Nelly Furtado - Baja Otra Luz

This album is probably her most underrated, and that is probably why I have barely listened to it at all yet. But this video is so charming, and like 'Manos Al Aire' before it, totally captivates what a carefree spirit Furtado is.

As much as I did enjoy her stay at the top during the 'Loose' campaign, you can tell she is far more comfortable in this territory. That smile will always ensure I listen to whatever she does.

Chistina Aguilera - Bionic

Diana Vickers - Hit

Alessi's Ark - Notes From The Treehouse

An album with a gorgeous tone, not too dissimilar from Laura Marling but with a bit more of a country twang.
Lyrically gorgeous, and with just enough vocal rasp to cut through any sugar-coating the production may give at points.


Lovely.

Portishead - Dummy

Only got this about a week ago, and am astonished at how much of it I knew already.
They must have SO MUCH royalty money from advertising!

Corker, though.

Natalia Kills

This is what the Rated R campaign should have been.

Far more focused. Kills has taken elements from gothic horror, burlesque, and 60's exploitation films and merged them into a melting point from which to launch her album. Music is at yet pretty minimal and under wraps, but I'm interested from the graphics and media that the campaign has provided already. Watch this space,  I guess.

Robyn - Dancing on my Own

This is so uncontrollably sweet, if it wasn't so bangin' it would probably make me do a single tear.

Somebody said you got a new friend
Does she love you better than I can
There's a big black sky over my town
I know where you at, I bet she's around
Yeah I know it's stupid
But I just got to see it for myself

I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her
I'm right over here, why can't you see me
I'm givin' it my all, but I'm not the girl you're takin' home
I keep dancin' on my own

I'm just gonna dance all night
I'm all messed up, I'm so out of line
Stilettos and broken bottles
I'm spinning around in circles

So far away, but still so near
The lights go on, the music dies
But you don't see me, standing here
I just came to say goodbye

iamamiwhoami

Health - We Are Water

'Exploding the narrative' as Shaun would say.

All Saints - Black Coffee

I always passed this up as 'their experimental phase' where they sort of... didn't really hit it off and lost some of their faux-girlband magic. In actual fact, this is their best work. The songwriting is exquisite, William Orbit has arranged the song brilliantly and the video is a washed-out, perfectly imagined piece with some brilliant shots.

Night Swimming

Beach walking

Always silent

Never talking

Then you call my name

And I know inside I love you

Sail away

I miss you more

Until you see the shore

There I will be waiting

Anticipating

Each moment is new

Freeze the moment

Each moment is cool

Freeze the moment

I wouldn't wanna be

Anywhere else but here

I wouldn't wanna change

Anything at all 

I wouldn't wanna take

Everything out on you

Though I know I do

Everytime I fall

Day dreaming

Chain smoking

Always laughin

Always jokin

I remain the same

Did I tell you that I love you

Brush your teeth 

And pour a cup of black coffee out 

I love to watch you do that every day

The little things that you do

Night swimming

Beach walking

Always silent

Never talking

Then you call my name

And I know inside I love you

Sail away

I miss you more

Until you see the shore

There I will be waiting

Anticipating 

Jamie T - Emily's Heart

Bottle of wine, and an old 45, 

rifle in the corner that her grandfather left her when he died, 

Said no surprise, 

I’ve had to use it quite a few times, 

So Jay, don’t you ever let us down, 

Don’t you ever, 

I’ll have to shoot you and no one will hear a sound.

Bruised and bloody, I’m lying on the ground, 

And I am aware that I let the poor girl down, 

Now I’m dying, as a message to the town, 

This what happens, if you fuck around, 

So meddle if you want trouble, 

trouble then you should meddle, 

But don’t ever meddle with Emily’s heart… 

She said, get your coat, come on, 

To the dog track with the money right, 

Yeah we had some fun, 

Left with more ‘cause we won, 

I was under investigation on suspicion of doing her wrong, 

She said, 

You’ve become a villain, accused of a hit and run, 

Said, she hit me first, and I, say it’s the worst that I ever felt, 

In a broken heart. 

Bloodstains on her shirt crease and, hope she pays the dues, 

When I left she said,

that your last breath will be down by the station at 2, 

Swear she shot me down. 

Bruised and bloody, I’m lying on the ground, 

And I am aware that I let the poor girl down, 

Now I’m dying, as a message to the town, 

This what happens, if you fuck around, 

So whenever, you want trouble, trouble then you should meddle, 

But don’t ever meddle with Emily’s heart… 

She said I’m a user, and she’s a loser with a gun, 

I said 'if you choose to it becomes hard to include anyone, 

So if you stay, put it away, or should I run?' 

She said 'I think you know the answer to your question.' 

So for the smiles, and all of the miles that the engine’s done, 

The further I drive away the closer we become, 

So if I stay, would you put it away, and forgive this one son? 

She said 'Jay, I think you know the answer to your question.'

Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

I'm glad you haven't changed a bit.

Kate Nash - Do Wah Doo

There is something really sweet and charming about this.

I was totally prepared to be over Kate Nash in every way, but I really like the subtlety to this video.

And the faces. Good faces!

Ellie Goulding - Salt Skin

A gorgeous end to a stellar album.

It took a while to 'get' it, but there are so many good hooks and it really is beautifully melodic, even it is far more polished and has more pop sensibility than I wanted it to.

You're as sharp as a knife and you fit like a glove
That is no way to live that is no way to love
Full of fear in your skin and the weakness in giving in
Stabbed in the back but you feel no pain
Push the heaviest doors that you can't open
Yeah they tied me up and my body lies still, again

You're as bright as the sun and as bold as the moon
I don't know when you'll break but it's gonna be soon
If my will caves in, I'll be in teh same boat as you

I've got the salt skin
Running to where he is
Never going to give in
Even with the stength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning wars they created just to understand... 
"the meaning of"

Hands on strings and my mouth open
Find the perfect words that I've not spoken
And I won't tell the truth unless you want me to

For all of the times that I lost my head
When it rolled to the floor and I found it again
But when it came back,
I didn't know my own name

I've got the salt skin
Running to where heis
NEver going to give in
Even with the strength
He's stealing salt skin
Telling me I'm winning wars they created just to understand... 
"the meaning of"

Ellie Goulding - Every Time You Go

It starts with a picture

And it sits in your frame

And we part with a letter

And it ends in my name

It starts with forever

And it ends with a touch

And I know that you're clever

And I don't ask for much

Maybe we forgot 

All the things we were

We were together 

Wake me up

Wake me up

Stop my fall

Everytime you go

Tape me up

Then break me up

Ever so gently

When I'm my weakest

Then it's not so hard

Everytime you go

You said I'm arresting

You said I had heat

I really tohught that we would go further

The second time we'd meet

Now I'm tired of trying to keep you

All I want to do is sleep

But perhaps when I'm sleeping

You'll get back on your feet

Maybe we forgot, are we awake, or not?

Maybe we forgot...

Leona Lewis - I Got You

This song is complete and utter pap.
I don't appreciate it at all for it's musical merits.

I don't even like it at all.

But in my current state, the lyrics are relateable and that is why it is here.

In the future, I'm sure I will look this this and think;

WHAT A FUCKING PUSSY YOU WERE.

A place to crash
I Got You 

No need to ask 

I Got You 

Just get on the phone 

I Got You 

Come and pick you up 

If I have to 

Whats weird about it 

Cause were right at the end 

Mad about it 

Just figured it out in my head 

Im proud to say 

I Got U 

Go ahead and say goodbye 

I'll be alright 

Go ahead and make me cry 

I'll be alright 

And when you need a place 

To run to 

For better or worse 

I Got You 

We're falling apart 

Lets be bigger than that 

And remember 

The cold outdoors 

We were both alone 

Both surviving 

No drama no need for a show 

Just wanna say; 

I Got You

Corinne Bailey Rae - Diving for Hearts

Till then I wasn't alive, 

I longed for you like the lovesick moon pulls the tide. 

So I peeled off my skin, 

I just slipped right in 

And I become alive. 

'Cause down here there's no fear 

There's no cause for panic 

There's just bright cold calm, 

I feel no harm. 

This underwater feeling's abandon and it fires my heart. 

Was it emotion 

Or should I just keep on diving, 

Keep on diving down? 

Under this ocean 

I long to keep on diving, 

Till my heart is found. 

It's got a hold on me. 

Can't forget the things I've seen...

World will all end 

And new worlds will begin 

It's a thought so stark. 

We're at once determinant, 

Yet so insignificant, 

Spinning out in the velvet dark. 

Still, down here 

There's no fear 

There's no cause for panic 

There's just this bright cold calm 

Yeah, it leaves a scar 

So show me how to find again, 

If I'm lost, show me where you are.

Diana Vickers - Once

Yeah... your guess is as good as mine.

I can't explain my turnaround on this at all, other than this song is VERY GOOD.

I know she 'wrote' it (read: nodded along) with Kathy Dennis, who is generally quite good at writing good, but most likely quite throwaway pop songs. Which is pretty much the story of my life.

 And while I know in a month's time this will probably sound like shit to me, I am enjoying it while it lasts.

Long live the claw!

Ke$ha - Dancing with Tears in my Eyes

WHY DO I EVEN LIKE THIS?

I know full well how awful it is.

I don't understand her image, the campaign, or why people are buying into her.

The whole album is about being a drunk whore.

WHY WHY WHY.

Here we go

welcome to my funeral

without you, I don't even have a pulse

all alone, it's dark and cold

with every move I die.

Here I goThis is my confessionalA lost causeI am so delusionalWith every move I die.
I have destroyed our love,It's gonePayback is sick,It's all my fault.
I'm dancing with tears in my eyesJust fighting to get through the nightI'm losing it...With every move I die.
I'm fading,I'm broken insideI've wasted the love of my lifeI'm losing itWith every move I die.
When did I become such a hypocrite?Double life, full of lies that you caught me inTrust me, I'm paying for it.With every move I die.
On the floorI am just a zombie.Who I am, is not who I wanna beI'm such a tragedy...With every move I die.
This is is and now you're really gone this timeNever once thought I'd be in pieces left behind.

Dragonette - Liar

Thinking about getting the first album, it definitely passed me by the first time around.

Sugary, but feels like quite an accomplished, adult album at the same time.

Plus, LOOK AT THAT FOR A COVER.

Don't stand too close to me
If you're left alone with me... uh oh.
And leave that door opened
Get someone to keep us company

Cause I've been making up a list of things I'd do to you
As we would dance on either side of the room
But it's too late, I'd never say it
Anyway, I'm taken and we're both leaving with who we came

Somewhere you're sleeping it off
But I'm wide awake
Chasing a runaway thought
So come on say it!

You could feel it too
Don't hide - You liar!
Some kind of thunder inside
Don't speak, don't breathe
Don't touch the fire
It's gonna burn us alive

I know you could feel it too
I saw you - Liar!
Standing off, run away
One look, one touch
We won't survive it
It's gonna burn us alive

But I've come to close to this
I rub myself against it, oh no!
I can't touch it but I feel it
Can't use it but I need it, Oh!

Oh no, you don't fool me
But I can keep a secret
I can read it like you wrote it all down
And I'm not looking for your love
But we would do it well
And that's the thing I can't stop thinking about

Somewhere you're sleeping it off
But I'm wide awake
Chasing a runaway thought
Just try proving me wrong
But I'll find a way to
Make you confess to it all 

I wanna wrestle with the savage creature - I can
Well think of jump up and eat you
Some covet cause it's human nature
But I'm coming to the core: Attention!
Some love is got a built-in heater
Some heat is gotta catch on fire
Put it out while you still can
You know, you play with fire...
You gonna get burn!