These Boots Were Made For Dancin'!

Little Boots
"Hands" album
Released: March 2nd, 2010





Move over Lady Gaga, there's a new kid in town. Actually, Little Boots is not that new to the UK, however, she is finally making her American debut. Like Gaga, Boots is a multi-talented pop singer/songwriter who combines guilty hooks with high fashion. Unlike Gaga, her style and music rely on subtleties and not over-the-top extravagance. Boots is an incredible musician to watch, as she navigates keyboards, synthesizers and the unusual Tenori-on. Her keen pop sensibilities shine throughout her debut. Opening with the stellar "New In Town," Boots establishes herself as a force to be reckoned with. The album swirls through 12 addictive 80s inspired songs. Little Boots even brings on Phil Oakley from the Human League for a duet that dares to rival their 1981 hit, "Don't You Want Me." Other notable tracks are the house-influenced "Stuck On Repeat", lyrically clever "Mathematics" and top ten UK hit, "Remedy." Keep an eye out for this one, these boots have more mileage to go.

Watch video for "New In Town"

Booze Hound

Ke$ha
"Animal" album
Released: January 5th, 2010





On her debut album, Ke$ha opens by proclaiming "Maybe I need some rehab, or maybe just need some sleep" and from there she pounds out 14 booze-fueled party tracks. Her lead single "TiK ToK" has already broken records with the best weekly download sales of any female artist in history. Not too bad for a rookie. So, is this trashy-chic songstress a one hit wonder, or is there more in store?
Judging by "Animal," Ke$ha has some room for improvement. While her carefree party attitude is amusing, it grows tiresome over the span of 14 songs. While there are plenty of radio-friendly tracks on this album, nothing quite reaches the originality of "TiK ToK". However, her humorous lyrics do set her apart from her contemporaries. After all, who else has admitted to brushing their teeth with Jack Daniels?

Watch music video for "TiK ToK"

Return of the Divas

In the past five years, gangsta hip hop has been fading out of the mainstream and is returning to a more dance-conscious state. Newcomers like Lady Gaga would have never had a chance in 2004 (she probably would of been the victim of a 50 Cent gangbang lyric.) And so now, I present to you the return of the diva to mainstream radio. And it seems they all have had a new single/album this month! Here is a sampling:

Mariah Carey
"Obsessed" single
Released: July 6th, 2009





With all of it's attitude and sexiness, this track has the potential to make an instant summer diva classic... so why didn't it become Mariah's 19th #1? Perhaps it's because the producers took a woman who is capable of singing 5 octaves and jumbled her voice into that of a robot. I have no problem with the use of the vocoder, in fact it works amazingly for Shakira...but for Mariah? Really? Her stunning vocal ability needs to be set free, not crunched with mechanical bleeps and blips. Next!

Shakira
"She-Wolf" single
Released: July 14th, 2009




Now, here is the surprise single of the summer. I must admit, I've always felt very neutral about Shakira's music. I moderately enjoyed "Whenever Wherever Whoever" whatever the hell it was called. And "Hips Don't Lie" eventually grew on me after I stopped wondering what kind of lie they might tell. But, "She-Wolf" is an instant classic. Here is a song where the vocoder is used perfectly to enhance the voice and other musical instrumentation. The feral vocal performance and slick dance beats make this track a smash. One word for this song: Fierce!

Madonna
"Celebration" single
Released: July 31st, 2009





Here is a phenomenal Madonna song you won't hear in the good ol' USA. Why, do you ask? When Madonna writes a euro-house dance track with the brilliant Paul Oakenfold, American radio stations aren't interested. Take for instance her 2005 single, "Hung Up." It was a #1 song in 45 countries, made the Guiness Book of World Records and then peaked at mere a #7 in the USA. And unfortunately, "Celebration" is doomed to repeat history. "Celebration" combines the uplifting joy of "Holiday," the sexy spoken-word of "Justify My Love" and the guiltless dance beats of "Into the Groove." Are you ready to dance?

Whitney Houston
"Million Dollar Bill" single
Released: August 18th, 2009





While Mariah, Shakira, and Madonna all went for variations of contemporary dance music, Whitney comes at us with a song straight out of Studio 54 circa 1977. Perhaps she's channeling her former cocaine days with this moon-and-the-spoon track. Whatever her inspiration, she has a stunning comeback song that somehow fits quite comfortably alongside her diva contemporaries. Similarly to Mariah, it's her voice that she is known for. And here it sounds incredible. The chorus is undeniably one of the catchiest of her career. You'll be saying "Oh Ohh Ohhhh!"

Watch video for Mariah Carey's "Obsessed"
Watch video for Shakira's "She-Wolf"
Watch video for Madonna's "Celebration"
Watch video for Whitney Houston's "Million Dollar Bill"

Boom Boom Plop!

Black Eyed Peas
"Boom Boom Pow" single
Released: March 30th, 2009





I must be honest, I almost didn't make it through this song...until about half way through. The first two minutes of Black Eyed Peas new single, "Boom Boom Pow," are comprised of a tornado siren, excessive auto-tuned vocals, and an uninspired drum beat. The droning one-note siren gave me flashbacks to the Midwest when we'd run for the basement because a twister was approaching. I doubt that's what the Black Eyed Peas intended...but I was ready for shelter!
Thankfully, at the two minute mark, the dance synthesizers and beats kick in, the siren fades out, and the song seems to be going somewhere. Oh, but how short lived that moment is. Another storm is approaching and it's time to, once again, sound the alarms. This song lacks the funky, get-on your-feet soul of previous work. It simply pales in comparison to "Don't Phunk With My Heart" and "Let's Get It Started."

The single currently holds the #1 position on the Billboard Charts. Perhaps, on a few repeated listens, I'll understand why that is. In the meantime, I'll be hunkered down waiting for the tornado to pass.

Watch music video