Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing all the readers of this blog a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Review postings will resume on Monday, December 1.

Britney Spears - Circus

This is the second single and title track from her upcoming sixth album. "Circus" is a followup to the hit "Womanizer." This one bears a slight resemblance to last year's "Gimme More", however, this one has better lyrics and production. This one is a lot catchier. Overall, Britney's vocals sound a lot better on this one. They don't sound as overproduced and manipulated as they did on some of the other Blackout songs. This is a nice marriage of the 'classic' Britney and the 'new' Britney.

The album Circus will be released on December 2.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Leona Lewis - I Will Be

This is the third single from the songstress' debut album. Just as the previous two singles were, "I Will Be" is a ballad too. This one is piano-based just as "Better In Time" was. However, this one is a bit more Rock-oriented than the earlier two singles were. On this one, her vocals are a lot more emotive and show additional depth. This one is sure to be a multiformat smash. This goes for adds on Pop radio on January 6, 2009 according to the FMQB website.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Deep Step - Promise You

Deep Step is a Brazil-based studio project created by producers Fabianno Almeida and Ian Duarte (of Kasino fame). This is the followup to “Just A Little Love."

This vocal track has remixes by Ricky Verona, Twisted Dee and Manny Lehman. Ricky's mix continues in the same direction as the original making it a little Dancier for the clubs. Twisted Dee's is a bit more big room-ish and harder. Manny Lehman's is in a similar vein. It must be noted that it has an uplifting feel.

Overall, it's a great track with a great remix package.

Listen to the Radio Edit here (YouTube)
Listen to the Extended Mix here (YouTube)

The Twisted Dee and Manny Lehman remixes are available for purchase at Masterbeat and Beatport.

Grade: A

NOTE: This entry has been modified and updated to reflect new and current information.

Kristine W. - Never

Hot on the heels of her cover of the Diana Ross Disco classic "The Boss", she is back with a new song. This is not a cover. Announced a few weeks back, this one calls to mind some of the work she did during the 90's. It does not sound dated though. It just feels like a 'classic' already. Kristine's vocals are stunning as usual. Remixes by 7th Heaven, Love To Infinity, Ruff & Torte, DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious, Peter Canellis/Kamil, Nick Harvey, Brothers Behind The Light/M2 and The Perry Twins will be on the CD maxi single, which is to be released on November 24. The single can be ordered from her website. A digital release will happen in the next few weeks.

Grade: A

The Tamperer feat. Maya - Feel It 2008

It's back again! Originally released in 1998, this song took the a significant amount of vocals from Urban Discharge's underground hit "Drop A House" and some instrumental bits of The Jacksons' "Can You Feel It." The result was an attitude-laden House track. It went on to be pretty successful in various parts of the world. After a number of bootlegs and even some new versions by the original vocalist herself, Heather Leigh West, a new set of mixes of The Tamperer's version has been completed. The Mac Project's mixes stay true to the original main mix with the Jacksons sample and the vocals. It's a nice revisit to the classic. The Get Far & Farolfi mixes are a bit more dubbish but contain the same elements. There are less vocals though. The Pop Trumpet mix is a bit more twisted. Overall, this is a great update to the classic, however, nothing will top the original set.

Grade: A-

Judy Torres - Hell No

This is the latest from the Freestyle legend. There have only been a handful of artists from that era who managed to maintain a successful career in Dance music, and Ms. Torres is one of them. After the lukewarm reception to her Danielle Peck cover of "I Don't" last year, she is back with something that has already begun to generate a lot of buzz. Tackling the subject of domestic violence in a relationship, "Hell No" is not just another 'public service announcement' type of record. The vocals are top notch as are the lyrics. The real gem is the Tony Moran & Warren Rigg mix. It's a hard, driving mix that lends itself to the vocals. This is a must-buy. Masterbeat has this as an exclusive right now.

Grade: A

BoA - Eat You Up

This is the lead English-language single from the Korean Pop singer BoA's upcoming U.S. album. Having previously recorded in the Korean and Japanese languages, she's ready to try English. Produced by Bloodshy & Avant, this song combines elements of her earlier sounds with B&A's. The result is a R&B/Dance/Pop clubbanger. BoA's vocals are pretty good on the track.

This song has been remixed for the clubs as well. DJ Escape with Johnny Vicious and King Britt have completed mixes so far. Escape & Vicious provide a nice, melodic tribal mix while King Britt provides a tribal, synthladen mix. Both are great overall.

Listen to the original version and DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious mix here (MySpace)

Grade: A-

Darude featuring Blake Lewis - I Ran (So Far Away)

Yes. This is a cover of the A Flock Of Seagulls classic from the 80's. Finnish producer/remixer Darude known for the hits "Sandstorm" and "Feel The Beat" has teamed up with American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis on this cover. Blake Lewis was recently dropped by his label after his album Audio Day Dream failed to connect with the public. Singles "Break Anotha" and "How Many Words" didn't do that well either. It was pretty obvious that Blake would find greater success doing Dance/Electronic music. This is his second such song with Darude. They did this year's Dance4Life song as well. Overall, this cover is fairly well-done. There have been a few remakes over the years, however, none have really measured up to the original. The main single version doesn't pack the punch that the original does, but perhaps some of the upcoming remixes will make up for that. The digital single will be released on November 4.

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

Donna Summer - Fame (The Game)

This is third single off of Crayons which was released earlier this year. "I'm A Fire" and "Stamp Your Feet" were the two earlier singles. It's an uptempo Dance/Rock track. It is an interesting commentary about fame and almost all of the things associated with it. Some of the parts are sung and some parts are sort of rapped/spoken, particularly the verses.

This song really lends itself well to being remixed. Remixes by Dave Aude and Ralphi Rosario are coming soon.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Pink - Sober

This is the second single off of her fifth album Funhouse which was released yesterday. While "So What" is still hot on radio and digital downloads, this one is about to hit radio stations too. Co-produced by Danja, Tony Kanal (of No Doubt) and Jimmy Harry, this song is a Rock/Pop track. This one isn't as edgy as earlier single "So What", but it is just as catchy. The lyrics are really great, as is the production.

Remixes by Junior Vasquez have already been completed and are slated for a release in the next few weeks. He will be premiering his mix at the Salem event by Saint At Large at Roseland in New York this weekend.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Jimmy D. Robinson - A Tiny Shoe

A poet, Jimmy D. Robinson's poem "A Tiny Shoe" form his latest collection Timewarp has been turned into a song. This is not the first poem of his that has been transformed in this fashion. Recordings of the spoken words were given to various remixers and they created productions to match. The first set of mixes by Tracy Young, Josh Harris, and Bruno Linares has already been released. A second set of mixes by DJ Paulo & Todd Dutkevitch, Twisted Dee, and Rafael M will be released soon.

Overall, Tracy's mix works the best from package 1. The hard, but melodic production is perfect. The spoken words just float over the production in an unusual but effective way.

While this may not be for everyone, this is definitely something different. It's really worth checking out.

Grade: A-

Rihanna - Rehab

This is the 8th single off of Rihanna's 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad. After having chosen two new singles which made up part of the re-release, a song from the original release has been chosen. Written by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, this song is about wanting to check into a rehab after a relationship ended as the singer feels that she was addicted to her ex. This has been a fan favorite since the album came out and this has become a single, however, some feel that this should have been a singler sooner. Better late than never. Rihanna's vocal performance on this one is rather good. Although her vocals have been pretty good during the GGGB era, they are especially noteworthy on this one.

Listen to the song here (YouTube). A proper video is reportedly in the works so the visual isn't meant to match the audio.

Grade: A

Pitbull featuring Lil' Jon - Krazy

This is the lead single from the Cuban-American rapper's forthcoming fifth album. This is the latest single of his to contain a sample that is featured almost throughout the track. This time, he samples from "Cream" by Federico Franchi. It's an unusual choice for a sample, but it just works. The lyrics are standard Pitbull and Lil' Jon fare, however, with the sample and everything, this makes for a hot club track.

Watch the video here (YouTube)

Grade: B