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MNEK, Jarell Perry, Dannii Minogue + More: 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week

Posted 3/19/13 1:30 pm EST by in Celebrity, Music

It's Tuesday! Time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week"!

This week's roundup features a legendary U.K. girl group's Stateside studio sessions, a brilliant Janet reinterpretation, futuristic R&B, and a celebration of the ultimate disco diva. Come and get it!

1.) MKS, "Lay Down in Swimming Pools"

Ah, MKS: the greatest girl group to never debut...yet. For the past year, the original members of the iconic British girl group Sugababes have been holed up in studios across the U.K. and America carving out what will be an inevitably immaculate (re-)debut -- their first together since 2000's One Touch. And at long last, we got a taste of something new last week: "Lay Down In Swimming Pools," an interpolation of Kendrick Lamar's "Swimming Pools (Drank)" produced by Solange's BFF, Dev Hynes. Harmonizing above a faded, blurry R&B beat, the girls po' it, po' it up together. It's a refreshing sound, and all the girls sound fantastic (especially Siobhan's moment toward the end!) For a group that hasn't made new music in more than a decade, they've never sounded quite so fresh.

+ LISTEN TO MKS, "LAY DOWN IN SWIMMING POOLS"

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Justin Timberlake 'The 20/20 Experience': Track-By-Track Review... In GIFs!

Posted 3/14/13 11:00 am EST by in Celebrity, Music, Must See, Photos

We reviewed Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience" ...IN GIFs!

Don't call it a comeback! Well, actually, go right ahead. This one really does count as a comeback.

Seven years (and a whole lot of acting gigs and "SNL" appearances) after sending us along on a space-pop odyssey on the (still) groundbreaking FutureSex/LoveSounds, Justin Timberlake made his formal return (quite formal -- suit and tie formal, in fact) to the music industry this week with an early stream of The 20/20 Experience (grab the actual disc when it drops March 19!). Teaming up yet again with his constant collaborator Timbaland, the former boy band crooner (we bet he hates hearing that!) has carved out another collection of extended mid-tempo grooves for his 2013 return, full of extended breakdowns and bouncy interludes that stretch each song well past the 5-minute mark.

In a lot of ways, 20/20 is not so much an evolution in sound as it is a continuation of his 2006 record, relying on the same horn-heavy loops and Timba-branded beatboxing as he did over a half decade ago. And while he manages to get the crowd briefly pumped for lead single "Suit & Tie" and the Latin-infused "Let The Groove Get In," the record is largely an "album only" affair, as opposed to the more hit-heavy, single-ready fare of his last two records.

But even if the new album isn't chock-full of obvious singles (which isn't even a bad thing, necessarily) and often drags (that one's a bad thing), Justin's packed a few massive punches along the way, including the unbelievably sexy "Don't Hold The Wall," the Janet-esque R&B coo of "Strawberry Bubblegum," and "Blue Ocean Floor" -- arguably his most stunning ballad ever, proving that JT's still got what it takes to stay comfortably seated at the throne as pop royalty.

Read our track-by-track review of Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience after the jump!

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Jess Mills, Woodkid, AlunaGeorge + More: 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week

Posted 3/12/13 1:30 pm EST by in Celebrity, Music

It's Tuesday! Time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week"!

This week's roundup features some sweet croonage from an English up-and-comer, an emotional ode from a French supergenius, a springy electro-pop reimagining of Lana Del Rey, and a key cut from the Jackson family's most underrated superstar.

1.) Jess Mills, "Sweet Love"

Up-and-coming English songbird Jess Mills has been delivering heaven-sent offerings for the past few years, including "Vultures," "Live For What I'd Die For," and "For My Sins." Now, as she prepares to release her forthcoming debut, the songstress returns this year with "Sweet Love," a luscious slice of warm, semi-melancholy longing that interpolates Anita Baker's mid-'80s single of the same time: "When can we just stop pretending/ that you're just any guy to me and I am just any girl to you?" she sweetly croons, bringing nu-soul songstress (and fellow Brit) Jessie Ware to mind. It's a shame Valentine's Day already passed, because this song's sentiment doesn't get any sweeter.

+ LISTEN TO JESS MILLS, "SWEET LOVE"

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Jessica Mauboy, Misha B, Amelia Lily + More: 5 Must Hear Pop Songs of the Week

Posted 3/6/13 12:08 pm EST by in Celebrity, Music

It's Wednesday! Time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week"!

Each year, singing competitions feature talented up-and-coming artists from across the globe, including "The X Factor," "American Idol," and "Pop Stars." As a result, this week's Top 5 is dedicated to the latest and greatest from reality TV finalists: from newly debuting acts in the U.K. to established superstars Down Under. And best of all? No suspenseful commercial breaks.

5

1.) Jessica Mauboy, "Something's Got A Hold On Me"

Jessica Mauboy has certainly been making a name for herself ever since placing as runner-up on "Australian Idol" in 2006: After her season, the R&B-pop songstress broke out with her debut record Been Waiting, as well as her feisty follow-up, 2010's Get 'Em Girls. Late last month, the talented crooner revealed "Something's Got A Hold On Me," the official theme for the 2013 NRL season (that's rugby!) in Australia. "Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling," she belts out. Don't worry -- this isn't a cover of Flo Rida's Etta James-sampling "Good Feeling." The track soon explodes into almighty power-pop anthem mode, as Mauboy cries out above a propulsive guitar strum and bouncy club beat. It's a very good feeling.

+ LISTEN TO JESSICA MAUBOY, "SOMETHING'S GOT A HOLD ON ME"

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Little Boots, Belinda, RaVaughn + More: 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week

Posted 2/26/13 2:55 pm EST by in Celebrity, Music

It's Tuesday! Time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week"!

This week's roundup features promising up-and-comers and established international pop royalty alike, including my favorite Mexican pop princess, some R&B flirtations from Ne-Yo's rising star, and the almighty comeback of a Swedish girl group member gone solo.

Little Boots, Belinda, RaVaughn, and more in this week's 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs.

1.) Little Boots, "Motorway"

Little Boots has some big news this week: She's back with a brand-new album in May! And to briefly satisfy our endless hunger for the new record, the U.K. electro-pop princess has graciously uploaded "Motorway," a new track off of Nocturnes. "Motorway" is a moodier selection than the past few cuts from the collection (including "Shake" and "Every Night I Say A Prayer"), which sees the songstress evoking shades of Saint Etienne and Kylie Minogue. "Meet me on the motorway/ Together we can make our great escape," she croons along the atmospheric track, full of dramatic piano chords and hypnotic, tranced-out pulsations. Another tantalizing tease of what's to come? You bet.

+ LISTEN TO LITTLE BOOTS, "MOTORWAY"

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Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson + Lana Del Rey: 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week

Posted 2/19/13 1:30 pm EST by in Celebrity, Music

It's Tuesday! Time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week"!

This week's roundup sees the dreamy return of Lady Gaga's favorite alt-rockers, a disco diva diving into chilly Icelandic waters, and an almighty remix of one of the finest, most steamy uptempo cuts from Miss Jackson (if ya nasty.)

Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson and more in 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week.

1.) Kylie Minogue featuring múm, "Whistle"

Kylie Minogue's just full of surprises lately. Last week, she was busy rubbing elbows with Jay-Z and signing on with Roc Nation as her new management for 2013. Now, the prolific pop princess is throwing us another curveball, this time teaming up with Icelandic experimental electronic group múm for an icy track from the "Jack & Diane" soundtrack, "Whistle." The track is full of minimal, rippling electronica beats and sorrowful strings, as Kylie's calming voice lushly flows across the unusual soundscape. It's a majorly left-of-center move, recalling her experimental pop days back in the late '90s with her record "Impossible Princess" -- and probably the closest we'll ever hear to a Björk duet.

+ LISTEN TO KYLIE MINOGUE FEATURING MUM, "WHISTLE"

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Margaret Berger, Jordin Sparks, Erika Jayne + More: 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week

Posted 2/12/13 2:35 pm EST by in Celebrity, Music

It's Tuesday! Time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week"!

This week's roundup sees new releases from two "Idol" alums (one from America, one from Norway!), some big-mouthed irreverence from a promising, punky up-and-comer, a good ol' club cut from a dance floor favorite, and a celebration of a disco diva's surprising new management deal.

Jordin Sparks, Margaret Berger and more in 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week.

1.) Alex Gaudino featuring Jordin Sparks, "Is This Love"

While we're all eagerly kneading our hands and listening to "Battlefield" on repeat while waiting for Jordin Sparks to release her third studio album, the "American Idol" winner has decided to put her powerhouse pipes to work on Italian DJ Alex Gaudino's upcoming album, Doctor Love, out in March. "Is This Love" is a surging, euphoric bout of sizzling House beats and swoon-filled vocals: "Is this love?/ What I been waiting for," the songstress merrily cries above the pulsating chorus. It's a lovey-dovey dance anthem that ought to top the charts -- not to mention a perfectly timed love letter for her BF Jason Derulo this Valentine's Day.

+ LISTEN TO ALEX GAUDINO FEATURING JORDIN SPARKS, "IS THIS LOVE"

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Rebecca & Fiona, Christophe Willem, K Rose + More: 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week

Posted 2/5/13 1:00 pm EST by in Celebrity, Music

It's Tuesday! Time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week"!

This week's roundup sees a sisterly Swedish DJ act's latest dance floor assault, a French pop prince providing some sugary-sweet crooning (in English!), a rising U.S. R&B-pop princess doing some flirting (in Italian!), and some sweet nighttime lullabies by the dreamiest of dream-pop troupes.

Rebecca & Fiona, Christophe Willem and more in 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week.

1.) Rebecca & Fiona featuring Style of Eye, "Taken Over"

Drop-dead gorgeous Swedish DJ duo Rebecca & Fiona first stole our hearts away back in 2011 with too-cool-for-school dance-pop cuts like "Bullets" and "Jane Doe." Now, the group's back (and just as badass as ever) with their brand-new single "Taken Over," co-crafted with fellow Swedish producer/DJ Style of Eye. "Surrounded by the fence I used to fall into/ Now you undress my mind to see my heart is taken over," the girls call out above the song's throbbing electro pulse. As the track goes on, the girls dive deeper still into frenzied House beats, proving no matter who's taking over their hearts at the moment, they'll always have time to take over the dance floor.

+ LISTEN TO REBECCA & FIONA FEATURING STYLE OF EYE, "TAKEN OVER"

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Justin Bieber 'Believe Acoustic': Track-By-Track Review... In GIFs!

Posted 2/1/13 2:08 pm EST by in Celebrity, Music, Must See, Photos

Check out our "Believe Acoustic" review...in GIFS!

Don't stop Beliebing: It's our "Believe Acoustic" review!

It's been a minute since Justin Bieber laid down some of that sweet, sweet acoustic tunage on his fans (he first did it in 2010 with My Worlds Acoustic), but don't worry, girl, he's ready to deliver some more guitar-led goodness and whisper each swag-filled serenade directly into your ear with Believe Acoustic.

Whether it's the chilly season, late-adolescent growing pains, the not-so-glamorous reality of fame, or his even-less-private breakup with former GF Selena Gomez, the Bieber's obviously been in a more pensive state of mind lately. And so, perhaps to exorcise his demons, the 18-year-old pop prince has provided a mostly sad-sounding (yet critically acclaimed), acoustic version of his platinum-selling 2012 record, Believe, along with a few brand-new tracks -- including the recently premiered sob-fest "Nothing Like Us."

So get ready to melt, bawl, shake, and cry Beliebers: This is Justin Bieber, acousti-fied.

Read our track-by-track review of Justin Bieber's Believe Acoustic after the jump!

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New Video: Vanbot, 'Hold This Moment' (VIDEO)

Posted 1/29/13 5:30 pm EST by in Celebrity, Music, Videos

Vanbot hits the forest for her glorious video for "Hold This Moment."

Explore Vanbot's snowy, refracted world in her "Hold This Moment" video.

As extraordinary American philosopher Kelly Clarkson once sang, "Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this," and now, it's Swedish songbot Vanbot's time to shine with her new single, "Hold This Moment." Much like her last bout of brilliant Robyn-esque synth-pop, "Hold" is yet another escapade into moody, distinctly Swedish pulsations and sad disco beats. "I want to hold this moment in my hand," the songstress cries out on the euphoric chorus, which shimmers with glittery shades of Queen Kylie. It's a little Fever Ray. It's a little Lykke Li. You know: It's just the Scandinavian way! (And by that, I mean perfect.)

Watch Vanbot's "Hold This Moment" video after the jump.

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