MuuMuse

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• Adam Lambert: Better Than I Know Myself (Single Review)
• MuuMuse Approved: Natalia Kills – Lights Out (feat. Far East Movement)
• Hot Club Track of the Week: Erika Jayne – Party People (Ignite The World)
• Lana Del Rey Premieres Stunning Video for “Born To Die”
• Madonna Signs to Interscope Records Which is Not Awkward At All
• Kelly Clarkson Premieres Video for “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger),” Remains An Adorable Goober

Adam Lambert: Better Than I Know Myself (Single Review) Posted: 14 Dec 2011 10:00 PM PST Get ready, y’all, because the evolution of Adam Lambert has just begun. See, I’ve had a chance to listen to the new Adam Lambert single, “Better Than I Know Myself,” — in full. Great news — it’s really, really good. First off, I should say that the snippet, which was released today, doesn’t really do the song justice. You can hear that the chorus sees Adam reaching into the higher part of his register, with booming, “Halo”-like drums and a skittering backbeat. But part of what makes the song magical is the way it builds from the opening of whining synths and a nicely percussive backing track, then builds instrumentally into the chorus. Dr. Luke‘s signature style as a producer is the juxtaposition of relatively subdued verses and a huge, explosive chorus, and “Better Than I Know Myself” does that magnificently. The added talents of Claude Kelly, too, who remains one of the finest songwriters currently in the game, augment the song’s impact, since Claude has a way of cutting to the core of an emotional conflict with quick, elegant images. “Cold as ice, and more bitter than a December winter night/That’s how I treated you,” Adam sings in the opening lyrics, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it simile that speaks volumes. The most emotionally potent moment is the bridge, where the richer synths yield to a tinkling piano and the lyrics turn unexpectedly vulnerable: “I get kinda dark/Let it go too far/I can be obnoxious at times/But try and see my heart.” It’s a lovely turn, with a candor that’s refreshing to hear in pop music, and it makes the song truly memorable. In my piece last week for MTV Buzzworthy, I wrote that “My sources tell me that ‘Better Than I Know Myself’ is a piece of flaw-free radio candy, a stunning midtempo track with a powerhouse chorus that’s like a pumped-up ‘Whataya Want From Me,’ and it should cement Adam’s place in the pop A-list.” I’m sticking by this, especially the latter statement. “Better Than I Know Myself” is more radio-ready as anything on his last album, and I would be stunned if it didn’t perform excellently on the charts, and catapult Adam way further into the realm of superstardom than he’s ever been before. “Better Than I Know Myself” is the lead single off of Adam’s upcoming album, Trespassing. (iTunes)

MuuMuse Approved: Natalia Kills – Lights Out (feat. Far East Movement) Posted: 14 Dec 2011 06:38 PM PST Though she’s usually found sharpening knives and pouring hot candle wax on her latest victims, it seems Mizz Natalia Kills might just be toying with the notion of becoming a disco diva. Well–a dark disco diva anyway. Her latest song to hit the web–”Lights Out,” featuring Cherrytree Records labelmates Far East Movement–is an explosive club anthem, and probably her most straightforward dance offering to date. Floating above a four-to-the-floor smooth House beats and an electronic guitar strum (almost reminiscent of a Junkie XL or Kaskade production), the cold-hearted vixen lets her otherwise heavenly crooning fly loose: “I can read your dirty mind/That good guy shit won’t fly with me,” Kills warns. “I see you and you’re pulling the wool over my eyes,” she continues. But before she’s even got a chance to finish, the boys of Far East Movement are already here to crash the party: “Lights out!” we hear as the song slams hard into an ferocious beat breakdown. Filled with surging beats and half-cutesy, half-sinister lyrics (“Boy, I got a Ph.D/I got a Masters in Boy-ology”), Natalia’s got a serious hit on her hands with “Lights Out.” If she lets his one loose on the clubs, we could be looking at a dance floor massacre. I absolutely love this track, Mizz Kills!

Hot Club Track of the Week: Erika Jayne – Party People (Ignite The World) Posted: 14 Dec 2011 05:39 PM PST For those who still haven’t heard of her, Erika Jayne is one of the newest Kweens of the Dance Floor. (And as you can tell from the photo above, she’s also a Very Serious Artist.) But really: Jayne’s already racked up 5 #1 Hot Dance Club/Play singles over the past three years for tracks like “Rollercoaster,” “Stars” and “Pretty Mess,” which has an accompanying video so fierce that people often upload it as a fake Britney teaser. Now, she’s well on her way to a sixth #1 with her latest release: “Party People (Ignite The World).” “Party people, every boy and girl/Let’s get ready to ignite the world!” Jayne chants during the chorus of her new single, which is already #12 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart. Is it lyrically one of the most generic dance floor anthems in the world? Why, yes! There is ample talk of partying. And people. And the world. But still, it’s fun! “Party People” is a trashy club banga, fitting in snugly between a David Guetta jam and the winding sirens of Afrojack‘s “Take Over Control (feat. Eva Simons).” Frankly, it was the amazingly cheese video that won me over: Abundant hair flips. Glittery Louboutins. HOUNDSTOOTH BOOTY SHORTS? I mean…duh! Also, I kind of love the fact that Erika Jayne has this amazing chameleon-like ability to morph from Paris Hilton to Heidi Montag to Kim Kardashian, all depending on the camera angle. Who’s that chick? I don’t know exactly, but she’s got me wanting more! “Party People (Ignite The World)” was released on November 15. (iTunes) (Spotify)

Lana Del Rey Premieres Stunning Video for “Born To Die” Posted: 14 Dec 2011 01:36 PM PST Lana Del Rey has just released her first big-budget music video ever with “Born To Die,” the latest single from her highly anticipated upcoming Interscope debut, due out in January. Truly, it’s a gorgeous production from start to finish–from the sweeping cathedral interior shots, to the real-life tigers (aww, so pretty!), to that scintillating make-out sesh in the hot rod with her tall, tatted beau, to one majorly dramatic finale. (Make sure you stick it out ’til the very end!) Without spoiling too much, the video acts as a perfect companion piece to the song: Slow-burning, beautiful, and ultimately…quite tragic. Oh, and I’m not the only one who approves: Lana seems pretty pleased with the production as well! From Twitter: Generally, I’m a man of few words, but i will say that this video is the most beautiful thing i’ve ever done. I agree! So stay mad, Lana Del Haters–this one’s a thoroughly flaw-free production. Born To Die will be released on January 31. (iTunes)

Madonna Signs to Interscope Records Which is Not Awkward At All Posted: 14 Dec 2011 09:08 AM PST Good news! It’s been rumored for a while, but now it’s official: Madonna, Queen of Pop (And Also Everything), has inked a deal with Interscope Records to distribute her upcoming twelfth studio album. From Billboard.biz: Madonna has signed with Interscope, a source close to the situation confirmed to Billboard.biz Wednesday morning (December 14). According to a report in the New York Post, the singer will continue the 10-year multi-rights deal with Live Nation — said to be worth more as much as $100 million — that she signed in 2007, but has inked a three-album pact with Interscope at a base of $1 million per album. Billboard.biz’s source could not confirm the terms of the deal at press time but said the report sounded right. Three albums? Well, that sounds mighty fine to me! Now, I’ve seen a lot of childish banter online about Madonna signing with the same label as professional Madonna impersonator Lady Gaga, but we all know that–as the Great Legendtina of Former Floppiness Who Sits On A Throne of Unsold Bionic Albums once preached–”There is room for all of us on everyone’s iPods.” I mean…we’re all grown, empowered women. Amirite, ladies?

Kelly Clarkson Premieres Video for “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger),” Remains An Adorable Goober Posted: 14 Dec 2011 07:04 AM PST Kelly Clarkson, you lovable goon. Just this morning, the powerhouse vocalist premiered the video for her upcoming single “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger),” the title track off of her off-the-charts amazing fifth studio album, Stronger. And it’s amazing! Suited in some unexpected futuristic garb (looking HOT, Miss C!), it seems as though Ms. Clarkson’s accidentally wandered onto the set of Brit Brit‘s intergalactic masterpiece “Hold It Against Me” to get a closer look on the monitors at some of her biggest fans around the world working it out to her latest single. Though I was initially nervous about the whole ‘flash mob’ element to the video, the inclusion of fan clips is pretty seamless–plus, it’s a sweet little show of appreciation by Miss Kelly! The video mainly alternates between the fan-submitted clips and a few signature K. Clarkson video elements, including a ‘rocking out with the band’ scene and a ‘singing into an old-timey microphone’ scene. But wait until the last minute, because the greatest thing ever happens: She dances! Yes–that’s Kelly Clarkson DANCING! And you know what? She looks amazing! Actually, she looks totally adorkable. I love how much fun she’s having, and she looks totally sexy and confident to boot. She’s such a genuinely incredible role model. And those karate skills? Simply unparalleled! All in all, the perfect combination of strong and silly. WIN, WIN, WIN! “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” was released to US radio and will be released February 5 in the UK. (iTunes)

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