So there's a thread about bad pop. Is there any good news in pop music at the present?

I think these are good mainstream pop acts:

Dido
Nelly Furtado
Norah Jones
Jessica Simpson (haha!)

I don't really like any of those except for Norah, whose first album was great and whose second album is all right.

To the list I would add the obvious Outkast. I don't know if the White Stripes are "pop," per se, but they certainly are MTV-pop, so them too. Eminem has been really off of late, but in his prime he was absolutely incredible. Of course, this is all America-side; UK-side, there are actually a great deal of great acts that are popular (Franz Ferd, anyone?). Missy Elliott, ignoring This IS Not A Test!.

Its hard to find a definition of "pop" but Id agree with Nelly Furtado and Dido's album is OK, though all the songs seem to work off the same formula. NERD are really interesting. I was a big fan of their first ablumn and their second one isnt as good, but its still good fun.

JC Chasez's album schizophrenic is a great pop album, the reviews have been unfair and way too subjective.

As soon as Outkast ditch the rapping, or at least downplay it, they'll be one of the best pop groups ever.

I think that Basement Jaxx are THE best pop group ever. This is defining "pop" strictly as dance-pop/pop-vocal stuff. "Romeo" is definitely the best dance pop song ever, and one of the best songs ever.

I love all of those except for Jessica. Dido does have a formula, but she provides just enough variety to keep her songs interesting IMO.

Other great pop acts IMO:

The Corrs (probably in my top 10 artists of all time)
Michelle Branch
Avril Lavigne
Evan And Jaron
Hanson (really have improved)
Usher
Shania Twain (ok, maybe not great, but entertaining)
Beyonce (ditto here)
Sheryl Crow
No Doubt
Madonna (her last album wasn't quite up to standards, though)

eminem
usher
janet jackson
avril lavigne
no doubt
hoobastank
I love all types of pop

Butterfly Boucher is good sophisticated pop as it should be. Pure pop, but she plays, writes and produces all her music.

AHH!!! I love Basement Jaxx, though I would categorize them as house or something, not necessarily pop...

Annie's new album "Anniemal" is stellar. Excellent "pop music"

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Annie's new album "Anniemal" is stellar. Excellent "pop music"

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Is that out yet?I thought it did not come out yet?

I do know that most of the production is handled by royksopp?And they are f'in awesome.If u dont know...u may...but check out Royksopp's Melody A.M. It is awesome electronic music.Easy to handle.

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Originally posted by Buck "Sweetie" McGuck:


I think that Basement Jaxx are THE best pop group ever. This is defining "pop" strictly as dance-pop/pop-vocal stuff. "Romeo" is definitely the best dance pop song ever, and one of the best songs ever.

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I could not agree more.That whole album that contains Romeo is one of my guiltiest pleasures.I love all the stuff they do...and yes it is is electronic poppiness stuff.But it is highly enjoyable.

mmmm boy! i love basement jaxx..can't get enough of 'em...just downloaded a bunch of their songs on my comp. ...kinda just heard about them not too long ago..but, its ok..cause i really like their music!

i was listening to stella soleil when i saw this post , ironic? maybe coincidence? certainly anyways not too many people know of her but she had tinny hit with a song called "kiss kiss" anyways its one of the best pop cds ive heard in some time shes got this kinky little voice and the songs are kind of a mix of pop/ rock and euro dance pop

I think this year has seen two very good pop albums in the form of Nelly Furtado's Loose and Justin Timberlake's Futuresex/Lovesounds, thanks in part to the excellent production of Timbaland on both albums.

Nelly Furtado is really really popular especially here in her native land Canada.

I like the Corrs...and I was really happy they did a spanish song with one of my favorite latin singers Alejandro Sanz. Check out the song "Una Noche".

Oh and yeah I was gonna say that although Basement Jaxx is really popular to the point of mainstream, their music is strictly/technically not pop, but rather House, which is in turn under the umbrellla electronic music.

By the way has anyone heard of Imogen Heap?

I'm also going to mention my love for Lady Sovereign's "Love Me or Hate Me". I dunno if it really fits the pop bill, since it's really UK Grime, but since it's apparently and inexplicably #1 on TRL on MTV in the States, I'm going to call it a pop song.

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Originally posted by ericg75:
I'm also going to mention my love for Lady Sovereign's "Love Me or Hate Me". I dunno if it really fits the pop bill, since it's really UK Grime, but since it's apparently and inexplicably #1 on TRL on MTV in the States, I'm going to call it a pop song.

I like Lady Sovereign too. I saw her earlier this year with The Streets. I agree she's probably a bit more grimey, but since you brought her up, I thought I'd chime in. She has a great song about women who use fake skin tanners.

I think Sara Bareilles is really talented. I also like Susannah Blinkoff. She might not be known to you yet, so I've linked her. Kinda reminds me of Liz Phair (another great!)