“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.

★★★★

This Is What I Do, his first new album of original material in 18 years, was written by George and longtime writing partners John Themis, Kevan Frost and Richie Stevens. The LP will also feature guest spots from DJ Yoda, Kitty Durham of Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Scottish guitarist Ally McErlaine of Texas, Dreadzone’s MC Spee and Nizar Al Issa.

“King Of Everything”, which is out now on iTunes, is about a wife-beating boxer trying to make amends with his victim. Check out the music video.

“Demon Records/Edsel will reissue all of our first 6 albums at the end of October. We’re disappointed that we weren’t involved with the release of the albums and that demos we considered not good enough at the time are now included. We had no knowledge that it was coming out and have not been consulted.”

Bananarama reached the peak of their popularity during the early to late eighties. They experienced their first taste of success in America in 1984 with the release of “Cruel Summer”, which became a top ten hit.

The first single from the EP is the chill inducing song “Enemy”. The sparse production complements Houston’s octave vaulting vocal performance perfectly. Lyrically, the song builds into a frenzy of dark emotions that somehow leads the listener to pure sonic euphoria. “Enemy” is a gut wrenching masterpiece that should have a spot in every music lovers collection. So what about the rest of the EP? Honestly, I can’t get past “Enemy”. This is gonna take some time, but I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.

The “fortytwo” EP is out now on most major digital retail stores including iTunes, but you can stream it below.

Goodbye, Goodbye is a sound off about rejection and the empowerment of shutting someone out after a break-up, but it’s also an acknowledgement of the distorted nature of intimacy that comes from communicating complex emotions through a cell phone or email. In a way we learn more about ourselves than each other when we interact this way. Our phones and computers are just mirrors for us to reflect again and again.

“Goodbye, Goodbye” is a fantastic song, but I think the real standout song on the LP is “Shock To Your System”. I am surprised it hasn’t been released as a stand alone track already.

This really could mean anything, but I am hoping it means a new record. I wasn’t a big fan of MDNA, so I am hoping she can somehow reconnect to her aging fanbase, which includes me!

Set over a catchy beat, lead singer Brandon Flowers offers up a vocal performance as pure and clear as a mountain stream. If given a chance, “Shot At The Night” has the potential to become a massive radio hit. This might be the first time they’ve fully captured on record the chemistry that they have since 2006. “Shot At The Night” is out November 4^th, Direct Hits will follow a week later.

★★★★½

You’ve heard generic songs just like this before from the likes of Romanian singer Inna and German Eurodance act Cascada, but it’s shocking to hear from someone who should have her finger on the pulse of the pop music scene. It’s shocking, really. “Work Bitch” is a hilarious, foolish disaster that reveals just how much of an influence Will.i.am is having on Spears. Please Britney, make something worthy of your pop legacy. “Work Bitch” doesn’t work on any level.

Britney will release her as-yet untitled new studio album on December 3, 2013.

★★½