HOT AND FRESH OUT THE KITCHEN

"HEARTTHROB" - TEGAN & SARA

After over ten years of making music, Canadian alt-rock outfit, Tegan & Sara have decided they want to be pop stars. With their seventh studio album, the identical twin lesbian sisters approached producers Greg Kurstin (Pink, Kelly Clarkson) and Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple) to help guide them to a wider audience. It has seemed to have paid off as their album, "Heartthrob" debuted on the Billboard Album Chart at number three with a remix of the first single, "Closer" reaching number one of the dance chart.

To be perfectly honest, the Quin sisters haven't really altered their sound too radically as the only major difference is that the music has a smoother quality. Regardless, no one is ever going to confuse them with Britney Spears as these ladies certainly continue to rock.

"I'm Not Your Hero" - Tegan & Sara (2013)

"WOMAN" - RHYE

Rhye is the side project of two musicians who each had long careers working with their own bands. Mike Milosh is from Canada and has performed with his electronic outfit, Milosh while Robin Hannibal is a Danish musician who is part of the duo, Quadron.  These two artists came together as both just happened to share the same record label and after each had just moved to Los Angeles.

After collaborating for a week, Rhye was formed which lead to their debut, "Woman". Together they crafted a collection that is sensual and soulful which has prompted comparisons to Sade and Spandau Ballet but bring their own special touch with Milosh providing androgynous vocals. The duo also share a low-key approach to their music with little fan-fare as Rhye has done relatively very few live performances to date.

"Open" - Rhye (2013)

"SING TO THE MOON" - LAURA MVULA

British songstress, Laura Mvula has already taken much of the world by storm but she hasn't gotten nearly enough attention here in America. This twenty-five year old Birmingham native was working as a receptionist before sending her demos out and getting quickly signed to RCA Records. Her debut, "Sing To The Moon" features beautifully rendered songs written by the artist and producer, Steve Brown which combines elements of soul, jazz and African rhythms. I really dig her sultry sound and predict a very big future for this very talented young woman.

"Green Garden" - Laura Mvula (2013)

Here is the beautiful video for Laura Mvula's very first release, "She":



"EXTENDED PLAY" - FLEETWOOD MAC

The reunited Fleetwood Mac is about ready to embark on a new world tour and have just released an EP with new material appropriately entitled, "Extended Play".  The four songs featured are "Sad Angel", "It Takes Time" and "Miss Fantasy", written and produced by Lindsey Buckingham and a re-recorded version of "Without You", a recently discovered demo written by Stevie Nicks back during her days in Buckingham/Nicks. These are the first new recordings by the band in ten years with bassist, John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood ready to perform these tracks (along with their well-known hits) live across the globe.

"Sad Angel" - Fleetwood Mac (2013)

"DELTA MACHINE" - DEPECHE MODE

Depeche Mode, considered one of the most popular EDM bands in the world, has just released their thirteenth full-length recording, "Delta Machine". The British band, currently a trio with Andy Fletcher on keyboards, Martin L. Gore providing guitar, keyboards, vocals and lead songwriter along with Dave Gahan on lead vocals, has gone from a lighter synth-pop sound from their early days in the eighties to the much darker and moody techno-beats that they currently perform today. There are no real surprises on their latest effort but it's still quite engaging. Look for Depeche Mode in your city soon as they have begun the Delta Machine Tour in Europe and will hit North America in August.

"Secret To The End" - Depeche Mode (2013)

The music video for the title track from David Bowie's latest album is considered quite controversial and has even upset the Catholic League. This surreal clip of "The Next Day" displays religious imagery along with priests consorting with scantily-clad women in a club where Bowie, as a Christ-like figure, performs. Like his last video, this is directed by Floria Sigismondi and star-studded, featuring actors, Gary Oldman and Oscar-winner, Marion Cotillard.



Janelle Monáe is finally back and she's delivered a very tasty bit of funk. This dynamic performer has just released "Q.U.E.E.N.", the first single off of her forthcoming record, "The Electric Lady". The music video features her high-style, quirky visuals and slick moves as well as an appearance by the equally fabulous eccentric, Erykah Badu who adds her voice to the track.



Finally, here is the video by Lana Del Rey of her haunting song, "Young & Beautiful" for the film, "The Great Gatsby":

TAKE TWO: PATRICE RUSHEN

After the parents of Los Angeles native, Patrice Rushen discovered that their baby girl was gifted at the piano, they enrolled her in music classes at USC at the age of three. Winning a competition at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1972 lead to Rushen being signed to Prestige Records as a teenager. She recorded several jazz albums and became an in-demand session player before moving on to a major-label, Elektra Records.

It was during this time that Rushen started to blend r&b and funk in to her sound and found commercial success. "Haven't You Heard", "Remind Me" and "Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)" found their way on the pop and r&b charts with "Forget Me Nots" becoming her biggest hit, reaching number twenty-three on the pop chart and number four on the r&b in 1982. This song is now best known for being sampled by Will Smith for the theme song of his film "Men In Black" in 1997.

Patrice Rushen is still very much involved in music but now more behind the scenes. She became the first female musical director for The Grammy Awards, The Emmy Awards, The NAACP Image Awards and The People's Choice Awards.  She also served as the musical director for Janet Jackson's 1993 world tour and has recently traveled as part of the touring band for such jazz artists as Lee Ritenour and Wayne Shorter.

Have a listen to two of my favorite tunes by Ms Rushen:

"Haven't You Heard" - Patrice Rushen (1980)

"Forget Me Nots" - Patrice Rushen (1982)

CHRISSY AMPHLETT (1959 - 2013)

Best known for the controversial (at least here in the U.S.) 1991 hit song about female masturbation, "I Touch Myself", Chrissy Amphlett of the Australian rock band, The Divinyls passed away today after a lengthy battle with cancer and multiple sclerosis.

The sexy and provocative vocalist met guitarist, Mark McEntee in 1980 and they formed the Divinyls. The group recorded six studio albums before disbanding in 1996. Amphlett and McEntee did not speak for many years until they were inducted in to the Australian Hall of Fame in 2006. The Divinyls reunited briefly and recorded a single, "Don't Want To Do This" the following year and toured their home country.

Amphlett also performed as an actress making appearances in the 1982 film, "Monkey Grip" and on the Australian stage in the musical, "The Boy From Oz" where she played Judy Garland.

To pay tribute, here is the music video of Chrissy Amphlett with her band doing their smash that reached number four in America, number ten in Britain and number one in Australia:

"THE GREAT GATSBY' SOUNDTRACK

While "The Great Gatsby" is not due in movie theaters until May 10th, that doesn't mean it's too early to hear some tunes from the soundtrack. Much like what he did with the soundtracks for "Romeo + Juliet" and "Moulin Rouge!", the director Baz Luhrmann has incorporated contemporary music in to his period films.

This time, he has enlisted Jay-Z to help produce the music and together they have assembled a very impressive array of artists. Some of the musicians on board include will i. am, Sia, Jack White, Bryan Ferry, and the producer's wife, Beyoncé who does her take of the Amy Winehouse classic, "Back To Black". The hot British pop artist, Emeli Sandé, is here as well and provides a slinky version of Beyoncé's breakout first solo single, "Crazy In Love".

The song, "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey will be the first official single (out April 23rd) to help create some buzz.

Here is a video currently out that provides little snippets of some of the other tracks on the album:



I am loving what I've heard so far and I really can't wait to see the film. The full versions of a couple of tracks have leaked with "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" a hip-hopped jazzy tune by Fergie (with assistance by Q-Tip and GoonRock) and "Over The Love", a gorgeous ballad by Florence & The Machine that are floating around out there.

Have a listen to Fergie's tune:

"A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" - Fergie featuring Q-Tip and GoonRock (2013)

MY TUNE OF THE DAY

The tune that I'm loving today is the 1994 international hit, "100% Pure Love" by Crystal Waters, a song I hadn't heard in such a long time but still sounds quite fresh.

This singer had no real intention of starting a music career despite her father being a jazz musician and her great aunt was vocalist and film star, Ethel Waters. After Crystal graduated from college, she went to work as a tech for a Washington DC parole board. However, Waters later found herself gravitating towards music but first as a writer. She teamed-up with a production team called The Basement Boys. After she cut a demo for dance artist, Ultra Naté, the boys loved it but thought it was perfect with Crystal singing the track. This song, "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" became a world-wide smash reaching number eight on the U.S pop chart and number one on the dance chart in 1991. "100% Pure Love" was the lead single from her follow-up album, "Storyteller" which made it to number eleven on the pop chart and once again to the top spot on the dance music chart.

These two songs were the highlight of Crystal Waters' career but she had six other chart-topping dance hits which included "Making Happy" and "Relax". Ms Waters has only recorded three albums with the 1997 self-titled album being her last to date but has occasionally released new music over the years. The singer recently lent her vocals to a Chris Cox & DJ Frankie track "Oh Mama Hey" which hit number one on the dance chart last March.

"100% Pure Love" - Crystal Waters (1994)

 As a bonus, here is the music video of the first hit by Crystal Waters:

 

TAKE TWO: BONNIE RAITT

Bonnie Raitt certainly stands out as a musician as she's not only one of the few female guitarists out there but also an outspoken political activist and passionately kept the tradition of the blues alive. She actively put a spotlight on the forgotten early blues performers such as Howlin' Wolf and Sippie Wallace.

It seems impossible that Bonnie Raitt would not have entered music in some capacity as her mother was a pianist and her father was Broadway musical star, John Raitt. Bonnie took an interest in the guitar as a young girl and later while attending college, she met promoter, Dick Waterman who changed her life. He introduced her to the blues and soon, Raitt began performing in clubs where she would meet these legendary artists and performed along side them. She soon caught the attention of the music industry and eventually signed with Warner Bros. Raitt released her self-titled debut in 1971 and while it received plenty of critical praise, the album received very little radio play. A lack of significant sales continued with her following albums but Raitt always managed to impress with her stirring live performances.

Raitt had been recording music for almost twenty years before she finally achieved her first taste of long overdue commercial success with the album, "Nick of Time" in 1989. Having been dropped from her record label four years earlier, she teamed-up with producer, Don Was who decided to update her bluesy-rock sound with a smoother contemporary production. The album topped the Billboard 200 album chart and went on to win three Grammy Awards including Album of The Year.

Bonnie Raitt continues to hit the road and just released her sixteenth studio album, "Slipstream" last year on her own record label which won a Grammy for Best Americana Album, giving her a career total of ten awards. Raitt was inducted in to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Here are two of my very favorite songs from Bonnie Raitt:

"Nick Of Time" - Bonnie Raitt (1989)

"I Can't Make You Love Me" - Bonnie Raitt (1991)

RANDOM SIGHTS + SOUNDS

Once again, here are a few sights and sounds that I'm digging at this particular moment.

"Pillow Talk" - Sylvia (1973)

"Give Me You" - Tamia (2013)

I have to admit that I've never gotten in to the music of Ciara but I'm really in to the latest single, "Body Party". Written by the proclaimed, Princess of Crunk&B and her boyfriend, the rapper, Future, the tune is a slow-burning ballad that samples one of my favorite songs, "My Boo" by the Ghost Town DJ's. Look for it on her next album, "One Woman Army", due out in June:



The British electropop artist, Little Boots has dropped some new music from her forthcoming second album, "Nocturnes".  Although there was a music video made for the song, "Headphones", it does not appear listed as a track on the album. Perhaps it might show up on some future deluxe edition or something but no matter. It's a great tune and a fun video:




"Attracting Flies" - AlunaGeorge (2013)

"Sacrilege" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2013)



Phoenix, the French alt-rock band, has finally resurfaced following their 2009 world-wide smash album, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix".  The first single, "Entertainment" is off of their fifth studio album, "Bankrupt!", expected later this month: