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.

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Flashback Friday: Ya Ya - We've Only Tonight

"Don't fuss, don't fight"

This track, as far as I know, is pretty rare--as is the entirety of Ya Ya's 1984 album, Scarred. The pop/rock band is most known by their soundtrack work on various 80's films, but they deserve a wider audience. If you're a fan of big, bright power pop (and if you're reading this blog, the chance is pretty high), you're gonna love this. It was hard to pick just one track from their album to showcase, but I think this is a pretty good indicator of what you're getting with Ya Ya. Lots of energy, excellent use of synth riffs, and an overall catchy Cars-esque pop song firmly rooted in the 80's. Unfortunately, there's just not a lot of info about this group around on the internet. In fact, I couldn't even find a picture! I had to do with the cover of their album (above). Classify them under "hidden treasure," I suppose.

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

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Daniel Bedingfield - O.V.E.R. U

"I don't miss you anymore"

Guess who's back? I used to be obsessed with Daniel Bedingfield's first album. I remember, my friend and I went to this radio concert and he was one of the acts. We made a sign to hold up (the first and last time that happened), but we were so far back in the stadium that there would have been no way he could have seen it. Plus, at that time nobody in the audience knew who he was so they just stared at us like we were insane. Regardless, I played that album to death and was upset when he didn't really go on to do much more music. Flash forward nearly a decade and he's released a new, comeback EP. It's not the perfect piece of work, but it definitely has its standout moments. If he were to pick a single from it, I'd totally go with O.V.E.R. U, which blends his classic, beat-heavy dance with a great, radio-friendly melody. Best of all, you can download the entire EP for free by clicking here! Pretty sweet, huh?



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

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One Night Only - Hurricane

"I'm young, I'm on the rise"

So, last year the UK band One Night Only apparently released a third album. It's mysterious, though, because its availability seems to be scarce and tied (weirdly) up with Coca Cola advertising. In fact, more than anything it appears to be a tie-in to their little-known Coke single Can You Feel It Tonight. It's all very strange. That said, it's also got some great songs on it. Now, full disclosure: while I've loved the band's singles, I've never really enjoyed one of their albums start-to-finish. This one's no different, but there are definitely a few standouts worth mentioning. Hurricane opens the album in a stunning fashion, with epic instrumentation and an overall sound that reminds me of Keane in their Perfect Symmetry days. One day I'm going to compile the perfect One Night Only album. This would definitely be on it.



(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.

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Track-by-Track: The Wanted - EP

If One Direction are the new 'Nsync in the modern battle of the boybands, The Wanted are the new Backstreet Boys--more mature melodically, less punchy musically. They've already released two great albums filled with modern pop music, but I've never reviewed either of them on here, so I thought it might be fun to look at their first American EP, which is basically a Greatest Hits up to this point (with a couple of non-hits tacked on). Because of this, it's already got a leg up on most albums. After all, the Wanted are a strong singles group.

1. Glad You Came - The lead single from their second UK album, and the one that broke them in America. It's an addictive slice of tropical euro-pop and definitely Summer appropriate. Not their best, but close. 10/10

2. Chasing The Sun - Pretty much, "Glad You Came" part two, but I actually think I like this one better. One of the two "new" tracks on the album, this definitely deserves its single status. It's just ridiculously catchy. 10/10

3. All Time Low - Their breakthrough single, and still their best. Basically, what Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" was for alternative music, this is for pop (though I'm aware that describing Coldplay as "alternative" is pretty ridiculous, but you get the point). If there's any justice, this should be a US single. It's too good to go unknown. 10/10

4. Satellite - One of the "new" tracks on the album, this Ryan Tedder written track feels a little generic. I don't know... the melody just doesn't do anything all that interesting. Though it's nice to have a new track, I'd rather they would have included the excellent "I'll Be Your Strength" from the second UK album. 8/10

5. Lightning - Not my favorite single, but certainly not bad. I loved the melody the first few times I heard it, but it wore thin pretty quickly. I think they could've done something more interesting with the production. Still, overall the pros definitely outweigh the cons. 9/10

6. Heart Vacancy - I never understood why this was their second single after the brilliant "All Time Low." It's just such a basic boyband ballad. I've grown to like it much more than I used to, but it doesn't exactly stand out. 8/10

7. Gold Forever - The first time they really experimented with a dancier sound (paving way for "Glad You Came") and it's an utter triumph. The lyrics are a bit naff, but the band has always had pretty horrible lyrics. The song itself is magic. 10/10

8. Lose My Mind - The third single from their debut, and definitely one of their most underrated singles. It sounds a bit like what Kings Of Leon would sound like if they went pure pop. Excellent. 10/10

9. Warzone - A slower, dubstep influenced track from the second UK album. I don't remember this doing much on the charts. They definitely have better ballads, not that this is horrible or anything. 8/10

10. Rocket - I find it weird that, of all the non-singles they could've added to this last slot on the album, they chose this one. Maybe it's because some of the vocals sound mysteriously Backstreet Boys-esque? I love the production on this, but I would hardly consider it an album-standout. They've got a few 10/10 tracks they could have picked. Still, this gets a 9/10

Album Grade: 9.2/10

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Reece Mastin - Shut Up & Kiss Me

"No need to tease me"

It seems like every other post on this blog nowadays is about some X-Factor contestant. But the fact is (despite the crappy US version), this series actually produces stars. Since winning last year, Australia's Reece Mastin has been catapulted into stardom in his native country. His post-show single, Good Night, was a massive hit, but we've all been wondering what his first official album single will sound like. As it turns out, the song sounds exactly like what I thought it would. But that's no bad thing. Mastin's blend of rock, pop and punk is bound to go down a storm on the charts. This track in particular is tailor-made for radio. It's catchy from the get go. Both hooks in the chorus stick. Mastin, like One Direction and Leona Lewis before him, is the type of performer that could potentially go global. It'll be harder, since the Australian version of the show is lesser known around the world, but with a song and image like his, I can definitely see it happening. What do you think? It's already on top of itunes in Australia.



(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.

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Flashback Friday: Pia Zadora & Jermaine Jackson - When The Rain Begins To Fall

"You know that we can have it all"

In addition to being a music nut, I'm a massive fan of cheesy, obscure 80's musicals. The granddaddy of all of them is definitely The Apple, and if you haven't experienced that movie yet, make it your homework to watch it this weekend. I can't think of a more entertaining mess. Along the same lines is the mid-80's "comedy" Voyage of the Rock Aliens. The movie is pure insanity, barely holding together from one deliriously weird musical number to the next. It was a vehicle for actress/singer Pia Zadora and the artist line-up of Curb Records. It failed commercially, of course, and was never even given a release in the US. But it is pure, campy gold. When the Rain Begins to Fall, a duet (for some reason) with Jermaine Jackson, was actually a hit in Europe. I can see why. It's deceptively simple, but the melody sticks with you even if you don't want it to. The song opens the movie in a vignette/music video between Zadora and Jackson that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the plot -- only one of the many reasons I love this weird movie. Check out the clip here. It's more than a little Lady Gaga-esque, right?



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

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Aiden Grimshaw - Is This Love

"It's just not enough for me"

UK X-factor 2010 is the gift that just keeps on giving. I already knew it was the best/most entertaining season, but it's also turning into the season with the most interesting music releases after it's over. Aiden Grimshaw was a shock early-ish elimination, despite being a perceived frontrunner. He didn't really fit the reality show mold. There was something off-kilter and indie about him, so it's no surprise that his debut single is... off kilter and indie. That said, it's still a lot different than what I expected. Grimshaw goes for a dark drum and bass sound, while still retaining a strong sense of surging melody. It really doesn't sound a lot like him, and makes me wonder if the rest of the album (out this Summer) will follow suit. For now, this has definitely caught my attention. Will it do the same with mainstream audiences? I'm not sure, but maybe. And perhaps that's not even what he's going for.



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

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The Wanted - Chasing The Sun

"We're gonna play in the dark until it's golden again"

I couldn't be happier that the Wanted and One Direction have become the new breed of "boyband" in the States. Screw the cheesy connotations that come to mind with the whole "boyband" label. I honestly don't care about that stuff. What's important to me is that there seems to finally be a resurgence of quality radio pop music. The Wanted have released two excellent albums in the UK (which I've covered here on this blog) and are set to release their first US release next week. It's a combination of some of the tracks from each UK album and a couple new ones. Chasing The Sun is one of the new ones, and the next single. It's basically Glad You Came part II, but I think I actually like it better. The "oh oh oh" chorus hook is deceptively simple, yet incredibly effective. I'm pretty addicted already. Now if they'll just give All Time Low a second chance as their next single. I really think 1D's What Makes You Beautiful is 2012's Bye Bye Bye and All Time Low could be this year's I Want It That Way. Worth noting: a low quality youtube rip doesn't do this single justice, so make sure to check it out on itunes!



(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.

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Stereo Explosion - Shake Shake (Disko)

"I said it once and I'm gonna say it again"

Now that the Ark has split up, it's time for the spin-off projects. The first is Stereo Explosion, which actually existed in a slightly different form before the Ark. The group consists of 4/6's of the Ark (missing Sylvester the drummer and, of course, Ola). That said, the sound is a little different than the Ark. It's more straight-up 70's rock without the theatrical elements that we all loved so much about the Ark. Shake Shake is a song that was released years and years ago, but it's back now in a spiffed up version. I actually posted about the original right when this blog started six years ago. Of the new three tracks they've released this week, this old one is definitely the best. Unfortunately, its dance/disco-oriented sound seems to be a red herring. It's completely different to the others. But I'm hoping that this catches on so that they're steered more towards this specific genre.



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

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Maniac - Give It Up

"It's written in the cards"

I went to the Foxy Shazam show in Seattle this weekend and (of course) they were brilliant. Since I'd seen them before, I was really interested in watching the opening acts they'd selected. My favorite was Maniac, an indie-pop duo from California. They've got an incredibly quirky sound--a mix of almost every time period and genre you could imagine. As someone who studies pop music, I really appreciated this. I also appreciated the way that each band was dressed up as their own "character." They were certainly a colorful bunch! Give It Up is a great example of their gift for catchy hooks. It's on the dancier side of their material, and actually reminds me a bit of Denmark's now-defunct pop band Superheroes. They're definitely one to watch!

No embeddable link (lame), so you'll have to click here.

(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.

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Flashback Friday: Glen Burtnick - Follow You

"Now my heart beats like a drummer"

There are just so many minor 80's hits that deserve legendary status, which is the biggest reason I started doing this Flashback Friday feature. Glen Burtnick released one of these should've-been-major-hits in 1987. It sounds quite a bit like Bryan Adams, though (barring Summer of '69) it's better than any of his material. In fact, I'd wedge this right between Summer and Journey's Don't Stop Believing and you'd have an epic ten plus minutes of AOR. It just has the classic, carefree singalong melody that's missing from so much of today's music. It's a pity Burtnick couldn't find more mainstream success on his own (though he was a member of uber-successful group Styx). Interesting fact: Burtnick's name has now been changed to Burtnik. I wonder what the point of losing the "c" was?



(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.

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Helena Gutarra - Tongues On Fire

"Feels so good you'll lose control"

This is such a cool song! It's also officially the most amazing track to come out of the Voice. Of course, given that this is from a contestant in the Swedish version of the show, that's no big surprise. Helena Gutarra used to sing with pop/punk back La Puma, but nothing that she did then could have prepared me for this type of a sound. Tongues On Fire is huge. To me, it sounds exactly like what Cyndi Lauper would release if she was just starting out in 2012. The fuzzy, beat-heavy production is instantly irresistible, but it's that bombastic chorus and the incredible vocals that really set this apart. I am a massive fan of Gutarra's voice. I wish she had more songs uploaded to her soundcloud page, but this one is inspired enough to get me super excited about her career as a solo artist.



(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.

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Carly Rae Jepsen - Curiosity

"Look at me, left here in the cold"

Okay, I've written about Carly Rae Jepsen already, and pretty recently too. But, it's really been quite amazing how she's risen for moderately successful Canadian singer-songwriter to global pop superstar in just months. And it's even more amazing (barring the whole Justin Beiber influence) that it's down to the quality of the music and not the level of hype. Call Me Maybe gets more infectious by the day, but the rest of the new EP is also wonderful bubblegum pop. I'm just dying for this melody-driven genre to come back into vogue, and I really feel like it's going to happen. Looking at the US itunes top ten single chart has been quite heartening of late. If Jepsen's going to pluck another single from this release, it should definitely be Curiosity. It's not as hit-you-over-the-head catchy as Call Me Maybe, but it's definitely along the same lines. I love that she's moved to a glossier production style from her earlier coffeehouse-oriented solo work. It really suits her voice, and definitely compliments this track, with its irresistible oh, oh, oh hook.



(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.

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Casablanca - Beast Of Summer

"If you don't get it, we'll show you how"

I've been sitting on this track (not literally, though that would be... interesting) for awhile now. Casablanca are a Swedish rock/hair-metal supergroup, including members from Melody Club, Sahara Hotnights and Alice Cooper, among others. That's pretty impressive on its own. The fact that the band has released an awesome throwback album is just icing on the cake. Beast Of Summer is one of the best tracks, and absolutely screams backyard bbq or top-down convertible driving (if I had a convertible). I love big, anthemic cheese like this. Nobody does "it's Summertime!" songs better than the Swedes. It's undoubtedly because their winters are so long and dark. But take it from someone who's visited several times: there's nothing more beautiful that a Stockholm Summer.



(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.

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Scissor Sisters - Only The Horses

"Only the horses can bring us back home"

I hate it when a big track comes out on a Friday because then I have to wait all the way until Monday to write about it. This time it was Scissor Sisters' new one, Only The Horses. It's an interesting case, for sure. Here's my dilemma. I love the song. Really, really love it. I especially love when the Sisters go for full-on, soaring melodic pop music. Sure, they can do the offbeat tracks just as well, but I've always been more of a melody guy. They've also roped in it-boy of the moment Calvin Harris to provide production. All signs point to radio eating this up, but if I'm being honest, I'm not so sure. I WANT them to eat it up, but if the similar-sounding Fire With Fire didn't do it, I'm not sure this is going to either. Bottom line is: I think fans really need to get behind this. It's one of those songs that takes a few spins to really grow on you, but then it sticks. I found myself humming the chorus all weekend. I can't wait for their new album next month. If this and Shady Love are anything to go by, it's going to be quite diverse in sound.



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

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Flashback Friday: Fire Inc. - Nowhere Fast

"Everybody's going nowhere slowly"

I can't even describe to you how in love with these songs I am. So in love, in fact, that I can't just post one. Fire Inc. was a band created solely for the purpose of recording this pair of tracks for the 80's cult movie (which I also recommend) Streets Of Fire. The songs were written by Jim Steinman, who's pretty much a god to me. Seriously, he's up there with the very best songwriters in the history of rock. Why no one's commissioned a jukebox musical based on his discography is beyond me. Anyway, I was first familiar with Nowhere Fast through Meat Loaf's version, which was released on his underrated 1984 album, Bad Attitude. The two versions are quite different, both in production and melody, and as much as I love Meat Loaf's version (it's actually one of my favorites of his), Fire Inc's is better. What they've created is an epic, bombastic rock opera. It is literally my absolute favorite style of music. Everything about this is perfection. Play it LOUD.

I also wanted to include the group's only other song, the magnificent Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young. Think of it as the younger, more bombastic cousin to Total Eclipse Of The Heart. Only it's better. This is some of Steinman's best work. A pity that it's also among his least-known. Below is the music video from the movie (Diane lip-syncing along to the song). It's pretty damn ridiculous. Enjoy!





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

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The 10 Best Singles By... Roxette!

With a new (slightly nostalgic) album out now, it's a perfect time to look back at the phenomenal Roxette's discography. This was an incredibly hard list to pick, because there were 5-10 songs that could have easily been added. Even though their past few albums have been pretty spotty, it's amazing what a remarkably consistent career these guys have had.

10. Crash! Boom! Bang! (1994) - Despite the many exclamation points, a restrained, slow-burning ballad. Marie's always been the master at delivering songs like these, but this one in particular feels incredibly heartfelt.

9. The Centre Of The Heart (2001) - An electronic-leaning, uptempo pop song that introduced them for a new millennium. It still sounds fresh today.

8. Listen To Your Heart (1989) - Their first big ballad and the template for many, many more afterward. It really is a masterclass in pop songwriting.

7. Stars (1999) - Easily their most offbeat, clubby single, this was a refreshing change of pace for the band. The music video is also one of their very best.

6. Dangerous (1989) - Another example of how on-top-of-their-game the band was in the late 80's/early 90's. This is a pop melody without any fat at all. Proved that The Look was no fluke.

5. Spending My Time (1991) - The first selection from the duo's best album, Joyride, this took their ballad-writing skills to an even more polished, mature level. The emotive chorus is one of their best.

4. It Must Have Been Love (1990) - Probably their best-known single in the States, it rightfully goes down as their most enduring ballad. There's just something about the melody and vocal performance that sticks, no matter how many times you hear it.

3. The Look (1989) - The first song I ever heard from the band, and the one that made me a fan. That guitar riff and verse melody is unmistakable. Massive pop song.

2. Fading Like A Flower (1991) - I think this marks the perfect middle-ground between their ballad and uptempo sounds. The propulsive chorus is absolutely galvanizing. To me, this era was Roxette at their absolute finest.

1. Joyride (1991) - One of the most joyous pop songs ever to hit number one in the States (and around the world). This track not only kicked off their best album, but manages to endure through the years despite (or because of?) its cheesiness and 90's production tricks. Simply put, an epic song is an epic song, no matter when it's recorded.

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

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Chantal Claret - Pop Pop Bang Bang

"I shot you, now you're dead"

Sorry about the lack of post yesterday. I was out of town! But I'm back today with a doozy. This track is so freaking catchy. Chantal Claret is (was?) the lead singer of the band Morningwood, who had a minor hit a few years back. Now she's gone solo with a poppier sound. This song in particular marries Katy Perry with Amy Winehouse. It's a perfect sound for the Summer, and boasts one of the catchiest hooks I've heard all year. It's the kind of chorus that's so simple and familiar that you swear you've heard it before, but it still manages to feel new and fresh. The EP was released yesterday, and features four songs. This is by far the catchiest (the rest are more along the Winehouse/Dusty Springfield route). Certainly one to watch, though.



(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.

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Dragonette - Let It Go

"We don't need a cure for the weight of the world"

This track burst onto the web at the end of last week, but I haven't had a chance to offer my thoughts on it until today. Under any circumstance, a new Dragonette single is something to cheer about. Now that the band have come off their phenomenal worldwide success with Martin Solveig, I'm hoping that this can be their first solo single to do well outside of Canada. Sound-wise, it's not entirely different than their Solveig work. The band have been providing new album teasers for months now, and honestly the clip of Let It Go was never my favorite, or the most interesting. It is, however, a naturally radio-oriented pop song, though it might still be too cool for mainstream US stations. It has the fizzy synth sound of their best work, married to a quick, relentless melody. And, most importantly, it does nothing to tarnish their reputation as a perfect pop band. Now bring on the album!



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

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