The female electro-pop-rock duo Uh Huh Her makes a splash with the impressive debut Common Reaction on Nettwerk Records. With the pop sensibilities of The Cardigans and the glam-rock edge of Shakespear's Sister as heard on irresistible cuts like 'Not a Love Song' and 'So Long,' Uh Huh Her branches out from the sound of members Leisha Hailey's previous group The Murmurs and Camila Grey's former musical venture Mellowdrone. Also an actress, Hailey portrayed Alice Pieszecki on 'The L Word.' Tickets are now on sale for Uh Huh Her's concert on Monday, Nov. 3 at Park West, 322 W. Armitage.
( Pictured: Delta Goodrem; Little Jackie )
Another twosome bursting onto the music scene with its debut is Little Jackie. Consisting of industry veteran Imani Coppola and multi-instrumentalist Adam Pallin, this Brooklyn duo blends the soulful sounds of Motown with hip-hop. Think Crystal Waters's voice with a hybrid of Lauryn Hill's finesse of singing and rapping, Lily Allen's wit, the personal lyrics of Billie Myers and British star Gabrielle's appreciation for her predecessors. The pair's lead single, 'The World Should Revolve around Me,' has Coppola confessing the struggles of juggling a relationship with the demands of working as an artist. The slower, yet sensual standout cut 'Guys Like When Girls Kiss' shows Coppola considering pursuing women. The chorus finds her cooing, 'I'm gonna get with a woman/ you know I might as well/ I'm a tell every single guy who be hollerin'/ they can go to hell/ gonna make her my bride/ even though we on the same side.' Little Jackie's debut, The Stoop, is out now on S-Curve Records.
Also hailing from Brooklyn are newcomers Hercules and Love Affair. This art-house-meets-dance outfit has garnered praise for its throwback disco-flavored stomper 'Blind,' which has been licensed by Chanel and is breaking out on the club charts. Fronted by musical whiz kid Andy Butler, the band is rounded out by Kim Ann Foxman, Nomi and Antony Hegarty from Antony and the Johnsons. Hegarty's androgynous yet instantly recognizable vocals have teamed up with Boy George on the anthem 'You Are My Sister' and a remake of John Lennon's 'Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) .' Hercules and Love Affair's self-titled bow is now available via Mute.
On Wed., Sept. 10, queercore quartet The Shondes will have a concert at The Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake. On the debut, The Red Sea, these buzz-worthy Brooklynites uniquely combine classical music with punk and Jewish folk music. Prior to this tour, the Shondes have performed at North by Northwest and Homo A-Go-Go.
When a certain friend says a song has him 'levitating out of his chair,' I take notice. Not once, but twice, this guy found himself surveying the earth from a higher plane when listening to Australian megastar Delta Goodrem's U.S. debut bow, which is simply titled Delta. The opening tracks, 'Believe Again' and 'In This Life,' have Goodrem showing off Celine Dion-worthy vocal chops with the melodies reminiscent of Amy Grant's feel-good Top 40 hits. Even the sunny video for 'In This Life' recalls Faith Hill's smash 'Breathe.' Like Kylie Minogue and Natalie Imbruglia, Goodrem appeared on the soap opera Neighbors Down Under before her massive musical crossover took place.
As a follow-up to last year's album Grime, Silk & Thunder, Ultra Nate is releasing Alchemy: GST Reloaded. This double-disc set has remixed versions of the material from Nate's recent outing, including 'Love Is the Only Drug' and 'Automatic.' But the second disc, dubbed The Sugar Sessions, is the welcomed unveiling of Nate as a DJ. Thanks to the reworking of her old school classics 'Scandal' and 'It's Over Now' as well as 'Falling' and 'This House,' The Sugar Sessions ranks among the finest vocal house out there. On top of spinning in her hometown Baltimore at Sugar at the 1722 Club, Nate is also heading the label Deep Sugar Music, with dance and R&B acts already signed.
Welsh singer-songwriter Jem is back with her sophomore effort, Down to Earth, which is due out Sept. 16 on ATO Records. Her outstanding full-length debut, Finally Awoken, introduced a talented singer-songwriter, rivaling more established counterparts such as Sarah McLachlan and Dido. On Down to Earth, Jem is at her best with her ethereal voice paired with pop-electronic music as heard on 'I Always Knew.' But she does branch out with the Betty Boo inspired 'Aciiid!' and the country meets funk number 'Crazy.' The set's uplifting first single, 'It's Amazing,' is on the soundtrack to Sex in the City. Jem's other work has been heard on prime-time shows including 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Desperate Housewives' and 'CSI: Miami.'
Broadway veteran Luba Mason will be appearing at two shows this month in the Windy City. Best known for her roles in Jekyll & Hyde, Chicago and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying on The Great White Way, Mason will grace the stage at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, on Saturday, Sept. 20, and then return to Davenports, 1383 N. Milwaukee, on Sunday, Sept. 21. Mason's headlining set at The Royal George Theatre will benefit LGBTQ Slovak & Czech Social Club of Chicago and will feature Slovak music in addition to original material. The stunning blonde's style is influenced by jazz, Latin and folk—as heard on her debut, Collage and its soon-to-be-released successor, Krazy Love.
