I’ve adjusted the format of my blog posts this week to help them be readable in more bite size chunks. I’ve broken the reviews down for each song with the following sections: About the artist(s), Strong points, and Other comments. If you don’t care for it, do let me know. It honestly makes it easier for me to write as well as for you to read.
If you have any suggestions for changes to this blog for the new year, don’t hesitate to hit me up on one of my socials at the following Linktree link www.linktr.ee/billcs777, or email me directly bill@billcsmusic.blog.
In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the 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 leaps forward to the 80’s and 90’s this week. And you’ll find out what the BILLCS Top 30 looked like 5-10-15-20-25 years ago!
PAWSA, THE ADVENTURES OF STEVIE V, “Dirty Cash (Money Talks)”
About the artists: PAWSA is a British dance producer who recently reworked Dennis Edwards’ classic “Don’t Look Any Further” into the club hit “Too Cool To Be Careless”. The Adventures of Stevie V is the artist name for British producer Stevie Vincent, whose original version of “Dirty Cash” went to #2 in the UK and #25 in the US, and was a worldwide dance smash in 1990.
Strong points: The two artists update the song with a new vocal and an aggressive, faster-paced, slamming rhythm that totally works. The original (as well as Stevie’s other club smash “Jealousy”) will always have a special place for me but it’s nice to see a rework take the best elements of the song and make it stand fresh on its own and apart from the original.
Other comments: Highly recommended! Club and festival DJ’s and dance music radio stations everywhere should add what is bound to be a real audience-pleaser. Bust a few moves while you’re doing it too!
SKY FERREIRA, “Leash”
About the artist: Sky Ferreira is a singer, actress and model who was signed to Capitol Records for over a decade, yet they only managed to release one album and a handful of sporadic singles before releasing her, an example of the music business record deal at its worst. I saw her in a captivating performance to an adoring small audience in New York City back in 2011.
Strong points: While Sky usually sounds vulnerable in her music, “Leash” was written with a character in mind who is self-destructive. So there is a power and grittiness that I haven’t heard before in her voice, alongside some cutting lyrics, such as “I tore apart this veil of shame / I fought so hard just to be erased”. The character in the song has fallen in love with her “master” while she sings “As I live and breathe, I’m dead to you”. While you end up feeling regret and remorse for the character at the start, by the end of the song it changes to empowerment.
Other comments: “Leash” is her first single, an indie release, in two years because of her previous contract. It’s from the film “Babygirl” starring Nicole Kidman. It’s a pleasure to have her back and unencumbered, and college and alternative radio stations should dive into “Leash”.
HENRI PFR, “Up In The Sky”
About the artist: Belgian dance producer Henri PFR (aka Henri Peiffer) surfaced back around the same time as Martin Garrix, and both are around the same age. Henri has recorded numerous dance releases that have done well, mainly in Europe and usually for major labels, working with a variety of artists like Alesso, Robin Schulz, Blasterjaxx, Karen Harding, and KSHMR.
Strong points: “Up In The Sky” has a lively and wondrous melody with an exuberant, cheerful uncredited young male vocalist (think Troye Sivan meets Justin Bieber). Henri’s also a classically trained musician so the production and arrangement are precise and tight. The song is a real pick-me-up if you need a lift!
Other comments: There’s loads of Top 40 and dance radio potential for “Up In The Sky”, which easily stands apart from what’s on the radio these days. It’s mood-changing ear candy.
SHUHANDZ, BRKT, “Changes”
About the artists: Shuhandz is a versatile L.A.-based dance producer whose music has been featured in these blog pages, but not for a few years. BRKT is the artist identity for Phoenix-based dance producer Michael Elliott, who is a new name to me.
Strong points: Although it features some vocals in a verse or two mid-song, they are for sonic effect, and that’s cool. “Changes” is largely a techno and trance-infused instrumental. It has lusciously rich, deep qualities in both melody, atmosphere and synth work that make it memorable. And just when you think the song might be reaching the end, the producers create a potent drop that sends clubgoers immediately to the dance floor and extends this journey.
Other comments: “Changes” has huge sync possibilities for just about any visual medium, including festivals and sports arenas.
FLY BY MIDNIGHT, “Casablanca”
About the artist: Indie pop duo from Staten Island, New York consisting of Justin Bryte and Slavo (Justin Slaven), who recently peaked at #3 on the BILLCS Top 30 with the insanely catchy single “SuperFine”.
Strong points: “Casablanca” is written from the perspective of someone giddy in love but sadly not geographically close to the object of his affection. So turn our thoughts to the classic movie to think about how we should feel and what we should do (or try to make like Bogie in the film) when undeniable feelings of love strike. The song has a suitably winning melody, great vocals, and will make you smile.
Other comments: Although it’s not necessary, “Casablanca” will even resonate with you more if you’ve seen the film. The song is part of a two single set with “Love Land”.
JNR, NATALIE GRAY, “Player Two”
About the artists: JNR is a dance producer and presenter from Newcastle, England. His work has been getting attention through remixes he’s made recently reviving some of Hazell Dean’s extensive catalogue. Natalie Gray is a new name on the music scene and hails from London.
Strong points: “Player Two” is a rollicking dance track whose lyrics today might align gaming with betrayal in a relationship. It’s brisk and well-produced by JNR, and Natalie has a vivacious and highly recognizable vocal style which lends a lot of power to the song.
Other comments: “Player Two” is actually a cover of sorts, borrowing verses from seminal disco group First Choice’s 1974 release “The Player”, and making a new song around them. It’s a fun track and club DJ’s should make the most of it.
COLIN MANSON, “These Words”
About the artist: Colin Manson is an indie pop/folk singer and guitarist from west Scotland who meshes classic folk sounds with contemporary treatises on life. “These Words” follows up his single “Sea Son”, which I reviewed a while back.
Strong points: “These Words” is rich and warm, a quiet sort of protest song, with Colin’s vocal a cross between Nick Drake and Damien Rice. The music is a haunting mix of guitar, cello, piano, Irish whistle, and percussion set to provocative lyrics that urge everyone to be mindful of their words and actions and try to make the world better.
Other comments: Colin’s got a unique, ear-friendly style, and the production by Chris Bond adds a fine layer of polish.
LiMaVii, “The Sound of X-Mas”
About the artist: “The Sound of X-Mas” is the second single release by Poland’s LiMaVii (aka Lidia Magdalena Pozanska). She is also noted as a dancer, model and a sound healer. As a healer, her voice is used in an innovative method, to align listeners with harmony and balance in therapeutic settings.
Strong points: There’s no denying it – this release is brimming full of Christmas spirit! If you’re looking for a fresh holiday song to add into your seasonal mix, then “The Sound of X-Mas” will lend some traditional sounds along with some joyous lyrics. And yes, LiMaVii’s cordial vocal is very easy on the ears.
Other comments: Create new memories and share old ones while you listen. LiMaVii wrote the song to help rekindle the magic of Christmas, and it works beautifully.
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. Here are my picks for this week and last week.
From his album Changes All The Time, it’s “Easy Distraction” by James Bay
“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”.
“Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” is a cover of The Korgis’ 1980 hit that samples the original by UK producer Martin Ikin
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 is newly anchored at Party Dog Radio, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week.
It’s “To The Point” by British singer/songwriter Sophie Griffiths
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show, which is heard Tuesdays at 6pm EST, where you can also now hear my Retro Pick of the Week. 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.
Richard Marx – Don’t Mean Nothing (1987)
Barry Manilow – The Best Of Me (1992)
Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You (1990)
Sinéad O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U (1990)
Roxette – It Must Have Been Love (1990)
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.
It’s “Incense and Peppermints” by the Strawberry Alarm Clock from the end of psychedelic 1967
THE BILLCS TOP 30 – 5-10-15-20-25…
The Top 5 songs from the BILLCS Top 30 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years ago…
2019
01 LIGHTS UP, Harry Styles
02 LIKE LIKE (OK James remix), Lostchild
03 BREAKING HEARTS, Benedict Cork
04 FLICKER, Anden
05 DREAMLAND, Pet Shop Boys and Years & Years
2014
01 SAY YOU LOVE ME, Jessie Ware
02 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid retro crossover mix), Color Theory
03 SMILE, Mikky Ekko
04 GOIN’ DOWN, Denis Koyu, Twoloud
05 GOLD SKIES, Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, DVBBS, Aleesia
2009
01 ALONE, Dan Black
02 BLAME IT ON THE GIRLS, MIKA
03 PUMP MY PUMPS, Dan Black
04 DAYLIGHT, Matt and Kim
05 SHOOTING STAR (Party Rock remix), David Rush, LMFAO, Kevin Rudolf, Pitbull
2004
01 MY MY MY, Armand Van Helden
02 THEY MIGHT SAY, Mitchell Hunter
03 GIVE IT ALL AWAY, Ben Jelen
04 THAT GIRL, McFly
05 BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS, Green Day
1999
01 THE FUTURE OF THE FUTURE (STAY GOLD), Everything But The Girl with Deep Dish
02 FIVE FATHOMS (LOVE MORE), Everything But The Girl
03 ALL I WANT, Sky
04 ROMANTICIDE, Tal Bachman
05 CAN’T CHANGE ME, Chris Cornell
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