Franz Ferdinand

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores. So I take a spin through each week's music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

Let's dance: I like dancing to Franz Ferdinand. When "Take Me Out" plays at a party or in a bar, it usually has the power to make me do something goofy like flip my hair all over the place. Anyway, I'm glad the band is back with all new sexy tunes for toe-tapping goodness, like the seriously fun song "No You Girls." I also like the first single on the album, "Ulysses."

Chillax music: I'm glad the psychedelic pop duo The Bird and The Bee (aka. Inara George and Greg Kurstin) have staying power because their music is so pretty. It's the perfect cocktail hour music that's part whimsy, part haunting, and totally easy on the ears. Their new album is full of gems like "Baby," "My Love," and "Ray Gun."

One more selection up next, so read more

Franz Ferdinand is one of those bands I pretty much like they way they are, and I'm not holding out for some kind of musical overhaul when their third album drops in January.

I'm definitely open to being surprised, but as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

That's why I'm glad that this live performance from this year's Glastonbury Festival, of what may be one of the first singles off the new album, is nothing too new.

And it's great! It's got everything you expect from these guys, which for me is something to dance to.

To check out the live performance of "Katherine Kiss Me," read more

While everyone is buzzing about the fun new Madonna album, there's another artist who's also creating some infectious pop songs that you can't help but want to dance to right now. Her name is Annie, she's Norwegian, and I first fell for her upbeat, techno sound a couple of years ago when I heard a song called "Heartbeat."

Her newest song, "I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me," is from her upcoming album, Don't Stop, which hits stores in July. The song is adorable and super addicting, and if it's any indication, I think I'll be liking the rest of the album. Stereogum reports that she might cover Stacey Q's "Two Of Hearts" as well as collaborate with Girls Aloud, Franz Ferdinand, and Datarock.

If you haven't heard of Annie before now, I would recommend giving her a spot on your list of artists to keep an eye on. You can listen to the new song here or on Annie's MySpace page, where you can also listen to "Heartbeat."

Source

One of my current musical obsessions is LCD Soundsystem's latest album, Sound of Silver, and recent Song of the Day honoree "All My Friends" continues to be on near-constant rotation. So I was delighted to find this cover of the song by highly satisfying British rockers Franz Ferdinand. Franz's take was produced by DJ Erol Alkan and will be the B-Side to LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends" single, which comes out May 21 in the UK.

This cover version isn't astoundingly different from the original, but it's such a great song that I'm glad the band didn't try anything too radical. Plus, Franz Ferdinand saves the real surprises for the end. To listen, read more

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