COUNTRY CROONIN': Carrie's a "Good Girl"/Civil Wars break with "Barton Hollow"

Hey Good Girl
Get out while you can
I know you think you got a good man
Why, why you gotta be so blind?
Won't you open your eyes
Just a matter of time
Til you find
He's no good, girl
No good for you
You better get to gettin'
On your goodbye shoes and go
-"Good Girl", Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood's got a new single, and -- shock and awe -- it's about how a fella is no damn good (no good for you).

Did you feel that? Was it an earthquake? I know it seems unbelievable that Carrie would come out full guns blazing with a catchy, sing-along pop meets country jam putting the male species down for being a triflin' hounddog. (Can you sense my sarcasm?) "Good Girl" is good fun, but it's also essentially Part Two to her last uptempo pop radio single, "Cowboy Casanova", (which I also fell shamelessly for).

Let's face it -- Carrie's got a killer voice, a great look, and is the ideal country-popstar. She's strong, she's relatable, and she ain't afraid of telling you off. ("Before He Cheats", anyone?) She realizes she's got a winning formula with this. I don't blame her for following the phrase 'If it ain't broke....' "Good Girl" is the lead single from Carrie's upcoming fourth album, Blown Away, which is slated to explore darker themes -- so perhaps girlfriend is gunning for more "he's no good" gems?

PS - I want every single outfit she wears in this video. Seriously. Every single one.

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Ain't going back to Barton Hollow
Devil gonna follow me where'er I go
Won't do me no good
Washing in the river
Can't no preacher man save my soul

-"Barton Hollow", The Civil Wars

I've got to say, I'm really liking this shift to more folk country breaking through into the mainstream! First with The Band Perry, and now with John Paul White & Joy Williams, the duo behind The Civil Wars, a Nashville-based outfit that broke through to the big time with their debut full-length LP Barton Hollow, released in early 2011. The album earned them a couple Grammys. The visibility led to a collab session with pop's resident country darling Taylor Swift on the Hot 100 charter "Safe & Sound", a soundtrack cut from the upcoming blockbuster film "The Hunger Games". The Civil Wars also have another song on the soundtrack (out today) called "Kingdom Come."

"Barton Hollow" is gorgeous for its simplicity, a perfect mixture of harmony guitars and White & Williams voices. It's not too country for the country-phobic, but it's hardly a pop record either. It's somewhere in between, opening with an ominous acapella harmony, seguing into heavy guitar strumming. The dark, Wild West-esque feel of the duo's harmony line is the most fascinating bit of the whole record. It walks the line between comfortable and spine-tinglingly uncomfortable, grabbing all of your attention.

WATCH THIS: Travis Garland makes John Mayer look good...

Excuse me, everyone, while I turn once again into a broken record, but -- why hasn't Travis Garland become a major star yet? Hmm? Are the Music Gods sleeping or something? BB has released his latest of a smattering of acoustic covers, this time round of arguably John Mayer's most beautiful ballad ever, "Slow Dancing In A Burning Room". Let the swooning commence.

Recorded in one shot full of warm fuzzy feeling-inducing falcetto and melismas galore (as that's just Trav's way). The guitar was provided by 'Dancing with the Stars' pro hunk dancer, Mark Ballas, who is another underappreciated musician on the side. His record HurtLoveBox is full of happy suprises -- trust.

Fallen for Trav's gorgeous pipes but don't know where to start? May I suggest his incredible mixtape Last Man Standing or perhaps the latest of his collaborations with the equally talented JoJo in "Paint".

WGO: Mel's Top 10, New Releases, Chart Watch (3/24/12)

Below denotes songs and artists of note featured on the Billboard Hot 100 (USA), Top 40 Radio (US), Hot Dance/Club Play (USA), Heatseekers Singles Chart (USA), UK Hot (UK), Japan and KPOP (South Korea) Charts. Italicized items have been discussed on Melismatic.

Mel's Current Top 10:
1. JoJo - Sexy To Me (LW: #6)
2. Stooshe - Love Me (feat. Travie McCoy) (LW: -)
3. One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful (LW: #2)
4. Big Time Rush - Elevate (LW: -)
5. James Morrison - Slave To the Music (LW: -)
6. The Ting Tings - Hang It Up (LW: -)
7. Rye Rye - Boom Boom (LW: -)
8. Super Junior - Opera (LW: -)
9. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe (LW: -)
10. fun. - Some Nights (LW: #1)

Upcoming Album Releases (US): (3/20)
Hunger Games (Soundtrack)
Melanie Fiona - The MF Life
Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance (Soundtrack)
The Shins - Port of Morrow

New Additions to the Hot 100:
42. John Mayer - Shadow Days
74. M83. - Midnight City
84. Karmin - Brokenhearted
96. Zac Brown Band - No Hurry
97. Trey Songz - Sex Ain't Better Than Love

Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart:
1. fun. - We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae) (AIRPLAY + STREAMING GAINER)
2. Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You...)
3. Adele - Set Fire To the Rain
4. The Wanted - Glad You Came
5. Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)
6. David Guetta - Turn Me On (feat. Nicki Minaj)
7. Drake - Take Care (feat. Rihanna)
8. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa - Young, Wild & Free (feat. Bruno Mars)
9. Nicki Minaj - Starships
10. Katy Perry - Part of Me

MIXTAPE: March Is A Lion...

There's a reason why I love March. While January and February tend to be "slower" months in the music industry, March tends to be when release schedules get back into full swing. Rather than miss out in extending the love, here's a smattering of what's been getting a ridiculous amount of replay on my Spotify recently...

K'NAAN - Is Anybody Out There? (feat. Nelly Furtado)
Music Video Here

Being at label ground zero for the promotional period of K'NAAN's Troubador record was easily my favorite part of my 2009 internship at A&M/Octone Records. He's truly an innovative, creative, musical soul. "Is Anybody Out There?" is the lead single from the More Beautiful Than Silence EP, released back in January as the hold over before his third record release in Country, God or the Girl. It pairs him with his friend (and fellow Canadian) Nelly Furtado, who really can do no wrong in my eyes, for the second time with beautiful results.

Usher - Climax
Music Video Here

The biggest male voice in Mainstream R&B continues to return to form, in a mega single produced by Diplo full of dreamy, suggestive falcetto. I think that just about says it all, right? I'm loving Usher's choice to dally with dancey producers. It's really serving him well while still suiting his own style.

The Ting Tings - Hang It Up
Music Video Here

It's been two years since we first heard "Hands", the supposed lead single from The Ting Tings' sophomore record. Fast forward to now and the duo have re-emerged with a more crunchy New Wave sound, that still feels reminiscent of previous hits like "That's Not My Name" and "Shut Up and Let Me Go". Still quirky, still petulant, still Ting Tings.

Rye Rye - Boom Boom
Listen Here

The pace of femme rapper Rye Rye's debut project is really upsetting, especially given how much airplay reign Nicki Minaj has at Mainstream Top 40. She follows up her excellent bow with Robyn via "Never Will Be Mine" with another sample-smuggler in "Boom Boom", which, you guessed it, samples the Venga Boys's 1999 #1 hit (in the UK, at least) "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!" (VengaBoys are back in town!) It's total cheesy fluff, but it feels good for nostalgia purposes alone.

Grimes - Oblivion
Music Video Here

Grimes is an indie Canadian electro do-it-all-yourself artist creating a lot of noise who reminds me of Goldfrapp, Oh Land, Lykke Li and Lights thrown in a blender. "Oblivion" is the first single from her third EP, Visions, out now.

Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Music Video Here

File this one under "overnight sensations" here in the US (mostly thanks to "parody" video by Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez, amongst others). Jepsen placed third on Canadian Idol a few years back, and recently inked a deal internationally with Schoolboy Records, whose CEO is the Biebs' manager. Hurrah for synergy! Still, the song is super catchy and relatable, Carly is super adorbs, and introduces the world to model Holden Nowell, aka the hot guy in the video. *.*

James Morrison - Slave to the Music
Music Video Here

Oh, James Morrison. Oh. Oh. His velvety, husky, melismatic pipes are coupled with a swingin' sound that feels like something out of another era entirely. They just don't make jams like this in the Mainstream anymore, and what a sad fact that is. My only complaint is we barely get to see James jam out on the acoustic at all in the video. You're just gonna sing with it slung on your shoulder? Really?

Yuna - Live Your Life

Music Video Here

Gorgeous Yuna (from Malaysia, produced by Pharell)  and her gorgeous pipes continue to amaze long after I first saw her live at the MTV Iggy Best New Bands Showcase a few months back. I'm loving the mellow vibe, and especially the subtle bongo drum-esque beatline.

Big Time Rush - Elevate
Lyric Video Here

Behold America's main contender in the burgeoning boy band brawl (ooh, alliteration!). Big Time Rush may have gotten their start as velveetalicious TV stars on Nick (seriously, I can't even sit through that show), but they've been cranking out some decent jams of late, especially this one, the title track from their sophomore album release. Honestly, it's a mix of One Direction and The Wanted's summer sound with America's current love affair with synthy club pop. So of course, I dig it unabashedly.

Jin Akanishi - Sun Burns Down
Music Video Here

The Japanese Justin Timberlake strikes again with his followup single to the dance hit "Test Drive" (featuring ch-AY-son Da-RULE-oh) with another synth jam, promising to "make love until the sun goes down". Zow.

Chiddy Bang - Manners (feat. Icona Pop)
Lyric Video Here

Combine the most hyped American rap duo who has a keen penchant for sampling quality underground (in America at least) electro with Sweden's hottest new electro-wizzlers, and Mel will always be a happy camper. Pretty much amazing doesn't even cover it.

HEAR THIS: JoJo Gets "Sexy"

The beat came on

The ground just shook

And it feels so good...

Wanna be mad? Well, OK-K

I'll be in the booth with the DJ

Free shots all around

It's my B-Day

Get a little He-He like MJ

-"Sexy To Me," JoJo

The process for Jumping Trains, JoJo's long awaited third record, remains to be painstakingly slow, but the second official single from the project, the dark "Sexy To Me" has officially launched at iTunes. Produced by Mr. Danja, "Sexy To Me" is one of the handful of demos that leaked recently that I immediately jumped on. The finished version is slightly different than the demo that leaked, decidedly more adult and perfect for the clubs with lyrics that are a bit more "me"-centric, as opposed to the more "you"-focused demo. Meet Adult JoJo: cool, calm, collected and sexy -- and the ultimate in strong role models for young women.

If you recall, I was a bit more psyched for "Lie to Me" than I was for "Sexy to Me", but given "Sexy"'s production tag of Danja, I'm not surprised its given a bit more leverage. Despite having a mainstream producer (while as "Lie" was produced by Da Internz, a little more under the radar), "Sexy" still sounds fresh out the club oven -- a unique piece of sex appeal that will fit in quite nice to the influx of dance-oriented singles currently dominating the market.

"Sexy" was released in tandem thanks to the folks at Clearasil at the end of February, but don't think this means first single "Disaster" is already Dead in the Water. The song is reportedly gunning for remix releases, also for the clubs. Jumping Trains is scheduled for release in April per Interscope Records.

WGO: Mel's Top 10, New Releases,Chart Watch (3/17/2012)

Below denotes songs and artists of note featured on the Billboard Hot 100 (USA), Top 40 Radio (US), Hot Dance/Club Play (USA), Heatseekers Singles Chart (USA), UK Hot (UK), Japan and KPOP (South Korea) Charts. Italicized items have been discussed on Melismatic.

Mel's (Current*) Top 10:
1. fun. - Some Nights
2. One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful
3. Chris Brown - Turn Up the Music
4. Neon Hitch - F*ck U Betta
5. fun. - We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae)
6. JoJo - Sexy To Me
7. miss A - Lips
8. Carrie Underwood - Good Girl
9. Usher - Climax
10. miss A - Touch
*='Current' as in released recently or currently promoted

Upcoming Album Releases (US): (3/13)
One Direction - Up All Night (Columbia Records)
Ting Tings - Sounds From Nowheresville (Columbia Records)

New Additions to the Hot 100:
21. Far East Movement - Live My Life (feat. Justin Bieber) (DEBUT)
70. Nicki Minaj - Roman Reloaded (feat. Lil Wayne) (DEBUT)
79. Eric Church - Springsteen (DEBUT)
88. Travis Porter - Ayy Ladies (feat. Tyga) (DEBUT)
92. LoveRance - UP! (feat. IamSu & Skipper) (DEBUT)
94. Future - Magic (feat. T.I.) (DEBUT)
100. Estelle - Thank You (DEBUT)

Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart:
1. fun. - We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae) (AIRPLAY GAINER)
2. Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You...)
3. Adele - Set Fire to the Rain
4. The Wanted - Glad You Came
5. Katy Perry - Part Of Me
6. Nicki Minaj - Starships
7. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa - Young, Wild & Free (feat. Bruno Mars)
8. David Guetta - Turn Me On (feat. Nicki Minaj)
9. Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)
10. Rihanna - We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)