2Yoon - 24/7

"To the left, to the right"

Have you been wanting a K-Pop remake of Miley Cyrus's infamous Hoedown Throwdown? Of course you have, because one of those catchy monstrosities is never enough! Well, this isn't quite that, but it's pretty close. This addictive little trifle borrows a hook from American line dancing, melding it with a bubblegum melody throughout the verses and chorus. It's pretty much impossible to hate. So well produced and so fun. 2Yoon is comprised of Gayoon and Jiyoon (hence the "2"), and is a subgroup of popular girlband 4minute. Why these girls don't believe in spaces between the numbers and words in their names, I'll never know, but it doesn't matter because despite the language barrier, this can really be enjoyed by everyone. I could easily see kids getting into this, but honestly the whole thing's so saccharine sweet that it'll get stuck in anyone's head.



(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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Darin - Give Me Tonight

"Say you want me like I want you"

Darin's that rarest type of popstar--one whose music actually gets better with each year of his career. He's the type of male artist we just don't have in the US, and with his recent performances on Så Mycket Bättre (a show that needs to come to America), he may have just reached his peak. Though I haven't had a chance to spend much time with his new album, I can confidently say that nothing is as good as the final track, Nobody Knows (released as a single last year). But that song's so good that it would be a tall order to compete with it. I was a big fan of his last album, Lovekiller, but I'm fine with the shift of sound on this one, since I don't think a Lovekiller Pt. II would have worked. This time around, Darin's gone with a much more international (shall we say, trendy?) sound. Give Me Tonight fits the bill perfectly. It's a soaring dance track that lets hims show off his flawless vocals. Nothing revolutionary, but definitely good fun.



(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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Margaret Berger - I Feed You My Love

"The whole world is mine"

It seems like forever since I've listened to Margaret Berger. I was really into her 2006 album Pretty Scary Silver Fairy, which surprisingly is her most recent full-length release. That's a long time between albums! Now it's time for her big comeback, as part of Norway's search for their 2013 Eurovision entry. She's well on her way, as this track progressed onward during the weekend. It's an odd choice for the contest, as it has a real dark electro vibe to it that isn't as instantaneous as what we'd consider a "typical" Eurovision entry. But that's always been Berger's way. She makes quirky, artistic electropop. It's hard to believe she started on Norway's version of the Idol series. This is a stately midtempo track with crunchy electro production and a subtle, yet super-catchy, hook. If you like it, please check out her back catalogue--especially singles like Samantha and Will You Remember Me Tomorrow.



(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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Feed Me - Death By Robot

For the nerds out there, this is the kind of music the Transformers would listen to on their home world of Cybertron. This is like robo-dance, all augmented, metallic vocals and fuzzy dance beats. It's not the usual thing I'd go for, but the production on this is too good to pass up. I often look for workout music, and I can see this fitting the bill. It kicks off with a burst of energy and never lets up. It has a real dark, otherworldly sound to it without sacrificing a sense of giddy freakout fun. If you're a fan of dance music at all, give this a try.



(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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Kim Jaejoong - Mine

As a new K-Pop devotee, I've mostly been researching the pop and hip-hop sides of things. And honestly, this track is more "pop star gone rock" than true rock music, considering Kim Jaejoong is also a member of the boyband JYJ. This is quite a departure for him, though. It's all big, crunchy guitars and goth sensibilities. It's worth hearing if only for the accompanying video, which is stunning. Korea does music videos so much better than the western music industry. This is like a mini-movie. Artistically shot and filled with intricate, amazing costumes and surprisingly effective special effects. Add to that a song that gets better with each play, and we've got something really special.



(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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Tegan And Sara - Goodbye Goodbye

"You never really knew me"

I'm sad that I haven't had much time to spend with Tegan and Sara's new album since it debuted on the internet, but I have given it a really quick run through and I've gotta say... I didn't know they had it in them. One of my favorite things is when an indie-pop band goes big, polishing their own sensibilities to the point where their music becomes huge pop. I know, I know. Most "hardcore" fans of bands like this would say exactly the opposite. They've sold out. They've abandoned what made them great. Yadda yadda. Different strokes for different folks, I say. And really, how can someone resist a track like this? From the opening synth hook, you know it's gonna be amazing. It's as if the girls have melded their style with influences from bands like Dragonette and Marina & the Diamonds. It's a brilliant move.

Click to hear the song!

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

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Del Marquis - Say Ooh Damn

"You make me see all the things I fail to notice alone"

We all know Del Marquis as the guitar player in Scissor Sisters. Now that that band's on hiatus, Del has moved back to doing some solo work. He released a few EPs a couple of years ago, but this time he's put up a mixtape (a collaboration with Xavier) for free download! The music sounds a bit more like Scissor Sisters this time around, just maybe a bit funkier and more indie. Say Ooh Damn is probably the most SS-sounding track on the EP and also what I'd consider to be the standout. I love the guitar and female background vocals that pop up every now and then. Very 80's. Kinda like a sleazy Prince/George Michael hybrid.



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

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