Gillingham, Kent, UK (By: Mikey)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Girls Aloud - Life Got Cold Watch out, the girls are back! 'Life Got Cold' is funky slab of urban regret that'll smooch its way into the very fabric of your being. Failing that, it's a really good tune from the increasingly surprising winners of Pop Stars - The Rivals. Life without Popstars these girls would have been unknown, now they are household names, and life has treated them well for the past eight months. With 2 major hits 'Sound of the Underground' and 'No Good Advice' comes a smooth, slinky pop song 'Life Got Cold' with a touch of 'Wonderwall' by Oasis.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Good Charlotte - The Anthem Parents are the enemy on Joel, Benji's and co's rebellious latest single 'The Anthem'. 'At my high school / it felt more to me like a jail cell / a penitentiary / My time spent there it only made me see / That I don't ever wanna be like you / I don't wanna do the things you do' they sing, or rather - shout. Good Charlotte fans will love their favourite band's new hardcore punk rock stance, which is the latest offering from their debut album 'The Young and the Hopeless'.
Billy Crawford - Trackin' Just 20 years old, Philippine-born Billy Crawford has the voice, the stunning looks and all the moves to thrust him into international stardom. His debut album, released in 1998 went double-platinum in the US and he's consequently supported the likes of N Sync and Monica in tours across America. He's since captured the hearts of the European audience and now he's finally made it across the water to the UK and is hitting us with the pop beauty that is 'Trackin' - a tune that hits all theright buttons.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Stop With their forthcoming second album one of the most eagerly anticipated of 2003 (it's already been described as '...a masterpiece' by the N.M.E), first single 'Stop' shows that the long wait certainly won't have been in vain. A pummelling powerhouse of distorted riffs and pile driving drums - all helped along by a huge fist-waving chorus - it's one of BRMC's best and bodes well for what's already promising to be an awesome new album. This single was intended to be released a fortnight ago, but it got re-scheduled at the last minute, for reasons unknown.
Bluetones - Never Going Nowhere Their busiest year since the end of the 20th Century, the evergreen Bluetones return this week with 'Never Going Nowhere', the latest single from their brilliant 'Luxembourg' album. A typically hooky slice of sparkling Bluetones indie-pop, the catchy original is also joined, across three separate formats, by three, count 'em, THREE exclusive new tracks. A must for the fans, this is also a perfect starter for those that haven't discovered The Bluetones' enduring, and completely distinctive pop sound.
Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp East London boy, Dylan Mills, aka Dizzee Rascal, might be about to win the Mercury Music Prize with his debut LP Boy In Da Corner. He's certainly a serious contender. This single, taken from the album, is a weird beauty, and strangely enticing with it's churning darkness. With its deep drums, flashes of electric guitar, nasal rantings reminiscent of Cypress Hill, and its funky chorus, it stands head and shoulders above its contemporaries in terms of originality. Dizzee speaks of the desperation and loss inherent to East London estate life rather than glorifying the violence and misogyny inherent to most other MC moanings, and he does it with an unusual panache.
Dave Gahan - I Need You Of all the songs on Dave Gahan's terrific solo album Paper Monsters, I Need You is perhaps the most Depeche Mode -like. The bouncy club rhythm and electronic warblings are the backdrop to a deceptively simple lyric - "You'll always need me more than I'll need you" - which by the end becomes a mantra, but fools no-one. This is a song about admitting you can't always go it alone. Gahan, who famously survived a majorly self-destructive phase, shows that there can be light at the end of the tunnel. When it comes wrapped in such an elegant package we should all rejoice.
Lemar � Dance (With U) Despite being billed as the 'talented' take on music-based reality TV, the first series of Fame Academy failed to deliver and not just in the ratings department. Limp Scot victor David Sneddon made Will Young look 'ard and Sinead Quinn's faux-Deborah Harry impersonation was just lame. Which leaves Lemar - the sensitive young man burdened with delivering the soul quota for the show. He was undoubtedly in possession of the best voice to start with but the danger was always whether he'd be given the opportunity to use it once free of the show. Craig David look behind you Lemar is coming to take over your crown!
Libertines - Don't Look Back Into The Sun The Libertines are fast making themselves a reputation as rockers of some note. They've caused chaos wherever they've played with their outrageous live shows and are set fair for world domination. Tracks like 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' help explain why.
Queens Of The Stone Age - First It Giveth Relentlessly oppressive - like being caught in a forest, at the edge of a thunderstorm, in the dark, at three in the morning. Bloody brilliant therefore.
Radiohead - Go To Sleep 'Hail To The Thief' has been seen by many as something of a return to Radiohead's days as guitar superheros. While that's not really the case, it has to be said that there's plenty of guitars on 'Go To Sleep'. From the acoustic opening the song quickly builds into a claustrophobic tunnel, drums crash and a slippery bass-line swims through the melee before it all breaks out into a Bends-esque trauma of broken chords and stinging guitar stabs. Music to take you to another place.
Wannadies - Disko As jangly a slice of summer lovin' as you could wish for, as whimsical as a gentle breeze tickling the toes of a blissed-out lake and as life-affirming as the Wannadies always are when they're at their best.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
10 Revolutions - Time For The Revolution
The Agenda - I Want The Panic
The Bees - A Minha Menina
Blue Man Group feat. Gavin Rossdale - The Current
Grafiti - What Is The Problem?
Homelife - Flying Wonders / Wobbly Jack
JA-13 feat. Don Ricardo - Must Be Love
Jewel - Intuition
The Naked Apes - Wasted
Razorlight - Rock'N'Roll Lies
Themroc - Into The Light
Turbonegro - Locked Down
SINGLE RELEASE SCHEDULE
August 25
4 Strings - Let It Rain
Abs featuring Nodesha - Miss Perfect
Amen UK - Passion 2003
The Barn Dance Boys - Yippie-I-Oh
Mel Blatt - Do Me Wrong
Bowling For Soup - Punk Rock 101
Tim Burgess - I Believe In The Spirit
The Capes - Regional Heats
Chikinki - Hate TV
Kelly Clarkson - Miss Independent
The Datsuns - MF From Hell
DM & Jemini - Ghetto Pop Life
Chris Farlowe - I'll Leave The Light On
The Free Association - Sugarman
Fun Lovin' Criminals - Too Hot
Gay Dad - Joy
Grandaddy - Caminos In The West
Groove Armada - But I Feel Good
In-Grid - Tu Es Foutu
Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl?
Elton John - Are You Ready For Love
Junior Jack - E Samba
Lee Cabrera & Alex Cartana - Shake It (Move A Little Closer)
LFO - Freak
Annie Lennox - 1000 Beautiful Things
Leslie Loh - Boom Bang Bang
P-Nut - Hey Hey Hey
Sean Paul - Like Glue
Rancid - Fall Back Down
The Rapture - House Of Jealous Lovers
Skyclad - Swords Of A Thousand Men
Snap! vs Motivo - The Power Of Bhangra 2003
Speedway - Genie In A Bottle
Svenson & Gielen featuring Jan Johnston - Beachbreeze
The Thrills - Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)
Third Light - Movin' On
Tiga featuring Jake Shears - Hot In Herre
Shania Twain - Thank You Baby! (For Makin' Someday Come So Soon)
Unkle - Eye For An Eye
Wheatus - American In Amsterdam
September 1
A - Good Time
Ateed - Come To Me
Audioslave - I Am The Highway
Erykah Badu - Danger
Barbara Baldieri - Todo Lo Que Quiero (All I Want Is You)
Big Brovaz - Baby Boy
The Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love?
Chicane - Locking Down
The Cooper Temple Clause - Promises Promises
Dallas Superstars - Helium
David Bowie - New Killer Star
Dido - White Flag
Celine Dion - One Heart*
Fannypack - Camel Toe
Freeland - We Want Your Soul
Macy Gray - She Ain't Right For You
Harry - So Real
Iron Maiden - Wildest Dreams
Norah Jones - Don't Know Why
Lacquer - Behind
Michelle Lawson - I Just Wanna Say
Linkin Park - Numb
Marilyn Manson - This Is The New Shit
Moloko - Blow X Blow
Monica - So Gone
Akayzia Parker - Tuesday's Girl
Poison The Well - Ghostchant
The Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil
Seal - Get It Together
Simple Kid - The Average Man
Sonique - Alive
Space Cowboy - Crazy Talk / Just Put Your Hand In Mine
Spiritualized - She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)
Starsailor - Silence Is Easy
Sugardaddy - Sweet Soca Music
Trapt - Headstrong
The Underdog Project vs Sunclub - Summer Jam
Violent Delight - Transmission
The White Stripes - I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
September 8
AFI - The Leaving Song
Christina Aguilera featuring Lil' Kim - Can't Hold Us Down
The Ataris - The Boys Of Summer
The Bandits - Two Step Rock
Mary J Blige - Love @ 1st Sight
Buju Banton - Paid Not Played
Eagle-Eye Cherry - Don't Give Up/Skull Tattoo
Cosmic Rough Riders - Justify The Rain
Culture Beat - Mr. Vain Recall
Dare - Chihuahua
Deftones - Bloody Cape
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Manhood
DJ Bobo - Chihuahua
Drunkenmunkey - E
Dutch featuring Crystal Waters - This Is My Time
Elviss - Comodose
Gareth Gates - Sunshine
Delta Goodrem - Innocent Eyes
Har Mar Superstar - Brothers And Sisters
HIM - Sacriment
Kontakt - Show Me A Sign
Lemonescent - Unconditional Love
Lowgold - We Don't Have Much Time
Massive Attack - What Your Soul Sings
Metallica - Frantic
Million Dan - Dogz And Sledgez
Muse - Time Is Running Out
Mya - My Love Is Like... Wo!
Nas - Get Down
Nelly, P Diddy & Murphy Lee - Shake Ya Tailfeather
Placebo - Special Needs
Polaroid - So Damn Beautiful
Rishi Rich Project - Dance With You (Nachna Tere Naal)
Lisa Scott-Lee - Too Far Gone
Skin - Faithfulness
So Solid Crew - Broken Silence
System & Kerri B - If You Leave Me Now
Martina Topley-Bird - Anything
Luther Vandross featuring Busta Rhymes - Lovely Day
September 15
Alien Ant Farm - These Days
Chemical Brothers featuring Flaming Lips - Golden Path
Clea - Download It
Tim Deluxe - Less Talk, More Action
Electric Soft Parade - Things I've Done Before
Evanescence - Going Under
Foo Fighters - Have It All
Fountains Of Wayne - Stacey's Mom
I Monster - Who Is She?
Jamelia - Superstar
Kinesis - One Way Mirror
Lab 4 - Candyman
Lamya - Black Mona Lisa
Louise - Pandora's Kiss
Mankato - Pictures Of The Other Side
Lene Marlin - You Weren't There
Nickelback - Someday
Lisa Marie Presley - Sinking In
Finley Quaye featuring Beth Orton - Dice
Spooks - Faster Than You Know
Stain'd - So Far Away
Rachel Stevens - Sweet Dreams (My LA Ex)
Sting - Send Your Love
Texas - Carnival Girl
Justin Timberlake - Se�orita
Turin Brakes - 5 Mile (These Are The Days)
Westlife - Hey Whatever
September 22
Athlete - You Got The Style
Atomic Kitten - If You Come To Me
B2K - Uh-Huh
Blondie - Good Boys
Melanie C - Yeh Yeh Yeh
The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love
Deftones - Hectogram
Siobhan Donaghy - Twist Of Fate
Feeder - Find The Colour
Kelis - Milkshake
Longview - Can't Explain
Nodesha - Get It While It's Hot
Outkast - Ghetto Music
Elvis Presley - Rubberneckin'
Soil - Pride
Amy Studt - Under The Thumb
The Thorns - Runaway Feeling
September 29
50 Cent - P.I.M.P.
Beyonc� featuring Sean Paul - Baby Boy
The Coral - Secret Kiss
Europa XL introducing Natalie James - Rooms On Fire
Alicia Keys - TBA
Kosheen - Wasting My Time
S Club 8 - Sundown
Suede - TBA
Travis - Re-Offender
Paul Van Dyk - Time Of Our Lives/Connected
Maria Willson - Mr Alibi
October 6
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - I won't change you
Erasure - Oh L'Amour
Javine - Don't Walk Away
Outlandish - Aicha
The Pretenders - The Losing
Stacie Orrico - (There's Gotta Be) More To Life
Santana featuring Alex Band - Why Don't You And I
Ian Van Dahl - I Can't Let You Go
October 13
Craig David - World Filled With Love
Emma - Maybe
Kings Of Leon - Wasted Time
Kosheen - Wasting My Time
Pharrell featuring Busta Rhymes - Light Your Ass On Fire
REM - Bad Day
Soil - Pride
October 20
Abs - Seven Ways To Break My Heart
Mel Blatt - Blue
Liberty X - Jumpin'
R Kelly - Thoia Thoing
October 27
Maroon 5 - Harder To Breathe
Pink - God Is A DJ
Red Hot Chili Peppers - TBA
Britney Spears - TBA
November 3
Basement Jaxx featuring Dizzee Rascal - Lucky Star
The Cooper Temple Clause - Blind Pilot
Alicia Keys - TBA
Love Inc - Into The Night
Usher - TBA
Will Young - TBA
* Looks like now the two Chihuahua's are going head to head! Dare will beat DJ Bobo
** It's nearly Christmas you know... and more and more singles are cropping up on the schedule. Westlife and Mis-Teeq release on November 17th, Kelly Clarkson with "Low" on November 24th, Dido and Christina Aguilera on December 1st, Gareth Gates on December 8th and Craig David with "You Don't Miss Your Water" on December 15th.
*** Dates to be confirmed from The Corrs, Gabrielle, Blue, Busted, Sugababes and Ronan Keating.
