Enrique Iglesias - Turn The Night Up

This is the latest single from his upcoming new album. Produced by The Cataracs, Enrique is trying something a little different from his usual, though it ends up not really varying all that much. The majority of the song isn't sung in a traditional way. Enrique talk-sings the verses. The pre-chorus immediately calls to mind the one in Kylie Minogue's club hit "Timebomb" from last year. The lyrics are terribly boring and the production sounds dated and generic. Remixes by Martin Solveig and Ralphi Rosario will be coming soon.

-Listen to the song here (YouTube)
-Pre-order the song on iTunes here

Grade: C

Dev feat Enrique Iglesias - Naked

This is the lead single off of her sophomore album The Night The Sun Came Up due in January. She teams up with Latin heartthrob Enrique Iglesias. Produced by The Cataracs (who have worked with Dev before), the song is a catchy Electro/Dance/Pop one. Dev and Enrique, complementing each other nicely, go back and forth singing to each other in a somewhat sensual manner. The song is well-produced, well-sung, and is sure to be a smash in the new year.

Grade: A-

Enrique Iglesias - Dirty Dancer

Culled from his Euphoria album, this one also follows his recent trend of featuring some hot artists of the moment. Usher was on the original album version. Lil Wayne and Nayer join them on this new version. The production has been changed up a bit and is a lot more club-oriented. Lil Wayne doesn't add much to the song and could have been left out. Overall, this new version packs a greater punch and should do pretty well in the U.S. just as his last few singles have.

Listen to the new version here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Enrique Iglesias feat Ludacris - Tonight

This is the latest single from his album Euphoria (the French edition). Produced by DJ Frank E, this song is Electro/Pop-oriented. This song comes in two versions, one is the clean one, entitled "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)", and the other is the explicit one, entitled "Tonight (I'm Fuckin' You)". Compared to his earlier material, this one is much racier, but it is meant to be in a fun sort of way. One would think that it is explicit because of rapper Ludacris' verse, but that's not the case. Overall, the song is pretty danceable and fun. There is a remix of this by Dresden & Johnston. It is in a similar style as the original. Think of it as an alternate take on the original.

Purchase the clean and explicit versions (Amazon)

Grade: B+

The Abbey Compilation Volume One

The Abbey Food And Bar has been a fixture in West Hollywood of L.A. for many years now. And they have just released their first CD compilation featuring some songs that capture the essence of what The Abbey is all about and the feeling it gives people when they are there.

This is the tracklisting:

01. Enrique Iglesias - Somebody's Me (Jody Den Broeder Mix)
02. Debby Holiday - One World (Manny Lehman & Peter Barona Anthem Mix)
03. One Republic - Apologize (Richard Vission Mix)
04. Erin Hamilton - Control Yourself (Manny Lehman Big Room Vocal Mix)
05. Guy B. - Within M (Manny Lehman Tribal Mix)
06. Paris Hilton - Turn It Up (Manny Lehman Re-Turned Mix)
07. Oceana - Just The Way You Like It (Steven Nikolas & Brendon Sibley Mix)
08. Bryan Hawn - More Than Enough (Manny Lehman Spiritual Mix)
09. Shwayze - Buzzin' (Manny Lehman & Peter Barona Progressive Tribal Vocal Mix)
10. Twisted Dee - Drop That Beat (Twisted Dee Mix)
11. Flava - Hands Up To The Sky (Manny Lehman Mix)
12. The Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha (Ralphi Rosario Mix)

In association with Suretone and Interscope, this CD is continuously mixed by New York circuit DJ/remixer Manny Lehman. The majority of the songs and remixes are new and many are previously unreleased. Some are a couple of years old, particularly Paris Hilton's "Turn It Up" and The Pussycat Dolls breakthrough hit "Don't Cha", however, the former is featured here with a new remix. The latter may have been included as it was a club classic. The new Debby Holiday, Shwayze and Bryan Hawn tracks are just some of the highlights.

Overall, this compilation is well-mixed and the energy doesn't let up for even a second throughout the 77 minute mix.

This is available for purchase as a CD from Suretone and Perfect Beat. It is also available for digital download through iTunes.

Grade: A