The legendary Gibb family (Barry, Robin, Maurice, Andy) continues with an entirely different sound courtesy of Maurice’s daughter Samantha with “Memories”. Late last year I brought to your attentionher promising song “Wild At Heart”, and keeping on the same folk-flavoured pop tip is “Memories”, with its simple and joyous message about making sure you create the memories to document and hold dear in the succeeding years. Lord knows Samantha must have fantastic memories, though she arrived after The Bee Gees’ huge impact on the 1970’s had already occurred. Nevertheless, that allows her to develop her own music uniquely, and even though I mentioned a similar comparison in my post about “Wild At Heart”, there’s no denying that “Memories” has the same flow and spirit of Sheryl Crow’s 2002 hit “Soak Up The Sun”. And while the 90’s may be coming into fashion now, there’s no denying that music of the current millennium is already influencing singers age 25+, making it all sound fresh again, not uncommon with revivals of sorts. Watch the light-hearted video above and pick up Samantha Gibb’s “Memories” on iTunes.
It is perhaps one of the most unique collaborations you will hear in this or any year. Sour Soul is the short album brought to you by Toronto rock/hip hop instrumentalists BADBADNOTGOOD (BBNG) and former Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, who has gone on to be a respected and sought-after soloist in his own right these last two decades. Sour Soul (due for release February 23) is BBNG’s fourth album in so many years, and their love for hip hop music through their live performances has won them the admiration of the rock and R&B/hip hop communities. So while an album with someone like Ghostface Killah might seem a no brainer, it’s still quite exciting to see that it all came together so successfully. It actually takes rap and hip hop back before the mid-1990’s, before all of the ubiquitous ‘featuring [insert rapper]’ billings took place. Run-DMC re-recorded “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith, The Beastie Boys brought punk sensabilities to their rap/hip hop style, Public Enemy re-recorded “Bring The Noise” with Anthrax, and LL Cool J rocked out with “Mama Said Knock You Out”. It makes you wonder what would have happened if a well-known rapper, say like LL Cool J, had worked with a band like BBNG, who specialize in larger-than-life cinemascopes in their instrumentals, and how the storytelling might have made a different impact. In 2015, BBNG and Ghostface Killah are preaching to the converted who are starving for this kind of powerful originality. It’s hard to pick out a standout song, because they all flow so well, but start with “Ray Gun” (above), “Six Degrees”, “Gunshowers”, and “Street Knowledge”. Look for Sour Soul to be much imitated and revered in the coming years.
After vaulting into the top 10 from 12-2 two weeks ago, it’s no surprise that Brandyn Burnette’s gentle song about family, “Sleeve”, is my new #1. Since the song is so fresh and being played regularly by yours truly, I have no idea what will succeed it. I’m hoping “Sleeve” will be on Brandyn’s upcoming album tentatively called The Healing. “Sleeve” is one of those songs that will strike an emotional nerve and leave you feeling great.
Right behind “Sleeve” again is another indie performer, New York singer Reigen, with the almost equally affecting EDM ballad “Come Back To Me”, weighing in at #2.
No doubt about it, Chris Jamison’s R&B-influenced pop song “Velvet” has grown on me immensely since I first heard it in December. It’s one of those songs you look forward to hearing every time you play it. “Velvet” jumps 13-3 (tied for the fastest riser of the week) and is obviously a #1 contender.
I’m really surprised more promotion isn’t being given to Jessie Ware’s stunning album Tough Love. I have so many favourites from it but my current is “Pieces”, which climbs 10-7.
Graham Alexander’s “She’s A Chameleon” is leading the way for more rock songs to arrive on my chart – four alone this week – to continue the diversity in music that I like. This energetic number climbs 12-8 from Graham’s latest album Repeat Deceiver.
Every song that has appeared on my chart for Swedish singer Anton Ewald has reached the Top 5. And though it’s not a single, “Save The Last Dance”, from his EP On My Way, rises 16-9, and may get there too!
Boycode’s lovely rendition of “It’s A Mistake” is a great showcase for the Belgium vocal quartet, and it climbs 14-10.
Movin’ On Up
I’m sure it will conquer clubs in no time, but I want “Right Here Right Now” by Giorgio Moroder & Kylie Minogue to be a pop hit too! This pop-dance extravaganza soars 24-14 to tie as the fastest rising song of the week.
Buffalo, NY indie singer Daniel Robinson moves up 21-17 with the mysterious but melodic “Moonmolt”, which is among the new songs that will appear on his upcoming release Truant through EQ Music!
L.A.-based Color Theory has a second song rising on my chart, and it’s a cover of Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic” as remixed by LyderJanøy. This faithful but contemporary cover rises 22-18, following up the recent #1 “Headphones”.
2015 looks to be the year for UK trio Years & Years! A self-titled four song EP dropped this week containing previous singles “Desire” and “Take Shelter”, plus the latest called “King” which is well on its way, with a smashing video too, moving 28-19.
Chart Debuts
This one’s been around last Fall and got to #25 on the UK charts following the #3 hit “Touch”, but UK singer/DJ/producer Shift K3Y (aka Lewis Jankel) has a winning style that goes somewhat hand-in-hand with Years & Years. “I Know” bows on my chart at #21. You can also glimpse the singer briefly as he walks by in the video.
As “Hounds” departs the chart after peaking at #16, the striking “Waterfall” arrives for Canadian quartet Smashing Satellites with a powerful video at #25, from their album SonicAluzion (A-Side).
I’m not sure what is the official next single from Mikky Ekko’s new album Time following my #1 “Smile”, but the rollicking “Riot” is the next standout song for me, featuring a ‘timelapse’ video. “Riot” bows at #26.
To keep fellow contestant Chris Jamison from The Voice company on the chart, New Jersey-born Matt McAndrew’s “Wasted Love” wastes no time in arriving at #27. The only other time a contestant from The Voice has appeared on my chart, is actually before he was a contestant and was an indie performer! Chris Mann charted at #10 in 2010 with his cover of George Michael’s “I Want Your Sex”. Now he’s on tour as “The Phantom Of The Opera”!
I’m very hopeful for Lifehouse’s “Hurricane” to put the group back on the rock map, with a new independent album due called Out Of The Wasteland. “Hurricane” debuts at #28.
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart.
02 01 SLEEVE Brandyn 03 02 COME BACK TO ME Reigen 13 03 VELVET Chris Jamison 04 04 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb 01 05 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu Vs Twoloud 07 06 IGNITED Antonio Giacca 10 07 PIECES Jessie Ware 12 08 SHE’S A CHAMELEON Graham Alexander 16 09 SAVE THE LAST DANCE Anton Ewald 14 10 IT’S A MISTAKE Boycode 05 11 REASON Erasure 06 12 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W. 15 13 THERE’S NOTHING WRONG Eleven Past One 24 14 RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 18 15 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 19 16 HERE’S TO THE ZEROS Marianas Trench 21 17 MOONMOLT Daniel Robinson 22 18 COULD IT BE MAGIC Color Theory 28 19 KING Years And Years 08 20 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory New 21 I KNOW Shift K3Y 09 22 TIME Steve Grand 17 23 SOMEDAY Neverest 11 24 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia New 25 WATERFALL Smashing Satellites New 26 RIOT Mikky Ekko New 27 WASTED LOVE Matt McAndrew New 28 HURRICANE Lifehouse 20 29 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson 26 30 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light
Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week onD-Moos.com!
Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, 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!!
Did you know that 12 of this week’s charted performers have never appeared on my chart in its 16 years (and that includes Giorgio Moroder and Sander van Doorn)!
There’s so much very busy EDM out there, and some of it, especially by major artists who are phoning it in, is becoming easy to dislike and dismiss. Not so with the songs I’ve heard from Dutch DJ/producer Hardwell (aka 26 year old Robbert van de Corput) on his latest album United We Are. There are several collaborations, including one with Jason Derulo that will make you turn your head all the way around, but the most striking is “Colors”, a partnership with the reknown Tiësto and Sweden’s Andreas Moe, who has the uncanny ability to sing just about anything. You already know Andreas from my blog posts about his own recordings and vocals on both Avicii’s “Fade Into Darkness” and John De Sohn’s “Long Time”. The positive message, the lush production, those gorgeous arpeggios, plus Andreas’ truly engaged vocal make “Colors” one of the best EDM records around going into Spring. The massive attack on club dance floors will ensue. United We Are also includes last year’s UK Top 20 hit “Dare You” featuring Matthew Koma. Get it on iTunes.
I’ve definitely missed Bad W0lfy’s solo songs, although she (aka Ro Danishei) has been part of the wonderful and promising duo Wrathschild with Simon Curtis, releasing two singles last year. The pair sounds just great together or separate, and W0lfy’s followed that up with her cover of Ellie Goulding’s #1 UK hit “Love Me Like You Do” from the forthcoming film “50 Shades Of Grey”. While Ellie’s is trademarked with her distinct vocal and a massive arrangement that will undoubtedly make it a centerpiece for the film, W0lfy’s rendition is a bit of a rebirth that pulls it back to showcase her voice with a simple arrangement. The results sounds so beautiful and effortless that we fans of her 2011 album End Of The Rainbow are going to want much more soon! While I loved the intense electronica of Rainbow, the showcase on “Love Me Like You Do” would only make me embrace a more stripped back setting, not unlike my favourite singers of the moment such as Sam Smith and Jessie Ware. Watch the video above and download “Love Me Like You Do” for free at the Soundcloud link below.
Back in the Fall, I wrote about Canadian (but L.A.-based) singer Peter Foldy’s return to the scene after a 40 year gap between albums, focusing on the song “Carly” from his album Nine Lives. There was such positive reaction to his re-recording of his 1976 hit “Roxanne” that we now have an accompanying video. The video puts the song out there again so that we can see Peter on camera in-between scenes of a carefree gal enjoying her time on a sunny day. Do listen to the original below to compare – the redux has a wistful but still happy quality about it to justify the passage of time. And like I mentioned my recent post about 70’s contemporary Andy Kim’s voice in his more drastic redux of his own “Shoot ‘Em Up Baby”, Peter’s voice has hardly changed – “Roxanne” is unmistakeably Peter.
Now this is the kind of Lifehouse song I’ve been waiting for since their 2009 Smoke & Mirrors album! The now-trio kills it with “Hurricane”, which has been released independently in advance of their 7th album apparently titled Out Of The Wasteland. It’s hard to believe Lifehouse goes back almost 15 years with one of my favourite songs ever “Hanging By A Moment”. They’ve gone through some stylistic changes but have always remained the raw rockers of that song at heart. From their ballads like “Everything” and “You And Me” through to the bluesy country blast of a song like “Right Back Home”, the band’s versatility and Jason Wade’s gritty voice are key to drawing you in. “Hurricane” is rousing rock in the same way that you likely found “Spin” and “Halfway Gone”. I’m hoping Lifehouse will take a tour up to my city (Toronto, and I don’t think they’ve played here for years, the closest being Windsor) so that I can finally see their live show. In the meantime check out the video for “Hurricane” below.
Well it only makes sense being a group called After Romeo, with a potential hit called “Juliet” right? Well maybe it wasn’t planned years ahead, but nonetheless these five guys currently based in L.A. have been around for a few years and definitely have what it takes to turn your head and keep your attention! They are Blake, Devin, Drew, Jayk, and TC, soon to be melting hearts across North America with “Juliet”, which is currently a single in Japan. The video is solid, good clean fun, colourful, and even a bit hokey, and the guys are in sync with their choreography, so yeah “Juliet” is going to make you smile, punctuated by some hip hop flourishes, and wonder why you really like it, but that’s just a good pop single now isn’t it? That darned chorus will be stuck in your head for days. All of this show good signs that “Juliet” could catch on in North America too, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you find After Romeo coming to your town sometime in 2015.
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