I am DJ Sway

Young gets 'Older'

2011-09-02T11:29:00.004+01:00

WILL YOUNG

'Echoes' (Album)

Out Now

What does it sound like? Like Will Young decided to join Liberty X. Electronic light pop with a groove.

It's quite incredible to think that the winner of a tv singing competition could have a career spanning a decade. 10 years ago next week marks the anniversary of Pop Idol, the programme that Will Young won in a shock over Gareth "Where is he now" Gates.

Hard core fans were, of course, convinced of his staying power. But music cynics and the average man on the street would be forgiven for assuming that we'd get an album or two before Will Young disappeared off our charts, destined to appear on those 'I Love The Noughties' shows alongside 5ive and A1. But no. Will Young has now released his fifth album to strong reviews and sales.

It must be a bit of a relief for both Young and his label. Though his last album, 2008's 'Let It Go', got to #2 in the charts, its singles mostly floundered. It also sold significantly less than his first three albums, though to be fair to Young a platinum record is not a failure (it's just that his first three went multi-platinum).

In response, Will Young took a little longer to work on album 5 and avoid the slippery slope to appearing on "I'm A Celebrity". It was time for Will Young to refresh his sound. Bringing in producer Richard X (Kelis, Sugababes, Liberty X) was a masterstroke. It has allowed Young to keep to his brand of gentle pop whilst adding a new electronic beat. It's incredible that this little tweak can make Will Young's record sound so fresh because, to be honest, the tunes on 'Echoes' are not a million miles away from what Liberty X were releasing in 2002 and 2003. (Check out Young's "Runaway", "Good Things" and "Losing Myself" if you were a fan).

This is a real testament to Young and Richard X's abilities. I also think a lot of the success can be attributed to Will Young's gorgeous vocals - which at times can evoke the tenderness of an 80's Boy George - tackling some finely crafted lyrics. The album also reminds me quite a bit of George Michael's 1996 masterpiece 'Older' - especially on tracks "I Just Want A Lover" and "Outsider".

Although Will Young's progression from his previous work is less of a journey than the one George Michael took from his previous work, the theme is still valid. 'Echoes' - uh - echoes those same themes. This ris a more mature Will Young with a more mature record. It is with this album that he has truly shed his 'Pop Idol' skin and secured his career for another ten years.

Rating: 4/5

Check out lead single 'Jealousy':

Killer sounds which hopefully won't kill their career

2011-08-29T17:16:00.007+01:00

HARD-FI

'Killer Sounds' (Album)

Out Now

What does it sound like? Dancy indie pop

Staines foursome Hard-Fi have just released their third LP. They came to prominence, of course, with their monster first album 'Stars of CCTV' back in 2005.

It's the success of that first album that they have been chasing for five years now, and they're in a difficult position. Their last LP, "Once Upon a Time in the West', had mixed fortunes; it did very well abroad but struggled to match the sales and chart positions of their first album in the UK and Europe. It's the age-old situation that great bands often find themselves in: unable to top their their first album with their sophomore effort makes the success of album number three all the more important.

Hard-Fi have certainly worked at making sure they buck the trend: 'Killer Sounds' is great. In fact, I'd go so far to say that it's a better record than the previous 'West'. It certainly is a lot more fun. In an effort to update their sound, they turned to producer Stuart Price (Madonna, The Killers) and you can hear his poppy-dance influence all over the album. Highlights include second single "Fire in the House", which starts with thumping electronics before opening into a full indie-pop chorus, "Bring It On" which is rockier (the guitars in the chorus make me want to crank my stereo), and "Stay Alive", which takes Hard-Fi back to their CCTV days (via the dance floor) and should have been their lead single - rather than "Good for Nothing", which is one of the weaker tracks on the album.

Unfortunately for Hard-Fi, that poor lead in seems to have really dented 'Killer Sounds'' prospects. "Nothing" peaked at #51 on the UK charts, and "Fire" has stalled at #85. The album itself landed at #9 (unlike their first two LPs which debuted at #1).

So what next? In today's fickle music world it is very difficult to pull an album out of the quicksand once it's started to sink. Most labels leave albums such as this to die and just start focusing on the fourth record - or worse, they axe the band.

I love Hard-Fi and whether or not they leave their label, I am sure we've not heard the last of them. Just don't expect to hear any of these great songs on the radio or Soccer AM. Do yourself a favour instead and buy a copy of the CD. But first, check out the video for their latest single "Fire in the House" below.

Album rating: 3/5

If you're just going to download a few tracks, make it:

"Fire in the House", "Stay Alive", "Good For Nothing", "Love Song"

Under the sheets with Ellie

2011-03-21T20:06:00.008Z

ELLIE GOULDING

"Under The Sheets"

I think Ellie Goulding has got a lovely voice, and her debut album 'Lights' is an excellent LP. With a sentence like that, you know there's a "but" coming. My complaint about Goulding is that she can sound a bit samey over time - it's the same affliction that Dido suffers from. With such a unique voice, it is difficult not to fall into that trap - especially if your music is quite ethereal in nature.

By far Ellie's best single on her album is "Under The Sheets", which was one of my top songs for 2010. It's the one stand-out song that sounds significantly different from her other stuff. She should focus on including more upbeat tracks like this for her sophomore effort.

Embedding the video isn't allowed, but you can see it if you click HERE. It's a great song and worth a look.

The sky is blue/perfect/stoned

2011-02-08T11:36:00.009Z

DIE ÄRZTE

"Himmelblau"

Germany's quirky punk-rock band have released the last single from their "Jazz Ist Anders" ("There's Nothing Like Jazz") album. (Yes, it has nothing to do with jazz - it's their humour).

"Himmelblau"("Sky Blue") was actually released as a triple-A side with "Perfekt" ("Perfect") and "Breit" (slang for "Stoned") - in which each of the Doctors (die Ärzte is German for doctors) take lead vocals. It's an interesting concept for a single: as easy as it is to release a triple-A side digitally, it's much more difficult to manage that physically. Die Ärzte got around this by releasing a unique vinyl single, in which the three songs were interwoven on one side of the record. When you put the needle on the outside, you had no way of knowing which groove it would catch and which single would play. Brilliant.

All three songs are great, but my favourite of the three is "Himmelblau", sung by Farin Urlaub (again, there's more humour for you - "Fahr in Urlaub" is German for "Go on holiday"!). It's #34 on my Best of 2010 countdown. The triple video is below ("Himmelblau" comes second - the video should automatically jump there for you, or skip ahead to 3.10 if not).

After 33 years, everything's looking rosy for Silly

2011-01-23T11:19:00.014Z

Photo © Olaf Heine

SILLY

"Alles Rot"

Silly have an interesting story. They were formed back in 1978 in the former East Germany (the DDR, or Deutsche Demokratische Republik). Initially, they were forced to call themselves Familie Silly (or 'Silly Family'), as the East German officials wouldn't allow the band to have an English name (Silly said they were named after their cat). Eventually, the "Familie" was dropped by the early 80s (they had been known as as 'Silly' at that point and the East German censors gave in) but the band still had battles with the government over censorship. The most notable moment came with the imminent release of their 1985 album 'Zwischen unbefahr'nen Gleisen ('Between Untravelled Tracks' - referring to the railway tracks between the two Germanys). DDR officials, who took exception to the lyrics in two songs, ordered the printed albums crushed. The offending songs were re-recorded with new lyrics and the album was released with the new title 'Liebeswalzer' ('Waltz of Love').

Like most East German acts when the wall came down, Silly initially struggled to get a foothold in the re-united Germany. Success came again in the east in 1993 and the '95 follow-up 'Paradise' finally landed them a German-wide hit with the title track. But sadly, lead singer Tamara Danz succumbed to breast cancer that same year. As the 1990s drew to a close Silly released a greatest hits record and toured with borrowed lead singers until they officially replaced Danz with Anna Loos in 2006. Loos was a good choice, helping Silly maintain their sound as shares Danz's vocal raspy-ness.

Huge success came again for Silly in 2010. Loos had worked to reunite the band with their original lyricist Werner Karma (they had gone their separate ways when the wall came down). Together, they wrote the album 'Alles Rot' ('Everything's Red'), which became a massive hit and Silly's biggest in the re-united Germany - reaching #3. They also went on to represent the German state Sachsen-Anhalt in the 2010 Bundesvision Song Contest (more on that when we reach #15), where they finished a close second.

ALLES ROT I from sillychannel on Vimeo.

I would also like to add an interesting quick side-note. One thing that DDR officials used to do in the 70s and 80s was to use East German bands to release note-for-note covers of western hits. By doing this, they maintained their separation from the west, and (hoped that they) kept East Germans from listening to West German radio. It also helpfully meant that they didn't have to play expensive royalties for the western version of the song.

One such cover was organised for Silly to record: Kim Carne's 'Bette Davis Eyes'. It's virtually indistinguishable from the original, and it was - understandably - a hit for Silly in 1982. It's also a chance for you to check out the lovely Tamara in action...

A tale of two pop tarts - one stale, the other a tasty treat.

2011-01-18T19:20:00.013Z

The end of January sees the release of two new pop songs from a couple of the noughties biggest pop divas. A brief review of each...

KE$HA

"We R Who We R" (Single)

23 January 2011 (UK)

What does it sound like? A slower 'Tik Tok' with a touch of poppy techno.

Ke$ha is back with 'We R Who We R' (Prince has a lot to answer for with his "U's") - her latest track and first single from her new album "Cannibal". 'R' is a poppy dance track quite similar to her worldwide mega-smash hit 'Tik Tok', and that's the problem. It sounds like a re-hash. Obviously, at my age I'm not the hippest anymore and am certainly not the target audience for Radio 1, Capital FM, and other stations which will lap this up. But I can recognise and do love a fresh pop song. This isn't it.

I'm not even necessarily looking for originality - pop music history is littered with great successful songs that steal liberally from their predecessors, and do it well (including the popstress who follows this review). This song feels there's no real effort, save for the dancy techno beat weaved into the chorus - and even that is lacklustre. I don't know how much of a say Ke$ha had in its production (my guess is very little), but it smacks of big label record producer trying to churn out another one. With all that said, and despite the fact that I may be rapidly heading towards middle age, I can still recognise a hit. And unfortunately, I'm quite confident that this will very shortly be charting here like it did elsewhere - high in the Top 10.

Rating: 2/5

BRITNEY SPEARS

"Hold It Against Me" (Single)

17 January 2011 (UK)

What does it sound like? Euro-Britney!

Britney Spears is back with 'Hold It Against Me', and she's smashing airplay records all over the United States. This weekend she also looks set to hit #1 on the Hot 100 - no easy feat for a euro-pop song in America these days.

So where did Britney get it so right where Ke$ha failed? Like Ke$ha, Britney's gone with familiarity in the track - the song starts like more recent Britney singles ('Womanizer' or 'If U Seek Amy') and is heavily layered and auto-tuned. The difference is the way she leads us into the thumping euro-dance beat: The song teases you into it with the first chorus. Consisting of just her vocals and some synths, Britney sings a cheesy chat-up line like it's the sexiest thing ever uttered on the dance floor: "If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?" ...and then she hits you with a beat straight out of Ibiza. Contrast that with Ke$ha above, whose single sounds like the CD is skipping before it starts a stale chorus which will repeat the rest of the way through the track.

And that's where Britney (or more likely her producer) takes it to the next level; instead of simply repeating the formula, 'Hold It' continues to mix it up throughout, adding different techno elements at just the right moments. My only real disappointment about this single is that it hasn't been released in the summer.

Whilst this can't top 'Toxic', it's still a fantastic song and a great way to launch a new album. This is destined to be another world-wide smash hit for Britney, and it's well deserved.

Rating: 4/5

New Year, New Start, New Bush?

2011-01-18T15:56:00.005Z

Right. I've spent far too long ignoring this blog, and I plan to start off fresh for 2011 and the new decade. It is my intention to regularly post more music reviews - and this time I will occasionally comment on music news as well.

On that second point, it is being reported today that Kate Bush plans to release some new music later this year. It's amazing to think that it's going on six years since the release of her last album, 2005's 'Aerial'. It feels like only yesterday since we first heard "King of the Mountain". Perhaps that's because this gap pales in comparison to the nearly twelve years between 'Aerial' and 1993's 'The Red Shoes'.

Kate Bush has always done things her way. In 1978 she battled with EMI over the release of her debut single. She wanted "Wuthering Heights", they wanted "James and the Cold Gun"... and if you know music, you'll know who won that battle. Feeling like she was pushed into rush-releasing her second album 'Lionheart' (and not being happy with the result) and being squeezed into tight sweaters for early photoshoots cemented Bush's desire to manage her own destiny. She shunned the traditional publicity machine and set up her own publishing and management company. This paid off, resulting in a string of critically-acclaimed music that SHE had control over.

This continued through the 1980s and early 90s. She says her desire to give her child a "normal upbringing" during the early years of his life lead to a very long break between her seventh and eighth studio albums; others say the delay was due to her eccentricity and reclusiveness. As it is with most things, the truth probably lies somewhere in between.

I hope that the rumours this time are true (there had been several moments when buzz suggested she was about to return during the last 12-year gap, only to prove fruitless); I'm looking forward to hearing what the musical genius has been storing up this time. Until next time, check out one of my favourite Kate Bush songs (and one of the greatest songs of all time)...

Same Difference STEPS back into the pop world

2010-07-03T11:04:00.001+01:00

SAME DIFFERENCE
"Shine On Forever (Photo Frame)" (Single)
Released: 29 August 2010 (UK)
What does it sound like? The return of H & Claire.

Same Difference entered our lives as the annoying brother-sister duo competing for the X Factor crown in 2007. Exceeding all expectations they ended up finishing third, behind the obnoxious Rhydian Roberts (2nd) and dull-as-dishwater Leon Jackson (winner). So where are they now? Well, Rhydian has been developing his career in opera and theatre, and with Leon is -- uh, I think he IS still selling records, but as an HMV shop assistant. Same Difference recorded an album and released one single (the fun "We R One") which reached #13 in the UK and resulted in Simon Cowell dumping them from his record label. It was the best thing he could have done for them.

Under Simon, Same Difference were forced to record an album of mostly covers. This is Simon's formula - give the original, good material to those who he thinks have the best long-term career prospects (Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke) and force the other acts (those who he thinks are a novelty or those who he doesn't have an idea what to do with) to records covers. Same Difference, Steve Brookstein, Susan Boyle and (I suspect) Joe McElderry fall into the latter category. It's not a bad formula - for Simon - but it reduces legitimate acts to one-hit-wonder status. These people deserve just as much a shot at a career as the Leonas and Alexandras. The pop world should decide if they have staying-power, not Simon.

Anyway, Same Difference is now free of Simon's grasp and can record what they should have done in the first place: Stock-Aitken-Waterman style cheesy pop: the stuff that Steps and S Club used to do so well in the late 90s and early 2000s. There is definitely a gap in the market for these tunes.

You can't listen to "Shine On Forever" expecting it to be a Lady Gaga or Girls Aloud-style modern pop song. You have to see this for what it is: great naff-pop that the UK could have easily submitted as our entry to Eurovision. H & Claire will be sobbing into each other's arms. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but cheesy popsters and the G-A-Y crowd will love this.

Rating: 3/5

Marina's brillance spews forth

2010-02-11T09:32:00.000Z

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS
"Hollywood" (Single)
Released: Out now (UK)
What does it sound like? Shakira channeling one of Tori Amos’ poppier moments

Perhaps it’s a good thing that Marina and the Diamonds were runners-up to Ellie Goulding in the BBC’s Sound of 2010. As I’ve said before, that prize comes with expectations and hype that can be difficult to meet. The shortlist seems to be the way to go: look no further than 2009 for proof - La Roux, Florence and the Machine, Lady Gaga, and Empire of the Sun all finished behind Little Boots. So with expectations in check, Marina has a chance to meet them on her own terms. And she certainly does it here...

Preview singles ‘Obsessions’ and ‘I Am Not A Robot’ were quite mesmerising; ‘Hollywood’ ups the ante whilst maintaining Marina’s magnificent style and her brilliant substance. The lyrics are pure genius. Marina takes on the American dream with full force, perhaps taking a stab at those who have gone before her: “She is a Polish girl in America … I asked her ‘Why would you wanna be a Hollywood wife?’ / ‘Because… I’ll do anything for a dime, looking for the golden lie.” All you pop bitches who tried to break America before? You’re called out.

Or perhaps she’s foreshadowing her own future attempt to ‘break’ the US market: “As soon as I touch down in old LA, he said / ‘Oh my gawd you look just like Shakira / No no, you’re Catherina Zeta’ / Actually, my name’s Marina.” She’s under no illusions that this is the sort of insular crap she might face in the grand ole U-S-of-A, and she’s ready for it. (I get the impression she doesn't care, either).

The true magic comes with the chorus though, where she grabs the ideal of what some hold America up to be (including many Americans) and shakes it by the scruff of the neck: “Hollywood infected your brain … Oh I’ve been living in a movie scene / Puking American dreams … I’m obsessed with the mess that’s America”. Amazing. The US might be filled with excess and phoniness, but we love it and are fascinated with it all the same. And anyone who can sincerely work vomiting into her lyrics has my vote.

The music is appropriately grand: Marina’s signature piano is soaked in heavy beats and an upbeat jangly chorus. She’s suitably decked-out in a cheerleader costume for the video too. Take that and your schoolgirl outfit, Britney.

This is quite simply the most exciting song I’ve heard so far this year. Yes, I know it's only February but I can stretch my hyperbole back several months into 2009 too. I really can't wait to see what else Marina has in store for us this year. I’ll be in HMV on 15 February, ready to pick up the full album to find out.

Rating: 5/5

We can't go on like this... (In skinny jeans?)

2010-02-11T09:02:00.001Z

ELIZA DOOLITTLE
"Skinny Genes" (Single)
Released: Out Soon (UK)
What does it sound like? Lily Allen mixed with a scoop of Adele and a dash of Kate Nash

Lily Allen burst onto the scene in 2006 with a quirky blend of young indie-girl pop and was quickly followed by many imitators. Most successful amongst the pretenders was probably Kate Nash, who scored a hit with "Foundations" in 2007. The expectation was that there'd be many more of these girls, but subsequent releases weren't met with the same enthusiasm as Miss Allen. As a result, this mini-musical trend died out -- or maybe it just went into hibernation, as next month marks the release of Eliza Doolittle's first proper single, "Skinny Genes".

A quirky and cheeky little song, musically it shares a lot with a Lily Allen or Kate Nash composition: a strummy muted guitar-in-a-box, a light soft cymbal and plinky piano - accompanied by the added 'quirk', an occasional xylophone and some whistling (I love that bit of the chorus; it's the unique bit of the song that hooks you in and you'll remember). Vocally, Eliza bears much more of a resemblance to the white-girl-soul sound of Adele than to Lily Allen.

The lyrics point to the clever play on words indicated by the title. “I really don’t like your arrogance / Or your policies … I really don’t like the way you smile / When you think you’re right….” It’s about an arrogant guy who she fancies; she’s essentially saying, ‘I fancy you indie boy – in your skinny jeans – but deep down you’re a tosser.’ Pity David Cameron doesn’t wear skinny jeans (though I suspect he would if he looked halfway cool in them), it could be a ready-made Labour election theme song.

Rating: 4/5

Unlike it's predecessor, this one won't go on

2010-01-30T17:09:00.001Z

LEONA LEWIS
"I See You (Theme from Avatar)" (Single)
Released: Out Now (UK)
What does it sound like? A rubbish, undercooked ballad

Some of the greatest motion pictures of all time have some of the greatest soundtracks - and, more importantly - some of the greatest theme songs of all time: "Over the Rainbow" from the Wizard of Oz, "Mrs Robinson" from the Graduate, "Nobody Does It Better" from The Spy Who Loved Me, to - yes - "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic. The most intriguing is the last one, as it's the "The-Theme-Song-That-Never-Should-Have-Been".

Originally, James Cameron was reluctant to have a theme song for Titanic. In fact, he told James Horner 'no' when first asked about it. Undeterred, Horner went about composing lyrics with Will Jennings anyway. Horner's first choice to sing it was Celine Dion, but she too had said 'no' - though she was finally persuaded by her husband to cut a demo.

Once Cameron heard the song, he did approve (though he was still slightly concerned about it being "too commercial"); he wanted to go with the version he had heard, and Horner agreed. Fascinatingly enough, that classic song that we all know so well is none other than that reluctant demo that Celine Dion had recorded - with a bare-bones demo track underneath - in one take. It went on to become not just Celine Dion's biggest hit of all time, but one of the biggest worldwide hits of all time. It won a shed-load of awards, including a Golden Globe, four Grammys including Record and Song of the Year, and an Oscar. It also won a place in pop culture history (and has annoyed millions through ubiquitous airplay). It really is quite a legendary tale.

So now comes Cameron's next film, Avatar. This time, he wasn't so worried about being too commercial - in fact, he intended to have a theme song and to have it released as a single, perhaps rivalling "My Heart Will Go On" in the annals of music history. Horner, again composing the music for the film, and a few lyricists came up with "I See You". They wisely chose a new international diva with a big voice to record it - Leona Lewis who was also a bit reluctant over the song, although her concern was not related to recording it but to releasing it as a single. One would presume that this was related to the fact that she had just released her sophomore album 'Echo', and didn't want to detract from that. However, after listening to this mess of a song you have to wonder if she didn't want it released out of embarrassment or concern for her career.

Her concerns aren't unfounded. The song is a mess and the problems are numerous: a plodding and awkward melody that doesn't seem to know where it's going, the lack of a clear-cut chorus and inane lyrics that barely rhyme: "Living through life flying high, your life shines the way into paradise, so i offer my life as a sacrifice, I live through your love, you teach me how to see ... Now I give my hope to you, I surrender". Yeh love, don't bother.

It's hard to imagine that this is the theme song for what has just become the biggest-earning film of all time. Having peaked (as of today) at only number 47 on the Irish charts alone, I am certain that it won't follow "My Heart Will Go On" into pop music history, and I can't imagine that we'll have any chance to get sick of this one. Thank God.

Rating: 1/5

The Sound of 2010? It's lovely.

2010-01-30T16:30:00.000Z

ELLIE GOULDING
"Starry Eyed" (Single)
Released: 22 February 2010 (UK)
What does it sound like? Very early noughties dance-pop

The time has come for Ellie Goulding to step up and prove herself. Granted, this only comes from the fact that she has just won the BBC Sound of 2010 award (rightfully so I might add), but the fact still exists. It's the same thing Little Boots faced last year - high expectations from that first single.

Bootsie suffered a bit, probably because she didn't release one of her better songs for the first single; whilst "New In Town" was fantastic, "Mathematics", "Stuck on Repeat", "Earthquake", or "Remedy" would have been a better choice for a proper debut release. The problem that Little Boots faced is that she had been making the rounds throughout 2008, and had already released "Mathematics" and "Stuck on Repeat" on an EP earlier that year. My fear is that this may be the same problem that Ellie faces: "Starry Eyed" is a great song (and a grower) but it is no match for previous preview single "Under the Sheets". So where does this leave things? Well, she may be fine and snag herself a top 10 like Little Boots did - assuming that she gets solid A-list play on BBC Radio 1.

That shouldn't too much of a problem. "Starry Eyed" is pretty radio friendly, and would appeal to club kids (especially the expected remixes), popsters, and some indie kids alike. It sounds a little like early naughties dance pop - think Plummet's "Damaged" with a little less of a house feel. Ellie's astral opening vocals skip over a single guitar until a subtle beat comes in for the first verse. Things pick-up a bit for the chorus, with a quicker beat and some subtle keyboards.

They lyrics talk about being starry-eyed and in love: "Next thing we're touching, you look at me it's like you hit me with lightning / Oh, everybody's starry-eyed". It's not amazing, but it's all pretty lovely stuff with a video to match. I expect big things from Ms. Goulding.

Rating: 3/5

And if you don't know it yet, check out Ellie's

phenomenal previous single "Under the Sheets" HERE.

Stand back, it's the the NYPC

2010-01-23T17:14:00.000Z

THE NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB
"Lost A Girl" (Single)
Released: Out Now (UK)
What does it sound like? The Go-Gos working with Stevie Nicks, circa 1983.

The New Young Pony Club are back... and this time they’ve gone all-out 80’s. Yes, I know it’s commonplace in music today, but when properly done it’s still a pretty special moment. “Lost A Girl” is just one of those moments, transporting me back to a time when I had my Go-Go’s 45s on heavy rotation on my little record-player back in Detroit.

Originally a one-hit wonder with “Ice Cream”, the NYPC were probably a tad before their time in 2006/7. Thankfully the world has come on a bit now and may finally be ready for them. “Lost A Girl” certainly has all the elements of a successful hit in the making, with the 1980s sound fully-realised (rather than just suggested). It sounds a bit like The Go-Go’s collaborating with Stevie Nicks back in 1983: Guitars backed with dancy cymbals and drums which lead to synths and echo-y vocals in the chorus (and I love the bit where the music stops for half a second before the chorus kicks in... nice modern touch). They get things spot-on in the video too, with lead singer Tahita Bulmer 80’s dancing and twirling to the beat (see: Stevie Nicks' “Stand Back”).

Excellent stuff. With more singles like this, they'll be off the One-Hit Wonder list very soon.

Rating: 4/5

Who says $100 won't buy you much these days...?

2010-01-23T17:04:00.001Z

M.I.A.
"Space Odyssey" (Single)
Released: Now on M.I.A.’s Twitter page. (Also rumoured to be on 3rd album ‘Mission.Impossible.Area’ in May 2010)

What does it sound like? A lo-fi M.I.A. trapped in an Atari

How do you follow up one of the best songs of the last decade? That’s the task that M.I.A. is faced with, after releasing the phenomenal “Paper Planes” a couple of years ago. We don’t get the official follow up single just yet, but we do a little taste from her next album with this delicious teaser.

“Space Odyssey” (no, sadly it has nothing to do with Bowie) is an intriguing glimpse into what M.I.A. has been up to. It sounds like she may well be mixing her creative Asian hip-hop sounds with a bit of 80s magic for the next LP. The song consists of nothing more than M.I.A. and a very simple computerised beat. Apparently, it’s meant as a protest at the New York Times’ listing of Sri Lanka as the best place in the world to visit (M.I.A.’s family has Tamil roots).

If rumours are to be believed, "Space Odyssey" cost only $100 to produce which, given how it sounds, would not be all that surprising. That said, it also proves that you don’t need wads of cash to create some really fantastic music. Roll on May and M.I.A’s new album!

Rating: 4/5

Note: This is a new link to the album version, called 'Space' - which differs only slightly from the original link I had here. Pity I can't show you that original video though...

He's from the Library, I doubt they've ever set foot in one.

2010-01-23T16:56:00.000Z

N-DUBZ featuring MR HUDSON
"Playing With Fire" (Single)
Released: 25 January 2010 (UK)
What does it sound like? Chuffing forgettable chugging Hip-Pop

I’ve always objected to N-Dubz: their name, their look, their music. They think they’re so much bigger and better than they actually are. As much as they would like to think it – they are not the next Black Eyed Peas.

To be fair, they have had their share of hits – including a number 1 – so they must be doing something right. The kidz sure seem to like them, anyway. This week marks the release of single “Playing with Fire” featuring Mr. Hudson, who has now completely left the Library for the clubs. Fair enough if you want to go solo and try a new musical direction... but why make an unimpressive appearance along with that thug Dappy (here and here) and, uh, the other two (do you really care what they’re called?)

“Playing with Fire” breaks no new ground and sounds exactly like what you’d expect: a chugging hip-pop beat underneath lame lyrics about cheating on your partner: “Living life in disguise... You do anything to try and catch me out, but I never leave no signs... Guys like me be like two or three, I can't help myself - I love girls”. Classy. A classic. Yeh, right.

Mr. Hudson, go back to the Library before your career checks out.

Rating: 1/5

The 'Girls' may 'Catch' their first proper hit with this.

2010-01-23T16:51:00.000Z

GIRLS CAN'T CATCH
"Echo" (Single)
Released: 18 January 2010 (UK)
What does it sound like? Beyonce meets The Saturdays

I first heard of Girls Can’t Catch late last year when they released their debut single “Keep Your Head Up”. I have to admit I didn’t pay much attention to them back then. The name ‘Girls Can’t Catch’ sounds like it should belong to one of those dime-a-dozen indie-pop bands, not a girl group. Interestingly enough, The Saturdays had originally been offered the name ‘Girls Can’t Catch’ for themselves. They were wise to turn it down; ‘The Saturdays’ is a great girl-pop name while ‘Girls Can’t Catch’ is crap, though somebody high-up at Polydor obviously loves it as these three girls have now been landed with it.

But I digress... Girls Can’t Catch’s (how awkward does that sound?) debut single only reached number 26 last autumn. This was certainly down to the fact that it was painfully sub-standard and imminently forgettable. All of which makes their follow-up single ever more important. Get it right and they could be on to something. Get it wrong and it’s back to flipping burgers.

Polydor have chosen “Echo” for the Girls’ second single, and it seems to be a very wise move. With heavy synths, a looped beat and power-soul lead vocals, the first part of the song is very reminiscent of modern Beyonce. But as the song heads into the bridge the mood changes, the guitars come in, and it becomes a straight-up pop song. The chorus is wonderfully anthemic and by the time the second verse begins, resistance is futile. It won’t change the world, but it’s a great little pop song with a suitably shiny video. The Girls should ‘catch’ a Top 20 with this, and a Top 10 if there is any justice. It’s certainly as good as anything else The Saturdays are releasing.

Rating: 3/5

You can watch the video HERE.

Long live Róisín Murphy, Trendsetter extraordinaire

2010-01-18T10:33:00.000Z

RÓISÍN MURPHY
"Momma's Place" (Single)
Released: 18 January 2010 (UK)
What does it sound like? Early 90s dance

On 15 December 2009 little Clodagh Henwood was born, and Róisín Murphy became a mum - or, perhaps I should say, she became a 'momma'. Just over a month and a few days later Róisín's latest single "Momma's Place" entered the world... and it's no surprise that it's as wonderful as anything else she's released over the past decade.

Continuing with the early's 90s vibes that "Orally Fixated" left off with, "Momma's Place" is fantastically dancy. This time around Róisín is wrapping her silky and sexy vocals in looped drums and bassy-synths. It's a perfect example of what makes her so incredible as an artist: while everyone else is releasing 80s pastiche records, Róisín is setting the trend and jumping forward a decade.

Lyrically the song is just as naughty as "Orally Fixated". Róisín vamps it up, telling the youngsters that they didn't create being bad. It's something that almost anyone over the age of 30 can relate to. "I bet you think I look respectable / you should've seen me in my prime ... It's all been done, your brand new craze / It all begun at Momma's place". Róisín Murphy isn't just addressing the club kids, she's telling it like it is to Lady Gaga, La Roux, and the rest. She has no signs of stopping, and I have a feeling that Róisín Murphy is going to continue to set the standard in dance-pop for a very long time. Long may Momma reign.

Rating: 5/5

Where did you find this old 45?

2010-01-08T08:33:00.000Z

HURTS
"Wonderful Life" (Single)
Released: Out Soon
What does it sound like? 1985

15 artists have been tipped for success this year in the BBC's Sound of 2010, and Manchester's Hurts are one of my favourites. Borrowing heavily from the 80s 'disco lento' sound of New Order or Ultravox, "Wonderful Life" sounds like one of those old obscure 45s that has been dusted off for use in a tv drama or commercial and becomes a hit 20 years later. Everything about the song and video is so spot-on 1985 that it's hard to imagine this was composed sometime in the past year or so.

Starting with just a church-organ synth, a minimalist beat comes in with the mournful vocals: "On a bridge across the Severn on a Saturday night, Susie meets the man of her dreams / He says that he got in trouble and if she doesn't mind, he doesn't want the company ... Susie grabs her man...as the rain puts a tear in his eye." The black-and-white video is equally compelling: two rake-thin men, one singing and the other playing a keyboard, are joined by a young lady, standing quietly as if perhaps waiting for a bus... until the full-synths-and-drums chorus kicks in and she starts to dance. It's an obscure 1980s Italian-art video to match the music. Fantastic.

I think it's important to note that the "Arthur Baker" remix has just been released as a single. Please don't buy this, it's a crappy remix that takes this magnificent record and - even though it maintains many elements of the original - turns it into some ghastly 90s New York Freestyle record à la Stevie B. Wait for the original version to be released instead. We don't want to encourage Hurts to go in this direction for their album. If they stick to their original sound the possibilities for what it could sound like are very intriguing indeed. I can't wait.

Original Rating: 5/5

Remix Rating: 2/5

The Best of 2009

2010-01-07T13:09:00.000Z

2009 was a great year for music. It was, as we all know, the year that electro-synth pop made it's full-blown comeback - and I love it. Pop as a whole continued it's ascent back up the Top 40 while indie and rock struggled.

In this post I'll recap my top songs for the year. This based on a combination of artistic merit and number of spins on my iPod. The only rule I've imposed is that only one song from each artist can appear on the list. With that, I give you my...

Top 20 of 2009

20. Whitney Houston "Million Dollar Bill"

- The triumphant return of Whitney

19. V.V. Brown "Shark in the Water"

- Strummy guitars and a fabulously nonesensical (and catchy-as-hell) chorus

18.Jason Mraz "Make It Mine"

- A nostalgic trip back to 70s pop

17. a-ha "Foot of the Mountain"

- Gorgeous swan song from the Norwegian group

16. Bat for Lashes "Daniel"

- Hauntingly beautiful... Stevie Nicks meets Kate Bush

15. LaRoux "Bulletproof"

- Synths for the new millenium

14. Frankmusik "3 Little Words"

- Synthpop vs. dance at its best

13. Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind"

- A love rap to New York City and the chorus of the year

12. The Script "Breakeven"

- Splendid mainstream Irish indiepop

11. Annie "Bad Times"

- This song proves that the long wait for Annie's sophomore album was well-worth the wait.

10. Lily Allen "The Fear"

- A catchy-pop look into the heart of fame

9. Girls Aloud "Untouchable"

- A wonderfully overproduced sonic assault

8. Marina & the Robots "I Am Not a Robot"

- A fantastic video and cracking song from an intriguing new singer (watch for more in 2010)

7. Empire of the Sun "Walking on a Dream"

- Indiesynth: America had MGMT, and now the Aussies respond with EotS

6. Pet Shop Boys "Love etc"

- The best PSB song from the best PSB album in more than 15 years

5. Florence + The Machine "Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)"

- Incredible vocals and glorious gospel-tinged chorues make this an instant classic.

4. The Noisettes "Never Forget You"

- Early 1960s pop never sounded so sassy

3. Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"

- Delicously filthy pop and the video of the year

2. Polarkreis 18 "Allein Allein"

- Infectious and sensitive German synthrock. The children's choir in the bridge is superb.

1. Little Boots "Earthquake"

- A full-on synthpop explosion. The epitome of the year 2009 in music.

I wish this had been a bigger hit

2009-12-26T18:35:00.000Z

MINI VIVA
"I Wish" (Single)
Released: Out Now
What does it sound like? Girls Aloud's "Call the Shots" Pt. II

Not content to just write and produce hits for other bands, Xenomania have decided the time was right to put together a girl group of their own. They've come up with Mini Viva, a female pop duo consisting of the very photogenic Frankee Connolly and Britt Love - girls who very much look like (to steal a line from Cheryl "The Nation's Sweetheart" Cole) little pop stars. And they've got the voices to back it up too - quite high pitched and different from other vocals you're hearing on the radio right now.

Mini Viva launched back in September with the single "Left My Heart In Tokyo". Whilst I liked it, I honestly didn't pay much attention at the time. It sounds quite disposable and gimmicky - very much a Europop song you'd hear from one of those dime-a-dozen German groups. "One hit wonder" I thought, stupidly forgetting about the genius songwriting skills of Higgins and Cooper (Mr. and Ms. Xenomania). Then I heard their follow-up...

Sounding a little bit like the cousin to Girls Aloud's "Call the Shots" (especially at the bridge and the "Ooh oh oh" bit in the chorus), Mini Viva's second offering is an excellent progression for the girls; "I Wish" takes them out of the German Euroclub and takes them one step further towards legitimacy. The vocals are stronger, the melodies are more developed, and the lyrics are more mature: "And I wish that I had tried / Mmm baby and I wished that 'us' away / Oh no, if I wish that hard enough - would love come home again? ... And I go ooooh oh oh, nooo oh oh / He could be the one who hits the light inside my sooooul, ooooh oh oh".

This is catchy as all hell. I can't wait for the album.

Small side-note: I was very disappointed to see "I Wish" peak at number 73 on the UK singles chart last week. ("Tokyo" had gone to number seven earlier this autumn.) I can only chalk this up to very poor timing... why release a single from a relatively unknown band at Christmas in a year when we already had several high-profile releases and the Joe/Rage battle for number 1? It just got lost in the shuffle. Still, I don't think this will derail them. They'll be back in early 2010 with another quality single, and I will wish that "Wish" gets a re-release later in the album's run.

Rating: 4/5

The video is HERE.

Aurally Fixated: But is there any room for Róisín?

2009-12-09T08:36:00.000Z

RÓISÍN MURPHY

"Orally Fixated" (Single)

Released: Out Now

What does it sound like? A bass-tastic return to early 90s dance.

Former Moloko member Róisín Murphy has always been the pop star that never was - fantastic fashion, stonking tunes, and a brilliant stage presence. I say "never was" because the British (come to that, the world) public hasn't, for some bizarro reason, caught on to the brilliance that is Ms. Murphy. Quite simply, she has been responsible for some of the most fantastic dance music to come out of the past decade. From "The Time is Now" and "Sing It Back" at the start of the decade to "100%" in 2003, "If We're In Love" in 2005, and "Let Me Know" and "You Know Me Better" in 2007. I suppose it's down to the rubbishness of radio, which has sadly become much more corporate in the past few years. It's the sort of thing that is strangling American radio, and leads to a big corporation-lead Top 40. Without airplay, records don't stand a chance. Some blame can of course be laid at the feet of a fickle public who doesn't take the time to search out good music that is bubbling-under in the charts, but then - who has the time?? (Other than music anoraks like me)

But back to Róisín. The point I'm trying to make is that she could have had four solid singles off her last album "Overpowered", if Radio 1 given her sufficient spins to catch the public's imagination. Unfortunately, "Orally Fixated" isn't going to be the record that breaks her to the masses either. It's a shame, because it's a fantastic thick-cut slab of dance pop. Had Kylie recorded this it would be climbing the Top 40 as we speak.

With a heavy bass and beats stolen from the late 80s/early 90s, "Orally Fixated" sounds both classic and fresh at the same time. You can totally imagine this being played in a number of places: a dj's turntable in a club, in a gay disco, being lip synched by a fabulously attired drag queen, or even being pole-danced to in a strip club. A lot of this is down to the deliciously naughty lyrics: "Baby! You're orally fixated, you've got to give your mouth a rest. So greedy, I wish you coulda waited - but you just love to stuff your face." Nothing less than what you'd expect from Róisín Murphy - fantastically clever lyrics and a brilliant dance tune. Hopefully one day the stars will align and we'll stop giving spaces in the charts to shit like Cascada and make some room for Róisín.

Rating: 5/5

Just say "Fine, we'll feckin' well do it then."

2009-10-31T11:09:00.000Z

SNOW PATROL

"Just Say Yes" (Single)

Released: 2 November 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? Snow Patrol doing an Indie-pop ballad

Snow Patrol are about to release a Greatest Hits record. They've not had much luck as of late; their last two singles were miserable flops ("If There's a Rocket Tie Me To It" peaked at 133 in the UK and "The Planets Bend Between Us" didn't chart in any country anywhere) while second single "Crack the Shutters" only managed 43 in the UK (though it did do better elsewhere and was a much stronger song than the lead "Take Back the City"). So, it's time for a break to refresh and renew. That means - it's Greatest Hits time! (Janet is doing the same thing after some disasters in the charts, too.) It's a chance for an act to put their recent failings behind them and remind the public how great they were/are before they release some new material.

Originally written for Gwen Stefani (I could actually hear her singing this) who, well, just said "no", "Just Say Yes" was eventually recorded by Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherscher-whats-her-face for her debut album (which was eventually shelved). With the song going nowhere, Snow Patrol recorded it themselves - something they should have done in the first place.

This is a great indie-pop ballad that's perfect for 2009. Starting with (yes, you guessed it) just synths and Gary Lightbody's signature voice, the song builds into to a proper catchy tune. It's a love song: "Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back / It's not a test, nor a trick of the mind / Only love". I find it particularly magical at the bit where the song stops, leaving just a subtle keyboard effect and Gary's voice: "I can feel your heart beat through my shirt / This was all I wanted, all I want". It's the new 'Chasing Cars'.

The only thing that holds the song back is the feeling that Gary could have really gone for it in the chorus. I know he's known for a more subtle tone of voice, but he has kicked it up a notch in other records and should have done the same here. It's a small quibble but one worth mentioning.

Bottom line, though - this deserves to be a hit. It's a lovely record and a slight change in sound for Snow Patrol (I particularly like the keyboards, backing vocals and harmonies), and it has a cracking video. Whether or not it does well is now down to the public and whether or not they "Just Say Yes".

(Yeah, that last line made me cringe a bit too, but I needed a good way to end this review and was stuck.)

Rating: 4/5

The video is well worth a look HERE.

Nothing Compares 2 Being Happy

2009-10-31T10:10:00.001Z

LEONA LEWIS

"Happy" (Single)

Released: 9 November 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? A big pop power ballad

Leona Lewis is about to release her second album. It comes with huge expectations and, uh, a black eye (after someone decked her at that meet-and-greet). Leona really is the biggest pop star to come out of Britain in a very long time. Debut 'Spirit' was a massive success, spawning 4 smash hit singles and launching her career in America. The appropriately named 'Echo' (out 16 November) will try to, well, "echo" that success.

'Happy' is a great lead single. It's all the things that she is known for: her voice, the big ballad, the piano, the beats. The song opens with just Leona, some strings, and a piano. Just under a minute in, we reach the chorus and the drum beat kicks in. I find it all very reminiscent of Sinéad O'Connor's version of "Nothing Compares 2 U", and that's no bad thing.

So what's the song all about? Well, the title is actually a bit of a contradiction. Leona is anything but happy - she's in a relationship that is stale and going nowhere, so she's about to take the plunge and walk away so she can be happy: "So what if it hurts me / So what if I break down ... Don't care about all the pain in front of me / Cause I just wanna be happy". Sing it Lee, we've all been there.

It's not as incredible as "Bleeding Love" but it's damn good and I can't see anything less than another number 1 for Ms. Lewis - that should put a smile on her face. And with indications that the rest of 'Echo' is as strong as this, Leona should be "Happy" for quite some time.

Rating: 4/5

Leona Lewis "Happy"

Sinéad O'Connor - "Nothing Compares 2 U"

Attacking the hype machine from the 11th Dimension

2009-10-29T18:31:00.000Z

JULIAN CASABLANCAS

"11th Dimension" (Single)

Released: 2 November 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? Indie does synth

Do you remember what happened in the world of music back in 2001? Shakira burst onto the scene with her small but humble boobs (hope you don't confuse them with mountains!), Jennifer Lopez started calling herself J.Lo, and we lost Aaliyah in a tragic plane crash. Number 1 records included Atomic Kitten's "Whole Again", Kylie's "Can't Get You Out of My Head", and Geri Halliwell's "It's Raining Men". It was also the year that a little band from NYC called The Strokes released their debut album, "Is This It". It was quite a self-depreciating title, coming after all the press attention and rave reviews that The Strokes received in the run-up to its release. It was, actually, quite a fantastic and ground-breaking album - igniting the spark that became the Indie explosion that light up the mid-naughties.

Understandably, The Strokes have struggled to meet the sky-high expectations thrust upon them with their follow-up albums. Since the release of their third LP "First Impression of Earth" in 2006, several members of the band have embarked on side projects. Most successful of the lot has been bassist Albert Hammond, Jr. Though he has not had a major breakthrough hit, he has made a few rumblings on the Indie charts with some solid tunes. Now it's lead singer Julian Casablancas' turn.

It's not really surprising to hear that his record is also getting quite a bit of attention, and I'm pleased that he's receiving strong, positive reviews. Lead single from "Phrazes for the Young" is "11th Dimension", which I think illustrates quite well Julian's ability to craft a great song, musically and lyrically. The tune is a pure nod to today's trend: 80s synth pop, from the opening keyboard to the bassline and drum-machine beat. However, this doesn't come at the expense of the song's 'indie-cool': about half a minute in, Julian picks up his guitar. Though it doesn't overpower the synths, it makes appearances in just enough places to make the record fresh and a little different... and to keep it from being a pure pop record. He knows his stuff.

That's also evident in the lyrics, another of Casablancas' strong points. They all just seem to flow together quite effortlessly. "So whens it coming? This life's new great movement that I can join / The warning here, your faith has got to be greater than your fear / Forgive them even if they are not sorry / All the vultures, bootleggers at the door waiting / You're looking for your own voice, but you're nervous / While it leaves you trapped in another dimension."

Julian Casablancas will have no trouble besting the solo efforts of his bandmates with this. And hopefully, once 'Phrazes' has run its course, they will all return to the The Strokes refreshed and ready to produce something cracking. If not, Julian can always go back to the solo stuff. Now bring on the album.

Rating: 4/5

Delicious!

2009-10-28T08:23:00.000Z

LADY GAGA

"Bad Romance" (Single)

Released: 26 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? A delicious slice of pop, slathered in synths and served up with fresh beats.

Lada Gaga is back with a stonker of a tune, released to announce the arrival of her repackaged debut LP, "The Fame". Normally, I hate this. I see it as nothing more than a greedy grab by record companies - tack a successful song or two onto an existing album and squeeze more cash out the fans. In some cases I'm convinced that labels actually hold back strong songs because they know people would pay up later. (Yeah, I don't have proof, but the signs are there). So when I heard Lady Gaga - or to be fair, her record label - was going this route, I was disappointed. But the Gaags agrees with me: "I think re-releases are unfair... It’s artists sneaking singles onto an already finished piece of work in an effort to keep the album afloat. Originally [my label] only wanted me to put out three songs and now it’s much more than that. It’s a new album’s worth of material." Brava, Lady G, Brava!

So we're getting "The Fame" repackaged as a 2-disc collection, deliciously called "The Fame Monster". It's arrival is prefaced by new single "Bad Romance", and it is brilliant - the best thing I've heard in months. It's like Lady Gaga has taken "Just Dance", "Love Game", "Poker Face" and "Paparazzi" and chucked them into a magic pop blender. After a few synths and brief 10 second vocal intro, Lady Gaga starts in with the line "Ra Ra - Ah ah aaah - Ro ma ro ma ma - Gaga - Ooh la la... want your bad romance". From then on, you know you're in for a treat. It's a full-on pop record for 2009: heavy synths and a stomping club beat provide a ferocious bed in which she can thrash about with her lyrics: "I want your ugly, I want your disease... I want your leather-studded kiss in the sand" and later "I want your psycho, your vertigo stick / Want you in my rear window, baby you're sick / I want your love". Being bad never felt so good. It's the kind of pop filth Madonna did so well 15-20 years ago, and what Xtina aspired to in 2002 when she was getting "Skaanky" - sorry, I mean "Diirty".

Speaking of Ms. Ciccone, this is the kind of stuff she should be making now... not the recent sub-standard pap she's been farting out. For quite some time I've felt that we had finally found the heir to Madonna's Pop Queen throne in Lady Gaga. Look no further than the video for "Bad Romance" - it's incredible. Madonna needs to step it up for her next release. With records like this one, Lady Gaga already has one hand on the crown.

Rating: 5/5

The PHENOMENAL video can be seen HERE.

Can anyone seriously tell me, what is the point of this?

2009-10-27T14:22:00.000Z

WESTLIFE

"What About Now" (Single)

Released: 26 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? Westlife.

Westlife are back with a fresh, original sound and and a brand new amazing record written by the Fab Irish 4 themselves. Well, that's what I wrote in an alternate universe - where the opposite of everything is true. In this reality, however...

Westlife are back with yet another note-for-note cover of a current hit, Daughtry's "What About Now". The original is great: a straight-up rock ballad - a solid song with strong lyrics. The problem with this release is that it sounds like Westlife have actually just taken Chris Daughty's version and dubbed their own vocals over his. "I Have a Dream", "Seasons in the Sun", "Uptown Girl", "Against All Odds", "Mandy", "You Raise Me Up", "The Rose"...all mediocre covers by Westlife that bring nothing new to the song. What is the POINT of this group? Seriously, when they release material like this you can't help but ask.

No doubt Westlife will chalk up yet another number 1 with this, a real shame when they're closing in quickly on the Beatles and Elvis to take the "Most #1s" crown. Do yourself (and Britain) a favour and please download the Daughtry version instead. I'd love to see that pip this one to the top. Yeah, in my alternate universe maybe...

Check out Westlife's version:

Then please watch Daughtry's original HERE.

Westlife Rating: 1/5
Daughtry Rating: 4/5

Oh Bootsie - how brilliant!

2009-10-17T08:41:00.000+01:00

LITTLE BOOTS

"Earthquake" (Single)

Released: 16 November 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? A full-on synth pop explosion

I'm a big Little Boots fan, though I did find it frustrating at first: after hearing her music online late last year, fans like me had to wait nearly 6 months for a album. In that time, LaRoux stole the spotlight and her thunder, scoring a #2 ("In For The Kill) and #1 hit ("Bulletproof"). Bootsie also won the BBC "Sound of 2009" prize, which probably hurt more than it helped - by ramping-up expectations to a dizzying height. By the time she arrived with her debut, she was suffering from a major music paradox: overexposure AND being lost in the already-established female synth pop assault.

Fortunately, Little Boots' album didn't disappoint (in fact, I would rank it as my favourite of the year). Her latest single "Earthquake" is among my top tracks of the album, and is the one I've been waiting to hear on the radio.

Tweaked ever-so-slightly for single release, "Earthquake" announces its arrival in fabulous synth fashion, accelerating into an explosion of keyboards and melody and building into a dancy, catchy chorus. Little Boots' vocals are great, echoed just enough to complement the synths and beats which thump and bleep underneath.

"Earthquake" tells of a girl who is conflicted - she knows something is wrong with her relationship but she loves her boyfriend and doesn't know what to do: "Soon as you slam the door, my tears fall to the floor / I know that people change, maybe you're not to blame / But must you burn a hole, so deep into my soul? ... Every little earthquake, every little heartbreak going unheard"

The video isn't the most groundbreaking, but it doesn't need to be - the song is a cracker and the images match that: Little Boots on a rooftop with her keyboard, looking fab whilst a celestial explosion (to match the synths, no doubt) takes place overhead.

This is nothing short of fantastic. "New In Town" and "Remedy" were excellent, and deserved better than peaking at #10 and #6 (respectively). If LaRoux can get a number 1, Little Boots should certainly be at the top too. No excuses on this one, people. Get out there - request it, and buy it.

Rating: 5/5

Auto-tune this love

2009-10-17T07:53:00.000+01:00

CHERYL COLE

"Fight For This Love" (Single)

Released: 18 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? A cast-off from Victoria Beckham's debut (and final - that should say something) album.

So, 20% of Girls Aloud have released a single. The problem is, it sounds about 1/5 as good as anything Girls Aloud has released (except for maybe "Sexy No No No" - that was crap). "Fight For This Love" isn't completely horrible though, it plods along happily enough with its synths and beats (borrowed from 2001). The lyrics, though heavily auto-tuned (more on that in a minute) are fairly standard too - about keeping a relationship going despite the tough times (I suppose she's referring to husband Ashley vomiting on that slapper he was shagging). And the song is a bit of an earworm - hear it a few times and it'll be stuck in your head.

Nobody has ever said that Cheryl Cole has the strongest voice of Girls Aloud - that honour has always gone to Nadine. In the past few years, however, she has become 'Britain's Sweetheart', and that helps to cover up for vocal failings (like Robbie Williams and his showmanship). We also have... the magic of auto-tune! Originally designed to bring rubbish singers into line, it was used in groundbreaking fashion on Cher's single "Believe" - to computerise and tweak her vocals on the occasional line in the song, making the record sound fresh and exciting in 1999. The problem is, producers have now gone mad with it, twiddling the knobs until singers are computerised into sounding like a robot throughout almost the entire record. In some songs, it works quite well. There is an element to Britney's recent music that uses it effectively, and the same applies to the Black Eyed Peas (even though Fergie can actually sing). Alas, on Cheryl's single I find the heavy auto-tune a distraction.

I think Girls Aloud are great, and I hope this isn't the beginning of the end for them. No doubt they'll all have solo projects to prove that they're more than just 1/5 of Girls Aloud, but I think they'll proba8bly all need the other 80% just as much as Cheryl seems to. It'll be interesting to hear the rest of Cheryl's album. And what Nadine comes up with.

The video can be found HERE.

Rating: 3/5

The legend has died but the marketing goes on.

2009-10-13T06:28:00.000+01:00

MICHAEL JACKSON

"This Is It" (Single)
Released: 12 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? A 90's-Michael ballad

Yesterday morning, Michael Jackson's first posthumous single was released. It was done in pure marketing style (which probably means that Sony and AEG have their fingers all over it) - at the same time on both his website (I'm damned if I can find it on there) and to radio outlets. Michael Jackson was a cash cow, and even though he is gone his money will not be forgotten. AEG sank A LOT of cash into that concert, and dammit - they are going to recoup it. So, we get filmed footage of him practicing for his last gig (which, of course, is being released to the silver screen on a limited basis with tickets sold in advance) and yet ANOTHER MJ Greatest Hits record with a track listing to match his set-list. Oh yes, and if you had bought a ticket to the ill-fated O2 show? Well, don't bother asking for a refund - AEG will just send you the ticket anyway to keep in his memory. £75 - for a piece of cardstock with a hologram on it. Despite all his problems, Michael Jackson was still a musical genius who brought a lot of joy to a lot of people. How sad that his memory will be managed to death too. We'll probably get singles and albums in dribs and drabs, controlled to extort the most money from his fans. They - we actually, because I'm a fan too - deserve better. Michael deserves better.

It would have been nice to release something fantastic - get Quincy Jones to go through his catalogue of unreleased material and put together a killer new album. Instead, we get one new 'single'. Actually, the rumour is that this will NOT be available to buy as a single or download as a separate track - fans will be expected to shell out for the whole GH album if they want this song in their library (I do hope this only a rumour and iTunes will save fans from this). Had they worked hard to release something special for his first track, we may have seen a string of MJ posthumous number ones. But alas, we get "This Is It" - and It isn't all That.

Even this release was botched. Immediately after its debut Paul Anka released a statement saying he had co-written it, and that it had originally been called "I Never Heard" (a suitably underwhelming title actually). The thought is that this was found in some old box as a pure demo - with just MJ's vocals and an accompanying piano. It's hard to imagine that there weren't any notes about this track somewhere, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Paul Anka is happy to do so, if it was indeed an honest mistake - and oh yeah, if he gets 50% of the profits.

Listening to it, it's obvious that this was recorded awhile ago. Rumours about the date it was penned had ranged from the late-70s to early 90s, but Mr. Anka has recently confirmed it was written back in the 1983 'Thriller' era (back when the song wasn't good enough to be a b-side). This song has actually been recorded and released before - some 20 years ago by a singer called Safire (no word yet on if she gets a cut - you can hear her version below).

So what does the "new" version sound like? After an MJ count-in, 'Heal The World'-esque strings start and then Michael sings - "This is it, here I stand - I'm the light of the world, I feel grand." Backed with vocals from his brothers (reportedly recorded after his death), it comes together in a nice but ultimately underwhelming ballad. If it is ultimately allowed to be bought as a digital single then I'm pretty sure it will get to number 1 on his memory alone. Had he not passed, I can't imagine it would have even cracked the Top 10. After all, even Michael felt ok to let it rot in a closet next to old packets of monkey chow.

I'm just glad this ISN'T it and we'll be hearing more music. I hope it comes sooner rather than later.

Rating: 2/5

Michael's version:

Safire's version:

Beautiful and haunting

2009-10-10T11:07:00.000+01:00

IAMX feat. IMOGEN HEAP

"My Secret Friend" (Single)
Released: 12 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? A haunting electro-pop ballad

Imogen Heap can't really catch a break. She's been knocking around for quite some time now, first as a member of Frou Frou, and then doing solo and collaborative work. Whilst she is critically acclaimed, with bags of strong reviews from critics and two Grammy nominations under her belt, the only time she's even hinted at a Top 40 break was with Frou Frou's 2002 single "Breathe In" (but even that only peaked at number 44 in the UK). Sadly, I doubt that "My Secret Friend" will be the song that breaks her... though it will bring her more plaudits from the critics. Oh yeah, and goths will love this too.

What a great record this is. The single version starts with Imogen's haunting vocals, a plinking piano, and a (heart)beat. When the synths and heavier drums kick in, you can tell this will be something special. The lyrics are haunting - perfect for Halloween, actually: "You were not alone... When the storm cut you to the bone... My secret friend, I'll take you to the river... In your skin, to die a little death... When everyday frays in hollow ends, dream sweet love submersive."

The video is just as haunting and intriguing. Filmed in an old abandoned East German house, the video features a cross-dressing Imogen and Chris Corner (aka Iamx). The lighting and images all lend to that spooky, gothic feel and is perfect for the song.

What a shame it won't be a hit. Come on Radio 1 and prove me wrong, give this some spins too.

Rating: 5/5

I never expected this!

2009-10-10T10:48:00.001+01:00

SHARAM feat. KID CUDI

"She Came Along" (Single)
Released: 12 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? An intriguing blend of dance, hip hop and... Patsy Cline.

I though this was going to be a hip hop or crunk record. Imagine my surprise when I hit play and heard Patsy Cline's voice. "Surely, this must be a mistake," I thought. But as the beat kicked in, I realised this is exactly what it should be: a great dance record. Not really surprising, as Sharam is one-half of dance duo Deep Dish (yes, I admit I didn't know that).

Incorporating a fantastic sample of Patsy Cline's "Strange" and a fairly by-the-numbers dance beat, it's the added dash of Kid Cudi that makes this special. I can't imagine it will trouble the top of the charts, but you never know. It strikes me as a record that someone could dance to on 'Britain's Got Talent', like Mint Royale's "Singing In The Rain". Or perhaps a company will use it in an advert. If not, this will probably only make a minor impact - but at least it will bring 3 minutes and 18 seconds of pleasure into those peoples' lives.

Rating: 4/5

Miley's first UK Top 10?

2009-10-07T19:39:00.000+01:00

MILEY CYRUS

"Party in the USA" (Single)
Released: 12 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? Pure pop

Up until now Miley has had moderate success in the UK, managing four Top 20 and one Top 30 single. "Party in the USA" may be the one to help her crack the upper reaches of the chart here. "Party in the USA" starts with an intriguing (and great) singlar guitar riff. Then the beat comes in and Miley starts singing (heavily mixed through auto-tune, natch). The lyrics aren't anything special but that doesn't matter because this is a pure pop record. All-in-all it's quite catchy too - with a chorus that woudn't sound out of place in heavy rotation on Radio 1. A solid move in her evolution from kiddie fave into proper pop star - Number 1 may be a ways off, but there's no reason why Miley can't have her first Top 10 with this.

Rating: 4/5

Oh no, Robbie! What a pile of pish!

2009-10-05T22:06:00.000+01:00

ROBBIE WILLIAMS

"Bodies" (Single)
Released: 12 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? Paint-by-numbers Robbie (but not the good old Robbie, the later rubbish one).

Robbie's comeback. I've been waiting for this for quite awhile, especially since his last record was so disappointing. I was so pleased to hear that he's hooked up with Guy Chambers again for this new one too. I was excited at the thought of the Robbie of old...

...and then I heard this. What a disappointment! He's had enough time to craft a strong return, but instead we get like something that sounds like it could have been a B-Side from some rubbish he released from his last album - a cheap-sounding electro beat introducing rappin' Robbie and his crappy lyrics: "God gave me the sunshine, then showed me my lifeline, I was told it was all mine...". Sadly, there is no grand chorus to save it all - it's the same lame beat and the same lame lyrics: "Bodies in the Bodhi tree, Bodies making chemistry... Bodies in the cemetery, And that's the way it's gonna be". What? The bridge is the only redeeming part of the song, but by the time it comes along it's too late.

Oh Robbie, I'd almost rather to Cascada than this. I hope you have something much better than this tripe up your sleeves for the album, otherwise Rudebox may look like a masterpiece in comparison.

And while I'm at it, the video is crap too.

What happened to the days when you released magic like Feel?

Bodies just doesn't cut it. Must try harder.

Rating: 2/5

Not as bad as usual, but still cack

2009-10-05T21:21:00.000+01:00

CASCASA

"Dangerous" (Single)
Released: 12 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? Like every other Euro-techno dance record out there.

At least Cascada knows her audience (sorry, knows their audience - Cascada is apparently a group). Every single manages to sound almost exactly the same - the same Euro-techno-beat, the same mediocre vocals, the same vapid lyrics... and yet, they manage to have hit after hit. Who is buying this? Children who have yet to develop a sense of taste? Flaming queens who put this on heavy rotation in the G-A-Y jukebox (along with "From Paris to Berlin" and other candy-coated shite)? Or is it just whacked-out clubbers still tripping on last night's ecstasy tab? Judging from the chart positions Cascada manages to land, it's all 3 and more.

This song starts with Ms. Cascada singing (heavily auto-tuned, not because it's the style but because - I reckon - she can't sing) before the beat kicks in. Then the chorus and techno beat -- actually, you know what? Why bother? You KNOW what this sounds like: everything else out there in the clubs today. If you like this kind of thing then buy it, consume, wallow in it, and dance your arse off. If you don't like this, then plug your ears as we reach the top of the charts on Sunday and wait until the next one comes out. At least this one isn't as bad as usual, but that isn't saying too much.

Rating: 1/5

Does Alexandra's debut single have the X Factor?

2009-10-05T20:54:00.000+01:00

ALEXANDRA BURKE featuring FLO RIDA

"Bad Boys" (Single)
Released: 12 October 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? What Whitney would have done had she just been releasing her debut today - a glorious mix of R&B, electropop and dance - with a dash of hip hop.

It took me awhile to warm up to Alexandra. Not now, but this time last year - when she was making her way into the X Factor Final 12. It's not that I didn't like her, it's just that I liked several other contestants more at the time. But, as they got voted out one by one, I threw my support behind Ms. Burke. I wasn't sure she'd have the star quality to make her the next Leona Lewis, though. I thought she might release a few singles then disappear, which I suppose would make her the next Shayne Ward.

But if this first single is any indication of what we expect from Alexandra, then she's certainly on the right path toward stardom. "Bad Boys" is quite the surprise. I had expected a solid pop ballad, or at least a mid-tempo record... after all, this is what she did on the X Factor and (if we were looking at the next Leona) I think people were expecting on her first album. The song starts with a mock-siren sound and Flo Rida's name checks, with Alexandra wailing her way into the lyrics. I spent the first 30 - 40 seconds wondering if this was going to be a disaster - this was uptempo and Alexandra was forcefully singing her way through the first verses. Then she gets to the chorus and all becomes clear - it's actually a pure pop single, something unique and different to most things out there on radio today: a great vocalist, a solid and catchy melody, and a hip hop-cum-dance beat. Alexandra manages to effortlessly merge R&B, electropop, and dance - with a sprinkle of hip hop - into a 3 minute and 26 second killer record. I think it's what Whitney would have done had she made her debut today, rather than the mid-80s. Brilliant. More please.

You can view the video HERE.

Rating: 4/5

A love rap to NYC

2009-10-03T08:51:00.000+01:00

JAY-Z feat. ALICIA KEYS
"Empire State of Mind" (Single)
Released: Out now

What does it sound like? Hip Hip with a catchy-as-hell chorus

Every once in awhile a song comes along that I can't stop spinning. "Empire State of Mind" is one of those songs. Seriously, song ends - and I just click right back to the start. A by-the-numbers hip hop beat starts the song with a plinking piano coming in just under Jay-Z's rhymes. The piano is provided by none other than Alicia Keys (she's actually playing a sample of The Moments "Love On A Two Way Street", though with the tempo increased probably 10 fold). The lyrics are nothing less than a pure love letter to New York City: name checks of the boroughs ("Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn", "I used to cop in Harlem") and sports teams ("Sitting courtside Knicks and Nets give me high-5", "Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee Game"), as well as all the things he (and we) know New York for - yellow cabs, Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Centre, Broadway... the list goes on.

All this is great, but for me the most exciting part of the song is Alicia's chorus. It doesn't come better than this... the music ramps up and in comes Alicia shouting "NEW YOOOOOOOORK! Concrete jungle where dreams are maaaaade of, there's nothing you caaaan't do! When you're in NEW YOOOOOOOOOORK!" Try and resist.

Rating: 5/5

1-2-3... Here comes Britney

2009-10-02T13:31:00.000+01:00

BRITNEY SPEARS
"3" (Single)
Released: 16 November 2009 (UK)
What does it sound like? More electro-Britney

Britney is about to release a greatest hits compilation... again. Why Jive feels the need to release another collection of singles only a few years after the last is beyond me (actually, it's not - it's a money spinner in the run up to Christmas). The lead single and only new tune on the album is "3", a modern Britney number (pun intended) in keeping with her last two albums. It's certainly no "Toxic" or "Womanizer", but it's not all that bad either.

I wasn't all that impressed on my first listen, but then "Womanizer" was the same for me - it's more of a grower, ear candy that finally gets stuck after a spin or 3 (pun intended again, sorry). The sound is in keeping with her recent work - dancy beats and Britney's voice run through the autotune until it's digitalised beyond human ability. The bridge is actually the best bit of the song, a strong melody and bassline that leads you into the hooky chorus. Lyrically, it's about threesomes - racy? Debatable, considering today's standards. Anyway, the song is too polished and poppy to be really dirty though I imagine the video may provide the images to raunch it up a notch.

The oddest bit of the song comes in a name check. No, not to Madonna or some other racy pop star but to Peter, Paul and Mary. Odd, that - the song certainly wouldn't qualify as an homage to the folk trio, nor would it be appropriate as a memorial to the recently deceased Mary Travers. I suppose it's just a way to get 3 well known names that go together into the song (and look, I'm clever... it's three people who are having a threesome AND it's the name of a hippy folk group from the 1970s! Teehee!). At least I hope it's that and not the insinuation that Peter, Paul and Mary were "bonin'" between takes of "Leaving on a Jet Plane".

Bottom line, it's a sold, catchy, dancy song and will chalk up another hit for Brit. Now get to work on a new album!

Rating: 3/5

Come on girls, you know desperate isn't pretty.

2009-09-28T11:02:00.001+01:00

THE SATURDAYS
"Forever is Over" (Single)
Released: 5 October 2009 (UK)
What does it sound like? Girlband power pop, a sub-standard Girls Aloud cast-off

The Saturdays are desperate for a number one. To be honest, when I first heard them earlier last year I thought they'd peak at 15 or so with "If This Is Love" and then disappear off the face of the earth - as so many wannabe pop stars have before them. As it is, they actually produced a decent record and had the full backing of their label. With that they've racked up 5 Top 40 hits: "If This Is Love" (Number 8), "Up" (5), "Issues" (4), "Just Can't Get Enough" (2), and "Work" (22 - which they had said was going to be a number one as well).

I myself didn't get on board until "Issues" - that and "Work" I think are good songs. In fact, had they released "Work" as their first single instead of the sub-standard "Love", they may have had a number 1 with their debut. Instead, they waited until after everyone had the album and weren't interested in a 5th single (common, really - there are not many 5th singles in history that have been big hits. I think Janet Jackson was the last to do it with the Rhythm Nation album back in 1814... uh, I mean 1989).

That's all water under the bridge now, and the second album is coming out next month. But instead of just going out to promote it, they can't stop moaning about how they want they want - no deserve - that number one. How vile. Come on ladies. It's unbecoming. And unfortunately for you, I don't think you're going to do it with "Forever is Over" either. I think it takes you away from made you a little different. Instead, it sounds like you're recording a Girls Aloud or Kelly Clarkson album cast-off. The formula is there: ballad-lyrics exploding into a big chorus, but something is missing. The only interesting thing about the song is that it was written by a former member of Busted, and whether that is a good thing is debatable too.

Don't despair though, I do think you'll have a Top 5 with this. That's not bad, remember. It's like when your mum told you to eat your broccoli as there are starving kids out there who would love to have what you did... it's the same, really - there are washed-up old pop artists who would give anything to get back in the Top 5.

Now here's what could be the actual bad news... I think you're going down the same route as your last album: releasing what should be the 5th single as the first one. WTF girls? Is this your decision, or is your record label just really crap? Why isn't "Lose Control" or "Wordshaker" your first single off this album? THOSE are your potential number ones. Hope you didn't blow it again.

The new video is HERE.

Rating: 3/5

Not bad, but not really what I Wanted

2009-09-28T10:08:00.000+01:00

NATALIE IMBRUGLIA
"Want" (Single)
Released: 28 September 2009 (UK)
What does it sound like? The vocals of disco Donna Summer with the music of Gossip's "Heavy Cross" with a touch of Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?".

I'm a big Natalie Imbruglia fan. I have all her albums and have been looking forward to her new record for some time now. This is a new beginning for Natalie. She has split from her husband and left her record label to found her own. From the clips I've heard of the new album, the split is reflected in several of her songs - not least of which is "Want".

Going the Whitney route (see below), Nat released a teaser video for "Wild About It". Quite a fun little song, it has a light repetitive beat and a catchy repetitive chorus. The video looks like it was quite fun to record and I think it ultimately makes the song. For that reason, releasing it as a teaser was a good move. Had Natalie been a constant force on the radio she could have gotten away with a "fun" first single. Having been away for 4 years with some hit-and-miss singles since her debut 12 (!!!) years ago, Natalie can't really afford not to have an out-of-the-box hit for her first single.

The thing is, I'm not sure "Want" is it. It's a bit of a difficult one to read. It strikes me as one of those all-or-nothing records... it will either do quite well (say, Top 20) or not do anything at all (outside the Top 40)... all dependant on the upon the programme directors of radio stations across the UK. What bodes well is that it's already making an impact in her native Australia (where she has not been as successful on the charts as she has been here). The video is certainly compelling and makes an impact, especially the bit where Ms. Imbruglia rolls around naked in bed. Oh yes, and it was one of three songs on the album co-written by Chris "Coldplay" Martin. That alone may get her some spins.

So what's "What" sound like? It's Natalie singing ethereally over a galloping modern disco beat to an ex-love: "I hope you get all that you want / So I suppose you got what you want / Take a good look at what you give up / Because I'm telling you a heart can't be unbroken / And can you remember how I kiss you / Recall the sweet taste in your mouth / Cos baby the memory is all you get now / And I'm moving on".

It's good, and definitely a grower, but it's not what I wanted for her comeback. It's no "Torn", or "Wrong Impression", or "Shiver". Maybe the next single.

Rating: 3/5

Hellooooo Whitney! Now THAT'S a proper comeback!

2009-09-28T09:29:00.000+01:00

WHITNEY HOUSTON
"Million Dollar Bill" (Single)

Released: 5 October 2009 (UK)
What does it sound like? 70's classic soul

Whitney is officially back. Her preview single "I Look To You" was launched in the summer and, after an initial buzz, landed with a bit of a thud. Actually, I think this is the new trend in music marketing - get a teaser out there to get people talking... then hit them with the proper single. This protects the artist if it doesn't do well, and if it's a hit - well, it's a bonus. I reviewed "I Look To You" at the time (see below), writing that it was a nice ballad that would do good as a remix but was ultimately boring. Thinking that her album was going to be filled with schmaltz like this, I argued that this was probably a good career move for her - sticking to the ballads and mid-tempo stuff that will sell her records to the Adult Contemporary masses, along with a remix here and there for the gay audiences. I do think that artists need to know their audience; I can't imagine Whitney really troubling the American Top 40 much anymore. What I got forgot is that Whitney is a diva (too many years on the drugs with that whacked-out husband I think) and divas CAN turn it out.

And that is what "Million Dollar Bill" is all about. Written primarily by Alicia Keys, it's a cracker of a song: straight-up mid-tempo late 70s classic disco/soul. You could almost hear the guitar riffs and beats coming off an old spinning 45 - which makes sense, considering it's a sample from Loleatta Holloway's 1976 gem "We're Getting Stronger". (I'd love it if Arista released "Bill" on vinyl.)

Will it be a hit? The song is currently troubling the outer reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 (peaking at number 100 so far). Surprisingly, it's also slowly climbing the R&B and Dance charts - I would have expected a bigger impact, though I suspect that should change in the coming weeks. There is a much better chance for mainstream success abroad, with "Bill" having already reached number 5 in Japan and the Top 40 in various other European countries. We'll see how she does in the UK in the coming weeks. I hope this is a return to form for her. THIS is the record that could and should see her make her return. Well done, Whitney. More diva soul please.

Check it out here.

Rating: 5/5

Wir sind (nicht) allein

2009-07-23T09:41:00.000+01:00

POLARKREIS 18
"Allein Allein" (Single)
Released: 27 July 2009 (UK)
What does it sound like? A synthpop Mew

As a German speaker and fan of their culture and music, I listen to German radio quite often. I heard this last year on Berlin's 104.6 RTL when it was topping the chart in Deutschland- and I instantly fell in love and had to order the CD. Having spent an impressive month and a half at #1 in Germany, "Allein Allein" went on to chart in a number of other countries - and I hope it will follow suit here.

Polarkreis 18 ('polarkreis' is 'arctic circle' in german) are a synthpop band from Dresden, Germany. Lead singer Felix Räuber has quite a unique singing voice, quite feminine in quality actually. The song fades in to a synthpop beat and dreamy lyrics: "He's living in a universe, a heart away, inside of him there's no one else ... to celebrate his loneliness" And then the beat and heavy synths kick in for the chorus: "Wir sind allein! Allein Allein, Allein Allein" (Which translates as "We are alone! Alone Alone, Alone Alone"). It's very dancy and infectious, so much so that it could be a massive smash hit. However...

The problem are the lyrics. Whilst the English seem happy to accept the occasional French or Spanish lyric, songs with German lyrics that catch on here seem to be relegated to either goth records or Rammstein. Even the two biggest German hits "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco and "99 Luftballons" by Nena ("99 Red Ballons" in English) had to be re-recorded in English. The advantage with "Allein Allein" is that it's already sung in English - save for the chorus. The only German one needs know is "Wir sind allein" (which is "We are alone") and "Allein Allein" (which is "Alone Alone"). Will the mainstream public see past that? Perhaps. The song has recently been featured on Radio 2, and if it can get some spins on MTV or Radio 1 (to me, its natural home) then it could break through and be big. Otherwise, I fear it may only scrape into the Top 40. Just. Pity. It's a brilliant song and I urge you all to check it out - if anything deserves to be a hit this year, it's this.

Rating: 5/5

Kings of the Mountain

2009-07-22T12:39:00.000+01:00

A-HA
"Foot of the Mountain" (Single)
Released: 20 July 2009 (UK)
What does it sound like? A soaring pop single with a deliciously melodic chorus.

I first heard "Foot of the Mountain" when I was on holiday in Berlin last month. It's already been a massive hit there and throughout Europe, and I think it should do pretty darn well in the UK as well.

Starting with an echoy piano solo that wouldn't sound out of place on a Coldplay record, the upbeat synths, drums and guitars quickly come in and then that trademark Morten Harket voice. The verses themselves are nice enough, but it's the chorus where the song really kicks in and grabs you... the piano bangs out a few low notes, the strings and Morten's falsetto begin, and the melody soars. It really is a beautiful summer pop single.

If you're a fan of A-ha's single "Analogue" from a few years back or the classic Take That song "Patience", you'll like this too. It's been A-Listed by Radio 2 which should give it a good boost. I reckon A-ha are looking at another Top 10 with this one. Fantastic.

Rating: 5/5

While you're at it, check out the great video too. I bet it's smashing in HD.

Well, it's the thought that counts, I suppose...

2009-07-21T16:14:00.000+01:00

LA TOYA JACKSON
"Home" (Single)
Released: 28 July 2009
What does it sound like? A boring, low budget R&Ballad.

Originally recorded in 2003, La Toya is jumping on the MJ bandwagon... uh, I mean... honouring the memory of her brother with a song. Even though the song was originally penned for the whole Jackson family, one could certainly get away with saying the lyrics are about Michael: "When I’m all alone, I get this feeling; It always makes me cry, it’s one I can no longer hide; Missing all the years that we all shared at home; The silly things we did, laughing, from early dusk to dawn..."

But I find it hard not to be cynical about it all. To pass off a song she recorded 6 years ago for her family as a new tribute to Michael and saying it's for charity (AIDS Project LA) when she's trying to revive her career rings a little hollow. Look at that single cover for proof... blimey, you almost wonder if it's for real: Michael, dressed in white and looking down from heaven on La Toya (who is missing one hand and) striking a pose - is she supposed to be sad? nostalgic? giving us her best diva stance? showing us how she hails a cab?

It's really hard to care as the song itself is so boring and anonymous. It sounds like it could have been recorded now, 6, or even 15 years ago - it's a basic R&B beat with a twangy guitar (it sounds kinda low budget, really). You can certainly tell it's La Toya Jackson singing - the whole family has the same breathy quality to their voices - and she was never known to be the strongest of singers. By the time she tries to up the drama quotient at the end with a choir (well La Toya vocals just heavily-layered) you've already stopped caring and have either switched off or fallen asleep.

It's not horrible, but it's not very good either - just yaawwwwwwwwwn. I can't imagine it lighting up the airwaves - unless radio and the public fall for the whole "Michael Tribute"/charity single thing. If they do it could surprise us all and chart in the Top 20. Otherwise she MIGHT get in the Top 75 - if she's lucky. In the meantime, I'll just wait for some of Michael Jackson's own unreleased material. (Or Janet - when is she going to do a good record again?!)

Rating: 1/5

Mika's Back

2009-07-20T13:16:00.000+01:00

MIKA
"We Are Golden" (Single)
Released: 20 July 2009 (UK)
What does it sound like? A 70s kids tv show theme

Mika is back with his big orchestration and his falsetto. But this time he's joined by a gospel and children's choir. The result is a very happy pop song reminiscent of a 70's kids tv show theme (and the cover artwork certainly fits in with this). The chorus isn't so much sung as shouted (it's not as annoying as it sounds, it's quite fun actually): "We are not what you think we are! We are golden! Teenage dreams in a teenager circus! Running around like a clown on purpose! Who gives a damn about the family you come from! No giving up when you're young and you want some!"

This album will apparently deal with his "teenage years", touching upon both the darker and more fun elements of adolescence (though no word on whether he'll be less coy about his sexuality yet). All in all it's a strong return and should score Mika another Top 10 hit.

Rating: 3/5

A great start out of the box

2009-07-17T13:01:00.000+01:00

MPHO
"Box N Locks" (Single)
Released: 20 July 2009 (UK)
What does it sound like? The Noisettes meets the 80s

What is MPHO? At first I thought it was an acronym - like ABBA or MFSB. But no, Mpho is a name (pronounced "Umm-poh") - Mpho Skeef to be exact, a South African-born, Brixton-raised woman who is about to hit it big in the world of pop music. She's going to do it with her first single, and it's a belter.

But first a bit about Mpho - her back-story is an interesting one: Born to a white mother and black father, her birth was in itself a crime at the time. In fact, Mpho spent her first birthday in jail when her mother - an active anti-apartheid protester - was arrested. A few years after that the family made their way to the UK and Mpho has grown up in exile in South London ever since.

Now, about that song... 'Box N Locks' has a very strong 80s vibe, thanks to the fantastic guitar sample from Martha and the Muffins' classic 'Echo Beach'. Mpho is a great singer - think Shingai Shoniwa from The Noisettes - and her musical style is very funky Indie R&B (beats and guitars). She's very unique and makes that point clear in 'Box N Locks': "Feisty little brown girl, raised in Brixton town girl, Supposed to be some ghetto chick, making all this urban music; But I'm not sure just what you mean, coz a Friday night in Brixton don’t sound to far from a Friday night in Leeds; So sorry but I didn't know that I fit in the box, and all the locks are supposed to be unbreakable...". Very appropriate for a girl born under apartheid; she wants to break down barriers and she's succeeding.

Mpho said in a recent interview: “It frustrated me for some time that whenever I walked into a meeting with an A&R or producer they’d think I sang R&B or neo-soul,” Mpho points out. “Yeah I can do that, but who said I wanted to? I couldn’t define myself via all the other genre options available; I’m not hip hop, rock or R&B, and I don’t make grime or garage or breakbeat. The only title that doesn’t define your music sonically is pop music. If I say pop, you don’t have a clue what it sounds like until you listen to it and that was exciting to me.” Me too, Mpho. Can't wait for that album to drop.

Rating: 5/5

The video for Box N Locks can be found here.

While you're at it, check out her brilliant cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" here.

What IS behind closed doors? Well actually, it's a mess.

2009-07-16T10:59:00.000+01:00

PETER ANDRE
"Behind Closed Doors" (Single)

Released: 10 August 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? A big mess (see below).

You knew this was coming... Peter Andre and Katie "Jordan" Price have split, and now we're going to have to put up with twice as much of them as they both embark on competing careers. Peter Andre has decided to take a stab at music, which is fair enough considering that's where he got his start. Some may forget that he has several hits to his name, including no less than 3 #1's and 6 other Top 10's in the UK alone.

Unfortunately, his musical comeback leaves a lot to be desired. "Behind Closed Doors" is a big mess. Kicking off with heavy rock guitars, you think the tone is set (and wonder what happened to the old Peter Andre)... until the Usher-like beat kicks in after 10 seconds. The conflicting styles don't work, and it all sounds over-produced: the guitars, the beats, the vocals. I know Peter Andre was never known for the best lyrics or vocal abilities, but at least his older stuff was more fun - where are the slinky R&B beats that you can groove to? This feels like he's trying too hard: I'm more serious, I'm more mature, I'm more hurt...

Oh yeah, about those lyrics - Oy vey! "You think you got me figured out, You think you know what I'm about, Don't believe what you read ... Who would have known? That our lives would be so exposed? ... Behind closed doors, that's where the truth is...". I'm sorry Peter, but you and Katie brought the tv cameras behind your closed doors - not just in Britain but in America. Not to mention the countless other magazine spreads and chat shows (including your own). Or are you saying that's was all down to Katie? Or maybe you just have a martyr complex. Either way, it's not pretty.

All that said, this will be a big hit. Peter Andre is still popular (case in point: that ghastly cover of "A Whole New World" got to #12 only a couple years back). Couple that with the media coverage surrounding the split and the sympathy he's receiving and this will head for the top of the pops. Depending on who he's up against, it could be a return to #1. Otherwise, expect him to add another Top 5 hit to his tally. (And for your next single Peter, have some fun again!)

Rating: 1/5

Yabba Dabba Do

2009-07-16T10:25:00.000+01:00

THE TWANG
"Barney Rubble" (Single)

Released: 27 July 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? Indie Pop with a House underbeat (No, really it's good - it's a sample you'll recognise.)

I've always been a fan of The Twang. I loved their first album "Love It When I Feel Like This", in particular the songs 'Reap What You Sow" and "Got Me Sussed". At the time however, I couldn't help but feel this was a band that might disappear after one album.

But low and behold (and happily), The Twang are back with curiously-titled single 'Barney Rubble'.No, it has nothing to do with The Flintstones character -- it's about a lad who is always out with his mates, leaving his missus at home to wait for him (even though he loves her to bits and this is winding her up something chronic - typical behaviour that lads can be accused of sometimes). It's not the deepest of lyrics but it works - a catchy melody, quality guitars and running underneath: the great muffled house beat sample from Simply Red's 'Fairground' (which itself samples The Goodman's 'Give It Up').

No, it won't be a #1 but it's a lovely summery tune and I really like it. Top 20, I reckon. I'm looking forward to the album... GREAT cover by the way! It reminds me of the Madness "One Step Beyond" album cover. (Both below)

Rating: 4/5

UK Single Releases, 13 July 2009 - Selected Reviews

2009-07-10T14:06:00.000+01:00

Green Day "21 Guns"

- Genre: Pop Rock

- What does it sound like? Green Day with a touch of 80's hair-rock ballad.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes

- Rating: 3/5

Hollywood Undead "Young"
- Genre: Rock
- What does it sound like? Slipknot meets Linkin Park. Typical dime-a-dozen American Hip-Hop Rock.
- Will it chart in the Top 40? No, unless radio jumps on it.
- Rating: 1/5

James Morrison "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You"
- Genre: Pop
- What does it sound like? Classic Northern Soul
- Will it chart in the Top 40? Definitely. Top 10
- Rating: 4/5

JLS "Beat Again" (See also review below)
- Genre: Pop
- What does it sound like? Usher-type R&B pop
- Will it chart in the Top 40? Definitely. Top 5, if not #1
- Rating: 3/5

Melanie Fiona "Give It To Me Right"
- Genre: Soul
- What does it sound like? An soul diva singing over a sample from The Zombie's "Time of the Season"
- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes
- Rating: 3/5 (It gets an extra point because of the sample)

MZ Bratt "Who Do You Think You Are"
- Genre: Grime pop
- What does it sound like? A street girl singing/rapping over a heavy dance beat
- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes, Top 10.
- Rating: 2/5

Pussycat Dolls "Hush Hush; Hush Hush"
- Genre: Pop
- What does it sound like? Disco - it even includes a partial cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" at the end. Shameless.
- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes, Top 10.
- Rating: 2/5

Reverend and the Makers "Silence is Talking"
- Genre? Electropop-rock.
- What does it sound like? Electropop - what it says on the tin, really: Kula Shaker or the Stone Roses with the riff from War's "Low Rider".
- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes, probably on the lower rungs.
- Rating: 2/5

Skint and Demoralised "Red Lipstick"
- Genre? Indie chav pop.
- What does it sound like? The Streets with indie guitars. It's actually kind of catchy and summery.
- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes, Top 20.
- Rating: 3/5

Square1 featuring Siobhan Donaghy "Styfling"
-Genre? Neo-Soul Electronica-Pop
- What does it sound like? It's got a Massive Attack feel but is built for Top 40.
- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes, it deserves to be Top 10.
- Rating: 4/5

JLS's Debut Single

2009-07-08T16:41:00.000+01:00

JLS
"Beat Again" (Single)

Released: 13 July 2009 (UK)

What does it sound like? R&B pop (along the lines of Usher)

I was prepared to hate the new JLS single. I wasn't their biggest fan when they were on The X Factor - in fact, I felt that they were lucky to make the final 4, let alone the finale. Still, this is a bit of a surprise. With a heavy beat and even heavier produced vocals (something which is needed as they're not the strongest singers - one of the reasons why I wasn't a big fan of them on X Factor), "Beat Again" chugs along with a very dancy, R&B pop sound. It won't set the world on fire and it's not ground breaking, but it is catchy enough. JLS do deserve props for recording something new and current-sounding and not going the covers or cut-rate album route of so many reality show artists before them (Same Difference, Eoghan Quigg, Leon Jackson...). "Beat Again" sounds like it could have been recorded by any of the R&B stars out there right now (Usher or Ne-Yo or whoever - take your pick) and should certainly earn them a spot in the Top 5, if not a #1.

The big test will come with their album. If I were managing them, I'd go for a similar sound on their second single and a ballad for the third - released just in time for Christmas. I would also hold off on releasing the album until early December as well, making sure that I had 10 to 12 strong NEW tracks (if a cover is a must, make it something unusual, new, and unexpected - like Leona's cover of Snow Patrol's "Run"). If they do it right, JLS could be the next big boy band. Otherwise, they'll be the next One True Voice.

Single Rating: 3/5

Whitney's Back - But is she any good?

2009-07-05T10:47:00.000+01:00

Well, Whitney Houston's supposed comeback single is making the rounds online now.

So what's it like? Well, it's paint-by-numbers Diane Warren: a paino-driven ballad with the key changes, the bridge leading to the big finale chorus, and those Warren lyrics -- "I thought I'd never make it through, I had no hope to hold on to, I thought I would break... I didn't know my own strength." (It's not hard to read between the lines here: 'Yes, I dumped that loser husband and got off the crack').

Whitney's voice is still strong (if a bit deeper and raspier) but to be honest, the song is a little boring. It's impossible to imagine that it'll be a hit on MTV, Radio 1, or the youth Top 40 radio stations in America, but then she's 45 and that's not her audience anymore. This song has a solid Adult Contemporary sound, and that's smart - she knows who will buy her records.

A side note on age:

Yes, it's sad that age plays such an important role but in celebrity pop culture it's a fact. There are very few people past 45/50 who have mainstream hits, especially in America. Look at Madonna - She's now going on 51 and a lot of kids are think she's past it; she's wisely begun a shift to the 20-30 something and gay audiences to sustain her success. (And even then, her last few singles didn't chart in on the US Hot 100). Cher had a hit at 50 with "Believe", but that was a dance record and again appealed to an older and gay audience (that also took ages to take hold in America, originally peaking at Number 99 on the charts). Look at Celine Dion... it was cringe-worthy watching her try and go Shakira-esque with her "Eyes on Me" single a couple years back (that was a bomb - she needs to stick to the AC audiences that love her). It'll be interesting to see how artists like Mariah Carey (now 40) make the transition in the coming years.

As for Whitney, she should stick to the power ballads and upbeat R&B (Alicia Keys is rumoured to be working with her on the album so that could provide a mainstream hit) and go on Oprah to launch her album. I can see it now, Whitney on the sofa giving the full story - "Girl, I was down so low but then I took control, climbed up, and now (stand up while the audience cheers and snap those fingers) -- I AM BACK!"... Americans lap that shit up. Then get some solid remixes together for the gay audiences and she'll indeed be back on track.

UK Single Releases, 06 July 2009 - Selected Reviews

2009-07-04T08:19:00.000+01:00

3OH!3 "Don't Trust Me"

- Genre: Geek pop from a band with a stupid name (it's based on their home area code in Boulder, Colorado... 303. Yeah, clever.)

- What does it sound like? Overproduced nerdy white boy pop/rock.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? It did in the US, it probably will here too.

- Rating: 1/5

Animal Kingdom "Tin Man"

- Genre: Indie pop

- What does it sound like? Denmark's Mew or Germany's Polarkreis 18.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? Maybe

- Rating: 3/5

Benassi vs. Bowie "DJ"

- Genre: Dance

- What does it sound like? It's classic David Bowie - remixed for 2009 dance floors. It sounds exactly like you might think it would.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? Definitely, probably Top 10

- Rating: 3/5

Chipmunk "Diamond Rings"

- Genre: Hip pop

- What does it sound like? Hip hop pop with a 20s feel. If you liked Blu Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style" a few years back you may enjoy this.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes, Top 10.

- Rating: 2/5

Defend Moscow "Die Tonight"

- Genre: 80s pop

- What does it sound like? Duran Duran or the Human League.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? If it gets airplay, yes. If not, no.

- Rating: 3/5

Elliott Minor "Solaris"

- Genre: Rock

- What does it sound like? A poppier Muse or Lost Prophets.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes

- Rating: 4/5

Esther O'Connor "Lost Innocence"

- Genre: Folk pop

- What does it sound like? Classic melodic pop - sort of an Aimee Mann meets Mary Chapin Carpenter

- Will it chart in the Top 40? Probably not. But If she catches people's imaginations and gets a big enough push she could have a minor hit.

- Rating: 3/5

Franz Ferdinand "Can't Stop Feeling"

- Genre: Indie pop

- What does it sound like? Typical Franz Ferdinand, but a little more dancy.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes, Top 20 or 30.

- Rating: 3/5

Jordin Sparks "Battlefield"

- Genre: Pop

- What does it sound like? Classic big ballad pop in the tradition of Pat Benatar or Bonnie Tyler. Jordin is a bit young and doesn't have the rock vocals of those divas - but she's still pretty damn good.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? It already did - Top 5. When the CD Single comes out it should return to the top of the chart.

- Rating: 4/5

Lady Gaga "Paparazzi"

- Genre: Pop

- What does it sound like? If you've not heard this yet you've been living under a rock. It sounds like Gwen Stefani meets early Madonna/Cyndi Lauper.

- Will it chart in the Top 40? It's already Top 5.

- Rating: 5/5

Lisa Mitchell "Neapolitan Dreams"

- Genre? Quirky folk pop

- What does it sound like? Kimya Dawson (you know, from the 'Juno' Soundtrack)

- Will it chart in the Top 40? No. If it does it'll be for the novelty factor.

- Rating: 2/5

The Maccabees "Can You Give It"

- Genre: Indie

- What does it sound like? Typical indie - guitars, indie vocals...

- Will it chart in the Top 40? Probably Top 20 or 30.

- Rating: 2/5

VV Brown "Shark In The Water" (See also review below)

- Genre: Pop

- What does it sound like? Natasha Bedingfield meets The Noisettes

- Will it chart in the Top 40? Yes - if Radio 1 gets behind it, it will. Top 5, hopefully.

- Rating: 5/5

I am DJ Sway

Top 20 Videos - Postscript

Top 20 Videos - #1

Top 20 Videos - #2

Top 20 Videos - #3

Top 20 Videos - #4

Top 20 Videos - #5

Top 20 Videos - #6

Top 20 Videos - #7

Top 20 Videos - #8

Top 20 Videos - #9

Top 20 Videos - #10

Top 20 Videos - #11

Top 20 Videos - #12

Top 20 Videos - #13

Top 20 Videos - #14

Top 20 Videos - #15

Top 20 Videos - #16

Top 20 Videos - #17

Top 20 Videos - #18

Top 20 Videos - #20 & 19

Young gets 'Older'

Killer sounds which hopefully won't kill their career

Under the sheets with Ellie

The sky is blue/perfect/stoned

After 33 years, everything's looking rosy for Silly

A tale of two pop tarts - one stale, the other a tasty treat.

New Year, New Start, New Bush?

Same Difference STEPS back into the pop world

Marina's brillance spews forth

We can't go on like this... (In skinny jeans?)

Unlike it's predecessor, this one won't go on

The Sound of 2010? It's lovely.

Stand back, it's the the NYPC

Who says $100 won't buy you much these days...?

He's from the Library, I doubt they've ever set foot in one.

The 'Girls' may 'Catch' their first proper hit with this.

Long live Róisín Murphy, Trendsetter extraordinaire

Where did you find this old 45?

The Best of 2009

I wish this had been a bigger hit

Aurally Fixated: But is there any room for Róisín?

Just say "Fine, we'll feckin' well do it then."

Nothing Compares 2 Being Happy

Attacking the hype machine from the 11th Dimension

Delicious!

Can anyone seriously tell me, what is the point of this?

Oh Bootsie - how brilliant!

Auto-tune this love

The legend has died but the marketing goes on.

Beautiful and haunting

I never expected this!

Miley's first UK Top 10?

Oh no, Robbie! What a pile of pish!

Not as bad as usual, but still cack

Does Alexandra's debut single have the X Factor?

A love rap to NYC

1-2-3... Here comes Britney

Come on girls, you know desperate isn't pretty.

Not bad, but not really what I Wanted

Hellooooo Whitney! Now THAT'S a proper comeback!

Wir sind (nicht) allein

Kings of the Mountain

Well, it's the thought that counts, I suppose...

Mika's Back

A great start out of the box

What IS behind closed doors? Well actually, it's a mess.

Yabba Dabba Do

UK Single Releases, 13 July 2009 - Selected Reviews

JLS's Debut Single

Whitney's Back - But is she any good?

UK Single Releases, 06 July 2009 - Selected Reviews