Charli XCX - Blame It On Your Love (f. Lizzo)

I've been a fan of Charli XCX since she released her mixtape, "Heartbreaks and Earthquakes". I think she's a brilliant performer and producer. With the fame she's garnered in the past and events like sharing the stage with Miley Cyrus at the Big Weekend recently only serves to remind the world that she's a force to be reckoned with. So to have her collaborating with Lizzo is honestly the most logical step in her progression. Two powerful female artists with nothing to prove to anyone, just out there making the music they want and creating a legacy that is incredible.

"Blame It On Your Love" is Charli's latest single and it's a bouncy banger of a pop song that is so familiar in the pantheon of the world of Charli's work that it's a welcome addition to any playlist. It's about the dangers of finding yourself in a relationship that's progressing too quickly. Self sabotage is something I think we've all experienced from time to time and while it's not a positive defensive mechanism it's something that we have fallen into easily. We make decisions based on emotion that aren't necessarily positive and we explain it away because we're afraid to take ownership of those emotions. This song is a great example of those times in our lives and it's massive.

Lizzo's rap is amazing and I hope we get to see so many more songs with her included in the middle eight. Whether she's singing or rapping, she's dope af and it makes her being included so cool. I'm glad to see her getting much more recognition. I think the lyric, "I'm tryin' to catch millions, I ain't tryin' to catch feelings (bitch)" is one of the coolest I've heard in a long time. I hope she gets to be the new Nicki Minaj of including artists in tracks.

Charli XCX - Boys

Eye candy galore. It's an extravaganza of hotness. It's a cornucopia of all things gorgeous in all colors, shapes, and sizes and it's nice to see men objectified. From social media stars to musicians to producers and every one in between, Charli decided that it was time for the dudes to take center stage and show off their goodness. The song is super cute and a bit of a departure of some of her more serious stuff but it's got some fun in it and makes you bop along with it. I love Charli and to see her stepping into a directing role, even if it is just telling pretty boys how to show of their prettiness is super cool. Any new music from her is always good music.

Charli XCX - Shake It Off (Cover)

You know how I feel about Charli XCX. You may or may not know how I feel about Taylor Swift's pop album (it's very good, in case you didn't know). Take both of them together and you get just about the best combination you could probably ask for. Charli has this exuberance to her performance and the way she looks at songs amazes me. There's a bit of the Runaways in this and I think that's an amazing thing. I think Charli would have made and amazing punk singer. I am a fan of the cover series on Live Lounge because it gives way to some amazing music.



Check this track out and let me know what you think.

Charli XCX - Allergic to Love (Snuffed by the Yakuza)

Perfect. Brilliant. Inspired.  This is punk at it's modern finest.  Charli has created a track that is just stellar.  It's just the right length for a punk song and it's got everything you need to make a brilliant track.  It's not perfect.  It's not clean.  It's kind of distorted and a little too fast.  It's punk.  I cannot love it enough.

Charli XCX - What I Like

Here's whats amazing about this video. While it looks overtly sexualized, there is a power and a defiance to what Charli's doing.  She's no fool and as you look at this video thinking she's being objectified; it's holding a mirror up to society.  Someone on Youtube said this video was "Big Girls pretending to be Little Girls pretending to be Big Girls" and I think there is something completely meta about that in it's simplicity.  People compare Charli to Sky Ferreira and there are comparisons that can be made but she has her own thing that is new and forward thinking.  I think Charli is one of the best new artists simply because she is innovative.  Her mixtapes are brilliant and she thumbs her nose at the establishment.  I can't wait for her debut release.

Charli XCX - HEARTBREAKS AND EARTHQUAKES - THE MIXTAPE

Mixtapes are an incredible thing.  They give an artist the ability to show people what they are about in a small amount of space.  They allow the artist to do new and crazy stuff that showcases their talent.  This 21 minute, 8 track mix tape has some original work interspersed with remixes, movie dialog, covers and conceptualizations of new songs.  Using The Craft, Kill Bill, Cruel Intentions and American Beauty - she has managed to set the stage for an angst filled rebellion against conformity and the institution.  Her vocals are amazing against the beats she has chosen from Blood Orange, Blood Diamonds and even Drake.

One of the most amazing things about this record is the low end.  Her bass is so heavy it will rattle your bones without even trying too hard.  I love listening this in my truck because it hits pretty hard.  Its such an easy listen that when it's done you want to start it again.  I have quickly become a huge fan becasue what she's crafted is new.  It's inventive and doesn't necessarily follow the same rules and procedures that other pop music does.  It's a free mix tape that you can download from her website so I don't know what's stopping you.  Here is it is if you want to stream it and the download link is way down there under the track list.  Go get it and show her some love.  She's brilliant and has an amazing career ahead of her.




TRACKLIST

Beyond the Black Rainbow
1) Champagne Coast - Charli XCX / Blood Orange
2) How Can I – Charli XCX
3) Grins - Charli XCX / Blood Diamonds
The Craft
4) So Far Away - Charli XCX / Paul White
Kill Bill
5) Dreams Money Can Buy - Charli XCX / Drake / Jai Paul
Cruel Intentions
6) Lock You Up – Charli XCX
7) Spoons – Charli XCX / Rudimental
American Beauty
8) You're The One (Odd Future's The Internet remix feat. Mike G) - Charli XCX

Charli on the Web
http://www.charlixcxmusic.com/ <-----Download the Mixtape here!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlixcxmusic
Twitter: @charli_xcx
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/charlixcx
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/officialcharlixcx

Charli XCX - You're The One

You know how I feel about music that pushes boundaries and music that takes a new approach on an existing idea. This is unexpected. I've heard rumblings about Charli XCX (Kiss Charli Kiss) for a day or so and I've seen the V cover shoot she did with Grimes and Sky Ferreira (who are both amazing and you should check them out) so I was curious about her. On first glance you may think she is going to fall into the TweePop category with Cher Lloyd or Lily Allen (again, there's nothing wrong with that particular brand of pop) but quickly you hear there is another level to her music. It's a mix of lo-fi meets darkwave with some choice synth thrown in. I think that if you were to make a mix tape for someone, you would have to put Grimes and Sky on there with Charli.  She has a maturity to her that makes her more accessible to audiences.  She is going to appeal to people of all ages.

This video is all kinds of crazy in the best way.  I think that she does an incredible job of being glam when she needs to be and she can pull off camp with no issues.  She is a very pretty young woman with a boat load of charisma.  There is so much going on in the video but it's not over crowded or too over the top.

I am exited about her and can't wait to hear more. She has another track and a mix tape on her Soundcloud and they are brilliant. "Nuclear Season" is this really cool funky track that just has you bobbing along without a care.  She has a bit of Marina in her voice but I think there is a definite difference to where she lets her music take you.  Given the right circumstances, she has the potential to be huge because there's a quality about her that will make you want to spend your money and buy her tracks.  I also love the fact that she appears to be doing as much as she can to release material for those of us in the States as well as people in the UK.  That alone makes me a fan.

Will keep you informed as I learn more about her.


Charli on the Web
http://charlixcxmusic.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlixcxmusic
Twitter: @charli_xcx
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/charlixcx
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/officialcharlixcx