Sunday, June 24, 2012

Artists to Go Back To

Sorry you guys! It's summer vacation, I don't have an excuse to offer...

Before I extol on Twenty Twenty, I want to thank Popmaze, and for her post here that made me look at this band again. Their top peak is 26 in the UK, and I feel like they could easily be higher, especially since bands like One Direction and The Wanted are so popular now - or maybe it's just that two boybands is company, but three is a crowd. Love To Life is easy to love, with the beat and voice of the members being very similar to many other bands, though this is not necessarily bad. Though I have heard much music like it, it doesn't put me in a rut, rather, it gives me familiarity with the music and a comforting happiness that I associate with good music. Move It is less so familiar, but just as good. And remember, even though their music makes them similar to others, it is their image (doppelgangers, lipring) that makes them completely different.

Once again, The Ready Set does not disappoint. Both the song and music video for Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever) are super great. I especially love that this video, which is the official lyric video, has a girl signing the lyrics. I don't know sign language, but it looks like she's legitimately signing the lyrics! In case you don't remember or wasn't with me then, I posted about The Ready Set awhile ago, here. Just like then, details about the new album aren't known, only that it will be released in the autumn of 2012. Get excited!

Swag List

Ok Go - This Too Shall Pass
Alexis Jordan - Happiness
Katy Perry - Wide Awake
The Wanted - Glad You Came
Jessie and the Toy Boys - Push It

Monday, June 18, 2012

Pop-ular Singles


Heartbeat by Nina Sky, is, by now, certainly a well known song. All I have to do is publish my love of it. It has a lot of very cool effects, and the whole effect is, the bet word is "mystical". It puts silk scarves and gypsy fortune tellers in my mind, and is definitely easy to get stuck in your head, particularly because of it's top flaw - the lack of lyrics. With this song that isn't necessarily bad, since the tune is so captivating, but don't use it to analyze for English class. Otherwise, hey, it's popular for a reason!

Icona Pop had it's biggest hit published one month ago on Youtube - in a month, their song I Love It has accrued over 262,000 views. It has a great beat, and I have to admit, crosses the line and is in the indie-pop genre, a genre that I am extraordinarily wary of. However, I would say that Icona Pop as an artist is more alternative, so don't count on them if you live bubbly, bouncy pop exclusively. It also isn't a song that one can sing without the music, since the music is most of the tune, but it is a definite buy.

Swag List
Only the Horses - Scissor Sisters
Like a Robot - Aqua
Good Girl - Carrie Underwood
Jane Doe - Rebecca and Fiona
Princess of China - Coldplay ft. Rihanna

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Albums to Hear

When both I, my dad, and my little sister approve of a song, that's a sign that its all around great. Her voice is really good, her songs are bouncy and dancy and have everything one could want from pop music. And not only are her tempos upbeat, but her lyrics are great. They are incredibly powerful and emotional, and it hearkens to a time of nineties rock, when artists wrote their own songs that were important to them. Her EP, Rebel is just out, and if her songs Follow UR Heart and Captive are any sign, the whole thing will be amazing. Look it up, I am truly excited. Oh yeah, did I mention? Her EP came out two days ago!

Unlike Teesa, Cheryl Cole is not knew, and is probably well known to all of you. Her third album A Million Lights is coming out the 18th in the UK, and it promises to be good! Her song Under the Sun is pretty good, and Call My Name is well known by now. I'm really looking forward to its release, and I hope you guys keep your heads up for her! She probably won't release in the U.S., making me pity myself, but thank goodness for Youtube, right?

Swag List

I My Me Mine - 4Minute
We Found Love - Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
Give Your Heart A Break - Demi Lovato
Honestly - Hot Chelle Rae
Walking On Air - Kerli

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Coming Up Albums



If you love electronic, dancy music then check out Kwanza Jones. She's releasing her third album this year, called Supercharged, a name that fits it perfectly. Although the song Supercharged has not been released, a contest to remix it has opened and closed, with the winner here. I absolutely love her song Time To Go, a super dancy and intense song that has a lot of power and would be best blasting from speakers enough to make the ground shake.

I've presented Kat Graham's single Put Your Graffiti On Me several times, and I am proud to give you her EP! It has a mix of different kinds of songs. Wanna Say is more traditional and more commonly found pop, like Put Your Graffiti On Me. Supa Dope sets more of her attitude, and I feel like that is how her future sound will be as well. Heartkiller took me a few listens, but it eventually won me over. Her first real album will be really interesting if her EP is any sign of it!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Unknown Pop

Her EP isn't on iTunes, but it is free here, put up by the artist on a legal site, so don't worry about legalities! Her name is Brittany McDonald, with her self named EP, and it doesn't have enough attention, especially with songs like Not So Secret Admirer and She has a really good country pop thing going on in Another Wannabe, and her song Boy Basher brings us back to 90's girl rock. Beat Stops is also very cool, with a darker feel. Definitely for fans of Taylor Swift, Adele, Gwen Stefani and Katy Perry.

I don't quite know where to start when talking about Emii. First, let me confirm that she has a great voice, both in the studio and live. Her song Stilettos has been very popular as well, and for a good reason. Although it isn't the greatest song ever, it is certainly individual, and I've played it at least seven times while typing this entire post. I do like Magic as well though, and I like her EP Mr. Romeo, the namesake Mr. Romeo being my favorite of her songs. I'm not sure if she's releasing anything soon, but let's hope!

Swag List

The Saturdays - Notorious
Ella - End of The Time
Girlicious - Maniac
Danity Kane - Damaged
Rye Rye - Hardcore Girls

Thursday, June 7, 2012

New Songs



I've found that despite releasing her solo album after splitting from Danity Kane, Dawn Richard isn't as listened to as she deserves to be. She is easily my favorite member of the band, her voice is so unique and definitely helped give the band their signature. That said, onto her new music. She released an EP called Armor On March 27, but it hasn't been noticed much. SMFU (Save Me From You) is a very emotional track, but Bombs shows off her unique voice more. Scripture has a very cool mysterious sound as well. All are amazing though, she has done a great job. Her major project will be a trilogy of EP's - GoldenHeart, BlackHeart, and RedemptionHeart. People say she sounds like Brandy, but Dawn is definitely more R&B.

When I first started to play Young London's single Let Me Go, I groaned inwardly. The very beginning of the song, just the electric beat is so overused that I gave up on them. That was in January, when I first considered announcing their debut album. Well, I decided to listen to them again, but this time go through the whole song. I was again deterred by by the electronic sound, and to be honest, wasn't very moved by Matt's start. But when Sarah came in, I got really excited. Not just because it isn't easy finding halfway decent boy-girl bands where both both sing, but because their voices work so well together. About 50 replays later, I've memorized the words and I'm exploring other songs of theirs, such as Celebrity (which sounds a bit like Right Round by Flo Rida) and New Reputation. What I really love is that they have multiple sounds, like Celebrity is completely different from Let Me Go. I don't know when their second album is coming out, but I can't wait!

If you don't know, I'm telling you now: I love Colette Carr. Love, love, love her. And I have been playing her new song Like I Got a Gun everywhere. Seriously, I got out of a final and my friend announced "Guys, if you want to study then go away, she's gonna play that song again!" I still don't know when Skitzso is coming out, but I'm trying to find out! And if you haven't, listen AND watch the video to No I.D., it is just...so great.

Swag List
Tatana ft. Natalia Kills - You Can't Get In My Head (If You Don't Get In My Bed)
Rita Ora - How We Do (Party)
Cher Lloyd - Swagger Jagger
Green Day - Good Riddance
Nicola Roberts - Lucky Day

Summer Pop

Hey Guys! Its summer vacation now, and that means I have loads more time to post! I will make up for my gap during finals, promise.

First off, in honor of summer vacation, I'm giving you a playlist that I made. The link for Youtube is here and this is the tracklist (I'm sure I mixed badly. Sorry, I'm a blogger, not a DJ):

Sabrina Washington - OMG (Oh My Gosh)
Iggy Azaelia - My World
Luminites - Gotta Get Into It
Avril Lavigne - Complicated
Natalia Kills - Break You Hard
Girlicious - Like Me
Olly Murs - Dance With Me Tonight
 The Wanted - Warzone
Wynter Gordon - Buy My Love
Kimberly Cole - Smack You
Kat Graham - Put Your Graffiti On Me
Haley Reinhart - Free
Willow Smith - Whip My Hair
Ariana Grande - Put Your Hearts Up
Keke Palmer - The One You Call
Avril Lavigne - Wish You Were Here
Alexis Jordan - Happiness
Kristina DeBarge - Goodbye
Colette Carr - Like I Got A Gun
Angel - Go In, Go Hard ft. Wretch 32