Friday, September 30, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: T-Pain feat. Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen - 5 O'Clock


The King of Auto-tune T-Pain teams up with Wiz Khalifa for certified smash "5 O'Clock", which samples the legendary Ms Lily Allen.

Enjoy!


Wednesday, September 28, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Joe McElderry - Solitaire


2011 has been quite the rollercoaster of a year for Joe McElderry. From severing ties with Syco and being dubbed a forgotten X-Factor cast-off to being crowned winner of ITV's Popstar To Operstar and putting out the highly successful "Classic", which has returned him to the top of the charts. The album has remained  in the Top 5 for five weeks now (selling close to 140,000) and looks set to sell even more as we enter Autumn and Christmas season (a great time for "mum-friendly" music like this). 


He's now put out another visual to accompany "Solitaire", which sees him looking rather dapper and serious. The video is unlisted, which means you can only view it if you have the link, or accompany Flop of the Pops blog ;)

Enjoy!

NEW MUSIC: B.o.B. feat Lil Wayne - Strange Clouds


Five time Grammy-nominee B.o.B. has premiered (well, it leaked, and was then made available legally) "Strange Clouds", featuring Lil Wayne, which serves as the lead single from his sophomore album of the same name, due out Spring 2012. 


Not sure if it's exactly lead single material, but the bass on the track is immense. It's quite Tinie Tempah-ish. Both rappers are on top form, and with the album being so far off it's likely we'll get one or two more singles before then. 

MUSIC VIDEO: Holy Ghost! - Hold My Breath


Signed to DFA Records (co-owned by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem fame and Tim Goldsworthy of U.N.K.L.E. fame), New York electropop duo Holy Ghost! is comprised of childhood friends Nick Millhiser and Alex Frankel. 

Best known for their remixes for the likes of MGMT, Moby, Cut Copy, LCD Soundsystem and Mark Ronson & The Business Intl., Holy Ghost! was officially born in autumn 2007 after their hip-hop group Automato fell apart and they decided to focus on music with vocals and poppier arrangements (their first single, "Hold On", was released in November of that year). Alex has also written and worked with Penguin Prison, as you might remember from my recent interview with Penguin. 


They released their self-titled debut album back in April and the latest single from it is "Hold My Breath", which is a pretty darn good song and worth a listen. Song is accompanied by a simple video featuring live footage and various personal pictures, which I quite enjoy for whatever reason.


FREE DOWNLOAD GIVE AWAY: Saint Saviour - Army Dreamers (Kate Bush Cover)

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Saint Saviour is the decidedly brilliant artist moniker chosen by the decidedly brilliant Becky Jones, a singer, songwriter and producer best known for her work with Groove Armada on their Grammy-Award nominated album Black Light, to which she contributed both writing and vocals and lead to her taking on the role of front woman on the ensuing world tour. She recently opened for Hurts and has been doing gigs all over - bookmark her site Saintsaviour.co.uk for all the latest gig dates and so on. 

The currently unsigned Saviour is now following up her four track Anatomy EP - which was praised "for its fusion of dark disco and the soulfully organic with Saint Saviour's natural falsetto drawing comparisons with Kate Bush, St Vincent and Wild Beast Hayden Thorpe" - with a brand new self-released EP, which sports some rather brilliant artwork:
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Saviour has been likened to a number of artists - Knife, Cocteau Twins, Enya, Kate Bush, the list goes on and on -  but there is a certain...transcendent mix of ethereal and anthemic that permeates her music and distinguishes it from the work of others. Her new EP "Suukei", comes very highly recommended and I'll be damned if she isn't snapped up by a major real soon.

All the songs included on the EP are about reverence for something or other ("Suukei" is the Japanese word for 'reverence'); the four chosen songs being three self-written brand new tracks ('Some Things Change', 'Here In Me', 'Red Sun') and a unique cover of Kate Bush's 'Army Dreamers', which is available as a free download below;







Released officially on October 3rd, a limited edition CD, hand-stamped, signed and dispatched by Saviour herself, will be available. The EP will also be available in CD form in HMV's larger stores throughout the UK. The two different CDs will have slightly different content, and there will also be a digital version which will include remixes. Additionally, a nation-wide tour of HMV's stores, which would see Saviour do both performances and signings, is in the works. 

Check out the home-made visual for first single 'Here In Me' and a cute stop-frame video for track 'Red Sun' (my favourite track on the EP) made by students of London College of Fashion students:


LYRIC VIDEO: Cher Lloyd feat. Mike Posner - With Ur Love


Malvern, Worcestershire's biggest contribution to Pop music (thus far), singer-rapper Cher Lloyd has premiered the lyric video to new single "With Ur Love", shortly after the song's radio premiere on BBC Radio 1. The song is in a similar vein to a number of recent summery-sounding hits - What's My Name (Rihanna/Drake), I'm Into You (Jennifer Lopez/Lil Wayne), Lay It On Me (Kelly Rowland/Big Sean), etc., though the almost "traditional" cut-and-paste rap verse that features on all those songs is replaced in With Ur Love by a short sung verse courtesy of Mike Posner.


"With Ur Love" follows up chart-topper "Swagger Jagger" and is lifted from Cher's upcoming debut album, alongside 'buzz release' "Dub On A Track", featuring Mic Righteous, Dot Rotten & Ghetts, for which a video has also been shot.

Monday, September 26, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Delilah - Go


Paloma Ayana, stage name Delilah, had her first taste of success earlier this year when "Time", a Chase & Status single featuring her vocals, barely missed the UK Top 20, peaking at #21. Now signed to Atlantic Records & Warner Music, she's been working on her own solo project, digitally releasing four brand new tracks on her "Go- EP" earlier this month (September 6th). 

The title track "Go" is a chilled drum & bass number featuring sleek production and a very clever interpolation or reworking of Chaka Khan's classic signature hit "Ain't Nobody" (though the finished product is somewhat more reminiscent of Liberty X's early 00's mash-up version "Being Nobody" which shot to the top of the UK charts).  The only let down is the lack of a dubstep breakdown or sudden drop/wobbly bit - it seems the whole song builds up to such a moment but it never happens. Maybe they thought it would be too predictable, or perhaps they just didn't bother, in the knowledge that the song would get about a hundred dubstep remixes regardless.


Anyways, the song has been gaining steam for a few weeks now and looks set to establish Delilah as one of the freshest, most exciting new faces on the UK music scene.

You'd be a fool to not check it out below:

Sunday, September 25, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: A Story To Tell - Lost Boys


I recently came across Pop-punk/rock five piece A Story To Tell on Facebook. Originally from Spalding, Lincolnshire, they've been doing a bunch of shows all over and have already released a 6 track mini album "Lights, Camera, Reaction" (available on iTunes) which garnered some good reviews. They've just released a new EP, "Lost Boys", and shot a music video for the title track, which you can check out below.

It's all quite reminiscent of Busted/early McFly, which is a decidedly good thing. Catchy hooks with no electro or synths in sight.  Definitely ones to watch out for - be sure to 'Like' them on Facebook and check out some of their other tracks. 

Friday, September 23, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: The Wanted - Lightning


Anglo-Irish boyband The Wanted have premiered the saucy music video for "Lightning", their new single out in the UK on October 30th. According to 4music, the video was shot at a ranch in the Hollywood hills.

"Lightning" follows up #1 hit "Glad You Came" and top 3 "Gold Forever" and serves as the third single from their as-of-yet untitled sophomore studio album, out one week later on November 7th.


Enjoy!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

NEW MUSIC: Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris - We Found Love


EDIT: Here is the single cover, song lyrics and full MP3 of Rihanna's new single "We Found Love", which 'features' Scottish producer/DJ/singer Calvin Harris, who was also inadvertently behind her ex Chris Brown's recent hit "Yeah x3".

The Bajan diva is likely to perform the song as part of her set at Rock In Rio. The track is the lead single from her as of yet untitled sixth studio album, who will follow the song in quick succession, dropping on November 21st. (Note that Rihanna still has three singles from her current album - California King Bed, Man Down & Cheers - working different formats of US radio).

Lyrics:


Yellow diamonds in the light
And we’re standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine 
What it takes to come alive

It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
But I’ve gotta let it go

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place 
We found love in a hopeless place

We found love in a hopeless place

Shine a light through an open door
Love and life I will divide
Turn away cause I need you more 
Feel the heartbeat in my mind

It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
But I’ve gotta let it go

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place 
We found love in a hopeless place

ALBUM TRACK-BY-TRACK REVIEW: Nicola Roberts - Cinderella's Eyes


Readers of Flop of the Pops will be well acquainted with my love and appreciation of Team Ginge's H.B.I.C., Miss Nicola Roberts. She shot to fame back in 2002 after appearing on ITV1's televised talent search Popstars: The Rivals and becoming one of the five female contestants to make it through into all-female pop group Girls Aloud, whose lead single was to compete with the lead single released by a rival all-male group (the short-lived One True Voice) for the highly coveted spot of #1 on the UK Top 40 charts on Christmas week. With a marketing campaign centered around the slogan "Buy girls, bye boys" the Girls' (now iconic) lead single "Sound of the Underground" shot right to the top of the charts, trumping the boys (who peaked at #2 and broke up soon after, despite being the original favorites). A Platinum-selling album and three more top charting singles - "No Good Advice" (peaked at #2 on the UK Top 40), "Life Got Cold" (#3), "Jump" (#2) - followed, establishing Girls Aloud as one of the most potent forces in British pop and making Nicola, together with her four band mates, one of the most recognized and talked about British celebrities of the past decade. 


More singles, more albums, tours, endorsement deals, reality shows, documentaries, movie cameos and plenty more besides followed. From 2002 to 2009 (when they went on hiatus to pursue solo careers) Girls Aloud scored 20 consecutive UK Top ten singles, five BRIT Awards' nominations and amassed a joint fortune of over £25 million. 


Now Nicola is "back" (not that she ever really left or went anywhere else) with her own solo album, "Cinderella's Eyes", officially released in the United Kingdom on September 26th 2011. Now, before I go into talking about the album itself, this is probably the moment to explain that I never really "experienced" the totality of Girls Aloud, as most of my readers will have done. I heartily enjoyed Sound of the Underground and their other singles from their debut album, but a move abroad at this crucial point in the development of Girls Aloud (and by extension, Nicola) as a Pop phenomenon and bonafide superstars deprived me of being an onlooker to their meteoric rise in fame, of ever hearing their big hits rinsed by radio and television. I remember the girls on Popstars The Rivals, I remember the painfully shy sixteen year old Nicola becoming a household name overnight, I remember hearing an enjoyable cover of "Walk This Way" alongside Sugababes a few years ago, and that's about it. 

As such, while I may have lost out on Girls Aloud, I have been more than recompensed by getting to experience Nicola without the preconceptions and tinted shades of a Girls Aloud fan. I don't know much of the group's dynamics, of their partnership with Xenomania, how the vocals were split, who did and said what, and all the other details that fans like to squabble about endlessly. I'm not expecting Nicola to sing like she did in Girls Aloud because honestly, I haven't the faintest what her individual voice sounded like, especially on the group's most recent output. 


Nicola's solo campaign kicked off in May  this year with the announcement of lead single, the feisty "Beat Of My Drum", together with the launch of her official website and Twitter and the debut of the first episode of her YouTube exclusive series, "Through Nicola's Eyes". The song premiered on June 2nd and followed shortly by the music video and an on-air on-sale release on the 5th. The song was produced by Dimitri Tikovoi - best known for producing Placebo's Meds and writing & producing on both of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's last two albums -  and Diplo, who has remixed and produced for numerous A-listers, most notably producing M.I.A.'s hit "Paper Planes" and Chris Brown's "Look At Me Now". Coupling such a production pedigree with Nicola's first cry of freedom, one couldn't end up with anyone but the emphatic flurry of ferocity that is "Drum", a decidedly British counterpart to Beyoncé's "Run The World". (Run The World was also produced by Diplo and heavily samples his club hit "Pon De Floor", whose influence is also highly evident on "Drum"). 


"Drum" is followed, both on the album's track listing and as a single, by "Lucky Day", co-written with the irreproachable Dragonette. Fans who doubted the quickly revised image of what Nicola Roberts' solo career as a quirky Pop queen might amount to were not disappointed with the follow-up to 'Drum'; it's just as energetic and emphatic but devoid of any clear outside influences (as with Drum/Pon De Floor). One can tell it's one of the first solo songs Nicola ever worked on (as indeed it is) just by how all-out the ginger star goes with her vocal experimentation here; the "shriller" aspect of Nicola's voice is not only evident but actively, purposedly showcased here - a defiant cry of freedom from a young woman tired of being told what to do and how to do it (a recurring theme throughout the whole ensemble). 

Nicola+Roberts+Company+Magazine Nicola Roberts: Beat Of My Drum (Single Review)

The third track on the album is "Yo-yo", originally intended by Nicola and her team to be her lead single before being replaced last-minute. One can see why - whilst it lacks the brazen energy of Beat Of My Drum and the frantic joy of Lucky Day, it's a far less offensive offering for the casual listener and nowhere near as full on and polarizing in opinion as the two. The song features the first prominent appearance of Nicola's falsetto on the LP, which works brilliantly. 

The album title track "Cinderella's Eyes" immediately impacts as one of the most obvious candidates for single treatment on the album. With a highly infectious chorus and lyrics such as "You better pucker up or die/be mine, say I was with you last night" and tales of a ginger bread man trying to seduce the dairy-allergic Nicola, the song is crying out for a full release. Nicola warbles and ventures once again into her falsetto atop club-ready beats that show great promise of how 'Eyes' might remix brilliantly for the dance floor. 

"Porcelain Heart", originally intended as Drum's B-side, follows next. It's a great piece of "quirky, bonkers pop" (as her PR people put it best) and features a Whitneyesque belt that is STILL giving me life. It segues into the rock-tinged slow-paced confessional titled "i", which brings us the lyrical brilliance of "I'm scared to wake up one day/ And find that my bubble's burst / I'm scared that someone else has got the new collection first/ I'm scared of seeing ghosts / I'm scared of the unknown / I'm scared to be some two faced person's little stepping stone / I don't like the people that leave comments on the internet / They preach they're perfect while they're killing you with intellect / I don't like that you won't let me speak out irrationally / because you think that it won't sit well Universally, / I hope that one day we stop striving for perfection / I hope that everybody loves my new direction". Note Nicola's record label Polydor is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group - jus' saying. 

Track seven is Nicola's heart felt rendition of "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" originally sang by The Korgis back in 1980, and covered since then by everyone from Erasure and Yazz to Vanessa Carlton, Sharon Corr and Beck. Nicola does the song justice and successfully makes it her own, as evidenced by how naturally the tracks before and after it segue into and follow from it. The song is notable for some very strong vocal moments and rather sounds like something Beyoncé should have recorded on her latest LP. 

Track eight is the airy and upbeat "Say It Out Loud", a high energy electro-pop cut with some 8-bit bleeps inter-spliced throughout. It's somewhat overshadowed by "Gladiator", which is somewhat akin to something Gwen Stefani and Ashlee Simpson might sing; Nicola seems to be singing through gritted teeth and comes across uncompromising and quite fierce. This is probably where Nicola (or her label) showed the most restraint on not tagging a rent-a-rapper onto, as is commonly done by the majority of young ladies striking out for solo careers these days. 

The next two tracks, "Fish Out Of Water" and "Take A Bite". On first listen both songs seemed to lack the energetic brilliance and quirkiness of what preceded it. Even so, they're light years away from being 'bad', or even 'mediocre', and would garner more praise in less magnificent settings. "Fish" especially is a grower  and after a few listens finally struck me as the most beautiful song in this set. "Bite" is blessed with an awesome, guitar-strumming introduction, and ends very nicely too, it's just the bits in between that are off-the-mark for me. Nicola's rap verse alone is enough to make this song more than worthwhile. The song is reminiscent of something I've heard before, somewhere, someday, but I can't pin-point it to save my life.  

The LP closes with the wonderfully brutal "stick + stones", which I've talked about before. It's a tragically transparent song that draws heavily from Nicola's struggle with being dubbed the "ugly one" in Girls Aloud and seems to resonate in a huge way with pretty much everyone who has heard it - no doubt, a perfect choice for third single, as indeed it seems it will be. 


Conclusion: As a whole, "Cinderella's Eyes" is incredibly consistent, with numerous vocal, lyrical and production highlights. Nicola is shockingly candid at crucial points and unpretentiously interlaces her recurring themes of  insecurity, love, vengeance and new-found triumph through quirky electro-pop and experimental numbers. While similarities can be drawn between individual tracks and the work of other artists, overall the album is quite unlike anything I've heard before, straddling very comfortably the indie/Top 40 divide and incorporating a wide range of sounds and influences into a single solid offering that flows perfectly. Hardcore fans expecting to hear "Nicola from Girls Aloud" might well be disappointed, but casual fans will be more than pleasantly surprised with what is - by far - the most genuine and most memorable solo offering by any member of the group (thus far - they're all still alive) and perhaps the very best album of this year (thus far). 

It's a testament to the overall quality of things that any one of the first five tracks would have worked perfectly as a lead single and pretty much every song could be called a "stand out". Repeated listens only serve to endear the songs to the listener even more. 



And there you have it my friends. Follow me on Twitter @FOTPBlog or email me at Fotpurban@gmail.com with your tips, recommendations and complaints. Follow Nicola at @NicolaRoberts and be sure to get your own legal copy of "Cinderella's Eyes", which is already available for pre-order on iTunes and all other major digital retailers. 

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Patrick Stump feat. Lupe Fiasco - This City


Former Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump has finally premiered the music video for his debut solo single "This City", featuring rapper Lupe Fiasco, for whom he had previously written for and for whose most recent LP he had originally considered submitting an early version of the song. 



The track premiered back in June and serves as the lead single from Stump's upcoming debut solo album, "Soul Punk", which features more blatant R&B and hip-hop influences than any of his past material. 



Looking very dapper. Enjoy below:

Monday, September 19, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Jennifer Lopez - Papi


It's a tough day for Britney fans. 

Everyone's favorite big-booty'd-Latina sweet heart diva Jennifer Lopez has premiered the music video for her latest single "Papi", a straight-up club banger dominated by violent drumming and thunderous synths and produced for her by RedOne and collaborators. The song has already started to chart worldwide and will be shipping to Mainstream and Rhythmic radio stations all across the USA at the end of September. 


As previously reported here on FOTP, the video was directed by Paul Hunter, who previously directed her iconic visuals for earlier hits "If You Had My Love" (1999) and "Love Don't Cost A Thing" (2001). On the downside, throughout much of the video the actual song seem like a mere backing track being used in a commercial and J-Lo dons a rather unflattering, un-diva-ish outfit. On the upside, the overall story line and finished product are very good and a break from the usual in-the-club videos that accompany such songs. Jennifer looks gorgeous regardless of outfit and shows she's still top of the game when it comes to absolutely nailing a full-on dance breakdown choreography. Overall, it does what Britney's "I Wanna Go" (which wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination) intended to do, but better.

Oh Britney. Britney, Britney, Britney. If only!

Also, though the song celebrates Lopez's love for dancing for her man, the actual visual spares us an unseemly footage of Jenny actually giving an intimate performance for her lover - a definite boon when you consider Pop videos often go out of their way to translate lyrics into visuals (even when it doesn't quite work). 

Kudos Jenny! 

Check it out below:

Saturday, September 17, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Professor Green feat. Emeli Sandé - Read All About It


Having already made a name for himself on the underground scene, rapper/singer Professor Green explosively crossed over into mainstream notoriety back in 2010 with four bonafide hit singles (including two Top 5's) lifted from Gold-certified debut studio album "Alive Till I'm Dead".

Now he's back with a new album "At Your Incovenience", out October 31st, and first proper single "Read All About It", featuring girl of the moment Emeli Sandé (of "Heaven" fame) and out one week before on October 24th. 


Whilst I have major love for Green and consider him THE very best British rapper out right now, I'm not at all bowled over by the song, which sounds like four or five other "rap ballads" that have been out in the past few years ("Love The Way You Lie", "Coming Home", "Airplanes", "I Need A Doctor" and other Alex Da Kid productions). I'm not particularly enamoured with Sandé either, which might say more about me than her, considering how everyone else is raving about her and "song of the year" Heaven. Don't get me wrong, Adele (Sandé's real name) IS talented, but I've yet to perceive anything "ZOMG AMAZING EPIC GROUND BREAKING OMG SANDAY DA QUEEN" from the little I've heard and seen of her.

Anyways, here's the music video. Kudos to Green for scrubbing up very nicely!


MUSIC VIDEO: LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It


Uncle and nephew duo LMFAO continue on their quest to prove themselves as more than a novelty act that struck lucky with "I'm In Miami Bitch" and a feature on David Guetta's international hit "Gettin' Over You", which also featured Fergie and Chris Willis. Having scored their biggest hit yet earlier this year with the release of worldwide #1 smash "Party Rock Anthem", the duo hit a bit of a low with the commercially under performing second single "Champagne Showers" (which featured Natalia Kills). With 'Anthem' finally dieing down on radio, the duo have picked "Sexy And I Know It" as the third single to be lifted from their sophomore LP, Sorry For Party Rocking.

The video for the song was premiered yesterday and features plenty of erm, dick-wiggling. It also features cameos from Simon "Dirt Nasty" Rex, porn star Ron Jeremy, fighting superstar Alistair Overeem and Wilmer Valderrama. Overall it's somewhere between kinda funny (nothing that will really make you laugh or even giggle though), absolute cringe and "no homo", not-erotic homoerotic. Thankfully Redfoo's beer gut is almost entirely gone, which is a definite plus. I don't really know what to make of it, here it is anyway:

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

NEW MUSIC: J Cole feat. Jay-Z - Mr Nice Watch


Admist a new flurry of (seemingly unfounded and incredibly random) rumours that he's been dropped from Roc Nation, J Cole is preparing for the release of his official debut album "Cole's World: The Sideline Story" on September 27th. Currently one of the bright new faces in rap, Cole has been busy promoting his upcoming record with his first world tour (although the tour itself has been troubled by Cole's recent leg injury). 

The LP itself features a number of big name collaborations, including frequent chart-toppers Trey Songz, Drake and Missy Elliot. Today what was probably the most anticipated of the LP's collaborations - "Mr Nice Watch", featuring Jay-Z - has finally made it's way onto the interweb.

The LP contains 18 tracks with an extra 3 bonus. Check out the tracklisting and "Mr Nice Watch" below:


J. Cole ‘Cole’s World: The Sideline Story’ Track Listing


1. Intro
2. ‘Dollar and a Dream III’
3. ‘Can’t Get Enough’ featuring Trey Songz
4. ‘Lights Please’
5. Interlude
6. ‘Mr. Nice Watch’ featuring Jay-Z
7. ‘Cole World’
8. ‘In the Morning’ featuring Drake
9. ‘Lost Ones’
10. ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ featuring Missy Elliott
11. ‘Never Told’
12. ‘Rise and Shine’
13. ‘God’s Gift’
14. ‘Breakdown’
15. ‘Cheer Up’

Bonus Tracks:
16. ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’
17. ‘Work Out’
18. ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’

Enjoy!

LYRIC VIDEO: Nicola Roberts - sticks + stones


After almost a decade as one fifth of  top-selling pop group Girls Aloud, Team Ginge's ringleader Nicola Roberts is gearing up to release her highly anticipated debut solo album, "Cinderella's Eyes". As a special treat for her fans, Nicola has premiered on YouTube a lyric video for new track, the brilliantly touching and wonderfully intimate autobiographical "sticks + stones" which you can watch below:

MUSIC VIDEO: Juliyaa - The Rhythm


Twenty three year old half-Welsh half-Ghanaian beauty Juliyaa - who, like so many greats, started off in the church before progressing to the UK garage scene - serves up the goods with debut single "The Rhythm", which draws "on influences from classic '80s soul, with a nod towards the R'n'B sounds of artists such as Janelle Monae and Beyoncé". 

She can be found on Facebook, at her official Twitter and at her official website. Stay tuned for more!

Check out the video below:

NEW MUSIC: The Wanted - Lightning (Studio Version & Live Performance)


Boyband of the moment The Wanted have premiered a one and a half minute preview of their new single "Lightning", which is sounding a lot dancier than one might have thought from the few live performances we've already had of the song. I think it's fair to say Top 3 is in the bag and a #1 debut very likely, considering previous single "Glad You Came" debuted at the very top with pretty huge download figures. 


You can check out the snippet of the studio version of the song and their live performance at Sainsbury's Super Saturday below. The full video is out on the 23rd, so be sure to check back for it then.


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

NEW MUSIC: Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out


Lead single from Florence + The Machine's highly anticipated new album "Ceremonials", "Shake It Out" has just premiered. The track can be heard below and can be downloaded legally on iTunes digital music store (already available in Australia, likely to be made available in the UK store soon).

It's not quite on level with "You've Got The Love" but very good nonetheless: 

MUSIC VIDEO: The Reason 4 - Take It All (International Version)



Popular X-Factor UK alumni The Reason 4 (previously known just as The Reason) treat fans to their second music video for debut single release "Take It All". The new visual, which splices beauty shots of the four 'man-band' members with scenes of Nathan, Marc, Glenn and Scott splashing around on the [freezing?] beach, will accompany the song's release in international markets.

Be sure to check out FOTP's recent interview with TR4 here.

Whilst I personally prefer the original, new visuals are always welcome and it's good to see the guys have fun/suffer with the cold. Enjoy below:

MUSIC VIDEO: Lady Gaga - HAUS OF Ü ft. BRIDE (2nd Video)


The second of Lady Gaga's promotional/artistic/alter-ego videos for latest single "You And I" - which has equaled Gaga with the likes of Mariah Carey for consecutive Top 10 hits from a debut artist - is now out, complete with gratuitous breast-rubs, air licking and a pussy grab.

Enjoy below:

Monday, September 12, 2011

MUSIC VIDEOS: Lana Del Rey - Video Games / Blue Jeans


A native of Lake Placid (outskirts of New York State), American beauty Lizzy Grant - now known as Lana Del Rey - which literally means Wool of the King in Spanish - has been a blogosphere darling for a while now. Whilst her quite blatant (officially denied) plumper-than-before-lips have her hipster pseudo-fans up in arms, she has continued to generate plenty of "buzz" with her music, amassing an ever-growing attention from more mainstream music sites and pop fans. 


Recently signed to Stranger Records - home also of Penguin Prison, who recently remixed her - Del Rey is set to release officially "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans" in Germany (Oct. 7th), USA (October 11th), the UK (October 16th) and the rest of the world from Oct 9th onwards. The official release is already available for pre-order on Stranger Records' official website. 

There is something awesomely nostalgic and rivetingly classic about both songs. Not just these two songs, but about Lana herself, her whole image and her music in general. The stunning, yet relatively simple pastiche visuals for both tracks can be viewed below. "Blue Jeans" is my personal favourite of the two - every line is delivered with such bittersweet conviction ....I'm enthralled! 


Sunday, September 11, 2011

FOTP Exclusive Interview with Penguin Prison


Penguin Prison is New Yorker Chris Glover, best known for his remixes for artists ranging from Ellie Goulding, Kylie Minogue, Martina & The Diamonds to Faithless, Jack Peñate, Jamiroquai and so on. His first break came as part of a college band called "The Smartest People at Bard", whose demos came to the attention of rapper Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest), and through him, Interscope. Chris released a solo album for Universal (Interscope's parent company) in 2009 but the LP attracted little attention and he left the label that same year. Thereafter he took up the Penguin Prison moniker and set about making his name as a remixer for Passion Pit, Goldfrapp, and Marina.  


Together with producer Dan Grech-Marguerat (Scissor Sisters, Radiohead) Glover - now Penguin - crafted his electro-pop sound. Two singles followed: "Animal Animal / A Funny Thing" (Nov. 23rd 2009) and "The Worse It Gets/Something I'm Not" (March 22nd 2010), both through US indie label Neon Gold. A third single, "Golden Train", was released on November 22nd through Wall of Sound. He then inked a deal with Downtown Records in the US and to Strange Records in other territories, including the UK, Australia and most of Europe. 




Now Penguin Prison has finally unleashed to the world his self-titled album, composed of eleven original tracks, out in the UK on September 5th and in the US on October 18th. Available on HMV with an exclusive double CD with a bonus remix album, on iTunes with bonus tracks "Animal Animal" and "Penguin Prison In The Mix" (just over 20 minutes of continuous PP remixes of his own songs segued together by Glover himself), and on Amazon with 6 bonus acoustic songs. Basically, you've got to get them all so as not to miss out.

Recently my collaborator Luis from popular Brazilian blog OhMyRock with some help from myself put together a few questions to forward to Mr Glover, here are his answers:


Hi Penguin, how are you?

I am fine, how are you?

I'm great thanks. So..your real name is Chris Glover. Why did you chose to go by Penguin Prison instead of your real name?

I wanted a band name because when I make songs I like to work with other people and when I play live I perform with other people, so I wanted the project to have a name instead of just my name, because it's not just me who makes the music.

And the million dollar question: what does "Penguin Prison" actually mean?

I made a song with my friend Bob and we were just joking around and he came up with a line where he said 'penguin prison' and I liked it and decided to use it as the name for my band.

What are you listening to at the moment?

I am currently listening to the new Metronomy album, the new Bon Iver album.

You were signed last year, and then unsigned. Now you're signed again, but did it ever cross your mind to release your album independently?

I think the label I am on now, Downtown Records, is a great label so I am happy to be releasing the album with them.

Your album was completed last year but it's only being released now, September. Are you the kind of artist that always goes back to your songs to make changes (big or small) or do you feel the songs were ready since last year? 

The album was worked on for a while in different places with various people so I was always perfecting it here and there until I thought it was done. I think my next album will be a little different the way I will make it but that's how I made this one!

What was the most challenging thing about recording your debut?

I would take breaks on certain songs because I would hit a wall and not know how to finish the song. Then I would try to work on it again with different people helping me and then I would be able to finish the songs.

How many songs did you write or record for it?

I made about 13 songs and there are 11 on the album. There was one that didn't really fit so I left it out and the other was Animal Animal which was released as a single almost 2 years ago now!

What is the most special song of the album for you, and why?

I supposed "Something I'm Not" is probably the coolest song on the album. I think it is the most innovative sounding one for sure.


This is a funny thing: do you really call your car "Jenny"? If not, how did you come up with it in "The Worse It Gets"? 

I don't call my car Jenny no! My friend Alex Frankel from the band Holy Ghost! came up with that lyric. He brought the idea for a song to my house and we worked on it and turned it into what is now known as "The Worse It Gets".

My [Luis'] favourite song from the album is the extended version of "Golden Train", which is almost seven minutes long. How did you come up with it? Did you do it before the Radio edit or did you do it after realizing the song needed a few more minutes?

Golden Train is the first song I made as Penguin Prison. I made it with my friend Alex Frankel from Holy Ghost! I made the long version first and then cut a radio edit afterwards, but people still haven't heard the long version yet really because it's only on the album.

Have you already chosen your next single? I'd [Luis] guess your choice would be "In The Way", it's very Penguin Prison!

"Don't Fuck With My Money" is the next single and I think it will be the biggest one on the album! Maybe "In The Way" can be a single too!

From the unreleased songs, my [Luis'] favourite one is "Desert Cold". I love how playful it is in the verse and how it gets serious in the chorus. Any chance it becomes the next single?

I feel like 'Desert Cold' could definitely be a single at some point for sure. I think it is different from the other songs on the album which is cool. It has some more rock elements in it that the others don't have.

We both love the album cover and think it's one of the most amazing covers of the year. What's the meaning behind it?

All the art for Penguin Prison is done by a woman named Frau Grau from Germany. It kind of took a while for the album art to come together but if you get the CD or vinyl you will see that the art work is really special. We just kept talking about ideas for it until she came up with something that I would like and then she would go more in that direction. I don't know what the meaning is really to be honest!

Your singles/album artwork seems to follow the same pattern. Have you ever thought about having a picture of yourself on the cover?

No, I don't think I would ever want to have myself on the cover of any of my albums to be honest. I really like my album art where it's just a really cool image. Like Radiohead albums and stuff like that.


We love your remixes. Can you tell us a bit about how these collaborations happen and which one you had the most fun doing?

My favourite one is the first one I ever did - the one for "I Am Not A Robot" by Marina & The Diamonds. Usually someone from an artist's label or their manager asks my manager or me if I will do a remix for them and then they send me the parts to the song. I take the vocals and put them in Pro Tools and come up with music that fits in behind their vocals.

Can you tell us about your next remix, or if you can't, can you tell us what artists you think that need the Penguin Prison touch?

I did a remix recently for an artist named Lana Del Rey which I think is very cool. I think I like making remixes for female voices better than male voices. The best ones I have done are all for female artists! So any female artists out there that I haven't remixed yet - that's who I want to remix.

Would you like to produce a song or even album for someone else? Have you already been proposed?

Yeah that would be cool for sure. Some people have asked me here and there but I haven't done it yet.

This year we are seeing a lot of debuts. Do you already have a favourite?

I like Twin Shadow and I like Das Racist!

Would you like to come to Brazil?

Of course I would like to come to Brasil!!!!! What kind of question is that?

Haha! If you had to describe Brazil in one word, what would it be?

I don't know much about Brasil honestly but it seems like the coolest place in South America and apparently there are lots of attractive women there so in one word I guess sexy.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answers our questions. We really love your work and it was really nice to have a chat about it! 

Thanks!

THOSE SHOES(!)


Check out Penguin's official website for all the latest official news and links to purchase his awesome new record. You can stream his AWESOME (I mean it) latest single "Don't Fuck With My Money" and the rest of his album below (thanks to Luis for uploading to Soundcloud):

Saturday, September 10, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Frankmusik feat. Colette Carr - No I.D.


Cherrytree/Universal label mates Frankmusik and Colette Carr premiere the modern yet Grease-inspired visual for their insanely catchy duet, "No I.D.", which serves as the second single to be released from both of their upcoming studio albums. 

Both are looking and sounding great. Downright awesome Cherrytree leather jackets and Simon Curtis make notable cameos. There's also lots of bright colors, sexual chemistry and brief choreography from both stars. There is also a dancer wearing suspenders and baby pink shoes who momentarily steals the show - 

Fingers crossed the song will gain the necessary traction both artists need at radio and pave the way for album sales; if radio continues to ignore both Frank and Colette's output I do not have high hopes for their album sales - which is unfortunate and undeserved, considering the general high calibre pop both have been making of late. 

Frank's album "Do It In The AM" is out September 27th in the US and Colette's "Skitzo" is out sometime in October.

Enjoy!