Gillingham, Kent, UK (By Mikey)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Jamelia - Superstar 'Superstar' should chart better than her last single 'Bout', its catchy, and once you hear it, you just can't get it out of your head. Pump up the Jamelia! Pump it up girl! This funk-fondled pop number is ridiculously entertaining and is hopefully destined to make this girl the superstar she so seemingly deserves to be. 'Superstar' houses the potential to transform her into a household name, cleverly roping in a perfectly bubbling melting pot of musical genres with its sensually contemporary sounds. A sure-fire hit!
HOT SHOT RECORD
Sting - Send Your Love This song is well-crafted, different and it's very likeable, which gives it more of a dance vibe, not bad for a guy who's been in the music business for the past three decades. 1999's 'Desert Rose' single was a massive hit for Sting and he has teamed up again with songwriter Victor Calderone for this sure-fire smash, 'Send Your Love'. The song combines Victor's classic 'big room' sound with Sting's haunting vocals. Producer Mac Quayle lends a hand in creating a steady increase of tribal drums layered with Sting's distinct voice. 'Send Your Love' is the first single from Sting's new album 'Sacred Love', his first studio album in over 4 years and one that is shaping up to become another classic Sting in this tale!
Chemical Brothers ft. Flaming Lips - Golden Path Electronic duo Tom and Ed Chemical have teamed up with wacky Flaming Lips' frontman Wayne Coyne to record a 'psychedelic, up-tempo and emotional wide-screen' new track. 'The Golden Path' - one of two brand new tracks set to be featured on the duo's '1993-03' singles collection - marks a significant change in direction for the Chemical Brothers and is described by Tom as 'easily one of the best pieces of music we've ever made'.
Double Dee - Shining Double Dee have been around since 1990 and are probably best known for their 1991 house hit, Found Love. Singer Danny Losito has teamed up with producers DB Boulevard and Moony to attempt a rebound this year with his new single release, Shining, and indeed, as far as happy, clubby, dancey tunes go, this hits the spot. With its stock house synth sounds and easy listening melody, this is adequately summery and pleasant on the ear, although in a lacklustre way. This kind of pop is not complicated or particularly interesting. If you can dance in a club, living room, or garden on a warm summer evening, and it makes you happy, then why not?
Siobhan Donaghy - Twist of Fate Siobhan Donaghy follows her Top 20 debut single 'Overrated' with 'Twist Of Fate', an irresistible piece of catchy indie pop taken from her forthcoming new album 'Revolution In Me'. A founding member of Sugababes Mark 1, Siobhan's new single is released on two CD formats: CD1 includes the excellent 80s-style video complete with disco dancing chickens while CD2 features an exclusive live version of 'Overrated' recorded at the Glastonbury Festival.
Electric Soft Parade - Things I've Done Before After a year away and a change of record label, the Mercury nominated Electric Soft Parade are back with their first single 'Things I've Done Before' off their self produced album 'The American Adventure'. The track sees the band on a much darker edgier tip than their last record but no less catchy. Having made the sort of quantum leap that only potentially great bands do, ESP's new material bursts free of their old poppy choruses like the Hulk as 'Things I've Done Before' rides on a wave of its own rhythmical confusion, with Elbow-esque basslines and psychedelic harmonies.
Louise - Pandora's Kiss Mrs. Redknapp has spent the last 12 months writing and recording with the cream of the music world in LA and London, emerges with her most creative and dynamic record to date. Penned by Reed Vertelney of Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson fame, 'Pandora's Kiss' is a delicious slice of powerful pop that promises to turn a few heads - but that's what Louise does best! The guitar-driven, lively chorus should ensure a place in the land of credibility, and with Goldtrix dance remixes on offer too, this will be a great success.
Metallica - Frantic 'Frantic', the second single to be released and the album's opening track quickly sets the tone for the new direction taken by Metallica. A stuttering guitar riff leads into a verse heavier than anything the band has done in the last ten years, and a disjointed series of choruses, bridges and rhythm changes lead into a whipping finale. A microcosm of the entire album, 'Frantic' is extremely long and dense, with several different styles crushed into a single tune. Lines like 'Could I have my wasted days back/Would I use them to get back on track?' clearly explore Hetfield's uncertainty following rehab, and Rock's loose production helps the music convey the song's unique intensity.
Nickelback - Someday The grand masters of rock return with their long awaited single 'Someday'. The Vancouver based rock-ensemble best known for 2001's massive hit 'How You Remind Me' return with their first single taken from long-awaited album 'The Long Road'. 'Someday' is a mid-tempo Nickelback song that offers no surprises, building into a layered power-ballad chorus with yearning vocal from frontman Chad Kroeger and is the perfect calling card for the band's return to the top of the chart.
Placebo - Special Needs Placebo release the third single from their acclaimed 'Sleeping With Ghosts' album which, in just 4 months, is fast approaching 1 million sales worldwide. 'Special Needs' sees the band once again reuniting with the notorious bootleg king Freelance Hellraiser for a remix of 'English Summer Rain'. Described by the NME as 'the best British rock band for a decade', it is hard to deny that Placebo are still a world conquering force with the longevity last year's big thing canonly dream of.
So Solid Crew - Broken Silence The Crew release their early-anticipated first single from their forthcoming new album 'Second Verse'. 'Broken Silence' is So Solids opportunity to finally respond to those who have commented on them publicly over the last two years, and their first release since the landmark platinum selling 'They Don't Know'. Rather than rise to criticisms hurled at them, So Solid Crew have done what they do best, produce cutting edge music with raw lyrics to address the furore that surrounds them - hence breaking the silence.
Staind - So Far Away A return to Stain'd's formula for UK success, So Far Away is a typical Aaron Lewis droning ballad. Lewis' powerful vocals overlay heavy drumming helping the track avoid the plunge into monotony in a track very similar to It's Been A While. It really is sad that for Stain'd to achieve high chart places over here they have to release carbon copies of previous successes, simply to maintain respectable levels of airplay. The main reason for this is that the group's first UK hit was Outside, linking them to stadium rock ballads and Fred Durst, thus eliminating a proportion of the notoriously fickle rock fans over here.
Rachel Stevens - Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex Having spent the last four years in S Club 7, one of the most successful pop acts of the 90's, Rachel has decided to go solo. With her debut album completed and due for release at the end of September, 'Sweet Dreams My LA Ex' is the single to set it all off in big style with written credit going to Cathy Dennis, the 90s pop songstress who was also 'behind' Kylie's 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head'.
Justin Timberlake - Senorita His fourth single to be taken from his multi-million selling album 'Justified', the top-selling album of the 2003. Justin Timberlake releases the latino-flavoured 'Senorita', track#01 on his quadruple-platinum selling debut album 'Justified'. An infectious, quirky funk-groove from the successful team of Justin and production supremos The Neptunes but still sounding totally different from his three previous chart-reigning singles.
Westlife - Hey Whatever Here we go again, Westlife or pestlife whatever you want to call them they always write good songs, their new single is bound to chart high, but I've got a tingling feeling in my toes this song 'Hey Whatever' is gonna fail miserably, not even reaching the dizzy heights of No.1. The undisputed leaders of the pop world prove once again that they have no intention of letting go of the top spot at the peak of the pop world. The boys have developed their sound with the aid of their long-term collaborator Steve Mac. This upbeat anthemic track combines pop, soul and rock influences.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
The Afternoons - Gonna Stay Together / For A Fool
Arab Strap - The Shy Retirer
Atlas - Standing On Shoulders
The Black Keys - Have Love Will Travel
Colour Of Fire - Cut It
Dallas Superstars - Helium
Gloria Estefan - Unwrapped
Fannypack - Cameltoe
Fort Lauderdale - The Chilling Place
The French - Porn Shoes / Gabriel In the Airport
Glider - Riding High
Interpol - Obstacle 1
The Jeevas - The Way You Carry On
Jetplane Landing - Calculate The Risk
Junior Jack - E Samba
Kinesis - One Way Mirror
Limp Bizkit - Eat You Alive
The Mavericks - Would You Believe
Million Dan - Dogz & Sledgez
Miss Machine - Not Another Pop Queen
Mountaineers - Ripen
Paul Oakenfold - Hypnotised
Rancid - Fall Back Down
Snow Patrol - Spitting Games
Spooks - Faster Than You Know
State One - Forever And A Day
Single Release Schedule
September 22
Ateed - Come To Me
Athlete - You Got The Style
The Bandits - 2 Step Rock
Biffy Clyro - Eradicate The Doubt
Clea - Download It
Dallas Superstars - Helium
The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love
Deftones - Hectogram
Tim Deluxe - Less Talk More Action
Drunkenmunkey - E
Elviss - Dead Cat And Sharksick
Evanescence - Going Under
Frou Frou - It's Good To Be In Love
Siobhan Donaghy - Twist Of Fate
Feeder - Find The Colour
Foo Fighters - Have It All
Delta Goodrem - Innocent Eyes
Har Mar Superstar - Brothers And Sisters
Emma Holland - Sunshine
Infrared vs Gil Felix - Capoiera
Inner City - Big Fun
Junior Jack - E Samba
Kelis - Milkshake
Rilo Kiley - The Execution Of All Things
Annie Lennox - Wonderful
Lockdown Project - 24/7
Lene Marlin - You Weren't There
Lowgold - We Don't Have Much Time
The Mars Volta - Inertiatic Esp
Matchbox Twenty - Bright Lights
Outkast - Ghetto Musick
Party Boys - Build Me Up Buttercup 2003
Polaroid - So Damn Beautiful
Elvis Presley - Rubberneckin'
Seelenluft - Manila
Shack - Byrds Turn to Stone
Solarys - Let The Sunshine In
Joe Strummer - Coma Girl
Svenson & Gielen featuring Jan Johnston - Beachbreeze (Remember The Summer)
The Thorns - Runaway Feeling
UD Project vs Sunclub - Summer Jam
Jurgen Vries - Wilderness
Warrior - X
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
Zoot Woman - Grey Day
September 29
The Ataris - The Boys Of Summer
Blondie - Good Boys
David Bowie - New Killer Star (DVD)
Michelle Branch - Breathe
Eva Cassidy - You Take My Breath Away
The Coral - Secret Kiss
Divine Inspiration - What Will Be Will Be
DJ Bobo - Chihuahua
DJ Tiesto - Traffic
DMX - Where Da Hood At?
Fountains Of Wayne - Stacey's Mom
Robin Gibb - A Lover's Prayer
Hope Of The States - Enemies: Friends
In-Grid - Tu Es Foutu
Paul Johnson - Follow This Beat
Longview - Can't Explain
Lovebug - Who's The Daddy?
Milk & Sugar - Let The Sunshine In
Morjac featuring Raz Conway - Stars
Nodesha - Get It While It's Hot
Pest - Chicken Spit
Finley Quaye featuring Beth Orton - Dice
S Club 8 - Sundown
Amy Studt - Under The Thumb
Sugardaddy - Sweet Soca Music
System featuring Kerri B - If You Leave Me Now
Travis - Re-Offender
Turin Brakes - 5 Mile (These Are The Days)
Paul Van Dyk - Time Of Our Lives/Connected
Terri Walker - Drawing Board
October 6
B2K - Uh Huh
Beyonce featuring Sean Paul - Baby Boy
Blur - Good Song
Butterfly Butcher - I Can't Make You Love Me
Chingy - Right Thurr
Fabolous featuring Tamia - Into You
Fast Food Rockers - Say Cheese (Smile Please)
Foggy - Come (Into My Dream)
Funeral For A Friend - She Drove Me To Daytime Television
Matt Goss - I'm Comin' With Ya
Hazzards - Gay Boyfriend
I Monster - Who Is She?
Michelle Lawson - I Just Wanna Say
Kevin Lyttle - Turn Me On
Planet Funk - Inside All The People
The Pretenders - The Losing
Santana featuring Alex Band - Why Don't You And I
Scooter - Maria (I Like It Loud)
The Strokes - 12:51
Suede - Attitude
Texas - Carnival Girl
Ian Van Dahl - I Can't Let You Go
Luther Vandross - Lovely Day/Dance With My Father
Maria Willson - Mr. Alibi
Amy Winehouse - Stronger Than Me
October 13
50 Cent featuring Snoop Dogg - P.I.M.P.
Aqualung - Brighter Than Sunshine
The Beautiful South - Just A Few Things That I Ain't
Da Brat featuring Cherish - In Love Wit Chu
Craig David - World Filled With Love
The Donnas - Too Bad About Your Girl
Hilary Duff - So Yesterday
Electric Six - Dance Commander
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Mixed Up World
Emma - Maybe
David Guetta featuring Chris Willis - Just A Little More Love
Kira - Two Hearts On Fire
Kosheen - Wasting My Time
Stacie Orrico - (There's Gotta Be) More To Life
Pharrell featuring Busta Rhymes - Light Your Ass On Fire
REM - Bad Day
Mark Ronson featuring Ghostface & Nate Dogg - Ooh Wee
Soil - Pride
Sugababes - Hole In The Head
Super Furry Animals - Hello Sunshine
Tatjana - Santa Maria 2003
Thicke - When I Get You Alone
Thursday - Signals Over The Air
Tindersticks - Sweet Oblivion
Tomcraft - Brainwashed
Twen2y 4 Se7en - Patiently Waiting
UB40 - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Wyclef - Industry
October 20
Abs - 7 Ways...
Angel City - Love Me Right
Ashanti - Rain On Me
Basement Jaxx featuring Dizzee Rascal - Lucky Star
Daniel Bedingfield - Friday
Blue - Guilty
Sheryl Crow - The First Cut Is The Deepest
Fatman Scoop - Be Faithful
Kings Of Leon - Wasted Time
Lady May featuring Blu Cantrell - Round Up
Liberty X - Jumpin'
Kym Marsh - Sentimental
Morcheeba - Can't Stand It
Outlandish - Aicha
Simply Red - You Make Me Feel New
David Sneddon - Baby Get Higher
Obie Trice - Got Some Teeth
Tweet - Boogie 2Nite
Unkle - In A State
October 27
Atomic Kitten - If You Come To Me
Melanie C - Yeh Yeh Yeh
Eagle Eye Cherry - Skull Tattoo
Hundred Reasons - The Great Test
iio - Smooth
Lumidee - Crashin' A Party
Maroon 5 - Harder To Breathe
Mark Owen - Alone Without You
Pink - Trouble
Phixx - Hold On Me
Underworld - Born Slippy 2003
Holly Valance - State Of Mind
Wayne Wonder - Friend Like Me
November 3
The Cooper Temple Clause - Blind Pilot
Fight Club featuring Laurent Konrad - Spread Love
Gabrielle - You Used To Love Me
Javine - Surrender
Lemar - 50:50/Lullaby
John Mayer - Bigger Than My Body
Kylie Minogue - Slow
Triple Eight - You And I
Robbie Williams - Sexed Up
November 10
Delta Goodrem - Not Me, Not I
Iron Maiden - Rain Maker
Love Inc - Into The Night
Room 5 featuring Oliver Cheatham - Music And You
Britney Spears - Me Against The Music
Stereophonics - Since I Told You It's Over
Usher - Confessions
November 17
Flip & Fill - Irish Blue
Mis-Teeq - Crossroads
Lisa Scott-Lee - I'll Wait For You / U Sure Do
Alanis Morrisette - Eight Easy Steps
Rachel Stevens - Funky Dory
Starsailor - Born Again
November 24
Kelly Clarkson - Low
Will Young - Leave It Right Now
