Before Brandyn Burnette drops his debut album sometime in early 2015, he completes his trilogy of mixtapes with The Lost Tapes, an eight song collection of tunes he wrote with several others. But one thing comes through loud and clear: Despite the co-writes, these songs are all Brandyn! My favourite thus far is the timely “Phone In The Water”. With social media attacking our sensibilities from the get-go every day, the importance sometimes gets to be so much – solution: Pitch the phone! “Ashes To Ashes” and “Screwed” are more songs about relationships where the lyrics are laid out crystal clear and often with outcomes intact (“you’re going down with me”). “Footprints” is lusher emotional pop, and “Waiting”, “Sugar”, and “Tunnel Vision” have great pop melodies that could easily be adapted by other performers too. I am such a dance music buff, but Brandyn sounds great showing versatility a bit out of his element on “Right Where I Wanna Be”, an EDM production by the always innovative Sultan & Ned Shepard, and co-written by the awesome Lauren Christy! All in all, The Lost Tapes is a keeper and I hope the trio of mixtapes will one day see formal release. They’ve paved the way for what we’ve been waiting for these many months, and Brandyn is one of the handful of performers I strongly suggest that you watch for in 2015. You can stream the entire set above.
I’ve enjoyed Marianas Trench’s alt.rock since I first saw them in concert in 2007, a pretty raw and loud performance supporting their debut album Fix Me, and hence I have all of their albums. For those who don’t know, the quartet are all classically trained musicians and vocalists, and fine songwriters, as Josh Ramsay can attest with his numerous award nominations (including Grammy) for co-writing Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”. So as 2014 comes to a close, it’s the eve of a new MT album, which appears to be titled Astoria, and the band premiered new single “Here’s To The Zeros” in the above lyric video on Christmas Day. Listen really closely to the lyrics folks, “Zeros” is a witty pop zinger that MT writes so well you will find yourself singing it in no time. I was getting a little worried after “POP 101” did not resonate with me at all, but if Astoria is full of music like “Here’s To The Zeros”, then their fourth album has been well worth the three year wait since Ever After (though I would personally love another Masterpiece Theatre!). It’s also great to know that Interscope will also release Astoria in the U.S. following the success of Ever After. And I do believe I hear the North American tour dates being arranged…. You can also check out the live acoustic performance of “Zeros” below – MT had already been performing the song in concert for a few months.
“Today” is one of those songs about those lazy, hazy days, that float on by when you’re having a big outdoor party, and that you can reminisce about later, even though you may not, uh, remember all of the fine details. It’s rapped by Washington group The Good Husbands along with fellow west coaster Ryan Caraveo, who has the same kind of appeal of someone like Jake Miller – also give a listen to Ryan’s “When The Sun Sets” below. “Today” has the same kind of vibe that goes back as far as War’s 1976 hit “Summer” through to today’s “Stolen Dance” by Milky Chance with a few spins around the block that might be “Because I Got High” by Afroman 😛 It’s an enjoyable ride, and like those other songs, memorable for capturing a good time and putting it into a funky-kool-kinda song. Download it for free from The Good Husbands’ Soundcloud page above.
Latvia’s reknown DJ, singer, actor and model Markus Riva takes away the dance beats and trades them in (as well as brunette locks for blond) for a powerful ballad melody with “Take Me Down”. Markus did so well finishing in the Top 10 for Latvia’s competition leading to a Eurovision entry with “Lights On” that he once again has his sights set for a similar goal with “Take Me Down”. Like “Lights On”, “Take Me Down” has broad international appeal with a great hook and this time a smouldering performance that wouldn’t be hard to visualize on stage. Markus is making some of his best songs and this rock power ballad shows another side of him where he sounds just great. You can buy “Take Me Down” on iTunes.
It’s that time of year when chart activity starts to slow down a tad, so there are two debuts in this edition. But a lot of recent favourites will depart the chart in the coming weeks, so expect an influx of new activity!
The Top 10
Jessie Ware’s “Say You Love Me” continues at #1 in a year when there have been more than usual #1’s. “Say You Love Me” ties “Stay With Me”, “Money On My Mind”, and “I’m Not The Only One”, all by Sam Smith, for 3 appearances (6 weeks) at the top. Jessie is back on tour in the New Year with a spate of new dates just announced and available for purchase (and why can’t more performers do this)through her website.
It looks like “Headphones” by Color Theory will succeed “Say You Love Me” at #1. It’s one of the most infectious and memorable songs of the year. Also check out Color Theory’s rendition of Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic” (below) from the Adjustments Part Two album. It’s one part Donna Summer’s version and two parts Barry’s! Could it be… chart bound too? A cover by Britain’s Elouise got to #10 in Spring 2012.
Get dancing up a storm to both “Goin’ Down” by Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud and “Gold Skies” by the quartet of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, and the DVBBS lads. They’re new to my Top 5 at #4 and #5 respectively. Play loud!! Oh and those DVBBS guys have sold out three shows this week in Toronto! Great news for the brothers from just outside of Toronto (Orangeville) who scored a #1 record in the UK earlier in the year.
“Arms of Another”, the ‘B’ side to “An Open Heart” if you will, continues to climb and advances 8-6 this week for Bright Light Bright Light, now promoting his participation in the sophomore Slow Knights project led by his friend Scissor Sisters’ Del Marquis!
Also new to the Top 10 is Erasure’s “Reason”, up 13-9, which you can hear as remixed by the wonderful Parralox!
The fastest riser on the chart is last chart’s highest debut, with video up at the top of this blog post, the soulful and gripping “Come Back To Me” by New York City singer Reigen. It’s an independent release so do your duty and pick up this fabulous song on iTunes as it climbs 22-11!
Tristan Thompson’s “Burn Again”, moving up 16-12, has just been remixed by none other than Michael Jackson and Lady GaGa producer Alex Greggs, who puts a nifty spin on the ballad – and it all syncs up in the video too! Watch below.
Kristine W has had a never-ending streak of Top 5 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart as a lead artist – and I’m not sure who else has! So I asked Billboard chart guru Gary Trust, let’s see if he investigates! In the meantime, “Love Come Home” climbs 23-15 on my own chart.
Eli Lieb’s “Lightning In A Bottle” is perhaps landing on my chart with an even greater splash than his previous entry “Zeppelin”. This ultra-positive song moves up 27-20.
It’s the 12 days of Smashing Satellites giveaways starting Monday December 15, so watch the rock band’s Twitter feed! “Hounds”, the first single from the EP A-Side (SonicAluzion) rises 25-21.
Those Two Debuts
A hot spanking new favourite to add to your dance/EDM repertoire is “Ignited” by L.A. based DJ/producer/performer Antonio Giacca. It’s got a very European flavour but enough to translate it to radio play alongside David Guetta and the like if it gets to that. A delightful mix of house and contemporary electronica, “Ignited” arrives on my chart at #22. I’m anxiously awaiting dance club play action! Below is the progressive club mix.
Joining three previous chart entries, including last year’s #1 Rewind, is “Someday” by Toronto trio Neverest, who have their hearts and thoughts in all of the right places supporting WeDay and through RBC Free The Children. Tonight (Sunday December 14) is the last day where “Someday” is available for freeright here. Otherwise get it on iTunes. “Someday” bows at #27.
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart.
01 01 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware 03 02 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory 02 03 SMILE Mikky Ekko 12 04 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud 09 05 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia 08 06 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light 05 07 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons 06 08 STAGE FRIGHT Jake Barker 13 09 REASON Erasure 07 10 LOSING YOU Jane Badler 22 11 COME BACK TO ME Reigen 16 12 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson 15 13 SUPERHEROES The Script 17 14 TIME Steve Grand 23 15 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W. 20 16 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde 21 17 CALLING OUT Penguin Prison 04 18 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith 10 19 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnette 27 20 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb 25 21 HOUNDS Smashing Satellites New 22 IGNITED Antonio Giacca 11 23 RESTART Sam Smith 14 24 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID The Janoskians 18 25 I WON’T LET YOU GO (Aron Friedman remix) Adam Tyler 24 26 PLAY FOR ME Chromatone New 27 SOMEDAY Neverest 26 28 AFTERGLOW Harriet 19 29 UNBREAKABLE Jamie Scott 28 30 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer
Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week onD-Moos.com!
I am now a radio voice on D-Moos.com Canada’s National Internet Radio Station! Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week, 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!!
While the UK has already fawned over London pop/dance trio Years and Years – a Brit Awards Critic’s Choice nomination, a Top 10 hit with a featured vocal on The Magician’s “Sunlight”, a #1 dance EP “Take Shelter” – 2015 could be a big year for vocalist Olly Alexander and band. For they have captured a unique sound, a hybrid of not-so-boy pop meets early 90’s house-influenced EDM pop – think Londonbeat, Roachford, Sydney Youngblood, even Haddaway (but maybe not the London Boys 😉 ). Olly’s emotive and sometimes fragile-sounding vocals stand out and give their music personality. “Desire” is a recent UK Top 25 hit that will get between your ears and under your skin. The video is sort of a collage/mirage of images, events, and people that is less of a story and more of a backdrop once again to show off Olly and his voice. So now’s the time to jump aboard the Years and Years train because 2015 will be a wicked ride.
“It’s A Mistake” is one of those sheer delights that tries to be nothing but a great pop song with complimentary vocals courtesy of Belgium quartet Boycode (aka Lennert, Mattias, Greg, and Timmy). So there is no pretense here, no added blue-eyed soul, no rap or beat boxing to distract you, just fine vocals, beautiful lyrics, and low-key instrumentation that lets the former features rule. It’s the best single yet from the promising quartet. Don’t let the understated beginning of the song sway you – “It’s A Mistake” really soars after the minute mark and all of the guys get their chances to impress. I’m so glad the song itself has risen to see the light of day after a gorgeous rendition (which I wrote about) was created earlier in the decade – and then much to my horror, was prevented from release! Fortunately for them, Boycode gets it all for the win 🙂
It may have just been me hiding under a rock, but I was not aware that another member of the esteemed Gibb family is in our musical midst. Naturally, I’m referring to The Bee Gees as well as brother Andy, who all scored countless hits between 1967 and the late 90’s. Unfortunately we’ve lost Samantha’s father Maurice, and uncles Robin and Andy along the way. After spending the best part of the last decade or so in a variety of bands (most notably Samantha Gibb & The Cartel), between Miami and Nashville, as well as recently touring with Uncle Barry in Australia, Samantha is now on a new solo journey with “Wild At Heart”. It’s a jaunty and good natured song, which sounds nothing like her relatives, taking on a more relaxed Sheryl Crow-like pop vibe, which has translated into a video where a bunch of folks of all ages just act it all out in front of the camera. “Wild At Heart” is a promising slice of pop that will make you want to hear more from Samantha Gibb.
Digging deeper into his Volume One album is New Haven, Connecticut singer and blazing piano player Sean O’Reilly. You first encountered Sean in these blog posts much earlier in the year when the inventive “Ready For You Now” grabbed my ears and climbed to #16 on my chart. “My Lighter” continues to show Sean’s versatility with an alt.pop song with dizzy-impressive piano work that draws you deeper into the song when it kind of goes off the hook crazy just before the 2:00 mark – but in a good way of course. By then, the boat has sailed, with you aboard for the rest of the song! “My Lighter” proves in spades that Sean O’Reilly is a man of many musical talents, and what better way to discover him by listening to it above. “My Lighter” and Volume One are also available on iTunes.
Add Graham Alexander to the great list of rockers hailing from New Jersey on the eve of his new album, with the featured song “She’s A Chameleon”. Graham offers up no holds barred entertainment that incorporates a familiar blend of rock, blues, and R&B, while serving it in original, high energy portions. I must admit Graham doesn’t look like his voice, and the singer he reminds me of most in this song is Chris Robinson from The Black Crowes, another guy by appearance you wouldn’t think would belt out an Otis Redding classic like “Hard To Handle”. But throw in a terrific arrangement with a five piece band including horns, and you have music that will bring in passersby on the street outside of a local club with no problem. Graham Alexander’s sound is big and solid and ready to compete with the best of them. “She’s A Chameleon” is a fine introduction and I’m sure I’ll have more to say about his upcoming album very soon.
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.