Spandau Ballet have never really went away for very long, but the original quintet led by the still-stunning pipes of Tony Hadley returns with “This Is The Love”, one of a couple of new songs you can find on their new compilation “The Story”. It’s easy to say that this one’s aimed at the fans of their biggest hits, a simple, tight and effortless return. Their documentary “Soul Boys Of The Western World” received raves at the same time as the group was performing some select gigs to get back out there to the public. As is demand, they have now launched a tour of the same name, coming to a major city near you soon! It’s great to have this band back. Spandau Ballet was one of the more intriguing groups out of the post new-wave movement who continued to embrace dance music. Fans know them for their ballads so I’m hoping in these genre-specific days that Spandau Ballet can bridge both pop and EDM easily. Watch the spot-on performance from “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” last week, above.
I predict it’s going to be hard to stop hearing Eleven Past One on Canadian radio with the release of new songs on their EP The World Is Ours. Of course it contains the noteworthy hits such as the title song and “Tonight’s The Night”, which gave the Ontario quintet a large following over the past few years, landing them on many multi-artist tours, particularly those sponsored by Canada’s Family Channel (our equivalent to a hybrid of Disney and Nickelodeon). The songs would be nothing if they weren’t so well-written, tightly played, and fronted by the slick vocal talent of Daniel Richter. And no doubt there will be some naysayers that say this is just so much formulaic pop rock aimed for radio and teens. But I am never one to deny the appeal when it’s done as well as this.
The genuine and moving new single “I’m Ready” (above) is accompanied by an important message about bullying which will resonate with all ages. But the EP is more than just the singles. “Night Of My Life” and “I Won’t Give Up” are classy winners. What I also like about the production is the minimal use of studio trickery, which gives it an old school feel in some ways. BUT….. the EP does have a secret weapon! I don’t know what’s up with me and ballads this Fall, but “There’s Nothing Wrong” is a simply stellar and unexpected wow moment, and could be the band’s fourth and biggest hit. Watch for Eleven Plus One on tour to support the EP, and don’t be too surprised if their songs push outside of Canadian borders.
Miami singer/rapper Jake Miller is so loyal to his fans that he’s seen his Twitter followers grow to a half-million. Not too shabby for this young man who signed to Warner Brothers earlier this year. His first release for the label is the EP Lionheart, and I’ve zeroed in on the title song, though Jake has already seen national Top 40 airplay for the poignant “First Flight Home”. “Lionheart” is almost a successor to his previous single “Collide” (which reached #5 on my personal chart) with a similarly crowd-pleasing vibe as he sings and raps about his strong-willed lady love. Jake’s appeal is highly contagious and it’s easy to get caught up in a performance like this that wears his enthusiasm on its sleeve. You can get the Lionheart EP on iTunes and listen to the title song above.
I’ve been fortunate enough to follow along with the rise and rise of Toronto trio In My Coma as one of Canada’s new premiere alternative rock talents. So I was just delighted to watch their new 9 frame video take on Depeche Mode’s “I Feel You”. For one thing, it’s an excellent cover choice, one that’s not heard much, and one that the band completely makes their own, it’s several steps away from the original. Depeche Mode’s rendition is relentless and blisteringly noisy, and while I’ve seen In My Coma blow the doors off when it’s played loud in concert, they tone it down for the video, which also shows the band’s diverse talents. “I Feel You” is a great teaser for what may come on the band’s sophomore album, which I expect we’ll hear sometime next year.
In My Coma opens for Moist along with Smashing Satellites on Saturday, November 22 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto – not to be missed!
Fresh after his remarkable performance on “The Voice” a few weeks back in the battle rounds when he was unceremoniously cut after a truly brilliant duet of Rihanna’s “Stay” which left audiences everywhere scratching their heads with eyes dripping, 18 year old North Carolina native Joe Kirk has issued his first single, “Believe”. It’s a wise choice to follow a performance of “Stay” with a wide-appeal ballad that shows off Joe’s range quite nicely. Melodically and sometimes vocally, the song is a ringer for Swedish House Mafia’s “Save The World (Tonight)” but as it moves along it changes it up until Joe’s voice is completely let loose after the 3 minute mark. “Believe” is only the start for Joe Kirk and the powerhouse talent that I sure believe lies within and will dazzle us more over the next few years. You can preview and buy “Believe” on iTunesright here.
NICK JONAS, “Teacher” and “Avalanche” (featuring Demi Lovato)
Okay, call me convinced. I did indeed enjoy the preview single and video for Nick Jonas’ “Chains”. But somehow… and I still haven’t quite figured it out… I’m not digging “Jealous”, Nick’s first solo Top 40 foray… maybe I’m finding it too close to Justin/Robin songs of the past year? Anyway, the youngest Jonas clearly is on the right track with “Teacher”, which truly does feature a dynamic vocal and rich, ear-zinging production set to a slinky beat. Of course the lyric video featuring some rather nice body parts in reference to Nick’s own beefed-up physique isn’t hard to watch at all 😛 Also previewing online from his self-titled album to be released on November 10 is the ballad “Avalanche” featuring JoBros fave Demi Lovato. While the match up in the past was always with brother Joe, Nick and Demi do sound just great together. The song itself comes off like Nick’s own version of “Chandelier” as transformed into a duet. It’s powerful stuff that bodes well for the rest of the songs on his album. Like Joe Jonas’ Fastlife album of a few years ago, of which I am a big fan, Nick Jonas wisely chooses to step away from the Jonas Brothers sound and go for the gusto his own way (with the help of course of some powerful players and producers). You can buy “Teacher” (above) now on iTunes and get “Avalanche” (below) later in the week when the album is released.
Last year I wrote about Lisa’s first release in almost 10 years called “Can’t Dance”. Her album Seven was forthcoming at the time… but didn’t actually get released until a few weeks ago in Europe (not yet in North America from what I understand). In any case the wait is worth it if “There Goes My Heart” and its glorious video are any indication. This is a classy pop-jazzy-R&B nod to all of the positives about sudden romance, in some ways thematically a sequel to “This Is The Right Time”. The video has excellent moments, both from Lisa in performance and from the actors as they play out what we all hope will happen in the story. The song is fresh and vibrant and very deserving of worldwide exposure. Hopefully Lisa can take to performing and touring, and that Seven can be released in North America. Europe is also getting a deluxe version called Seven+ – clearly Europeans know much, much better! Seven is available on Amazon for purchase.
A new phase for L.A.-based R&B/soul singer Jarell Perry is beginning following the release of his White EP and album Simple Things with his cover of Drake’s “Own It”. While Jarell’s version strips away the hip hop flavour and rap lyrics from Drake’s original, he transforms it into a minimalist, street-wise soul recording that keeps the same intent as the original. It’s accessible alternasoul for anyone interested in something out of the ordinary with a gorgeous vocal. Bonus: “Own It” is a free download from Jarell Perry’s Soundcloud pageright here. Watch the understated video above.
As a preview to his upcoming album due shortly after the start of 2015, Steve Grand has released two new songs – a new original, “Time”, and a cover of a song from my early years, Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” – to whet your taste for more new songs. From one of today’s most endearing, rising performers, “Time” is a rock-tinged country song that’s all about the romance and good times, a good companion song in a lot of ways to Eli Lieb’s “Zeppelin”. Steve’s a great storyteller, and his breezy, rooted performance hardly makes you notice a 4 minute + length. It’s songs like these that standout because Steve really doesn’t sound quite like anyone else. And there are more fine originals coming too! I’m really glad Steve released “Bennie and the Jets”. I heard it at his Toronto show in the summer and it was sabotaged by bad sound. I really wanted to like it but couldn’t form an opinion. The enjoyable recorded version is slick enough and captures the raw essence of the Elton classic (and Elton’s a Steve Grand fan), though I think we’d have to dress up Steve in platform shoes and a bright sequined outfit for full 70’s effect 😛 Anyway, these songs are part of a great step forward for a deserving and talented singer/songwriter 🙂 You can buy “Time and “Bennie and the Jets” on iTunes.
After 6 weeks of having a lock on the chart, making it some of the best music weeks of the year thus far, the Top 3 songs have faltered and an influx of new songs is on the way, but that will probably still take another month or so, with the exception of one song which has its sights on #1. A list of the complete chart follows the blog post further down 🙂
The Top 10
“Smile” by Mikky Ekko gets an appearance at #1 after holding down the fort at #2 for six weeks. I’m looking forward to hearing the singer’s album Time when it surfaces – not sure of a release date now, and I’d be surprised if it wasn’t shoved back till the new year after he completes his tour with Alt-J. Ironically the singer’s collaboration with Chris Malinchak, “Stranger” (which peaked at #8) is #30 in this edition.
After killer performances in a four city North American tour – including Toronto, where I was fortunate to bear witness to her amazing voice and show – Jessie Ware’s “Say You Love Me” soars 6-2 to challenge “Smile” for #1 in two weeks. I don’t understand why “Say You Love Me” isn’t tearing up charts everywhere (it did reach the Top 25 in the UK), but there’s a dearth of beautiful songs on her album Tough Love too!
While Sam Smith’s “I’m Not The Only One” slips to #3, do not fear, fans, “Restart” is on its way up at #15!
He continues to post a lot of new music on his Soundcloud page, but for now “Thanks For Nothing” by Brandyn Burnette holds its own at #4.
Jamie Scott’s “Unbreakable” is slowly attracting friends at radio, and the song climbs this week 9-7, as his album My Hurricane will see release this month.
5 Seconds Of Summer’s memorable ballad “Amnesia” enters the Top 10, right behind the #7 peak of “She Looks So Perfect” at #8.
Oh look! Two Adam Tyler songs in the Top 10! No surprise that, I believe he’s done it before 🙂 So we have the Aron Friedman remix of “I Won’t Let You Go” at #5, and the Paul Hetherington 80’s retro-styled production of “Criminal” becomes yet another Top Tenner for Adam at #9!
Movin’ Up
Chromatone’s pop-rock-R&B flavoured song “Play For Me” continues to climb to a new peak, at #11 in this edition!
The last chart’s fastest riser, Jake Barker’s “Stage Fright”, moves up just outside the Top 10 at #12.
Semi-Precious Weapons look to follow “Aviation High” into the Top 10 with the unconventional love song “Brando”, moving up 17-13.
Actress and singer Jane Badler’s hypnotic and stylish “Losing You” makes a big move this week, rising 20-14!
The fastest riser on the chart this week can only be found within the new EP An Open Heart by Bright Light Bright Light. It’s “Arms Of Another” (musically inspired by Crystal Waters’ classic “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)”, climbing 24-16.
It debuted inside the Top 50 this week on the UK Official Singles Chart so “Gold Skies” by the triple threat of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix and DVBBS (featuring Aleesia) is proving to be an international chart threat, and it rises 27-20 on my chart in this edition.
It took a while to reach the chart, but “Superheroes” by The Script is well on its way, rising 28-22, from their 4th album No Sound Without Silence.
Chart Newcomers
Erasure has been one of my favourite groups since I first saw their show in 1986 (!), and their latest album The Violet Flame is one of their finest, harkening back to their classic late 80’s period. They’ve only surfaced on my chart three times since 2003, but each time it’s with a personal Top Tenner: Their cover of “Solsbury Hill”, “I Could Fall In Love With You”, and “Then I Go Twisting”. Can “Reason” join this trio? It arrives at #26 as the group completes its recent four.
Arriving at #27 is the initial single from the intriguing-looking soundtrack to the latest edition of “The Hunger Games” called “Mockingjay” (Part 1). I wasn’t a fan of the first movie, but award-winning singer/songwriter Ella Yelich-O’Connor, aka Lorde, is the curator of the soundtrack (not bad for turning 18 years old this coming week!) and the alluring “Yellow Flicker Beat” debuts on the chart. Lorde’s “Royals” only got to #11 before I tired of it; perhaps “Yellow Flicker Beat” will do better!
Lastly at #28, is the second official single by British Columbia singer Tristan Thompson, “Burn Again”,which I wrote about recently. This 16 year old will be a contender in the next year, mark my words!
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.
02 01 SMILE Mikky Ekko 06 02 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware 01 03 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith 04 04 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnette 05 05 I WON’T LET YOU GO (Aron Friedman remix) Adam Tyler 03 06 AFTERGLOW Harriet 09 07 UNBREAKABLE Jamie Scott 11 08 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer 12 09 CRIMINAL Adam Tyler 10 10 ZEPPELIN Eli Lieb 13 11 PLAY FOR ME Chromatone 15 12 STAGE FRIGHT Jake Barker 17 13 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons 20 14 LOSING YOU Jane Badler 22 15 RESTART Sam Smith 24 16 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light 18 17 KILLER WHALES Smallpools 21 18 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID The Janoskians 07 19 GET TO KNOW YOU Corey Niles featuring Ish 27 20 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia 08 21 NO FUN The Presets 28 22 SUPERHEROES The Script 16 23 THIS COULD BE SOMETHING Anton Ewald featuring Medina 19 24 HANG ON TO YOUR LOVE Penguin Prison 14 25 MUSIC GODS Davis Redfield featuring Carl Man New 26 REASON Erasure New 27 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde New 28 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson 25 29 I BELIEVE Bright Light Bright Light 26 30 STRANGER Chris Malinchak featuring Mikky Ekko
Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week onD-Moos.com!
As many of you are already aware, after many years away from the microphone, I am now pleased to be back as a voice onD-Moos.com Canada’s National Internet Radio Station, which mainly plays a selection of oldies, mostly from the 50’s to the 90’s, with soon to be more intrusions from the 2000’s and other new music.
Do listen in for my New Music Pick of the Week feature onD-Moos.com8 times per day starting at 2:05 AM EST on Mondays, and while the station is only live in the evenings from 9:00 pm to midnight (with my long-time musical partner in crime “The Musicman” James Rogers), you can hear my voice at other odd times, particularly if you’re an oldies loving night owl on the weekend overnights 🙂
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