Top 25 Albums Of All Time

01. Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain (1984)
02. Björk - Vespertine (2001)
03. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (1970)
04. Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure (1973)
05. Grace Jones - Nightclubbing (1981)
06. Joy Division - Closer (1980)
07. The Tough Alliance - A New Chance (2007)
08. David Bowie - "Heroes" (1977)
09. A Certain Ratio - Sextet (1981)
10. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala (2007)
11. Brian Eno - Another Green World (1975)
12. Björk - Medúlla (2004)
13. David Bowie - Diamond Dogs (1974)
14. Air France - No Way Down (2008)
15. Janet Jackson - Control (1986)
16. Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love (1985)
17. The Knife - Silent Shout (2006)
18. PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love (1995)
19. Neu! - Neu! (1972)
20. Suicide - Suicide (1977)
21. Kraftwerk - The Man-Machine (1978)
22. Missy Elliott - Under Construction (2002)
23. Britney Spears - Blackout (2007)
24. Studio - Yearbook 1 (2007)
25. Arvo Pärt - Tabula Rasa (1984)

A king with no crown

Dear Gaga:

I still haven't forgotten that hideous album cover, and I also think that you should learn how to relax a bit - especially when you're being interviewed - otherwise you'll start missing the fun and find yourself going down the Michael Jackson road all the way to the end. With that said, I really like your new video, well done! And those water moments in the middle are leaving me breathless, so absolutely gorgeous.

Xoxo,
P.



www.ladygaga.com

Coming Up...

Working on a first class riot...

Theophilus London - Lovers Holiday EP

I've just realized that my last posts have all been Britney-related (don't blame me though, the album is THAT good). Anyways, here is one that is not: a 5-song EP from a guy that turns hip-hop on its head and blends it with some eighties futuristic R&B and some more eighties indie pop. Add to the mix the sparkling synths, bouncing bass lines and infectious choruses, and you have the aural equivalent of a cute smile in your face. Like someone said, it's as if Prince and Kid Cudi had a baby, and that baby grew up listening to a lot of Morrissey. And that's your lesson in the art of procreation for today, kids. (8/10)

Theophilus London - Why Even Try (feat. Sara Quin) (video)



Theophilus London - Flying Overseas (feat. Devonte Hynes & Solange Knowles) (video)



theophiluslondon.net

Take it to the next level baby!

We all know for some time now that this song is the epitome of what a perfect club anthem should be. But now that the video has finally arrived (...and about time!), the obglitatory question is: are you ready for some sexy-hot action? Because this delivers it in spades and beyond. And to shut the haters up: she looks FIERCE - dancing included!



www.britneyspears.com

Britney Spears - Femme Fatale

And now for the question that is in everyone's minds: is Femme Fatale actually any better than Blackout?
Britney's 2007 album is still unique in every sense of the word. Recorded during a very specific period of her life, when she was having a public meltdown in front of the whole world to see, you could sense that turbulence everywhere on that record: her voice engulfed in all the radical sonics, creating a tension and a claustrophobic atmosphere that, in the end, showed she was then a much-solitary soul.
After Circus put her back on track, at least with her own self, Femme Fatale is where everything really falls into the right place, creating what will probably become one of her most iconic moments in her career. This is where the cheeky and naughty Brit that we all love is at full force again, opening up to the world and inviting everyone to her party... while, at the same time, all the producers and writers involved in this project seem to have been blessed with a divine moment of manic inspiration, considering what they've come up with for Femme Fatale. Really now: Cyborg sex-vixen Britney? Yes please!
In the end, saying that this album is without any flaw and that there's not a single filler in here, is an understatement. What is true is that listening to it - and Lord knows I haven't been able to do anything else in the past few weeks - gives a new meaning to the concept of experiencing multiple sequenced eargasms.
And back to that introductory question: is Femme Fatale actually any better than Blackout? Only time will tell, but for now one thing is for sure: Britney's back, bitch! (9/10)

Britney Spears - Inside Out (mp3)



www.britneyspears.com

Feeling this is more insane

Revealed to the world as guest vocalist in the Magnetic Man project, Katy B has since released a few quite-good songs on her own, all indebting a lot to dubstep and the UK bass culture. Her new single changes this perception a bit and thus may, very well, become her first international breakthrough hit. Mostly because Broken Record broadens its influences and literally opens up to the world. Just hear that drum'n'bass chorus and you'll understand why.



www.katyonamission.com

Can't you see I am down on my knees now?

Another Erik Hassle song, another moment of emo-pop perfection. This time our favourite Swede has even upped the bar a bit more, incorporating an amazing electro beat that brings his songwriting and singing to new unsuspected heights. I've already read in more than a few places that "Are You Leaving" could be seen as the male version to Robyn's "Dancing On My Own", and I can see where that comes from: both deal with heartbreak lyrics, pumping disco synths and an atmosphere of nordic nostalgia - all things for which I'm a total sucker.
Considering that this is just one of the songs from a forthcoming mini-album called Mariefried Sessions, I can't help but becoming über-excited for what's next. In the meantime, here's the fresh-oven video, directed by the (multi-talented) man himself.



www.erikhassle.com

Jamie Foxx - Best Night Of My Life

Let's be honest here: Jamie Foxx must be used to having nights that are much more interesting than what you, me, or 99,9% of the world will ever have. So the prospect of being able to take part in the best night of his life... that surely sounds like quite an experience, to say the least, doesn't it? Well, following the title by the letter, this album raises the curtain in what a superstar's fun night is like. And what do you know? It's actually not that different from the common mortal's.
Best Night Of My Life starts with mid-tempo jams that are just perfect to soundtrack private parties in luxury mansions, surrounded by some sexy people. But by the second half, the tempo tones down, while the temperature actually gets higher. So that means it's that time of the evening when you leave the party behind and surreptitiously go upstairs, ending up on a stranger's bed with the hottest guy/girl in the room.
Which is to say that you can actually identify with what you're hearing and use this album as a soundtrack to a home-made party of yours. Because, even if with less luxury involved, the script may turn out to be quite similar. And the fact that it all ends with "Sex On The Beach" is literally an added bonus to what was already a very special night. (8/10)

Jamie Foxx feat. Rick Ross - Living Better Now (mp3 via Passion of the Weiss)



Jamie Foxx feat. Drake - Fall For Your Type (video)



www.jamiefoxx.com

Let me blow your mind tonight

Dancing with Britney till the world ends? That doesn't sound like a bad idea at all!

Britney Spears - Till The World Ends (mp3)

The type of chick that likes to rock the beat

If you thought that Whip My Hair was just a one-off, then you might have to think again, because Willow Smith's second single is another banger of a song. And yes, the chorus does sound A LOT like Ke$ha, but it's still fun as hell, so who's complaining? However, the really treat in here is the video... and don't even get me started about all those epic raise-a-city-out-of-nowhere scenes.



www.willowsmith.com

Cut Copy - Zonoscope

When you are responsible for an album - 2008's In Ghost Colours - that has become an indie-classic, with many of its songs seen now as celebratory anthems, how do you follow it up? If you are Cut Copy, then this is what you do: reduce the anthemic properties of your new tracks, take out almost all guitars and immerse the tunes in a myriad of 80's synthesizers. And Zonoscope is exactly all about that: building ethereal dance atmospheres instead of physical numbers, while exploring different synthetic textures.
But the final goal is still the same and almost as successfuly achieved as before: to create ecstactic music and aim higher into the sky. Or, in other words, to reach for the stars while dancing on the way. (7,5/10)

Cut Copy - Need You Now (video)



www.cutcopy.net

Government Hooker

Just a couple of hours ago, Lady Gaga made her debut as a runway model, walking for Thierry Mugler during Paris fashion week, where she also directed the show music, previewing a brand new track called Government Hooker:

"I can be cool, I can be anything, I'll be your everything, just touch me baby.
Im gonna drink my tears tonight, im gonna drink my tears and cry, cuz I know you love me baby, I know you love me baby.
Put your hands on me, John F Kennedy, i'll make you scream baby."

Flawless!



www.ladygaga.com
www.thierrymugler.com

This is the manifesto of Mother Monster

Well, and once again, Lady Gaga and Nick Knight have teamed up to push quite a few boundaries, and after watching this about 20 times in a row, my mouth is still wide open with all those mind-blowing details. Seriously now, and putting aside all objectivism and possible theoretical analysis: this is some surreal next-level shit, so friggin' amazing!



www.ladygaga.com

Ciara - Basic Instinct

Ciara's fourth album may have been a flop saleswise, but that doesn't take away its quite good merits. And those are in a large part due to the presence of The-Dream and Tricky Stewart as producers and writers, providing the vibrant synthetic R&B atmosphere that permeates all over Basic Instinct, with some amazing back instrumentals for Ciara to do her thing on. Not only are those beats sexy and seductive on their own, but they also blend perfectly with her trademark soft and anonymous (- compliment here!) voice. (7,5/10)

Ciara feat. Ludacris - Ride (video)



Ciara - Gimmie Dat (video)



www.ciaraworld.com

Devlin - Bud, Sweat & Beers

The UK bass culture is currently living a very-prolific period, and Devlin is another name to add up to a list that already includes huge mainstream-success stories such as Tinie Tempah or Skepta.
Bud, Sweat & Beers may be his first album, but it's already a very huge and ambitious affair. The frantic beats don't let it be mistaken by anything else than a grime album, as well as Devlin's flow, or shall I say, angry words-spitting rhymes? But then there are also the immense pop hooks, absurdly catchy choruses, emo pianos and strings, heavy guitars and a whole lot of intense drama, taking everything into another level that comes really close to reaching epic proportions. In a way, it all reminds me of a less-cartoonish version of Eminem, which - in my book - is a very good place to start with. (7/10)

Devlin - Brainwashed (video)



Devlin feat. Yasmin - Runaway (video)



www.officialdevlin.com

Cop lights, flash lights, spot lights, strobe lights, street lights

Is it just me or Rihanna's blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance completely outshines everything else in this video? That's called star power, people!



kanyewest.com

Running forever for something better

Remember The Sound Of Arrows? This Swedish duo took 2009 by storm with one of the best songs ever done (no kidding here), the perfectly-titled Into The Clouds... and then vanished completely. Well, that absence from the public-radar was all for a good reason, as they went to prepare their debut album, which is now finally ready and will be released very soon. Its first single is titled Nova and it's so fantastic that I'm literally drooling here right now as I write this. Another beautiful half-melancholic / half-ecstactic song, like only the Swedes seem capable of doing, loaded with a myriad of epic goosebumps-inducing synths. Seriously, things like this make me fall in love with the world.



www.thesoundofarrows.com

Gimme something good, don't wanna wait I want it now

Say what you will about the shameless product-placement throughout, or the slightly nauseating fast-pacing editing, but this is nevertheless one of the best videos she's ever done. And I'm really loving the metaphors drawing a close parallel to her own life: meteoric career start - becoming a celebrity - rise to stardom - inner struggle - breakdown - and, finally, triumphant comeback!



www.britneyspears.com

James Blake - James Blake

Apparently I finally found out what was needed for me to start liking James Blake's debut: to be sick with a virus and spend a few days at home with not much to do. What was my problem with this album before? The fact that it all seemed too incomplete, like too much sketches and great ideas grouped together but with something still missing. And what changed in the last high-fever days? I suppose my availability and patience to fill in the gaps by myself.
So yes, I now agree: this will probably be considered a landmark in the future, when a dubstep musician started building up his own world and used some - but not much - of the scene's elements to create a new and very personal sound. As a matter of fact, I don't think there's much dubstep in here anymore. This album is more a collection of leftfield songs, little melodies with a heavily processed voice - that anyway still sounds fragile enough, actually like everything else in here -, built around some really unique electronic sounds and... a lot of silence.
Yes it can sound incomplete in the beginning. But maybe there's another expression for that, and that's: entering someone's intimacy. (8/10)

James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream (video)



James Blake - Limit To Your Love (video)



www.myspace.com/jamesblakeproduction