Loreen - Euphoria

Dance time musiggerists. I wanna introduce you to the next eurodance superstar (and I bet she will!). I am talking about 29 years old lady Lorine Zineb Noka Talhaoui, a.k.a. Loreen. Despite her obvious North African roots (her parents are Moroccan), Loreen was actually borned and raised in Sweden.

Despite her huge talent, both as singer and as song writer, she reached a spot in the scene only in 2012, as she won the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest with a sublime interpretation of a track that is climbing the charts of all European countries: Euphoria, biggest single from her first EP Heal.

Euphoria definetely got what it takes to become a huge disco hit. A heavy dance track with some trance elements, starting with an eerie flavour, which slowly charges its power to totally unleash into an energetic chorus, thanks also to Loreen's strong voice. You won't be able to stop listening to this.

Before Euphoria, Loreen drew two other singles from Heal: My Heart Is Refusing me and Sober, both dance hits. Voices are referring that next single from the Swedish singer will be Crying Out Your Name, a ballad with dance sonorities, but less danceable thank the others. Let's see if she will amaze us again.

I definetely wish all the best to this made-on-Sweden talent, but for now enjoy Euphoria.

 

Will.I.Am & Britney Spears - Scream and Shout

Pop and dance lovers good news for all of you dancefloor freaks! An exclusive Xmas gift has been given to all of us in advance by two of the most clicked, hotlisted and controversial music icons of our times. I am talking about King-of-clubs Will.I.Am and Pop-queenie Britney Spears.

The last release of Funkenomenon Will.I.Am is Scream and Shout. Basically this track follows to the letter the same old club smash hit recipe. Just put Britney singing in the opening When you hear this in the club, you're gonna turn the shit up, and your hand will automatically turn up your iPod volume. It's insane how much digital processing is contained in this, but we all know Will.I.Am is the top on it. The use of modulations of Britney's voice to build the chorus sounds perfectly natural in this context. It is just me or does she seem to use a British accent in the intro?! Anyway, it really works my side.

Scream and Shout is a catchy-trashy electronic pop dance track that will insinuate its way directly into your brain. And Britney lovers will definetely scream of joy when hearing her singing her legendary trademark Britney Bitch directly sampled from Gimme More.

This is the last chance for Will.I.Am to smash US charts with a leading solo act after putting in the UK three tracks in the top 5 on the pop singles chart. With the star power of queen Britney on the new record and a video introduction on X Factor, it looks like Will.I.Am may just have his breakthrough in time for Christmas 2012. 

Rita Ora - Radioactive

Pay attention Mrs Rihanna, young Albanian-British 22 y.o. pop diva Rita Ora has definetely made her debut among the highest music icons. Copycat or not, I definetly think she got what it takes to smash it. 

After the release of nice hits like How We Do (Party), R.I.P. feat London thug Tinie Tempah and Shine Ya Light, please welcome the next Euro Top 20 hit: Radioactive. Moreover her self titled album Ora has debuted at #1 in the UK chart. 

In the track mrs. Ora is on FIYAH. Radioactive simply shines with anthemic hooks and definetely infectious melodies which reminds me of 90s Euro dance hits. 

Bet it this track will set on fire many dancefloors, thanks also to the wise collaboration of Australian dance queen Sia (remember David Guetta's Titanium?). But most of all thanks to her mentor: Mr. Jay Z. The hip hop hugest star alive claimed Rita to be indeed his #1 protégé. With a such a music pimp, Rita can nothing but be radioactive. 

Enjoy! 

Stooshe - Waterfalls (TLC cover)

It was quite a bit since UK released a whole female R&B funky soul group. I just can't remembr any since All Saints reign in the late 90s. But here it comes a band that I really think will last quite long: Stooshe.

Stooshe is made of Alexandra Buggs (black), Courtney Rumbold (blondie) and Karis Anderson (ginger). Those three girls were put up together when producer Joe Perry decide scouting across UK fashion retail Topshops to discover some girls who got the presence and the sound. That's why Stooshe was selected as the band name: a stoosh indeed indicates a girl who think it's nicer than she actually is. And guess he made a really good work. 

Basically Stooshe is a more modern version of TLC. They got same style, same sound and now even the same song of the 90s American R&B group. As fans of TLC, the three girls released an home made video of Waterfalls on Twitter and they immediately grabbed the attention of Mrs. T-Boz who personally congratulated with them. That's why the UK trio decided to release the song as leading single. A big surprise in the video. Guess what? In the closing scenes you can see former TLC member T-Boz and Chilli who make a brief cameo. It just gave me chills. 

Waterfalls hasn't changed so much actually. The three UK babies just add some acoustic guitars and pushing drums, but basically the melody remains identical to original version. The only change links to the rapping verses sang by all three singers, while in the original version it was Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' dedicated part. R.I.P. Lisa.

Wish all the best to these three British chicks. Let's see where they can reach for.

Rihanna - Diamonds video

And finally here it comes. The new video of lady RiRi's Diamonds has just been premiered on MTV. I definetely think this is the best video that the Bajan singer has released so far. Thanks also to the big help of music stars director Anthony "Tony" Mandler, who collaborated also with Beyonce, Nelly Furtado and Maroon 5 just to mention some.

The video is mainly a collection of RiRi's black&white close ups spaced out by different widescreen shots, like a couple of horses running through green hills. It seems that now singers just can't get enough of the horses. Just think about Scissor Sisters' Only The Horses video in which the fiery animal is the one and only protagonist. It leaves me puzzled.

By the way Rihanna is enchanting more than ever in Diamonds. And I am sure she will be ven more in her forthcoming Unapologetic album. No official tracklist has been released yet, but I am sure we will definetely have news soon since the album release is set for November 19th. Let's wait. For now, enjoy Lady Rihanna and her stunning beauty in Diamonds.

Ellie Goulding - Halcyon - Album Review

Since I discovered the sound of this young British lady, I just can't get enough of listening to her innovative sonorities. Despite fame came to Goulding last summer with her massive hit Lights, but published in 2010, I still appreciate her humbleness and perseverance along her style. I think it may be the precious advice of her boyfriend Skrillex, who actually collaborated with some huge music gods (see Matt Bellamy and friends).

Halcyon is the result of such hard work and with this album it seems that finally Ellie was able to match the huge expectations gravitating around her. At first listening, it may seems a Florence + The Machine album sprinkled with eerie and ghosty sonorities but with a more dancy side. What caught me the most in this work are definetely drums and synths. The perfect tools to make Ellie's unique and shy voice sounds far more precious. A good example is Don't Say A Word which may sounds quite chaotic at the start, but gets clearer and clearer thanks to polite drums which give an electro folk background.

Halcyon is full of tracks that might turn into stunning hits. My Blood is one of that. Nothing special actually if it wasn't for a great chorus climax during which Goulding's voice morphs and reaches very new dissonancies. Another nice track is marchy and synthsfull Anything Could Happen chosen as leading single. But by far my fav track is Figure 8, produced by Mr. Mike Spencer (producer of newbies like Kylie or Jamiroquai), which alternates heavy dubstep drums to shy harp chords embellished with Goulding's voic. Very similar to Atlantis too.

But Halcyon gives us also two good collaborations: one with London rapper Tinie Tempah in Hanging On...wow to Goulding's in alt singing alteration. And the other with house master Calvin Harris in I Need Your Love. A+.
Only You gives addiction: with her (autotuned) voice Goulding's instill notes directly to the brain and you just can't help but repeat the track once again.
Failed try to balance the track with ballads like Explosions and I Know You Care...great for those who suffer of insomnia.

In the end Halcyon definetely consecrates Ellie Goulding as the alternative ethereal European lady which was actually still missing in the scene. A good new music perspective.

TheMusigger rating: 4/5 
The single: Figure 8

 

Bjork - Hyperballad

Sometimes I think it's good to stop and look back at the start. I think it's a mantra which is very true in music since our favourite styles are actually the fruit of the musical stock we collected in our life. That's why I decided to write something about one of the most ecleptic and yet avanguardist contemporary artist: Bjork.

I think the biggest talent of Bjork is the capability to use the right sounds to address the feelings she wants to deliver with the lyrics of her songs. It was 1995 when Bjork published her masterpiece Post. A very fertile period made of deep evolutions: rock bands like No Doubt and U2 gain huge success, hip hop makes its massive entrance in the commercial panorama (remember Coolio and his Gansta Paradise or Shaggy's Boombastic), boy and girl bands bands become teenagers' idol. 
But eveolution also means leveraging and building up on the past. Indeed Bjork was able to combine tradition and avantgarde like no other artist before.

Hyperballad is a fabolous example of her artistic vein. Hyperballad isn't a love song, perhaps is a songs about love and relations. A world of morbid routine made of private neurosis in which the only way to evade from the other is a made-of-destruction research of oxygen. Bjork sings about her private ritual, followed by house music impulses in contrast with the acoustic arrangement of the song. A never broken balance which proceeds until the end, when the track explodes with a liberating conclusion with high dance intensity.

In Hyperballad Bjork reaches her huge expressive talents, that will be hardly repeated in her next efforts. The consacration of an artist. Enjoy Hyperballad.

Ke$ha - Die Young

No no this time Ke$ha didn't wake up and felt like P. Diddy, but I bet she's definetely keep brushing her teeth with her old friend Jack Daniels. Our beloved best party animal ever made knows how to party, and really kicks ass in her brand new single Die Young, anticipating her next studio album Warrior.

If it's true that the first single released is the best example of the whole album mood, I really think that Warrior is gonna be THE 2012 dance pop phaenomenon. So don't expect big evolution or style changes. And I am glad about it. Because I personally love Ke$ha as our Mother Dance Animal, nothing more, nothing less.

As artist, she's always been polarizing: many reviews are arguing at her, complaining about no big changes in her new album. But hate her or love her, Die Young, and hopefully Warrior too, are gonna be huge Top 40 hits. As the track starts with a repeated guitar riff, and turns into high beats and synths, Ke$ha order us to get the most of the night like we're gonna die young. And you can bet we will! I just can't stop shaking my head like a freak when I listen to this track.

Musically K$ didn't make any progress in singing with basically her talk-rapped trademarl. Whatever. We love Ke$ha just the way she is cause she knows that We R Who We R. Enjoy Die Young.

Rihanna - Diamonds

Big news Rihanna's lovers. As she is starting to focus on her seventh studio album, Mrs. RiRi released her last single Diamonds produced by 24 yo Benny Blanco and Stargate. Lyrics and melody were written by Australian singer Sia, who made her "debut" in the commercial world music featuring Mr. David Guetta in Titatnium.

Musically speaking, Diamonds is a very big change for Rihanna whole style. Don't expect a huge dance hit like We Found Love, nor her typical R&B track like Umbrella, nor an acoustic song like California Kingsize Bed. 

This track is indeed a midtempo song, who actually fits well with RiRi's voice. Basically the song doesn't present any particular rhythm change, but the minimal and well designed chorus and the repeated lyric shine bright like a diamond immediately give to the listener a huge hypnotic suggestion. I actually can't get this damn song out of my brain. 

Congrats Mrs. Rihanna, you definetely know how to produce Top 40 hits. I just hope that the album will be more concrete and with a common theme, and not just a simple collection of singles. Impress us! Enjoy Diamonds.

Wonder Girls - Just 5 Korean girls in the U.S.

I always admired Far Eastern pop music and kept an eye open to new talents and new stuff in the industry. Korea music labels, specifically, shocked me for their talent into chasing up innovative artsists. K-Pop sonorities are just as good as (and sometimes even better) American or European ones. And K-singers decided to enlarge their typical spectrum of markets like South Korea itself, China, Japan and Philippine and test the limelight of America.

Wonder Girls is a good example. A 5 members girl band who started their career as teenager idols in their home country but soon turned themselves into huge international pop-stars. After releasing two albums for the Korean market - 2007 The Wonder Years and 2011 Wonder World - these 5 Seoul girls are getting ready to release their US debut album, anticipated by single Like Money which shows a very precious collaboration: Mr. Akon ladies and gentlemen.

Eastern sapience was admirably applied for the WG career: taste the ground before entering it. And indeed this 2012 release is not a product of JY (Jin-Yung Park, manager of WG and owner of JYP Entertainment music label) sick mind who got up one day and decided to face this huge challenge. In 2009 in fact WG release an English version of their single Nobody and tested their power into the US industry, releasing the track also in North America. The result was verygood. The single hit the prestigious Billboard HOT 100 chart, first time for a Korean artist. And I bet they are going to repeat this success with this new album, with a still TBA title. Good luck Yubin, Yenny, Lim, Sun and SoHee! Enjoy Like Money!

Ciara - Sorry review

Hopefully good news for R&B princess Ciara lovers. The 26 yo Texas singer is back in the scene with her brand new album entitled One Woman Army. A little curiosity around this EP release: during her official MTV press conference in May, Ciara announced that the lead single of O.W.A. would have been Sweat, a hard low chimes and percussion track featuring the ever-present 2 Chainz. But one week before the official track release on iTunes, Epic Records (managed by X Factor judge L.A. Reid and new Ciara's label) turned the tables stating that the lead single of O.W.A. would actually be Sorry.

Hmm sounds quite strange, don't you think? I think the reason of this last minute change is basically a commercial one. Sweat is a track so damn similar to Ciara's past Basic Instinct EP sonorities which didn't bring much success to lady C. Maybe L.A. Reid is trying to build a more sensitive image around this little brat.

Indeed Sorry is a ballad, which should show CiCi's cute and romantic side, far from the hard and crunk image of CiCi we used to see.  The track is definetely listenable and I bet will get a good radio success, but I have to admit is not new at all. So damn similar to countless R&B balladries like D.C. Emotions, PCD Stickwitu or Alicia Keys' Fallin. Kinda frustrating for a multitalented girl like princess Ciara.

Definetely hope that Mr. L.A. Reid will definetely shake CiCi's stalled career and bring her back at the times of Like a Boy. But for now enjoy romantic Ciara in Sorry.

Ciara - Sorry[www.Musicroz.org] - Ciara - Sorry[www.Musicroz.org]

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Mutya Buena - A wasted talent

I grew up with MTV, I definetely can't deny it. And I grew up watching some singers/band hitting the lists and some (most of the time higher talented) falling apart into the darkest basements of music industry. It was in 2001, while watching a MTV show (don't remember if it was Europe Top 20) that some notes catched my attention. The track was Overload by unknown (for that time) girl band Sugababes. An english-multiethnic trio made of talented ladies Siobhan, Keisha and Mutya who definetely hit the streets.

I appreciated those three girls quite immediately simply because it was a unique pop sound for the beginning of 2000's basically characterized by flat and poor pop music (i.e. Britney, *NSYNC, Christina,...). 

Sugababes had such a huge success from 2001 'til 2005 mainly thanks to Mutya Buena who took the leadership of the band after former member Siobhan Donaghy left the group. And it was in 2005 that Mutya decided to also leave the band and to start her solo career.

Real Girl was the result of Mutya's solo struggle. I definetely can't say it was the greatest album of all times, but the 26 yo english-filipino lady demonstrated quite a high versatility, both in voice and in style. If you had  the chance to listen to this album, you'd seeit's not pop neither R&B. It's more similar to a revisited soul EP. Indeed Mutya's contralto voice defintely fits with this music style. Some tracks like Just a Little Bit, B-Boy-Baby (featuring Mrs. Amy Winehouse's deep contralto) or Real Girl (which features a Lenny Kravitz It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over sample) are a good example of the huge potential that this girl has.

But such a huge talent has been quite wasted. Why? I think the reason is because Sugababes changed 7 recording labels in almost 6 years and no one really had the time to appreciate the potential of each Sugababes member, including Mutya. Such a shame. But now the original formation of Sugababes is back, with new band name MKS. Wish you all the best. Now enjoy Just a Little Bit.

6A6RYM537C2F

The Muse - Madness

Ladies and gentlemen time to focus on one of the most innovative alternative group in the whole world music panorama. Of curse I am talking about Matt Bellamy and friends. As written in one of my previous post, The Muse are going to release on October the 1st their 6th studio album called The 2nd law, anticipated by the leading single Survival.

I have to admit I am so damn curious about this project.  After releasing Survival, as one of the official tracks of London Olympics, it's the turn of their last single Madness. Gorgeous.

Matt Bellamy wasn't kididng at all when saying on NME interview that the British band was deeply influenced by DJ electro-dubstep addicted Skrillex. In the interview he admits that "this kind of music, dubstep is capturing the imagination". Et voilà. Madness, second single released, is the result.

The tracks starts with a digitally distorted voice gong on with a programmed repeated beat. Musically don't expect many harmonies variation during the 4:42 running time. But it ceratinly doesn't mean the song isn't unique. Indeed a crescendo chorus, in perfect Queen-look-alike operatic style, leads the way to a guitar assolo with echoes of Brian May (who would have thought?) with a continuous brain-shaking tune.

Definetely a good song, no doubt about it. But very far from the typical Muse sonorities, who set themselves as one of the biggest rock band ever. Definetely more dancy than rocky. Enjoy MA-MA-MA-MA-MA-MADNESS.

Melanie Amaro - Respect

X Factor US 2012 has started featuring judges L.A Reid, Demi Lovato, Mr Simon "the cruel" Cowell and the reborn bitc...ehm pop princess Britney. I really don't know what to expect from this edition. Will the focus of the competition be on music, or will Britney's leaps be the centre of the scene? So lame :( Hoping that the show won't turn into a massive mediatic flop, I found out a little bit more about X Factor US 2011 winner: Melanie Amaro.

Melanie (Mel for friends) was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida about 20 years ago. She gots British Virgin Islands roots and that's exactly where she spent the major part of her life with her grandmother since her parents felt they couldn't offer her a decent life. No problem about it! With her victory, Mel gained a 5 Mio dollar contract with Epic Records label, enough for her to settle down her whole family I'd say.

Beyond the contract, Mel also won the right to shoot the Super Bowl Pepsi commercial, featuring his majesty Elton John in high heels (TOP!). See the clip below.

I think this video is crazy! A Medieval court where king Elton sadically decides whether or not to give Pepsi for his people. Until our heroine arrives and kicks some butts with a very good techno-electro version of Aretha's Respect. And dudes...what a voice! I think it comes quite natural to compare Melanie's voice with Lady Soul Franklin (quite a fluttering compliment Mrs. Amaro, isn't it?!). The track is good too...kinda reminds me of Chris Brown's Beautiful People with a little Benny Benassi vein. A nice club track with '90s sonorities that I am sure will get some attention around it. I think you won't dare to mis-respect Mrs. Amaro after this performance...Pepsi for all!

No Doubt - Push and Shove

Here we are, after quite a bit. Vacation has inspired more than ever to go on with this blog...let's say that I had quite a blogger's block :) Greece refreshed my schizo mind! And what better way to return on the scene if not with the new Push and Shove No Doubt single? 

I got only one word to describe this amazing track that debuted last August 29th on Ryan Seacrest's radio show as world premiere: innovative. I am so excited for September the 25th to come, date of new ND's new album release. I think they raised our expectations to a very high level; I just hope for them to confirm the high pressure that the industry and the whole international music panorama is putting upon them.

 
Let's go now into the track. Push and Shove, produced by  massive L.A. dj Diplo, has been defined by Tony Kanal as ND's "Bohemian Rhapsody". And me, as a huge ND fan, I can't but agree with him. I think this track represents the perfect synthesis of almost 30 years of Gwen & Co career. You want ska? You find it. You want dancehall sonorities? You'll find them too. You look for a new Gwen? You'll find her rapping and stopping all of a sudden with her voice soaring into a stompy electro-dubstep chorus.

I just think this song is amazing for two reasons. 1) It's kinda hard and dangerous too mixing ska and raggae roots in a more pop-dance territory and 2) innovating something that is considered as steadily consolidated by the mass requires a lot of patience and dedition and, believe, they sure will smash it!

Enjoy Push and Shove. Peace.

Nelly Furtado - Parking Lot exclusive

Wow! I just discovered a big big exclusive on BestFan. Another Nelly's The Spirit Indestructible track revealed. This new track is called Parking Lot. Here you can find it: 

It's just super.Once again it seems that Nelly simply can't get enough of hard trumps and wild background beats just like she did on Big Hoops and Spirit Indestructible. We have to wait until September the 18th to see what The Spirit Indestructible really sounds like...in the meantime enjoy Parking Lot.

Placebo - New album coming

Music lovers, I just read this news on Billboard.com and had to share it with you. Placebo are coming back with new stuff in 2013! I have to admit that I don't like alternative rock/neo-glam bands, but since the times of Sleeping With Ghosts I thought that they had something more than the other average alternative rock bands. It must be the iconic sadness which fills every Brian Molko's song.

By the way, on the Billboard interview, bassist Stefan Oldsal admitted that even if the 3 guys are still recovering from the 2 years Battle for the sun tour, they are starting to write new material for their forthcoming 7th album (wow!). 

Still no info about the sounds of their upcoming effort, since they still need some rest Oldsal said. But...in the interview Oldsal passed up a little clue by saying: "I suppose once we came off the road it was kind of hard to plug in a distorted guitar again, because we'd done that every night for the best part of two years. When we came back home it was nice to hear nice, clean, acoustic sounds, so maybe we'll still feel that way when we start to record the album".

So will it be acoustic? Damn...I just can't imagine a whole acoustic Placebo album. Brian's voice needs electric background! Don't you agree with me? For the moment I leave you a little gift...the best Placebo song, my rate. Enjoy your Pure Morning!

Lady Gaga - New album coming

Heya you lil monsters. I know you've been waiting for news about the new effort of Mother Monster. And here it is. Lady Gaga revealed the title of her new album which will be released in the early 2013. The title will be ARTPOP, all written in capital letters.

And our Lady Gaga has been pretty strict saying that the title of this project must be written in capital letters since "it is a key detail of the new album". 

We still don't know anything about the sounds she's gonna use for this new project. The only "sneak peak" she accorded to us via Twitter is a new tattoo: an ARTPOP tattoo.

Hope she will bis the success of Born this way. In the meantime LG is across Europe with her worldwide Born this way tour and she's going to act in the new Robert Rodriguez movie Machete Kills with huge stars like Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez and Mel Gibson. Wish you all the best Mother Monster.

Little Mix - Wings

Little Mix. For those who don't know this fresh pop group, they are the winners of UK X Factor 8th edition. Originally presented as 4 solo singers (and obviously failed) they had their second mirac...ehm chance when judge Tulisa of hip hop crew N-Dubz had the (brilliant) idea to put the four girls together. And I have to admit it...she was right. The result is quuite good my rate.

As music industry orders, they immediately released their first single Cannonbal, cover of the original Damien Rice's track, after the mediatic victory. But then no news from the band until...now. Ladies and gentlemen please welcome Wings, first original single from LM girls!

 

This track has definetely what it takes to become a huge success. Why? Simply because it has all the elements that a pop song requires to become singable and danceable: starting horns, heavy drums over a cool dubstep beat, handclaps and an ending march band (Hollaback girl style). Trite lyrics about being proud of yourself, but it's really what it takes to create the perfect recipe to take a spot in the industry.


Wish you all the best LM. God only knows if you will be the next Spices!

Muse - The 2nd Law

Fasten your seat-belts please, Muse lovers. It's official. Matt Bellamy and friends are going to release their next studio EP on September, the 17th. The title? The 2nd Law.

Don't ask me about the meaning of this title. I just discovered the artwork of the EP and find it kinda artistic and disquieting at the same time. You can see it at the top of the post. It represents a human brain with all its white fibres. The different colours represent the different level of brain activity. I find it quite fascinating even though I really don't know what to expect from their last musical effort. Have you heard their anticipating single Unsustainable? Personally, I can still recognize myth sonorities as strings opening, choir in the background and then a futuristic voice that suddenly change the song into a hard dubstep track. Definetely innovative. But can't completely understand it.

The group revealed that The 2nd Law will be very diverse from all the previous Muse albums, except for one song. Matt Bellamy admitted that with this album: "We've basically tried to do what Rage Against The Machine did with hip-hop in the 1990s and take a bit of the electronic world and dubstep and play it with real instruments". Such a huge comparison Matt! Remember that the line between confidence and cockiness is very, very thin. Let's hope that The 2nd Law will definetely match the expectations!

Rita Ora - R.I.P. review

I simply love this girl. Maybe it's because this young singer has got such a strong aura around her, full of positive energy. And energy is, of course, the only way she knows how to express herself. Ladies and gentlemen I am talking about miss Rita Ora, the new big talent of the "made in UK" music industry.

Rita has Albanian roots. That's a part that teases me quite a lot. Love new and exotic talents. But (damn!) she just borns in Kosovo 22 years ago, but then soon left the Balcanian paeninsula with her parents. Destination: LDN (the old Lily would say).

This pure energy girl declared she always sang. And I definetely bet it's true. That's maybe why Mr. Jay-Z decided to take on board of his Roc Nation label this pretty brat. Yes, his majesty Jay-Z.

Platinum blonde hair and look like miss Gwen Stefani (named as her biggest influencer), voice like Emily Sandè. I think Rita has all the ingredients to be a huge star. Oh I forgot! Same face of Rihanna. Too many times this girl has been criticized for being too similar to hot RiRi. So? What's the problem? They are totally different in styles and, most important, in voice sonorities. In fact Rita is a mezzo-soprano, while the S&M addicted girl is a contralto. Did you know it? But let's move now to what it matters the most: music.

RO released her first single How We Do (Party). A good to hear party song. Much more for teenagers rather than for mature listeners. But (and that's kinda weird) this song doesn't drive me mad. Normally I would have screamed and yelling against the artist. But I'd say this song leaves me pretty indifferent.

My love with Rita started with her real first single: R.I.P. Rest in peace. An hymn against her look-a-like Rihanna. I think the chorus lyrics are brilliant: "R.I.P. to the girl you used to see. Her days are over. Baby she's over". Collaboration with London rapper Tinie Tempah definetely gives a boost to this already hot track. Hard synth and guitars, dubstep notes and low beats give the whole track something very hip hop with nice dark sonorities. However, the powerful but delicate voice of the platinum blonde girl refines the whole atmosphere. Results? #1 track in UK after one week from the track release.

I really wish to this girl to go far. In the meanwhile unknown artists like Will.I.Am, Kanye West, Drake and The Dream are working on her debut album. Not bad, ah? Enjoy R.I.P.

Sean Paul - The "Temperature" king

Fever. When you kiss me. Fever when you hold me down. That's what Little Willie John sang in the 50's. And he was damn right. From a different perspective for sure, fever knocks you down, and definetely not like Keri Hilson does! Beyond the obvious fact that I'm sick and with a temperature (what the hell is wrong with me?! getting sick in summer?! oh c'mon please!) I wanted to write something before going to bed and get some sleep.

I want to review to you guys a basically average song: average in the lyrics, average in the # of copies sold...but with a damn booty-shaking rhythm! If it wasn't for this damned fever you could have found me dancing this track like a maniac somewhere near the beach.

I am talking 'bout Temperature (exactly) by the king of Jamaican dancehall and raggamuffin: Mr. Sean Paul.

I'd say that SP can be described as an archeotype of Nicki Minaj. Because just like the lil old Nicki, he collaborated with almost every (especially female) singer on the planet, with good market results. Just to quote few of them: Baby Boy with Mrs. Beyoncè Knowles, Rear View Mirror with lady Mya or Break it off with Caribbean R&B first lady Rihanna.

I quoted Baby Boy because I think that basically the structure of these two track is the same. Especially the chorus hook. But never mind. Getting "inspired" by collaboration is a common habit in the current international music industry scenario. Especially at those hugely high levels. An entertaining and pushing bass goes right through the booty veins of the listener and he just can't help it, but to shake it like a Pom Pom (hail to Missy the Misdeameanor Elliot). The right song to the get down on the dance floor. I just got a problem with SP. I can't understand a s*** of what he says.

SPELL THE WORDS SEAN, P-L-E-A-S-E!

Let your booty shake now! Enjoy!

Amy Winehouse - R.I.P. one year later

July, 23rd 2011. One of the brightest supernovas of the contemporary music scene implodes, pushed away by her own talent and fragility at the same time. I am talking about the last soul lioness of present days: Amy Winehouse. The first white soul lady borned 29 years ago in Northern London suburbs, in Southgate neighborhood. Don't worry this is not a wikipedia page! Isn't it?

What I wanna do, in beloved memory of the passed lioness, is to write about her (commercial) masterpiece: Back to Black.

1. Rehab 3:34
2. You know I’m no good 4:17

3. Me & Mr. Jones 2:33

4. Just friends 3:13
5. Back to black 4:10
6. Love is a losing game 2:35
7. Tears dry on their own 3:06
8. Wake up alone 3:42
9. Some unholy war 2:22
10. He can only hold her 2:46
11. Addicted 2:45

11 tracks of pure nu-soul. The comparison with contemporary Lauryn Hill, Macy Gray, Duffy and so on goes 100% natural. But Amy's voice has something that turned herself into the huge star she's been: I am talking about pain, inner pain. A cursed artist whose only way to express herself was shouting loud her powerful voice outside. I'd say Amy is pretty similar to those big past stars, too much six-feet-under to be remembered by the frenzy mainstream scenario. Who remember Doris Duke or Esther Phillips, just to quote two of the biggest? Certified soul atmoshperes cover the whole EP: He can only hold her, Wake up alone and Addicted are nice examples of a fresh blast of past memories. "For you I was a flame/Love is a losing game": that's how the only ballad of the EP, Love is a losing game indeed, begins. Beyond the combed notes, I think that the power of this track is the perfect fit between music and lyrics.It just says things in the right way those things should be told. Another great example of it, is Rehab, lead single of the whole EP. For 3:34 minutes AW shows her impertinence by joking on her little bad habit: drinking. Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm. On Me and Mr. Jones Amy argues on her boyfriend who stopped her from watching the concert of her idol Slick Rick. Regular soul notes leave the space to hip-hop beats in You know I'm no good. Syncopated intro in Some unholy war and the rocksteady of Just friends send the listener back in the '50s. The AW, with the help of producer Mark Ronson, decided to introduce a Marvin Gaye flavour: Tears dry on their own is so damn similar to Gaye's Ain't no mountain high enough that I just can't understand when Amy's voice finish and when Tammi Terrell's begins! And then the lioness ends the album with Back to black: a creepy prophecy. Amy warned us that soon we'd have gone back to black. R.I.P. Amy, even one year later.

Nelly Furtado - The come-back

Six years after the planetary (and commerical) success of Loose, Miss Furtado is planning her come-back on the mainstream pop english-spoken music scene. She just released, one after the other, two singles Big Hoops (the bigger the better) and Spirit Indestructible, that anticipate her 5th studio album: The Spirit Indestructible.

Many voices, and I have to agree with them (at least by listening at the two anticipating tracks), associate The Spirit Indestructible to the sound and atmospheres of Nelly's previous EPs Whoa! Nelly and Loose itself. But let's proceed with order.

Let's start with Big Hoops. For this track the canadian-portuguese lady counted on the help of Mr. Rodney Jerkins, producer of stars like MJ, Whitney and sweet Spice Girls. The track is definetely a pop song, characterized with hip hop veins. It starts and proceed with Nelly's Auto-tuned voice singing on nice and keen percussions. Rhythm mainly based on Furtado's song proceed until she declares in the lyrics "I thought this song was over\ Nope, it ain't over yet". All of a sudden the track disguises into 40 seconds of hard drum'n'bass. Nice song. But it kinda reminds me of On the Radio from the good old days of Whoa! Nelly.

Spirit Indestructible starts with Renaissance-style keys. When the song picks up its true rhythm, with lasery beats and drums, NF voice is kinda overwhelmed by the music. Despite lyrics contains a very positive message, about the true strenght of spirit, the whole songs remains not so convincing. In fact, @ mid-song, Miss Furtado falls into a chant of the 5 vowels “A-E-I-O-U”, definetely not coherent with the whole song’s message. I'd say that Spirit Indestructible dancy atmoshperes bonk with Say It Right beats (is it just me or the track are almost the same?!).

I really don't know what to expect from the last effort of NF, which will be available starting from September. Fingers crossed. In the meantime enjoy the wader Furtado in Big Hoops.

Sugababes - The Reunion

Can't believe it. I just read on NME that original former members of Sugababes, Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy are going to recreate the original asset of the notorious UK girl band.

The new band name will be (are you kidding me?!) Mutya Keisha Siobhan (MKS?). Is that a girl band name? It seems that for legal reasons they cannot use the name Sugababes, still in use by the Mutya, Siobhan and Keisha copycat. However I am happy that the last remaining members of Sugababes (Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen) will definetely fade away.

Here you can read the entire article:

http://www.nme.com/news/sugababes/65062#

It seems that the re-united girls will soon deliver some new music materials in a period range going from 2 to 10 weeks. Does it mean that soon we will se another MV with the three girls returning on stage "Overload"?Maybe yes!

Enjoy the sound from the original line-up.

Ellie Goulding - Lights

Somehow mainstream is paradoxal. You publish your EP in 2010, you get famous in 2012. In the meantime you could have died and no one else cared. I am talking about Ellie Goulding, sweet 26yo british talented Polydor singer and songwriter, currently @ #5 on Billboard's top 100.

I discovered the poptronic Ellie by browsing on YouTube some Bat For Lashes music quite a while ago. Similar sounds yes (also reminds me a lil' bit of Dido), but I think Goulding has something very unique. Should it be her scratchy breath-less voice when touching high notes? Maybe. I think is a matter of style. So I decided to get back at her roots. And found out this little precious surprise: Lights. A pop-electro-base EP produced by DJ Starsmith and Frankmusik among the others.The result is good. Maybe a little bit too mono-chords (sorry but I love heterogeneity).

1. Guns and Horses 3:35
2. Starry Eyed 2:57
3. This Love (Will Be Your Downfall) 3:54
4. Under the Sheets 3:45
5. The Writer 4:05
6. Every Time You Go 3:25
7. Wish I Stayed 3:40
8. Your Biggest Mistake 3:25
9. I’ll Hold My Breath 3:44
10. Salt Skin 4:15
11. Lights 3:31

Homonymous single "Lights" is a good example of catchy song with brain: keys with a repeated drum+bass repetitive pattern, broken up here and there by light violin at mid track, freshen the whole track. "Starry Eyed" left me suspicious: at first I thought "well...another junk track to put in the trash can". But listening at it twice I appreciated the effect of over layering vocals. I would say only but good thing in this track. Shuffling, I ended up on "Guns and Horses" and...wait a minute: no synth? is that a '60s style acoustic guitar riff?.Yes! Appreciate the combination between old and modern chorus waves: worthy listening. However the EP contains also some (very) conceptually basic tracks:"This Love", "I'll Hold My Breath" and "Everytime You Go" left me a bit disappointed. However Goulding recuperates confidence with '80s sonorities in "Under The Sheets" (love the heavy drums) and "Your Biggest Mistake": key & drums, drums & key for a nice rhytmic track (though could have been more mature), just like "Wish I Stayed". With "The Writer", EG leaves her femtronic aura and open the doors to a good ballad but I'd say a little bit too basic even though pretty natural. And what about the dark and gothic-like sonorities for "Salt Skin" track? Still don't get this track.

Net: nice effort, but maybe deserved a bit more details' care. Too many things, mostly disconnected. But I trust this girl. 3* OUT OF 5*.  

Go Ellie, GO! Will the "Lights" inspire you.

Norah Jones - Little Broken Hearts

I simply love Norah Jones. I think she has the capabilities to evoke universes into the listeners' mind. She never bothers me, simply because she always changes. That's why, today, I decided to do a quick review on the enchantress last studio album: Little Broken Hearts.
12 tracks of...jazz?? NO!! 12 tracks of I'd rather say indie alternative pop. A tough revolution if we consider that exactly 10 years ago this young lady came up with a "little" jazz masterpiece: Come Away with Me, more than 25milion copies sold worldwide. 
Cannot explain why, but with this step change NJ seems more than ever (even more than CAWM) to use the most correct melodies to link music with the exact feelings contained in each track. Convincing with this new shape.


Here's the tracklist:

1. "Good Morning"   3:17
2. "Say Goodbye"   3:27
3. "Little Broken Hearts"   3:12
4. "She's 22"   3:10
5. "Take it Back"   4:06
6. "After the Fall"   3:42
7. "4 Broken Hearts"   2:59
8. "Travelin' On"   3:06
9. "Out on the Road"   3:28
10. "Happy Pills"   3:34
11. "Miriam"   4:25
12. "All a Dream" 6:30

In LBH, the old little Norah varies such a multitude of sounds, with unexpected surprises. Beyond "Good Morning" sad acoustic violins and synth atmospheres, tracks like "Say Goodbye", "Little Broken Hearts", "Happy Pills" (leading single of the album) and "Out on the Road" lead to more rhytmic and slightly happier (because of pills) moods. I say slightly happier because in "Miriam", in good company with back guitars and synth, Norah imagines to kill her love rival. BLOOD atmosphere ladies and gentlemen! Not bad for a jazzy girl turned into an indie Femme Fatale. Apparently Miriam is (or was?) 22. In "She's 22", in fact Jones ask herself how her lover could be happy with such a young lady. Truth is that I hardly remember such sad almost country-style guitar riff in the background. Folk sonorities also contained in "Out on the Road"."Take it Back" is one of the few tracks in this album with still piano notes, clear clue that the good old jazz stereotype has almost definetely faded completely. Mystical and I'd say slightly trip-hop sonorities characterize "After the Fall" and "All a dream"...Norah please, he's gone! Convince yourself! Maybe by jumping on your car and "Travelin'On"... sad-relaxing track, perfect to get asleep, somehow.

The new Norah still convince me, I must admit. I would have add just some more drums here and there, but I appreciate her effort. Destructing such a big and strong wall, like the image of jazz-melancholic sad girl, is not that easy. 

4* OUT OF 5* (enjoy "Happy Pills")

No Doubt - The Return

First music post is, of course, dedicated to my favourite band ever: No Doubt. Gwen and friends are back after 11 years of (almost) total silence. It's been quite a while since the 4 Anaheim guys released their last hit: It's My Life, 1984 Talk Talk cover. Missed so hard those times! 
By the way all doubts and uncertainities about ND's come back were all false. "Settle Down" is a good example of a "tough and rough" come back!
Track starts with a sophisticated violin intro with a touch of arabic-baroque sonorities, that set the listener to the mood of the whole piece. Then drums and catchy lyrics ("Get in line and settle down") leave the scene to reggae and dance hall sonorities (remember "Underneath it all"?). Melodic rock notes on the pre-chorus (love Tom Dumont's guitar here) vanish into the arabic-caribbean chorus in which Gwen command us to "Get in line and settle down".
Great come back my side. Just can't wait for the 25th of September for the new album, Push and Shove, release.
ND rock! Just for info, Settle Down is @ #5 on iTunes US Charts after 1 day!
Enjoy it!

New and approved

Ok guys,
here we are. I finally made up my mind and created this blog. What's this about? The only thing that inspire me the most. And that's music.
I decided to call this blog "TheMusigger" because I think that music is the only thing able to trigger feelings inside everyone of us...don't you agree? So I put together those two words...et voilà!
What I'd like to do with this bog is to share my p.o.v. on music and talk with you guys. So let's get it started!!!!!!