La Roux Previews 'Gold Edition' on MySpace, Available to Download February 8th

Amping up for the release of their Gold Edition album, La Roux and their label, Cherrytree Records have been kind enough to grant fans a sneak peak/listen of the new release on MySpace Music. The Gold Edition features acoustic tracks, remixes, b-sides and other good stuff from the popular electro-pop group's debut self-titled album. La Roux peaked at #2 on the UK Albums Chart and at #70 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album spawned two #1 dance hits in America ("In For The Kill," & "Bulletproof" and one Top Ten Hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Bulletproof."

Check out the Gold Edition tracklisting below and listen to it while you can. The album goes on sale February 8th on iTunes and Amazon, at which point the free preview will be taken down. La Roux are currently at work on their sophomore album which is said to be "less mainstream" than their debut {SOURCE}.  The new record will also see frontwoman, Elly Jackson, experimenting with the full range of her voice, not just her falsetto {SOURCE}. La Roux is currently nominated for two 2011 Grammy Awards - one for 'Best Dance Recording' for "In For The Kill" and one for 'Best Electronic/Dance Album' for their first record.  The Grammy's air February 13th on CBS.

Tracklisting:

1. "In For The Kill"

2. "Finally My Saviour"

3. "Under My Thumb"

4. "I'm Not Your Toy" (Jack Beats Remix)

5. "In For The Kill" (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix)

6. "Quicksand" (Boy 8 Bit Remix)

7. "Bulletproof" (Zinc Remix)

8. "Tigerlily" (Demo Version)

9. "Bulletproof" (Intimate Session at Abbey Road)

10. "In For The Kill" (VEVO Lounge Version)

Check out La Roux on the web:

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

Hot Video Alert: Tinie Tempah - Pass Out (Live on Jimmy Kimmel Live)

In cased you missed it, here's UK hip-hop star Tinie Tempah making his U.S. television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live, dazzling the audience with his #1 hit record "Pass Out." The performance was FULL of energy, as I expected it to be. "Pass Out" is currently available to download on U.S. iTunes (HERE) and it's the first single taken off his forthcoming American debut, Disc-Overy, due out May 3rd on Capitol Records. You can also check out Tinie closing out the show with a performance of "Frisky," his Labrinth-assisted second UK single HERE. Tinie will be gracing Coachella for the first time this April, preceded by a U.S. tour. Stay tuned for details!

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Countdown to "Hold It Against Me" Video Premiere Continues...

12 days and counting till Britney Spears unveils the music video for new single "Hold It Against Me" on Friday, February 18th. Britney, via Twitter, teases us yet again with the release of the 2nd video teaser this afternoon. While it's ONE SECOND longer than Teaser #1, it's still amazing. Check out that SWEET "microphone wreath" (well described MuuMuse). It appears that director Jonas Åkerlund may have out done himself with this video. Time will tell...twelve days time to be exact. Download "Hold It Against Me" on iTunes HERE. Britney's 7th album, Femme Fatale is due out in March on Jive.

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Hot Video Alert: Neon Hitch - Get Over U

I first heard about Neon Hitch a few years back when she was releasing stuff through her MySpace. Then - last year - Ke$ha started making waves. When I saw Hitch's name appear on the writing credits for Ke$ha's second single, the 3OH!3-assisted "Blah Blah Blah," and it all came back to me. Looks like Neon Hitch has been keeping busy after all.

Hearing the news that Hitch is hard at work on her debut album is beyond exciting, especially given the kind of life she's had so far. Growing up in south England, Hitch's family became gypsies (a la Snatch, minus the criminal activities) after their house burned down. After traipsing around Europe with her family, Hitch ran away to India for a while, immersing herself in the culture there before eventually settling back in London and honing her musical talents. Hitch's big break came when she signed to Mike Skinner's of The Streets) label, The Beats and later touring with Skinner and the band. While signed with The Beats Neon Hitch toured with the likes of Neneh Cherry, Professor Green and even opened for 50 Cent before The Beats closed up shop in 2007. Shortly after, Hitch met her soon-to-be manager, James Johnson of Pilot Creative Services Inc. and she was off to New York City to make a name for herself as a singer/songwriter.

"Somehow my insane ambitions brought me to New York where i met my manager 'James Johnson' and his producer 'Benny Blanco' and decided there was no one better to do my album with..." {SOURCE}

After signing with Johnson, Hitch quickly landed a publishing deal with EMI and has since worked with the likes of Ke$ha, Imogen Heap, Mike Posner, 3OH!3, Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo, Cathy Dennis, Greg Kurstin, Ryan Tedder, Rivers Coumo, David Brook and Sky Ferreira to name only a few. Now that Neon Hitch has proven to be ace at writing for other people, it was time for her to develop her own sound as a recording artist, signing with Kara DioGuardi at Warner Brothers after a writing session.

Currently working on her debut album, Beg Borrow and Steal, due out on Warner Brothers sometime in 2011, her brilliant single, "Get Over U" should be out soon as well. The song is a beautiful electro pop number with an infectious chorus that really highlights Hitch's vocal abilities perfectly - in other words, GIRL CAN SING! Taking place in a gypsy camp, the video seems to be borrowing from elements of Hitch's colorful past. Starting out with Hitch fleeing a seemingly abusive relationship, she finds solace with a gypsy fortune teller, who helps put her past behind her and move on. Hitch sounds AND looks beautiful in this video. I can only imagine what she has in store for us on her debut album. I can't wait to hear it! Check out the video for "Get Over U" below.

Check out Neon Hitch on the web:

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Britney Spears to Release 'Premium Fan Edition' of New Album, Premieres First Clip of New Music Video

Britney Spears is already milking her fans for all their worth with the announcement of a 'PREMIUM FAN EDITION' of her upcoming 7th studio album, Femme Fatale (pre-order it HERE). The album, which is SUPPOSEDLY scheduled to drop on March 15th, features the hit single "Hold It Against Me" and was already on my list. Now, with this 'Premium Fan Edition' dangling in front of me for $75.00 dollars I don't know what to do anymore.

I'm not usually one for gimmicks but this release does seem pretty sweet. It comes with a 32-page hardcover photo book, a deluxe album CD with EXCLUSIVE artwork, a 7" vinyl picture disc (A-Side, "Hold It Against Me," B-Side Instrumental) AND a deluxe album digital download on the release date (since the special edition won't be arriving for a week). Not only that but fans will get an instant MP3 download of the single "Hold It Against Me," which lets be honest is bullshit since her fans already downloaded it the day it came out. Oh well. While this is obviously a marketing scheme designed to get Brit Brit fans to drop boat loads of money, it's a smart one because Jive knows that fans WILL. It's still undecided if THIS FAN will be spending the $75.00.  Don't hold it against me...

In other news, Brit surprised fans with a little 5 second teaser clip of the new Jonas Åkerlund-directed music video for "Hold It Against Me" which appears to be premiering next Friday. Brit tweeted the clip yesterday, February 4th:

@britneyspears: 14 days, 14 teasers, 1 World Premiere of #HIAM http://bit.ly/h43NCI -Britney

Amazing! While 5 seconds is not NEARLY enough time to make any sort of assessment, it looks like it's gonna be hot.  Check out the clip below.

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Melanie C Collaborating with DJ Jodie Harsh on New Dance Record

Well this is exciting news! Melanie C (AKA Melanie Chisholm) is planning a dance music comeback in 2011! Arguably the most talented, vocally, of the Spice Girls, Melanie C's last couple of albums have been more pop/rock than the material found on her debut, Northern Star.  Melanie C recently spoke with celebrity columnist Dean Piper at the InStyle Best of British Party, saying:

"We’re in the studio working now. Tomorrow, in fact. There’s a lots of writing and studio time booked in and the results are very exciting." {SOURCE}

While the new album appears to just be in the early planning stages, Mel C is already eying one collaborator - none other than the FABULOUS Drag Queen DJ Jodie Harsh.  Speaking of the collaboration, Chisholm sounds optimistic:

"Jodie’s got a good grasp of what I want to do and we’re hoping to return to the ‘I Turn To You’ days with some big dance hits." {SOURCE}

Um...YES! This sounds amazing to me. "I Turn To You" was Melanie C's last UK #1, back in 2000. The single went on to do well all over Europe and even landed at #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart, thanks to amazing remixes from the legendary Hex Hector and StoneBridge.

Since the release of Northern Star back in 1999, Mel C has released 3 more albums, none of them achieving the success of her debut. The last Top Ten single of Chisholm's career was "Next Best Superstar," the lead single off of her 3rd album back in 2005. Her last CD, 2007's This Time spawned only one real hit in the UK, her cover of "I Want Candy" by The Strangeloves, which went on to peak at #24. I think it's due time for a Mel C comeback, don't you?  Chisholm was signed to Virgin Records for two albums before parting ways and starting up her own label, Red Girl Records for 2005's Beatiful Intentions.  I'm DEFINITELY looking forward to some hot dance beats from Melanie C in 2011.  Check out the video BELOW for her dance classic, "I Turn To You," remixed by Hex Hextor.

Check out Melanie C on the web:

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