After she staged a comeback with the catchy "Gimme More," Britney Spears has scored multiple hits—more than in her Lolita school girl days. Her latest, Femme Fatale, keeps this streak alive.
It is no secret that the 29-year-old has extremely limited vocal capabilities. Spears relies on slick production, clever songwriters and glossy, steamy videos. Bits from the Ke$ha-penned "Till the World Ends" seem borrowed from her recent number one "Hold It against Me." In 2009 Spears caused a ruckus in Australia, as concert attendees and promoters were infuriated about how heavily she used on prerecorded vocals during her tour. At least she was not lip-synching when she stepped forth in support of same-sex marriage.
Spears's latest album Femme Fatale has generic AutoTune-heavy, cliché-laden, Euro club tracks like "I Wanna Go" and "How I Roll." However, Spears sounds completely bored on "Criminal." The will.i.am collaboration "Big Fat Bass" is the life of the party, as Spears ventures into a more electronic realm, where one might find Kylie Minogue or Lady GaGa sitting on pedestals, wondering who erroneously admitted the former Mouseketeer.
The Femme Fatale Tour comes to The United Center, 1901 W. Madison, on Friday, July 8. Nicki Minaj, Jessie and the Boy Toys and Nervo are pegged to be opening acts. It is a pop fan's dilemma, as fellow radio-darling Katy Perry comes to The Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim, Rosemont, the same night.
Last year, out singer-songwriter Megan McCormick released the stunning Honest Words. "Shiver" is a passionate, modern-day answer to Peggy Lee's signature "Fever." "Do Right" does just that with its pure Americana pop rock. The slow tempo behind the beautiful numbers "Driveway" and "Lonely Tonight" barely keeps a pulse to accompany the steel pedal guitar and intimate harmonies. The Ryko album's highlight is "Pick up the Phone." The multi-instrumentalist's "Bullseye" is featured in the film Prayers for Bobby. Daphne Willis and Eric Stephanian share the bill with McCormick Saturday, April 23, at Martyr's, 3855 N. Lincoln.
Can't get enough of great lesbian singer-songwriters? Violinist extraordinaire Bitch is making a stop at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, Sunday, May 1 as a part of the Decibelle Festival.
Maybe Uh Huh Her heard the thunder clapping in the background, as I raised an angered fist to the skies upon hearing the duo's spring tour was skipping Chicago. Alas, a Windy City date has been added with a show at Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee, on Sunday, April 24. Uh Huh Her is fronted by Leisha Hailey, best known for her role on The L Word, and Camila Grey, formerly of Mellowdrone. The full-length album Common Reaction features the goodies "Not a Love Song," "Explode" and "Wait Another Day." Highly anticipated new material is available exclusively at the band's concert dates.
Lady Miss Kier of Deee-Lite fame will have a DJ alongside Greg Haus and Chester at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, on Sunday, April 24, for a '90s tribute. Between 1990 and 1994, Deee-Lite only had three albums, which spawned 1996's Sampadelic Relics & Dancefloor Oddities and the 20-track retrospective, The Very Best of Deee-Lite. The New York-based trio's colorful catalog boasts positive messages of unity ("World Clique"), safe sex ("Rubber Lover") and even political uneasiness ("Fuddy Duddy Judge"). Kier has spun crowd-pleasing and funky sets at Northalsted Market Days. Delightful indeed.
When I first saw the tracklisting for Roxette's Charm School, I thought the Swedish duo was influenced by the camp film Showgirls. Just look at the titles "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)," "No One Makes It on Her Own," "Way Out" and "Sitting on Top of the World." Alas, the fictional Las Vegas entertainer Nomi Malone has nothing to do with Charm School.
As with any Roxette outing, I am partial to the material sung by Marie Fredriksson instead of the pair's key songwriter, Per Gessle. The most energetic number, "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)," captures a certain sense of adolescence. A '60s vibe fuels "I'm Glad You Called," "Dream On" and "After All." Let's hope the slower-paced standouts "No One Makes It on Her Own" and "In My Own Way" will be singles. Charm School is available stateside only via import shops and already has achieved chart success in Europe.
The New Dance Mix USA: In the Club acts as the perfect reminder that spring is here. Mixed by Ted the Dillinger, the beats and bass here are begging to be blaring out of cars with the windows rolled down. The continuous mix opens with the Axwell Mix of Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition." This song has been licensed to (500) Days of Summer and Diet Coke. Last year's comical hit, "Barbra Streisand" by Duck Sauce, has an irresistible groove, which bleeds nicely into LMFAOs "I Am Not a Whore." R&B siren Deborah Cox cameos on "Leave the World Behind" with her voice that never disappoints.
Some—as heard on The Jersey Shore—hastily might call the sounds featured here house music, although these tracks do not have the soul and musicality of what defined the house scene more than 20 years ago. However, do not let that discount the energy that comes pumping out of the latest installment of The New Dance Mix USA.
