Katie Melua Album Release Delayed, Due in February

Well it appears that a November release for Katie Melua's forthcoming 5th album was a bit too much too soon for the popular English singer/songwriter. On September 14th, Melua's longtime songwriting partner and producer Mike Batt Tweeted about the subject:

"Probably putting Katie's album back to Feb. Got it ready and everything (sounds fab) but not fair on her to rush the prep/marketing/

Hot Video Alert: Darren Hayes - Black Out The Sun

"Black Out The Sun," the second single from Darren Hayes' upcoming fourth studio album, is due for release in the UK October 2nd and follows first single "Talk Talk Talk" as well as the Australia/New Zealand-only release of another track called "Bloodstained Heart."  Beautiful and dramatic at the same time, "Black Out The Sun" is a passionate song that showcases virtually everything there is

Hot Video Alert: Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That)

I'm all about a good weekend anthem, and Rihanna's "Cheers (Drink To That)" is definitely that.  The song is the sixth single to be lifted from Rihanna's fifth studio album, Loud and was written by Andrew Harr, Jermaine Jackson, Stacey Barthe, Laura Pergolizzi, Corey Gibson, Chris Ivery, Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards, Avril Lavigne and Scott Spock and produced by Harr & Jackson under the

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

Hot Video Alert: Sneaky Sound System - We Love

While a lot of good pop music happens to come out of Sweden, Australia is absolutely another place that knows a thing or two about pop talent.  Sneaky Sound System are a Sydney-based duo, made up of guitarist and producer Black Angus and singer Connie Mitchell.  The uber-catchy "We Love" is the first single to be taken from the band's forthcoming third album, From Here To Anywhere, due

'Radioactive' New Marina and The Diamonds Single Due in October

Since releasing her debut album in 2010, I've been eagerly anticipating new material from Welsh singer/songwriter Marina Diamandis (AKA Marina and The Diamonds). Her last album, The Family Jewels, was different from anything else I'd ever heard so naturally I latched on to her unique sound and incredible knack for honest songwriting. In addition to being a talented songwriter, I was

Hot Video Alert: Frankmusik featuring Colette Carr - No I.D.

Music Is My King Size Bed favorite, Frankmusik, premiered the video for his latest single yesterday on the AOL Music Blog. An infectious summery pop jam, "No I.D." was released on iTunes September 6th and is the third official single lifted off Vincent Frank's sophomore album, Do It In The AM due out later this month via Island Records/Cherrytree/Interscope Records. Featuring fellow

Hot Video Alert: One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful

Last month the lovely boys of One Direction (Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson) released the video for their debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful," and I have to say I'm a little bit disappointed. I'm not just disappointed in the video, but the song as well. It's all just a bit...expected? Written by Carl Falk, Savan Kotecha and Rami Yacoub, "What Makes

Katie Melua Set To Release Fifth Album in November

First off...big thanks to Pop In Stereo for alerting me to this news! Katie Melua, one of my favorite English artists, is set to release her fifth album, Secret Symphony, on November 14th on her longtime label, Dramatico Records. The album, recorded at London's Air Studios sees the 26 year old Melua reverting back to some old habits, and by "habits" I mean the best kind of habits. In

Hot Video Alert: MIKA - Elle Me Dit

I love MIKA. I have since he released his first album, Life In Cartoon Motion, back in 2007 and the fact that his brand of infectious, feel good pop has yet to catch on here in America is an absolute travesty. MIKA's latest single, "Elle Me Dit," was released in France July 11th on iTunes via Barclay/Casablanca Records. Co-produced by MIKA and his frequent collaborator, Canadian producer

Hot Video Alert: Lady Gaga - Yoü and I

Up until now, I haven't been impressed by Lady Gaga's latest "masterpiece" album, Born This Way. The album's title track had a positive message and all but it kind of bored me. Her second single, "Judas" impressed me even less, coming off as a rehash/remix of "Bad Romance" and nothing more. By the time Gaga released her third single, "The Edge Of Glory," I was officially bored. Now we

Hot Video Alert: Chromeo featuring Solange Knowles - When The Night Falls

When I first heard that Montreal based "electrofunk" duo Chromeo was collaborating with Solange Knowles on a song, I nearly lost my shit.  As much as I loved each individual artist, I was thinking "how is this going to work?"  At the time I heard about it I was thinking about how different their genres were...Solange Knowles is an R&B artist whereas Chromeo is electronica. Had I thought

Hot Video Alert: Sugababes - Freedom

UGH! I'm just so bored with the Sugababes nowadays. I just don't know what happened...

Wait a minute. Yes I do. Keisha Buchanan left the group.

Ever since that fateful day, my love affair with the Sugababes has spiraled into blase indifference.  Whether I would have liked the girls' seventh studio album, Sweet 7 with Buchanan's name and voice still attached...I'll never know.  What I do

Hot Video Alert: Michelle Branch - Loud Music

Just in case you haven't seen the video yet for the new Michelle Branch single, "Loud Music,"...here it is. "Loud Music" is the first official single to be taken from Branch's forthcoming third studio West Coast Time. The album was originally slated for release in September, but has since been pushed back to "mid October," according to Billboard. Perhaps that's a good thing, considering "

Hot Video Alert: SuperHeavy - Miracle Worker

If the first single is any indication, SuperHeavy has a lot of potential for hotness. In case you haven't heard by now, SuperHeavy is a SUPERGROUP made up of Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Damian Marley and A.R. Rahman. Quite the lineup, no? According to Jagger in an interview with Rolling Stone: "We wanted a convergence of different musical styles," says Jagger. "We were always

Hot Video Alert: Bella Vida - Kiss Kiss Me Bang Bang

Remember back in June when I did a lil post about the Hasselhoff sisters, Taylor & Haley AKA Bella Vida?  Well, they've released a video for their catchy dance/pop single "Kiss Kiss Me Bang Bang" and it's cheesy to the max. While definitely a few thousand notches above the video for their Dad, David Hasselhoff's "Jump In My Car," the visual effects in the KKMBB video are low budget.

Hot Video Alert: Rascal Flatts featuring Natasha Bedingfield - Easy

Natasha Bedingfield is just all over the place these days, isn't she? First she released a failed album here in America (Strip Me only peaked at #103 on the Billboard 200), then she appeared in punk-pop band Simple Plan's single "Jet Lag," and now we have Natasha Bedingfield as a featured vocalist in a Rascal Flatts single? Seriously Natasha? I mean, I guess she's got to make a living

Hot Video Alert: Rebecca Black - My Moment

Rebecca Black seems hell bent on proving to the world that she has what it takes to be a pop star. Case in point - Black's most recent single, "My Moment," a mid-tempo auto-tuned pop single and follow up to "Friday." After Black gained notoriety fame attention with her debut single, "Friday," I waited for it all to blow over.  To me, Rebecca Black was the epitome of everything that is

Hot Video Alert: Pixie Lott - All About Tonight

I'm BEYOND thrilled to hear that English singer/songwriter Pixie Lott is coming back with a new album. I absolutely fell in love with her debut, Turn It Up, back when that came out in the Fall of 2009.  There was just something about her tone that kind of reminded me of a more youthful Natasha Bedingfield.  Now, here we are nearly two years later and we're getting ready for her sophomore