Tag Archives: alternative

Chicago’s @bringurKnapsack scores with familiar angst of “Teenage Cloud Anthem” with @itsUnderscores

KNAPSACK and UNDERSCORES, “Teenage Cloud Anthem”

“Teenage Cloud Anthem” is full of relatable words for those listeners who need a release from their anxieties and pressures, courtesy of Chicago’s knapsack and San Francisco’s underscores.  While the words and some of the vocals will fall into the same camp as music by Gnash or Call Me Karizma, the music in “Teenage Cloud Anthem” is pretty potent progressive electronics, much along the lines of what is coming out of Europe by the likes of DROELOE, Taska Black, or San Holo.  So the song treads the lines between two relatively different genres and should easily draw fans from both.  “Teenage Cloud Anthem” is one of those likable alt.pop songs that reaches out to those who need it, upon whom it will likely have a more profound emotional effect.  

“Voice Mails” aims for a unique, special experience from new electronic producer @Kookysmusic

https://soundcloud.com/kookysmusic/voice-mails

KOOKY, “Voice Mails” (limited free DL)

It may take a few listens before you buy into “Voice Mails” by new mystery electronic producer Kooky, but once you do, you will be captivated.  Essentially, it’s a mid-tempo electronic instrumental bookended by voice mail messages of two lovers whose relationship is on the wane.  What the messages say and the thoughts they provoke may vary from person to person, but it’s a fascinating concept.  Put it along side of Baz Luhrmann’s “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” or MKJ’s “Time” or Paul Hardcastle’s “19” which have also generated a variety emotional responses.  “Voice Mails” deliberately doesn’t tell a complete story, almost prompting a possible sequel, or maybe some remixes for the dance floor with additional voice mail messages that might tie it tighter together.  Despite his name, Kooky has definitely offered us a unique listening experience that makes you listen all the way through, so now’s your time to react!  For now you can get it for free using the link beside the song title above.

Scotland’s Ben Davidson @BDavidsonmusic returns with the pure pop of “Learning To Let You Go”

BEN DAVIDSON, “Learning To Let You Go”

Ben Davidson is someone who can sing just about any pop song and bestow a crisp, shiny quality on the song that is a tribute to his effortless style.  The Scottish singer, also known for his Broadway roles in the UK, is back with “Learning To Let You Go”.  Like recent predecessor singles “The Chain” and “Fallin’ In”, which will also be featured on his upcoming album, “Learning To Let You Go” tells a familiar story that is part of most people’s lives.  Ben’s crystalline performance makes it all fresh, and the production throws back to a simpler time when pop music was less about dazzle and effects and more focused on a relatable story, melody and rhythm.  “Learning To Let You Go” is solid and appealing, and I’ll look forward to hearing more new music from Ben in the coming year!  Add “Learning To Let You Go” to your Thoughtful Pop playlist using the Spotify link above.

#BILLCSTop30 #543 – September 3, 2018

A lot of hard and fast favourites continue to hold court at the top of the chart, where there is actually more movement than in recent weeks.  There is so much great music out there with lots of competition, so the nature of my new arrivals on the chart seems that they have to earn their rise up the chart, whereas over the years many songs have debuted in the Top 10 or even at #1.  With 9 debuts over the last month, that left room for only one smashing premiere on this chart.

The Top 10

  • “Broken Love” is definitely one of my Songs of 2018 as recorded by The Him and Parson James.  It sits atop for a 4th appearance (8th week), which we haven’t seen since Miguel’s “Pineapple Skies” did the same thing at the end of last year.  The Him are relentlessly touring and are recording some of the best music of their career so far.

  • Climbing to second place is “No Place” by Australia’s Rüfüs Du Sol, from their forthcoming third album called Solace.  Will it get to #1 in two weeks?
  • The no holds barred fun of “Get Down” by RetroVision sends the song climbing 5-3, after all without fun what would dance music be?  Will it get to #1 in two weeks?

  • Continuing to make great leaps is “Everybody Needs A Kiss” by Benny Benassi and Sofi Tukker, up 11-4.  It’s the highest placing song for Benny to date, and matches the #4 peak for Sofi Tukker’s “Baby I’m A Queen” a few months back.  Will it get to #1 in two weeks?

  • I’m always thrilled to see a grass roots indie reach the Top 5 and UK singer/songwriter Lostchild climbs 8-5 with his melodic and catchy “Blacklist”.  Lend an ear to this one folks, more to come from Lostchild!

  • “I’m In Love With You” by Tony Moran and Jason Walker continues its climb, rising 9-6 this week.  The pair even did some performing for some lucky ducks in Jersey City, NJ last week!  Time to take your repertoire on the road, guys!

  • The other new entry to the Top 10 climbs 12-8 and that’s “Casually” by Alyx Ander and Redondo featuring Maria Z.

Movin’ On Up

  • The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Russian producer Arty with his sensational instrumental tribute to Avicii, “Tim”, which vaults 21-11.  It’s a record that mixes fun arpeggios with an emotional melody, and will indeed stand the test of time.
  • Philadelphia duo N i G H T S looks to be headed for their second Top 10 hit here with the melt-worthy “Eyes”, which soars 19-13.
  • NYC-based Sean Squires, aka Squired, has been doing some remixing when not working on originals.  His debut “Peace Out” (above) rises 17-15 but also check out his remix of Talk Time’s “Year Of Self” below.
  • I’m thoroughly enjoying Years & Years’ second album Palo Santo, and look forward to seeing the trio in concert again in October.  Their perky album track “All For You” should by all rights be a single release, and it continues to move up the chart, rising 22-18.

  • Call Me Karizma just played a really successful club date in his hometown of Minneapolis, and then at Red Rocks, none other than Illenium dropped one of his songs in his set!  There are other things brewing in ‘Riz’s camp, but “Life Of The Party” continues to win fans and climbs 24-20.  Check out the new video above.

  • Out of the four debuts two weeks ago, the song that makes the most of upward movement on the new chart is “One Last Time” by Poland’s Gromee featuring Norwegian singer Jesper Jenset in a Shawn Mendes-ish vocal.  It moves up 29-23.

Debuting…

  • It’s a highly memorable song that you will find yourself humming to no end.  “Verona” by Australia’s Peter Wilson and the UK’s Sean Smith arrives on the chart at #24.  It’s from Peter’s forthcoming album The Passion And The Flame.  It also marks Sean’s second appearance on the chart, reaching #7 last year with the Andy Sikorski remix of “Magic”.  I highly recommend seeking out the Matt Pop extended version of “Verona”.

View the full BILLCS Top 30 right here!  Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!

Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify: BILLCS Top 30 Songs

Check out and ‘like’ the BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

#BILLCSTop30 #542 – August 20/18

My last chart of August is a transitional one, since I’ve had 10 songs debut in the last month.  So plenty of songs continue to head up the chart, to compete with favourites that I’ve been savouring for a bit longer.  In other words, you’ll find mainly small chart moves, aside from a couple that are breaking through and becoming successors to my current big favourites.  But there are still four more debuts!!

The Top 10

  • Continuing to play festival and club after festival and club, the very in-demand Dutch duo The Him hold with a fierce grip on #1 with “Broken Love”, featuring the enormously talented Parson James.  

  • James Bay’s Electric Light is one of my favourite pop albums of 2018 because it took risks to try a lot of different styles within the genre on one album.  The result was with no one single that the industry could fawn over, but the 80’s new wave-influenced “Pink Lemonade” is also one of my favourite songs of 2018 and advances a bit belatedly to #2!

  • More new Rüfüs Du Sol means that their album is finally coming!  Check out “Underwater” below, while “No Place” (above) climbs 5-3.

  • The contagious party feel of “Get Down” by French producer RetroVision has caused it to zip through the Top 10 this week, soaring 9 to 5 🙂

  • “I’m In Love With You” by Tony Moran and Jason Walker reached the summit of the Billboard Dance Club Play chart this week in their third #1 pairing, and it also becomes their third Top 10 in this chart, rising 12-9.
  • L.A.’s Bobby Nourmand has one of the most interesting repertoires as a dance producer.  This week he has three songs in the Top 10, thanks to the double whammy former #1 EP of “Subterranean” and “Estranged” at #4.  “The Sun” (above), featuring Blonde’s Adam Engle, rises a notch to #10 to become Bobby’s 3rd Top 10 entry this year and 5th overall!  Bobby has also prepared a progressive remix for”Sparrows” by New Mystics (below), a new release on his DITN label below.

Movin’ On Up

  • Benny Benassi and Sofi Tukker plough through the competition and set their sights on the top of the chart with “Everybody Needs A Kiss”.  It’s the fastest riser this week, climbing 19-11.

  • The fastest riser from the last chart continues to build momentum for the Top 10.  And that’s “Casually” by Alyx Ander and Redondo featuring Maria Z, which advances 14-12.
  • Evan and Corey, aka Philadelphia duo NiGHTS, are not holding back with their releases!  Not only does “Eyes” (above) move up 22-19, but they’ve since released both “Tequila” and “Stranger”, both below.

 

  • Two of the most inspiring songs on the chart should take off in two weeks.  Martin Garrix and Bonn’s “High On Life” (below) is one of those songs that makes you think about all of the good times, and it rises 23-20.  Right behind it is Arty’s heartwarming instrumental tribute to Avicii, appropriately called “Tim” (also below), moving up 25-21.

4 Debuts

  • Guy James Robin, aka UK producer Jonas Blue and immensely popular in Europe, may finally have his calling card in North America with the jubilant “Rise” at #26.  Great to see US ‘Net sensations Jack & Jack carrying the song away with their spot-on vocals, it’s been a while since they’ve appeared in these blog pages!  It’s Jonas’ second appearance on this chart following 2016’s cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” (#3).

  • As “Lonely” by Matoma and MAX departs the chart after reaching #10, a new and somewhat unexpected duet replaces it!  This time it’s with new buddy Enrique Iglesias with the insanely catchy “I Don’t Dance (Without You)”, which also features seasoning from the islands courtesy of vocalist Konshens.  This one deserves a lot more attention than it’s getting, especially with Enrique giving one of his best vocals in years.  It bows at #27 – it’s Enrique’s 9th appearance on this chart and first since 2011.

  • New and independent and very worthy of your ears and dancing feet is “The Pain I Feel” by UK singer Marlon Percy and the UK/France production duo LoFrames.  It’s a nice mix of soul, blues and house music, with stellar production, and arrives at #28.

  • I think he may be the first Polish artist to appear in this chart, but veteran producer Gromee has a winner with “One Last Time”, featuring an appealing Shawn Mendes-like vocal by Norway’s Jesper Jenset, who got to #3 two years ago on the chart with “High” in a Young Bombs remix.  “One Last Time” enters at #29.  It’s also a good sonic companion to Jonas Blue’s “Rise” above 🙂

View the full BILLCS Top 30 right here!  Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!

Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify: BILLCS Top 30 Songs

Check out and ‘like’ the BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

No wallowing in sorrow in “Forgiveness” by new SanFran duo Cassette Tapes @cassettewav

CASSETTE TAPES, “Forgiveness”

“Forgiveness” by Cassette Tapes can be called more of a celebration of looking for forgiveness for something for all the right reasons rather than pining away and wallowing in sorrow.  I could be wrong, but this doesn’t sound like the aftermath of an end of a relationship.  As such the new San Francisco duo of Jackson and Parker have taken some cues from fellow sterling Californian duos like RKCB and Opia, adding a delightful soulful edge to their indie pop.  I’m not sure who sings but the vocal could not be more spot-on, and it’s what attracts you to the story, which is over quickly in a matter of two and a half minutes.  “Forgiveness” is a great introduction to Cassette Tapes and only wants to make you hear more from them.

Taut, rich alt.soul-pop from new duo @Toucanband with “Gold”

TOUCAN, “Gold”

Sometimes, the deeper tracks in albums and EP’s are the ones to acquire your attention.  Such is the case with the unique charm of “Gold” by new duo Toucan from their self-titled EP.  Departing from the EP’s hefty mix of pop, rock, soul and jazz, “Gold” goes full tilt sultry late night club ballad.  It’s also the best showcase for the deep, mellow voice of Irish singer Conor Clancy, whose voice is soulful and moving when paired with the right song.  His partner in Toucan is keyboardist/arranger Martin Atkinson, and the instrumentation in the song gets amped up with a lot of guitar and drums as it progresses.  “Gold” is alt.soul-pop as you might least expect it, and shows a lot of promise for what Toucan has to offer.  Add “Gold” to your Rich & Deep playlist using the Spotify link above.

Australia’s @LUUDEmusic goes dark, hard and hypnotic with “Omen”

LUUDE, “Omen” (free DL)

Up and comer LUUDE (aka Christian Benson) will continue to get new fans with more songs coming from him like the powerful and hypnotic “Omen”.  Some of LUUDE’s most recent releases were interesting, but a bit too far to the left stylistically for me.  But “Omen” goes dark and hard, with a mesmerizing first minute and a bit that is sealed by an ominous, well-placed drop that recalls some of the heavier, industrial dance tracks that came out of the 80’s by folks like Front 242, Ministry, and others.  “Omen” does not let up from that point and it wraps you in its less-than-3-minute spell, compelling you to download it for free at the link above for further enjoyment.

Canadian alt.rock trio @NikkisWives return with EP Motor Court… and a splashy, tight live Toronto showcase

nikkiswives

NIKKI’S WIVES, Motor Court (EP)

Hailing from London, Ontario, alt.rock trio Nikki’s Wives is keeping well afloat of the cluttered indie market by making good, if uncharacteristic choices to help support their tight, well-written songs, which you can hear in their new EP Motor Court below.  The band consists of singer Nikki Whitehead, guitarist Dylan Lauzon, and drummer Nate Baylor.

Readers of this blog know the band from their feature on last year’s dance hit by fellow Canadians Loud Luxury called “Show Me”, one of my favourites of 2017.  And although it was outside of their regular genre, it was enough to kick start getting the band noticed, having opened for the likes of Cee-Lo Green and others since that time while touring North America. 

Last night’s splashy, free (but ticketed) showcase in Toronto at the intimate Rivoli – hosted by Edge 102.1’s Alan Cross no less, and co-sponsored by that radio station and Exclaim! magazine among others where there was an abundance of free drinks and food – showed off a hard-working band yielding fine results from all of that touring with a punchy 30 minute + set focusing on songs from Motor Court.  Led by the immense stage presence of singer Nikki – think Gwen Stefani meets Joan Jett meets Lights – it was a memorable evening that will help take Nikki’s Wives to the next level. 

And what of the songs from the EP?  They’re gritty, aggressive and melodic.  There are a lot of harder rock influences at play here, and the oh-so-true “Breaking Up” is the highlight.  You’ll be hearing much more from Nikki’s Wives throughout the rest of 2018!

Young NYC-based producer @iamCRVEU spices up “Favorite Color Is Blue” by @DeLongmusic and @KFlay for clubs

ROBERT DELONG and K.FLAY, “Favorite Color Is Blue” (CRVE U remix)

You can hear the influences of Green Day, Linkin Park and others in “Favorite Color Is Blue” by L.A.’s Robert DeLong with a cool feature by hip hop rocker K.Flay, now available in a variety of remixes to maximize its appeal for dance clubs and electronic music lovers.  Teenage producer CRVE U definitely bridges the alt.rock style with a flurry of busy synths that make the song sound even better when cranked up loud.  The mix almost has a tribal feel at time, but it seamlessly winds its way back to Robert and K.Flay’s infectious collaboration and chorus which are what make the song so memorable in the first place.  CRVE U has always opted for unconventional mixes, and “Favorite Color Is Blue” is yet another reason for you to keep an eye on his ongoing progress.