Single Selections: The Ting Tings

The Ting Tings - Hands   4.5/5

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The Ting Tings change things up on their latest single "Hands" an electro-disco that has the dynamic duo brushing up on their Kylie Minogue dance beats. A simple hook, hot synth and an instantly addictive beat, it sticks to your brain, forcing you to press repeat, and you won't want to fight the feeling!

Maroon 5 - Give A Litte More   1/5

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It may be new Maroon 5 but it sounds and reads like the remainders bin of songs that didn't make the cut on It Won't Be Soon Before Long. "Give A Little More" gives less than it promises.

Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West - Erase Me   2.5/5

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Kid Cudi's latest single is not his best, featuring Kanye rhyming like a Joe Jonas break-up text, it's a decent radio-friendly single but doesn't keep your attention for long.

Robyn - Hang With Me   4/5

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After being featured on Body Talk Pt. 1 in acoustic form, "Hang With Me" is given a proper mix on Body Talk Pt. 2, proving Robyn can produce pop singles with the best of them. It's not quite as rapturous as "Dancing On My Own" but it's just as delicious.

Janelle Monae - Tightrope (Wondamix) feat. B.o.B. & Lupe Fiasco   4/5

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Stripped down to a groovy guitar rift and a beat, Monae spits rhymes alongside two of raps biggest boys, reaffirming her place as the best female hip-hop and R&B artist on block. "Tightrope (Wondamix)" will cause a body twitch from head to toe, you better believe you'll be groovin' to a stellar remix of an already stellar song.

Record Reviews: Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae - The Archandroid 4.5/5

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Few artists can transcend genre without falling victim to their own limitations or overly ambitious dreams, Janelle Monae on the other hand is an example of a truly gifted artist. The charismatic Kansas City native, embarks on the second and third parts of the Metropolis suites in The Archandroid. An 18-track stunner that feels more like a summer blockbuster.

"Dance or Die," is the first taste of Monae's kaleidoscope of sound, featuring slam poet Saul Williams, it showcases Monae's spoken-word/rap skills. Like all songs on The Archandroid one song seamlessly transition into the next, leading to the psychedelic thriller of "Faster" and "Locked Inside," a doo-wop love affair, complete with a stellar groove and simplistic hand claps.

From "Cold War" to "Tightrope," Monae perfects her funk/soul grooves. "Oh Maker" feels like a modern-day Marvin Gaye number, earnest and heartfelt. While the game changer "Come Alive (The War Of The Rose)" is a dance-punk number that feels surprisingly at home on the record. "Mushrooms & Roses" is pure Hendrix, while the indie rocker "Make The Bus" features a guest appearance from Of Montreal.

The bouncy, carefree "Wondaland" shows off the bubble gum pop side of Monae's personality. Monae finds common ground with fellow R&B chanteuse Erykah Badu on the laid back affair, "Say You'll Go".

If you listen closely the story of Metropolis can be found in The Archandroid, but what makes it such an amazing experience is the non-stop, spectacularly catchy songs, each one a new story. It's hard not to be in awe of Monae's endless talent, she maybe the answer to a music landscape sorely missing Lauryn Hill. This genre-bending wonder kid is just what the doctor ordered and produces a near-classic on her debut record.

Artist to Watch: Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae

The name may not resonate with the masses, but that's not to say Janelle Monae isn't deserving, of such recognition. Having already released an EP, Metropolis: The Chase Suites on P. Diddy's Bad Boy imprint, and appeared in Outkast's Idlewild, Monae already commands respect from some big names in Hip-Hop. Fusing Soul, Funk, and Hip-Hop, among others Monae is far from cookie-cutter, which her debut record The Arch Android, a combination of the remaining Metropolis suites, could prove to be a stepping stone to a more mainstream following.

Metropolis is a conceptual piece initially intended to be unveiled over four suites. It tells the story of Cindi Mayweather, an android. Monáe inhabits the cyborg skin of Mayweather, whom is introduced in The Chase Suites. After falling in love with a human she is destined to be disassembled by the "droid control". Don't let the concept fool you, this is music at it's finest.

With the release of two singles last February, Monae demonstrates a more accessible sound than of that found on Metropolis. "Tightrope" is a modern day James Brown jam, featuring Outkast's Big Boi, with killer horns and plenty of funk, it's a wonder, rhythm and AC 40 radio stations haven't picked it. It's sibling single, "Cold War" is a fast-paced track, fusing rock elements with hip-hop beats and a little soul, another triumph for Monae's ever expanding experimental sound.

The Arch Android is well worth the wait, and if Metropolis is any indication of what's to come from the genre-bending chanteuse, you're in for a wildly creative, fresh and highly addictive piece of conceptual music.