LONDON, UK
by Jenny (Staff Writer)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Eminem - Like Toy Soldiers: America loves to promote songs about Eminem's personal demons (see "Cleanin Out My Closet" and "The Way I Am") but they are going to be pressed with that kind of material that can be a very good single.
"Like Toy Soldiers," (sampling Martika's song), is probably the highlight of the album as Eminem attempts to seperate himself from a number of the high-profile beefs he's been involved with over the past few years. The beat alone is immense but this addresses the beef with Benzino. However it also addresses Ja Rule and his comments on Runyon Avenue (Kon Artist & Kuniva) is in reference to him siding with D12 over the Royce beef. (5/5)
HOT SHOT RECORD
Duran Duran - What Happens Tomorrow: their talent and wanted to lump them with other 1980's groups that owed their much of their success to Casio and MTV. The band's style (make-up and all), The band's amazing travelogue videos, hit-laden releases, and the fact that the group was loved/worshipped by teenaged girls (a highly maligned group as a whole), certainly did nothing to increase their critical appeal.
"What Happens Tomorrow" is an anthem: this song will stay with you for days! (5/5)
Cam'Ron - Girls: Cam'ron plunders pop-culture samples ranging from the Hill Street Blues TV theme ("Harlem Streets") to Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Fun" ("Girls"). Cam'ron is definitely not the most gifted rapper, lyrically. However, he gets a lot of tight beats and is able to get by with his "talking and maybe I'll actually say something that rhymes' scheme. With Beanie Sigel dealing with his legal troubles and Memphis Bleek being a big hit underground but not commerically, makes Cam'ron the No 1 man on Roc-A-Fella. (3/5)
Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden - Almost Here: The title track is backed with 'Hollow No More' (exclusive Brian and Delta duet). The closest thing to a love ballad on the radioc is the duet with Delta Goodrem (Almost here) which pairs Brian's rocky tenor with her sweet, delicate soprano for a surprisingly good mesh of despair in love lost. This is a single I would recommend to more than just pop fans. (3/5)
Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight?: Another classic track by Elvis Presley. (5/5)
Good Charlotte - I Just Wanna Live: I know, punk is great and I want to hear Good Charlotte do some of that on their other CDs after being turned onto the band with this single. The song has a strong, self-confident feeling to it that isn't cocky, either. The liner notes include the lyrics - a definite plus! If you're a fan who just has to have Good Charlotte doing the type of music they have been doing, then you do need to skip this CD. However, if you want to see them try their hand at other types of music, at least for a while, then try this track. (I also recommend it highly for older rock fans!)
Heather Small - Proud: 'The Ultimate Collection' album from the M People vocalist features many hits including the single 'Proud.' I've often thought what a shame it is that song lyrics get so easily stuck in your head, but so few song lyrics are the kind of thing you WANT stuck in your head.
The chorus to the title track says, "What have you done today to make you feel proud?" That is an excellent question to come to mind many times a day, which is what happens when you listen to the song. I recommend all Heather Small's singles as helpful and effective for improving mood and increasing your motivation to take positive action. Luckily, the music is also great and her voice is wonderful. We need more music like this in the world! (5/5)
Kimberley Locke - Coulda Been: Kimberley Locke came in third in the 2nd season of American Idol. Kim's voice is wonderful but mostly, this single is an onslaught of overproduction. It's just an utter MESS. Coulda Been's production is H O R R I B L E!!! Don't confuse the listeners by taking them in 5 directions at once. Anyway, we do not need the female edition of Will Young in our airwaves... (0/5)
PS: Spend your money for buying e.g. Mattafix (following)
Lil John Ft The East Side Boys - Roll Call/What U Gon' Do: Obviously, hip-hop purists say Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz are dumbing down rap music, and they have a good reason to say so. But Lil Jon and his whole "clik" aren't rappers trying to drop knowledge like KRS-One, Rakim, or Nas. They're just trying to "get crunk in the club", and that's exactly what Lil Jon's music does. Some of the "lyrics" and signature Lil Jon chants become annoyingly redundant, but try to appreciate Crunk Juice for what it is - an album with infectious bass-jams such as "What U Gon' Do" featuring Lil Scrappy, and "Roll Call" featuring Ice Cube. Forget about the lyrical shortcomings, and these are two good party tracks. (3/5)
Mattafix - 11:30/Dirtiest Trick In Town: Mattafic is the duo of Marlon Roudette and Preetesh Hirji; their debut single, 11.30 (Dirtiest Trick In Town) from BUDDHIST PUNK Records is a languid tale of a spurned lover, knocked off his stride by a woman 'with the wrong recipe' who played him once too often.
Marlon's beautiful, heart-tugging vocals and heavy patois chorus sit perfectly alongside the minimal and moody backdrop of the sparse production, creating the perfect modern leftfield love song. The B-Side, Cradle, is an even more horizontal and haunting performance from Marlon, set against a backdrop of rich strings and dub elements all swirling in the mix. (3/5)
The Wedding Present - I'm Further North Than You: Dave Gedge originally recorded Take Fountain as the fourth Cinerama album, but after the break up of his relationship with fellow Cinerama founder Sally Murrell, Gedge decided that this darker record should be released under his Wedding Present moniker. Take Fountain is the band's first album release since 1996's Saturnalia, and returns to the noisy, jangly inteligent indie sound of old. 'I'm From Further North Than You' is perfect guitar pop track with a twist; grown-up without ever straying towards the embarrassing territory of 'mature'!
January 31
22-20's - Such A Fool
Bloc Party - So Here We Are
Cam'Ron - Girls
Chocolate Monday - Your Place Or Mine
Deeyah - Plan Of My Own
Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden - Almost Here
Duran Duran - What Happens Tomorrow
El Presidente - Rocket
Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Eminem - Like Toy Soldiers
Erick Morillo Ft Terra Deva - What Do You Want?
Funky G Ft Shauna Jenson - Everytime
Ga Gas - Sex
Galaxy Records Star Search Finalists - Guardian Angel
Good Charlotte - I Just Wanna Live
Hammerfall - Blood Bound
Head Automatica - Beating Heart Baby
Heather Small - Proud
Hugh Cornwell - (Under Her) Spell
Kimberley Locke - Coulda Been
Lil John Ft The East Side Boys - Roll Call/What U Gon' Do
Marvia Providence - Hear My Cry, Oh Lord
Mattafix - 11:30/Dirtiest Trick In Town
Sunshine - Electric Kill Kill EP
The Wedding Present - I'm Further North Than You
Your Code Name Is:Milo - Rapt Dept
February 7
Adam Green - Emily
Alison Krauss and Union Station - Restless/Cluck Old Hen
Amusement Parks On Fire - Venosa/Eighty Eight
Apartment - Everyone Says I'm Paranoid/June July
Beautiful South - This Will Be Our Year
Bright Eyes - Drunk Kid Catholic
Bright Eyes vs. Her Space Holiday - Split Single EP
Daniel Bedingfield - Wrap My Words Around You
Destiny's Child - Soldier
Dizzee Rascal - Graftin'
Doves - Black And White Town
The Duke Spirit - Lion Rip
Elvis Presley - Wooden Heart
Fierce Girl - What Makes A Girl Fierce?
Hall & Oates - I Can Dream About You
Immediate - Never Seen/Say This
Jacquii Cann - I Believe In You/I'll Stand By You
Josh Rouse - Winter In The Hamptons
Joya - You And Me EP
The Kills - The Good Ones
The Little Flames - Goodbye Little Rose
M83 - Don't Save Us From The Flames
Mando Diao - You Can't Steal My Love
Motiv8 Ft Jocelyn Brown - Riding On The Wings
My Morning Jacket - Sweatbees EP
Noise Next Door - Calendar Girl
Northern State - At The Party
Paddy Casey - Saints And Sinners
Patrick Wolf - Libertine
Postal Service - We Will Become Silhouettes
Quasimoto - Bus Ride
Raghav Ft Jucxi & Frankey Maxx - Angeleyes
Readers Wifes - Scumpop
Rhesus - Art Is Dead
Roots - Don't Say Nuthin'
Sun Connection - Love Me Like A Flower
Tony Christie - Amarillo
U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Warren Suicide - Adjusting Ourselves
Wee Phillie Vs DJ Gotti - Bang On The Drum
The Wonder Stuff - Bile Chant/Rubbish Island
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Machine
February 14
Aberfeldy - Love Is An Arrow
Akon - Locked Up
Ambulance Ltd - Stay Where You Are
Angel City - Sunrise
Atomic Kitten - Cradle 2005
Biffy Clyro - Only One Word Comes To Mind
Death From Above 1979 - Blood On Our Hands
DJ George J - Never Gonna Let You Go
Ed Harcourt - Loneliness
Elvis Presley - Surrender
Embrace - Looking As You Are
Emiliana Torrini - Sunny Road
Felix Da Housecat - Ready To Wear
The Game Ft 50 Cent - How We Do
Glitzzi Girls - Be My Baby
Grounded - I Need A Girl
House Of Love - Love You Too Much
Infrasound - Deer Hunter
James Yorkston & The Athletes - Shipwreckers
Jennifer Lopez - Get Right
Kings Of Tomorrow - Thru
Kirsty Magee - Coffee Coloured Strings
LL Cool J - Hush
Low - California
Mario - Let Me Love You
Mark Joseph - Lady Lady
Miss Kitten - Happy Violentine
Moby - Lift Me Up
Nathan - Come Into My Room
New Found Glory - I Don't Wanna Know
New Rhodes - You've Given Me Something That I Can't Get Back
Petey Pablo - Vibrate
Phantom Planets - California
Presidents Of The United States of America - Love Everybody
Rachel Goswell - Coastline/Plucked
Six By Seven - Ocean/Clouds
Stephen Fretwell - Run
Stereogram - Go
Trick Daddy - Let's Go
Usher - Caught Up
Whitey - Non Stop
Willy Mason - Oxygen
Xavier Floyd Firebird - Boss Man You Scare Me
February 21
AB/DC - This Feelin'
Alsou - Always On My Mind
Annie - Heartbeat
The Beat Up - Alright
Charlotte Hatherley - bast*rdo
Crash Convention - Watch Committee/Thick As Thieves
Diefenbach - Re-make Your Mind EP
Dogs - She's Got A Reason
DT8 Ft Andrea Britton - Winter
The Earlies - Bring It Back Again
Elvis Presley - (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame
The Engineers - Forgiveness
The Frames - Fake
Futureheads - Hounds Of Love
Girls Aloud - Wake Me Up
Groove Cutters - We Close Our Eyes
Idlewild - Love Steals Us From Loneliness
Iron and Wine - Woman King EP
Kaiser Chiefs - Oh My God
Kaptain Black - Drone The Queen Bee/Overeaten
Keisha White Ft Cassidy - Don't Care Who Knows
Knife - You Take My Breath Away
KT Tunstall - Black Horse And The Cherry Tree
LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
Live Ambient Workshop - Nighthawkes EP
LnM Projekt ft. Bonnie Bailey - Everywhere
Mary Hansen and Horizontalist - Hybrid
Maximo Park - Apply Some Pressure
Nelly and Tim McGraw - Over And Over
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Get Ready For Love
Nine Black Alps - Shot Down
Planet Of Women - Waking Up The Neighbourhood
Rakes - Retreat
Raw T - Where We Live
Ray Lamontagne - Trouble
Reflekt Ft Delline Bass - Need To Feel Loved
RTX - Speed To Roam
Simple Plan - Shut Up
Smother - Use
Tears For Fears - The Closest Thing To Heaven
Teedra Moses - Be Your Girl
Tokyo Dragons - What The Hell
Towers Of London - On A Noose
Verbalicious - Don't Play Nice
February 28
Bjork - Triumph Of The Heart
The Bravery - An Honest Mistake
Britney Spears - Do Somethin'
Carlos Adolfo Dominguez - Boobies
The Delgados - Girls Of Valour
Dive Dive - 555 For Filmstars
Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love
Fatboy Slim - The Joker
Fightstar - They Liked You Better When You Were Dead EP
The Glitterati - Back In Power
The Good Life - Lovers Need Lawyers EP
Helene - Marking Time
Hell Is For Heroes - Models For The Programme
Il Divo - Mama
John Legend - Used To Love U
The Mad Capsule Markets - Happy Ride
My Chemical Romance - I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
Portobella - Viva La Difference
Rammstein - Keine Lust
The Rasmus - Funeral Song (The Resurrection)
Rufus Wainwright - The One You Love (MP3)
Stereophonics - Dakota
The Thrills - Irish Keep Gate Crashing
March 7
50 Cent - Disco Inferno
Agent Blue - Children's Children
Anastacia - Heavy On My Heart/Underground Army
Brendan Benson - Spit It Out
British Sea Power - It Ended On An Oily Stage
Cabin Crew - Waiting For A Star To Fall
The Donnas - I Don't Want To Know
Elvis Presley - Good Luck Charm
James Blunt - Wise Men
Lady Sovereign - Random
Magne F - Kryptonite
Mariah Carey - It's Like That
Marilyn Manson - The Nobodies 2005
The Mars Volta - Widow
McFly - All About You/You've Got A Friend
New Order - Krafty
Shania Twain - Don't!
Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Breakdown
Tyler James - Foolish
March 14
Ana Johnsson - Don't Cry For Pain
Avril Lavigne - He Wasn't
Basement Jaxx - Oh My Gosh
Beverley Knight - Keep This Fire Burning
The Black Velvets - 3345
Brandy - Who Is She 2 U?
Cherry Falls - My Drug
Elvis Presley - She's Not You
Green Day - Holiday
Gwen Stefani Ft Eve - Rich Girl
Jem - They
Mercury Rev - Across Yer Ocean
Natalie Imbruglia - Shiver
Oasis - I Stand Alone
Ocean Colour Scene - Free My Name
Queens Of The Stone Age - Little Sister
Shaznay Lewis - Nasty Boy
VS - If You Leave Me Now
March 21
Busface Ft Madamoiselle E B - Circles
Do Me Bad Things - What's Hideous?
Elvis Presley - Return To Sender
Estelle - Go Gone
Finn Brothers - Edible Flowers
Fischerspooner - Just Let Go
Hot Hot Heat - You Owe Me An IOU
I Am Kloot - Over My Shoulder
Jimmy Eat World - Work
Martha Wainwright - Factory
Queen Adreena - FM Doll
Sophie B Hawkins - Beautiful Girl
Subways - Oh Yeah
March 28
Elvis Presley - (You're The) Devil In Disguise
The Features - Blow It Out
Garbage - Why Do You Love Me?
Hard Fi - Middle Eastern Holiday
Kylie Minogue - Giving You Up
April 4
Elvis Presley - Crying In The Chapel
Melanie C - Next Best Superstar
Razorlight - Somewhere Else
