Christina Aguilera Album Updates from Ladytron, Ladyhawke and Sia

As we reported a few months back, Christina Aguilera has been working with Ladytron, Goldfrapp, and Sia on her upcoming record. As if that wasn’t enough, Christina is also reportedly recording a Ladytron-produced cover Ladyhawke’s pop anthem My Delirium!

Of the cover, Ladyhawke told DigitalSpy “I know nothing about the cover. I’d be really intrigued to see how she’d tackle the song. I mean, what angle would she take it from? Her vocal range is insanely good and I’m just a lazy singer!”

Ladytron checked in with NME in February stating that they’ve been in the studio with Aguilera.

Sia Furler also recently spoke with Australia’s Herald Sun about the “really amazing dream collaboration” which came about when she received a fan email from the popstar. ‘‘Obviously she likes Breathe Me, that’s the one everyone goes for, but she mentioned seven songs as far back as the first Zero 7 album, and songs like Destiny and Distractions, and a song called Moon from my last album that nobody ever picks as a favourite.  That won her some points, she’s a listener, she knows my random album tracks nobody gives a s— about. That’s pretty flattering.”

Of the writing sessions have yielded four songs and counting: ‘‘We’ve written some really wonderful songs. I would put any of the songs we’ve written on one of my albums. And it’s a total collaboration. Often she saves the day when we’re stuck. There have been a few goosebumps-on-my-scalp moments I must say.”

MP3: Christina Aguilera – Genie 2.0 or zShare
MP3: Sia – Buttons (Chris Lake Remix) or zShare
MP3: Ladytron – Seventeen (Soulwax Remix) or zShare

Little Boots Unveils New Artwork

Little Boots took a few minutes out of her very busy schedule to tweet about the new artwork for the New in Town single. Check out the cover art she shared with Pop Justice below, absolutely stunning.

I’m eagerly anticipating more Little Boots! Check out our in depth interview with Victoria in February at Studio B where she discussed fame, pop music and the debut album HERE.

MP3: Little Boots – Bring it On or zShare

Top Shop/Top Man Grand Opening DJ Sets

We can barely contain ourselves here at Tastes Like Caramel, Top Shop opens in just two days! The DJ set lists have been posted on East Village Radio who is sponsoring the event (and also streaming the sets HERE.) The DJ schedule is below, more information is available at Top Shop’s site HERE. Don’t miss The Rapture, Finger on the Pulse, The Whip, Late of the Pier, HeartsRevolution and TLC staple, Lissy Trullie behind the DJ booth. Happy shopping!

PS: Do note that we accept Top Shop/Top Man giftcards :)

MP3: Lily Allen – Nan, You’re a Window Shopper or zShare

NME Presents Part 2: White Lies at Bowery Ballroom

White Lies at Bowery Ballroom 3.27.09

The second half of the NME Presents double-headlining bill was post-punk Londoners, White Lies. This band spends a lot of time contemplating the dark and the morbid, but the result is extremely romantic and affecting pop music.

Uniformly clad in all black and backed by bright white lights, the band played an impressive set of material from their UK #1 album, To Lose My Life. White Lies seemed to sneak up on us at the beginning of this year — they demanded attention by gaining rapid popularity in the UK and debuting at #1 while chatter in the States remained at a low whisper. Before we knew it, they had already played in NYC at CMJ and subsequently made quite a splash at SXSW earlier this month.

White Lies are a band that needs to be seen to be fully experienced what with their brooding aesthetic and intensity that compliments the music perfectly.

Singer, Harry McVeigh, fought off a bad cold in order to play what he called their favorite venue in their favorite city.  He obviously struggled through pain to hit some of those straining low notes and the crowd was grateful as everyone stood mesmerized by highlights like To Lose My Life, A Place to Hide, Unfinished Business and set closer, Death.

Let’s hope NME brings us acts as high quality as these next year.

MP3: White Lies – Unfinished Business or zShare

MP3: White Lies – Love Lockdown (Kanye West Cover) or zShare

Glasvegas + Ida Maria at Music Hall of Williamsburg

Glasvegas at Music Hall of Williamsburg 3.28.2009

This past January we saw Glasvegas play Bowery Ballroom with Angela McCluskey, a show that left us pleasantly entranced by the epic array of James Allan’s powerful vocals, serious showmanship and of course (what overshadowed  many reporters experience at the show) the lights. For me, it was an exact visual representation of what I perceived Glasvegas to be after listening to their debut album…which I absolutely adore.

This time around, Glasvegas tapped Tastes Like Caramel’s Norwegian darling, Ida Maria to join the show.  We were delighted to catch her US debut at Mercury Lounge in January, and have been enjoying her infiltration of mainstream America (Oh My God was used in Gossip Girl adverts.) Ida wasn’t as glittery at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, but this stripped down and raw performance definitely showed a more seasoned Ida shining unapologetically. If you haven’t had a chance to see her live show, she will without a doubt she will be hitting New York stages again once Fortress Round My Head finally gets a US release on April 14th.

After Ida’s high-octane set, the crowd squeezed in a bit as it was time to get serious. The 11-song set opened with Glasvegas’ debut single, Geraldine…during which a fight broke out in front of the stage–not even halfway through the song! As fans stepped back and security rushed to break it up, James rushed the front of the stage and pushed them apart without even skipping a beat.

Highlights of the epic set included the sing-a-longs: It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry, S.A.D. Light, Go Square Go, Flowers, and Daddy’s Gone. As usual the band let their serious stage presence and music above all speak for itself. James gave his beer to a fan, graciously shook and kissed the hands of adoring fans, deeply thanked everyone for attending, and even broke up a fight. That’s what I like to call a humble rock star.

MP3: Ida Maria – Oh My God or zShare
MP3: Glasvegas – Be My Baby (Ronettes Cover) or zShare

NME Presents Part 1: Friendly Fires at Bowery Ballroom

Friendly Fires at Bowery Ballroom 3.27.09

Who needed SXSW 2009? All the bands we wanted to see are making pit stops in the NYC. In this marathon week of shows in the city, the innaugural NME Presents show featuring Friendly Fires and White Lies stood out as a night of dancetastic fun.

TLC last caught indie-electro allstars, Friendly Fires, a few months ago at The Annex where the super small stage could hardly contain the band’s passionate and energetic performance. This time around, the Bowery Ballroom proved more than sufficient for the full-on dance party Friendly Fires always bring.

The band tore through their 9 song set with intensity, inciting the crowd to booty shake along with them to the infectious pop beats and sing along to the soaring choruses. Highlights included Lovesick, On Board, which saw singer Ed Macfarlane jump into the front rows to get down with all the gals and guys, White Diamonds and the epic, Paris.

The excitement of Friendly Fires’ live show is unparalleled — I could see this band every night for a month and never get bored.  Don’t miss a chance to see them.

MP3: Friendly Fires – Skeleton Boy (Air France Remix) or Zshare

MP3: Friendly Fires – I’m Good I’m Gone (Lykke Li cover) or Zshare

All Points West 2009 Line-Up!

Wow…we’ll definitely see you there! Check out the line-up below, more info HERE. Check out our coverage of All Points West Day 2 from 2008 HERE and HERE (for Radiohead.)

FRIDAY, JULY 31st

Beastie Boys * Yeah Yeah Yeahs * Vampire Weekend

The National/Fleet Foxes / MSTRKRFT/Q-Tip / the Pharcyde/Organized Konfusion/the Knux / Ra Ra Riot/Seasick Steve / Telepathe/Shearwater / Heartless Bastards Flying Lotus/College Humor Live / Arj Barker/Eugene Mirman / Bo Burnham

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1st

Tool * My Bloody Valentine * Gogol Bordello

Arctic Monkeys/Neko Case / the Ting Tings/Yelle / Crystal Castles/St. Vincent / Tokyo Police Club/the Cool Kids / Kool Keith/Cage the Elephant / Chairlift/White Rabbits / Electric Touch / the Postelles / Black Gold / College Humor Live/Tim & Eric / Judah Friedlander/Jim Jeffries

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2nd

Coldplay * Echo & The Bunnymen  * MGMT

the Black Keys/Elbow / Silversun Pickups/Mogwai / We Are Scientists / Ghostland Observatory/the Gaslight Anthem / Etienne De Crecy/Lykke Li / Akron/Family/Steel Train / Kitty, Daisy & Lewis/College Humor Live / Janeane Garofalo/Michael Showalter / Todd Barry

MP3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Y Control (Brooklyn Fire Retouch) or zShare

The Prodigy B!tch Smacks Roseland

The Prodigy, Roseland Ballroom 3.25.2009

Thursday night The Prodigy played their first New York show at Roseland Ballroom since 2006. The 1990’s English electropunk legends played to a sold out wall to wall venue packed with lingering ravers, frat boys, goths, Eastern European imports, and even a baby in a stroller (seriously…)

Ed Banger Records‘ Busy P opened the show with an electrolicious DJ set before The Prodigy took over at 10PM. The high-energy set was an incredibly fun nostalgic walk rampage down memory lane.

Keith and Liam certainly bitch-smacked Roseland with their in-your-face stage presence, making the place wild with the hits including: Firestarter, Breathe, and the finale Smack My Bitch Up.

Overall, The Prodigy played an impressive set that maintained their legendary status among electronic greats while proving their relevance in the industry today. The Prodigy’s latest album, Invaders Must Die is in stores now.

MP3: The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up or zShare
MP3: The Prodigy – Take Me to the Hospital (Hostage Remix) or zShare

Coming Soon: Bat For Lashes Fantasy Film?

In an interview with Gigwise, Bat for Lashes confirmed that work is underway to create a musical fantasy film based on her debut album, Fur and Gold! Of the project, she had this to say:

“They’re writing the script and I think they’ve got the go ahead of using the music but now they just have to get the funding. I think there’s kind of a plan to make this beautiful musical which takes the narrative from the chronological order of songs from Fur and Gold.”

She went on to describe that the film would be “a bit like Neverending Story.” She also added: “If it happens it’ll be amazing but we don’t know yet if we can afford it. It’s always money I suppose, but who knows, it’s in the pipeline.”

Sounds amazing, let’s hope this project takes off! Natasha Khan is currently on the cover of Fader Magazine, Two Suns is out on April 7th in the US.

MP3: Bat for Lashes – Daniel (Death Metal Disco Scene Remix) or zShare

Morrissey Charms Webster Hall!

Morrissey at Webster Hall, 3.25.09

Last night we attended Morrisey’s Tour of Refusal stop at Webster Hall with opener The Courteeners. Webster Hall was packed with fans inching the stage to get as close as possible to the Moz, while fans of The Courteeners were lacking on the floor. We still rocked out to puzzled onlookers.

Continuing their NYC take over (First Headlining US show at Mercury Lounge, 3 dates with Morrissey and Saturday night’s gig at Tribeca Grand), The Courteeners got the stage warm for Morrissey at 9PM. The audience didn’t embrace them right away, but by the end of What Took You So Long they won a few new fans.

Collectively TLC saw Morrissey three times during his 2007-2008 tour stops in London and New York. I personally was awestruck by how well his voice was maintained and 2 years later I stand by that statement.

Morrissey stepped onstage after 10PM asking the crowd “Where am I” before going into the very unexpected first song of the night This Charming Man! Morrissey’s 20+ song set clocked in at almost one hour and a half but seemed much shorter…the signs of a great show! With 4 oxford shirt changes, strange commentary between songs, Chloë Sevigny dancing by herself next to us, one short and typical Morrissey strip show, an impeccable voice and band, we were once again reminded that this man deserves that sense of entitlement he wields around. I was however, dissapointed by the fanboys this time around…only about 3 people made it onstage during the closer First of the Gang to Die!

MP3: The Courteeners – Acrylic or zShare
MP3 Morrissey – I’m OK By Myself or zShare
MP3: The Smiths – This Charming Man (New York Vocal) or zShare