I’ll admit it: I’ve been sleeping on CocknBullKid for a while now.

Why? It’s a shamefully silly reason, yet entirely real nonetheless: She has literally the worst stage name of all time.

No, but seriously: It reads like one of those terrible hipster bands that mass CC’s me along with every other site across the blogosphere with their awful electro-rock trash and horrible neon-colored graphics.

But CockNBullKid, better Anita Blay, is not trash at all. In fact, she’s quite brilliant.

Having released a smattering of singles a few years back as thecocknbullkid (note: not a better name), the UK songstress was soon signed to Moshi Moshi Records (Island Records) in 2009.

Blay has since released two incredible songs from her upcoming studio album due out in May, Adulthood, including “One Eye Closed” and the Lily Allen-esque “Hold On To Your Misery.” Both songs evoke dozens of musical influences, from swinging, ’60′s Motown rhythms to flares of ’80′s New Wave.

Now, CocknBullKid is preparing the third single of the bunch, and arguably the best: “Asthma Attack.”

With a sparkling synthesized beat and an entirely infectious chorus, “Asthma Attack” is CocknBullKid’s most modern sounding single yet.

As MuuMuse contributor Sam Lansky noted when breathlessly describing the song to me (you see what I did there?), there’s a certain tinge of Xenomania mid-tempo UK synth-pop balladry a la Girls Aloud‘s “Call The Shots” or Mini Viva‘s “I Wish” that makes the track all the more spiritually fulfilling.

Plus, as a boy with numerous allergies (and even more deep-seated anxieties), I find that “Asthma Attack” resonates deeply with me, leading me to tuck this one into my pocket straight away. You know, right next to the inhaler.

CocknBullKid–despite that name–is the real deal. So calm down, put your headphones on and take a long, deep breath.

“Asthma Attack” was released on March 20. (iTunes UK)

Sky Ferreira will release her debut EP, AS IF! this week, and it’s like, so…whatever.

Actually, that’s a flat out lie: It’s incredible.

Read more »

I’ve neglected writing about Katy B for a painfully long time. Not out of disinterest, but rather laziness: Whenever a new pop ingenue comes rolling around, I’ve either got to take the initiative and tackle the formal introductions head-on or–as it more often tends to be the case, I’ll end up riding the wave bubbling under until it becomes absolutely necessary.

It’s become absolutely necessary.

Katy B is part of a phenomenon in British female pop steadily increasing in popularity at the moment, characterized by sweetly sung R&B melodies, hip-hop rhymes, and rough, grinding garage/grime beats–let’s call it “swagga pop.”

Though she looks all of 12 years old, the rising South London-born pop chanteuse commands a sick flow and a pleasantly soulful croon, like a cross between Cher Lloyd and Jessie J or JoJo and Joss Stone.

Groomed by the good people of underground radio/record label Rinse.FM and recently signed to Columbia Records, Katy B has come a long way in a short period of time–and it’s clear that the British public’s already taken notice.

Her first single, “Katy On A Mission,” was released in late August. The track is a somewhat bipolar, grinding dubstep banger that–despite its somewhat less accessible radio sound–managed to climb to the impressive position of #5 the UK Singles Chart and #1 on the UK Dance Chart only two weeks after its release.

In fact, the song was such a success that its trance-y B-side, the glittering “Louder,” (which I imagine Lily Allen sounds like when played at a rave), peaked at #176 on the charts based on downloads alone.

“Lights On” is the second single to be released from Katy B’s upcoming debut album (due out next week), which also features Ms. Dynamite. (OH HAI–long time no see, lady!)

On her new track, the young singer ditches the dubstep sound of her debut in favor of UK garage/classic house revivalism a la Hercules & Love Affair. “I keep on moving with the lights on,” the young star sings above the song’s dull, throbbing beat whilst inexplicably parading around the “Rock Your Body”-esque video in–what else? A pair of pajamas.

If the late ’80′s/early ’90′s sound of “Lights On” rubbed you the right way, I highly recommend checking out Katy B’s take on the 1988 Inner City smash, “Good Life,” re-rubbed by Rinse.FM artist Geeneus. It’s, well…genius!

As with all noteworthy pop artists (especially of the ‘swagga pop’ variety), Katy B’s music constantly toes the line between brilliance and shit–a quality that will undoubtedly divide listeners and provide for some interesting pop discourse.

But whether you’re loving or hating the jams, there’s little doubt that Katy B is set to explode in 2011.

“Lights On” will be released on December 20. (iTunes)

“Rollerblades” is the nice and lovely second single by the bright and bubbly Eliza Doolittle, one of the newest acts signed to Parlophone.

While the song is a great little Lily Allen-esque whistle-while-you-work sort of choon, the video provides three main avenues of thought:

+ Oh my God, Eliza Doolittle looks just like Miley Cyrus.
+ Who jumps straight into a couch lying on the sidewalk? In New York City, no less! Surely she must have bedbugs now.

However, my thoughts are best represented by YouTube user diamond14441′s sentiments in the comment section:

if the song if called rollerblades then why is she on a bike

The world may never know.

To learn more about Eliza Doolittle, check out her official site or her MySpace.

UK Muusers can preview and purchase Miss Doolittle’s album on iTunes UK here.

I’ve been casually listening to Cee Lo Green’s fabulous new kiss-off single, “Fuck You,” for some time now. Now there’s an official video, and it’s just as good as the song.

“Fuck You” is nice because it allows you to loudly sing the words “Fuck you,” and it’s perfectly okay to do so because those are just the lyrics of the song so really you can’t be held accountable if anyone tries to scold you about it, and if they do you can just say “Fuck you.”

Actually, it’s kind of the same triumphantly merry song as Lily Allen‘s “Fuck You,” except this one is less of a political statement and is more likely to perform well on the charts. Sorry, Lily.

Now let’s hope the song doesn’t blow up Gnarls Barkley “Crazy”-style and force everyone to hate it forever and curse its existence until the end of time.

Ease the fuck up, radio. I’m just saying.

So, this is something new and interesting.

The night before my interview with Sky Ferreira, I received a vaguely mysterious e-mail from MuuMuse reader Sam Lansky with an attachment entitled “Fame Fatale.” The e-mail suggested that the attached may assist me in preparing for my interview.

As soon as I began reading, I already knew: This had to be published immediately.

“Fame Fatale” is not only a remarkably in-depth analysis (and personal account) of Ferreira’s curious rise to fame, but a thoughtful contemplation of the manufacturing of the modern pop star and the very conventions of the music industry itself. It’s extremely well-researched, poses tough questions, and deserves your full attention.

With his permission, I’ve asked Sam to feature his article on MuuMuse. It’s an incredible piece, and I do highly recommend that all of my Muusers give it a thorough reading–even if it’s “tl;dr” territory.

I do, after all, hope to keep a literate company.

Click “Read More…” to read Sam Lansky’s “Fame Fatale: The Rise of Sky Ferreira.”

Read More…

In celebration of the release of Get Him To the Greek on June 4, which features Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) reuniting with his band after ten years for a show at LA’s famed Greek Theater, I wanted to celebrate with five of my favorite performance from the Coachella Festival over the past ten years.

Watch the celebrated return and debauchery of reuniting bands like Pavement (here), who will be reuniting this year at Coachella, as well as the debauchery of Aldous Snow on June 4th.

To find out more about the movie click here, or watch the trailer above.

5. Björk

4. Portishead

3. Lily Allen

2. M.I.A.

1. Madonna

I’ve been keeping an eye out for Sky Ferreira–the rambunctious 17-year-old L.A. response to Lily Allen–for some time now: From her manic tweets to the A-list producers she’s magically working with for her debut album (Paul Epworth; Dallas Austin) to the rather salacious photos (she’s 17!) posted while out partying with the likes of Ke$ha and Katy Perry.

Tonight, the video for her debut single “17″ has been released, and it’s really quite something. I can’t tell if the video events are entirely autobiographical, or if her current lifestyle is meant to mirror that which is being portrayed here, or if her life is just some strange mixture of both. It’s basically uncomfortable, un-sexy, and as awkward as the slightly off-ish melody of the chorus.

She’s certainly going the Lolita route for this release, almost like a scrubbed clean, 21st century pop upgrade of Fiona Apple‘s superb “Criminal.”

I just haven’t made up my mind as to whether Ferreira’s the real deal or not. Time will tell!