Stargroves is a five-piece New York City band which represents lead singer, songwriter and producer Teddy Watson, who is the album’s cover boy. It’s one of those alternative pop records whose depth isn’t easily summed up in a few paragraphs. It’s certainly a highly personalized effort – I can’t really begin to understand all of the stories without many more subsequent listens. But the music is pure ear candy in every best sense, introduced by the opener instrumental “Untitled”, preparing you for luscious arrangements that run through some fairly lengthy songs. Those arrangements include strings, which form a classical base.
But Stargroves is obviously contemporary, and best comparisons would find a place somewhere between Stars and Owl City. Particularly reminiscent of the latter is the duet between Teddy and Oscar nominated actress Abigail Breslin on new single “Westfjords”, and she also lends beautiful contrast in “Within Me A Lunatic Sings”. Like someone such as Rufus Wainwright, besides his own playing, Teddy’s voice is another of the album’s attractions. He doesn’t sound like anyone else, Adam Young of Owl City is likely the closest. It makes a unique experience listening to stories like “Half Awake In Reykjavik” (Teddy spent several months in Iceland writing songs for this album), “A Good Child Sings A Good Song”, and another memorable single, “Hats In The Air” (video below).
Stargroves’ album has magical moments which begin to spell great things for Teddy and his mates. It takes some effort to get through it all but you will be very glad you did.
Canadian singer/producer Cugini marries a unique blend of EDM and Hip Hop along with pop/rock in his songs, though on his Facebook page he calls it S.P.E.C.H (Sexy Punk Electro Contemporary HipHop). This came across impressively and confidently in concert when he opened for Mike Tompkins on August 10 in Toronto. Though other songs skew a more dance club friendly pop-oriented sound, Cugini (aka Adam Bertucci, along with vocalist Paul-luca “Pauly” Canzio) delivers a slamming, deep and dirty style on his second single “Activity”, which draws happily from the likes of Skrillex and Eminem as it does from post-grunge rock, and a comparison to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis is not unworthy. Watch for an EP sometime this Fall from Cugini.
UK singer/songwriter/producer Jamie Scott is hardly a newcomer to the biz, but suddenly he’s a very hot commodity! His own first releases go back to 2004, he is one half of the duo Graffiti6 (whose own “Free” got to #5 on my personal chart last year), and is a prolific songwriter – Enrique Iglesias’ “Heartbeat”, Matt Cardle & Melanie C’s “Loving You”, 5 Seconds of Summer’s “Over and Over”, The Vamps’ “Wild Heart”, plus new ones by Christina Perri, Colbie Caillat, and Ella Henderson… and of course One Direction’s “The Story Of My Life”, “You & I”, and “Midnight Memories” – are all his co-writes!! This has all led to a solo record deal which will see his album My Hurricane released in October. Ahead of this we’ve had the premiere of the title song but best of all is the warm and affecting ballad “Unbreakable” which shows off his terrific songwriting skills as well as a sound completely unlike Graffiti6. It will take a few listens, but “Unbreakable” will get under your skin, and should establish a long solo career for Jamie Scott.
The vacation season is almost as busy as being at work, though with Robin Williams’ passing last night it didn’t seem appropriate to post anything amid the sadness.
But on we go, to a new personal chart with six new contenders premiering, four of which I’ve already written about!
The Top 10
My Top 2 songs stay the same. House Rockerz/Davis Redfield/Carl Man continue to light up the chart with “Electrify The Night” at #1, while former #1 Tristan Thompson hangs at #2 with “Tidal Wave”. Tristan’s coming to Toronto for a benefit performance in a few weeks so I’ll keep you posted on that!
Eyeing the top spot for two weeks from now is the brilliant pairing of Sweden’s Anton Ewald with Denmark’s Medina on “This Could Be Something”, from Anton’s EP On My Way. There’s truly international potential for this one, hopefully it can still break out of the Nordic countries!
New to the Top 5 at #5 is Finland’s Hannis with her europop/dubstep beauty, “Time Has Come”, one of the most different and alluring songs of 2014.
Charli XCX’s “Boom Clap” from “The Fault In Our Stars” appears to be headed for #1 in many places around the world and will become one of 2014’s defining pop songs. It climbs to #7 this week. It might be the best song Roxette never wrote! *Hums “Joyride*
The fastest riser once again on the chart is no stranger to that accolade, Bright Light Bright Light, with “I Believe” from his new album Life Is Easy, climbing 16-8. “An Open Heart”, which got to #1 earlier in the year on my chart through its appearance on the In Your Care EP, will be the next official single release from the album. Woooohoooo!
I’m so torn between two or three other songs from the Deluxe Edition of Shattered Ice that another Adam Tyler song will have to wait for two more weeks to appear on the chart. In the meantime, leading the way is the single “Knew You Better” – love all of the Madonna-ish French dialogue – rising 13-9.
Right behind, after releasing his Deluxe Edition of The Stories That Occurred last week on iTunes, is Sam Dickinson, receiving his second Top 10 placing on this chart with “When You Left Me”, moving up 14-10.
Movin’ On Up
A bit of a log jam happening for some fine songs, with a couple of last chart’s debuts making headway and looking to climb more in the next few weeks!
“Ten Feet Tall”, the affecting collaboration by Afrojack and Wrabel, climbs 20-13 – does anyone else think the melody sounds a bit like Marc Cohn’s “Walking In Memphis” at times?
Despite its title, “No Fun” by The Presets is indeed a fun, funky, grooving ride, full of great effects and a fine vocal. It rises 21-14.
Zorro Blakk’s second chart entry, the bouncy “Big City Girls (Don’t Fall In Love With Small Town Boys)”, continues to move up after “Good News (For People Who Love Bad News)” peaked at #7 on the last chart. “Big City Girls” jumps 18-15.
Look for “Stranger” by Chris Malinchak featuring Mikky Ekko (22-18), “Music Gods” by Davis Redfield featuring Carl Man (23-19), and “Love In The 21st Century” by Neon Trees (25-20) to break out more in two weeks.
A Half Dozen New Arrivals
Sam Smith’s “I’m Not The Only One” debuts at #22. It wasn’t what I expected as a follow up single to “Stay With Me” but it could do as well on the charts. It’s also accompanied by a terrific and sometimes hard-to-watch video featuring “Glee”‘s Dianna Agron. Give it a watch at the top of the post.
Corey Niles has his second chart entry with a rollicking slice of hip hop/pop, “Get To Know You”, featuring fellow Toronto rapper Ish. It bows at #25.
It’s all about the hook and Brandyn Burnette knows how to write ’em. It takes a couple of listens but “Thanks For Nothing” is a no-brainer winner. It arrives at #26.
Remember those times spent with friends and rocking out to your favourite performers? Eli Lieb makes it an emotional memory fest with “Zeppelin” at #27.
Talented Knoxville TN-based newcomer Lyonn arrives with “Just Say Hello” at #28 from his EP Promenade. Huge thumbs up for the adorable and sincere accompanying video.
All of a sudden 5SOS are one of the biggest bands in the world. The Aussie quartet lands on the chart for a second time as “She Looks So Perfect” exits with the pretty pop/rock ballad “Amnesia” at #29.
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.
01 01 ELECTRIFY THE NIGHT House Rockerz featuring Davis Redfield & Carl Man 02 02 TIDAL WAVE Tristan Thompson 05 03 THIS COULD BE SOMETHING Anton Ewald featuring Medina 04 04 LITTLE ME (Steve Smart & Wildfunk radio edit) Little Mix 06 05 TIME HAS COME Hannis 03 06 TELL IT TO MY HEART Jason Walker featuring Bimbo Jones 08 07 BOOM CLAP Charli XCX 16 08 I BELIEVE Bright Light Bright Light 13 09 KNEW YOU BETTER Adam Tyler 14 10 WHEN YOU LEFT ME Sam Dickinson 07 11 GOOD NEWS (FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BAD NEWS) Zorro Blakk featuring Deniz Olivieri 12 12 MIRACLE E-Mute 20 13 TEN FEET TALL Afrojack featuring Wrabel 21 14 NO FUN The Presets 18 15 BIG CITY GIRLS (DON’T FALL IN LOVE WITH SMALL TOWN BOYS) Zorro Blakk 17 16 YOUR LOVE FADES AWAY Simone Denny 19 17 TRUST IT Nick Hagelin 22 18 STRANGER Chris Malinchak featuring Mikky Ekko 23 19 MUSIC GODS Davis Redfield featuring Carl Man 25 20 LOVE IN THE 21ST CENTURY Neon Trees 09 21 HEY I DON’T KNOW Kongos New 22 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith 10 23 STAY WITH ME Sam Smith 11 24 THE DAY YOU LEFT Convulsic New 25 GET TO KNOW YOU Corey Niles featuring Ish New 26 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnett New 27 ZEPPELIN Eli Lieb New 28 JUST SAY HELLO Lyonn New 29 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer 24 30 BACK HOME Andy Grammer
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 🙂
One of Canada’s best kept secrets (which you may have read about here first!), which could soon change with the release of new songs, is southern Ontario trio In My Coma. The band has just unleashed a fluid lyric video for one of the most rocking songs from their enduring album Magnets And Miracles, “Lined Up Locked Away”. It’s one of their more progressive rock-meets-grunge influenced songs and is always a treat in concert. In My Coma toured across Canada in 2013 so you can bet that more’s to come, and they’ve also added some interesting cover songs (by the likes of Depeche Mode) to their sets. In the meantime vocalist/guitarist Jasper James, bassist LauraDoll, and drummer Mike Paterson are all hard at work on those new originals, and if you are in the western part of southern Ontario, you’re likely to find them at a festival in August near you. Check outtheir website“Tour” taband watch the lyric video for “Lined Up Locked Away” below.
We hadn’t heard from 21 year old Louisiana-born L.A.-based MacKenzie Bourg for a hot moment since last year’s heart-warming single “Everyone’s Got A Story”. The singer/songwriter who dazzled us with his unique underdog take on Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” in 2012 on “The Voice” has been busy working on new songs. So to whet our appetite for what’s to come, MacKenzie unleashed “Impossible Things” online. It’s a fine, empowering song about not being browbeaten and striving for the impossible. Hardly surprising considering MacKenzie battled congestive heart disease shortly before his appearance on “The Voice” – he is an inspiration. Not sure who the other artist was that recorded “Impossible Things”, but MacKenzie’s own version to me is pretty hard to beat and I hope it gets official release. Listen above.
TYLER SHAW, “It Happens All The Time” and “Showtime” (official song for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014)
British Columbia native Tyler Shaw is on a roll with two songs worthy of your attention. Of course by now you will have heard the jaunty melody of the good-natured”It Happens All The Time” on the radio, receiving national Canadian airplay that such a strong and catchy song deserves. I’m glad to hear Tyler rock out a more on “Showtime”, which has been selected as the official song for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada. It’s a fine companion to Eric Saade’s “Winning Ground”from last year (written for Sweden’s UEFA Women’s Euro) and let’s hope it becomes a staple at other sporting events. I’ve seen the Juno Award-nominated Tyler numerous times in concert. I’ve enjoyed his performances ever since he won the MUCH covers contest a few years back. He’s a talented singer/songwriter who beckons international exposure, and now that time seems to be coming. Listen to “It Happens All The Time” below and download “Showtime” from the Soundcloud link at FIFA’s website for free 🙂
While Jane Badler is better known as an actress whose characters you love to hate – raise your hands if you love Diana from “V” – she is developing another career as a singer of unpredictable alternative pop. From her forthcoming album Opus, the USA-born, Australia-based Jane brings us “Losing You”, a Latin-influenced smoky-jazz pop tune which may contain the best vocal yet that I’ve heard from her – and I’m a big fan of her “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” from a few years back. You could put “Losing You” somewhere between Eartha Kitt and Amy Winehouse, and like those two singers it’s largely because Jane’s voice doesn’t bring another particular singer’s voice to mind… so I’d love to have her duet with Rufus Wainwright! But I digress. The video for the song is a treat. While we’ve seen other videos use the door-to-door imagery many times before, the director draws us in regardless of how unsympathetic Jane’s character is. Does she get what she deserves in the end of her own personal hell? You decide! Beautiful costumes, unique makeup and characterizations, and a convincing story all make it work. Watch below and get “Losing You” on iTunes on August 11.
DAVE AUDE featuring ANDY BELL, “Aftermath (Here We Go)”
I was thrilled to find out this summer that Erasure is back not only on record with The Violet Flame in September, but shortly after its release, they will be touring and making a stop in my city *tickets bought*… I first saw them in 1986 and last (of five times, I think) in 2011!! So first on deck we have “Elevation” (ab0ve), a sparkling mid-tempo song which takes us back to their mid-90’s songs such as “Always” courtesy of glistening Richard X production. It’s going to sound great in concert! Next up is a US club #1 for “Aftermath (Here We Go)” (below), and if this was a radio era like 20 years ago, you’d be hearing it to death everywhere. Truly, this song has HIT written all over it and shouldn’t be overlooked. Dave Audé clearly put his Erasure inspiration hat on and gives us one of Andy’s best recent vocals (and Andy’s looking wonderfully fit in the video as ever). At times it sounds so much like Erasure that even hardcore Erasure fans wouldn’t know! The last quarter of 2014 looks to bring us great music and shows from Erasure and maybe even more songs from Andy given the success of “Aftermath”.
I must say that it was with “Killer Whales” that Smallpools caught my attention when they opened for Neon Trees last month in Toronto, so I’m glad to see it appear so soon after. Very clever these guys, incorporating an unlikely phrase as not only lyrics in their song but as the title! Smallpools is led by singer/songwriter Sean Scanlon, and “Killer Whales” is really a bright and shiny alt.pop song about trying to figure out a relationship where the girl keeps disappearing only to of course reappear. It’s the lead song from the tight and personable L.A.-based quartet’s upcoming second release, and you can get it for free by subscribing to their email list using the link below the song above. Smallpools is keeping busy on another mid-west/west USA/Canada tour with Magic Man and Panama Wedding, so make sure you get out to see them.
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