Rihanna Gets Loud With Some Island Flavor

official Loud album cover There's lots of internet buzz today about Rihanna's fifth studio album, Loud, dropping on us November 16th!  Hell, I'm definitely excited about it.  The Ronald McDonald wigged Love the Way You Lie girl has been busy recording her second video for What's My Name.  Who's That Chick was the dance driven song that everyone had hopped would be on her latest creation, and we have confirmation that it will be.  Though the video so obviously inspired by my childhood favorites, Punky Brewster and Rainbow Brite, will not be the official video for the track, fans are eager to see more from Princess...

Read more »

Album in Review: Chromeo "Business Casual"

Chromeo seems to be the band that most people are determined to talk smack about. Comparisons are often made to 80’s uptempo R&B acts best left in the 80’s, but their music invariably grows on you, and before you know it, you're singing along and making babies to their disco-inspired, electro-funk beats. The latest release and 3rd album from the duo, Business Casual, had my shoulders a-shimmying and my booty a-shaking from start to finish. Go ahead and try not to sing along to the chorus in songs like I’m not contagious. I dare you!  You can’t resist catchy hooks like, I'm not contagious, but I got the kinda love...

Read more »

Download: Lick these lips... Lectrolips

Ever wondered what music would sound like if Daft Punk mated with Darren Hayes, with a side of 80's inspired Trip Hop?  Well wonder no more.  Lectrolips has answered that very question with their EP Exempt From Classification.  UK Leo & Ant are a singing/songwriting duo who's demos on MySpace began to draw attention from various music blogs.  Just this week they've released there EP available for a free download.  It's a brilliant twist of heavy synths from the 80's with the fresh beats of today.  It's 100% calorie free and 110% delicious. Love Has Lied and Ordinary Conversation are my favorites &...

Read more »

Introducing & Download: Alex Gardner

About to start touring with Pixie Lott in November, Alex Gardner just released his second single a few days ago.  This cute, Scottish pop singer is no stranger for supporting well known acts on their tours.  He's already spent a fair amount of time supporting his idol Paolo Nutini, bleeding heart Leona Lewis, played on the same bill as Mika and is finishing touring with Scouting For Girls.  With looks like that of a younger Elvis, the lyrical skills similar to George Michael, fuzed with electro-pop, Alex may be the answer to our need for a new male pop star.  This 18 year old may be just the answer to our musical prayers. Click...

Read more »

New Music Tuesday

Last week, the girls dominated our New Music Tuesday.  180 degree flip, this week the men dominate.  Must be something in the change of seasons.  Here's what we're playing on repeat from today's new releases. Pete Yorn - Self Titled (review to follow!)buy it here Jimmy Eat World - Inventedbuy it hereBen Folds & Nick Hornby - Lonely Avenuebuy it here Kaskade - Dance.Lovebuy it her...

Read more »

Introducing: Dragonette

Probably one of the most under-appreciated modern electro-rock pop groups in my library, Dragonette needs to break out in a big way. To be real, their skank anthem I Get Around should have enjoyed ubiquity on the dancefloor but unfortunately, atleast in my neck of the woods, nada. Dragonette is fronted by a model, write tons of songs about sex, made a song called Jesus Doesn't Love Me Anymore, genderbend and experiment with alternative sexuality's in their videos and have even toured with New Order. There is literally NOTHING not to love about this band. Check them out. Dragonette "Black Limousine" by thegreydahlia Dragonette...

Read more »

Introducing: Blue Sky Black Death

Sometimes in the world, you can't always get what you want, this lady knows what I'm talkin about! Anyway, the point is life isn't fair. On the flip-side of that, sometimes you get exactly what you want! I nearly lost my shit when I first listened to Blue Sky Black Death, a San Francisco-based electronic/instrumental duo (Kingston and Young God). I've had their newest release Third Party for about a week now, and they are already an installation in my permanent rotation. Granted, I don't quite understand the lyrics to the fullest extent - Your common cold is my Trojan horse to feed - (?!) (From Carl Sagan, Track 1)....

Read more »

Gleek Out: Britney Spears

John Stamos (that's right, Uncle Jesse) and Britney Spears, all wrapped into one episode of Glee? Me oh my.  This is gonna be good.  Check out a clip for next week's Glee & preview some of the songs below! "Toxic" "The Only Exceptio...

Read more »

Alesha Dixon

Former singer of English Garage Girl-Group Mis-Teeq and victim of Javine Hylton's skank rampage of husband-taking, Alesha Dixon has released her new single Drummer Boy. Alesha has a pretty unique voice and has worked with some great producers so hopefully we will see continued success with her new song. The only problem I foresee for her is that the title Drummer Boy sounds like it should be a Christmas song and it's not at all. Her older discography is worth a look too, especially her singles Breathe Slow, Lipstick and Knock Down. Alesha Dixon "Breathe Slow" by thegreydahlia Alesha Dixon "Lipstick" by thegreydahlia Posted...

Read more »

TGIF: Start your Friday off right! "Body Shots"

TGIF.  I've been waiting for this day to come!  And why not start Friday off in a get down and party sort of way with the sultry and sexy Kaci Battaglia.  Kaci will be doing a Q&A with the Wonks here soon and we couldn't be more thrilled!  Her debut album Bring It On dropped this week and we can't get enough!  Body Shots moves from 66 to 57 @ Top 40 Radio.  Expect a song or two on our weekend playlist, posted later this afternoon. Listen to the entire Bring It On album here (valid til 9/26!...

Read more »

Cover: Katelyn Clampett does Rihanna

Yes! We have been waiting for this all week and finally, Katelyn has unleashed her cover of Rihanna's Only Girl (In the World) cover.  Now don't get ahead of yourself... this isn't a sweet, slow ballad like Carmen's version... the two aren't even comparable.  KC shows us her personality (she's a funny girl) and her great voice with this a capella version.  It's nice to hear her belt some notes out for a change.  And I gotta admit, I love the sweet dance moves.  She also edited the video herself!  Show her your support by following her on Twitter and Facebook....

Read more »

Download: Colin Munroe "Bullet Proof" (remix)

Directly from the mouth of Colin Munroe: Bulletproof Monster, the second installment in The Revox Suite , was a challenging experiment. The acapella of Nicki Minaj's verse from "Monster" is in a vault somewhere so I was forced to use it with Kanye's beat underneath, which made adding new vocals tricky. I also had to digitally alter La Roux's "Bulletproof" melody to make it fit the "Monster" beat. Add my revox to that and it feels like I've created a musical Frankenstein. Fitting, I think. Enjoy this Bulletproof Monster. Listen/Download the song below! Colin Munroe - Bullet Proof Monster...

Read more »

Download: Remix! Christina Aguilera "You Lost Me"

Though even Christina Aguilera herself has put Bionic behind her, we still love this album.  Recently, a new remix of the Sia penned You Lost Me surfaced on Sound Cloud.  It's available for download below. (click on the down arrow on the side of the Sound Cloud gadget) Christina Aguilera / You Lost Me (Yinon Yahel Remix) by hardcandymus...

Read more »

This Week's Album You Can't Live Without

I can't live without music in general therefore there are so many albums that I would classify as ones I Can't Live Without.  One that immediately comes to mind would have to be Fumbling Towards Ecstasy by Sarah McLachlan. This is the quintessential, melancholy, rainy day album.  However to me, it defines a period in my life where I struggled with the fact that I was painfully shy and introverted. This was the first album that I ever bought that effected me profoundly on such a deep level. I remember when I first heard the song Possession on the radio- I couldn't believe how pure and honest her voice was. Beyond...

Read more »

Preview: Ke$ha "Animal"

Wow.  I am actually kinda speechless by this preview that has leaked for Ke$ha's latest single Animal.  I've always loved the song and she's looking surprisingly beautiful in it.  Whatdyathink?...

Read more »

Cheryl Cole "Promise This"

Cheryl Cole released the video for her new single, Promise This. She looks great and the song is super catchy, hopefully ensuring another chart topper for the English singer. Promise This is the opening shot in the upcoming chart battle between Cheryl and fellow Girls Aloud Nadine Coyle. Both Cheryl and Nadine drop their new solo albums (Messy Little Raindrops for Cheryl and Insatiable for Nadine) on November 1st. It's on! Posted by Weinerbro...

Read more »

Cover: Carmen Reece does Rihanna

Fresh off debuting Don't Ever Leave Me on the radio via KWIN out of Sacramento, the always amazing Carmen Reece dropped another cover on us.  This time, she's covered Rihanna's chart climbing Only Girl (In the World).  Carmen really knows how to take a dance song, slow it down and turn it into an emotional ballad.  Vote for Carmen's recent radio single debut to stay on the radio here.  And buy Love In Stereo here....

Read more »

New Music Tuesday

Here's what we're drooling over this week!  The girls are once again dominating... where are all the male pop stars? Shontelle - No Gravity buy it here Carmen Reece - Love In Stereobuy it here Pendulum - Immersionbuy it here Maroon 5 - Hands All Overbuy it here Kaci Battaglia - Bring It On buy it here Selena Gomez - A Year Without Rain buy it here&nbs...

Read more »

Download/Introducing Alex Kemp!

How can it be bad if we both feel good? That's right sir, you tell it. I love a good constant beat that drives a great song. Alex Kemp keeps the beat going with the his new EP Rat D'hotel - Part II - Rat Hears Love Through Thin Walls.  Kemp moved from New York to Rhode Island to for the band Small Factory back in '91, then later on in his career formed the bands Godrays and Assassins. It's really refreshing to see such thoughtful lyrics that come from the heart. Don't close your eyes, don't hide within..... don't build the bomb that blows us away (Song: Better Yet). All I'm saying is that radioactive-acid-fueled-garbage-pop songs...

Read more »

SOTD: Engineers "Home"

Though this album was released in 2005, the Engineers Home was revitalized on the HBO hit series Big Love opening scene this year.  Season 5 premieres sometime in 2011. ...

Read more »

Download: The Common Grackle should be more common.

Introducing Common Grackle! The bold and adventurous Canadian duo Gregory Pepper and Factor! Common Grackle adds in sounds from different categories, such indie rock and hip-hop, creating their own unique sound that avoids being cornered by the word genre. They are under the Fake Four Inc. Record label currently. The Great Depression, Common Grackle's newest release, has put a face to what I imagine indie music to be today. Their sound ranges from something I'd listen to while gazing at clouds at (All The Pawns, Track 4), to something I'd listen to while sitting back drinking beers with friends (Magic Beans Featuring Ceschi, Track 10). The...

Read more »

Cover: Postal Service does Phil Collins

Now, I know what you're thinking. What the eff does an ouroboros have to do with pop culture? And why were shots of Wicker Park chosen to articulate this song? The same way if you leave the daddy hamster in the cage after the kids are born, it eats them and turns it into something else! Time for a new cage! Except in the case, the results are AMAZING. Here's The Postal Service regurgitating Phil Collins' Against All Odds after eating ever delicious bite of it. Posted by Databa...

Read more »

SOTD: Shontelle "Perfect Nightmare"

Shontelle's No Gravity album is available everywhere tomorrow!  Start the week off right with a dance driven song.  Heck yeah! Shontelle - Perfect Nightma...

Read more »

Diva Dish: Carmen Reece

By now, you should all be familiar with this 22 year old beauty from London, Carmen Reece.  She's been Wonk Pop's Flavor of the Month for September and her first album Love In Stereo just dropped on iTunes last Thursday.  The Indie artist (who's album was produced by the legendary Mark Feist) is not only beautiful, but she's a one of a kind singer-songwriter about to explode on the Pop scene.  With a voice that is unlike any other and songs that blend pop, dance & adult contemporary sounds, this is the birth of a superstar. To be speaking to Carmen the day her album was released, made me feel like a giddy school girl who...

Read more »

New: The Saturdays "Higher"

This is the song The Saturdays should have released as their first single from their latest mini-album Headlines.  Cute video!...

Read more »

Download: Maxine Ashley & Will Smooth "Unthinkable"

You may have been wondering who was that half-pink half-brown haired girl in the Alex Gaudino's I'm In Love video we posted a few weeks back.  Her name is Maxine Ashley and she's recently covered Alicia Key's Unthinkable (I'm Ready) with a fellow named Will Smooth.  You can download her cover here.  Happy Sunday!...

Read more »

Introducing: Marion Raven

Here's something to chew on for your Saturday.  Somewhere, Kelly Clarkson is queuing up all her bitter memories and transmogrifying them into Max Martin assisted pop miracles. For the interim, listen to Norwegian survivor of the M2M disaster and fellow Max Martin devotee, Marion Raven. With her new album Nevermore arriving in November, Marion has dropped a new single, Flesh and Bone, and it's kind of a gear change. For whatever reason, it reminds me Fefe Dobson's new song Ghost, but way more pissed off and with way more lank, Alanis Morisette style hair. It's a good bet that you won't hear her album anywhere in the U.S. but...

Read more »

Kelly Rowland Embraces Us With Another Video

I feel a though this one was inspired by Apple's new iPad.  Love the song but the video is alright....

Read more »

Hot Weekend Jam! Taio Cruz & Ke$ha

Taio Cruz's Rokstarr is one of Wonky Pop's best albums of 2010 and this song is definitely a great addition to the airwaves.  Taio includes Ke$ha on his new single, Dirty Picture. The dance-driven hit is featured on his second studio album, which was released in the US in June. Taio admitted that he wrote the song with Lady Gaga in mind, but producer Dr. Luke encouraged him to collaborate with Ke$ha. "She hadn't done TiK ToK or anything like that at that point," Cruz states. "But I just thought she sounded really cool. A very unique-sounding voice."  For the UK release...

Read more »