Studio Killers - Grande Finale

"I will clean my act up"

I didn't expect Studio Killers to come back so soon, especially given how long it took for them to put out a debut album. I'm not complaining, mind you! However, I haven't been able to fully fall in love with this new single like I did with their older songs. I don't know what it is. I guess everything, from the lyrics to the production to the melody, seems a lot more mainstream--like they've softened the edges that made them so exciting in the first place. But the chorus still soars and the vocals remain indelible. It's hard to complain too much when we've got a group this awesome. Even if they never give us something as fabulous as Jenny or Eros & Apollo again, they've already established a great legacy. And hopefully that second album won't take as long to complete as the first!



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

Top 20 Albums Of 2013: 6-5

6. G-Dragon - Coup D'etat



K-Pop’s top MC returned with an album full of interesting sounds, futuristic beats and strong pop choruses. It’s GD’s most international album yet, even including spots by Missy Elliott and Sy Ferreria. Its diversity of sound is both its greatest pleasure and biggest detraction. At times it barely holds together as an album, but the highlights are so impressive that it’s hard to care about such quibbles. Like Miley’s album, it’s ballsy and fresh--two prerequisites for a lasting music career.

5. Studio Killers - Studio Killers



The lead-up to this album release was nearly unbearable. Studio Killers had been offering us all-too-infrequent teasers for years. They were so amazing that I declared this the album of the year before even hearing it. While it didn’t quite reach that peak, there’s no denying the strength of every single song on here. Nobody did breezy electro pop better in 2013, and it’ll probably be awhile before someone does. So often in this genre, you get the sense that artists favor production over songwriting, but I think that, even if you were to strip everything back, each track would still stand out on melody and lyrics alone.

Top 50 Singles Of 2013: 15-11

15. Avicii - Wake Me Up



The EDM track of the year, easily. Represents an amazing new hybrid of dance, country and soul that enthralled everybody, n every country, this year.

14. Shinee - Why So Serious?



I love it when K-Pop goes rock, and the electric guitars and goofy ad-libs made this the Shinee single to beat in 2013.

13. Martin Rolinski - On The Run



More of this, Martin! I'm here for the fist pumping chorus and skyscraping beats. A total anthem.

12. Studio Killers - Jenny 



Four singles in, Studio Killers released what may be their highlight. Whip-smart lyrics married to a laidback, funky electronic beat

11. Robin - Boom Kah 



Robin Packalen came back in a big way with this track. It shouldn't be good, but somehow he always manages to take the best of the current pop landscape and make it into something incredibly joyous.

Top 50 Singles Of 2013: 50-46

50. Studio Killers - All Men Are Pigs



Like a cheeky playground taunt, this breezy pop song quickly cements itself in your brain.

49. CL - The Baddest Female



2NE1 leader goes solo, offering a playful swagger that's more like a nursery rhyme than a pop song.

48. Blitzkids Mvt - Heart On The Line



Smooth, funky and undeniably cool. Kind of like what Madonna would sound like if she'd go a bit indie.

47. PSY - Gentleman 



The follow-up was never going to be another Gangnam Style level success, but it's another superbly produced party track to add to his impressive catalogue.

46. Britney Spears - Work Bitch 



Surprisingly campy effort from a pop princess that seems to finally embrace her inherent silliness. The throbbing dance beat doesn't hurt either.

Studio Killers - Funky At Heart

"You fit into my puzzle"

After years of anticipation, Studio Killers' album is finally out! As expected, it's the first album in a long time that's consistently awesome all the way through. This is what Summer 2013 needs! Apparently, a lot of people agree, as it's done pretty well on worldwide itunes charts (at one point it was in the top 20 on the U.S. charts, which shocked me -- in a good way). I could literally post any track and it would be completely worthy. I almost highlighted to the slower Who Is In Your Heart Now, which would make for a fantastic fifth single, but I decided instead for the more uptempo, instant Funky At Heart. Like most modern dance tracks, its centerpiece is a mammoth, thumping electronic instrumental, but what I really appreciate is the soaring melodic verses that surround it. This is top-down, driving in the sunshine music.



(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.

A Preview of my Leading Candidate for Album of the Year

In pop music, it seems like albums are a dying format. It's sad, but I'm noticing more and more that when the end of the year rolls around, I have no problem compiling a list of my favorite singles. But when it comes to featuring entire albums that are as strong, I struggle. That's why it's such a nice treat when something comes along like The Sound Of Arrows' debut a couple years back -- something where a lot of effort went into the entire package, rather than only the singles. By all accounts, Studio Killers' upcoming album sounds like it will be that rare, cohesive batch of songs. It helps that they've been working on this for years and have teased us with four singles that only seem to get better. But listening to the album preview (below), I think it's safe to say that this is going to be well worth the wait. I'm counting down the days.



(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.

Studio Killers - Jenny

"I wanna ruin our friendship, we should be lovers instead"

There's something so exciting about a band that I've literally loved for years finally getting ready to release their debut album. After three singles, the band have given us one final taster before the album arrives next month. Prior to Jenny, I think my favorite SK track was Eros and Apollo, but in the long run, this might just end up stealing that title. Jenny includes everything I love in pop music--a soaring chorus, clever lyrics and (the criminally underused) steel drums! It sounds like Summer 2013 should sound, and I really hope this is as big for them as it deserves to be. These guys have yet to release a single that isn't 100% brilliant. If the album is full of tracks like this, I don't see how anything could top it from the coveted Album of the year spot. I'm frothing at the mouth for more!



(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.

Studio Killers - All Men Are Pigs

"This is no fairytale"

Studio Killers are back! Sort of. All Men Are Pigs has been floating around the internet for a year now in demo form, but now we've got the full, single version available for our listening pleasure. As anyone looking at my year end countdowns the past two years knows, I love the Studio Killers. It's sometimes frustrating that we have to wait so long in between releases, especially since I think an entire album by them would be beyond awesome. But the long wait's not all bad, I guess. It does make each song seem more exciting. All Men Are Pigs hasn't quite hit me as strong as their previous two singles did (yet), but I'm so happy that they're back again. The sing-song melody and trippy production/vocals are definitely intact, augmented with a strong 90's dance flavor. The beat is pretty irresistible.



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

Top 50 Singles Of 2012: 5-1

5. Studio Killers - Eros & Apollo



I didn't think Studio Killers could trump their last effort, but with this sly, lushly electronic warning about guys who seem to good to be true, they did it. Now bring on the album!

4. Darin - Nobody Knows



Darin at his most bombastic. Though he's had plenty of tracks I've liked in the past, this was a new pinnacle for him. It's huge. Just mammoth in sound.

3. EXO-K - Mama



Speaking of "mammoth in sound"! In my world, there is no such thing as "overproduced," and this track has it all. Choirs, strings, guitar, shout-rapping, dance breaks. It's like an entire album in one song.

2. Loreen - Euphoria



No title in 2012 better described the sound of its accompanying song. This really is pure euphoria. It's so deceptively simple, yet somehow gets better every single time you play it.

1. Bigbang - Monster 



I cannot think of a better song this year. Everything just clicks, from the orchestral production to the gorgeous, sweeping melody, to the flawless, motion-picture-quality music video. It defies language, though the English hook assures that the meaning is clear. Utterly affecting, and a dynamite pop song to boot.

Studio Killers - Eros & Apollo

"Every night they fall like dominoes"

I am so thrilled to write this post today. I've been waiting for Studio Killers to release their second single for an entire year. As soon as I heard their first one, Ode to the Bouncer, I needed an album from them. Now, I hope that album is right around the corner. If not, at least we've got this amazing track to tide us over. Eros & Apollo isn't all that different than Bouncer (the two share a similar hook, in fact), but that's totally okay because I am obsessed with these guys' sound. But the cool thing is, even though they have the most infectious sound in the world, they don't rest on that. Their lyrics are consistently brilliant. This track tells the cautionary tale of the ultimate alpha male--the guy all the girls go for even though he's no good for them (hence the Greek-referencing title). It's amazingly clever stuff. The video (below) is also addicting. In fact, it's even better than their stellar first effort. Now pull a "Sound of Arrows" give us that album, already!



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

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 15-11

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.

Studio Killers - Ode To The Bouncer

"Let me in or I'll get physical with you"

This is one of those songs that's been on my "needs to be posted on alienhits" list for a long time. I absolutely love it, but for whatever reason haven't come around to sharing it until today. While the trio's various webpages shroud their whereabouts in mystery, I believe this is a Danish/Scandinavian band. Correct me if I'm wrong, but even if they're actually from "London" and "Hawaii" as we're meant to believe, they have an extremely Danish sound. In fact, this track takes equal parts from two of my favorite Danish bands, Oh No Ono and Private. It's an incredibly catchy mix of plastic pop and dance, with influences both retro and futuristic. I don't think a better song has been written about bouncers. And if you haven't watched the video (below) yet, it's a must see. So creative/clever/funny/cool! Now if they'd only release a follow-up single. I want more.



(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.