Some of the great things about how music-filled the Internet has become are the insight we get into songs while they're still being prepared for recording or release and the proliferation of new songs from across the globe that we might never otherwise have heard of.
Of course, this comes with frustrations, too. One of the ones that drives me the most crazy is hearing a fantastic song and not knowing who sings it, a danger that comes up frequently when you follow songwriters but that also comes up often when supposed demos for big artists are leaked; think Eva Simons's "Silly Boy," for example.
The song currently driving me crazy in this way is below.
Internet land has alternately referred to this song as being called "Exit (Give Me A Heart Attack" by an unknown singer and "Exit" sung by David Jassy and produced by Twin. I could believe that David and the duo from Twin created the song (which I think appeared on the Internet in 2008), but from the few times I've been exposed to David's voice--mainly on raps, to be fair (see: Darin's "Karma," an inappropriate song title given the event David Jassy has received press for)--I really don't think it's him singing. What I do know is this: I LOVE it. It's a fantastic catchy example of the R&B meets Europop sound popular at the moment, with the added advantage of having strings. The singer's voice--male and R&B-pop-sounding--suits the song to a T...I just don't know who he is.
While we're on the subject of David Jassy, I have to mention a piece of news Damian clued me into: a previously unheard Darin song has leaked. Club-friendly "Pop That" is the most R&B (maybe most American? Not quite what I mean, but I can't figure out how to put what I mean into words) we've heard Darin sound, though it's still synthesizer-filled, and comes from the studios of David and Ilya, who have worked with him before. That fact means I don't know where this song fits in chronologically--it's being billed as new, and it could be, but I just don't know if that's the case (and I don't know how much new song creation David Jassy has been doing...but this is somewhat of a new sound for Darin, so that fits with the "new song" idea).
Monday, September 07, 2009
Sunday, September 06, 2009
I just wanted to hold you in my arms
On the one hand, I'm thrilled that Adam Lambert is getting to work with a plethora of big-name songwriters; I hope that adds up to top-quality material, a to-die-for mix of pop, electro, dance, and rock that still feels like Adam and no one else. On the other hand...
I hope his debut album has time for a song like his cover of Muse's "Starlight." At the risk of sounding too pretentious, there's a clarity and beauty to it--a magic to it, as there is a magic to the original track--that his debut album (due out November 24) would do well to remember.
I hope his debut album has time for a song like his cover of Muse's "Starlight." At the risk of sounding too pretentious, there's a clarity and beauty to it--a magic to it, as there is a magic to the original track--that his debut album (due out November 24) would do well to remember.
Friday, September 04, 2009
I waited for you at the record shop
The title track from Blake Lewis's upcoming album: l-o-v-e it. My fears that this would be an indie-dance album that ditched all pop sensibilities apparently couldn't have been more wrong. The soundscape created is definitely electronica influenced, but the melody and the way the synths are harnessed couldn't be more pop--in other words, it's a perfect combination. We've only heard it in low quality so far, but even at lower bitrates, you can hear how it's going to sparkle. Beautiful and uptempo, it's the sort of song that fills you with energy--yes, it passes the "has me wanting to jump around my room" test--but tugs just a bit, only gently, at those heartstrings, too.(This is usually where I would embed a YouTube video of the song, but it's not there yet. Listen by subscribing to his mailing list.)
My expectations for this album just skyrocketed. Could I actually end up loving it more than his debut? It's hard to imagine, given that I spun that record more than any other of the past few years (well, except maybe Erik Hassle's), but suddenly, hearing "Heartbreak On Vinyl," which just might be the most grown-up sound from Blake yet--and I didn't even realize I wanted any other sound from him until hearing this song and now suddenly know that, if this is the alternative, I do--I'm starting to think Blake might actually do it.
To preorder Blake Lewis's new album, Heartbreak On Vinyl, go here
. It comes out October 6.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Things were so different, now you're gone, I thought it'd be easy, I was wrong
More songwriter notes and random artist tidbits (I really am going to do more in depth posts, less "news bullet"-y, soon):
Johan "Kermit" Bobäck is working with Darin on new music (he previously collaborated with him on "Seasons Fly").
Apparently British boy band a1 are reuniting for some concerts in Norway in early December and will be performing both old and (gasp!) new songs. I am not ashamed to admit I got more than a bit excited listening to the group rehearse modern classic "Caught In The Middle." Speaking of new songs, Ben Adams, who appeared on this blog many a time in its early days, has a new-ish song on his MySpace (listen to it in higher quality on Facebook), "The Dust Won't Settle," which is really pretty pleasant (albeit sad) pop-rock--more like third album a1 than most of what we've heard of his solo album, but it shows he's just as great with a melody and with his voice. Love it. Ben has also (as I think I've mentioned before) written for Alexandra Burke's upcoming album.
Blake Lewis apparently worked with Darkchild for his upcoming album Heartbreak on Vinyl (out October 6). Listen to some beats but no vocals in this video.
If you're a sucker for über-bubblegummy Swedish pop that sounds like it could have come straight out of the '90s--I mean the really sugary sweet, cheesy kind--you might want to listen to Three's "Lucky Number." Who are Three? Three blonde sixteen year old triplets. You can probably already imagine what the music sounds like. Of course, me being me, bubblegum pop is always welcome, especially if it's got a Swedish connection.
Georgie Dennis, sister of Cathy and songwriter in her own right, has a song called "Dirty Drum" on her MySpace that sounds like it's sung by Elin Lanto. There are better, non-Elin songs there, though.
Carl Falk uploaded some new songs to his MySpace a few months ago. I presume they're demos, though I've got no actual proof of that. My favorite is "Shameless," co-written by him, Lindy Robbins, Kristian Lundin, and Rami Yacoub; it's very pop.
Speaking of demos uploaded on MySpace months ago, Tony Nilsson put the demo of Elin Lanto's "Discotheque" on his MySpace. I'm a total demo addict, as I've convinced before, so for me, hearing the substantial differences--though in this case, it's not a matter of voice, since even the demo contains Elin's voice--is really fascinating. The final version is definitely better, but there are some lost elements which, though they probably had to be lost for the sake of the song, I love.
Johan "Kermit" Bobäck is working with Darin on new music (he previously collaborated with him on "Seasons Fly").
Apparently British boy band a1 are reuniting for some concerts in Norway in early December and will be performing both old and (gasp!) new songs. I am not ashamed to admit I got more than a bit excited listening to the group rehearse modern classic "Caught In The Middle." Speaking of new songs, Ben Adams, who appeared on this blog many a time in its early days, has a new-ish song on his MySpace (listen to it in higher quality on Facebook), "The Dust Won't Settle," which is really pretty pleasant (albeit sad) pop-rock--more like third album a1 than most of what we've heard of his solo album, but it shows he's just as great with a melody and with his voice. Love it. Ben has also (as I think I've mentioned before) written for Alexandra Burke's upcoming album.Blake Lewis apparently worked with Darkchild for his upcoming album Heartbreak on Vinyl (out October 6). Listen to some beats but no vocals in this video.
If you're a sucker for über-bubblegummy Swedish pop that sounds like it could have come straight out of the '90s--I mean the really sugary sweet, cheesy kind--you might want to listen to Three's "Lucky Number." Who are Three? Three blonde sixteen year old triplets. You can probably already imagine what the music sounds like. Of course, me being me, bubblegum pop is always welcome, especially if it's got a Swedish connection.
Georgie Dennis, sister of Cathy and songwriter in her own right, has a song called "Dirty Drum" on her MySpace that sounds like it's sung by Elin Lanto. There are better, non-Elin songs there, though.Carl Falk uploaded some new songs to his MySpace a few months ago. I presume they're demos, though I've got no actual proof of that. My favorite is "Shameless," co-written by him, Lindy Robbins, Kristian Lundin, and Rami Yacoub; it's very pop.
Speaking of demos uploaded on MySpace months ago, Tony Nilsson put the demo of Elin Lanto's "Discotheque" on his MySpace. I'm a total demo addict, as I've convinced before, so for me, hearing the substantial differences--though in this case, it's not a matter of voice, since even the demo contains Elin's voice--is really fascinating. The final version is definitely better, but there are some lost elements which, though they probably had to be lost for the sake of the song, I love.
Still here waiting
This post comes with no real commentary because I'm in the process of of my first listen right now.
To what? Fibes, Oh Fibes!'s new album, 1987, which you too can listen to, right here. The link will only work until Wednesday, 9:30 AM Swedish time, though.
I will say that so far it sounds more '70s (especially in instrumentation) than '80s.
Thanks to Damian for the heads-up!
If you haven't listened to the Kim Wilde-featuring "Run To You" (which is very '80s and very good) now's your chance:
Your love is like a weapon
I'm not sure whether Lady GaGa's decision to write a song for Michael Bolton was from her wear-a-suit-of-Kermits, do-anything-to-get-people-talking-about-how-crazy-I-am side or born out of a genuine interest in making a great song that she thought would work really well with his voice and a willingness to ignore usual rules of cool for the sake of achieving something good, but whatever her reasoning, "Murder My Heart," the result, means that whether or not she intended the latter, she's done it.
The melody--which would have been perfect for an '80s film--and piano-meets-synth backing are strong enough that I would most likely have enjoyed the song regardless of who was singing it, but there's a roughness in Michael's voice--not wholely unexpected given that he was never the smoothest of the power ballad crooners, but that earlier trait has been mangified; Michael Bolton meets...age--that makes it stick in your mind just that bit more.
GaGa on backing vocals, as on Britney Spears's "Quicksand," makes me appreciate her voice in these small, pathos-inducing cameos just as she did on that earlier Britney song. I've never been fully sold on any ballad (or half-ballad, as "Murder My Heart" is) she's sung by herself, but boy, can she take one to the next level when used in that capacity.
The melody--which would have been perfect for an '80s film--and piano-meets-synth backing are strong enough that I would most likely have enjoyed the song regardless of who was singing it, but there's a roughness in Michael's voice--not wholely unexpected given that he was never the smoothest of the power ballad crooners, but that earlier trait has been mangified; Michael Bolton meets...age--that makes it stick in your mind just that bit more.
GaGa on backing vocals, as on Britney Spears's "Quicksand," makes me appreciate her voice in these small, pathos-inducing cameos just as she did on that earlier Britney song. I've never been fully sold on any ballad (or half-ballad, as "Murder My Heart" is) she's sung by herself, but boy, can she take one to the next level when used in that capacity.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Discover me
Songwriter update:
I reported earlier that British (but with an American deal with Lava Records) singer Jessie J, who may now be going by Jessie, was working with Dr. Luke and Claude Kelly. We've since had the opportunity to hear what must be at least one result from that collaboration: Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA," co-written by Luke, Claude, and Jessie. Hopefully, though, we'll hear better things sung by Jessie herself on her debut album, supposedly due out this year. I'm skeptical about that actually happening--the buzz behind the singer, more formally known as Jessica Cornish, needs more time to build.
Lucas Secon, the co-writer of songs like the Pussycat Dolls' "I Hate This Part," Martin's "Show The World," and Sarah Connor's "Under My Skin," is working on a new song with Britney Spears, according to his latest MySpace blog. He says he's also the producer of the lead single for Toni Braxton's new album, Pulse, which was written by him and Makeba Riddick. "Get Loose," a Toni track which leaked late last year, is still a great listen. "Resuscitate Me," which he reports is the "Say It"-following second single from Booty Luv's second album, is co-written by him as well.
Sharon Vaughn, co-writer of Agnes's "Release Me," has a song on her MySpace called "Penny on the Sidewalk" which sounds like it's being sung by Fredrik Kempe, the Swedish opera and pop singer who, despite two solo albums, is best known recently for his songwriting work. It could be an old song , but if you've missed Fredrik's voice or are completionist about the work of Kempe, Vaughn, Per Magnusson, or David Kreuger, its writers, head over there. If you're only a fan of Kempe's up-tempo, poppy productions, though, it's not for you. The (female) voice on "Dreamers Don't Get Much Sleep" also sounds familiar, though I can't quite place who it is.
Fibes, Oh Fibes!'s album 1987, released this week, features songs by Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp and Pontus and Petter Winnberg (the former being one-half of Bloodshy & Avant), among other talents more known to Swedes.
Swedish singer and former Alcazar and Barbados member Magnus Carlsson continues to work on his upcoming pop album (to be preceded by a holiday album this year, last I heard), Pop Galaxy, due in February of next year (you have to raise an eyebrow at that choice). He's continued to record with Pitchline (Velvet's "Come Into The Night" and "Take My Body Close") and Hitvision (and as mentioned before, Emil Hellman of SoundFactory contributed to some of them); some of the possible inclusions are called "Addicted To You" and "Last One To Stand."
Allison Iraheta, the fourth place finisher on the last season of American Idol, has worked with Toby Gad for her debut album, planned for a fall release...but really, who hasn't worked with him at this point, especially out of the Idol contestants?
Fred Ball (of Pleasure and work with Bertine Zetlitz) has contributed as a writer and producer to Girls Can't Catch's upcoming album.
Pascal Gabriel is working with Ladyhawke (on her second album), Example, Goldfrapp, and Marina & the Diamonds (we may have heard some of the resulting creations already).
The tracklist for the Saturdays' second album is out; Ina Wroldsen, co-writer of the majority of their first album, has done "No One," "One Shot," "Baby Baby," "Denial," "Wordshaker," "Open Up," and "Deeper." She's also contributed "Discover Me" to Girls Can't Catch's album, "My Hands" and "Heartbeat" to Leona Lewis's (earlier her two Leona contributions were called "Thank You, Thank You" and "My Heart," so I'm guessing they've just been renamed), "My Man," "Get Up (Stronger Man)," "Punching Out," and "I Had Him First" to Jade Ewen's, and "Before The Rain"'s to Alexandra Burke's. She's also got a song called "Not For You" which is listed as a Kylie Minogue release, but I don't have the Kylie knowledge to know whether that's a song that's come out already or not (it could also be the same song as Natalie Bassingthwaighte's "Not For You," also by Ina).
I reported earlier that British (but with an American deal with Lava Records) singer Jessie J, who may now be going by Jessie, was working with Dr. Luke and Claude Kelly. We've since had the opportunity to hear what must be at least one result from that collaboration: Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA," co-written by Luke, Claude, and Jessie. Hopefully, though, we'll hear better things sung by Jessie herself on her debut album, supposedly due out this year. I'm skeptical about that actually happening--the buzz behind the singer, more formally known as Jessica Cornish, needs more time to build.
Lucas Secon, the co-writer of songs like the Pussycat Dolls' "I Hate This Part," Martin's "Show The World," and Sarah Connor's "Under My Skin," is working on a new song with Britney Spears, according to his latest MySpace blog. He says he's also the producer of the lead single for Toni Braxton's new album, Pulse, which was written by him and Makeba Riddick. "Get Loose," a Toni track which leaked late last year, is still a great listen. "Resuscitate Me," which he reports is the "Say It"-following second single from Booty Luv's second album, is co-written by him as well.
Sharon Vaughn, co-writer of Agnes's "Release Me," has a song on her MySpace called "Penny on the Sidewalk" which sounds like it's being sung by Fredrik Kempe, the Swedish opera and pop singer who, despite two solo albums, is best known recently for his songwriting work. It could be an old song , but if you've missed Fredrik's voice or are completionist about the work of Kempe, Vaughn, Per Magnusson, or David Kreuger, its writers, head over there. If you're only a fan of Kempe's up-tempo, poppy productions, though, it's not for you. The (female) voice on "Dreamers Don't Get Much Sleep" also sounds familiar, though I can't quite place who it is.
Fibes, Oh Fibes!'s album 1987, released this week, features songs by Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp and Pontus and Petter Winnberg (the former being one-half of Bloodshy & Avant), among other talents more known to Swedes.
Swedish singer and former Alcazar and Barbados member Magnus Carlsson continues to work on his upcoming pop album (to be preceded by a holiday album this year, last I heard), Pop Galaxy, due in February of next year (you have to raise an eyebrow at that choice). He's continued to record with Pitchline (Velvet's "Come Into The Night" and "Take My Body Close") and Hitvision (and as mentioned before, Emil Hellman of SoundFactory contributed to some of them); some of the possible inclusions are called "Addicted To You" and "Last One To Stand."
Allison Iraheta, the fourth place finisher on the last season of American Idol, has worked with Toby Gad for her debut album, planned for a fall release...but really, who hasn't worked with him at this point, especially out of the Idol contestants?
Fred Ball (of Pleasure and work with Bertine Zetlitz) has contributed as a writer and producer to Girls Can't Catch's upcoming album.
Pascal Gabriel is working with Ladyhawke (on her second album), Example, Goldfrapp, and Marina & the Diamonds (we may have heard some of the resulting creations already).
The tracklist for the Saturdays' second album is out; Ina Wroldsen, co-writer of the majority of their first album, has done "No One," "One Shot," "Baby Baby," "Denial," "Wordshaker," "Open Up," and "Deeper." She's also contributed "Discover Me" to Girls Can't Catch's album, "My Hands" and "Heartbeat" to Leona Lewis's (earlier her two Leona contributions were called "Thank You, Thank You" and "My Heart," so I'm guessing they've just been renamed), "My Man," "Get Up (Stronger Man)," "Punching Out," and "I Had Him First" to Jade Ewen's, and "Before The Rain"'s to Alexandra Burke's. She's also got a song called "Not For You" which is listed as a Kylie Minogue release, but I don't have the Kylie knowledge to know whether that's a song that's come out already or not (it could also be the same song as Natalie Bassingthwaighte's "Not For You," also by Ina).
Sunday, August 30, 2009
With even the alphabet she only sings the crooked letters
What have I been playing over the last few months (a.k.a. trying to do some degree of catching up) that I haven't mentioned here yet?
David Guetta feat. Akon, "Sexy Bitch": "When Love Takes Over" is great. "Sexy Bitch" is even better. Speaks straight to the hips better than any song this year so far.
Pitbull, "Hotel Room Service": Pitbull should be mad at Guetta for taking that title from "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)," but he's probably too busy celebrating making a song as great (albeit filthy) as this one. American (in the broadest sense of the word) rap sampling O-Zone one minute, Eiffel 65 the next, and now Nightcrawlers? Who'd have guessed?
Three 6 Mafia feat. Kalenna and Pitbull, "Shake My": speaking of urban club-rap, "Shake My" is a killer. Kalenna and Pitbull's parts may both outshine the main act's--especially that of Kalenna, whose choruses here get me just as excited as Keri Hilson's contribution in "The Way I Are"--but when they make up the majority of the song and are this good, that barely matters. Darkchild is on a roll at the moment.
Mini Viva, "Bedroom Viber": I've been in love with the demo clip on the Xenomania-produced duo's MySpace for months; finally getting the full track, free and legally no less, couldn't have been a more welcome surprise. I like "Left My Heart In Tokyo," but it's songs like this one that have me hoping Xenomania have a new act to channel capable of making songs with the fun and excitement of earlier to mid-period Girls Aloud.
Taio Cruz, "Break Your Heart": my favorite Taio single yet sounds like all the best elements of his earlier element in one song. Catchy as anything.
Fibes, Oh Fibes feat. Kim Wilde, "Run To You": a recent addition to the list, courtesy of Don't Stop The Pop, "Run To You" is '80's in a gentle pop-rock way that sounds refreshingly different from most current '80s-influenced songs. It plus "Love Child" mean that the Swedish group's third album, 1987, released September 2, can't get here soon enough.
Example, "Watch The Sun Come Up": transporting pop-rap positioning itself as a brief glimpse into the sentimental underbelly of a narrator prone to posturing. The Fred Falke mix is DIVINE.
Lorentz & M.Sakarias, "Baby!": older, but I haven't mentioned it yet here, despite loving it. Über-cute, shiny production from FutureCut on this Swedish language rap song has made it one of the songs I easily return to when I can't quite choose what to play.
Jordin Sparks, "S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)": the second single from a good album which I haven't given full attention to recently--but this song, along with the much-anticipated "Walking On Snow," have no problem winning my attention.
Bananarama, "Love Comes": the British duo delivers with their latest single, electro-disco full of sounds that slice through the air. Another album I can't wait to hear.
The Sound Of Arrows, "Into The Clouds": cosmic Swedish pop. Am I allowed to use the word "transporting" twice in one post?
Filthy Dukes feat. Tommy Sparks, "Messages": did this actually end up being a single? If not, it should have been--this #1 Hits-featured single has the spiky electro influences you might expect from the Filthy Dukes, but it's got pop crossover written all over it via that chorus. And the verses. And those breakdown bleeps.
Jessie James, "Bullet": country-tinged pop that is so much more fun than the song it was replaced by as the second single.
Visitor, "Los Feeling": gorgeous, full of synth washes, beeps, and pumps, but with energy to it--a pulse.
Boys Like Girls, "Love Drunk": the American pop-rock group finally delivers on a level hinted at by "The Great Escape" but one which I never really expected them to reach. It's the single I wanted the All-American Rejects to release.
Written about before but also featuring heavily were the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling," Gathania's "Get It Out," Kate Ryan's "Your Eyes," Booty Luv's "Say It," Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester's "Good Girls Go Bad,"and, to a lesser extent, Anders Fernette/Johansson's "Hungry Eyes" (and probably some others).
Maybe worthy of a quick mention, though the jury's still out on some of them:
Chipmunk's "Oopsie Daisy" (who is that female vocalist?)
Heidi Montag's "Body Language" (she finally gets around to releasing her best song)
Natalie Imbruglia, "Want" (it never climaxes for me, so I'm not fully onboard yet)
Alexandra feat. Flo Rida, "Bad Boys" (pop fun)
Anna Abreu, "Music Everywhere" (good pop chorus that's better than anything she's done since "Ivory Tower," but still not as fully excellent as I want this Finnish Idol contestant's material to be)
Linda Teodosiu, "Reprogram My Heart"
Alphabeat, "The Spell"
Rob Thomas, "Give Me The Meltdown" (my favorite song from him since "Lonely No More" and "This Is How A Heart Breaks," it's catchy pop-rock that should be his next single)
Mika, "We Are Golden" (worried about this new album, which I don't want to be considering how much I loved his first, but there's a great chorus to this lead single)
Blake Lewis, "Sad Song" (I always think it's good but haven't played it much so far--bad sign?)
Backstreet Boys, "Straight Through My Heart" (more generic and less exciting than I'd hoped, but I nearly swerved into another lane while stopping someone from changing the station when it came on the radio. ACTUAL AMERICAN RADIO playing the latest Backstreet Boys single. Probably a one-off, but still.)
Colbie Caillat, "Fallin' For You" (oh no. "Bubbly" was one of those songs I complained about and avoided at all costs, but I really like this sweet singer-songwritery song)
Trey Songz, "I Need A Girl" (months old, but this sweet R&B-pop song has won me over)
Shakira, "She Wolf" (I don't love it like I want to yet, but I'm excited for the album)
Jade Ewen, "Punching Out"
Leona Lewis, "Strangers"
Sugababes, "Get Sexy"
There are some other recent singles--the new ones from Swedish artists like Martin Stenmarck, Nanne, Sandra Dahlberg, Andreas Johnson, Rongedal, and the like--that I can't really judge yet.
David Guetta feat. Akon, "Sexy Bitch": "When Love Takes Over" is great. "Sexy Bitch" is even better. Speaks straight to the hips better than any song this year so far.
Pitbull, "Hotel Room Service": Pitbull should be mad at Guetta for taking that title from "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)," but he's probably too busy celebrating making a song as great (albeit filthy) as this one. American (in the broadest sense of the word) rap sampling O-Zone one minute, Eiffel 65 the next, and now Nightcrawlers? Who'd have guessed?
Three 6 Mafia feat. Kalenna and Pitbull, "Shake My": speaking of urban club-rap, "Shake My" is a killer. Kalenna and Pitbull's parts may both outshine the main act's--especially that of Kalenna, whose choruses here get me just as excited as Keri Hilson's contribution in "The Way I Are"--but when they make up the majority of the song and are this good, that barely matters. Darkchild is on a roll at the moment.
Mini Viva, "Bedroom Viber": I've been in love with the demo clip on the Xenomania-produced duo's MySpace for months; finally getting the full track, free and legally no less, couldn't have been a more welcome surprise. I like "Left My Heart In Tokyo," but it's songs like this one that have me hoping Xenomania have a new act to channel capable of making songs with the fun and excitement of earlier to mid-period Girls Aloud.
Taio Cruz, "Break Your Heart": my favorite Taio single yet sounds like all the best elements of his earlier element in one song. Catchy as anything.
Fibes, Oh Fibes feat. Kim Wilde, "Run To You": a recent addition to the list, courtesy of Don't Stop The Pop, "Run To You" is '80's in a gentle pop-rock way that sounds refreshingly different from most current '80s-influenced songs. It plus "Love Child" mean that the Swedish group's third album, 1987, released September 2, can't get here soon enough.
Example, "Watch The Sun Come Up": transporting pop-rap positioning itself as a brief glimpse into the sentimental underbelly of a narrator prone to posturing. The Fred Falke mix is DIVINE.
Lorentz & M.Sakarias, "Baby!": older, but I haven't mentioned it yet here, despite loving it. Über-cute, shiny production from FutureCut on this Swedish language rap song has made it one of the songs I easily return to when I can't quite choose what to play.
Jordin Sparks, "S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)": the second single from a good album which I haven't given full attention to recently--but this song, along with the much-anticipated "Walking On Snow," have no problem winning my attention.
Bananarama, "Love Comes": the British duo delivers with their latest single, electro-disco full of sounds that slice through the air. Another album I can't wait to hear.
The Sound Of Arrows, "Into The Clouds": cosmic Swedish pop. Am I allowed to use the word "transporting" twice in one post?
Filthy Dukes feat. Tommy Sparks, "Messages": did this actually end up being a single? If not, it should have been--this #1 Hits-featured single has the spiky electro influences you might expect from the Filthy Dukes, but it's got pop crossover written all over it via that chorus. And the verses. And those breakdown bleeps.
Jessie James, "Bullet": country-tinged pop that is so much more fun than the song it was replaced by as the second single.
Visitor, "Los Feeling": gorgeous, full of synth washes, beeps, and pumps, but with energy to it--a pulse.
Boys Like Girls, "Love Drunk": the American pop-rock group finally delivers on a level hinted at by "The Great Escape" but one which I never really expected them to reach. It's the single I wanted the All-American Rejects to release.
Written about before but also featuring heavily were the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling," Gathania's "Get It Out," Kate Ryan's "Your Eyes," Booty Luv's "Say It," Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester's "Good Girls Go Bad,"and, to a lesser extent, Anders Fernette/Johansson's "Hungry Eyes" (and probably some others).
Maybe worthy of a quick mention, though the jury's still out on some of them:
Chipmunk's "Oopsie Daisy" (who is that female vocalist?)
Heidi Montag's "Body Language" (she finally gets around to releasing her best song)
Natalie Imbruglia, "Want" (it never climaxes for me, so I'm not fully onboard yet)
Alexandra feat. Flo Rida, "Bad Boys" (pop fun)
Anna Abreu, "Music Everywhere" (good pop chorus that's better than anything she's done since "Ivory Tower," but still not as fully excellent as I want this Finnish Idol contestant's material to be)
Linda Teodosiu, "Reprogram My Heart"
Alphabeat, "The Spell"
Rob Thomas, "Give Me The Meltdown" (my favorite song from him since "Lonely No More" and "This Is How A Heart Breaks," it's catchy pop-rock that should be his next single)
Mika, "We Are Golden" (worried about this new album, which I don't want to be considering how much I loved his first, but there's a great chorus to this lead single)
Blake Lewis, "Sad Song" (I always think it's good but haven't played it much so far--bad sign?)
Backstreet Boys, "Straight Through My Heart" (more generic and less exciting than I'd hoped, but I nearly swerved into another lane while stopping someone from changing the station when it came on the radio. ACTUAL AMERICAN RADIO playing the latest Backstreet Boys single. Probably a one-off, but still.)
Colbie Caillat, "Fallin' For You" (oh no. "Bubbly" was one of those songs I complained about and avoided at all costs, but I really like this sweet singer-songwritery song)
Trey Songz, "I Need A Girl" (months old, but this sweet R&B-pop song has won me over)
Shakira, "She Wolf" (I don't love it like I want to yet, but I'm excited for the album)
Jade Ewen, "Punching Out"
Leona Lewis, "Strangers"
Sugababes, "Get Sexy"
There are some other recent singles--the new ones from Swedish artists like Martin Stenmarck, Nanne, Sandra Dahlberg, Andreas Johnson, Rongedal, and the like--that I can't really judge yet.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
I just wanna go back in time
Guess who's back?
Well, me, but that's besides the point.
The real news: Linda Sundblad is releasing a new single.
Since her 2006 debut solo album, the former Lambretta single has kept herself busy by hosting a Swedish radio show and composing songs for other artists--great songs like Elin Lanto's "Speak 'n Spell" and Fibes, Oh Fibes!'s new Kim Wilde-featuring "Run To You" --but now she's finally coming back to that solo career. Her new single, "2 All My Girls" or "To All My Girls," is coming out soon; one site says it's released on September 7, but if that's to radio or commercially, I'm not sure. That same site refers to it as a proper pop song with an '80s-styled video (which was made by the same people who made BWO's last few videos and Le Kid's "Mercy Mercy" video). Since she's just finished up her gig with the aforementioned Swedish radio station, she must be preparing for a proper promotional push for this new project.
I can't guarantee the song's quality, but I'm very excited to hear it. Linda's "Lose You" remains as emotionally affecting yet subtle as it was the day it was released, but Oh My God! contained other gems. I'm hoping, though, that this time her album will be even better. As I've written about before, early reports indicated the lead single from Linda's next album would be a rockier, Max Martin and Alexander Kronlund-penned song, but the '80s styled video, her latest collaborators (Johan Bobäck, the Salazar Brothers), and the songs she's composed for other artists recently make me think we could be in for more of pop sound--more electronic than rock, or electronic-meets-rock.
Well, me, but that's besides the point.
The real news: Linda Sundblad is releasing a new single.Since her 2006 debut solo album, the former Lambretta single has kept herself busy by hosting a Swedish radio show and composing songs for other artists--great songs like Elin Lanto's "Speak 'n Spell" and Fibes, Oh Fibes!'s new Kim Wilde-featuring "Run To You" --but now she's finally coming back to that solo career. Her new single, "2 All My Girls" or "To All My Girls," is coming out soon; one site says it's released on September 7, but if that's to radio or commercially, I'm not sure. That same site refers to it as a proper pop song with an '80s-styled video (which was made by the same people who made BWO's last few videos and Le Kid's "Mercy Mercy" video). Since she's just finished up her gig with the aforementioned Swedish radio station, she must be preparing for a proper promotional push for this new project.
I can't guarantee the song's quality, but I'm very excited to hear it. Linda's "Lose You" remains as emotionally affecting yet subtle as it was the day it was released, but Oh My God! contained other gems. I'm hoping, though, that this time her album will be even better. As I've written about before, early reports indicated the lead single from Linda's next album would be a rockier, Max Martin and Alexander Kronlund-penned song, but the '80s styled video, her latest collaborators (Johan Bobäck, the Salazar Brothers), and the songs she's composed for other artists recently make me think we could be in for more of pop sound--more electronic than rock, or electronic-meets-rock.
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