she's on the phone

I'm a few days late on this one, but Robyn continues to write rules on how to be a proper pop star. Great song. The lyrics are direct and easily relatable. Simple yet effective video. Love the pink, high heeled trainers. Score another one for the Swedish pixie.



It seems like forever since this single was plucked from the third installment of Robyn's "Body Talk" series. How long before she delivers some new music?

ten for 2010

As another year draws to a close, so many of us in the blogosphere must hunker down and review our faves raves from the previous twelve months. Getting stuck in the great Boxing Day blizzard was the best springboard from me to begin the simultaneously arduous and thrilling task of completing my list. Thankfully, 2010 turned out to be a banner year for music. One of the best on record if I recall correctly.

But first, a look forward. Which longplayers am I anticipating in 2011? Hue And Cry, The Human League, Duran Duran, The Feeling and Penguin Prison. I know Duran just released "All You Need To Know". But the iTunes configuration isn't the whole enchilada. The full twelve track experience will be issued in physical form in February. So, I'm gonna wait to review it. It's already one of my most played elpees of this year! Sure to be a top contender in the next.

And will someone PLEASE tell me where the new albums from Blondie and Sophie Ellis-Bextor have gone? Once imminent, they've slipped off the map. Can't bode well for either of them.

Without further faffing about, here are my ten favorite albums of the year listed in alphabetical order.

Marc Almond - "Varieté"

Taking on the dual roles of showman and troubadour for "Varieté", Marc Almond showed he could deliver his own, self-penned material with as much style, quality and panache as the covers he performs so exceptionally well. All of this during his rehabilitation from a near fatal motorcycle accident a few years ago.

From the Russian strains of "Najinsky Heart" to the gypsy peasantry of "Bread And Circus", the piano torch of "Lavender", the swinging 60s London glam of the title track, the entire longplayer hangs together thematically, lyrically and musically in a way that most artists can only dream of at any point in their career.

Even the limited edition version of the album is an embarrassment of riches for Mr. Almond as he presents another half dozen or so songs which are presented in a stripped back, smoking jacket, beat club production. Every track on "Varieté" is vintage Marc Almond, one of the UK's musical treasures.

The Divine Comedy - "Bang Goes The Neighborhood"

Neil Hannon, in the guise of The Divine Comedy, returned with a... bang! Natch.

Still waving the flag for intelligently crafted songs with nods toward classic British pop of the 60s and 70s, TDC returned in grand style. Neil still kept the orchestral flourishes in tact, but delivered "Bang" with a slightly more low-fi approach. From the Blur-like "At The Indie Disco" to the Continental flavor of "Neapolitan Girl", the album fits in perfectly with previous TDC masterworks without ever sounding like a retread. One word... Bravo!

Bryan Ferry - "Olympia"

Ten years on from Bryan Ferry's last longplayer of original material, "Olympia" had a lot to live up to. Sure, it has many of the trademark soundscapes he's been known for. There are the languid electronics, the dream guitars, the slurry delivery of someone intoxicated by love and other musings. All of it is present. But there's a rugged undercarriage to the songs which seems to

"Olympia" is champagne and gelato. A swirling mixture of style with a soupcon of danger lurking around the corner. A stunningly beautiful goddess flashing a sinister, knowing smile encouraging you to succumb to the layers of sound.

Mr. Ferry has lost none of his ability to seduce and beguile. May "Olympia" be the next of many nexts.

Goldfrapp - "Head First"

Zippy synths. Breathy, insistent vocals. Pulsing beats. Goldfrapp returned from the pastoral excursion of "Seventh Tree", itself a work of beauty, with "Head First", an album that should've scaled the dizzy heights of the charts.

Urgent and sexy. The opening synth triptych - the high octane "Rocket", the slightly ethereal "Believer", and the anthemic "Alive" - set up the album nicely. All nine tracks are dotted with some unusual, early 80s influences including "Xanadu" and Kim Carnes, as well as the obvious ones like OMD and Kraftwerk, without ever sounding retro.

But it's more than a dance album. There's a lot of deep emotion running through its synthy veins which gives "Head First" a lot of heart and plenty of warmth. Plus it has a penis on the front cover. Look closely. Trying to find it is part of the fun.

"Head First" never left my playlist all year. Let's keep the fire burning for Alison and Will in the hopes they come up with the goods on their next, full length, studio effort. Perhaps it won't follow too long after their forthcoming greatest hits collection which is scheduled to drop later this spring.

Hurts - "Happiness"

Grand, eloquent, elegiac and moody . Hurts live an a sophisticated pop universe. Equal parts Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys, yet sounding like nothing else in the charts.

Unfortunately, Theo and Adam haven't lit the world alight with their debut longplayer. But those of us that savor their kind of magnificent melancholy and well written, melodic vignettes know they have put a lot of work into making the album special.

The album became a bit of event, which continues the DM and PSB comparisons as it has become both bands' calling card everytime they release one of their always anticipated longplayers. My only (minor) complaint is that the elpee lacks in the uptempo tune department.

"Better Than Love" is a driving, gothic number with shades of early New Order and bits of Sisters Of Mercy woven throughout. And that's the extent of anything that pushes the BPMs into the upper reaches. Strangely, they ditched the brooding, captivating title track, a and relegated it to a bonus track status on very few digital portals.

Also, the singles could have benefited from a different release sequence. Instead of launching straight out of the box with the magnificent and moving "Wonderful Life", they chose "Better Than Love" which would have performed better had it followed the clearly defined hit.

Overall, the album is lovely. Don't wait too long to follow it up with something breathtakingly beautiful, lads.

Kylie Minogue - "Aphrodite"

Everyone's favorite, Aussie pop rocket delivered another sparkling album. This time, she gave her fans what they wanted - an elpee of full on, straight ahead pop.

It's an album that burst forth with the euphoric energy that her fans loved on "Fever" and wanted her to capture again after the spiky electronics of "X". Nearly every track has a hands in the air moment whether it's the gorgeous strains of "All The Lovers", the pulsing, singleworthy "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)", the lovely Keane written "Everything Is Beautiful" or the mighty drumline excitement of the title track. Singles for days.

Unfortunately, in this era of lowest common denominator, identi-kit R&B dominating the charts, Kylie's brand of top shelf pop seems a bit out of step. Therefore, third single, "Better Than Today", fell short of the top 30 even with all the promotional stops pulled out in full force.

It clearly underscores the damage a wrong single choice can trip up an otherwise flawless pop longplayer. Surely, the rumored deluxe edition is right around the corner as Kylie ramps up for her forthcoming world tour. I'll be there. Will you?

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - "History Of Modern"

It is the year of the synth. And who better to make their return than OMD? Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphries reunited the original four piece and decided to embrace their origins.

After testing the waters during a reunion tour for their 30th anniversary and a celebration of their seminal longplayer, "Architecture And Morality", Paul and Andy realized there was a lot of life left in the old mare. They dug out their synths, hashed out a dozen new songs or so and set about capturing the excitement of their debut recordings. At the same time, their return made it very clear where current faves like The xx owe their debt of gratitude.

The lyrical bite of distorted opener, "New Babies: New Toys" lays out their manifesto with a succinct "fuck off" delivered to the impostors and detractors. OMD are doing what feels best.

Anthemic first and second singles, "If You Want It" and "Sister Marie Says", respectively, show their affinity for a finely tuned pop song. They revisit every aspect of their recorded work without ever sounding like they are trading on past glories. The strength is in the clean production which supports the melodic strength of every tune on this magnificent return to glory.

All the orchestral samples and choral pads are in tact from throughout their esteemed career. The synths sparkle, the effusive melodies twinkling like a million stars until they burst into a shower of fireworks across the pristine production. Lovely.

Robyn - "Body Talk"

For nearly a year, Robyn has been a whirling dervish. A Swedish dynamo!

When she revealed her plan of releasing three albums in 2010, many scoffed at the idea. How could she come up with the goods three times?

Firstly, she kept each release in the "Body Talk" trilogy trimmed down to about eight tracks with the third installment featuring the best of the first two plus five new tracks.

It may have sounded unorthodox first, but in this new frontier of wireless trading of zeros and ones, it seems to have worked. It also helped that she promoted each effort with the vitality and excitement of an artist in her prime. She embraced every opportunity to get the word out and incorporated eye popping visuals into every part of the media mix.

Standout cuts, "Dancing On My Own", "Hang With Me" and "Indestructible" are a clutch of the finest, tear stained dancefloor epics this side of the Stockholm archipelago. But Robyn proves she has a sense of humor inside her arctic heart. "Fembot", the Snoop Dogg assisted "U Should Know Better" and the expletive ridden "Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do" are the jammy jams with a wink and smirk to let her fanbase know she can party smartly with the best of the current R&B set. And who doesn't love to initiate slut mode at least once a day?

Scissor Sisters - "Night Work"

Sleaze is the word! Jake Shears and co. whipped up a frenzy. "Night Work", their difficult third longplayer, is a deep n' greasy blowjob in an amyl nitrate filled backroom in a backstreet leather bar in Berlin.

The Trevor Horn via FGTH inspired "Invisible Light", complete with Bee Gees falsettos and thunderous percussion may have set the tone, but a few surprises like the anthemic "Fire With Fire" sounded more like The Killers. "Any Which Way" is incendiary funk with a sexy, slippery backbone and more typical of ver Scissters previous work. "Running Out" and "Night Life" sound like they bastard child of Devo and The Cult. All meant with love, of course.

"Night Work" is the sound of a group trying to break out of the corner they might have painted themselves into with their first two albums. Equal measures of frivolity and anxiety may have built them to survive or burnt them out completely. We'll know after their mammoth world tour wraps up this year. Catch them while you can!

Tracey Thorn - "Love And Its Opposite"

Tracey Thorn is one of Britain's most gifted songwriters. Every word that falls from her mouth seems to carry massive weight despite the simplicity and directness of her writing.

"Love And Its Opposite", the follow-up to 2007's more rhythmic driven "Out Of The Woods", explores mid-life in all its glory and disappointment. This is particularly apparent on poignant tracks like "Oh, The Divorces" and "Singles Bar" - two locations many are surprised to find themselves when they've crossed the great divide into the second half of their planned obsolescence.

On Twitter, Tracey has a spiky sense of wit delivered with a dash of self deprecation. Much of it is her keen attention to detail and the gift of acute observation cloaked in a laugh. And that's where much of the lyrical content of "Love And Its Opposite" resides. With every tweet, you can imagine Tracey in her kitchen chuckling to herself in deep, Mutley tones at some of her wry commentary which touches on everything from gardening to "X Factor". Essential twitteratum.

Hardly a folk album, Tracey's third solo elpee showcases her as one of Britain's quintessential singer/songwriters. Everything in the writing, arrangements and production is never pushed or rushed. Its quiet elegance, urgent beauty and balance shows Tracey at the height of her lyrical prowess. Stripped of the thump of the dancefloor, "Love And Its Opposite" is a more direct route to the head and the heart which allows for a greater impact on the listener.

Highlights include the haunting "Kentish Town", the yearning "Why Does The Wind?", the Squeeze-ly "Hormones" and the ethereal glory of "Swimming".

And that sums up my musical excursion through the previous 52 weeks. For those keeping track, you can find my ten favorite longplayers of 2009 and 2008 by clicking here. Bring on the sound of 2011!

one hit to the body

Robyn is a clever, little minx. She switched things up on us when we weren't looking.

The third installment of her "Body Talk" series is, in fact, a compilation of ten tracks from the two previous volumes with five new songs added to the tracklisting.

Furthermore, the elpee is simply titled "Body Talk". No suffix. No mention of a third part. Somehow I feel cheated. Maybe it's my expectations getting in the way.

The running order for "Body Talk" was revealed today along with the colorful artwork and curious design style typically associated with the series.

1. Fembot
2. Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do
3. Dancing On My Own
4. Indestructible
5. Time Machine
6. Love Kills
7. Hang With Me
8. Call Your Girlfriend
9. None Of Dem
10. We Dance To The Beat
11. U Should Know Better
12. Dance Hall Queen
13. Get Myself Together
14. In My Eyes
15. Stars 4-Ever

Still no studio version of "Hyperballad" or "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart". Missed opportunities, my Swedish sex kitten! Instead of adding all the previously released material, I think Robyn should have recorded the two covers and an acoustic version of "Dancing On My Own". That would've brought everything full circle.

I know what you're thinking. I am a marketing genius and Robyn should bring me in as a consultant for a big stack of cash. So glad we're on the same page.

It also appears that Robyn will be recording more new music in between her scheduled tours throughout the next year. Sounds like she's on a creative jag. Huzzah! But remember, darling - quality not quantity. Just make it bangin', babe.

crying at the discotheque

As if by magic, "Indestructible", the new single from Robyn, has appeared on the interwebs.



Another tear stained, dancefloor epic! Not quite as special as "Dancing On My Own" and "Hang With Me", but still lovely and moving.

"Indestructible" will hit the "shops" on November 15, followed two weeks later by its parent album, "Body Talk Pt. 3".

this is hardcore

Well, it really comes as no surprise. Swedish siren, Robyn, has announced the release of "Indestructible" as the first single from "Body Talk Pt. 3". The song appears in acoustic form at the close of "Body Talk Pt. 2". She did the same with "Hang With Me", the first single from the second installment of the "Body Talk" series after it appeared acoustically on part one. She's a clever minx.

"Indestructible" will be released on November 22 followed by its parent elpee one week later. The final edition of the "Body Talk" trilogy will feature fifteen tracks. In a little twist, it will only including five new songs. The other ten tracks will be culled from parts one and two. That's a bit of a swindle. The five new tunes better be superior nuggets of pop amazingness.

I think lady Robyn should have included studio recordings of "Hyperballad" by Björk and "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" by Alicia Keys, both of which she performed live this year. It certainly would've made for a more compelling purchase than sticking previous released material on "Body Talk Pt. 3".

Sweden vs. Iceland

Sweet baby jeezus! Robyn needs to put this on "Body Talk, Pt 3". It would fit nicely nuzzled alongside her other tear stained, dancefloor epics. Plz heed our call!



Doesn't she look elegant in her retro pink couture? Robyn performed "Hyperballad" at this year's Polar Music Prize in Sweden where the award was given to Björk and Italian composer, Ennio Morricone.

Now, if Björk would only rediscover the joy of melody.

hang across America

Our little, Swedish minx is working overtime! No sooner has she embarked on a North American tour and unveiled details of her next petite elpee, Robyn delivers the video for her latest single, "Hang With Me".

Super tasty. Nice video scrapbook of her current trek across the US. Proof that a low budget music video can look like a million bucks. It pushes all the right buttons. This chick is doing it right. And doesn't she look absolutely stunning?

"Hang With Me" will hit the "shops" on August 16 in Scandinavia, August 17 in the US and Canada, September 3 in Germany and September 5 in the UK and Australia. Not sure what the reason is for the staggered release schedule. But who am I too judge. Robyn has made all the right moves since she re-emerged in 2005. Excelsior!

body parts

It's a good day to be a blonde bombshell artiste. News of Robyn's new petite elpee, "Body Talk Pt. 2", just landed on my desk. Isn't the artwork spectacular? The lady has carved out a creative style all her own. I love how the end of the "R" curls around her eye.

Robyn isn't not even done promoting "Body Talk Pt. 1" and she's on to the next part of the adventure. I guess each release will dovetail through the full "Body Talk" campaign. And it's smart that she's touring with Kelis between the releases.

I must admit that I, along with many others, was skeptical about releasing three mini albums over a twelve month period. But the girl seems to keep the momentum rolling. I'm happy to see her being able to achieve her goal.

Of course, I think time will bear out one amazeballs longplayer distilled out of the three releases.

The tracklisting for "Body Talk Pt. 2" even features a track with Snoop Dogg called "U Should Know Better". The Doggfather sure does get around these days. Take note of track eight.

1. In My Eyes
2. Include Me Out
3. Hang With Me
4. Love Kills
5. We Dance To The Beat
6. Criminal Intent
7. U Should Know Better
8. Indestructible (Acoustic Version)

Does that mean we might get a souped up, electronic version of "Indestructible" as a single from the third installment of the "Body Talk" series?

hanging and dancing with Robyn

Barely done promoting "Body Talk Pt. 1", foxy, Swedish warbler, Robyn, unleashes "Hang With Me", the first track from the second of three mini-albums she plans to release this year. Her next petite elpee will be the aptly titled "Body Talk Pt. 2" which is scheduled to hit the "shops" on September 6.

Here's a shitty radio rip of "Hang With Me". Do people sit at the computers waiting to record this stuff? It's the modern day equivalent of being perched beside the stereo with a Magnavox cassette recorder held up to one of the speakers.



She's got that euphoric melancholy down to a science. Simply gorgeous. She's cutting her own swathe through the pop landscape by being herself and not aping anyone else's style. And she can be quite a clever, little minx as evidenced by the inclusion of the tender and fragile acoustic version of "Hang With Me" on her current mini elpee, "Body Talk Pt. 1".

Anyway, I'm digging Robyn's vibe the more I hear solid pop nuggets like this one. Her last album was always gonna be a tough one to follow.

I still hold my ground on her decision to release three, short albums. Shortplayers, if you will. I think you'll be able to distill the best bits into one, convenient - wait for it - longplayer. Can you hang with that?

In the meantime, have you heard the dirty, big beat, funky slap bass madness of "Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do" from "Body Talk Pt. 1"? The track has been lovingly overhauled by Mylo & Sharooz.



My fave mix of the moment is the Buzz Junkies' stadium sized reswizzle of "Dancing On My Own". It is, as they say, poppers o'clock!



Excuse me. I wanna rip off all my clothes and smash things.

stilettos and broken bottles

So I'm stuck at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Apparently, US Airways had a glitch in their check in kiosks. That prevented me from making my flight home.

No worries. Time to strap on the headphones, listen to some tunes and enjoy a frosty beverage from Starbucks in the gleaming, brand riddled terminal.

Much has been made of Robyn's return this year. The first single from the first of three forthcoming EPs has been unleashed on a salivating public. And now the video for "Dancing On My Own" hit the interwebs in the last 24 hours.

Clearly, Robyn has a slightly bigger budget to work with than many acts these days. What I'm most happy about is her comfort level with herself. Robyn doesn't fix her crooked, snaggle tooth. She doesn't try to look rail thin. She looks assured. Yet there is a twinge of shyness in her bravado. There's a sense of vulnerability cloaked by her confidence.

Thankfully, she doesn't feel the need to compete with Lady Gaga either musically or visually. The temptation is there for many female artists to jump on the latest trend. It's encouraging to see Robyn forge her own path without succumbing to label pressures or A&R intrusions.

"Dancing On My Own" mines a similar vein as her previous album. It's cold and detached while simultaneously managing to be warm and inviting. It showcases the euphoric melancholy only the Swedish can capture perfectly. Heartbreak and alienation married to a disco beat.

My only concern is that all three EPs will be easily distilled into one amazing album. That remains to be seen. But after hearing "Body Talk, Part 1" I suspect that might be the case. Some of the songs are brilliant. Others are average.

However, her sense of adventure radiates with a serious playfulness which only enhances her creative efforts. Robyn is not an ice maiden nor a bubblehead. She rides that fence right down the middle yet she's far from ordinary.