It’s always a treat when a new FrankMusik song arrives, and after a frenetic couple of post-break-up years where Vince kept extraordinarily busy, releasing two fine, fine albums (Between and By Nicole) and then a brilliant acoustic version of the former and an instrumental version of the latter. Some regrouping was obviously in order so that a song like “This” could see the light of day. It’s an upbeat and resolute anthem about carrying on with all of the right supports in place. “This” is a very human kind of song, there’s a softer and emotional side to the lyrics – particularly the words ‘be still my trembling soul’ – which instills in you that the next FrankMusik album (which the singer has indicated will be called “Not Right Now”) will be FrankMusik in 3D. Can’t wait to hear what Vince has in store for us, he truly loves to share his craft with us. In the meantime, you can buy “This” on iTunes.
So out of the blue came a new single by Neon Trees last week called “Songs I Can’t Listen To”. Like with their underrated Pop Psychology album of last year, the band has tapped into something every listener has – but has there ever been a song about it? It’s inspired pop thinking for the quartet, who are obviously still music fans at heart too, and they are playing an ‘intimate’ club tour of select U.S. dates starting in June. You can get “Songs I Can’t Listen To” on iTunes until the band is ready to drop more new music. Oh, and I hear drummer Elaine is with child – congrats! That baby’s gonna have great rhythm 😀
It’s a pity that our timetables didn’t cross last week during Canadian Music Week, but Australian quartet Far Away Stables has a distinct style that mixes it up between anthemic and emotional rock with “What Are You Waiting For”. A tight band rocks out along with singer Brendan Sheargold’s far-reaching voice that will draw in fans of any of Billy Talent, Breaking Benjamin, All Time Low, or Black Veil Brides. What makes it better is that the song has haunting, memorable melody, and I do believe I hear a layer of classically-inspired music underneath to bring out the softer parts of the song. “What Are You Waiting For” is a great introduction to Far Away Stables and you can pick up their EP Atlantis on theirBandcamp page. After North America, Far Away Stables returns to Australia for shows in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, so homegrown fans should be sure to check them out 🙂
It’s testament to the volume of excellent new music out there that most songs have to settle for creeping up only a notch or two on my new chart. All songs on the chart between 1 and 20 either hold or move up!! Now that usually means that the chart will shake looser in two weeks, but I expect some songs will have a slow rise to their eventual peaks.
In the meantime, on to the new chart!
The Top 10
Not surprisingly, Years & Years are bouncing from country to country, who are all falling in love with the trio’s unique blend of pop and EDM. “King” gets a third appearance (6 weeks) at #1.
Holding very strong at #2 is “Chasing Stars” by Corey Niles featuring Alex Lacasse. I’m surprised that Canadian radio hasn’t fallen over backwards over this song – released a few months ago, it follows a song structure similar to the current worldwide #1, which debuts further down, and the two songs make great music bookends 🙂
“Waterfall” by Smashing Satellites hangs tight at #3 as the band’s latest single “What’s It All About” is about to take off. Smashing Satellites play two gigs during Canadian Music Week in Toronto – May 6 at the Hideout, and May 8 at The Phoenix – and I expect to be at one of them!
That fantastic veteran dance duo Erasure have yet another Billboard Top 10 Dance Club Play hit with “Sacred”, and the song holds at #5 on my chart.
If my Top 5 wasn’t so damn strong, River Tiber’s funky alternative rock “No Talk” would rank higher, but for now it climbs 8 to 6… for now.
The only newcomer to the Top 10 is one Sam Smith with that universal pop smash “Lay Me Down” at #10.
DATABOY’s latest “When It Rains, It Pours” is victim to a slower rise than usual for the dynamic duo, but fear not it settles outside of the Top 10 at #11.
“Aeronaut” by Parralox makes an impressive 20-13 jump given the rest of the chart, which bodes well for the coming weeks for John von Ahlen and company 🙂
Canada’s R&B queen Jully Black is back and stronger than ever with her latest single, the sultry and steamy “Fever”, which climbs 19-14. I’ll be checking out Jully’s show May 5 at The Phoenix in Toronto.
The fastest riser on the chart has turned out to be one incredibly contagious tune, and that is “No Words” by Erik Hassle, which leaps 26-17. The talented Swedish singer’s pop career needed this song… and I hope it happens for him internationally 🙂
Classy disco music never goes out of vogue and thus Nile Rodgers and Chic have a bonafide club hit once again with “I’ll Be There”, which moves up 25-18.
And never underestimate the power of Brooklyn duo Matt & Kim on my chart, ever! “Hey Now”, from the fun New Glow album, which features some notable EDM inspiration, rises 30-26.
Debuts
The first two debuts are all about that new shining star from New Jersey named Charlie Puth. He’s also a songwriter and producer (Trey Songz’ “Slow Motion” comes to mind!), and his new EP is called Some Type Of Love. “Marvin Gaye”, his sock hop throwback duet with Meghan Trainor, bows at #23, and right behind of course at #24 is that massive Wiz Khalifa smash “See You Again” in which he is the featured vocalist.
At #27 is the 80’s retro-tinged “Can’t Deny My Love” featuring a powerful vocal by Killers’ Brandon Flowers. Can’t wait to hear the rest of his second solo album The Desired Effect.
And I definitely want to hear more from UK quartet Lawson, who I’ve seen in concert twice and enjoyed every minute of their sets! Their new single, finally released in North America, is “Roads”, which bows at #28.
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂
BRANDON FLOWERS, “Lonely Town” and “Can’t Deny My Love”
The Killers are a band whose individual songs I enjoy more than their entire albums, and their 2012 release Battle Born kind of lost me. But singer Brandon Flowers’ debut solo album Flamingo was one of my favourites of 2010, including tremendous songs like “Crossfire” and “Jacksonville” (on the deluxe edition), and his solo show was much different from a Killers concert. And as different and standout was Flamingo, you will find the lead off songs from his upcoming second album The Desired Effect to recall the 80’s influenced sound that got The Killers noticed in the first place with the Duran Duran overtones of “Somebody Told Me”. Both “Lonely Town” and “Can’t Deny My Love” are powerful songs that sound like they want to be stuck in 1985 (when of course the singer was but 4) but fast-forwarded 30 years ahead. Brandon is always a great storyteller, and I think these songs may draw back some Killers fans who thought his Flamingo album was too far removed from the music of the band. These songs should also throw Brandon into dance club territory too, so I am very hopeful for some remixes. “Lonely Town” and “Can’t Deny My Love” (in which I particularly enjoy the vocal break and electronic splash that follows) are ear-worms which should endure into the summer.
It’s always sad when a fine band like Boston’s Gentlemen Hall calls it quits after being on the bubble these last few years. But onward and upward we go, as most of the remainder of the band has now formed Tribe Society, while former vocalist Cobi Mike (he of those anchoring lower notes in songs like “Take Me Under” and “Gravity Will Break Our Bones”) has gone solo with the latest of two singles being “Walking Through The Fire”. Don’t let the deliberate pacing of this song fool you. It keeps taking you through next levels of solo, harmonies, emotion, and power. It’s a quieter anthem for those times when you think the rest of the world is totally out of reach and you’re hidden, in this case by a wall of fire. The tall, dark-haired Cobi Mike has great stage presence from what I recall when seeing Gentlemen Hall a few years back, so catch him in a club show to check out his new songs. “Walking Through The Fire” is a fine introduction to his solo career, carrying on what was honed in Gentlemen Hall and taking it all to new places.
Once again, UK singer Harriet proves why there is always a place for classic pop with her upcoming release “Fly” (due in Canada on iTunes on May 5). Co-written by and produced by the always amazing Steve Anderson, “Fly” really turns back a few pages to 80’s pop songs by the likes of say Sheena Easton or Chrissie Hynde to tell the story of someone who knows that love is out there, even after crashing and burning, because there will always be another chance to “Fly” and be swept off her feet again. Harriet always has a fresh confidence in her performance, while knowing how difficult it is to downplay the omnipresent (and much loved) Karen Carpenter sound in her voice. But everything really gels quite well in “Fly”, and I for one think Harriet will be due for much recognition for it when it’s released in two weeks – just watch! And do check out the video above and all of its lovely (*sigh*) London scenery.
After the much heavier and deeper songs from the ‘A Side’ to their Sonic Aluzion record, I wasn’t really prepared for the anthemic “What It’s All About” from rising Toronto rock band Smashing Satellites. I don’t think this was intended but it fits: “What It’s All About” may be the first ‘graduation’ song for 2015. The great, sincere vibe of the song totally fits the moment for young people moving to the next level in their lives, and Salvatore Costa’s urgent vocal brings that across with vitality. You can get “What It’s All About” (listen above) on iTunes as a free download when you pre-order Sonic Aluzion, which will be a 12 song album that includes the entire ‘A Side’ EP (such as “Waterfall”, currently #4 on my personal chart). Smashing Satellites is one band whose growing fan base is making their time happen quickly, so now’s a great time to jump aboard 🙂
There’s a groundswell of movement happening on the chart, but the Top 5 stays exactly the same as two weeks ago… It will give way two weeks from now, but what songs will advance?
I cannot complain with such an ace Top 5 of songs by Brandyn Burnette (4th appearance, 8 weeks at the top – not bad for a song still not on official release!!), Chris Jamison, Jessie Ware, Giorgio/Kylie, and newcomer Graham Alexander! Brandyn has more new music for us next month. Chris has been performing somewhere each week and returns to his native Pittsburgh, plus he’s also back on “The Voice” this week with Matt McAndrew. Jessie is coming back to North America. Giorgio/Kylie are killing it in Australia. Graham has gigs in NYC and Albany on deck. A busy Top 5 is a great Top 5!
After wowing ’em in Austin this past week at SXSW, Years & Years should be making huge inroads to the North American audience in the next few weeks. Leading the way from their fantastic EP (and now forthcoming album Communion) is “King”, which advances 10-6.
The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Canadian quartet Smashing Satellites with “Waterfall”. The band has received much attention in the US, where they are currently touring, but will be back on home turf in April for some shows. “Waterfall” soars 13-7.
What could be better in the Top 10 than TWO Jessie Ware songs? “Champagne Kisses” moves up 14-9.
Mikky Ekko receives his third Top 10 hit on this chart in less than a year with “Riot” from his debut album Time. It climbs 15-10.
Movin’ On Up
Buffalo NY electropop singer Daniel Robinson is inching closer to the Top 10, as his melodic and mysterious “Moonmolt” moves up a notch 12-11.
Lifehouse’s latest song “Hurricane” is a real grower and a promising lead in to their upcoming album Out Of The Wasteland. This rocker storms up the chart 17-12.
All of the last chart’s high flying debuts get caught in a bit of a log jam behind all of the great movement happening above. Erasure’s third single from The Violet Flame, “Sacred”, moves 18-13; “Chasing Stars” by Canadians Corey Niles and Alex Lacasse should by all rights be a domestic radio hit soon, and rises 19-15; “When It Rains, It Pours” is the first new music from Austin duo DATABOY in a while, and it advances 20-16.
“Alive” is a great team-up of new producer/DJ Mi Disguise with BILLCS Chart favourite Adam Tyler! The song climbs 22-19.
Debuts
“Heroes” by Måns Zelmerlöw ultimately won Sweden’s Melodifestivalen festival this year, but nonetheless competitor “Sting” by Eric Saade is likely his best song since his Saade Volume Two album was released in late 2011. “Sting” bows at #17, and only makes me want to hear more new Saade songs!
There seems to be a neverending parade of hits from the Grammy winning Sam Smith’s In The Lonely Hour, which is back at #1 in the UK. The gorgeous “Lay Me Down” is the latest, and Sam also holds at #1 on the UK Singles chart in a revamped version featuring John Legend. “Lay Me Down” arrives at #20 on my chart.
I can’t get enough of Years & Years, and so their previous single, the retro-house flavoured “Desire” (which I wrote about in December), premieres at #24 to complement the Top 10 (and former UK #1) “King”.
The fourth debut is by Toronto’s River Tiber with “No Talk”. This unique, multi-layered, hip hop flavoured song is sampled in Drake’s “No Tellin'”, but to me is the better song of the two. “No Talk” debuts at #27. River Tiber has already been to my Top 10 several times, including to #1 in 2013 with “Someday”.
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. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂
Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week onD-Moos.com!
Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be! Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!
Readers of this blog will recall that I’ve written about U.S.-based Nigeria-born pop/soul singer/songwriter Adaku a few times these past couple of years as she writes songs that suit her beautiful, unique voice, such as “And You Can” (very touching video below) and the evocative, hypnotic “Silent Treatment”. Last year she released an album called PLASMA, which contains the former songs (including a remixed and tweaked “Silent Treatment” that tones down the original’s mysterious qualities), plus the lulling and thoughtful “Standing In Love” (video above). So what does one do when we are in the state of said titled song? We dream of soaring to bliss and sailing down to a safe landing. And the video captures this by comparing the feeling of love to the specialized plight of the astronaut, both with high ideological states yet wanting the same outcome. “Standing In Love” continues to present Adaku as a bright and upcoming yet overlooked talent quite deserving of your attention. You can pick up PLASMA on iTunes.
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