EP Review | Austin Mahone - The Secret

Austin Mahone
The Secret (EP)
Chase / Cash Money / Republic
Release date: May 23, 2014

By Shawal Ras
Follow @shawalras

Got a chance to listen to Austin Mahone's latest extended play, The Secret. All I'm gonna ask you: are you ready for some late 90's throwback?

Single Review | John Mayer - XO

John Mayer
XO - Single
Columbia
Release date: May 23, 2014

John Mayer covered Beyonce's 'XO'!

LP OST Review | Various Artists - Neighbors (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Various Artists
Neighbors (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Universal Music
Release date: April 29, 2014

By Shawal Ras
Follow @shawalras

Last week, I spent some time at the cinema and watched Bad Neighbors. 

Single Review | Lana Del Rey - Shades of Cool

Lana Del Rey
Shades of Cool - Single
Polydor
Release date: May 26, 2014

My fav gal, Lana Del Rey, released her second single, 'Shades of Cool', off her upcoming record, Ultraviolence.

LP Review | Christina Perri - Head or Heart

Christina Perri

Head or Heart

Atlantic

Release date: April 1, 2014

By Shawal Ras
Follow @shawalras

The singer, who achieved fame through her hit singles, 'Jar of Hearts' and 'A Thousand Words', is back with her sophomore effort, Head or Heart.

Single Review | Robbie Williams - Go Gentle

Robbie Williams
Go Gentle - Single 
Island Records / Universal Music Group
Release date: November 10, 2013

Robbie Williams back with his biggest album to date, Swings Both Ways, a sequel to his big band effort, Swing When You're Winning (which still remains one of his most successful albums to date). 

Single Review | Freaky Fortune - Rise Up (feat. RiskyKidd)

Freaky Fortune
Rise Up (feat. RiskyKidd) - Single
Panik Records
Release date: March 21, 2014

Greek duo, Freaky Fortune, has released a single called 'Rise Up' as Greece's entry for last week's Eurovision Song Contest.

Single Review | Twin Twin - Moustache

Twin Twin
Moustache - Single / Vive La Vie: Special Edition
Warner Music France
Release date: April 14, 2014 

'Moustache' is an electro-pop song by French trio, Twin Twin. The song represented France in Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and ended up at the final place with 2 points (sigh). 

Single Review | Trupa Zero - Inima De Gheata (feat. Alexandra Stan)

Trupa Zero
Inima De Gheata - Single
Fonogram Studios / Roton
Release date: May 6, 2014

Was browsing through iTunes and I found this super hot Romanian single called 'Inima De Gheata' by Trupa Zero and Alexandra Stan. Upon my first listen, all I can think of is how hot this single is. 

LP OST Review | Various Artists - Eurovision Song Contest - Copenhagen 2014

Various Artists

Eurovision Song Contest - Copenhagen 2014
Universal Music (Denmark)
Release date: April 11, 2014

By Shawal Ras
Follow @shawalras

Last night's Eurovision Song Contest is indeed one of the best I've seen in the last couple of years!

Single Review | Ariana Grande - Problem (feat. Iggy Azalea)

Ariana Grande
Problem (feat. Iggy Azalea) - Single
Republic
Release date: April 28, 2014

Surprise, surprise! Ariana Grande, A.K.A. le Baby Mariah, is back with a thumping new single called 'Problem'. 

Music Video Review | Shakira - Dare (La La La)

Shakira

Dare (La La La) - Single

RCA

Release date: March 25, 2014 (Single) / May 7, 2014 (Music Video)

We dare you to detest Shakira's latest single 'Dare (La La La)'. If you dare that is. Hating on its video, however, is completely okay with us and here's why.

Music Video Review | Lana Del Rey - West Coast

Lana Del Rey
West Coast - Single
Polydor
Release date: April 14, 2014 (Single) / May 7, 2014 (Music Video)

Ms. Del Rey has finally released the music video for her new single, 'West Coast', which is set to appear in her upcoming album, Ultraviolence.

Music Video Review | Avril Lavigne - Hello Kitty

Avril Lavigne
Hello Kitty - Single
Epic
Release date: 2013 (Single) / April 21, 2014 (Music Video)

Are you done yet? Yes, you. You kitty-hater!

As we (proud citizens of pop-niverse) are all well-aware, Avril Lavigne recently released the music video for her dubstep heavy technopop track 'Hello Kitty' off of her self-titled fifth studio album. Paying homage to everyone's favourite cat caricature and the Japanese subculture in general, the 29-year old punk princess shot the video in Japan with everything Japanese, including the director, the location, the extras and even the cupcakes! This however, disappointingly, did not go down well with the masses.

Music Video Review | Iggy Azalea - Fancy (feat. Charli XCX)

Iggy Azalea
Fancy (feat. Charli XCX) - Single
Island
Release date: February 17, 2014 (Single) / March 4, 2014 (Music Video)

I've taken a new liking at this Australian rapper that goes by the name Iggy Azalea (no, don't you ever mistaken her for Azealia Banks). 'Fancy' is a pop-rap song that infused minimal beats, verse-to-verse rapping and bubblegum pop chorus, which sounds a bit similar to Gwen Stefani's 'Hollaback Girl'.