Pop Culture Buzz

“Happy Up Here” is the first single to be taken from the Norweigan duo’s forthcoming album titled “Junior”, and it sounds like not much has changed in the Royksopp camp. Their new album is going to feature contributions by new pop pioneers Lykke Li and Robyn amongst others and is due for release March 23rd, 2009. If this chirpy, downbeat track is anything to go by, it should be something to look forward to.

Franz Ferdinand’s latest rock dance epic album is super catchy and has already made a place into my “Best Albums of 2009″ list. The video for their second single “No You Girls”, off of their third studio album titled “Tonight Franz Ferdinand”, is an instance crossover dance floor gem. I will be seeing this hot Scottish band at the Coachella Music Festival in Southern California in three weeks and just watching this video gets me all jazzed up! Take a look below:

“Love etc.” is the new single by English electronic dance music innovators Pet Shop Boys. It is scheduled for release today, 16 March 2009, on Parlophone Records. It is the first single taken from their tenth studio album “Yes”, which is released on 23 March.

The single was co-written by Pet Shop Boys with hit production team Xenomania who also produced the track. Pet Shop Boys describe the single as “a post-lifestyle anthem which sounds like nothing we’ve done before.” The music video below was directed by Dutch animator Han Hoogerbrugge.

Dan Black was born in London and now resides in Paris. He decided to cover Biggie Smalls’ classic “Hypnotize” and was able to shed an entirely new light on the song. With musical melodies written for the hook and verses the song plays as an epic pop song rather than one of the most noted hard rap songs in history.

Dan Black’s incredible Notorious BIG song cover “Hypntz” and his other hot single, the electro anti-love gem “Yours”, are pure pop gold. The Parisian-based-Englishman Dan Black was hailed as one of “the” pop talents to watch out for in 2009 by critics across the board. If you watch the videos below you can see what all the buzz is about.

Dan Black’s highly anticipated forthcoming debut album “Un” will be released this summer and is currently being recorded in an 18th Century cellar under Dan’s apartment in Paris. Check out both videos from Dan Black below:

“HYPNTZ”

“YOURS”

Kelly Clarkson is back in her top form with the Dr. Luke/Max Martin instant hit “My Life Would Suck Without You” from her 4th studio album called “All I Ever Wanted”. Even though her last CD titled “MY December” didn’t catch on with fans Clarkson still knows exactly how to make a pop gem. Where Clarkson really makes “Suck” her own is in the final chorus when she hits a few astronomically high notes. This is the artist that fans know and love and her return to the music scene after a few rough years is just what radio needed.

CHECK OUT KELLY CLARKSON’S NEW MUSIC VIDEO HERE:

I am a huge fan of Robin Thicke and his soothing R&B style. Not only is he a major dream boat but he has the voice to back it up. I would even say that he has bigger an dbetter singing chops than Justin Timberlake. The classic soulful sound of Thicke’s most recent album “Something Else” is the perfect CD for romantic nights and relaxing moments by yourself in the bath tub. Just check out the video for “Sweetest Love” below and you will know what I mean.

Along with a pair of plumage pads, Brandon Feathers and his band of hairy Killers unveiled this new song for a nationally televised audience on SNL a few weeks ago. Like “Human,” the high energy synth anthem sounded better slightly stripped at 30 Rock than in the studio, but chalk that up to the band’s tendency toward manufactured importance via one-arrangement-trick-too-many. Watch the kick ass video for “Human” below:

Daniel Merriweather’s 2007 collaboration with Mark Ronson (a version of The Smiths’ “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before”), had huge commercial success in the UK where it was released as the lead-off single for Ronson’s album “Version” (reaching #2) and mild success as a dance track here in the USA.

Daniel has completed what will be his first commercially released album “Love and War” and the first single titled “Change” is already climbing the UK charts as I write these words. I am an instant fan of Daniel’s and this spankin’ new funky track and music video that has not been released here in the states yet. I had no idea he was so freakin’ adorable, and man that white boy can sing!

DANIEL MERRIWEATHER & MARK RONSON @ THE MTV EUROPEAN MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS

“The Fear” is a mid-tempo jam coming off Lily’s sophomore major studio effort “It’s Not Me, It’s You”. Starting with a melodic guitar sounds, the song mainly talks about the superficiality in the entertainment industry. I am a huge fan of Lily’s sassy pop lyrics and new wave sound and this new track sounds like more of the same fun stuff from Miss Allen, thank god! Watch the music video below:

Scottish dance rock band Franz Ferdinand released their new single “Ulysses” on January 19th. The single is featured on the band’s third studio album titled “Tonight” which features 12 new tracks. I have seen these guys live in concert and they throw quite the show, so I am very excited to hear this new material.

The single is the first release from FF’s third album called “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand” out later this month. “Ulysses” was produced by the band and Dan Carey during the album sessions at FF’s HQ in Glasgow and Carey’s south London studio.

Franz Ferdinand are about to embark on a series of U.K. and European dates. The group has also announced two more live dates as part of their tour this Spring as a part of their “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand” jaunt. The tour supports the art-rocker’s third album of the same name for which the group have scheduled additional gigs.

Watch the new music video from Franz Ferdinand bleow:

Phillipa “Pip” Brown better known by her stage name Ladyhawke, is a New Zealand solo singer-songwriter, playing all the instruments in studio and touring with a band. Ladyhawke named herself after the 80’s cult film starring Matthew Broderick and Michelle Pfeiffer of the same name. Ladyhawke is best known for the 2008 single “Paris Is Burning”, which she wrote after a visit to Paris.

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, and well Ladyhawke’s album cover sums up exactly what she is about. Nostalgia from the 80’s plays a huge part of her songwriting (note the headband, synth, and video game), citing ladies like Kim Wilde and Pat Benetar as influences. But Ladyhawke also relates to more current female performers such as Annie and Peaches (with whom she has worked on the remix project for her single “Paris Is Burning”).

Don’t confuse Ladyhawke with other electroclash bands that are more dark and gloomy - Ladyhawke is more upbeat and pop oriented, like if Kylie Minogue were cool and played rock music. Check out her bad ass video collection below:

BACK OF THE VAN

PARIS IS BURNING

MY DELIRIUM

DUSK ‘TIL DAWN

I am a huge fan of this new progressive pop sound coming from Sweden and other countries in Europe. Robyn, Annie, Kleerup and The Sounds all have a catchy underlined sound with layers of dark throbbing beats. Lykke Li is another Swedish pop tart with sassy lyrics and classic dance hooks. Her debut album “Youth Novel” is a 4 star pop classic that is ahead of its time and worthy of any music snobs iPod rotation. Watch Lykke Li’s music videos below:

“I’M GOOD, I’M GONE”

“BREAKING IT UP”

“I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” is the title of the new song written by Morrissey along with Boz Boorer, the two being responsible for lyrics and music respectively. The song is to be the first single released from Morrissey’s 2009 album “Years of Refusal”. It was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Jerry Finn, the man behind 2004’s brilliant album “You Are the Quarry”. The single is to be officially released on February 9, 2009. For other Moz fans like myself, here is the new video for his first single below that was released yesterday! Enjoy!

UK rock crooner James Morrison is out with the video to his new single “Broken Strings”, featuring Nelly Furtado, the second UK release from the British singer songwriter’s sophomore album “Songs for You, Truths for Me”, out now on Polydor Records. Watch it below.

ADELE - “CHASING PAVEMENTS”

BEYONCE - “SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT)

PORTISHEAD - “THE RIP”

BJORK - “WANDERLUST”

FEIST - “I FEEL IT ALL”

GNARLS BARKLEY - “WHO’S GONNA SAVE YOUR SOUL?”

GOLDFRAPP - “A&E”

M83 - “KIM & JESSIE”

RADIOHEAD - “HOUSE OF CARDS”

SANTOGOLD - “L.E.S. ARTISTES”

SHE & HIM - “WHY DO YOU LET ME STAY HERE?”

WEEZER - “PORK AND BEANS”

ROBYN - “COBRASTYLE”

SAM SPARRO - “BLACK AND GOLD”

HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR - “BLIND”