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BILLCS Top 30 #435 – July 14/14

The new chart has four debuts and the Top 10 is all shaken and stirred…

The New #1

He did it! It’s not easy to trounce Sam Smith from his 7th week at #1 this year (albeit with three songs), but 16 year old British Columbian Tristan Thompson has done just that. The 70’s through 2000’s retro appeal of “Tidal Wave”, plus the fact that young Tristan has already got a great voice, have it leading the pack, at least for the next two weeks, because there’s a bit of a dance club storm brewing underneath. I’ll have my thoughts on Tristan’s full album Here For You in the week, in the mean time check out his video for “Tidal Wave” above 🙂

The Rest of the Top 5… Changing Places

The rest of the Top 5 is the same as two weeks ago, but all of the songs have changed places. Imminent challengers for #1 are “Electrify The Night”, the hard-to-find Europop gem from House Rockerz, Davis Redfield and vocalist Carl Man, which plugs into #2, and Jason Walker & Bimbo Jones’ brillo Hi-NRG-inspired take on Taylor Dayne’s “Tell It To My Heart” at #3. Sam Smith slides to #4 with “Stay With Me” while Martin Garrix’s “Proxy” slowly tumbles to #5.

New To The Top 10

That whirling dervish of a remix by Steve Smart & Westfunk of Little Mix’s “Little Me” soars to #6, while Andy Grammer’s “Back Home” (below) continues to find new fans and could take the song through the entire summer, and it’s up to #10. There’s also a chart debut in the Top 10…

Shakin’ Up The Chart

Is it everywhere yet? “Boom Clap” by Charli XCX vaults up the chart 18-11.
Those 4 Kongos lads make a great case for infectious rock songs on their album Lunatic. “Hey I Don’t Know” climbs 15-12.
It’s following a bit of a pattern set by Martin Garrix and Convulsic already, but Finnish singer Hannis has a strange gem of a Europop/Dubstep single with “Time Has Come” charging up the chart as the fastest riser, 23-13! I’d LOVE dance clubs to make this one their own!!

“Miracle” by the UK’s E-Mute is not slowing down as this memorable slice of alt.rock moves up 17-14.
Last week’s new entries, “Knew You Better” by Adam Tyler and Sam Dickinson’s “When You Left Me” both make impressive gains, rising 25-18 and 27-19 respectively!

Chart Debuts

Could Anton Ewald outdo last year’s “Begging” (#2) and “Can’t Hold Back” (#3)? The talented young Swedish singer met his match with Danish star Medina, and all parties connected and co-write and recorded “This Could Be Something” from Anton’s new EP On My Way. All I can say is that Katy Perry would probably kill for this song! It’s a strong and summery pure pop record with an engaging video that bows on this chart at #9!!

Watch the video here! For some reason the Internet powers that be are really fussy about You Tube/Vimeo links for videos by Swedish pop stars! 😮

Yes, it’s time for another Bright Light Bright Light song on the chart! Rod Thomas has just released his sophomore album Life Is Easy, which has debuted well on the UK charts, and from it is the follow-up single to his Elton John duet “I Wish We Were Leaving”, but like “Love Part II” from his first album it’s a smashing and breathtakingly upbeat take on the power of love. “I Believe” starts out at #27.

Why look, it’s Davis Redfield and Carl Man, together again (along with some of , if not all of, those same spot-on songwriters)! Actually I wrote about “Music Gods” a while back but like any good song, you keep coming back to it. Besides, I’ve always liked the Music Gods myself 😀 “Music Gods” arrives at #28.

More Neon Trees? Yes please, especially after their engaging July 3 concert here in Toronto (and yes, Tyler did crowd surf us 😀 )! I’m not sure if it will be the next official single or not, but “Love In The 21st Century” joins “Teenager In Love” (#17) on this chart at #29.

The full chart can be found further down the page…

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

As many of you are already aware, after many years away from the microphone, I am now pleased to be back as a voice on http://www.d-moos.com Canada’s National Internet Radio Station, which mainly plays a selection of oldies, mostly from the 50’s to the 90’s, with soon to be more intrusions from the 2000’s and other new music.

I was asked to do a pre-recorded weekly New Music Pick of The Week, and a number of the songs on this chart – specifically those by Tristan Thompson, Adam Tyler, Zorro Blakk & Deniz Olivieri, Sam Dickinson, and Anton Ewald – have all recently graced the station, every three hours for a week beginning Mondays at 2:05 a.m. EST.

Do listen in for the Pick of the Week on D-Moos.com, and while the station is only live in the evenings from 9:00 pm to midnight (with my long-time musical partner in crime “The Musicman” James Rogers), you can hear my voice at other odd times, particularly if you’re an oldies loving night owl on the weekend overnights 🙂

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.

02 01 TIDAL WAVE Tristan Thompson
05 02 ELECTRIFY THE NIGHT House Rockerz featuring Davis Redfield & Carl Man
04 03 TELL IT TO MY HEART Jason Walker featuring Bimbo Jones
01 04 STAY WITH ME Sam Smith
03 05 PROXY Martin Garrix
11 06 LITTLE ME (Steve Smart & Wildfunk Radio Edit) Little Mix
07 07 THE DAY YOU LEFT Convulsic
10 08 GOOD NEWS (FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BAD NEWS) Zorro Blakk featuring Deniz Olivieri
New 09 THIS COULD BE SOMETHING Anton Ewald featuring Medina
12 10 BACK HOME Andy Grammer
18 11 BOOM CLAP Charli XCX
15 12 HEY I DON’T KNOW Kongos
23 13 TIME HAS COME Hannis
17 14 MIRACLE E-Mute
06 15 NOT IN THAT WAY Sam Smith
09 16 THIS IS DIRTY DVBBS & MOTi
20 17 TEENAGER IN LOVE Neon Trees
25 18 KNEW YOU BETTER Adam Tyler
27 19 WHEN YOU LEFT ME Sam Dickinson
21 20 YOUR LOVE FADES AWAY Simone Denny
22 21 TRUST IT Nick Hagelin
08 22 ME AND MY BROKEN HEART Rixton
26 23 BIG CITY GIRLS (DON’T FALL IN LOVE WITH SMALL TOWN BOYS) Zorro Blakk
16 24 BLACK LEATHER SIRPAUL
13 25 LOVE SPACE Convulsic
14 26 SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT 5 Seconds Of Summer
New 27 I BELIEVE Bright Light Bright Light
New 28 MUSIC GODS Davis Redfield featuring Carl Man
New 29 LOVE IN THE 21ST CENTURY Neon Trees
19 30 DEAR NICOLE FrankMusik

Medieval Lore: “Carry Me” by @Eurielle_music

EURIELLE, “Carry Me”

I introduced you to new UK singer Eurielle at the end of last year, when she released her debut EP The Incarnation. The new age/pop inspirations for the songs from the EP seemed to come from sources as diverse as Kate Bush and Ellie Goulding, and recalled other fantastic vocalists of the past like Enya, Kirsty MacColl, and Annie Haslam. I was privileged to view the short film for “Carry Me” earlier in the year, and it finally was posted officially in May, with the single released to iTunes last week. It’s a beautifully filmed, artful effort showcasing a classic medieval tale of a young woman who is pretty much held captive by her overprotective father. Innocent infatuation occurs and life will never be the same for her. The song itself hangs on slight instrumentation and a gorgeous, ethereal and affecting vocal by Eurielle. While “Carry Me” isn’t the kind of song you’ll hear on the radio, it’s quality trumping quantity and should bring further attention for this new singer, who has already attracted major label interest. “Carry Me” is a logical continuation for Eurielle and I await her next song choice with bated breath! An album is on deck for this Fall.

Cool For Cats: “Simple” (EP) by @NightmareAndCat

NIGHTMARE AND THE CAT, Simple (EP)

On Thursday evening, I was most impressed with the set by L.A.-based rock quintet Nightmare And The Cat as they opened for Neon Trees and Smallpools. This is a tight band that seems to draw their inspirations from sources too numerous to mention; I’ve read comparisons to The Arcade Fire, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, and other post-90’s performers, but there’s a lot in their roots that seems to stem from rock as classic as The Rolling Stones or David Bowie. And that’s not too far of a stretch considering that lead members singer Django Stewart and guitarist Samuel Stewart are the offspring of Eurythmics’ David A. Stewart and Bananarama/Shakespear’s Sister’s Siohan Fahey!! Django has a compelling and natural stage presence which can easily win over an audience. But Nightmare And The Cat do have the songs that will take them places, and Capitol Records has already made that investment. “Blackbird Smile”, “Undercover”, and “Goodbye So Many Times” are instantly memorable from their show. Nightmare And The Cat’s full album Simple is due before the end of July, but in the meantime you can treat yourself to the EP on iTunes and stream it below on Soundcloud. I’ve also included a clip of them performing “Undercover” from a May broadcast of The David Letterman Show.

Serene Scenes: “Sweet Lover” by @JustinNozuka

JUSTIN NOZUKA, “Sweet Lover”

Canadian singer Justin Nozuka released an album of mainly quieter songs that is not necessarily for everyone this past Spring called Ulysees. It’s a brave move for sure on his third full release, but the 25 year old seems to actively promote peace, love, kindness, beauty and a host of other wonderful states of mind and being that we often take for granted. “Sweet Lover” is one of the more striking songs on the record, and what better way to cross-promote the song than with a soothing, peaceful well-shot video that captures earth and nature at its most serene. The few times that Justin uses his high register are goosebump moments, and if you saw his show on his recent tour, you’ll know that those moments in this song easily silenced the noisiest club goers. The production is layered and crisp, very reminiscent of the Wall of Sound style of the 60’s. Justin Nozuka is carving out a unique style for himself and his fans are loving it. You can purchase Ulysees on iTunes.

Get to Know New Canadian Duo @BigEastCanada with Album “Under Currents”

BIG EAST, Under Currents

From just north of where I live, in the Muskokas (Huntsville to be exact) comes duo Big East consisting of guitarist/vocalist James Jones and pianist/guitarist/vocalist Kip Daynard, supported by other expert musicians. They create passionate, earnest folk/pop on their new album Under Currents. But don’t let that basic description sway you, their influences from R&B, blues and jazz are much more far reaching, resulting in diverse and well-crafted songs. They are beautifully sung and tend to be on the softer side, but the results shine through and will make an impression. Opener “I Can’t Let Go” is easily my favourite and has hit potential for Adult Top 40 radio with its soulful edge. “Every Heart” and “I Die For You” (I’m waiting for the mashup with Jann Arden’s “I Would Die For You” 😉 ) also resonate, as does “Change Your Life” which poses lots of food for thought in its brief lyrics. I would pitch this album to fans who like Train, Five For Fighting, John Legend, Frank Ocean, Ms Arden, Anne Murray, and Neil Young. You can stream the entire album below. Check out all of the detail James and Kip have put into their Bandcamp page, including lyrics and chords! You can purchase the album there or on iTunes. Big East wants to engage and involve you and Under Currents is a great record on which you can get to know them.

https://soundcloud.com/big_east/sets/under-currents

A Familiar Voice Returns: “Your Love Fades Away” by @SimoneDenny

SIMONE DENNY, “Your Love Fades Away”

A great Canadian voice has decided to step away from her Dance music roots and into smoky R&B ballad territory. The diverse and talented Toronto singer Simone Denny is back. You know her as the lead vocalist on Juno Award-winning #1 Dance records such as Love Inc’s “Broken Bones” (also a Canadian and UK Top 10 hit) and “Astroplane” by BKS, as well as Widelife’s “All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)” – the theme from TV’s Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. With the restrained power in Simone’s voice, you know that the roof is about to be blown off in whatever style she chooses. “Your Love Fades Away” combines heartache with self-realization and there is no question about Simone’s versatility. Because the Dance Club community never lets a great performer go too long without providing a new club hit, I know Simone will have us dancing up a storm again soon. But for now this preview of her upcoming album The Stereo Dynamite Sessions Volume 1 holds a lot of promise. Pick up “Your Love Fades Away” on iTunes!

BILLCS Top 30 #432 – June 2, 2014

Back on December 10, 2013, I wrote that Sam Smith’s “Money On My Mind” was the first great song of 2014. It went to #1 in the UK (and on my chart) upon release, and it’s hanging in at #27. Sam’s sung on every major TV talk show plus Saturday Night Live, toured all over the place, sometimes more than once (I caught him in concert in April 🙂 – his subsequent show at a bigger venue here for September sold out in a snap). 2014 is indeed a year of Sam Smith. And his album isn’t even on release yet in North America.

Number One!

It should not be any surprise to find Sam Smith at #1 on my chart for the third time this year, this time with “Stay With Me”, which is another UK #1 and a Top 20 hit thus far in North America. The world cannot get enough Sam Smith right now. “Not In That Way” pulls up to #10 this week, and “Stay With Me” has also been recorded as a duet with none other than Miss Mary J. Blige – and I kind of think that the Disclosure guys had something to do with that!

The Rest of the Top 10

This leaves fun songs like former #1 “Proxy” by Martin Garrix and “Electric Valentine” by Adam Tyler surrendering to our Sam. Just a reminder though that Adam’s deluxe version of Shattered Ice sees release on Tuesday, June 10! 31 songs!!

Rixton have just launched their tour of North America at what appear to be small-ish sized venues, so tickets will go fast! “Me and My Broken Heart” climbs to #4.
The fastest riser on the chart is Canadian 16 year old Tristan Thompson with “Tidal Wave”, a real throwback in styles in so many ways. Now I keep hearing late 70’s early 80’s L.A. pop/soul. It soars 15-5! Stream Tristan’s album Here For You right here.

The official video for “Love Space” by Convulsic (below) has arrived as the song holds at #6. It’s an interesting trip for sure 🙂 And the dubstep performer’s other entry “The Day You Left” moves up to #11 too.

“Dear Nicole” by FrankMusik continues to stay in my head constantly after several months due to the singer’s fine vocal, which grows from storyteller mode to full throttle. From his latest album By Nicole, the song rises 9-7.
The third new entry to the Top 10 is from a group whose performance was a highlight of the Billboard Music Awards. 5 Seconds Of Summer are more than meets the underwear, and “She Looks So Perfect” climbs 14-9.

Moving Up… and One Debut

Last week’s two dance floor scorching debuts burn up the chart again as well. Jason Walker’s ultra-splendid Hi-NRG-styled Billboard Dance Club Play Top 10 remake of Taylor Dayne’s “Tell It To My Heart” jumps 20-13, while the triad of House Rockerz, Davis Redfield and singer Carl Man bound 22-16 with “Electrify The Night”.

Toronto-based vocalist Kendal Thompson has an ear-catching pop tune with “Be Mine”, which continues to move up the chart at #18.

“Good News (For People Who Love Bad News)” by Zorro Blakk & Deniz Olivieri is up to #19 and is also my Pick of the Week heard every three hours during the coming week on http://www.d-moos.com Canada’s National Internet Radio Station.

SIRPAUL’s steamy “Black Leather” is in control at #22, followed by “Teenager In Love” and poignant alt.pop from Neon Trees at #23, and bass-laden rock from those Kongos boys lands at #25 with “Hey I Don’t Know.
After last chart’s massive seven debuts, we’re back to a solitary one this time with “Miracle” by E-Mute at #24. It’s one of the more haunting alt.rock songs you will hear lately on which singer Theo Mak is both pianist and drummer.

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.

04 01 STAY WITH ME Sam Smith
01 02 PROXY Martin Garrix
03 03 ELECTRIC VALENTINE Adam Tyler
05 04 ME AND MY BROKEN HEART Rixton
15 05 TIDAL WAVE Tristan Thompson
06 06 LOVE SPACE Convulsic
09 07 DEAR NICOLE FrankMusik
08 08 FALL INTO LOVE Wrathschild
14 09 SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT 5 Seconds Of Summer
11 10 NOT IN THAT WAY Sam Smith
12 11 THE DAY YOU LEFT Convulsic
02 12 LATCH Disclosure featuring Sam Smith
20 13 TELL IT TO MY HEART Jason Walker featuring Bimbo Jones
16 14 THIS IS DIRTY DVBBS & MOTi
17 15 BACK HOME Andy Grammer
22 16 ELECTRIFY THE NIGHT House Rockerz featuring Davis Redfield & Carl Man
10 17 I WISH WE WERE LEAVING Bright Light Bright Light & Elton John
21 18 BE MINE Kendal Thompson
25 19 GOOD NEWS (FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BAD NEWS) Zorro Blakk featuring Deniz Olivieri
07 20 CANNONBALL (EARTHQUAKE) Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma
13 21 FINEST CLOTHES IN TOWN Nick Hagelin
28 22 BLACK LEATHER SIRPAUL
29 23 TEENAGER IN LOVE Neon Trees
New 24 MIRACLE E-Mute
30 25 HEY I DON’T KNOW Kongos
19 26 BACK TO CALIFORNIA Steve Grand
23 27 MONEY ON MY MIND Sam Smith
24 28 HORNY Lonnie Gordon
18 29 FIND YOU Zedd featuring Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant
27 30 ADDICTED TO YOU Avicii featuring Audra Mae

NYC Rockers On The Rise: @ManonEarth and @TheUglyClub

The only things Man On Earth and The Ugly Club have in common is that they are from New York City, they play solid rock ‘n roll, and have a determined journeyman style which just naturally generates a loyal following and praise from various sources.

MAN ON EARTH, self-titled album

Man On Earth have a solid, earnest rock style that will appeal to fans of Fall Out Boy, Marianas Trench, Hedley, and Theory Of A Deadman. While they clearly like to rock out hard, and don’t sacrifice melody in the process, there’s a fair bit of depth in their songs that will keep you listening. “If Not Now Then When” is a sea of thoughts amid power rock that’s well worth blasting out your car window on a summer’s day accompanied by a fine bass line. It’s probably the most immediately ear-catching song on the record, but also well done are “Bombs Around Me”, “On Our Way”, and “There”. The biggest surprise that shows this quartet’s versatility (and perhaps singer Stephen Nathan’s best vocal) is “We Are All Dreamers”, definitely a thoughtful ode of reassurance to that important art of dreaming. The band will continue playing some gigs in June, so if you get a chance check out their website and get out to see them. Man On Earth, the album, is available on iTunes.

THE UGLY CLUB, Loosen Up (EP)

The Ugly Club is another NYC quartet but one who draws their influences likely more from British psych/indie rock – Radiohead, Oasis, all that good stuff from the 90’s. The Ugly Club though bridge some very accessible moments on this three song EP with some experimental, danceable sounds that will please fans of the genre. Both “Loosen Up” and “David Foster Wallace” are rhythmic, sometimes R&B/funk influenced songs which definitely beg listening, while “Under the Great Wave” has an arrangement with some prominent synth work that reminds me of California’s Saint Motel but perhaps with some jazz influences. Overall, the EP (which you can stream below) is a pleasing, diverse surprise carried by another strong vocalist in guitarist Ryan Egan. All of the songs are repackaged from the band’s 2012 album You Belong To The Minutes, available on iTunes. Lend your eyes above to the snazzy vinyl album cover art and blue vinyl on limited release through the band’s website.

The Ugly Club play NXNE in Toronto at The Hideout on Friday, June 20.

https://soundcloud.com/theuglyclub/sets/you-belong-to-the-minutes

Edgy Classical Rock with Heart: “Citadels” by Galt Aureus (@GaltMusic)

GALT AUREUS, “Citadels”

Galt Aureus certainly got my attention when “Citadels” arrived for me to hear. It’s rock music that should be played in castles!! Imagine the fusion of Green Day, AFI, or My Chemical Romance with breathtaking classical melody influenced heavily by Chopin or Beethoven. Galt Aureus then adds emotional depth that you might find in the music of Jeff Buckley or Bush into the mix, making “Citadels” irresistibly compelling. Galt Aureus is a duo – Saher Galt (vocal, piano, guitar) and Susan Williams (vocal, guitar) who met in Paris and obviously shared the same inspirations of pop, punk, classical, and gothic music and styles, which all come across well in “Citadels”. Wait for that 25 second symphonic interlude! Their album is also called Citadels and you can purchase it on iTunes or on their website which has a pretty cool design to it. Their fans are their Legion, Legio Aurei – the old Latin student in me loves it!! Listen below to “Citadels”.

urei

Feel The Vibe: “Better Days” by @BoyJumpsShip

BOY JUMPS SHIP, “Better Days”

North-east England is bringing us quite a varied amount of fine music this year, and among it all is rock quartet Boy Jumps Ship, who hail from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The video for “Better Days” has so much going for it – a sincere, emotional, energetic performance, as well as a really positive message which hits home in the close-ups. The prolific band has a grunge-influenced sound that is augmented by melody and a catchy hook in “Better Days”. Tag Boy Jumps Ship onto your playlist with Cage The Elephant. The song hails from their EP Be Good Be Gracious, which you can get on iTunes.