Will.i.am unveils new album ‘#willpower’: here’s our thoughts.
Hey, MP! So I hear will.i.am has a new album out. Any good?
Yes indeed he does. That all-seeing, all-promoting rap-pop star and curious-coiffed The Voice judge has taken a break from being Chezza’s BFF and released his long-awaited album of hits-in-the-waiting, #willpower.
Is the hashtag really necessary?
Do we think so? Not really but this is the guy who Tweeted in the middle of doing a part of the London Olympic Torch relay last year, so… not surprised, let’s put it that way.
Apart from the singles we already have, what’s good on the album?
Hmm… well upcoming single ‘Fall Down’ with returning Disney alumn Miley Cyrus is easily one of the best songs on the album – it’s fun, it’s dance-y without becoming boring and it’s a great turn for Miley who’s making a bit of a musical comeback. Other good tunes include solo effort ‘Hello’ and Scherzy-baby collab ‘Far Away From Home’ which are both catchy and destined for the summer airwaves.
Any stinkers on the album?
Sadly, not all of it is good – there’s a lot of sameness on the record and despite his efforts to go R&B (Getting Dumb, Geekin’) and more hip-hop (Ghetto Ghetto), a lot of is the same stuff we’ve heard a hundred times over. Not even the guest collabs can save some of the songs – ‘thatPower’ with a certain Mr Bieber is catchy for about fifteen seconds and dull the rest of the song. We’re also a bit miffed he didn’t get Chezza a guest spot for the album but then maybe we’re just suffering Girls Aloud-related withdrawals.
So it’s not worth buying the whole album?
Probably not, no. The bonus tracks aren’t too bad but really, this is an album basically for the singles, much like Calvin Harris’ ’18 Months’ album. The previous singles like ‘This Is Love’ and ‘Scream & Shout’ are both still fun but chances are you bought them a while back. In short, pick at the album but don’t go expecting anything more than fun, disposable dance-pop that’ll be the soundtrack to parties for the next few months.
Thanks, MP!
You’re welcome reader and enjoy the album – will.i.am streamed the whole thing on YouTube for everyone to listen to ahead of its album release, so go and listen for yourselves before buying!
CLOSED: Miley Cyrus’ new film ‘So Undercover’
Hurrah! Did you win? You did if your names is one of the names here:
Twitter winners: @sarahapplebyy, @chrissymcnally, @tinytamzx and @iamdanieljlacey
Details for the lucky winners will follow soon. If you missed out this time you can still buy the DVD here
Miley Cyrus has been a busy bee, what with writing her new album with Snoopdogg and Pharrell and making all her wedding plans. But she’s also found time to star in a fabulous new film, ‘So Undercover’ which is released on DVD on Monday 1st April. We have EIGHT copies of the DVD to give away to you, our beloved Maximumpop readers.
She may be a tough-as-nails, street-smart private investigator, but when total tomboy Molly (played by our girl Miley) is drafted by the FBI to go undercover within a college sorority, she finds that she’s way out of her class among a sisterhood of snooty, high maintenance, materialistic college girls. However, Molly accepts the pledge to protect one of the society debs, who holds key information which will be used at a trial where her father is about to testify against the mob. Despite being the opposite of her new “sisters,” Molly has to suck it up and bond with obnoxious upper crust trust fund babies if she’s going to succeed in her top-secret mission.
© 2013 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved
The film also stars Josh Bowman, Kelly Osbourne and Jeremy Piven and is the perfect accompaniment to a pizza and ice-cream fuelled girls night-in. Available to own and enjoy on DVD and Digital Download from 1st April – you can pre-order your copy here: http://j.mp/SoUndercoverDVD
Please note all winners must live in the UK.
Bridgit Mendler’s ‘Hello My Name Is…’ – amazing album alert!
Britney, Christina, Demi, Miley, Selena… every single one of them is a bonafide pop-princess that got their big break with Disney and have gone on to have bigger and brighter things. So there’s a lot of pressure riding on the latest Disney graduate and pop-princess-in-the-making, Bridgit Mendler, star of ‘Lemonade Mouth’ and ‘Good Luck Charlie’.
We don’t think she’s got much to worry about though. For a start, she’s already got the MP! seal of approval. We’re meeting her tomorrow for an exciting interview too. Then of course, there’s her debut album ‘Hello, My Name Is…’ which comes out in the UK on March 18th.
It’s typical pop-princess fare, by which of course we mean it’s amazing. A solid, sweet debut with plenty of nice mid-tempo tunes running through it. There isn’t a duff-track on the album and there’s enough versatility for everyone to find something they love. ‘Top of the World’ and ‘City Lights’ are nice and catchy while ‘Hurricane’ (which sounds very Cher Lloyd with its pop-rap) and ‘Blonde’ pack a tiny but mighty punch. ‘All I See Is Gold’ is a real highlight, a slower, slightly darker song where Bridgit gets to really show off her vocal ability. Then of course there’s the awesome lead single ‘Ready or Not’ which you won’t be able to get out of your head until June 2014. That catchy.
The whole album sounds like an early Demi Lovato record, full of guitars and lyrics sassier than a Real Housewife after three margaritas – weirdly though, it’s Bridgit’s Selena Gomez-esque vocals that sell just as well. The album’s the equivalent of an ice cream sundae – it’s sweet, it’s innocent and on the right summer’s day, it will really hit the spot.
Ke$ha brings us into the party season with ‘Warrior’! Amazing album alert!
The queen of glitter puke, rainbow unicorn blood and swigging JD from a bottle in lieu of mouthwash, Ke$ha has released her second album ‘Warrior’ onto the world and despite our misgivings upon her telling everyone that it was going to be a rock album, we reckon she’s managed to produce one of the strongest pop albums of the year.
WARRIOR DIE YOUNG C’MON THINKING OF YOU CRAZY KIDS WHEREVER YOU ARE DIRTY LOVE WONDERLAND ONLY WANNA DANCE WITH YOU SUPERNATURAL ALL THAT MATTERS (THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE) Another typical Dr Luke production – catchy hook, lyrics about enjoying life and the like. It’s not that it’s a bad song by any means, it’s more that we’ve heard it all before and while the call back to her ‘Cannibal’ EP is cool, it’s a bit filler. LOVE INTO THE LIGHT LAST GOODBYE GOLD TRANS AM OUT ALIVE PAST LIVES All in all, Ke$ha’s delivered an incredibly strong, cohesive and most of all fun pop album – while she’s dabbled in the kind of rock that she loves, she’s also delivered us plenty of solid pop hooks and melodies (whilst dropping a lot of that pesky AutoTune) that gives us hope that the princess of glitter puke might be growing up but without sacrificing her sense of effervescent fun. She is Ke-dollar-sign-ha, after all. ‘Warrior’ is out now. Listen to a preview of the new album below:
The thundering title track of an opener is the manifesto of the entire album – the stronger rock influences, the themes of empowerment and strength, all wrapped up in a catchy electro-rock tune that while never really making a huge impact, is still pretty great.
The lead single and one we’ve already confirmed to be pretty damn awesome – the electropop princess certified her comeback with this rollicking blast of a tune, with a middle eight that is still an arms-in-the-air triumph.
The promo single and another song in the vein of getting drunk and having fun, this is like Katy Perry’s ‘Last Friday Night’ with its fruit punch well and truly spiked.
A midtempo, one-fingered salute to her ex, this is one of the best songs on the album and while it sounds like something that a newly rebellious and blonde-hawked Miley Cyrus might record, it’s fun and bonkers and almost beautiful in its delivery.
Starting off delicate, the song quickly becomes a club thumper with Ke$ha spitting out her spit-slick, spoken-word lyrics with plenty of bitchy smackdowns making this an acid-tongued party tune that takes a few spins to get your head around.
A club song that is a surprisingly touching ode to true love and the power that love will find you. *sniffs*. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also a damn good tune to dance all night too.
A bit of an electro-rock gem, this is probably the first strong indicator of where Ke$ha’s true musical tastes lie a bit – the verse from Iggy Pop is a bonkers delight and the entire tune is disposable fun.
The first ‘ballad’ on the album, this is a slightly darker tune but it’s equally fun, catchy and reinforces Ke$ha’s idea of the album being centred around ‘magic’.
Ke$ha goes all Kelly Clarkson on this tune – a dance-rock hybrid of a tune that is a call to arms for all lovers and beloveds in the immediate vicinity. Fun, catchy and sweet, as well as an indicator of the lowered amount of Auto-Tune she’s using this time around.
One of the most talked-about songs due to Ke$ha describing it as being a result of her exploits with a ghost between the sheets. Ooookay then… it’s still an ear-snaggingly catchy tune and a great track.
A stripped back ballad that sounds so unlike the Ke$ha that we’ve grown to know and secretly love – it’s a gentle, soft rock acoustic ballad that promotes the idea of being positive and embracing everyone. Awwww.
Easily one of the best tracks on the album, this deluxe edition track is a midtempo rock-pop song about saying goodbye to your first and maybe true love. An anthemic, lighters-in-the-air chorus shows a softer side to Ms Sebert and one that makes us truly love this song at MP! HQ.
A kind of brilliantly trashy ode that could have gone on a Katy Perry album if her last one hadn’t been a lollipops-and-cocks ode. A pretty awesome chorus anchors this great track.
Another dance-pop track, this one is a bit more exciting that the others and while it’s a typical ode to being yourself and enjoying life, it’s still relentlessly fun, joyous and a bright delight that shows that despite her newfound melancholic sensabilities, she still enjoys a party.
The final track on the deluxe edition, this is a swelling, growing song that aims right at the acoustic-centered, Ke$ha teaming up with Wayne Coynes to deliver a song aimed right at the tear ducts although it’s not as immediate as the other songs.
Are you pumped for 'Warrior'? Or is it a letdown that has you scurrying back to 'Tik Tok'?
Miley Cyrus announces new single this year! Pop Bits
Pop Bits. Miley Cyrus took her new haircut and some major news to last night’s MTV VMAs – she’s working on her fourth studio album with producers including Pharrell Williams and Hit-Boy and described it as “the biggest record I’ve ever had”. Miley told reporters to expect a new single before the end of the year. Huzzah! Pop Bits out.
CLOSED: Win! One of 3 copies of LOL starring Miley Cyrus
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Amie Johnstone, Natasha Bailey, Lily-Anne Whiting – congratulations, you’re the 3 winners of a copy of LOL on DVD. Enjoy! The rest of you, check back soon for loads more massive give aways only on MP!.
MP!ers we’ve teamed up with our pals at MileyCyrusBz for today’s massive Miley Cyrus give away. We’ve got 3 copies of Miley’s new film LOL, released 31 July, up for grabs – and we’re going to post worldwide. Starring Miley and the rather attractive chap Douglas Booth, LOL tells the story of Lola (Miley) a teen girl dealing with the pressures of high school romance and friendship, while dodging her protective mother (Demi Moore). For your chance to win one of 3 copies of the film by this Sunday 08/07 just follow these instructions. Good luck!
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED
- Want to send Miley fanmail? Here’s the Miley Cyrus fanmail address.
Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus & The Wanted take over Punk’d
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Celebrity pranking series Punk’d returns to MTV on Monday 11th June, and in a new twist Ashton Kutcher will be seen letting a string of famous faces take turns at pulling one over on their friends. Justin Bieber will fool Taylor Swift into thinking she’s blown up a boat, The Wanted will be arrested for trespassing, and Miley Cyrus will subject her actor boyfriend Liam Hemsworth to humiliation involving a couple of naked passers-by and a few police officers. Demi Lovato, Vanessa Hudgens and Glee’s Dianna Agron and Heather Morris will also get in on the action.
Miley Cyrus gets Punk’d by Justin Bieber
Pop prankster Justin Bieber strikes again. Watch Miley Cyrus get tamed in this clip from the new series of MTV wind-up show Punk’d. The singer gleefully declares that she’s about to punk Justin Bieber but soon discovers the joke is on her.
JLS unveil ‘Proud’, Jessie J for IOW festival, Miley Cyrus returns and X Factor 2012 news – Gossip!
JLS unveiled their shiny new single ‘Proud’ yesterday. As we told you earlier this week, the track is the Official Sports Relief single and is released on March 18th. Our verdict? It’s predictably uplifting and stuffed full with emotional high notes, listen to it here. As part of their Sports Relief role, the band will also perform ‘Proud’ and lots of other hits at a special one-off concert at London’s O2 Arena on March 24. AND! Olly Murs and Rizzle Kicks will be there! Tickets go on sale at 10am tomorrow. We could insert the obvious “we’re so proud” statement here but we know you JLSters have got that one covered.
You’ve got three guesses, who’s broken a US chart record for the longest time spent at Number 1 for a British act? No it’s not Matt Cardle. That’s right Adele! The singer has broken a record previously set by The Beatles and Pink Floyd after 21 spent it’s 16th week in the top spot on the US Billboard 200 this week. Thrillingly she’s also matched the success of the Titanic soundtrack.
Occasional singer and full-time red carpet accessory Miley Cyrus has said she’d love to play Carrie Bradshaw in a planned Sex and the City prequel series. Miley admitted the lead role in The Carrie Diaries, created by the people behind Gossip Girl, would be “really cool.”
Simon Cowell has hinted he will return to this year’s X Factor. Following his absence from the judging table in 2011 Si says he’s signed up for the second series of the US show “but anything could happen regarding the British one.” Gary Barlow’s wiping away the tears of rejection with fifty pound notes as we type.
In other X Factor news, hilariously Cheryl Cole has been voted “Best Judge” in Virgin Media’s TV Awards. She was up for her doomed stint on X Factor USA and faced competition from the show’s more permanent judges and loads of other TV personalities. Proud Chez tweeted the results to Simon Cowell this morning saying: “Oh my!” And all in a couple days work, LOVE this.”
It’s still freezing but the first bits of summer festival news are starting to filter through. Jessie J has just been confirmed for the Isle of Wight line-up in June. Jessie joins Example, Stooshe and Magnetic Man at the festival but the organisers have admitted they’ve deliberately stayed away from booking “pop acts” this year, instead opting for craggy headliners Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and Tom Petty. MP! are launching a petition.
