Happy New Year, Muusers!
I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Years Eve celebration, and a most fabulous 2010.
As always, thank you to any and all of my readers who’ve been following my blog over the past few years, months, weeks, or even just days. It means the world to me to be able to write about the music I love and interact with tons of fellow pop enthusiasts. I’ve been having a blast so far…thank you for joining me!
Here’s to a new decade, new experiences, and lots and lots of new music to muuse about.
xoxo
b
If last year’s theme was the circus, this year’s is truly the freakshow.
Meet Natalia Kills, a new artist preparing for her debut under the hit-making machine better known as Cherry Tree Records (as well as a co-sign under Will.i.Am‘s label.)
Grabbing an intentionally Autotuned vocal cue from label mate Lady Gaga and an aesthetic note from classic noir (and subsequently, Rihanna‘s latest output), Natalia Kills’ “Zombie” is a killer visual and aural debut by any and all definition.
The track simply bleeds from the speakers with electric, spine-tingling potential. Just try and resist the militant, robotic beat and the icy chorus: “I’m in love with a zombie boy, but his heart is so cold.” Then again, it only took the first three seconds of that beat to have me hooked.
…And this isn’t even the first official single.
Along with her debut album set to be released sometime in 2010, Natalia also directs her own videos. According to a transcribed faux-conversation on her MySpace, her debut film will be released in time with her album–both of which dealing with the theme of perfectionism.
Earlier on in the conversation, Martin “Cherry Cherry Boom Boom” Kierszenbaum (head of Cherry Tree) refers to a song of hers as “Grace Jones meets Kate Bush at La Femme Nikita‘s apartment.” High praise doesn’t even begin to describe that statement.
Time will soon tell what becomes of Natalia Kills. To me, she is the artist to watch for 2010.
“Zombie” is now out on iTunes. I highly suggest you go and grab it now so that when she blows up in a few months, you can tell all your friends that you saw her coming way back in 2009–and all thanks to MuuMuse!
I’m in love with a zombie. Are you?
WHAT THE WHAT.
RING THE тревога: t.A.T.u. is NOT breaking up, according to the latest video the duo posted on their YouTube account.
As Lena explains in the video (wait until after Yulia’s message in Russian), there were a lot of nasty rumors (“different talks, like, not truths”) like this official-seeming one about their musical endeavors. Now, it’s been confirmed straight from the girls themselves that they are in fact STILL TOGETHER…and planning to do new things in 2010!
The two then waved around sparklers in what appears to be the boiler room of a dark, shifty hospital wing and wished us all a very merry New Year. How Russian!
But what of Lena’s solo career? Hmmm…
One just wasn’t enough.
A little while after posting my initial “Most Anticipated” list for 2010 (read: approximately three seconds), I realized that I had left out far too many important upcoming releases that merit an equal amount of attention.
Let’s keep it going with another installment then!
Christina Aguilera, Bionic (Fourth studio album)
What it is: From WWII to the post-apocalypse, Christina’s upcoming reinvention in sight and sound is poised to raise the bar in pop next year.
Expected shelf date: March 2010.
Confirmed tracks: “You Lost Me,” “Monday Morning”
Production by: Goldfrapp, Ladytron, Sia, Le Tigre, M.I.A, Sam Endicott, Diplo & Switch, Linda Perry, Tricky Stewart
What we know: Loads. Every one of the producers and writers for the new album has been absolutely raving about their work with Christina. Tricky Stewart told Vibe that “She did things that she’s never necessarily heard on the radio.” Ladytron cannot seem to sing higher praises of Christina’s taste in music and talent in the studio. Sia’s called the songs they’ve wrote together “classical music beautiful” and “sad and awesome.” As far as what I personally know from my sources (such a cock tease!), it’s all sounding quite good.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: A shocking, next-level FutureSound set to knock Gaga down a peg or two.
Goldfrapp, Head First (Fifth studio album)
What it is: The new dawn of another era in Goldfrapp.
Expected shelf date: March 23, 2010.
Confirmed tracks: “Rocket”
Production by: Goldfrapp
What we know: From their official site, courtesy of Alison: “this album is very different from the last, but i hope you enjoy it just as much for different reasons. i’m really looking forward to playing the new songs live as a lot of them are so up and jubilant. even the revenge songs are kind of joyous! its gonna be a blast!”
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Whatever they’ve got to offer. Who dislikes any of the Goldfrapp albums, honestly?
Sia, We Are Born (Fifth studio album)
What it is: The spunky follow-up to 2008′s Some People Have Real Problems, helmed by the producer behind Lily Allen‘s fabulous It’s Not Me, It’s You.
Expected shelf date: April 2010.
Confirmed tracks: “You’ve Changed,” “Clap Your Hands”
Production by: Greg Kurstin
What we know: The album is basically complete, and a new single will be released in the first quarter of 2010. It’s also full of happy, upbeat sounds a la “You’ve Changed,” which you can download at MuuMuse and “Clap Your Hands,” which has been performed live during her Australian tour.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: A brighter, poppier Sia with more hooks and melodies than ever before.
Nicki Minaj, TBA (Debut album)
What it is: After creating a handful of mixtapes and lending verses on literally everyone’s songs, Minaj will finally roll out her debut as one of the most promising female rappers since Lil’ Kim.
Expected shelf date: 1Q 2010.
Confirmed tracks: None.
Production by: Unknown.
What we know: It will be bossy, braggy, and full of Harajuku Barbie style. As the only female rapper on Young Money Entertainment, it will undoubtedly feature everyone from Drake to Lil’ Wayne.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: “Itty Bitty Piggy,” as well as more references to signing boobs and ‘poppin’ that pussy on his Suzuki so crazy kooky in them Daisy Dukies.
Janet Jackson, TBA (Eleventh studio album)
What it is: Returning to her original label A&M Records, Janet’s follow-up to 2008′s Discipline is a top priority release to send Jackson back to the top of the charts.
Expected shelf date: 2Q 2010.
Confirmed tracks: None yet, aside from the possible inclusion of “Make Me.”
Production by: According to the NY Daily News, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.
What we know: During her interview with Robin Roberts for ABC, Janet spoke a bit about her new material: “So far I’ve kept it light, but I’m sure it’s going to have its moments of getting a little heavy, a little deeper, lyrically speaking. I need a little bit of escapism right now…something that’s fun to listen to.”
MuuMuse hopes to hear: The classic Janet formula–two or three solid club bangers and a bunch of slinkier grooves a la “When We Oooo” and “That’s The Way Love Goes.” I’m also expecting some darker work and hopeful balladry, given the hardships she’s had to face over the past few months.
Looking for a track to help count down to the New Year?
Problem solved! Meet the T-Minus 321 unofficial remix of Britney‘s “3.”
It’s basically as if “3″ met the synthesizers from the Eurythemics‘ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of These),” and then some futuristic, electro sounds a la Frankmusik at a gay bar. There’s some stuttering, some stopping, and a whole lot of yelping.
Let’s just do it, you and me…all the way to 2010!
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