April 6, 2010

Blog Watch: New and Undiscovered

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Keane featuring K’naan — “Stop For a Minute”

One of the most unlikely duos in music has created an amazing 80’s inspired rock/pop anthem. Rapper K’naan, who to the dismay of fans such as myself was replaced at Maroon 5’s concert back in the fall, seems an unlikely choice to duet with the UK rock band Keane.  Featuring Keane’s trademark lyrics and an arena-rocking chorus, the track is easily their best song and a great introduction to those not familiar with the band. It will most certainly find success in the UK, but you probably won’t hear it in the United States.  Keane haven’t really found mainstream success except with “Somewhere Only We Know,” another amazing song that has been used in various movies and television shows like He’s Just Not That Into You and Grey’s Anatomy.

Leighton Meester – “Your Love’s a Drug”

Usually TV-actresses don’t make great singers — take Hilary Duff or Lindsay Lohan for example.  However, Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester proved her vocal ability on Cobra Starship’s “Good Girls Go Bad” and now has her sights set on a music career.  You may have heard her dull first single “Somebody to Love” with Robin Thicke, which bombed on the charts despite her popularity. However, her second single “Your Love’s A Drug,” is a complete turn-around and exactly the kind of music that is going to propel her to music stardom.  It’s a great, catchy pop song, albeit trite.  The track is also an obvious rip-off of Ke$ha’s “Your Love is My Drug”, which nevertheless will probably help Leighton find success.

Flo-Rida featuring T-Pain — “Zoosk Girl”

The duo that created the unbearable chart topper “Low” has reunited for the first single off Flo-Rida’s third album The Only One. Sticking with his pattern of samples, Flo-Rida uses “Tainted Love” to replicate the success of “Right ’Round.” I’m really not sure what a Zoosk girl is, but I don’t think that really matters; the song is catchy from first listen. It isn’t too inventive, as Rihanna used the sample in her smash hit “S.O.S.” — which is undoubtedly better. Though it’s not Flo-Rida’s best track, you might as well put in on your iPod now before the radio kills it.

Original Author: Matt Samet