Top 20 Albums of 2009: 10-9

10. Rihanna - Rated R



This was the album no one knew they wanted from Rihanna. After a string of ridiculously successful mainstream smashes, she goes and does something closer to the Velvet Rope than All For You (to put it in Janet terms, as I tend to). Rated R is nowhere near as good as the Velvet Rope, but it is a huge step in terms of artistic integrity and reinvention. I imagine it hasn’t appealed to everyone. It’s almost relentlessly dark, but it’s also easily her most consistent work yet. And more importantly, it sounds like the work of a human being, not a production team.

Myspace

9. Alcazar - Disco Defenders



Before 2009, I’d never listened to an Alcazar album. The band seemed too campy for me, too disco, almost (I know, is that even possible?). Their Melodifestivalen entry forced me to sit up and give them my attention, and I’m glad I did. This is one of the year’s best pop albums. The only reason it’s not higher is because there are a few clunkers in the tracklist that only prove my prior assumption of the group. But the highs are very high, and I can now safely count myself a fan. The opening trio of songs is just pop perfection. That album cover is still dire, though.

Myspace

Top 50 Singles of 2009: 25-21

25. Erik Hassle - Don’t Bring Flowers



Even better than Hurtful, this straddled the line perfectly between acoustic, electro and pure pop. Puts its American counterparts to shame.

24. Mini Viva - Left My Heart In Tokyo



Xenomania proves their worth yet again with this adrenaline-pumping dance track. A new duo couldn’t ask for a better introduction to the charts.

23. Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment



Many expected him to go rock, but instead the Idol runner-up released his version of what sounds like a Britney Spears song. The difference is he can sing like nobody’s business.

22. Mika - We Are Golden



The most over-the-top single in a career of over-the-top singles, this annoyed many but delighted me. It’s approaching Freddie Mercury territory.

21. Malena Ernman - La Voix



A perfect melding of opera and dance, this deserved so much better than it received in Eurovision. The chorus is still stirring.

Top 20 Albums of 2009: 12-11

12. La Roux - La Roux



One of the more exciting debuts of the year, La Roux’s album has a very specific, easily recognizable sound. I would have never thought that icy synthpop would find the success it did this year, though they’ve been unable so far to break America. As evidenced by the handful of hits taken from the album, there’s plenty to love here. The non-singles are just as interesting and memorable as the ones we all know. I’m especially a fan of the ballads. Elly’s voice can at times be a bit much, but when she calms it down it’s very magical.

Myspace

11. Robbie Williams - Reality Killed The Video Star



This was the perfect album to release at this point in his career. The sound’s still identifiably Robbie, but it’s also more mature and world-weary. In the hands of a lesser performer, this could have been a dreary, forgettable collection of songs, but Robbie uses that indelible charm to make the album something very special. Fusing elements from throughout his career, there’s something for everybody here. The production is lush, filled with dramatic string sections and soaring instrumentation befitting the legend that is Mr. Robbie Williams.

Myspace

Top 50 Singles of 2009: 30-26

30. Måns Zelmerlöw - Hope & Glory



The polar opposite of track number 31, this huge, bombastic pop song easily became my Zelmerlow anthem of choice. Very campy.

29. Hot Leg - Cocktails



Who knew that after the Darkness Justin Hawkins could do it again? In fact, the glorious glam rock here trumps a lot of what the Darkness released.

28. Noisettes - Never Forget You



One 60’s throwback I can get behind, this single breathed some life into the genre with great lyrics and an even better hook.

27. Private - Killer On The Dancefloor



How many years in a row have these guys been featured on this list for the same album? Here’s yet another single, and yet another stunner. Now it’s time for a new campaign.

26. Dragonette - Pick Up The Phone




A mature, beautiful pop song from these guys, and a deserved hit in their native Canada. I’m not sure they’ve ever recorded a better track.

Top 20 Albums of 2009: 14-13

14. Velvet - The Queen



After so many months waiting for this, the album’s more a greatest hits than a normal studio release. Velvet joins September as Sweden’s leading export of female dance pop. This is miles ahead of her debut, and one of the better club albums of the past few years. Despite being the product of production and songwriting teams, it coheres remarkably well as an album. I think the main reason is that there aren’t really any low points. All songs follow similar territory, but never seem dull because of it. There’s a lot of spirit here, in the vocals as well as the bombastic drama-filled music.

Myspace

13. Moneybrother - Real Control



Moneybrother’s an artist I’ve always loved, but never quite fell in love with his albums. They were always on the cusp of greatness for me, but never memorable enough to chart very high on my countdown. He’s had some epic singles, for sure, but this was his first full-length that really connected with me. Funny, because he’s been at it awhile. Perhaps it’s because I’m generally more of a fan of the uptempo and this was easily his most uptempo record yet. Everything clicked, and although it doesn’t have a single as jaw-droopingly amazing as They’re Building Walls Around Us on it, it’s still my favorite overall album of his.

Myspace

Top 50 Singles of 2009: 35-31

35. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling



Ubiquitous this year, and more maddening each time it was played, it’s easy to forget that when this first came out it was instantly the group’s high point. I just don’t want to hear it again for awhile.

34. Aqua - Back To The 80’s



A shamelessly nostalgic dance track composed of little more than a list of 80’s high points. It should have been horrible, but the melody keeps it in epic territory.

33. Erik Hassle - Hurtful



The only song on this list that I think still has a chance of crossing over big in the States. Not usually my type of thing, but the sum is greater than its parts in this case.

32. Gossip - Heavy Cross



Primarily a showcase for Beth Ditto’s howling vocals, this muscular funk track surprised me this year. There’s something almost primal about it.

31. Caroline af Ugglas - Snälla snälla




Usually the type of song I hate to see in Melodifestivalen, this 70’s-styled ballad took the competition by storm and won a place in my heart. Very endearing.

Top 20 Albums of 2009: 16-15

16. Dragonette - Fixin‘ To Thrill



These guys returned with a more mature, sophisticated release and surprised everyone (well, surprised me) by scoring a massive radio hit in Canada. They’re becoming more interesting by the moment, willing to push pop music in different directions and play around with their style. Martina, in particular, has blossomed into quite the frontwoman, someone who I can see rivaling Lady Gaga in avant garde wardrobe and image. This is one of the more consistent albums on the countdown, and hopefully the gateway to even more radio success. There are certainly plenty of potential singles to choose from.

Myspace

15. Shakira - She-Wolf



The first Shakira album to appear on my year end countdowns since I started doing this, it’s also her shortest work yet. Brevity as its rewards, though, as this is the strongest collection of songs she’s come up with in awhile. In fact, when I reviewed this a few months ago, I don’t think I really gave the album enough credit. It’s grown on me immensely, and become something I’ve played quite a lot this Fall. I loved Shakira the rock chick, but who knew she could do straight up pop music so awesomely? Another album with no shortness of single choices.

Myspace

Top 50 Singles of 2009: 40-36

40. La Roux - In For The Kill



Icy and dramatic, this proved to be the introduction to one of the more interesting looking popstars of the year. Too shrill at first, but after a few months resistance was futile.

39. Muse - Uprising



The furthest the band has ever ventured into straight-up glam rock, this had a beat to die for. Couple that with a slyly memorable hook and some football chants, and you’ve got yourself an anthem.

38. Jesse McCartney - How Do You Sleep



A surprise addition to the list, this kitschy pop/hip-hop single was inescapable this spring, and the chorus was one of the best of McCartney’s career.

37. Robbie Williams - Bodies



The big comeback single that didn’t seem to be so big at first. Like all the best songs, it became more and more impressive as the weeks went on.

36. Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me



She’s verging on the point of over saturation, but before that, this simple, lovelorn pop song hearkened back to the simple radio hits of the late nineties.

Skyship Academy

Ever since I was a kid, I've been writing stories. As I grew up, I realized that story-writing could be more than a hobby, and about six years ago I started writing seriously with publication a distant, seemingly unattainable dream. Thousands of pages of unused manuscripts later, I began tackling the business side of publishing, seeking out an agent in the summer of 2008. As the new year began, I took the next step and found representation for my novel. Eight months later and I'm thrilled to announce that I've signed a two-book deal with Flux for the first two installments of my Skyship Academy series. The first book will be released in 2011!

I write for teens and kids, and have always focused on that audience. It's what I personally like to read as well, and a place where I can be truly imaginative without having to explain myself. Skyship Academy is a fast-paced sci-fi adventure, inspired by some of my favorite authors in the genre - Eoin Colfer, Anthony Horowitz and James Patterson among many, many others. Here's a very brief summary/teaser taken from the official announcement on Publishers Marketplace:

SKYSHIP ACADEMY
When a fifteen-year-old slacker discovers that he has the power to control Pearls - fragments of space debris that are a dying Earth's most important energy source - the government's forces work to capture him.

As with any book release, there's a lot of work to do between now and publication, but I'll keep you guys updated throughout the process, as well as link to my author site when it's up and ready. And, as always, you can follow me on twitter for updates on this and other little day-to-day things that I like to pretend are one hundred times wittier and interesting than they actually are.

And a huge thank you to this blog's loyal readers. It's been a struggle at times to keep everything up and running this year as revisions and editing knock down my door, and I imagine it'll only get busier, but rest assured Alienhits is going nowhere. I love my pop music too much!

Top 20 Albums of 2009: 18-17

18. Erik Hassle - Hassle



This album was delayed more times than I can count, and although I heard it early in the year months before it was finally released, it’s held up as my favorite album of this singer-songwriter type genre from the past few years. Buoyed by the two singles, the record does a great job of mixing styles and painting a picture of a very promising artist. Lyrically, it’s one of the stronger albums on my countdown, and has a real underdog charm similar to my favorite album of 2007 (Laakso’s Mother, Am I Good Looking?). I still believe that with the right push this guy could be huge in America. I mean, we like Gavin Degraw, and this is a hundred times more interesting.

Myspace

17. Hot Leg - Red Light Fever



I was a massive fan of the Darkness, and I know that’s an unpopular thing to admit in some circles. Nevertheless, I was saddened when they broke up, as I think that Justin Hawkins is a really gifted (if immature) songwriter. Luckily, the debut effort by his next band sounded very much like the Darkness Part II. It’s not a perfect record, but the highlights are very high. Most importantly, it’s a lot of fun. The band is unashamed when it comes to the much maligned genre of 80’s pomp rock. Surprising, then, was the real artistry displayed here. The songs that aren’t intentionally tongue-in-cheek are impressive on a whole different level.

Myspace

Top 50 Singles of 2009: 45-41

45. Tinchy Stryder - Take Me Back



My sole hip-hop track on the countdown, this successfully fused an intense electro beat with unstoppable (and ungrammatical) hooks.

44. Alexandra Burke - Bad Boys



Proving that she’s more interesting than Leona, this track is so ahead of anything else she’s done that it may end up as both her opening salvo and career pinnacle.

43. Fibes, Oh Fibes & Kim Wilde - Run To You



The unexpected duet of the year, this was easily the most shimmering, romantic look back at the 80’s in a year full of retro singles.

42. Sebastian Karlsson - Serial Lovers



His most upbeat song yet, the instant melody and hook proved impossible to live up to on the subsequent album.

41. Salem Al Falir - Roxy



The most joyous sounding song about STDs that I can remember, this power-pop masterpiece redefined the genres of music that Fakir could pull off.

Top 20 Albums of 2009: 20-19

20. Danny - Set Your Body Free



Released around the turn of the year, this album soundtracked a particularly snowy part of winter for me. It’s not the kind of music that’s going to change lives or redefine the pop landscape, but it’s one of the more consistently upbeat and catchy dance albums of the year. I loved the lead single Radio in 2008, but there’s much more than that to enjoy here. Unfortunately, all of the wrong singles were chosen this year, resulting in a stalled campaign that never allowed the album the success it deserved. Hopefully he’ll come back even stronger.

Myspace

19. Demi Lovato - Here We Go Again



If I had to pick one teen pop/fluff album this year (and there were many), it would be Demi Lovato’s sophomore release. I wasn’t a fan up until this point, but was floored by the mature, almost Alanis-type pop/rock found here. It reminded me of the late nineties, just before the big pop boom, when music didn’t necessarily need a hip-hop beat or electro undertone to be successful. This may sound weird coming from a huge electro fan like me, but it appealed to my sense of nostalgia. Better yet were the songs. They’re universally strong, and Lovato’s vocals are really quite impressive for someone so young.

Myspace

Top 50 Singles of 2009: 50-46

50. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero



The furthest they’ve come to obtaining that infamous label of poptastic. The video, especially, shows Karen O at the height of her power.

49. Alphabeat - The Spell



A reinvention of sorts, which took some getting used to. The adlibs and synthesizers are ever better than the main melody.

48. Aqua - My Mamma Said



The group’s most mature, achingly beautiful song with a dark, artsy video to match. Far removed from novelty pop.

47. Carolina Liar - Show Me What I'm Looking For



The biggest radio ballad of the summer, they stuffed this one to the brim with drama and layered a hands-swaying-in-the-air chorus on top.

46. Janet Jackson - Make Me



The most Janet Jackson sounding single she’s released in a long while, it’s not among her best, but even autopilot Janet is better than most.

The Countdowns Are Coming Tomorrow!

As per tradition, here’s my round-up preview of my top albums and singles of the year. The countdown will start tomorrow and continue until the end of the month. Like 2008, the industry continues to trend in the direction of strong singles and weaker albums, though there were a few stunners this year. Also like last year, there were more and more glimmers of hope from the American pop scene. We’re finally catching up!

Statistics:

Groups - 45%
Solo Artists - 55%
Debut Albums - 25%
Second Albums - 40%
Fourth Album (or higher!) - 35%
Male Singers - 55%
Female Singers - 35%
Male & Female Singers - 10%
American Acts - 25%
UK Acts - 15%
Swedish Acts - 35%
Danish Acts - 5%
Australian Acts - 5%
German Acts - 5%
Columbian Acts - 5%
Canadian Acts - 5%
Albums that saw a U.S. release - 45%
Albums with any substantial success in the U.S. - 25%
Released in the 1st Quarter (including Dec. 08) - 20%
Released in the 2nd Quarter - 20%
Released in the 3rd Quarter - 25%
Released in the 4th Quarter - 35%

BIG News on Friday!

I have the biggest announcement I’ve ever made on this blog swimming around my head right now, but I think I’ll let it simmer for a few days and officially announce it on Friday.

The announcement is not music-related, and involves a project I’ve been working on for the past few years. Let the rampant speculation begin!

Also, my year-end album/single countdown begins soon…

Lovelock - Love Reaction

Lovelock is a normal-looking guy from New York. By the picture in this post you'd be hard-pressed to discern the type of high energy electro he produces. Love Reaction, in particular, doesn't even feature his vocals. Instead, it sounds like Annie singing over a Girls Aloud track. I'm a huge fan of the production here. The guitar adds an organic element to something that otherwise could have been a little cold. The verses are so incredibly flawless and dramatic, borrowing from italo and power pop in equal measures. And the processed guitar solo in the middle eight is straight from heaven, totally exploding towards the end. It's like a wonderful dream. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this guy.

Lovelock - Love Reaction by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Listen to more and buy tracks here. Follow me on twitter at nickajames)

Lady Gaga: Monster Ball - Vancouver 12/11/09

Last Friday night I attended the third and final Vancouver show of Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball. I got tickets about a month ago, which in itself was a small miracle. The Lady can certainly sell out a theater.

Anyways, the night was fantastic. We had floor seats, right on the aisle toward the right side of the stage. We were sat by three adorable children. The two youngest were dressed up like they were going to the opera. I’m not sure what exactly they (or their grandparents, who bought them the tickets) were expecting. Let’s just say that the show was anything but kid-appropriate. And, as a teacher, I felt somewhat uneasy sitting next to them. Luckily, the smuttier stuff seemed to go right over their heads. Still, who brings children to a Lady Gaga show?

The rest of the crowd was surprisingly diverse. I was amazed how many older people attended (and by older I mean, gray/white hair). She’s certainly broken through all boundaries.

First up were openers (and longtime Gaga friends) Semi Precious Weapons. They were an absolute revelation. I posted about them last year, but never really investigated further. Plus, I don’t think that their appeal can be fully appreciated unless you see them live. For anyone who’s seen the movie Hedwig & the Angry Inch, lead singer Justin Tranter’s the spitting image of Hedwig in attitude and persona. Throughout their short set, he fed the audience champagne, laid on the stage for a mid-song costume change, and interacted with the sparsely filled auditorium with wit and an undeniable x-factor. The rest of the band was a cannonball of energy, flitting around the stage like a bunch of crazy people. It’s so charming when someone at this level of success plays with the air of a world-conquering stadium band. Most importantly, though, the songs were fantastic. They played three cuts from the upcoming album, which sounds like it will be a million times better than the first. They’re also signed to the same label as Gaga. Good for them.

Next came Kid Cudi, who I must admit, I wasn’t really looking forward to. I went through my brief hip-hop stage around the turn of the century. Since then, it hasn’t really done anything for me. Kid Cudi was fine, I suppose, and seemed to have a few good hooks, but his stage show consisted of walking back and forth of the stage and generally looking kind of uncomfortable.

Before Gaga arrived, the auditorium was filled with a greatest-hits playlist of Michael Jackson, prompting a spontaneous dance party from a good portion of the audience. Quite the carnival atmosphere. I’ve gotta say, I’ve never seen anything like it in a theatre venue.

Gaga arrived with Dance In The Dark and, acting out the lyrics, spent the song dancing in the dark with what looked like white Christmas lights strung around her. The drum sections before the chorus were especially cool with the added light show.

She quickly segued into Just Dance, standing on top of an enormous cube brandishing a keytar. There was also lots of fog. In fact, the entire show had more fog than I’ve ever seen. The front row must have been choking.

She went on to power her way through a two hour plus set, which was as exhausting as it was inspiring. She performed every song on the new album except (curiously) Telephone, as well as most of the songs from the first one. There were two versions of Poker Face, studio and piano. There were many costume changes (a crow-type get-up for Monster, a gold Egyptian-looking thing for The Fame/Boys Boys Boys/Money Honey, and a Rapunzel costume for Paparazzi). There were strange projections, including a brunette Gaga puking blue-green liquid on a blonde Gaga, and there was of course the piano section, which was the highlight for me. It was all too fleeting (Speechless and Poker Face), but felt like the most intimate portion of the concert. Other sections, especially the first quarter of the show, seemed more removed, like we were watching her perform inside some elaborate diorama. I appreciated seeing her stripped down to the voice and instrument. Few people give her the credit she deserves for her musicianship and raw talent.

Other highlights were the spoken interludes and stories she told (about her pre-Fame life making costumes in her apartment, the international Gaga-fan hand gesture, the connection to her fans) and of course the finale encore of Bad Romance. She’s so charming as a person, which can often be overshadowed by her over-the-top performances. The Monster Ball was definitely over-the-top and more than a little raunchy, but thoroughly entertaining and memorable.

Songs performed (in no particular order, since I can’t remember): Bad Romance, Alejandro, Monster, Speechless, Dance in the Dark, So Happy I Could Die, Teeth, Just Dance, Love Game, Paparazzi, Poker Face, Poker Face (piano), Eh Eh, Beautiful Dirty Rich, The Fame, Money Honey, Boys Boys Boys, Paper Gangsta

What Happens When Personal Favorite Becomes the Next Big Thing?

I love it when an artist that I've heralded on this blog becomes a big success. It's happened a few times before, and looks to happen again with Hurts, who have been tipped by many in the media as the next big thing for 2010. But it didn't happen without a few changes.

I wrote about Hurts extensively back when they were called Daggers. In fact, their single Money was my number one song of 2008 (though technically it was released in late 07). I lamented when the group broke up, and still believe that they've got some of the best unreleased tracks ever recorded. I like to string them together to form an album-that-never-was. If it had been released, it would easily challenge this year's crop for the number one position on my countdown.

But enough about Daggers. Even though I don't want to believe it, they're gone--as is their brand of brash, glossy electro. Now we've got Hurts, which in name and sound seems to be a reaction to Daggers. A comedown, a morning after. From what I've heard so far (four songs and a remix), the tone is muted and subtle, the tempo is slowed, and the overall sound is more wistful and stately.

Exhibit A: Daggers - Death It Feels
Daggers - Death It Feels by alienhits

Exhibit B: Hurts - Unspoken
Hurts - Unspoken by alienhits

Both are obviously fantastic, but based on my tastes alone, I can't help but wish that it was Daggers that were receiving all of this exciting press, but we've yet to see exactly what Hurts will do. After all, the principle songwriters are still there. The wonderful vocals are intact. The songs are good (though too often not great) and I think they have a hit in Wonderful Life (the best of their output thus far). I just hope they remember what made them hurt in the first place.

What about you guys? Which of the two songs above do you prefer? I think both represent the sound of their respective band pretty accurately.

Hear two other songs performed on bbc radio (fast forward an hour and three minutes into the broadcast)

Wonderful Life video

Their (frustratingly cryptic) Myspace

Mini Viva - I'm Hooked

"Do you want to stay?"

I, along with almost every other pop-minded blogger out there, am very excited about Xenomania's Mini Viva. They have a specific sound that mixes Girls Aloud with something a little funkier. I've liked everything I've heard so far, though nothing quite touches the brilliant Left My Heart In Tokyo from this summer. I'm Hooked comes close, riding along on a disco beat with shimmering synths and a laid back groove that lets the melody and vocals shine. It becomes more and more impressive as it builds, and the chorus in particular really shines after a few listens.
On another note, I'm going to start using soundcloud rather than imeem for music, at least for now. Hope that works for everyone!

Mini Viva - I'm Hooked by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the new single here. Follow me on twitter at nickajames)

Update

Imeem, the website where I host my music, has abruptly closed down as they merge with myspace. Not sure how this is going to work. Hopefully all the music will be uploaded to a new link. Until that time, my links here are pretty much useless. I'll work on reuploading when I have time, but for now my highly enjoyable words will have to be enough. Although, most songs, if you're curious, can probably be found by searching youtube or google blogs.

Aldo Nova - Fantasy

"Give you love if the price is right"

It's time for a quick trip back to the 80's with a Canadian I only just discovered. Apparently Fantasy was something of a hit at the beginning of the decade, though I've never heard it before. You can't beat the opening, though. Ominous synths and helicopter blades. How dramatic. This guy's been credited as the first to do the whole 80's glam/hair rock made so popular by bands like Def Leppard and Poison. The synth work on this track is what really stood out to me initially, especially the blaring riff that opens the first verse. The melody's great as well, totally instant yet kinda sleazy at the same time. But out of everything, the video's the real standout--a campy, low-budget mess with a spotted catsuit. Epic.

Aldo Nova - Fantasy (imeem is currently moving to myspace (!) so here is the video link)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter at nickajames)

Aura - I Will Love You Monday (365)

"Running around and going nowhere"

Aura Dione's been riding high on the charts in Denmark for some time now, but I haven't paid her much attention because her singles thus far were a little downtempo for me. Now, though, she's come out with I Will Love You Monday, a ridiculously catchy trifle that is deservedly finding much success in Europe. It's the type of song that could become annoying pretty quickly (and sounds like it should be in a commercial) but is absolutely irresistible at the same time. I'm not even sure how to describe it. It has that Winehouse/Duffy 60's sound to it, but it's much stranger than that, and certainly more frenetic. The "dum dum dee" parts are just inescapable, and although the song's a totally different beast, reminiscent of Miley Cyrus' Hoedown Throwdown. Seriously, though, there's nothing Disney about this.

Aura - I Will Love You Monday

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter at nickajames)

Pop Blitz

Beyonce ft. Lady Gaga - Video Phone
I probably would have never listened to this if Gaga wasn't on it. As it is, her part is definitely the highlight. Like the worst Beyonce songs, the track's utterly tuneless. Oddly enough, it's growing on me a little. Maybe it's the ridiculous lyrics. C+

Marina & the Diamonds - Mowgli's Road
Sort of a feistier Feist, this track has a a distinctly "arty" feeling to it. If I'm being honest, I've heard better from this band. But still, as their breakthrough, this is alright. B

The Killers - Happy Birthday Guadalupe!
Weird. I wish they'd just release another album and forget about all of these Christmas singles (wait, is this for charity? Then scratch that, I guess). Anyways, I've always been a fan of this band but this song is pretty uninspired. It hardly sounds like them at all. More like an unfinished demo. C-

Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind
I maintain my position that there is nothing remotely interesting about Alicia Keys. I find her utterly, annoyingly dull, and it's her more than Jay-Z that prevents me from liking this. The hook is droning, and I don't see why anyone who wasn't from NYC would care about it. C-

Lily Allen - Who'd Have Known?
I'm not a big fan of the album as a whole, but there's already been a few nice tracks from Allen this year. This one's got a very memorable chorus that makes up for some sleepy verses. All in all, one of her better singles. B+

Shakira ft. Lil Wayne - Give it Up to Me
I should hate this. It's so much less inventive than most of Shakira's releases, but for some reason it's completely addicting. The production is circa 2007, but the chorus totally makes it. Lil' Wayne isn't even all that annoying. A-

Jennifer Lopez - Louboutins
Not sure what exactly Jennifer was attempting here, but this is utter crap. I mean, no one was expecting miracles with a voice and personality like hers, but it sounds like she's hardly trying here. It's quite lifeless and the production sounds very cheap. F

Melody Club & Anna Järvinen - I Don't Believe In Angels

"I don't believe in angels, but I've just seen one"

How the hell did I miss this?!? Seriously, it combines two of my favorite things (Melody Club & Christmas), PPG and Jessica have both posted about it, and it's been out for a month now. Sheesh! I must be really off my game. Melody Club is, after all, a card-carrying member of my holy trinity of music (see sidebar) and I'm guaranteed to love everything they do. This Christmas track, with newcomer Anna Järvinen, is no different, though it's more of a curio amongst their impressive catalog than anything else. It sounds like you'd expect a holiday-themed MC midtempo to sound: an instantly singalong melody, cheesy lyrics, and lots of sleigh bells. I hope that it's a success for them. Maybe it'll rejuvinate interest after their last (flippin' fantastic) album failed to light the charts on fire. Either way, it's always a pleasure to have them around.

Melody Club & Anna Järvinen - I Don't Believe In Angels

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter at nickajames)