Yesterday was a big day for all of the ladies of Destiny’s Child.

Despite a flop (and totally misleading) single and mixed album reviews (Ed. Note: GLOWING REVIEW FROM MUUMUSE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH -B), Beyoncé’s latest record 4 premiered at the top of the Billboard album charts. Snippets of all the tracks on Kelly Rowland’s upcoming album Here I Am hit the interwebs. LeToya Luckett stayed at home petting her cats while Googling reasons to sue Mathew Knowles. And Michelle Williams released “Love Gun,” a buzz single in anticipation of her fourth solo record, slated to hit stores this fall.

If the Druski-produced “Love Gun” is truly an indication of the direction Michelle is going in, then her upcoming album is going to be nothing short of fiyah burnin’ on the dancefloor.

While Michelle flirted with dance/pop on her previous record, 2008’s Unexpected, “Love Gun” completely removes her from that raspy Fantasia-like R&B sound she often experimented with. Instead, she fully embraces her electro-pop side to kick off what’s expected to be a completely dance-oriented album.

Sidenote: Had former band member Kelly Rowland looked at how her previous solo attempts had been received (“When Love Takes Over,” “Commander”), she would have wisely gone the dance/pop route as well. Instead, those new, bland leaked clips left the six fans she had left drained with no motivation to even pretend to give her album a second listen. (See what I did there?)

As far as buzz singles go, nothing will ever be superior to Lindsay Lohan’s “Bossy.” (RIP Spirit In The Dark.) That being said, Michelle Williams truly serves up a refreshing dish of beats and sultry vocals that could have easily fit on Robyn’s Body Talk album.

In these David Guetta-over-Timbaland times we live in, “Love Gun” is far more mainstream and radio-ready than Michelle’s previous solo efforts. I wouldn’t be surprised if–for the first time since she did Beyonce’s back-ups–Michelle had a real Top 40 hit on her hands. Let’s just hope the rest of the album lives up to the bar she’s now raised for herself.

So to sum up: Beyonce = Rich but meh. Kelly Rowland = Just go home and try again. Michelle = YOU DO YOU, BABY. ALL ‘DEM OTHA BITCHES GETTIN’ SERVED.

Michelle Williams – “Love Gun”

If you’re looking for Sasha Fierce, don’t bother: She’s gone.

Well, not entirely–she’s certainly still there twerking her hips above the militant beat of “Run The World (Girls)” and the frenzied horn-filled club bounce of “Countdown,” but for the most part, the divalicious alter ego of one of the world’s greatest entertainers has (temporarily?) stepped a stiletto to the side for the majority of her fourth studio album, 4–allowing the record to remain a decidedly Beyoncé experience.

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When in doubt, Ultra Naté.

The legendary American club queen, perhaps known best for her iconic 1997 smash “Free,” has been dominating the dance floor scene for over twenty years now. But honey, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet, because she’s about to come out stronger than ever in 2011.

On February 16, the singer is back with a brand new single off: “Turn It Up,” produced by Brinsley Evans and The Thrillers, which you can currently download for free courtesy of RCRD LBL.

“Turn It Up” is a reliably groovy house jam, complete with twinkling electronica and a funky bass line. “It makes me feel alive, the music feels so right, so DJ play it ’til the morning light!” Naté cries. Twenty years later, and the woman still refuses to go home before the sun comes up. Now that’s a proper disco diva, ladies and ladyboys.

The song leads the charge for Naté’s upcoming eighth studio album entitled Hero Worship, which features production by David Morales, Todd Terry and Nervo (Kylie Minogue, Ke$ha), along with a song called “Waiting On You,” which has been described as “a funky disco duet” with Michelle Williams, the very underrated other other member of Destiny’s Child. Um, yes please!

Apart from her own album, the singer’s been busying herself in the studio working on Robbie Rivera‘s new album, as well as an upcoming collaborative project with Quentin Harris called Black Stereo Faith, plus a new single, “Give It 2 U” from his last studio album, Sacrifice.

See? She’s a busy bee!

“Turn It Up” will be released on February 22. (iTunes)

It’s recently come to my attention that far too little attention is paid to my R&B songstresses as of late–it’s time to change that.

“Rhythm & Muuse” is a 15-track collection of just a taste of the finest R&B-laced cuts I’ve come to love over the past few years, from Cassie to Amerie to Ciara and K. Rowland, with loads of amazing artists fit snugly in between.

This was an impossible MuuCast to create–mostly because I started out with 45 potential tracks. As a result, it’s clear that there will be many more installments of “Rhythm & Muuse” to come. Consider this an introductory piece.

The goal was to include one song per artist, but–let’s face it. Ciara delivers too much fire to handle.

This mix is ready for both the dance floor and the bedroom floor, so prepare yourselves accordingly.

Now please: Turn your swag on like X Factor‘s Cher, won’t you?

DL: MuuCast Episode Six: Rhythm & Muuse

Cassie – Me & You (iTunes)
Amerie – Heard ‘Em All (iTunes)
Kelly Rowland – Can’t Nobody (iTunes)
Ciara – Get Up (feat. Chamillionaire) (iTunes)
Nicole Scherzinger – Whatever U Like (iTunes)
Danity Kane – Touching My Body (iTunes)
Michelle Williams – Till The End Of The World (iTunes)
Kelis – Blindfold Me (iTunes)
Cassie – Call U Out (iTunes)
Keri Hilson – Alienated (iTunes)
Pussycat Dolls – Elevator (iTunes)
Utada – This One (Crying Like A Child) (iTunes)
Ciara – I Proceed (iTunes)
JoJo – (He Only Knows Me) In The Dark (Free Mixtape)
Electrik Red – 9 To 5 (iTunes)

According to a tweet from songwriter Chris Jackson, Cheryl Cole‘s camp has selected “Promise This” as the lead single from her as-of-yet untitled sophomore album, which is currently expected out sometime either later this year or early next.

Jackson also confirmed that the track was produced by Wayne Wilkins and penned by both himself and fellow writer, Priscilla Renea.

Wilkins, who is a part of the songwriting team The Runaways, produced Cole’s “Fight For This Love,” as well as some other incredible songs including Keri Hilson‘s “Energy” and Michelle Williams‘ “We Break The Dawn.”

In other words: Yes this is going to be another #1 smash for Ms. Cheryl Tweedy.

STOP AND RECOGNIZE:
Kelly Rowland has done something brilliant again.

Remember “When Love Takes Over” (yeah-ee-yeah)? WELL OF COURSE YOU DAMN WELL DO. I ONLY WROTE ABOUT IT LIKE FIFTY BILLION TIMES.

From the singer who gave us “Work” comes the new, OFF-THE-CHARTS AMAZING new single produced by David Guetta, “Commander.”

The song is basically a next level surge of energy, complete with explosive vocals and not one, not two, but three shouty moments in the chorus.

And now, an arbitrary list of reasons as to why this song will own souls upon its release:

1. The command “Dance!” is spoken within one half of a second before the song begins.
This lets you know that the upcoming song is about to be very good.

2. Constant use of metaphor.
“From here on out, I’ll be your commander…and right now I command you to dance!” Kelly is taking this whole ‘leader of the dance floor’ business quite seriously here, and she’s going to tell you about it throughout. I like a girl who commits.

3. “You see the way these people stare, watching how I fling my hair.”
Any song that involves hair-flinging has a 94.7% chance of being amazing from the get-go. This song follows suit.

4. Commander as Over
“Your comaaaaaaander” is the new “oveeeeeer (yeah-ee-yeah).” Shout it out from the rooftop.

5. The more-than-good middle eight.
“Let’s make these people move, you know I need some room…”

6. “I’m about to act a fool…TURN THE LIGHTS OFF.”
It’s kind of like an ode to Michelle Williams‘ Unexpected album. Really though, it’s the writing trademark of Rico Love, who also wrote the amazing “Hello, Heartbreak.”

7. It reminds me a little bit of BoA’s “Energetic.”
In that she, too, commands us to “report to the dance floor.” AND LIKE A SHEEP, I RETURN AGAIN AND AGAIN.

If the rest of Rowland’s musical output from this era sounds anything like this, this album is going to be–as we VIP in the industry like to say–”hot fiya.”

Television performance of the year? Quite possibly.

Check out Alesha Dixon performing her single, “The Boy Does Nothing” on Strictly Come Dancing last night. Incredible, incredible performance…Worlds better than the song’s own video! The live vocals were spot-on (if not better than the recording!) and the riffs were fantastic. Toss that on top of a well choreographed finish (with heels no less), and you’ve prepared yourself one heaping helping of regret that Polydor must be choking on right about now.

As a little treat, I’ve got “Colours of the Rainbow,” (Soulshock & Karlin) an upcoming album track being offered on Alesha’s website for free right now. It’s very Michelle Williams euro-Timbaland, and generally quite nice.

DL: Alesha Dixon – Colours of the Rainbow

I haven’t been keeping up with my reviews! Blame it on a lack of creativity, or blame it on my brand spankin’ new Emporio Armani boxer briefs I’ve been strutting around in for the past hour while pretending to be David Beckham. They’re nice and form fitting, and best of all, you really can bend it like Beckham when you’re wear them!

But enough about my groin. Well actually, I don’t have much else to say, except that I haven’t kicked my Madonna cravings as of late. And so, I offer my latest obsession, the song currently being forced through the repeat cycle on iTunes: “Sky Fits Heaven.”

Check out Lady M’s essential performance of this dreamy track from the 2001 Drowned World Tour, featuring Asian flair and some proper Geisha wear. Kylie, I don’t care if Jean Paul Gaultier designed this, you looked like a French clown prostitute. In poor man’s drag. Yeesh!

Alright, check back soon for reviews of Lady GaGa, Michelle Williams, and more!