Kristine W - The Power Of Music

This is the title track off of her 4th album. This song's existence was first mentioned a couple of years back but it was not until this year that the public got to hear it. Featuring rapper Big Daddy Kane, the original version is hip hop-oriented, a departure for the Dance diva, however, she does it well. She didn't forget about her loyal clubland following as there are many remixes of the song by the Wideboys, Groove Police, Sweet Team, Virgo Brothers, Tony Moran, and Joe Gauthreaux. The Wideboys provide a funky, bassline-driven mix as usual. Groove Police's is a simple, groovy mix. It has a fun feel. Sweet Team take things in a lighter, soulful direction. The Virgo Brothers go into a light, but electro styled mix. Tony Moran and Joe Gauthreaux both provide big room, circuit-oriented mixes. All the mixes are quite enjoyable. Great song with a great package.





Buy the digital single here (Amazon)

Grade: A+

Kaylah Marin - On The Floor (Oh Baby Please)

This is the sexy new single from rising star Kaylah Marin. She sings about how she wants her potential suitor to take her on the dancefloor. Her vocals are quite good on this track. The original is a midtempo and would work well remixed. There are remixes by Mike Rizzo, Tracy Young, Rod Carillo, Josh Harris, and The Perry Twins. Mike Rizzo's is a simple dance/pop mix. Tracy Young's is her usual big room, circuit mix. Rod Carillo's is electro-oriented. Josh Harris' mix has a nice 80's synthpop feel to. The Perry Twins go in a simple dance/pop direction as well, a bit of a departure from some of their other work. The package is really great overall.

Buy the digital single here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Almighty presents We Love Diana Ross

This is a special remix album that has been in the works for several years. It was first announced a couple of years ago but was canceled for unknown reasons. Unlike some of the other titles in the Almighty 'We Love...'series, this Diana Ross one actually features her original vocals. Several of the versions have appeared on other Almighty compilations over the years and/or have been promoted. This collection features a good amount of her big hits, plus some lesser known ones. A number of the mixes stay true to the original and just feel like freshened up, modernized takes on the classics. Some of the songs that fall into that category include "Love Hangover", "The Boss", "Upside Down", "No One Gets The Prize", and "Lovin', Livin' and Givin'". Some go in a totally new direction, like "Touch Me In The Morning" which is a euro/hi-nrg styled uptempo mix, unlike the ballad original. It does have a piano beginning though. The "Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand" is particularly noteworthy as it is not an uptempo remix. It's a nice surprise. The only mixes that aren't as spectactular are the "I'm Coming Out" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" which have seen countless revisits done to perfection by other remixers. Oher than those minor things, this collection is pretty solid.

Buy the collection and listen to clips here (Almighty's website)

Grade: A-

Keo Nozari - Like Lightning

After the smash hit "Rewind", Keo Nozari is back with a hot new single entitled "Like Lightning". This is the lead single off of his upcoming second album. Written and produced by Keo himself and Ellis Miah, this is an R&B-oriented club track. It immediately calls to mind some of George Michael's material of the late 80's/early 90's without sounding dated, both in terms of the production and Keo's vocals. Keo's voice has that same likable quality. The song is fun and playful. This could be the one that finally introduces Keo to the rest of the world . This feels like a classic already.

Watch the music video here (YouTube)
Buy the song here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Jason Dottley and Debby Holiday - Party Round The World

This is the newcomer's first single. He teams up with club diva Debby Holiday for "Party Round The World." Featuring mixes by Barry Harris and Chris Thomas, the song is meant to be a feelgood, fun song. Unfortunately, Jason's vocals make the song difficult to enjoy. They feel lifeless and lack the energy needed for a song about partying. However, Debby is her usual best. Jason could potentially do well with a different song somewhere down the line. Based on some of Jason's other songs, he has a decent voice so this song doesn't truly do him justice. The Barry Harris remixes have a nice Latin/light tribal feel. The dub is the one to go for. It has just enough of Jason and Debby's vocals. And the fun Latin production is really highlighted. Some of the drums call to mind Barry's club classic "Dive Into The Pool." Chris Thomas' are electro/tribal-oriented and a bit more hard-hitting. Pretty good as well. Overall, this is a good track.


Grade: B+

Sade - Soldier Of Love

It has been nearly 10 years since Lovers Rock was released. It was announced late last year that Sade would release a new album this year, however, the album entitled Soldier Of Love will be released on February 8, 2010. The much-awaited single of the same name was absolutely worth the wait. Stylistically, this isn't different from the Sade that many have loved and cherished for so many years. It almost feels like they picked up where they left off. The midtempo track is a joy to listen to from start to finish. Sade Adu's vocals are silky smooth. The production is crisp and rousing.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Utada - Dirty Desire

This is the latest single off of her second English language album. "Dirty Desire" is much racier than some of her earlier singles. It has a sleazy, naughty feel that may be a bit much for some of her fans, but it's nice to see Utada doing different types of songs. There are some remixes of this song for the clubs by Digital Dog, Mike Rizzo, and Razor N' Guido so far. Digital Dog provide a funky electro house mix with some light synths. Razor N' Guido offer some dark circuit-oriented mix that take the sexual aspect of the song up like 100 notches. This song lends itself well to remixes.

Listen to the original here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Sir Ivan - Kumbaya

This is his latest single which is also a cover of a positive, uplifting type song. "Kumbaya" was recorded earlier this year, but it remained unreleased until now. There are some changes to the lyrics though. It features mixes by Eric Kupper, Christopher Lawrence, and Tony Moran & Warren Rigg. Eric Kupper's mixes are slightly circuit-oriented, but they are really light. They feature some select samples from U.S. President Barack Obama's speeches. Christopher Lawrence takes things in a trancier direction. Tony Moran & Warren Rigg's mixes are their usual circuit anthem, but they are also is in a light epic trance direction. The dub is nicer as there's just some vocals and it gives listeners the opportunity to hear the stunning production. While this release may not be everyone's cup of tea, give it a chance. The production on all the mixes is solid and well-done.

Buy the remix EP here (iTunes)

Grade: A-

Anjulie - Rain

Having already had two club hits with "Boom" and "Love Songs", her new single "Rain" will repeat that success. A folky, guitar pop song in its original version, DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio make the song into an anthem. Their production is very layered and beautiful. It has a rich, complex feel to it that is just so lovely. The production complements Anjulie's subtle vocal performance. There may be other mixes on the way, but this is the mix of choice so far..

Watch the music video for the original here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Nick Harvey - Wurkin

Already on a roll with a number of releases on his label, Nick Harvey's latest track "Wurkin" will also be quite huge. It is a dark, tribal mostly instrumental track, save for some select vocals. It would fit in well during slightly deeper, afterhours type sets in its main versions. Remixes by John Michael & Billy Waters, Michael Hades, Taz, and Streamweaver help this song to fit into other types of sets. John and Billy take the song in a dark, peakhour circuit direction. The synthwork calls to mind the NY club classic "Lift Up The Needle." Michael Hades also takes the song in a slightly more commercial peakhour direction. Taz's is a bit more minimal but it works really well. It calls to mind some of Armand Van Helden's really dark, dubby treatments of songs during the mid to late 90's. Streamweaver takes things in an epic, trancey direction. It's really great to see that much variety on a remix package.

Buy the digital single here (iTunes)
Grade: A

Beyonce featuring Lady Gaga - Video Phone

This powerhouse collaboration between Beyonce and Lady Gaga was first reported about a month or so ago when the music video was being filmed. Lady Gaga makes a guest appearance on this new remix of the song which is a new single off of the re-release of I Am...Sasha Fierce. This new version replaces the solo version that appeared on the original pressings of the album. "Video Phone" is a sexy song about the device of the same name. Lady Gaga fits in quite well with her parts, especially with the spoken word hooks throughout the song. The video is quite sexy as well. There is an alternate uptempo mix featuring Pitbull too. Lady Gaga is not on that one though. Both versions will be quite the floorfiller in clubs.

Watch the music video here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

VA - Just Dance 2

This is the second release from the new series this year. The first release which came out a few months back was fairly successful. This releasese, too, features a good blend of both dance remixes of non-dance songs and some pure dance songs too. The significant majority of the songs and their versions have been previously released. One of the exclusives is the new Jump Smokers mix of "Russian Roulette" by Rihanna which is not available anywhere else at this time. Only a couple of songs are a bit older, however it's great that those have been included as they do deserve to be heard by a wider audience.

Tracklisting:
01. Rihanna – Russian Roulette (Jump Smokers Remix)
02. Mariah Carey – Obsessed (Jump Smokers Remix)
03. Honorebel featuring Pitbull & Jump Smokers – Now You See It (Club Mix)
04. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (Chriss Ortega Club Mix)
05. Tinchy Stryder featuring Taio Cruz – Take Me Back
06. The-Dream featuring Kanye West – Walkin’ On The Moon (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix)
07. Kim Sozzi – Cry Tonight (Kiss Me Back) (Extended Mix)
08. Jessica Jarrell – Armageddon (StoneBridge Club Mix)
09. Kristinia DeBarge – Goodbye (Mike Rizzo Funk Generation Club Remix)
10. Noisettes – Don't Upset The Rhythm (Go Baby Go) (Dave Audé Club Remix)
11. Armin van Buuren feat. Jacqueline Govaert – Never Say Never (Alex Guadino Remix)
12. Kaskade with Tamra – Angel On My Shoulder (EDX’s Belo Horizonte at Night Remix)
13. Calvin Harris – I'm Not Alone (deadmau5 Mix)
14. deadmau5 & Kaskade – I Remember (Vocal Mix)
15. Tiësto – Louder Than Boom (Extended Mix)
16. Basshunter – Every Morning

The compilation will be available in both physical and digital formats on December 1, 2009.

Grade: A

Tony Moran featuring Frenchie Davis - You Are

This is the much-awaited new single from the former American Idol contestant. Although the song was recorded last year, it was not released until just a few of days ago. This song is quite the anthem and could stay around well into the new year. Armed with mixes by Tony Moran with Warren Rigg, Dave Saronson and Giuseppe D, plus Joe Gautheraux, Mauro Mozart, Scotty K, and Klubjumpers, this one is aimed mainly towards a circuit-oriented audience. Tony and company's mixes are nice and hard. They have the right anthemic feel. Joe Gauthereaux's are a tad lighter, but also good. Mauro Mozart's is good, but it feels like it could have been harder. Scotty K and Klubjumpers both go in a similar circuit-lite direction. Frenchie Davis sounds great on "You Are." Here's to a long, successful recording career. Overall, the package is really great.

For now, the CD single is an exclusive at Perfect Beat. Click here (Perfect Beat) to listen to clips and buy the single.

Grade: A+

Lucas Prata - Remember

It has been a little while since he's had a single out. Now signed to Robbins Entertainment, his new single "Remember" will be coming out soon. He is currently working on a new album which will be released next year. "Remember" is just as catchy and memorable as his earlier hits and this one should do quite well too. Lucas sounds great on this too. No word on other remixes at this time, but there should be some. This song is currently featured on the new Robbins mixed compilation Dance Party 2010. A digital release of the song is planned in the coming weeks.

Buy the compilation here (Amazon)

Grade: A-

Billie Myers - Wonderful

English singer-songwriter Billie Myers is back after a short break with a new album, her third overall entitled Tea & Sympathy. "Wonderful" is the first single off the new album to be remixed. Barry Harris and Cajjmere Wray completed mixes for the song. It's a nice guitar and piano driven midtempo. Billie's vocals are in fine form here. The lyrics are lovely as well.

There are three remixes by Barry Harris. On the Saturday Night Club Mix, he takes things in a Latin/Tribal/Electro direction. Billie's vocals have a light, ethereal feel over the production. Things get a tad darker on the Late Night Club Mix. It has that same great feeling too. On the Accatribalelectro Mix, it's a tad percapella-ish until about 3/4 of the way in, however, the lack of other production elements allow the vocal to be further highlighted so that's fine. Cajjmere Wray's is a chunky electro house-oriented mix. It's just hard enough. Overall, this great track gets made even better with such great remixes.

Watch Billie talk about the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Bebe Zahara Benet - I'm The Shit

She is the winner of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race on LOGO. Now she is all set to begin her music career with the song "I'm The Shit." The song is in the genre of those runway/bitch tracks which has been sorely missed for some time. Unfortunately, this pales in comparison to almost any of the other songs like this. However, Bebe has the potential to find further success with the right song. There are plenty of mixes for this. Mark Picchiotti's original mixes are circuit-lite with a hint of electro. The production is hot though. His Funkadelic Dub has just enough of the vocals to make it enjoyable. Felix Baumgartner's mixes have that minimal electro/house vibe. Ralphi Rosario's mixes are his usual circuit/tribal fabulous with just enough vocals too. Doctorz MD and TommyZero's mixes are in a similar electro/house direction. Overall, the mixes are good considering what they had to work with.

Buy the release here (Juno)

Grade: B-

Barbara Sheree- Together

This is the much-awaited single from Barbara Sheree. She has been writing and singing for some time now. Barbara is brilliant on the postive, uplifting "Together". The remixes make this song a hands-in-the-air anthem. The DJF1 Extended Mix is circuit-oriented, but still very soulful and melodic. The pianos throughout it are simply wonderful. The Tribal Dub is in a similar direction but with a lot less vocals and lots of effects on the vocals that are there. The Push mix is a little lighter but still quite good. The Clap-apella mix is basically an acapella with some claps. A creative DJ could work in some bits of the Clap-apella to emphasize some of the vocals during a set. This song is a delight to listen to from start to finish.

Check out Barbara on MySpace here



Check out Barbara's website here (the original of "Together" as well as remixes of other songs can be heard here)

Grade: A+

Britney Spears - The Single Collection

It has only been about 5 years since her My Prerogative: Greatest Hits CD was released featuring songs from the 4 albums released up to that point. This collection features most of the singles which were released in the U.S. (some were in other territories outside the U.S.). It comes in several editions. There's a single disc release featuring 17 singles and "3." There's an international edition of that featuring a DVD with the music videos. And then there's the box sets with 30 discs with a total of 58 tracks spread out over the discs. All singles would have the A-side which was released as a single and either a B-side song and/or a remix of the said A-side. A detailed tracklisting is available at Britney's website. Additional details about where to purchase everything is available there too. The collection looks good even though it may not be that necessary. This is truly for the fans. The package would have been more appealing had additional B-sides and remixes been included. A DVD of all the videos should have been released as a stand-alone release.

Grade: B (for what's being offered in the package)

Whitney Houston - I Didn't Know My Own Strength and I Look To You

These are two of the three singles from her comeback album I Look To You to be remixed. "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" saw a couple of mixes by Peter Rauhofer and Daddy's Groove a few weeks back. Immediately following that, "Million Dollar Bill" saw mixes by the Freemasons, Frankie Knuckles, Warren Rigg, and Peter Rauhofer. It just topped the Club Play chart.

Starting off the month of November right, additional mixes for "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" and  new ones for "I Look To You" have been promoted to DJs.

For "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", there are mixes by familiar collaborators Junior Vasquez and Jonathan Peters. Junior's mixes are dark and big room oriented. The Drama Intro one is a little milder. The choice "It's Not Right But It's Not Okay" vocal samples are a nice touch. Jonathan Peters continues in a slightly lighter direction, however, his is quite good as well.

For "I Look To You", there are mixes by Johnny Vicious, Dio, Giuseppe D, and DJ Paulo. Johnny's club mix begins in a tribal electro style but then suddenly it becomes uplifting and melodic when Whitney's vocals come in. Absolutely stunning. His Warehouse mixes are much harder and more electro. Dio's is a funky, electro-house affiair. Quite nice. Giuseppe D's is a Eurodance with a hint of circuit/tribal mix.. The addition of the piano is lovely. DJ Paulo's mashup is an interesting tribal/electro type mix. It's a well-done mashup. It doesn't feel like a mashup as it matches so well.

Overall, the mixes for both tracks are superb.

The mixes will be available for purchase in the coming weeks.

Grade: A+

Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment

This is the much-awaited lead single from his first album due in Noveber. "For Your Entertainment" is an uptempo dance/pop track very much in the same vein as Sam Sparro's "Black & Gold", Christina Aguilera's "Keeps Gettin' Better", and Amii Stewart's "Knock On Wood." Parts of the song instantly call to mind those other ones. That's not a bad thing. Vocally, Adam sounds great. His performance is restrained for a good part of it, but he really lets loose with high notes towards the middle/end.

Listen to it here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Eddie X presents Niki Haris - This Time Baby (New mixes)

First reviewed on August 10, 2009

Additional mixes of this stunning cover by newcomers Billy Waters & John Michael vs. TWB were released earlier this week.These are the big room mixes many have been waiting for. And they are definitely worth the wait. These are hard, driving, and melodic. The vocal mix is flawless from start to finish. The dub is a little more twisted and adventurous like a thrilling rollercoaster. Both are great.

Buy them here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A+

Shontelle - Licky

This is the lead single off of her upcoming second album. With "Licky", she has gone into a direction that is radically different from her first album. This song is rather sexual, and in-your-face versus the subtle sexiness on earlier songs. The song's chorus comes from the Larry Tee and Princess Superstar collaboration of the same name from a while back. This song is catchy and goes beyond the earlier song, however that works better. This song is very much in the same vein as Jordin Sparks' "SOS (Let The Music Play)" which has new verses but the chorus comes from an older song. This is a great opportunity to introduce the Larry Tee/Princess Superstar song to the mainstream.

Listen to the Shontelle song here (YouTube)
Listen to the Larry Tee & Princess Superstar song here (YouTube) NSFW

Grade: B+

Lady GaGa - Bad Romance

It has been known for a while that a re-release of her debut album The Fame was going to happen. The re-released version of the album is called The Fame Monster. It is due in November. The first single to be released from it is a new one called "Bad Romance." It's just as catchy as earlier singles. It feels like a mishmash of "Just Dance" and "Poker Face", but it's a bit more electro-ish. It has a bit of an 80's feel. It's pretty good overall.

Listen to it here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Rihanna - Russian Roulette

This is the lead single off of her upcoming 4th album (due in November). "Russian Roulette" is not an uptempo as it may have been thought to be. It's an electronic/rock/pop ballad (think "Halo" and "Already Gone"). It showcases Rihanna's voice. She may have naysayers who say she can't sing that well, however, that isn't true here. She sounds quite good. The production isn't overwelming so her vocals don't get drowned out. This could use an uptempo remix to make it more radio-friendly. This song is quite a grower with several listens.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Barry Harris featuring Simone Denny - Drama Queen (Texting U)

After some time away, Barry Harris (formerly of mega remixing duo Thunderpuss) is back with his first new track entitled "Drama Queen (Texting U)" featuring the vocals of powerhouse singer Simone Denny. This song immediately calls to mind those "my man is no good" type of songs which were a mainstay at the beginning of the 2000's. Lately there has been quite a shortage of such songs. Of course, there's a modern spin on it with the texting aspect of it. Vocally, Simone is great as usual. The lyrics are fun and oh so relatable. The production on the main mix is top notch. Perfect for peak hour play. Edson Pride hardens it up with his mixes while Wayne G & Andy Alldrer softens it. Wayne and Andy's XXL London Dub is nice and hard as well. This is a solid track with a solid remix package.

Purchase the digital single here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Mariah Carey - HATEU

This is the third single off of Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel. This too had been a favorite at the listening parties held over the summer. The original is a smooth R&B midtempo. Vocally, Mariah sounds great. The lyrics are nice as well. The real gem is the new remix which is slated to be on an upcoming remix album of the MOAIA album. The remix is an energetic uptempo. Sampling heavily from the mid 90's R&B/Freestyle hit "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJs, Mariah re-recorded her vocals and added some new lyrics. She even sings some of the hook from the "My Boo" track. It's refreshing to hear her do a remix of this sort as it has been a while. It's a great way to introduce the classic to a new generation in this form. Also featured are some verses by OJ Da Juiceman, Big Boi & Gucci Mane. Both versions are wonderful.

Listen to the original here (YouTube)
Listen to the remix here (YouTube)
Grade: A

Michael Jackson - This Is It

This is the first single released since the legend's passing this past June. It shares a name with the soon-to-be-released This Is It concert movie. A midtempo-ballad, "This Is It" was written by Michael and Paul Anka in 1983. The song was recorded by Freestyle/Dance artist Safire in 1991. Her version was more of a midtempo while Michael's is a bit softer. Overall, the song is decent for what it is. Many were expecting an uptempo song to be released. Perhaps there will be some other new songs in the future. This song will appear on the This Is It CD being released at the end of the month.

Grade: B+

Lectroluv featuring Alvaughn Jackson - Struck By Luv

It's hard to believe that this song was released over 15 years ago. "Struck By Luv" became one of the many classics at the legendary Sound Factory club in New York. This revisit is signed to the new label Nick Harvey Music. This is the first of a two part release. The first release features mixes by Nick himself. The Tribalelectric mix is hard and tribal, but the classic, soulful feel of the song is somehow maintained and sounds great. The Sweet Luv mixes are lighter. These are more in line with the original and 1999 remixes from back in the day. Overall, both are very good.

Listen to clips of Nick Harvey's edits:
Nick Harvey Sweet Luv Mix Edit (YouTube)
Nick Harvey Tribalelectric Radio Edit (YouTube)

The proper release with full length club mixes and dubs is planned for the end of this month.

Grade: A

Usher - Papers

This is supposed to be the lead single off of his upcoming album Raymond vs. Raymond. On "Papers", he sings about the nightmare that was his marriage to Tameka Foster. His divorce was finalized only recently. Very few details about the marriage have come out at the moment as it seems this album will be devoted to all that. If "Papers" is a preview of things to come, it could get pretty scandalous. While the lyrics do sound honest, it does come across as a bit tacky. Either way, the song is well-written and produced.

Listen to the song here (official website)

Grade: B

Allison Iraheta - Friday I'll Be Over U

She came in 4th place on this year's season of American Idol. Despite the judges harsh criticisms of her performances, she was a fan favorite. Her punk/rocker performance style distinguished her from many of the other contestants. On the Max Martin produced "Friday I'll Be Over U", it is totally in that style. It's a catchy uptempo that really showcases her great vocals. This one could prove to be a good sized hit for her.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Frankie GoesTo Hollywood - Relax 2009

This is considered a classic in many circles. There have been several revisits to this song ever since the early 1980's release. Most notably the 1993 one by Jam & Spoon and then again in 2001 by Peter Rauhofer (and others of course). While an update of this nature isn't necessary, it's a great opportunity to introduce this song to a whole new generation.

New mixes by Chicane, Jody Den Broeder, LMC, Lockout, Spencer & Hill, and Scott Storch have been completed. Chicane may seem like an unusual choice, but he delivers a nice chilled mix which has a similar vibe as the original, but nice and modern. Jody's has some elements from the original. But it's mostly funky house. It's pleasant. The LMC mix is very true to the original. This is close enough to the original that it has the right amount of nostalgia, but brings something new. The Lockout mixes do the same thing as LMC's. A little less Euro-sounding. Spencer & Hill's mix sounds good during the beatless parts, but it's mostly electro-house-ish and not very fresh. Scott Storch turns this into a hip/hop club banger. It actually works. Overall, this package is quite good. A little something for everyone.

All clips are hosted by YouTube

• Chicane
• Jody Den Broeder
• LMC
• Lockout
• Spencer & Hill
• Scott Storch
  

Grade: A

Plumb - Hang On

This is the lead single off of her next album entitled Beautiful History. Having found success on both the Christian and Dance formats, this is sure to be another hit. "Hang On" is just as beautiful and powerful as earlier releases. There are plenty of remixes of this by Digital Dog, Dave Aude, Pete Hammond, and Bronleewe & Bose. Digital Dog's is funky electro/house. Dave Aude's is also in a similar direction but a bit more chilled. Pete Hammond's is old school-sounding as can be expected. It immediately calls to mind the production on Dead Or Alive's "You Spin Me Round." But it works. B&B deliver an electro/house, chilled mild big room mix. Overall, the entire package is solid.

Buy the remix package here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Snap! - Rhythm Is A Dancer (New mixes)

"Rhythm Is A Dancer" has endured as a club classic ever since it came out in 1992. There have been multiple revisits to this classic, most notably the 1996 mixes by Rollo, the 2002 mixes by CJ Stone (and others), and just over a year ago by Tom Novy. The main version on this new remix is basically a mashup with the late 90's trance track "Carte Blanche" by Veracocha. It's an interesting mix. "Carte Blanche" on its own is a slice of epic trance. The "Rhythm Is A Dancer" vocals don't seem to go that well with the Veracocha track. It just feels really forced. The Moam mix is basically an electro-sounding version of the mashup. However, Armand Van Helden's mix is quite fun. It has enough of the elements and melody from the original that made it such a classic. All the effects applied to the vocals and instrumental bits are totally crazy. This calls to mind some of the handiwork of Armand's from the past, like when he would make a remix that used a few select portions of the original track that didn't sound boring for even a second (think of the CJ Bolland "Sugar Is Sweeter", Tori Amos "Professional Widow", and NuYorican Soul "Runaway" mixes he did). This could be considered in that category too. Overall, the Armand mix is the highlight of the bunch.

Listen to the mashup version here (YouTube)
Listen to Armand's mix here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Britney Spears - 3

This is a new song that will be a part of an upcoming Britney singles collection due in November. There had been speculation for the last few days about what the song would be about. It turns out it's about a threesome. It's written in a way that's naughty without bordering on obscene. It could fit in with songs from both her Blackout and Circus albums, but it's still pretty different. The uptempo will be quite a floorfiller in clubs. Pretty good overall.

Listen to "3" here (MySpace)

Grade: B+

Sun - Fancy Free

Having had a handful of club hits in the U.S., the Singaporean singer is all set to conquer the Pop charts with "Fancy Free." This is not her first attempt at such a feat. A couple years ago, she released a song called "China Wine" which featured Wyclef Jean, Tony Matterhorn, and Elephant Man. It was unable to get her noticed. But this one should most likely do the trick. It's extremely catchy and upbeat and could be huge on both Pop and the Club charts. Remixes are in the works at this time. This is the lead single off of the new album entitled Cause A Ruckus.

Buy the original version of "Fancy Free" here (iTunes)
Watch the music video here (YouTube)
Check out some of Sun's other songs from Cause A Ruckus here (official website)

Grade: A-

DJ Scott Mann featuring Amuka - It's Over

Amuka became known for the club anthem "Appreciate Me" in the early 2000's. And now she is back after a few months with a new track called "It's Over." It is yet another song in that "my man is no good" vein. On paper this sounds good, but in practice, not so much. Amuka is quite a capable singer, but the full power of her vocals isn't unleashed on "It's Over." It's warm at best. Given those limitations, the remixes by Edson Pride and Bryan Reyes with Amy Alderman are appropriate. Edson Pride's is the best of the bunch with the lush big room production.

Buy the single here (Masterbeat)

Grade: B

Sarah McLachlan - One Dream

She is back after somewhat of a long break with a new song called "One Dream" which was recorded especially for the 2010 Winter Olympics which will be held in Vancouver. Stylewise, this doesn't stray too far from Sarah's usual which could be a good thing. New material from her is always a good thing as it has been quite a while since she has released something new. Her last proper album was released in 2003. Her vocals sound great. The lyrics are uplifting and beautiful.

The digital single will be available for purchase one September 29, 2009. Until then, listen to a clip here (Amazon)

Grade: A-

Jump Smokers - Don't Be A Douchebag

Jumping on the train of these novelty club jams is Jump Smokers with "Don't Be A Douchebag" which is a hilarious and somewhat searing look at these regular fixtures at nightclubs. While this may not be amazing or thoughtful, it will generate plenty of laughs. It begins very much in the same way as Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back" with a similar spoken intro. The electro/pop production is quite good though. The vocals are very similar in style to LMFAO (of "I'm In Miami Bitch" fame).

Watch the music video here (YouTube)
Buy the song here (iTunes)

Grade: B+

NOW That's What I Call Club Hits

This is the first release in a new series from the people behind the other NOW compilations. The concept of NOW That's What I Call Club Hits is a bit different from some of the other current hits compilations such as those from Ultra Records or those Total Club Hits type ones. While the song selections may be similar, those are all continuously mixed. This NOW one is unmixed for the most part. Some of the songs have been sequenced and edited in a way that there is no silence between the shift from one track to the next, but each track begins like it's supposed to.

Almost all of the songs appearing on the compilation are radio edits. Only a few are slightly longer. If those longer ones were shorter, a couple more tracks could have been included.

Here's the tracklisting:
01. Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Guetta" (David Guetta's Electro Hop Remix)
02. Sean Kingston - "Fire Burning" (Dave Aude Radio)
03. Flo Rida - "Right Round" (Benny Benassi Remix Edit)
04. Pitbull - "I Know What You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" (More English Radio Edit)
05. David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland - "When Loves Takes Over" (Electro Radio Edit)
06. Kid Cudi - "Day 'N' Nite" (Crookers Remix Radio Edit)
07. Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West and Ne-Yo - "Knock You Down" (Bimbo Jones Radio Remix)
08. Ciara feat. Justin Timberlake - "Love Sex Magic" (Jason Nevins Sex Club Radio Mix)
09. Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain - "Blame It" (The New Devices Remix)
10. Lady Gaga - "Lovegame" (Dave Aude Radio Edit)
11. Kelly Clarkson - "My Life Would Suck Without You" (Chriss Ortega Radio Mix)
12. P!nk - "Please Don't Leave Me" (Digital Dog Radio Edit)
13. Katy Perry - "Waking Up In Vegas" (Calvin Harris Remix Edit)
14. The Killers - "Spaceman" (Tiesto Remix)
15. Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne - "Let It Rock" (Filthy Dukes [Radio])
16. Bad Boy Bill feat. Alyssa Palmer - "Falling Athem"
17. Empire Of The Sun - "Walking On A Dream" (Kaskade Remix)
18. Depeche Mode - "Wrong" (Thin White Duke Remix)
19. Jackson 5 - "Dancing Machine" (Polow Remix)

The tracklisting of the compilation is quite strong overall. Even though a majority of the songs/remixes featured have been released digitally, they have not been released on a CD of this nature unmixed. In addition to the Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock and Alternative acts, some choice Dance/Electronic ones have been included, making this compilation quite eclectic.

The compilation will be released in the U.S. in both CD and digital form on September 22, 2009.

Buy and listen to clips of all the songs here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Madonna - Revolver

This is the second of two new songs that will be appearing on the forthcoming Madonna greatest hits collection Celebration which wraps up her tenure on Warner Brothers. A demo of this had surfaced a few months back featruring a different vocalist. The final version is almost identical, except that Madonna is on this now. The Dance/Pop track has a swing-beat which has been utilized a lot during the last couple of years. While not as catchy as "Celebration" or some of her other songs, this is quite a grower. Lyrically, it's pretty sexy and leaves no new stone unturned. Lil' Wayne's small part on the song actually sounds okay and works. It's a lot more palatable then some of his other recent appearances on non-rap/hip hop songs. There's no word on whether a music video will be filmed or when this will be going to radio, but hopefully it will be soon.

Grade: A-

Alicia Keys - Doesn't Mean Anything

This is the latest single off of Ms. Keys' forthcoming new album. While this single was highly anticipated, this song covers little new ground. It instantly calls to mind earlier hits "No One" and "If I Ain't Got You" in terms of both the production and lyrics. "Doesn't Mean Anything" feels almost too identical. This is pleasant and will probably do pretty well.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: C+

Janet Jackson - Make Me

Just a few hours after she gave a fitting tribute to her late brother, she is giving her fans a little 'gift' in the form of a new song entitled "Make Me." There is no word about whether this is a single or off of any upcoming project at this time. But it seems this is another tribute to her brother's contributions to music and culture. It is fitting that there is an interpolation of his song "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." The production is Disco/Electro-House/Pop-oriented. It's very retro but modern. Janet's vocals are clear and strong. She sounds great.

Listen to it here

Grade: A

Leomeo featuring Diva Avari - Give Me Love

French DJ Leomeo is all set to conquer clubland with his latest single "Give Me Love." Featuring the vocals of Diva Avari who has been featured on a handful of other songs throughout the last few years. Although her claim to fame was her appearance on a remake of Yazoo's "Don't Go", this one is sure to increase her fame tenfold. On "Give Me Love", she delivers a great performance. It's a simple, fun Dance track with very catchy lyrics. The production is really great on the main version. The original is light circuit/house-oriented. Pagano's mix continues in that direction. Aural Devil's Minimal Mix is an interesting electro/house affair. Aural Devil's S. Paulo Mix is a bit ligher and has a "I Feel Love" type production. The GML mix is very minimal and afterhours-ish. Additional mixes are to be released in the future.

Watch the sexy music video here (YouTube)
The mixes reviewed above are available at Beatport right now.

Grade: A

Robbie Williams - Bodies

This is the first single off of his upcoming Reality Killed The Video Star album due in November. It is written by Robbie himself, Brandon Christy, and produced by Craig Russo. Trevor Horn, Guy Chambers and Mark Ronson. It marks an interesting change in Robbie's overall sound. Some of the styles and sounds he had experimented with over the years have found their way into this song. It's a nice mix of those. It has bits of Rock, Pop, Dance, and Disco. It all works quite well. The song is very catchy. Robbie sounds great as usual. The single will be released in the UK in October. The music video premieres in two days.

Listen here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Leona Lewis - Happy

This is the first single off of her second album entitled Echo. Co-written by Evan Bogart, Ryan Tedder, and Leona Lewis herself, it is also produced by Ryan Tedder. "Happy" is a midtempo, pseudo-epic track. It definitely goes beyond some of what Ryan Tedder has come up with in the last few months. Leona's vocals are really stunning on this. Lyrically, this is pretty good too. This would work well remixed. This seems like something Jason Nevins, Moto Blanco or Tony Moran could do really well.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Chicane - Hiding All The Stars

This is a new single from UK-based producer Nick Bracegirdle. It is a followup to "Poppiholla." While that was an instrumental, this one has some vocals. The track has an epic electro/house feel. It's almost metallic sounding in some places. The vocals are interesting. Samples from the main riff in Gary Numan's "Cars" make several appearances in the song. Unfortunately, the samples don't seem to fit that well due to their placement and short length. Perhaps a remix that integrates them a little better could do the trick. A creative edit removing the samples could help to salvage the track. This pales in comparison with earlier efforts.

Listen to the main version here (YouTube)

Grade: C+

Chelley – Took The Night

Although this came out a few months back, this one is still getting plenty of interest. It is one of a few songs of this style released this year. Yes, the bitch/runway track is back and better than ever. There have been a few every year, but not nearly enough. And even fewer that became classics. This one could very well become one of those. The attitude-laden “Took The Night” is playful and fun while being a floorfiller. Although the lyrics are quite minimal, the new version featuring rap by the Mims includes some new lyrics. Hopefully a version without the rap, but with the new lyrics will be released.

Watch the music video here (YouTube)

Buy the song here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Ron Perkov - Miss You

This is his latest single after nearly 18 months. Having had a circuit-oriented release of some sort every so often, this one is tailormade for that very scene. Written and produced by Tony Moran, this one isn't nearly as memorable as other releases, but the various mixes on the release help to make this resonate more with DJs and fans alike. The main version by Tony Moran and Warren Rigg is their usual uplifting, tribal goodness. Manny Lehman, Twisted Dee, and DeMarko!'s mixes are in a similar direction. Twisted Dee's is a bit more housey while Manny's is more uplifting. DeMarko! manages to be in between both styles. Mike Rizzo's mix isn't circuit-oriented. His mix is perfect for Dance radio and mixshows. A good package overall.

Buy it here (Masterbeat)

Grade: B+

Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill (Freemasons Mix)

Yes. The Freemasons have remixed Whitney's disco throwback single off of I Look To You. They are a perfect choice for this song. They have made an already great song even better. Think of this as a meatier version of the original. It's a lot more hard-hitting and would fit into a variety of sets. The label wisely released the mix just one day after the album was so fans can get it right away. Peter Rauhofer has also been asked to remix this song.

Buy it here (iTunes) and here (Amazon)

Grade: A+

Alphabeat - The Spell

After their breathrough first album last year, they are back with the followup entitled This Is Still Alphabeat which is due later this year. A few weeks ago, the Danish group announced that their new album will be a bit retro-sounding in that they have been inspired by some of 80's and 90's Dance/Pop music. "The Spell" is definitely all that and then some. It is perfectly uptempo, but not too fast (in the 115 BPM range). If some of those 90's boybands and girlbands got together with the Scissor Sisters, this song could be thought of as the product. It's modern, yet retro. It's fun overall. It's a great introduction to their sophomore album.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Fedde Le Grand - Let Me Be Real

This is the latest single from the Dutch producer/remixer. Having had a single or two out at any given time, "Let Me Be Real" is a more vocally-oriented track. Featuring his signature electro/dance sound, this one is really catchy. The vocals by Mitch Crown are really good. It calls to mind some of the really good male-vocalled tracks of the 90's which are a rare thing these days.

Purchase the digital single here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Mariah Carey - I Want To Know What Love Is

There has been talk about this being the second single in the U.S. This is indeed a cover of the Foreigner classic. It has been remade several times during the last few years, most recently by Wynonna Judd. Throughout her career, Mariah has covered a number of songs such as "Against All Odds", "Bringin' On The Heartbreak", and "Without You" and truly made them her own. This is yet another one. With this one, it is meant to be gospel-tinged. The production is minimal with light percussion and a lush piano, so there's plenty of room for Mariah's vocals to shine. Vocally, she sounds amazing. Those signature vocal acrobatics and notes of are here. The song builds slowly to an epic climax. This is a great cover overall. The only minus is that it's over too quick. The song could easily be one minute longer.

Listen here (YouTube)




Grade: A

Kim English - Nothing's Impossible

After a short break, she is back with a new single entitled "Nothing's Impossible." It is a nice inspirational, soulful track. It almost calls to mind the earlier part of her career in the 90's. It has a classic feel to it already. The remix package has a little something for everyone. The Str8jackets Asylum Dub is electro/house oriented while ATFC's mixes are slightly electro, but mostly piano house. Really good. Maurice Joshua's Club mix is different from his Nu Soul mix. The Club mix circuit/tribal-oriented while his Nu Soul one is more in line with his usual productions. It's an elegant mix. The Duwayne Motley mix is also quite soulful.

Tracklisting:

01. The Str8jackets Asylum Rub (8:37)
02. ATFC Main Mix (10:46)
03. ATFC Dub (7:11)
04. Maurice's Club Mix (6:50)
05. Nu Soul Club Mix (7:27)
06. Maurice's Club Instrumental (6:50)
07. Duwayne Motley's The Counselor Remix (7:50)

Buy the release here (TraxSource), here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A-

Agnes - Release Me

This song had a considerable amount of success in Europe earlier this year, and now it looks like it may do the same in the U.S. Agnes was the winner of Swedish Idol back in 2005. "Release Me" is from her third album. She was recently signed to a label in the U.S. The Dance/Pop track is light and pretty. It is very catchy. Agnes' vocals are pretty good too. The various remixes, particularly the Cahill and Moto Blanco ones are great. Additional mixes for the U.S. release are in the works.

Purchase the original here (iTunes)

Grade: A-

Chad Jack & Tim Letteer V. Fawn - Wish U Love

This is the latest from the up and coming producers Chad Jack and Tim Letteer plus new talent Fawn. "Wish U Love" is a pretty, positive vocal track. Fawn's vocals are quite good. The production on the main versions is Electro/Circuit-oriented, however, it could easily fall under the Dance/Pop catergory. This could be a hit on the Dance Radio format if promoted there.

There's no shortage of remixes. Tim Letteer provides a nice chilled, electro/tribal dub. It's really pretty. Nick Harvey does his usual tribal fierceness. All sorts of fun vocal loops and effects can be found throughout the mix. Nick Wax's mix could be thought of as an electro/dance mix meets mild big room mix. The lush pianos in certain parts are really great. Danny James' mix is a twisted electro affair. KJ Sawka's mis is a total departure of the other mixes. It's at a higher tempo and a lot more trance/break-oriented even though it is labeled as a Drum & Bass mix. It is very drummy and bassey. Finally is Jeff Poirier's mix which is also a circuit/electro/tribal, almost big room mix. The whole package is quite strong and there's something for everyone.

Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A