By Mikey (Gillingham, Kent, UK)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Victoria Beckham - Let Your Head Go / This Groove Victoria Beckham is back with a double A-side single 'Let Your Head Go/This Groove' which is catering for both the pop and hip hop masses. 'This Groove' is produced by New York hip-hop guru Damon Dash, while 'Let Your Head Go' sees Victoria sticking to her pop roots. 'This Groove' borrows a line from the 1980s love song 'Don't Disturb This Groove'. The original, by the duo, The System goes "Hang a sign upon the door, it says don't disturb this groove"
HOT SHOT RECORD
Sophie Ellis Bextor - I Won't Change You Sophie Ellis Bextor is back with her second single release from the superb album 'Shoot From The Hip'. 'I Won't Change You' sounds like 'Groovejet' all over again with it's catchy dancefloor hooks. The video for this single release shows her attempt at speed dating with hilarious results.
Alistair Griffin - Bring it on / Lover's Prayer Undaunted by his failure to make the final auditions for Fame Academy 2002, Alistair Griffin re-applied for this years programme. His persistence paid off. Not only did he go on to become one of the Academy's 2003 finalists, he also snagged himself a record contract with a major label. 'Bring It On' is Alistair's debut single and it's the kind of perfect slice of twenty-first century pop that will stroll nonchalantly into the nation's conscience and refuse to leave until the entire country knows the lyrics off by heart. Also featured on his debut release is the superb track 'Lovers Prayer' which he duets with Robin Gibb from the Bee Gees.
Craig David - You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til The Well Runs Dry) Another tune taken from Craig's 'Slicker Than Your Average' album, this latest offering is a slick, slow, soulful ballad, stripped right down to vocals, acoustic guitar and piano. With a title taken from the lyrics of 'If You Let Me Stay' by 80s star and Craig's idol Terence Trent D'Arby, this slow jam shows yet another side to Craig's talents.
DMX ft. Swizz Beatz - Get It On The Floor DMX gives you the next instalment from his Gold Top 10 album 'The Grand Champ'. 'Get It On The Floor' has X's signature sound - the stomping soundtrack over-layed with gritty raw verbal from the Dark Man X. The single sees two of the crowds favourites; 'Stop Being Greedy' and 'We Right Here' which were highlights from X's recent shows on the CD formats with the video for 'Get It On The Floor' and 'We Right Here'.
Jaydee - Plastic Dreams Robin 'Jaydee' Albers' 'Plastic Dreams' is one of those unbeatably timeless classics. This new release benefits from an unprecedented remix by Jaydee himself plus a groove-driven ATFC house mix and an exclusive mix from men-of-the-moment Lee-Cabrera. Breaks are covered by Tayo and Acid Rockers whilst Twisted Individual covers the drum n bass circuit.
Ocean Colour Scene - Golden Gate Bridge Britpop veterans release their third single from the highly regarded 'North Atlantic Drift' album. 'Golden Gate Bridge' is a typical Ocean Colour Scene anthem featuring huge guitars and a Big Star style melody that should see it feature high up the charts. As one of the few survivors of britpop, Ocean Colour Scene are a band that are fast becoming modern legends.
S Club 8 - Don't Tell Me You're Sorry Third single off the S Clubbers second, maturer album 'Sundown' and it's one of their cutest songs yet. 'Don't Tell Me You're Sorry' retains all the trademarks of classic pre-teen pop wrapped up in a glossy melody and catchy chorus. Simon Fuller's mini-pop experiment goes from strength to strength and this should be their first number one of 2004.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
No other singles are release this week apart from the ones I have reviewed above.
Single Release Schedule
December 29
Alistair Griffin - Bring It On/A Lover's Prayer
CJ Stone - Don't Look Back
Craig David - You Don't Miss Your Water
DMX - Get It On The Floor
Jaydee - Plastic Dreams
Ocean Colour Scene - Golden Gate Bridge
S Club 8 - Don't Tell Me You're Sorry
Sophie Ellis Bextor - I Won't Change You
Victoria Beckham - Let Your Head Go/This Groove
January 5
Basement Jaxx featuring Lisa Kekaula - Good Luck
Boogie Pimps - Somebody To Love
Flip & Fill featuring Junior - Irish Blue
Jamie Cullum - Wind Cries Mary
Kelis - Milkshake
Kujay Da Da - Young Hearts
Matt Darey featuring Marcella Woods - Voice Of An Angel
Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes
Peaches featuring Iggy Pop - Kick It
Pop Idol Winner - All This Time
REM - Animal
Scott Brown - I Would Stay
Sean Paul featuring Sasha - I'm Still In Love With You
So Solid Crew - So Grimy
Stacie Orrico - I Promise
January 12
2-Play - So Confused
Air - Cherry Blossom Girl
Amy Studt - All I Wanna Do
Amy Winehouse - Take The Box
Beyonc� - Me, Myself And I
Damien Rice - Volcano
David Kitt - Me & My Love When Doves Cry
Fight Club featuring Laurent Conrad - Spread Love
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Grandaddy - I'm On Standby/Stray Dog And The Chocolate Shake
HIM - Funeral Of Hearts
Jimmy Edgar - Access Rhythm
Liberty X - Everybody Cries
Lil' John featuring East Side Boyz - Get Low
Lowgold - Same Way
Metallica - The Unnamed Feeling EP
NG3 - Holler
Partyboys - Build Me Up Buttercup
Paul Jackson & Steve Smith - Push (Far From Here)
POD - Will You
Richard X featuring Javine - You Used To
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Mister Mental
The Strokes - Reptilia
Zutons - Pressure Point
January 19
2Pac featuring Notorious BIG - Runnin' (Dying To Live)
DJ Casper - Cha Cha Slide
Easyworld - 'Til The Day (That I Die)
Finley Quaye - Something To Say
Fountains Of Wayne - Stacey's Mum
Freeland - Supernatural Thing
Jaimeson featuring Angel Blu & CK - Take Control
JC Chasez featuring Dirt McGirt - Some Girls
Junior Jack - Da Hype
Lorna - Papi Chulo... Te Traigo El Mmmm
Maroon 5 - Harder To Breathe
Minus - Angel In Disguise
Mr On vs. Jungle Brothers - Breathe Don't Stop
Offspring - Hit That
P Diddy featuring Lenny Kravitz - Show Me Your Soul
Pink - God Is A DJ
Razorlight - Stumble And Fall
Ryan Adams - So Alive
Si Begg - Buss
Tali - Blazin'
Tatjana - Santa Maria
Tender Trap - �C�mo Te Llamas? (Tell Me Your Name)
The Bandits - The Warning
The Delays - Long Time Coming
Tube & Berger featuring Chrissie Hynde - Straight Ahead
Zeena Gulzar - Stress In A Box
January 26
Beats For Beginners - When Robots Attack
Belle & Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo
Blazin' Squad - Here For One
Brand Violet - Head
C & C Music Factory - Sweat
Celebrity Squares - King For A Day
Clea - Stuck In The Middle
Courtney Love - Mono
DJ Pezario vs. UB40 - Food For Thought
Eberg - Plastic Lions
Emma - I'll Be There
Five For Fighting - 100 Years
Girls Aloud - You Freak Me Out
Hundred Reasons - What You Get
Incubus - Megalomaniac
Joss Stone - Fell In Love With A Boy
LMC vs. U2 - Take Me To The Clouds Above
Lostprophets - Last Train Home
McFly - 5 Colours In Her Hair
Modey Lemon - Predator
Simple Kid - Truck On
Snow Patrol - Run
The Mars Volta - Roulette Dares
Tim Deluxe - Mundaya
Vinny Peculiar - Replica Shirt
Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon
Voodoo Child - Baby Monkey
Young Punx - Got Your Number
February 2
Alarm - 45rpm
Blueskins - Change My Mind
Calvin Richardson - I've Got To Move
Ferry Corsten - Rock Your Body Rock
Funeral For A Friend - Escape Artists Never Die
Hilary Duff - Why Not?
Holly James - Touch It
In-Grid - Tu Es Foutu
Longview - Still
Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father
Sia - Breath Me
Span - Papa
Special D - Come With Me
Summer Matthews - Little Miss Perfect
The Distillers - Hunger
Triple Eight - You And I
February 9
Alex Parks - Cry
Armin Van Buuren - Blue Fear/Burned With Desire
Despina Vandi - Gia
Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Man Bites Dog
Fatman Scoop - It Takes Two
Holly Valance - Desire
John Mayer - Bigger Than My Body
Liars - There's Always Room On The Broom
Outkast - The Way You Move
Stands - Here She Comes Again
Stereophonics - Movie Star
February 16
1000 Things - Food Chain
Busted - Who's David?
Junior Senior - Coconuts
Stellastarr - My Coco
The Stills - Lola Stars And Stripes
February 23
Airbiscuit - Lately
Eastern Lane - Saffron
Jamelia - Thank You
The Vines - Ride
Westlife - Obvious
March 1
Kylie Minogue - Red Blooded Woman
Starsailor - Four To The Floor
March 8
Delta Goodrem - Predictable
Pet Shop Boys - Flamboyant
I like to wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year and make thanks for your kind support over the year.
