Gillingham, Kent, UK (By Mikey)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Kylie Minogue - Slow Kylie returns with the perfect slice of electro-pop. Taken from the much anticipated new album 'Body Language', 'Slow' is adventurous and edgy, yet unmistakably Kylie. This track will set your pulses running, as the video that accompanies the single, will set tongues wagging and panting. The track was written by Kylie, Emilia Torrini and Mr Dan to give it a more uber-cool sound. Medicine8 and Radio Slave, who famously bootlegged 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head', supply remixing duties.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Robbie Williams - Sexed Up The cheeky chappie from Stoke-on-Trent is back with his fourth bittersweet single to be taken from Robbie's chart-topping 'Escapology' album tells the story of a relationship gone sour. In contrast to his jaunty last single 'Something Beautiful', the ironically named 'Sexed Up' is an anthemic tune with sad lyrics. 'It's the story of a relationship gone sour' says Robbie of the track,' and everyone knows about that.
Blazin Squad - Flip Reverse 'Flip Reverse' is the latest track to be taken from Freek, Strider, Spike-E, Kenzie, Melo-D, Rocky B, Flava, Tommy B, Reepa and Krazy's second album 'Now Or Never', which will be released on November 17. It's the follow-up to 'We Just Be Dreamin'', also taken from the album, which was a Top 3 hit in June this year. More pop-rap with a cool dance routine from the North London school leavers.
Tim Burgess - Just A Boy As lead singer of one of the most enduring and under-rated bands of the last decade, you'd forgive Tim Burgess' solo ventures for sounding like a Charlatans out-take. It's to his credit then that Only A Boy sounds as far from the Northwich boys as possible. This is a lovely, uplifting single that skates along in a similar manner to Badly Drawn Boy's Disillusion, with a clipped guitar sound and brass section giving the song a nicely sunny feel for these dark winter months.
Johnny Cash - Hurt Lifted from his acclaimed Lost Highway album 'The Man Comes Around', 'Hurt' sees ageing troubadour Johnny Cash tackling the Nine Inch Nails classic in his own inimitable style. Regarded as one of the standouts from what is undeniably a fine album, this excellent release also comes complete with the previously unreleased (on CD) version of 'Wichita Lineman' and Cash's arresting cover of Depeche Mode's 'Personal Jesus'. It also includes the powerful video - recently voted by Rolling Stone Magazine as the video of the year. A fitting tribute for all Cash fans!
Goldfrapp - Twist Twist is sexiest track on recent album Black Cherry - you don't need a video to tell you what's going on as Alison Goldfrapp asks you to "kiss me like you like me" and "twist it round again and again". It's not romance we're talking here and the sleazy electronica and dance rhythms add to the excitement, all as ever overlaid by Ms Goldfrapp's extraordinarily angelic voice. The steam continues to rise with a studio cover of Yes Sir (the '70s disco hit for Baccara), which has apparently had "young boys across the globe sweating at the live shows" and is likely to do the same in clubs.
Matt Goss - I'm Comin' With Ya The ex-Bros front man's first single after six years out of the pop spotlight which he spent 'setting up a recording studio, painting, and focusing on my future' is a surprisingly upbeat, ragga-influenced tune on which he sounds a lot like George Michael. 'I'm Coming With Ya' bounces along as if Matt hadn't a care in the world - sounds like a sell-out UK tour and a handful of worldwide No.1s as a behind-the-scenes songwriter have put the spring back in the formerly down-on-his-luck ex-popstar's step.
Hiss - Back On The Radio The Hiss return with 'Back On The Radio', the biggest song from their debut album 'Panic Movement'. The Hiss have spent the whole of 2002 building a solid fanbase and continually improving their performances so that they are now becoming a must see live band.
Hundred Reasons - The Great Test The Surrey-based five-piece have just finished recording the follow-up to last year's album 'Ideas Above Our Station' in New York's Magic Shop Studios with Marilyn Manson and Bush producer Dave Sardy returning for production duties. 'Great Test' is the bands comeback single and sees them thrashing out in a way they know best.
Jet - Rollover DJ Melbourne-based four-piece Jet release their superb track 'Rollover DJ'. This is the second single to be taken from their debut album 'Get Born' and is a one-fingered salute to the heyday of overpaid dance DJ's set over a rhythm section that Moon And Entwistle would have been proud of. Jet are all that anyone could wish from a rock band in 2003.
R Kelly - Step In The Name Of Love / Thoia Thoing 'Step In The Name Of Love' is the first single to be released from the 'R In R&B Greatest Hits Vol.1'. The track is a positively gorgeous throw back to the golden era of soul with gentle grooves, soft melodies and feelgood love music. On the flip side is the exclusive track 'Thoia Thoing' with a dancehall groove that looks east for its inspiration
Lost Prophets - Burn Burn The Welsh rockers are back with 'Burn Burn', the long-awaited first taste of their second album 'Start Something', which was recorded this year in Los Angeles with producer Eric Valentine (Queens Of The Stone Age, Good Charlotte). The track is a great example of things to come on the forthcoming album and goes to show that the Prophets are shaping things to come for the nu metal scene.
The Wildhearts - Top Of The World The Wildhearts pull off the huge 'Top Of The World' from their current album 'The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed'. Packed full of hooks that are sharper than the sharpest thing, 'Top Of The World' deserves to take its place amongst the best of the rock singles around at the moment! Remember - this is the band who taught The Darkness everything they know!!
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
Ambershades - 8th Day
Amplifier - The Consultancy
The Belles - (Who Will Be) Here To Hear EP
The Blueskins - Magic Road EP
Boysterous - Up & Down
Tim Burgess - Only A Boy
Lee-Cabrera - Special 2003
Clarkesville - Heavy Soul / Just Kills Me
Cornerstones - Smack Me In The Face
Desert Sessions feat. Josh Homme & PJ Harvey - Crawl Home
The Distillers - Drain The Blood
Divine Inspiration - What Will Be Will Be (Destiny)
Eastern Lane - Feed Your Addiction
Hot Hot Heat - Talk To Me, Dance With Me / Oh, Goddamnit
Kinobe - Party Animals
The Loose Cannons - Superstars
Maher Shalal Hash Baz - Open Field EP
The Mavericks - I Wanna Know / Air That I Breathe
Katie Melua - The Closest Thing To Crazy / Call Off The Search
Steve Murano - Passion
Ritmo Dynamic - Calinda
Sense Field - I Refuse
Solitaire - I Like Love
Vue - Babies Are For Petting
Single Release Schedule
November 10
Abs - 7 Ways
All American Rejects - The Last Song
Basement Jaxx ft. 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
The Cooper Temple Clause - Blind Pilots
Electric Soft Parade - Lose Your Frown
Elephant Man - Pon Da River
Fun Lovin Criminals - Lost It All
Girls Aloud - Jump (For My Love)
The Hazzards - Gay Boyfriend
Javine - Surrender (Your Love)
KoRn - Right Now
Linus Loves ft. Sam Obernik - Stand Back
Ludacris - Stand Up
Ronan Keating - Find The Words
Adam Masterson - Same Sad Story
Missy Elliot - Pass That Dutch
Vincent de Moor - Flowtation
Outkast - Hey Ya
Marti Pellow - A Lot of Love
Primal Scream ft. Kate Moss - Some Velvet Morning
Finley Quaye - Dice
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Fortune Faded
Seal - Love's Divine
Britney Spears ft. Madonna - Me Against The Music
Nitin Sawhney ft. Rodney P - Rainfall
Stereophonics - Since I Told You It's Over
Usher - Confessions
November 17
Blink 182 - Feeling This
Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead Or Alive 2003
Breed - La Ultima Hora
Broken Social Scene - Cause=Time
Chemical Brothers - Get Yourself High
Evan Dando - It Looks Like You
Flip & Fill - Irish Blue
Enrique Iglesias - Addicted
Wyclef Jean & Missy Elliot - Party To Damascus
John The White Boy Rapper - Put Your Hands Up
Klonhertz - Three Girl Rhumba
Lemar - 50/50
Limp Bizkit - Behind Blue Eyes
Linkin Park - From The Inside
Linus Loves ft. Sam Obernik - Stand Back
Ludacris - Stand Up
Lumidee - Crashing The Party
John Mayer - Bigger Than My Body
Meat Loaf - Man Of Steel
Mis-Teeq - Style
Alanis Morrisette - Eight Easy Steps
Alex Parks - Maybe That's What It Takes / Beautiful
Pet Shop Boys - Miracles
Liz Phair - Why Can't I
Radiohead - 2+2=5
The Rapture - Sister Saviour
Busta Rhymes & Pharrell - Light Your Ass On Fire
Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham - Music And You
Starsailor - Born Again
Shania Twain - When You Kiss Me / Up
Solex - Close To The Edge
CJ Stone - Don't Look Back
The Original - I Luv U Baby
Westlife - Mandy
The White Stripes - The Hardest Button To Button
November 24
Kelly Clarkson - Low/The Trouble With Love Is
The Coral - Bill McCai
D-Side - Real World
Dizzee Rascal - Just A Rascal
Jennifer Ellison - Bye Bye Boy
Delta Goodrem - Not Me, Not I
Iron Maiden - Rain Maker
Michael Jackson - One More Chance
Alicia Keys - U Don't Know My Name
Kira - Two Hearts
Lisa Maffia - Women Of The World
Cass McCombs - Not The Way
Moloko - Cannot Contain This
Muse - Hysteria
No Doubt - It's My Life
Offspring - Hit That
P.O.D. - Will You
Radical Noiz ft. Adeva - In And Out
S Club 8 - Tears On My Pillow / Don't Tell Me You're Sorry
Shane Ritchie - I'm Your Man
Studio B ft. Romeo - I See Girls
The Thrills - Don't Steal Our Sun
Despina Vandi - Gia
Will Young - Leave Right Now
Zutons - Pressure Point
December 1
Blu Cantrell (featuring Ian Lewis of Inner Circle) - Make Me Wanna Scream
The Cheeky Girls - Cheeky Christmas
Harry Diamond & Lost Boys - I Need You Now
Dido - Life For Rent
Evanescence - My Immortal
Gareth Gates - Say It Isn't So
Gary Jules - Mad World
Alistair Griffin - Bring It On
Summer Matthews - Little Miss Perfect
Rachel Stevens - Funky Dory
December 8
Christina Aguilera - The Voice Within
Big Brovaz - It Ain't What You Do
Blue featuring Stevie Wonder & Angie Stone - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
David Bowie - Never Get Old
Nelly Furtado - Powerless (Say What You Want)
Good Charlotte - Hold On / The Young And The Hopeless
Love Inc - Into The Night
Cliff Richard - Santa's List
Simply Red - You Make Me Feel Brand New
Texas - I'll See It Through
Justin Timberlake - I'm Lovin' It
Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father
December 15
Atomic Kitten - Ladies Night
The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) / Friday Night
Craig David - You Don't Miss Your Water
Different Darkness - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Darkness
Four Poofs And A Piano - Camp Up Your Christmas
Robin Gibb ft. Alistair Griffin - Lover's Prayer
Billy Mack - Christmas Is All Around
Avid Merrion - Little Drummer Boy / Proper Crim-bo!
Pop Idol Finalists - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Sugababes - Too Lost In You
Travis - Beautiful Occupation
January 5
Emma - I'll Be There
Mya - Fallen
Jay-Z & Pharrell Williams - Change Clothes And Go
January 12
Beyonce - Naughty Girl
Fatman Scoop - It Takes Two
Sean Paul featuring Sasha - I'm Still In Love With You
January 19
Clea - Stuck In The Middle
Jamelia - Thank You
