I honestly think that “Venus” is the product of an artist losing touch with the public at large. But it could be an indication of something much worse: an artist that has become so self-involved and consumed with fame that they lack the ability to see what is going on in the outside world. I fear that Lady Gaga has, in fact, become a fame monster. Sure, her little monsters will eat this up, but I don’t think this will have an abiding impact on the rest of us. Gaga has shown glimmers of what it takes have a lasting impact on pop music (“Bad Romance,” “Just Dance”), but I am afraid her more recent work will only tarnish what she has already achieved.

Any way you look at it, “Venus” is another insubstantial miss. All-in-all, it’s a novelty song without much novelty. Hopefully, “Venus” will be the worst thing Artpop has to offer, but I fear it isn’t. “Venus” is yet another weak introduction to Artpop.

★★

Saturated in shimmering synths, “Full Moon” is the kind of song musical dreams are made of. Harmonious sounds bend, shimmer, swirl and echo off one another giving the song a delightful hazy feeling. The Mansions on the Moon and Sunny Norway produced song features a slow hypnotic beat and a fantastic vocal performance from lead-singer Ted Wendler that sounds almost like a whispering confessional. Over the course of four glorious minutes, the track quietly builds and transforms into a cresting wave of sonic euphoria. I can’t think of a single reason why anyone wouldn’t want this gem in their music library. It’s just so, so good. You can download the Full Moon EP over on Bandcamp.

★★★★★

Set over gritty, dirty beat, “I Found Her,” Ida’s brand new single, is another shining example of her deep understanding of pop music and what it takes to make a unique, memorable song. Sonically, the track is propelled by  a consistent rhythmic melody and an unforgettable hook. Don’t let “I Found Her” fool you though, there’s a positive message just below the slick production. It’s a song about finding yourself and accepting all sides of who you are. It’s something we all hope to fully grasp one day: true happiness comes from within. “Taking my doubts to the graveyard, hoping that nobody will find them. I found her hiding in my heartache,” she sings. “I’m so glad I found her.” Both atmospheric and poetic, “I Found Her” is a journey well worth taking.

“I Found Her” is taken from Ida Corr’s forthcoming album, Corr Values, which drops worldwide on October 28th by Lifted House. “I Found Her” is out now on iTunes.

★★★★½

With her new single “Half of Me”, the former Spice Girl is still proving to be as playful as ever. Is “Half of Me” lightweight radio fluff? Yes, of course it is. Is it good at being lightweight radio fluff? Again, yes. This is Ginger Spice we’re talking about. The template is generic pop love song, but there’s a royal sounding horn floating in and out of there, making it even more fun to listen to. “Half of Me” is indeed a fun song, and it’s more than enough to make me very happy that Geri Halliwell is back doing what she does best. “Half of Me” is out tomorrow exclusively in OZ. The rest of us will have to resort to more desperate measures to locate this gem.

★★★★★

Luckily for us, the much hyped remix collection more than lives up to its wide-spread praise. The production work on all of the remixes is superb. If I am being honest, I have to admit that I never fully understood the concept of a remix album until now. If you aren’t familiar with the original work featured on this compilation, I recommend you seek them out before listening to Love to Love You Donna. It will give you a greater appreciation for the hard work put into the modernized versions.

Love to Love You Donna kicks off with a fantastic remix of “Love To Love You Baby” by DJ Chris Cox and iconic Italo-disco producer and composer Giorgio Moroder. Does it get any better than that?! I don’t think so. If you thought the original version couldn’t be trumped, Cox and Moroder effectively destroy that notion. Drenched in glimmering synths and crisp beats, “Love To Love You Baby” gives more than a friendly nod to the original version while still sounding firmly grounded in the now. The celebrated song has been transformed into an even bigger chill-inducing dancefloor stomper. Everything you could ever want from a dance song is packed into one perfect, serotonin-inducing sonic blast. “Love To Love You Baby” was released before I was born, but I can still remember the very first time I heard the original version. I will now always remember the first time I heard the Cox and Moroder remix of the legendary song. Simply put: it is nothing short of spectacular.

While “Love To Love You Baby” is, without a doubt, the star of the collection, Love to Love You Donna features an abundance of breathtaking remixes. Other notable tracks include the Afrojack remix of “I Feel Love,” the Laidback Luke remix of “MacArthur Park” and the retro-futuristic gem ”La Dolce Vita,” a collaboration between the disco queen and Moroder.

★★★★★

Win a copy of Love to Love You Donna:

You can download Love to Love You Donna on iTunes starting tomorrow! To celebrate the release, I am giving away five (5) copies to readers in the United States. All you have to do is tell me your favorite Donna Summer track in the comments below or via email (jaredbraden(at)outlook.com). One winner will be chosen daily until October 26h! Make sure you use a valid email address!

“Dry Your Eyes” is the sort of single you would expect from the latest Texas album: safe, middle of the road pop. It has everything that adult contemporary music programmers are looking for, which is part of the problem. Featuring inoffensive, boring production coupled with an unsurprising story line, “Dry Your Eyes” offers up nothing new, exciting or unexpected. Not even Sharleen Spiteri’s fantastic vocal can save this song. Unfortunately, it is too weighed down by predictable lyrics and bland production to set itself apart for anything else out there. For the record, I have been a fan of Texas since their first single, so I am hoping for something more interesting next time around.

★★½

“Ran For My Life,” out now on iTunes, twists and manipulates various genres seamlessly while still maintaining a fluid and cohesive sound. It is bold, yet lighthearted. The production couldn’t be better:  offering up unexpected sonic bleeps and glitches that somehow make the song even more enjoyable. All in all, this is a great example of pop music done right. Running for your life has never sounded so appealing. I still can’t figure out how mainstream radio has over-looked Guinevere the past few years. She’s been consistently gathering a loyal fanbase, and it seems like she has all it takes to be a global pop star. Maybe “Ran For My Life” will finally grab their attention.

★★★★

You can download “I’m Bad” on iTunes now.

★★★★

With an almost voyeuristic intimacy, Solomon pulls back the curtains and allows us to walk in the shoes of someone who is finally ready to move on after constantly returning to an unhealthy relationship. What makes the song even more special is the fact that most of us can easily relate to the topic. When Solomon disconsolately declares, at the opening of the song’s chorus, “You only love me when I’m gone, call me every time I sail on,” it’s nothing short of extraordinary. It’s easy to believe every single word he sings because you can feel the passion his pours into every word.

It is rare to find an openly gay musician releasing music of this caliber. Thankfully, you won’t find the gimmicky dance beats or cliché lyrics that audaciously litter some pop songs of today. Don’t let anyone tell you we’re running out of young artists who make quality records. “Swim No More,” out October 15th, is more than an excellent pop song, it’ also serves as a testament to the ability of young artists to deliver fresh, exciting music. We just have to sit down and listen.

★★★★★

“Sunshine Girl” isn’t likely to put Amii Stewart back on the top of the pop charts, but it could have a strong presence on dance radio, especially with Ponte on board. Amii Stewart still has a stunning voice that has held up very well over the years. The song itself could be considered conventional dance radio filler, but there’s no shame in that. It sounds best when played loudly. “Sunshine Girl” is out now on iTunes.

★★★★