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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
It’s been a long time coming for the 30 year-old singer/songwriter who came to our attention after co-writing and playing on Rihanna’s “Stay”, but Time is here to stay! It’s a formidable debut for the Louisiana-born singer and sets the bar pretty high early on in the year for other solo male singers. I got thoroughly wrapped up in the lead-off single “Smile”, which placed at #7 on my year end list for 2014. There are several possible follow-ups here, and there are a couple of ‘audio timelapse’ videos for both “U” and the ferocious “Riot” (both below), one of my favourites. Why do I visualize a huge choreographed video for this one? 🙂 No one song sounds like another, and you’ll even hear an R&B-styled vocal on “U” that is quite different from the one he provided on last year’s “Stranger” by Chris Malinchak. It’s all beautiful lyrical pop, with “Riot” about the most atypical of the songs. Others to check out include the commanding, prophetic opener “Watch Me Rise”, “Loner” (the vocal here reminds me of Ryan Tedder), “Pull Me Down”, and “Burning Doves”, another melodic song with a great story attached. I’m hoping Mikky will do his own club tour this year after opening for Alt-J for several dates last year. His “Time” has come and it will serve him (and us) very well indeed.
In this edition, some songs on the chart get a few jolts and rise or tumble quickly, while four debuts keep on changing it up!
The Top 10
As a new wave of gentler pop songs arrives in the Top 10, Deniz Koyu & Twoloud advance to #1 making EDM rule for another appearance at the top with “Goin’ Down”, a song that will catch anyone’s attention no matter where they are! Spinnin’ Records keeps putting out more gems like these!
Family is everything to most people, and Brandyn Burnette sings about it like no one else because he wears it on his “Sleeve”, which leaps up the chart 12-2, tying as the fastest riser on the chart. This tender ode looks like it is most likely to succeed “Goin’ Down” at the top in two weeks 🙂
Also in the gentle but EDM kind of way is “Come Back To Me” by New York indie singer Reigen, which continues to advance, this time rising 5-3.
Positive pop comes in the form of “Lightning In A Bottle” by Eli Lieb, which climbs 7-4, somehow displacing Erasure’s “Reason”!
It’s one of her most gorgeous songs, and Jessie Ware (now on tour) rises 14-10 with “Pieces” from the still-stunning Tough Love album.
Movin’ On Up
If there’s one song on the chart that will have you rocking out, it’s New Jersey singer Graham Alexander’s “She’s A Chameleon” from his album Repeat Deceiver. The song ties “Sleeve” as the fastest riser, moving 22-12.
More beautiful ballads make their way up the chart in the form of Boycode’s “It’s A Mistake” (18-14) and “There’s Nothing Wrong” by Canada’s Eleven Past One (19-15).
Some sexy R&B influences send “Save The Last Dance” by Anton Ewald up the chart, 24-16.
Neverest’s song about striving to be your best, “Someday”, climbs up 20-17.
Marianas Trench’s “Here’s To The Zeros”, obviously a bit of a sonic autobiography for Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Josh Ramsay (co-writer of “Call Me Maybe”), moves up 26-19, from their forthcoming album apparently called Astoria.
Those 4 Debuts
Crashing on to the chart at #13 are more sexy R&B vibes from Pittsburgh’s Chris Jamison, who placed 3rd on the last season of “The Voice”, with “Velvet”. The song is just dashing enough to have the gals swooning and the guys full of respect. It’s a great start for Chris, who could be another Justin Timberlake IMO if things go his way! “Velvet” is a top-of-the-chart contender for sure.
A real surprise in some ways bowing at #21 is Buffalo, NY’s Daniel Robinson with “Moonmolt” from his upcoming release Truant. You don’t have to figure out what that is to enjoy the song. It’s just that intangible sense of being surrounded with all that’s good and right as things begin to change. At least to me! “Moonmolt” has a great melody that’s a throwback to the mid-80’s in a lot of ways.
It was previewed and then, boom, it’s on official release. The sensational Giorgio Moroder matches up with Kylie Minogue for “Right Here, Right Now” which arrives at #24. Will this put the 74 year old disco-meister on the pop charts? We’ll see!!
One of the most anticipated releases of 2015 will be the album from UK trio Years & Years. Their singles just keep on getting better, and so do their videos (this one has great choreography and editing), and “King” premieres 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 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud
12 02 SLEEVE Brandyn
05 03 COME BACK TO ME Reigen
07 04 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb
04 05 REASON Erasure
06 06 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W.
08 07 IGNITED Antonio Giacca
01 08 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory
09 09 TIME Steve Grand
14 10 PIECES Jessie Ware
03 11 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia
22 12 SHE’S A CHAMELEON Graham Alexander
New 13 VELVET Chris Jamison
18 14 IT’S A MISTAKE Boycode
19 15 THERE’S NOTHING WRONG Eleven Past One
24 16 SAVE THE LAST DANCE Anton Ewald
20 17 SOMEDAY Neverest
21 18 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith
26 19 HERE’S TO THE ZEROS Marianas Trench
10 20 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson
New 21 MOONMOLT Daniel Robinson
25 22 COULD IT BE MAGIC Color Theory
11 23 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware
New 24 RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue
13 25 CALLING OUT Penguin Prison
15 26 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light
16 27 HOUNDS Smashing Satellites
New 28 KING Years And Years
23 29 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde
27 30 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons
Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week onD-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!!
To paraphrase the old song, what do you get a Wookie(e) when he already has a comb? Well, you match him up with L.A.-based singer Adam Tyler, that’s what! It’s great to hear Adam both in and out of his element on “The Dreamers”, this EDM collaboration with producer/DJ The Wookie (aka Gabriel Garcia). The Wookie has provided a rich production with somewhat of an echoey effect which makes Adam’s vocal sound a little disembodied, but that’s not a bad thing at all, it makes the song highly recognizeable. Of course having Adam’s encouraging vocal also greatly enhances the positive vibe of the song, because where would we be without the dreamers of the world? “The Dreamers” soars at all of the right moments, and making it highly dancefloor-worthy, so I hope some remixes are in the offing soon. Download “The Dreamers” at the Soundcloud link above.
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