INTERVIEW: Avery Sounds Off

If you're suffering from KPOP overload thanks to yours truly, I have good and bad news. A lot more is coming shortly as I slowly recover from Sunday's epicness. But before we get to that, across the jump below are the answers to the questions you helped me ask 16 year-old pop artist, Avery, after I featured her last month! Get to know Ms. Avery a little bit better by checking out the answers below -- and if you need a little bit of reminding, here's the ditty that got me so intrigued in Avery in the first place...

{Read My Interview with Avery By Clicking Below!}

FLASHBACK: SMTown NYC In Review

My ears are still ringing. My throat is completely raw. But it was worth it, I tell you. So beyond worth it.

I managed to score alright photos of at least some of the members of all of the groups except f(x) and Kangta -- I sincerely thought I nabbed photos of everyone, but I guess not. I have a few rough fancams too, mostly of the artists' introductions, as well as bits and bobs of Super Junior and TVXQ (for obvious reasons), but none of good enough quality to share, I'm afraid. So my meager offering of photos will have to do. I have plenty of friends who took high quality pics and will add links once I receive them...

Before we get to that, here are some little bits and pieces to help you all feel like you were there with me. If you're looking for an intense review, I suggest you look elsewhere. All photos are Property of Melismatic. Feel free to use so long as you link back to MelismaticBlog.com. :) Thanks!

COUNTDOWN TO LIVE: Tonight's the Night

No words, friends. None. I got my camera ready. My lightsticks (red and blue) are packed in the purse. And I got my tickets. Let's do this thing.

SMTOWN NYC

Keep an eye to my twitter -- @melismaticdiva . This is shaping up to be a whole day event.

The tip of the iceberg in terms of my emotions:

COUNTDOWN TO LIVE: TVXQ (HoMin)

Don't mind me while I shriek. It's just that in a little over 24 hours, I will be seeing my Ultimate KPOP Bias in the flesh, strutting his sexy stuff around and screaming to his heart's content...

First, the repetitive intro: As you might already know, I'm recapping the songs by the various SMTown artists I'm most excited to see performed live in person TO-EFFING-MORROW at Madison Square Garden at SMTown New York. I've already presented my picks for f(x), Girl's Generation , BoA , SHINee and Super Junior. That leaves one left (or rather, two): the handsome long-legged boys in T(2)VXQ!

Wait, let me take a breath.

As you all probably know, TVXQ! as a five membered group was the reason why I started getting interested in KPOP. Their vocals are literally a cut above in this genre. As exciting as it was to see JYJ live in the flesh last year, it was bittersweet because 2/5 of why I love those boys weren't there with them. To add insult to injury, they were performing songs that weren't exactly the reason why I fell in love with them in the first place...

As tomorrow approachs, I now have the opposite problem. I will be seeing the Missing Two (including The Ultimate Bias Himself -- Mr. Shim Changmin), and they will be performing some of the material I fell for them with...but without the three middle voices that helped flesh it out. It's a Catch 22. These facts won't forseeably change. You could say just get over it, but it really is hard to do.

But just like November 12, 2010 before it, October 23, 2011 is not going to be a sad day, but a Celebratory one, for obvious reasons. I mean, I live in the United States and I officially get to complete my Rising Eastern Gods I've See Perform In Real Life list! It doesn't get more incredible than that -- it just doesn't.

Of the HoMin Material -- it's really difficult for me to choose between "Why (Keep Your Head Down)" or "Before U Go" in terms of what I'm more excited for, simply because they are epic and amazing for two totally different reasons. "Why" is full of intensity -- a literal cacophony of sound. "Go" is melted chocolate for the ears, set to a slow roll rhythm. I can't choose. I can't. I'm already predicting how difficult of a decision it will be in terms of placement for these two songs on my Year End Countdown. Cut me some slack.

Rather than choose between the two Goliaths, let's roll with something else, for a more sentimental reason. "Maximum" was the b-side to "Why (Keep Your Head Down)" and was first premiered at the current SMTown's first incarnation last year. It instantly became one of my favorites off of Keep Your Head Down for its instantly catchy call-and-response chorus, it's biting choreography, and its sonically interesting choice in the use of many different Eastern-influenced string sounds.

(For those of you who aren't familiar, The Ultimate Bias sings second.) 

I already loved this song as it was, but when word broke very recently that "Maximum", written in 2009 by the KPOP Max Martin known as Yoo Young-Jin, was the proposed Comeback Single for OT5 TVXQ's never-materialized fifth album prior to the lawsuit debacle, I felt a fresh roll of pain in my stomach. A rehearsal video of Yunho and Changmin practicing the choreography to "Maximum" while at SM HQ also recently surfaced, featuring a very different version of the song played in the background -- one where you could quite clearly hear three voices that no longer exist in the version we were presented with (and love). The thought of Yunho and Changmin re-recording over their friends vocal parts really feels like a kick in the gut to me -- and makes me wonder what else from the HoMin material was meant to be OT5?

So it is for a multitude of reasons that I say, of the "HoMin" material, "Maximum" is what I'm most looking forward to.

In terms of the older TVXQ! Material, the duo tends to perform a "mashup" of some of their bigger hits, including "The Way U Are" and the infallible "Mirotic". I know it's selfish to want more than that, especially considering TVXQ! as a five-piece group truly stood as equals in terms of the sharing of vocal parts. That has proved to be both a blessing and a curse -- a blessing to their legacy, and a curse to those who long to see these song performed whole live. Whole, of course, means a lot of different things.

One song the boys have done justice to is "Rising Sun", one of their older singles from their second Korean album, released back in 2005. "Rising Sun" kind of stands apart in terms of the current KPOP discography, because sonically, it sounds like something else entirely. The vocal parts are demanding, the lyrical content is very serious, and the choreography is a mad dash. I really don't know how they performed this on a nightly basis in addition to the rest of their catalogue. It's a heavy song. Below is a live performance of the song in Japanese back in 2008 by all five members. (Epic Changmin Scream is Epic.)

Parts of it are so not commercially-friendly by an American viewpoint, and that's why I love it. With the exception of, say "Tri-Angle" from their debut album, it's as close as TVXQ comes to a proper "rock" cut. It's raw power in a pop song.

Fingers are crossed that Yunho and Changmin attempt it tomorrow night. No matter the outcome, it's safe to say that by the time they grace the stage, and you hear that creepy announcer guy say "We are Dong Bang Shin Ki", I will be a certifiable mess.

(Note to Self: Do NOT wear mascara. You WILL cry.)

Check back shortly for a review of HoMin's 'TONE' Japanese album, as well as highlights from SMTOWN NYC -- taking place TOMORROW NIGHT!!!

IN REVIEW: Nicola through 'Cinderella's Eyes'

It's easy to label Ms. Nicola Roberts as the red-headed stepchild of the Girls Aloud group. It's certainly not a fair tagging, but if her recent debut solo album bow, Cinderella's Eyes, proves anything, it says her overshadowing by her more famous (or rather infamous) groupmates was in seriously poor taste.

Like many of my blogger friends, I hungered for Nicola's solo release since the Alouders announced their "temporary" break in 2009. To be totally truthful, I had high hopes for all of the post-Aloud solo bows -- and in hindsight, each of the paths taken by the three members who braved the solo dalliance are very much in keeping with what a part of me was expecting. Cheryl Cole wowed with her mainstream (and sex) appeal but made us question if her solo efforts were skin deep. Nadine Coyle tried to harness her big voice (with mixed effects). And then there's Nicola. 

Cinderella's Eyes is a monumental record. So much so that it's taken me some time to fully digest it. Girls Aloud is no doubt a very glamorous girl group with an incredibly cheeky appeal. To many pop music enthusiasts, they are among the holiest of the holy (and a lot of that is thanks to the incredible writers/producers at Xenomania). Nicola's record stripped away a lot of the gloss that surrounded Girls Aloud's material -- but retained what made Aloud so incredible: their almost avante-garde, somewhat cheeky lyrical content and risk-taking pop sound. Despite being very alternately synthpop in sound (something only British Popstars are able to do so well, it seems), it still feels remarkably stripped down and raw -- a more honest, insider look into arguably Girls Aloud's most relatable member. While listening to the record, it's hard not to be moved. Nicola comes off as incredibly likeable and real, despite coming from a group that has been relatively plagued by suspicions of cattiness and falsehood. 

While she might not be Aloud's biggest voice (I think that title goes to Ms. Coyle, personally), when Nicola gains full control of the spotlight, it's not just about her pipes (which sound phenomenal throughout), but about her introspective statements. If anyone in Aloud has something to say, it's Nicola. Her first single, the Diplo-produced "Beat of My Drum", is a fun party cut to be sure, but is in no way a true harbinger of what to expect in Cinderella's Eyes. The meat and potatoes of the record centers of on Nicola's honest lyrical content (Roberts co-wrote all of the cuts save "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime", a cover of 1980 single by The Korgis that was also covered by Beck a few years back). She owns the material and despite the hurdles she's obviously overcome, she sounds ever comfortable in her own skin now, and that's what makes her so incredible.

When I say honest, I truly mean it. As much as I adore the more up-beat cuts "Beat of My Drum", "Porcelain Heart" or even second single, the Dragonette co-produced "Lucky Day" (and especially it's mashup remix "Lucky Day Dancer", which samples Snap!'s 1992 dance hit "Rhythm Is A Dancer" -- easily one of the best uptempos of 2011) for the sheer pulsating amazingness, it's the deeper, more intriguing cuts, like the painful "sticks + stones" that made me really fall for Roberts. The song openly discusses the emotional abuse she endured growing up, as well as during her tenure in Girls Aloud, suffering from vicious bullying.

How funny that I was too young for so many things
Yet you thought I'd cope with being told I'm ugly
Over and over I'd read it, believe it
Said "no" to the shrink
I can fix me, I think
I got friends in my head
They've got me on the mend
I am pretty in my mirror
Easy to pretend
Seventeen and thought that
I'd won the jackpot
Seems I didn't read between the lines of this one
I can't think why I could of made you so, so angry
Your bullets, I don't feel them
Come on and fire at me...

Bet that you think that you're on your own
And you've no one's hand to hold
Sticks and stones hurt just a little

It's heavy stuff for a pop record, and sung in such a soft, quivering kind of voice. No small wonder why the song has become a bit of an unexpected anthem for anti-bullying in the UK, especially in schools. It's hard not to be affected by the power of it, as I think everyone can relate to being victim of barbed words.

Much of Cinderella's Eyes reads like an anthematic call to arms for the underdog, proving there is so much more than meets the eye. Another of my favorite cuts, "Gladiator", is full of sarcastic barbs toward suffered falseness in a world where appearances are most important:

I'm Miss Mischievous
Innocent to the bitter end
Make up is make believe
So slap it on, be my best friendI had to call a fireman
My hair was burning bridges
I'm shooting bullets from my chest
I'm Super Woman, bitches...

Show...
Here I go...
Gonna tap...
On the mic now
Say my name now

Those days, I'd stumble in the dark
Angels, give me back my spark
The wrong girl trapped in the right place
I've had enough, I've dusted off
And wiped my blood on you

It's truly difficult for me to enumerate into words how much I love this album -- from front to back, top to bottom, beginning to end. It's easily (and by far) the best of the post-Girls Aloud solo releases. I might be so bold as to say it's the best of all of the Aloud's released material. All that and it is definitely one of the very best albums of 2011, period. If not the best. Do yourself a favor. Grab a copy.

RANTS & RAVES: Still Feeling Ghoul-D

In 2009, while in the midst of my first Halloween at the day-job (it's like the Holiday Shopping Season to my company -- don't ask), I shared a few fun Halloween cuts to help set the mood for The Scariest Night of the Year.  Two years later and things haven't changed much -- the day-job is still the day-job, and every Halloween seems progressively more stressful (I can't believe this is my third Halloween...sigh). Rather than dwell on the stress, here are a few more (recent...ish) additions to add to your Halloween playlist.

RIHANNA - MAD HOUSE

My general disdain for the Rated R album had two real exceptions: "Te Amo" (which leaked awhile prior to the album's eventual release) and the Alfred Hitchcock-y/Edgar Allen Poe-ish/Vincent Price-esque intro in "Mad House". How I wish she had expanded on this to make it a full song. I know I'm not alone in that regard.

GLEE - THRILLER/HEADS WILL ROLL

So Glee hasn't been as exciting storyline-wise recently as we all would have hoped. Oh well. Truthfully, I barely even watch the series anymore -- but do I get psyched about their sometimes brilliant mashup ideas? Uh, is the sky blue? Combining Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Heads Will Roll" with the baby daddy of all things Halloween-esque, Michael Jackson's "Thriller", what we get is a truly inspired, spooky romp. Added bonus -- the theme idea of Zombie Football Players is a little too on the nose...I'm not going there. But a part of me does wish my days in Marching Band were that killer. (insert drum kit/cymbal smash here.) Go on, (former NLT member) Kevin McHale. You belt out that MJ.

GIRLICIOUS - MANIAC

Hear me out. I included this one in my official "Resolution Radio" Halloween Show last year for a reason, okay? The lyrics are a really funny ode to the season. Yes. That's my reasoning and I stand by it. Girlicious may be defunct these days (surprised?), but they churned out some quality guilty pleasure trash pop, mmkay? Nevermind that the video is completely needlessly sexy (hence the fact that I'm leaving that out). Whatevs.

NATALIA KILLS - ZOMBIE

Natalia hasn't quite gotten her due as an artiste. Some of that is due to a poor choice of singles via her marketing department ("Free" feat. will.i.am, anyone?). It's kinda sad too, because when "Zombie" first came to us in 2010, I think more than a few of us were clamoring for her blend of dark, post-Gaga pop. Zombies are the It Costume of choice this year (or at least that's what they tell me at work), and what an effective use of monotone-AutoTune. Ahead of her time? Yes. Underappreciated? A little bit.

NIKKI MINAJ - ROMAN'S REVENGE (feat. EMINEM)

I'm not totally on the Minaj train, but there's no question that album cut, the fierocious "Roman's Revenge" off her debut record was something else. Gone are her commercially friendly, melodic hooks. It's replaced with something darker entirely, and Eminem kind of always sounds scary to me. I could do without Nikki's attempt at a British accent at the end but details, I suppose. It's the type of song that makes you a little bit uncomfortable, but that's the point. Ruh Ruh, Like A Dungeon Dragon.

SHINee - LUCIFER

Because duh. Korean Version (below) or brand spankin' new Japanese Version. It's all good. Her Whispuh-suh Are Da Luci-fuhhhh.

LADY GAGA - BLOODY MARY

How could I leave the Reigning Queen of the Weird Pop out of this list, eh? While "Monster" (criminally un-released as a single) is another worthy contender, let's roll with the subtlety that is "Bloody Mary" off her latest disc, Born This Way. Did anyone else play "Bloody Mary" when they were little? I used to with my  friend who lived next door. We'd play just before going to bed (because we were young and stupid), and once we woke up the next morning with "I Will Kill You" written in lipstick on the mirror. We were obviously freaked, completely oblivious that it was written while we were asleep...by my friend's older sister.

ROCKWELL - SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME

Oh, Rockwell. I don't fault you for wanting to include the King of Pop in your (only relevant) single. If I was the child of Motown Records CEO Berry Gordy, I (might) ask for extravagant name-dropping pulls. But the least you could have done was try and get him in the video. It's the main reason why anyone really liked this song anyway...

SUGABABES - SUPERNATURAL

I swear I love this song for more reasons other than the title. "Supernatural" is an album cut from the Sugas 2002 sophomore album release, Angels With Dirty Faces. A Blood Shy & Avant wow cut, it's not quite Halloween-y in proper terms, as it's kind of about how love is a magical, mythical thing, but anything that includes the Sugas in (one of) their original formation (meaning with Mutya, okay) and with fuzzy electric bass and I'm hands in. Check out a live version of the song below. Too bad only one of these girls is still standing in Sugababes as we know it today.

 

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW - THE TIME WARP

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I didn't include this on my previous list as it seems so glaringly obvious (as does the Rockwell single). Oh well. Some people loved and adored "Rocky", myself included, so that it became the cult classic it is today (still). In college, my BFF and I went to our first live-action showing of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and I'm still not exactly sure what the hell happened. Suffice to say -- it's not really for everybody. But for those of you who don't get it -- please note: don't think too hard. Just enjoy it for what it is -- complete drug-fuelled ridiculousness.

COUNTDOWN TO LIVE: Super Junior

So...for the overblown, repetive intro: as you might already know, I'm recapping the songs by the various SMTown artists I'm most excited to see performed live in person -- literally ONE week away -- at Madison Square Garden at SMTown New York. I've already presented my picks for f(x), Girl's Generation , BoA and SHINee. We're getting down to the wire, people -- it's time to talk about my latest KPOP obsession, and that is (bewilderingly), the epic largeness that is Super Junior.

I feel like I've gone through the history of Super Junior (SHUPA JUNI-OYE-OH!) too many times already, but for those of you who aren't aware, here is the Cliff Notes Breakdown:

# of Current Active Members (As In Right Now, October 2011 -- that I will be seeing at SMTown NY): Nine. Leeteuk, Yesung, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Donghae (<3 Happy Birthday!), Siwon, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun {technically, you could count out Siwon, since he's currently busy filming a television show and hasn't been appearing with them much, but I'm hoping he will still attend SMTown NY, hence he's left on the list}

# of Members Currently Serving in the Korean Army (As in Right Now, October 2011): Two. Heechul and Kangin.

# of Members Currently At Odds with SM Entertainment (As in Right Now, October 2011): One. HanKyung (or as he's going now, by his Chinese name Han Geng). He filed a lawsuit against SM in 2009, and in effect has won. He's returned to China and is pursuing a solo career. While many fans continue to consider him a member of Super Junior, he hasn't appeared with them since late 2009, and hasn't appeared during promotions for the group's last two album releases, as well as Super Junior M's most recent second mini-album release.

# of Members Currently Doing God Knows What (But NOT Performing With Super Junior)(As In Right Now, October 2011): One. Kibum. Like Han Geng, he hasn't appeared with SuJu since late 2009, as he's been off A) in America, B) "acting". Many fans continue to consider him a member of Super Junior, despite this, as he has never officially "resigned" from the group.

# of Members Currently Only Performing in Super Junior-M (As In Right Now, October 2011): Two. Chinese member Zhou Mi and Chinese-Canadian Henry. Although neither was a member of Super Junior proper, they both debuted in 2008 with Han Geng, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook and Kyuhyun as Super Junior M (releasing songs in Mandarin in the Chinese/Asia market). Despite only being a part of SuJu's "side project"/sub-group, many fans include them in the group's formal member count.

Total # of Super Junior Members, Past and Present (As in Right Now, October 2011): Fifteen. 

We will be taking any and all questions after class (in the comments section). With that said, let's move on to the tunes I'm most psyched to see performed by the junior-sized version of Asia's largest boy band. 

While I quite enjoyed SuJu's most recent release, Mr. Simple, in its original incarnate (so much so I even bought a version for myself -- it's effing humungous -- the size of an LP of old. And yes, it has Donghae on one side of its dual cover.), my favorite offering from the album was the monotonic swaggiliciousness that was "Superman". Check out a live performance (with Heechul and Siwon) this past August.

Many critisized their fourth full album release Bonamana (2010), and after hearing the rest of their material, I would say it was probably their weakest. However, "Boom Boom" was seriously sexy ish (I'm looking at you, Hyukjae, yeah I said it), and if that were to be performed live (I doubt it), it would make me very happy indeed. But because I'm pragmatic, I'm not too upset about most definitely getting wowed by the phenomenon that is "Bonamana (Miinah)". So long as they wear outfits like the ones below. Don't dissapoint me, boys. I would make a joke about how terrible those mics were (because they literally cut out on almost every member), but who needs live vocals when you look like that with hip thrusts (yeah yeah yeah, totally unfair toward female performers, blah blah, I don't care, I'm aloud to spazz out about some people, thanks.) To hear the real song (in all it's robotic, Auto-Tuned glory), check out the music video.

Bonamana had it's sparse moments, but so too did the group's two first album releases, Super Junior05 and Don't Don. I don't mean that as a diss, I just feel like with a group so large, with only a handful of sangers to their lineup (helllllo there, Yesung & Kyuhyun), they are a boy band that relies more on charisma and stage presence than to vocals alone, and we all know that with pop music, there is much more than just vocal talent at play.

The obvious choice from these two eras would be "Don't Don", a truly epic single choice as it was one of SuJu's few really serious lyrical subject matter pieces. It introduced Henry Lau into the Super Junior family mix, as he provided violin accompaniment during the truly epic breakdown. Unlike much of SuJu's material, it has more of a rock feel (and is often performed recently with screaming rap breakdowns by Heechul). Rather than desert their sexy boy band mantra completely, it is probably SuJu's worst offender in terms of gratuituous choreography (read: pelvic thrusts galore).

But if I want to be truly honest, the song I most would adore to see live from this era of SuJu history is the sex that is "A Man In Love". From a sonic soundpoint, it's one of SuJu's catchies pop uptempos ever. It sounds just as good in 2011 as it ever would have when it was originally released in Don't Don's repackage in 2007. And when it is performed these days, Siwon typically takes his shirt off. Just saying. Admirers of Sexy Men of the world, you're welcome. You have to wait till the end (unless you wanna fast forward), but...

When you talk about SuJu, you usually give some passing reference to the worldwide phenomenon that was 2009's "Sorry Sorry", the single that literally changed KPOP, made Super Junior ridiculously famous in Asia, and was the namesake for their third album. I love "Sorry Sorry" as much as the next person -- in fact, it was the main selling point for Super Junior prior to late last year when two of it's sub-groups (Super Junior M, SM The Ballad) convinced me to think otherwise. But while it will be amazing to say I saw "Sorry Sorry" live in and in person, I would literally quiver in excitement (and no doubt produce some A-Quality Fangirl Shrieks) over a live performance of "Sorry Sorry - Answer" over "Sorry Sorry" any day of the week.

"Sorry Sorry - Answer" is an R&B, baby-making version of "Sorry Sorry" slowed down to a crawl. It is usally attributed to subgroup Super Junior KRY, as it featuring Yesung (hnnnnnnnggggg voice, goosebumpsdsfkljdsfklj I CANNOT), Kyuhyun and Ryeowook doing the vast majority of the heavy lifting on the vocal front. However, the video featured all of the then active members and also contains a tres cute rap duet via Eunhae (Eunhyuk and Donghae). If ever I would like a Super Junior to come to tackle America, it would be in THAT formation: Yesung, Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, Eunhyuk and Donghae. (Although, I'm realizing for marketing reasons it would probably be smarter to swap out Ryeowook for Siwon or perhaps Henry since he already speaks English...oh well.)

"Perfection" and "Hot Times" made me re-think my initial casualness toward Super Junior but "Sorry Sorry - Answer" was all it took to make me want to stan those boys for serious. Can't we get back to that?

(Note to Self: Prepare your knees for serious wobbling during much of Super Junior's set. Also, ready your vocal chords for when/if Donghae comes remotely close to you/shows up on the JumboTron/tries to speak English/etc. etc. or if any Eunhae moments appear (fingers crossed).)

Seeing as next Sunday is the big day (DSKLFJDSKLFJDSLKFJDSL), check back next Saturday for another installment of what I'm most looking forward to at SMTown -- aka, the epic squeefest regarding TVXQ!

HEAR THIS: "What Do You Take" Pixie For?

I'm tired of you kicking the dirt
Just want the dust to settle
I'll find just what I deserve
If you can't do better
Can't say that you took your time
Before the sweet turned sour
You changed right before my eyes
You picked the wrong flower
-"What Do You Take Me For", Pixie Lott (feat. Pusha T)

I may not always agree with all of the decisions made by British popstar Pixie Lott but it's hard for me to dislike her. Her material always stands out for its slight vintage bent, thanks to her husky, 60's-influenced vocal tone and capabale musings. Her prior singles, especially debut single "Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)", were an interesting fusion to me -- one part Amy Winehouse, Duffy, husky soul from a by-gone era, one part teen pop, one part urban twinge. 

It didn't surprise me that plans were made rather immediately to translate her success in the UK to the USA, but its been two years since Turn It Up was released and we Americans still have nothing to show for it. At best, we will most likely be seeing a re-hashing of Turn It Up featuring its greatest hits (singles "Mama Do", "Boys & Girls", "Cry Me Out", and "Gravity", as well as the Red-One produced "Here We Go Again" -- one of my favorite songs of 2009) as well as new material slated to feature Joe Jonas and Jason DeRulo. It also will no-doubt include a smattering of cuts from her upcoming sophomore UK release, titled Young Foolish Happy, including first single (and UK #1) "All About Tonight".

Currently, she's promoting her follow up single "What Do You Take Me For?", which features rapper and Kanye West protege Pusha T (who also happens to be part of the rap group Clipse). Much more urban-based than any of her prior releases, "What Do You Take Me For?" still stays very melodic, and has a bluesy kind of swing on top of muted horn blares and slinky electric bass.

Many of Pixie's nay-sayers bemoan her "image change" into something a little too sultry, but her voice always suited that kind of style, and nothing in the single's video accompaniment strikes me as too outrageous for the adorable 20 year old popstar (now sporting a short, pixie-ish haircut, how cute). "What Do You Take Me For?" is a literal slap at the haters -- Pixie's too quick to let you cut her down. Her Gaga-influence is ever apparent, and I applaud her for taking a considerable amount of control for a young pop starlet. In addition to writing a large percentage of her own material, she has also penned records for Alexandra Burke. She won me over originally for her unique set of power vocals, but her current brand of pop still remains as fun-loving and irreverant as it was when "Mama Do" first made its way into my ears.

Upon first listen "What Do You Take Me For?" urged immediate repeats, and could easily be one of my favorite pop cuts of 2011. So put that in your pipe smoke it.

HEAR THIS: Kelly Clarkson is "Stronger"

Thanks to you I gotta new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the broken hearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinkin' 'bout me...
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely
When I'm alone
-"What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)", Kelly Clarkson

'American Idol' has churned out its share of legitimate popstars. The majority of them have seen mid-level or less success -- certainly not at the level the most likely deserve (see Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, Chris Richardson, Adam Lambert, etc. etc.) Only two have gone on to really hit their stride post-"Idol", those being country superstar Carrie Underwood and reluctant popstar Kelly Clarkson.

As we await Kelly's fifth album release, Stronger, at the end of this month, it is the first release in what feels like eons, essentially since the collossal Breakaway, where Kelly feels like Kelly but is still commercially viable. While her third album, My December, was dogged for its darker feel (not to mention her very vocal arguments with RCA and Clive Davis, someone you  just don't eff with in this business), her fourth release, 2009's All I Ever Wanted was the biggest insult to me overall. From the clearly Photoshopped cover to the peppy but petulant single releases, there are days when I want to forget that album ever happened entirely. Then of course, there was the whole Ryan Tedder debate which was incredibly overblown and taken out of porportion. Kelly is immensely talented, vocally, and I pined for when she would get back to what worked for her during her Breakaway period.

Stronger seems to be exactly that. While lead single "Mr. Know It All" is relatively generic at best, follow up "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)", which the album is named for, feels like a modern-day Breakaway outtake. It's the familiar "Since U Been Gone" Kelly that we've all craved minus the whining back story or the internal creative struggles that have been following her as of late. The spotlight is placed back on Clarkson's voice -- where it should definitely be at all times -- complimented by a truly positive lyrical backdrop. There is no more "My Life Would Suck Without You" -- Kelly is back to being her own woman and making no apologies for standing up on her own. And don't we all prefer her that way?

Fun Fact To Add: "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" was co-written by Swedish songwriter Jorgen Elofsson (formerly of the legendary Cheiron Studios), who has also penned Girl's Generation (SNSD)'s recent Japanse bow "Bad Girl"; Super Junior album cut "What If"; one of my fave The Saturdays cuts from Wordshaker, "Lose Control"; various cuts for Darin, Agnes, and Shayne Ward; and Britney Spears's underappreciated, should-have-been-a-single album cut "What U See" from her ...Oops! I Did It Again album.

If that's not my entire musical library shook up into a blender, I don't know what is. Mr. Elofsson, I think I need to stalk you now.

HEAR THIS: JoJo "Lies" and 'Jumps Trains'

I'll be completely honest when I say that I wouldn't have to hear a single cut from the upcoming third record from JoJo and I would still purchase it outright. Jumping Trains has been withheld from us for what feels like eons -- and if it feels like that to us, I can only imagine how creatively frustrating it must be to her. 

JoJo is one of those few and far between pop artists that popped onto the scene in her early teens back in 2004 with a urban-tingled first single and a huge voice to back it up. Despite being so unfathomably young, she was rocking it out on stage with searing vocals, telling her BF to get the eff out if he wants to cheat. The first time I heard the song, I had no idea who the singer was, but I knew it was someone I could hang with. Come to find out, she was three years my junior...and I was 16. Take one listen to her 2004 debut, JoJo, and try and tell me it doesn't blow your mind this girl was just 13 when she recorded it. There are popstars now who only wish they could sound as legit as JoJo did then. 

Now a sophomore record and a mixtape down the park, we're still waiting for Album #3. She's come a long way from her "Leave (Get Out)" days of yore, but has remained just as real and vocally competent as she was then -- taking control in terms of songwriting, creating songs that she wants to create and can personally relate to. As Jumping Trains (formally titled All I Want Is Everything) begins to solidify into reality's release schedule, JoJo finally hopped back on the official promotion train, opening up for Joe Jonas and Jay Sean during their recent US jaunt in support of her official first single from the project, "Disaster".

"Disaster" is familiar territory for JoJo, as it harkens toward what has already worked (on the radio) for her. It's the 2011 equivilant of "Leave (Get Out)" or 2006's "Too Little Too Late". It's a heavy-handed, melismatic fun fest set a singing mid-tempo. While it was her project's lead-singles that tended to give her commercial success, it was her more adventurous, but still urban-twinged pop, that I adored more, and a lot of that was put on glorious display on her sophomore album, The High Road ("The Way You Do Me", "Let It Rain", "This Time", etc.), so I knew that as much as I liked "Disaster", the best was still yet to come, and I was right.

Whilst promoting "Disaster", a few more tracks slated to be on the Jumping Trains record began to see the light of day (and if anyone has had an issue with leakage, it's been JoJo), and it's made me literally salivating over the full release. The main culprits -- the Da Internz-produced "Lie To Me" and the Danja-produced "Sexy To Me". Take a look at a live version of "Lie To Me" about a month ago in Boston, taken by a fan:

I can't get over her voice. She sounds so clear and incredible live. She sounds better than the record live. Unbelievable. 

Dear Jumping Trains, coooommmmmeeee to me.

COUNTDOWN TO LIVE: SHINee

I promise you this one might surprise you.

As you might already know, I'm recapping the songs by the various SMTown family I'm most psyched to see performed live in person in just a few short weeks (just two left!!!) at Madison Square Garden at SMTown New York. I've already presented my picks for f(x), Girl's Generation and BoA. It's officially time to talk about one of my favorite KPOP boy bands, and the youngest male artist (technically) on the SM Food Chain: SHINee.

The five-piece boy band SHINee (pronounced like "Shiny") only debuted in May of 2008, but since then, they've been a literal firestorm of material. What began with the relatively innocent (although with somewhat ominous undertones suggesting pedophilia) "Replay (Noona Is So Pretty)", has transformed into five "contemporary" dynamos, as put on display with their most recent Korean releases via their second full length album, Lucifer. The ages of the quintent range from 21 year old leader Onew to 18 year old Taemin, and they often rely on their penchants for charming older women (see "Replay", all versions).

This Noona was first charmed by SHINee in the wake of their "Ring Ding Dong" promotions in late 2009, but they were upgraded to full on stanship thanks to the frenzy-inciting squeal magnet that is/was/will always be 2010's "Lucifer". I've already shared more extensive thoughts on "Lucifer" (both the song and the album release) and its re-package followup "Hello" on the blog last year, so it would be pretty pointless to re-iterate how much I fell in love with "Lucifer" yet another time. However, after viewing the live footage of "Lucifer" from the Paris concert this past summer, which includes flying bits, screaming rock guitar and a new, chanty bridge, the honest truth is "Lucifer" is the main deciding factor in my fanship of SHINee.

Their appearance on the Korean variety show Hello Baby, in which the five members attempt to take care of a precocious three-year-old as if it were their own, was another factor, plus the added bonus of lead singer Jonghyun's literally gorgeous crystalline-clear voice blending into the sex that was S.M.The Ballad's "Hot Times". Suddenly, SHINee was no longer a guilty pleasure for me, but a full fledged emergence in my musicial library. (Also -- can I also put out a formal appear to see "Hot Times" also performed live and in person at SMTown? SOMEBODY? Please?)

Suffice to say, "Lucifer" will be #1 on the Live Anticipation List for Onew, Jonghyun, Key, Minho and Taemin, but there are a few other lesser appreciated cuts that I enjoy and wouldn't also mind seeing live in addition. One, I highly doubt will be included in their live set list -- "SHINee World". It was often included during their "Ring Ding Dong" promotions, but after hearing it once, I instantly was more hooked on that than I ever was for "Ring Dong Dong" itself. Check out a shorter live perf of it during a year end award ceremony in 2009 here. The mere prospect of hearing the screamed "We're living in SM Town!" at Madison Square Garden makes me kind of excited -- I think it would be a really fun opener. Alas, I'm guessing it probably won't happen but it's still fun to dream.

Which brings me to the single that made me begin to believe SHINee was more than a hooky one-trick pony during their "Ring Ding Dong" Days -- the high energy, utterly unrelenting "A.Mi.Go".

Released back late 2008, "A.Mi.Go" was SHINee's third official single release, and marked the beginning of their change in sound toward more synthy, darker pop in comparison to brighter prior singles in "Replay" and "Love Is Like Oxygen". It's lyrical content could also be a kind of harbinger toward the "Lucifer" to come -- "A.Mi.Go" is not a reference to the spanish word for friend but is rather a shorthand for the Korean phrase: "Areumdaun minyeoreul joahamyeon gosaenghanda", which when translated to English is roughly "When one loves a Beautiful Person, they will suffer." Ouch.

While I enjoy "Replay", "Oxygen" and SHINee's other "sunny" singles, it was their more hard-hitting darker brand of pop that really made me get excited over them. "A.Mi.Go" was what helped start that trend for SHINee, so to see it live would be something really special. The difference between then and now is that, no matter your opinion on SHINee's sometimes questionable wardrobe choices, at least they are out of that awkward "hip hop" phase. Thank you, Stylist Coordis, for small favors.

PS - There is a totes awesome mashup remix of "A.Mi.Go" with Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" done by DJ Masa that will blow your mind (if you are a SHINee fan). Trust that the minute you hear it, neither song will be the same to your ears.

(Note to Self: Start jogging everyday in case you need to outrun Choi Minho. Also, continue to practice Key and Minho's rap in the shower in prep for October 23rd.)

Check back next Sunday for another installment of what I'm most looking forward to at SMTown!

HEAR THIS: Florence "Shakes It"

And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues strong
It's always darkest before the dawn...
And it's hard to dance
With a devil on your back
So shake him off...

-"Shake It Out", Florence + The Machine

I know a lot of people probably think that Florence Welch and her band of merry musicians might be a little too high-brow pop for me to appreciate it. To the haters, I'm shaking you and that mentality off.

Lungs was one of the most solid debut albums we've seen in a really long time. It was so often hyped (and critically, too), it was the type of thing I almost wanted to steer clear off because it seemed almost too hipster avante-garde, but just one listen of "Dog Days Are Over" and it was literally over for me. Add to the list "You've Got the Love", "Kiss With A Fist", "Cosmic Love" and "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" -- in singles alone, Lungs is literally stacked with firepower. It's clear that Florence has a very distinct musical identity, and while her music is still very commercial accessible, she also markedly stands out in a world full of Auto-Tuned sexpots. "Shake It Out" is the first real offering from her upcoming sophomore album, Ceremonials, following the promotional "What the Water Gave Me," which seemed to turn many off (but not yours truly). 

That being said, "Shake" is familiar Florence without feeling like a total retread of what Lungs did so well. The best way to describe the song is as one large almost-five-minute-long crescendo, transforming what initially starts off as slightly ominious and haunting to a sunny, scream-along anthem. Holy Drumkit, Batman -- this is one for the books. If you aren't tapping your foot by the song's end, you should probably have that checked. Just saying.

ODDS & ENDS: Jada, SHINee, The Saturdays

Rather than separate these little bits and bobs into mini posts, here is a package deal of a few things on my mind recently:

-The KPOP Panel, which I co-founded alongside Ms. Nikki, is making an official comeback like a symbolic Phoenix rising from the (eastern) Ashes. Check out our latest panel, featuring our friends in  rcloy, J.Mensah and the Baby Daddy of all things Pop Panel, Mike of Pop Trash Addicts. Quick -- someone get me, Nikki and McRoth some awkwardly cut, strangely patterned outfits in an odd but dark color palette that both match each other and yet seem strangely non-sequiter at the same time.

-My friend and fellow diva in crime Jennifer over at the Audio Diva is not only celebrating her third blogoversary (Happy BDay!), but also heralding albums celebrating their Quarter Century birthday in honor of her own upcoming 25th B-Day. Seeing as I myself turn the big 2-5 in the not so distant future (read: June 2012), I love these types of posts. Take a look when you get the chance and catch the nostalgia bug like yours truly.

-Everyone knows I love me a good boy band, but so much of my time has been spent oogling the goods in Korea these days that I tend to forget about my own native land. Jessica over at This Must Be Pop reminded me to do just that when she began discussing the chances of a British boy band making it in the US, considering there is slim pickings in terms of American boys stepping up to the task currently. Last we heard from V Factory, there were only two original members left (and that was back in February). Excitement behind the One Call project has also dimmed considerably. The majority of them have created their own personal Twitter accounts and a few have posted their own solo exploits. Still unsure whether or not the whole idea is completely kaput or not...wish they'd stop playing with my fragile emotions!

-I posted quite a bit  last week about my excitement regarding girl group Jada and their recent single release for "This Party's On Fire". I also had quite a few people asking me whether or not the group was still with the Universal Music Group, considering the release was so delayed. I've heard your cries, friends, and have spoken to a source close to the group who had this to say: "Jada and Universal Motown decided to part ways. Since Motown is no longer a major record label, Jada is currently releasing songs as independent artists. We wish the best to Motown in the future." So there you go. Jada are officially free agents. You can purchase the peppy "This Party's On Fire" right now on iTunes.

-I can barely contain the excitement I am feeling as it appears an American-bound release for The Saturdays may actually be imminent. As in soon. Seriously! It's being reported the girls are working out a deal for a Stateside release, as well as a potential television "mini-series" with the E! Network. Pinch me, because I think I'm dreaming! Much of this hovers around their upcoming third full album release, now confirmed for  late November and titled On Your Radar. How appropriate. A third single in the requisite mid-tempo "My Heart Takes Over" is also set for November release, following up the ace "Notorious" and clubby, Xenomania-produced "All Fired Up". The album is lacking the truly popalicious b-side "Lady Killer", though -- a fact I'm not so fond of. Oh well. Guess you can't win them all.

-One of my favorite tried-and-true production teams Soulshock & Karlin have recently confirmed via Twitter their work on an upcoming single for Nicole Scherzinger. While the news is somewhat vague at the moment, it is most likely for the impending re-tooling of Nicole's other debut solo album Killer Love, released internationally this past March. While I'm hardly Nicole's biggest fan, she does have vocals (and is an incredibly charismatic live performer to boot) and I'm really looking forward to see what they come up with.

-Finally, SHINee are making a run for the Japanese market, releasing a string of their Korean hits re-recorded into Japanese. First was "Replay", then there was "Juliette", and now, the moment that I everyone was waiting for is upon us as "Lucifer" (in Japanese!) is now readily available, complete with a new video. I was never one to like the Japanese re-recordings of Korean hits (not quite sure why), but of all of SHINee's offerings, "Lucifer" sounds the most convincing (and the least awkwardly phrased) when translated. I wish I could say the video was just as good or better than the original...but it's not. I wish these Hallyu stars would quit it with the unnecessary sound effects. Seriously. Still, the intent is there, and let's be honest -- I'm going to look for a way to score this re-dub as soon as this post goes live so...::shrug::

IN REVIEW: Nikki & Rich and their "Hit" Brigade

This one was a long time coming. Last Tuesday, Nikki & Rich finally released their debut album, snarkily titled Greatest Hits..., after some truly terrific singles, some pleasantly surprising free releases and what literally felt like a lifetime of just waiting.

While Greatest Hits... does have some sunny parts, I find some fault in the name, mostly because it leaves off the two songs that got me so excited in the Nikki & Rich project in the first place: original singles "Cat & Mouse" and "Next Best Thing".

In the material that does official surface on a real release, Nikki & Rich really do attempt to be more multi-genre than their original marketing intent, which showed them off with a vintage-soaked toe-tapper. Most of this was thanks to vocalist Nikki Leonti's incredible, smokey voice. Her voice is still there, but Greatest Hits... feels a little more now over what their previous work started to suggest. While I applaud them for expanding their sound a bit, I still wish they truly would have kept two of their best "Hits" on their actual album release. (Not too fear -- both songs are still available for purchase on their own aside from this release if they are not already a part of your musical library.)

That complaint aside, Greatest Hits... is one of those light album releases that doesn't feel so light. Just ten tracks strong, but every single cut is exciting and relevant for its own reason. It opens with arguably my favorite of the "newer" cuts, "Rainbow", a sunny, anthematic little ditty that belongs in a smiley montage of some romantic comedy set in New York City during the summer. "Same Kind of Man" helps fuel their soul -soaked sound without sounding cheap or forced. It's also their current promotional tool, featured in a few different television ad campaigns (including that of the soon-to-be canceled "The Playboy Club" on NBC -- not the best omen).

Three of my overall favorites from the release aren't new at all. "Murder U" (a replacement for "Cat & Mouse"...sort of), "Danger" and the hip-hop infused "City Lights" (which features rapper Fabolous) were the meatier bits from their Finally Free EP from earlier this year that was, you guessed it, free.

I was lucky enough to see Nikki & Rich live in concert at a closed showcase here in New York last year, and while I quite enjoyed all of their material (including then single "Next Best Thing"), I became a fan thanks to the gorgeousness that is "Yellow Brick Road". Although I mourn for the loss of "Next Best Thing" and "Cat & Mouse", "Yellow Brick Road" almost makes up for their glaring absence on Greatest Hits... It's every bit as beautiful and haunting as I remember it being live and then some -- complete with choral backing vocals, and a very stripped down backdrop. Leonti is vocally at her very best here. If you don't get goosebumps, check your pulse. You might be dead.

In the end, Greatest Hits... may be a touch anticlimactic after such a long wait, but the quality remains once the dust has settled. Here's to hoping the ironic title won't be so ironic after all.

Nikki & Rich's Greatest Hits... is available for purchase for $7.99 at Amazon.com. Worthy prior singles "Next Best Thing" and "Cat & Mouse" are also available for less than a buck each. Worth the money indeed.

COUNTDOWN TO LIVE: BoA

A little late is still better than never, right? Bare with me, folks. The Evil Month of October is now upon me, which means my day-job will be stealing the better part of my energy...

In case you missed last week's post about Girl's Generation and f(x), I'm recapping the songs by the various SMTown family I'm most psyched to see performed live in person in just a few short weeks at Madison Square Garden at SMTown New York. Without further ado, I present to you...

BoA, one of Korea's reigning musical Queens in the pop genre, recently celebrated her tenth year in the music game. She was also one of the first artists I "profiled" in the KPOP genre here at Melismatic almost two years ago. In terms of "active" SM artists, with the exception of Kangta...somewhat, BoA is the top sunbae, meaning she's been around the longest, debuting back in 2001. Her success was an encouragement for a large group of today's younger idols. She also remains to be the lone female Korean musician to attempt to crack America, by way of 2009's BoA, her first (and hopefully not last) English-language album, supported by three English singles. 

Given that BoA has the most experience speaking English (one of the many languages she's fluent in), I'm definitely looking forward to the pride instilled when homegirl brings down the roof at Madison Square Garden. Unlike a lot of people, I was quite fond of her English album, including the main single, "Eat You Up", and I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't totally stoked to see that one performed live.

But in terms of an overall scope, BoA's career is almost too vast to enumerate which song I'm most psyched to see performed live (not totally unlike that of the boys in TVXQ!). If I had to nail it down to just one, I'll be forced to say this gem from 2005:

"Girls On Top", the lead single from the album of the same name, was a perfect reflection of the strong woman BoA was becoming at the time, and is a strong indicator of who she is as an artist today -- very much in control. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she actually has quite a  bit of stock in SM Entertainment itself, something her peers can't claim (and something that has given her a bit of criticism by more bitter fans). I can't fault her this -- it seems like one of the smartest business decisions an artist could make in an attempt to keep their career in their own terms.

"Girls On Top" was re-recorded in English for her 2009 American release, but there is no question the original Korean version is much stronger, even on a lyrical standpoint.

I am me, no one can replace that
(I won't be passive that easily)
I want to keep my appearance as it is
And still be dignified
(Don't expect that same little girl
Who was confined in shadow)

Sexy, calm, boredom in forever knowing only one man
That is an illusion of men's own interest
I have dreams that will completely change the world
(get it up) You say I lack something
(get it up) Say I lack everything
This makes no sense
I stand as your equal

Girls will make up half this world
(Go baby!) (Girls rise up!)
I will proudly walk the distance to the front

I think a little bit of the strength of "Girls On Top" perhaps got lost in translation, but no matter. The power remains in its live performance, no matter the language. When I think BoA, I think of this song, and words can't express how excited I am to see it performed live in person.

(Note to Self: Practice BoA's ending riff to "Girls On Top", complete with hand motions and epic wail face in the mirror prior to October 23rd...)

Check back next Sunday for another installment of what I'm most looking forward to at SMTown!