This week's post ...

Alicia Keys
Element Of Freedom current album
This is a superb RnB album, Alicia's delivering top quality smoothness every time exemplified by the success of 'Empire State Of Mind Part 2'.... what a great song... Jay-Z's version is one of the biggest hits of the past twelve months and Alicia's shows off her scintilating sensitivity... 'How Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart' has climbed into the Top 20 and the whole album is right up there too!

Alphabeat
DJ new single 31 May 2010
Well this should be a massive pop hit and radio stations should love it... 'Fascination' was a much requested big international smash and fresh from their Lady GaGa tour support awareness of the band should be peaking, so hit ... Top 30

Archie Bronson Outfit
Hoola new single 28 June 2010
ABO have a unique sound and here's another fine strike at putting a commercial bent to it, perhaps the vocals let it down slightly but that's more than made up for by their trademark stomping rhythm track. Hit potential.

Dallas Guild
Weakness Goes In My Spaceship (Death Music Disco Scene Remix)
Well many will know the song yes but I'm not sure this seven minute remix will help the song climb into the upper echalons... nice but not strong enough. Sorry

David Holmes
The Girlfriend Experience new single to be confirmed
Intriguing.... interesting even... catchy rhythmic track, kindofa clunking, great talkover music... I really like this instrumental but I'd hazard a guess that it'll probably not a chart hit. Neat tune though.

Example
Kickstarts new single 13 June 2010
This is another top tune from de maan... top ten again... maybe top five this time.

Four Year Strong
Enemy Of The World new album 31 May 2010
Kerrang's new cover stars Four Year Strong have come up with an impressive third album here, powerful rock pop with a blistering attack on the mainstream... eleven top tracks with superb arrangement and production by Machine of Cobra Starship and Lamb of God note that should see the band step up a notch or two. See them at the Slam Dunk Festival with New Found Glory. Top shelf...

I Blame Coco
Self Machine new single 27 June 2010
Coco Sumner of Sting/Policedom... Yes this is a fine follow-up to her limited edition Caesar' single which featured Robyn.... hit potential!

Katy Perry
California Gurls new single 20 June 2010
Why does "Daisy Dukes" sound so sexy when Katie says it... I don't know.... "Sex on a beach" "We freak in our jeep".. this gal's nympho... lucky Brand.... nice! Two words... Number One!!! Here's the press release..
After scoring four smash singles off her five-million-selling 2008 debut album One of the Boys, two-time Grammy-nominated singer / songwriter Katy Perry returns to set airwaves ablaze with scorching new single “California Gurls”. Released on June 20th, this irresistible, hook-filled clarion call to throw on Daisy Dukes and a bikini top, “California Gurls” , will , “melt your popsicle,” Katy assures us in this party anthem of the summer. The sizzling track — a fresh evolution of Perry’s witty, sassy sound — is the follow-up to her worldwide hits “I Kissed A Girl”, “Hot N Cold”, and “Waking Up In Vegas”. The Santa Barbara-born Perry was inspired to write “California Gurls” as she watched her friends go crazy at a party listening to Jay-Z’s salute to New York, “Empire State of Mind.” “Everybody was holding their drinks in the air and dancing, and I thought, ‘We’re not in New York, we’re in Los Angeles! What about California? What about all the homies, the gin and juice, the swaying palm trees, the sun-kissed skin 24-7,’” Perry recalls. “I decided that we needed to make a response. I want people to want to book a ticket to California the first time they hear it!” And because it just doesn’t seem right to release a song that mention s gin and juice without Snoop Dogg, Perry recruited the rap icon to contribute his inimitable vocals to “California Gurls.” “We thought it would sound so cool and give the song another dimension,” she says. “Snoop is as West Coast as it gets.” “California Gurls” is just a taste of what’s to come when Katy unleashes her brand-new album Teenage Dream on August 30th. The album is the follow-up to Perry’s blockbuster debut One of the Boys, which has sold five million copies worldwide. To date she has now sold more than 22 million singles, digital tracks, and mobile products around the globe. Katy’s success has led her to become one of the most talked-about new artists of the past two years. Since exploding onto the scene in 2008 she has sold out her own 50-city world headlining tour, presented awards (and gotten slimed) at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards plus hosted and performed – twice at the MTVs European Music Awards. She also presented at the 2010 Grammy Awards (where “Hot N Cold” was nominated for “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance”) and performed at the ceremony in 2009 when she was nominated in the same category for “I Kissed A Girl”.

Lady GaGa
Alejandro new single 28 June 2010
The thing is Lady GaGa is making great records, she is on a purple patch even greater than Madonna when sher shot to fame in 1983/4... the chorus of GaGa's hits are up there with the very best - it's no criticism when you reckon 'Just Dance' is probably the weakest and the weakest of her hits - remixes are top notch. Look out for the excellent Dave Aude Radio Remix of 'Alejandro'... prehaps this will be the mix you'll be hearing throughout Summer 2010 and well, there's now fifteen remixes of this track... this is almost a double album of one song... at this rate it'll take a month to listen to an album so I can't help feeling we've now reached a new totally impractical top end of the 'pop' kingdom. Having said that GaGa is on the crest of her self created wave, a unique talent, as fragile an interviewee as her image is undeniable strong and this is another top five single, maybe even a fifth number one! Goo to the GaGa...

New Young Pony Club
We Want To new single 17 May 2010
I really like this band but the evidence is they may have missed the boat.. perhaps the delay in following their excellent 2007 success has lost them valuable momentum. This is a fine record, and there's a sexy indie atmosphere to all they do, so I'd really like to see this chart on Sunday... however iTunes is looking NYPC-less. Good record.

Plasticines
About Love new album
Although The Plasticines are big in their French homeland and I do very much like this outfit and there are some top tunes on this album, playlisted by our Radio2xs affiliate - I'm baffled why New Young Pony Club haven't cut through in the UK and I'm guessing similar difficulty will confront The Plasticines. All fine tunes and a spunky gal band to boot.. top material and 'Bitch' could hit big hopefully.

Republica
Ready To Go 2010 - Remixes new single 7 June 2010
Three remixes to accompany the main Radio Edit and it's such a fine indie/pop hit, Republica should chart with ease, however it's tough out there. The excellent mellow-ish Balearic, the dark electro-chigging Grayed Out Mix and the enormous sounding Indie Disco Mix with it's wah-wah peddling stripped back drum, big chorus are each useful accessories. Top old skool revived.

Some Velvet Morning
How To Start A Revolution new single 17 May 2010
A superb spunky funky remix of a great track... Lyrics... First thing... don't call it a 'revolution' maybe call it 'prosgressive' - do it without anyone noticing - consult our Mr Brown for advice - especially on the turning of 65 year old Grannies into criminals for selling a goldfish... Seriously, this is the theme to the new 'Kick Ass' movie starring Aaron Johnson as the new brand of real life superhero 'Kick Ass'. Aaron is a 19 yearl old Brit who's been in the acting game since he was six!!! Some Velvet Morning - Des Lambert (Vocals, Guitar), Gavin Lambert (Bass) and Rob Flanagan (Drums) - gained many fans with their debut album three years back and this fairly consolidates their progress with a chance of top ten success... the movie looks good and this tune has hit written all over it! Their single launch was at London's 100 Club on 14th May.

Tinie Tempah
Frisky - Remixes new single 7 June 2010
Really like the South Rakkas mixes.. very rude... great dancehall sound and a nearly clean Fk me version... gobsmacking... something really primitive about the "If I tell her I'm a boxer will she let me in her knickers"... line - diiiirty. Tasty drum n bass mix from Shy FX and Benny. And like it or not, Tinie Tempah, Dizzee, Chippiemunk, Roll Deep, Taio have each helped London's Ghanaian crew take a gigantic leap forward to sieze UK mainstream success. Grime... is usually uncompromising unless there's dosh top be earned by going pop... Tinie avoids that dilemma completely on the 'Fu*k Me' remix of 'Frisky'... hands in knickers 'n all. This surely will be another 'Pass Out' like dancefloor filler and possibly a second chart-topper for the man known to his Ma as Patrick Junior C. Okogwu.

Uffie & Pharell
ADD Suv new single 31 May 2010
This French gal's 'fit and she knows it' and with the ADDition of Pharrell's rap input this track could whisk her into the top ten. "sometimes I don't know where I've been..." How many can identify with that gem of a line... the mysterious code phrasing of A D D and S U V is fair charming tooo! Intriguing to ponder whether Ms Aguilera lifted Uffie's 'MCs Can Kiss' "I don't give a fu*k" line on her new 'Not Myself' hit... anything you can do stylee. Top notch.

We Are Scientists
Nice Guys new single 7 June 2010
They're back with guitar, bass, drums and another three minute indie/rock/pop gem... it would be great to see 'Nice Guys' in the top twenty - it's a fine listen and it restore a little balance to the often inane RnB / Grime domination.

This week's Top 40 ...

Top 40 Sun 16 May10 Roll Deep hold on to UK Number One for a third week while Eminem's new track 'Not Afraid' - the taster for his new album 'Recovery' due for release on 21st June goes straight to the top Stateside. Keane's new long player 'Night Train' goes straight to the top of the UK Albums. Lady GaGa's 'Bad Romance' re-enters at 39 for a 28th week on the top forty. DJ/Production duo Edward Maya & singer Vika Jigulina join Inna to land Rumania a couple of top forty entries. 6 new entries & 1 re-entry - 7 up, 22 down, 4 non-movers This Week ... Last Wk ... Wks In ... Artist ... Title ... Origin 1 1 2 ROLL DEEP Good Times UK 2 12 3 JASON DeRULO Ridin' Solo US 3 2 8 USHER & WILL I AM OMG US 4 new EDWARD MAYA & VIKA JIGULINA Stereo Love Rumania 5 5 2 AGGRO SANTOS & KIMBERLY WYATT Candy UK / US 6 3 7 PLAN B She Said UK 7 14 2 FYFE DANGERFIELD She's Always A Woman UK 8 16 3 ALEXANDRA BURKE-PITBULL All Night Long UK / US 9 new GLEE CAST Total Eclipse Of The Heart US 10 10 5 KELIS Accapella US   11 6 6 TAIO CRUZ & KE$HA Dirty Picture UK / US 12 new CHRISTINA AGUILERA Not Myself Tonight US 13 4 2 PENDULUM Watercolour Australia 14 9 5 PROFESSOR GREEN Need You Tonight UK 15 7 4 CHIPMUNK & ESMEE DENTERS Until You Were Gone UK / Holland 16 15 15 LADY GAGA & BEYONCE Telephone US 17 11 8 SCOUTING FOR GIRLS This Ain't A Love Song UK 18 8 4 DIANA VICKERS Once UK 19 30 2 RIHANNA Te Amo US 20 23 3 ALICIA KEYS Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart US   21 13 8 TIMBALAND & JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE Carry Out US 22 22 3 TRAIN Hey Soul Sister US 23 19 8 DAVID GUETTA & KID CUDI Memories France / US 24 17 1 2 11 TINIE TEMPAH Pass Out UK 25 18 10 JUSTIN BIEBER & LUDACRIS Baby US 26 new FUGATIVE Crush UK 27 new GLEE CAST Run Joey Run UK 28 21 3 LADY ANTEBELLUM Need You Now US 29 20 5 SELENA GOMEZ & THE SCENE Naturally US 30 24 16 RIHANNA Rude Boy US   31 28 12 ELLIE GOULDING Starry Eyed UK 32 32 19 ALICIA KEYS Empire State Of Mind (Part 2) US 33 29 16 YOUNG MONEY & LLOYD Bedrock US 34 40 2 BIFFY CLYRO Bubbles UK 35 34 12 JASON DeRULO In My Head US 36 26 9 INNA Hot Rumania 37 39 3 ADAM LAMBERT For Your Entertainment US 38 35 17 OWL CITY Fireflies US 39 re-entry 28 LADY GAGA Bad Romance US 40 new KEANE & K'NAAN Stop For A Minute UK

Feeder News Posted Monday 17th May 2010 Feeder have announced a new album and tour. 'Renegades' will be released on July 5th and the Newport band are heading out on tour in October - no Welsh dates yet... Leeds Metropolitan University Thu 21st Oct Glasgow, ABC Fri 22nd Oct Manchester, Academy 2 - Sun 24th Oct Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall - Mon 25th Oct Bristol O2 Academy Wed 27th Oct London Shepherds Bush Empire Thu 28th Oct Oxford Academy 2 Sat 30th Oct Southampton University Sun 31st Oct America's Hot 100 This Week ... Last Week ... Weeks In ... Artist ... Title 1 new EMINEM Not Afraid 2 1 6 USHER & WILL I AM OMG 3 2 15 B.o.B. & BRUNO MARS Nothin' On You 4 4 11 TAIO CRUZ Break Your Heart 5 7 4 B.o.B. & HAYLEY WILLIAMS of PARAMORE Airplanes 6 3 13 RIHANNA Rude Boy 7 6 32 TRAIN Hey, Soul Sister 8 8 13 KE$HA Your Love Is My Drug 9 new 3OH!3 & KE$HA My First Kiss 10 5 39 LADY ANTEBELLEM Need You Now   A New Day Dawns... Posted Sunday 16th May 2010 As Yo Blair once said "A new day has dawned, has it not?"... and what to make of the past week.... for a couple of hours last Monday it looked likely Gordon Brown would remain as a kind of 'Caretaker PM' until September but then the deafening diplomatic silence maintained by David Cameron and his team of negotiators paid dividends to clinch a coalition with Nick Clegg's Lib Dems and wrench power away from Labour after thirteen mind-boggling years. And the surprises keep coming... today we hear there's a distinct possibility far left Labour MP Frank Field will be hired as Camerons 'Poverty Tzar' - surely a revenge of sorts for Labour's baffling immigration policy which is again starkly contrasted by the look of the new Lib Dem / Tory cabinet. Let's give the benefit of the doubt and travel in hope for a little while at least - well at least until the Queens Speech next week.. there can be little doubt the direction Labour were pointed the threat of civil unrest was looking ever more likely. It's a certainty their 'trojan mice' will be secretly conspiring to continue the chaos but in the meantime the growing unease may have been arrested and God willing reversed... and if common sense, logic, brains, wisdom, truth, and fairness can carry the day... Coming to your street soon... the liberal spot the difference conservation game