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“‘Oh my God, you look just like Shakira! No, no–you’re Catherine Zeta!’ ‘Actually, my name’s Marina,’” she sang on “Hollywood,” the second single off of 2010′s The Family Jewels.

It’s been over two years since her debut, and Marina + The Diamonds is back with yet another identity crisis for her second go-around in the studio–and this time, she’s evoking a cold, cruel bitch named Electra Heart.

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Breathe…

After a knockout Aphrodite-inspired appearance at the 2012 Brits earlier this week, Queen Kylie Minogue spoke to Metro about her plans for the upcoming “K25″ celebration in 2012–as well as a new album in 2013.

From Metro:

‘I have started on new music already. It should be ready for 2013,’ the pop princess said, who has been celebrating her K25 milestone in the musical mecca of Abbey Road Studios.

The 43-year-old is arming herself with a few geniuses for the follow-up to her 2010 No.1 album Aphrodite.

‘It’s a few different people,’ she said, refusing to name names but promising fans her new offering is ‘really exciting and different’.

Thanks to a few not-so-subtle hints on Twitter, we already know that Kylie’s been hitting the studio with Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Britney Spears), Greg Kurstin and Karen Poole–a SMASH HIT team of superb pop scribes.

(Kurstin and Poole previously worked together with Kylie to craft “Wow,” “No More Rain” and “Magnetic Electric” off of X.)

With a performance coming up in Sydney for the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Party on March 3 (her grand return after 14 years!) and plenty of surprises coming up for K25, it looks like we’re in store for much, much more Minogue.

What doesn’t kill you makes you…WIN!

Kelegendary Clarkson just hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” the second single (and title track) from her fifth studio album, Stronger.

From Billboard:

In what an RCA Records representative terms a “perfect storm” of radio airplay, digital sales and pop culture prominence, Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” rises from No. 2 to No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. The uptempo pop anthem becomes the original “American Idol” champion’s third leader on the list.

Not only is this Clarkson’s first #1 since 2009′s “My Life Would Suck Without You,” but it’s also producer Greg Kurstin‘s first #1 single ever–a long overdue achievement. In other words? A whole lot of celebrating is in order!

Congratulations, Ms. Slay It All! You did it!

“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” – The Remixes was released on February 3. (iTunes)

Santigold first burst into the scene with her brilliant 2008 genre-bending debut Santogold (pre-name change, of course), featuring killer cuts like “L.E.S. Artistes” and “Lights Out” that quickly won her comparisons to acts ranging from M.I.A. to The Gossip.

While she’s busied herself in between 2008 and now–including collaborating with N.A.S.A. and Basement Jaxx and penning “Monday Morning” and “Bobblehead” for Queen Legendtina‘s Bionic–fans have remained hungry for her long delayed, highly anticipated follow-up.

In a new interview this month with V Magazine, the Philly-bred musician revealed new details about her upcoming sophomore attempt now due out in 2012, called Master of My Make-Believe, which was been recorded with Greg Kurstin, Switch, TV On The Radio‘s Dive Sitek and Nick Zanner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Two choice quotes from the article:

How do you go about songwriting?

I write to the music. The lyrics came slowly on this record.

Why do you think that was?

It was about learning to trust myself. I also had expectations. Never have those! Everyone I worked with before was in a different headspace. I had to get past that. That’s why I started writing with Nick, and it started being cool and fun.

So was that the turning point?

That was when it was like, I just want to work with who I want. We recorded in Jamaica for a little while and finally some lyrics started to come to me. I think that time really colored the record.

No one wants to be real anymore. Wikipedia is always wrong. No one fact checks and it’s not even a priority. Reality TV is more popular than ever, and it’s the fakest thing ever. Where is there place for truth in all of that? My record is called Master of My Make-Believe because I want it to be about creating your own reality. I have a song called “The Keepers”: “we’re the keepers, while we sleep in America our house is burning down.” It’s about how if we accept this then that’s what it is. We’ve got to fix it.

Is that, in your opinion, the overall feeling of the record?

I connect with music that makes me feel alive, or a sense of possibility. Music is powerful. If I go out and I’m watching a show and it’s really good, all I want to do is go home and work on music. It’s a backhanded motivation when something is really good. I want my music to be that for people. I want it to be an initiator of something compelling, to set something in motion.

Make sure to check out the full article at V.

Kurstin, Switch and some Yeah Yeah Yeahs flavor to boot? Yes, yes and yes, PLEASE!

Frankly, it’s about time. While Santogold still sounds more fresh and innovative than most of the albums released in 2011, we’re in desperate need for Santi to switch up the game once again. For now, let’s go out with one of my favorite cuts off of her debut: “Shove It.”

We think you’re a joke, shove your hope where it don’t shine! (Not you, Santi!)

Master of My Make-Believe will be released in 2012. (iTunes)

Did you know? Sky Ferreira is still perfect.

In a new interview with my good friend Alex Catarinella for Elle, the ever under-the-radar pop songstress revealed the latest plans for her long-delayed debut record, tentatively (hopefully!) due out in 2012:

ELLE: What can you tell us about the LP you’re working on?
SF: I’m releasing a single this winter. I’ve been writing with my boyfriend Nick, who’s in the Virgins, for the past year or two. I’m working with Jon Brion [ed note: major Fiona Apple producer] in the new year and possibly recording with Shirley Manson and Greg Kurstin. I’ve been working with Greg since I was like, 15-years-old. This recording process is about making good music and collaboration. All of the people I’m working with believe in what I’m doing and it really makes a difference. I’ve made about 5 debut albums at this point, but this one is where my heart is truly at…and no label set backs!

New single within weeks? Sweet. More to come from Greg Kurstin? Sweet. A possible Shirley Manson collaboration in the works?! No, I–I can’t possibly. This is simply too good. I am dead.

Ferreira also gushed a bit about her (and my) current obsession: Kween Courtney Stodden. In fact, she even fantasizes about one day making a music video with the flaw-free iconic goddess sent from above on a cloud made out of lip gloss and pink hair extensions:

ELLE: I know you’re a bit of a pop culture junkie. Do you have a favorite pop culture obsession of 2011?
SF: Courtney Stodden is probably my favorite. I want to do a music video of us at a water park and getting in a cat fight in the lazy river. Lots of weave pulling and Courtney would pour her Big Gulp on top of my head.

Honestly, the idea of seeing Sky and Courtney getting wet ‘n’ wild in the rough rapids sends sultry goosebumps all over my sensuous skin. Don’t put it on me, girl! Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t, DON’T! (But do!!!)

New single. New album. Kurstin and Miss Manson. Stodden dreams. Shaking and crying!

The As If! EP was released on March 22. (iTunes)

She’s already been a “Silly Girl” and woofed around with a “Bad Dog”. Now, the fiery UK gypsy-pop princess Neon Hitch has been “Poisoned With Love”!

Hitch’s brand new Greg Kurstin (Sia, Lily Allen)-produced jam, featured on this month’s NOW 40, is a gorgeous, dazzling and ever-so-slightly twisted mid-tempo–sort of like taking a lil’ trip on a demented carousel ride.

Kicking off with a twinkling electronic effect (reminiscent of Zelda’s Lullaby from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, just in case you were wondering why I’m still single), the song quickly gives way to an ever-so-creepy organ, as Neon dives dizzyingly deeper into her own delusions: “You say that I need help, and I do/Do-o-o-o!” Neon half-yodels, half-croons above the waltzing beat.

“Oh, I’m poisoned with love/But I can’t get enough/So I keep walking on broken glass for you,” Hitch wildly yelps during the song’s magnificent, whirling chorus. Yo Neon: Y U SO CRAZY THO?

A Disney-approved fairytale romance? Err, no. Not quite. Step off, Snow White–Neon Hitch is here.

Neon Hitch – Poisoned With Love by NeonHitch

“Poisoned With Love” was released on November 8. (iTunes)

Kelly Clarkson‘s come a long way in just under a decade.

After becoming the first (and let’s be real, still easily the best) winner of American Idol in 2002, the singer first made her official mark with 2003′s Thankful, a debut collection complete with safe-yet-amazing post-Idol balladry (“Anytime”), soulful R&B-pop offerings (“Just Missed The Train”) and slightly rambunctious, attitude heavy pop-rock anthems, including “Miss Independent” and “Low.”

The runaway success of the latter two singles quickly helped to sculpt the sound of what would become Clarkson’s grand opus in 2004: Breakaway, one of the most defining pop records of the ’00′s–a pristine collection of electrifying pop-rock anthems produced by Max Martin, Dr. Luke and Ben Moody including “Behind These Hazel Eyes” and “Since U Been Gone” that officially shed the singer’s Idol image and quickly made Clarkson’s name synonymous to any and all things angst-pop.

Following the record-breaking success of Breakaway came My December in 2007. Generally dubbed as Clarkson’s “rebel moment,” Kelly opted to breakaway (pun!) from the familiar pop mold of her past and go a slightly less radio-friendly route, penning tougher, darker, and more revealing rock tracks than ever before. The album’s development led to a very heated, very public head-to-head power struggle between Clarkson and Sony BMG label head Clive Davis, who very openly professed his lack of faith in Clarkson’s upcoming release. And while My December–which spawned “Never Again” and the devastating power ballad “Sober”–was by no means a failure (in fact, it was generally received more favorably by critics than Breakaway), its performance was ultimately underwhelming.

In 2009, Clarkson returned once more with her fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted. It was another strong release (as with every Clarkson album) and a smash hit, although marked with a certain by-the-numbers familiarity, including safe, radio-friendly anthems (“My Life Would Suck Without You”) and Katy Perry album rejects (“I Do Not Hook Up”). The album’s own cover painted the album’s narrative perfectly, featuring an uncomfortable Clarkson forced to half-smile against a schlocky, candy-coated Photoshop background. It was, in effect, a quiet acknowledgement that Davis had won this round.

Two more years have passed since then, leading to Clarkson’s fifth studio release: Stronger–the most perfect representation of harmony achieved.

Combining the power-pop anthems and radio friendly accessibility of Breakaway with the darker confessional appeal of My December, Stronger plays like the perfect marriage between artistic intent and label demand. It’s an effortless combination–counterbalancing the threat of overindulgence by an artist gone unchecked and the “sell-out” sound of a label with too many hands in the cookie jar–resulting in one of the strongest, most triumphant and wholly satisfying records of the year.

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First of all, yes: That song title really is real.

“Disco, Blisters & A Comedown” is the official B-side to Nicola Roberts‘ debut single, “Beat Of My Drum.” (“Porcelain Heart” was the iTunes pre-order exclusive, so GET WITH IT.)

The song is basically the way cooler, more hip version of Katy Perry‘s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)” featuring space cadet, slap-happy electro-pop production a la Sky Ferreira‘s “99 Tears” (is this a Greg Kurstin production?), and contains no less than one reference to:

+ Lady Gaga.
+ John Prescott.
+ TopShop.

“Why do the lights in the kebab shop make this guy look less hot?”

“Disco, Blisters & A Comedown” is completely perfect. But really, who’s surprised?

The “Beat of My Drum” CD single will be released on July 11. (iTunes)