_Album Review: Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster

Lady Gaga -

The Fame Monster

[Released November 23rd via Interscope]

Lady Gaga’s sophomore effort reads like a true project. The Fame Monster delves even deeper in theme both sonically and conceptually than its predecessor, and the translation is even brassier and bossier pop deftness. Lyrically, the new tracks may lack in catchiness where The Fame did not, but after several spins this is sure to catch on at another level.

It’s a sound that is so unmistakably “Gaga,” and at that, a sound that has come to full fruition with a more conscious recognition of who, as an artist, she really is. Where, in the past, she needed to rely on sunglasses, spectacle, and superficial content in her lyrics to stake a claim, this new approach seems a much more liberating expression of what it really is that she’s trying to do. Her constant push to raise the bar is evident and triumphantly executed.

It’s not a bad thing that the album is such an obviously influenced piece of work (for those who are keyed in well enough to catch the references). While other pop production rides the wave of cyclic change, this album guides it. Her influences are unabashed and a futuristic restyling of what would otherwise be considered retro, and some of the instrumentation, themes and chords are hard to mistake. There’s classic 90’s dance (the birth of electro pop), Ace of Base, written all over “Alejandro,” a track that received early buzz when it leaked on the internet along with “Dance in the Dark.” (more…)

_Hot Chip – Take It In

This is Hot Chip?? Really?! Judging from the first single off their new album, One Life Stand, titled, “Take It In,” the guys have taken a cue from some of the more experimental acoustic bands in the game right now. Part of me feels like this makes me nostalgic for the sound that Hot Chip made themselves known for. At the same time, the unstructured rhythms, and the added unstructured acoustics seem to add another layer to their music.

Melodically, it may be some of their best work, but I still hope the album provides us with at least one or two anthems that we can clap our hands to like we’re used to. It would take an entirely new direction to remix this song to make it ready for the floor. Therefore, I put you to the challenge! Now, take it in!

Hot Chip – “Take It In”Stream

_Album Review: The xx – XX

The xx -

XX

Rating:

Out August 17th, released by Young Turks

xx, with their debut LP, XX, have managed to simultaneously embody the elusive vagabond spirit of the young, repressed and creatively conscious art culture, and still introduce something so fresh and inviting, and otherwise, void from a currently indistinguishable music scene. It is an aura so strenuously attempted at by electronic experimentation and rule-breaking acoustics. Yet with the most subtle production and musically simplistic arrangements, The xx has found the perfect formula in beautifully resonating minimalism.

Living up to their blog-raved covers, the band has put together a beautifully crafted album, completely purposeful and artistic in its compilation. Each track reads with the kind of haunting, unsuspecting melodies that creep their way into your head in such a way that when you hum them, you aren’t sure you’ve got it right. This is a thread that rings through the bare, chilling qualities of two voices from the band of four 20-year-olds, Oliver Sim, Romy Madley Croft, Baria Qureshi and Jamie Smith. Their lyrics are pulled off with a blase reduction to mere conversation, but the dialogue is intriguing.

In songs like, “Basic Space,” amidst the perfect application of reverb, their voices have such a beautiful quality that they resonate just enough so that they never actually lift off of the instrumentation, but rather become an instrument themselves. (more…)

_Lady Gaga – Dance In The Dark

2 Lady Gaga singles will be released on November 23rd to promote The Fame Monster, including “Made In The Dark” and “Alejandro”. We’ve already heard the demo version of “Alejandro”, and now the other single has just leaked.

I basically almost love anything that Lady Gaga makes. Popjustice had the chance to review The Fame Monster weeks before it was released, and gave this song a perfect 8/8 score. I will have to disagree on this. Even though I can see this becoming her next hit single, it just sounds too mainstream for my liking. I feel like Gaga lost her originality a bit on this track.

Dance In The Dark IS a good song though, but I expected something better.

Also, watch the preview for her new music video “Bad Romance” after the cut. (more…)

_Designer Drugs – Drop Down

I’ve never been a huge Designer Drugs fan, but these guys definitely know how to rock it hard – and for those that appreciate a good “banger,” this one definitely gets the job done. They have a really interesting dirty pop sense to them that keeps me listening. I just need to take them in small doses, for, they can be abrasive.

“Drop Down,” is the latest off their single, Riot/Drop Down, which dropped last week on the one-year anniversary of their debut single, “Zombies”. I think it’s funny how last year, this time there was a small zombie obsession on the electronic scene (i.e. Major Lazer’s, “Zumbi”). No vampire songs yet, right? My, where has the year gone?

Designer Drugs – “Drop Down”Stream

P.S. …I want those gloves.

_Rihanna – Russian Roulette

When I first saw the title of Rihanna‘s new track – I thought… “Oh god – she thinks she’s Lady Gaga…”

When I first heard the track – I thought… “Oh god – she thinks she’s Beyonce…”

When the track was over I thought, “OK, she either thinks she’s great… or she’s just really confused.”

Rihanna can do one thing great – and that’s deliver on rhythmic, danceable tracks with a solid beat and a BPM above 120. She should NOT sing on a ballad because no, her vocals are not that of a songstress and DEFINITELY not that of Beyonce… or even Kelly Clarkson. “Russian Roulette” is that attempt at a ballad. It’s the first single off the new album, Rated R, out Nov. 23rd, and we hope it isn’t a good indicator of what’s to come. We can talk about whiny tone and the boring production that goes along with it – but why waste our time? The kick is solid, and the intro almost makes you feel like she may have done something epic. When the beat goes nowhere you realize this isn’t Disturbia. …Has she?

Oh, and Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun… but that doesn’t mean you need to add one at the end of your song!

Rihanna-Russian RouletteStream

_Lady Gaga – Bad Romance

The first official single off Lady Gaga’s re-release, The Fame Monster, made its world premiere this morning on BBC’s Radio 1. “Bad Romance,” was leaked several weeks ago in an un-mastered form,  but the world got a taste when the final version was featured as the finale soundtrack at Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer ’10 runway show two weeks ago. Since then, fans have waited with baited breath – and the Lady definitely delivered.

The Fame Monster, set for release, November 24th, features 8 brand-new tracks from Gaga (each one representative of a different country she’s been to over her worldwide sweep of Fame). With a stylized chant of the artist’s signature “ma-ma-ma’s” alongside a few “ooh la la’s”, it seems clear that “Bad Romance” is her ode to France.

If what we’re hearing so far continues – the pop star is tapping further into her more standard pop songwriting skills. The track feels much more melodic than the very rhythm-heavy dance hits off The Fame, but it still maintains that unmistakable Gaga flair. Along with a subject that provides more thought than the superficial, it’s a synth powerhouse that aggressively out-shouts the competition (*cough*Cascada*cough*) and, on the Lady’s behalf, unforgivably forces us to continue to do nothing other than just dance. Vive le pop musique!

Lady Gaga – Bad RomanceStream

_Peter Bjorn and John – Living Thing (Music Video)

Peter Bjorn and John have released their title track from their 5th album that was released earlier this year, “Living Thing”. The video gives us a look at a short Bollywood storyline.