Graded Song: 4Minute "Is It Poppin'

Another K-Pop act riding on the coattails of the success of their 1st 2013 comeback. Earlier this week, we had Girl's Day declare that girls should be able to kiss first with "Female President" with their sexually suggestive video. This time, it's 4Minute. Back in late April, the group asked what's your name and while it's was a disappointing comeback single in my opinion, Korea seemed to think otherwise, giving them their first #1 single four weeks after its initial release. Now the girls are asking "Is It Poppin'" with their second comeback of the year. Cube enlisted the help of Brave Brothers again. Is it poppin' or is it floppin'? Seems like Brave Brothers is still serving up Sistar leftovers, as this sounds like a less bombastic version of "Lovin' U" and the instrumental gives us some hints Ellie Goulding's "Lights" and Sistar's "Shady Girl" it. Again, one of the members give us the saving grace moment. While it was Gayoon with the pre-chorus in "What's Your Name", it's HyunA's rapping section in this song. The chorus is also very nice, but not as catchy. It isn't any worse that "What's Your Name" but it isn't any better. Cube really needs to serve up some more "Volume Up" realness because these basic concepts can work for so long.
Final Grade:C+
The video shows the girl at a beach shack, having a party and some set dancing. The roof catches on fire and the sprinkler system gets them wet and they still continue to party. Jiyoon even shows Miley Cyrus how to actually twerk your booty.

Disclosure "F For You" Music Video

While I am still convinced that Disclosure's "F For You" is about one of the Lawrence brothers getting an unknown STD that begins with the letter F, that doesn't change the fact that it is still a tune that I can swing my hips to. With that in mind, they released a music video for it! It shows the brothers performing the song (which I was unaware that Howard Lawrence sang) with those creepy seizure inducing faces they are known for.

Graded Song: Girl's Day "Female President"

GIRL'S DAY COMEBACK!!! SO EXCITED!!! Yura, Sojin, Minah and Hyeri are back with their second comeback of 2013!!! They smashed back in March with "Expect" "Expectation" whatever-the-song was called and because of that success (I attribute the smexy suspenders dance) they decided to re-package the album with a new title track. From the teaser, "Female President" seems a lot more risque than their last comeback. Hmmm...catchy. A grower to be honest. We have Minah hitting dem high notes that only Minah knows how. The girls really allowed their vocals to shine on this track. Sojin's rap was pretty weak, even weaker than usual (Sorry Sojin I still love you!) While it isn't as catchy as their previous title track, I appreciate the fact that they decided to go for a different style of music (pop/rock with dance elements) rather playing it safe with another dance-pop tune.
Final Grade:B-
The girls are getting a lot of flack about the overt-sexual nature of the video, which shows A LOT (and I do me A LOT) more skin than "Expect" "Expectation" whatever the song was called. There was also the scene where Hyeri fed Minah that cupcake and they almost kissed (definte tease to gain interest people!) However, I feel like people shouldn't judge the song based upon that factor. I liked it, but I wouldn't want to be in a public place when I am watching it, you know to avoid people thinking I'm watching softcore porn or something.

Lorde "Tennis Court" Music Video

So this song isn't about gossiping about them gurls you hate at your school's tennis court? That what New Zealander Lorde is stating with the visuals for her second chart-topper, "Tennis Court." The video is rather interesting, with Lorde in dark, gothic makeup looking creepily at the camera, exept when the "yeahs" play and she opens her mouth. For now this is a good video, but I feel when she decides to release this internationally, there going to do another one to appeal to a wider audience.

Natalia Kills "Problem" Music Video

Natalia Kills has a serious "Problem" on her hands. The video for her single was due out this Monday, but somehow found its way to the internet two days earlier. The visuals though are pretty hot. Natalia werks in some pretty revealing outfits and gets down with the brown with a model-esque beau, all while creating some havok for shits and giggles. Miley wish she could be as ratchet as Natalia!!! Check the video below.

Dal Shabet "Be Ambitious"

That K-Pop group with the strange sounding Jewish name are back! Dal Shabet have made their comeback amongst the many girl groups this June and tell girls to "Be Ambitious" (or guys to look at their legs, depending on what language you speak). The song is standard Euro-pop dance pop fare, with an uneven sounding chorus and a 'flasher' dance in the video (that you should not replicate at home) as they vie for their respective guys attention. Isn't it refreshing to see many different guys in a video instead of just one for all the girls?

Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop" Music Video

Miley Cyrus' comeback seems more like a huge ratchet-fest to be quite honest. Toady, she released the music video to her lackluster "We Can't Stop" single, which is just a clusterfuck of cliches and try hard antics that makes the singer look ridiculous than distancing herself from her Disney image. The singer wears a pair of fronts, attempts to twerk, smacks party goers butts (and shows many shots of hers), along with some doll on girl action in the pool. Billy Ray, control your "ratchet" daughter please.

Britney Spears "Ooh La La"

While we twiddle our thumbs waiting patiently for Britney Spears to release her 8th studio album, she has blessed us with "Ooh La La," a song from the Smurfs 2 Soundtrack. Produced by Dr.Luke, Ammo and Cirkut, "Ooh La La", feels like it should have been on Brit Brit's last studio effort, "Femme Fatale," replacing that awful will.i.am-assisted "Big Fat Bass" mess. An earlier version of the song leaked previously, which sounds a lot like the finished version, just with a few tweaks. We can only anticipate how much of an impact this will make on the charts once it is officially released.

Graded Song:Victoria Justice "Gold"

It wouldn't be summer without a Victoria Justice song! The first two "Victorious" soundtracks yielded some strong pop tracks from the young starlet, from the dancefloor filler of "Freak The Freak Out" to the guiltily infectious "Best Friends Brother." It has to hurt that Ariana Grande, her former "Victorious" co-star released her first official single and it went top ten, while Victoria hasn't been able to crack the top forty (and her songs are way better). Now free of the Nickelodeon machine, she is finally preparing to release her debut album and the first single, "Gold" has hit the web. She is playing too safe with this release. I know she is striving to finally get that hit she deserves, but doing the typical sunny poppy single doesn't really suit or. Her dance tunes have always been able to get my toes tapping and my blood pumping, but all I can think about is me sitting in the hot sun on a boring road trip with my siblings in the back seat singing obnoxiously loud. And then she does that rap thing towards the end...unneeded! While I'm saying this now, I'm pretty sure this is going to grow on me after three more listeners. Get that hit G-U-R-L!
Final Grade:C

Bruno Mars "Treasure" Music Video

Bruno Mars continues on the retro train with the video for his latest single, "Treasure". The video reminds me a lot of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You" video, minus the silver suit and replicates his performance at this years Billboard Music Awards. Bruno performs the song with his backing band, The Hooligans and makes use of a lot of old special effects and grainy camera filter. 

AlunaGeorge "You Know You Like It" Music Video

With AlunaGeorge racking up two hits so far this year, the production/singer duo have decided to re-release their first single, "You Know You Like It," which charted a few weeks ago after its use in an ad for UK market Tesco. The new video shows singer Aluna Francis and producer George Reid at a very hipster pool party. They're even too cool to have water! Instead they hang around and do some choreo, with Aluna front and center. I like it better than the original, which was in black and white and showed Aluna grooving around with extras, like this video but less organized. Watch the new colourful version and compare it to the 2011 version.
New Version Original

Avicii and Aloe Blacc "Wake Me Up"

Avicii just surpassed the flawlessness of last year's club hit, "Silhouettes". He gained his first #1 single with the Nicky Romero-assisted "I Could Be The One" earlier this year and now the Swedish mega DJ found his way to American soul singer Aloe Blacc (of "I Need a Dollar" fame) for "Wake Me Up," a country EDM tune. Yes, a REAL country EDM song and not the fauxstep that Taylor Swift tried to pass off with "I Knew You Were Trouble," which was a very good song. But this easily blows Swifty's attempt out of the water. Avicii is coming for that country and top forty airplay and his first major hit in North America. Stay pressed...

Chase and Status "Lost and Not Found" Music Video

I must be a bad fan. A VERY bad fan Chase and Status released the first single from their new album almost a month ago and knew nothing about it!!! The drum and bass duo premiered the single "Lost and Not Found" and it features musician Louis M^ttrs. Their untitled third studio album will follow 2011's "No More Idols," which spawned hits like "Time", "End Credits" and "Blind Faith". Enjoy!

Graded Song: After School "First Love"

After School, another hit and miss group of girls. Last summer's comeback "Flashback" was a hit and should have done better than barely missing the top ten. Then you have their horrid subunit, Orange Caramel, who release such cheesy subpar singles that actually do better than the groups. With all that aside, we finally have a group comeback with their Brave Brothers produced single "First Love." They've given us very steamy teasers showing off their pole dancing prowess, but does the song ZZZZZ...Sorry, I tinink I fell asleep. This was actually pretty boring, and that's putting it lightly. The production is a sped-up version of SISTAR19's "Gone, Not Around Any Longer", which sounds like a slew of other Brave Sound produtions minus 4Minute's "What's Your Name?" (Brave Brothers, it's time to stop Dr.Luke-ing us) and the vocals were pretty deadpan. The sensual and sexy were there, but at least with "Gone..." we only had to worry about Hyorin's singing and Bora's (assisted by Hyorin) rapping, but because there are seven of them, none of the members stand out vocally . Not impressed, not impressed at all. *goes back to blasting "Flashback."*
Final Grade:C-

Graded Song: SISTAR "Give It To Me"

The first big comeback of June!!! Starship Entertainment's  SISTAR dominated the charts summer 2012 with their smash hits "Alone" and "Loving U" . They furthered their chart-topper count with their subunit SISTAR19 and the jazzy "Gone Not Around Any Longer" back in February, the single being the third highest selling track this year! Hyorin, Dasom, Bora and Soyou are back together with their second full length album and its title track, produced by Duble Sidekick (T-ARA N4's should have been smash "Countryside Life"). I know I'm not the only one who though that this was going to be a cheap "Pandora" ripoff. The beginning piano riff is similar to Kara's single, but that's the only similarity as far as I know. Hyorin dominates the song with a full verse and the latter part of the chorus (no surprise there), but now we have Soyou stepping from behind the scenes and giving us some much needed vocal variation. Bora seemed to be the one left behind this time as her rap was here and then gone.  Also, the ending seemed to be a bit on the anti-climatic side. A change in pitch of the production would have done good. Still, one of the better comeback singles of the year.
Final Grade:B+ 
The music video shows SISTAR in a more sensual way then before. The girls perform in a theatre as a burlesque troupe, incorporating a lot of strutting, posing, man grabbing and even tango! The video has yet to be flagged by any Korean music stations so hopefully when they do their comeback stage, there will be no unnecessary alterations.

Lorde "Tennis Court"

A name you should watch out for in the coming months. Sixteen-year-old New Zealander Ella Yelich-O'Connor, also known as Lorde has been making a splash on the indie music scene with her "Love Club" EP. She topped her countries official chart with her song "Royals" with no major label backing and continues to make headway with her critical yet reflective lyrical content and Lana Del Rey-esque delivery. She has released her first official single "Tennis Court" along with a cover of The Replacements' "Swingin' Party." As much as I love her EP (check "Bravado" I beg of you), I hope that she plans on releasing a full-length soon (and sign to distribute internationally). We definitely need an anti-Taylor Swift in pop right now and Lorde seems like she would fit the part.

Eliza Doolittle "Big When I Was Little"

Since her recent collaboration with Disclosure, Eliza Doolittle has been more visible nowadays. The follow-up to her platinum-certified eponymous debut will come sometime this year after three long years, but for now we'll have to settle for the first single, "Big When I Was Little." The song is a bouncy pop number that has a very sing-songy chorus that is perfect for upcoming summer months. The song will be released July 28th, but you can listen to it below.

Selena Gomez "Slow Down"

So Miley wasn't the only one who released a song yesterday. Selena Gomez held a group chat last night, where she released the titles of the songs on her upcoming"Stars Dance" LP and premiered the audio to her second single, "Slow Down". It will follow the highly successful "Come and Get It" and was produced by The Cataracts. Do you think "Slow Down" is better than "We Can't Stop?"

Graded Song: Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop"

Former Disney channel star Miley Cyrus . After 2010's mucky "Can't Be Tamed" era, Miley laid low for a while, aside from some relationship trouble, a marijuana mishap, phallic shaped cakes and shaving her and dying it blonde. Her fellow ex-Disney stars have released singles within the past two months and have been decent and given them their highest charting singles to date. Will Miley's transition from pop to urban inspired be successful? Ermmm...ok. There is more than enough embarrassing lines to go around and she sounds less than convincing when she says that's she's getting "turnt up" and "dancing with Molly". Mike Will Made It downplayed his normally trap beats and tailored it to the mainstream audience, which isn't bad at all, but could have went to someone who would have done more with the song. Similar to Avril Lavigne's disappointing comeback single, "Here's To Never Growing Up" but adds unnecessary hard drug references and a flat vocal delivery. We saw the Jolene cover, we know you can sing! Not as bad as "Can't Be Tamed", but then again...
Final Grade:C-

Rizzle Kicks "That's Classic" and "Roaring 20's" Cover Art

Rizzle Kicks released visuals for the track, "That's Classic". The song is a teaser from the hip-hop duo's upcoming sophomore album, "Roaring 20's", which they announced via social media last night. I'm glad that they are following the same promotional template as they did with "Stereo Typical", which was one of the most flawless debuts of 2011 to be honest. Instead of just serving us a single, they give us most of the tracks and visuals to go along with them. The album spawned the hit singles "When I Was a Youngster", "Down With The Trumpets" and "Mama Do The Hump", the latter peaking at #3 on the charts.
You can also check the iconic cover art for "Roaring 20's" which will be released September 2nd and available for pre-order now.