Among the music featured in the Report this week, you’ll find four Hallowe’en treats in their own section for some intriguing new seasonal favourites.
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my picks of the week from this week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. The Musicman James Rogers’ Classic Five continues with more great tunes from 1977. If you missed them on Monday, you’ll find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser on the BILLCS Top 30.
Do check out my daughter VXTORIA‘s six song EP Dreamstate, which follows up her her fantastic house collaboration with Toronto-area producer TEARJVCKKD called “More Love” (at the following link: More Love). Dreamstate includes three more new songs, “Awaken”, “TMRW”, and “U&Me”. It includes the previous recent releases, “Back To You”, the afrobeats-flavoured “Lost In Your Love” and “changes”. You can watch her in the video for her debut single “Back To You” at the following link: Back To You.
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
MXTR, TYLER GARRETT, “Crash”
About the artists: MXTR is a UK dance producer specializing in drum ‘n bass, and Tyler Garrett is an L.A.-based multi-talent, releasing their second track together, following “Won’t Give Up”, which is currently in the Top 5 of the BILLCS Top 30.
About the record: I know there are stories behind records and why collaborations don’t always happen a second time, but with “Won’t Give Up” such a success, I’m glad MXTR and Tyler Garrett have released another track together. The lyrics are really eloquent, touching on all those moments from the first time two people meet, including the mystery behind a relationship and the elements that can make it work. The mix of drum ‘n bass with trance and techno is used judiciously, making for a hypnotic and accessible track for dance music fans that club DJ’s will also find works well in a variety of mixes.
Other comments: I think “Won’t Give Up” and “Crash” will open future doors for both artists.
MASHBIT, LUKE ALEXANDER, sunsett., “Holding On”
About the artists: MashBit is Dariush Mashayekhi, Dallas-based, Italy-born dance producer who came to my attention this year with his remix of Angrybaby’s “Back to Life”, and has supported such artists as Illenium and Diplo in concert. Luke Alexander is a 25 year old producer/DJ from New York who has performed across the US. sunsett. is Canadian producer/songwriter Richy Molina, who also records under the name Rico 56.
About the record: “Holding On” is a slow and atmospheric deep house track that is laden with hooks which all make it sparkle. I’m pretty sure sunsett. provides the vocal, which has a similar way of swaying and moving you like Chris Martin does in Coldplay. Talents from all three musicians come together in full force to create a moving track that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Other comments: MashBit’s remix of “Back To Life” reached #2 on the BILLCS Top 30 at the top of the year. Following up my comment about sunsett.’s vocal, you can check out “Wildfire” – as Rico 56 with fellow Canadians Luis Torres and DLMT (now known as Dansyn) – and compare. It reached #6 on the BILLCS Top 30 in 2023.
KRIS ANDERS, “Open Road”
About the artist: Kris Anders is a musician and songwriter from Manitoba who has won acclaim for his fusion of country-styled songwriting and rock ‘n roll rhythms, which are fleshed out in his live performances.
About the record: Country and rock genres have always come together naturally since Elvis Presley popularized the mix 70 years ago, and it’s great to see it continue with a much younger generation. “Open Road” is equal parts honky tonk rhythm, rock ‘n roll guitar, and a story that’s straight out of country music. If you put together 80’s John Mellencamp with Waylon Jennings and added dashes of rock hybrid performers like Joe Ely, Jo-El Sonnier, and Keith Sykes, then you have what Kris Anders offers in “Open Road”. His vocal even reminds me of the late Ronnie Van Zandt of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and fans of melodic guitar work will enjoy “Open Road”.
Other comments: Kris has been nominated at the BC Country Music Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards, and Josie Music Awards, traversing country and rock genres with these accolades. College Radio has also embraced his music. He performs solo or with his band The Flatliners.
With Hallowe’en almost upon us, I have four seasonal songs for you to check out. I’m dispensing with the usual review format for this section of the Report.
BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT (aka Rod Thomas) was born during the season and is a massive horror movie fan. His fine choice to record a song representative of Hallowe’en is “Love Song for a Vampire”. It’s a cover of the compelling Annie Lennox song from the 1992 film “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” with Gary Oldman. Rod offers his own take on the song as a tribute to the original rather than attempt to cover it verbatim, and his performance is touching, and passionate. Fans of the original will be mighty pleased.
The folks at Big Stir Records has thrown themselves headfirst into the Hallowe’en spirit by releasing a 41 song compilation called Chilling, Thrilling Hooks And Haunted Harmonies. I’ve got words about three from the album for your seasonal pleasure! You can check out the full album, featuring other Big Stir roster bands like Splitsville, The Jack Rubies, and The Spongetones by clicking on the album cover above.
First up is “Monsters” by the STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK. The L.A. band noted for its memorable psychedelic 1967 #1 “Incense & Peppermints” and Top 30 follow-up “Tomorrow” pretty much regrouped with most of its original members in the early 2000’s. They’re in fine form on “Monsters”, their first new music since 2012. It’s a dark song about how our childhood “monsters in the closet” have morphed through life experience and stuck in our brains even as adults. It’s a bit long in spots but overall quite well done, and I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from them in this new era.
Next is “Ghoul You Want” by the marvellously named LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS. They are a duo of Ohio multi-instrumentalists Ray Carmen and Mike Crooker, taking us through their tribute to late night horror movie television shows with particular adulation to your female monster of choice. Sly nods to songs by Devo (which I got immediately), Cliff Richard and The Cramps also make “Ghoul You Want” an enjoyable listen for attentive music fans.
The most novel song of the lot is “Eyeball Eater (From Outer Space)” by California sextet sparkle*jets u.k. As the title suggests, this is a musical step right out of low budget 1950’s sci-fi films and the band has totally immersed themselves in the super-fun theme to offer a suitably playful experience for Hallowe’en. Again, The Cramps come to mind when listening but so does the 80’s take on surf rock, and the song is brimming with effects and narration that leave no stone unturned. It’s frightfully good (pun very much intended)!
Happy Hallowe’en!!
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, and now debuts each Wednesday at 10pm EST on The Big 20 on Halton Hills Radio Online.
It’s “Super Powers”, the rising dance radio hit by TELYKast and Oaks
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
My Retro Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, including those mentioned above. It debuts Saturdays on Russ Horton’s Top 40 Timeline on UK National Radio at 1pm EST.
My retro pick this week is a repeat. I erred last week in the Report and later added “Venus” by The Shocking Blue as my retro pick.
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online station Halton Hills Radio Online. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week which debuts every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”. Big Daddy’s record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.
Big Daddy is enjoying the hook and arrangement of Greyson Chance’s “Summertrain ’25”
DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK
DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio show “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and has now moved to Chicago-based Lake Radio Online where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week. Hunter is also on air Fridays on “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio, and it too broadcasts the New Music Pick. Check the schedule for my New Music Pick of the Week on the blog home page near the bott 
One of Hunter’s core artists Dasha has a new one called “Gimmie a Second”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show (6 – 9pm EST Tuesdays, now on hiatus for a few weeks) where you can hear my Retro Pick of the Week on Tuesdays after 7pm EST. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Klaatu – Sub-Rosa Subway (You Tube link)
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. – You Don’t Have To Be A Star
Rose Royce – Car Wash
Eagles – Hotel California
Shaun Cassidy – Da Do Ron Ron
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
Conan Gray took over at #1 this week with “Vodka Cranberry” from his album Wishbone
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
“Friends Don’t” by Alexander Stewart and Lauren Spencer Smith soars 17-5 just ahead of the release of Alexander’s album What If
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.