Rihanna‘s new single is here and it shines bright like a diamond. A RILLY big diamond.

The track titled, er, “Diamonds,” (surprise!) was written by Australian songstress Sia and produced by longtime Rihanna collaborators Stargate and Benny Blanco. The stellar mid-tempo offering will act as the lead single off of RiRi‘s forthcoming seventh studio album, due out sometime in November.

While many fans and spectators were expecting another dance floor mainstay from the one and only Navy Commander Princess, they couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead, “Diamonds” is entirely new territory for Rihanna. It’s soulful and heavily inspired by its songwriter, Sia. Vocally, Ri takes it to the stars, exploring avenues with her voice she has only touched on in previous efforts. Lyrically, “Diamonds” is deep and inspired, and sonically it’s twinkling, magical, and catchy as fuck—especially with the genius addition of that heavily annunciated phrase, “Shayn bryaght lyke ay Diaymond“. It’s all so quirky and lush that I’m almost certain its going to creep up on us like that damn “Umbrella.”

Seriously though, this ones got all the makings of a pop-classic and I can’t wait to hear more of what Rihanna has up her sleeve for her seventh studio album.

Take a listen to “Diamonds,” below!

Garbage-pale pop-princess Ke$ha dropped a new single on our asses this week titled, “Die Young,” and while it’s upbeat, fun, and kinda catchy, it’s a tad bit disappointing too. I mean, I’ve come to expect so much from everybody’s favorite beard-loving, glitter-belching starlet-especially after she penned one of Godney‘s greatest career hits, “‘Till The World Ends.”

You see, the biggest problem with “Die Young” is that it sounds just like a handful (or two) of other hits that we’ve already heard about a million times before. Take for example, Nicki Minaj‘s “Starships,” Flo Rida‘s “Good Feeling,” and Havana Brown‘s “You’ll Be Mine,” just to name a few. However, I will say that lyrically Ke$ha is as clever as ever (“Be too sweet, and you’ll be a goner/Yep, I’ll pull a Jeffrey Dahmer”) and production wise the chorus will probably be stuck in your head for days, but it’s all too familiar and entirely too “safe” for me to get excited about.

Produced by pop-juggernauts Dr. Luke, Cirkut, and Benny Blanco, it’s easy to foresee “Die Young” becoming a certified Top-40 hit, but I’m holding out for Ke$ha‘s second single because I know she can do much better and I’m almost certain she has some trail-blazing tricks up her dirty little sleeve that none of us are even ready for. I guess only time will tell, but as the December 4th release date for her new album Warrior approaches I’m sure all will be revealed.

Stay tuned, but until then be sure to check out “Die Young,” below!

Thoughts?

Maroon 5′s latest album, Overexposed, has just hit the streets and it’s a powerhouse compilation of pop-rock anthems and sugary vocals with guest appearences by Wiz Khalifa as well as some of the hottest producers in the game (Max Martin, Benny Blanco, Shellback, Ryan Tedder), which only means one thing: You should probably own this LP like right now!

Well guess what? We Heart Pop is gonna hook you up because I am giving away a free copy of Overexposed to one lucky reader.

To enter all you have to do is “Like” the We Heart Pop Facebook fanpage found HERE!

-or-

If you’re one of the amazing fans who’ve already done so then you may also Tweet me or comment on this post with the following phrase:

“I want to be Overexposed with Maroon 5 and @WeHeartPop. Now gimme that LP”

A winner will be chosen on Thursday, July 5 and notified shortly thereafter. Good luck and Godspeed!

Maroon 5 have just released their fourth studio album Overexposed yesterday, June 26th.  Recorded in Los Angeles over the last year with executive producer (and magic maker) Max Martin, Overexposed also features collaborations with heavy hitters
Benny Blanco and Shellback (“Moves Like Jagger”) and OneRepublic‘s Ryan Tedder. Upon first listen, it’s apparent that the band has gone in a much more pop-like direction, especially since the roaring success of their Christina laden hit “Moves Like Jagger.” Gone are the days of the catchy guitar riffs and passionate subject matter found on Songs About Jane. To this I say “giddy-up,” becasue lets face it, We Heart Pop, but those who preferred their Maroon 5 with a side of lovelorn and a dash of soul might begin to throw around the familiar phrase, “sell-out.” I for one am all about the new album though, as it’s terribly fun, light on apologies, and heavy on Max Martin produced perfection.

Album highlights: “Wipe Your Eyes,” “Lucky Strike,” “One More Night,” “Daylight”

♥♥♥^1/2/♥♥♥♥♥

On a side note, be sure to check out the band’s video for second single “One More Night” premiered Monday on MTV. The clip features Adam Levine as a sweaty (and shirtless!) boxer s well as actress Minka Kelly as his frustrated other half.

Check out Maroon 5‘s brand new single, “Payphone,” featuring Wiz Khalifa. The mid-tempo offering is the first single hailing from the band’s upcoming fourth studio album, Overexposed, due out June 26th. Boasting sweet melodies, a twinkling backbeat, and Adam Levine‘s signature coo’s, the Shellback/Benny Blanco-produced track is surely destined for radio success. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard that rapper and Amber Rose-lover, Wiz Khalifa, had a guest verse on the track, but it’s actually quite cohesive, further ensuring the song’s commercial appeal. I will say, it’s a little tame for my complete approval, but it’s very summery, emphatic, and a great choice for a lead single.

Lyrical highpoint: “All those fairy tales are full of shit/ If I hear one more fucking love song, I’ll be sick.”

Check out the very clever, comic-style lyric video for the song, below!

Thoughts?

Well, it sounds like this is going to be quite the album!

The boys of Maroon 5 have just gone and released the official cover art for their upcoming fourth studio album, Overexposed, due out June 26th. The 12 track set was executive produced by the legendary Max Martin and will feature additional offerings from Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco just to name a few. Overexposed‘s first single is to be titled, “Payphone,” and will feature a guest appearence by rapper Wiz Khalifa. You can catch the world premiere performance of the new single “Payphone,” on The Voice next Monday, April 16, with the digital release to follow on Tuesday, April 17.

According to heartthrob and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine Overexposed is “one of our most diverse and poppiest albums yet…”

Sounds amazing!

Thoughts?

I’m 49% sure I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning but I’m 51% sure the just released cover art for Adam Lambert‘s quicky approachng sophomore release, Tresspassing, is aesthetically cheap. Was it the product of a fan-made contest or did somebody hire Britney‘s famed album cover creators (aka Sean Preston & Jayden James)?

No matter–the set’s first single “Better Than I Know Myself,” is a solid effort fit for the likes of Usher and word has it the rest of the collection features production from Pharrell Williams, Dr. Luke, Claude Kelly, and Benny Blanco just to name a few. And for some reason this next statement pains me to express, but: there’s really no denying that Lambert has one of the best male voices in the business right know. #Fact #The End

Tresspassing hit stores March 20th.

By Mikala Hughes

And just when I thought Swedish indie pop couldn’t get any better–there was Miike Snow.

Consisting of childhood friends Pontus Winnberg, Christian Karlsson, and American songwriter Andrew Wyatt, Miike Snow was formed in 2007 in Stockholm, Sweden and were popularized by their hits “Animal” and “Black & Blue.”

Winnberg and Karlsson first gained success through their production aliases Bloodshy & Avant, working with such artists as Kylie Minogue and Madonna. It wasn’t until 2004 when the duo produced a little known track by the name of “Toxic” for Britney Spears (which won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording) that the pair met their third band member, Andrew Wyatt.

As songwriters the trio excel at what they do, and it’s no surprise that as producers they shine in the same light. With an ear for the beat hidden within the melody, Miike Snow has masterfully remixed tracks for Passion Pit, Vampire Weekend, Depeche Mode, and I Blame Coco just to name a few. More impressively the trio’s original tracks have been remixed by an even greater slew of bands such as Dubstep artists Netsky and Emalkay, as well as Caspa, Tiga, Fake Blood, George Mathews, Dj Mehdi and Benny Blanco. And the best part? All of this publicity was garnered from their only full-length release to date– 2009’s self-titled Miike Snow.

In 2010 the trio released a number of singles including “Billie Holiday”, “The Rabbit”, and “Remedy” which was collaboration with dance music mavens, the Crookers. In addition, their newest track, “Devil’s Work”, was released just this month to rave reviews and will be featured on their Sophomore effort, Happy To You, scheduled for release in March of 2012.

So get on it kiddies! You know you want to play in the snow!

Check out Neon Hitch‘s newly released single Bad Dog, above.

I just found out I’m fucking with a bad dog/ But the beast in me/She know how to train a Bad Dog/WOOF, declares Hitch atop the song’s pulsating dance-pop beat. Add in a few novelty woof’s, a shimmery layer or two, and an abundance of extra lusty moans and you’ve got one of the freshest, sexiest, and most dance worthy productions I’ve heard all year.

In fact, the Benny Blanco produced jam is more fierce and refreshing than anything on the radio right now. It seriously deserves to be a major summer smash.

If you like Hitch‘s Bad Dog, then be sure to check out some of her other stand-out tracks: Silly Girl, or my personal favorite, the Sia penned Get Over U.