Category Archives: Music

Tuned-On! Top 30 #354 – June 6/11

It’s been an extraordinarily busy few weeks in the pop music world, and accordingly my new personal chart takes to some flipping and flopping.  When that happens, usually some songs that might have been destined for greater sights on the chart suddenly stop or tumble to make way for some of the year’s best triumphs.  And this chart is no exception.

“Popular” by Eric Saade remains at #1 for a fourth appearance (8 weeks) from his forthcoming album Saade Volume One.  Lord knows what would have happened if “Popular” was about pushing up against hot bodies, S&M, going down on someone, or biting into willing flesh, it might have never let go of the top of my chart 😉  For just this past Tuesday (May 31), Simon Curtis unleashed “Flesh” onto the somewhat unsuspecting public, and the resulting Internet frenzy may have been cause for temporary decreases in a productive workforce or perhaps sudden desires to procreate.  From its slow-building start to its heart-racing climax, “Flesh” vaults onto the chart into the runner-up spot right off the bat.  And though I’ve heard versions of a number of the fine songs that will eventually appear on R∆ in their finest forms, one can only wonder what tasty production treats Simon and producer Jeff “Jadion” Wells have in store for us.  Listen to the Future Freestyle remix below.

With “Flesh” building a solid wall at #2, that leaves “Do It In The A.M.”, the fine single from Frankmusik and Far East Movement, to climb to third place.  But don’t underestimate this song’s place on the chart.  It’s a great motivational song, particularly if you want to paint your town red.  Then it’s more super Simon climbing from 9 to 4 with the first single from R∆, “Superhero”.  Though “Flesh” has the lead story this week, “Superhero” should be taken hand-in-hand for the pop anthem that it truly is.

All of this activity leaves songs by Kyle Brylin, Jamie Woon, and Databoy stranded mid-Top 10 (a good place to be, by the way), Adele’s “Someone Like You” tumbling to #8, and “Another Dimension” by Bass Robbers and new Dutch sensation Matt Blue struggling to get past #9.  And it’s not going to get much easier, as the first entry from the Ballroom Remixed compilation (read here for more) debuts at #10.   That belongs to “Out Without Your Boyfriend”, the jive-East/West coast swing bundle of energy by Jerry Reid featuring pianist Ben Waters (listen to the song here).  Rarely is a song such fun that you can visualize a room full of people going full tilt, dancing and having a blast to it.

Just below, the always busy Christian TV has the fastest riser on the chart with his slice of eurodance/pop “I’m In Love”, which moves up 19-11.  “Tainted Love” by Elouise has to take a few smaller steps this week, rising to #12, while songs by Britney Spears and Nelson Clemente hold just below.  Then it’s a triple play score for Simon Curtis as his song from Ballroom Remixed, “The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings”, bows mid-chart at #15 (listen to the song here).  It’s gotta be hard when such a fine, but differently styled song from those on R∆, is such a winner unto itself.  Its story will resonate with listeners and Simon’s vocals are totally captivating.

The incredible activity on the chart continues just below with lovely Ro Danishei’s “Drunk Txt” climbing to #16, while Lady GaGa herself soars to #18 with “The Edge Of Glory”.  Benny Benassi is two-for-two as his own “Cinema”, featuring the talented UK vocalist Gary Go, rises to #17, and his collaboration with Chris Brown on “Beautiful People” lands at #20.  Sandwiched between GaGa and Brown/Benassi we find Andrea Lewis with the heart-wrenching “Linda” at #19.

Many recent favourites have slid into the 20-30 zone, which is also peppered by Adele’s “Rumour Has It”, “I Can” by Blue”, and our fourth debut.  Canadian band Marianas Trench are promoting their current release Masterpiece Theatre in the U.S., and in among all of that, guitarist Matt Webb has put together an upcoming album.  I blogged about “Bad Girl” a few weeks ago, but Matt also posted a limited free download of “Cinnamon”.  And he’s outdone “Bad Girl”  with that song, with great end-of-summer-breakup lyrics and a zinger of a guitar hook.  Listen to “Cinnamon” right below – I can’t wait for his debut solo record.

You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here.  Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading :)

Note that when you click on the pictures in the first column of the chart pages that they will now allow you to either listen to the song or view the official video to the song.  Enjoy this new feature!

Future Sex, Next Level: “Flesh” by Simon Curtis

As announced last evening on the blog by Arjan Writes with a preview akin to trying to lick whipped cream off your nose, “Flesh”, the second single from the upcoming album R∆  by Simon Curtis, is available on iTunes today, in original and a very au courant somewhat retro Future Freestyle mix.  

And sex, sex, sex is what it’s all about.  It’s very rare that lyrics by a male pop singer are written so boldly and sung by him.  So if you thought Rihanna’s “S&M” was risque, well you ain’t heard nuthin’ till you’ve heard “Flesh”.  The lyrics let you know right where the song is at within the first 30 seconds.  Sensual, sexual, aggressive, rough, undressed… and then the teeth go in, or so Simon sings anyway.  Sonically, “Flesh” will remind you perhaps of “Joystick” from 8bit Heart, but that song’s such a slight tease in comparison.  After about the first 70 seconds: *sold*, with the emphasis on the sexiest part of the song well before the 2 minute mark (‘and feel the pulse, beat beat beat beat’).

“On a hot summer night would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses… Will he offer me his mouth?… Will he offer me his teeth?… Will he offer me his jaws?…Will he offer me his hunger?”

– Meat Loaf featuring Ellen Foley, “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Nights)”, 1977, Bat Out Of Hell

When I was a teenager the record that was all about sex was Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, and that was written by a guy (Jim Steinman).  I don’t know what happened after that but I can only think of camped-up songs sung by guys that I heard in dance clubs that might give a similar but nowhere near as effective message.  [edit: This is where I should have referenced the title of this post.  So except perhaps for Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds.]

At any rate, “Flesh” is gonna get scorched on a lot of those hot summer nights.  And it should leave you positively panting for more songs from R∆.

R∆ is coming!  It started with a “Superhero” and now it’s time to show some “Flesh”!

Spring Popervescence 3 featuring Ballroom Remixed

While the rest of Spring and probably all of Summer will likely be dedicated to every move by Lady GaGa, now that’s she reinvented the Concert in Central Park idea – and not undeservedly so – there are still, quite frankly, a lot of other very good records to which we should lend some attention.

Summer for me for these past five years has had considerable time dedicated to TV’s So You Think You Can Dance.  Between SYTYCD and my 10 year old daughter becoming a competitive singer/dancer who does tap, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical, and song and dance, I have become more familiar with many styles of dance than I had ever expected, being someone who always thought disco dancing was the bees’ knees (so I’m aging myself!).  So when My Fizzy Pop dropped news of the Ballroom Remix project, which I blogged about a few weeks back, and all of the performers involved, and choreographer Melanie LaPatin (who has choreographed so many glorious and memorable SYTYCD routines with Tony Meredith) at the helm, I was more than intrigued.

So with the album’s release on iTunes on May 24, comes the unveiling:  This is one hot and well thought out project!  Songs designed for the variety of Ballroom dances melded with upper crust contemporary pop dance by so many of the BlogVerse’s favourite performers along with many new faces, and terrific, talented writers like Charlie Mason, Liam Curry, and Richard Hymas.  While there are always a few songs in a 22 track collection that will take a backseat to the rest, Ballroom Remixed is many songs strong.  

One of those new faces I mentioned is pictured at the top of this page.  He’s 24 year old Detroit native Jerry Reid, who could very well break out wide open with his super-fantastic-fun “Out Without Your Boyfriend” (featuring Ben Waters) as designed for a Jive dance.  This song has the same energy and verve that I associate with the first time I heard the Stray Cats back in 1980/81, and we know what happened with them as well as Brian Setzer’s solo career.  Listen to the song below.

“Out Without Your Boyfriend” by Jerry Reid featuring Ben Waters

Next up is our favourite Boy Robot, Simon Curtis.  Count this song as an in-between-R∆ taste of another side of Simon, the one more reflective in the song “8bit Heart”.  His song on Ballroom Remixed is “The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings”, and there’s only one word that I keep thinking of to describe it: Adorable.  It has everything that a song should:  Supurb melody, fantastic and identifiable lyrics, and a beauty of a vocal from Simon.  Even if I never knew it was by Simon, it will unassumingly become one of my current favourite songs, along with the very different “Superhero” and surely whatever will be announced as R∆’s next single this coming week.  Listen to “Puppet” below.  It is a keeper!

“The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings” by Simon Curtis

Next up we have the shorter version of “The Lovers’ Rumba” by UK sensation Elouise, which I blogged about a in Spring Popervescence 2 in its Ricardo Autobahn remixed form.  While I love the remix, the short version zeroes in on showcasing Elouise’s vocals in a dramatic style with which we have not associated her, and it will surely broaden her audience base.  Rising star Kyle Brylin is also aboard with a song that could have turned into another “Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back To My Room)” if some restraint wasn’t shown.  His song is “I’m A Man (Not A Piece Of Meat)” – is not so campy as its title suggests, and more of a companion piece to the seductive current chart favourite of mine “Everything I’m Missing”, albeit much slicker (with female backing vocals too), which just looks so good on Kyle.  

Self-professed New York theatre ‘nerd’ Joshua Desjardins’ ode to Ms LaPatin “Melanie (Doncha Make Her Dance Alone)” is a grower, a playful theatrical (*shock*) track that features Ms Melanie herself, and you can hear it below.  Other uptempo songs of note come from Linda Teodosiu, Neo, Gravitonas, Jeronimo, Romy Low, Lucas Prata, and Tammy Jay & Kally, while some luscious slower songs appear courtesy of Jenny McLaren, Jaime Lovett, and particularly Jill Helena whose “Woman Of The World” builds quietly.

As I said, there’s no shortage of fine music here, so go get on your dancing shoes and get yourself some Ballroom Remixed 🙂

“Melanie (Doncha Make Her Dance Alone)” by Joshua Desjardins featuring Melanie LaPatin and Ben Waters

Penguin Prison “Multi-Millionaire (Aeons remix)”

It’s been a hot second since Penguin Prison’s “Golden Train” graced my chart at #1 for four chart appearances (8 weeks) at the top of the year accompanied by its inspired mashup with Michael Jackson’s “Workin’ Day & Night”.  Since then, the talented Chris Glover and his band have been touring and, last I heard, may have a new record deal in process for Penguin Prison’s full length and long awaited album.  Mr. Glover has been kind enough in the interim to offer fans a taste of a spectacular song I heard back at a PP concert in October called “Multi-Millionaire”.  While I am more-than-eager to hear the finished original song, the Aeons remix offered for free for a limited time only (Facebook login required) is a house-y Prince-worthy affair which continues to infuse Mr. Glover’s love of great music of the recent past with contemporary pop and dance club innovations.  Listen to this remix below.

And we will flash to a stylish pic of the upcoming Eric Saade album before we continue further.  He will be “Popular” worldwide soon indeed 🙂

Gentlemen Hall “How Long Have They Been Watching” (live)

If you’re not from the Boston area, then you, like me, were wondering who the hell Gentlemen Hall were, and how they ended up winning a contest and performing on the Billboard Music Awards last week.  Well the proof is in the pudding with this gritty but totally captivating clip from their Winter tour, which characterizes the sextet to me as All American Rejects meets Duran Duran – like the latter, with its big tight 80’s sound, and like the former with journeyman performance and an engaging lead singer.  Now, I wanna see them in concert!  Gentlemen Hall’s first official single “Blush” is coming soon and you can hear it on their website-in-development.

Kate Bush – Director’s Cut

Lastly, I ask that you give a listen to Kate Bush’s new album Director’s Cut, which is her first release since 2005’s Aerial.  This record reworks songs from her 1989 release The Sensual World as well as her 1993 record The Red Shoes.  Neither of these two albums are among my favourites by her.  I am primarily a fan of Kate’s early music.  I first heard her as a 17 year old listening to a local radio show that decided to dip into the UK charts, and hearing a song like “Wuthering Heights” at that time helped change my musical landscape as I headed into the direction of college radio while I was in university.  Director’s Cut is an elegant, lush, experimental, frustrating, infuriating, and outstanding record in which you can sink your head and not come up for air for hours.  Of specific mention are “Flower Of The Mountain”, which is “The Sensual World” redux complete with original lyrics taken from James Joyce’s “Ulysses” which were not approved at the time, which transforms the song into so much more than the original, as well as “Deeper Understanding” (which will thoroughly entice you), “Moments Of Pleasure”, and of course “This Woman’s Work”.  You can hear the full album right here.

Tuned-On! Top 30 #353 – May 23/11

It finished in third place at Eurovision but that’s still enough to keep a big buzz worldwide for Eric Saade’s “Popular” as it remains at the top of my personal chart handily for a third appearance (6 weeks).  The Adele machine slows a bit, but not enough to prevent Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” from breaking a chart record as it remains on the chart for an 11th consecutive appearance.  Will it go for a 12th or disappear from the chart? It will have to fend off Adele’s own “Someone Like You” at #3 and the smart summery vibe of “Do It In The A.M.” by Frankmusik featuring Far East Movement, which ascends to #4.  Kyle Brylin’s sexy, eerie but addictive “Everything I’m Missing” rounds out the Top 5 in advance of his upcoming appearance this week on the Ballroom Remixed album with a song called “I’m A Man (Not A Piece Of Meat)”…

Next to Adele’s 21, Jamie Woon’s Mirrorwriting is the album I’m listening to most in full.  “Lady Luck” is definitely on his side – though I want him to make up his cancelled Toronto show sometime soon – and climbs to #6, but the album is deep with multi-layered enjoyable songs.  Databoy’s “Stupid” rises to #7, and I can’t wait for the fun music this duo has to offer up this summer.  “Another Dimension” by Dutch talents Bass Robbers featuring Matt Blue enters the Top 10.  Talented Mr. Blue releases his first major label single “Can’t Help Myself” in the near future!  But the big news within the Top 10 of course is the debut of Simon Curtis’ “Superhero” at #9.  Simon’s not content to put this pop anthem on iTunes for your purchasing pleasure, a second single is on its way from his forthcoming album R∆.  And another song from the aforementioned Ballroom Remixed project by Simon is “The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings”.  You can hear the original version of “Superhero” at the top of this page, and the trancey remix below.

Simon Curtis “Superhero (The Remix)”

While Lady GaGa’s original slides to #8, Elouise’s pensive live cover of “Born This Way” inches up to #11, but the Fastest Riser on the chart is her sensational and original take on “Tainted Love”, which climbs to #15.  The Top 20 is otherwise filled with rising songs by Shawn Desman, Britney Spears, Nelson Clemente (listen to the Australian talent’s “No Protection” in the Brian Canham – remember “Funky Town” by Pseudo Echo?  – mix version below), Ro Danishei, and Richard Barone.

Nelson Clemente “No Protection (BC mix)”

Debuting at #19 is a song that continues to display the versatility of singer Christian TV.  We’ve already experienced two pop-to-die-for releases in the form of #1 “Love 2 Baby” and #5 “When She Turns 18”, as well as an urban flipside in the form of the mixtape Who The Fuck Is Christian TV?  Now Christian conquers eurodance with the effervescent “I’m In Love”, which arrives at #19.  The song is a giddy ode to being uncontrollably in love, with a high pitched keyboard hook that you’ll find in the best Swedish dance hits.  It’s destined to join the other two songs as Top 5 entries in this chart 🙂  Listen to to the song below.

While “Cinema” by Benny Benassi & Gary Go and “Linda” by Andrea Lewis don’t end up in the Top 20 this week, it’s because of fierce competition so watch them to move up in the coming weeks.  There are four additional songs debuting on the chart this week.  Adele’s “Rumour Has It” at #24  is a slick and seductive track that would be amazing in a dance remix.  I’m not sure what will follow up “Someone Like You” as a single but “Rumour” has my vote.  Then at #25 is a return to fun pure pop dance form for Lady GaGa with “The Edge Of Glory”.  Next at #26 is the UK Eurovision entry by Blue, “I Can”.  I never really cared much for these four lads in their early 00’s heyday outside of a few songs, but I love the uplifting vibe of this song as well as the vocal arrangement.  They could find an audience that they never had with this song, particularly if released in North America (hear the song below).  Lastly, it’s a complete turnaround for Chris Brown but his teaming with Benny Benassi for “Beautiful People” at #27 has landed him at #1 on Billboard’s dance club play chart as well as in the Top 10 on charts around the world.  North America decided to go with the urban “Look At Me Now” as a single from F.A.M.E. instead but this one could do equally well at radio.  It’s Brown’s first appearance on this chart since 2008’s #5 “Forever”.

You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here.  Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading :)  Note that I will be replacing the My Space links on the chart with You Tube links to the song or video in the near future…

Your “Superhero” Has Arrived

It’s big and bold and tough and rough – everything that a “Superhero” could be.  The first iTunes release (with a frenetic remix that’s perfect for club music fans) from LA’s Simon Curtis from his upcoming album R∆ has not only all the makings of a pop hit, but I think someone needs to contact the Zack Snyder crew that’s putting together the next installment of Superman movies (currently called “Man of Steel”) because “Superhero” would fit into its soundtrack perfectly!

At first listen, I thought immediately of a song from This Delicate Thing We’ve Made by Darren Hayes called “The Future Holds A Lion’s Heart”.  “Superhero” resonates with the power, aggression, and grace of that song.  Upon subsequent listens, the emotion and painstakingly raw appeal of Simon’s voice in this song sink in huge.  It sounds cathartic in some ways.  Simon’s newer songs come from a darker personal place than in 8bit Heart.  Combine that with his penchant for sci-fi/fantasy and glorious detail, as well as terrific production by producer/collaborator Jeff “Jadion” Wells and these four words say it all:  Not To Be Missed.  


Tonight In London Music Fans Win: Simon, Ro and Andrea in Concert

Tonight in London, the EQ Music Blog presents Simon Curtis, Ro Danishei, and Andrea Lewis in concert.  What’s so special about this show?  Well, fans demanded this show, and the performers, all from North America, obliged.  All three are promoting records.  Given the planning that’s gone into making this a very special show – and I hope it’s being recorded – I think it’s in some ways a historic feat for performers who have been promoting their music to fans for free, and then watching their respective fan bases respond more than enthusiastically.  I’m hoping this will be only the beginning for shows like this to happen on a regular basis.  Everyone wins.

Simon of course is coming off of his free ‘Net phenom 8bit Heart and is releasing a new single on iTunes from the forthcoming R∆ album, “Superhero”, on Monday (another new pic courtesy of Just Jared above).  Ro released her free End Of The Rainbow album on January 1, giving her own unique take on raw pop/rock with help from Simon and his producer Jeff “Jadion” Wells.  Andrea, who hails from Toronto (Simon and Ro are based in L.A.), released her free 54321 album last Fall to rave reviews for its gutsy pop and soul.  It’s some of the best pop music around, free or not.  Period.

My wish list for tonight, besides having the show recorded, is for Simon and Andrea to perform “Talk To Me” and Simon and Ro to perform “Michelle” again.  

My favourite Simon, Ro, and Andrea songs solo:

Simon>>>”Beat Drop”

Ro>>>”Drunk Txt”

Andrea>>>”Voodoo”


An Exciting Fusion of Dance and Song: Ballroom Remixed

Towards the end of last week, a sudden surge of excitement began to brew on the InterWeb about Ballroom Remixed, a new project presented by dream choreographer Melanie LaPatin from TV’s So You Think You Can Dance.  

And the pieces begin to come together. Little did I know, my feature a few weeks back on “The Lover’s Rumba” by Elouise was the start, and I did not know the song was to be part of this project, though Miss Elouise did tip me off to a specific connection a while ago.  Then I learned other performers very well known to this blog such as Simon Curtis, Kyle Brylin, and Nelson Clemente were also connected, along with Ninthwave Records – well, the eyebrows stayed arched throughout the entire weekend.  

This could, singlehandedly, be the most important project to fuse the contemporary TV dance competition world and beyond back with even more contemporary music recorded in a style that could convert non-ballroom fans.  Think of benefit albums, like the Red, Hot & Blue collection, along with the fine work of dance compilation labels like Ultra and Ministry of Sound; combine that approach with some of the finest artists on the rise, largely through endorsement from the BlogVerse; throw ace producers like Ricardo Autobahn and Richard Hymas into the mix along with in-demand lyricist Charlie Mason; and voila, 22 songs to tantalize you and get you movin’ 🙂

Well let’s hope so anyway.  This melding of great minds reads so well on paper, and snippets in the above video showcasing clips of songs by Elouise, Neo, Kaya (with Nelson Clemente), and Simon Curtis sound, well, mahvelous!!

Ballroom Remixed is available on May 24 – just in time for the next season of So You Think You Can Dance.

PS – I’d just love to know how everyone kept this project such a secret 😉


Tuned-On! Top 30 #352 – May 9/11

Sitting atop the new Tuned-On! Top 30 of course is “Popular” by Eric Saade, an amazingly feel-good song that shows no sign of leaving the summit any time soon.  There is competition below but it will have to wait!!

This leaves two songs by Adele to tread behind “Popular”, either of which could be number one if there was no “Popular”.  Most interestingly, “Rolling In The Deep” has rebounded to the runner-up spot, which is also a new peak for that song.  There is a dilemma however.  “Rolling In The Deep” is in its 10th appearance (20th week) on my chart.  On every occasion during the nearly 13 years that I’ve published this chart online, such a song leaves the chart as long as it’s in a holding position or descending.  This helps keep the chart fresh and full of great songs that otherwise may not get as much attention.  No song has been in an upward rise in its 10th appearance until now.  If “Rolling In The Deep” continues to be in second place in two weeks – and I think it may – it will break a chart rule and have 11 consecutive appearances.  It couldn’t happen to a nicer song.  And “Someone Like You” is right behind to keep it company – an outstanding Top 3!

New to the Top 5, and still pretty fresh to my ears, is “Born This Way” by Lady GaGa, despite a new single being released tomorrow called “The Edge Of Glory”, in anticipation of the Born This Way album.  Kyle Brylin’s “Everything I’m Missing” follows suit right up to #6, along with soulful dubstep vibe of Jamie Woon’s “Lady Luck” coincidentally at lucky #7.   At #8, and the fastest riser on the chart, moving from #25 two weeks ago, is the first, and possibly definitive, summer jam of ’11 – “Do It In The A.M.” by Frankmusik featuring Far East Movement.  After such great music this year with my #1 “The Fear Inside” and #2 “Hurt You Again”, I felt a little underwhelmed with this track on the first few listens… but after that it simply becomes a highly contagious summer driving song.  You can view the video at the top of this page.  Another seemingly ridiculous song but similarly irresistible is “Stupid” by Databoy, which soars into the Top 10 at #9.  

The middle of the chart continues to be busy, with Bass Robbers & Matt Blue almost in Top TenLand with “Another Dimension”, and other big moves from songs by Britney Spears (looks to be my all time favourite from her), Nelson Clemente, Ro Danishei, and Richard Barone’s “Sanctified”, which you can hear at the bottom of the page in a video of a photoshoot of Richard.

The highest debut on the chart at #24 quite deservedly goes to “Tainted Love” by Elouise, the retooling of the song best known by Soft Cell, which you can hear in my previous entry a few weeks back.  And the song sparked an entire investigation about cover songs on my chart, and that discussion will follow this paragraph.  Then at #27 you’ll find “Cinema” by Benny Benassi featuring Gary Go, which was discussed in these pages last week.  Finally, in anticipation of next week’s show in London, England with Simon Curtis and Ro Danishei, I go 4 songs deep into Andrea Lewis’ fine 54321 album with “Linda” bowing at #28.  Her duet with Simon, “Talk To Me” got to #4, with “Voodoo” and “Robot” reaching #10 and #11 respectively.  Before the last paragraph you can listen to her gorgeous live rendition from a show I attended in Toronto in January.

So with Elouise reaching my chart with no less than 3 cover versions in 6 months, and with me never being one enamoured with cover versions, I investigated how many cover songs have actually appeared in my chart since I began publishing it online in late 1997.   Counting Elouise’s three winners, there is a grand total of 41 cover versions out of over 1,415 chart entries – a very small percentage indeed!  I will publish a list of the entire 41 later in the week, but for now here are the Top 10 placing cover versions in my chart’s history.

MECK F/ LEO SAYER (2006) Thunder In My Heart Again
MICHAEL BUBLE (2004) Sway
TYLER HILTON & BETHANY JOY LENZ (2005) When The Stars Go Blue
BLUE MAN GROUP featuring VENUS HUM (2003) I Feel Love
ENUR F/ NATASJA (2007) Calabria
RUFUS, MARTHA & LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III, AND KATE MCGARRIGLE (1998) What’ll I Do
KATE RYAN (2003) Desenchantee
ORGY (1998) Blue Monday
FREEMASONS F/ SYLVIA MASON-JAMES (2006) Nothing But A Heartache
LOST BROTHERS featuring G TOM MAC (2004) Cry Little Sister

You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here.  Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading :)




Spring Popervescence 2: Albums by Jamie Woon and April Smith & The Great Picture Show, and More Singles!

Popervescence is turning into a mighty strong force this Spring, for I have two terrific new albums and several fantastic singles to talk about.

April Smith & The Great Picture Show

“Songs For A Sinking Ship”

Though this record came out last year, I was fortunate enough to discover it in full on a recent trip to Nashville (more on that later), though I did know about it.  This four piece band based out of Brooklyn NY is led by feisty and powerful singer New Jersey-born April Smith.  Songs For A Sinking Ship is full of all kinds of character for its influences in music extend back nine decades.  Yup – Tin Pan Alley, big bands, Broadway, blues, rock, pop, and soul – they’re all here.  

That’s not at all to say that the record isn’t contemporary, for it is in spades.  These are story-songs for a new generation.  “Movie Loves A Screen” and “Terrible Things” (video below) are the opening songs immediately grabbing your ears with well-structured songs led by April’s commanding voice.  After that the quirky-but-it-works mix starts happening with the 40’s inspired “Drop Dead Gorgeous” and almost southern kind of retro with “Dixie Boy”.  The record is not without a ballad, but I would say “Beloved” is more of a direct descendant of Rufus Wainwright’s debut album than anything else.  Other strong songs come in the form of “What’ll I Do”, “Colors”, and “The One That Got Away”, but all in all this is a tightly crafted, well-played and jubilantly sung album that breezes by like a sunny day.

When I was in Nashville on Record Store Day, I made plans to go to a local store called Grimey’s.  Little did I know they were having bands play in their backyard until I arrived.  While I was there, April and her band launched into a set that instantly caught my attention.  And there’s a bit of a strange connection to all of this that I’ll share.  My 10 year old daughter is a competitive dancer and singer also named April Smith.  So I was able to chat with April after her set for a few minutes to tell her about this odd coincidence.  I guess some things were just meant to happen 🙂

Jamie Woon “Mirrorwriting”

UK singer 27 year old Jamie Woon is a sensation in the making.  Mirrorwriting is full of atmospheric, moody, and soulful songs that can strike you differently at any point in the day in which you play them.  I’ve already been raving about first single “Night Air” with its haunting and sparse melody as well as Jamie’s striking voice.  Second single “Lady Luck” has subtle dubstep rhythm set to an interesting story.  

But beyond the singles there is so much more to Mirrorwriting.  The album is carefully and deliberately produced and arranged.  I love the composed pauses, the chunky bass, and the simplicity of the strumming of acoustic guitar in various songs.  For music aficionados, you can go to town on the variety of inspirations because Mirrorwriting is deep and rich within the pop spectrum.  Most noteworthy are “Waterfront” (watch the video below), “Shoulda”, and “tmrw”.  I’ve often compared Jamie to my fellow countryman Justin Nozuka.  They both have old-world qualities about their voices and songs.  They both have ages-old wisdom about them in their lyrics.  But whereas Justin’s music I feel draws more from gut-wrenching emotion and old-style blues, Jamie’s music speaks old school UK R&B and soul as well as more contemporary acts like Fine Young Cannibals, Jamiroquai, and perhaps even Terence Trent D’Arby.  You cannot go wrong with Mirrorwriting.

Kyle Brylin “S&M”

I am nowhere near over the haunting and danceable “Everything I’m Missing” when our Kyle launches his own version of Rihanna’s “S&M”.  Having enjoyed Rihanna’s version immensely (#2 posting on my chart), I was very dubious as I am with just about any cover version.  But Kyle sends his version into hyper-velocity, strips the song of its campiness, making it an outright dancefloor assault.  Definitely surpasses my expectations!  Buy it on iTunes.

Elouise “The Lover’s Rumba”

(Ricardo Autobahn 12″ remix)

There’s nary a moment goes by that I can’t say enough nice things about ever-so-talented UK singer Elouise.  Last week it was her stunning cover of “Tainted Love” (now available on iTunes US (but alas not in Canada!).  This week, it’s something totally unexpected, given the singer’s dynamic flair for torch and show.  So Elouise gives us a spicy contemporary rumba in remixed version from the wonderful Ricardo Autobahn, who has retooled recent efforts by Adam Tyler and Kyle Brylin among others.  While keeping your booty plenty happy, Elouise extends her range by demolishing the dance floor with this effortless knockout.  Download it for free from her website with a subscription to her newsletter.  

Monsieur Adi “Chariot”

Regular readers of this blog know I love me a good danceable instrumental.  In recent years I can name Russ Chimes “Never Look Back” and Tiesto’s “He’s A Pirate” as favourites within the dance realm.  Outstanding producer/remixer Monsieur Adi (Ellie Goulding, Javi, Noah) is about to unleash his latest project, and to give us a taste in advance we have “Chariot” which was recently available as a free download.  It’s a fun throwback to late 70’s disco (love the robotic voices) and has a real cinematic quality to it along with an infectious if militant beat.  Can’t wait to hear more.

Native Underground “Night Vision”

And speaking of Javi, the New York singer along with house veteran Henry Maldonado as Native Underground follow up the effortless 80’s inspired “Till It Hurts” with “Night Vision”.  The song seems to draw from early 80’s UK electro more this time with alternately restrained and punchy soulful vocals by Javi.  And the keyboard hook that creeps in reminds me a lot of the strings from the classic “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” by the Temptations.  Watch the video below.

Benny Benassi featuring Gary Go “Cinema”

You may know Benny Benassi’s name recently because he is featured in Chris Brown’s uncharacteristically electro hit “Beautiful People”.  But he’s actually been a major dance force for most of the last 10 years, ultimately winning a Grammy in 2008 for his remix of Public Enemy’s “Bring The Noise”.  The Italian producer/remixer is back and looking to follow in David Guetta’s steps with “Cinema”, a winning, sparkling effort from his upcoming album Electroman featuring the talents of UK singer Gary Go (whose “Wonderful” was one of my favourites of 2009).  “Cinema” is going to turn into a summer singalong.