Last week, Sweden’s Eric Saade unleashed his video for “Marching (In The Name Of Love)”, and then I found out “Miss Unknown” would be launched this week, so after more than three years of writing this blog, I thought I would have my first poll!!
“Marching” seems to have lots going on, possibly three plots, including some snazzy Janet Jackson “Control” era choreography. Eric is being held against his will and must escape. There are flashes to scenes with his girl… is he dreaming… is it in the past or yet to come? Then, busting those swift moves the way we’ve seen in scenes from his shows. Story to be continued. The story moves along smoothly to the song, but I’m not sure if I’m liking the song any better for it. I’m still having a tough time with the sound that seems more will.i.am than Eric Saa-aade.
“Miss Unknown”, on the other hand, greatly enhances the song with a story about what looks like a one night stand… or is it? Not if Eric has his way, which gives way for all kinds of expressive angst and emotion to try to find That Girl. BUT… wait for the ending. It seems like someone didn’t know how to end it or wanted to add shock value or humour. It doesn’t work, but overall I like both the video and song for “Miss Unknown” better than “Marching”.
Now that I’ve said my peace – and I’m still more thrilled with songs from either Saade Volume 1 or 2 over both of these – what do YOU think?
Take the simple poll below and in a week, providing I get enough response, I will reveal which video/song is the winner!
As 2012 comes to a close, it ends almost the way we started, with a new, magnetic video from JMSN’s independent album †Priscilla† which was released back in January. Some of the videos have been difficult to watch with the bleak and unnerving images the singer chose to employ to explain his songs. “Fallin'” is perhaps the most accessible of the lot, with JMSN as an innocent in the centre of a world which too often requires us to make the wrong choices. Throughout the year JMSN has also released numerous remixes of the songs from †Priscilla† which you can hunt down, including a Slim K “Chopped and Screwed” slowdown rework of the entire album which still boggles me. Watch the video of “Fallin'” below.
Passion Pit “Take A Walk”
Some people may say I’m late to the game on Passion Pit, but to me you’re never too late when someone’s music warms up to you. After listening to various songs from the Massachusetts quintet’s sophomore album Gossamer this year, their performance on Saturday Night Live and in particular the highly watchable guess-what’s-next video for “Take A Walk” drew me in. It helps that Michael Angelakos vocally reminds me a lot of Michael Penn circa “No Myth”! Now I think their tour with Matt & Kim next year will be high on my list to see. Watch “Take A Walk” below.
Shiny Toy Guns “Somewhere To Hide”
If “Somewhere To Hide” is any indication, the return of vocalist Carah Faye Charnow may have been the best thing to happen to the California quartet since its mid-80’s successes with “You Are The One” and “Le Disko”, which appeared in the Grammy-nominated We Are Pilots album. With new album III on release, “Somewhere To Hide” is unpretentious and gleaming electronica complemented by a video telling a tale of love in some futuristic world. Watch the video using the Vimeo link below.
Never let it be said that recycling an older song can’t work. In fact Aussie duo Parralox have done just that with “Sharper Than A Knife”, which appeared on their 2008 release Electricity. After more recent success stemming from the appearance of the song “Hotter” on the year’s best dance compilation This Beat Is….Poptronik Volume One, Amii and John have created a video that looks alternately like The Donna Reed Show and an Alfred Hitchcock movie, with Madonna-esque performance shots interspersed. “Sharper Than A Knife” is inspired electronic pop candy. Watch below.
Krewella “Killin’ It”
Chicago electronica trio Krewella return after being touted these past few years by the likes of Grammys blogger Arjan Writes for songs like “Gameplan”, and producing remixes for artists such as Skrillex. “Killin’ It” (video below) was actually released earlier this year as a part of the Play Hard EP, but the band has reinvented the song in a multitude of remixes in the form of the new Play Harder, which you can hear on their Soundcloudpage. Oodles of freebies can be had for download on their Facebookpage. Fans of BT, Deadmau5, FrankMusik and more should keep Krewella on their radar.
Evanpony “Just Rock With Me”
One of the most entertaining videos I’ve seen recently is “Just Rock With Me”, which is actually a pairing of Japanese girl group Stereopony (which I believe has since disbanded) and fave L.A.-based singer/songwriter Evan Taubenfeld (yes, he of Welcome To The Blacklist Club, featuring “Cheater Of The Year” (a #1 on my chart), “Boy Meets Girl”, and “Pumpkin Pie”(both Top 5)). Just takes me back to when I was a kid viewing Japanese monster movies for the first time – albeit with a modern twist. I’m hoping Evanpony will record more, and perhaps in English 🙂 Watch using the Vimeo link below and have fun.
Canadian actor Mark Hildreth, whom you may have seen recently in TV’s The Tutors or heard as a voice in many a cartoon (or know as boyfriend to Smallville and Beauty & The Beast’s Kristen Kreuk) is also a most capable vocalist, as his silky mid-tempo dance song “Magic Spell” reveals. It’s from his upcoming album Signs Of Life, due for release next year. And as some of you may notice, there’s an interesting connection to my personal chart – he also starred in the 2009 reboot of TV’s sci-fi show V alongside none other than Jane Badler (#8 on my chart with her “Yesterday’s Tomorrows”). Watch “Magic Spell” below.
I take this pause in reviewing songs, albums and videos to rave about River Tiber’s concert in Toronto last night in anticipation of their new album Synapses due January 1.
As regular readers know, I have been touting multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Tommy Paxton-Beesley and his band since first hearing their From Now On album at the top of this year. I’ve now seen three shows by them, heard the Remixes and Massachusetts EP’s, as well as two songs from the upcoming album, “What Are You Afraid Of” (video below, created and directed by Tommy) and “I’m Not Here” (also listen below). By far, last night’s experience epitomizes why I go out to club shows to see new performers as well as my favourites. You end up seeing a show that you were glad not to miss.
The set mainly focuses on untried new material, book-ended by “Someday” at the top and “These Are Centuries” (which both landed up my chart earlier in the year, at #1 and #13 respectively) at the end. The rest of the show – which included “What Are You Afraid Of” – introduced a new River Tiber, incorporating ace guitar, bass, and drums/percussion work, as well as Tommy’s striking Jeff Buckley-esque vocals (hope you won’t get tired of that comparison ’cause it’s true 🙂 )which gave me chills of the best kind, along with very layered keyboard sounds and drum effects which might not sound out of place next to songs by the Chemical Brothers or Gorillaz. The club (Silver Dollar Room) where it was held is noted for showcasing Blues, Jazz and Folk performers, and regulars to this club might have seemed like fish out of water last night, but it was clear from the attention being paid to the show that River Tiber totally won them over.
Watch my Twitter feed for more River Tiber news, including upcoming shows – if you’re in Toronto in early January for the next one, which will be a CD release show, you won’t want to miss it.
I think we should be seeing some new blood invading the chart soon. In the meantime…
“Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia & John Martin holds at #1, while “Parachute” from Matthew Koma’s EP of the same name is now at #2 and looks to follow his pairing with Zedd on “Spectrum” (#10) to the top spot. “Music Makes Me Lose Control” by Carlos Nóbrega hangs tough at #3, while the understated (and unfortunately underperforming) “Between The Raindrops” by Lifehouse & Natasha Bedingfield zips up to #4. Lifehouse’s Almeria will be on release before the next chart on December 17. And Bright Light Bright Light gets yet another Top 5er with “Feel It”. Do go to this link for BLx2’s musical Christmas Advent calendar of mashups – today he meshed his own “Moves” with “Your Loving Arms”, the classic 90’s club hit by Billie Ray Martin (listen and download below).
In the ‘movin’ on up’ category, we find a contender for the top bounding up to #6 – “Yeah Yeah” by Willy Moon (stylish video up top), who performs two gigs in New York City this week. “Evolved” by Vague-à-bonde continues to impress by rising to #7, and “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” by Jane Badler (who is in Sweden, for fans of “V” – video below) moves to #8. “Let’s Go” by Matt & Kim becomes their third Top Tenner on this chart at #9.
You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can clickright here. You can hear all of the songs on the chart or watch their videos by clicking on the pics on the chart page. Any free downloads that are identified are sanctioned by the performer. There’s always a tiny place at the bottom of the blog post with tags and the statement “Leave A Comment” – please feel free to do so
Not to be outdone, “Skyfall” by Adele is no slouch at #12, while the fastest riser on the chart is the infectious controversy-generating “Play The Girl” by The Netherlands’ Tao Hypah, vaulting 21-13. It’s just one of those songs that has a message which is totally secondary to its engaging melody and chorus. “Good Girlfriend” by Kid Massive & DATABOY and “Must Be the Love” by Arty, Nadia Ali & BT continue to follow each other’s dance steps up the chart at #14 and #15 respectively. Bim’s “Burn” continues to sear its way up at #17, with last week’s pop parade of “Time Bomb (Walk Away)” by Chris Wallace and “1998” by Matthew Koma” in tow at #18 and #19, as well as Daniel Bedingfield’s “O.V.E.R. U.” at #21.
The three debuts have already been written about in these pages so absolutely no surprise that they land on the chart. “Fast As I Can” bows at #25 and is the first independently released single by FrankMusik from his upcoming album You Are here, due at end of January. As good as the song is, this one revels in a powerful, soulful Vincent Frank vocal. Vince also posted a most beautiful demo of a ballad recently called “Shores” – do give a listen below. Matt & Kim score entry #2 from their Lightning album with “Now” at #27 (live clip below). After the duo take a well-deserved break from touring, they will be back at it with Passion Pit in the new year.
Finally, The Presets arrive at #29 with “Youth In Trouble” from their Pacifica album (live clip below). The song was the first video we saw and has resonated much longer than the official single “Ghosts”. The duo will be back in home country Australia in the new year for more dates.
While studying French many years ago, I gained an innate appreciation for French and Quebecois culture, and one thing I adore is the humour. We already had an amusing bilingual single from Ian Lee earlier this year (“So Nice To Meet You”), and he’s back passing his worries away with “Je ne m’en fais pas” (from the EP of the same name, available on iTunes). He’s the straight man in the video just trying to perform his song and get the girl, despite all kinds of wacky antics. Oh and producer John Nathaniel gets in on the acting too (sorry dude your cheekbones are a dead giveaway). Watch below.
In My Coma, “Dreamers”
Their album Magnets & Miracles came out over a year ago, but this three piece band from the Toronto area featuring singer/guitarist Jasper James, bassist LauraDoll, and drummer Mike Paterson, has gained a lot of momentum this year, most recently opening up for Sum 41 in Toronto through a contest that they won. “Dreamers” is the latest video which continues to show off their flare for thoughtful lyrics and progressive rock-oriented melody. I’ll continue touting them but all you really need to do is see them in concert or listen to the album to hear them showcase their 90s-influenced brand of rock that seems to be making a comeback. Watch “Dreamers” below.
Shane Harper, “Dancing in the Rain”
Ever since he started appearing as Spencer in the TV show “Good Luck Charlie” (which I have little choice to watch, having a 12 year old daughter), I’ve been following Shane Harper’s music as he tries to extend beyond his Disney audience. He’s a multi-talent for sure – sings, plays music, acts, dances extremely well – and a song and video like “Dancing In The Rain” seals the deal. It’s a great, joyous showcase for Shane to show his mass appeal and it’s just a matter of time now before he breaks out of the Disney circle. Watch below.
Spencer, “The Quest for Pop (It’s What I Love)”
I’m writing this by actually secondingMy Fizzy Pop’s review from a few weeks back. New UK singer Spencer reminds me a whole lot vocally of American counterpart Chris Wallace, except with “The Quest For Pop” he’s dipped into relatively recent British music history. The song is a paean to the Stock-Aitken-Waterman era of dance pop, and the highly retro approach is extremely appealing. Lord knows what today’s youngins will make of it all, but it definitely strikes an emotional nerve in those of us who are older. I’m quite content to have more of this, please. Watch below.
Daley featuring Jessie J, “Remember Me”
You may recall 23 year old UK blue-eyed soul singer Daley (first name Gareth) from a few years back when he was featured on Gorillaz’s “Doncamatic”, which was a terrific Top 40 UK hit showcase for his far-ranging and unique voice that sometimes sounds like Jay Kay of Jamiroquai. He subsequently released a mixtape grab bag called Those Who Wait, from which his song “Smoking Gun” got some attention. He’s back and poised to make a huge splash with a debut album, and his pairing with Jessie J on “Remember Me” sparkles and keeps you listening and watching all the way through. I loves me that British soul stuff and Daley has the punch and presence to drive it home. Watch below.
Saint Motel, “Benny Goodman”
The L.A. quartet is back with another clever video directed by singer A/J Jackson, this time the most infectious and winning song from their album Voyeur,which I wrote about this summerafter checking out the band in concert. The video is equally compelling, with some great moves from a young dancer who is going to go places fast. He pretty much owns the video thanks to the deliberate non-reaction of the rest of the folks in the video, though it’s enhanced when some lovely ladies get up and join him. The song got to #15 on my chart recently and I’m hoping this video will generate some more notoriety for this talented troup. Watch below.
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