From pop to punk

Two new releases exhibit the variety in approaches to music nowadays. The Saturdays is unadulterated pop, and the girls are unabashed to make that claim. If acts like The Spice Girls, Wilson-Phillips, the Pussycat Dolls and Rihanna are a heritage to look back on, The Saturdays can say it is proudly carrying that banner. Gossip, on the other hand, is out to change the rules of the game, while churning out danceable post punk music.

Chasing Lights — The Saturdays (MCA Universal). Slated to do a promotional tour at SM the Block on Aug. 7 and SM Megamall on Aug. 8, The Saturdays is a BritPop girl group that certainly knows it chops and delivers. A smarter, sparkling set of pop tunes will be hard to find this year. And while If This Is Love, Up and Work are the designated dance tune singles off the CD, its songs like the midtempo Chasing Lights and the ballad Fall that showcase just how adept this group is vocally. Chasing Lights reminded me of Wilson-Phillips, and the choice of Depeche Mode’s Just Can’t Get Enough for the formulaic remake is still a very smart one. This has broad appeal written all over it, and given their genuine singing abilities, they should be catched when they come over.

Music for Men — Gossip (Sony BMG). A three-piece band from Portland, Oregon, Gossip is a gender-bending post-punk garage band that dabbles in electonica and demands to be heard. The cover is an androgynous portrait of female drummer, Hannah; and while Brace handles the guitar and synthesizer, it’s Beth on vocals who makes the big impression. Consistently, the driving music starts on a strong bass line or drum sequence and when the vocals swoop in, accompanied by guitar or synth riff, the music really cooks. I loved how on Long Distance Love Beth even slips in a line from I Heard It Through the Grapevine. Or how they play with the lyrics, like Men in love... with each other! Heavy Cross is the single getting a lot of airplay. This is Gossip too good to turn a deaf ear to.