Tag Archives: Andrea Lewis

Tuned-On! Top 30 #343 – Jan 3/11

And so, we move on to the music of 2011. Leading the new chart are two performers that I expect will breakout of their loyal online followings to become much more popular this year.

Penguin Prison’s “Golden Train” is worthy of a disco ball trophy in the 70’s in its Royal Palms remix and continues its stay at the top of my chart. As a teaser, in case you wonder what Chris Glover can’t do, he posted an excellent online mashup of “Golden Train” with Michael Jackson’s “Workin’ Day and Night” which you can download for free right here.

Then we have the case of Mr. Vincent Frank who, as Frankmusik, has brought us intriguing electro pop such as 2009’s “Confusion Girl”. Do not miss “The Fear Inside”, which bounds to the runner-up spot on my chart. This is one powerful song that will not leave your head. Mr. Frank also has a softer side, and a great set of pipes, which he shows off in “Hurt You Again” and “Warrior”, which were available online recently for free download, at this website. Another reminder of the talent that just smokes from Frankmusik.

Elsewhere in the chart, Brandon Flowers’ “Jacksonville” lines up at #3, while the gorgeous duet by Andrea Lewis and Simon Curtis takes it up a few notches to #5, “Talk To Me” (available on Ms Lewis’ 54321 album for free download right here).

Rihanna’s “S&M” and Kanye West’s “Monster” are two potent records that follow each other into the Top 10. Having now bought Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, you will see more from that record in these chart reaches soon!

The droll “Alors on danse” by Belgium’s Stromae, and Elouise’s rework of ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” round out the newbies to the Top 10, making it two-for-two for Elouise, following the #2 “Pretender”.

The fastest risers on the chart are two of last week’s debuts. It’s an unconventional but apparently much desired cover version, as Bright Light Bright Light’s take on the “Twin Peaks” TV show theme “Falling” soars 23-12. Javi Silva’s latest project Native Underground also scores with the radio mix of “Till It Hurts”, climbing 24-14. Javi’s “Situation” got to #3 last year.

The first of this week’s debuts belongs to “Rolling In The Deep” by Grammy winner Adele, and I’ve heard this song everywhere, including supermarkets!! 2008’s “Chasing Pavements”, a #1 for me that ranked #7 at year’s end, is a tough act to follow but “Rolling” is a good introduction to Adele’s upcoming sophomore release 21.

The action on Matt & Kim’s latest album Sidewalks seems to have subsided a bit but it’s a fun, high energy release that definitely recalls their concert. The last song on the album is the big sounding, anthemic “Ice Melts” and it’s one of the most memorable tracks that certainly belongs on this chart (you can listen to the song at the bottom of this blog). The duo’s “Daylight” got to #4 in 2009.

Lastly there’s a veteran act that has never appeared on my chart since its debut in 1998. But of course they have many 80’s classics that would have easily charted for me back then. Duran Duran’s “All You Need Is Now”, the title track of their latest release (currently online only), is their best effort since the 90’s – I kinda liked their cover of Grandmaster & Melle Mel’s “White Lines”. If the rest of the album is this good then we’re all in for a treat. Lead singer Simon LeBon however did appear as the uncredited vocalist on Ferry Corsten’s 2006 dance hit “Fire”, which reached #7 on this chart.

You can view the full chart right here or using the link to the right under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART***.

Tuned-On! Top 30 #342 – December 20/10

Don’t let anyone tell that moving house isn’t time-consuming.  While music plays in the background while you’re packing away, unfortunately you’re prevented from doing your research and blog duties.  So I can only gush over a few selective items with this edition of my personal chart.  And you’ll find the full chart posted down below until I get my proper software installed on my new laptop to make the prettier web version.

It’s so suitable for this last personal chart of 2010 for:

  • A new number one!  Yes Penguin Prison is back on top with his own release this time.  “Golden Train” sets the tone nicely going into 2011 and Mr. Chris Glover will be a force!
  • Another bellwether song for 2011 may be “The Fear Inside” by Frankmusik, which vaults 18-4 and looks destined for the top.  Look for this one to find its way to clubs first… then watch out.
  • I’m still waiting for someone to remix “Jacksonville” by Brandon Flowers, which reaches #5 this week.  It would be amazing to see what someone can do with the darker sounding parts of this song.
  • “Talk To Me” has now officially become my favourite song from Andrea Lewis’ free album 54321.  And it just happens to feature Simon Curtis… an added bonus to an already terrific song vocally and lyrically, with a sound right out of the mid-60’s.
  • “S&M” by Rihanna has needlessly been getting a bad rap.  It’s her best song since 2007’s “Don’t Stop The Music”, and I love her raw vocal during the chorus.
  • I love it when artists transform known songs and make them their own.  Elouise has done just that with the luscious “The Winner Takes It All”, now a dramatic stage ballad instead of a perky dance number.  And those ABBA songs aren’t a walk in the park to sing either!
  • The most unexpected record of this year – well it’s really a 2011 release to me – is Bright Light Bright Light’s take on the theme to the TV show “Twin Peaks”.  “Falling” was one of the more haunting songs to kick off the 1990’s in the original version by Julee Cruise from her Floating Into The Night album.  BLBL aka Rod Thomas has taken away the haunting, otherworldly feel and revisited the song as a more simple but emotional ballad.  And it fits in so nicely with the more upbeat BLBL songs you’ve seen in this chart for most of 2010.  And it’s brought to you free courtesy of blogger to the Grammys and now CNN, Mr. Arjan Writes right here.  “Falling” bows this week at #23.
  • One of the most amazing free downloads of 2010 for me was the ‘leaked’ Monsieur Adi remix of “Situation” by New York singer Javi.  Like that song, a new tune by one of Javi’s side projects called Native Underground has surfaced with a similar 80’s-style reflection – and I mean circa 1983 and 1984 when Culture Club and Wham! had their day.  You can also catch “Till It Hurts (radio mix)” for free for now right here.  Javi and Native Underground are going places in 2011!  It debuts at #24.
  • Last, it looked like Pharrell Williams’ band project N*E*R*D was going to stay in the one-hit-wonder department in my 12 year chart history.  For after being assaulted with iTunes commercials in late 2003 – you know those ones with the silhouetted performers, see video below – their song “Rock Star” in its aggressive and fun Jason Nevins remix soared to #1 on my chart, ending up in the Top 10 for that year.  So the group has come full circle and made a soulful and very sexy ballad called “Hypnotize U”, produced by Daft Punk of all people, which debuts at #26.  N*E*R*D is opening for Gorillaz on tour.

I’ll update the link to my chart’s webpage once I have the software up and running.  Enjoy!  In the meantime, here’s the full chart:

02 01 GOLDEN TRAIN Penguin Prison
05 02 GLOW Richard Barone
01 03 RESURRECTION (Penguin Prison remix) Temper Trap, The
18 04 THE FEAR INSIDE Frankmusik
09 05 JACKSONVILLE Brandon Flowers
04 06 NEVER LOOK BACK Russ Chimes
08 07 BREAKUP ANTHEM (WE DIDN’T CARE) 100 Akres F/ Roz Bell
06 08 LOVE PART II Bright Light Bright Light
13 09 TALK TO ME Andrea Lewis F/ Simon Curtis
10 10 VOODOO Andrea Lewis
11 11 ALORS ON DANSE Stromae
12 12 OPERATION Adam Tyler
17 13 S&M Rihanna
15 14 MONSTER Kanye West F/ Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj
03 15 WHITE KNUCKLE RIDE (Penguin Prison remix) Jamiroquai
24 16 THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL Elouise
21 17 BULLETPROOF MONSTER (LaRoux x Nicki Minaj Revox) Colin Munroe
19 18 READY TO LOVE Bim
20 19 HEART AND I Robbie Williams
22 20 RAISE YOUR GLASS Pink
07 21 WHEN SHE TURNS 18 Christian TV
23 22 BARBRA STREISAND Duck Sauce
New 23 FALLING Bright Light Bright Light
New 24 TILL IT HURTS (Radio mix) Native Underground
14 25 LOVEKILLER Darin
New 26 HYPNOTIZE U N*E*R*D
25 27 AUDIO PRECISION Jackanory & The Ball
26 28 START A FIRE Ryan Star
27 29 DEAR DICTATOR (Sam Sparro remix) Saint Motel
28 30 CHANGE OF SEASONS Sweet Thing

Tuned-On! Top 30 #341 – December 6/10

NOTE:  View the full video for “The Fear Inside” by Frankmusik at Cherrytree Records.  It went live after I posted my blog!

It’s been a quiet few weeks music-wise for me, not because of the music but other things, so the new chart has only two debuts, but oh how promising they are.  And the chart has a fair amount of activity to keep things interesting.

In the 12 year history of this chart I can’t remember anyone dominating the Top 3 songs, but indirectly that’s what’s happened in this edition.  Good ol’ Penguin Prison accomplishes this feat with what looks to be a remarkable 2011 ahead of him.  His remix of “Resurrection” by Grammy-nominated (for the remix of ‘Sweet Disposition”) Aussies The Temper Trap clings to #1, as does his remix of Jamiroquai’s “White Knuckle Ride” at #3.   But the man himself (aka New Yorker Chris Glover) soars 7-2 with “Golden Train” from his forthcoming Wall Of Sound UK release.   The BlogVerse will be watching Mr. Glover closely in 2011!

The feel-good record of 2010 is “Glow” by Richard Barone and it climbs into the Top 5 but is not yet done at #5.  The Glow album has grown on me immensely since its release in September and 2011 will see me digging deeper into it.  New to the Top 10 is “Voodoo” by Andrea Lewis.  The energy in this song is as contagious as the melody and vocal stylings of “Talk To Me”, Andrea’s duet with Simon Curtis, which happens to climb to #13 as well.

Loads of activity comes mid-way with Stromae’s very dry dance hit “Alors on danse”, Adam Tyler’s strutworthy “Operation”, the minimalist electro of Bim’s “Ready To Love”, and “Heart And I”, a wonderful ballad by Robbie Williams, whose return to Take That has been a highlight of Britpop for 2010.  But the biggest moves come from Rihanna’s raw and sexy “S&M”, and of course the Fastest Riser, the mammoth “Monster” by Kanye West and associates, moving up 29-15.  This is the first hip hop tune in quite some time that keeps making me want to listen.  Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is definitely on my list to check out in full.  Colin Munroe’s “Bulletproof Monster” revox featuring La Roux of course and Nicki Minaj’s “Monster” vocal rant is in a category of its own and rises up to #21.

But those debuts:  At the top, you’ll find the trailer for Frankmusik’s highly anticipated video of “The Fear Inside”.  Vince Frank is now signed to Cherrytree/Interscope for North America and is next release Do It In The A.M. is on deck for early 2011.  “The Fear Inside” bows at #18 and will be massive initially in dance clubs, but don’t be surprised folks if this one’s power crosses over to pop fans.  Listen to the full track right here.  And then we have “The Winner Takes It All” by Elouise, premiering at #24, which I have been raving about for weeks, particularly now since her Stardust Melodies EP is on release.  At the bottom of the blog is her recent performance of the song at Madame JoJo’s in London.

You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART***  to the right, or simply click right here.  Enjoy! Don’t forget to post any comments you might have 🙂


Tuned-On! Top 30 #339 – November 8/10

I’m in the mood for some personal “Resurrection” and over the past several weeks the glorious Penguin Prison remix (that’s everything short of a huge mirrored disco ball 🙂 ) of this song by Australia-based The Temper Trap has been very satisfying.  The song takes over the #1 spot on my personal chart from one of my year’s most favourite songs, “Love Part II” by Bright Light Bright Light, which will spend the rest of its chart time likely kicking around in the Top 10.

And despite having both a #1 and a #2 hit on this chart in 2010, Penguin Prison is more of a force to be reckoned with in this chart edition.  His early 80’s flavoured remix (I keep hearing Loleatta Holloway’s “Love Sensation” as an inspiration??) of Jamiroquai’s latest single “White Knuckle Ride”, advances to #3.  And not only this, but his new single “Golden Train” gets a high new chart entry at #21, a few weeks in advance of its official release.  You can download the smashing Royal Palms remix for free right here.  Penguin Prison has signed to the Wall of Sound UK label for a full album release in 2011, so I hope a North American release is in the works too!

LA based Christian TV has lots to be happy about these days.  For someone from Detroit, being signed to Universal Motown has to be a thrill, though there’s not much left in the current Motown part of that label, just so much amazing history.  I’ll have some comments about his new mixtape, the DJ Skee-hosted Who The Fuck Is Christian TV?, later in the week.  Fortunately “When She Turns 18”, which rises to #7 on my chart, is in the mixtape, which you can download for free right here.

The gentle and happy sound of Richard Barone’s “Glow” finds its way into the Top 10 at #9.  The indelible power of this song to make you smile and be at ease is remarkable.  It’s heading for the Top 5.

The activity within the Top 10 as caused a traffic jam mid-chart.  So Darin’s “Lovekiller” seems stuck at #10 (but isn’t – and take a look at the video), and other songs by Jackanory & The Ball, 100 Akres & Roz Bell, Andrea Lewis, Sweet Thing, Far East Movement, and Adam Tyler must wait two more weeks for next moves.  Brandon Flowers’ inventive “Jacksonville”, however, cuts through and becomes the fastest riser, up 25-16.  Don’t forget that this track is only available on the deluxe edition of Brandon’s Flamingo album.

There are two remaining debuts.  Paul van Haver is a 25 year old Belgian singer of Rwandan descent, and he’s otherwise known as Stromae.  As I mentioned on Twitter last night, I love French culture and style, as well as droll humour, and his song and video (at the top of this page) “Alors on danse” both give nods to all of them and debuts at #20.  “Alors on danse” has been on release for a while now but I think this can be a worldwide smasheroo in more time.  Listen for it!  Pink hadn’t appeared in my chart for nearly 6 years before “Glitter In The Air” arrived earlier this year and peaked at #17.  She’s back with what sounds like a stylistic salute to all of her more recent hits with “Raise Your Glass”, which appears on her Greatest Hits… So Far! album and debuts at #28.  It’s better than all of her recent big hits combined, so I hope I don’t tire of it.

You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART***  to the right, or simply click right here.  Enjoy! Don’t forget to post any comments you might have 🙂

Tuned-On! Top 30 #338 – October 25/10

Two weeks fly by and suddenly it’s time for another personal chart!   The beauty of “Love Part II” by Bright Light Bright Light captures #1 for a 4th chart (8th week), and it looks like the fast rising Penguin Prison remix of “Resurrection” by Australia’s The Temper Trap will challenge in two weeks.  It’s amazing sometimes what a remix will do for a song.  Some people will prefer the original with its rock edges but this particular remix takes the song’s theme and turns it into a retro 70’s disco celebration.  Listen to it here before you grab the free download from my chart page.  I am also checking out Penguin Prison in concert on Monday evening, so I hope to have an update for you in the week about the show!

Elouise’s “Pretender” stays at #2, just as this effortlessly talented singer is about to drop her second EP, Stardust Memories, which features covers of ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All”, and the standards “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Stardust”.  The three track E.P will be released digitally through iTunes (USA and European stores) and Amazon MP3 on the 15th of November with the physical luxury digi-pak’s release following in the week of the 24th of November.  You can see and hear her live rendition of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” below.

Jamiroquai’s official single of “White Knuckle Ride” is available on iTunes Canada but the “Love Sensation”-inspired remix by Penguin Prison is what sends the song to #6 on my chart this week.  Right behind it is the best dance instrumental I’ve heard it years, “Never Look Back” by Russ Chimes.  The Midnight Club EP from which it comes will be available on November 1 at selected digital stores.  The official artwork is below.

Christian TV is another new artist who has captured my interest.  It’s taken a while but the extremely fun “When She Turns 18” breaks into my Top 10 at last.  His mixtape “Who The Fuck Is Christian TV” arrives on Hallowe’en, and he has a new video that is stirring some controversy called “Let’s Just Fuck”. Watch it here and you be the judge… Does the song push the envelope too far, or is it not worth worrying about?  For me, it’s just not as strong a song as “Turns 18” but I’ll look forward to the mixtape.

My new theme song of positivity, “Glow” by Richard Barone, climbs to #13 as Richard announces more tour dates in New Jersey as well as England and Wales.  The rest of last week’s debuts, by Sweet Thing with “Change of Seasons”, Far East Movement – “Like A G6” has hooked me with all of its singalong lyrics and attitude, and is the first Billboard #1 to hit my chart in a while – and Andrea Lewis with the energetic “Voodoo” all make decent inroads, and Miss Lewis has one of our five debuts this week as well!

First up, as “Friction” leaves my Top 10, we have the latest from Adam Tyler called “Operation” at #24.  This song is pretty different from Adam’s more high energy efforts relying on a swaying rhythm that reminds me of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus”.  And song of the lyrics here are really creative and delivered very well.  Download it for free with you provide your email address right here .

Next, at #25, is the third entry from the Flamingo CD by Brandon Flowers, but it’s one that I referenced two weeks ago as being only available on the Deluxe version.  The pensive and haunting “Jacksonville” alone makes it worthwhile for you to buy the Deluxe edition.  Hear it right here . As I listen to the CD more, I keep hearing more and more Neil Young influence too.


Then the third debut is indeed from Andrea Lewis’ 54321 album, which I’ve been enjoying since its release two weeks ago.  It’s a well-rounded release which showcases Andrea’s diverse voice, which conquers on tracks like “Voodoo”, the hard-edged “She”, the highly emotional “Linda”, and the mellow duet that lands at #26.  “Talk To Me” has a 1960’s vibe to it that is enhanced by the guest vocal by Simon Curtis.  It seems like the boy can’t stay away from my chart – last week was his first time off the chart since last November!  Bravo to all involved – Andrea Lewis’ 54321 should be on your 2010 playlist, and why not?  You can download it for free right here .

Next up, after a five year absence, it’s a return to my chart for Robbie Williams.  One of his best songs in years appears on his new compilation In And Out Of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990-2010.  It’s a ballad called “Heart and I” and Robbie’s excellent, classic delivery makes it remind me of an old Neil Diamond song, not a bad thing!  It debuts at #27.  The last time Robbie appeared in these parts was with 2005’s “Tripping”, which I still play a lot and find to be terribly underrated.

The final debut belongs to one of the acts to watch that has debuted online this year.  Bim’s Scatterheart album is well worth checking out, and after “Head Over Heels” has peaked at #3, I’ve delved deeper into the album, with the beautiful “Ready To Love” bowing at #29 this week.

View the full chart using the link to the right under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** or simply click right here …  Enjoy!


Tuned-On! Top 30 #337 – October 11/10

“Love Part II” by Bright Light Bright Light continues its reign at the top of my chart as we slide into October.  Unfortunately those of us outside of the UK cannot yet purchase a download of the track and if you want a hard copy of the CD single it’s a $12.99 purchase through Amazon plus shipping.  Hopefully PopJustice HiFi and Virgin Records will rectify this soon.  You can however grab a free Louis LaRoche remix – but it’s less satisfying than the original minus almost all of the lyrics.

The Top 5 changes about as Elouise’s gorgeous “Pretender” claims the runner up spot, and then in sharp contrast, Ryan Star’s rockin’ “Start A Fire” climbs to #3.  Other upward movement in the Top 10 comes courtesy of Saint Motel’s “Dear Dictator”, “Get Outta My Way” by Kylie Minogue (which really should be igniting outside of dance clubs), as well as new arrivals from Russ Chimes’ “Never Look Back” and, as “A New Word To Say” leaves the chart, Bright Light Bright Light’s CD single flip side “Cry At Films”.

It looks like a Penguin Prison Fall for remixes!  The vibrant redux of “White Knuckle Ride” by Jamiroquai soars to #12, while that intensely disco flavoured remix of  “Resurrection” by Australia’s The Temper Trap stands to be noticed at a high #18 debut this week.  Elsewhere, Christian TV’s fun-and-full-of-attitude “When She Turns 18” continues to climb, as do “Dance In The Dark” by Lady GaGa, 100 Akres & Roz Bell’s new singalong “Breakup Anthem”, and Jackanory & The Ball’s pop/rap/jazz of “Audio Precision”.

At the top of this page you’ll see the charming video of “Glow” by Richard Barone, which is the fastest riser on the chart this week, up from 27-19.  I love the refreshing simplicity of this song, which makes it a bit anomolous in these times, but really at times you get more from a song when it’s stripped down.  Richard’s 10/10/10 CD release show for Glow is in NYC at Le Poisson Rouge.

Also on this day 10/10/10 on release online is Andrea Lewis’ 54321!  Her punchy first single “Voodoo” slams onto the chart at #24.  Be sure to watch for all of the details about 54321 right here.  Also debuting this week is “Change of Seasons” by Canadians Sweet Thing, as discussed last week in my blog, as well as a song that I would call a guilty pleasure of mine.  I don’t know how far up the chart it will go but “Like A G6” by Far East Movement gets cranked in the car whenever it comes on.  I shouldn’t really like it because of all of the autotune and sonic tricks I’ve heard before, but somehow the entire package works, kitchen sink and all.

You may notice that almost half of my chart consists of relatively new artists, and to be honest, I didn’t know about almost half of those artists a year ago!  I’m absolutely loving the online connection to all of this great music, it makes the songs on pop radio pale in comparison.

View the full chart using the link to the right under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** or simply click right here…  Enjoy!

Follow-ups on Brandon Flowers and Richard Barone Albums + Some Fall Popervesence!

Flamingo by Brandon Flowers

Flamingo is turning out to be an uncharacteristic favourite of mine right now.  It’s a good thing I didn’t write about it a few weeks ago because my appreciation of the songs wouldn’t have sunk in.  That it’s not like a Killers album is putting off some fans.

This is really all about Brandon, and he said in a recent interview I saw on TV that he had the final say on the album tracks.  Because it’s a genuine and lower key effort that focuses on some specific themes and influences that you’ve already read about elsewhere, some very good and more Killers-oriented songs got shoved off the regular release of Flamingo and onto the deluxe version, which makes the latter very well worth buying.

For every song you might expect there is one that’s a surprise, but none of it is candy so hard and sweet that you’ll crack your teeth.  The first two singles, “Crossfire” and “Swallow It”, are so different from each other that you can appreciate each – the earnest empathy of “Crossfire”, and the Lou Reed low notes that give “Swallow It” some knowing sarcasm.   A Killers like crowd-pleaser such as “Was It Something I Said” meets quirky alt.country of “On The Floor”.  In your face imagery of “Magdalena” and “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” meets simple pop of “Only The Young”.  And so on.

The four bonus tracks of “Jacksonville”, “The Clock Was Tickin'”, “I Came Here To Get Over You”, and “Right Behind You” are four of the top tracks on this record, and really flesh it all out.  I’d love to hear a dance remix of “Jacksonville”, its ominous dark sound is crying out for a mad, crowded dance floor.


Glow by Richard Barone

Glow isn’t just a return to form for singer/songwriter Richard Barone.  It’s a revitalization of his 1990’s chamber pop sound epitomized in 1994’s Clouds Over Eden, but stripped down and written on the fly.

Often sounding like the pop of The Beatles or Crowded House, Glow often basks in bits of experimentation (“Candied Babies”), with contributions from songwriters Jill Sobule (“Odd Girl Out”) and Oscar winner Paul Williams (“Silence Is Our Song”).  And as I mentioned in my last blog, some songs focus on Richard’s long time home of New York City, and the title track radiates exactly what it wants as a result.

Glow is joyous and unusual pop music where less is more on the surface, but indeed you will find a great wealth of spirit and quality within its songs.

Fall Popervescence!!

What would our Fall be without more Adam Tyler from his forthcoming Lullabies for Rattlesnakes release?  “Operation” is very different sounding from the propulsive “Friction” and the funky-via-Sam-Sparro “Over The Top”.  This is electro-pop akin to Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” with some interesting imagery.  Definitely makes you want to hear more of what we’ll eventually find in the Rattlesnakes project!  Download it right here with an email subscription.  And check out a pic of Adam in London along with the cover artwork for this song at this link from good ol’ Electroqueer .

Toronto’s Andrea Lewis stakes out her own claim in the pop/R&B world with “Voodoo”, a strong and fresh new track from the former Degrassi cast member who also co-starred with our favourite boy robot Simon Curtis in Nickelodeon’s “Spectacular!”.  “Voodoo” fits nicely in the groove currently being honed by the likes of fellow Torontonian Melanie Fiona, and is definitely a throwback to the earlier days of Destiny’s Child’s pop/R&B hybrid.  A very promising release!  Download it right here .

Fall is also time to anticipate more new Penguin Prison!  The talented Mr. Glover is about to release the glitter-ball-infused “Golden Train”, which sounds to be one of the best of the year.  Listen to the radio rip courtesy of Hypetrak right here.  And then there’s this positively outstanding remix of The Temper Trap’s “Resurrection” which appears online for free courtesy of Disco Naïveté right here .  And this track itself is, unexpectedly, one of the stellar songs of 2010!

And more goods from Toronto courtesy of quintet Sweet Thing, whose appropriately titled “Change of Seasons” is one of the catchiest pop songs on Canadian radio right now.  Led by vocalist Owen Carrier, the song is definitely a great calling card for the rest of the world, from their debut self-titled record.  Find out more about the band on MySpace and watch the video for the song below.