It’s been nearly six years since Bad Boy Records songstress Cassie first burst into the music scene with the platinum-selling “Me & U,” a spine-tingling slice of icy electro-R&B minimalism that rocketed to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006.

While she’s released several songs over the past few years since her debut record, including “Official Girl (feat. Lil Wayne)” in 2008 and “Let’s Get Crazy (feat. Akon)” in 2009, the singer’s had a slow start-up for her sophomore attempt (which was at one time titled Electro Love), stalled by push-backs, delays and of course, the search for the right sound.

And then came “King of Hearts” in early February, a storming, tranced-out production filled with pulsating Ibiza jungle rhythms and haunting, chilly vocals a la “Me & U.” It was the perfect blend of futuristic dance production and Cassie’s signature delivery–the “it” sound that Cassie says will thread itself throughout her upcoming record.

Finally, the R&B songstress is now preparing to release her long-awaited follow-up in 2012.

I got the opportunity to speak with the Connecticutian chanteuse last week while she was promoting “King of Hearts” across the country. (She’s now popping bottles and getting merry in France for Paris Fashion Week–c’est bon, la vie!)

We spoke about the video for “King Of Hearts,” her producers, her sound and her fashion. Plus, she even hinted at what I can only assume to be my new personal anthem off the upcoming record: “Lonely Disco Ball.”

She’s a complete sweetheart, and one of the flyest chicks in the business: And now, an interview with Queen Cassie.

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Another day, another drama…

In helping to celebrate Blackout Purchase Week (have you entered the MuuMuse giveaway yet?), MuuMuse is proud to present “Blackout Once Again: A Look Back at Britney Spears’ Greatest Album,” an incredibly comprehensive, in-depth examination of Britney‘s fifth studio album, written by Vertigo Shtick‘s David Salter.

If there’s anything to be said about Blackout, it’s featured here in this extraordinary piece. A must read, Muusers!

Please click “Read More…” to see the full article. (MOAH!)

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While the name Luciana Caporoso might not immediately strike a chord, chances are you’ve seen the name attached to some of the hottest dance floor scorchers of the past decade.

Luciana is perhaps best known for being the queen of collaboration, responsible for lending her vocal chops and songwriting skills to a slew of the brattiest and bossiest dance anthems of the past few years, including “Yeah Yeah” and “What Planet You On?” with Bodyrox, to “Bigger Than Big” with Super Mai, to her latest club smash along with Static Revenger and Richard Vission, “I Like That.”

A few weeks ago, I got the chance to ask the singer some questions regarding her break into the music industry, her creative work–including visual art and penning tracks for other artists (most recently Kylie Minogue‘s heaven-sent Aphrodite cut, “Cupid Boy”), and her plans to further dominate the dance floor.

As one can probably tell early on into the interview, the sassy spunk that Luciana brings to her music is hardly restricted to the recording studio. She’s a firecracker! Click “Read More…” to see the full interview.

Oh, and just to make this feature even more delicious, I just happened upon this sweet lil’ video shout out above from the singer waiting for me in my inbox. As she would likely declare, it’s utterly fabulous. Thanks for the love, Luciana!

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Uffie, Uffie!

Behold the video for “ADD SUV,” Uffie’s second single off of her debut album, Sex Dreams & Denim Jeans.

Following the colorful storybook styling of her video for “Pop the Glock,” Uffie spends her time here playing passenger, swerving through the streets with her hipster pals, racing, and (unsuccessfully) dodging the po-po.

A fittingly hip video for a thoroughly hip song. And oh my God, Pharrell is still so cute and fashionable. Could do without the ‘stache, though.

For those of you still loving up Uffie‘s latest Mirwais-produced single featuring Pharrell, “ADD SUV,” hold onto your prescription medication–you ain’t heard nothing yet.

The Uffster will be unleashing the ADD SUV EP on June 8, complete with two mixes by Armand van Helden and one by Hudson Mohawke. The former mixes are complete hands-in-the-air rave affairs, while the Mohawke mix offers a strange sort of chill-out trip-hop sound that pulls the track apart into a dozen different directions.

Below, please enjoy a free stream of the Armand van Helden Club Mix right now, courtesy of Ed Banger Records.

Very good.

To preview and purchase “ADD SUV,” click here.

MuuMuse Approved Tracks for the Week of April 18, 2010

5. Kate Nash – Don’t You Want To Share The Guilt
She’s speaks at the pace I regularly think at, and with just the right amount of neuroses added for good measure.
4. Britney Spears – Dramatic
“Baby, fuck you.” MMPH. The original version leaked without Heidi (mercifully). Love you, bb.
3. Girlicious – Maniac
Generic good pop; generic girl group. Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone? RIP PCD/Danity Kane.
2. Uffie – ADD SUV (ft. Pharrell)
OH MY GOD, YES. More on this soon…
1. Scissor Sisters – Invisible Light
A future classic, nu-disco sensation recalling the best of the best. Authentic, emotional, and absolutely euphoric. ON CONSTANT REPEAT.

Photo courtesy of Suck.com.

Year-end wrap up lists are nice and all, but it’s the “Most Anticipated” lists that are way more fun for me to read. The rumors! The possibilities! The inability to foresee a terrible album in the making! Who can resist the sweet, succulent taste of possibility?

Of course, there are dozens of albums being released, and I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface as far as what to expect. Nonetheless, I wanted to run down a few of my own personally anticipated releases for the new year.

So, without further ado, let’s roll out some of the biggest releases hitting shelves sometime in the next year. This will be the year of some ‘Sweet 7′s, it appears!

Sade, Soldier of Love (Sixth studio album)

What it is: The band’s first release in about a decade.
Expected shelf date: February 8, 2010.
Produced by: Mike Pela, Sade.
What we know: The album’s title track is a stunning achievement. Could the album possibly be anything less?
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Smooth, icy vocals and warm jazz sounds.

Ellie Goulding, TBA (Debut Album)

What it is: An exciting, possibly incredible (though potentially dead-in-the-water) debut by 2009′s leading indie electro-pop up-and-comer.
Expected shelf date: According to Play.com, March 3, 2010.
Confirmed tracks: “Starry Eyed,” “Under the Sheets,” “Wish I Stayed”
Production by: Starsmith, Frankmusik
What we know: It’s been in the works for a while. She’s quirky, her music is interesting and fresh, and we haven’t heard a dud from her yet. Let’s just hope this is released before the hype catches up with her first.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: “Starry Eyed” and “Under the Sheets” repeated a dozen times over.

Kylie Minogue, TBA (Eleventh studio album)

What it is: Divine intervention. (That should totally be the album title!)
Expected shelf date: Unknown, probably 3Q or 4Q 2010.
Confirmed tracks: “Better Than Today”
Production by: Nerina Pallot
What we know: Hardly anything, aside from the fact that Kylie was looking to Barbarella for inspiration while recording in New York a few weeks ago.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: The slick, coquettish electronica of Body Language (“Slow”) mixed the with sophisticated, edgy dancefloor flow of X (“Speakerphone”). And a little less emphasis on the camp factor, s’il vous plait.

Girls Aloud, TBA (Sixth studio album)

What it is: A much-needed comeback album from the greatest girl group since the Spice Girls.
Production by: I mean…it has to be Xenomania, right?
Expected shelf date: Way, way later in 2010.
What we know: Nothing, aside from the fact that their official website confirmed an album slated for 2010.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: A shying away from the drum-and-bass sound and a prolonged stay in the territory of “Untouchable” and “Memory of You.”

Jennifer Lopez, Love? (Seventh Studio Album)

What it is: Jennifer ‘Lola J-Lo Jenny Rudebooty’ Lopez takes it to the streets once again to prove she still has ‘flava.’
Expected shelf date: April 2010.
Confirmed tracks: “Louboutins,” “Fresh Out The Oven,” Everybody’s Girl,” “What Is Love,” Starting Over,” “Beautiful,” “This Cannot Be Love,” “One Love,” “Keeper”
Production by: Mike Caren, The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, D’Mile, Danja, Darkchild, The Neptunes
What we know: Rap-Up’s write-up of the album preview includes terms like “electro-pop beat,” “slick uptempo production” and “guitar driven ballad.”
MuuMuse hopes to hear: A return to the dancefloor a la “Waiting for Tonight” with some guilty pleasure stompers like “Louboutins.” Minimal ballads, please.

Sugababes, Sweet 7 (Seventh Studio Album)

What it is: The grand unveiling of a new Sugababes era. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jade, Amelle, and Heidi.
Expected shelf date: February 28, 2010
Confirmed tracks: “Get Sexy,” “About A Girl,” “Thank You For The Heartbreak,” “Miss Everything,” “Wear My Kiss”
Production by: RedOne, Sean Kingston, Ne-Yo, The Smeezingtons, Fernando Garibay
What we know: How half of the album sounds. The Sweet 7 album sampler featuring Keisha leaked onto the net a few months ago. However, there’s been talk of recording new tracks.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: What we’ve been hearing. Slick, modern production and a fierce new confidence never before honed by the original three line-ups: It’s time to let Sweet 7 go Vanity 6.

Röyksopp, Senior (Fourth studio album)

What it is: The ambient, down-tempo companion piece to one of 2009′s greatest albums, Junior.
Expected shelf date: Early 2010.
Confirmed tracks: “The Alcoholic,” “The Fear,” “Coming Home”
Production by: Royksopp
What we know: From TLOBF: “Senior is more withdrawn and introspective and create an atmosphere and an ambience, to sit down and if you don’t need constant loud information all the time that’s what Senior is all about.”
MuuMuse hopes to hear: A more sophisticated, contemplative extension of Melody AM.

Uffie, Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans (Debut album)

What it is: The incredibly overdue debut of an underground trash-pop queen in the making.
Confirmed tracks: “Pop the Glock,” “Hot Chick,” “MC’s Can Kiss”
Expected shelf date: February 14, 2010, according to The Guardian.
Production by: Mr. Oizo, Mirwais, Pharrell
What we know: “MC’s Can Kiss,” the upcoming single off of the album, is an old-school-hip-hop-meets-modern-beats orgy.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Sick beatz from some extremely talented producers…and a whole lot of trash talkin’.

Britney Spears, TBA (7th Studio Album)

What it is: Don’t even get me started…don’t even get me started.
Production by: Track submissions are pouring in from the likes of Darkchild, Max Martin, Sean Garrett, Danja, Fernando Garibay, David Guetta, and many more.
Expected shelf date: Though Digital Spy reports that Jive is looking for a May 2010 release, I can’t help but assume that we’ll see this around the same time we’ve always seen Britney releases for the past three albums–the very end of the year.
What we know: Nothing really.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Icy R&B-infused electronica. Anything by Bloodshy & Avant. Anything in the direction of “And Then We Kiss.” Less Circus, more Blackout, but with soul. By the way, can we finally call this one Original Doll, Team Spears?

Honestly, It doesn’t even matter what it sounds like in the end. Why? Because it’s Britney, bitch. That’s why.

Yeah, you read that correctly: Uffie‘s here. I would say “back,” but she was never really “here” to begin with, was she?

Surviving over three years of delays and push-backs, the Ufferlump’s debut album Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans is finally prepared to see a release in early 2010 according to label owner Busy P’s blog.

Along with posting this video, Busy P announces that not only is Uff prepping a new single with Pharrell Williams next (!!), but that Mirwais was involved with four tracks off of her upcoming album (!!!).

Mirwais, if you didn’t know, is the rather talented French electronica producer responsible for much of Madonna‘s Music, American Life, and Confessions On A Dance Floor. He also produced a fabulous album in the spring with Yasmine Hamdan called Arabology. It’s a must if you haven’t already checked that out (Click here to stream some tracks.)

Anyway, this is the video for the 2006 track “Pop The Glock,” the beginning of the album’s fruition.

The clip is essentially a fashion paradise, featuring some hipsters, loads of killer stilettos, and clever, offbeat product placement galore. And yes, the song is still hot three years later.

So go grab a sandwich or something, Ke$ha…the real electro-trash princess has arrived. That is…until she passes out again.

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