Ale-Alejandro!

Taking another subversive page out of the Madonna playbook, Lady Gaga's back with another little titillation named Alejandro.

Cropped hairstyle? Check!
Religious iconography? Check!
Singing in Spanish just because you can? Check!

And it works, yet again. Xtina who?

Three Lovely Divas, Some Poison and Some Butterflies

Continuing on some things that should have been posted a while back, here's a few superstars cavorting. One pair successfully. One, oddly less so.

First off, the one you've seen already. The one that made Beyonce semi-likeable (no, I'm not a huge fan), and Lady Gaga ever more eccentric. The one about telephones that somehow became a Thelma and Louise, Quentin Tarantino murder romance. The one that's already been parodied to death.

Yes, you either love it or you think it's just more of the deadly doom dance of the Haus of Gaga. Let's just say I'm looking forward to seeing the new blonde ambition live this summer.

Telephone - Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce


Now lets focus on another superstar in her own right. Except that instead of revealing midriffs, her superpower is often an accordion. Or in this case passing air.

I'll give Mexico's Julieta Venegas props for a sense of humor with this one, but farts don't usually turn into butterflies, nor can they make up for this mess of a video.

Thankfully the song stands up on it's own, a new addition to the stellar songbook that have made her huge south of the border. She's the real deal. If ever you have the chance to see her pull out her accordion live, you'll grant her some whimsy too.

Bien o Mal - Julieta Venegas

I want your love.

Clearly wanting to strike while the iron is hot, Lady Gaga isn't missing a beat.

This isn't my favorite tune she's put out, but you got to give the fashionista-with-a-beat some serious credit: She knows how to get your attention, even if she's had a Bad Romance:



Want to bet it grows on me?

The requisite milk-the-fans reissue comes out November 23. With eight new tracks, The Fame Monster won't hurt quite as much as usual.

Pet Shop Boys Get Their Lifetime Achievement On

It seems odd to start seeing groups I grew up with getting lifetime achievement awards.

But so it was at The Brit Awards this week that Pet Shop Boys were regaled for their Outstanding Contribution to Music. They said thanks by doing a mega-mix medley, with a suitable amount of pomp and circumstance (with some help from new friends Lady Gaga and The Killers lead singer, Brandon Flowers):



Lest you think they are already irrelevant, check out their new single Love etc.

The Spring Concert Calendar

See that little list over there on the right? The one that says RandomTope Events?

Notice how it's refilled again?

The RandomTope Events links show you how to buy your own tickets to these great shows. Let me know if you'll be there!

Cut Copy
Both Nelse and I have raved about them for a while now. We discovered these Aussie electro-rockers a few years back when they opened an electrifying Franz Ferdinand show here in Denver, and we've been huge fans ever since. If you haven't checked out their album In Ghost Colours, there's good reason Nelse chose it as his best album of the year -- a choice I heartily agree with. If they were able to get Red Rocks off it's feet mid-afternoon this summer, you can imagine what they'll be able to do at a small venue like the Bluebird this March!

Lady GaGa
She's been percolating on our radar since last summer when we first got wind of Just Dance. If you've seen any of her live performances on TV or the web since then, you'll see she's the real deal. A high energy dance diva for a new generation. Now that Just Dance has exploded and Poker Face is well on it's way up the charts she is well on way to becoming a major star. There's a reason Nelse included her in his Top 10.

The Presets
And here's the gaping hole left out of Nelse's best album list of 2008. Last year's Apocalypso is easily one of the best high-energy, listen-to-it-loud albums of last year. Some call them a dance punk duo, and I think that may be an apt description of them live. At Monolith they stuck them in a tiny claustrophobic room that quickly filled over-capacity, and they just hit it out of the park. I can't wait to see them in a proper venue that's sure to have us all on our feet jumping (and celebrating a special occasion).

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Another gig worth catching here in Denver, is The Ting Tings on April 8. We can't make it due to matzah festivities that night, but this British duo is another one of the great bands of 2008. You can get tickets for what's sure to be a great show at The Bluebird HERE.

I promise this, promise this, check this hand 'cause I'm marvelous.

By now you've all heard her call to just dance, but Lady Gaga isn't coasting along with her long buzzed about chart-topping success.

Her follow-up, Poker Face, is just as catchy.

If you haven't picked up her stellar debut album, The Fame, yet, you're missing out on a major talent rising.

One question though... Is a rubber uni-suit really the most comfortable thing to wear to a pool party?

The Best Albums of 2008

Once again here's Nelse with a top notch list of music from the year gone by. If you need some comparison, check out his list from last year.

1. Cut Copy “In Ghost Colours”

The memories of seeing this unknown band open for Franz Ferdinand several years ago at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver still makes me tingle. What an amazing opening act and a great debut from the band from the land down under. This follow-up disc has them experimenting even further with the dance-rock fusion with much success.

2. Vampire Weekend “Vampire Weekend”

Hands down this is one of my all time favorite records from 2008. From the first listen this album has become a classic with a blend of preppy pop-rock sounds with dash of Talking Heads, a pinch of the early Police sounds, and topped with a sprinkle of the Kinks. This is pop-perfection and easily played on endless repeat all year long.

3. Ting Tings “We Started Nothing”

Forget the hype and just take a second listen to this upbeat album from the Tings. At my first listen I have to admit I was less than impressed by the repeating “the drums, the drums, the drums”. Then came the Apple iPod ad with “Shut Up and Let Me Go” and I was curious. The album has become decidedly perfect party music for the past year.

4. The Killers “Day and Age”

One of the most anticipated of all year. Ahhh, so refreshing to have a delightfully energetic and thunderous third album from the Las Vegas rockers. Definitely another great stop on this bands long future. Are we human or are we dancer?

5. Robyn “Robyn”

A nice departure for this former one hit wonder from the nineties. She is back and totally reinvented. Cool electro-pop with a sharp edge and some tough ass lyrics!



6. MGMT “Oracular Spectacular”

So trippy, so spaced out, so cool, so I want rebel from my office job and play outside!





7. Estelle “Shine”

For me, this was what Lauryn Hill’s follow-up album should have been. I thought Estelle hit it out of the park and I crown her the queen of urban beats with silky smooth edge.


8. Kaiser Chiefs “Off With Their Heads”

Does everything Mark Ronson touch turn to gold? Not that these blokes would do any worse on their own. Definitely a highly rated album that slipped under the radar this year. What did I learn today “I learned nothing!”

9. The Last Shadow Puppets “The Age of the Understatement”

A great side project from the lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys that I discovered over New Year’s weekend after surfing some end of year lists. A groovy set of old school James Bond inspired tracks.

10. Lady Gaga “The Fame”

I have to admit that I was skeptical when this album dropped. After hearing the overplayed first single all summer I wasn’t expecting much else. Surprisingly the album presented some stand out tracks that I have been playing next stop. I also have next year’s summer jam pegged!

The worst of 2008:

Madonna “Hard Candy”: Great to see her play Denver for the first time and she still puts on the best show out there, but can she please stop giving us Spanish lessons while trying to sound urban?

Jem “Down to Earth”: I was expecting so much more from hew follow-up album after an amazing debut. Unfortunately, she sold out to the adult contemporary crowd. A few decent tracks, but sadly this one missed the mark.

Hot Chip “Made in the Dark”: Booooo! Way too many bleeps and blurps! This one gets annoying after the first listen.

Pink “Funhouse”: A good first single, but the rest of the album is quite a frightening funhouse indeed.

Record Delays:

No Annie, Franz Ferdinand, Daniel Merriweather, No Doubt or Lily Allen albums until 2009! Record labels can be mean bastards!