Blame it on the gazillion options for recreation and distraction. Nevertheless, here are some critically chosen fresh cuts worth your attention.[break]
It’s been over a year since Michael Jackson passed away but it’s an obvious fact that the spirit of the King of Pop will continue to live on in his music in his earlier hits as well the songs that will be released after his death. “Michael” is the title of his posthumous album which, much to our surprise, has become the most successful album since his 1991 “Dangerous” and hitting platinum status within one week of release.
It contains some of Jackson’s unreleased tracks and also features guest performances from Akon, 50 Cent, Lenny Kravitz,and Dave Grohl.
The recent offering from the set is called “Hollywood Tonight” and although the vocals might sound doubtful, its beats have MJ’s signature style written all over them.
The single was initially written and rejected for his 2001’s disc “Invincible.”
British rapper/songwriter Chipmunk already has five UK Top Ten hits to boast about with just the release of his debut effort “I Am Chipmunk”. Moreover, its follow-up looks even more promising. Set to be released in mid-April, “Transition” bears the collaboration “Champion” featuring Chris Brown. It is a fist-clenching, anthemic mid-tempo electro-R&B stomper that ponders the glorious highs and depressive lows of fame.
It excels both lyrically and musically and is bound to leave a positive first impression. Chip basically wants the listeners of the song to “feel like they were born a champion.”
Former Mis-Teeq member Alesha Dixon has bounced back to the music scene with the latest cut from her third solo album “The Entertainer.” “Every Little Part of Me” is a neat enough garage-pop club number featuring R&B hottie Jay Sean.
The single sees Dixon pulling off a punchy track with the help of juddering synths and a hip-shaking chorus, although it doesn’t manage as much to tickle our dancing senses. Nonetheless, the singer and Jay Sean sound great together.
Not many hip hoppers emerging from Norway get a hold of the spotlight in the international music scene but Madcon, who since 1992, are one of those few groups to stand out.
The Norwegian urban duo dropped their fourth album “Contraband” last year and it has already earned them two hits.
Now through their fresh offering from the thirteen-track disc, the boys give us “Outrun the Sun.” Completely fun and fast-paced, the rap-infused dance number, at one listening, will drive away the initial doubts derived from discovering Madcon’s unlikely European origin for hip hop artists.
“Space Bound” is the new track to be taken from Eminem’s Recovery album. The song, quite similar to the rapper’s previous smash Love the Way You Lie, talks about relationship between a couple. But the best part about it is that it delivers the specialty of the album – more involvement of instruments than electronic beats highly used in hip hop music. This change is certainly a breath of fresh air in Eminem’s music.
The chorus has been performed by British pop/R&B singer Steve McEwan. And making an appearance in its video is actress and former porn star Sasha Grey.
Amidst a number of competitive genres, from rock to pop to hip hop/R&B, Bruno Mars sticks to his neutrality by including all these sorts of music in his debut effort Doo-Wops and Hooligans – one of the many facts that make the album so exceptional.
And the most recent piece to come out of the set is “The Lazy Song.” The single has all the elements that we look for in a feel-good song, and as Mars explains, it has been inspired by the sunny and stress-free Hawaiian music that the singer grew up with as a child in Hawaii.
Sampling classic hits seems to be the new trend in the music biz these days, not cover or remixes, and American singer/rapper Lloyd has become the latest artist to fall for the style.
His fresh single “Lay It Down” samples Patti LaBelle’s “Love, Need and Want You.” It doesn’t sound anything like the original, of course, except for the lyrics, but Lloyd has done a great job with it.
The twenty-five-year-old brings a young feel to his rendition. When it’s Lady Gaga, things ought to get extreme. Gaga’s brand new single “Born This Way” has not only been creating waves among music lovers but also controversy among the authorities.
Some parts of its lyrics have been banned in Malaysian radio stations due to its strong pro-gay theme. But the song proves to be an equality anthem for the believers of equal rights.
Although its beats are far from disappointing, its words are the main highlight. In the end, “Born This Way” is all about the subject matter Gaga sings of.
Supriya Pradhan is an RJ at Hits FM 91.2.
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