“Bulletproof” by La Roux
Music is a funny thing – oftentimes it’s not about using the latest, state of the art technology, but rather how you use what’s at hand. La Roux makes use of low-tech synthesizers (to me they sound like MIDI on early computer sound cards) as a bed for some pretty outstanding vocals. Odd as it sounds, her style seems to be a winning combination; her song “Bulletproof” has been appearing everywhere on radio and TV.
Just about every song on the album is catchy – other good ones include the defiant “I’m Not Your Toy”, optimistic “As If By Magic”, lively “Fascination”, and brooding “Reflections are Protection”.
“Love in Stereo” by Carmen Reece
We received a sampler disk of Carmen Reece’s upcoming album, but in two songs I was turned from skeptic to fan!
Upbeat, sweet and sincere, the title track is a lighthearted dance number with an unusual elegance to it. The chorus is really what made it a favorite – it grips the heart with a beautiful sadness and devotion as Reece sings, “You can walk away but you don’t. My love will follow you where you go. …You’re so used to monotone, but I give my love in Stereo.”
The Album version of “Right Here” is somewhat hyper-active, but nonetheless a great song. Several dance remixes are available, but in my opinion the Jason Nevins Radio Mix (V1) is the best of the bunch – it stays truest to the original feeling of the song, with a danceable beat. Version 2 of the mix distorts the mood to be overly happy, and many others just muck around with it far too much.
“How to Be a Lady, Vol 1” by Electrik Red
I realized this was a girl-power album right around “P is for Power”, where words of strength are used to spell PUSSY - a humorous song about the denial of sex to the man, set to primal drums. The gems of this album, however, are the cool and euphoric melody in “Bed Rest”, and the cheerful and energetic “Friend Lover”. As angry ass-kicking numbers go, “Kill Bill” is a good one too.
“The Real Thing” by Vanessa Williams
Yay, our June 2009 cover celebrity! I finally got to hear the album she was talking about in her interview. I wasn’t sure what to expect, so jazz/easy listening was somewhat of a surprise to me. Okay, so it doesn’t appeal to the dance/pop side of me, but it’s a nice album to put on to chill out. Some particularly appealing melodies include the blithe “Just Friends”, affectionate “Close To You”, and haunting “I Fell In”.
Singles
“Release Me” by Agnes – At first I didn’t know what hit me. This song is absolutely amazing – inspiring, uplifting, beautifully melodic and irresistibly danceable. It melds a classical string section with electronic rhythms - I love it so much that a snippet from the instrumental version is now my cell phone ringtone. If you hunt for one song mentioned in this review, make it this one.
“Patron Tequila” by Paradiso Girls – A playful number with a lot of character. The girls sing about getting their friends hopelessly drunk at the club, while a grating male vocal provides humorous comments in the background. It’s very fun and catchy, though none of the club mixes appealed to me as much as the original.


More Recommended Listening:
“Party Groove Splash Days”
By DJ Seth Cooper
Dance/Groove
• Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny) (Power Remix)
• Gotta Be Somebody (Power Remix)
• You Belong With Me (Power Remix)

“Turn Me Loose”
By Ledisi
Alternative
• Higher Than This
• Alone
• Love Never Changes

“Greatest Hits: Platinum Edition”
By Helder, Fritz & The Phantoms
Electronica
• Lagerfeld Lady
• Like a Lady

“Anjulie”
Pop
• Boom

“Jessie James”
Pop/Country
• Wanted
• Bullet

“So Glad I’m Me”
By LaKisha Jones
Soul/R&B
• Let’s Go Celebrate (Bonus Track)