This week’s round-up is particularly exciting due to the release of La Roux’s second studio album, an astounding five years after the release of her first. Taunting us with the release of promotional singles, a lead single and the online streaming of her album, La Roux has us waiting in desperation for that Trouble in Paradise hardcopy. The Edge‘s round-up also sees Cher Lloyd and previous mentor, Cheryl Cole, go head-to-head in an awkward industry encounter as well as seeing Maverick Sabre back on the music scene. Read the full round-up below.
Albums
La Roux – Trouble in Paradise
The eagerly-awaited second studio album of La Roux is finally going to arrive this coming Monday. After taking a five year hiatus, La Roux arrived back on the music scene as a synth-pop solo artist (rather than a duo) with her promotional single ‘Let Me Down Gently’. Following that was the official lead single of the new album, entitled ‘Uptight Downtown’. The British singer has also teased us by releasing another promotional track, entitled ‘Tropical Chancer’. From what we have heard so far, the new album seems to show a more matured La Roux with her electronic sound much softer and mellow, with sultry undertones complimenting the vibrant aesthetic of the album. Purchase the 9-track LP on the 21st July, or preorder it now.
Joyce Manor – Never Hungover Again
American pop-punk band, Joyce Manor, return with their third album, Never Hungover Again. The band entered the music scene in 2011 with their self-titled début album, shortly followed by the release of Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired a year later. ‘Catalina Fight Song’ was the first single to be lifted from Joyce Manor’s latest album. Lead singer, Barry Johnson said that it’s “the shortest song on the record and the only one that was fully written before we practiced it. The whole song is two chords.” Never Hungover Again will be available to purchase 21st July.
Singles
Cheryl Cole – ‘Crazy Stupid Love’ feat. Tinie Tempah
With her last single release way back in Summer 2012, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding the release of Cheryl Cole’s upcoming comeback single, ‘Crazy Stupid Love’. Cole has so far released three studio albums, two of which reached number one. Amongst this, each lead single from the album has topped the charts, placing astronomical pressure on the commercial performance of ‘Crazy Stupid Love’. The new track will feature on her upcoming fourth album, which is to be entitled Only Human and will be released later this year. ‘Crazy Stupid Love’, available to preorder now, can be purchased tomorrow.
Charli XCX – ‘Boom Clap’
Featuring on The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack, ‘Boom Clap’ is likely to be the first solo hit for Charli XCX. The English singer has featured in hit tracks ‘I Love It’ and ‘Fancy’, with the latter recently topping the charts in the US, but is yet to have a UK top 40 track of her own. A simplistically catchy song with Charli XCX’s edgy vocal approach, ‘Boom Clap’ may be the exact thing Charli XCX needs to find her own commercially-successful voice. The track is available to buy tomorrow.
Cher Lloyd – ‘Sirens’
Cher Lloyd’s upcoming single, ‘Sirens’, is taken from her second studio album Sorry I’m Late, a follow-up to her debut album, Sticks + Stones, which was released back in 2011. Busy in the US, Lloyd hasn’t made much impact in the UK since the release of her debut single ‘Swagger Jagger’ which, despite receiving negative critical reviews and an online backlash, did commercially well and reached number one. Awkwardly battling against her previous mentor, Cheryl Cole, for a good chart position, ‘Sirens’ is likely to discover whether Cher Lloyd still has The X Factor here in the UK or whether she’s better suited in the States.
Maverick Sabre – ‘Emotion (Ain’t Nobody)’
The vocalist and rapper sees his official return to the music industry with ‘Emotion (Ain’t Nobody)’ after the recent promotional track ‘Breathe’. With his last release back in 2012 and his hits ‘Let Me Go’ and ‘I Need’ released back in 2011, Maverick Sabre’s return has been a long-time-coming. Sabre’s debut album, Lonely Are the Brave, reached number two in the UK charts meaning the new album, which is so far untitled and unknown, has a lot to live up to. Watch the video for the track below.
