¡viva la graham!

Girl group Danity Kane have reason to celebrate this week. Their sophomore effort, Welcome to the Dollhouse, is the number one album in the U.S. Yes, in America, there will always be a place for packs of scantily-clad ladies on the charts (and I actually like these hot sluts more than those pesky Pussycat Dolls).

The pop stars also see that disc’s debut single, “Damaged,” score a big jump up to no. 27 on the Hot 100 in only its second week. Here’s that video I was waiting so patiently for:

Not what I expected, but I like it.

If you were a fan of 90210 growing up, chances are you could become addicted to the new CW drama Gossip Girl.

I enjoyed watching West Beverly brats Donna and Kelly until they got to college — then I sort of lost interest. And until now I resisted similar scripted shows like The O.C. and Laguna Beach (c’mon, you know that shit ain’t real!) which revolved around spoiled teenagers with impossible good looks.

That changed a few weeks back after catching an episode of Gossip with a friend. The show’s protaganist, Upper East Side socialite Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively, pictured) isn’t completely intolerable (I’m lookin’ at you, Mischa Barton). In fact, despite her unfathomable lifestyle and her snooty friends, she’s completely endearing. Of course there’s plenty of soap opera scandal to keep one entertained, but the writing is much better than your standard primetime melodrama. Also, it really helps to have a likable lead character to root for.

Oh yeah, the handsome male leads don’t hurt matters…

Gossip Girl moves to Mondays with its next new episode Jan 28. Brenda and Brandon will surely be watching.

check out ashlee simpson’s video for new single “outta my head (ay ya ya).” the dance-floor friendly song, produced by timbaland, sounds like a mix of michael jackson’s “beat it” and nelly furtado’s “maneater,” which should tell you that “outta my head” is indeed a pleasant surprise, especially after the dreadful “invisible.” as for the visually vibrant clip, it is totally ’80s with a trippy, frantic feel. i especially like robotic ashlee, the creepy blonde twin girls and the floating rubix cube.

i wasn’t so sure what i thought about this track at first, so give it a few listens before making an opinion. even though ashlee is despised by many, i really enjoy some of her tunes — and this new direction could win over a few naysayers. i wonder if mr. wentz had anything to do with this (or am i giving him too much credit?).

i’ve never really big a huge fan of boy bands. not that i felt it was too gay for me — i saw the spice girls live in concert, for god’s sake — they just never put out songs that tickled my fancy. yes, i did enjoy a few of *n sync’s later singles (”pop” is amazing!!), but other than that i never understood the craze.

then take that, minus original member robbie williams, made a comeback in their native britain. the only song america ever heard from them was way back in 1996. “back for good” was released shortly before robbie ditched the group and went solo. after nearly a decade of the others trying it alone (with minimal success), they reunited and completely exploded. for the second time.

anyway, i’m only slightly ashamed, because their new tunes are actually pretty good. i guess there will always be a stigma attached to “boy bands,” at least for our generation. thank you, backstreet boys.

so here’s take that’s latest video, “rule the world,” which appeared over the closing credits of stardust (that michelle pfeiffer fantasy flick that sort of fizzled at the box office this past summer). the clip isn’t that exciting, but it’s very catchy and if you haven’t heard these guys in a while, it’ll give you a good idea as to what they’ve been up to. as an added bonus i’ve also included last year’s “shine,” my personal favorite, after the jump.

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about nine months ago, leona lewis became famous by winning a singing competition in britain. at the time she didn’t impress me (don’t know why), and as is often the case, i am now eating those words.

her brand new single, “bleeding love,” is a soaring ballad that showcases her powerful vocals. legendary producer clive davis has joined simon cowell to help launch leona’s career, so i shouldn’t be surprised that the single sounds like a massive hit. soon high school girls and sentimental queens everywhere will be blasting it in their cars or on their ipods. she’ll conquer europe first then probably embark on a north american invasion early next year.

you can stream the track in the imeem media player in the sidebar, or listen over at youtube. some have said the song sounds like vintage mariah carey, which i would consider to be a major compliment. mimi didn’t match “vision of love” or “someday” until “we belong together”… am i right or am i right?

i didn’t really watch carrie underwood’s season of american idol, so i think that had something to do with me not being very impressed with her first big hit, “jesus take the wheel.” i knew she was doing well, because i couldn’t really escape her in magazines or on awards shows picking up trophies.

when i saw her perform second single “before he cheats” on saturday night live a few weeks ago, i finally understood what all the fuss was about.

i’m slightly embarrassed to admit it, but not only was her performance pretty good, that song is fuckin’ fierce! i’m not usually a fan of country music (even if i live in nashville), but she totally won me over. no, i don’t really believe she’s a whiskey-swillin’, ass-kickin’ vandal, but she certainly delivers her vocal with conviction. and who doesn’t love a good revenge tale by a lover scorned?

anyway, i had to confess my latest vice. surely i’m not the only fag singing along! i mean, shania hasn’t released an album in a few years, so at least the redneck queers are boot-scootin’ along to this one. haha, so i’m in good company!

if you haven’t yet given carrie a chance, check out the video clip after the jump…

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much like fellow brits james blunt and paolo nutini, fresh-faced james morrison seems to be wearing his heart on his sleeve primarily to get laid. compared to his sensitive singer-songwriter peers, however, james’s voice is actually rather remarkable.

billboard magazine declared morrison had a “grit and edge” well beyond his contemporaries, and i actually agree with them… which is why his best single, “wonderful world,” is the brand new video of the week.

yes, i realize that my enjoyment of this sentimental, schmaltzy drivel me a sad man. but perhaps it also means i’d let mr. morrison take me to bed.

i blame popjustice for turning me on to lucky twice, a swedish dance duo in the vein of ace of base and a*teens. we’re talking eurodisco cheese at its most putrid. their single, “lucky,” is altogether horrible which of course also means that it is completely irresistible.

visit their myspace for a stream of their one song, or, if you’re so inclined, watch the video below (click here if you can’t see the video).

from the looks of this photo, the optimistic girls of lucky twice really believe they’ve got an illustrious career in front of them. ah, the innocence of youth.

i wanted to hate paris hilton’s music. i really did. initially, i only listened to “stars are blind” out of curiosity. i never imagined it would actually be any good.

well, i was wrong and now i can no longer hold my head high. yes, i publicly admit it. paris hilton hit this one out of the park. that song is fantastic. i think popjustice put it best when they called it “accidentally brilliant.” surely this is a fluke.

please pray that i don’t give in to the pussycat dolls, too. perish the thought!

i doubt anyone remembers s club 7. they had a minor hit in the u.s. in 2001 with “never had a dream come true,” but other than that, they were mainly big in europe. (i loved them regardless!)

if you do know who they are, and you’re like me, you’ve been waiting for the coming out party for jon lee. honey, we all know you like dick. it’s ok! it could even boost your career if you work it right! come to think of it, isn’t jon kinda hot these days? i mean, i always wanted to touch him inappropriately, but now it doesn’t feel so illegal.