Fortunately and *phew*, the editing blip I was experiencing on Monday for my chart blog has been fixed by WordPress. I don’t really have anything to add to the Report this week in the way of a commentary, so be sure to check out the new songs in the reviews below and keep discovery front and centre with your music selections.
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my new music and retro picks of the week, as well as a record of the week from “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, and “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. This week, “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five choices are loaded with classic rock performers. Please do check out the playlist for my all-Canadian hour, The MAPL Tapes, with Show #34 and songs by featured artist Nickelback from their forthcoming album Everything Under the Sun. And if you missed them on Monday, you’ll find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser on the BILLCS Top 30.
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
CRYSTAL SHAWANDA, “The Whole World’s Got the Blues”
About the artist: Crystal Shawanda is the Juno Award winning Ojibwe Potawatomi singer/songwriter born and raised in Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island. Her career has shifted from country to blues, which she performs so well on her latest album, Homesick Indian Blues.
About the record: The blues songs that Crystal performs are very much rock songs to me, the likes of which was all over radio up in various shapes and forms till the 2000’s. Taking a deeper dive into her album, “The Whole World’s Got the Blues” is one of her originals, and it’s an outstanding and refreshing topical song. It has old-school blues at its heart in the way that the song develops and delivers its timely message. Crystal’s vocal aches with emotion that seems both perceptive and wise.
Other comments: Crystal’s first single from the album, a cover of The Mavericks’ “Come unto Me”, continues to make its way up the BILLCS Top 30, currently at #19. It’s too bad that contemporary radio – particularly in Canada – does not seem to know what to do with songs in genres like blues and folk, leaving these songs to college and online radio stations to embrace.
JAY BIRD, “Truth”
About the artist: Jay Bird is the San Jose-based dance producer I’ve written about many times during the last decade, whose latest releases have embraced variations of house, including disco-house.
About the record: “Truth” is less disco-house and more of a late night deep house track. It’s a darker track than usual with a forboding but still appealing uncredited male vocal. But it’s really quite infectious, a natural for dance clubs thanks to Jay Bird’s smooth, defined production.
Other comments: In a year when to me there haven’t been the usual amount of great dance music releases, particularly by bigger name artists, a solid indie release like “Truth” could find some new fans.
TINA DICO, EMILÍANA TORRINI, “This Fire!”
About the artists: Tina Dico is a Danish pop singer/songwriter based in Iceland who has had a 25 year career mainly releasing music independently, and having significant success in her home country, including five #1 albums. Icelandic pop singer/songwriter Emilíana Torrini was once a member of electronic group GusGus, and has worked with the likes of Paul Oakenfold and Roland Orazabal (of Tears for Fears). She is most noted for singing “Gollum’s Song” in “Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers” and co-writing Kylie Minogue’s hit “Slow” from her Body Language album.
About the record: In “This Fire!”, Tina and Emilíana sound like they were born to sing together, and the song simply oozes positivity. Their voices are in such beautiful sync and harmony that they will remind you of Wilson Phillips and The (Dixie) Chicks. “This Fire!” is an anthemic, folk-flavoured pop song about the passion and energy that keeps us fueled in our careers, hobbies and other parts of our lives. Once you’re no longer new to something, you can settle in and continue to embrace the experience for everything it has to offer. The singers are affable performers who are in the midst of their careers but lesser known outside of Europe, and so are new names for many of you.
Other comments: “This Fire!” comes from Tina Dico’s latest album, Balancing Small Things On Sharp Edges, which is released tomorrow (Friday October 23).
MATT BOYLAN-SMITH, “Hurricane”
About the artist: Matt Boylan-Smith is a folk-rock artist from New South Wales, Australia about whose music I’ve written a number of times. He has toured Europe extensively and also co-wrote the theme song to a TV show on Channel 7 Australia.
About the record: Matt is a natural at drawing you into his songs. “Hurricane” is a quiet, intimate vocal piece featuring guitar and double-bass, whose story belies this humble setting. It’s about the aftermath of a relationship when your reputation suddenly precedes you, and you are regarded for your past actions through self-preservation and self-defense after a betrayal, leaving someone else to “pick up the cheque” so to speak. More positively and through life lessons, it promotes learning to love again and to let down your guard in order to do so. Matt’s lovely vocal and the sparse yet warm arrangement will keep you glued throughtout “Hurricane”.
Other comments: About “Hurricane”, Matt says, “Whilst touring Europe, I was sometimes doing some small and intimate shows, and a strong desire came for me to replicate that in my recording process. I’ve stripped it back so that the story sits at the front of the tracks.”
LAST SECOND DROPOUT, “Valerie”
About the artist: Last Second Dropout is a Canadian quartet based in Brooklyn, New York led by vocalist Mark MacDonald, which has released their debut EP, One Day Early.
About the record: Last Second Dropout blends punk pop, alt.rock and sometimes even rap together to create an edgy, energetic sound. Their take on Amy Winehouse’s rendition of “Valerie” is certainly a welcome surprise. The more you listen to it, the more you realize that it’s an ideal cover for the band. Although Amy achieved phenomenal success in the latter years of her short life, she was always an outlier and “Valerie” actually started its life written and recorded by another alt.rock band, UK group The Zutons. Mark MacDonald’s vocal has the sneer similar to Billy Idol’s vocal when he was in Gen(eration) X in the 1970’s, and the brisk, fuzzy-sounding arrangement has a live-off-the-floor vibe.
Other comments: Last Second Dropout’s EP One Day early is produced by the renown GGGarth Richardson (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nickelback).
KARIM PANZETTA, “Not Made for Loving You”
About the artist: Karim Panzetta is a pop singer/songwriter who fuses R&B and hip hop influences into his music, which is atmospheric and emotionally-driven. For whatever reason, Karim has chosen not to disclose where he is from or other details about his background.
About the record: If it doesn’t immediately resonate with you as with me, “Not Made for Loving You” has the delightful ability to keep bringing you back for multiple listens. Karim has a flair for honest, affecting songwriting in this song about realizing when a relationship is ending – going through the motions while putting on a happy face and saying all the right things, yet it’s literally is dissolving in front of you. Karim has a beautiful, soulful tone in his voice that can be far-reaching or comforting. I’m happy that Karim found music to help navigate and share what is obviously a personal story and make it relatable to others.
Other comments: “Not Made for Loving You” is the lead track from Karim’s debut album of the same name.
Show #34 with songs by featured artist Nickelback
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
It’s “I Feel You” by K.C & The Sunshine Band (StoneBridge remix)
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
It’s Aerosmith with an all-time classic, “Walk This Way”
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the owner and program director of online station Halton Hills Radio Online.
It’s British artist mustbejohn with “People Like Me”
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, including 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 bottom.
It’s “Neon” by KPOP group A2O Lite
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show (6 – 9pm EST Tuesdays). 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.
David Bowie – Fame (1975)
AC/DC – It’s A Long Way To The Top (1976)
The Beatles – Let It Be (1970)
Rolling Stones – Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1968)
Creedence Clearwater Revival – I Heard It Through The Grapevine (1970)
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
It’s now 3 appearances (6 weeks) for Scott Helman #1 with “Mr. Record Label”
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
Carly Rae Jepsen climbs 23-14 with “Don’t Leave Me on the Dance Floor” from her album Day and Night
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