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Lady Gaga – Paparazzi

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Lady Gaga - Paparazzi‘Paparazzi’ is the third single from American pop sensation Lady Gaga. Ditching the uptempo dance sound that she showcased with previous singles ‘Just Dance’ and ‘Poker Face’, Lady Gaga here decides to slow things down a touch, and does an incredibly good job of it too.

‘Paparazzi’, whilst slowing things down still manages to be energetic and exciting, and provides for a very satisfying listening experience. Lady Gaga’s vocals are excellent as always here, and the accompanying beat is also incredibly impressive. The lyrics work well, and it’s just a very nicely presented piece of pop music.

Lady Gaga is hugely successful right now, and for good reason too; she really is talented, and no doubt has an excellent career ahead of her in music.

Label: Streamline Records/Interscope
Release Date: July 6th 2009

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Cascada – Evacuate the Dancefloor

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Cascada - Evacuate the DancefloorGerman dance group Cascada has achieved a lot since first bursting onto the scene back in 2004; three studio albums have now been released, the latest of which is ‘Evacuate the Dancefloor’.

Title track ‘Evacuate the Danclefoor’ is the lead single from the group’s third studio album, and really is an incredibly catchy offering of dance music. It’s bouncy, fun, and with this track the group really does impress hugely. The chorus is absolutely infectious, and it’s not difficult to hear why this track is doing so well in Europe. ‘Evacuate the Dancefloor’ has peaked at number 4 in the European Hot 100, and has even hit the top spot here in the UK. ‘Evacuate the Dancefloor’ is arguably Cascada’s best single to date, and if you like your electropop then there’s a good chance that you’ll be impressed by this single from Cascada.

‘Evacuate the Dancefloor’ is a definite feel good anthem, and will no doubt be filling dancefloors all throughout the summer months and beyond.

Label: All Around the World
Release Date: June 29th 2009

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Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll

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Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll‘Heads Will Roll’ is the second single from the Yeah Yeah Yeanhs third studio album ‘It’s Blitz!’. It’s a simple yet effective piece of music which is incredibly catchy, and always a lot of fun to listen to. The simplicity of the track is definitely what’s so brilliant about ‘Heads Will Roll’, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has certainly done a fantastic job with this one.

A fun piece of music to listen to, ‘Heads Will Roll’ is definitely the kind of track to get the dancefloor moving, and Karen O’s vocals here are just absolutely incredible. The driving instrumental sound really does work well, and combined with the quality vocal sound this really does provide for an intensely enjoyable listening experience.

‘Heads Will Roll’ is an uplifting track that I’d most certainly recommend all to listen to.

Label: Polydor
Release Date: June 29th 2009

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Elliot Minor – Solaris

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elliot-minor-solarisWhen your debut album is a huge success then it’s always going to be difficult to follow it up. Elliot Minor’s self-titled debut spawned such commercially successful singles as ‘Still Figuring Out’, ‘Parallel Worlds’, and ‘Jessica’, and the band is now back with some new music to try and wow the masses.

‘Solaris’ is the latest single from Elliot Minor, and is a pleasant piece of music which suggests that the band’s second album will once again impress. It’s not blessed with the incredibly catchy chorus that the aforementioned singles all have, it is however a very nice track to listen to, and one that fans of the first album will surely appreciate.

The vocals of Alex Davies are excellent here as always, and the keyboard work also is truly exceptional. ‘Solaris’ is perhaps not what you’d expect from a lead single, it is however a very well composed piece of music, and one which provides for a supremely satisfying overall listening experience.

If you were a fan of the first Elliot Minor album then definitely be sure to give ‘Solaris’ a listen.

Label: Repossession Records
Release Date: August 10th 2009

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Hey Monday Tour Dates

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Hey MondayHey Monday will be hitting the UK at the end of September, performing at a total of eight different venues throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.

Hey Monday’s debut album ‘Hold on Tight’ is available now, and if you’re a fan of Paramore then you’ll probably like Hey Monday also.

The following are the tour dates for Hey Monday’s upcoming UK tour:

Sepetmber
27 Leeds, The Cockpit
28 Southsea, Wedgewood Rooms
29 London, Islington O2 Academy
30 Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

October
02 Oxford, O2 Academy
03 Wolverhampton, Civic Bar
04 Glasgow, King Tut’s
05 Manchester, Academy 3

Billy Talent UK Tour

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BILLY TALENT
Canadian punk rock band Billy Talent will be touring the UK later this year, and you’ll be able to catch them at ten different venues throughout the UK.

Billy Talent released its third major label studio album ‘III’ through Atlantic on July 14th, and the band will no doubt be playing some of the net material on the tour, as well as popular tracks from the earlier albums.

Billy Talent is definitely not a band to be missed, and if you’d like to check the band out on tour in the UK then you’ll be able to do so at the following tour dates:

October
19 Leeds Academy
20 Nottingham Rock City
21 Sheffield Academy
23 Glasgow Barrowlands
25 Dublin Olympia
26 Manchester Academy
27 Birmingham O2 Academy
29 Southampton Guildhall
30 Norwich UEA

November
01 London Brixton Academy

Rise Against – Hero of War

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Rise Against - Hero of WarTaken from Rise Against’s ‘Appeal to Reason’ album, ‘Hero of War’ is a very nice acoustic track featuring hard hitting, heartfelt lyrics. It’s the only acoustic track from the album, and given its high quality it really is a shame really that the band didn’t choose to further explore this acoustic area on the album.

‘Hero of War’ looks into the subject of the Iraq War, and is written from the perspective of a veteran of the war. The lyrics are absolutely brilliant, and the laid back approach taken here really does come across well on record. Tim McIlrath’s vocals are excellent as ever, and a huge amount of passion can here be heard coming through in the sound.

In terms of style, ‘Hero of War’ is not your typical Rise Against track; it’s mellow and acoustic, it does however contain all the passion you’d expect of the band and more. ‘Hero of War’ really is an excellent track to listen to, with lyrics well worthy of your admiration.

Label: Interscope
Release Date: June 22nd 2009

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Paramore, Muse, and Boys Like Girls to Perform at the MTV VMAs

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Paramore, Muse, and Boys Like Girls are all set to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on September 13th.

All three bands will release a new studio album later this year, and the awards will provide a fantastic opportunity for all three bands to showcase new material.

Russell Brand is hosting the awards for the second year running, and Taylor Swift is another artist that will be performing.

La Roux – Bulletproof

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La Roux - Bulletproof‘Bulletproof’ is the fantastic third single from the brilliant British electropop duo that is La Roux. If ‘In for the Kill’ didn’t make you love La Roux, then ‘Bulletproof’ sure as hell should. The beat is incredible, the production sublime, and vocally here Elly Jackson always has a lot to offer also.

La Roux is a band that is clearly keen on bringing back the 80s, and doing so by putting together some incredibly fine music. ‘Bulletproof’ is a track that absolutely has it all; the verse structure is strong, the chorus sublime, and everything about the track just fits together to provide absolute aural perfection.

The band only formed in 2008, an incredible debut album has made this electropop duo massive however, and in a short space of time a huge amount of success has been achieved.

‘Bulletproof’ is an infectious gem of electropop that is sure to get you up on your feet and dancing; La Roux is a band that we’ll no doubt be hearing a lot more from throughout 2009 and beyond.

Label: Polydor
Release Date: June 22nd 2009

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Hellogoodbye and Hanson Co-Headlining Tour

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Use Your Sole TourHellogoodbye and Hanson are heading out on a US tour at the end of September, continuing the tour all throughout October, and then into November also. It’s being called the ‘Use Your Sole Tour’, and as well as Hellogoodbye and Hanson; you’ll also be able to catch Steel Train and Sherwood on the tour.

‘Use Your Sole’ looks set to be a pretty interesting tour, and if you’re a fan of any of these four bands then it may well be worth heading along to one of the shows.

The following are the ‘Use Your Sole’ tour dates, and all shows will feature both headlining bands unless otherwise stated:

September
30 – Tulsa, OK @ Coins Ballroom

October
1 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
2 – Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont
3 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
5 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
6 – Cleveland, OH @ HOB
7 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
9 – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian theatre
10 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
11 – Chicago, IL @ HOB
12 – Chicago, IL @ HOB
14 – Boston, MA @ HOB
15 – New York, NY @ Nokia Theatre
16 – Albany, NY @ Northern Lights
19 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
20 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
22 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southern
23 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ HOB
24 – Orlando, FL @ HOB
26 – Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Soundstage (no Hellogoodbye)
27 – Nashville, TN @ Wildhorse Saloon
28 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
31 – Houston, TX @HOB

November
1 – Dallas, TX @ HOB
3 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
5 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
7 – Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia
8 – San Diego, CA @ HOB
11 – Anaheim, CA @ HOB (Hanson only)