Gillingham, Kent, UK (By Mikey)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Liberty X - Jumpin' Liberty X are another act with an album - Being Somebody - due for release in a month's time and this uptempo R'n'B new single - remixes of which are already going down a storm in clubland - is the first single to be taken from it. With it's danceable beats and catchy melody, 'Jumpin'' could easily turn out to be Liberty X's biggest hit to date. If you want to see them live, hurry, because tickets for their arena tour in February are selling out fast.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Fatman Scoop ft. The Crooklyn Clan - Be Faithful This track has been in circulation for nearly five years and is very much the DJ emergency record with the too many to name samples the have now finally been cleared. This Faith Evans sampling club anthem 'Be Faithful' is another history lesson in hip-hop as this samples a hip-hop classic - 'Love Like This'. Fatman Scoop goes nuts on the mike instructing people how to dance with the typical shouts of who his DJ's are and waving currencies in the air, reminiscent of AV8's classic tune 'Let Me Clear My Throat' featuring DJ Kool.
Ashanti - Rain On Me Ashanti's honey smooth vocals are at their best with the trademark Murder Inc edge. 'Rain On Me' is a heavy tale of heartache and jealousy. The track is the second single from the superb album 'Chapter II' and contains the Issac Hayes sample popularised by Jay-Z's 'Can I Live'. Ashanti fans will not be disappointed, especially with the Hype Williams directed video.
Daniel Bedingfield - Friday 'Friday' is the sixth single to be taken from the critically acclaimed album 'Gotta Get Thru This'. The singles continue to exploit Daniel's diverse taste in music with 'Friday' showcasing a fast paced drum n bass meets garage track. It's melody-based, it's beat-driven, there are lots of harmonies and lots of funk; and you know it's going to be good! There's seems to be no end to the musical talent of Bedingfield.
Blue - Guilty Duncan, Simon, Lee and Ant (aka Blue) take time off from their busy partying schedule to release this soulful ballad, the follow-up to 'You Make Me Wanna' and the first taste of their forthcoming third album set for release in early November. Written by Duncan and the production team True North, it features strings and soaring harmonies and reveals a slushier side to these R'n'B-pop merchants.
Sheryl Crow - The First Cut Is The Deepest 'The First Cut Is the Deepest' is a cover of Rod Stewart 1977 hit (written by Cat Stevens) and is the preview track to the forthcoming well deserved 'Very Best of Sheryl Crow'. As one would expect, there are no bells and whistles here, just a warm, steady vocal wrapped in sparse acoustic production and a layer of harmony. There's nothing quite like Crow's own perspective on life, but this cover is a nice fit among the timeless artist's most memorable hits.
Hilary Duff - So Yesterday Hilary Duff aka Lizzy McGuire is a talented young lady. Following the footsteps of her peers, she too was part of the Disney Club circuit, and has now decided to break into a song like them too. 'So Yesterday' is by far the best track on her album 'Metamorphosis'. It's catchy cheesy pop that oozes chart goodness. Lizzy fans will not be disappointed!
Fabolous ft. Tamia - Into You Talk about syrupy sweet tracks! 'Into You' features DJ Clue and Duro on production, and Fabolous collaborating Tamia, even though the album version on 'Street Dreams' originally featured Murder Inc's Ashanti on microphone duties. Still, this track has hit written all over it, and is also one of the few tracks where Fabolous provides a much more introspective view of himself. Here he's less about money, diamonds, and clothes, and more about telling his woman exactly how he feels. Soppy? Of course. And Tamia on the hook almost leads to a sugar overdose.
Kings of Leon - Wasted Time 'Wasted Time' is the third single from the fantastic album 'Youth And Young Manhood' by the Tennessee four piece. The track offers a more frantic and brooding sound compared to their previous single 'Molly's Chamber' with its close and regular drumbeat and jarring guitar. The track highlights just what professional rock musicians the Kings of Leon are.
Kosheen - Wasting My Time Kosheen are back with their second single from new album 'Kokopelli'. The new album is a far cry from the debut album 'Resist'� which was a blend of heavy drum and bass. 'Kokopelli' is a more relaxed album, similar to the style of bands such as Evanescence. The albums opening track 'Wasting My Time' is a melancholic tech-metal song brought alive with the haunting vocals of lead singer Sian Evans.
Nodesha - Get It While It's Hot Nodesha is the first signing to the legendary Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' new label Flyte Tyme. 18-year-old Nodesha first came to the attention of Terry Lewis whilst just 16. A showcase event immediately convinced the legendary producer that he must make her the first signing to his new label. The dynamic duo have produced multi-platinum albums for a number of artists including Janet Jackson, Mary J Blige and Mariah Carey. 'Get It While It's Hot' is the stand-out track from the album and is the perfect showcase for Nodesha's unique voice. Nodesha's profile has been bolstered by her success with the top 10 single and tour support with Abs' 'Miss Perfect'.
Stacie Orrico - (There's Gotta Be) More To Life As a precocious 14-year-old, Stacie Orrico made her music biz debut with 'Genuine', a remarkably soulful release that went gold without much fanfare other than that generated by a limited supporting role on tour with Destiny's Child. Now all of 16, Orrico shows more youthful moxy in a self-titled collection of upbeat pop and more R&B-influenced tracks. Her expressive vocals continue to belie the fact that she's merely a teenager, as she draws inspiration from idols ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Lauryn Hill. 'More Than Life' is a great example of her vocal talent, and proves Stacie is a name you should look out for
Mark Ronson ft. Ghostface Killah & Nate Dogg And Trife For Mark Ronson, his debut album on Elektra, 'Here Comes The Fuzz', is not so much about redemption as it is about evolution. The logical-next-step for the producer/songwriter/DJ who first made a name for himself as a genre-hopping DJ with an ear for culture clashing mixes. 'Ooh Wee' is the first release off the album and showcases some of the biggest names in hip-hop. This track features the vocal talent of Ghostface Killah and Nate Dogg lending a Wu-Tang G-Funk feel to the string soaked tune, bringing together disco strings, Mardi Gras-style bells over a big fat beat!
Super Furry Animals - Hello Sunshine 'Hello Sunshine' is the opening track as well as the second single to be lifted from their fantastic sixth album 'Phantom Power', the first single being their top 20 hit 'Golden Retriever'. Hello Sunshine' starts off as a sombre Cocteau Twins homage and ends up as both a Beatles tribute as well as one of their best songs. The number sees lead singer Gruff Rhys standing proud on a Freak Power ticket: 'I'm a minger / You're a minger too / So come on mingers / I want to ming with you'. (This single release has been re-scheduled for this week.)
Obie Trice - Got Some Teeth Touted as the next big thing in commercial hip-hop, Eminem's newest prot�g� Obie Trice has the fortune of being on the hottest imprint in the music world, and now, a hot new single to promote his upcoming album 'Cheers'. Riding an Eminem production laced with a cartoonish synth loop, a jerky stop/start rhythm, electronic blips and random drum rolls during a chorus that should remind you of pretty much anything from 'The Eminem Show'. Obie Trice has a surprisingly level of delivery, incorporating a seamless flow, admittedly forced multi-syllabic rhymes and a quite interesting whispering style in the third verse that impresses.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
BBE - Seven Days And One Week
Beachbuggy - Dirty Mouth
Binary Finary - 1998 / 1999
Boysterous - Up & Down
Brainbug - Nightmare
British Sea Power - Remember Me
Broken Social Scene - Cause = Time
Paul Carrack - Happy To See You Again
Disco Evangelists - De Niro
The Donnas - Too Bad About Your Girl
Electrelane - On Parade
Futureshock - Late At Night
Thea Gilmore - Mainstream
Inner Terrestrials - Guns Of Brixton
Jackson - All The Way EP
Annie Lennox - Wonderful
Massive Lust - Never
Katie Melua - The Closest Thing To Crazy / Call Off The Search
Movielife - Jamestown
The Nextmen - Firewalking
Pepe Deluxe - Ask For A Kiss
Perpetual Motion - Keep On Dancin'
P.O.D. - Will You
The Pretenders - The Losing
Damien Rice - Cannonball
Space Cowboy - Crazy Talk
Evelyn Thomas - High Energy / Without Your Love
Watergate - Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (Heart Of Asia)
Maria Willson - Mr Alibi
Yo La Tengo - Today Is The Day!
Single Release Schedule
October 27
Acoustic Love Experience - Painted Pony
Atomic Kitten - If You Come To Me
Mariah Carey - Bringin' On The Heartbreak
Johnny Cash - Hurt
Angel City featuring Lara McAllen - Love Me Right
Matt Darey featuring Marcella Woods - Voice Of An Angel
Delays - Long Time Coming
Dirt Devils - Music Is Life
Eagle Eye Cherry - Skull Tattoo
Elbow - Fugitive Motel
Dave Gahan - Bottle Living/Hold On
The Hazzards - Gay Boyfriend
iio - Smooth
Kelis - Milkshake
Maroon 5 - Harder To Breathe
Kym Marsh - Sentimental
Mark Owen - Alone Without You
Phixx - Hold On Me
Primal Scream - Some Velvet Morning
Scissor Sisters - Laura
David Sneddon - Baby Get Higher
Underworld - Born Slippy 2003
Holly Valance - State Of Mind
Wayne Wonder - Bounce Along
November 3
Blazin' Squad - Flip Reverse
Tim Burgess - About A Boy
The Cooper Temple Clause - Blind Pilot
Dashboard Confessional - Hands Down
Fight Club featuring Laurent Konrad - Spread Love
Gabrielle - You Used To Love Me
Matt Goss - I'm Comin' With Ya
Hundred Reasons - The Great Test
Jet - Rollover DJ
Lee-Cabrera - Special
Lost Prophets - Burn Burn
R Kelly - Thoia Thoing
John Mayer - Bigger Than My Body
Kylie Minogue - Slow
Miss Peppermint - Welcome To Tomorrow
Ozzy & Kelly Osbourne - Changes
Pet Shop Boys - Miracles
Pink - Trouble
Robbie Williams - Sexed Up
November 10
Abs - 7 Ways
All American Rejects - The Last Song
Basement Jaxx featuring Dizzee Rascal - Lucky Star
Belle & Sebastian - Step Into My Office
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - We're All In Love
Busted - Crashed The Wedding
Melanie C - Yeh Yeh Yeh/Melt
Electric Soft Parade - Lose Your Frown
Good Charlotte - The Young And The Hopeless
Javine - Surrender
KoRn - Right Now
Linus Loves featuring Sam Obernik - Stand Back
Iron Maiden - Rain Maker
Ronan Keating - Lost For Words
Lemar - 50/50
Madonna - Nothing Fails
Missy Elliot - Pass That Dutch
Vincent de Moor - Flowtation
Muse - Hysteria
Outkast - Hey Ya
Room 5 featuring Oliver Cheatham - Music And You
Britney Spears featuring Madonna - Me Against The Music
Stereophonics - Since I Told You It's Over
Usher - Confessions
November 17
Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead Or Alive 2003
Chemical Brothers - Get Yourself High
Evan Dando - It Looks Like You
Flip & Fill - Irish Blue
Girls Aloud - Jump (For My Love)
Enrique Iglesias - Addicted
Wyclef Jean & Missy Elliot - Party To Damascus
Alicia Keys - U Don't Know My Name
Linkin Park - From The Inside
Lisa Scott-Lee - I'll Wait For You / U Sure Do
Linus Loves featuring Sam Obernik- Stand Back
Ludacris - Stand Up
Lumidee - Crashin' A Party
Meat Loaf - Man Of Steel
Mis-Teeq - Style
Alanis Morrisette - Eight Easy Steps
No Doubt - It's My Life
Alex Parks - Maybe That's What It Takes / Beautiful
Liz Phair - Why Can't I
The Rapture - Sister Saviour
Busta Rhymes & Pharrell - Light Your Ass On Fire
Starsailor - Born Again
Shania Twain - When You Kiss Me
Westlife - Mandy
The White Stripes - The Hardest Button To Button
November 24
D-Side - Real World
Kelly Clarkson - Low / The Trouble With Love Is
Jennifer Ellison - Bye Bye Boy
Evanescence - My Immortal
Delta Goodrem - Not Me, Not I
Michael Jackson - One More Chance
Kira - Two Hearts
Lisa Maffia - Women Of The World
Offspring - Hit That
P.O.D. - Will You
Radical Noiz featuring Adeva - In And Out
Rachel Stevens - Funky Dory
Shane Ritchie - I'm Your Man
The Thrills - Don't Steal Our Sun
Despina Vandi - Gia
Will Young - Leave Right Now
December 1
Blu Cantrell - Make Me Wanna Scream
Gareth Gates - Say It Isn't So
The Cheeky Girls - Follow My Star
Harry Diamond & Lost Boys - I Need You Now
Dido - Life For Rent
Gary Jules - Mad World
S Club 8 - Don't Tell Me You're Sorry
December 8
Christina Aguilera - The Voice Within
Big Brovaz - It Ain't What You Do
Nelly Furtado - Powerless (Say What You Want)
Love Inc - Into The Night
Cliff Richard - Santa's List
Texas - I'll See It Through
Justin Timberlake - I'm Lovin' It
Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father
December 15
Atomic Kitten - Ladies Night
Blue feat. Stevie Wonder & Angie Stone - Signed, Sealed, Delivered
The Darkness - Christmas Time (When Will The Bells End?) / Friday Night
Craig David - You Don't Miss Your Water
Four Poofs And A Piano - Camp Up Your Christmas
Avid Merrion - Paper Chrimbo!
Sugababes - Too Lost In You
