by Mikey (Gillingham, Kent, UK)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Deepest Blue - Give It Away Deepest Blue, the tantalising brainchild of producer Matt Schwartz and singer-songwriter Joel Edwards, release their addictive new single, 'Give It Away' on Data Records. Their eponymous debut single was one of those rare records that come from nowhere and instantly capture the imagination of club-goers, radio listeners and singles buyers. 'Deepest Blue' was a summer 2003 smash, straight in the charts at No.7 and a No.5 airplay hit. 
The single's success was down to a combination of outstanding song writing, Joel's heartfelt vocal style and Matt's clean, confident, contemporary production. 'Give It Away' is written by Joel and Matt. The catchy spine of the song is given a strong electronic backbone by the production.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know As you may have already been told, Keane are the next Coldplay. To a degree this is true: they released their first single on indy label Fierce Panda, as did Coldplay, and appear to be middle-class, university educated boys whose approach is very much engrained in touching, piano-led music, just like Coldplay. But the comparison simply doesn't do Keane justice. Somewhere Only We Know, as Keane's debut on a major label, is epic. It crescendos perfectly, boasting vocals and sentiments that will make your hair stand on end. Hyped bands seem to be cursed a lot of the time, but I suspect these three lads have already penned tunes that will far outlast any NME-driven media spin. A low key-headlining gig is underway, and Somewhere Only We Know should pour from radio systems for months to come - an admirable, endearing and uplifting effort.
Alex Parks - Cry Another maudlin moment of musical moodiness from Fame Academy winner Alex Parks, who seems intent on sewing a miserable persona for herself. I'd hoped that the follow-up to Alex's debut single would be something a little more upbeat. There's no doubting her talent on a moving single, which truly soars - only her ability to crack a smile. I hope there's more to Alex Parks than just power soft rock ballads, or else she will be stuck in a category, which she won't be able to get out of.
Ana Ann - Children Of The World All proceeds of the single are donated to UNICEF. This is a heart-warming ballad, showing how children are surviving, in the world of poverty around the world; the video shows the plight of children who are suffering. David Beckham was originally in the video, but due to complications of using David Beckham, he has been omitted from the video.
Bubba Sparxxx - Back In The Mudd To be honest, Bubba Sparxxx never really caught my attention the first time around with that awful debut single 'Ugly' which peaked at No.7, way back in 2001. His new single 'Back In The Mudd' has some good beats, nice production, but its not Eminem. It has a frantic, vital beat with a killer hook chorus to die for; Bubba has produced the first killer single of the year. Sounds a bit like Outkast - is there a higher compliment? Hip-hop music on a higher plane, maybe its needs shooting down a bit.
Busted - Who's David You either love 'em or hate 'em, Busted return with another poppy rocky anthem, with a punchy and cheesy attitude is what these boys do best. This is the second single from their album 'A Song for Everyone' and it's a catchy track about the problems boys have with the ladies. 'Who's David' shows the boys have become lyrically mature and that they have everyday issues too, surprising as it is! Watch out boys and girls, they are here to stay far longer than expected, you are warned, this comes with a public health warning, the moral dilemma is, do I buy this single or do I leave it on the shelf, for the pixies to nab it, overnight.
Clea - Stuck In The Middle Two bits of background information that should in absolutely no way influence the way you judge Clea's ability: they got their name by using the initials of the four girls' first names, and they're the rejects from "Popstars: The Rivals". Well, if that hasn't prejudiced your views you're made of stronger stuff than me. The toneless intro doesn't help matters, but Stuck In The Middle does eventually find some sort of rhythm in its chorus. The singing is generally awful and the song itself isn't much better. It's absolutely no surprise that this quartet didn't succeed during their TV days. What is surprising is that someone didn't tell them; there must have been a very good reason for that. Not even in today's market could this lot chart inside the top 20, maybe the Teletubbies can do it some justice.
Hundred Reasons - What You Get 'What You Get' is the second single to be taken from their forthcoming second studio album, 'Shatterproof Is Not An Option'. 'What You Get' sets volume to stun in its bid to blow your brain and your stereo? Heavy, as hell and with a riff as colossal as a mountain this is the sound of a band at the top of their entertainment, confident to push that rock a little bit further.
Kings Of Leon - California Waiting Lazily dubbed the southern-Strokes; Kings Of Leon are a genre-bursting group in their own right. Carelessly captivating the influences of timeless Americana and mixing them with a heavy punk essence, the Kings have produced some of the most contagious rock 'n' roll to come out from America in recent years. 'California Waiting' is taken from their bright debut studio album 'Youth and Young Manhood' which featured in many critics' 'one of the best rock 'n' roll album of the year' lists. If you like your music loud, this is it, plug it into your socket, and let your air guitar do all the work.
John Mayer - Bigger Than My Body Relatively unknown in the UK, singer / songwriter / guitarist, John Mayer has enjoyed huge chart success in his native America. The single is the first release from his latest album 'Heavier Things', a rock track combining electronic sounds with Mayer's distinctive vocal tones. It gets better with each listen, and while it's unlikely to catapult him to international superstardom overnight, it is certainly a step in the right direction.
Raghav - Can't Get Enough Raghav is Canadian born singer/songwriter who has been cultured in the UK at Paul McCartney's LIPA School of performing arts. Seth Riggs who gives vocal training to Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder and has been hailed as the hottest act in the Indian market coached him. The mastermind behind has produced his debut single 'Can't Get Enough'. An exciting, unique new voice, Raghav is set to follow the likes of Panjabi MC in bringing Asian sounds and rhythms into a much larger arena. If you like ragga music with a tint of dancehall, a la Sean Paul and Kevin Lyttle style, then this is for you, personally not a great fan of this type of music genre.
Summer Mathews - Miss Perfect If you're a fan of Byker Grove (BBC TV series), you recognise its Emma Miller, aka Geordie lassie, Summer Matthews, stepping in the footsteps of Ant & Dec with her first single release of 'Miss Perfect'. Following in the veins of Maria Wilson and Amy Studt, with a stab at being a rock-chick. The song has got a rocky edge feel to it and it's quite an infectious little ditty. The only thing will she survive in this music industry by being a TV star, by switching careers to music. This is one song that could actually get stuck in a power grid.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
10,000 Things - Food Chain
Alfie - No Need
Anjali - Rainy Day
Auf Der Maur - Followed The Waves
Belle & Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo
Cinnamon - Cakes And Pies
Crackout - This Is What We Do
Cribs - You Were Always The One
Cursive - Recluse
Death Cab For Cutie - New Year
Delerium featuring Nerina Pallot - Truly/Fearless
Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Man Bites Man EP
Dub Pistols - Soul Shaking
Earl Slick - Believe
Fun Lovin' Criminals - Beautiful
Ikara Colt - Wanna Be That Way
Jaga Jazzist - Day
Junior Senior - Shake Your Coconuts
Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father
Lydia Denker - One Perfect Day
Martina Topley-Bird - Soul Food
Serge Vegas featuring Technical & Trios - Bad Girl
Slab - Fade Into You
Syntax - Message Bliss
The Stills - Lola Stars And Stripes
Trespassers William - Lie In The Sound
Woodstar - Cold Cold Heart
Single Release Schedule
February 23
50 Cent - If I Can't
Agnelli & Nelson - Hold Onto Nothing
Airbiscuit - Lately
Antoine featuring Kirsty R - Forever Autumn
Archie Bronson Outfit - Kangaroo Heart
Autamata - Jellyman
Black Grass - Going Home
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Six Barrel Shotgun
Blonde Redhead - Elephant Woman
Elbow - Not A Job
Fiery Furnances - Tropical Iceland
Gold Cash Gold - Vultures
Her Space Holiday - My Girlfriend's Boyfriend
Icarus Line - Up Against The Wall
Jamelia - Thank You
John Frusciante - Shadows Collide With People
JX - Restless
Kelly Llorenna - This Time I Know It's For Real
Lautrec featuring Terry Hall - Things
Lemar - Another Day
Love Inc - Into The Night
Lowgold - Same Way
Master Blaster - Hypnotic Tango
Peter Andre - Mysterious Girl
Placebo - English Summer Rain
Republic Of Loose - Girl, I'm Gonna F**k You Up
Rude Rkade - Beautiful
Scott Brown - I Would Stay
Space - Suburban Rock 'N' Roll
Stellastarr* - My Coco
Stylus Junkies - Food For Thought
The Cribs - You Were Always The One
Tiffany Gayle - Do You Wanna Dance?
VS - Love You Like Mad
Wayne Williams - All About The Sex
Westlife - Obvious
Wilshire - Special
Zero 7 - Home
March 1
Acoustic Love Experience - Painted Pony
Beenie Man - Dude
Blink-182 - I Miss You
Britney Spears - Toxic
Chicks On Speed - Wordy Rappinghood
DJ Casper - Cha-Cha Slide
Eastern Lane - Saffron
Elton John - The Heart Of Every Girl
Features - Way It's Meant To Be
Fountains Of Wayne - Stacy's Mom
FYA featuring Smujji - Must Be Love
George Michael - Amazing
Goldfrapp - Black Cherry
Gomez - Catch Me Up
Ilya - Bellissimo
Jungle Boys - Jungle Rock/The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Kylie Minogue - Red Blooded Woman
No Doubt - It's My Life/Bathwater
Open - Close My Eyes
Paddy Casey - Saints And Sinners
Starsailor - Four To The Floor
Tezla - All Night
The Mars Volta - Televators
The Shins - So Say I
Thirteen Senses - Thru The Glass
Timbaland & Magoo featuring Missy Elliot - Cop That Disc
Velcra - Can't Stop Fighting
Weevil - No Harm EP
March 8
Amp Fiddler - I Believe In You
Aquabox - Sweet Clarity
Armin Van Buuren featuring Justine Suissa - Burned With Desire
B2K - Badaboom
Bic Runga - Get Some Sleep
Bronx - They Will Kill Us All
Chikinki - Like It Or Leave It
Counting Crows - Hanginaround
Cypress Hill - What's Your Number
Enrique Iglesias featuring Kelis - Not In Love
Gomez - Catch Me Up
Graham Coxon - Freakin' Out
Haven - Wouldn't Change A Thing
Jamie Cullum - These Are The Days
Jennifer Lopez featuring R Kelly - Baby I Love U
Jet - Look What You've Done
Kurt Nilsen - She's So High
Laura Veirs - Cloud Room
Marques Houston featuring Joe Budden - Clubbin'
Moneybrother - Reconsider Me
My Red Cell - Knock Me Down
Nic Armstrong - Broken Mouth Blues EP
Northern Heightz - Look At Us
Phixx - Love Revolution
Sarah McLachlan - Fallen
Seraphim Suite - Heart
Special D - Come With Me
Tejo, Black Alien & Speed - Follow Me, Follow Me
The Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama
The Vines - Rides
Three Doors Down - Here Without You
March 15
Alistair Griffin - You And Me (Tonight)
Aloud - Bob O'Lean
Anastacia - Left Outside Alone
Atomic Kitten - Someone Like Me/Right Now
B3 - Night Fever/I.O.I.O.
Bell X1 - Alphabet Soup
Courtney Love - Mono
Cypress Hill - What's Your Number?
Daniel Wylie - Make Love To The World
Dead Prez - Hell Yeah
Delta Goodrem - Throw It Away
Dido - Don't Leave Home
Four Tet - My Angel Rocks Back And Forth
Frances Rufelle - Smile (from McCain advert)
Janet Jackson - Just A Little While
Katie Melua - Call Off The Search
Keisha White - Watcha Gonna Do
Kid Symphony - Meet You On The Other Side
Kraftwerk - Aero Dynamik
Mark Joseph - Bringing Back Those Memories
Nelly Furtado - Try
NERD - She Wants To Move
Nickelback - Feelin' Way Too Damn Good
Simply Red - Home
The Killers - Somebody Told Me
Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris - Yeah
Will Young - Your Game
March 22
Amen - California's Bleeding
Blue - Breathe Easy
G-Unit - Poppin' Them Things
KoRn - Y'all Want A Single
Missy Elliot - I'm Really Hot
Outkast - The Way You Move
So Solid Crew - So Grimey
Sugababes - In The Middle
The Darkness - Friday Night/Love Is Only A Feeling
The Divine Comedy - Come Home Billy Bird
Travis - Love Will Come Through
March 29
Beyonce featuring Lil' Kim - Naughty Girl
Hayley Westenra - Wuthering Heights
Lasgo - Surrender
McFly - 5 Colours In Her Hair
Michelle - The Meaning Of Love
Ohm - Forget Who We Are
Pet Shop Boys - Flamboyant
Twista - Slow Jamz
Wiley - Wot Do U Call It?
April 5
Agnetha Faltskog - If I Thought You'd Change Your Mind
Alanis Morrisette - Everything
D-Side - Pushin' Me Out
JC Chasez - Some Girls (Dance With Women)
Muse - Sing For Absolution
Ordinary Boys - Week In, Week Out
Pink - Catch Me While I'm Sleeping
Snow Patrol - Chocolate
The Bandits - No Shoes On My Feet
April 12
Ashanti - Break Up 2 Make Up
Busted - Air Hostess
April 19
Fraud - On To You
Scooter - Jigga Jigga
April 26
Keane - Everybody's Changing
Natasha Bedingfield - Single
The Streets - You're Fit And You Know It
