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"Get Your Curse" from "Detrola" by His Name Is Alive

Lady Sovereign is a name you’ll likely be hearing a lot of in 2006. The Missy Elliott of the UK, Lady Sov had the standout track, “Cha–Ching,” on last year’s already legendary Run the Road compilation. Now Lady Sovereign stands ready to conquer the American charts like her peers Dizzee Rascal and The Streets. Sly and sarcastic, Lady Sov has a playful style and a penchant for pop hooks that eludes many of her dour contemporaries. While waiting for the full-length album she is bound to drop this year, don’t miss the Vertically Challenged EP. Featuring the big single, “Random,” the disc features club-ready bangers and fierce lyrical work. On a radically different tip is His Name Is Alive’s new album, Detrola. A pleasant collection of lounge-pop numbers, Detrola features little more than a bass, some wind instruments and hushed, cheery, Isobel Campbell-like vocals. Yet there is a surprising range to the songs. While nothing gets too heavy, a song like “In My Dream” sounds like something Ladytron would put out, the disc’s stand-out track, “Get Your Curse,” is a jaunty slice of pop gold. A lo-fi breath of fresh air amidst a sea of stale rock (Bloc Party), His Name Is Alive offers sunny skies and sweet hooks.