We’ve got music from all over the world today and a lot of great stuff that came as recommendations from you, dear readers! I love this, it feels kind of like show and tell from when I was just a kindergarten-aged lesbian.
File Under: Chicken soup for the soul-rock soul
From: Texas
For Fans Of: Bonnie Raitt, Meshell Ndegeocello, if Janelle Monae were a little more soul-centric and a little less of an ArchAndroid, Missy Higgins, Lauren Pritchard, sensible high heels, caramel as an ice cream topper.
Bonus: This gorgeous and talented lady is also a lady lover. Thanks to AfterEllen.com reader Bellanubian for the excellent suggestion.
File Under: Alien folk rock
From: Iceland
For Fans Of: subtitles, Lucky Charms, sea monkeys, Belle and Sebastian, Jack Johnson, David Gray, summer rain, galoshes.
Bonus: Besides being a former member of two great bands (Gus Gus and FC Kahuna) she also put out what I think is the cutest cover of “Single Ladies.”
File Under: Bluesy rock and roots
From: Los Angeles
For Fans Of: Annie Lennox, Lone Justice (in which she was a founding member), Kristy McNichol, Lucinda Williams, the Wicked soundtrack, Pretenders, appreciating a time and a place for feathered hair, corn on the cob.
Bonus: Maria is one of our very own Karman Kregloe’s favorite artists ever.
File Under: Sisterly electropop sweetness
From: Finland
For Fans Of: Yelle, Heartsrevolution, The Do, finger painting, M.I.A.’s softer side (like “Sunshower”), dancing in broad daylight, MEN, breakfast for dinner, maybe even Sleigh Bells.
Bonus: Firstly, one of the sister’s names is Mia so that gives her bonus points from me automatically. Secondly, and more importantly, AfterEllen reader Hicky P introduced them to me and I’m pumped on them.
File Under: Heavy bass bumping dance pop
From: Auckland, New Zealand (where they were just at on last night’s Biggest Loser!)
For Fans Of: Ke$ha, Dev, Sky Ferreira, Tiffany Dunn, the Ting Tings, Gwen Stefani, short dresses, slick hair, any of the MTV awards shows, rollerblading, if you like her song “Quit Breathing” (and you should) you’ll notice a similarity to Peaches
Bonus: I’m almost positive her song “Broken Machine” is about crushing on another girl. A great recommendation from AE reader, Kiki.
File Under: K-pop, sugary dance pop
From: South Korea
For Fans Of: Wonder Girls, 2NE1, Girls Aloud, line dancing, the Backstreet Boys, chunky jewelry, belted dresses
Bonus: For those of you in Korea (or who can afford to buy import albums) the girls just released their first full-length album, 4MINUTES LEFT, on April 5.
File Under: Metalcore
From: Rotterdam
For Fans Of: moshing, cracking skulls, My First Failure, Walls of Jericho, To Be Godlike, scars as an entryway to conversation, T-shirts with the anarchy symbol on them.
Bonus: For fans of hardcore shows, theirs seem to be packed with stage diving madness — which I think is a bonus so long as you don’t get elbowed in the face and need to leave the concert early.
File Under: Electronic, from sultry to dancey
From: NYC via Cali
For Fans Of: Marina and the Diamonds, Braids, Class Actress, Pet Shop Boys mixed with Siouxsie and the Banshees (sounds crazy but listen to “Fade to Black” and tell me if I’m wrong), bike messenger hats, neon signs, belts where the buckle is something like a seatbelt or has a lighter built into it.
Bonus: Here’s a free download of their single, “Cut Me Out” courtesy of their label, Green Label Sound.
File Under: Smooth pop rock
From: Puerto Rico
For Fans Of: Ricky Martin, Shania Twain, Celine Dion (and she does a pretty great Spanish cover of “Alone”), romance, roses, Lady Antebellum.
Bonus: Not only is she gorgeous, but she also was the first winner of Objectivo Fama, which I can only assume is the Puerto Rican version of Idol. So basically she’s their Kelly Clarkson, which is rad.
File Under: Sexual seduction with some humor and hip-hop mixed in
From: Chicago
For Fans Of: R. Kelly, slow grinding, sexting, Jamie Foxx, Tweet, Keyshia Cole, Cadillac Escalades, wearing shades all the time, negligees.
Bonus: I’ll be interviewing Freckles a little later today so we’ll have that for you soon. Check out this fantastic video for her single, “Uh Huh” which you may have seen already but is worthy of another watch.
That’s all for this week. I love you all long time all the time.
