BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

BILLCS Top 30 #424 – February 10/14

The new chart sees another influx of fine dance-oriented pop or EDM songs… how long can it last? 🙂 Plus, one high-flying debut!

The Top 10

Martin Garrix’s North American tour comes to an end as “Animals” holds up top for a second appearance amid stiff competition.
Travis Garland is 2 for 2 as “Easy” gets second place, while “Motel Pool” sidles up to #4.

Incredible indies Eurielle and Carlos Nóbrega remain steady with “Gold” and “Breathe Me” at #5 and #7 respectively 🙂

Bright Light Bright Light rises up 10-8 with “In Your Care” while former #1 “An Open Heart” hangs tight at #3.
New to the Top 10 are the rollicking “Take Cover” by Toronto’s Neverest at #9, and “Collide” by Floridian heartbreaker Jake Miller at #10.

I reviewed this song late last year, I said it was the first great song of 2014. I stick to that phrasing as “Money On My Mind” by new UK sensation Sam Smith (video up top) vaults onto the chart at #6. Sam’s already been #1 in the UK with Naughty Boy on “La La La” – can the top of the national charts be within sight for Sam? His new EP Nirvana – already released in Canada (shock me – we’re ahead of the UK) – is all kinds of melodic and vocal magnificence, whether it be an acoustic cover of “Latch”, more EDM foolery with “Safe With Me”, or the gorgeous live recording “I’ve Told You Now”. By the end of 2014, Sam Smith will be one of the international stories of the year.

Move On Up…

Up…

Last chart’s pair of “featuring Matthew Koma” releases make their presence known: Showtek & Justin Prime’s supremely irresistible “Cannonball (Earthquake)” soars 17-11, while Matthew’s pairing with Hardwell “Dare You” jumps 25-19 as new remixes are unleashed this week. Not to be outdone, a third “featuring Matthew Koma” bows at #26 – it’s his “Spectrum” buddy, Grammy-winner Zedd with new and very distinct vocalist Miriam Bryant on this kinetic threesome “Find You”.
While Lady GaGa’s next single is apparently the more pop-inflected “Gypsy”, the more raucous strutter “MANiCURE” climbs 15-12.
He’s opening his own Avicii Hotel in Miami next month, but will success spoil Tim Bergling? Not if songs like “Addicted To You”, featuring Audra Mae on gritty, emotional vocal duty, keep coming. It’s the fastest riser, moving 20-13.
With each week, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that many people will be grooving to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” while they walk down the street. The international hit continues to climb, 21-15.
Své’s moody and beautifully sung “Talking To The Walls”, complete with a scenic sci-fi-ish video, rises 22-20.

The Rest of the Debuts

While I’m still totally sold on Kylie Minogue’s recent EDM-influenced forays that are “Timebomb” and “Skirt” (which both got to #4 on my chart, her highest rankings yet), her return to pure pop on “Into The Blue” is a stunner, and arrives on the chart at #17. The video’s a bit fluffy, but it all feels good so who cares?

I am such a latehead on some songs that DUH I would have liked had I paid attention in the first place. After all this one was only a UK #1 last July. I’m talking about “Love Me Again” by North Yorkshire’s John Newman, which belatedly bows at #24. John’s got such a killer set of pipes, and the song musically is a cousin to Haddaway’s “What Is Love” – so does that make John this generation’s Rick Astley? 😛

It’s so, so easy to like the inventive dance music that Grammy nominees Disclosure have been making. But when they decide to remake “F For You” with none other than Mary J. Blige, and have it turn out this well, it looks like international pop hitdom is on its way. “F For You” premieres at #25. It’s La Blige’s first appearance in these parts since 2008 when she got to #7 in a duet with Robin Thicke on a remix of his “Magic”.

Extree, Extree

The suspense unfolds from two weeks ago is revealed in the full, entertaining video for People Like You’s “Have Some Pride” 🙂

Preview the latest dance hit in the making from Texas-based singer Blare Levoir with “Waiting For Love” right here on Twitter music. Watch for my official review and the full release within the next two weeks!

He looks a bit like Sweden’s Måns Zelmerlöw, has a soft Enrique Iglesias quality to his voice, and makes French ungrammatical just for emphasis. It’s Baptiste Giabiconi with “Je te aime”.

Heads will turn with the secrets kept in the new video for “Aviation High” by Semi-Precious Weapons (which got to #9 on my chart last year), from their new EP Aviation.

As “Can’t Hold Back” is about to leave the chart, along comes the new video for Anton Ewald’s latest single “Close Up”.

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 ANIMALS Martin Garrix
02 02 EASY Travis Garland
03 03 AN OPEN HEART Bright Light Bright Light
06 04 MOTEL POOL Travis Garland
05 05 GOLD Eurielle
New 06 MONEY ON MY MIND Sam Smith
07 07 BREATHE ME Carlos Nóbrega
10 08 IN YOUR CARE Bright Light Bright Light
11 09 TAKE COVER Neverest
13 10 COLLIDE Jake Miller
17 11 CANNONBALL (EARTHQUAKE) Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma
15 12 MANiCURE Lady Gaga
20 13 ADDICTED TO YOU Avicii featuring Audra Mae
04 14 EVERY SINGLE MOMENT SIRPAUL
21 15 HAPPY Pharrell Williams
09 16 MARRY THE NIGHT Glee Cast featuring Adam Lambert
New 17 INTO THE BLUE Kylie Minogue
08 18 WHAT’S GOING ON Monsieur Adi featuring A*M*E
25 19 DARE YOU Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma
22 20 TALKING TO THE WALLS Své
12 21 ROLLERCOASTER Corey Niles featuring Dru
14 22 DO WHAT U WANT Lady Gaga featuring R. Kelly
16 23 I CAN’T HELP IT Dangerous Muse
New 24 LOVE ME AGAIN John Newman
New 25 F FOR YOU Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige
New 26 FIND YOU Zedd featuring Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant
18 27 COME A LITTLE CLOSER Cage The Elephant
19 28 CAN’T HOLD BACK Anton Ewald
23 29 4TH OF JULY Jarell Perry
24 30 DO I HAVE TO DANCE Simon Curtis

@ThePresets Mach 2014: “Goodbye Future”

THE PRESETS, “Goodbye Future”

The Presets toured the hell out of their 2012 album Pacifica, so it’s amazing that they found the time to record new music. Thus we have “Goodbye Future”, which is a house-flavoured EDM song with a warmer set of lyrics that recalls songs like “If I Were You”. It’s in a bit of a contrast to the music on Pacifica which was often anthemic and futuristic, but ultimately somewhat distant. “Goodbye Future” bodes very well for Jules and Kim, who are currently in the throes of touring just about everywhere in Australia imaginable (Aussie readers, if you haven’t seen their high energy and often intense show, please go!). I would gather that another album is in the works, and hopefully that will arrive when the duo makes their next roundabout in North America.

Going For The Gusto: “Lights On” by @MarkusRiva

MARKUS RIVA, “Lights On”

“Lights On” is a big powerhouse of a song that should take its positive message around the world, courtesy of Latvian singer Markus Riva. Readers of this blog already know the talented singer/producer/model/DJ from his BILLCS Top 30 Top 10’s “How It Feels To Be A Man” and “We Dance 4 Reason”, and his gritty vocal captures the presence of the underdog rising to the top. It’s a very different follow up to his last single/video for “Fire”, which I wrote about recently. I learned last night that “Lights On” is a contender to represent Latvia at Eurovision. Don’t be surprised – songs with big choruses and inspirational lyrics go over big with judges. Side note: He’s competing against his “We Dance 4 Reason” buddy Ralph Eilands! If “Lights On” gets to Eurovision, it has a real shot at winning. If not, then no time should be wasted in marketing it globally. I sense that it will also be played at soccer/football games 😉

Arrows Are Pointing Up for @PollyScattergood with “Subsequently Lost”

POLLY SCATTERGOOD, “Subsequently Lost”

There aren’t that many records by British women vocalists that have a softer sound set to a danceable beat. On the North American front, I can think of Sky Ferreira, and she and Polly Scattergood could make a great double bill at that 🙂 Signed to the classic Mute label, you can’t help but think her voice recalled some of the 80’s alternative groups featuring women, perhaps like some on the 4AD label. So, match made in heaven right? Polly’s latest album Arrows was issued last Fall, and from it now is the poignant and memorable “Subsequently Lost”, which should turn ears in dance clubs and perhaps even at alt.rock radio receptive to playing EDM. Polly is part of a great show happening on Friday at The Workshop in Hoxton, London, brought to you by my very good friends at EQ Music Blog, and also featuring Parralox and Daniel Robinson among others. If you’re in London, do check it out!

UK Vocalists Supreme: @Harrietsmusic and @Denise_VanOuten

HARRIET, “Can I Keep You”

DENISE VAN OUTEN, “You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You”

UK singers Harriet and Denise Van Outen have both been working with the stellar talent of Mr. Steve Anderson, and have thus come to my attention with their recent songs.

I’ve already written about Harriet’s “Afterglow”, which is a real stunner awaiting official release. In the meantime, we have the warm, rich, mellifluous sound of “Can I Keep You” available for free download below on her Soundcloud page. The original comparison to Karen Carpenter is no fluke; there was no one in her time that sounded like her, and Harriet also has her own uniqueness at play in our time. “Can I Keep You” is a lovely, compact (2:49) listen.

https://soundcloud.com/harrietsmusic/harriet-can-i-keep-you

Denise Van Outen is well known to UK audiences as an actress and TV presenter. She’s recently began a one woman stage play called “Some Girl That I Used To Know”, from which we have her cover of 1989 UK #1 and Billboard Top 10 Dance Club hit “You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You”, originally recorded by Sonia and written by Stock-Aitken-Waterman. Denise has slowed it down as a pensive but powerful ballad to showcase her beautiful voice. While I’m not sure if this could be Top 40 radio material, the quality of the song and performance is unmistakeable, and sometimes you just need to bask in appreciation for all of the hard work that made covering a song like this work so well. As far as I know the music from the play isn’t officially released yet, but you can hear more of the songs – covers of pop gems such as “Hold Me Now” and “Your Loving Arms” – on the Some Girl That I Used To Know website.

Dance Club Bound: “Residents of Darkness” by New UK Singer @ClaudiaKaneUK

CLAUDIA KANE, “Residents of Darkness”

New UK singer Claudia Kane has arrived with a seductive and sultry single bent on conquering late night club denizens with “Residents Of Darkness”. The song really reminds me a lot of Stevie Nicks’ “Stand Back”, both vocally and rhythmically. Add influences from Suzanne Vega through to Tori Amos and Massive Attack, and you can hear where Claudia might be headed. She showcases her attractive self quite well in this self-made video, though the rest of the sequences don’t add much to the song. Nonetheless “Residents of Darkness” immediately stands out on its own – remixes would be very welcome!

The AcousticKilla Side of @NickIsTheTruth with “If This Is Love” and “What If”

NICK, “If This Is Love” and “What If” (video)

Nick Hagelin’s music has been regularly featured in my blog posts since I first heard it in 2010 on his more straight-forward pop EP Take Off. Since then, Nick has dabbled more on the R&B tip, and rightly so given his far-ranging voice which instantly draws comparisons to Justin Timberlake. But Nick’s sound has always been more direct and street-wise, and recently shifted over to some softer songs in his “AcousticKilla” side, and ones that he didn’t necessarily write.

“What If” (video above) is a beautifully sung classic story of breakup and ‘what if’ things had been different, in this case “what if I had loved you?”. You have to wait a bit for Nick’s falsetto, but it’s there! Thematically, it’s almost like the successor to Nick’s own “Ex Games”, still available as a free Soundcloud download as are “What If” and “If This Is Love”. The latter song puts him into Travis Garland territory with a sexy Latin flavoured number that could mix easily into Travis’ “Easy” (currently riding my chart at #2).

The great thing about these songs is that they show that Nick takes risks, which is probably part of why Streamline/Interscope signed him (and we’ll await the results of that relationship). Do yourself a favour and find out what I’m talking about by downloading all three songs below.

https://soundcloud.com/acoustickilla/nick-if-this-is-love

https://soundcloud.com/acoustickilla/nick-what-if

https://soundcloud.com/acoustickilla/ex-games-nick-hagelin

Serenely Soulful: New EP from @AdamExler, “You”

ADAM EXLER, You (EP)

Singer/songwriter/keyboardist Adam Exler is no newcomer to music, as you will tell from the highly professional execution of the songs on his EP, You. He did trade in a career as a national tennis champion some years ago for music, and more recently received high critical acclaim for his band Everblue. You is his latest release, and if you could put a dollar value on such splendid, learned, and soulful voices like Adam’s we’d all be rich 🙂

Not only is You so very solid in terms of production and overall sound, but Adam’s songwriting is extremely earnest, something that’s missing often in the songs you hear on the radio. So while the songs on You aren’t really Top 40 ready, other adult contemporary formats would find favour with the positive messaging behind “Dreamers”, or perhaps the deep down soul of “Rain” or “Inside”, which would slide in comfortably next to Dave Matthews, Counting Crows, or even John Legend, or Frank Ocean. Country flavour shows up on “Sunshine” and “Crying Time”. But Adam’s anchor appears to be blues, having been inspired as a youngster to pursue music after hearing B.B. King’s seminal “The Thrill Is Gone”. I’m going to throw in my own personal obscure comparison to British singer William Topley, whose rock/R&B band The Blessing was one of my joys in the early 90’s. He since went to some success as a country singer and still performs today. Check out The Blessing’s video for “Delta Rain” below to see what I mean!

Adam Exler’s music is instantly likeable and should take him to good places in 2014. Listen to the entire EP on his Reverb Nation page and buy it on iTunes.

Powerful Stuff: Hard Rockers @The88sband Self-Titled EP

The 88’s, self-titled EP

Hard rock is not usually a genre I write about. I did go through a brief phase in my music life where I wanted loud hairband music more frequently than usual about 25 years ago 😛 In any event, The 88’s is a solid, talented trio who are passionate about their music. It comes across in the care of the arrangements of the songs written by guitarist Luis. All three members come from different parts of the world – Luis (Portugal), drummer Joe (NYC), and vocalist Pheel (France) – and they apparently are based out of Shanghai. It’s no fluke that they are gathering fans from all over the world when their songs are so good.

“For You, I’ll Sing My Song” has the potential to be a hit at mainstream rock radio with a great message and melody. “Get Me Through” features traditional Portuguese guitar and backing vocals from a soulful singer named Lola. Other songs are sung partially in French too! But most of the time the band’s key influences from Metallica to System Of A Down shine through, and incorporating all of this results in a unique sound within a sometimes pretty static music genre.

Lovers of hard, angry rock with a difference will be completely sold. If you like pop/rock/metal in general, then I guarantee that The 88’s will make you sit up at attention. Listen to their EP and more at their official website right here. Watch the video of “Velvet Rock” at the top of this post.

BILLCS Top 30 #423 – January 27/14

The end of January sees a cold, cold winter continuing… but with extra hot EDM/dance music, if our three debuts (with thanks to Matthew Koma on two of them 🙂 ) and the new #1 song – which you may not have expected – have any say in the matter.

The New Number One

“Animals” by Martin Garrix!! Surprised?? The song has grown immensely on me during the month, and the young Dutchman already seems to have a signature sound of his own, judging by his subsequent collabo “Wizard” and a newer song which you’ll find under the extras below. But will “Animals” get more than one appearance at #1? Find out in two weeks! Love the above photo! Martin is in my city (Toronto) in a sold out show on February 7 at Uniun.

The Rest of the Top 10

“Easy” by Travis Garland continues its climb to #2 in its 8th appearance on the chart, while “Motel Pool” sits comfortably at #6.
Bright Light Bright Light gives up #1 with “An Open Heart” and moves to #3, while the equally pensive “In Your Care” moves up 13-10!
Singles holding steady: SIRPAUL’s “Every Single Moment” at #4 and “Breathe Me”, the thoughtful Sia cover by Carlos Nóbrega at #7 🙂
Into the Top 5 she goes! New UK singer Eurielle’s gorgeous “Gold” (video below) moves up 6-5!
The last new Top 10 entry is Adam Lambert’s highest on the chart thus far, the “Glee” take on “Marry The Night” at #9.

On The Rise

Canadian quartet Neverest is at it again, after the #1 success of “Rewind”, almost in the Top 10 a few weeks after “Take Cover” (video above) appeared on their Facebook page as a free download. It’s the fastest riser on the chart, climbing 21-11!
And speaking of “Rewind”, its songwriter Corey Niles and pal Dru continue to rise up the chart with a fine slice of pop/hip hop, “Rollercoaster” at #12.
New L.A. resident Jake Miller is fresh out of the Grammys and zipping up my chart 22-13 with a fun pre-summer anthem “Collide”.
While “Do What U Want” has slowed down at #14, Lady GaGa’s rollicking “MANiCURE” jumps 18-15.
He’s got an Oscar nomination, won a Grammy as Producer of the Year, provided vocals on Record of the Year “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk (which got to #2 on my chart and was #16 for 2013) – Pharrell Williams oughta be “Happy”, as the former UK #1 climbs 27-21.
Lastly, the eclectic and most listenable “Talking To The Walls” (video below) has an outstanding vocal by its singer, newcomer Své, and it moves up 25-22. It’s available on iTunes.

The Debuts – Power EDM Trio!

Storming the chart at #17 is the irresistible and indefatiguable “Cannonball (Earthquake)” by Dutch producers/DJs Showtek & Justin Prime, which started life as an instrumental two years ago, but has been transformed into an incredible vocal anthem courtesy of singer/songwriter Matthew Koma. This needs a worldwide release!!

I got so tired of Wake Me Up soooo fast that I went silent on Avicii’s album True. That has all changed with the arrival of “Addicted To You” at #20, featuring a unique standout vocal performance by American singer Audra Mae. A short song at 2:28, it has all the boom you need to make you want much more!

Lastly, we have more Matthew Koma vocalizing and songwriting courtesy of the UK Top 20 hit “Dare You” by another well-established Dutch producer/DJ, Robbert Hardwell. This gorgeously melodic EDM song arrives at #25 and I’m looking forward to the official remixes 🙂

Extra! Extra!

Several songs are on deck or are awaiting official release before they arrive on my chart.

Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige, “F For You”

Kylie Minogue, “Into The Blue”

People Like You, “Have Some Pride” (teaser video!! – official release is February 3)

Bassjackers, “Crackin'” (Martin Garrix edit)

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.

05 01 ANIMALS Martin Garrix
03 02 EASY Travis Garland
01 03 AN OPEN HEART Bright Light Bright Light
04 04 EVERY SINGLE MOMENT SIRPAUL
06 05 GOLD Eurielle
09 06 MOTEL POOL Travis Garland
07 07 BREATHE ME Carlos Nóbrega
02 08 WHAT’S GOING ON Monsieur Adi featuring A*M*E
11 09 MARRY THE NIGHT Glee Cast featuring Adam Lambert
13 10 IN YOUR CARE Bright Light Bright Light
21 11 TAKE COVER Neverest
15 12 ROLLERCOASTER Corey Niles featuring Dru
22 13 COLLIDE Jake Miller
14 14 DO WHAT U WANT Lady GaGa featuring R. Kelly
18 15 MANiCURE Lady GaGa
17 16 I CAN’T HELP IT Dangerous Muse
New 17 CANNONBALL (EARTHQUAKE) Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma
20 18 COME A LITTLE CLOSER Cage The Elephant
08 19 CAN’T HOLD BACK Anton Ewald
New 20 ADDICTED TO YOU Avicii featuring Audra Mae
27 21 HAPPY Pharrell Williams
25 22 TALKING TO THE WALLS Své
10 23 4TH OF JULY Jarell Perry
12 24 DO I HAVE TO DANCE Simon Curtis
New 25 DARE YOU Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma
16 26 KEEP ME RUNNING Andy Suzuki & The Method
19 27 I HAVE A NAME Osvaldo Supino
23 28 WE CAN’T STOP SUMMERTIME SADNESS DATABOY
24 29 JULIET Lawson
26 30 BERLIN WALL Simon Curtis