When I saw Saskatchewan’s Northern Pikes play all of their best known hits at Toronto’s Mod Club back at the end of 2017, I was hoping that they might regroup and record some new music, given the enthusiastic welcome back from the crowd that night. Jay Semko, Bryan Potvin, and Don Schmid also brought along Grapes Of Wrath member Kevin Kane to fill the void left by the departure of vocalist Merl Bryck. And guess what? Kevin is now the fourth and latest Pikes member, and the band has released the self-produced “King In His Castle” as the lead off single from their upcoming album Forest Of Love. The Pikes are likely best known outside of Canada for their 1990 hit “She Ain’t Pretty”.
I’m a Pikes fan pretty much from day one and still own all of their album/CD releases from their heyday. I played music from their first two independently released EP’s back when I was in college radio = I still have my copy of Scene In North America – years before their debut album Big Blue Sky was released in 1987 with the huge Canadian hit “Teenland”. Seeing them at The Mod Club was probably my fifth or sixth time after catching them last as I recall on my birthday in 1993.
The Pikes’ rocking sound is more than intact on “King In His Castle”. A heavy guitar hook anchors the song with familiar vocals that are ageless. Rock radio in Canada should definitely grab “King In His Castle”, and if the rest of the music on the upcoming album is this solid, then a bonafide and most welcome comeback is here, since the Pikes last released original music together back in 2003. The Northern Pikes will be on the road again too across Canada between June and November, so be sure to catch them at a city near you!
After a brief break, Minnesota’s Call Me Karizma returns stronger than ever with “Recycled Youth”. In a bit of stylistic departure, “Recycled Youth” goes for a more alt.rock/hip hop sound that recalls the early days of Beck and the post-punk music of the late street poet Jim Carroll. Keeping his dedicated audience close to his heart, “Recycled Youth” puts ‘Riz in among many young people with complex issues in their lives and lets them know they are not alone. And part of that dedicated audience also consists of other young people who can help just by being there for the rest. “Recycled Youth” also seems to straddle different decades for parts of the song that even recall artists like T. Rex and Blink 182. “Recycled Youth” is Call Me Karizma’s third release for the Sony-revised Arista label following “Serotonin” and the Billboard-charting “Monster (Under My Bed)”.
EGZOD, VERONICA BRAVO and M.I.M.E., “Rise Up” (free DL)
France-born, Florida-based producer EGZOD continues to be one to keep listening for with his latest release “Rise Up”, definitely one of his best progressive ‘world bass’ songs to date. The song plays back and forth between an enchanting vocal by Veronica Bravo (think Amy Lee meets Lights) and the hyper-powered flow of M.I.M.E. (think Busta Rhymes versus Tech N9ne). EGZOD makes sense of it all along the way, imaginatively fusing together what might seem as disparate styles. This makes “Rise Up” a compelling call to youth, to keep taking themselves to new heights and not give up. “Rise Up” is generously available as a free download while it lasts.
ILLENIUM and JON BELLION, “Good Things Fall Apart”
It’s one of the most memorable lyrics I’ve heard all year:
‘When coming to terms with a broken heart I guess that sometimes good things fall apart‘.
It marks another in the series of top notch releases from Denver’s Illenium (Nick Miller), that hopefully will end up on his next album. “Good Things Fall Apart” is is both heartwrenching and reassuring, successfully marrying progressive electronica and emotional pop, and NYC’s Jon Bellion was an ideal choice for collaborator in both co-writing and singing the song. While Illenium continues to slay festival audiences wherever he plays, and “Good Things Fall Apart” I’m sure is stopping crowds in their tracks, Jon Bellion is about to embark on a world tour, crossing US, Europe, the UK, and Australia beginning in June, following the release of his second album Glory Sound Prep, last Fall. Watch for “Good Things Fall Apart” to keep making waves at pop radio, a worthy follow up for Jon to his Top 20 hit “All Time Low”, and a fabulous introduction to Illenium for pop audiences. Check out the lyric video above.
It’s been about two years since 20 year old L.A.-based, Pennsylvania bred producer Steve James took a bit of a break from releasing his own songs. This was after arriving as a 15 year old remixer (remember his slinky, ear-catching one for ZHU’s “Faded”?)and having a fast rise to some Grammy-nominated success with the title song from Justin Bieber’s Purpose album. Certainly working on that project has rubbed off with his new single for Casablanca/Republic, “fall for you”. I see this one as a grower – it’s Steve’s first song featuring his own vocal, which he’s definitely been working on, and it lends a lot of natural charm to the song. In the past he’s been a bit of an enigma, but here we find Steve’s also a musician, as you will see in the video above for the ‘orchestral’ instrumental version of “fall for you”, stripped from its electronics to showcase Steve’s piano work as accompanied by violins and cello. It’s a beauty for sure, and now many sides of Steve James are becoming demystified, with much more to come.
“She Got Me” by Switzerland’s Luca Hänni may not have won Eurovision – it did come in at an impressive fourth place – but it has all of the pop prowess to be a worldwide hit. It’s a crowd pleaser that begs participation (‘she got me dirty dancing’) and a dance floor strutter. Luca’s infectious stage presence at Eurovision definitely rubs off on you easily, and the video above shows he definitely has some great dance moves. Very rarely do winners and other songs from Eurovision endure but “She Got Me” is definitely worth savouring.
Toronto trio Nikki’s Wives continue with singles to preview their next EP or album with “Real Girl”. It’s about the public’s perception of women in music or the arts in general, often forgetting about the real person underneath the persona. The song is pretty theatrical and definitely away from the band’s harder, edgy sound. It was appropriately showcased at the concert I saw in April with some on stage play, as you will see from my second photo below. Nikki’s Wives is a band that offers bold new music with tight instrumentation, a top notch singer, and great interplay among the band of Nikki, Dylan and Nate. As they continue to break out, 2019 is your year to get to know Nikki’s Wives 🙂
BLINDED HEARTS and LOUISE CS, “Just The Two Of Us”
After a number of highly listenable and danceable recent releases, it was a pleasant surprise to find Germany’s Blinded Hearts (aka Andi Jelitsch) pairing once again with Sweden’s Louise CS for their take on “Just The Two Of Us”, the 1981 Grover Washington Jr./Bill Withers hit. You’ll recall their collaboration on “Brand New”, some emotional electronica from about a year ago, and taking on “Just The Two Of Us” sounds, well, very comfortable. Louise’s sultry vocal with a hint of a rasp suits the song well, and the song’s transformation into a downtempo deep house track will work well on the dance floor. Considering the last time “Just The Two Of Us” was reworked into a hit – by Will Smith – this rendition by Blinded Hearts and Louise CS is satisfying and refreshing.
I first got to know the voice of Dallas, TX native Johnny Stimson when he surfaced on Kat Krazy’s dance track “Run Run”, which got to #6 on my personal chart a few years back. The Elton John protégé who has toured with the likes of Tori Kelly has this time self-released “Flower”, an enchanting, sexy, soulful slice of indie pop that should not go unnoticed. It’s a delicate tribute to someone special that Johnny wrote, produced and mixed. You can easily put “Flower” side-by-side next to anything recent by L.A.’s Axel Mansoor, about whom I’ve written much in these blog pages. “Flower” is ideal for inclusion in a Sunday set of quiet, acoustic songs that will make you smile.
A few impressive moves fuel the new chart, as well as four debuts and a new #1!
So what’s up top now?
Why it’s “White Lies” by UK/German production duo M-22. It’s one of my favourite songs of the year so far, using early 90’s house (specifically Inner City’s “Good Life”) as a reference point. I also found out through her Twitter account that the song is sung (uncredited) and co-written by British vocalist A*M*E. You know her from the Grammy-nominated UK #1 “Need U” with Duke Dumont and through this blog from her vocal in Monsieur Adi’s “What’s Going On” (which peaked at #2 on this chart), a 2013 rework of Soul II Soul’s “Back To Life”.
Almost hand-in-hand with “White Lies” in terms of a fun and upbeat dance tune is “Good Things” by Cedric Gervais and Just Kiddin featuring vocalist Kyan, which advances 4-2 in its disco edit.
Italy’s Mark Mendy moves up 7-6 with “Black Gasoline” with vocals by Australia’s Beamish Brothers, and now available in some additional remixes by Provi and farfetch’d.
New to the Top 10 is another dance bop to accompany the top two songs. It’s “Enlighten Me”, an even brisker house number, from The Netherlands’ DubVision and SYZZ. It climbs 13-8.
France’s KRONO lands in the Top 10 up 12-9 with “Perfect Strangers” and a great vocal from PIOTR.
The fastest riser on the chart soars 24-10. It’s “Love Me Less” by MAX and Quinn XCII from MAX’s upcoming album House of Divine. Watch out for some surprise pop-up concerts from MAX, maybe in a city near you!
Another impressive move this week is from “Wild” by Final DJs and Bright Light Bright Light, which rises 21-13. And to give you a taste of something else, Final DJs recently remixed Queen’s 1984 hit “Radio GaGa” (below), taking away some of the heavier synths in favour of more of a pop flavour which suits the song nicely. It’s a free download too – just press the “BUY” button for your digital copy!
Also on the move is “Do You Mean”, the latest by The Chainsmokers and featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Canadian singer bülow. It moves up 22-16.
A second French producer appears on the chart for the first time and that is Kidswaste with his melodic and danceable “Sleeping Pills”. Featuring vocalist KOLE, the song moves up 27-21.
The highest debut belongs to a familiar name to this chart – L.A.’s Mako. Otherwise known as Alex Seaver, “Coyote” is one of his more progressive solo offerings, but boy is it an intriguing one, capped with some solid upper registry singing that makes it so memorable. “Coyote” bows at #23. Mako’s most recent chart entry here was a big one – he got to #1 in early 2018 with “Breathe”.
Although he’s new to the Canadian radio scene with his recent Top 10 hit “Wish You Well”, Halifax’s Famba appeared on my chart in late 2016 with his groovy Armada release “Right Here Right Now” (that throwback is below), which got to #2 on the chart. Famba’s back with some delectable new dance pop in the form of “Swear To God” which debuts at #27.
Also big in Canadian radio is “Figure It Out”, the iHeart Radio contest winner by Toronto duo Flight School and featuring L.A.-based vocalist CVBZ. It arrives at #28, a first time entry for Flight School, but CVBZ previously got to #2 with the Sean Turk remix of “Be Like You” in 2017. He also did vocals for Cheat Codes in “Feels Great” and for NOTD in the recent “Start It Over”.
The fourth debut is for Washington DC based producer Manila Killa with “Atypical” featuring singer GiGi at #29. Take a close look at its video above featuring a wonderfully inspiring lyrical dance routine, Manila Killa among the dancers too!
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
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