Sarah Harding Wears It Like a Crown
Girls Aloud is among my favorite girl groups of all time. But don't take my present word for it: just ask my 24-year-old self, who ventured abroad to London for the first time just to see their triumphant Ten Tour. "My obsession with the group started around 2005 or so, when I was prowling one of…
Pure Shores' "Fantasy" Is a Huge Horny-in-Quarantine Mood
"Living life on my own, I'm stuck here on my couch / See the world through my phone, when will I ever get out?" Pure Shores: not just a legendary All Saints song, but also the name of one of my favorite Swedish singer-songwriter duos. If you've been lurking 'round these parts for a certain amount…
The Top 60 Songs of 2018
The year is almost over, and I still loathe lists. In fact, I sat down to do this about seven times and simply couldn't do it. So...I won't. And you can't make me! Instead, I'm choosing to take you through a very cool, urban and interesting journey through my favorite songs of the year in no real…
'Ear Candy': Marlene & Ji Nilsson Provide a Dreamy, Summery Dance-Pop Treat
As far as I'm concerned, Marlene has never once led us astray. From 2013's "Bon Voyage" all the way up to "Next To Me" - objectively one of the best songs of 2017 - the under-the-radar Swedish Dream's served up sumptuous pop for years. She doesn't come 'round that often, but whenever she does,…
The Top 20 Songs of 2017
Surprise: I'm breaking with tradition. As opposed to doing a complete Top 100 Singles list as I've done for the past almost-decade or so (today is the ten year anniversary of MuuMuse, by the way), I've decided to take a different approach. Not because there aren't more than enough good songs out…
"Stay Awake": Swedish Newcomer Marlene Gets It Right Again
You may or may not remember Marlene, the Swedish songstress who made a splash with her stunning synth-pop debut single (alliteration overload!), "Bon Voyage." Well, she's officially back for more. "Stay Awake" is Marlene's second single, released at the end of January. And, oof — the Swede-pop…
Marlene, "Bon Voyage": A New Swedish Pop Star Is Born
What? Could it possibly be? A Swede-pop darling delivering slick, left-of-center electro-pop that sounds both radio-friendly and forward-thinking all at the same time? Go on, then! Meet Marlene, a newly debuted Swedish electro-pop diva with a truly excellent song: "Bon Voyage." "Bon Voyage" is…