[Hot Video Alert] Paloma Faith - 30 Minute Love Affair

Given my considerable absence from my blog, it's only fitting that I would choose to come back with a post about one of my favorite British imports, Paloma Faith.  On August 12th, twenty-six year old Faith will release her second single, the lush synthpop swooner, reminiscent of early Cyndi Lauper.  Taken from Paloma Faith's sophomore album, Fall To Grace, "30 Minute Love Affair" follows the chart success of lead single, "Picking Up The Pieces," which went on to debut at #7, Faith's highest charting single to date. The album itself, produced by the masterful Nelle Hooper, debuted at #2, a vast improvement from the #9 debut of her first album three years prior. The album remained in the Top 10 Album Charts for weeks after it's release and still sits in the Top 20 to this day. So much for that dreaded sophomore slump, eh Paloma?

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[Album Review] Paloma Faith - Fall To Grace

"Excited" doesn't even BEGIN to describe my feelings surrounding Paloma Faith's new album, Fall To Grace, out May 28th via RCA Records.  Ever since hearing her retro-steeped debut single, "Stone Cold Sober," I've been obsessing over this mega-talented 26 year old from London, wondering why the rest of the world wasn't equally as obsessed.  By the time her second single came out, I was hell bent on spreading the Paloma Faith gospel as far as my little music blog could take it.  Now, with a brilliant new album out in a couple of weeks, it's time for me to work my "magic" once again.

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Hot Video Alert: Cal Ecker - I Will Love You

Cal Ecker is a handsome young singer/songwriter hailing from the Land of 10,000 Lakes (AKA Minnesota).  Now, based in Nashville, TN, Ecker is making star crossed lovers out of anybody and everybody with his beautiful debut single "I Will Love You."  Cliche title aside, "I Will Love You" is a powerhouse showing for newcomer Ecker, who's style and tone call to mind a bevvy of internationally renowned talent, including Jon Bon Jovi, James Blunt, Lifehouse, Brandon Flowers and others.  While such comparisons are indeed flattering, Ecker definitely has what it takes to stand on his own two feet in such a crowded industry.  Not only does Ecker have a buttery, melt-your-soul voice but combine it with his bad boy sex appeal and you've got enough to make the ladies swoon and the guys jealous.

A former NCAA Division 1 basketball player, music has always been a part of Ecker's life.  Starting out singing Christian music in church bands, the young talent really had the urge to join a band after his college athletic career ended.  Playing the cover band circuit for a while, Ecker eventually found himself front man of his own band, performing all over the Midwest.  While the Midwest is a great jump off point for an artist, it's not necessarily the land of discovery and opportunity for up and coming musicians.  So naturally, Ecker packed up and moved to Nashville to make his pipe dreams into real dreams.

"I Will Love You," the first single lifted off Cal Ecker's forthcoming debut EP (due September 20th), was written about a girl but thinks that the message is universal.  Just someone trying to catch another someones attention.  Produced by Aaron Johnson (The Fray), Ecker's debut features everything that you'd come to expect from a singer/songwriter these days plus a little something extra.  Soulful vocals, edged with grit (thanks to Ecker's gravelly rocker tone) plus melodies and hooks for days and days.  Look out for Cal Ecker's debut EP coming September 20th and download "I Will Love You" on U.S. iTunes HERE.  Oh and make sure you catch the sexy video below and watch Ecker get wet and wild with a piano in the ocean. Also worth a listen? This ROCKIN' cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time." Check it out HERE!

Check out Cal Ecker on the web:

Official Site//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Cyndi Lauper Performs 'Just Your Fool' on Celebrity Apprentice Finale

When I learned that Cyndi Lauper was going to be on Celebrity Apprentice this past season, how could I NOT watch? I loved watching the regular version of The Apprentice since Omarosa was on (and am secretly pumped that it's coming back!) and I watched the first season of it's celeb-reality counterpart. While Cyndi was made to look like a basket case on the show, she was still the highlight for me. Check out Cyn in her element on the Celebrity Apprentice Season Finale, singing her new singing "Just Your Fool." She looks and sounds incredible. Thanks to Pop In Stereo for the video clip!

Check out Cyndi Lauper on the web:

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

Cyndi Lauper is 'Just Your Fool' - New Single Artwork Unveiled

Thanks to my friend over on Pop In Stereo for posting the single artwork for Cyndi Lauper's new single "Just Your Fool," due for release on May 18th. "Just Your Fool" is the first single off her upcoming new album, Memphis Blues (out June 22nd). I'm loving this artwork campaign. Cyndi looks amazing. Check out Pop In Stereo and listen to an album track, "Early In The Mornin'." Wow. Cyndi really is workin' this bluesy sound and I kind of love it. She has the perfect voice for it. Can't wait for the new album! In other news, Cyndi Lauper was the latest firee on Celebrity Apprentice this past weekend. Kinda sad about that, but apparently a new reality show is in the works for the star. She always lands on her feet in the end.

Check out Cyndi Lauper on the web:

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

Cyndi Lauper Unveils Album Artwork For 'Memphis Blues'

Hey guys. Long delay again. I'm sorry. Had a bit of a "breakdown" re: blogging. Wasn't sure I wanted to come back to it. I just don't know how many people actually READ my blog...but in the end, I'm writing about the music and artists I love so here we go again.

Tracklisting:

1. Just Your Fool
2. Shattered Dreams
3. Early In The Mornin (Feat. Allen Toussaint and B.B. King)
4. Romance In The Dark
5. How Blue Can You Get? (Feat. Jonny Lang)
6. Down Don’t Bother Me (Feat. Charlie Musselwhite)
7. Don’t Cry No More
8. Rollin and Tumblin
9. Down So Low
10. Mother Earth (Feat. Allen Toussaint)
11. Crossroads (Feat. Jonny Lang)

Over on the Pop In Stereo blog (formerly Music Fascination) you can see the new Cyndi Lauper album artwork, for her forthcoming release - Memphis Blues, due out on June 22nd. This album will be Lauper's eleventh studio album and first with Downtown Records (Miike Snow, Diplo, Mos Def, Kid Sister), which is distributed by Universal and Atlantic Records.

While I think Lauper has a fabulous voice and will sound fabulous singin' the blues, I REALLY loved her last album, 2008's Bring Ya To The Brink. Oh well. The party can't last forever. I just hope that we get some club remixes! While we're waiting for the new album we have Cyndi on this season of the Celebrity Apprentice. She comes across as a wack-a-doo but SO entertaining and passionate about her GLBT charity, The True Colors Fund. Tune in if you get a chance.

Check out Cyndi Lauper on the web:

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

My Weekly Last FM Chart

So, since I rarely listen to the same track more than...2 - 3 times on average. Sure...there are the occasional tracks that really grab a hold of me (i.e. - "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)," "Je Suis Une Dolly") but for the most part I like to change things up. With that being said, I'm going to just post my top listened to artists each week. Perhaps I'll do top listened to tracks once a month? Perhaps not. Here it goes...my most listened to artists for the past week, according to Last FM.

Most Listened To Artists:

1. Sugababes

2. Ray LaMontagne

3. Jordin Sparks

4. Billie Piper

5. Noisettes

6. Elliott Yamin

7. Alesha Dixon

8. Kelly Clarkson

9. Kylie Minogue

10. Cyndi Lauper

Will you look at that? All of my girls, right there in my Top Ten. And then there's Ray LaMontagne. This weeks chart is indicative of the music I was feeling this past week. With life as hectic and stressful as it is, I lost myself in my work and my music. To help get me through the day, I need up-tempo, driving dance beats that both cheer me up and keep me energized. At the same time, those days that I am exhausted, beat down or just hung over...I need to slow down the pace and put on music that helps me relax. Looking at this chart, we cover all of our bases.

On the up-tempo side, we have the Sugababes, Kylie Minogue, Cyndi Lauper and Alesha Dixon...and to slow things down we have Ray LaMontagne, Elliott Yamin and to an extent, Jordin Sparks. We also have some artists that strike the perfect balance of the two - artists like the Noisettes, Billie Piper, and Kelly Clarkson. Speaking of Billie Piper...I wish she'd consider a return to music...I love her to death in Secret Diary of a Call Girl, but I ADORE her pop hits of the late 90s/2000s. Pure pop brilliance. Like honey to the bee.

New Cyndi Lauper Remix Album in the Works

Woohoo! I'm excited! ArjanWrites has posted the tracklisting for a new remix album that Cyndi Lauper plans on releasing in February. According to Wikipedia, the album is called Floor Remixes and it comes out on February 18th, but I've learned not to trust Wikipedia as a reliable source all of the time. Anyway, here's the tracklisting:

1. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun/Set Your Heart – Remix by Rich Morel
   
2. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun/Set Your Heart - Mashup Remix by Rich Morel
   
3. Set Your Heart – FreedomBunch Remix　
4. Time After Time - FreedomBunch Remix
   
5. Same Ol’ Story - Extended Mix by Rich Morel
   
6. Same Ol’ Story - Pink Noise Mix by Rich Morel
7. True Colours - Ukawanimation Mix 　
8. Into The Nightlife - FreedomBunch Mix
   
9. Into The Nightlife - Soul Seekerz Club Mix Dub
   
10. High And Mighty – Tom Novy Remix
    
11. Echo - Remix
    
12. True Colors - Ukawanimation! Ocarina Mega-Mix

Thoughts? It's definitely an interesting tracklisting...including the newish Girls Just Wanna Have Fun/Set Your Heart that was part of her recent live EP. She apparently released a music video for the track which is interesting...it kind of seems like a live performance but not really. Check it out here. I'm not really feeling it but at least Cyndi looks good. Back to the tracklisting...I'm not sure who FreedomBunch is or Ukawanimation, so those mixes should be interesting to hear. The Soul Seekerz mix of "Into The Nightlife" and the Rich Morel mixes of "Same Ol' Story" have been out for a while (at least they were sent out on various promos). The Tom Novy mix I'm excited about, same with the remix for "Echo," though I'd love to find out who it's by. Overall I'm pumped. I loved her Bring Ya To The Brink album and I'm happy it was nominated for a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. Watch the Grammy's on February 8th to see of Cyndi wins! - Photos Via Cyndi Lauper's Official Site

P.S. - Saw Kelly's video online for "My Life Would Suck Without You." It's uber-tacky but cute. Kel looks great! Also, looks like it's officially official - as of right now, Danity Kane is no more. Dawn Richard confirmed it on MTV News. Sad, but it's not like we didn't know this was coming.

Quintessential Summer Music

So the summer is starting to heat up...in Boston this past weekend it's been humid and in the 90s. The summer music scene is also starting to heat up. I'm going to give you (in my opinion) the QUINTESSENTIAL summer album, single & remix.

QUINTESSENTIAL SUMMER ALBUM: Cyndi Lauper - Bring Ya To The Brink

Cyndi's back with her first album of original material in a few years and she's bringin' this one to the dance floor! Her first CLUB-ORIENTED album, she is catering to her audience. Cyndi has always had a pretty substantial gay following, so it was only a matter of time before this happened. Let me tell you...TOTALLY worth the wait. This album is filled with jam after jam. With songs written & produced by today's hottest names in dance/electronic music (Scumfrog, Digital Dog, Morel, Kleerup, Basement Jaxx, Dragonette, Axwell, etc.) this album is pure summer joy! Fav Tracks: Echo, Into The Nightlife, Set Your Heart, Raging Storm, Same Ol' Story, Give It Up, Grab A Hold

QUINTESSENTIAL SUMMER SINGLE: Lady GaGa ft. Colby O'Donis - Just Dance

Wow. Where did she come from? Lady GaGa, according to AllMusic.com, is a dance-pop singer/songwriter/pianist from New York, who before signing to Interscope Records as a recording artist, had a substantial following in the New York City underground club scene. Originally employed by Interscope as a songwriter, where she penned tracks for the Pussycat Dolls, among other acts, she then decided to pursue a solo career. Just Dance is her debut single and MAN it's a hot one. The song is already making the rounds on television, having appeared in an episode of hot summer show, "So You Think You Can Dance." Produced by Swedish/Moroccan producer/writer, RedOne (Robyn, Kat DeLuna) this jam is going to explode!

QUINTESSENTIAL SUMMER REMIX: Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl (Jason Nevins Remix)

Now this is likely to change, as I am constantly coming in contact with hot remixes...however at the moment, I can't stop listening to Jason Nevins' recent remix of Katy Perry's hot new single, I Kissed A Girl. Produced by Dr. Luke (Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Lil'Mama) this has JAM written all over it. I'm looking forward to hearing about other remixes--including one by Anthony Attalla & up-and-comer, Retrobyte. Katy Perry's new album "One Of The Boys, is out on June 17th.