LONDON, UK
by Jenny (Staff Writer)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For: Gwen Stefani is a modern female rocker. Her sound is unique and individual - she's the real deal. Thank god there are females that can make good music and get recognized for it!
I think Gwen is very talented performer and cool, and I think the song is pretty good. The melody is catchy and the production is interesting.
One line I do think is awesome: "Born to blossom, bloom to perish," and I do expect that the other songs on the upcoming album will have the same result. On this project, she has enlisted some of the biggest names in music (Dr. Dre, Eve, The Neptunes, Andre 3000, Nellee Hooper, Dallas Austin, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Linda Perry and Tony Kanal) to create a genre bending masterpiece that is guaranteed to be one of the most talked about records of this year (2004) and beyond (4/5).
HOT SHOT RECORD
Avril Lavigne - Nobody's Home: Possibly it is the strongest song on the album, co-written by Ben Moody (formerly of Evanescence). This song is nothing short of deep and I was surprised to find out that Avril wrote the lyrics all on her own. The lyrics are descriptive and melancholy yet beautiful and touching at the same time. Though simple in places, they express the meaning of the song exceptionally. This is a kind of sad song about a girl who's been misguided, and who is alone and depressed. The beat is good, and Avril's voice sounds great. (4/5)
Anastacia - Welcome To My Truth: For 6 solid months, Anastacia has been pounding the charts all over the world. Somehow her success has been ignored in her own country (USA). This is one of those singles that shines "excellent".
Anastacia is real American talent. Her voice is powerful but enchanting; her lyrics touch every single one of us. And yes, she is not influenced by any Ghetto music style that is so prevalent on American radio stations. In this one track, Anastacia talks about love, that she still loves after everything that happened. "Of a memory that now feels untrue, I used to feel disguised. Now I leave the mask behind, Painting Pictures that aren't so blue." (4/5)
Embrace - Ashes: Ashes is heart-warming, and lifting, starting as they mean to go on: 'Now watch me rise up and leave all the ashes you made out of me, When you said that we were wrong life goes on, just at how long I've agreed'... 'Ashes' sounding like U2's 'Where The Streets Have No Name', buttering on rich strings and even a friggin' gospel choir.
RECOMMENDED (5/5).
Fabolous - Breathe: I like the first single "Breathe"! Fabolous (aka John Jackson) has returned with his third album "Real Talk" (2004). "Breathe" is excellent after first hearing it - beat and lyrically one of the most memorable tracks of the year.
Every beat is hot and lyrics are on point. This single comes straight from the streets with the great hip-hop producer Just Blaze. (4/5)
Felix Da Housecat - Watching Cars Go By: da Housecat (Felix Stallings) has been around for a very long time in the dance scene. Felix first started experimenting with electronic music instruments at the young age of 14, that same year he taught himself to play the keyboard and the following year he was headed to the studio to record his first track, and the rest is history. listen and play loud the cyber-whore track 'Watching Cars Go By.' There are textures galore here with the amazing, Hookish bass rumble on it. (4/5)
Franz Ferdinand - This Fffire: (Download/ mp3 single) Franz Ferdinand will be making available a newly recorded version of This Fire, via download only, on November 15th. The new version, recorded with Rich Costey, (who has just finished work on the forthcoming albums from Mars Volta and Bloc Party), has been renamed 'This Fffire' and is a freshly rearranged version of the live favourite that appears on the band's debut album.
Also, Franz Ferdinand's extra Glasgow SECC show on Sunday 19th December has now sold out. Absolutely recommended, don't forget to DOWNLOAD IT (5/5).
Girls Aloud - I'll Stand By You: "Girls Aloud are back unfortunately." Their new single, a cover of the Pretenders track titled 'I'll Stand By You'. I'll Stand By You is released on 15 November with all proceeds going to Children In Need. So I suppose, that you don't want to make any comment, because this is a charity cd-single? Only one question: did ever Pretenders hear the 'cover' version? This is an amazing song! Who the hell are these knock-off groups sleeping with to get the rights to these great songs?
Just 'TRAGEDY,' (this is stolen by an older Bee Gees song-title!) The British Pop goes worst with these beauties, I hope not our OCC Charts... Please all of you out there that you're reading these lines, mercy. If there is something in your mind (like logic - which does not exist in the British media) please keep the money and purchase double or triple (:-)) 'Do They Know It's Christmas' with our ORIGINAL POP STARS: Dido, Robbie, Jamelia, Darkness, Paul McCartney, etc...
JoJo feat. Bow Wow - Baby It's You: I like this song, its also very upbeat, powerful and aggressive track. Her second single, you are going to love this song and every time you listen to it cheers you up. If you hear her vocals it's hard to believe she's a teenager.
This track features Bow Wow in the remix version and it has a kinda reggea-jamaican beat, very interesting. I like the message of the song, most. (3/5)
Paul Weller - Thinking Of You: Paul Weller releases a new single "Thinking Of You" today. Taken from "Studio 150", his recent top 3 album of cover versions, "Thinking Of You" is a cracking re-working of the disco smash by Sister Sledge and originally penned by Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards. The single comes with 2 new cover versions which don't appear on "Studio 150." Only one word: AMAZING! (5/5)
Polyphonic Spree - 2000 Places: On this single, though, everything's merely pompous and ridiculous. It's much harder this time to give in to motivational messages that would have sounded stupid in 1976, like the single, which insists, "You gotta be good, you gotta be strong, you gotta be 2,000 places at once." There is also the cover of 'Merry Xmas (War Is Over)' on the flipside, the better. (2/5)
The Thrills - Not For All The Love In The World: the loping tempos of piano-driven gems plays a role in "Not for All the Love in the World." The Thrills manage to sound rootsy and utterly contemporary at once, with sparklingly modern production touches offsetting an ostensibly folk-rock sound. Lead singer Conor Deasy resembles a cross between Neil Young and the Flaming Lip's Wayne Coyne, with a touch of post modern irony, and guest instrumentalists Van Dyke Parks and Peter Buck add flair to this enjoyable, simultaneously fresh and familiar outing. (4/5)
The White Stripes - Jolene (Live Under Blackpool Lights): The White Stripes release a new single, their classic cover of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene', recorded Live Under Blackpool Lights. The single precedes their first ever DVD release, 'The White Stripes Under Blackpool Lights', which follows a week later on Monday the 22nd of November. The film is also going on a nationwide cinema tour, which begins on the 3rd of November.
'Jolene Live Under Blackpool Lights' was recorded live at The Empress Ballroom in Blackpool in January 2004 during their largest ever sold-out UK tour. The single is backed with exclusive live versions of 'Black Math' and 'Do'. One of the best covers for the 2004. (4/5)
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
21 Gun Salute - Cracks
The 411 - Teardrops
Anastacia - Welcome To My Truth
Avril Lavigne - Nobody's Home
Beastellabeast - Final Mistake
Blues Explosion - Hot Gossip
Boomclick - High Tide
Bravery - Unconditional EP
Cry For Silence - The Longest Day EP
Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan - Silence 2004
Devendra Banhart - At The Hop
Dogs - London Bridge/End Of An Era
Dragonheart - Video Killed The Radio Star
Embrace - Ashes
Fabolous - Breathe
Fans Of Kate - Fans Of Kate EP
Felix Da Housecat - Watching Cars Go By
Franz Ferdinand - This Fffire (Download/ mp3 single)
Girls Aloud - I'll Stand By You
Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For
I Dream feat. Calvin & Frankie - Dreaming
JoJo feat. Bow Wow - Baby It's You
Kaptain Black - Drone The Queen Bee/Overeaten
Lemar - If There's Any Justice
Mando Diao - Paralyzed
Marques Houston - Because Of You
Martha Wainwright - Bloody Mother ****ing Asshole
McFly - Room On The 3rd Floor
Modest Mouse - Ocean Breathes Salty
Mutts - Mutts [EP]
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Breathless/There She Goes My Beautiful World
Paul Weller - Thinking Of You
Polyphonic Spree - 2000 Places
Radio 4 - State Of Alert
Rebelski - Play The School Piano
RJD2 - Through The Walls
Soho Dolls - Prince Harry
The Thrills - Not For All The Love In The World
Unkle and Ian Brown - Reign
The Wedding Present - Interstate 5
The White Stripes - Jolene (Live Under Blackpool Lights)
Willy Mason - Hard Hand To Hold EP
Singles Release Schedule
November 22
2Play feat. Thomas Jules and Jucxi D - Careless Whisper
The Basement - Do You Think You're Movin' On
Beat Up - Messed Up
Black Keys - Till I Get My Way/Girl Is On My Mind
Black Wire - Hard To Love, Easy To Lay
Brendan Keeley - I'll Always Be Lonely
Brian McFadden - Irish Son
Busted - She Wants To Be Me
C&C Music Factory - Sweat 2004
Chalets - Nightrocker
Clinic - Circle Of Fifths
Darren Hayes - Darkness
Delays - Wanderlust/Lost In A Melody
Digitonal - The Centre Cannot Hold
Dive Dive - Good Show
Geri Halliwell - Ride It
Go Team - Ladyflash
Grandaddy - Nature Anthem
Hidden Cameras - Ban Marriage
Hot Snakes - Mystic Decade
Intenso Project feat. Lisa Scott-Lee - Get It On
Jay Z/Linkin Park - Numb/Encore
Keane - This Is The Last Time
Kelli Ali - Hot Lips
Kristian Leontiou - Some Say
Lemon Jelly - Stay With You
Lisa Stansfield - If I Hadn't Got You
Lostprophets - Goodbye Tonight
Lyca Sleep - Sold Me A Ride/South
Machine Head - Days Turn Blue To Grey
Maximo Park - The Coast Is Always Changing/The Night I Lost My Head
Moving Units - Available
The Music - Bleed From Within
N-Trance - I'm In Heaven
Nelly Ft Christina Aguilera - Tilt Ya Head Back
Nicki French - I Surrender
Nina Jayne - No Ordinary Pain EP
OutKast - Prototype/Ghettomusick
Phantom Buffalo - A Hilly Town
Regina Spektor - Your Honour/Flowers
Shania Twain Ft Mark McGrath - Party For Two
Status Quo - Thinking Of You
Thunder - I Love You More Than Rock 'N' Roll
Tim Bowness - Sleepwalker
Tubby T - Ready She Ready
Ultrasonic - Angels
Uniting Nations - Out Of Touch
Vatican DC - Can't Say Nothing At All
Verra Cruz - Corner Of My Mind
November 29
69 Corp - Demonseed
Ash - Renegade Cavalcade
Alison Moyet - Almost Blue/Alfie
Alter Ego - Rocker
Aventura - Obsesion
Babyshambles - Killamangiro
Band Aid 20 - Do They Know It's Christmas?
Battersea Dogs Home Rockford - Christmas Morning
Big Strides - Suicidal
Bird - Falling Like Stars/Christmas Song
Black Velvets - Get On Your Life
Blair Douglas Ft Runrig - Angels From The Ashes In Aid Of Glasgow The Caring City
Blue States - Last Blast
Bobby Darin - All I Have To Do Is Dream/Alone Again, Naturally
Bryan Adams - Flying
Camera - Hurt
Cheeky Girls - Boys Boys Boys
Colour Of Fire - A Pearl Necklace For Her Majesty
The Corrs - Long Night
Deckard - Holy Rolling
Dillinger Escape Plan - Under The Running Board
Dub Pistols - Official Chemical
Elefant - Misfit
Elviss - Not Enough EP
Fat Joe - Things Of That Nature
Fatboy Slim - Wonderful Night
Folk For Peace - Rumours Of Rain
Green Day - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
Groove Coverage - Poison
Ice Cube Ft Mack 10 and Ms Toi - You Can Do It
Jive Aces - White Hot Christmas 2004
Joss Stone - Right To Be Wrong
Juliet Turner - Vampire
Kanye West - Workout Plan
Kevin East - Butterfly Fantasy Girl
Lateef & Chief Xcel Ft Maroons - Lester Hayes
Lethal B - Forward
Lethal Bizzle - Pow
Long cut - Transition EP
Marvia Providence - Hear My Cry, Oh Lord
Matt Sharp - Just Like Movie Stars
Metric - Combat Baby
Micah P Hinson - Beneath The Rose EP
Midnight Movies - Persimmon Tree
Nadia Almada - A Little Bit Of Action
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
Natascha Sohl - Give It All Away
Neville Staple - Pressure/Cow Cow Yicky
Nic Armstrong - In Your Arms
Nou - Coco Butta
Onyx feat. Gemma J - Every Little Time
Performance - Love Life
Razorlight - Rip It Up
The Real Tuesday Weld - Bathtime In Clerkenwell
Red Carpet - Alright
REM - Aftermath
Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrel - Drop It Like It's Hot
Sonics - Have Love, Will Travel
The Streets - Could Well Be In
Tat - Pessimist Live From Another Wasted Summer
Wolfman - Napoleon
December 6
3rd Wish Ft Baby Bash - Obsesion (Si Es Amor)
Ambulance Ltd - Heavy Lifting EP
Art Brut - Modern Art / My Little Brother
Beastie Boys - Open Letter To NYC
Blink 182 - Always
Candidate - Mountain Show
Cass McCombs - Sacred Heart
Crossbank Strays - Single At Christmas
Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter
Death Cab For Cutie - Title And Registration
The Drama - Nothing Can Tear Us Apart
Dresden Dolls - Black Sabbath's War Pigs (Download/ mp3 single)
Duran Duran - What Happens Tomorrow
Eleanor McEvoy - Make Mine A Small One
Elliott Smith - Pretty Ugly Before
Fever - Bridge And Tunnel
Good Charlotte - I Just Wanna Live
Jethro Tull - Jethro Tull Christmas EP
Jetplane Landing - There Is No Real Courage Unless There Is Real Danger
Kylie Minogue - I Believe In You
Ludes - Radio
Maroon 5 - Sunday Morning
Mousse T feat. Emma Landford - Right About Now
Robbie Williams - Misunderstood
Rodney P Ft Mystro - I Don't Care/Time To Party
Ronan Keating Ft Yusuf - Father And Son
Selfish **** - My Prerogative
Skandi Girls - Do The Can Can
Soul Central - Strings Of Life
December 13
Ashlee Simpson - Shadow
Bo Selecta - Sodapop/I've Got You Babe
The Concretes - Warm Night
D:Rail - How Do I Say Goodbye
Electric Six - Radio Ga Ga
Features - Leave It All Behind
Goldie Lookin' Chain - You Knows I Love You
John Fox - Mr No
Lindsay Lohan - Rumours
Manic Street Preachers - Empty Souls
Morrissey - I Have Forgiven Jesus
Zutons - Confusion
December 20
Charlatans - Loving You Is Easy
X Factor Winner - TBA
January 3
Atomic Kitten - Cradle
Bjork - Triumph Of The Heart
Ciara - Goodies
Erasure - Breathe
Interpol - Evil
Urban Cookie Collective - The Key, The Secret 2005
January 10
Client - Pornography
Darius - Live Twice
Hall & Oates - I Can Dream About It
The Killers - Somebody Told Me
Longview - Coming Down
Lucie Silvas - Breathe In
Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Breakdown
X-zibit - Hey Now Mean Mugging
January 17
Beck - Gospel
Chemical Brothers - Galvanise
Feeder - Tumble And Fall
Mercury Rev - In A Funny Way
Pop! - Serious
Stonebridge Ft Therese - Take Me Away
Thirteen Senses - Thru The Glass
The Used - Take It Away
