JFF - The Young Professionals, "Video Games" Cover

Just when you thought you may have tired of Video Games, along comes some sort of unearthly POP concoction to remind you why the song is completely brilliant...

ElectroPOP duo The Young Professionals caught the attention of popular music bloggers like our friend The ElectroQueer since 2011, when they released their super catchy, tongue-in-cheek single D.I.S.C.O.. The duo is a little bit Pet Shop Boys, a little bit Chromeo, with a dash of Robyn. Listen to the Young Professionals' cover of Lana Del Rey's Video Games below & SOAK IT IN:

During his sensational solo career Ivri Lider always had the ability to cover feminine POP ballads in a way that added a twist, but did the original justice.  Now, teaming up with Yonatan Goldstein, he creates pure techno-POP glory that is totally unlike his earlier work.  I am so excited about what this group will do next!

Unapologetically,

Minna

POP Disappointments

As I write this post, I am anxiously writing a scholarship application for my Masters program, so please pardon my brevity.

The internet is alive with a cacophony of criticism about Rihanna & Chris Brown's new collaborations.  Yes, because Birthday Cake couldn't be worse, Rihanna decided to feature her "ex," Chris Brown, singing "Girl I wanna f*ck you right now / it's been so long & I've been missin your body."

Yes, that's right folks. Just when I thought the mainstream POP world couldn't get much more dissatisfying (Dr. Luke & RedOne give everyone the same song, Lana Del Rey collaborates with Azealia Banks), Rihanna & Chris Brown come along to top the Disappointment Game.  I'm dumbfounded.  The Prophet Blog best discusses the repercussions of Rihanna as a role model to millions in the post Rihanna Disappoints the World, but what concerns me more is the question of morality in the music industry.  Why the hell is the mainstream music industry capitalizing on Rihanna & Chris' history of domestic abuse?  Is this not the lowest of the low?  Why is this okay?

It's not okay. And, for the record, Gregory & I always wanted this blog to be a constructive place to promote good music from all over the POP spectrum.  If the mainstream POP acts keep up this crap, you'll be hearing a lot less about them on Unapologetically POP.

Shame on everyone involved in this.

Unapologetically,

Minna

POP's Guide to Upstate New York

Lake Placid, NY: Home to one of 2012's Rising Stars

As I made the annual drive up north for another Christmas in upstate New York, I admired views that are, for me, so familiar - the rolling Catskill Mountains, the looming Adirondacks, the historic Hudson River.  I thought to myself: this region really doesn't get enough love.  I came home from Christmas with a blog post idea: to highlight upstate New York's contributions to POP music. The following is what I created.

Here are 3 acts from all over the POP spectrum who can call upstate New York home:

1. Gym Class Heroes, Geneva, NY
The group Gym Class Heroes began when Travie McCoy met Matt McGinley in a 9th grade gym class (how ironic!) in Geneva, New York - an area known for its wineries & lakes. Gym Class Heroes as we know them actually formed  when Travie McCoy jumped onstage with his friends to provide vocals at a local shindig.  That's right, the guys behind Cupid's Chokehold & Stereo Hearts were once jamming at house parties!  Over ten years later the kids from the Seneca Lake region are still kickin' it, making upstate New Yorkers rap along proudly.

2. Com Truise, Oneida, NY
Com Truise is synthPOP mastermind Seth Haley. Though he looks exactly like the guy you met last summer at that SUNY Albany party, Seth is actually a sound engineer, visual artist & master-mixer. For music that is lush & funky, check out Galactic Melt, my favorite of his work. (For more on Com Truise read this live review by our friends at Tastebuds.fm; they describe Seth's performance as "one hell of a show).

 3. Lana Del Rey, Lake Placid, NY
Before she was the famed female behind 2011's hit Video Games, Lana Del Rey was Lizzy Grant of Lake Placid, a secluded & beautiful region 6 hours north of New York City. Though Lizzy began her musical career networking in New York City proper (& later in London), as a little girl she performed in choirs & school plays in the Lake Placid area. I've always wondered if Lana's love for articles of faded Americana was  at all inspired by her once great, now defunct tourist hometown of Lake Placid... but I suppose the only one who knows that is Lana, herself.


I wrap up this post with a small sense of pride. Perhaps now a few upstate New Yorkers can hold their heads up high when they listen to music in their cars (or on their tractors)... knowing that some real POP stars hailed from the same region that they call home.


Unapologetically,


Minna

JFF - Lana Del Rey & "Born to Die"

Lana Del Rey, the love addict, is getting more and more tragic.

Born To Die was released today.  Guess what? It's beautiful.

Lana's newest song finds her sinking deeper and deeper into a glamorous, doleful, baroque indie POP sound. "Is it by mistake or by design? / I feel so alone on a Friday night," she coos, somewhere between angelic and forsaken.

As I have stated before, I am a staunch Lana-defender, but I readily acknowledge the extent that her appeal is crafted by, and with, her aesthetic.  It's not all about the music with Lana as it is with, say, Adele.  I wish it was, because I love Lana's sound.  However, this will in no way detract from my appreciation of her songs.

Born To Die is wonderful.

Unapologetically,

Minna

In Defense of Lana Del Rey

 

There is a lot of venomous commentary online concerning Lana Del Rey.  As a fellow upstate New Yorker & music-lover, I thought it was time for me to defend Lana.

Still relatively unheard of in the US (this will soon change, her NYC show sold out quickly) Lana Del Rey is currently making a huge splash in the UK.  Her tickets are selling like hot potatoes and she is a recurrent name on the blogosphere (read our original post on Lana here) As fortunate and attractive as she may seem, Lana Del Rey is being viciously scrutinized as a “re-branded” and “inauthentic product” of “the industry.”  The vast majority of people are not criticizing her songs, but her looks.

That fact that the music industry manually sculpts artists’ image is not news.  Classic rockers like David Bowie engaged in flagrant image lunacy – but back then Bowie was free from the victimization of the 21^st century cyber-microscope.  The crux of the arguments against Lana is that her aesthetic “overpowers” her sound.  But why are we overlooking something vital here: her music?  Lizzy Grant is a gifted lyricist and an exceptional songstress.  We cannot forget this.

Yes, the truth is unavoidable: before she was Lana Del Rey, Lizzy Grant was a thin-lipped blonde with an unsuccessful EP.  She reemerged in 2011 with a “Lolita in the hood” style and a contract with Interscope Records.

The bottom line is this: Lizzy Grant invented Lana Del Rey with managers and lawyers.  Why?  Because she is a genuinely creative, talented woman who recognizes that we live in an age where imagery is vital to music-making.  The invention of Lana Del Rey is, yes, purely an invention.  But Lizzy Grant worked too hard for too many years (7, in fact) to let opportunity slip through her fingers.

I recognize that Lana is a divisive musician, but I sincerely beg those who are fiercely anti-Rey to redirect their rage.  I can see where her success may seem an injustice, but like it or not, we have big pop potential on our hands.  And I don’t think she’ll be leaving anytime soon.

We wouldn't have it any other way.  

Unapologetically,

Minna

P.S. Check out our newer features on Lana! "Lana Del Rey vs. Hipster Snobbery"

Who We Are Hyping

With a new autumn comes a new hype-list.  We've compiled a list of 3 noteworthy artists on our radar.  Are you ready??

 
1) Lana Del Rey

This rising indie pop artist is an American from upstate New York (represent!)  Lana, aka Lizzie Grant, combines sultry vocals with alluring lyrics for a smoky, seductive sound.  This former Church choir singer finds inspiration in everything from classic Italian cinema to Nirvana. 

“Video Games,” her first single, majestically captures the shamelessness and insecurity of falling in love.  “It’s better than I ever even knew / they say that the world was built for two,” she sings, as gentle tones evoke the glamor of a fallen Hollywood star (listen to the whole track here).  Wow, did we find a friend for Marina?  

Miss Del Rey has a pretty self-confident sound, but she has not yet conquered her image (in the music video for "Blue Jeans" her body language is stiff, & she moves her stunning lips rather awkwardly).  Either way, girlfriend's got talent. We expect to hear more from this lady!

2) The Wombats 

Onto one of my ultimate guilty-pleasure bands: Britpop rockers the Wombats. On their newest album, "This Modern Glitch," these hyperactive Liverpudlians beat everyone to the punch by writing a pop song that pays tribute to our lost decade of innocence: the 1990s.  

I’m just gonna go ahead & say it: FINALLY.  I’m not the only one who would rather watch Backstreet Boys videos than spend hours facebook-stalking strangers.  This song is so anthemic that even my sister, who has sworn off pop music since 2004, cannot help but chant along, “I had no cares in the 1990s / I knew of no downfalls / the war was breaking out all around me / my concerns were with prank calls.”  Props to the Wombats for admitting that the modern age scares the crap out of them too.

Good news for us: the Wombats are commencing a big US tour this month & have selected "1996" as their next single.  They released the new music video last week (watch it here).  Hmm, is it just me, or does the normally unphotogenic Matthew Murphy actually look kinda cute in this video… in a hairy, underwater kind of way?

3) Zola Jesus

Love it or leave it baby, Zola Jesus is making some pretty damn spooky noise-pop.  Okay, so using the term “pop” to describe Zola Jesus may seem a little far-fetched, but hear us out.

In recent years we witnessed the emergence of the “dark pop” genre with the development of artists like Natalia Kills & Kerli, and especially after Gaga’s second album took an edgier route.  The Wisconsin-raised Zola Jesus has been making experimental, operatic dark pop for years now.  She may or may not have anticipated the “dark pop” trend, but who are we to know?  What we do know is that she has toured with fellow witchy woman Fever Ray & indie darlings the xx, who complement her sound perfectly.

We expect that after the massive success of Florence’s last album, the market will be more open to Zola's gothic synthpop album “Conatus” (check out her newest release, “Vessel,” here.)  We'll see, 2011 could be her year.

Enjoy the hype!

Unapologetically,

Minna