April Fools!!: Popopoker Face…

So, it’s April Fools and the Conficker worm is scary so, I’m going to shut down the site for 2 days. :)) Anyways, to leave you with something worthwhile. Here’s British band, Absent Elk’s take on Lady GaGa’s smash hit “Poker Face”. Download link below:

DOWNLOAD

The Beat Review will be back soon!

This week on TBR: updates and more…

Okay, I don’t know about the title post, but here it is. Yesterday, no UK chart update was made and there were no weekly top 10 and all. I was out the whole day and I can’t blog. That’s a sad thing but I’m okay with that. 😀

It’s time for another update and this time, I mean it.

Reviews will be on its way soon. I’m starting to write a bunch of things now and I’m starting to post them sporadically for the next weeks to come. Numerous singles and albums reviews round-ups are being queued for posting because I’m too lazy to write something more than 5 paragraphs or so. LOL.

Anyways, in chart news, Lady GaGa topped the UK Singles Charts for the second week. It’s quite overwhelming to see “Poker Face” at the top. She prevented this new group I definitely like, “The Noisettes” with their single “Don’t Upset The Rhythm” which is one of my current anthems for the past week. More on “The Noisettes” this week. (Single Review) Listen to the Noisettes (DL)

Wow, As I saw Metro Station popping inside the top 10 of the UK charts, I was like “Wow!” Their song “Shake It” which was an anthem way over last year is just getting its share of popularity in the UK. Shake It was Metro Station’s biggest song, which peaked at #10 in the US Billboard HOT 100.

Enrique Iglesias is also starting to build up some British fans as he stormed almost all of the talk shows in the UK with his single, “Takin’ Back My Love” which originally features Ciara but unfortunately Ciara can’t be there to sing with him so he decided to go with Aussie babe, Gabriella Cilmi. The performances were indeed awesome and I prefer the version with Gabriella in it. Watch out for a possible review sometime this week.

New albums are on its way for release including Aussie R&B artist Daniel Merriweather who had his debut album “Love & War” leaking on different blogs across the internet. It was sad because the album was leaked a month from its release! Fortunately, we are very fortunate to obtain a copy and listened to it and I was somehow satisfied. I’m giving it a pre-rating of 3/5 so it will still have the chance to grow on me. PLEASE BUY THE CD when it comes OUT! PUHLEASSEE!!! His new single “Red” comes out on May 4, 2009.

Justin Timberlake’s new protege, YouTube discovery Esmee Denters has her new single “Outta Here” leaking the internet. It was a track produced by Palow Da Don and really sounding a bit of something Lady GaGa would sing but not really. If you’d like to take a listen, click here (DL). Watch out for a possible review of her single and some rants about this young Dutch phenom. :))

Japanese pop star, Utada Hikaru is back for her second try to the US market with her new album “This Is The One” out now in US stores. It has been rated a 4/5 and is quite doing good in iTunes. I’m hoping she would have a luck this time because Utada has such talent and such distinct quality in her voice that is just overwhelming. I’m trying to get hold of her album so watch out for another possible review if I like it. US and JAPANESE readers, PLEASE BUY HER ALBUM!!!

Hmm, so what else. I’m going to listen to some more tracks that I could possibly review. I’ll let you know if anything comes up. In the meantime, stay tuned for reviews, recommendations or anything that comes up over the week.

AND YEAH, I have my TWITTER account!! FOLLOW ME for blog updates: CLICK HERE

in for the kill. updates.

It’s time for a SUPER update.

First of all, my exams are finally over so I can already get back to my sporadic updates because I have summer work to do. It’s overly tiring but yet I’m not looking forward to anything this summer.

New music are utterly on their way this summer – which reminds me that it is Spring in most countries except Australia. New artists are starting to emerge such as La Roux, The Noisettes, Florence and the Machine, Daniel Merriweather etc. Well, starting April, I’ll at least try to blog more than the usual. Since it’s SUMMER here, I have nothing to do except working on weekdays and staying at home on weekends, Piano lessons and hitting the beach are also just around the corner.

Idol updates. As you’ve noticed, I’ve not been blogging about American Idol for the past few weeks. It’s because I still can’t get over the elimination of my favourite, Alexis Grace. I’m explicitly hating the show right now not because of the contestants but because of Simon, the show’s format and all. I think some of the contestants are overly rated and some are not. Maybe next week, I’ll start to make a review of the contestants’ performances whether I like it or not.

Also, I’ve been overly procrastinating about posting reviews here in my blog. I’ve been very busy and very lazy at the same time which is quite abnormal. Anyways, hopefully this summer, I’ll get to indulge in more new music and review them for your pleasure. Watch out for a new update next week, plus reviews (loads).

The blog will be undergoing a transition sometime soon. It’s really not that big but I’m definitely going to do something about it. XOXO.

and for a BONUS, here’s something to ponder on: LA ROUX – “In For The Kill”

LISTEN
BUY(iTUNES)

When You’re Around, We’re Untouchable… (Video Premiere)

Okay, the new Girls Aloud video has arrived. “Untouchable“, is the Girls’ 21st single to be released in the UK. It’s due on April 27 and you don’t even know how gutted I am ’cause I can’t buy it.

Well, for some video notes: The video is somehow futuristic and I have to say, Nicola looks as always fabulous with the striped outfit. Actually, they all look fantastic. It’s just that Nicola and Nadine are the stand-outs for me. I know, I know you all guys agree with me that the single mix is undoubtedly awful but if you heard their live performance on “Dancing on Ice”, I would say that they record it in a studio cause the ending was indeed fabulous with the riffs made by Nadine. Oohhh.. Lovely. Anyways, buy the single when it comes out. Thanks.

and oohhh.. watch for a 5/5 review

UK Charts: GaGa is back for a 2nd #1

Lady GaGa has done it again. Her 2nd UK single, “Poker Face” reaches #1 defeating Flo Rida’s “Right Round” and last week’s #1 Bryn and Nessa’s “Islands In The Stream”.

GaGa’s first single, “Just Dance” topped the UK charts last January.

Flo Rida who trailed last week for the #1 spot behind Bryn and Nessa sits comfortably at the #2 spot. Bryn and Nessa, British TV actors’ comic relief single dips 2 spots to #3.

Noteable gains in the countdown include Beyonce with her third single, “Halo” jumped 11 places to #9 this week even if the scheduled release is set for April 2009.

Noteable new entries in the top 40 are, La Roux’s “In For The Kill” which scored 3 spots higher than comebacking legends, Pet Shop Boys which had their single “Love Etc.” enter at #14. And the unusual collaboration between Oscar winner A R Rahman and PCD with the Slumdog Millionaire theme “Jai Ho” bows at #20.

Recommended: Kimberly Cole [Review/Free DL]

For those living in the States and who are in luck to have watched the new TV series “Dollhouse”, You may know who I’m talking about here. Her song, “Superstar (Smash It)” was featured on the show as well as her as she starred opposite to “Dollhouse” star, Eliza Dushku. At first look you might wonder, “Is this girl a new addition to PCD?”. Yeah, her style contemplates to that but she definitely has a bigger edge than what you think. Mixed with sexy, her snazzy style is combined with a soulful voice and an effervescent personality that puts her as one of those “Ones to Watch” list.

“With a sparkling effervescence and a magnetic charm, before she even sings a single note, Kimberly Cole is a captivating presence. When the beat drops, she rides the groove with a smoky, insinuating vocal freedom that fuses an undeniable pop sensibility to a sassy, edgy soulfulness.” – according to her MYSPACE.

Complete with the right accessories, short shorts, and a funky, girly attitude and even a roller skate, Kimberly’s style is an absolute treat but wait until you hear her songs. Her first EP, “Superstar” is a definite treat to the senses. Dancy, fun and a very pop sound surrounds her musicality. She’s very recent and definitely has a lot to say. Her emergence is somewhere around the corner and wait until you hear “Superstar (Smash It)” into your local radio stations.

LISTEN/DOWNLOAD: “SUPERSTAR”

BUY HER “SUPERSTAR EP”: click HERE (iTUNES)

Update!: The GA single mix for "Untouchable" is awful!

Well, it’s time for a cutesy little update. I’ve recently joined Twitter but I’m still not sure about making it as a permanent of thing. It’s quite addictive but I’m still controlling myself not to type everything I do as of the moment. LOL. Anways, here it goes.

The new single of Girls Aloud, “Untouchable” has a single mix leaked onto the internet. I just hate the way it was mixed. The vocoders are kind of irritating to be honest. Although it was a little bit shorter, I still like the whole atmosphere but I’m really appalled with what had been produced. I’m hoping it will be #1 when it hits the stores in the UK. I’m also excited with the B-Side, I hope it’s another classic GA song with its usual effortless vocals coming from the girls and an irresistible beat. By the way, the new Girls Aloud single, “Untouchable” is out on April 27, 2009.

ALBUM of the WEEK and SINGLE of the WEEK. Hmm, who will it be? I just don’t know why I’m too lazy to create a David Archuleta CD review. I procrastinated about this for months now. His album was out last year and I still haven’t had the chance to make a stupid review. Anyways, ALBUM of the WEEK will go to Miss Taylor Swift for her undeniably record smashing LP, “Fearless (UK release)”. SINGLE of the WEEK will go to Thecocknbullkid for her single, “I’m Not Sorry”.

Expect more single reviews round up and album reviews round-up at the end of the week. I’ll let you know if something big happens. Let’s see. 😀 Ta-ra!

LISTEN to the NEW GA single, “Untouchable” here.

UK Charts: Comic Relief beats Flo-Rida for top spot

Even though the “other” Comic Relief single by the Saturdays’ didn’t make it #1 last week, another Comic Relief single went on to beat hip-hop artist, Flo Rida on top of the charts. Vanessa Jenkins and Bryn West, British actors on the TV series, Gavin & Stacey.

Flo Rida falls to #2 with “Right Round” while the “other” Comic Relief single, “Just Can’t Get Enough” falls to #3.

Oasis becomes the highest new entry in the charts with their 23rd UK top 10, “Falling Down” enters at #10.

Gainers include, Annie Lennox with “Shining Light” jumping to #39, Katy Perry’s “Thinking of You” jumps to #27 from #42.

Meanwhile, in the albums chart U2 prevented Annie Lennox and Kelly Clarkson from reaching the top album with their latest LP, “No Line On The Horizon”. Scottish singer Annie Lennox arrives at #2 with her “Collection” CD, while American Idol champ Kelly Clarkson debuts at a strong #3 with “All I Ever Wanted.

Another favourite, Taylor Swift enters the albums chart at #5 with her debut International CD “Fearless”. Her single “Love Story” remains at #5 this week.

Here are the TOP 10 singles in FULL:

1. (-) Vanessa Jenkins & Bryn West: ‘Islands In The Stream’
2. (1) Flo Rida ft. Ke$ha: ‘Right Round’
3. (2) The Saturdays: ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’
4. (3) Lady GaGa: ‘Poker Face’
5. (5) Taylor Swift: ‘Love Story’
6. (4) Kelly Clarkson: ‘My Life Would Suck Without You’
7. (6) Kings of Leon: ‘Use Somebody’
9. (13) Akon ft. Colby O’Donis, Kardinal Offishall: ‘Beautiful’
10. (9) Oasis: ‘Falling Down’

complete the UK Charts HERE.

Single Reviews: T.I., Lemar, September, and Jai Ho!

1. T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake – “Dead and Gone”

T.I.’s one of the biggest new Hip-Hop acts to emerge last year. His album, singles both hit #1 in the US Charts. He’s got a couple of top 10 singles in the UK, Australia and his hits like the appalling “Live Your Life”, “Whatever You Like” has placed a new statement on Hip-Hop music scene. Now he’s collaborating once more with Justin Timberlake in this R&B track called “Dead and Gone”. T.I. has collaborated with Justin in 2006 for the #1 hit “My Love”. “Dead and Gone” is a solid R&B flavoured track delivered with the usual arrangement of the featured artist singing the chorus. Justin’s vocals are well polished, definitely suited the entire song and of course, T.I.’s rapping skills are superb with the message of the song about struggles and new beginnings. It’s indeed another “on fire” hit that’ll conquer the radio airwaves.

RATING:
RELEASE: March 9, 2009

2. Lemar – “Weight of the World”

He’s released a myriad number of singles now and four albums to date but yet he hasn’t delivered the elusive #1 single. He’s got 7 of his singles crack the top 10 but yet for the past 2 years, Lemar’s intuitive talent hasn’t been making it’s way clear on top of the charts. His last single, “If She Knew” a heavy R&B track was jolted onto the top 14 of the UK Singles Charts. Now he released “Weight of the World” another R&B track from his fourth LP, “The Reason”. The song’s a little bit morose with Lemar showing some acridity and self-pity on himself with sympathetic lines “Have the angels turned their back on me?”. Although a little bit off, this one may be an R&B classic which sounds like we’ve heard from him years ago but then, let’s just enjoy the currentness of the track and pretend that’s it’s very original and new.

RATING:
RELEASE: March 2, 2009

3. September – “Can’t Get Over”

It seems like this Swedish electropop diva hasn’t been recording new material since her fellow DJs are working hard to remix all of her past singles that didn’t quite make well on charts. Either way, September re-releases a track titled “Can’t Get Over” with it’s tune re-remixed, suited well for the UK, US public radio. It still follows the footsteps of her other major hits like “Cry For You”, “Satellites” with it’s ever bass thumping Europop beats, electrifying synth chorus and of course the ambiance of a dance-floor filling atmosphere that’ll make you dance the moment you hear it.

RATING:
RELEASE: March 9, 2009

4. You’re My Destiny (Jai Ho!) – A.R. Rahman feat. The Pussycat Dolls

Hearing this track on the end of the movie “Slumdog Millionare” makes me wanna dance and of course even though I don’t understand the lyrics because they’re Hindi, I was able to get hold of the message being delivered by the track. But then an unprecedented news shocked me that The Pussycat Dolls will re-make the track that won the “Best Original Song” at the Oscars last February, it left my mouth wide open. Even though it was a shock at least we’ll see another well-choreographed video with the popular dances gracing the ever stripper-pole attitude of the PCD. WTF? are the producers thinking of putting the title for the cover, “A.R. Rahman featuring the Pussycat Dolls and Nicole Scherzinger”? Is it just ridiculous idea ever? Nicole is at least a member of PCD and has been singing all of the tracks on every album they get to release. Anyways, enough of the rant. This track is quite pleasing as it is still incorporated with the ethnicity and colourful musical attributes India has and it’s quite infectious isn’t it?

RATING:
RELEASED: March 16, 2009

check back for more updates. 🙂

Recommended: Parachute

It was like forever since my last post, JK. I’m still on the process of recovering from a huge massive exam so I’m likely to be shifting to sporadic posting since my final exams are just around the corner. To tell you the truth, I was asked to put up this artist on my blog and the moment I heard their music, I was literally playing their song “She Is Love” heavily.

For a decent introduction, Parachute are a five-piece band hailing from Virginia, USA. They were signed to Mercury Records in 2007 and since then have toured with Duffy, Jon McLaughlin, Switchfoot, O.A.R and more. Their current single “She Is Love” is featured in a Nivea Ad TV campaign which is shown in the whole U.S. Their debut album will be released Spring (USA) of 2009.

SINGLE: “She Is Love”

“She Is Love” is the first single off from their debut album to be released in May 2009. The bands cutesy style ever fits onto the wide array of bands emerging to the limelight. The track is indeed a crowd pleaser in the first listen and it just grows on you every time you spin the track on your music player. I’ve asked a couple of friends about their music and they seem to kinda like it. I agree this one could be an iPod filler but yet the track has the qualities of a soundtrack hit. “She Is Love” goes from the riffs of guitar string pleasure onto the soft-rockness portrayed by the drums and the sultry, laid-back vocals delivered by frontman. The song maybe not that original but the emotions, lyrical composition are good enough for a debut single that’ll surely make its way into being a massive radio hit.

RATING:

RELEASED: February 10, 2009

DOWNLOAD: Amazon
LISTEN: MySpace