Drum & Bass Master Roni Size Remixes Lauren Pritchard

I've been gradually falling head over heals in love with the musical stylings of Lauren Pritchard since I heard her new single, "Painkillers" last month.  The single, which came out in the UK July 19th has been treated to a variety of remixed interpretations, all of them interesting and unique.  The latest remix to surface premiered late last month on Radio 1Xtra.  MistaJam premiered a new mix by none other than the Drum & Bass master Roni Size.  The remix which features a guest appearance by rapper Talib Kweli is available to download for free if you click HERE.  "The soulful bass driven reworking...was a huge hit with MistaJam's listeners," and for good reason. It's a dope remix! Check it out below and download it if you like!  U.S. fans can download her EP, The Jackson Sessions now on iTunes, released through Spilt Milk/Universal Music/Island Records.  The "Painkillers" music video is also available to download.

Check out Lauren Pritchard on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter

Free Download: Kirsten Price - With Or Without You, Album Due in September

Kirsten Price is DEFINITELY one to keep your eye out for.  The British singer/songwriter is about set to release her self-produced album, Brixton To Brooklyn on September 7th through indie label KPI, Inc. Lead by first single, "With Or Without You" the 9-track album is full of slick pop/rock/R&B tracks sure to get your blood pumping (much like her sexy single artwork above) and body moving. Her album strikes a nice balance with mid and up-tempo numbers as well as the occasional ballad. Price has the perfect pop voice.  A little rough around the edges, Price has this sexy, raspy quality to her voice that adds a certain something-something to each song.   As gorgeous as she is, she really proves here that she's not just another pretty face.  This girl really can sing.

Kirsten Price shoots 'With Or Without You' music video/Photo by Kevin Beaty

Released on August 2nd, first single, "With Or Without You," will be accompanied by a recently-wrapped music video, shot in Los Angeles. The song speaks of "the delicious push and pull of a toxic relationship." Echoing that sentiment, the video tackles "the lowest common denominator in our culture...sex and violence." Sounds hot.  Price isn't a newcomer to the music scene, in fact a single from her last album Guts & Garbage called "Magic Tree" was featured on L Tunes: Music From and Inspired By 'The L Word.'  and digitally released by Sony. Price releases her new album on KPI, Inc this Fall.  Look out for the "With Or Without You" music video, coming soon.

Tracklisting:

1.  With Or Without You

2.  Keep Moving

3.  Give That Girl

4.  Broken

5.  Take Me To The Top

6.  Gone

7.  Let Your Light Shine

8.  One More Time

9.  Press That Button

For a limited time only you can download the single HERE on Music Is My King Size Bed.  If you miss your window, the song is also available to download on iTunes.

Check out Kirsten Price on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Jamelia Inks Deal With AATW, Gets Ready To Release New Single and Video

This makes me happy. One of my favorite UK imports, Jamelia is about to bust back onto the scene for the first time in 3 years after signing a new record deal with All Around The World (N-Dubz, Cascada, September) (via The Sun).  The UK singer/songwriter signed the new deal live on UStream, in front of her management team and her two kids.  "Obviously this is really really exciting for me," she said. "Let the games begin!" (via Digital Spy) This is great news! While UK-based All Around The World does typically release more dance/pop they do have N-Dubz on their roster and have worked with Ice Cube and Coolio in the past, so it's hard to tell which direction Jamelia is going in on the next record.  Back in 2009, Digital Spy asked her about her new sound.  "It's still pop-R&B, but I'd say I've definitely gone back to my more R&B days."  I CAN'T WAIT!

I first discovered Jamelia after picking up Now That's What I Call Music! 56, where I listened to "Superstar" for the first time.  After hearing her next two singles, "Thank You" and "See It In A Boy's Eyes" I was pretty much sold.  While Jamelia's first record, 2000's Drama, was more R&B-influenced, (listen to her top 5 hit "Money," featuring Beenie Man) her next album, 2003's Thank You was more of a pop/R&B hybrid.    Four singles from Thank You managed to peak within the Top Ten ("Superstar," "Thank You," "See It In A Boy's Eyes," and double A-Side "DJ"/"Stop"), which is pretty impressive.  By the time Jamelia released Walk With Me in 2006 I was already on the Jamelia train.  While "Something About You" and "Beware Of The Dog" managed to hit the #9 and #10 spots respectively, third single "No More" barely scraped by the Top 50 and it seemed like the beginning of the end.  Sure enough, Jamelia parted ways with her long time label, EMI shortly thereafter.  Talking about her split with Metro back in June, Jamelia says things are amicable.  "Me and EMI weren't in love any more. I still speak to everyone at the label, they're still my friends, it's just one of those things."  Everything happens for a reason and right now Jamelia is forging ahead with her career, telling Metro that the first single is ready to go and that a video shoot would happen once the ink dried on her new record deal.  It's been FAR too long since we've heard anything from the Jamelia camp so here's to a speedy return!

Check out Jamelia on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Twitter

Good Charlotte Sign To Capitol Records, New Album Due In October

Like country, rock music is a bit of a mixed bag for me.  I like some of it but not all of it.  Good Charlotte definitely fall on the "like some of it" end of the spectrum.  I'm not entirely sure why the band left their old label, Epic and signed with Capitol but I can only assume that there was a good reason.  Their last three albums landed them in the Top Ten on the Billboard 200 chart, with second album The Chronicles of Life and Death peaking at #3.  Sure, the band has NEVER seen one of it's singles chart higher than "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous" back in 2002 when it hit #20 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The band even hit the top ten on the Alternative charts with "The Anthem," part of their Top Ten hit album The Young and the Hopeless. Maybe the boys (Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Billy Martin, Paul Thomas and Dean Butterworth) just wanted to switch it up for their fifth studio album, titled Cardiology.

Cardiology is set to be released on Capitol October 26th, nearly 10 years after the release of their self-titled debut.  Now that's a SOLID career in the music industry!  The pop-punk band formed in Waldorf, Maryland back in 1996 with Joel Madden on vocals, his brother Benji Madden on guitar, Billy Martin (joined in 1998) on guitar, bassist Paul Thomas and Aaron Escolopio on drums.  Over the years, of course there's been some lineup changes, most recently with the addition of Dean Butterworth on drums, but the band has managed to consistently bang out quality tunes.  Good Charlotte has sold over 10 million records to date, an impressive feat for any artist.  What I respect most about the band is it's ability to change with the times, reinventing it's sound time and time again.  The versatile band has opened for R&B/pop star Justin Timberlake, worked with Jamaican R&B artist Sean Kingston as well as collaborated with Avenged Sevenfold members M. Shadows and Synyster Gates for "The River."  The boys even released a remix album which contained a variety of rock, pop and electro-remixes of some of their biggest hits, both commercially and amongst their fans.  I love any artist willing to experiment with his or her own sound, even if it means straying away from the commercially acceptable.  Good Charlotte is a great example of a band that's willing to take creative licenses with their own music, shoot for the moon and not care where it lands on the charts.  The band is clearly in it for their fans and that really comes through in their music.
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Hot Video Alert: Sky Sailing - Brielle

If you think Sky Sailing sounds similar to Owl City...there's a reason for that.  There's a common denominator called Adam Young. Sky Sailing is Adam Young, just like Owl City is Adam Young.

An Airplane Carried Me To Bed is the 'debut' album from Sky Sailing and was actually written and recorded long before Owl City every came to fruition.  Released by Young's label Universal as an afterthought, likely in an effort to bank on the success of Owl City, Sky Sailing is the acousti-pop version of Owl City.  If Owl City was stripped down, you'd have Sky Sailing.  This is actually a smart idea if you think about it.  Given the runaway success of "Fireflies," I don't blame the label for trying to milk Young for all he's worth.  As feel goody and saccharine as his songwriting style might be, he's got a certain amount of charm.  Young's vocal style just draws you in.   Sky Sailing is the perfect adult contemporary compromise.  For the crowd that thought Owl City was TOO dancey for their liking, Sky Sailing satisfies.  An Airplane Carried Me To Bed is out now.

Check out Sky Sailing on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Singer/Songwriter Paula Cole To Release 'Ithaca' Next Month

It's hard to believe that singer/songwriter Paula Cole hasn't had a charting single since 1999, but that's the truth.  her last charting single was 1999's "I Believe In Love" off of her album Amen. Granted, #112 isn't anything spectacular, considering "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone" hit #8 and "I Don't Want To Wait" peaked at #11 but still. Where has this talented lady been hiding?  Ok, OK. This isn't really a fair assessment. Just because she hasn't appeared on the pop charts, does NOT mean she hasn't been busy.  After releasing Amen, Cole went on a nearly decade-long hiatus from music before coming back with 2007's Courage.  Courage saw Cole pursue a different musical style than fans might have been used to, going in a decidedly more jazzy-folk sound.  Courage was also Cole's Decca/Universal debut, and while it only managed to peak at #163 her label didn't drop her.

Now, three years later Paula Cole is getting ready to release a new album on Decca/Universal.  Called Ithaca, the album, Cole's fifth, was written entirely by Cole (with the exception one song, which she co-wrote with Kevin Barry).  Ithaca was produced by Kevin Killen who previously worked with Cole on her debut, Harbinger.  What's the new record about?  Well, according to Cole in a Washington Post interview last year, the new album "represents that inner fortitude and the journey I’ve been on."

"Cole takes listeners on an intensely emotional, yet uplifting journey through divorce (“The Hard Way,” “P.R.E.N.U.P”) and the struggle to recover one’s identity (“Elegy,” “Waiting on a Miracle”) before allowing herself to revel in the healing, redemptive power of new love (“Sex,” “Come on Inside”). Along the way, she acknowledges being torn between work and her daughter (“Somethin’ I’ve Gotta Say”), and ultimately celebrates having music to get her through it all (“Music In Me”).

I'm really interested to hear Cole's new material.  It's been FAR too long since she's graced us with her presence.  Ithaca is due out on September 21st.  The first single, titled "Music In Me" will be released on August 17th.

Tracklisting:

1. The Hard Way
2. P.R.E.N.U.P.
3. Music in Me
4. Elegy
5. Come on Inside
6. Waiting on a Miracle
7. Violet Eyes
8. Somethin' I’ve Gotta Say
9. Sex
10. 2 Lifetimes

Check out Paula Cole on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook

The Script Are Hands On with 'Science & Faith' Artwork Campaign

I'm still not INSANELY loving the new single from The Script but it might be growing on me a little bit. "For The First Time" is like a decent album track, maybe not so much singleworthy. It's safe. Plain and simple. It's got a nice melody. Nothing complex or even beautiful. It's just NICE. The boys from Ireland tweeted a picture of their single artwork the other day, as they get ready to release their new album, Science & Faith on September 10th, preceded by the single on September 5th. Shortly after the official album artwork also became available...and...I'm sensing a theme here. Let's see if you catch my drift.  Check out the album art and tracklisting below.  Science & Faith will be the boys' second album, following their tremendously successful self titled debut.  Don't get me wrong. I love these guys, I'm just holding out for a stronger second single.

Tracklisting:

1. You Won't Feel a Thing
2. For the First Time
3. Nothing
4. Science and Faith
5. If You Ever Come Back
6. Long Gone and Moved On
7. Deadman Walking
8. This is Love
9. Walk Away
10. Exit Wounds
11. Bullet From A Gun

Check out The Script on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Hot Video Alert: Alex Gardner - Feeling Fine

Why hasn't Alex Gardner taken off yet? His first single, the FABULOUS "I'm Not Mad" peaked at #44 on the UK Singles Chart and #20 in his native Scotland. Alex Gardner is fresh-faced and mega-talented. I can't help but wonder if this whole dance/pop direction just isn't working for him? As versatile as his voice may be, Jamie Cullum-style pop/rock/jazz seems to be more his strongsuit.  He's being called the next George Michael for God's sake! Sure, he has the pop powerhouse production team that is Xenomania (Kylie Minogue, Sugababes, Girls Aloud) behind him but listen to his voice! He's INSANELY good!

It seems like he's being primed for dance/pop chart success but this formula clearly isn't working, one single in, anyway. His voice shouldn't be covered up by all of this production. I feel like "I'm Not Mad" was sort of straddling a line but NEW single, "Feeling Fine" (due out September 27th in the UK) crosses into OVERPRODUCED territory, bordering on blatant musical trickery! Auto tune? WHY is that necessary? That being said, when Gardner's voice DOES come through it sounds great. I honestly just think this is a case of a label forcing a singer to sing the wrong genre of music. Here's hoping "Feeling Fine" charts better than his previous effort. Alex Gardner more than enough talent to become a house hold name.

Check out Alex Gardner on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Hot Video Alert: Sugarland - Stuck Like Glue

Country music and I have a love hate relationship.  To put it simply...I love some country music, and hate other country music. Simple.  Let's go ahead and file Sugarland in the "love" category, ESPECIALLY after having seen the video for "Stuck Like Glue." How cute is Jennifer Nettles? Even playing a crazy, insane stalker lady...Jennifer Nettles is just so much fun to watch!  The Declan Whitebloom-directed video starts out all innocently with Nettles in the front seat singing, Kristian Bush sitting in the backseat playing the guitar.  Then she whips out some photos of this hot model guy. Come to find out, they're parked outside of his house.

"Stuck Like Glue" was released on July 23rd and is the first single off The Incredible Machine, due out on October 19th on Mercury Nashville.  The song debuted at #44 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of August 7, 2010, then the following week, debuted at #20 on Billboard Hot 100. This bodes well for the duo's next album. Sugarland may just be the group that gets me on the country music bandwagon once again.

Check out Sugarland on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

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