BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

BILLCS Top 30 #450 – February 9, 2015

Five debuts and a sparkling new #1 highlight my 450th bi-weekly chart since 1998!

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/01-sleeve

The Top 10

After vaulting into the top 10 from 12-2 two weeks ago, it’s no surprise that Brandyn Burnette’s gentle song about family, “Sleeve”, is my new #1. Since the song is so fresh and being played regularly by yours truly, I have no idea what will succeed it. I’m hoping “Sleeve” will be on Brandyn’s upcoming album tentatively called The Healing. “Sleeve” is one of those songs that will strike an emotional nerve and leave you feeling great.

Right behind “Sleeve” again is another indie performer, New York singer Reigen, with the almost equally affecting EDM ballad “Come Back To Me”, weighing in at #2.

No doubt about it, Chris Jamison’s R&B-influenced pop song “Velvet” has grown on me immensely since I first heard it in December. It’s one of those songs you look forward to hearing every time you play it. “Velvet” jumps 13-3 (tied for the fastest riser of the week) and is obviously a #1 contender.

I’m really surprised more promotion isn’t being given to Jessie Ware’s stunning album Tough Love. I have so many favourites from it but my current is “Pieces”, which climbs 10-7.

Graham Alexander’s “She’s A Chameleon” is leading the way for more rock songs to arrive on my chart – four alone this week – to continue the diversity in music that I like. This energetic number climbs 12-8 from Graham’s latest album Repeat Deceiver.

Every song that has appeared on my chart for Swedish singer Anton Ewald has reached the Top 5. And though it’s not a single, “Save The Last Dance”, from his EP On My Way, rises 16-9, and may get there too!

Boycode’s lovely rendition of “It’s A Mistake” is a great showcase for the Belgium vocal quartet, and it climbs 14-10.

Movin’ On Up

I’m sure it will conquer clubs in no time, but I want “Right Here Right Now” by Giorgio Moroder & Kylie Minogue to be a pop hit too! This pop-dance extravaganza soars 24-14 to tie as the fastest rising song of the week.

Buffalo, NY indie singer Daniel Robinson moves up 21-17 with the mysterious but melodic “Moonmolt”, which is among the new songs that will appear on his upcoming release Truant through EQ Music!

L.A.-based Color Theory has a second song rising on my chart, and it’s a cover of Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic” as remixed by Lyder Janøy. This faithful but contemporary cover rises 22-18, following up the recent #1 “Headphones”.

2015 looks to be the year for UK trio Years & Years! A self-titled four song EP dropped this week containing previous singles “Desire” and “Take Shelter”, plus the latest called “King” which is well on its way, with a smashing video too, moving 28-19.

Chart Debuts

This one’s been around last Fall and got to #25 on the UK charts following the #3 hit “Touch”, but UK singer/DJ/producer Shift K3Y (aka Lewis Jankel) has a winning style that goes somewhat hand-in-hand with Years & Years. “I Know” bows on my chart at #21. You can also glimpse the singer briefly as he walks by in the video.

As “Hounds” departs the chart after peaking at #16, the striking “Waterfall” arrives for Canadian quartet Smashing Satellites with a powerful video at #25, from their album SonicAluzion (A-Side).

I’m not sure what is the official next single from Mikky Ekko’s new album Time following my #1 “Smile”, but the rollicking “Riot” is the next standout song for me, featuring a ‘timelapse’ video. “Riot” bows at #26.

To keep fellow contestant Chris Jamison from The Voice company on the chart, New Jersey-born Matt McAndrew’s “Wasted Love” wastes no time in arriving at #27. The only other time a contestant from The Voice has appeared on my chart, is actually before he was a contestant and was an indie performer! Chris Mann charted at #10 in 2010 with his cover of George Michael’s “I Want Your Sex”. Now he’s on tour as “The Phantom Of The Opera”!

I’m very hopeful for Lifehouse’s “Hurricane” to put the group back on the rock map, with a new independent album due called Out Of The Wasteland. “Hurricane” debuts at #28.

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart.

02 01 SLEEVE Brandyn
03 02 COME BACK TO ME Reigen
13 03 VELVET Chris Jamison
04 04 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb
01 05 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu Vs Twoloud
07 06 IGNITED Antonio Giacca
10 07 PIECES Jessie Ware
12 08 SHE’S A CHAMELEON Graham Alexander
16 09 SAVE THE LAST DANCE Anton Ewald
14 10 IT’S A MISTAKE Boycode
05 11 REASON Erasure
06 12 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W.
15 13 THERE’S NOTHING WRONG Eleven Past One
24 14 RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue
18 15 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith
19 16 HERE’S TO THE ZEROS Marianas Trench
21 17 MOONMOLT Daniel Robinson
22 18 COULD IT BE MAGIC Color Theory
28 19 KING Years And Years
08 20 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory
New 21 I KNOW Shift K3Y
09 22 TIME Steve Grand
17 23 SOMEDAY Neverest
11 24 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia
New 25 WATERFALL Smashing Satellites
New 26 RIOT Mikky Ekko
New 27 WASTED LOVE Matt McAndrew
New 28 HURRICANE Lifehouse
20 29 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson
26 30 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be! Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!

Did you know that 12 of this week’s charted performers have never appeared on my chart in its 16 years (and that includes Giorgio Moroder and Sander van Doorn)!

Get Inspired with “Colors” by @Hardwell & @Tiesto featuring @AndreasMoemusic

HARDWELL & TIESTO featuring ANDREAS MOE, “Colors”

There’s so much very busy EDM out there, and some of it, especially by major artists who are phoning it in, is becoming easy to dislike and dismiss. Not so with the songs I’ve heard from Dutch DJ/producer Hardwell (aka 26 year old Robbert van de Corput) on his latest album United We Are. There are several collaborations, including one with Jason Derulo that will make you turn your head all the way around, but the most striking is “Colors”, a partnership with the reknown Tiësto and Sweden’s Andreas Moe, who has the uncanny ability to sing just about anything. You already know Andreas from my blog posts about his own recordings and vocals on both Avicii’s “Fade Into Darkness” and John De Sohn’s “Long Time”. The positive message, the lush production, those gorgeous arpeggios, plus Andreas’ truly engaged vocal make “Colors” one of the best EDM records around going into Spring. The massive attack on club dance floors will ensue. United We Are also includes last year’s UK Top 20 hit “Dare You” featuring Matthew Koma. Get it on iTunes.

Less Is Waaay More in @BadW0lfy’s Cover of @EllieGoulding’s “Love Me Like You Do”

BAD W0LFY, “Love Me Like You Do”

I’ve definitely missed Bad W0lfy’s solo songs, although she (aka Ro Danishei) has been part of the wonderful and promising duo Wrathschild with Simon Curtis, releasing two singles last year. The pair sounds just great together or separate, and W0lfy’s followed that up with her cover of Ellie Goulding’s #1 UK hit “Love Me Like You Do” from the forthcoming film “50 Shades Of Grey”. While Ellie’s is trademarked with her distinct vocal and a massive arrangement that will undoubtedly make it a centerpiece for the film, W0lfy’s rendition is a bit of a rebirth that pulls it back to showcase her voice with a simple arrangement. The results sounds so beautiful and effortless that we fans of her 2011 album End Of The Rainbow are going to want much more soon! While I loved the intense electronica of Rainbow, the showcase on “Love Me Like You Do” would only make me embrace a more stripped back setting, not unlike my favourite singers of the moment such as Sam Smith and Jessie Ware. Watch the video above and download “Love Me Like You Do” for free at the Soundcloud link below.

https://soundcloud.com/badw0lfy/love-me-like-you-do-ellie-goulding-bad-w0lfy-cover

The Real “Roxanne” in a Redux by @PeterFoldy

PETER FOLDY, “Roxanne (Redux)”

Back in the Fall, I wrote about Canadian (but L.A.-based) singer Peter Foldy’s return to the scene after a 40 year gap between albums, focusing on the song “Carly” from his album Nine Lives. There was such positive reaction to his re-recording of his 1976 hit “Roxanne” that we now have an accompanying video. The video puts the song out there again so that we can see Peter on camera in-between scenes of a carefree gal enjoying her time on a sunny day. Do listen to the original below to compare – the redux has a wistful but still happy quality about it to justify the passage of time. And like I mentioned my recent post about 70’s contemporary Andy Kim’s voice in his more drastic redux of his own “Shoot ‘Em Up Baby”, Peter’s voice has hardly changed – “Roxanne” is unmistakeably Peter.

@Lifehouse Rocks Out on “Hurricane”

LIFEHOUSE, “Hurricane”

Now this is the kind of Lifehouse song I’ve been waiting for since their 2009 Smoke & Mirrors album! The now-trio kills it with “Hurricane”, which has been released independently in advance of their 7th album apparently titled Out Of The Wasteland. It’s hard to believe Lifehouse goes back almost 15 years with one of my favourite songs ever “Hanging By A Moment”. They’ve gone through some stylistic changes but have always remained the raw rockers of that song at heart. From their ballads like “Everything” and “You And Me” through to the bluesy country blast of a song like “Right Back Home”, the band’s versatility and Jason Wade’s gritty voice are key to drawing you in. “Hurricane” is rousing rock in the same way that you likely found “Spin” and “Halfway Gone”. I’m hoping Lifehouse will take a tour up to my city (Toronto, and I don’t think they’ve played here for years, the closest being Windsor) so that I can finally see their live show. In the meantime check out the video for “Hurricane” below.

Find Your “Juliet” with L.A.-Based Pop Vocal Group @AfterRomeo

AFTER ROMEO, “Juliet”

Well it only makes sense being a group called After Romeo, with a potential hit called “Juliet” right? Well maybe it wasn’t planned years ahead, but nonetheless these five guys currently based in L.A. have been around for a few years and definitely have what it takes to turn your head and keep your attention! They are Blake, Devin, Drew, Jayk, and TC, soon to be melting hearts across North America with “Juliet”, which is currently a single in Japan. The video is solid, good clean fun, colourful, and even a bit hokey, and the guys are in sync with their choreography, so yeah “Juliet” is going to make you smile, punctuated by some hip hop flourishes, and wonder why you really like it, but that’s just a good pop single now isn’t it? That darned chorus will be stuck in your head for days. All of this show good signs that “Juliet” could catch on in North America too, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you find After Romeo coming to your town sometime in 2015.

Brighten Your Day with “Alive” by @JamesPoole_

JAMES POOLE, “Alive”

Brilliant UK singer James Poole brings his quartet of piano-based songs to completion for his online EP For Your Ears Only with “Alive” (below). It’s a lovely, positive song about always looking ahead to tomorrow with someone special. Staying positive in the world with or without companionship can be a difficult thing for many of us sometimes. The song really allows James’ voice to soar and be convincing as well. Do not forget to check out his other songs at the You Tube link below. “Alive” sounds melodically similar to his own “Silver Moonlight”. “The Clocks Of Our Lives” is based on an classical Italian melody, while “Runaway” is probably the most obvious ‘pop’ song of the four. It appears that James will have a release sometime soon for us to purchase, so like the other Poole Party fans who read my blog I am awaiting it quite anxiously 🙂 I’ve also put the link below to James’ outside-of-the-box take on the classic “I Put A Spell On You”, which I personally think contains his best vocal that I’ve heard, in case you missed it!

Powerful and Haunting: “Waterfall” by @SmashSatellites

SMASHING SATELLITES, “Waterfall”

I’ve come to really enjoy Smashing Satellites’ debut EP A-Side (SonicAluzion) these past few months and after seeing the Canadian quartet in concert in November. “Waterfall” wasn’t my favourite song from the EP upon first few listens, but it’s now a song I look forward to when shuffling through new songs on my iPod. The powerful and haunting new video helps bring more meaning to what might sound initially like a pretty abstract kind of song. To me it’s about inner rage when trapped in circumstances from which one can’t seem to escape. You’re the “Waterfall”, you can barely breath (because you’re water, after all), see or move, but you can see things and people around you, but are seemingly helpless. I’m sure that individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety or other conditions must feel that way sometimes and the video may as such strike a chord with some viewers. But don’t get me wrong, “Waterfall” is not at all a hard video to watch, featuring expressive lead singer Salvatore Costa. It’s quite stylish and full of intriguing effects. Most of all, it’s memorable and helps the power of the song come out. “Waterfall” may very well be a breakthrough for Salvatore and Smashing Satellites in the coming months.

Smashing Satellites plays The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on April 7.

Two For The Show: “My Body My Mind” from UK Duo @Bimmusic

BIM, “My Body My Mind”

It’s always a welcome treat to have UK duo Bim (Becky and Tim) back with new music. “My Body My Mind” is from their forthcoming album Two, and fortunately Bim has not done a complete about face from their first album Scatterheart (gosh, it’s been five years!) and follow up EP Lifelines. “My Body My Mind” continues the path with gorgeous melody, thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics, beautiful vocals, and an interesting video. We are all human underneath and somewhat trapped in our own skin, but would we want it any other way, and how can we achieve that at least temporarily? I think “My Body My Mind” will be a grower and a fine introduction to album Two. Can’t wait to hear more!

Alternative Soul for Your Head, “JMSN” (aka The Blue Album) by @iamJMSN

JMSN, “JMSN”

Following up his debut album †Priscilla†(has it been three years?) and the subsequent EP †Pllajë†, L.A. based soul singer/songwriter JMSN returns with less scary and conflicted-sounding songs on this self-titled effort that zero in on how relationships drive us crazy. I’m wondering if it’s nicknamed “The Blue Album” for that reason? His records are always interesting challenges for collecting written thoughts about his songs. The singer has such a fantastic and easy going voice to listen to and I think sometimes in the past, particularly with the last EP, the complexities in his stories have overwhelmed what’s on record. “JMSN” plays like a 70’s R&B ‘concept’ album that somehow found its way in and out of R. Kelly’s bedroom 😉 Like in the past, there is dialogue, some in French, which acts as segues between songs. As in his past pop life as Christian TV, the singer knows how to write a straight-forward pop song that that comes in the form of “Street Sweeper”, which was the first song he previewed. “Ends (Money)” flies more on the club tip, while “My Way” (intriguing lyric video below) and “Addicted” act as signposts for the rest of the songs. Also of note are “Waves”, “Score”, “Ocean”, and “Delay”. Wisely going the indie route to sing, write and produce this record, JMSN has the unique ability to give you plenty of alternative soul music that is intended to get inside your head. Often haunting and memorable melodies give JMSN’s songs the edge beyond what you will hear on the radio and make for a thought-inducing but enjoyable listening experience all the same. Catch JMSN while he’s on a club tour across North America.

JMSN plays The Drake Hotel in Toronto on February 18.