By Mikey (Gillingham, Kent, UK)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Tube & Berger ft. Chrissie Hynde - Straight Ahead Another dance trance record doing the rounds, this is a highly recommendable, dance tune featuring the talented vocals of Chrissie Hynde from the band, The Pretenders. It�s addictive and infectious house trance music for Tube & Berger with their debut hit �Straight Ahead�. It�s got a smash hit written all over it, and going down a storm in the clubs, a finely superb club anthem. The video for the song is quite weird and very enjoyable to watch.
HOT SHOT RECORD
LMC vs. U2 - Take Me To The Clouds Above �Take Me To The Clouds Above� uses the tune from U2�s hit �With Or Without You� and the lyrics from Whitney Houston�s 1983 hit �How Will I Know�, featuring the vocals of Rachel MacFarlane. This is another song that�s got club anthem written all over it, it certainly gonna be big in the clubs, to make one hell of a great dance tune of 2004..
Benny Benassi presents The Biz - No Matter What You Do The man Benny Benassi returns with another smash single to last summer�s hit �Satisfaction�, with �No Matter What You Do�. Again its the got the same twikky, electro beats of Satisfaction, and should do quite well on the disc-jockeys turntables, for all those clubbers around, beware No Matter What You Do is purely a clubbers paradise for a well banging storm.
Emma - I�ll Be There �I�ll Be There�, is a pop gem and has got that sixties feel to it again, following on from her last two infectious hits �Free Me� and �Maybe�. This song is a well laid-back driven track, and once as the song goes along it becomes an infectious little ditty, and quite addictive that sticks in your brain for a long time, taken from her forthcoming brand new studio album �Free Me�.
Incubus - Megalomaniac Megalomanaic is the first single taken from Incubus� new album �A Crow Left Of The Murder� which will hit the stores on February 3, Brandon Boyd takes his band to new heights with this brand new single which is a thumping rock anthem. �Megalomaniac� is a mouth-watering taster and proves the band have lost none of their appetite for rocking.
Jaimeson ft. Angel Blu & CK - Take Control Jaimeson strikes it gold again with another great blend of garage and dance. Following chart success with his debut song "True" and the follow-up, "Complete", this one is of a different nature - as there is a very catchy Latin beat to it. You may recognise this from the "Tia Lusso" TV adverts, which ironically has a very similar party theme to the song's video. Joined by Angel Blu (vocalist for "True") and CK, this is bound to go down a storm in clubs.
Joss Stone - Fell In Love With A Boy You�re likely to be hearing a great deal about Joss Stone in the coming year. A 16-year-old blonde girl from Devon with the voice of a vintage soul singer, her album The Soul Sessions has been causing much excitement over the last few months. Her reinterpretation of the White Stripes� Fell In Love With A Girl is almost unrecognisable from the original. The delirious garage rock has disappeared, and been replaced by a wonderfully soulful, jazzy atmosphere. Stone purrs deliciously along, making the song her own. It takes a hell of a lot to make a White Stripes cover version better than the original - the fact that a scarily talented 16 year old has done so makes this all the more remarkable.
Lostprophets - Last Train Home Welsh rockers Lost Prophets are back with a yet another amazing single 'Last Train Home'. This song is all uplifting chorus and soul-bearing emotion (Ian even uses the old Funeral favourite phrase "broken hearts" at one point) - you could say that it's their attempt to break free of the accusations of being nu-metal bandwagoneers and hop on board the bandwagon that's careering out of Wales right now. You could say that, but you'd be wrong. This little gem is both soothing and uplifting. This is like the Prophets we all know and love only. And as for the B-side - the Prophets always give a good, if slightly random, song a re-working when the time calls for it. And their cover of Justin Trousersnake's "Cry Me A River" is booth very random and very, very, very, very, etc., good. It is absolutely blinding, from the funky bass and smooth tones at it's start to Ian's unimaginably high vocal histrionics and a rather tasty guitar solo at the end.
Mr On vs. Jungle Brothers - Breathe Don't Stop This single covers Q-Tip�s �Breathe and Stop� and samples Michael Jackson hit �Don�t Stop (Til You Get Enough)�, with an addictive hook and clever twist, which makes it just an addictive and infectious record to listen. Teaming up with the Jungle Brothers to deliver an outstanding hit on the dancefloors nationwide. Both songs put together makes a recipe for a great anthem and one hell of a bootleg to boot, with Mr. On stomping his own moniker on the song itself.
Unfortunately this song was meant to be released last week, but was push back to this week.
Pink - God Is A DJ This has got nothing to do with the Faithless club song of the same name, but another up-tempo rock song from Pink. As with all her recent single's it's cleverly produced with snippets of little fills, meticulous drum programming and well-placed guitars. It doesn't contain the most inspired of melodies or lyrics (surely God wouldn't be a DJ, a multi-instrumentalist or producer perhaps) but it's catchy enough and Pink uses her not inconsiderable vocal range to good effect, even if it sounds somewhat boxed due to the way it's processed.
Snow Patrol - Run Big things are promised for this band, Snow Patrol are hotly tipped to be the new Coldplay, this is their second release �Run�, which has the makings of a Top 40 hit song. The second single from the Snow Patrol's Final Straw album is the kind of rueful facing-up-to-life type anthem ("light up / light up / as if you have a choice") that has been the province of Brit guitar bands since, well, ages ago. And to prove that, the singer's gone through some pretty tough times, right, the central refrain has some steadily rising chords to make sure the point is driven home. All that said, Run is more than a pretty decent stab at daytime XFM / Virgin Radio fare. And for a lot of people, that's more than enough.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
Azure Ray - New Resolution
Beats For Beginners - When Robots Attack
Belle & Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo
Brand Violet - Head
C & C Music Factory - Sweat
Celebrity Squares - King For A Day
Chicane ft. Bryan Adams - Don't Give Up 2004
Cinnamon - Cakes & Pies
Clarkesville - Spinning
Eberg - Plastic Lions
Engerica - The Smell
Fight Club ft. Laurent Conrad - Spread Love
Five For Fighting - 100 Years
Hannah Jones - I Am What I Am / Bridge Over Troubled Water
Kid Symphony - Hands On The Money
Lorna - Papi Chulo... Te Traigo El Mmmm
Maupa - Helpless
Me Against Them - Soul Destroyer
Modey Lemon - Predator
Sheryl Lee Ralph - In The Evening 2004
Simple Kid - Truck On
Stylus Junkies vs. UB40 - Food For Thought
Suferosa - Neon Commando
Tali - Blazin'
The Mars Volta - Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)
The Veils - The Wild Son
Tim Deluxe - Mundaya
Tracey Brennecke - First To Know
Vinny Peculiar - Replica Shirt
Voodoo Child - Baby Monkey
Young Punx - Got Your Number
Single Release Schedule
February 2
Biz Markie featuring P Diddy - Turn Back The Hands Of Time
Black Grass - Going Home
Blazin' Squad - Here 4 One
Blueskins - Change My Mind
Brancaccio & Aisher - It's Gonna Be... (A Lovely Day)
Brand New - Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades
Calvin Richardson - I've Got To Move
Chicane featuring Bryan Adams - Don't Give Up 2004
Cleptomaniacs featuring Bryan Chambers - All I Do
Constantines - Night Time/Any Time
Finley Quaye - Something To Say
Funeral For A Friend - Escape Artists Never Die
G Club featuring Banda Sonara - Pressure Cooker
Impact - Mad World/If You Come To Me
John Squire - Room In Brooklyn
LeAnn Rimes - This Love
Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz - Get Low
Love Inc - Into The Night
Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father
Minus - Angel In Disguise
NG3 - Holler
Norah Jones - Sunrise
Obie Trice - The Set-Up (You Don't Know)
Oceansize - Catalyst
Ordinary Boys - Maybe Someday
Plumb - Real
Puerto Muerto - Stars
Span - Papa
Special Needs - Sylvia/Tarts
The Blueskins - Change My Mind
The Distillers - The Hunger
The Fiery Furnaces - Tropical Iceland
The Stranglers - Big Thing Coming
Timbaland & Magoo featuring Missy Elliot - Cop That Disc!
Via Tania - Boltanski
Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon
February 9
Ana Ann - Children Of The World
Armin Van Buuren - Blue Fear/Burned With Desire
Chingy featuring Ludacris & Snoop Dogg - Holidae Inn
Crackout - This Is What We Do
Damien Rice - Volcano
Delerium featuring Nerina Pallot - Truly/Fearless
Fatman Scoop featuring The Crooklyn Clan - It Takes Scoop
Ferry Corsten - Rock Your Body Rock
Hybrid - Higher Than A Skyscraper
Jagged Edge - Walked Outta Heaven
Joan Baez - In My Time Of Need
John Mayer - Bigger Than My Body
Kates - Suicide Valentine
Liars - There's Always Room On The Broom
Ohm - Forget Who We Are
Part Chimp - Bring Back The Sound
Poppyfields - 45rpm
Ram - For Your Love
Rapture - Love Is All/I Need Your Love
Ronan Keating - She Believes (In Me)
Sam & Mark - With A Little Help From My Friends/Measure Of A Man
School Of Rock - School Of Rock
Sia - Don't Bring Me Down
So Solid Crew - So Grimey
Span - Don't Think The Way They Do
Speedway - Can't Turn Back
Stereophonics - Movie Star
Summer Matthews - Little Miss Perfect
The Crystal Method - Born Too Slow
The Jeevas - Have You Ever Seen The Rain
The Stands - Here She Comes Again
The Strokes - Reptilia
Trespassers William - Different Stars
UD Project - Saturday Night
February 16
10,000 Things - Food Chain
Alex Parks - Cry
Alfie - No Need
Belle & Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo
Bubba Sparxxx - Back In The Mudd
Busted - Who's David?
Clea - Stuck In The Middle
Crackout - This Is What We Do
Cursive - Rescluse
Death Cab For Cutie - New Year
Deepest Blue - Give It Away
Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Man Bites Man EP
Earl Slick - Believe
Hundred Reasons - What You Get
Icarus Line - Up Against The Wall
Ikara Colt - Wanna Be That Way
Junior Senior - Shake Your Coconuts
JX - Restless
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Kings Of Leon - California Waiting
Lowgold - Same Way
Lydia Denker - One Perfect Day
Mark Joseph - Bringing Back Those Memories
Martina Topley-Bird - Soul Food
Mya - Fallen
Northern Heightz - Look At Us
Raghav - Can't Get Enough
Serge Vegas featuring Technical & Trios - Bad Girl
Syntax - Message Bliss
The Stills - Lola Stars And Stripes
February 23
50 Cent - If I Can't
Agnelli & Nelson - Hold Onto Nothing
Airbiscuit - Lately
Antoine featuring Kirsty R - Forever Autumn
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Six Barrel Shotgun
Courtney Love - Mono
Delta Goodrem - Predictable
Despina Vandi - Gia
Eastern Lane - Saffron
Elbow - Not A Job
Fiery Furnances - Tropical Iceland
Jamelia - Thank You
JC Chasez - Some Girls (Dance With Women)
Kelly Llorenna - This Time I Know It's For Real
Lemar - Another Day
Master Blaster - Hypnotic Tango
Republic Of Loose - Girl, I'm Gonna F**k You Up
Scott Brown - I Would Stay
Space - Suburban Rock 'N' Roll
Stellastarr* - My Coco
The Vines - Ride
Tiffany Gayle - Do You Wanna Dance?
Velcra - Can't Stop Fighting
VS - Love You Like Mad
Westlife - Obvious
Zero 7 - Home
March 1
Beenie Man - Dude
Blink-182 - I Miss You
Britney Spears - Toxic
DJ Casper - Cha-Cha Slide
Elton John - The Heart Of Everything
Fountains Of Wayne - Stacy's Mom
FYA featuring Smujji - Must Be Love'
George Michael - Amazing
Gomez - Catch Me Up
Ilya - Bellissimo
Kylie Minogue - Red Blooded Woman
Nelly Furtado - Forca
Starsailor - Four To The Floor
Tezla - All Night
The Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama
The Mars Volta - Televators
The Shins - So Say I
March 8
Chikinki - Like It Or Leave It
Cypress Hill - What's Your Number
Haven - Wouldn't Change A Thing
Holly Valance - Desire
Jet - Look What You've Done
Laura Veirs - Cloud Room
Marques Houton - Clubbin'
My Red Cell - Knock Me Down
NERD - She Wants To Move
Phixx - Love Revolution
Seraphim Suite - Heart
Special D - Come With Me
Three Doors Down - Here Without You
March 15
Anastacia - Left Outside Alone
B3 - Night Fever/I.O.I.O.
Bell X1 - Alphabet Soup
Dido - Don't Leave Home
Four Tet - My Angel Rocks Back And Forth
Katie Melua - Call Off The Search
Kid Symphony - Meet You On The Other Side
Kraftwerk - A�ro Dynamik
Outkast - The Way You Move
Will Young - Your Game
March 22
G-Unit - Poppin' Them Things
Missy Elliot - I'm Really Hot
Sugababes - In The Middle
March 29
Beyonce featuring Lil' Kim - Naughty Girl
McFly - 5 Colours In Her Hair
Pet Shop Boys - Flamboyant
April 5
Alanis Morrisette - Everything
Pink - Catch Me While I'm Sleeping
April 12
Ashanti - Break Up 2 Make Up
Busted - Air Hostess
