Capital Cities - Safe And Sound

"I could lift you up"

This song is killing it right now in Germany. At the time of this writing, it's number one on the singles chart. I mention this only because it surprises me, particularly since the song's been around for years (it must be part of some advertisement or something). I've known about it for quite some time myself, but looking at the itunes chart caused me to re-investigate. And really, it's a song worth a second look. The band seems to think so, too, as they've released a new music video and reignited conversation and buzz around their music. The song itself kind of reminds me of a more accessible Empire of the Sun. It's got that airy, organic dance sound that's perfect for a lazy Summer afternoon. We're not quite to Summer yet, but at least it brings to mind warm weather and long nights.



(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.

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Annie - Tube Stops And Lonely Hearts

"Can't stop, I'm about to begin"

My musical relationship with Norway's Annie has been a bit rocky. I wanted to like her music so badly but it didn't hit me instantly. However, I knew it was something that would grow on me, so I worked at liking it, and eventually I came around. That might sound like the music's unapproachable or self-indulgent or something. It's really not. I think the thing that put me off initially was her unique, airy style of singing. I remember thinking that there wasn't a lot of presence (or any grit) in her voice, and for some reason that bothered me and stopped me from fully embracing her cool brand of pop. Whatever. I'm over it now, and I love all her stuff. This new track took no effort to like, from its instantly catchy verses to the breezy, cooler-than-cool production. I'm happy to have her back, and this time I promise I'll embrace the new music without a lot of fuss!



(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.

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Shinee - Why So Serious?

I told you I would write about Shinee's new single as soon as it was released! I was immensely impressed with their first album of the year and its accompanying single, Dream Girl. Why So Serious doesn't sound like either, but that's no bad thing. I love the track's rock-elements, which are taken to an almost cheesy level of bombast. The verses are a bit of a mess, but that chorus is clear as a bell. I love how the melody lifts in unexpected directions, speeding up and slowing down. It's a real interesting choice for a lead single. I haven't listened to the entirety of the new album yet, but what I've heard so far isn't hitting me as strongly as the last one. I'll give it time to grow, but so far it sounds slower and less interesting overall. We'll see. Many are claiming that this track is the worst on the album. At this point, I'd say the exact opposite.



(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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Albums I'm Anticipating this Spring

April

Shinee - Why So Serious? – The Misconceptions of Me
The first half of their double-EP experiment was completely brilliant, so I have high hopes for the follow-up. Expect an Alienhits feature on the new single as soon as it's released.

May

Isac Elliot - Wake Up World
I never thought I could be so addicted to a song by a tween artist, but New Way Home has quickly become one of 2013's absolute highlights. I hope the album's as good.

Amelia Lily - Be A Fighter
She's already had a string of excellent singles, so I have faith in the album (if it's ever released).

June

Studio Killers
I am SO thrilled that, after years of intermittent singles, they're releasing an album. This can't come soon enough. I have sky high hopes for this.

July and Beyond...

Exo-K
My favorite K-Pop debut from last year, and they're way overdue for a comeback.
G-Dragon
Will this be the rumoured Japanese debut or another Korean EP? Or both?
Diviney
He's starting work on his debut EP. I hope it sounds a lot like You're So Cool.
Nicole Saboune
I know nothing about when (or if) a full length album will be released, but I have my fingers crossed.
Haim
Due for a Summer release, this is the only American band that I'm excited about this year.

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Nervo - Hold On

"I just wanna hold on"

I've had my eye on Nervo for awhile now. Over the past few years, the Australian duo has released dance track after dance track. They've all been good, but this is the first one that's really caught my attention. I love the lush, dreamy production and the simple (if spare) melody. It's a different feel from the straight-up club tracks they've released in the past. I'd say it's from the With Every Heartbeat mold of electronic music--a slow build with a focus on one highly melodic, repetitive hook. At three minutes, the track's over before you know it. I'm not usually the biggest fan of extended mixes, but I'd be interested in hearing the one for this.



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

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Union J - Carry You

"You've been running for hours and can't catch your breath"

X-Factor UK sure knows how to churn them out. Although we're still waiting for the Amelia Lily album (being delayed as often as it has is not a great sign), we've now got the first official single from last year's competition. Union J were a cobbled together boyband (One Direction style) that ended up finishing fourth. They were one of two boybands in the competition and were honestly the less interesting of the two, but the one with more commercial appeal. The single's sort of the same. I like it, but I'm not wowed by it. It's very much in the style of fellow Brit boyband The Wanted. Polished, mid-tempo and kind of adult-contemporary. I'm curious to see where they go from here. They could either go on to be the next Westlife or the next One True Voice. I hate to say I'm concerned that they're leaning toward the latter, but I wish them well and I hope this song is successful for them!



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

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Wildstylez - Year Of Summer (ft. Niels Geusebroek)

"Set your mind free, it's the year of Summer"

Sometimes you just want it to be Summer. And if you live in the Pacific Northwest like I do, Summer often needs a little push to get going. This brilliant dance track was actually released last year, but it's riding high on the itunes charts in the Netherlands now. I can totally see why. The beat is massive, like a jackhammer capable of crumbling buildings. But more than that, the melody and lyrics are pure joy. I can't imagine anybody listening to this and not finding something to love. I'm honestly surprised this hasn't hit somewhere outside of the Netherlands yet. It seems primed to do so. Maybe this Summer will change that?



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

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The Modern Love - England

"Still got this feeling, it's in my veins"

Does anyone remember the rock/alternative band Dolly Daggers from Sweden? I was (and still am) obsessed with their single Never Ending around the time of this blog's creation, but unfortunately the group never released anything beyond an EP after that. Now they're back as The Modern Love and this is their first single. I'm not 100% sure about the verses, but that explosive chorus is absolutely undeniable. It's the kind of big, hooky rock music that I'd love to see more of in the current musical landscape. The group's entire EP is available to listen to on their soundcloud page. I think this is the best of their songs, but this is definitely a band to watch.



(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.

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NONONO - Pumping Blood

"This is your heart, it's alive"

Sometimes you can just tell on a song's first listen. This new track by Swedish trio NONONO is stunning (and seemingly came out of nowhere). It has that kind of surging, rollicking sound to it that is a hallmark of all of the music that I love. I don't even know how to explain it beyond the fact that it sounds like barreling down the road in a convertible with your hands in the air. The song goes somewhere, as all the best ones do. This is by far the most "pop" the band have sounded, but go to their soundcloud page and listen to the previous pair of tracks, because they're also quite good. Sweden, and more generally Scandinavia, is representing this year!



(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.

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Private - Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be

"You've got everything to lose and no one to blame"

I feel like Thomas Troelsen and I have had a long relationship. Of course, I've never met the guy, but I think back to his work with Junior Senior and Superheroes years ago, then his amazing output with the first incarnation of Private, and now his current collaborations with some of my favorite K-Pop stars and groups, and there has really been a constant through-line for the length of this blog and beyond. He's a producer and artist I always seek out, no matter where he might be working. His last single as Private felt a little underwhelming, but this is a return to form of sorts. There's still too much rapping, but we really get to hear his fantastic MJ-esque vocals. Seriously, for the sheer sound he's capable of producing, he's one of my absolute favorite vocalists out there. The song's moodier and bigger than anything he's done on his own since the first Private album and makes me want more from him ASAP. And next time, maybe no guest rappers?



(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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PSY - Gentleman

PSY's first post-Gangnam Style single was bound to be a rehash of his most famous hit. I think everyone saw that coming. I held out hope that he'd release something a little more akin to a few of his amazing album tracks like Stay Up Tonight and Blue Frog, but I'm okay with a rehash for now, provided there are more interesting things on the album. Gentleman doesn't reach Gangnam Style highs, but honestly, what would? It is a nice companion song--a sequel of sorts--and I think an excellent video will put it over the top. However, the chances of this reaching the popularity he enjoyed last year are pretty slim, at least outside of Korea. And that's fine. The less international (particularly American) influence on his music, the better.



(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.

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Parachute - Hearts Go Crazy

"I'm gasoline, and you're the spark"

Years ago, I remember picking up Parachute's first album in the store and listening to the previews. I never actually went beyond that, but their name stuck in my head. All these years later, it's really cool to hear a new song and realize how far they've grown as a band. Hearts Go Crazy is much more pop/electronic than their previous material, and all the better for it. Honestly, with its clean vocals and lush production, it sounds like a really good single by The Wanted. In fact, when I first heard it on the radio, I was convinced I was listening to the UK boyband. Some would probably see this as a complaint, but the world can never have too many All Time Lows. This is a very promising new direction for Parachute. I can't wait to hear the rest of the album.



(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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Jewel - Foolish Games (Cutmore 2013 Remix)

"These foolish games are tearing me apart"

Ooh, boy, do I ever love an unexpected remix. I would've never thought Jewel's fantastic 1997 hit Foolish Games could have been turned into a club track, but lo and behold, it absolutely works wonders. Despite not really being my genre of music, I've always been a fan of Jewel. I also feel like 90's nostalgia is on the cusp of taking over pop culture. For a teenager of the 90's like myself, this is a great thing. The way Jewel's vocals wrap unexpectedly around the hard dance beat is a real treat, and who knew that the song's chorus could become so anthemic and huge? I think it's going to prod me into rediscovering the original. The song's taken from a full-length remix album, though most of the tracks on it don't really interest me. Give me a remix of Hands, already!



(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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Shinee - Punch Drunk Love

I've been meaning to post a track from these guys for awhile now. I am deep in my somewhat newfound love for K-Pop, and one of the things I noticed very quickly was that (even more than the western market), albums by K-Pop stars are very uneven. Most of the time, I only really like the single and maybe one or two other tracks. Shinee's new album, Dream Girl: The Misconceptions Of You, completely bucks that trend. From start to finish, it's incredibly strong. Punch Drunk Love is the perfect K-Pop song for those who don't like (or are unaware of) the genre. This is mostly because, despite the language, it doesn't sound Korean at all. It's a summery, Michael Jackson-esque slice of retro funk pop with an impossibly strong melody and harmonies. I credit that to co-writer Thomas Troelsen who, as founder of Danish pop act Private, has written more than his share of MJ-inspired tracks. This is one of his best, and a good indication of what the rest of the fantastic album sounds like. It's Exhibit A in why Danish + Korean = Awesome.



(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: Daniel Küblböck - Love Is In The Air

"Can you feel it?"

I have been searching out this album for months, and I finally got a hold of it. Daniel Küblböck was the flamboyantly cartoonish runner-up in Germany's first season of the Idol franchise (in 2003). Widely panned, his debut is a complete novelty pop disaster/masterpiece. For those Melodifestivalen fans, I can describe it best as being chock-full of songs that would've come last place in their Heat only to become favorites later on. This is super-catchy, super-cheesy FUN pop music. Küblböck sings/speaks in an overdone German accent and rips off classic tracks throughout. This one takes influence from one of my favorite 80's songs, You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon. Another sounds quite similar to It's In His Kiss. This is no bad thing for fans of weird, trashy pop--and under the right circumstances I definitely consider myself part of that camp. Küblböck has now moved on to "credible" (ie: boring) singing, but for a brief shining moment the world was visited by the supremely bizarre persona that shows up on this album. I'm happy to have it as part of my collection!



(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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The Top Ten Singles By... BigBang!

In the world of K-Pop, there is one band to rule them all. BigBang released the best Korean album of last year, and now that their leader G-Dragon is back with a new single, I thought it was a good time to look back on the band's discography.

10. Gara Gara Go! (2009) - Most of the group's English singles suck. This is only partially English (it's mostly Japanese), and it's pretty corny, but there's something about that beat. It's really difficult not to like, even though it seems so simplistic compared to what the band's doing now.

9. Tell Me Goodbye (2010) - A dramatic ballad with an equally cinematic video, this single has one of the group's most beautiful melodies in the verses. Taeyang shines on this, especially.

8. Dirty Cash (2006) - I have a real soft spot for this cheesy, rock-infused track. It sounds nothing like any of their other material, but that sugary pop melody is incredibly durable. Funny video, too.

7. Bad Boy (2012) - Revisiting one of the band's favorite themes, this is an addictive throwback to late 90's r&b/hip-hop with a sweet--if subtle--melody that brought the group to a new level of success.

6. Lies (2007) - The first track to really show off my favorite Bigbang sound--a mix of melancholic piano, rousing hip-hop and explosive production. The template for songs four, three and one on this list.

5. Blue (2012) - As soon as that comforting, seesaw instrumental kicks off, this song instantly soothes. Not their flashiest single, but certainly one of their most melodic.

4. Haru Haru (2008) - One of their biggest hits, and deservedly so. The combination of TOP's gruff rap and the explosively lush chorus is a masterstroke. One of their best videos, too.

3. Love Song (2011) - The band at their most confident and world-conquering. Achingly melodic, with an English hook that builds into a gorgeous, wordless post-chorus. Very dramatic.

2. Fantastic Baby (2012) - The band's biggest and best dance track, and likely the one that most newbies will find first. The huge sledgehammer beat and out-of-this-world visuals marked a new transition, especially in the post Gangnam Style landscape of K-Pop. But this came first, and it's better.

1. Monster (2012) - The song that sealed the deal for me. It's their most dramatic, most cinematic, most emotional and most gorgeously produced single to date. It's got me absolutely aching to see what they do next.

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

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Kensington - Home Again

"We're running a long way home"

I don't feature nearly enough modern music from the Netherlands on this blog. I say "modern," because if you've been reading for awhile, you'll know that I have a special place in my heart for the uber-cheesy wave of pop that hit the country from the late 70's to the early 80's. This song, though, is not cheesy. In fact, it's a galvanizing soft-rock track that sounds a bit like a sequel to Eagle Eye Cherry's 90's hit Save Tonight, mixed with a Kings of Leon-esque anthemic hook. And as awesome as that chorus is, it was the melody of the verses that first caught my ear. It's got this twisting, sing song sound to it that proves to be instantly catchy. Then the hook hits you like a sledgehammer and there's no doubt to the band's awesomeness.



(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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G-Dragon - Michi Go

Some things just defy explanation. I'm not a big fan of hip-hop and I don't speak even a bit of Korean, but over the past year, I've been obsessed with K-Pop rapper G-Dragon. As the leader of the band Bigbang, he's responsible for most of their hits and is a ridiculously talented songwriter and producer himself. More than that, though, he's got the kind of charisma and way-out-there style choices that we don't see enough of in male popstars these days. I maintain my thinking that he could be enormous in the West if he decided to pursue an English music career. I don't mind if he stays in Korea, though, because his stuff, from Heartbreaker to One Of A Kind to Crayon, is amazingly fun and interesting (and varied). Michi Go is his new single and it's a bonkers mix of hip-hop and dubstep that nearly goes over the edge of craziness without turning into a complete mess. I hope there will be an accompanying music video, because that's where his music really comes to life. I'm aware this won't be to everyone's tastes (hell... sometimes I'm surprised that I like it!), but I'm thrilled to have new music from G-Dragon and can't wait for the upcoming EP.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the track (in a very confusing way) here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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