Stuff for the Teen Age, Popular Music

Radio NYPL : The hottest songs out there are available at the library!

Teens of New York City, you and your wallet are in luck! The library has gotten very good about getting the newest and hottest cds straight into the branches fast and into your hands for you to take home. Right now, you can find some of the most popular songs and artists playing on the radio and through videos at libraries across the system.

Available for reserve and circulation as of May 2010:

"Nothin on You"

B.O.B. Presents:The Adventures of Bobby Ray  With his hit single "Nothin on You", Atlanta hip-hop artist B.O.B.has crafted a single perfect for a warm spring day. Bruno Mars soaring vocals laden with B.O.B.'s crafty ryhmes make this song damn irresistible and the rest of the album is just as good. Another stand out is "Airplanes" his duet with Paramore's Hayley Williams.

 

"Bullet Proof"

La Roux Reminiscent of 80's synthpop artists "Depeche Mode", "Yaz" "Erasure", among others, the British duo known as La Roux is blazing its own trail in '10. Made up of singer/songwriter Elly Jackson and keyboardist/producer Ben Langmaid, their hot single "Bullet Proof" is supremely catchy and so is the rest of the album especially, "In for the Kill".

 

"Stylo"

Gorillaz: Plastic Beach Conceived back in 1998 by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and graphic artist Jamie Hewlett, this animated, modern hip-hop group has now released their 3rd studio album: Plastic Beach. The first single, "Stylo" continues their playful mix of hip-hop, electronica and dance grooves with it's driving beat reminiscent of the "Knightrider" theme and features vocals by Bobby Womack and Mos Def.

 

"Your Love is My Drug"

Ke$ha: Animal  Ke$sha first assualted the airwaves with her supremely catchy tune "Tik Tok", an ode to raucous partying. Despite her heavy use of an auto tuner it is hard not to love her. After all, this is a girl who admits to vomiting in a closet while partying at Paris Hilton's house and then memoralizes the event in the song "Party at a Rich Dude's House". My fave track is "Animal".

 

"Need You Now"

Lady Antelbellum: Need You Now  I can hear the incredulity now, "A country group? Wha'?" Well yes, after several teens, whose musical tastes I trust, kept telling me they love this song I decided to include them. This Nashville trio have a definite cross-over/country pop sound and their storytelling skills in "Need You Now", a song about heart break and a booty call, are well showcased.

 

"Young Forever"

Jay Z: The Blueprint 3   "Young Forever" is another great track off Jay Z's "Blueprint 3" album. The song samples and owes a lot to the great 80's prom/graduation song "Forever Young" by Alphaville. Jay Z's rhymes are backed up by Brit Pop singer Mr. Hudson, who has also worked with Kanye West and who has his own album out, "Straight No Chaser". Like "Empire State of Mind" this is a song to blast from a stereo.

 

"Cherry Bomb"

The Runaways: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack  The Runaways were an all teen girl punk band of the 1970's. This is full of classic tracks sung by the actresses who play the band in the film: Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as lead singer Cherie Currie. At one point, while listening to the album, not even Joan Jett could tell the difference between these covers and the real thing.

 

"Breakeven"

The Script  This Irish pop band from Dublin have slowly been making their way onto American radios and ipods since 2008 when they had a tentative success here with the single "The Man Who Could Not Be Moved". In 2009, they had a bigger hit, as songwriters, when American Idol winner Kris Allen released a cover of their B side track "Live Like We're Dying". Now, with "Breakeven" they have a hit of their own.

 

"Like A Prayer"

Glee Cast: The Power of Madonna  I wouldn't be me if I didn't put this album and song on the list. This stand out song was featured in the recent all Madonna episode and the Glee Cast killed it! Not a fail song on the album. My favorite track, besides "Like A Prayer" was the marching band/ cheerleader rendition of "4 minutes" sung by Kurt and Mercedes. It's almost as good as the original if not better.

 

"This is War"

30 Seconds to Mars: This is War Alt-rockers 30 Seconds to Mars are back with a follow-up to their smash hit album "A Beautiful Lie". The band's (including lead singer/actor Jared Leto) new album while still full of angst features a more epic sound of synthesizers and progressive rock flavors. Full of great tracks, be sure to check out "Kings and Queens" and "Hurricane" which features a cameo by Kanye West.

Happy Listening!

 

 

 

 

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Wow

I want to listen to all of these! Great post!