KELIS - FRESH TONE [2010]

Following a tumultuous year that included a highly publicized divorce from rapper Nas, the birth of her first child and numerous family court hearings, Kelis is finally back with a new label home, a new album and a new sound. Now signed to Interscope Records through will.i.am Music Group, she premiered the single "Acapella"-her first new material since 2006's "Kelis Was Here"-online in November. On the track, produced by David Guetta and inspired by her son, the New York-raised singer/songwriter takes her hip-hop-driven style in a more electronic/dance direction. Other songs on the anticipated eight-song project include "4th of July," produced by DJ Ammo; "Kids," inspired by homosexual clubgoers; the acoustic-guitar based "Carefree American," produced by Jean Baptiste; and "Alive," helmed by Diplo. Kelis is currently in the studio with label head Will.i.am.
billboard.com
listen
pw: mikkisays.net

SLEIGH BELLS - TREATS [2010]

This Brooklyn act is another male-female duo receiving a lot of buzz, but don’t expect the dream-pop vibe of Beach House or the folk-tinged sound of She & Him. Rather, Sleigh Bells make grungy dance pop that’s been praised by Pitchfork, which lauded their “fun synth rave-ups” for being “blurrier and more intense than you’d expect.” The group is comprised of guitarist Derek Miller and singer Alexis Krauss, who ended up working as a duo when former members of the band went on to form another buzz-band, Surfer Blood. This debut was produced by Derek Miller. Stereogum has named them a “Band to Watch” and the New Yorker has given them attention. This release comes out on Mom + Pop Music in special partnership with NEET Recordings, a label run by M.I.A., with whom Krauss has been compared.
prefixmag.com

listen