RIHANNA: TALK THAT TALK - REVIEW

Rihanna - Talk that Talk

Rihanna's sixth Disc arrives just as quickly as it can be forgotten. The Collection of eleven Tracks showcase the Barbadian Pop Princess vocally at her best, but her tireless ambition to remain relevant makes me question the necessity of releasing Talk that Talk this quickly.  It's clear that Music is a  Numbers Game with the Rihanna Navy, their being dead-set on whatever Milestone it is that they are trying to obtain in the Billboard ranks.

Are any of the Tracks on this Set remarkable?  In all honesty, no.  Anyone trying to convince me that first single We Found Love is Rihanna's  best work will be met with stiff resistance from me as I am a firm Believer that the Track is the product of a rushed Studio Session together with Calvin Harris. The Homage to early '90s House Music is recurring Motif on stronger potential Single, Where Have You Been, produced together with Dr. Luke and Harris.  The Track sounds v. much like where Pop  is right now in this David Guetta-dominated Era.

Despite catering much to a Dance Music-loving audience of late, Rihanna never forgets her Urban roots in bringing-out Jay-Z for the Titular Track (co-written with Diddy).  She wears her Caribbean Colours proudly on opening Track You Da One, another contribution from Super-Producer Dr. Luke.  Meanwhile, Watch n'Learn gives us that Sex-obsessed Rihanna whom we have grown to love, her commanding: "Just because I can't kiss back/Doesn't mean you can't kiss that" ...not really leaving much to the imagination.  Beyoncé-esque Birthday Cake clocking-in at 1:18 serves no real purpose other than proving that perhaps with a little less hastiness, something great could have come out of these Sessions.

Longtime Collaborators StarGate keep things sounding a bit familiar on Drunk on Love and Roc Me Out, relegated later in the Sequence and sounding a bit like that harder-hitting Rated R Album which I never loved in all  honesty.

Talk That Talk likely will garner that requisite Hit or two needed before Rihanna heads back to the Studio to churn-out yet another Album, rendering all of this all the more disposable.  Clocking-in a just-over 37 minutes, even her most loyal Fans would have to question whether or not they truly are getting the value they deserve.  The Disc will be released via Universal Music Canada on November 18, 2011.

ALBUM REVIEW: JESSIE J - WHO YOU ARE

Although the first taste she gave us with Do It Like a Dude wasn’t a good indicator what she’s all about, UK import Jessie J (née Jessica Cornish) definitely has a word or two of advice for us on her debut, Who You Are. In fact, the 23 year-old Singer/Songwriter Londoner’s feel-good vibe has already infiltrated airwaves Stateside. If you loved Miley Cyrus’ Party in the U.S.A. – and I know many of you do – chances are, you’re already a Fan of her work without even realizing it.

Expectations admittedly are high and although this debut Disc is a mixed bag of Songs, the raw talent Jessie J possesses is v. present. If not this Album, she is on the verge of something spectacular. Her vocal tone, range and styling are clear proof of the legacy which the likes of Beyoncé, Fergie and Alicia Keys have left on this generation of young Divas, but furthermore she really pulls out every single trick and bit of inspiration she has within her on Who You Are. There is nothing understated about Jessie J – she goes all-out because she can.

I have not been shy about expressing my love for Dr. Luke-produced hit Price Tag (ft. B.o.B.) which despite repeating a vibe heard on Hits like No One (Alicia Keys) and Where is the Love (The Black Eyed Peas), I cannot deny its standalone appeal. It is a proper introduction to the uplifting vibe she truly wants to deliver. Sunny tracks like L.O.V.E. and Stand Up promote positivity and teach us Pop Listeners a lesson or two on Reggae - her way.

ALBUM REVIEW: BRITNEY SPEARS - FEMME FATALE

Perhaps Britney Spears’ most focussed Album in quite some time, Femme Fatale delivers Fans what we wanted so badly with 2008’s dark and mysterious Blackout, but this time around she’s present enough to give it the push it deserves. Let’s be honest though – we were left underwhelmed by 2009’s Circus, highly-touted as the Princess of Pop's big Comeback.

Spears delivers hit and hit early-on on this seventh Disc. Second Single Till the World Ends, penned by Ke$ha, Dr. Luke and Max Martin is euphoric, feel-good bliss and in my opinion stronger than its already great and gritty predecessor Hold it Against Me. Inside Out has Spears making a genuine effort vocally, sounding like a potential follow-up Single down-the-road, but not until catchy Max Martin and Shellback-produced I Wanna Go finishes hypnotizing the masses with that infectious whistle hook it possesses.

Big Fat Bass ft. will.i.am feels a bit like a misfire, relegated to a spot later on the Disc along with Trip to Your Heart, which surprisingly is forgettable without a proper Chorus especially considering its proper pedigree of Producers Bloodshy, Jonback and Magnus. Another contribution from that trio, the entrancing How I Roll, is much more poignant as is Seal it with a Kiss with its undeniable “woo ooh” hook, taking a cue from Duck Sauce’s hit Barbra Streisand.

NEW MUSIC: BRITNEY SPEARS - TILL THE WORLD ENDS

Perfection is how I would describe the new Britney Spears Single, Till the World Ends.  The Track was just premiered this morning on Ryan Seacrest's Radio Show and I predict another number one for Britney. Much catchier and fluid than first Single Hold it Against Me, this is further evidence why Pop Music simply cannot do without Dr. Luke, Billboard and Max Martin.

Till the World Ends will be sequenced as the first Track off her upcoming Disc, Femme Fatale, in stores March 29, 2011.  That morning Spears will be doing a performance on ABC's Good Morning America

Not since Baltimora's 1985 Hit Tarzan Boy has there been this effective a use of "Wo-oh-ohs".   iPod ready.

Listen to Till the World Ends in full below (audio content owned by Sony Music):

Have you entered my Britney Spears Discography Giveaway yet?  Do it now, here!

NEW MUSIC: JESSIE J - PRICE TAG FT. B.o.B.

I'm completely obsessed with this Track right now. As some of you recall, I was singing the praises of UK import Jessie J earlier but this looks like it will be the one that breaks her into the North American market properly. Produced by Dr. Luke (Britney Spears, Katy Perry, P!nk) and co-written by Jessie J herself this fun little Island-inspired R&B/Pop speaks to the masses with its anti-Materialistic vibe. Musically similar to Jason Mraz's I'm Yours, The Black Eyed Peas' Where is the Love and Alicia Keys' No One, Price Tag proves we can never grow tired of the same old Chords.

Let's be real though, it is about the Money sometimes.  I can't exactly go to Starbucks and pay for my Americano with Love as Jessie J would like, now can I?

Price Tag has peaked so far at number 88 and 65 on the U.S. and Canadian Billboard Hot 100 Charts respectively, but you can expect this to improve v. soon.

Check out the Video for Price Tag below:

VIDEO PREMIERE: AVRIL LAVIGNE - WHAT THE HELL

At last! The Video for Avril Lavigne's new single What the Hell has premiered and ABC Family got the exclusive, streaming it on their website right after their broadcast of Mean Girls 2.  Yes, I know - why did they even bother trying to follow-up on a Classic?  

Lavigne's Goodbye Lullaby is in stores March 8, 2011 and the Canadian Bad Girl just arrived in Tokyo this weekend to promote the Disc.  And get this, apparently she was totally sweet to Fans at her Hotel, signing Autographs and promising Photos with them as soon as she put on some Make-up, according to our dear Friend MiT.

What the Hell has peaked in Canada at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and similarly has done well reaching number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.  Go, Avril!  I'm totally contemplating getting tickets to her just-announced 2011 Tour.

BRITNEY SPEARS ON HER NEW ALBUM AND ABUSE RUMOURS

Britney Spears' latest Tweets

Britney Spears has been hard at work on her seventh album, explaining why she's been quiet of late other than appearing out and about with Boyfriend/former Agent Jason Trawick running errands in shots from the Paparazzi.

In response to recent rumours circulating that her childhood Friend and ex-Husband (the 2004 marriage was annulled within 55 hours) Jason Alexander claimed to have a recorded conversation in which Spears reveals that Trawick has been beating her.  The rumours were then quashed shortly afterwards by Spears' Publicist who clarified that the voice on Alexander's recording definitely is not hers.

So Spears, on her 29th Birthday yesterday, took to Twitter to straighten out a few things:

1. Star Magazine, Radar Online and Jason Alexander - and any other liars for the matter - can "kiss her lily white Southern Louisiana ass!".

2. She will be spending a romantic Birthday weekend with Trawick.

3. She is almost done her new album, which will surface via Sony Music in March 2011. She is "in L-O-V-E with it!".

Exciting news on all accounts. Popjustice (Peter Robinson) reported yesterday that he has heard material off the new album already and apparently the collaborations with Max Martin and Dr. Luke (Ke$ha, Katy Perry, P!nk, Kelly Clarkson) are "amazing!".  Ready?  Oh yeah.

KE$HA - CANNIBAL REVIEW

Although completely unnecessary, Ke$ha has followed in the footsteps of Lady Gaga in releasing an EP between debut and sophomore albums. Cannibal is being packaged as a Bonus Disc alongside Platinum-selling Animal and also on its own.

For those of you who can't get enough of Ke$ha's Electro-Pop and Sing-spoken Humour, you will eat this Collection up "like Jeffrey Dahmer" as the Nashville native proclaims on the title track. Perfect Production from Pop Saviour Dr. Luke on tracks like U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one hit We R Who We R will keep fans loyal. Another contribution from him, Grow a Pear, is embarrassing and v. aware of it, simultaneously poking fun at "dudes with a Vag" while also sonically and structurally resembling smash first single TiK-ToK.

Collaborations with Montreal-based Billboard (Mathieu Jomphe) account for two of the EP's brightest moments: the Remix of Animal, which is rather Björk-esque in this incarnation and also title track Cannibal. Although simplistic in its Casio Keyboard charm, C U Next Tuesday is another winner, one of the less in-your-face moments offered here. The track is produced by British Producer David Gamson, best known for his work with '80s Pop Act Scritti Politti. The Harold Song is a Collaboration with Dr. Luke prodigy Joshua Coleman, perhaps the most honest moment to be found. On this track we finally see a bit of vulnerability from Ke$ha, reflecting on lost young love a la Taylor Swift, name-dropping her Lovers in song title.