Hot Video Alert: Straight No Chaser - Tainted Love

These guys are the KINGS OF CHEESE and I love them for it. The new video for the Atlantic Records-Acapella group Straight No Chaser 's version of Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" was recently released.  It was filmed at Harrah's Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ where the boys start there 2 month residency in July. The video's got lots of footage of the boys hamming it up at Harrahs as well as some cool footage of them performing the track on the mainstage.  So looking forward to seeing them live in Boston on November 20th. Their album With A Twist is in stores now.  Happy Thursday!

My Weekly Last FM Chart

Once again I haven't been blogging much. It's not for a lack of motivation, or stuff to talk about...it's more a lack of time. I've had a busy past couple of weeks! Anyway...Last FM results from the past week...GO!


Most Listened To Artists:
1. Straight No Chaser

2. Kelly Clarkson

3. V.V. Brown

4. Calvin Harris

5. Wale

6. Paloma Faith

7. Robyn

8. Sam Sparro

9. Atomic Kitten

10. Shakira

It's funny how week after week, the majority of the artists that make it on my "Most Listened To" list are from (or at least popular in) the UK. What can I say...over in the UK they know how to do pop music. For a long time, mainstream American radio has been dominated by hip hop, R&B and country, leaving little room for the run-of-the-mill pop music that I love so dearly. Sure, there are exceptions...Natasha Bedingfield for instance, although her last album definitely crossed over into R&B territory with a couple of tracks.

I'm optimistic about the future of music in the U.S. right now as America embraces artists like Leona Lewis and Lady Gaga. Both are totally different types of artists, but both have done decent business on this side of the pond. Artists popular in the states are starting to experiment with electro beats, working with producers like RedOne. The only worry I have is that we're going to start getting cookie cutter pop songs. New artists, same song.

At any rate, with tons more UK acts crossing the pond this Fall and into next year, I'm over the moon! I'm so excited to watch America fall in love with so many of the singers/bands that I've been listening to for months and months.

My Weekly Last FM Chart

In following with last weeks format, I'll be doing my top 10 listened to artists of the past week, according to my Last FM Chart. Since I work at a desk job, music is really what keeps me going day-to-day. Here are the artists that kept me going this past week.

Most Listened To Artists:

1. Noisettes

2. Erika Jayne

3. Calvin Harris

4. Roisin Murphy

5. Straight No Chaser

6. The Saturdays

7. Natasha Bedingfield

8. Kelly Clarkson

9. V.V. Brown

10. Adele

This weeks chart, like last weeks, is female-dominated. What can I say? I typically prefer a female vocalist to a male. It's just the kind of music I prefer. On the whole, female vocalists have are more impressive to me. In the top position this past week are the Noisettes, mainly because of the concert I attended last Monday. I tend to listen to an artist before a show, as well as after the show. This helps both with blogging about the show as well as prolonging my enjoyment of said concert. Erika Jayne also sits pretty at #2, as I reviewed her album Pretty Mess. Calvin Harris was on my mind as his new album, Ready For The Weekend is out this week and Roisin Murphy, she is working on a brand new record (which I will talk about later). Straight No Chaser released their brilliant new A capella EP, Six Pack which I promptly snagged. As for The Saturdays, Natasha Bedingfield, V.V. Brown and Adele - I was just in the mood at some point during last week to listen to each of those artists and or groups.

New Album Art Wednesday!

You know me and album artwork by now. I'm obsessed with it. Need to have it. Here's a bunch of new stuff for you to scope out. Thanks mostly to Coverlandia.

Much to my surprise, iTunes was selling remixes for the new Blake Lewis single "Sad Song" this Tuesday. Featuring remixes by Jason Nevins, Pilotpriest, and Craig C, this is a pretty hot collection. It also features new album art with Blake actually in the photo. That makes it all better for me!

I've heard rumblings about Eva Simons but only just now did I actually listen to her debut single, "Silly Boy." Wow. It's hot! Apparently it's coming out in the U.S. on September 7th. Exciting indeed. The 25 year old Dutch singer first gained recognition in 2004 as part of the now defunct pop group Raffish - winners of the the Dutch version of Popstars. Now signed to EMI, she has her eyes on world domination with her sexy new single, first uploaded to YouTube in May of this year.

I was super excited when I heard that my favorite A Capella group, IU's own Straight No Chaser, was releasing a new EP. Well it's here! I guess I forgot...or thought that it was coming onto iTunes at the same time. I just didn't remember all the details. While it will eventually be released to iTunes I'm sure, right now it's being sold exclusively on the SNC official site. You have 3 options - "The Solo," which includes the EP in your choice of HQ digital file formats; "The Duet," which includes the HQ digital files AS WELL as the EP on a physical CD; finally, "The Trio" which includes everything from the first two options PLUS a free T-shirt. I chose "The Duet." I love it. So far my favorite is the boys' cover of The Script's beautiful "The Man Who Can't Be Moved." Stunning.

I don't know too much by Kid Cudi to be perfectly honest, with the exception of that bangin' club remix of "Day 'n' Night" with the Crookers. Regardless, from the interviews I've read and the other tracks that I've heard this is definitely going to be a hot album. Thanks to The Prophet for posting this album art.

I'm all for "world music." That being said, I'm more excited about the new Nelly Furtado English-language album (out 2010) than I am about her Spanish language album, Mi Plan (out September 15th) but I am definitely excited about ANYTHING Nelly Furtado. First single "Manos al Aire," and newer singles "Más" and the title track featuring Álex Cuba are all strong. I love Nelly's voice...PERIOD. I also am loving the Robbie Rivera remixes of "Manos al Aire" and can't wait to hear the Tiësto remixes that are forthcoming.

According to Coverlandia, this IS NOT CONFIRMED to be official...rather it's THOUGHT to be the official album artwork for the long awaited new English language Shakira album. I like it, whether it's fanmade or official. Shakira is looking fantastic these days. "She Wolf" is one of my favorite tracks of the summer so far and her album is looking like it will be one of my favorites of the fall. I know this will be a favorite because, working with RedOne, Pharell Williams, Wyclef and others AND because of the fact that she's admitted to having more of an electro sound this time around, how can this not be bomb? Tailor made for me.

New Straight No Chaser EP Out July 30, 2009!

Ahhhhh! So exciting. Back in October of last year I blogged about my favorite A Cappella group, SNC...otherwise known as Straight No Chaser. Being an Indiana University Alumn, I carry a certain sense of pride knowing that these guys walked the same campus that I did and knew some of the same people that I knew.

Since being signed to Atlantic Records, the boys have released a Christmas album last year, Holiday Spirits, performed on the Today Show, Fox & Friends and on TNT's Christmas in Washington. Not only that, but their holiday album became the #1 selling holiday album on both iTunes and Amazon.

While holiday music in the Spring, Summer and Fall normally is enough to drive me insane, I could listen to these boys all day, every day. That being said, I've been anxiously awaiting the

release of some new material. This past January saw the release of "Live Your Life & Flo With Whatever You Like," a slick A Cappella mashup of songs by T.I. & Flo Rida.

After hints of a full length album in the works, news of new material appeared on the official Facebook page and website today. On July 30, their new EP called "Six Pack" will be released including six brand new tracks:

1. Rehab (Amy Winehouse)
2. I'm Yours/Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Jason Mraz/Israel Kamakawiwo'ole)
3. The Man Who Can't Be Moved (The Script)
4. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours/I Was Made To Love Her (Stevie Wonder)
5. You Send Me (Sam Cooke)
6. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You (Lauryn Hill)

Now I know A Cappella isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if their hip-hop A Cappella stylings weren't enough to convert you, wait until you here some of these versions. You can listen to a sampler on both the group's MySpace and their official website.


I still melt while listening to their rendition of Toto's "Africa." The group also announced via video message that a 60 city U.S. tour is in the works. Dates/locations will be released on August 10th and tickets will go on sale August 14th. If they hit up Boston, I'll be there with some recently converted fans. I.U. Pride!

Check out Straight No Chaser on the web: Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//YouTube

New Straight No Chaser Track!

So I got an update on Facebook from the Straight No Chaser official FB group. Anytime a favorite artist or group releases a new song, I can't help but get excited. While this release isn't for download (yet), it's exciting nonetheless!

Photo via Straight No Chaser's Official MySpace Page/Credit: Andrew Zaeh

SNC is clearly trying to tie fans over until their next release which comes out later in 2009. It's important they keep up the momentum of their debut! Holiday Spirits, their first major label debut via Atlantic Records peaked at 46 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and has sold over 100,000 copies so far! That's a pretty big deal for a college a Capella group!

Obvious trying to appeal to the younger generations, SNC has released a T.I./Flo Rida medley (Atlantic label mates) on their MySpace page. Called "Live Your Life and Flo with Whatever You Like," this new track proves that the group can stay relevant and release music that's radio friendly according to today's standards. This only goes to show just how talented the group is and makes me so excited to hear what else they have to offer. Straight No Chaser definitely makes me proud to be an IU alum! Check this out and buy their Christmas album digitally or in stores!

Album Sleeve Art via Straight No Chaser Official MySpace Blog

Straight No Chaser - A Capella Group

I sang in the Jubilate Children's Choir when I was younger; I sang with the chorus in junior high, and I sang with a show choir in high school. I've always loved singing. When I was a student at Indiana University in Bloomington, I sang with the Singing Hoosiers, "America's Premiere Collegiate Concert Show Choir." I never thought I was anything special, but man did I love to sing. Well shit happened and I fell out of practice, started smoking and don't really have a voice at all anymore. That doesn't mean that I still don't enjoy singing and miss it.

While perusing through the new releases on iTunes this evening, I was happily surprised to find a new album by Straight No Chaser, this BEYOND fantastic men's a capella group from Indiana. I saw a few shows when I was a student and knew some guys in the group who were also in the Singing Hoosiers but seeing them on iTunes was so exciting! Holiday Spirits is their first album of a 5 record deal with Atlantic Records (AMAZING!), and even though it's Holiday music, something I have mixed feelings about, I instantly downloaded it (with the bonus tracks) and am SO glad I did.

These guys can SING. There's just something about QUALITY MALE VOCALISTS that makes me melt. Their voices are just so crystal clear and their diction so precise. The percussive elements the guys add to each song is amazing to listen to (and even more amazing to see live). The studio quality of this album is clearly top-notch but I highly recommend seeing them live. I can't wait to hear more from them and will DEFINITELY be purchasing future albums. I'm so excited about this record deal! HUGE DEAL here people. Well deserved.

Here's a little bit about them from the Atlantic Records official website:

"In April 2006, the unexpected happened – Indiana University decided to host a reunion concert for the original members. In honor of the event, Randy [Stine] produced a DVD of one of their 1998 concerts, and he posted clips from it on YouTube to share with the other founding members. Suddenly, concert footage that was nearly a decade old was available to be seen by millions of people worldwide… and see it they did, in mind-blowing numbers. With no promotion, Straight No Chaser’s version of “The 12 Days Of Christmas” (interpolating Toto’s “Africa”) received more than 7 million views in December of 2007 alone, becoming the hottest viral video of the season....In a turn of events that the spiritually inclined might describe as a “higher power” moment, Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman happened to be among those millions of viewers. So [he] emailed Randy right away. Randy and Dan [Ponce] soon found themselves having dinner with Craig in L.A. Within a few days, the entire group flew to Atlantic’s offices in New York, and a deal was in the works."

The Group consists of:

Ryan Ahlwardt
Jerome Collins
Walter Chase
Michael Itkoff
Michael Luginbill
Charlie Mechling
Steve Morgan
Dan Ponce
David Roberts
Randy Stine