Kelis

Don’t be fooled by “22nd Century,’’ the second track of Kelis’s first disc after a four-year absence. It’s a single-minded call to the futuristic dance-floor with enough sonic oomph to achieve liftoff. But while Kelis is indeed taking an emphatic step into Euro-disco here, this nine song set is also deeply personal. There are tracks that obviously reflect back on her years with ex-husband Nas, but she’s also keeping her eyes on the future. On “Brave’’ she sings, “I was super cool/But now I’m super strong/I had nothing to lose/but I was super wrong.’’ Many songs, co-written with the likes of...

Robyn has come this close to becoming a mainstream pop star in this country — twice, even. The Swedish singer-songwriter had two Top 10 hits in the mid-’90s — “Show Me Love,’’ “Do You Know (What It Takes)’’ — and for her second act, she resurfaced in 2005 as an electro-pop diva with a hardened outlook on love and a whole new fan base. At the House of Blues Tuesday night, it was clear that Robyn doesn’t need to top the charts ever again. She seems fully formed — a dance-pop dynamo who wears her heart on her sleeve — and she’s more than content with a...

Robyn has come this close to becoming a mainstream pop star in this country — twice, even. The Swedish singer-songwriter had two Top 10 hits in the mid-’90s — “Show Me Love,’’ “Do You Know (What It Takes)’’ — and for her second act, she resurfaced in 2005 as an electro-pop diva with a hardened outlook on love and a whole new fan base. At the House of Blues Tuesday night, it was clear that Robyn doesn’t need to top the charts ever again. She seems fully formed — a dance-pop dynamo who wears her heart on her sleeve — and she’s more than content with a...

Don’t be fooled by “22nd Century,’’ the second track of Kelis’s first disc after a four-year absence. It’s a single-minded call to the futuristic dance-floor with enough sonic oomph to achieve liftoff. But while Kelis is indeed taking an emphatic step into Euro-disco here, this nine song set is also deeply personal. There are tracks that obviously reflect back on her years with ex-husband Nas, but she’s also keeping her eyes on the future. On “Brave’’ she sings, “I was super cool/But now I’m super strong/I had nothing to lose/but I was super wrong.’’ Many songs, co-written with the likes of...

NEW YORK - You wouldn’t think T-Pain was inhibited at all. But the rapper-singer, known for his synthesized vocals and catchy hooks, says he sometimes feels creatively restrained when it comes to music. He says he was able to express his true self in “Freaknik: The Musical,’’ a one-hour animated special based on an annual, raucous, and now-defunct Atlanta street party. It premieres March 7 on Adult Swim. “I always wanted to do a cartoon and I didn’t know it would be this good,’’ said the 25-year-old, who executive produced the special.

Bold prediction time: Nelly Furtado's "Loose " is going to be one of the biggest albums of the summer. The Canadian singer with the unmistakable nasal chirp is having such a ball on her third outing of dance-pop-world fusion that listeners are going to find it hard to resist. The contagious, upbeat first single, "Promiscuous ," a duet with her main "Loose " collaborator, producer-songwriter Timbaland, has already hit number two on the Billboard Hot 100. But it isn't even the strongest ambassador for the album.

MANCHESTER, N. H. -- Lip-synching? Check. Lavish fantasy-themed production? Yawn. Simulated sex? Give me a break. It's a terrible thing for a critic to admit, but there's nothing left to say. Everything regarding Britney Spears's mysteriously brilliant career has been covered, and all she brought to the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester last night was more of it. Spears's Onyx Hotel tour, in support of her latest album, 'In the...

DENVER — Colorado Rockies president Keli McGregor died in a hotel room in Salt Lake City, police said yesterday. He was 48. Detective Rick Wall said that two associates were unable to get in touch with Mr. McGregor and that someone entered his room at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City and found him unconscious yesterday morning. Emergency workers were unable to revive him. “There are no signs of foul play,’’ Wall said. “. . . At this point it would look like it was some sort of a natural cause.’’ The Rockies said Mr. McGregor was...

Sean Penn was charged yesterday in Los Angeles with battery and vandalism stemming from an altercation with a photographer last fall. He will be arraigned March 22. Accused stalker arrested Police in Los Angeles yesterday arrested a man who had been prohibited from contacting Audrina Patridge . Officers responded to “The Hills’’ star’s home after Zachary Loring was seen at her door. He was arrested on suspicion of stalking. Rapper pleads not guilty Nas faces a criminal contempt charge for unpaid child and spousal support in his divorce from singer...

Since releasing the self-titled 1993 gem known as “The Wedding Album,’’ Duran Duran has been intermittently entertaining. Over the years, some tunes evoked the fresh synth sparkle of the band’s pinup ’80s heyday while others adventurously explored new electro-pop frontiers, yet no single album managed to successfully do both. “All You Need Is Now’’ rectifies that. With simpatico soundscape artist Mark Ronson handling production duties, the Brit-pop superstars simultaneously look back with affection and forward with anticipation on their 13th album.

DENVER — Colorado Rockies president Keli McGregor died in a hotel room in Salt Lake City, police said yesterday. He was 48. Detective Rick Wall said that two associates were unable to get in touch with Mr. McGregor and that someone entered his room at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City and found him unconscious yesterday morning. Emergency workers were unable to revive him. “There are no signs of foul play,’’ Wall said. “. . . At this point it would look like it was some sort of a natural cause.’’ The Rockies said Mr. McGregor was on a...

NEW YORK - You wouldn’t think T-Pain was inhibited at all. But the rapper-singer, known for his synthesized vocals and catchy hooks, says he sometimes feels creatively restrained when it comes to music. He says he was able to express his true self in “Freaknik: The Musical,’’ a one-hour animated special based on an annual, raucous, and now-defunct Atlanta street party. It premieres March 7 on Adult Swim. “I always wanted to do a cartoon and I didn’t know it would be this good,’’ said the 25-year-old, who executive produced the special.

Bold prediction time: Nelly Furtado's "Loose " is going to be one of the biggest albums of the summer. The Canadian singer with the unmistakable nasal chirp is having such a ball on her third outing of dance-pop-world fusion that listeners are going to find it hard to resist. The contagious, upbeat first single, "Promiscuous ," a duet with her main "Loose " collaborator, producer-songwriter Timbaland, has already hit number two on the Billboard Hot 100. But it isn't even the strongest ambassador for the album.

MANCHESTER, N. H. -- Lip-synching? Check. Lavish fantasy-themed production? Yawn. Simulated sex? Give me a break. It's a terrible thing for a critic to admit, but there's nothing left to say. Everything regarding Britney Spears's mysteriously brilliant career has been covered, and all she brought to the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester last night was more of it. Spears's Onyx Hotel tour, in support of her latest album, 'In the...

Mary J. Blige brought out plenty of emotion as she performed in front of a packed house to support one of her favorite charities. Blige sang several of her most famous songs, including "No More Drama" and "Family Affair" at the Avalon nightclub on Thursday night to support the (RED) campaign that raises money to fight AIDS and HIV. She has supported the charity for years. The singer gave a few emotional speeches where she talked about the importance of giving back. "All those people we are rocking for are going to be just fine," Blige said before performing her hit single "Just...

Reprinted from late editions of yesterday's Globe. MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Lip-synching? Check. Lavish fantasy-themed production? Yawn. Simulated sex? Give me a break. It's a terrible thing for a critic to admit, but there's nothing left to say. Everything regarding Britney Spears's mysteriously brilliant career has been covered, and all she brought to the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester Tuesday night was more of it. Spears's Onyx Hotel tour, in support of her latest album, "In the Zone," is a spectacle of the first order.