Gillingham, Kent, UK (By Mikey:
[email protected])
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Atomic Kitten - Love Doesn't Have To Hurt This is their third track lifted from their album 'Feels So Good'. A deliciously smooth and soulful acoustic ballad, it also serves as a tantalising taster of what sounds like a slight change in direction for the girls. Co-penned by The Bangles' Susanna Hoffs and legendary song-writing team Billy Steinberg and Tim Kelly, it's an anthemic slice of contemporary pop, and one that shows there's plenty of life in the Kittens yet.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Avril Lavigne - I'm With You Having scored huge chart hits right around the world with skate-punk-pop anthems 'Complicated' and 'Sk8er Boi', Avril Lavigne returns this week with a beautiful ballad, the third track lifted from the album 'Let Go', this shows her voice is not to be reckoned with, she comes out guns blazing, with a soft, melodic song.
ALSO RELEASED
Donnas - Take it off Forget Geri and the Spice Girls, The Donnas are back this week to show the UK the real meaning of Girl Power! Louder, brasher and sounding better and more accessible than ever, the pop-punk fury of new single 'Take It Off' sees the all-girl US four-piece showing the lads a thing or two when it comes to rocking out.
Dumonde - Get music One of those label's that just forages away on the underground but consistently produces dancefloor monsters; Bulletproof return this week with their latest firing trance odyssey, 'God Music'. The work of Dumonde (aka Jam X & De Leon) the pumping euphoria of the brilliant original also comes with a stellar remix package.
Dysfunctional Psychedelic Waltons - Payback Times Already synonymous with the current Levi's ad campaigns - the one with the people with mouse heads, The Dysfunctional Psychedelic Waltons' (or Dysfuntionals for short) 'Payback Time' gets a full UK release this week. A low-slung, laid-back slice of cool funk (produced by Nellee Hooper, with vocals from former Sneaker Pimp Keli Ali).
Eve - Satisfaction Eve is back this time on her own, her last two songs were collaborations with Gwen Stefani with the excellent 'Blow Your Mind' and Alicia Keys with 'Gangsta Lovin'. The Dre produced 'Satisfaction' only serves to confirm, not that it was needed, Eve's status as one of the finest rappers, of any sex, around right now.
Jessy - Look at me now Brand new on the seemingly unstoppable Data Recordings label, Jessy's 'Look At Me Now' has already been described as a kind of empowering 'I Will Survive' for the trance generation (well kind of anyway). Teaming up with Regi Pexten and Filip Vandueren (the masterminds behind Milk Inc and Sylver), Jessy delivers an anthem imbued with stylised independence.
Mario - Just a friend Debut single from Mario, 16 year old from Baltimore, Maryland, an up and coming rap/hip-hop star coming to recognition with the likes of Ja Rule, Jay-Z and many others. Mario debuts in the UK this week with his brilliant debut single for J Records, 'Just A Friend'. Having already made a big noise Stateside with his silky-smooth r'n'b grooves, the talented young singer sets his sights on the UK, and this is a perfect place to start. Laidback, groovy and with just the right amount of pop and soul, it's a brilliant debut, and one that signals the emergence of a major urban talent for 2003.
Roc Project ft. Tina Arena - Never (Past Tense) The latest release on the excellent Illustrious label, ROC Project's 'Never' has already been a staple on all the finest party-house floors for the last few months or so, and now, thanks to a superb Tina Arena vocal, it's looking like it's all set to cross over big time. Just in time for Miami's early summer madness, this funky peak time groover gets a long overdue release.
The Roots ft. Cody ChesnuTT - The Seed (2.0) Legendary Philadelphia hip-hop crew The Roots, widely regarded as one the, if not THE, greatest ever live hop-hop band, follow the release of their universally acclaimed fifth studio album, 'Phrenology', with the release this week of new single, 'The Seed 2.0'. Featuring an appearance from Cody ChesnuTT (who's 'The Headphone Masterpiece' is already gaining rave reviews) around a typically funky awesomely produced musical backdrop.
Slipmatt - Space Already being supported by Dave Pearce, Judge Jules, Seb Fontaine, Graham Gold, Tall Paul and Paul Van Dyke (who was playing it as long ago as October 2000), hardcore survivor Slipmatt's 'Space' is undoubtedly one of the hottest tracks around right now! And, thanks to appearances on all the dance charts that matter, it's also looking like it's all set for serious crossover success as well.
And the following acts are also releasing, but probably won't penetrate the Top 40
Acarine - Blinder (I Could Be So Good For You)
The Agenda! -
Crash Crash
Ambulance - I Am A Star, I Am An
Angel EP
India.Arie -
Little Things
Brassy - Play Some D
Burning Brides - Plank Of Fire
Default - Deny
DoNots - Big Mouth
The Free Association - Everybody Knows
Full Flava ft. Carleen Anderson - Stories
Grand Drive - A
Little Like You
Guano Apes - You can't stop me
Mad Capsule Markets - Fly High
NOFX - Regaining Unconsciousness
Northstarz presents Neon 8 - These Dreams
One Minute Silence - We Bounce
Beth Orton - Thinking About Tomorrow
Paradise Lost - Erased
Saint ft. Suzanna Dee - Show me heaven
Space Cowboy - Just Put Your Hand In Mine
Sugar Jones - Dayz like this
Themroc - Bloodline
Forthcoming Singles
April 7 Daniel Bedingfield - I can't read you
April 7 Kym Marsh - Cry
April 7 Erasure - Make me smile (come up and see me)
April 14 Aaliyah - Didn't know what to tell you
April 14 Robbie Williams - Come undone
April 14 Madonna - American life
April 14 Paffendorf - Crazy, Sexy, Marvellous
April 21 David Sneddon - Don't let go
April 21 Good Charlotte - Boys and girls
April 21 Pippa Fulton - Don't wanna miss a thing
April 21 Kelly Rowland - Can't nobody
April 28 Ronan Keating - The Long Goodbye
April 28 Puretone - Stuck in a groove
April 28 Tomcraft - Loneliness
May 5 The Androids - Do it with Madonna
May 5 Electric Six - Gay Bar
May 5 S Club - Love ain't gonna wait for you
May 12 The Cheeky Girls - Take your shoes off
May 12 Girls Aloud - No good advice
May 19 Emma Bunton - Free me
May 19 t.A.T.u - Not gonna get us
May 19 Justin Timberlake - Rock with you
May 19 Stereophonics - Madame Helga
