Yesterday afternoon, Kelly Clarkson premiered “Mr. Know It All,” the gorgeous lead single from her upcoming fifth studio album Stronger.

She also took the time to answer fan questions on her trusty iPad (watch in full!), revealing loads of new info about her new single, some dish on the new album, and future tour plans.

But before we get into all that, can we just do this for a moment: Okay. I’ve always loved and adored the Clarkson with all my heart, but SERIOUSLY. Is she not the cutest little goober in this video?! It amazes me how grounded she’s remains to this day! “I hope this isn’t boring.” “Wait, I wasn’t supposed to read that.” “This is awkward.” No pretense. No diva ‘tude. Just realness. She also says the word “sassy.” A lot. I MEAN…OBSESSED!

But back to the main event, Kelly revealed a wealth of details, which I’ll now boil down to some snazzy bullet points:

• “Mr. Know It All” was selected as the first single because it’s “very different” from her usual lead singles and “super sassy and sets up the album nicely.”
• The album is named Stronger because the album’s about empowerment and, once again, about “being sassy.”
• The name Stronger comes from upcoming album track “What Doesn’t Kill You,” which is one of the (very amazing) songs that has already leaked.
• The Stronger tour will start in the new year, possibly around January. Rehearsals have already begun.
• She describes the album as “vocally different” and captures her live voice better than previous records.
• Her favorite song she’s ever recorded will be featured on Stronger called “You Love Me.” As she described the track: “It sounds like it’s a happy song, but…you know me. I put that dark twist on it.” She wrote the song in 15 minutes.
• She’d love to do a duet with Adele and Miranda Lambert. (Dear God, please let Kelladele happen.)
• The album tracklisting is not finalized yet.
• She just shot the video for “Mr. Know It All” in Nashville with Justin Francis. “The video is very different from anything I’ve done,” she explained.
• “Walk Away” is her favorite song to perform live. “I feel like I’m Annie Lennox when I’m singing that.”
• She personally wrote half of Stronger. She doesn’t like the idea of writing a full album by herself, so half of the album was written by band members and new collaborators.
• She’s done a few songs with Chris Daughtry, but they’ve never made it to an album (yet). “We’re just waiting for that perfect song.” They recorded a song for Stronger, but it didn’t match the tone of the rest of the album.
• She counts Prince, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow as influences on Stronger, as well as some country influence.
• One of the duets she recorded made the album. She wouldn’t say who, but it’s a female affiliated with American Idol.
• Already Famous is just a fun side project for Kelly and her back-up singers Jill and Kate, but they don’t know what they’re doing with the songs they’ve recorded yet.

And that was that.

Ladies and gentlemen, Kelly Clarkson: Not only one of the world’s most talented artists, but one of the few true role models in the music industry today.

I LOVE HER SO MUCH I CANNOT EVEN FEEL MY FACE RIGHT NOW.

Shaking. Crying. Furiously playing From Justin To Kelly on repeat.

Kelly Clarkson just announced that she’s nearly done recording her as-of-yet untitled fifth studio album, set to be released later this year.

From her Facebook:

PS I record my last song on the 25th of this month and then we will be releasing the album! This album was influenced by Prince, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow, Radiohead and there’s a little bit of a Country vibe/influence on a couple of songs. Oh and also one of my favorites on the new album is highly influenced by Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Eric Hutchinson wrote it ….the album is gonna be a great pop record! I can’t wait for y’all to hear it!

Aretha Franklin…Prince…RADIOHEAD?!

HOLD. ME. DOWN. I love me some K-Clark like you don’t even want to know.

BEST YEAR OF POP EVARRRR! Well, since 2007 anyway.

‘Twas ‘American Anthems’ Week on X Factor last Saturday, a celebration of true, good ol’ American talent. YEE-HAW!

As the judges strode into the studio to the sound of Bruce Springsteen‘s “Born In The USA,” US flags waved on the screens while overenthusiastic cheerleaders pranced around like loons onstage. As a real, live American watching, I can confirm that this is literally what life is like in America all of the time.

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A few weeks ago, I introduuced Matisse to MuuMuse, the up-and-coming dance floor vixen (and former member of sister act Brit & Alex) responsible for the summer smash, “Better Than Her.” (LISTEN)

The singer is currently busy cooking up the contents of her debut album due out in Spring 2011, which is expected to include tracks by such production titans as Tricky Stewart, Dallas Austin and Darkchild.

In between her sessions in the studio, Matisse took some time out to answer a rapid-fire set of questions for MuuMuse. Read on to see the full interview!

Read more…

I don’t want to tempt fate, but if that’s not a number one, I’ll eat my sofa.

As the man responsible for such songs as Diana Vickers‘ “The Boy Who Murdered Love,” The Saturdays‘ “Chasing Lights,” and Will Young‘s “Anything is Possible,” as well as some of the upcoming material from Pixie Lott and JLS, pop songwriter and producer Chris Braide has seen his fair share of glory in the UK Top 40 recently.

Two weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of speaking with the busy producer from his studio in London (which is about to be packed away and carted stateside!)

I’m quite proud of this interview–we touched upon all sorts of artists and ended up having a really in-depth discussion about the very nature of pop itself.

Read on to hear all the gossip from behind Braide’s soundboard–loads of pop nerd chatter ahead!

Click “Read More…” to view the entire interview.

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Until this summer, Philadelphia-bred mistress of ceremonies Amanda Blank could be found both everywhere and nowhere; a fixture found in the liner notes and “featuring” sections on collaboration tracks from just about every hip-hop tested, indie cred-approved artist since the mid-’00′s, including Santigold, M.I.A., Spank Rock, Pase Rock, Ghostface Killah, and N.A.S.A.

As a result, Amanda Blank is an artist inexorably linked to her mix-tape origins: Put together the in-your-face, Cristal and cocaine drunk-pop of Ke$ha, the funk and grind sound of album producer Diplo, the super-slick badassery of Peaches, and perhaps even the cool breathiness of Britney Spears on the chillier grooves, and you’ve still only got half of what Blank’s all about.

Within seconds of hearing the garage-rock-gone-hip-hop intro of “Make It, Take It,” it becomes all too clear that we’re in for a sweat-drenched, sex-stenched affair on Blanks’ long-overdue debut, I Love You. Tracks including the throbbing, pistol pumping “Something Bigger, Something Better” and electro-jittery “Might Like You Better” are at the very least danceable–at their best, nearly irresistible. Even the faithfully minimal cover of “Make-Up” off of the 1982 debut of Prince‘s short-lived sexperiment Vanity 6 inspires moments of vogue.

But this collection isn’t all about the mmphing and, shockingly enough, benefits most from the few breathers in between. The bleary-eyed, post-consummation contemplation of “Shame On Me” is the best track Britney’s never recorded, while the neurotic-friendly “DJ” proves a luscious dancefloor treat riddled with all the best reasons to dance the pain away–anger, bitterness, and sorrow.

It’s midway through however, when Blank gets down to business, unleashing her signature unstoppable lyrical flow on the Spank Rock-assisted track, “Gimme What You Got,” and “Lemme Get Some.”

This, after all, is the meat and potatoes of her craft: Amanda Blank is a talented artist. Not only can she spit out verses faster than most male rappers in the industry, but she commands a devastating mastery of rhythm and flow–plus, she’s a seemingly fearless lyricist. The only problem is that there simply isn’t enough of that grit to go around. A few harder numbers would have done wonders here, especially considering the wide range of tracks we’ve heard from her over the years.

The album’s final moment is also its most unexpected: “Don’t act so surprised,” Blank croons along with Swedish delight and MuuMuse favorite, Lykke Li on “Leaving You Behind” as the gentle guitar strums away into nothingness. I just can’t help it, Amanda–I’m considering this album the surprise of the summer.

DL: Amanda Blank – Something Big, Something Better
Choice Tracks: “Something Big, Something Better”; “DJ”; “Shame on Me”; “Might Like You Better”

Purchase I Love You on iTunes | MySpace

It’s that time again to take a spin around the blogger block and see what’s happening all across the world! Or at least what’s happening within my extremely limited view of blogs…and GO!!

8/1‘s got another track from Joan As Police Woman, this time in duet form with Antony of Antony and the Johnsons. It’s called “I Defy,” and it’s a real jazzy number. Quite nice.

ArjanWrites blogger Arjan did a fabulous job covering the first ever MTV Logo NewNowNext Awards. You’ve got to head over and check out everything that went down backstage, on stage, and after the awards show!

ElectroQueer‘s been going gaga over the dance diva, Doe Deere lately. He’s got her latest video for “SF Disco,” as well as a quirky little home renovation side project. Someone’s got a thing for antlers.

PopMuse has posted its annual Disco Globes compilation, a collection and celebration of ace remixes that the author’s been fancying over recent months, including hits from Ri-Ri, Blake Lewis, and Madonna. I’ve really been loving it, especially the Kelly Rowland remix of “Work.” Do–do do it, shake it baby! Head over and grab it while you still can!

XO is spreading his love around. What? Get your head out of the gutter, pervert. No, in the Prince way, by listing off his top jams in honor of the man’s 50th birthday. And don’t let the grammar confuse you–he’s just being Prince-esque.

I do a lot of strange things in the shower. I sing, I dance, I [insert lyrics to Britney Spears' "Touch of my Hand" here,] but I also think about things. Like, really deep things. Tonight’s shower subject was the deepest of the deep: ROBYN IS RELEASING HER INTERNATIONALLY 2005 RELEASED SELF-TITLED ALBUM IN THE UNITED STATES OF WE HAVE TERRIBLE MUSIC TASTE TOMORROW.

The girl who brought you 90′s anthems such as “Show Me Love” is back with an album that bleeds pop creativity. The adventure begins with “Curriculum Vitae” which is the most in-your-face introduction that has been released in recent times. Thunder and hell’s bells set the tone for the intro’s opening lines, “Listen, you cannot stop this, you cannot escape it, and you can’t turn it off / So I’d appreciate your kind consideration in this matter, sir or ma’am, would you please turn it the fuck up.” If you don’t follow these sets of instructions and turn it up, you’re out of your mind.

“Konichiwa Bitches,” the albums opening track, tells you everything you need to know about the album through the lyrics. She’s so hot that you call the fire station, she’ll take you on…and she’ll stuff you in the trunk. Sounds like my mind of girl..if I were straight. Robyn’s album continues on with its electro beats on “Cobrastyle” and takes a creative (and safe) twist by reversing the word “nazi” in “Handle Me.”

The album takes an extremely emotional turn with the song that got me hooked on this girl, which is possibly the album’s highlight track. The Kleerup produced “With Every Heartbeat” is packed with a 4/4 bass and kick, synths that could make you cry if they were more musically elaborated, and lyrics about a broken heart that leave you thinking about that love that got away. It hurts with every heartbeat to listen to this song–but don’t be nervous. Even though the album’s next track “Who’s That Girl,” covers female insecurity, it attacks trying to be strong and independent even when wanting to be that girl. It also brings back the upbeat electro-R&B beats that this record is built on.

“Crash and Burn” has a unique vocal sample that plays from start to end and has Robyn singing like she’s a female Prince during the verses, pop-queen during the bridge, and R&B princess during the chorus. This is about as eclectic as the album gets, which is not a problem at all.

If you’re still listening past “Robot Boy” and “Eclipse,” then you already fuckin’ know that this album is nothing short of fire and “Should Have Known” enforces that fact. This strict R&B track, which sounds like something Monica could sing is yet another album stand out that covers the subject of a woman being a fool for not seeing a future break up.

“Anything you Like,” an ambient-R&B track slows the album down to a 3LW-esque crawl and takes you to the ending comical track “Jack U Off,” but Robyn, I don’t need you to do that….I just got out of the shower.

Album Highlights:
-With Every Heartbeat
-Should Have Known
-Handle Me
-Crash and Burn

Other releases for April 29th, 2008:
“Hard Candy” by Madonna (What was she thinking? ew!!)
“Third” by Portishead (I’m sure you’ll see a great album review for this on Tuesday/Wednesday.)