Nothing in common

This is more of a Twitter-riffic post than something with enough substance to merit space on the blog, but Ben Adams, following up his crazy/brilliant video about a1's dance routines, has posted a video of a1 working on new songs that includes clips of some of the songs. They're working with David Eriksen, a Norwegian songwriter who I tend to associate with a kind of pure pop sound (several of the songs on the Saturdays' last album were by him, including "Lies" and "Set Me Off"), on that first song, which sounds more uptempo electronic than I was expecting. There's also more Zac Efron and Robert Pattinson than I might have expected.



Let's be honest: I'd probably buy that first song, the one I'm guessing is called "No Regrets," and "Nothing In Common" right now if I could.

Why these tears?

I've said before how much I love Norwegian Idol winner Aleksander With's winner's single "A Little Too Perfect," a perfect upbeat pop song which still holds the title of my favorite winner's single (probably mainly because it deviates so much from the usual template). Much as I understand his desire to pursue more melancholy music after that, I've never been able to click with any of it as much as I wanted to based on that first single.



It's taken a few months, but "What's The Story," the lead single from his second album, might just have won me over. It continues Aleksander's pursuit of a more piano-pop-rock singer-songwriter sound that tries to struggle up from the emotional lows of life (rather than celebrating the highs like "A Little Too Perfect"). Most semi-ballads of this type that I fall for have some big sing-a-long moment, a swooning or keening release or a simple little hook; "What's The Story" doesn't really, though the chorus is strong enough, albeit in a subtle, restrained way, that you could sing along if you wanted to (what really does it for me is the little piano riff that accompanies each line of the chorus). As a result, it's not a song I could see on American radio, but (theoretically, not realistically) elsewhere in Europe, where life in a minor metaphorical key is more musically acceptable? Sure.

It may have taken a few months for my heartstrings to feel it, but mark them down as now officially tugged.

Aleksander With's single "What's The Story" is available for purchase here (digital).

Just for fun and nothin' meant

I've given in and joined the Twitter crowd. Even if you don't have your own Twitter account (if you do, I'd love if you'd follow me), popping by to check out my account every once in a while will keep you up-to-date with new songs I'm listening to but either haven't got around to writing about yet or bits of news that feel too short for the blog. Lately I've been mentioning the second single from Najoua Belyzel's new album, the Mylene Farmer-dedicated "M (Hey Hey Hey)"...

...a new Blake Lewis song, "Binary Love" (on writer/producer Carl Ryden's MysSpace), which isn't as good as "Heartbreak On Vinyl" but is still OK...

...and the FANTASTIC, GORGEOUS middle eight to Britney's new single "3." Sweet and lovely, in a slightly "Brave New Girl" way.

Take you to the end of the Earth

One of my songs of the moment comes from Trixie. British singer DollFace was a member of never-got-off-the-ground girl group Silhouettes, whose retro pop song "Surrender" Popjustice wrote about. Demo "Ms. Jamaica" has a very different sound than "Surrender," but I like it even more. Apparently co-written by Jasmine Baird, it's modern electronic pop with production elements that Trixie rightly compares to RedOne, though it's more a useful reference point for writers than real copying on the part of its creators. There's something special about how its synths slice and dice--gently--and about the attitude and delivery DollFace brings to the song...something very commercial but with just a bit of mystery to it--the sort of song that, like Mandy Moore's "In My Pocket," you listen to as you explore a new city...something that gets you hoping she and her collaborators will be able to keep up this level of material.

On another front, "Boomerang," another demo on her MySpace, sounds really familiar to me--anyone able to place it?

I'll never find nobody else, babe

Question:



What the heck is "I'll Never Love Again" doing on the tracklist for Taio Cruz's second album? Granted, I've spent a year complaining that that track from his first album was never a single and it's one of the songs that played a big role in getting me to buy that album, but (unless it's a different song with the same title), I do NOT want people getting inspired by all this "Radar" ridiculousness. For heaven's sake, it was the FIRST TRACK on Departure.

It's still a beautiful sad modern R&B-pop mid-tempo ballad, though.

Don't know what to say or do

Norwegian singer Samsaya's new single, "ADHD (Love Me Not)," the third in advance of her album, has what you could either call a commonplace or derivative sound, depending on how generous you're feeling, but after several days of listening to it, I'm still just as hooked as ever, which makes me think it might have more lasting value than some of the random one-country pop singles that crop up . If nothing else, that opening "love me, love, love, love, love me" hook is instantly catchy, but I'm increasingly convinced there's something of value to the entire song, not just that part.

Samsaya's "ADHD (Love Me Not)" is available on iTunes internationally here or digitally regardless of country here.

The way you kiss keeps me hangin' on

(I'm running a little experiment to see how I can go about streaming songs that aren't on YouTube--Imeem isn't ideal, as embedded it only lets non-users listen to thirty seconds [unless the song was uploaded by its creator], but it's the best option I know of at the moment, without paying for something. If anyone else has any ideas, please let me know!)

What has Danish songwriter/producer Thomas Troelsen (of Private and great songs like Monrose's "Hot Summer") been up to lately?

Well, since his official site hasn't be updated, I can't give you a comprehensive list. I do know a few things he's been working on, though:

Probably the highest profile thing he's done recently is produce the Raveonettes' new album, In And Out Of Control (streaming there). The Danish boy-girl duo is usually kind of rocky (and cool), but they sound a little more pop this time around to my ears. Granted, I haven't listened to the full album yet, but songs like "Bang" (with its Phil Spector '60s prodution meeting '80s melodies performed by modern Scandinavian indie-pop singers) have succeeded in catching my ear.

Danish electronica music creator Kenneth Bager's latest single, the "Ain't No Mountain High"-sampling "Fragment Sixteen (I Can't Wait)" (clip here), features Thomas's vocals. It seems Kenneth Bager's years-old album Fragments from a Space Cadet is getting some sort of international release...I think...and this new song is being used to lead up to that release. Personally, I prefer the less party-friendly "Fragment Two (The First Picture)," featuring Julee Cruise.



Thomas is also the producer of the new single from Maria Montell, a Danish singer who
apparently usually sings bossa nova-styled songs. "Bang Bang Boogie" has some of that Troelsen funk to it, though (strangely, for me) the chorus feels cheesier than I'd like--kitschier might be a better word--considering the opening verse, which seems like it's going for a more haunting vibe.

'Cause I don't even know what you want

Popjustice has the wonderful new cover for Will Young's upcoming greatest hits-promoting single "Hopes & Fears," but just as good as that cover is the clip of the song on Popjustice. It's worth your thirty seconds--there may be talk of tears and being brought down, but it's got that special gently upbeat feel good magic about it.

"Hopes & Fears" is out November 8, but I hope it gets its radio debut soon. Speaking of Will, apparently "Tell Me The Worst" was some sort of single from the album, but only a "club promo"--is that right? Does that mean no radio play? Shame if so--my favorite song on Will's pretty great last album, Let It Go, tied with "I Won't Give Up."

Sometimes when I close my eyes it feels like I'm living by numbers

ARGH. How can this be HAPPENING?

*throws all the toys out of the pram*

(That's not to say this new incarnation couldn't potentially make great music...but can it possibly still sound like the Sugababes?)