¡viva la graham!

…Or am I a total sucker?

Here’s the alleged cover of Mariah Carey’s new disc, tentatively titled That Chick. The photo looks new — photoshopped like hell, but new — but I think one of Mimi’s precious ”Lambs” put this together. I’m not even going to get started on that album title.

That said, I can’t wait to hear this shit, due out in April. I love this crazy bitch. Bring it on!

British electronic duo Goldfrapp have toned it down a bit since their disco-glam last album, Supernature. The idyllic promotional clip for new single “A&E” (short for “accident and emergency”) debuted this past weekend, and I’m not sure what to make of it. While it’s worth a look — the visuals definitely suit the track’s understated vibe — the choreography performed by the camouflaged dancers seems a bit too manic. Perhaps it will grow on me.

I wasn’t immediately blown away by the song either, but after a few listens I am completely enamored. “A&E” fits right in with breathtaking ballads like “Black Cherry” and “Utopia,” and nicely complements the glitterball glamour of “Ooh La La” and “Train.”

Goldfrapp’s new album, Seventh Tree, will be released Feb 25 in the U.K. and the following day in the States.

Remember Meredith Brooks? She was moderately famous for a few months in the late ’90s thanks to a track called “Bitch.” You probably can’t remember her next single, “What Would Happen,” which peaked on the charts at No. 46. (I had to look it up.)

Twenty-three-year-old Katy Perry is the latest rock chick to take a familiar diss and turn it in into a pop song, only this time around the song is called “Ur So Gay.” It’s about an ex-boyfriend, of course, who is in fact not gay — he just likes H&M and guy-liner.

Like “Bitch” did for Brooks, this tongue-in-cheek track will likely launch Perry into the public eye. Only time will tell if she manages to outlive its’ novelty and forge a long-lasting career. If she’s got more like this up those polka-dotted sleeves, let’s hope she does.

For the record, Perry isn’t using “gay” as a derogatory term. She’s friends with Mika, if that tells you anything. Check out the very infectious “Ur So Gay” in the IMEEM media player in the sidebar (or for a limited time download it for free by clicking on the strawberry tattoo from her official web site — password: pnasty). Whistle along with her if you like.

Former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland has a U.K. hit on her hands with a very funky Freemasons remix of “Work,” an otherwise good-but-not-great track from her latest album Ms. Kelly. Her producers must have taken a cue from Beyonce, whose “Green Light” was also improved upon by the English mixmasters.

As you might have guessed from the title of this post, the lyrics of the single are blatantly on the saucy side: “You gotta get it all the way in / I wanna see you work.”

In a recent interview with Popjustice, Kelly claimed that in reality the song does not concern any type of intercourse, so get your filthy minds out of the gutter. Here’s an excerpt:

Popjustice: Is it about sex?
Kelly Rowland: “Oh no, it’s actually very innocent. All I’m saying is don’t come around if you’re not going to live up to all your talk and as you know, some guys are just full of talk.”

PJ: So all those lyrics about ‘putting it in’…
KR: “Okay, it’s a little aggressive maybe. It’s just a woman saying you can’t catch me easy and you have to put in the work. It’s about putting in work – that’s it, of course.”

That settles that, then! Hopefully the inadvertent double entendre doesn’t hurt Kelly’s chances on the charts. *haha!*

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.

popjustice called them “the best band in the world ever,” nme likened them to the love child of the b52’s and wham, and i say they are my new favorite group.

here is alphabeat’s brand new video for “fascination,” one of the most cheerful, upbeat tracks i’ve heard in ages. it makes me want to dance! if you’re a fan of european indie-pop, you’ve got to check out this danish sextet.

that’s not all! frankmusik cooked up a fab remix of the track which you can download here (via i heart comix!).

in case you didn’t know, janet jackson’s actually-quite-good new single “feedback” is now available on itunes. i don’t think anyone was impressed with her lackluster last effort — and even if it sounds like something britney or kylie would churn out, janet still leaves her mark…

at one point she actually says, “my swagger’s serious / heavy like a first day period.” haha, i would say i’m surprised, but remember this is the same woman who once mimicked an orgasm in a song (”throb”).

regardless, i’m happy janet is back on track. after a lengthy absence, this electronic stomper is sure to put her back on the charts where she belongs.

if you haven’t heard the track and you’d like to test drive before you buy, you can hear it in the media player in the sidebar or over at ms. jackson’s myspace.

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 do love damon albarn, the very talented man behind gorillaz and blur, but i think he might be getting a bit crotchety as he nears his 40th birthday.

during an appearance on radio 4 yesterday he went on a rant against popular culture and the press, claiming that 99 percent of the media should be eliminated and shows like x-factor should be scrapped. those are harsh words from a guy who played up to the media in his britpop heyday, a man who wrote shameless (yet clever) pop singles like “girls and boys” and “country house.”

albarn did come up with his own material, of course, and his original band did muddle for a bit before finding mainstream success. he must be bitter that the new crop of bright young things can make it with considerably less effort. i suppose i would be as well if i were him… though i can’t imagine a world without “since u been gone.”

with all the insanity surrounding jamie lynn’s shocking pregancy announcement last week, britney spears’ new video for “piece of me” has sort of been swept to the side. and it’s a shame because the clip is surprisingly good — much better than the grainy, slipshod promo for “gimme more.”

this time around britney isn’t looking so drowsy (read: medicated). she even manages to muster up a few dance moves without that stripper pole, so we’re definitely headed in the right direction. hey, the song’s not too shabby either…