And it's official

4.0 is the end.

What IS this rubbish?

Whenever I hear goodbye... reminds me baby of you, Keisha (and Mutya... and Siobhan...)

Today is a sad day for British pop music.  For the third time, the Sugababes have lost a member-this time, the only remaining original member, Keisha Buchanan.  Although it appears that the band will go on with new member Jade Ewen, it seems like at this point the only honest thing to do is to give the band a new name.

The Sugababes were my original favorite British girl band.  Although I later switched to team Girls Aloud, I never deserted the 'babes, and in the past seven years, they've only other girl band to consistently rival (and often, even, surpass) the almighty Aloud.

In honor of their Outstanding contribution to pop music, and in mourning of this pop injustice, here are my top 5 all time Sugababes songs (although I could easily do top 10, 15, or 20...):

1. Hole in the Head (Album: Three  Lineup: 2.0)  The song that made me a fan.
2. Ace Reject (Album: Taller in More Ways Lineup: 3.0)  Best non-single.
3. Every Heart Broken (Album: Catfights and Spotlights, Lineup: 3.0)  Almost best non-single.
4. About a Girl (Album: unrealeased newest album, Lineup: 4.0???)
5. Freak Like Me (Album: Angels with Dirty Faces, Lineup: 2.0)
Bonus: About You Now (Album: Change, Lineup: 3.0)

The only hope now is that ex-members Mutya and Siobhan will realize what is good for them and recruit Keisha to reform the original Sugababes and take on the new lineup head on... let's see some real Catfights, girls....

It's the truth

Fact: Songs about Heartbreak, Breaking Hearts, and Broken Hearts are always great, no matter who sings them.

Evidence:
Here
Here
Here
Here
Here
Here

Album review: Mika: the Boy Who Blew-er, Knew-Too Much

I have to say, I don’t agree with those people who have said the new Mika album isn’t as immediate as his last one.  Some of the songs are incredibly accessible, while others take some time to appreciate, but as a whole, I liked this album from first listen.  Here is a track-by-track review, from Best to Worst

1. One Foot Boy – less immediate than many of the other tracks, with a few listens this has become my favorite Mika song, ever (although Happy Ending comes close).  The production and vocals on this track, more subtle than most of the album, just work perfectly.  Mika sounds slightly aloof and disconnected as he sings the verses, with the undertones of sadness and heartbreak only bursting out in the chorus.  It’s the perfect song for the often cyclical, drawn out process of getting over someone, and finishes perfectly “I’m happy on my own…”

10/10 and instantly in the running for my Song of the Year

2. Blame it On the Girls – Starts with a brilliant spoken intro, which gains it an extra point right away, and a brilliant opening lyric (“He’s got looks that books take pages to tell…”), another point, the second single from the album contains all of the best parts of a good Mika song: sing-along chorus, silly but poignant lyrics (that, like One Foot Boy, more than hint at Mika’s sexuality), and clapping bits.  As everyone knows, clapping makes ANY song better.  Somewhat similar to We Are Golden, except doesn’t go overboard in all the ways that WAG does…

9/10

3.  Rain / I See You – I can’t decide which of these two very different songs is better.  Both sad, Rain goes over the top, while I See You takes the classy route.  Rain wins points for building gradually into an immense chorus.  I See You instantly struck me as the brother to Happy Ending with its lush, building orchestration, clapping, and the multi-layered vocals at the end.  It’s not nearly as good as Happy Ending, due to a weaker chorus and the simple fact that almost no songs can hope to be as good as Happy Ending, but still very good indeed.   

8/10 (now that I think about it, I See You is probably more of an 8.7ish whereas Rain is down in the 7.9’s)

4. We are Golden – This one’s been around a while.  In short: an over the top, somewhat weaker first single that almost makes up in enthusiasm for what it lacks in any amount of subtlety.   I was pretty down on this track and how it boded for this album until I 1) heard the great Calvin Harris remix and 2) heard the original played at top volume over a massive speaker system.  It’s a ridiculous, overblown, Frankenstein monster of a track, but it’s a lot of fun.

7/10

5. Blue Eyes – Mika does soulful reggae-lite.  Rather well, apparently.  He’s good when he calms (the falsetto) down a bit.

7/10

6. Good Gone Girl – Pros: bouncy, fun music, silly sing-along lyrics.  Feels quite similar to Blame it On the Girls, We are Golden.  Cons:  not as good as either of those.

7/10

7. Touches You – File this one under “over the top, but still pretty good (see: We are Golden)”

6.9/10

8. By the Time – It’s pretty.  And sleep inducing.  Could have been done just as well by any one of a number of female singer-songwriters…  And just not that exciting.  

6/10

9. Pick Up Off the Floor – See 9, but substitute James Blunt for female singer-songwriters.   Note: these are not actually bad songs, just rather bland, like the kind of music you’d listen to you if you were going to fall asleep or stare out a window at the rain or write bad poetry, etc.
6/10

In order of increasing awfulness:  Dr. John, Lover Boy, Toy Boy – Mika descends ever further into gimmickry, without the fun or emotional depth of his better songs.

6/10, 5/10, 3/10

Overall - it's a good album, I'd argue better than his first.  More coherent, genuine, and dance able, with less gimmickry.  There is only one song I actively dislike (Toy Boy... what were we thinking there, Mika?)

8/10

Don't be tardy for the party...

Lots going on this week leading to a complete lack of updates. Travel all over the East Coast to recruit candidates for my firm, visiting my brother at college for his birthday, and various other burdens of the physical life keep getting in the way.

I'll be back soon with some long-overdue updates, including a review of the new Mika album (sneak peak: One Foot Boy is the best thing he's ever done).

In the meantime, just enjoy this:

Reality killed the video star...

but apparently, Robbie's going to be just fine. Check out two new videos that dropped today:


In a few words: Epic. Gorgeous. Soaring. Welcome back, Mr. Williams.


Dragonette have always been a fave. So far, not loving the new sound as much as their incredible Galore album, but this new video is delightful. Martine might be the fiercest bitch on the planet.

Perfection

Not to be all Popjustice about it, but this song is quite literally very very good. I missed the boat on the hype a few months ago, but better late than never...

Weekend roundup: Chezza, Leona, Robbie, Sugababes

That boring personal stuff: I spent the Labor Day weekend in LA with a big group of friends, taking a break from the blogosphere for three days of pool parties and late nights out dancing and getting into trouble.  It was my introduction to the fun side of LA (I'd only traveled there previously for work), and it looks like we get along just great.  The weekend full of great times, but definite highlights were:

• Running off our Friday-night hangovers in Beverly Hills - I almost rolled my ankle starting at some of the "houses", but it was well worth it
• Lounging in the pool of a friend's Pacific Palisades house with an unbelievable view of the ocean
• Dancing like crazies to La Roux and Little Boots remixes at Here in West Hollywood with Peterbilt and getting laughed at by the bartenders

So, on to the music: Almost as good as the weekend away were the surprises waiting when I got back.  Christmas came early this year, and I didn't even get time to listen to the Girls Aloud "Chrismastry" album on repeat for three weeks first.  After Robbie Williams leaking on Friday, I wasn't really deprived for new music, but I'm not going to complain.  Hearing the new Leona, Sugababes, and most of all, CHERYL COLE singles for the first time all in one night has me in a state pretty close to ecstasy.  Here's why you should care:

Artist/song: Leona Lewis, Happy
What's their deal, then? X-Factor winner, global mega star-in-training, the person who sung the first "Bleeding love" before Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, etc beat it to death.  Has a rather big voice, nose, hair.
And the song? Very pretty singing.  Inspirational if cliche lyrics.  Seems a bit "Ryan Tedder" to be honest.
Best bit: Er, the single cover?  Will probably be very impressive live.
Worst bit: "I just wanna be Happy" ---> Can we be a bit more creative about this?  Kind of boring.
3/5

Artist/song: Sugababes, About A Girl

What's their deal, then? Best girl band in the UK, until Girls Aloud came along.  Tendency to drop / pick up group members.  Sassy fun pop, until the last album, which was all retro, rather good, and flopped.

And the song? Returns very successfully to fun sassy pop by enlisting Red One, but somehow manages NOT to sound identical to Just Dance or Remedy and stays very, very good at the same time.  Bravo.

Best bit: Either "oh ha-ay-ah oh-oh ha-ay-oh! oh-oh ha-ay-ah oh-oh ha-ay-oh!" bit or "Beauty like you never saw, take your number, never call"

Worst bit: Nothing yet, but let's just say I'm worried about the video for this.  

5/5

Artist/song: (Queen) Cheryl Cole, Fight For This Love

What's their deal, then? Most famous member of the best girl group, ever.  X-Factor judge.  Footballer's wife.  Apparently, something akin to a national obsession in the UK.  Will.i.am protege.  Rather pretty.

And the song? Very RnB, as expected, but surprisingly soulful and restrained.  Rather shocking how unlike Girls Aloud it is, but in a good way.  Nadine, you're up...

Best bit: "There's always a place in me you can call home"

Worst bit: The single cover? 

4/5

So, in summary:

Well played, Sugababes (Spend money on your video please, ok thanks).  Good effort, Cheryl but don't forget where you came from, we're holding you to that 2010 Girls Aloud album and I don't care what Simon Cowell says.  Leona, step it up.  And ditch that Ryan Tedder guy.

Things that continue to be amazing: Robbie Williams

Things that I'll write about asap because they're amazing but check them out in the meantime: "I am not a Robot" by Marina and the Diamonds (yes I'm a bit late to this one), the Fred Falke remix of Bulletproof, and Watch the Sun Come Up by Example.

All we ever wanted was to look good naked

First impressions of the new Robbie:

1. Fantastic opening beat - sounds like Rock DJ meets Rudebox
2. "Did Jesus really die for me?.." Heavily religious lyrics; interesting for a man who the tabloids have made out to have spent the last few years chasing UFO's around LA
3.  FIRST CHORUS! sounds like Robbie Williams of old.  And I'm very happy about it.
4. I have no idea what this song is about...
5.  Final chorus... is that a key change? Well done indeed.
6.  Second play through: this sounds sounds good LOUD.
7.  Thank god Robbie didn't decide to do this album with RedOne / Timbaland / Pharallel.


8/10

I think it's about time... what's on my mind:

If you don't like this song after more than three listens, you aren't fun. And that is undeniable Fact. Also undeniable fact: Calvin Harris = best Scottish person ever since Sean Connery.

Anyways, peace out, I'm off for Tahiti.

And just when this week was seeming a bit crap...

The news arrives that Robbie Williams' new single will premier on Friday.
In celebration, check out "Feel" above.  One of the best songs from one of Britain's greatest stars.  (But ignore the video... it's a bit silly)

LA is burning

Satellite picture of the wildfires currently in the hills around Los Angeles... 

Just another karmic retribution for California ever letting gays get married, clearly.

Namesake: To kick things off, here's Florence + the machine and "The Spell"

Florence + the machine has been pretty hyped up as one of THE acts to watch in 2009, but I have to admit I wasn't impressed at first... However, after a few listens, the combination of Florence's (fyi, real name: Florence Welch) haunting vocals, dramatic instrumentation, and obscure, vivid lyrics pretty soon had me hooked.  Like Bat for Lashes, but even moreso.  Check out my favorite, the new single, Drumming Song, which supplied the name for this blog.


Watch the video for "Drumming Song"



Download the first single, Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up) HERE, and buy the rest of the album... it is all amazing.


On dancier note, next up we have Alphabeat's newest, the just-leaked first single off their upcoming album, "The Spell"

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If you don't know Alphabeat, be prepared for pure, unashamed pop.  Their debut album This is Alphabeat was the perfect euphoric accompaniment to my senior year of college, and "The Spell" keeps right on that track with a song that sounds like 90's-Ace-of-Base-meets-80's-Madonna.  Completely brilliant.


Download Alphabeat - "The Spell"
For an idea of what old Alphabeat sounds like... watch the video for Fascination

It was bound to happen, sooner or later...

Yes, I gave in.

Peter, you're partially to blame, for getting there first and guilting me into action   Also to blame: all of the other fantastic blogs, many of which are now long gone, that I've visited embarassingly frequently since the online music community became my favorite source of distraction.  Hopefully, in the future, I can feature a few of them here.

But because, really, there's not enough original music out there to fill yet another music blog, look for tidbits here from the other corners of the interweb that most entertain me: gadget / tech blogs, funny pictures, meaningless gossip, and, inevitably at some point, some political content...

But really, I'm starting this blog because I love music, all kinds of music: pop music, dance music, angst-ridden emo music, sassy music, obscurely-remixed music, and even, embarassingly, country music.  I enjoy sharing the music I discover, and I've even found that once and a while, people enjoy being shared with.

Enjoy!

- LouderthanSF