 2012 Darkness would sound like. Hopefully, the upcoming album will expand on this sound and offer something a bit meatier. I have faith in them, for sure. Right now I'm just going to enjoy this teaser.

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

Make Out - True Love Is Just Too Hard To Find

2012-01-31T17:35:00.000-08:00

"You know you want it, and you want it bad"

Make Out is a Danish band comprised of Jesper Mortensen (of Junior Senior fame) and vocalist Leah Hennessey. Their music is definitely pop, but with a frantic, garage energy to it that makes it quite unique. All of their songs are incredibly short. it's like they took a full pop song, condensed it, and crammed it into just over two minutes. This track, in particular, is a wonderful jolt of raucous energy. Don't let the beginning fool you. It kicks off with Video Killed The Radio Star style synth production before bursting into a cathartic, punky hook that doesn't let up. And best of all--like all their songs--it stays around just as long as it needs to for maximum effect. To borrow a cliche, some of the best things come in little packages.

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

Chairlift - I Belong In Your Arms

2012-01-30T16:37:00.000-08:00

"It doesn't matter what we do"

I posted about indie band Chairlift years ago, before their song ended up on an itunes commercial and before hipsters embraced them. Now they're out with a new album, and it's decidedly more 80's inspired. If you like your pop lush and quirky, you should really give it a try. The video to their single, Amanaemonesia, is hilariously mesmerizing. But it's I Belong In Your Arms that was my instant standout. It's got wonderfully surging production and a melody that blossoms into something quite special for the chorus. It really is the perfect sweet spot between pure pop and something more artistically gratifying. And, yes... if the powers that be see fit, it would make a wonderful soundtrack to another itunes advert.

(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.

Mikey Jukebox - Hello Dreamer

2012-01-27T16:55:00.000-08:00

"You should take a look at who you are"

Sometimes artists and albums fall undeservedly through the cracks. It's a shame. And I'm actually almost embarrassed that I didn't know about Mikey Jukebox until this week. After all, the first version of his album was released way back in 2010. And he is AWESOME. I'm talking "top 10 album of the year" awesome. As a one-man band, he specializes in a mix of glam rock, retro rock and roll, and a touch of disco. his vocals are eerily reminiscent of Kristofer's from Melody Club. This is, of course, an incredibly amazing thing. In fact, it's so amazing that I had to post more than one track today. Hello Dreamer opens the album with a kaleidoscopic, stomping beat recalling ELO at their most euphoric. It's simply massive when played loud. Come On Along, on the other hand, is a straightforward 80's power-pop rocker with some deliriously singalong verses. It might just be my favorite track on the album. Seriously, you've gotta have a listen. I feel like this is buried gold just waiting for bloggers to strike.

(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.

Pop Blitz 1/26/12

2012-01-26T15:15:00.001-08:00

Santigold - Big Mouth
This definitely has some bonkers M.I.A. influence to it. I like the production (especially that frenetic hook), but I wish there was a little more focus on melody. Still, a promising return. B

Alexandra Burke - Elephant
I would have never expected such a lush, electronic sound from Burke. It's a pleasant diversion from the more straightforward pop of her debut. In fact, it doesn't sound anything like her. She's following trends, but this totally works. A-

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
Lana's not the easiest artist to love, and the verdict's out on her album, but I really enjoy her singles. This has an epic atmosphere, though it's really pretty subdued. I love the hip-hop elements of the production and the melody's quite haunting and memorable in its simplicity. A

Chris Brown - Turn Up The Music
It's no surprise that he's continued to explore the clubby side of his music after his success in that genre, but unfortunately this isn't quite as strong melodically as past singles. Not bad, but not particularly memorable either. B-

Emeli Sande - Next To Me
Emeli's certainly going for the more serious side of pop music. This isn't particularly fun or innovative, but the melody's nice enough. Still, I can't say that this track would warrant my undivided attention if it came on the radio. It's pleasant. B-

Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)
To me, this is Clarkson-by-numbers. I like Kelly's music, but I have trouble picking this one out of the crowd. It's anthemic, yeah, but the melody feels recycled. It sounds like the commercial to some reality show. C+

Jason Derulo - Breathing
Shania Twain recorded a song a few years back with almost the same lyrics in the chorus. That's the thing about Derulo. Nothing ever feels new. He samples in nearly every single and the sample here (is it a sample?) is by far the best part. In other words, the parts where he's not singing are awesome. The rest... not so much. C+

Your Choice: What's your favorite Pop Blitz song this week?

Niki & The Dove - The Drummer

2012-01-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

"It is what makes me human"

I haven't gotten a chance to throw my two cents in about Sweden's Niki & The Dove yet. They're one of the BBC's Sounds of 2012 selections, which usually means very little to me (their choices tend to be on the more boring and overpraised side). But Niki & The Dove are very interesting. Like fellow Swedes The Knife, their music fuses electronic elements with alien-like, challenging pop soundscapes. They're a little more mainstream than the Knife or Fever Ray, but still delightfully weird. While I think their excellent single DJ, Ease My Mind will be the one to break them through to a more mainstream audience, I prefer The Drummer by just a hair. I love its chaotic, frantic energy. My favorite part? The creepy guy's voice chanting "human" after the chorus. I really can't get enough of it!

The Drummer by Niki & The Dove

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

Track-by-Track: Foxy Shazam - The Church Of Rock & Roll

2012-01-24T18:24:00.001-08:00

Hallelujah! Seriously, there isn't a better band in America than Foxy Shazam, and this album proves it. Their self-titled 2010 release was my favorite of that year. I can see this making it to the top for 2012, and it's only January. The band have often stated that they want to be the biggest group in the world. They certainly sound like it. While not as thundering and boisterous as their older stuff, the guys have tightened their ear for melody and infused this album with a different kind of bombast. Layered, Queen-like vocals battle with tight arrangements that keep Church speeding along, even in its slower moments. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know that my favorite band in the world is The Ark. Now that they've called it quits, I might just have some new rock and roll heroes...
I apologize in advance for my rambling in this review. I'm so excited about this album, and it's difficult for me to put that in words. If there's any bad thing I could say about it, it would be that it's too short. One thing's for sure... BUY. THIS. ALBUM. The guys need it. They need to be a huge as their music deserves.

1. Welcome To The Church Of Rock & Roll - A deliriously over-the-top, epic album opener. At just over two minutes, it doesn't stick around for long, but it fills every second with more hooks and craziness than most entire albums. 10/10

2. I Like It - Before hearing the album, I probably would have given this buzz single a nine. Now, I'm just obsessed with it. The gargantuan riffs and hilariously in your face lyrics fit perfectly alongside the rest of the tracks. It's definitely one of the rawer songs, especially when it comes to the production. 10/10

3. Holy Touch - This is the moment when I realized that the album was going to be very special. It's the perfect meld of pop and rock, like The Darkness and The Ark and Queen all thrown together in a blender. Yet it's still undeniably Foxy Shazam. The high note is unearthly, and the spoken bit at the end is actually very charming (unlike Cher Lloyd's irritating "ad-lib" at the end of her track Want You Back last year). 10/10

4. Last Chance At Love - Brilliant. This is power pop the way it used to be written before melody took a back seat to beat and production. It's remeniscent of The Darkness's I Believe In A Thing Called Love, but it takes itself more seriously and is much better for it. Should be a single. 10/10

5. Forever Together - The first ballad on the album, and it's an utter charmer. Eric's vocals and lyrics are simple but incredibly effective. It's more stripped down than I've ever heard the band, but becomes a nice singalong as the song moves forward. 10/10

6. (It's) Too Late Baby - And the amazing songs keep coming! This is a definite standout, alternating between quietly churning verses and a huge, massive, almighty chorus. Seriously, you won't believe it. It sounds like all the best 80's rock groups thrown together. Just a wall-of-sound... an army of vocals that make this one of their finest anthems. 10/10

7. I Wanna Be Yours - It's hard to live up to the last track, which is probably why this suffers in comparison. It's great (every song on this album is great), but of everything, it feels the most like filler. It's got a rootsy, stomping glam sound to it. 9/10

8. Wasted Feelings - The verses are sung completely in falsetto, which is a first for the band (I think). But it's the chorus that makes this truly amazing. It's a rousing, rollicking sing-along. The bits at the end are hilariously cool. You'll have to listen to see what I mean. 10/10

9. The Temple - Easily the heaviest track on the album. It's also probably my least favorite, but that's down more to my personal taste than the actual quality of the song. I love the melody and the guitars, but there's just something about it that doesn't quite live up to the (very high) standard of the rest of the album (for me). 8/10

10. The Streets - Awesome, anthemic chorus. The verses are a little crazy, but once it hits that chorus -- especially the ad-libbed end bit -- it's pure bliss. 10/10

11. Freedom - This is the best ballad I've ever heard from the band. It's incredibly simple and very powerful because of that. To me, this sounds like a long lost classic hit single from the 70's. Much of the album could be described this way, but this is one of the biggest highlights. 10/10

Album Grade: 9.7/10

Neo - Let Go

2012-01-23T16:13:00.000-08:00

"I'm trying to break free"

It's been a weekend full of Scandinavian pop (don't even get me started on Jesper's song not winning on Denmarks's MGP Saturday), which has put me in the mood for instantly catchy, explosive bubblegum tunes. And when I'm looking for that sort of thing, I instantly go to artists like Neo. Let Go is taken from his just-released second album, Reborn. The sound is just a little more mature than his first release (aka: more ballads, but better ballads), but doesn't sacrifice any of the big choruses. If you're looking for a jolt of pop energy this is the album you need to grab. So many people put down simple, get-to-the-chorus music like this, but they underestimate just how difficult it is to craft an effective pop track. From the production to the hook, this just works. And it's only the tip of a schalger-fied pop iceberg.

Neo - Let Go by nohfap

(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.

Foxy Shazam - Holy Touch

2012-01-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

"Kick down the door and hold me"

Foxy Shazam is back! I'll give a full review of their very good album next week when it's officially released. After all, I'm still digesting it. In some ways, it's very different than their last one. Yet it's also a natural progression. They've gone further into classic rock territory, while still managing to up the bombast (I mean, check out (It's) Too Late Baby. That's like bombast personified). The band have been nice enough to share one of the album's best tracks a few days early. Holy Touch is the kind of ultra-hooky, melodic punch of rock that this country's been missing for years. Now that the Ark's retired, I'm ready to hand over the title of best rock band to Foxy Shazam. They've really got it all. And Eric Nally is pretty much a superstar.

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the album here if you want it a few days early (I did). Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Doug Naugler - Smells Like Teen Spirit

2012-01-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

"With the lights out, it's less dangerous"

Time for something a little different. Vancouver-based musician/producer Doug Naugler has created something very special with his free online album of covers. He's taken classic rock songs, stripped them of instrumentation, and rebuilt them using electronic music. The result is really, really cool. I'm a big fan of mixing rock and dance in the first place, but these reproductions have amazed me by just how seamless they are. I had a hard time picking which one to post (you can listen to them all on his soundcloud), but I decided to go with Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit. It's obviously a super well-known song, but it's augmented in just the right way to make it (if possible) even more powerful. Nirvana as a dance anthem? Yes, please! If you like this, be sure to download the album and spread the word.

Doug Naugler - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Re-Production) by dougnaugler

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

Tommy Fredvang - Make It Better

2012-01-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

"I can turn it around"

From Denmark to Norway today, and another Eurovision hopeful. Like Jesper yesterday, Tommy Fredvang was also a participant in his home country's X-Factor. I'm seeing a pattern here! More importantly, Tommy's music sounds like Ola Svensson with more guitars. This is, of course, a very good thing. Make It Better is catchy from the get-go, with big poppy guitar riffs and a driving chorus that propels the song along at breakneck pace. I'm not sure what Tommy's chances are in the competition, but I'm glad he'll at least receive the exposure from participating. After all, I probably wouldn't have ever known about him otherwise. Also recommended is his last single, Come On. Hopefully this is an indication of the direction he's going for album number two.

Tommy Fredvang - Make It Better by nohfap

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

Jesper Nohrstedt - Take Our Hearts

2012-01-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

"We can take our hearts, make them whole again"

It's the beginning of the year, so that means a host of new Eurovision contenders are making their way onto the European scene. As usual, I've got my eyes on a number of races. Both Norway and Denmark's tracks were released to itunes recently (is that normally how it's done?). Out of all of them, I was most excited to hear Jesper Nohrstedt's first official studio recording. I loved Jesper when he was a contestant on Denmark's X-Factor 2010 (he came third... should have won), and I've been waiting for what seems like forever for him to release some music. Take Our Hearts is a hybrid ballad/dance track. The verses are piano driven and sparse and the chorus has a huge, anthemic electro feel to it. I do wish the song would surrender completely to the dance sound about halfway through, but I still love this. I think it's an incredibly strong contender to represent Denmark this year, especially given Jesper's performance skill. It's the kind of track I can imagine finding success outside the contest as well. I hope he wins! But more than that, I hope he releases an entire album in this style.

Jesper Nohrstedt - Take Our Hearts by nohfap

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

The Supanova Project - Dance Off

2012-01-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

"Now we're dancing for our life"

Pop fans, you are going to LOVE this. The Supanova Project, from Australia, lists their influences as these: Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Armin Van Burren, Michael Jackson, David Guetta, Prince, Pat Benatar, Def Leppard, Zoe Badwi. Really, is there anything better? This band should be on every pop blog out there. And for you X-Factor fans, the group features duel male/female vocals and the male side of that is none other than Johnny Ruffo from this past season of X-Factor AU! Johnny was not my favorite contestant, but he totally grew on me throughout the competition and he's perfect for this type of music. The Supanova Project makes incredibly catchy dance-pop... all sugary melodies and high energy beats. Every song on their soundcloud is pretty much amazing, and you should head right over and listen to them now. Dance Off seems to be the track they're pushing, so it's the track I'll post here. (But check out Running Away next. It's brilliant, too.)

Dance Off by The Supanova Project

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

Joywride - Bad Tattoo

2012-01-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

"I'm stickin' with you like a bad tattoo"

Remember Ollie Wride? I've written about him quite often and am a huge fan of his 80's glam pop. Now, he's gone from solo artist to full on band with the formation of Joywride. The music's pretty much the same, but I love the new name. The band has a facebook page and a soundcloud account where, in addition to Ollie's awesome Head Rush, they've posted a demo of a new song, Bad Tattoo. To me, the recording sounds a bit rough, but the potential is definitely there for something awesome. With any luck, they'll be given the chance to record an album and really show what they can do. Ollie's voice alone needs to be heard by pop fans everywhere.

BadTattoo by Joywride

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

Le Kid - Human Behaviour

2012-01-12T17:20:00.000-08:00

"Let's get down, let's get physical"

Le Kid are totally on the right track with this new single. I've always loved them, but sometimes when they go too retro or novelty, they can grate a bit. What they excel at, as evidenced in this track, is creating the perfect, surging pop song. There aren't any gimmicks or trendy production tricks. It's just a great, solid dance song. It shadows the lush, hyper-melodic feel of their best single, America, but it amps those elements up and turns the song into something quite different. I can't help but feel that they would have went to the final of Melodifestivalen last year with this one. I wonder if they ever considered submitting it for the 2012 contest? Either way, I'm psyched for a new album if this is the direction they're going.

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

Caotico - Sunrise Confessions

2012-01-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

"Driven by our obsessions"

Caotico impressed the hell out of me with their first single last year (featuring the ever-cool Tove Styrke). Now they're back with their second single. It's quite different... more of a haunting electronic track than the sleazy funk of Brains Out. It definitely shows a new (more thoughtful, downtempo) side to the band. And I find it absolutely riveting. This is a band that I'm really excited about. They definitely seem very Swedish. The Scandinavian melancholy is in full effect here. I don't think there's been a track like this in awhile. It's got a certain kind of aura around it that you really only find in Swedish music, and it's a sound that was sorely missed in 2011. The video's below, and I think you'll agree that this is one of the most stylish bands around right now.

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

Foxy Shazam - Welcome To The Church Of Rock And Roll

2012-01-10T09:19:00.000-08:00

"There's nothing new to listen to"

The new Foxy Shazam album is out in two weeks and I couldn't be more excited. Their last release was such an incredible highlight for me. From the sound of it, the new one's going to be a continuation of that--a little heavier on the ballads, but moving even more strongly into theatrical Queen style. This is the opening track and, at just over two minutes, it's a blistering salvo that promises over-the-top things to come. It sounds a little like The Darkness, which makes sense because Justin Hawkins has had a hand in the album. The difference is that Eric (lead singer of Foxy Shazam) easily eclipses Justin vocally. Plus, Foxy have a more diverse sound, drawing on piano and brass. The only complaint I have about this is that I wish it was longer. I really, really hope this album does well. They've moved to a new label and I desperately want them to be as big as they should.

Welcome to the Church of Rock and Roll by foxyshazam

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

Scissor Sisters - Shady Love (ft. Krystal Pepsy)

2012-01-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

"You see me running but you can't keep up"

Ok, let's talk about the new Scissor Sisters song. Hmmm. Honestly, I'm not loving it. It kind of reminds me of when Robbie Williams did Rudebox. Luckily, that song was part of an otherwise excellent album. I'm hoping for the same thing from the Sisters. I get that this is supposed to be funny and trendy, but I just think the band is capable of so much more. Their last album was a masterpiece, and included all the humor that they're known for without seeming novelty or, even worse, annoying. Shady Love has very little melody, even though that has always been one of their biggest strengths. I do love the guitar (when it finally comes in) and the hook is alright, but that rapping just rubs me the wrong way. And I don't understand why Ana isn't singing the chorus. I don't know... maybe it'll grow on me. Otherwise, this is probably their first single that I'm not crazy about.

Scissor Sisters - Shady Love by The Pop! Music Blog

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

Hurricane Love - Serial Liar

2012-01-05T09:40:00.000-08:00

"will you believe if I say I miss you so much?"

It's about time we got some good new Swedish pop/rock! I feel like it's been a painfully long gap since the last new band like this came on the scene. It would be unfair to pin all my hopes on them, but I'm loving the sound so far. They actually remind me a lot of little-known Swedish group Lamont. The way they mix synths with straight ahead rock gives them the kind of edge that's been sorely missing in Scandinavian pop for the past year or two. It's a great start and will hopefully end up making some impact in the country and carve the way for a successful album. I have my doubts, just because this kind of sound has seemed to take a dip in popularity since its heyday about five or six years ago. But I desperately want a resurgence, so go buy it! I think you'll be hooked from the get-go.

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

Electric Youth - Right Back To You

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

"If there's a way, I'm coming right back to you"

When I was watching the movie Drive this year, I was really taken with the main, repeated "theme" song, which was totally ambient 80's flashback. It was a collaboration between French DJ College and wonderful Canadian pop duo Electric Youth. Smitten, I decided to look into Electric Youth's discography, which has really just begun. Their first EP was released late last year and features this, the opening track. Right Back To You is pure electro bliss. And just when you think it can't get any better, they add a cheesetastic guitar solo after the middle eight. I'm not sure if the band's name was inspired by Debbie Gibson's 80's album title, but I wouldn't be surprised. In some ways, this sounds like a cooler, more modern update to that kind of girl pop.

Electric Youth - Right Back To You (Now Available on iTunes) by Electric Youth (Official)

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

Top 20 Movies of 2011

2012-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

This past year, I watched over 45 of 2011's movies, which I think is some sort of a personal record. I guess that's why my list is longer than last year's! There are still a couple of limited release films I've yet to see (The Iron Lady, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Take Shelter and My Week With Marilyn) that could conceivably make their way onto my list, but for now... this is how it looks!

1. Super 8 / Hugo
I can’t separate these two movies--two of the best, most entertaining and emotionally satisfying stories told in the past few years. They have a lot in common, actually. Both feature coming-of-age story elements at their core, even if they’re not necessarily billed as such. Both are tributes to earlier days of cinema (Super 8 to the 80’s Spielberg classics, Hugo to the early 20th Century work of French filmmaker George Melies). Both featured incredible work by teen and child actors, who anchored the films. And both stand as undeniable, heartfelt highlights of their respective directors’ bodies of work. It’s impossible to watch either film without feeling the passion in every frame. These are works of personal, at times autobiographical, love for movies and moviemaking. Both accomplish this with a knowing wink at the past, while still keeping an eye on the future. Super 8, with its infinitely quotable script, instant chemistry between its cast of mostly-unknowns, and explosive genre set pieces, is a movie I’ll be watching over and over again. Hugo, with its gorgeous, dreamlike storybook cinematography and affirmation of the power of human goodness--that we’re all capable of “fixing” each other--is a modern classic.

3. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Pt. II
The end to one of the, if not the, best movie franchises of all time. It’s impossible to separate this film from the seven prior, or from the intense outpouring of worldwide euphoria and, ultimately, bittersweet sadness attached to it. All in all, I’m not sure that this is my favorite Potter film, but that doesn’t really matter. It is without a doubt the most emotional, cathartic entry in the series, trading the light magic of prior films for a dark, operatic tale of sacrifice, enduring friendship, and that ultimate theme: good versus evil. This, plus the greatest ever assembled cast of British character actors.

4. War Horse
A movie about the enduring humanity of those involved with the horrors of war, as evidenced best by a beautiful scene towards the end of the film (without giving anything away, let’s just say it involves barbed wire). Sure, it’s hardly a new theme, but it’s an enduring one. The trick War Horse employs so well is using an animal to give us insight, via vignettes stretching over several years, into the minds and hearts of those on all sides of World War I. Joey the horse is wondrous to behold, but more than anything, he’s a blank slate, allowing the audience to impart their own emotions into the story.

5. X-Men: First Class
Maybe not the best, but definitely the coolest, X-Men movie yet. Setting this in the 60’s, with all its James Bond influences and borderline camp appeal, was a stroke of genius and instantly set this apart from all the other superhero movies clogging the market. A killer cast, a near operatic fall-from-grace storyline and some great action sequences made this a definite summer highlight.

6. We Need To Talk About Kevin
Emotionally devastating, and featuring the female performance of the year in Tilda Swinton, who opens a side to her that I had never seen before. Working off a script that’s largely dialogue sparse, heavy on dramatic symbolism and non-linear storytelling, the movie becomes a fever dream of real-life, domestic horror. The dramatic arc is inevitable from the beginning, but still manages to pack a surprising punch. Not recommended for would-be or soon-to-be parents, though! Or maybe it should be?

7. The Help
In a summer of big action movies and sequel after sequel, we got this exquisite drama. Many have argued that as an adaptation it’s not as strong as it could have been, but I found myself mesmerized the whole way through. Strong acting complimented a story that, while socially important and undeniably moving, managed to be funnier than most comedies as well.

8. Trollhunter
A jolt of crazy Norwegian filmmaking. This packed more creativity into its limited budget than most huge Hollywood tent poles. It’s a simple, yet off-the-wall, story that shifts between talky, near-documentary style background info and deliriously entertaining troll sequences, for lack of a better description. And those troll sequences… well, I won’t spoil anything for you, but they’re something very, very special.

9. Fast Five
Flat out, the best action and stunt sequences of the year. Anyone who's unconvinced that this type of movie making isn't its own art form needs to watch closer. I’ve never been a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise, but this movie won me over and then some. Sure, the dialogue’s a bit hokey and the acting not exactly Oscar worthy, but that’s not the point here. Those stunt sequences, especially the crazy chase that ends the film, are absolutely breathtaking.

10. Midnight In Paris
Both a love letter to and dissection of nostalgia, this little movie managed to be funny, smart and romantic at the same time. This wasn’t the type of manufactured romance we see normally in most rom coms. Instead, it was a love for setting--namely, the Paris most of us romanticize (which doesn‘t necessarily match up with reality!). More importantly, the film made an astute, and very true, observation about how we long for an imagined past in order to cope with the present.

11. Real Steel
Sometimes you want formula. There’s nothing in this movie that isn’t predictable to anyone familiar with underdog movies, but when the story is carried through with such panache and crowd-pleasing fervor, it’s really difficult to resist. I’ll admit, I got choked up at the end and I didn’t feel the slightest bit ashamed of myself. It’s a mainstream family friendly film, yes, but one with a lot of heart.

12. Win Win
One of the more naturalistic movies in my year-end line-up. This is, in a large part, due to the fantastic performances all around. It’s not an overwhelmingly complicated story… more a slice of life. If you’re not a sports fan, don’t let the fact that it centers on a wrestler and wrestling coach turn you away. It’s about wrestling as much as last year’s “The Fighter” was about boxing. It’s only a means to tell the story.

13. Attack The Block
A gritty, oftentimes hilarious UK sci-fi action comedy. It has all the youthful, punky energy of its main characters--a misfit band of wannabe gangsters who take it upon themselves to stop an alien invasion. Wonderful in its inventiveness and narrowed scope, it’s the kind of cinematic jolt that you don’t often see in the action genre.

14. The Artist
An admirable, impossible-not-to-love trifle. And “trifle” is exactly why I couldn’t justify bumping this into my top ten. As much as I admire the craft that went into this modern-day silent film, and as impossibly magnetic as I found actress Berenice Bejo, the story felt too slight and overdrawn (yes, at the same time) to compete with the very best films of the year. Still, a wildly entertaining romp and proof that good storytelling is good storytelling, sound or no sound.

15. Submarine
Little can top the first twenty minutes or so. Disarmingly clever, joltingly quick and riotously funny, the movie struggles (understandably) to keep this momentum up. The story’s standard coming-of-age fair, though the setting (Wales) is new and the direction often inspired. It’s affected, but in the best way, with a 15-year-old narrator that does dry and deadpan better than anyone else this year.

16. Hanna
Saoirse Ronan kicks ass. Simple as that. The crazy thing is, I went into this movie expecting something different than I got. Sure, the action sequences were expertly choreographed and the story moved along at a perfect pace, but I didn’t realize there would be such a strong theme of friendship. That may sound kind of cheesy, but I assure you, the way that Ronan plays it, it’s anything but. The awesome score by the Chemical Brothers also helped.

17. Captain America: The First Avenger
Marvel had a very good year. While X-Men was definitely the coolest of their films in 2011, Captain America had the most heart. I wasn’t sure how they were going to craft a film around this character. As a longtime comic book fan, he’s never really been one of my favorites. Like Superman, he’s often depicted with an air of “boy scout goodness.” This movie changed that. Sure, he’s still good, but he’s also layered and interesting. I credit that to the excellent cast, more than anything.

18. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Another action movie. 2011 has been very good in those regards. Tom Cruise makes a blistering comeback with some incredible stunts and a story that’s not too complicated and never slows down for a minute. The direction, by Pixar legend Brad Bird, deserves incredibly kudos.

19. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Dark and graphic in both plot and character, this Hollywood remake of the Swedish whodunit surprised me with just how straightforward it was. I’ve not read the books, and I think I was expecting something more unique in terms of storytelling. Instead, this was all about the characters--namely, Rooney Mara’s Lisbeth. She is the reason why this is in my top twenty.

20. Drive
I have my fair share of issues with this movie, but there's a lot that's undeniable as well. For me personally, it felt like an exercise of style over substance. Luckily, that style is executed so well that it makes up for the movie's shortcomings. The soundtrack, cinematography and jacket (yes, I want the Driver's jacket) are the definition of 80's revival cool.

Other Movies I Liked: Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Limitless, Kaboom, Arthur Christmas, Red State
Movie I'm Struggling To Like As Much As I Think I Should: Tree Of Life

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 2-1

2011-12-30T11:45:00.000-08:00

2. Nightwish - Imaginaerum

Sure, it's not 100% perfect, but no other album displayed this much ambition in 2011. The highs on this are amongst the best things recorded this year. Mixing symphonic rock, film soundtracks, goth-rock-pop vocals and more bombast than you can fathom, Nightwish made their strongest album more than a decade into their career.

1. The Sound Of Arrows - Voyage

Like the title states, this is more of an odyssey than an album. In 2011, it was rare to find a collection of songs that played well one after another without any skipping, re-ordering or replacing. In a year of singles and EPs over albums, The Sound of Arrows made a real, classic album--cohesive in sound and message and vision. From the anthemic opener to the triumphant, epic dream of a closer, this is a singular work that sounds like nothing else out there. Bravo, guys.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 5-1

2011-12-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

5. Rihanna - We Found Love

Sometimes the most amazing songs are also the simplest. Rihanna's got a lot to thank Calvin Harris for. His production on this is just stunning, but it's the gutsy, battle-cry vocals that put this over the top. Her best single yet? Maybe.

4. Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me

An example (haha) of how to mash genres successfully and create something that's better than the sum of its parts. Electro, rap, pop... everything gets its fair share in this track, all tied together by some of the best production of the year.

3. Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory

Gaga goes full-out rock goddess. So good that listeners demanded it as a single. This is what happens when a mainstream pop star refuses to settle, going for something bigger and more majestic than anybody else.

2. Nightwish - Storytime

A symphonic goth-rocker from a Finnish band. I didn't see this coming, but I love surprises. This track meshes so many of my favorite things into just over five minutes. Catchy, Abba-esque vocals, symphonic bombast and a choir of rock angels.

1. Pnau - The Truth

Released at the very beginning of the year, this track takes the top spot because no other song represented everything I loved about 2011 music better than this. It wraps it all together. Drama, dance, rock, bombast, melody. It's all here, and it sounds new each time I listen to it.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 4-3

2011-12-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

4. One Direction - Up All Night

After the massive success of their first single, the following album could've coasted on labored songwriting and lots of filler. After all, fans of the teen pop genre don't always have the most discerning of taste. What we got instead was an album where every track could be a single. Ranging from power pop to club to old school boyband ballads, I haven't been this excited about cheesy teen pop for years. I suppose you could call it a guilty pleasure (if I believed in such things).

3. Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Others might argue, but this is the album where Lady Gaga became a tried and true superstar. Expanding on her previous sound and offering track after track of bombastic pop/rock/dance, this album doesn't get the credit it deserves for its willingness to usher in new sounds to the pop landscape. She could have repeated the old tricks of the last album and a half, but she pushed for a bigger, more intricately layered brand of pop.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 10-6

2011-12-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

Special Mention: Rebecca Black - Friday

Sure, the song's horrible (in all the best ways), but no other track had a better story behind it than this one. I'd be insane if I didn't at least mention it!

10. LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem

So right for all the wrong reasons. If you told me a year ago that I'd be putting an LMFAO song in my top ten, I'd have said you were crazy. Just shows what an incredible hook (or hooks) can do.

9. Kyla La Grange - Heavy Stone

A little known track that barely got a release, this had my absolutely riveted from the very first time I heard it. For what Kyla's doing here, she's just doing it absolutely perfectly. Haunting, beautiful, and ultimately stirring.

8. The Ark - Breaking Up With God

The Ark's swan song, and I'm so glad they borrowed their best sounds and themes when writing this. It's a smart, anthemic rock track, written from a place as personal as it always is with this band.

7. One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful

The best non-Swedish (though that's debatable, given the writers/producers) teen pop track since the turn of the century. The genre hasn't sounded this alive in a long while. The chorus alone is massive enough to convert music snobs everywhere.

6. The Sound Of Arrows - Magic

Uplifting, mysterious, and so, so catchy. This is about as cool as cool gets. One of the year's top music videos helped highlight one of the band's best songs.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 6-5

2011-12-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

6. Aqua - Megalomania

The comeback of the year. Aqua went from novelty pop band to something more mature and interesting. Yeah, there are still plenty of fun bubblegum tracks, but they're filtered through a band whose experience makes itself known through the laser-targeted songwriting and awesome production. There isn't one track worth skipping.

5. Melody Club - Human Harbour

Melody Club may just be the most consistent pop band out today. Every one of their albums has easily found its way into my top ten, year after year. The band knows what they do best and treats us to yet another album chock full of catchy pop tracks. The production, as usual, is flawless and varied, especially the inspired use of a children's choir in Dreamer's Wasteland.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 15-11

2011-12-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

15. Martin Rolinski - Blame It On A Decent Matter

I never had any doubts that this would be brilliant after Rolinski's work with BWO. But it was even better than I'd expected!

14. Studio Killers - Ode To The Bouncer

A welcome shot of Danish electro cool in a year without enough of it. The fact that we're still waiting for a follow-up makes it a little frustrating, though.

13. Patrick Wolf - The City

His most uplifting single in ages, and a track that set Summer off on the right foot.

12. Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend

The Swedish pop queen continues her dominance of my countdowns with yet another brilliant song. Even in a year without an album release, she ruled.

11. Tove Styrke - Call My Name

And hot on Robyn's heels is the ultra-cool Tove, who gave us a taster of future work with this fantastic single, a big jump in quality from her first album.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 8-7

2011-12-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

8. Pnau - Soft Universe

More song-oriented than their last album, this was a very pleasant Summer surprise. It's the perfect mix of electronic music and indie rock. More than that, it has an epic scope when it comes to the sounds and structures used. Though it's buoyed by a handful of remarkable tracks, the entire thing is actually pretty consistent, especially in this genre

7. Rihanna - Talk That Talk

Rihanna's not necessarily an albums artist, but she's got about three fantastic ones under her belt. This might be the best. It's a clever distillation of aural highlights from her past. It's very poppy, but retains the darkness and experimental production that highlights her best work.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 20-16

2011-12-27T10:20:00.000-08:00

20. Nero - Crush On You

It took me awhile to get into the dubstep bits, but once I did, this song quickly became one of my favorite dance tracks of the year. The sample (cover?) is just brilliant.

19. Caotico & Tove Styrke - Brains Out

This just drips cool. From the very first listen, everything about this struck me. It's like 80's Prince reincarnated.

18. Darren Hayes - Bloodstained Heart

Even though I wasn't a fan of the album, this is one of the best, if not the best, solo single by Darren Hayes. Stunning track.

17. Adele vs. Robin S - Show Me In The Deep

The original was a huge hit this year, but I much prefer this remixed mash-up. My most-played remix of the year, and one of my favorite remixes of all time.

16. Foster The People - Helena Beat

Pumped Up Kicks was their breakthrough, but this second single is what really made me fall in love with the group. Such a cool indie rock track.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 10-9

2011-12-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

10. The Sounds - Something To Die For

After a disappointing detour from their synth-punk roots, the band came roaring back with their fourth album. It does what the band does best, offering up aggressive, dance-fueled rock with the glossy sheen of radio pop music. It nearly reaches the perfection of their first two releases.

9. Clare Maguire - Light After Dark

You can have your Florences and Adeles if I can keep Clare. Unfortunately, she was unable to meet their level of success with this album, but her layered 80's style really appealed to me. This is a lush album absolutely brimming with should-have-been-massive-hit-singles.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 25-21

2011-12-26T09:54:00.000-08:00

25. Erik Hassle - Are You Leaving

Working with the guys from Kent was a genius move. The atmosphere, combined with incredible songwriting, make this one of his best.

24. Swingfly - Me & My Drum

The most rousing track in this year's Melodifestivalen, I just don't see how anyone couldn't enjoy this. It's incredible, dumb fun.

23. Le kid - America

Another Swedish track, this is all about the soaring melody. Quite possibly their best ever single.. so far.

22. Melody Club - The Hunter

As always, Melody Club delivers with another anthemic power pop single. Huge bombast channeled into a catchy, succinct pop song.

21. Will Young - Jealousy

Undoubtedly my favorite single he's ever released. Everything's right... the emotion, the incredible vocals, and the subtle--yet enduring--melody.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 12-11

2011-12-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

12. Rhydian - Waves

An opera-singing X-Factor runner-up covering obscure 80's tracks? Yes, please. I'm a big proponent of drama in pop music, and Rhydian definitely enhanced the tracks on this album with vocals of epic proportion. The fact that I was only familiar with a couple of the songs in their original format actually helped things.

11. Adele - 21

Yes, this will be appearing on plenty of people's best-of lists. She really took over the world this year. To be honest, it's not exactly my preferred genre of music, but even I can't deny the quality of songs on this album. Looking at the hits alone is enough to convince anyone of its merit.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 30-26

2011-12-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

30. Short Stack - Heartbreak Made Me A Killer

An album highlight and one of their best singles. It's like all of their best sounds thrown together into one song.

29. Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (ft. Rizzle Kicks)

Represents his shift from X-Factor runner-up to proper popstar. This was inescapable this Summer, and rightfully so.

28. The Sound Of Arrows - Nova

After an extended break, The Sound Of Arrows returned with this taster from their debut album. It got me 1000% more excited.

27. Adele - Someone Like You

The year's most moving ballad. Even after being played to death in every country, it still carries its bite.

26. Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Her anthem, and undeniably a massive part of 2011. This is what happens when a pop song becomes more than a pop song and enters the public consciousness.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 14-13

2011-12-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

14. Will Young - Echoes

The 2011 version of a George Michael album. It took awhile for this to stick with me, but once it did, I was really enchanted. I've never completely enjoyed a Will Young album before. His music has always been too... well... boring for me. With Echoes, though, he struck the perfect balance between ballad and uptempo, organic and electronic. The best "grown up" pop album of the year.

13. Mohombi - Movemeant

This album kind of came out of nowhere. With its synthesized Red One production and Afro-Caribbean sound, this was the perfect soundtrack to the Spring and Summer. It borrows many of the tricks of 2011 pop music but gives it a personal, unique edge that makes the album stand out. Plus, it's catchy as hell. Every single track.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 35-31

2011-12-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

35. The Sounds - Something To Die For

A late-career highlight. Sometimes all it takes is a well written pop song, and this definitely fits the bill.

34. Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (TGIF)

Katy Perry's chart run continued unabated this year, and this track reignited interest in her brand of young, glossy pop.

33. Donkeyboy - City Boy

Foregoing their usual, more wistful sound for something more electronic, this is something of a revelation for the band.

32. Cher Lloyd - With Ur Love (ft. Mike Posner)

The X-Factor finalist's best single, and a perfect representation of what a Cher Lloyd album should sound like.

31. Salem Al Fakir - Split My Personality (Bassflow Remix)

Pair one of the best producers with one of Sweden's quirkiest pop artists and you have a cross-genre masterpiece like this.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 16-15

2011-12-21T10:03:00.000-08:00

16. Penguin Prison - Penguin Prison

The first half of this, single after amazing single, is just flawless. The second half is no slouch either, though I wish there was just a little more diversity of sound. This was a quiet 2011 release, even after a lot of internet buzz around the singles. Like Robyn, this is the kind of pop music where you can tell that the artist is really a fan of music in general. It's lovingly crafted, wearing its influences (mostly 80's) on its sleeve.

15. Le Kid - Oh, Alright

A pop album that sounds almost like a greatest hits, Le Kid debuted with an amazing collection of bubblegum pop songs. It won't appeal to everyone, but the sheer amount of energy involved in everything made certain that the band were never boring. There's a remarkable lack of filler here. Coupled with a handful of brilliant, brilliant singles, and this is an album worthy of more attention than it's had this year.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 40-36

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

40. Jedward - Lipstick

Jedward in the top 50? Yep, they finally released a song worthy of their bonkers brilliance. If only it had won Eurovision.

39. Britney Spears - I Wanna Go

When we're talking pop music, there's no denying the little earworms in this song. Honestly, it's less about Britney and more about the brilliant production.

38. Lady Gaga - Marry The Night

A triumphant dance track that brings Gaga's latest album full circle. It's one of her best videos, too.

37. Nero - Promises

Dubstep gone mainstream, with a wonderful La Roux-esque melody. An unexpected, deserved hit this summer.

36. Mika - Elle Me Dit

The first French track ever on one of my countdowns. It doesn't matter what the language is, though, when the melody is so persistent and uplifting.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 18-17

2011-12-20T10:23:00.000-08:00

18. Example - Playing In The Shadows

Though it still wasn't perfect, with each album release Example comes closer and closer to the artist that I think he can be. Preceded by amazing singles, Playing In The Shadows includes some unreleased gems, most notably the opening track, which shows how epic Example music is at its best. I still think, even though this is distinctly British, an album like this could make a huge splash in America.

17. Cher Lloyd - Sticks & Stones

If this debut would have totally lived up to the promise Lloyd showed on X-Factor, it would be a lot higher on the list. Even so, it's a pleasant pop album without one skippable track. That's a pretty huge accomplishment in 2011, where most pop albums could really have been cut in half and been all the better for it. The album succeeded in carving out a spot for Lloyd in the charts, and has a ton of potential singles just waiting to be released.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 45-41

2011-12-20T10:20:00.000-08:00

45. Olly Murs - Dance With Me Tonight

Olly really came into his own this year with a pair of great singles. This could have been a cheesy novelty track but somehow it just worked.

44. Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat

Now this is a cheesy novelty track. And, more than that, it's the best cheesy novelty track of the year.

43. Lady Gaga - You And I

A rootsy sidestep for Gaga. The Mutt Lange production and weirdo-awesome video totally made it.

42. Sanna Nielsen - I'm In Love

One of this year's Melodifestivalen highlights, it pretty much defines the word "catchy."

41. Ulrik Munther - Boys Don't Cry

The one man Hanson from Sweden broke through with this endearing ballad, released on his own before scoring a record deal.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 20-19

2011-12-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

20. Take That - Progressed

The "parent album" was one of my favorites of last year, and this continuation kept up the quality. To me, this didn't sound at all like a collection of leftovers. In fact, in some ways this is even more experimental than Progress. It's also more uptempo and, while it's not as consistently brilliant as the group can be, it has its share of blistering highlights.

19. Rogue Traders - Night Of The Living Drums

A long time in the making, this represented the band's first album with their new vocalist. She's really the reason why I love the album and, at times, am annoyed by it. When the music soars, like on Would You Raise Your Hands, Don't Think I Love You and Like It Ends Tonight, it's some of the best stuff of the year. Then there are tracks like If You Wanna Taste It and Sign Language that, unfortunately, prevent this from going higher on my list. Still, it's an overall solid album.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 50-46

2011-12-19T09:15:00.000-08:00

50. Jesse and the Toyboys - Push It

In a year without Gwen Stefani, this was the next best thing. A dirty, cheeky party track

49. Leona Lewis - Collide

Leona tackles dance music to stunning effect. Her voice has never sounded better than on this anthemic belter.

48. Penguin Prison - Fair Warning

A reliably cool and catchy 80's inspired pop song. One of Penguin Prison's best, and that's saying something.

47. Vanbot - Lost Without You

A Robyn-esque dance track, dense and layered and utterly gorgeous. One of the best indie tracks of the year.

46. Take That - Love Love

Take That continue their aggressive, electro-influenced sound with one of their best tracks. It just happens to be attached to one of the year's best movies, too.

Countdown to the Countdowns: The Stats

2011-12-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

On Monday, the official Alienhits countdowns will begin! 2011 was an odd year. Chock full of singles to get excited about (seriously, my top 20 songs is as strong as I ever remember it being), the year was underwhelming in the albums department. I blame it on the album as we know it becoming more and more of a dying format. That's incredibly sad, yes, but there were still some definite standouts.
For now, take a look at the stats and let the guessing begin! See you Monday.

This year's albums:

Groups - 50% (down from last year)
Solo Artists - 50% (up from last year)

Debut Albums - 35% (up)
Second Albums - 10% (way down)
Fourth Album (or higher!) - 30% (down)

Male Singers - 50% (down)
Female Singers - 40% (up)
Male & Female Singers - 10% (up)

American Acts - 15% (down)
UK Acts - 40% (up)
Swedish Acts - 25% (down)
Australian Acts - 10% (same)
Danish Acts - 5% (up)
Finnish Acts - 5% (up)

Albums that saw a U.S. release - 20% (way down)
Albums with any substantial success in the U.S. - 15% (up!)

Released in the 1st Quarter (including Dec. '10) - 15% (up)
Released in the 2nd Quarter - 15% (way down)
Released in the 3rd Quarter - 20% (down)
Released in the 4th Quarter - 45% (up)

Countdown to the Countdowns: The Singles Just Outside the Top 50

2011-12-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

Look at the quality of these tracks! And these are the songs that aren't in my top 50. This should give you an indication of how strong the actual chart is.

So what do you think, readers? Should any of these have made the final countdown?

51. Nicki Minaj - Super Bass
52. Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor
53. The Wanted - Gold Forever
54. Patrick Wolf - Together
55. The Sound Of Arrows - Wonders
56. Ed Sheeran - The A Team
57. Eva and the Heartmaker - Signals
58. One Direction - Got To Be You
59. Katy Perry - The One Who Got Away
60. Natalia Kills - Free
61. The Sounds - Dance With The Devil
62. Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks
63. JLS - Take a Chance On Me
64. Selena Gomez - Love You Like A Love Song
65. Vanbot - Make Me, Break Me
66. The Feeling - Set My World On Fire
67. Melody Club - Sweet Disaster
68. Short Stack - Bang Bang Sexy
69. Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger
70. JLS - She Makes Me Wanna
71. Wolf Gang - The King And All Of His Men
72. Martin Solveig & Dragonette - Hello
73. Vincent - The Moment I Met You
74. Clare Maguire - The Last Dance
75. Foxy Shazam - I Like It

Countdown to the Countdowns: The Best & Worst TV of 2011

2011-12-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

The Best:

American Horror Story
What a breath of fresh air! Some of the things they're doing on this series are just crazy. In a way, the excitement I feel watching this reminds me of the days of Buffy and Angel. It's just unbelievably good. I get giddy even thinking about it.

Shameless (US)
The rare Americanized import that actually worked, due in large part to an outstanding cast and sharp writing. I'm so obsessed with this and can't wait for it to come back.

X-Factor AU/UK
While Australia takes the crown for best contestants this year, the UK version continues to be the most bombastic, must-see television of the year. They know how to put on a show, unlike the dead-in-the-water US version.

The Middle
The most reliable comedy on American TV, I'm in love with these characters and their working class story lines. It's just good old fashioned storytelling.

The Walking Dead
They've got some work to do with this second season (pick up the damn pace!), but it's still one of the most engaging dramas on cable TV.

Suburgatory
The best new comedy by a mile, it took a minute for it to completely click with me, but I'm all in now.

The Glee Project
Unlike the show it supports, this packed a heavy dose of humanity, likable "characters" and editing that kept the pace up.

The Worst:

X-Factor US
Could this have been more of a train wreck? Boring contestants, wooden host, horrible judges, watered down production, horrendous voting decisions, and setback after setback. They took one of my absolute favorite shows (guilty pleasure or not) and completely ruined it for the American market. I couldn't have imagined it turning out any worse.

Disappointing:

Misfits
Well, I've actually only watched the first episode of the new series, but it's simply not the same without Nathan.

Terra Nova
Could've been so epic... ended up being so cliche.

Angry Boys
After Summer Heights High (still one of the best series ever), my hopes were high. Sadly, this failed to live up to them in every single way.

Glee
It's gone from "must-see" to "I'll watch it if I have to" in such a worryingly short period of time. Too many characters and uneven writing.

Countdown to the Countdowns: The Worst Singles of 2011

2011-12-13T16:46:00.000-08:00

yes, it's a matter of taste, but if I didn't have taste I wouldn't be running this blog. So before I count down the best tracks of the year, let's look at a few that I never want to hear again.

1. Pink - F**kin Perfect/Jessie J - Price Tag
With her first two albums, Pink was very high on my list of the best pop stars out there. Then she began to repeat herself and water down the music. Perfect, with it’s cutesy lyrics and plodding chorus, just turned me right off her. And if that’s not bad enough, we were forced to endure the song twice this year under two names. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the chorus of Price Tag is exactly the same thing. As if it wasn’t mind-numbing enough the first time.

2. Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts
Suffers similar problems as Pink’s song. It’s got those kind of Starbucks poetry, precious lyrics that just rub me the wrong way. Still, it was a hit around the world. I know people love it, but I seriously can’t listen to it again.

3. Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
Almost Don’t Worry, Be Happy levels of irritation. It’s the kind of novelty track that sets an artist back years in my opinion. Everything else Bruno released this year was fine. This made me scream every time I heard it on the radio.

4. Anything by Taylor Swift
Sometimes it feels like I’m the only one in the world that who is totally done with Taylor Swift. I just can’t deal with the “dooby dooby doo… princess… dooby dooby doo… white horse… dooby dooby doo… ballerina…” nature of her songwriting. I know I’m not the target audience and that it’s just a matter of taste, but to me it’s like nails on a chalkboard.

5. Matt Cardle - Run For Your Life
The UK X-Factor winner lived up to his title of dullest champion yet with this unceremonious dirge. The title basically says it all.

6. Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight, Tonight
This epitomizes what irks me about the hipster mentality in pop music. It's like the soundtrack to a bad romantic comedy (in fact, it probably is). None of the little catchphrases in this track are the least bit cute or funny.

7. Coldplay - Paradise
More of a pet peeve of mine than anything. I hate songs whose chorus consists of the same word repeated over and over again. To me, it's lazy songwriting and almost always results in a plodding melody. Coldplay have done much, much better in the past. I can't believe I gave this a decent grade when it first came out.

8. Train - Marry Me
Thankfully it never became as ubiquitous as their last single, because this is the most saccharine track they've ever released.

Countdown to the Countdowns: An Alienhits Christmas!

2011-12-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

Next week kicks off my annual year-end countdowns. Top 20 Albums and Top 50 Singles, here we come! But first, I've got a week-long countdown to my countdown, starting with this requested feature on Christmas music!

While Christmas is definitely one of my most favorite times of the year, when it comes to music I'm more of a Halloween songs kind of guy. Still, there are quite a few of lesser known tracks that I love to listen to around the holidays. Here, in no particular order, are a few of them:

Darren Hayes - Last Christmas
My favorite version of this track, captured during his Savage Garden days. It ups the tempo and pretty much perfects an already perfect pop song.

Melody Club - I Don’t Believe In Angels
The kind of Christmas track I could (and do) listen to all year long. It's got everything: bells, cheesy lyrics, a singalong chorus and that indelible Melody Club charm.

Girls Aloud - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (or anything off their EP)
Leave it to Girls Aloud to camp up Christmas. This is them at the height of their powers.

The Who - Christmas
From the best rock opera ever, Tommy, it's not the happiest of tracks, but it's freaking brilliant. I've gotta say, though, I prefer the movie version to the Who's version.

Aqua - Spin me a Christmas
Christmas the euro-pop way! Aqua 2.0 basically can do no wrong, and this follows suit.

Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree
She may have a new, more traditional Christmas EP out now, but I prefer this smutty oldie recorded back when she was still hungry for fame.

Sparks - Thank God It’s Not Christmas
An epic song anyway you shake it, this is just ridiculous bombast. Not the cheeriest of lyrics, but they're amazing anyway.

Hurts - All I Want for Christmas is New Year’s Day
It's about as downbeat as you'd expect from these guys, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The bells make it.

Billy Elliot Soundtrack - Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher
From the absolute best modern stage musical, this is the show's catchiest track. I listen to it all year, but it's especially festive (in a vitriolic, down-with-Thatcher way) this time of year.

Pikko - The Ghost of Christmas Future
An icy electro track by one of my favorite indie Swedish artists. It's not high on melody, but has a sound that compliments the chilly season.

The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)
Pretty much what you'd expect from a Christmas song by the Darkness. It's got everything stuffed into it. And it's highly melodic to boot.

And some songs that sample Christmas. Can you tell which classics these tracks use?

Prozzak - It's Not Me It's You
The Mo - Rats on the Radio
JLS - Do You Feel What I Feel

An X-factor Prediction and a Picture

2011-12-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

Okay, so these two things really don't go together, but I wanted to post them both anyway:

First, X-factor. No, not the horrendous wasted-opportunity-times-1,000 US version (seriously, is Nicole Scherzinger the worst judge in talent show history?). I'm talking about the UK version, which ends this weekend. I'll be away all Saturday so Sunday's going to be quite the marathon of finale goodness. Although this year's crop of contestants haven't been my favorite (excluding Kitty), I do genuinely like two of the three acts in the final.

If either Little Mix or Amelia win, I'll be a very happy viewer. Sadly, I'm not sure that's going to happen. Marcus has seemed unstoppable for sometime now. He fills that non-threatening, dull-as-dishwater male contestant mold that viewers seem to like so much (see: Matt Cardle, Joe McElderry, Leon Jackson). If he wins, I fear it's another backstep for the series. I don't think he'll be big in the music industry and, while I'm sure he's very nice, he's the least interesting of the three left.

My prediction for the weekend:
Winner: Marcus
Runner-up: Little Mix
Third: Amelia

If I had my way:
Winner: Little Mix or Amelia
Third: Marcus

We'll see. I'm hoping for a surprise, but I've learned not to get my hopes up when it comes to winners in this show.

In other news, if you haven't yet grabbed a copy of my debut novel, Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars, you've got a chance to win one here! There's also an interview and this kickass Men In Black inspired picture:

My year-end countdowns start in a week and a few days, so next week I'll begin the Countdown to the Countdowns! Yes, you read that right. It's gonna be fun... I've got some great stuff planned.

Pop Blitz 12/8/11

2011-12-08T07:20:00.000-08:00

Flo-Rida - Good Feeling
The sample used in this track is an interesting sidestep for Flo-Rida. After that, it's pretty much what you'd expect. Still, for the sample, this deserves at least a solid B

Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love
The song's about as sleepy as I'd expect from this X-Factor runner-up. It's better than Cardle's debut, but nothing I'd listen to regularly (or remember in a year's time). C+

Jason Derulo - Fight For You
What is it up with this guy and samples? I'm sorry, but you don't touch Toto's Africa. This is about 0.000002% as good as the original. D

Avicii - Levels
Where have I heard this before? Ah, yes... two tracks ago with Flo-Rida's song. Yeah, this is the track he sampled (stole?). It's about as good here as it was there. Nothing revolutionary, but pleasant. B

Kelly Rowland - Down For Whatever
Rowland continues with her successful club sound. It's not as good as her prior singles, but this is definitely the genre she should be recording in. I just wish the melody was a little more inventive. B-

Justin Bieber - Mistletoe
It's not easy to write an original Christmas song. This is far from a trainwreck, but it's still pretty stupid. Luckily, it's too damn catchy to dismiss entirely. B-

Jessie J - Domino
I'm no fan of this girl, but this is at least one of her better singles. I would've preferred it sung by someone like Katy Perry. Still, it's solid radio fodder. B

Your Choice: What's your favorite Pop Blitz song this week?

Olly Murs - Anywhere Else

2011-12-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

"Tonight the stars are in your eyes"

I never thought that I'd be listening to an Olly Murs album, but I've gotta admit... his new one's pretty good. After two fantastic singles, he's released a collection of songs that expands on his prior work and really establishes him as a major UK artist. Most of the tracks have an old-school vibe, but my favorites are the ones that sound a little more current. Anywhere Else immediately stood out because of its glossy production and anthemic chorus. It might not be the best track on the album, but it's definitely in a different category than the others. It reminds me of something we would have heard on Sebastian Karlsson's first two albums, which is funny because Sebastian, like Olly, is from a TV talent series.

(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.

Track-by-Track: Nightwish - Imaginaerum

2011-12-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

It's hard to judge a Nightwish album. In many ways, they're operating so far above other acts that it seems unfair to use the same scale to rate them. Like their last album, there's nothing here that hasn't been exquisitely crafted. The band continue to experiment with genres, and it's natural that every experiment won't fully click with every listener. So, where the band gets docked points is only where their experiments didn't click with me. But make no mistake, this is one of the albums of the year. No doubt about that.

1. Taikatalvi - An intro, sung in Finnish and setting the tone for the album. Nice, but I won't rate an intro.

2. Storytime - The first single, and not only one of the best tracks on the album but also one of the best songs of the year. It's absolutely massive yet still instantly catchy. This represents the sound that Nightwish do best. 10/10

3. Ghost River - Continuing with an experimental theatrical sound, this is slightly less instant. The riffs that open the track are amazing and I love the use of the children's choir, but the melody isn't as strong as the last track. 9/10

4. Slow, Love, Slow - A jazz number (!). It's brilliant for what it is, but I'm afraid this kind of music just isn't my thing. Maybe it would fit better later in the album, but right here I just feel like it kills the energy. Anette sounds great, though. 8/10

5. I Want My Tears Back - Now we're back! Mixing elements of hair metal, folk, rock and pop into a ridiculously inventive gumbo, you've got to hear this to believe it. The melody is among the most instant on the album, and then the track goes totally off the rails with a blistering instrumental. 10/10

6. Scaretale - More experimental with its song structure, of all the songs this sounds the most like a Tim Burton film. It's more like a freaky carnival circus than an actual song, but that's okay because it's just demented enough to be fun. A little long, maybe, but otherwise awesome. 9/10

7. Arabesque - It's all about the drums in this instrumental. It's a refreshing palette cleanser between songs and a dramatic focal point in its own right. 10/10

8. Turn Loose The Mermaids - A classic folk ballad with a beautiful, if familiar, melody. Anette sings this and does so very well. Not my favorite ballad on the album, but a close second. 10/10

9. Rest Calm - Probably the darkest/heaviest track on the album and, because of that, not a favorite of mine. I like the verses better than the chorus, and I think I'd like it more if the track wasn't so long. It's totally fine, just not a standout. 8/10

10. The Crow, The Owl And The Dove - My favorite ballad and rumored to be the next single. It's one of the poppier tracks on the album, while still maintaining a folk sensibility. It's a beautiful duet with a melody that I can't get out of my head. 10/10

11. Last Ride Of The Day - Now this is epic. It's similar in sound to Storytime, but might be even better. The choir is used brilliantly, and that moment we get the key change with the layered vocals? Epic! 10/10

12. Song Of Myself - Another ridiculously epic track, and the longest song on the album at nearly fourteen minutes. The latter half is a spoken poem, but the first half is pure bombast. One of the best things you'll hear this year. 10/10

13. Imaginaerum - An instrumental recap of several of the songs from the album. It's the closing credits for their upcoming movie. Here, it's a perfect capper to one of the year's best albums. 10/10

Album Grade: 9.5/10

* Wanna make this album even better? Combine tracks from this and 2007's Dark Passion Play and you have, literally, the best Nightwish album ever concocted. This is meaning-of-life good, folks. So here's Imaginaerum (Alienhits version):
1. Poet and the Pendulum (edited to the 10:05 mark -- the last few minutes ruin the flow -- Nightwish purists will kill me but I'm all about the sequencing)
2. Storytime
3. Last Ride of the Day
4. Amaranth
5. The Crow, the Owl and the Dove
6. Bye Bye Beautiful
7. I Want My Tears Back
8. Cadence of Her Last Breath
9. Eva
10. Scaretale
11. Arabesque
12. For the Heart I Once Had
13. The Islander
14. Escapist (DPP b-side)
15. Turn Loose the Mermaids
16. Song of Myself
17. Imaginaerum

(If you've gotta cut it down to fit on a cd, take out Scaretale and either the Islander or Imaginaerum)

The 10 Best Singles By... Mcfly

2011-12-05T15:50:00.000-08:00

In honor of Dougie being crowned "King of the Jungle" in this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here (a deserved win, I might add), I thought I'd give his band Mcfly the Top Ten treatment. Over the years, I'm continually surprised at how much I like this band.

10. Obviously (2004) - A sweet, midtempo single that established them as more than a one-hit wonder. Relentlessly singalong.

9. I'll Be Ok (2005) - One of their best straight-ahead rockers. They draw from classic melody here, which gives the song a timeless quality.

8. Please Please (2006) - One of my favorite videos of theirs, and the first track on the countdown from their excellent 2006 album, Motion in the Ocean.

7. All About You (2005) - Not their first ballad, but definitely their first massive one. The Beatles-esque melody is still so refreshing, especially from such a young band.

6. The Heart Never Lies (2007) - The band at their most mainstream and mature. It's like a mix of Robbie Williams and Snow Patrol. Shouldn't have worked, but it does.

5. 5 Colours In Her Hair (2004) - Still a burst of energy after all these years. The band debuted with this huge surf-inspired retro rocker. So catchy.

4. Sorry's Not Good Enough (2006) - Piano driven, with epic Queen-like guitars, this single showed a new side to the band. More elaborate and melodic than almost anything else they've released.

3. Friday Night (2006) - An often overlooked single from the soundtrack to a horrible movie. But the song itself is the best rock track the band have produced, a Def Leppard frenzy of power riffs and layered vocals.

2. Transylvania (2007) - Their most interesting and unique single, it's almost like a mini-rock opera. Dougie proved why he should take lead vocals more often, and the band is really operating at their creative peak.

1. Shine A Light (with Taio Cruz) (2010) - Sometimes simplicity is all you need. This song just worked from the very first listen. One of my favorites from last year, and definitely one of the best mainstream pop releases of the last few years.

So there you go! But here's the thing, no list is complete without hearing what you think! Leave your top ten Mcfly songs in the comments!

Freja Loeb - Never Stop Coming Back

2011-12-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

"I'll never stop coming back"

I haven't featured all that much Danish music on the blog this year, but I'm always excited when something new comes out. Freja Loeb is an 80's styled rock/pop singer--kind of a cross between Karen O and Ladyhawke. I've yet to do any deep delving into her music, but I'm really enjoying this single. It's the hook that really gets me. For some reason, it reminds me of something No Doubt would have written in their Return To Saturn days. If I'm being honest, though, it was Freja's image that first drew me to her. I saw the cover of her album and had a feeling that the music it represented would be right up my alley. And I was right! Geez, it seems like it's amazing female pop star after amazing female pop star this year. I wonder, where is the male version of this?

(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.

Nightwish - Song Of Myself

2011-12-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

"A song of need of a courageous symphony"

This new Nightwish album is something else. It's like they took their last one and blew it up to twice the size. If you're a fan of huge orchestral rock, Tim Burton/Danny Elfman, rock musicals or massive choral vocals, you've got to give this a listen. Song Of Myself is the climax of the album, coming at the very end and lasting over thirteen minutes. Of course, the last half of the song is more spoken word poetry than melody, so it does cut itself in two very neatly. And while the last 6-7 minutes makes more sense in the context of the album, the "song" portion is immediately accessible to anyone. I'm a sucker for drama, and this delivers like crazy. In a word, it is epic like nothing else has been epic this year. And I thought Storytime was big! Of course, me being the obsessive music resequencer/cut-and-paster that I am, I've found a way to make this album even better. Basically, combining the best elements from Imaginaerium and their last album, Dark Passion Play, makes something that's pretty much perfect. Maybe I'll post my tracklist later.

(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.

Movie Review: Hugo

2011-11-30T17:13:00.000-08:00

Hugo

I'm an enormous fan of well-made "kid movies," or as I like to think of them, movies for the uncynical and young at heart. I think one of the biggest reasons they appeal to me so much is that they cut to the core of things. Oftentimes, a coming-of-age or childlike film gets right down to who a filmmaker is at their essence. This happens more often when great writers and directors are at the helm of these movies. They feel very personal. That's one of the reasons why I consider JJ Abram's Super 8 to be my favorite movie of the year (there are a hundred more, but this isn't a review of that film). Martin Scorsese's Hugo is right up there, and for many of the same reasons.

Based on a children's book by Brian Selznick (which, it kills me to say, I actually haven't read), Hugo is a completely unique, almost dream-like fable. I went in with little knowledge of the story and no expectations, which I think is the best possible frame of mind to be in before you watch this movie. After about the first fifteen minutes (more of an introduction to the title character's world... which ends with a stunning reveal of 1930s Paris) I found myself utterly engrossed. Riveted, even. This feeling lasted through the entire movie and the weird thing is, it's not a wham bang action thriller with huge plot twists and explosions. It's not the kind of thing I'd expect to be riveted by... yet there I was.

Now that I've given it some thought, I can put it down to several factors. First, the world of Hugo is utterly immersive. The color palette, the cinematography (the angles used to shoot inside the station are just thrilling to watch) and the side stories of the different goings on inside the station all add up to create a sense of place that's absolutely transportive. It's like a classic painting come to life. Story and character aside, it's beautiful to look at. But that's selling the story short. After awhile, you do know where it's going, but the journey to get there had me guessing. What's up with this strange boy's salvaged automaton? Or the mysterious toy seller, or the secrets his dead father seemed to know? I love a good mystery, especially when it pays off as well as this one did. I didn't expect the rich taste of history and filmmaking we get in the film's latter half. This is that deep, personal connection I was talking about earlier. It definitely feels like this is Scorsese's core. You almost expect the movie to head in a fantasy direction. What you get is quite different, and far more affecting.

Finally, I'd be leaving a gaping hole if I didn't at least mention the acting. It's uniformly excellent... "kid movie" or not. I've loved everything that Chloë Grace Moretz's done, so it's no surprise that she's amazing here (and it's nice to see her playing against the Let Me In/Kick-Ass type). Sacha Baron Cohen hams it up a little much here and there, but turns in a performance that ends up to be much more layered than it first seems. Ben Kingsley has one of the tougher performances and plays a critical role in the central mystery. He carries it off brilliantly, of course. And Asa Butterfield, the youngest of the bunch, carries the movie on his shoulders with a pair of ultra-expressive blue eyes that often speak louder than any line he's been given. He's the heart of Hugo, and wouldn't be a total shocker come Oscar nomination time.

The vague marketing isn't doing Hugo any favors, but if you like intelligent, engrossing, character driven movies (that just happen to star a child), you've got to check this out. Hell, if you're a fan of movies and moviemaking in general, I don't see how you could miss it! A

QUICK VERDICT: Must Go

Donkeyboy - City Boy

2011-11-29T16:12:00.000-08:00

"Underneath this doubt there's an ego"

I've established that Donkeyboy have one of the worst band name in pop music a long time ago, but that doesn't really matter because boy they're excellent. And they're back! City Boy is the first teaser from their upcoming album and, from the sound of it, they're going a little more electronic. While this might not be as lush as their past singles, I'm pleased that it's more uptempo. At first, the processed vocals irritated me, but I've grown to really love them--especially with the overall sound of the record. It will be interesting to see how this band develops. Their first (fantastic) album was a big hit in Scandinavia but couldn't find much traction anywhere else. I'm not sure if this is the song to break them out of cult status, but it's definitely a step in an interesting direction. I'm really loving it, especially the trippy music video.

Donkeyboy - City Boy by MrFavo

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

Track-by-Track: One Direction - Up All Night

2011-11-28T09:57:00.000-08:00

Though they've got a lot of competition in the UK, One Direction have released the best boyband album of the year by a mile. Not only that, but it's one of the best pop albums of 2011 as well. It's that rare case of a record where every track could be a single. Couple that with the guys' insane popularity and I think we've got a new Take That on our hands. Or at the very least, a new Mcfly.

1. What Makes You Beautiful - Their big, breakthrough single. This is the type of unabashed power pop that manages to cross audiences and appeal to everyone. It's everything these guys should be doing, and one of the year's best singles. 10/10

2. Gotta Be You - This, on the other hand, should never have been a single. It's a nice song and a great album track, but there are stronger ballads on here. It does have a very Christmassy sound, though. 9/10

3. One Thing - Basically What Makes You Beautiful Part II, which explains why it's the next single. Same writers, similar production, and nearly as catchy. This could end up being the band's defining sound. 10/10

4. More Than This - Probably the best ballad on here. It's got a mature, classic sound to it and a wonderful melody with the expected boyband lyrics. Niall sounds especially excellent here. If this isn't a future single, it's a real shame. 10/10

5. Up All Night - An uptempo, catchy track with more of a rock sound. It borders on the novelty side of things, but I really love the Def Leppard-esque refrain at the end of the chorus and all the little hooks that run through the track. As with most tracks on the album, it's a ready-made single. 9/10

6. I Wish - Melody is the focus here, as this is one of the more mature sounding tracks on the album. It's got a throwback sound--a little rock, a little country. It doesn't initially stand out, but becomes better each time you hear it. 10/10

7. Tell Me A Lie - This is such a ready-made hit. Written for (by?) Kelly Clarkson, it sounds a lot like My Life Would Suck Without You (which, ironically, the boys sang on X-Factor). If they really want to break America, this is the song to release. It's one of their absolute best. 10/10

8. Taken - Another ballad, this is a Harry-centric track. It reminds me of something that Hanson would record, and that is no bad thing. It has a very organic feel. 9/10

9. I Want - Probably my least favorite track on the album. It was written by Mcfly and has Queen-esque guitars in it, which should be a great thing. But the melody and lyrics just seem too obvious. Not bad by any standards, but not amazing either. 7/10

10. Everything About You - Ushering in the dancier part of the album, this is a propulsive, repetitive radio track. Maybe a tad too repetitive, but I guess that's sort of the point. It's instantly catchy, for sure. 8/10

11. Same Mistakes - The final ballad, and it's a great one. The melody really appeals to me. It's got an interesting melody and somehow sounds a lot more indie than the other tracks on the album. 10/10

12. Save You Tonight - The band's RedOne collaboration, and it's totally RedOne by numbers. That being said, the song's grown immensely on me. The chorus is still a bit underwhelming, but I love the bridge and verses. 8/10

13. Stole My Heart - What a way to end the album! Over a Dynamite-esque beat, the guys have taken the current trend of electro-dance and perfected it. The chorus and production are ridiculous. This needs to be a single! 10/10

* One thing of note about this album is that the tracks are ordered completely wrong. Plus, every b-side they've released is worthy of a place on the album. So here's my new version of Up All Night (Alienhits version):
1. What Makes You Beautiful
2. One Thing
3. Tell Me A Lie
4. Up All Night
5. More Than This
6. Stole My Heart
7. Another World (GBY b-side)
8. Gotta Be You
9. Na Na Na (WMYB b-side)
10. Stand Up (deluxe version track)
11. I Wish
12. Taken
13. Everything About You
14. Save You Tonight
15. Same Mistakes
16. I Want
17. Moments (deluxe version track)
18. Forever Young (deluxe version track)

Album Grade: 9.2/10

Reece Mastin - Good Night

2011-11-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

"Let's go back to rock and roll"

Yes, I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to X-Factor. I'm currently watching three (UK, US and AU), though the Australian version ended this week. And unlike the trainwreck that is the US version (I'm watching purely out of loyalty, enjoying none of it), the Aussies got it completely right with their winner, Reece Mastin. Sometimes I think people need to be reminded of the definition of the show's title. From the beginning, Reece had undeniable x-factor. I'd argue that he's the best contestant in all three series, but even so, the Australian version had the best contestants this year so it was a hard fight to the finish. This is his winners' song. And in a refreshing surprise, it's not a ballad. Yeah, the melody and production might as well be Pink's Raise Your Glass, but at least it's current and radio-ready (unlike 99% of the winners' singles). Reece was amazing throughout the show (this and this and this) and even got to duet with the always wonderful Kylie Minogue in the final. I have a feeling they'll try to launch this kid internationally like they're doing with One Direction. I hope so! (and at 16--correct me if I'm wrong--he may be the youngest winner in the show's history. though how old was that Martin kid from Denmark when he won?)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Watch his X-factor journey here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

One Direction - Stole My Heart

2011-11-22T21:10:00.000-08:00

"Under the lights tonight, turned around"

It was so clear during last year's UK X-Factor that we were witnessing something special when One Direction were put together. And luckily, with the debut of their first album, they've delivered on the promise. Now this is pop music... not singer-songwriter critics-awards-bait. Let's get that out of the way. And this isn't a critics-award-bait band (though given Take That's current output, there's always a chance they could get there). What One Direction are is a massive pop band, a group of personalities capable of creating the type of groundswell needed to create real hysteria. And with a US contract official and a US release early next year, they will be global. And strangely, I knew this was going to happen ever since X-Factor. Sometimes you can just tell. But back to the music... I'll have a review of the album later (it's very good pop), but I wanted to share this track today because their handlers would be INSANE not to release this as a single at some point. Sure, it's reminiscent of some of the trends in pop now, but it perfects them. That chorus is a number one hit. It's one of the more electronic songs on the album, which is a direction (haha) I'd love for them to explore further in future albums.
Oh, and speaking of X-Factor, I'll have a song from the Australian version tomorrow (they totally, totally got the winner right... that's twice in a row, Aussies!)

(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.

Rogue Traders - Don't Think I Love You

2011-11-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

"God knows that I've tried"

Australia's Rogue Traders just (finally) released their first album with new vocalist Mindi Jackson. It was worth the wait! I really like Mindi's vocals--they remind me of early Kylie with a punk edge. On the whole, the album is very 80's inspired and mostly uptempo. It's definitely a progression from their earlier work with Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Less straight ahead dance and more new wave. If you've heard the singles, you know what to expect. One of my favorite tracks is Don't Think I Love You, which has an amazing, soaring chorus. It begins as a slow synth ballad but quickly bursts into a propulsive, sing-along melody. According to the band, the song came to life when they thought of mashing up Prince's Purple Rain and Blondie. It's a pretty good description, and the track's a total success. Ditto for the album.

Rogue Traders - Don't Think I Love You by nohfap

(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.

Track-by-Track: Rihanna - Talk That Talk

2011-11-18T10:37:00.000-08:00

Rihanna has never been cooler. From the styling to the distillation of sounds on her sixth album, I'm a big fan of this era in her career. Though there's a clunker or two, and the tracks could do with some reshuffling, this could easily end up as my favorite Rihanna album.

1. You Da One - This track suffers greatly from being the opener, where it's completely out of place. Looking past that, it's a solid mid-tempo reggae flavored song. We've heard this before from Rihanna, but there's no one better when it comes to this kind of stuff. 8/10

2. Where Have You Been - Now we're talking! This is the first heavy dance track on the album. I'm convinced she should do an entire album with Calvin Harris. It's such a great match. The melody is just soaring, too. 10/10

3. We Found Love - And when we're on the topic of "soaring," this single pretty much defines the term. It's well on its way to becoming my favorite Rihanna track. So simple, but so incredibly effective. 10/10

4. Talk That Talk (ft. Jay-Z) - I could do without the Jay-Z bits, which go on a bit too long, but other than that, I'm a huge fan of this. I love the simple, almost orchestral sounding beat. Seems like an obvious single choice. 9/10

5. Cockiness (I Love It) - This approaches MIA levels of bonkers. I should hate it. It's near atonal at parts, but the craziness just works wonders. It also ushers in the album's "dirty" sequence. The next few songs are easily her most sexual work. 10/10

6. Birthday Cake - The most pointless track she's ever done. It's not a full song, but not an interlude either. It just sort of goes nowhere until it fades out, totally screwing up the sequence in the process. I don't understand the logic behind this. 7/10

7. We All Want Love - Of the full songs, this is probably the only clunker. It's pleasant enough, but just so straightforward and anonymous. The only "filler" track on the album, though it would probably sound better toward the end of the album. 7/10

8. Drunk On Love - A big belter with a Te Amo-esque beat. Not single worthy, but an excellent album track. 9/10

9. Roc Me Out - One of the album's best songs, and probably should have been the first on the cd. It's like SOS meets Shut Up And Drive meets Rude Boy, but might be better than all three. The chorus is massive. 10/10

10. Watch 'N Learn - Another favorite. The playful sexuality and lush midtempo production reminds me a bit of Janet Jackson. There's something about the seesaw melody that's so addictive. 10/10

11. Farewell - The album's big ballad. Think along the lines of the last few tracks on Rated R. The lyrics are a little clumsy, but the production is beautiful and I love how she didn't hold back on the drama. 9/10

* If I were to take a stab at reordering the sequence, I'd do this: 1. Roc Me Out 2. Where Have You Been 3. We Found Love 4. Talk That Talk 5. You Da One 6. Cockiness (I Love It) 7. Watch 'N Learn 8. Drunk On Love 9. We All Want Love 10. Farewell (unfortunately, I don't like any of the bonus tracks enough yet to warrant adding them to the album)

Album Grade: 9.0/10

JLS - Shy Of The Cool

2011-11-17T16:08:00.000-08:00

"She's just a few degrees shy of the cool"

After enjoying both of the singles, I've given in and listened to my first JLS album. It's not normally the type of music I'm into, but I really like about half to three quarters of the album (the rest is just too generic). In addition to all the of-the-moment upbeat tracks, this wonderful little song is nestled right at the end of the album. Apparently, it was written by the guys even before their stint on X-Factor. It forgoes trendiness and focuses on spare production and a winning melody. Everything about this works. And while I'm on the topic of JLS, who else can't wait until the inevitable Aston solo album a few years down? The guy's got an amazing voice. If he goes about it in an interesting way, he could be massive on his own.

(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.

Track-by-Track: Cher Lloyd - Sticks & Stones

2011-11-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

Post X-Factor albums are always an interesting prospect. More a chance to establish an artist's sound and image than an actual, cohesive album, they're best judged on their own standards. And using this criteria, Cher Lloyd's debut is definitely a success. Room for growth, but a success nonetheless.

1. Grow Up - A good, extremely catchy opening. The melody in the chorus reminds me of the Toys R Us jingle, which cracks me up (and is even funnier since Lloyd samples a lot throughout this album). The cameo from Busta Rhymes is also a nice little trip back to the 90's. 8/10

2. Want U Back - If this isn't a single, Lloyd's management are crazy. From the very first listen, it's a bonafide smash. The grunting noises totally make it. 10/10

3. With Ur Love - This is the track that made me come around to Cher's music career. It's laidback, subtly addictive and very cool. it wouldn't make a bad US single, either. Mike Posner's sort of extraneous, but doesn't detract. 10/10

4. Swagger Jagger - This fits much better in the context of the album, though the choice of sample still irks me. The production is great, though. A guilty pleasure. 8/10

5. Beautiful People - The last perfect track on the album. This is a great ballad and suits Lloyd's voice very well. It works alright as a duet with Carolina Liar, but probably would have been just as effective if she sang it alone. 10/10

6. Playa Boi - This song succeeds because of its excellent sample. That being said, the original song is miles more creative. I wish she would have just done a straight cover rather than augment it with some pretty lame lyrics. Still, that chorus melody is always welcome. 9/10

7. Superhero - A more laidback facet of Cher's sound, this has a very catchy melody and some nice lyrics. Even so, it's the first track to feel slightly underwhelming. 8/10

8. Over The Moon - A cutesy, nursery-rhyme sounding chorus battles with harder edged, rapped verses. It works surprisingly well, though the hook can quickly go from endearing to irritating. 8/10

9. Dub On The Track - The hardest track on the album, this is pretty much rap, dubstep, grime... all of that stuff thrown together. It's Cher's "street" side. It goes on too long, but it's not bad. 8/10

10. End Up Here - My least favorite track. That's not to say it's bad, but it certainly doesn't do anything interesting. It's pretty much the standard midtempo post-Ryan-Tedder pop/r&b track. Nothing more, nothing less. 7/10

* Worth noting are the album's two bonus tracks, the gorgeous cover of "Stay" and "Talk That," which should probably have been on the album as well.

Album Grade: 8.6/10

Sebastian - Sunday Morning

2011-11-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

"Sunday morning took my soul"

What do we think about this, guys? Sweden's ex-Idol contestant Sebastian debuted his new electropop sound in this year's MF contest back in February, but I had my reservations about that track. Now, he's following it up with a song in a similar vein. It's less instantly catchy, but it also doesn't have those moments that made me dislike the last one. I wish it had a little more oomph to it, but I'm happy that he's continued working in this genre. It's certainly a smooth little pop song. I'm not sure if an album is in the works (I assume so), but it's about time for him to make a comeback. I loved the first two albums. The third one, less so... but I'm ready for another!

Sebastian - Sunday Morning by alienhits

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

Nightwish - Storytime

2011-11-14T16:45:00.000-08:00

"I am the voice of Never-Never Land"

After months of long lulls in interesting music releases, the floodgates have opened this November. My latest obsession is this incredible, huge, ridiculously overblown track by Finnish symphonic rock band Nightwish. Some of you might already be familiar with Nightwish. They're big in Scandinavia and have quite a huge cult following around the world. They've been around for awhile but it's been a few years since their last release. This is the first single from the new album, Imaginaerium, which is due out in a couple of weeks. The album's going to have an accompanying movie, which I am so excited about. Nightwish is the perfect kind of band to have their own rock opera. But enough about the album. This song... oh my god this SONG. I have no words, really. Instead, let me highlight some of the things I'm obsessing over:

1. The fact that this essentially sounds like Abba fronting a classical/metal/goth band.
2. The children's choir/MASSIVE symphonic breakdown two thirds of the way through.
3. The references to "Peter Pan" and storytelling, which I gather is the subject matter of the concept album.
4. That. Chorus.

Bottom line, this is one of the best singles I've heard all year. I CAN'T WAIT for the album!

Nightwish - Storytime by alienhits

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

Natalia Kills - Kill My Boyfriend

2011-11-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

"He's only nice when there's somebody there"

I've slowly come around to Natalia Kills. At first I thought she was the poor man's Lady Gaga (but the British version, which should technically be much cooler). I'm all for more theatricality in pop music, but nobody wants a copycat. Luckily, with every single she releases, Natalia is carving out an identity all her own. Wonderland was excellent (but still very Gaga), Free was, for me, the turning point. It's an excellent pop song in its own right. And now, with Kill My Boyfriend, she's ready for her first big hit. If everything goes well, this should be the song that introduces her to a bigger audience. It's cheeky without being annoying, but more importantly it has an undeniably catchy melody that hits you on the first listen. I love the mix of tones here... playful at one moment and then sleazy the next. Of course, with the title of this song and her stage name, people are gonna get the wrong idea about this girl!

Natalia Kills - Kill My Boyfriend by Marco_g2

(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.

Track-by-Track: The Sound Of Arrows - Voyage

2011-11-10T16:21:00.000-08:00

It's difficult to review this album on a track-by-track basis, because more than any other recent release that I can remember, this is a collection of songs meant to be experienced together. As the album's title expresses, this is a voyage... and one hell of a fantastic one at that. Expectations were high after a string of amazing singles, but these guys have done the increasingly impossible task of creating a perfect, modern pop album. I can't stop listening to it.

1. Into The Clouds - What more can be said about this? Amazing. One of the best pop songs of the last few years. I love the new, dramatic synth opening. It's absolutely majestic. This track alone will get you hooked on the band. 10/10

2. Wonders - This was a "9" until I heard it in the context of the album. A few days ago, I really had my "moment" with the song. It's a massive dance track and one of the more uptempo songs on here. It flows perfectly from the last one. The drums are especially huge. 10/10

3. My Shadow - Compared to some other tracks, this is pretty straightforward and radio friendly. It's very reminiscent of 80's era Pet Shop Boys. This is a very good thing... even better than I would have thought. The instrumental alone is gorgeous. 10/10

4. Magic - An irresistibly feel-good single. The music video made me fall in love with it, but after several months with the new single mix, I haven't gotten tired of it. I love the use of the children's choir. 10/10

5. Ruins Of Rome - A natural progression from the last track, this also utilizes the children's choir... but to very different effect. This has a darker, more plodding feel to it. It's by no means a bad thing. It's got a real cinematic grandeur to it. While not as instant as the past four tracks, I'm now thoroughly addicted. So, yes, it's another 10/10

6. Longest Ever Dream - I think I like the instrumental portion of this better than the vocals. It's still extremely strong (and I love the operatic bits), but I wish they would have reserved the female vocal parts for background only. That would've made it perfect. As it is, the verses fall just a little short. 9/10

7. Hurting All The Way - My least favorite track, but that's not saying a lot because the entire album is brilliant. It's more of a short palate cleanser than a full song. In that regard, it totally works. It's just quite slow and doesn't really go anywhere. 8/10

8. Conquest - Back to straightforward pop. Of course, nothing's quite straightforward with these guys. This has a slight island flavor (which strangely works), and a funky beat with one of the album's catchiest choruses. 9/10

9. Nova - The second single, and probably the most aggressive sounding track on the album. I've loved this song from the beginning, and it's no different here. Once that beat kicks in, it's pretty epic. 10/10

10. There Is Still Hope - Speaking of epic... oh my god. This is the longest track on the album, but it earns every single minute. Starting with a dramatic synth intro before bursting into an anthemic, triumphant melody, this is rousing, life-affirming stuff. Essential. 10/10

11. Lost City - In a lot of ways, this acts as the ending credits to a great journey. I'm not usually a big fan of instrumentals, but this is flawless. The vocals at the end are just icing on the cake. 10/10

* Though I won't count them in the album's grade, some versions come with two bonus tracks. It's worth highlighting "Disappear," which is a wonderfully uptempo pop track that's actually one of their stronger recordings.

Album Grade: 9.6/10

Cher Lloyd - Want U Back

2011-11-09T16:24:00.000-08:00

"Remember all the things that you and I did first?"

Cher Lloyd's released a great little pop album this week with her debut, Sticks & Stones. I loved her during her run on X-factor, went a bit off with the first single, but am totally a fan again now. I must be crazy, because even Swagger Jagger's alright with me. Cher's love-it-or-hate-it attitude is totally present on many of the album's tracks, and this is one of the best examples. I love the grunting parts (I never thought I'd write that in a track review), but beyond that, this is a modern pop song that just works. Even the stupid helicopter bit at the end doesn't ruin it (why do artists insist on these unfunny little joke bits after songs?). Though they're spoiled for choice when it comes to singles, they'd be crazy not to send this to radio. It's concise, energetic and melodic with just enough attitude to make it unpredictable.

(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.

The Sound Of Arrows - There Is Still Hope

2011-11-08T09:55:00.000-08:00

"In the darkest hour, there is still hope"

Absolutely euphoric. That's about all I can say when it comes to The Sound Of Arrows' debut album. it may sound like hyperbole, but with the release of Voyage, these guys may have just saved the modern pop album. This track comprises the album's conclusion, so I almost feel wrong offering it for sample out of context. It works best as an earned climax to the journey that the album takes you on, but it's just so damn good that I need people to hear it. If this doesn't make you want to get the album, I don't know what will. At nearly eight minutes, it's the longest, most epic track on the album. Though believe me, it speeds by and almost (in a strange way) seems too short. The grandiose opening will grab your attention, but once those drums usher in that anthemic melody of the verses, you'll be pumping your fist along. In some ways, it's the closest these guys get to a "Don't Stop Believing" moment, though this is not nearly as straightforward. Ugh. It's brilliant. You've gotta play this album loud. Believe me.

The Sound Of Arrows - There Is Still Hope by alienhits

(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.

The Wanted - I'll Be Your Strength

2011-11-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

"We can make it through the stormy weather"

Today is a great day for new pop albums, so expect to hear about them this week. First up is the Wanted. I never considered myself much of a boy band fan, yet two of this month's most anticipated albums for me are by boy bands (The Wanted & One Direction). But the thing is, despite a few songs, these two groups aren't stuck in the formula that you'd expect. Sure, they've got their own formula, but that's a different matter. I was a big fan of the Wanted's first album and their new one--while not quite as exciting--is full of great UK pop. Rather than boast any huge standouts, the album is consistently good. My taste, as usual, sides with the melodic, so my favorite tracks are the ones that hit hardest in that regard. But more than melody, I love how this track segues from delicate ballad to smashing dance anthem. I do wish the dance portion would last just a little longer, but it's a minor quibble. It's no surprise that Xenomania had a hand in this track. Their work is always fantastic. Side note: while I'm really enjoying it, the album as a whole has some of the clumsiest lyrics I've heard all year.

I'll Be Your Strength - The Wanted by 7Lacerda

(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.

The Fall's New TV Line-up: Part Three

2011-11-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I wrote about my most anticipated new Fall shows, I offered my initial thoughts, and now it's time to conclude the TV fun with my final verdict.

1. X-Factor
Still watching, but I'm finding myself slightly underwhelmed. I guess I'm just so used to the UK and Australian versions, which are much, much more entertaining. Our host is ridiculously stiff, our contestants (while talented) are mostly American Idol-style boring, and last night's results were a disaster. America continues to vote for the predictable over the surprising. I'll watch the entire season, but not with the excitement I give the other versions of the series.

2. Terra Nova
Dropped. I gave it about four episodes. I loved the pilot, but the quality of storytelling dropped considerably after that. Too many cliched, been-there-done-that storylines. Too bad.

3. Ringer
Dropped. It didn't completely pull me in after the first episode and I just don't have time for shows that are only alright.

4. American Horror Story
Still watching, and loving. It's my favorite new show of the year. I love the characters, I love the unsettling vibe, and most of all I love how I don't know where each episode is going.

5. The Playboy Club
Dropped. Well, it was the first show of the season to be cancelled. That about says it all.

6. Revenge
Still watching. I've lost some interest with this new romantic portion of the storyline, but I'm still fully onboard with this show and will be all season.

7. Once Upon A Time
Watched Pilot. The second episode's on my DVR. I liked it, but I'm obviously not all that excited.

8. Pan Am
Never watched. I intended to. I really did. But it's not gonna happen.

9. The Secret Circle
Dropped. Same deal as Ringer. I watched the pilot, thought it was alright, but never saw another episode.

10. Suburgatory
Still watching, and enjoying more with every episode. It took me awhile to fully get onboard, but I'm glad that I am because this show is very funny.

So there we go, the Fall TV Season in a nutshell. This is actually a pretty good ratio of "Still Watching" and "Dropped" for me. What about you guys? What are you into and what have you dropped?

Rhydian - The Promise

2011-11-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

"If you'll wait around awhile, I'll make you fall for me"

While the winner of the 2007 UK X-Factor has faded into obscurity, the runner-up, Rhydian Roberts, has quietly carved out a nice little pop opera career for himself. I loved him on the show, but only when he did the crossover songs--pop or rock with just a taste of opera. Because of this, his first two albums weren't of much interest to me. They could've been released by someone like Josh Groban and I probably wouldn't have noticed the difference. But for his third full-length, Rhydian's done something very special. He's recorded an entire album of obscure 80's covers. It's the perfect move, really, and something I always hoped he'd do. This track was originally a single (their only successful one) by British pop group When In Rome in 1988. Rhydian sounds great on the track. He amps up the tempo a bit and takes the track to the dancefloor. In some ways, it's got a strong Malena Ernman La Voix sound to it. I could imagine something like this going down very well in a venue like Melodifestivalen.

02 The Promise by ConeheadUK

(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.

November is the Month for Albums

2011-11-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

November is always a reliably strong month for pop music. Historically, it's when most of the would-be blockbuster albums are released in time for Holiday shopping. This year, we need November more than ever. It's been a pitiful past few months for big pop albums. I can't remember a dry spell this lengthy in years. It seems like everything's just been shut down since the Spring. Even countries like Sweden, who are usually quality pop producers, have been quiet of late. Luckily, there are plenty of releases coming up in the next few weeks that I'm very much looking forward to:

The Sound Of Arrows - Voyage (11/7)
I've been waiting for this one for years. The singles have all been excellent, the videos even better. I can't wait to hear the album in full.
Samples

The Wanted - Battleground (11/7)
Their first album was a very pleasant surprise and I'm hoping for more of the same on this one.

Samples

Cher Lloyd - Sticks & Stones (11/7)
The new single is excellent and Lloyd is an undeniable pop star. Having heard most of this already, I know it'll be great.

Samples

One Direction - Up All Night (11/21)
My favorite X-Factor contestants of all time had one of my favorite singles of the year already. I'm eagerly awaiting more from them.
Samples

Rihanna - Talk That Talk (11/21)
There isn't even a tracklist yet, but Rihanna never disappoints. The new single is one of her best and the new video is the most riveting thing she's ever put to film.
Video

Olly Murs - In Case You Didn't Know (11/28)
I wasn't sold on his debut, but I've loved both of the singles from this. I'm hoping this will end up as a nice surprise.
Video

Eric Saade - Saade Vol. 2 (11/30)
Volume One left me mostly cold, but I have faith in Saade. He's representing Sweden this month, so he better not disappoint.
Single

Others that I'll give a try: Pixie Lott - Young Foolish Happy JLS - Jukebox, Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires, The Saturdays - On Your Radar

Titus Jones - Bad Things Will Roll With The Devil

2011-11-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

"I wanna do bad things with you"

I'm a massive admirer of Titus Jones' work, so every time he releases a new mash-up I get super excited. His mixes are more than simple mash-ups. He's got an incredible knack for re-configuring samples into brand new songs. This track, including elements of Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Katy Perry and the epic True Blood theme song (amongst others), is no different. It's got a bit of a Halloween theme to it, so I guess today it's more of a Halloween hangover. If you haven't checked out the rest of Jones' work, you've gotta go to his website now and download it. You won't be disappointed. His best track remains the awesome La Roux/Robyn/Whitney Houston/Taylor Swift mix, but they're all pretty amazing. Oh, and this song is also free to download!

Titus Jones - Bad Things Will Roll With The Devil by titusjones

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

Anything Can Happen On Halloween

2011-10-31T10:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween everyone!!

If you're a longtime reader, you know what I'm going to post today. It's tradition, after all. And it's the best Halloween video EVER.

I can't even count the number of ways this is epic.

Halloween Post: "The Corn Stalker"

2011-10-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

No music post today, but I've got something very cool for you to check out! In honor of Halloween, a bunch of great YA authors (including yours truly) have written a choose your own adventure type story that's being featured across a number of blogs these next few days.

I was in charge of starting the story, and you can read the beginning here. Then choose where to go next and see if you live or die. Plus, there are tons of prizes available throughout the story!

So check it out! It's called "The Corn Stalker" (see what I did there?) and it's pretty fantastic.

Part One Here

Cher Lloyd - Stay

2011-10-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

"I'll make you beg for more"

When I hear studio tracks from folks like Cher Lloyd and One Direction (not so much Matt Cardle), it makes me realize that, while still super entertaining, this year's UK X-Factor doesn't have a hope of becoming as relevant as last year's. Especially if the public keeps voting for snooze-fest, anti-charisma performers like Craig and Sophie over contestants like Kitty and Misha. At the very least, let's hope that this year's series gives us a performance as perfect as Cher Lloyd's Stay. Even if it doesn't, we've got the track in studio form to enjoy for years to come. It's better than I could have imagined. Cher's problems in the competition were peaking too early and having a (gulp) personality. Out of the context of a reality show competition, everything that held her back is working in her favor. She's an incredibly relevant new talent and, despite releasing a dire first single, has done everything else right. I can't wait for the album and her inevitable X-Factor return performance (this weekend, right?). We need people like her to come in and show this year's crop how it's done!

And while on the subject of X-Factor, I'm totally behind Kitty, Johnny and Misha. In other words, the three contestants that are actually entertaining. For US audiences, it's all about Drew, Intensity and the Stereo Hoggz for me. And Australia? Well, I'm still reeling from Audio Vixen's undeserved boot (WTF?), but my favorites are definitely Reece and Christina (I haven't yet watched this week's eps yet, so if you're watching, no spoilers please!)

Too much X-Factor? Yeah, but it's the season for it. And I do have a reputation to uphold.

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

Pop Blitz 10/26/11

2011-10-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

One Direction - Got To Be You
Not as strong as their last single, but this is pretty much everything you'd hope a boy band ballad would be. Bonus points for the interesting choice of harmonies in the chorus. It's a very winter-sounding track. A-

Olly Murs - Dance With Me Tonight
His last single was the single best thing he's done. This isn't, but it's still better than the tracks they chose to release off his debut. It's certainly catchy, but I feel it has a very limited shelf life. B-

Professor Green - Read All About It
His voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. It's like everything that bugs me about Eminem amped up even further. The hook is alright, I suppose. C

Will Young - Come On
That's two great singles in a row from Mr. Young. This is excellent stuff. Not quite as excellent as Jealousy, but very enjoyable. A-

Rizzle Kicks - When I Was A Youngster
Their ascent to total domination continues unabated. It's not necessarily my thing, but I can appreciate this. I really like these guys, and this may be even better than their last single. B+

Yolanda Be Cool - Le Bump
I was a huge fan of the deliriously We No Speak Americano. This is not up to that level, even though it tries to be. In fact, I'm finding the hooks pretty forgettable. C+

Coldplay & Rihanna - Princess Of China
It's a neat collaboration in theory, and this isn't bad. However, I think I was expecting more from the caliber of stars involved. Like Coldplay's past few singles, it just doesn't go anywhere. Still, it's much better than Paradise. B-

Your Choice: What's your favorite Pop Blitz song this week?

Patrick Stump - Run Dry (X Heart X Fingers)

2011-10-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

"Step one: drink, Step two: make mistakes"

Surprisingly, I've been listening to Patrick Stump's new album this past week. I say "surprisingly" because I really did not care for Fall Out Boy and Stump's emo-styled vocals were a huge part of that. But now he's reinvented himself as a new wave soul singer and proven that the whole screechy emo thing really was an act. The new album is very hit and miss, but the best tracks are really stunning. I love the sound he's going for--sort of a mix between Michael Jackson, Prince and The Cars. Too often the songwriting isn't as memorable as I'd like, but the styling and production is spot on. This track, the longest on the album by a mile, is the definite standout. It is SO good that it eclipses everything else. Essentially two songs melded into one, the track builds to an absolutely massive crescendo. The confessional lyrics work, the chorus has impact and it never gets old despite being over eight minutes long. If I worked at it, I could probably take the deluxe version of the album and the EP and whittle the tracks down to an album's worth of good material, but this would always remain the best of the bunch.

Run Dry (X Heart X Fingers) by PatrickStump

(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.

Foxy Shazam - Teenage Demon Baby

2011-10-21T17:28:00.000-07:00

"It's funny how this old dead piece of land makes us feel so alive"

Another Friday, another Halloween song. Today it's a b-side from Foxy Shazam's most recent album, a deliriously fun track with a great title. But it's definitely more than the title. Foxy have managed to combine elements of Meat Loaf, Rocky Horror Picture Show and power pop in one tight, uber-catchy pop song. And it didn't even make the album! While the lyrics are not necessarily tailored to Halloween, the energy and hook make it very appropriate for October. What a great song to get a party started! Of course, that could be said about most Foxy tracks...

(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.

The Sound Of Arrows - Wonders

2011-10-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

"I'll never forget how you made me feel"

Soon, folks. Soon we will be presented with The Sound Of Arrows' first album. I'm dying to hear it, but this next single will have to tide me over for a couple more weeks. Wonders follows their previous releases in sound and style. If I were to compare it to one of the past three singles, I'd say it's the most like Nova. And, of all we've heard, it's also the first that didn't hit me instantly. It's more of a grower, but retains their epic cosmic instrumentation and breathy vocals. I have a feeling this is gonna be a remarkably consistent album. When it comes to this song, though, what I'm really anticipating is the music video. The band know how to craft memorable, jaw-droppingly beautiful videos. I hope this one's no different!

The Sound Of Arrows - Wonders by WorkItMedia

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

Your Favorite Songs... Sped Up

2011-10-18T19:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes something that should be horrible turns out to be quite entrancing. There's a trend on youtube (I'm sure it's been going on for years) of speeding pop songs up. With a bit of a pitch change, you can make any song sound like Scooter. Remember Scooter? Sheesh. I was never a fan, but some of these tracks--particularly ballads and midtempos--sound quite striking when sped up to Scooter-esque levels. Here are two that I've become very... captivated by over the past week. The Take That song in particular sounds amazing as a sped up rave. It's actually kind of beautiful in a Japanese Anime sort of way.

Take That - The Flood

Isn't that amazing? This next one's a little more chipmunk-like, but still addictive.

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

And just for fun, because it's hilarious:

One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful

And yes, I'm fully aware that this is one of the most random posts I've ever put on this blog :)

Foxy Shazam - I Like It

2011-10-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

"Ain't it sexy?"

I'm SO excited! Not only do Foxy Shazam have a new single out (for free!), but they'll be releasing a new album in January! I like I Like It a lot, and may even grow to love it, but I do have my (very slight) qualms. The sound is perched between their old stuff (which isn't to my taste) and their most recent release (which was my #1 album of last year). So, my excitement is tempered just a little by a worry that they've moved away from that clean, melodic production of the last album. Only time will tell. And that's it for the griping, because honestly, the more I listen to this, the more I love it. It's silly, sure, but that hook is undeniable. If we're comparing them to Queen (which they are quite similar to), this is more along the lines of Sheer Heart Attack or Tie Your Mother Down then, let's say, We Are The Champions or Don't Stop Me Now. It's got a strong Darkness influence, which makes sense because Justin Hawkins has been involved (a very good thing). God, now that I know this album is coming out, I don't think I'll be able to wait another three months to hear it!

Edit: I've already upgraded my "like." I officially love this song.

Foxy Shazam - I Like It by johnoprea

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

Short Stack - Are You Afraid Of The Dark

2011-10-14T16:36:00.001-07:00

"Lips like a vampire"

When I first started this blog, I'd spend the entire month of October sharing Halloween songs. I want to revisit that a little this year and post a few here and there for the next few weeks. Short Stack's 2010 album, Welcome To Bat Country, is a great listen all the way through for Halloween, and this is one of the many highlights. It's an enormous song with one hell of a punchy chorus. Plus, the middle eight with its stabbing strings and processed, Nightmare Before Christmas-esque vocals, is perfect for this time of the year. Listening to this song again has made me fall in love with it all over.

(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.

Pop Blitz 10/13/11

2011-10-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

Hedley - Invincible
Canada's best modern rock band releases one of their most forgettable singles. They've released tracks like this before but they've all had better hooks. Too bad, as I've always loved them. C+

Marina & The Diamonds - Radioactive
This single has grown on me, but I'm missing the quirkiness of her debut. This seems so much more mainstream. Her instantly recognizable vocals are what end up setting this apart. B+

Nicole Scherzinger - Wet
I'm surprised at how many singles this album has actually produced. This is one of the better ones. Sure, it's nothing that's going to stand the test of time. Just fun, clubby pop. She's capable of more, but this will do. B

The Fray - Heartbeat
I've never been a fan of this band, but this isn't bad. I don't think it will be the kind of hit they used to have. Still, I like the amped up guitars. B-

LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It
It's a less-catchy version of Party Rock Anthem--higher on novelty, lower on melody. the outrageous video will get it the exposure it needs, and it's certainly fun in a trashy sort of way. B

Cher Lloyd - With Ur Love (ft. Mike Posner)
After the disappointment of her first single, this makes everything right. This is exactly the type of song she should be recording. Melodic, full of attitude, and catchy without being too in-your-face. A-

Hot Chelle Rae - I Like It Like That
This pretty much sounds like their last single. Slightly less annoying, but I'm just not sold on this band. I'm not sure what it is... it just seems so tailor made for US radio. C

Your Choice: What's your favorite Pop Blitz song this week?

The Sound Of Arrows - After The Silence

2011-10-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

"Let go of all fear"

I can't even tell you how excited I am for the new Sound of Arrows album. I pretty much can't wait another moment to hear it (ie: if their label is out there, send me a promo copy and you're guaranteed a review!). Shameless begging aside, I consider it my duty to let the world know how unbelievably, jaw-droppingly awesome this band is. I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but seriously... these guys deserve so much more attention than they're getting. Their singles have all been nothing short of brilliant and I'm hearing similar things about the album. This is the kind of band that takes you on a journey. They're cinematic when other bands settle for keeping it small screen. After The Silence won't be on the album, but if the quality of this b-side wasn't deemed up to par with the other tracks, we're in for something quite stunning. This is the kind of track any artist would be proud to have on their album.

the sound of arrows - after the silence by beastinthejungle

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

Movie Review: Real Steel

2011-10-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Real Steel

Real Steel is the kind of movie you can predict at nearly every turn, yet it really doesn’t matter. Though it’s not quite my favorite film of the year, it made me feel more ecstatic at its end than any other movie of 2011. To borrow a cliché, it’s the “feel good movie of the year.” I feel so dirty typing those lame words, but it’s true.

Yes, if you’ve seen a boxing movie or a family drama, you’ve pretty much experienced this story already, but it’s such a powerful, archetypal tale. And Real Steel tells it perfectly. Every good boxing movie needs some secret weapons. This one’s got two. First, the robots. Dear god, the robots. They are so frickin’ cool. Each one featured has its own look and personality to match, but it’s Atom, the “protagonist” robot, that really gets under your skin. In a lot of ways, this is a “boy and his robot story,” and Atom’s got just enough humanity to make him feel real. The special effects are jaw-dropping, so jaw-dropping that you’ll forget you’re watching something from a computer. Best of all, they're present to serve the story... not the other way around.

But as kickass as the robots are, the movie’s real strength lies in its leads. Hugh Jackman’s played variations on his Real Steel character before and, perhaps because of that, has it down pat. He's clearly enjoying himself, which translates to the screen. The arc his character goes through is expected, but so satisfying. There’s a bit at the end that totally got me. Just the look on his face. You’ll know what I mean when you see it. Then there’s young Dakota Goyo. Where do I begin? I’ve gotta be honest and say that the trailers for this movie made him out to be the typical, annoying Hollywood kid. It’s a disservice, because his performance in this movie is nothing short of astonishing. He’s got more charisma than any kid actor I’ve seen in a long time and really, really commits to his scenes. Most of the tears I shed (and there were quite a few… I’m an ultra sappy moviegoer if the movie is right) were doen to him. I just can’t believe that such a young kid can take over a film like this. It really was his from the moment he was onscreen.

So there you go. See it. It's the kind of the movie that's so much better than you'd expect given the premise. Don't expect a reinvention of the wheel, but go in to see those established wheels spinning quite productively and passionately. It's a crowd pleaser, for sure. A

QUICK VERDICT: Must Go

Short Stack - Bang Bang Sexy

2011-10-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

"Meet me on the dancefloor"

I can't believe I didn't know about this song before this weekend. Short Stack reinvented themselves last year and released one of my absolute favorite albums of 2010. Now they've released a new single as a stopgap between albums, and it's more of the same (ie: excellent). They're continuing in their modern-day billy Idol sound, though this time it's even poppier with a definite dance funk edge. Shaun's voice remains one of the most charismatic rock snarls in the current music landscape. It's his delivery that takes this song up a notch and makes it so addictive. The melody itself is incredibly simple, but the groove is undeniable from the start. I wonder if this will end up being a harbinger of their sound for the next album. It certainly seems like a natural progression. The band also have a live DVD/documentary out soon. Cool!

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

Nero - Crush On You

2011-10-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

"How did you know?"

I had considered posting this song when the album first came out because I loved it except for one part: those godawful noises in between the singing. I know, I know. It's dubstep. It's supposed to be like that. But until I saw the video (which gives it all great context), I found the electronic noodling very irritating. It's definitely grown on me and now I actually kind of like it, but I was also very happy to run across this edit, which gets rid of the dubsteppy bits in favor of more vocals (that ending verse part is repeated twice, rather than just once like in the original). Bottom line is, this track samples a great old 80's song by the Jets that lends itself very well to a remix. I'm pretty damn obsessed with it, whatever form it comes in. Below is the "cold edit" and the fantastic video, which includes the potentially irritating dubstep noises. Which do you prefer? I can't decide, honestly.

Nero - Crush On You (Cold Edit) by Cold0ne

(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.

Darren Hayes - Bloodstained Heart

2011-10-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

"You hit me like a subway train"

Two singles in and this album campaign is finally starting to make sense to me. Talk Talk Talk was fine, if underwhelming, and I don't really care for Black Out The Sun. But this song? This is the Darren Hayes I love. This is an example of his gift for melody, his ambition in songwriting, and his unmistakable voice. It really should have been the lead single, and should be released worldwide instead of being relegated to Australia only. Bloodstained Heart is a delicate, emotional ballad with a melody that hits you on the first listen. It builds to an explosive crescendo the likes of which I'm not sure we've heard from him before. I truly believe this has the potential to be his first worldwide hit since Savage Garden. Wouldn't that be something?

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

Track-by-Track: Aqua - Megalomania

2011-10-04T16:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a few months since my last album review, and I'm bringing it back with a release that's really grabbed me. You might be thinking "an Aqua album really grabbed you?", but in addition to loving their debut back in the 90's, I've always taken these guys more seriously than most. Europop is a genre just like any other, and Aqua know how to use it to its best effect. I'm happy to say that, after more than a decade away, this new album is very, very good pop. It will definitely be in my top ten of the year, possibly quite high.

1. Playmate to Jesus - I misjudged this song at first, thinking that the chorus melody was too obvious. But as I've listened to it more, the production flourishes have won me over. This is one of their best midtempos. 9/10

2. Dirty Little Popsong - It's odd that this is so early in the running order because I think it's my least favorite track. It just feels too predictable. It's a solid dance track, for sure, but doesn't have anything new to offer. 7/10

3. Kill Myself - Now we're talking! This is the type of mature, soaring pop I hoped they'd record. The verses are beautiful (Lene really shows her range), but it's that blockbuster chorus that really gets you. Instant hit, even with the dark subject matter. 10/10

4. Like A Robot - When I first heard this, I couldn't stop laughing. The filthy bluntness of the hook seems shocking at first, but it's totally in keeping with the band's desire to subvert pop music. And luckily, this doesn't rest on the novelty of the chorus. The melody's just as strong. 10/10

5. Viva Las Vegas - Melodically, I love it. Where it loses a point is the lyrics, which never break out of novelty territory. But the production and hooks are so good that it's still a standout. 9/10

6. No Party Patrol - This is such an interesting track. On the surface, it's about a sort of apocalyptic party (more and more common subject matter these days), but I can't help but think it also functions as a critique of America's political parties' inability to deal with environmental issues. Maybe I'm reading between the lines too much, but the thought makes this a very unique track. Melodically, it's ace. 10/10

7. Come 'n Get It - A midtempo that hearkens back to their 90's days. It's definitely filler, but very enjoyable nonetheless. I like the retro vibe it gives off. 8/10

8. Sucker For A Superstar - One of the rockier tracks on the album, this is a highly infectious commentary on groupies (I wonder if Aqua has groupies?). Honestly, though, it's all about that chorus. It's gargantuan. 10/10

9. Be My Saviour Tonight - A bit of a departure, and one of the more mature sounding tracks on the album. It's all string sections, heavy beats (it gets crazy toward the end), and a soaring hook. It's grown on me immensely. 9/10

10. How R U Doin? - The album's first single, which is kind of crazy because it's not the strongest track. It's fairly straightforward electro-pop. Great beat, stupid lyrics. But it's fun! 9/10

11. If The World Didn't Suck (We Would All Fall Off) - I just love this. It's as close to rock music as the band's ever come, with pensive verses and stadium-sized, anthemic choruses. It's got a great build to it. A fantastic way to end the album, and one of the strongest tracks they've recorded. 10/10

Album Grade: 9.2/10

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