It's 2 AM, I can't decide what I'm doin'

I've had some questions about the other JC Chasez demo I alluded to in the comments of my "Don't Stop" post come in. I'm just going to copy and paste my response to one of them:

The other demo I've got is "La La Land." To be honest, the reason I've been dragging my feet about posting it is that it's more of an interesting little oddity than a song to stir up excitement--more mid-tempo stream-of-consciousness than a typically melodic song. I wouldn't be leaking it since it was posted elsewhere on the Internet in a legitimate way, but given that it seems it's not been widely heard, it does worry me that it might in some way disillusion people. It's just an outtake, but sometimes, when you hear so little new music from an act you love, you end up reading too much into the random tracks you do get to hear.

Still, I definitely know how it is to want to hear anything an artist has recorded, even if it's not single-quality material, so I'll try to post the song soon.

I should probably have clarified that by saying that I know hardcore fans have been through enough to usually understand the difference between an unused song and a song that an artist intends to use as part of a comeback--it's casual commenters who sometimes don't pay attention to the difference.

Anyway, with all that in mind, here's a the key part of this post that is less a "you must listen to this song!" post and more a "for the fans" post: "La La Land," which finds JC engaging in rambling verses about life in Los Angeles and casually "la la la"ing his way through the short chorus. You could make the argument that the casualness of the whole thing fits in with the the way he's parodying being caught up in the fame-loving LA scene, with hipster cred being equated to acting as if you don't care. The end result is still a song that feels more like an extended (arguably humorous) interlude, but, hey, you get to hear his voice.

La La Land by poppostergirl

"La La Land" is unreleased, but you can buy JC Chasez's debut solo album Schizophrenic here (physical) or here (digital).

Use me, I know the way to paradise

How does the idea of JC Chasez singing something by the creator of Jennifer Paige and Nick Carter's charming duet "Beautiful Lie" from last year sound to you? Like not such a bad idea, right?

Don't Stop by poppostergirl

Swedish songwriter Carl Falk has an eclectic discography but has recently been delivering quality work in a way that gives you the impression he's just about to break out and get the credit he deserves soon (personally, I've got high hopes for his work with Darren Hayes). When he feels like it, he does a good job updating the Cheiron sound of the late '90s with the more electronic sound of today to create catchy, fun pop songs like this one, with its little percussion progressions sprinkled throughout the kicky, poppy beat. Unlike, say, "Beautiful Lie" or the Backstreet Boys demo "Fire & Water," "Don't Stop" is pure fun, an up-tempo romp without any real dark undertones (or any of the dirty funk of JC's own earlier work). Carl posted "Don't Stop" to his MySpace, so the safest bet is that he and JC wrote it together with the intention of selling it to another artist--it's just a demo, but it comes with the pleasant perk of being sung by JC.

Speaking of JC-penned and -sung demos, a few more have leaked this year: "Teenage Wildlife" is a "Mr. Brightside" imitator that AJ McLean recorded for his debut solo album and "Build Some Love" was a ballad Kris Allen considered using. JC has always been one of the more underrated American male singers and I still regret that his second solo album was never released. Schizophrenic, its predecessor, deserved more success than it found; it's a fun, sexy/ridiculous-in-an-entertaining-way summer album. I still carry the hope, no matter how in vain it might be, that he'll release music again in some way.

There's nowhere to buy "Don't Stop," but you can purchase JC Chasez's album Schizophrenic here (physical) or here (digital).

Now nine months go by, the baby's not my blood type

JC Chasez, I'm sorry I didn't realize how great "Until Yesterday" was when I first heard it--but come back! And without Nick Lachey-esque balladry, please (or at least, not just with that)! The former 'N Sync singer's debut solo album came out back in my "I couldn't care less about music" stage, meaning I didn't buy it at the time and can't compare about it flopping, but I would've been very interested in picking up another album from him. If you've never heard anything of off that debut album, (the sex-obsessed) Schizophrenic, you're missing out; JC didn't and doesn't sound quite like anyone else out there, with a sort of funky style of pop that manages to win even me with my general leeriness of anything described as "funky" over. It throws hooks at you from every direction, be they guitar riffs in "100 Ways" or electro beats like "All Day Long I Dream About Sex" (which virtually everyone who hears the song loves it). I've heard people compare former bandmate Justin's latest album to JC's Schizophrenic, but--and maybe it's because of the voice--I generally much prefer listening to JC's stuff. Much-delayed second album Kate is still not out yet after lead single "Until Yesterday" (which came out nearly a year ago) and followup single "You Ruined Me" (the ballad I alluded to earlier, which I like in an OK way, but I do hope it doesn't indicate the album's direction) and at this point, who knows if it ever will be, at least in its original form, but I keep hoping it'll happen (of course, I'm still waiting for that Ben Adams album, too, so no one should be holding their breath for this).

Until Yesterday--"Until Yesterday" finds JC narrating his discovery that his girlfriend is pregnant by another man, but it's a lot more innovative than that sounds. JC tends to get Prince and Freddie Mercury comparisons thrown at him and, though I'm not enough of an expert on them to really confirm that, his music certainly fits with what I associate them with. "Until Yesterday" has its share of rhythm-jumping and manages to sound adventurous and unique (theatrical, I'd say), but...well, he's a pop artist who manages to stay thoroughly pop and accessible while doing what in other peoples' hands would leave you with the impression "that was left-field and...different," as opposed to "that was a good song." Sadly, this song is exactly the sort that screams "flop at the radio"...and it did. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it and its catchiness on our own and imagine an alternative world where radio jumped all over this sound and Kate was a #1 smash when it came out half a year ago.

JC Chasez's single "Until Yesterday" is available for purchase on the U.S. iTunes, but nowhere else that I know of. You can buy his debut album Schizophrenic here (physical) or here (digital) or on iTunes, though.

If you haven't heard anything else by JC, definitely check out the singles from Schizophrenic: the great party-type records (very dance-inspiring) "Blowin' Me Up (With Her Love)" and "Some Girls (Dance With Women)" and the oh-so-subtle video for "ADIDAS." The world needs JC back as a popstar, but on his terms...

And while we're discussing him, I have to link to my absolute favorite JC-related review that I've ever read, an old one (Justified/Schizophrenic time) over on Poptext. If you do nothing else, read this review (and others on the site). Abby is always a clever writer (with a creeping sly sense of humor) who does (did?) what are probably the best metaphors in music writing I've ever read; the archives of Poptext are always worth a browse.

Next up: maybe that American group or a Swedish or South African singer.