Kevin Rudolf - I Belong To You (Lany)

"I'll follow you to the end of the road"

Kevin Rudolf is inches away from being a bonafide pop star. Unfortunately, he (or his label) insists on catering to the masses and chucking a few weak Lil' Wayne (or other hip-hop) collaborations on his albums. Luckily, his new release focuses more on the pop end of things, and when it does it's really fantastic stuff. Rudolf has a unique sound. There's a bit of 80's in the electronic elements, but it's mixed with aggressive guitar that gives his music a huge, layered sheen. This track (the "Lany" in the title refers to Los Angeles and New York), is one of a trio of blazing pop songs that make up the core of the album. And while I'd pick the Flo-Rida (groan...) collabo You Make the Rain Fall for single number two (the hook is insanely catchy), I prefer the more classic sound of this one. It's straightforward, but straightforward's okay if the melody and beat are this good. If you've never given Kevin's music a chance, check this out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Kevin Rudolf - I Belong To You (Lany) by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Pop Blitz 3/4/10

Taio Cruz (ft. Ludacris) - Break Your Heart
What a pleasant surprise to see this sitting atop American itunes. This is the best r&b/dance/pop single of this style that we'll probably hear this year. The beat, the melody... everything. The prospect of this being a hit over here is exhilarating, even with Ludacris tacked on (and btw, he nearly ruins it). Get the original version. A

Daisy Dares You (ft. Chipmunk) - Number One Enemy
While I like the electro blips thrown together with the rockier sound of the track, I wish that this was a stronger single. It's certainly not bad, but nothing terribly original, either. Daisy's voice has the potential to grate and the Chipmunk part is just weird. B-

Kevin Rudolf (ft. a bunch of douches) - I Made It
Rudolf's debut was a pleasant surprise, but this feels like a step backward. The guest artists drag him down and the melody plods. I hope the next single's better. C-

Jay Sean, Sean Paul & Lil' Jon - Do You Remember
The "chorus" sounds like a child's hissy fit. If this was just Jay Sean, it might be alright. But why all of the angry screaming in the background? It sounds more like a parody than a serious track. C

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed
Much has been made of Goulding (what's with all these female singers from the UK with strange voices?) and this is a big single right now. It's alright. Nothing that I'm going crazy over, but it's a nice little catchy track. B

The Script - Breakeven
Though I'm not a huge fan of this group, I've been happily watching this song's slow and steady climb on the charts. The melody in the chorus is addictive. B+

Gramophonedzie - Why Don't You
The latest dance track to come out of Europe, it's built around a not particularly interesting big band/loungey sample that doesn't mix well at all with the dance beats. Very strange, and completely unnecessary. D+