Hot Video Alert: The Postelles - White Night

If you get a Strokes-like vibe when you listen to NYC rock quartet The Postelles, (Daniel Balk - lead vocals/guitar, David Dargahi - lead guitar, John Speyer - bass and Billy Cadden - drums) there's a good reason for that, seeing that the band's debut album was co-produced by Albert Hammond Jr. from The Strokes. The band's sound is a little bit old school without sounding dated. While the band sites a variety of classic rock & roll influences (including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, Buddy Holly and others), the boys manage to stay true to the sounds of their idols all the while sounding fresh and original. The video for the band's first single "White Night" was directed by Max Lanman and features clips of the band singing, illuminated by snowflake-like disco ball sparkles. There's also a girl. Every rock video needs a girl, right? The band will release their debut self titled album on October 12th via Astralwerks/Capitol Records. The White Night EP is available to download now on iTunes. Check out The Postelles performing July 28th at the world famous Bowery Ballroom in NYC, at Great Scott in Cambridge, MA on July 30th and at DC Nine in Washington DC on September 18th. Oh and make sure you download an exclusive acoustic mix of "White Night" below!

Check out The Postelles on the web:

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Hot Video Alert: Sara Bareilles - King of Anything

I know I'm a little late with this one but maybe some of you are too. Have you heard Sara Bareilles' new single "King of Anything?" Admittedly I really only came on board with Bareilles with the release of her 2007 #1 hit single, "Love Song" but don't hold that against me. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a late-comer when it comes to jumping on a talented artist's bandwagon. "King of Anything" is a bubbly, sweet yet sassy send off song. According to Bareilles, it's a "f**k you' song," kind of like "Love Song." "Apparently I don't get over things very quickly," she said about the similarity of the two songs. "King of Anything" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #59. It's currently at #13 on Billboard's Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks and #26 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. Produced by Neal Avron, the new single is the first since "Love Song" to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.  Bareilles' new album, Kaleidoscope Heart, will be released via Epic Records on September 7th.

Check out Sara Bareilles on the web:

Official site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube//VEVO

X-Factor Runner Up Olly Murs to Release First Single in August

Come on Joe McElderry! Hurry up and release something new before you become irrelevant! Olly Murs' new single has already surfaced and he was the X-Factor Series 6 runner up! Kind of a cross between Will Young and American Idol's Jason Castro, the single is really quite catchy. It's got a lackadaisical, islandy sound that's carefree and very summery. Now I have yet to watch a series of X-Factor but based on cuteness alone, I would have absolutely voted for Murs to win. Now, after having heard his first major label effort, it looks like I would have been right-on. "Please Don't Let Me Go" will be released August 30th via Epic Records/Syco Music. Listen to the single below:

Check out Olly Murs on the web:

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Dutch Popstar Esmée Denters Covers Stevie Wonder on Billboard.com

Esmée Denters is an artist that I wish would catch on here in the States. She's the uber-talented Dutch popstar who caught the attention of Justin Timberlake, who went on to sign her to his new label Tennman Records (via Interscope). Looks like she's finally catching attention of the mainstream U.S. media, being featured in this weeks edition of Mashup Monday on Billboard.com. Singing a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1977 single "As." Denters shows off her pipes in a stripped down performance of Wonder's song.

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Sarah McLachlan all about 'Forgiveness' with Release of Second Single

For all I say AGAINST ballads, there are certain singers who are right at home singing a ballad. One of those singers is Sarah McLachlan. "Angel," "Adia," "Fallen," - the majority of the singles she's released have been ballads and that's fine. Sarah McLachlan knows how to write AND sing a proper ballad and "Forgiveness" is no exception. Co-written by McLachlan and album producer Pierre Marchand, "Forgiveness" will be the second single off of McLachlan's 7th studio album, Laws of Illusion.  McLachlan's new album peaked on the Billboard 200 at #3 (having since fallen to #9), and while first single "Loving You Is Easy" failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, it DID debut at #28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart as well as hitting #38 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart.  "Forgiveness" is another Sarah McLachlan classic so here's hoping this one does well. Interesting that the single artwork for "Forgiveness" features the same autumnal color palette as "Loving You Is Easy."  Listen to the single below. It will be released July 13th.

Check out Sarah McLachlan on the web:

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Hot Video Alert: The Pipettes - Call Me

The new single from UK pop/rock duo The Pipettes is called "Call Me" and it's a jolly good time. Up-tempo and dancey, the song has a fantastic retro-sound to it that I think has always worked for the group.  While "RETRO" in this case might mean the 80s, it doesn't sound super cheesy rather it's an updated, modern 80s sound. Despite various lineup changes, the group seems to work as a duo. The video is bright and cheerful with colors that POP, not to mention Gwenno and Ani Saunders looking beautiful. The single will be released on July 19th via Fortuna Pop! Records, followed by their album, Earth vs. The Pipettes, this fall.  Make sure you check out their super fabulous previous single "Stop The Music" if you haven't already.

CD Promo Tracklisting:

Call Me

My Heart's A Bomb

Over Heels

Call Me (Operator Please Remix)
Call Me (Radio Edit)

Check out The Pipettes on the web:

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Hot Video Alert: Matthew P - Gilly

The video for Matthew P's single "Gilly" is now available to watch OUTSIDE of the UK! So glad about that. What a cute video. The video features the UK singer/songwriter endlessly waiting around in a diner for a girl named Gilly. The patrons of the diner become both the artist's band AND backup singers, as Matthew P continues to wait for this mystery woman who never shoes. I continue to be impressed by this guy and I continue to hope that he releases his material here in the U.S. "Gilly" is released via Fiction Records/Polydor on July 23rd.

Checkout Matthew P on the web:

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Hot Video Alert - Lee Ryan - I Am Who I Am

Poor Lee Ryan. His new video sees him beat up and I fear that he may take a beating on the charts as well. YAWN - "I Am Who I Am" is a snoozer of a single if I ever heard one. The song itself is sung well and Ryan looks ridiculously hot but who is buying this shit? fans of Ryan's old boy band Blue? Middle aged women? I guess there IS a market for this type of music, more so in the UK than in the US but my lord...what a bore! To think that the release of "Secret Love" was scrapped to make way for THIS? Granted, "Secret Love" wasn't anything amazing either but at least it's more entertaining than this rehashed pop ballad (it was originally performed by Ben's Brother). Ok Ok, it's been established...I'm not a huge fan of soapy/sudsy ballads but I don't understand where all the praise is coming from. Here's hoping that remixes from the Buzz Junkies and Alex Says lift me from the downer of a mood this song has put me in. The single was released in the UK on July 4th.

Check out Lee Ryan on the web:

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