by Paul V.

Singled Out

Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks - import

You might’ve heard this one on Grey’s Anatomy or KCRW. The Swedish outfit’s new single is the contender for this year’s most breezy, feel-good, toe-tapping and whistle-inducing sing-along. Catch ‘em live at the Coachella Festival.

Lily Allen - Alright, Still - Regal

Once in awhile a new artist arrives with a packed checklist for superstardom. Huge Internet and MySpace presence? Check. Good looks? Check. Massively infectious tunes and brilliantly cheeky lyrics? Check and double-check. Finally seeing the light of day here in America, Lily Allen’s Alright, Still is one of those rare debuts that sports nary a dud and immediately tickles the ears upon first listen. It’s a wholly Brit-centric experience, from Allen’s accent-tinged vocals to her smart ‘n sharp observational wordplay. On the surface, Allen appears all sweetness and light, but then her subversive and sometimes biting witticisms trickle out. Musically, she covers a rainbow-colored palette of sounds, from urban trip-hop to sunshine reggae to A-list pop and just about everything else in between. On “LDN” she takes us on a sunny bike-ride through London—yet she comes in contact with everything from pimps and crack whores to muggers and people dining in the park. On her first single, “Smile,” a whistful melody gets peeled away to reveal the ultimate kiss-off to an ex; similarly on “Not Big,” she clocks a paramour’s inadequate performance with this stab, "I'm going to tell the world you're rubbish in bed, and that you're small in the game.” Ouch. Meanwhile, “Everything’s Just Wonderful” is exactly that—a finger-snapping, blast of ‘60s-esque groovedelica. I don’t have enough space here to boast how perfect this record is, so just buy it now and be prepared to be wowed.

Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion - Universal

Mika is another British sensation stirring up music blogs and MySpace, and his stellar debut more than meets the hype. Sporting devilishly good looks and a musical handbag full of diverse influences, this openly queer boy is bound for hugeness. In America, that means audiences who won’t cringe at a fey falsetto or a little taste of show tunes, whims and flamboyance mixed in with their rock ‘n’ roll. Easy comparisons are obvious—from George Michael to Rufus Wainwright, Freddie Mercury and Elton John—but he sounds most like Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, and shares said band’s flare for retro-leaning homage. His arrangements bounce on the boisterous side, namely lead tracks “Grace Kelly” and “Lollipop,” two floor-stomping ditties that burst like Broadway glam rock. First single, “Relax, Take It Easy,” is a bit more hushed yet discofied, and partially draws its melody from Cutting Crew’s “I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight.” Vying for crossover appeal are the bold “Love Today,” an electrified slice of dance rock positivity, and the piano driven “Ring Ring.” I’m also quite fond of the delicious “Billy Brown,” a horn-laden, Queen-meets-Herman’s Hermits ode to Mr. Billy and his fabulous new lover. A couple of the ballads here suck the energy out of the room (and the broken-English skits between songs grate a little), but Mika is definitely a new artist you’ll be hearing a lot about in 2007.

Yoko Ono - Yes, I’m A Witch - Astralwerks

When I heard that Yoko Ono was releasing a remix album, I worried it would sound like those generic house remixes she’s dropped lately. What a relief it was to find out that Yes, I'm a Witch is just the opposite, comprised of 17 tracks that span her early experimental work with John Lennon, her ‘80s pop-leaning music and the more alternative stuff she's put out in recent years. She personally picked all the contributors, ranging from everyone like Peaches, Antony Hagerty (of Antony & The Johnsons) and DJ Spooky, to Apples In Stereo and Public Enemy’s Hank Shocklee. Regardless of your opinion of Ono’s voice, this is a surprisingly tight and well-executed project. Highlights include L.A.’s own Blow Up electro-rocking “Everyman Everywoman” (replete with same-sex lyrics); Spiritualized’s psychedelic, guitar-drone re-rub of “Walking On Thin Ice”; and The Flaming Lips’ kraut-rock meltdown of Lennon/Ono’s “Cambridge 1969/2007,” which is a loopy delight. But the clear standout comes from fellow feminists and anti-war champs Le Tigre, who empower “Sisters O Sisters” with a jamming tech groove and infectious sheen. The most haunting and emotional tracks come from DJ Spooky (“Rising”) and Cat Power (“Revelations”), who adds her own vocals as well. This is definitely an eclectic listen, but if your ears have ever drawn you to the likes of Cibo Matto or even Pizzicato Five (if they were performance artists), then this one might pump some spicy sake through your speakers.

Check out DJ Paul V. at Bootie L.A. the first Saturday monthly at The Echo, Dragstrip 66 the second Saturday monthly at The Ex_Plx and on Indie 103.1 FM for his “Smash Mix” Fridays at 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays for “Neon Noise” from midnight to 3 a.m. Get more info at www.myspace.com/smashmix.