BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

More Long Players from FrankMusik and Pierre Lewis, Singles from Ivy Levan and Killian Wells featuring Kristinia DeBarge

This post starts off with new long players, somewhat ironically from two favourites of mine, who both happen to be 27 year old British singers! 🙂

FRANKMUSIK Between

Between is the result of the journey experienced by singer/songwriter/producer/everything-guy FrankMusik (Vincent Frank) when he found himself without a record label deal and without a fiancée. We all experience ‘between’ times in our lives, and Vince’s songs document the aftermath of his situation. This ultimately led him back home to England, writing some of his best (and most pungent) songs ever, releasing the album independently, and coming back to America for a club tour that is ending up being quite the road trip. Upon release, Between immediately climbed into the Top 10 Electronics Albums chart on iTunes in most major countries!

Fans like me of his Far From Over free download EP released this past Spring will find that record’s best songs included – “Map” , “Captain”, and “Thank You” (as a hidden track). They have all been reworked a bit, as has preceding single “Fast As I Can”, which sounds as if it’s been re-recorded. By doing this, FrankMusik is simply upping his game, making these great songs sound even better to fit in with the tightly-produced and complex sounds of the other songs in Between. Watch the behind-the-scenes video for current single “Chasing Shadows”:

But over to some of the new songs. “Cake” is even more frenetic sounding (if that was possible) than the fierce “Captain”, and its many sound effects dazzle. “Life (Is My Revenge)” is almost like FrankMusik’s new adage; there seems to be very little in the way to stop him and his music, and his fans are a huge part of the current road trip. The lyrics are particularly biting but very juicy, and the result is exhilarating. He brings down the pace with a beautiful duet with New York singer Cara Salimando, “How Do We Know” (she’s the gal in his video cover of M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls”), and a ballad of much needed fortitude, “Stronger”. One of the best new songs is “Did Love”, which swings like we haven’t heard FrankMusik before, reminding me sometimes of Mika’s often brightly coloured songs, and featuring another gem of a vocal.

Between is a highly personal statement from FrankMusik that pulls you in and continues to make you wonder where he’s headed next. As hinted at by Far From Over, it truly delivers and is one of the very best albums of 2013.

PIERRE LEWIS Consciousness

As readers of this blog know, I’ve been following the music of singer Pierre Lewis since I first stumbled upon the beautiful ballad “Broken” four years ago. Since then he has released some consistently good R&B-flavoured pop songs. So now a full length album Consciousness has arrived. And if you listened to the preview of songs from it in recent weeks, you are not only going to be surprised, but mighty pleased too.

What I thought might be a ballad-heavy album – and yes there are ballads – turns out to be an extremely versatile and well-produced record that could easily hold a candle next to the latest by Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke. And though I’ve mentioned both singers a few times in these pages of late, when I make those comparisons, I don’t make them lightly.

The opener “Selfish Little Girl” isn’t at all what I thought it was after a preview on Soundcloud (below), it is a melodic but cutting swing at a gal who just won’t grow up. It’s followed by some genuinely bright pop in the form of a duet with Pierre’s protegé, Hungarian singer Szilvia (about whom you’ve also read in these pages), in what should eventually be a single from the album, “City Lights”, and the vocals are a complimentary force together. “Evolution” takes on strutting R&B stylistics that remind me of Rod Stewart in his heyday, with a pretty explicit scenario rounding out one of the best songs on the record. I wrote about “Empty” a while back, a pensive and forlorn soft song. The two best ballads? “Lay Your Heart” followed immediately by “Always”. They are simply swoon-worthy.

Consciousness may seem on the surface to be an understated effort by a singer known for his smooth style and dazzling voice, particularly when it reaches those high notes. Once you’re inside, its best songs will not let you go and the ballads will entice you. Given time to unleash this quiet tiger of a record, I think Pierre Lewis has a winner and it should spread well beyond his already significant fan base.

IVY LEVAN “Hot Damn”

Nebraska-born, L.A. based Ivy Levan is causing quite a stir out of the box with her EP The Dame, and its initial single and video “Hot Damn”. Her style is almost a conscious flip side of what we’ve heard over the last several years from British singers Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Florence Welch. This is energetic, powerful pop from a new voice that can belt it out with the rest of them. Plus Ivy has a unique visual appeal in the video for “Hot Damn”, which criss-crosses Marilyn Monroe and Madonna with someone like Geena Davis. It makes for grand entertainment aurally and visually, and her style is highly contemporary yet very retro all the same. If Cherrytree Records needs a small tip – put Ivy Levan on the same club bill as new fave Willy Moon and there will be a K.O. in the waiting.

KILLIAN WELLS featuring KRISTINIA DeBARGE “Remix My Love”

Moving through different variations of dance pop is nothing new for L.A. singer/songwriter/producer/director Killian Wells, as he follows up songs as diverse as “Psycho” (from last year’s This Beat Is…Poptronik comp) and the boundary-shaker “STRFKR” with “Remix My Love”. It’s as sunny and shiny as the brightest L.A. summer day, and he brings pal Kristinia DeBarge (she of 2009 smash “Goodbye”) into the fold for a duet that is as natural as it is fun. The video, also directed by Killian, just shows the pair having a blast with colourful clothing and scenery changes. What I like best about the song is that it doesn’t get too sugary sweet and stays in seamless pure pop mode. Remixes abound on the single, available on iTunes, including a bouncy orangeFUZZZ Ibiza mix that clubs will adore.

Long Players: Andy Suzuki & The Method, and Kobo Town

ANDY SUZUKI & THE METHOD Born Out Of Mischief

Andy Suzuki & The Method is a trio from New York City consisting of songwriters Andy Suzuki (guitar, piano) and Jason Gorelick (electric violin), as well as the grandson of Grammy-winner Babatunde Olatunji, hand-percussionist Kozza. They first came to my attention last year with their Ghost Stories EP which featured the jaunty and jazzy “Fairytale”. The band somehow managed to conquer youth in Brunei, of all places, and toured extensively there last year. Upon their return they, like many other promising performers, launched an Indiegogo project to record their album. By Spring this year their fans (lovingly called Methodon(na)s) helped the band exceed their target by over $3,000, and thus we have Born Out Of Mischief.

The trio definitely upped the ante by several notches with this album. It’s slick and contemporary, it rocks and tells stories, and it is stunningly sung by Andy. “Keep Me Running” is a logical first single choice, the opening song with mass appeal written all over it. There’s also the playful title song and the devil woman saga “Lucy (Devil Song)”, and more songs about different women, including the country-influenced “Virginia” (where Andy’s voice particularly soars), the story of “Annabelle” and her navy boy, and “Lauren” (“will you be my angel?”), which reminds me of Canadian band Blue Rodeo’s best work. Best of all are the spirited folk/pop of “When She Leaves”, and especially the theme song in waiting to a movie about indie performers, the bar-rocking, fun “Dirty Floors”.

If you’re a performer who is speculating about recording an Indiegogo or Kickstarter-type of project, you should give Born Out Of Mischief a solid listen and contact this trio to find out everything they’ve done right. Andy Suzuki & The Method have created one of the year’s best kept secrets, which hopefully through touring and outreach to fans should garner them a greater following by the end of the year.

KOBO TOWN, Jumbie In The Jukebox

Kobo Town is out to bring calypso-influenced world music to your speakers this summer with the septet’s new album Jumbie In The Jukebox. Led by Canadian/Trinidadian songwriter Drew Gonsalves, Jumbie In The Jukebox is an ode to the history of calypso and all of the “jumbies” (spirits) which populate the songs, whether they be sheer fun (“Half Of The Houses”, “Joe The Paranoiac” – live performance below) or stories with pointed messages (“Mr. Monday”, “Postcard Poverty”, “The Trial Of Henry Marshall”). The melodies are finely crafted and accentuated beautifully by many horn arrangements, all bringing a rich blend of calypso, reggae, pop, jazz, and folk to fill your ears. Jumbie In The Jukebox contains songs that will sound great outdoors and will make you get whatever groove on you care to bring with you. Bravo to Drew and Kobo Town for an enjoyable and well-honed experience that will help take them to the next level.

Shiny New Pop II: Pet Shop Boys, FrankMusik, Eleven Past One, Anton Ewald, and Pierre Lewis

PET SHOP BOYS, “Vocal”

I don’t think I’ve been so excited to hear a Pet Shop Boys album in recent years than with their upcoming album Electric (due July 15). “Axis” was a tantalizing mainly instrumental teaser, but “Vocal” is the real deal, the best PSB single since their Christmas 2009 cover/mashup of “Viva La Vida/Domino Dancing”, and I think we have to go back to sometime in the early 90’s to find a finer single by them (I know some of you perhaps would argue this). Neil and Chris haven’t sound so inspired, and the truly heartfelt urgency of the lyrics (“this is my kind of music / they play it all night long / the feeling of the warmth around us is so strong”) sounds suspiciously like classic disco-era music lovers’ sentiments. The younger generation of disco/dance/EDM will embrace this. BRAVO. “Vocal” is now available on iTunes.

FRANKMUSIK, “Walking On A Dream”

As FrankMusik writes his Facebook diary of his road trip experiences touring the USA, it’s obviously inspiring him to record music along the way. Vince just doesn’t stop and we are the beneficiaries of his labours. So he’s shared this impromptu recording of a cover of the Empire Of The Sun hit from a few years back overlooking a mountain scenery in Georgia – he didn’t even know the song before he recorded it. Not only that but he brings it to a different and more simplified level that actually enhances the lyrics. I’m very jealous of all you Americans who get to check out his show and hear his voice in such fine form as in this song.

ELEVEN PAST ONE, “The World Is Ours”

Finally! A domestic (Canadian) release that actually takes its flavour from European pop! Eleven Past One is a Canadian quintet, partially from Ontario and partially from New Brunswick. Think of these lads as a variation of The Wanted playing their own instruments, but with flourishes of Swedish pop and good ol’ Canadian rock. Lead singer Daniel Richter has a fantastic voice, and the song itself has more than enough crunch and bounce to make you want more. Good on Warner Music Canada for signing this talented group. Eleven Past One will be touring to support R5 and Zendaya this summer.

ANTON EWALD, “Can’t Hold Back”

Now that “Begging” has me hooked, I’ll probably be bringing you more songs from his new release, A. “Can’t Hold Back” is the best kind of summer cotton candy out there, and it actually makes a good mix with the Eleven Past One song above. This one brings it down midway though in an extremely sexy, soulful break. The lyric video above features enough playful mugging that should help get word out about Anton Ewald around the world. The potential here is truly immense.

PIERRE LEWIS, “Empty”

To coincide with the release of his new album Consciousness yesterday, UK singer Pierre posted “Empty”. Based on the preview to the album which I posted last week, I wasn’t entirely sure of what to expect, and I must admit being a little taken aback by this raw and solemn sounding song. The comparison that came to mind instantly, at least based on atmosphere and effect, was to the equally stark “Darkness” by Darren Hayes. The feelings of hurt and solitude ring loud and clear through Pierre’s versatile voice, and it’s when those high notes hit that the song hits more than one nerve. You can purchase Consciousness on iTunes.

BILLCS Top 30 #406 – June 3/13

A new number one song and four debuts highlight this edition of my personal chart 🙂

Chart Highlights

Top 10:

By the end of 2013, I think a whole lot more people will know the name Travis Garland. Big things are in store for this young talent! From his still-free download EP Fashionably Late Part II is the stunning and original ballad “Blue Electric Roses” (new video above), which now leads the chart 🙂
FrankMusik’s “Map” leaves number one but will endure throughout the year as his third album Between approaches release next week! More good news for Vince further down the chart…
It’s hard to resist the cheery and summery sound of Matt Blue’s “Outta My Mind”, which advances to #3.
Not surprisingly, even though the album Random Access Memories is somewhat disjointed and puzzling, Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” is one of the year’s most infectious singles and moves up 7-4.
“Your Touch” by Blake Lewis (below) is finally about to be released to radio in the U.S. and jumps to #5. Listen for it on your radio soon, it is radio-ready!!
With a new North American EP out just last week called Haunt, UK’s Bastille is still on the rise with “Pompeii” at #6.
It’s both a dance floor filler and a radio playlist delight, particularly in the UK and Canada – “This Is What It Feels Like” by Armin Van Buuren & Trevor Guthrie is new in the Top 10 at #7.
The fastest riser on the chart, moving 15-8, is an amazing slice of NuDisco called “Somebody To Love Me” (below) by DJ/producer Eli Escobar and featuring the mesmerizing vocals of Jessica 6 singer Nomi Ruiz.

You can view the full Top 30 using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. You can hear all of the songs on the chart or watch their videos by clicking on the pics on the chart page. Any free downloads that are identified are sanctioned by the performer. There’s always a tiny place at the bottom of the blog post with tags and the statement “Leave A Comment” – please feel free to do so

11-30:

One of the year’s most gorgeous new voices belongs to L.A. R&B singer Jarell Perry whose poignant “9 2 5” comes in just shy of the Top 10 at #12. It’s from his free download album Simple Things.
New York duo Ghost Beach climbs to #14 with the rollicking original “Too Young”, abetted by a Penguin Prison transformation to keep your feet very happy.
One of the year’s most interesting prospects is the cover of the 80’s Freestyle dance hit by Noel, “Silent Morning”, with splendidly unique vocals by Australian duo Parralox and Puerto Rican-American breakout Ryan Adamés, soaring to #15 – check out the many remixes on iTunes including the rock-inflected Cherry Cherry Boom Boom remix below.

Charlie Brown’s “On My Way” and “Kiss My Lipstick Off” by Georgia Haege both continue to make headway, rising to #16 and #18 respectively, and I’m still surprised Charlie’s song hasn’t been promoted in North America, it’s such a feel good anthem!
Last week’s debuts all push up the chart: “Let The Groove Get In” by Justin Timberlake is now at #19, “Fade Into The Light” by Adam Tyler moves to #21, and “Shame” by Slow Knights (a Del Marquis multi-artist project) rises to #24.

Debuts:

I’ve written about all of our debuts previously, as recently as last week for one!

“Chasing Shadows” by FrankMusik is an aftermath to many of the songs on his Far From Over EP that will also be featured on the Between album. It contains one of the singer’s best vocals and truly stands out in a crowd. It arrives at #23 and I can’t wait to hear the full album and the songs that Vince has had to hold back from us amid all of the free songs he offers online. He’s currently roughing it from show to show in the U.S. – be sure to follow him on Twitter for the full account of his diary!

After spending all of but one of its 9 chart appearances (18 weeks) in the Top 10, 3 at #1, “Lifted” by Kwik Fiks & Bongiovanni tumbles to #13. I wrote about another chilled out bass-heavy rework of Dwele’s “I Think I Love You” awhile back that the duo have created. So billed strictly as by Bongiovanni, “I Think I Love You” premieres at #25. Crank your car stereo for this one for full effect! It’s also a free download!

If there’s one song so far this year that should have HIT stamped all over it – despite noticeable lack of North American release of their music – it’s Lawson’s new single “Brokenhearted”, featuring B.o.B. Check out the new video for the song above. It bows at #26 on the chart, as “Learn To Love Again” (#5) leaves the chart at #30.

Lastly, it’s already reached #2 in Sweden, but Melodifestivalen hit “Begging” by 19 year old singer/dancer/choreographer Anton Ewald shouldn’t go unnoticed worldwide. That show often creates star-making performances and Anton’s (above) is one of them. “Begging” debuts at #27. Go ahead, borrow that Swedish male pop crown from Eric Saade 🙂

New Shiny Pop: Kylie Minogue, Dan Black featuring Kelis, Eric Saade, Mika, and Amelia’s Fault featuring Color Theory

KYLIE MINOGUE, “Skirt”

For someone who was never really impressed with Kylie’s early 80s/90s songs, which of course garnered massive success in the majority of the world, I must say that the calibre of new songs on the way must be substantial. Witness 2012’s 3rd career reinvention (following the early 00’s grands succès) with the stunning “Timebomb”, a song that really was only a huge hit in her native Australia, but greatly loved by fans and music bloggers around the world. “Skirt” continues in the next phase of that reinvention that will leave the dance floor in dubsteppy tatters. Produced by Nom de Strip and co-written by The-Dream, “Skirt” is effortlessly flirty, something that singers more than 20 years younger than Dame Kylie simply can’t pull off. I hope this one gets official release soon and that her record company pump the hell out of it. One of the best songs to make your summer brighter!!

DAN BLACK featuring KELIS, “Hearts”

Our favourite UK musical alchemist is back! Based in Paris, Dan Black took a break after scoring with his 2009 album UN to start a family (his songs “Symphonies” and “Alone” both got to #1 on my chart). He dropped a few songs over the last year or so, but none have resonated so much as “Hearts”, which adds Kelis into his crazy kind of musical magic. “Hearts” is destined for both the radio and the beach (and perhaps remixes for dance clubs), making you wonder every step of the way what musical moment will occur next in the song. It’s also supported by a 24 hour stop motion video which must have been quite difficult to film. You can never say that Dan Black doesn’t sacrifice personal endurance for his craft! “Hearts” is one of those songs almost out of left field that just doesn’t let go.

ERIC SAADE, “Winning Ground” and “Cover Girl Part II”

In follow up to singles “Miss Unknown” and “Marching (In The Name Of Love)”, Sweden’s Eric Saade has released an EP Coming Home (along with the title track single – unfortunately not among his best songs I’m afraid), in advance of his upcoming album Forgive Me. The songs are definitely taking a different direction away from the brilliant arpeggio-laden Europop in favour of ballads and R&B-influenced songs. “Cover Girl Part II” (above) is probably the funkiest song that Eric has ever recorded, sounding sultry and fly like never before. This blends nicely into the R&B-oriented charge of male pop singers that has been led by Justin Timberlake this year.

It will be on the album, but I’m not sure about the days-old “Winning Ground” (below), which does not appear on the Coming Home EP. Eric loves soccer so it must be a thrill to perform an anthem for the Women’s Euro Sweden team. Like any soccer anthem that manages not to go over the top, “Winning Ground” is memorable and oh so catchy… just not sure how much an official release it might be. Eric Saade proves himself to be a reliable pop star and I look forward to hearing more new songs from Forgive Me.

MIKA, “Live Your Life (La canción de San Miguel)”

Mika is such an inspired singer and performer sometimes it just seems surreal. So just weeks after the Tim Burton-influenced video for “Popular Song” (featuring Ariana Grande) arrives on the scene, we find Mika sharing the video with “Citizens From A Place Called World” for this lesson in positive summer power called “Live Your Life”. And the singer lends his multi-language skills to the song by singing a verse in Spanish. So first there’s a Home Depot commercial on TV that uses “Love Today” as its music, and now there’s “Live Your Life”, which you might not realize until the end, is actually a video-length beer commercial for the San Miguel beer company. Sold! Not sure if it will be available for commercial purchase though.

AMELIA’S FAULT featuring COLOR THEORY, “Colder”

In a world of mirror images, you will find Star Trek’s Mr. Spock with a beard. You will find Griffin Dunne’s character trying to find his way home through an unforgiving New York City in Martin Scorcese’s 80’s classic “After Hours”. You’ll find the Log Lady from “Twin Peaks”. It will all be set to classic 80’s chilled out new wave – Cocteau Twins, Thompson Twins ballads, Gary Numan instrumentals… and as summer approaches, thus we find “Colder” by Amelia’s Fault. This ‘project’ combines the many talents of Matt “Stormby” Eriksson, Richard Hymas, and Charlie Mason, who craft a song worthy to be featured alongside classics like Depeche Mode’s “Stripped” or “Somebody”. They selected the perfect vocalist – Color Theory (aka Brian Hazard), who is already well known for his Dave Gahan-like vocals. It’s the voice that gets the lyrics and melody stuck in our heads – “Colder” doesn’t convince so much on first listen as it does on fourth. It… lingers. And then, it’s embedded. Yes, during the summer months you can chill out to “Colder” and be completely content! Watch the lyrics video below… and blame it all on Amelia, whoever she may be. U.S. residents can download it for free via Amazon.

MAY DAYS: Willy Moon’s album, Chromatone’s interview, Pierre Lewis’ preview, Bim’s video and demo, and Jeronimo’s B-side

WILLY MOON Here’s Willy Moon

London-based Kiwi Willy Moon knows a lot about creating a really big sounding, splashy, and stylish debut album. Here’s Willy Moon finally dropped in my country this past week and it’s guaranteed to turn heads and open ears just like when you first heard breakout single “Yeah Yeah” on the iPod commercials. Some of the 14 songs (including two bonus tracks) on the self-produced album were already released on his previous self-titled EP so the record as a whole isn’t all new. It’s a mix of new originals plus 3 cover versions that channel 50s/60s basics – only one song within is longer than 3 minutes – through our contemporary technological sound machine. Led by Willy’s exuberant vocals, the album works most of the time (only the R&B flavoured opener “Get Up (What You Need)” seems out of place), and as I heard in Austin in March, he can replicate the sound on stage.

Willy’s originals often bask in the classic melodies of the past. “Fire” is one of the standouts, recalling a song like “Heart Full Of Soul” by The Yardbirds in melody and style, but leaving a unique mark after you hear it. “My Girl” sounds like Eddie Cochran and Brian Setzer (of the Stray Cats) together, with stylistic whomp courtesy perhaps of 80’s Robert Palmer sounds. You could visualize hearing “I Wanna Be Your Man” in a 60’s Go-Go club if it didn’t have all of the modern trappings. Covers of classics “I Put A Spell On You” and “Shakin'” (video below – my favourite version of the latter is the cover by The Blasters in the 80’s), as well as bonus song “Bang Bang” , can easily label Willy as a competitive interpreter. Second bonus song “Oh Nikki Darling” (co-written and co-produced with Martin ‘Cherry Cherry Boom Boom’ Kierszenbaum) is short and haunting – a sequel to the Prince song of almost the same name, perhaps?

So you can hear where this is heading. Here’s Willy Moon is definitely one of the year’s boldest debuts by a singer who aims to dazzle from the start.

CHROMATONE, “Fire” – plus an interview!

Chromatone is turning out to be one of 2013’s most promising talents to watch, after getting to know his music a bit last year. It’s all a plan to lead up to an EP coming this Fall. Be sure to watch the clip below courtesy of the new Nupe Vibes series. It features a brand new Chromatone original, “Fire” in a stellar live-from-the-floor performance which just makes me realize how grand his voice will sound when in a studio with added production! Plus we get to know the man who answers some well-presented questions and you get to find out why he’s so good at making music. Dynamite stuff, cannot wait for more!! Also check out the video for his cover of Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out Of Heaven” where he busts out some dance moves (and throws in some Gotye near the end for good measure).

PIERRE LEWIS, Consciousness (preview)

It’s been a while since we heard from UK pop-soul singer Pierre Lewis, who first came to my attention in huge style with his ballad “Broken” (#2 on my chart) in 2009. Last year we heard his EP Transitions, featuring “Out Of My Mind”, as well as his duet with Kaya in a classic style on “When I Was Blind”. His new album Consciousness drops next week, and there’s a rich blend of uptempo pop songs as well as softer R&B-influenced songs that so enchant his many women fans 🙂 There are bound to be a few surprises that you don’t hear in the preview below so you can count on me to bring you more very soon.

BIM, “Highlight” (The Barn Sessions video) and “Ghost” (demo)

One of last year’s releases often on repeat on my iPod Touch is Bim’s Lifelines EP. The UK duo with whom you are well acquainted in this blog keeps taking their music to the next level in different ways. So now we have “Highlight” (from Lifelines), in a performance video shot inside a barn, which finally gives you a visual of Rebecca and Denmark in what you would likely see in a concert setting. It’s a passionate performance that brings life to the song that a creative music video can’t do justice. Then, take a listen to the moving new song “Ghost”, in a pretty convincing demo format, and try to fathom why it shouldn’t be given a full release itself.

JERONIMO, “Fading Memories”

We’ve already been teased by Jeronimo, the Dutch singer with the highly recognizable voice, with an acoustic version of his upcoming single “Flying Solo”. So then he actually records a video for the song that is the ‘B side’ to “Flying Solo”, “Fading Memories”, which is not only a great idea, but has probably turned out even better than expected! The singer himself has such a fun personality and is a real cheerleader for having a good time. So we get treated to both the serious side of Jeronimo in the performance part of the video (and we’ve already seen how well he does this in the videos for “Somebody Who Loves Me” and “Firefly”) for what is really a thoughtful song about moving on, and then the carefree side which appears to show him in historic sites in the Philippines. To be honest, “Fading Memories” could/should be a single unto itself, it’s certainly a powerful enough song on its own. This bodes very well for a full upcoming album of Jeronimo songs to follow up last year’s immensely entertaining One Kiss.

BILLCS Top 30 #405 – May 20/13

With so much new music arriving on the chart over the past month, there is considerable activity!

Amid it all, though, FrankMusik holds at #1 with “Map” (ab0ve), as the release date for Between as well as Frank’s US tour approach. But it’s being immediately challenged by “Blue Electric Roses” (6-2, below), my favourite song from Travis Garland’s magnetic free download Fashionably Late II EP. Travis’ song “Homewrecker” got a huge unexpected endorsement on Twitter this weekend by pop singer Richard Marx!! “Lifted” by Kwik Fiks & Bongiovanni slips to #3 but seems very attached to the top portion of the chart 🙂 “Outta My Mind” the Europop dance hit by Dutch singer Matt Blue jumps 10-4, while Willy Moon’s “My Girl” hangs in at #5 as his album Here’s Willy Moon looks to be released in North America soon.

Songs 6 through 12 are all on the upswing, which of course means that no song within the Top 5 is truly safe. “Your Touch” by Blake Lewis is deservedly right at the heels of the Top 5, and it’s followed by the fastest riser on the chart, “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk, which climbs 16-7. Could “Get Lucky” be one of the songs of Summer ’13? Watch below, and check out the splendid alternate unreleased version with Sam Sparro on vocals.

Ariana Grande & Mac Miller’s “The Way” inches up to #8, while both Bastille’s “Pompeii” and “Aviation High” by Semi-Precious Weapons arrive at last in the Top 10. Almost there are the radio-cranker “This Is What It Feels Like” by Armin Van Buuren & former soulDecision singer Trevor Guthrie (18-11, below), and “One Night” by Matthew Koma (14-12), which arrives in new remixes tomorrow on iTunes. It’s from his upcoming album Arcadia. Cherrytree Records has posted them on their Soundcloud site.

Meanwhile, “Somebody To Love Me”, the dance club rave-up by Eli Escobar featuring Jessica 6’s Nomi Ruiz soars 23-15, and Jarell Perry’s pensive but uptempo “9 2 5” jumps 20-16. Ghost Town’s edgy “Too Young” in a definitive Penguin Prison remix rises 25-18, while both “On My Way” by Charlie Brown and “Kiss My Lipstick Off” by Georgia Haege (both below) land in the Top 20 finally. And our third debut of last week, “Silent Morning” by Parralox featuring Ryan Adames, a cover of Noel’s classic mid-80s dance hit, moves up 26-21, with new remixes in tow on iTunes (including that crunchy rock-oriented one by Cherry Cherry Boom Boom).

At least one of my three debuts might be of surprise to you. I’ve been fighting with myself about what song from Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience would succeed the #11 charting “Suit & Tie”. Initially I was wrapped up in the beautiful “Strawberry Bubblegum”, but with all of the dance music energy on the chart right now the rump shaker and 70’s R&B-inspired “Let The Groove Get In” has won out and bows at #24.

Absolutely no stranger to the chart over the past three years is Adam Tyler, whose new and creative “Fade Into The Light”, especially with the huge dub-steppy break in the extended version, lands on the chart at #27.

I also can’t get enough of the song “Shame” by Slow Knights, a project spearheaded by Scissor Sisters’ Del Marquis – again the powerful R&B vocal and groove get stuck in your head and make you move. It’s from the project’s Cosmos album and bows at #28.

Your Long Weekend Playlist Part II: Lawson, Lenka, Magneta Lane, Darin, Kim Smith, Josh Kumra, Late Nite Tuff Guy, and tet:Dior

LAWSON featuring B.o.B. “Heartbroken”

In case you haven’t yet had enough of Andy, Ryan, Joel and Adam, the four young men who have had considerable UK success as Lawson, they are dropping this new single featuring rapper B.o.B. which could be the international breakthrough that I thought would happen with “Learn To Love Again”. The band sways comfortably back and forth with harder-edged rock songs with more thoughtful softer pop ones. This is as tight as it gets… and the rap by B.o.B. works just fine, as it did with another band – the alternate version of “Walk Away” by The Script. Watch the video below as well which documents the band’s AustralAsian tour and shows how much synergy they have among each other as band members. These lads are gonna go far!!

LENKA “Heart to the Party”

US-based Australian singer Lenka is on deck to release her third album Shadows, preceded by a new single “Heart to the Party”. You probably know Lenka best from her ear candy that was featured in a Windows 8 commercial over the last year, “Everything At Once”. This new song is a much more gentle, feel good record that wants to take you sunny days where you can forget about everything and feel like a kid again. Score!

MAGNETA LANE “Burn”

In stark contrast to the above video, is the latest from Canadian trio Magneta Lane, whose EP Witchrock I wrote about earlier this year. The song lyrics and the video don’t really have anything to do with each other, “Burn” being a scathing breakup song, and instead the video makes a huge and compelling statement about the portrayal of images of women to young girls. Don’t take the video literally; if you’re a parent of a teen or pre-teen girl (who happens to be a competitive singer/dancer) like me, then you know that videos like this just try to reinforce the message which is an ongoing one throughout the teen years and into the early 20’s. “Burn” is also a good performance showcase for Magneta Lane despite the obvious focus on the message. Well done.

DARIN “Check You Out”

I guess it’s time for me to backtrack to Swedish singer Darin Zanyar’s latest release Exit. Its second single “Check You Out” is indeed a bristling dance number sure to shake your tailfeather and more. Darin seems to be filling the gap of Swedish male dance pop while Eric Saade is releasing softer R&B-oriented pop songs. My only complaint, as with many records from the Nordic countries and northern Europe – it’s not released in North America. Darin could have so much dance club play success with “Check You Out” worldwide. It’s a strong and unique ready-for-play offering that stands readily next to dance club hits by Jennifer Lopez or Usher. There’s also a really gleefully grimy-sounding John De Sohn remix on deck (listen to the preview below).

KIM SMITH “Never Ever” (J-Mi & Midi-D’s Highly Improbable Radio Edit)

Fresh from some glorious reviews for his debut pop single “Jealous” comes New York-based Australian singer Kim Smith’s second single “Never Ever”, from his upcoming album. This song, in its original format, is all about the the sterling vocal performance, as you will find out when it’s released worldwide on iTunes tomorrow. This J-Mi & Midi-D remix surrounds Kim’s classic voice with all kinds of sneakily creative big-sounding business, which takes the song to a new level on which you will find dance club DJ’s simply wanting more. Listen below – there’s more to come from this great new talent in 2013!

JOSH KUMRA “The Answer” (Russ Chimes remix)

Highly reminiscent of classic mid-90’s electro, “The Answer” by 22 year old UK singer Josh Kumra gets its groove on and doesn’t stop. Russ Chimes’ remix brings it down low and then brings you back and wanting much, much more. UK chart buffs will know Josh from his vocal on Wretch 32’s #1 hit “Don’t Go” two years ago. More like this please 🙂

LATE NITE TUFF GUY remixes JAMIROQUAI’s “Too Young To Die” (LNTG Capricorn High Remix)

Someone who knows how to lock into a groove, reshape and transform it, without taking anything away from the original, is Australia’s Late Nite Tuff Guy. This talented producer/DJ recently won a contest to remix a song by Jamiroquai, so behold his Capricorn High remix of “Too Young To Die”, which originally appears on Jamiroquai’s 1992 massive debut album Emergency On Planet Earth. It’s a bit different even for a Tuff Guy remix, very classy electro-disco-jazzy that truly shows off Jay Kay’s vocal. Everything that a remix should be – I hope it receives official release.

The Tuff Guy also posted about a contemporary electro remix which re-envisions Donna Summer’s “Love To Love You Baby” a year after her passing. Do take the time to listen to tet:Dior’s “Love2Love” below. How very fitting considering the good times and influences of disco music are on the rise this year 🙂

Your Long Weekend Playlist, Part I: FrankMusik, Bright Light Bright Light, Graffiti6, Charly Mae, Anton Ewald, and Oscar Zia

FRANKMUSIK “Chasing Shadows”

When you hear the compelling beauty of a song like “Chasing Shadows”, you know that the rest of the songs you haven’t already heard from FrankMusik’s upcoming album Between (due June 8) are going to be equally grand. It’s a really rich song – almost too rich – that almost makes you want to get sad and teary-eyed. But no!! Where his song “Captain” is the chaotic storm, “Chasing Shadows” is the calm resolution where you’ll see the rainbow once you get past the mountain ahead. The supurb high notes and huge chorus make you feel glad and relieved at the same time. As his previous EP title said, the journey is ‘far from over’.

Get “Chasing Shadows” on iTunes, but also be sure to listen to and download a song that won’t appear on Between, “One Mile” (below). As with many of his other songs that don’t fit into the final package, FrankMusik does not just give you filler. “One Mile” is a joyful and soulful pop confection.

BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT “Blueprint”

Rod Thomas (who is BLx2) is currently playing a number of shows in the USA (New York, Boston, Washington DC) in advance of the final single release from his 2012 debut album Make Me Believe In Hope. “Moves” is a brilliant choice, one that I certainly hoped for, since I added it to my chart last year (where it peaked at #6) in-between releases of “Waiting For The Moment” (#1) and “Feel It” (#5). As an added attraction to the single, BLx2 is including “Blueprint” (first available last year on a limited USA release), which starts off slow and thoughtful as do many BLx2 songs, but gets out in the open and reaches for the sky at about the 2 minute mark and by then you’re just hopelessly hooked. The “Moves” single including “Blueprint” arrives June 3.

GRAFFITI6, “Wash My Sins”

After a well-deserved success in 2012 with the enduring “Free” from their Colours album, duo Jamie Scott and Tommy Danvers are back with new songs. “Wash My Sins” is the first taste of new Graffiti6 for your ears, and if you would like a gospel-flavoured dose of pop/R&B to wrestle you out of bed in the morning, then “Wash My Sins” will do just that! It’s definitely several steps away from “Free” or “Stare Into The Sun”, but it shows you that this duo is muscling ahead and chock full of surprises for you. Very much looking forward to more new songs from Graffiti6.

CHARLY MAE featuring PW, “Girls Go Hard”

There is no doubt in my mind that I think UK singer Charly Mae is a potent voice waiting to happen. And “Girls Go Hard”, a powerful female empowerment song that draws on inspiration from Beyonce and Rihanna songs, could help get her there. It’s probably the most deliberately aggressive song by Charly Mae yet, and the rap by PW is well-placed and memorable. I would have liked to have heard less power and more vocal range, as in Charly Mae’s covers of Christina Aguilera songs among others, but overall it’s still quite well done. For another side of Charly Mae, check out the fun duet with Brazilian singer Edoo below on “Scream and Shout”, which to me is an awful song but the two tackle it and make much more of it than I expected. Watch for more songs from Charly Mae soon!

ANTON EWALD, “Begging”

I know I’m a bit behind on writing about this one, but it seems like every other year there is a truly winning performance that comes out of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen contest, even if it’s not the song that wins. This time we have 19 year old singer/dancer/ choreographer Anton Ewald, whose showy presence in “Begging” (which he choreographed – he’s also been a dancer on the show in recent years) comes close to rivalling his friend Eric Saade, who had better keep his eye on that Swedish male pop crown he wears 😉 So many pop singers from Sweden deserve an international shot – the Nordic fans have to let go of them for just a little while so that the rest of the world can embrace them!

OSCAR ZIA, “#Fail”

16 year old Swedish singer Oscar Zia has released one of the year’s delightful trifles, “#Fail” (aka “Hashtag Fail”), and I’m hoping pop philes will help spread the word to take the song around the world. File it less next to Anton Ewald – whose “Begging”, ironically, beat out “”Jalla Dansa Sawa” by Behrang Miri in Melodifestivalen, a song in which Oscar provides vocals – and Eric Saade, and more beside the feel good pop of Dutch singer Jeronimo. Oscar gives a much more mature performance than his years with a lot of help from great songwriter pedigree 🙂 It’s already been #1 on Sweden iTunes – big, fun, shiny tunes like this should rarely be kept under wraps!

Welcome Back to 98° for Phase ‘2.0’

They’re back for the first time in over 10 years! 98° – Nick, Justin, Drew and Jeff – makes a timely return with a new album, the independently released 2.0 (available in Canada by eOne Entertainment), and a May-to-August North American tour in support of New Kids On The Block. And I say timely for multiple reasons, one being a return in pop music to an appreciation of very fine voices which are a prime reason these days why records are being bought.

I first heard 98° on the radio back in 1997, when a local Top 40/Dance station interviewed them on air. With being newly signed to Motown Records and a flavour at the time that skewed more R&B than pop, they sounded like a pretty laid back but eager-to-please quartet from Ohio, and they ended up with a huge single out of the box with “Invisible Man”. I was definitely impressed. They left Motown as it was being absorbed into the Universal Music fold at the time and moved on to Universal proper where their biggest hits awaited them – “Because Of You”, “The Hardest Thing”, “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)”, and the Grammy-nominated #1 “Thank God I Found You” with Mariah Carey and Joe. And like some groups caught up in the boy band era of 1997-2003 (most of whom split up), the guys went on indefinite hiatus, while Nick Lachey of course got a solo hit in 2006 with “What’s Left Of Me” and recorded two albums, and brother Drew won on (and later co-hosted a season of) “Dancing With The Stars”.

So as I say, the key selling feature of 2.0 is the guys’ voices, which have never sounded better. First single “Microphone” (below) takes square aim at drawing in the younger audience with a peppy pop number that in a most complimentary way wouldn’t sound out of place on a Jonas Brothers album. The best songs are the slower ones. “Take The Long Way Home” is the album’s true stunner that takes its time to enthrall you. Other stand out songs are “Agree On Goodbye”, “Lonely”, and “Hush Hush”. The album only stumbles when it veers into dated Timbaland/will.i.am kind of territory with “AYO” , and “Impossible Things”, which treads unevenly on Jason Mraz acoustics.

But they have timed it right, given the recent new releases by singers like Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke, and I think through exposure and pop radio play 98° will earn back their place on the charts while still keeping their fans from their heyday.