Uncharted territory

Recently Added (3)

Marina and the Diamonds - Oh No! (video)
Diana Vickers - The Boy Who Murdered Love (video)
Lissie - When I'm Alone (video)

There is quite a number of poorly charting pop gems recently, and the most brilliant of them must be from Marina and the Diamonds, who's emerged more or less at the same time as Florence and the Machine. Marina and the Diamonds is the stage name for Marina Diamandis, as Florence and the Machine is for Florence Welch. Both are fitting and telling monikers, for while the Machine is gloomy and industrial, the Diamonds are bright and playful.

The Wanted - All Time Low (video)

At the other end of things, here is a chart-topping debut from an open-auditioned British pop group, a circumstance similar to the origin of Spice Girls 14 years ago. Also like Spice Girls, there are roughly four out of five decent voices here (and one mute model type). It's not the best song ever, but highly admirable for an intricate arrangement and an immaculate construction that combine the best of current pop trends: it soars like Take That, belts like The Script, thumps like Taio Cruz.

Gorillaz featuring Gruff Rhys and De La Soul - Superfast Jellyfish (video)

Gorillaz are fading under the radar with poorer-than-usual sales and downright abysmal single performances despite rave reviews (e.g. Q - BBC) for their best stuff yet.

Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are

Bruno Mars, who was the best thing about B.o.B's Nothin' on You, is going places with a voice that reminds me of Elliott Yamin in its pure, raw sugar quality, and resembles Ryan Tedder in its range and strained passion.

Scissor Sisters - Fire with Fire (video)
Kylie Minogue - Get Outta My Way
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream (video)
Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP - We No Speak Americano (video)

Katy Perry may just be the strongest music-maker this year. Teenage Dream is definitely her best song so far, with a promo video where she looks her best so far. Another well-suited video accompanies We No Speak Americano, a fun but horribly repetitive song. Thankfully a brief radio edit shows mercy.