BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

2 Of A Perfect Pair: @TheFrankMusik’s Between Us and Between

FRANKMUSIK Between Us

No sooner than his album Between was released this past Spring, FrankMusik was already planning to issue an acoustic version called Between Us. It saw release last week, and the prolific singer/songwriter/everything guy has created the perfect vocal-and-piano flipside to the EDM emotional rollercoaster of the original album. That’s not to say that there’s any less emotion in these stripped down versions, in fact the emotional basis of the songs is in many cases quite heightened. But we also hear what songs perhaps fit better as dance revelations, while others do fare better with just voice and piano. And some are clearly fine in both versions.

In fact, I like “Map” and “Captain” as much as I do the originals. With “Map”, it aches with sadness in this rendition, while “Captain” is still a storm of a slightly different bent. “Cake” seems to be a much more obviously angry song stripped of its frenetic production, and I definitely connect better with “Pins and Needles” in its Between Us version. “Did Love” becomes less of a big production number and more of a solo climactic point. “Thank You” is arguably the most heartfelt song on the record. And there’s a new song that could easily generate some tears. “Hymn” is a “hymn” as much about “him” (the Other Guy) as it is about his ex. Even if you’ve never been in that kind of messy situation, the song is a piece of storytelling bar none and should be heard (below).

Kudos to Vincent Frank for laying most of his emotional cards on the table for us to hear in 2013, along with some Between States USA shows this past summer (with what I hope will be more to come) and undoubtedly more projects up his creative sleeves. As a bonus treat, take a listen to FrankMusik’s lovely electronic cover of The Beatles’ “From Me To You” below.

Full Album’s A Gem: Self-Titled Debut by @TravisGarland

TRAVIS GARLAND (self-titled album)

After tantalizing us with two EP’s Fashionably Late Parts I & II earlier this year, L.A.-based singer/songwriter Travis Garland is completely on point with his full-fledged debut album release. It’s crammed with stories about relationships (some songs darker than others), longing, having fun, having sex… set to layered tracks produced by The Stereotypes which are alternately funky, danceable, stripped away – but almost always on the R&B/soul tip perhaps more so than in the pop genre. You’ll certainly think of Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Usher, Michael Jackson as you listen… but at the end you will definitely think Travis Garland!

You’ve already heard the stunning (and personal faves of mine) “Blue Electric Roses” and “Homewrecker” (which seem to stand in tact from the Part II EP), but “Where To Land” has been re-recorded sans the rap, and “Abby Lee” (from Part I) becomes a fun jam. I wrote about new single “Clouds” as well as album preview “Motel Pool” last week. Counting those two, that’s 10 completely new songs on the album. A standout is the stylish and Spanish-influenced dance number “Easy” (above), which is begging for remixes and dance club attention! Not what I expected to find within, so Travis definitely has surprises in store for us all. “Pullin’ My Hair” (below) bridges rap, funk and calypso, giving it a streetwise flavour. “Modern Life” is probably the most amped up rock-oriented song within. “AllSheWannaDo” is most reminiscent of JT circa FutureSexLoveSounds. Bonus song “1 Of 1” combines MJ vocals with a retro 80’s vibe.

What’s important too about this album is that it debuted within the Top 20 on USA iTunes on the day of its release. Travis Garland is not signed to a major label, it’s an independent release. Travis has some pretty big celebrity supporters too. Be sure to listen to this record, one of the best of 2013, and join what will undoubtedly be a huge musical joyride for Travis Garland for the rest of the year 🙂

BILLCS Top 30 #413 – September 9, 2013

Hey! The BILLCS Music Blog is now 4 years old! My chart however has been around a lot longer, debuting online 15 1/2 years ago in January 1998. So without further adieu, here’s edition #413 😀

No change to the Top 5 songs. Kaden’s slick and memorable “Black Light” reigns at #1 again, while contender “As Long As You Love Me” by Ryan Adamés (below) hangs at #3 again. Only songs by Kylie Minogue and Anton Ewald switch places, with “Skirt” achieving a #4 high matched for her only by last year’s “Timebomb”.

One of the best Canadian pop hits of 2013 is Neverest’s smashing “Rewind”(below), which is the fastest riser on the chart, soaring 15-6. Could a #1 berth in the coming weeks be possible? Hmmmm…
NYC’s Andy Suzuki & The Method are coming to a city near you? You’ll likely get to hear their indie musician anthem “Dirty Floors” (concert version below), which also continues its climb to #7.
Lawson put on a heck of a show with Neverest on August 30, with new single “Juliet” coming in October and a Chapman Square Part II album too (North American release please!). In the meantime, “Brokenhearted” rises to #8.
Yesterday, FrankMusik released a gorgeous acoustic repackaging of his album Between called Between Us, on which you will get to hear a much less driven “Life (Is My Revenge)” still come across with a lot of power. The song moves up to #9.
Also released yesterday is Travis Garland’s self-titled album, which does indeed contain the unique and thought-provoking “Homewrecker”, which is now #10.

Look what’s just sitting outside the Top 10? Why it’s “Turn Back The Night” by Justin Timberlake, which is better than any other song on The 20/20 Experience yet seems to be underperforming. Think Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall, folks. It’s #12 on my chart.
“Applause” by Lady GaGa is not wasting any time proving that it’s a Top 5 contender on my chart. It puts the pedal to the metal and ends up at #13.
Is Lorde’s “Royals” suddenly overexposed with its pop radio success? Nonetheless, you’ve gotta give it credit for being what will likely be one of the defining songs for 2013. It’s up to #14.
If you’re in the UK, go out and see Sam Dickinson in concert because this lad can sing his soul out. His single “Learn To Wait” (below) comes from his top notch album The Stories That Occurred, and moves up to #15.

Waiting ever so patiently for the official release of Monsieur Adi & A*M*E’s dynamic “What’s Going On” (below)! This splendid recreation of Soul II Soul’s “Back To Life” goes BOOM in the best ways and rises to #18.
Meanwhile, Natalia Kills’ sophomore release Trouble arrived last week on the heels of second single “Saturday Night”. The Kat Krazy remix of her first single from the album “Problem” continues to build and moves to #19.
Two more of last week’s debuts are well on their way. “Somebody Loves You” by Betty Who jumps to #22, while “Ma Radio” by Osvaldo-with-a-boombox-Supino sails to #24.

Four particularly potent debuts arrive on the chart.

There had to be a way for the ever-so-talented Miguel to climb on to my chart, seeing that I arrived so late at Grammy time for his album Kaleidoscope Dream and the Top 20 hit “Adorn”? Well, thanks to Nick of the Chart Shaker music blog, “Adorn” does indeed land on my chart, in a startlingly grand remix featuring the glorious Jessie Ware at #21.

While 2013 year end #1 contender “Vocal” sits pretty at #2 again, the second single from Pet Shop Boys’ Electric sees release, and it’s my next favourite on the album, featuring such classic PSB lyrics and imagery, “Love Is A Bourgeois Construct” at #23.

As Parralox’s “Silent Morning” almost ends its run on the chart, another one of the most infectious songs premieres from their choice album of cover versions Recovery. And it’s an odd choice for a cover but it’s done so well! “Headhunter” (#26) was an industrial dance hit for Front 242 back in 1988, and John von Ahlen’s vocal provides a perfectly complimentary and contemporary update.

The collection of electronica and danceable pop on the collection This Beat Is… Poptronik! Volume Two will keep you dancing through to the winter months. One of its best songs that HASNT’ already appeared on my chart is the wistful end of summer tune “I Remember” by Nick Pes which bows at #27. It’s in good company with 7 other performers who are still or have appeared on my chart: FrankMusik (former #1 “Map”), Adam Tyler (#29), Parralox and Ryan Adamés (#30), Kaden (#1) , Osvaldo Supino (#24), Killian Wells (#11), and Tao Hypah.

Counting Down to @TRAVISGARLAND’s Self-Titled Album with “Clouds” and “Motel Pool”

TRAVIS GARLAND, “Clouds” and “Motel Pool”

I’ve been saying it for months now since I heard Parts I & II of his Fashionably Late EP’s: Big things are in store for L.A. based singer/songwriter Travis Garland. It almost makes his debut single “Believe” from 2010, released by Geffen Records no less, seem like a false start. Travis continues with his polished soulful tones and gritty undertones with new single “Clouds” and album track “Motel Pool”, premiered no less by Ryan Seacrest last week, and produced by heavyweights The Stereotypes. “Clouds” is perhaps the biggest pop explosion we might hear from Travis in his new songs. My comments want to drift into descriptions like “lighter weight”, and “breezier” than his other songs, but I don’t want these words to detract from a solid, romantic and sexy pop song. Personally, I think there’s much more to come in his self-titled album, which features most of the songs from the previous EP’s (I’ll wager, like FrankMusik, Travis and team may have kicked them up a notch for the album).

“Motel Pool” is to me the more interesting of the pair, much more of a sizzling R&B story-song companion to beauties like (my #1) “Blue Electric Roses”, “Neighbor”, or “Homewrecker”. Makes ya just want to dive in and keep swimming! The album is out on September 10 and is certain only to create the best kind of buzz because a lot of people have been waiting for it. In the meantime, get “Clouds” on iTunes.

Glittery and Thoughtful Nu.Disco from NYC’s @LiquidDiet “Writing On The Wall”

LIQUID DIET, “Writing On The Wall”

NYC trio Liquid Diet – featuring Australian Georgia Haege (yes she of “Kiss My Lipstick Off”, and about to tour with “Mamma Mia”!), witty Californian Billy Hanson, and electromaster Jonathan Sorge – should be far from the best-kept-secret that they are. Their playful “Hand Dance” captured my ears and thoughts a while back, and after gigging in NYC they have now released the thoughtful nu.disco epic “Writing On The Wall”. It’s available as a free download in a much zingier mix than was leaked a few weeks back. The song connects with me as I remember so much good feeling, thoughtful disco in my younger years. What Liquid Diet adds to the mix is a fine balance of vocals by Georgia and Billy, as well as repartee and innuendo that shows there’s much more to their music than just shuffling your feet. I’m sure this translates to an exhilarating club concert performance. “Writing On The Wall” is crisp dance music that would segue nicely with other favourites of mine by fellow NYCers Penguin Prison or Jessica 6. And if “Hand Dance” wasn’t pushing it a bit (in a Cyndi Lauper kind of way), Liquid Diet has also unleashed the naughty and definitely NSFW “My C**t”, also a free download. Listen below in the confines of your vivid imagination. You will blush. And, perhaps you will gasp. But you should just dance 🙂

@DATABOYmusic Reinvent “We Can’t Stop” and “Summertime Sadness”, Collaborate on “Spiral”

DATABOY, “We Can’t Stop Summertime Sadness”

DAVID HOPPERMAN & XANTRA featuring DATABOY, “Spiral”

If there’s any surprise shocker heading out of left field and straight onto the dance floor, it’s this mashup from Austin’s more-than-just-clever duo Adam and Cameron aka DATABOY. Yup, Miley Cyrus meets Lana Del Rey – and it evolves into an emotional end-of-summer anthem in what actually features one of the guys’ finest vocals. You get it all in a free download right here. And – we get to seem them throughout the entire video, at last! But, in total adoration of last year’s Dreams Are Gold album, I know that DATABOY has some fine, fine music coming which will build another project. And I want to see a club show one of these days again (2011 is getting long ago!). The duo also recently collaborated and provided gorgeous vocals on some splash progressive house by France’s David Hopperman and Xantra called “Spiral” (below), which has been making the rounds in dance clubs, deservedly so.

Repeat. @Zendaya “Replay”. Repeat.

ZENDAYA, “Replay”

I always pay attention to Disney and Nickelodeon TV network talent that often seems trapped within the confines established by their TV show. The Jonas Brothers sure are one, Zac Efron was one, Ross Lynch of “Austin & Ally” (about whom I’ve written) is another. Now that her TV show “Shake It Up” is seeing an end after three seasons, 17 year old Californian Zendaya Coleman is branching off into a slick and confident style that I really like – 1 part Janet Jackson, another part Jordin Sparks, another part Ciara – and all heavily influenced by Michael Jackson. You can’t fault any of those. “Replay” packs a lot of punch and power, yet has an affecting emotional side that doesn’t always match with an uptempo melody and chorus in other songs. And you wouldn’t think Rocky Blu would have quite the voice that Zendaya has. I was pleased to see her show in Toronto last week, where she basically stole it from R5 with her hour set. Her Twitter fans liked my tweets from the concert which made my timeline quite busy that day. Zendaya and her self-titled upcoming album are well worth the price of admission for both your ears as well as your mind and feet too.

No Romeo, Just @LawsonOfficial’s “Juliet”

LAWSON, “Juliet”

Fresh off their fun, melodic and energetic show in Toronto on Friday night, the lads from Lawson – Andy, Ryan , Joel and Adam – continue to tantalize us with their infectious brand of rocking pop, which has already taken them a few times to the UK Top 10, most recently with “Brokenhearted”. “Juliet” is definitely another smart story that is guided by a hook that tears a page out of Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out Of Heaven” (which of course nods heavily to The Police). Snappy drum work by Adam and always affecting everyguy vocal by Andy will help “Juliet” likely find a bigger audience than some of their other songs. Now we just need a new album or EP to package it up along with”Brokenhearted” and a few other new songs. Like the retro costuming in the video too! “Juliet” is due in October in the UK. Below is a pic from their concert.

“Tonight’s The Night” to Party with Canada’s @ElevenPastOne

ELEVEN PAST ONE, “Tonight’s The Night”

In my comments about their Canadian gold single “The World Is Ours”, I may have unfairly (but still somewhat accurately) compared quintet Eleven Plus One to The Wanted. To get more to the point, there is a style of pop/rock fashioned currently by bands like Lawson, Neverest, Down With Webster, The Stereos, and others, which totally reminds me of post-boy band bands from 10 years ago like McFly and Busted. They write their own songs, play instruments well… and in Eleven Past One’s case, they have a great harmonies (like The Wanted 🙂 ) and a powerhouse lead voice in Daniel Richter. “Tonight’s The Night” is a simple but classy pop song about partying the night away, no rocket science here. The video’s fun and completely captures the band’s lively presence in concert, which I watched last week. Signed to Warner Music in Canada, after three singles now I’m hoping an album or EP is not far off.

The Return of Remy Shand (@remingtonshand) “Where Are We Going?”

When we last heard from Canadian pop/R&B singer Remy Shand in 2003, he indicated that he was recording a follow up album to The Way I Feel, which won him a Juno Award and four Grammy nominations. Then he disappeared… I’m not so interested in why, though I heard about his marriage and subsequent divorce, and apparently some personal issues.

My friend and fellow blogger Adam Soybel of Pop! Goes The Charts has been in a retro mood lately on Twitter and tweeted about the singer and the song. That got me thinking about yet another scan of the Interweb for this major talent. And I found him on Twitter, at over 1,000 tweets this far @remingtonshand 😀

The big news is that he’s back!!! 🙂 The Way I Feel was my favourite album of 2002 and “Take A Message” (below), the international pop and R&B hit, was my favourite single.

When we were all listening to that, there was no Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Instagram, etc. But aside from newer performers, the same playing field of pop and R&B singers – Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Usher, Jamiroquai – are all around and doing even better, especially this year. So Remy’s decision to return is timely. I hope he has some great people behind him to work this return hard.

His new song “Where Are We Going?”, sounds like it doesn’t miss a step from songs from The Way I Feel. It is particularly soft funk-jazzy, and may sound a little understated. But there’s that golden, recognizable voice, and like his quiet return (in May it seems), the only way is back up 🙂

I was fortunate enough to see his show in Toronto at the Phoenix club at the time of his heyday. It was a blisteringly funky, high energy affair that kept people dancing while Remy held court for the majority of the show at his keyboards. Below is a clip of him from the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2002.

I look forward to keeping you all informed about one of the best singers of the 2000’s. Welcome back, Remy Shand 🙂