VIDEO: Lady Gaga - Alejandro

Lady Gaga (you've heard of her, right?) will release Alejandro, another filler-free cut from The Fame Monster, on 28 June.

As is the way with such things, a video was shot with noted fashion photographer Steven Klein and can be gawped at in all its magnificence right NOW, HERE >>> ALEJANDRO 

Check out our track-by-track guide to The Fame Monster from late last year while you're about, won't you? 

In related news, she returns to the UK for a third leg of the multi-limbed Monster Ball tour at the end of the year. Full deets are of course to be found on the official website, ladygaga.com

EXCLUSIVE: Listen to Suzanne Vega's new album Close-Up Vol 1: Love Songs, in full

In 1985, songer-songwriter Suzanne Vega released her stunning self-titled debut album. After 25 years, seven Grammy nominations and seven million album sales, she is widely regarded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation. 

Now Suzanne is reinterpreting a majority of her catalogue in an intimate and personal way, creating four new thematic albums that will be released over the next two years. 

First is Close-Up Vol 1: Love Songs, which will include stripped down versions of Marlene On The Wall, bossa nova favourite Caramel and many more. Check out our review of the album here.

Suzanne has made the album available to hear in full, ahead of its 14th June release date, exclusively on musicOMH through music streaming site WE7. Press the buttons below to make sounds happen.

Free music -†Close Up Vol. 1, Love Songs

Suzanne Vega's album Close-Up Vol 1: Love Songs is released on 14th June 2010 through Cooking Vinyl. She tours Ireland and the UK during June, including spots at the Isle Of Wight Festival (13th June) and London's Cadogan Hall (16th June). Full tour details can be found at suzannevega.com

Tom Jones at 70

Sir Tom Jones turned 70 years of age today (7th June) but, as we witnessed in the atmospheric surroundings of One Mayfair last week, he's far from gracefully retiring with a pipe and slippers. The Welsh warbler showcased his upcoming new album Praise & Blame, and was on fine form.

John Murphy reviews the album here, while Ben Hogwood fills us in on the showcase event...

It is some achievement to be an artist for as long as Tom Jones and to still find a new direction to pull out of the locker. Yet even by his standards this is quite an about turn for the Welsh crooner, and crucially it feels like it involves music very close to his heart.

The change will inevitably open up comparisons with Johnny Cash and his vocal epiphany, and also draws parallels with the career direction taken by another vocal heavyweight, Robert Plant.

Yet as Sir Tom performed his new record in its entirety for the first time in One Mayfair its rawness was immediately evident. The newness was emphasised by the occasional memory slip from the singer, but otherwise he was the consummate showman, with near-faultless vocals.

More importantly, they were shot through with almost dangerous levels of emotion, unravelling over the ominously slow tread of a marching bass drum. Bob Dylan's What Good Am I explored a rare vulnerability in Jones' make-up, while in John Lee Hooker's Burning Hell he bellowed forth as if singing for his life, rattling the venue's very foundations.

"We're going to sing something a little more emotional," he told the rattled crowd, sporting that big bear smile. For all the world he looked like a cross between a stage star and a near relative of Ernest Hemingway - a parallel not lost throughout this musical exploration.

As the rest of the album unfolded it was clear we were at the very least witnessing something unusual - and at times, something pretty special. In releasing a covers album to mark his 70th birthday, Sir Tom Jones may well have shown us the most vivid glimpse of his soul to date.

Tom Jones' album Praise & Blame is released on 24th July 2010 through Island Records.