Monthly Archives: November 2014

BILLCS Top 30 #445 – December 1, 2014

In some ways the past month or so has plodded along, no thanks to two different bouts of viral illnesses, and then suddenly two weeks go by and it’s time for a new personal chart 🙂

The Top 10

  • There’s no budging Jessie Ware and Mikky Ekko from #1 and #2.  “Say You Love Me” holds for a second appearance at number one as the singer is about to release “You & I (Forever)” as the follow up single and video from her amazing Tough Love album.  “Smile” by Mikky Ekko preceded “Say You Love Me” at #1 and holds tight in anticipation of his debut album Time, due in January.
  • Last edition’s high flying debut is also this edition’s fastest riser on the chart.  Color Theory (aka Brian Hazard) has concocted one of those songs to which you can relate so easily with “Headphones”.  The original mix is up top for your listening pleasure, but do check out the slick Matt Mancid retro crossover remix too right here, well worth purchasing.  “Headphones” glides up the chart 18-3 and will contend for #1 in the coming month.
  • Semi-Precious Weapons slide into #5 with “Brando”, their unconventional love song from an upcoming album.  It’s gone quiet about what’s next for the band in terms of the album release but I’m certain something grand is in the works!

  • “The Voice” underdog from last season, Jake Barker, rises to #6 with the title song from his EP Stage Fright.  Jake has many cover songs on You Tube, including his rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph”.  Check it out above.
  • The more I listen to “Losing You” by Jane Badler (9-7), the more detail I hear each time.  It’s just one of those hypnotic songs that doesn’t want to let go, from her recent album Opus.
  • Two dance club zingers join the Top 10.  Bright Light Bright Light continues his long line of Top Tenners on this chart with “Arms Of Another” at #8, from the EP An Open Heart.  Then the powerhouse trio of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, and DVBBS lands at #9 with “Gold Skies”.  And while the main vocal is by singer Aleesia, to me it’s the male vocal chorus that is most affecting about this song and just makes you want to jam out!

Movin’ On Up

  • So it appears that Sam Smith’s “Restart” was just a video release!  It climbs 13-11 in a year when he has been nary off my chart (if at all) since “Money On My Mind” bowed earlier in the year.  The new single is the buoyant “Like I Can”, which will take him well into 2015 and long past any Grammy Awards which will find their way to him.
  • Get your New Year’s playlist ready and be sure to include “Goin’ Down” by Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud, sure to make your crowd go BOOOM!  It climbs 21-12.
  • Erasure’s “Reason” is from their latest album The Violet Flame and it has designs on the Top 10, rising 19-13.
  • Tristan Thompson’s “Burn Again” is receiving scorching action at radio in Canada, already #24 on the AC Airplay chart and it’s also entered the Top 40 radio chart too.  Not bad for an independent release from a very talented 16 year old.  Next stop:  USA 🙂  “Burn Again” climbs 20-16.
  • We have always got “Time” till Steve Grand’s album is released in early 2015.  This delightful story is off to a super start, rising 23-17.

  • Lorde certainly dazzled us with her kinetic performance of “Yellow Flicker Beat” (above) last week on the American Music Awards.  As a result I think this song will get a second look by radio, and it moves up in this edition 24-20.
  • “Calling You” by Penguin Prison continues the many chart appearances here for NYC singer/songwriter/producer/DJ Chris Glover, as it rises 26-21.
  • Smashing Satellites gave a powerful performance opening for Moist last week in Toronto.  The quartet will soon be headlining its own mid-sized club venues judging by audience response.  In the meantime, “Hounds” climbs 30-25.

New to the Chart

I’ve already gushed about each of these songs in blog posts over the past few weeks, so it’s no surprise to see them chart so quickly.

  • Reigen’s soulful and emotional EDM ballad “Come Back With Me” is simple food for your musical soul, and debuts at #22 for the New York based singer.
  • It’s her first appearance on my chart in 10 years, but the unmistakable Kristine W. is back in full force with “Love Come Home”, a redux of an early UK hit for her.  It makes a memorable impact, recalling her Land Of The Living days, and arrives at #23.  It has also landed in the Top 5 of the Billboard Dance Club Play chart this past week, and I hope DJ’s will send it to the top.  And if you buy the EP, it contains no less than 14 remixes!
  • While “Zeppelin” leaves the chart, Eli Lieb has perhaps gone even one better with the feel good story and vibe of “Lightning In A Bottle”, which lands at #27.  And do I hear an album is forthcoming in 2015?  Even more to which we can look forward!

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart.

01 01 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware
02 02 SMILE Mikky Ekko
18 03 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory
03 04 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith
06 05 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons
08 06 STAGE FRIGHT Jake Barker
09 07 LOSING YOU Jane Badler
11 08 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light
14 09 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia
04 10 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnette
13 11 RESTART Sam Smith
21 12 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud
19 13 REASON Erasure
16 14 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID The Janoskians
17 15 SUPERHEROES The Script
20 16 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson
23 17 TIME Steve Grand
05 18 I WON’T LET YOU GO (Aron Friedman remix) Adam Tyler
07 19 UNBREAKABLE Jamie Scott
24 20 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde
26 21 CALLING OUT Penguin Prison
New 22 COME BACK TO ME Reigen
New 23 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W.
10 24 PLAY FOR ME Chromatone
30 25 HOUNDS Smashing Satellites
12 26 AFTERGLOW Harriet
New 27 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb
15 28 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer
22 29 CRIMINAL Adam Tyler
27 30 GET TO KNOW YOU Corey Niles featuring Ish

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

I am now a radio voice on D-Moos.com Canada’s National Internet Radio Station!  Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be!  Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!

Resurrection: “Black Roses” by @Moistonline

MOIST, “Black Roses”

It seemed highly unlikely, but about a year ago, the classic Canadian alternative rock band Moist, led by Juno Award winning singer David Usher, got back together, albeit missing a member or two from their 1994-2000 halcyon years which included huge Canadian hits like “Push”, “Leave It Alone”, and “Tangerine”.  They’ve since toured across Canada a few times, and by the time I got to see them in concert on November 22 in Toronto, their sound was so tight that this truly was a resurrection or re-invention of the classic Moist.  “Black Roses” is a crunching standout from their latest album Glory Under Dangerous Skies, a much better introduction to me than the initial single “Mechanical”.  It features a fiery David Usher vocal and tight, invincible-sounding production, with the two guitarist punch of Mark Makoway and Jonathan Gallivan.  So it appears that Moist is back and looking to stick around for a while (though any time punctuated with a new David Usher solo album is always a bonus).  Do check them out in concert when they play in your city for an engaging evening of rock and roll.

To Eternity: “74 Is The New 24” by @GiorgioMoroder

GIORGIO MORODER, “74 Is The New 24”

Even at 74, there is no taking dance music and its current technology out of Giorgio Moroder.  The pace was set after becoming part of the project that ended up as Daft Punk’s Grammy-winning Random Access Memories last year, and Giorgio has been remixing songs by the likes of Coldplay and appearing as a DJ at events around the world.  So almost 40 years after creating some of the greatest dance music ever – Donna Summer’s biggest records including the revolutionary “I Feel Love”; Blondie’s “Call Me”; his own “Chase” (from his Oscar-winning score of “Midnight Express”) and “From Here To Eternity”; Oscar-winning “Flashdance…What A Feeling” by Irene Cara and “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin; and lesser known but beloved “Together In Electric Dreams” with Philip Oakey of The Human League, and “Life In Tokyo” by Japan – Giorgio Moroder is once again about to trail-blaze with a new album, rumoured to feature Britney Spears, Sia, Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX, Foxes, Mikky Ekko, and Matthew Koma, among others.  In advance of that, he’s given us the propulsive “74 Is The New 24”, whose title is I believe based on something Giorgio said in an interview not long ago.  That it reminds me a lot of Pet Shop Boys’ “Axis” from last year’s Electric is almost like the creator giving a big nod to those that he influenced.  But when you think about it, “74 Is The New 24” likely reminds you most of Giorgio Moroder in his heyday – big, powerful synths and effects used to their maximum and most contemporary, sounding as innovative as ever.  Just can’t wait for the album!  One to watch for 2015 for sure. And I keep saying about why I’m still writing about music – age ain’t nuthin’ but a number 🙂

The Power’s In You: “Lightning In A Bottle” by @EliLieb

ELI LIEB, “Lightning In A Bottle”

Hot off of a hot ride on my personal chart with the effervescent “Zeppelin” peaking at #10 comes L.A.-based singer/songwriter Eli Lieb with another equally brilliant zinger, “Lightning In A Bottle”.  If you don’t smile and feel good about yourself after listening to “Lightning” well then perhaps you need a shock to your system!  This super-powered message about the power of Positive is enhanced immensely by focusing on dancers letting loose and the main story of a drag queen who is what she is and is her best when she simply is herself!  Eli Lieb’s songs tap into many common stories and messages in our heads and I’m so glad he’s here to write about them.  Score!! Watch the video above and pick up “Lightning In A Bottle” on iTunes.

Don’t Just Stand There! “Groove!” with @JackandJackreal

jackandjack

JACK AND JACK, “Groove!”

There’s no denying the power of You Tube, Vine, Instagram and other social media today.  I’m glad some of the performers who get noticed through these media have a good deal of humour and enthusiasm driving them, along with their music.  Such is the case of Jack Johnson and Jack Gilinsky, aka Jack and Jack (with Johnson also known as Jack Jack, just to confuse things 😛 ), who not only have this slick funky piece of business lighting up called “Groove”, but they also have their own movie arriving next week.  All this and they’re not Twitter verified 😛  Nonetheless, “Groove!” is highly appealing and will have your feet tapping and your butt bumping.  Think less naughty Janoskians with more than a few dashes of Bruno Mars bottled up into two Jacks, and there you have them.  If “Groove!” catches on then these lads will have a bright future ahead indeed and won’t vanish in a puff of social media hype.  Listen below.

A Bounty of Hope: “Someday” by @Neverestmusic

NEVEREST, “Someday”

As part of their We Day campaign participation and their promotion with RBC, Toronto trio Neverest have created a tremendously inspiring new song called “Someday”.  Like with the basis of the campaigns, the song is about making positive change so that people (mainly the younger fans of the group of course who attended We Days across Canada) can bring out the best in themselves, create direction and change, and ultimately succeed:  Fundamentals for anyone!  In the video above, vocalist Spee sings so beautifully over mainly a simple piano backdrop which is just top notch, and the rest of the boys (Paul and Greg) are all decked out in fine threads too and with their core support and tight arrangement push the song beyond being a plaintiff kind of ballad, which works very well indeed.  I’m hoping “Someday” can engage with enough good folks out there to find its way onto Top 40 radio and become another national hit for Neverest.  Be sure to pick up “Someday” on iTunes.

Just Drive: “Not Going Home” by @BrandynBurnette

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/not-going-home

BRANDYN, “Not Going Home”

One of my 2014 favourite new performers, Brandyn, is having his hand at going by his uniquely-spelled first name now, and he’s provided another preview from his upcoming record The Couch Surfing Chronicles.  “Not Going Home” means having a fantastic day, staying out late, and just driving and driving, wherever till whenever.  Now it helps of course if it’s in good weather like driving on A1A in the East USA or PCH in the West.  In whatever situation you’re going to be up till all hours and may just have to call in to work the next day.  On neverending days like these, you just go with the flow and chances are you’ll feel tired but exhilarated tomorrow.  Brandyn serves his songs straight up and captures fans’ everyday experiences like this, and makes them special.  I think we’ll be hearing and seeing great things about Brandyn in 2015! 🙂 

Adoration: “Converse Girl” by @Cuginiofficial

CUGINI, “Converse Girl”

Toronto singer/producer/DJ Cugini (Adam Bertucci) continues to shake up the EDM and hip hop worlds with his unique style and outlook.  Once again employing the fine voice of Pauly Canzio, “Converse Girl” is a compelling story about being in love with a “bad” girl that you want to treat right and for whom you want to be there.  A sure enough pop song switches mode after the two minute mark with lots of hip hop attitude and subtle electronics to create a backdrop for a fascination with her Converse shoes.  But the overall affect is love and respect, despite the additional obsession.  While “Converse Girl” has the marks of a true original, I don’t think it would hurt to have some uptempo remixes of the song which could add some additional flavour and dimension.  Give the video (above) some of your time and get to know Cugini.

Soul Overflow: NYC Newcomer @Reigenmusic with “Come Back To Me”

Reigen

REIGEN, “Come Back To Me”

After releasing a handful of recent singles, most in the electropop vein, Brooklyn NY based singer Reigen Miller polishes off a jewel with “Come Back To Me”.  It’s compelling soul for your soul, joining in the ranks of the likes of Erik Hassle, Daley and a few others with highly unique wide-ranging voices and incredible passion as songwriters.  Be prepared to let your eyes melt away as Reigen finds just about every way to sing ‘come back to me’ and make you feel it each time.  The song moves quickly through its 3 minutes plus and solidly stands on its own from other soul/pop, even Sam Smith.  Pick up “Come Back To Me” on iTunes, I assure you that you will be playing it a lot!  Watch the video below.

BILLCS Top 30 #444 – November 17, 2014

My personal chart has been online since January 1998 and we’re at edition Triple-4!  With a new number one no less!  And there are five new entries…  The full chart is listed below the blog post.

The Top 10

  • Jessie Ware succeeds Mikky Ekko at #1 with the should’ve-been-a-hit “Say You Love Me”, and I don’t think anything will challenge for a while yet.  If you haven’t heard it yet, her sophomore album Tough Love is one of the best of the year and a great companion piece to Sam Smith’s album.
  • Mikky Ekko’s “Smile” got an appearance (two weeks) at #1, still one of the finest songs of 2014.  Ads popping up everywhere claim Mikky’s album Time will surface on January 20.  Can’t…. wait….. !
  • The best songs of the year rule the top of this particular chart… again!  That means another few more weeks for Sam Smith’s “I’m Not The Only One”, Brandyn Burnette’s “Thanks For Nothing” (above), and the Aron Friedman remix of “I Won’t Let You Go” by Adam Tyler at #3, #4, and #5 respectively!  We’ll see if songs below shake up the Top 5 in two weeks.
  • Looking to make that happen is “Brando” by Semi-Precious Weapons, finding a gap in the chart and charging up 13-6.  No sign of another new album officially yet but I know this band will make it happen.  “Brando” is such a great lead-in to a new album, and surpasses the #9 peak of “Aviation High” on the chart last year.
  • It’s my favourite of the four songs on his same-titled EP, largely because of one verse which strikes me deep down inside on each listen.  New Yorker and former contestant on “The Voice” Jake Barker rises 12-8 with “Stage Fright”.  Preview the song right here.
  • Jane Badler acquires her second Top Tenner on this chart with the hypnotic “Losing You”, leaping 14-9.  “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” peaked out at #8 two years ago.  “Losing You” is culled from Jane’s latest long-player called Opus.
  • I love the energy of this song, and that’s a big reason why it’s stuck around so long on the chart.  “Play For Me” by UK’s Chromatone advances 11-10 🙂

Movin’ On Up

  •  What?!? Another Bright Light Bright Light song headed into the Top 10??  That’s what’s been happening since 2010 in my world!  “Arms Of Another” zips up the chart handily 16-11.  It’s a featured song on the single release of BLx2’s previous #1 “An Open Heart”.
  • I’m pleased to say that the DJ/producer collective of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix and my fellow Canucks DVBBS have debuted on Billboard’s Canadian Top 100 at #57!  Just as it makes a challenging move on this chart too!  The wistful, anthemic, and highly danceable “Gold Skies” climbs 20-14.
  • Gotta love those Janoskians!  The comedic Aussies get a fair amount of social media time each day, which usually involves body skin or removing pants (oh, and thank you Jai Brooks for following me on Twitter, Janoskians fans seem to dig it 🙂 ) .  I’m looking for more new music from them very soon, but in the meantime the insanely catchy “That’s What She Said” continues to move up 18-16.
  • I’m not sure why The Script’s “Superheroes” isn’t more wickedly popular in North America after leading off their 4th album No Sound Without Silence well in advance.  It got a late start on my chart but rises 22-17.
  • The retro flavour of Erasure’s latest album The Violet Flame has scored huge with their fans and other EDM/electronica fans too.  Initial single “Elevation” just peaked out at #3 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play Chart and I’m looking for “Reason” to get to #1.  It soars with no surprises 26-19.  And we need a video!!
  • Flying very high indeed and the fastest riser on the chart is “Burn Again”, a pensive ballad by British Columbia singer Tristan Thompson.  It’s taken from his debut album Here For You, is being played on well over 100 Canadian radio stations, and has entered the Billboard AC Airplay Top 40!  Impressive – and don’t forget, Tristan is just 16.  “Burn Again” makes short work of the lower part of the chart and moves 28-20.

Five New Entries

 You’ve read all about them in detail in my blog pages, so here’s a briefer reminder of what they are and why some of them have debuted high!

  • Bowing at #18 is “Headphones” by Color Theory.  Its 80’s electronic elements and story about a guy who just won’t take off his headphones will get stuck in your head.  This bodes for a fine advance in two weeks.  Color Theory (Brian Hazard) first appeared on this chart as featured singer on Amelia’s Fault’s haunting “Colder” in the summer of ’13, peaking at … #18 (note: not intentional!)!  But Brian is hardly a newcomer, his website is very comprehensive and he’s been making music for about 20 years.  Great to have such an infectious potential breakthrough like this! My preference is for the Matt Mancid retro crossover remix right here but listen to the original above.
  • Last year, a lot of you were blasting Martin Garrix’s “Animals” at your New Year’s celebrations.  This year that pleasure should belong to “Goin’ Down” by DJ/producers Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud, which arrives at #21.  Listen above and tell me that you weren’t sitting down after.  BOOOM!  Available at this time on Beatport.
  • Following up his earlier release of “Back To California” (which reached #10 on this chart), Chicago’s own Steve Grand reminds us once again about why he is such a great storyteller, which got many of you listening to his web hits “All American Boy” and “Stay” last year.  “Time” is his latest original, and Steve’s sincerity just oozes from the words.  For me not being a Country music fan it’s a happy mix of both Rock and Country – but it’s the performance and lyrics that really score.  “Time” debuts at #23 in advance of his upcoming album expected early next year.
  • As his cover of “Hang On To Your Love” departs, Penguin Prison (Chris Glover) premieres with his new single “Calling Out” at #26.  He takes us back to what got under our skin back in 2010 with songs like “The Worse It Gets”, with a simple lyric and a bright sunshiny melody as we head into winter months.  Penguin Prison is another performer with a new and much-anticipated sophomore album on deck for next year!
  • “Hounds” sniff their way on to this chart at #30 as recorded by Canadian band Smashing Satellites from their EP A-Side (SonicAluzion).  Responsible are an infectious melody and chorus that will have you singing in short order.  Plus – they play in my city (Toronto) next week on Saturday, November 22, opening up for Moist with In My Coma at the Danforth Music Hall.  Looking forward to being there!!

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart.

02 01 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware
01 02 SMILE Mikky Ekko
03 03 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith
04 04 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnette
05 05 I WON’T LET YOU GO (Aron Friedman remix) Adam Tyler
13 06 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons
07 07 UNBREAKABLE Jamie Scott
12 08 STAGE FRIGHT Jake Barker
14 09 LOSING YOU Jane Badler
11 10 PLAY FOR ME Chromatone
16 11 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light
06 12 AFTERGLOW Harriet
15 13 RESTART Sam Smith
20 14 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia
08 15 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer
18 16 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID The Janoskians
22 17 SUPERHEROES The Script
New 18 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory
26 19 REASON Erasure
28 20 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson
New 21 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu Vs Twoloud
09 22 CRIMINAL Adam Tyler
New 23 TIME Steve Grand
27 24 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde
10 25 ZEPPELIN Eli Lieb
New 26 CALLING OUT Penguin Prison
19 27 GET TO KNOW YOU Corey Niles featuring Ish
21 28 NO FUN The Presets
23 29 THIS COULD BE SOMETHING Anton Ewald featuring Medina
New 30 HOUNDS Smashing Satellites

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

I am now a radio voice on D-Moos.com Canada’s National Internet Radio Station!  Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be!  Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!