Adam Lambert - Never Close Our Eyes (Remixes)

This is the second single from his Trespassing album. The Electro-Pop original is pretty good but an unusual choice for a single. Adam's vocals are wonderful as can be expected. The production feels a little generic. However, there are some remixes by Almighty, Digital Dog, and Sunship. Almighty's mixes are light and uplifting. Digital Dog's have a harder electro edge. Sunship's house and breaks mix is really fitting. The Sunship mixes are the best of the bunch.

Watch the music video for the original here (YouTube)

Grade: B+ (for the original)/A- (for the Sunship remix)

Chris Brown - Don't Wake Me Up

Continuing with his foray into Dance/Electronic music, R&B bad boy Chris Brown's latest single is produced by Benny Benassi. They previously did "Beautiful People" together. The production on the main version is radio and club-ready. Despite being severely autotuned, the vocals are pretty good. This song would work well as a downtempo if such a version were to be made. William Orbit also produced a laidback remix version. The vocals have more room to breathe on this version. Both versions are very well-produced. This should be another hit for the singer this Summer.

Purchase the song (iTunes)

• Benny Benassi Mix
• Free School/William Orbit Mix

Grade: A-

Loreen - Euphoria

She first won the Melodifestivalen in Sweden earlier this year with this song and went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest. The uplifting Dance/Pop track begins slow and dark, building towards a big chorus just as the beats come in. Loreen's powerful vocals are brilliant. In addition to the exquisite original are mixes by Alex Moreno, 7th Heaven, and Wawa. Alex Moreno's mix is beautiful with the piano instrumental breaks. 7th Heaven's is a bit darker until it gets to the chorus. Wawa's mix is somewhere in between in terms of the sound. It manages to be pretty and dark at the same time. Overall, the original single version is the best one, but all the remixes are good.

Listen to the various versions: (YouTube)

• Original Version
• Alex Moreno
• 7th Heaven
• Wawa

Grade: A

Kylie Minogue - Time Bomb

This is a brand new single from the dancefloor princess. There is no word on whether this is from a new album or upcoming greatest hits collection, or it's a standalone release. Kylie sings in her trademark breathy, sexy voice on this aggressive electropop track. The hook is super catchy. The song's lyrics have an end of the world theme (2012 Mayan Prophecy?) that has come up in other songs during the last couple of years. Overall, this is a perfect release just in time for the summer.

Listen to the song here (DailyMotion)

Grade: A-

Ryan W - Don't Come Lookin

After having some underground success, Ryan W's latest release "Don't Come Lookin" is aimed at a mainstream audience. Newly released on the Island Def Jam label, the electro-pop song is a bit of a departure from his earlier material. This song makes him seem like the male counterpart of Ke$ha with the singing and rapping. The production and lyrics make this club-ready. The chorus is rather catchy. Overall, this is a decent single choice, however, it isn't as exciting as "Crave" or "Oceans".

Listen to a preview and buy here (iTunes)

Grade: B

Loverush UK! vs Maria Nayler - One & One

Originally released in 1996 by Italian Dreamhouse artist Robert Miles, the song is back again as a remake by Loverush UK! featuring a re-recorded vocal by the original singer Maria Nayler. Things are a little faster and a touch darker on the main mix, however the familiar classical piano from the original is there. Maria's vocals do sound a little different from when she originally recorded them in 1996. Club Junkies and Protoculture provide additional remixes. The Club Junkies mix is quite progressive and energetic. Protoculture's big room electro-trance mix is beautiful as well. The use of Maria's backing vocals in certain places give the song a different feel. Fans of the original will want to check this out.

• Listen to the main mix here (SoundCloud)
• Listen to the Club Junkies mix here (SoundCloud)
• Listen to the main mix here (SoundCloud)

Grade: A-

so80s presents Sandra: Curated by Blank & Jones

German Dance/Pop singer Sandra's 80s hits have been assembled together on a new collection called so80s presents Sandra Curated: by Blank & Jones. It's two discs filled with extended versions, instrumentals, and dubs of her hits all unmixed and digitally remastered. Many of the versions on the first disc appeared on the third disc of her The Platinum Collection several years back, however, the quality of the versions is even better. Disc two includes a number of rarities including the previously vinyl only U.S. Mix of "Heaven Can Wait", the Japan exclusive M.I.D. DJ Mix of "Secret Land", and various instrumentals and dubs from her 7" and 12" vinyl singles. The 7" PWL mix of "Everlasting Love" is also thrown in as a bonus. Overall, this is a must have for Sandra fans and collectors.

Shawnee Taylor feat Sympho Nympho - Colors

Dance diva Shawnee Taylor's latest release produced by Sympho Nympho (aka House veterans Erick Morillo, Jose Nunez, and Harry Romero) is all set to take over the dancefloors of the world with "Colors." In many ways it is the "When Love Takes Over" of this year. It is a dazzling full vocal cut with a lovely production. The main version and its accompanying radio edit are the best versions (and probably the only ones you'll need). This is exquisite.

Listen to clips and purchase the Original Mix here (Beatport)

Grade: A+

Sandra - Maybe Tonight

80s German Dance/Pop star best known for the hits "Maria Magdalena", "In The Heat Of The Night", "Heaven Can Wait", and many more is back with a new single produced by Blank & Jones. This comes on the heels of a new collection featuring extended versions, instrumentals, and dubs of her 80s hits also assembled by Blank & Jones called So80s Presents Sandra 1984-1989, Curated By Blank & Jones. The song is pleasant but is a very obvious throwback to her songs "Around My Heart" and "Heaven Can Wait". Fans of her earlier works will want to check this out. This is much stronger than some of her recent Dance-oriented releases. A CD single will be released in Germany, plus an international digital release on May 11.

Grade: A-

Laura Larue & Lee Dagger - Capture Your Love

After the breakout success of "San Francisco Is My Disco" last year, she is back with a new single. She teams up with Lee Dagger of Bimbo Jones on this cute little song. There are remixes for this by Bimbo Jones, Gregor Salto, and Tracy Young. Bimbo Jones offers up a funky, piano-driven mix. Gregor Salto's mix is a harder electro-bass styled one. Tracy Young's circuit-oriented mix is a bit lighter than her usual. All 3 deliver solid mixes, however Bimbo Jones's mix is the clear winner. Overall, this one is shaping up to be another hit for her.

• Listen to the Bimbo Jones mix here
• Listen to the Gregor Salto mix here
• Listen to the Tracy Young mix here

Grade: A-

Stefano Langone feat New Boyz & Rock Mafia - I'm On A Roll

The former American Idol contestant and fan favorite's debut single is finally here. The Dance/Pop track feels like a mishmash of "Love At First Sight", "I Gotta Feeling", and any of the recent Jason Deulo singles in terms of the production. In similar fashion, far too much autotune has been used on his vocals. Given that he is a reasonably good singer, this much was unnecessary. The song feels rather ordinary amongst other similar songs that are flooding the airwaves right now. It's not bad, nor is it great. It's just okay.

Listen to the song here:
 

Grade: B-

O'Mega Red feat Donna Summer - Angel

This is the latest single from the rapper. He teams up with Queen of Disco Donna Summer for this midtempo track. O'Mega raps while Donna sings the hook and vocalizes in the background. This is yet another new avenue for the veteran singer. They complement each other wonderfully. Compared to most contemporary rap, the lyrics are quite positive and tell a story. Donna sings the hook in a vocal style that is different from what most are used to, but you can tell it's her. Overall, this is quite lovely.


Purchase the song here (iTunes)
Listen to the song here:

Grade: A-

The Str8jackets and Sam Obernik - Love & Oxygen

This is a new release from the Strictly Rhythm label. "Love & Oxygen" is a fun Summery type of song with a folksy guitar loop, a trippy electro break, and Sam Obernik's mesmerizing vocals. How all these seemingly unusual elements work together is just spellbinding. The chorus is just so catchy. The song could have crossover potential on U.S. radio with a good edit. The Xilent mix is a gritty dubstep-styled is less effective as it is quite noisy and the production does not complement the vocals. Expect this track to be pretty massive this year.

Listen to clips and purchase the mixes here (Beatport)

Grade: A (for the Extended Mix)/C (for the Xilent Mix)

Kelly Clarkson - Dark Side (Billy Waters & Floor One Mix)

After the smash success of "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" comes "Dark Side." This Pop/Rock song is perfect as the followup. Lyrically, it is a bit of a departure from what some of us may be used to from Kelly, but this shows another dimension of her. Kelly's vocals are stunning as can be expected.

There is a wonderful dance remix of this by Billy Waters and Floor One. They have done an impeccable job of preserving the integrity of the original while making it danceable.

Listen to the Billy Waters & Floor One mixshow:

• Listen to the original here (YouTube)

Grade: A (for the original)/A+ (for the remix)

Adele - Rumor Has It (Joel Dickinson & Billy Waters Remix)

This is the 4th single off of her extraordinarily successful album 21. The sassy Motown-inflected song shows yet another side of the diva. Remixers Joel Dickinson and Billy Waters have reworked this song for the dancefloor. They give it a techy-tribal treatment with all the vocals taking center stage. The airy synth riff that calls to mind Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" is just so cute. This remix is fantastic, taking this song to another level.

Listen to the remix here:


Grade: A