by Mikey (Gullingham, Kent, UK)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Outkast ft. Sleepy Brown - The Way You Move On the back of their best selling single 'Hey Ya', 18 weeks in the singles chart, comes their brand new single 'The Way You Move' featuring added vocals by Sleepy Brown. This song can be found on their ground-breaking selling album 'Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below�' Another addictive song, that will make your butt move as fast as you can shimmy. The band are still having huge success stateside with this song, it's already been a No.1 over there, and most likely to do the same over here.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Sugababes - In The Middle Keisha, Mutya, & Heidi - aka The Sugababes release another charged-up funky R&B urban sound with their brand new single release 'In The Middle' which can be found on their studio album 'Three'. As for the single it's a nice little ditty, its catchy, infectious and wham, bang full in your ears, and will have you dancing like a Mad Hatter, the video for the song is very appealing. Those rumours about the band splitting up are nonsense, Heidi and Keisha have never got on with each other, but they still perform great tunes together.
Anastacia - Left Outside Alone Her last single to appear in the Top 40 singles chart was 'You'll Never Be Alone' in December 2002, ever since than, after a long battle with Breast cancer, fully recovered Anastacia returns with her brand new release 'Left Outside Alone', and can also be found on her forthcoming new studio album. As for the song, its what Anastacia does best, very catchy number, with a powerful voice that will blow your mind and probably shatter a few windowpanes as the song goes on, I meant that in a nice way.
Blue - Breathe Easy Having just completed a mammoth concert tour which took them all over the UK and Asia, Simon, Anthony, Lee and Duncan look set to return to the upper reaches of the charts with 'Breathe Easy'. Co-written by Lee himself, this emotional ballad about missing a loved one is certain is certain to satisfy the boys' legions of fans, as well as converting a few cynics along the way.
The Darkness - Love Is Only A Feeling Give me a 'D', Give me an 'Arkness', what do you get? DARKNESS. After winning 3 awards at The Brit Awards for Best Rock Band, Best Group and Best Album and stole the limelight at the show. The Darkness return with another rock-infused power ballad 'Love Is Only A Feeling', and was practised by ancient men with large hair like Rainbow and Whitesnake, and can also be found on their best selling album of 2003 'Permission To Land'. They are winning rave reviews stateside, and they love them to death. The band are rumoured to be teaming up with the BEP's on their next release of 'Let's Get Retarded'.
The Delays - Nearer Than Heaven On their debut release for Rough Trade, newcomers Delays have found that lovely bridge between the warm pop of The La's and the dreamy, echoed sound of bands like Lush and Cocteau Twins. Led by singer/songwriter Greg Gilbert, Delays have a classic sound to their short pop songs that is refreshing to everything else around now that is capitalizing on raw energy. 'Nearer Than Heaven' is very close to its destination, featuring a superb jangly guitar sound and a majestically hazy touch to the background. The debut album drops later in the summer and it should turn more than a few heads if it's anything like its lead single.
Missy Elliott - I'm Really Hot Missy Elliott is back with her second single from the amazing album 'This Is Not A Test', with 'I'm Really Hot' its set to become a club anthem with its fantastic production supplied by Timbaland and his trademark beats. Another hip-hop beat that keeps her traditional trademark of using additional beats in the shape of old school horns and famous jazzy housebreaks. Not a great fan of hip-hop myself, its awful, but its bound to be a sure-fire hit by her loyal fans.
So Solid Crew - So Grimey It's not all gangsta rap, though, So Solid Crew released there new single, 'So Grimey' which has more of an R&B groove thanks to Sef and Swiss. Taken from their studio album '2nd Verse'. You couldn't be faulted for assuming the track was produced by The Neptunes, which is just about as large a compliment as you could receive at the moment. The beauty of So Solid's ridiculous number of members is that there's an abundance of different vocals and different rapping styles.
Travis - Love Will Come Through Fran, Dougie & Nigel - aka Travis return with their long awaited follow-up single to 'Re-Offender' with 'Love Will Come Through' taken from their fourth studio album 'Twelve Memories'. Anyone who has got the album, they will know, this is one of the few weakest songs on the album, but it could easily convert you to realising that it could became a anthem for Travis fans. As myself, not a great fan of Travis, but with the right tune, I can be easily converted, to listen to their music. In all, not a bad effort.
Kanye West - Through The Wire Kanye West debut single 'Through The Wire' samples Chaka Khan's 'Through The Fire', the super producer behind hits by Jay-Z. Scarface and Freeway utilizes a bongo-infused, driving drumkit to emphasize his struggle after a life-threatening car accident. Forced to rap through a wire that muffles his speech and maintains his jaw structure. Kanye manages to make you understand his issues, think about the reactions of others and make you aware of turning classic pop R&B into a stutter-funk masterpiece.
The White Stripes - There's No Home For You Here This is more of a Queen inspired song 'There's No Room For You Here' from the band's universally acclaimed 2003 'Elephant' album. Jack & Meg White have truly turned rock music on its head for the past year, their best effort album to date, is 'Seven Nation Army' and 'Elephant' is one of the stand-out albums of last year without a doubt. As for the song it's another rock beat anthem that's guaranteed another Top 20 hit to add to their successful succession of hits. Watch out for The White Stripes, during the summer, they will be headlining numerous festivals over the coming months.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
Amen - California's Bleeding
Billy Talent - Ex
Datarock - Computer Camp Love
Go Home Productions - Pistol Whipped EP
Grand Transmitter - Under The Wheel
I Am Kloot - From Your Favourite Sky
Keys - From Tense To Loose To Slack
Kid Symphony - Meet You On The Other Side
KoRn - Y'all Want A Single
Laura Veirs - Cloud Room
Mountaineers - I Gotta Sing
Needles - Under The City EP
Pink Grease - Fever
Ryan Adams - This Is It
Seal - Waiting For You / Love's Divine
Sleepy Jackson - This Day / Come To This
South - Colours In Waves
The Divine Comedy - Come Home Billy Bird
The Generator - Where Are You Now?
X Is Loaded - Laugh, Point & Wave / The Start Of Everything
Single Release Schedule
March 29
Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You
Art Brut - Formed A Band
Atomic Kitten - Someone Like Me/Right Now 2004
Basement Jaxx featuring JC Chasez - Plug It In
Beyonce - Naughty Girl
Boxer Rebellion - In Pursuit
Dilated Peoples featuring Kanye West - This Way
Engineers - Home
Evanescence - Everybody's Fool/Imaginary
Fefe Dobson - Everything
G-Unit - Wanna Get To Know You
Gary Jules - Broke Window
Glitterati - Here Comes The Close Up EP
Hawksley Workman - We Will Still Need A Song
Hayley Westenra - Wuthering Heights
Hazel O' Connor - One More Try
Iron Maiden - No More Lies
Lulu - Keep Talkin', I'm Listening
Mad Action - Just Like Fresh Air
Martin Solveig - Rockin' Music
McFly - 5 Colours In Her Hair
Michelle - The Meaning Of Love
Norah Jones - Sunrise
Ohm - Forget Who We Are
Pet Shop Boys - Flamboyant
Plummet - Cherish The Day
Reactor - Feeling The Love
Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama
Shania Twain - She's Not Just A Pretty Face
Simply Red - Home
Slides - Can You Feel It?
Sophia - Oh My Love
Stylus Junkies vs UB40 - Food For Thought
Surferosa - Lucky Lipstick
Tejo, Black Alien & Speed - Follow Me, Follow Me
The Distillers - Hunger
Twista - Slow Jamz
April 5
Amy Winehouse - In My Bed/You Send Me Flying
Bellefire - Say Something Anyway
Big Brovaz - We Wanna Thank You
Blueskins - Stupid Ones
Dark Globe - Break My World
Dogs Die In Hot Cars - God Hopping
Drowning Pool - Step Up
Honeyriders - Colours
Janet Jackson - Just A Little While
Jersey Street - Love Will Be Our Guide
Jody Lei - Just The Music
Kotipelto - Reasons
Muse - Sing For Absolution
My Chemical Romance - Headfirst For Halos
Narcotic Thrust - I Like It
Neo Cortex - Elements
Ordinary Boys - Week In, Week Out
Paul Van Dyk - Crush
Polly Paulusma - Dark Side
Robin George - American Way
Seachange - News From Nowhere
Snow Patrol - Chocolate
Special D - Come With Me
The Bandits - No Shoes On My Feet
The Offspring - Can't Get My Head Around You
The Rasmus - In The Shadows
The Zutons - You Will, You Won't
Wiley - Wot Do U Call It?
April 12
Agnetha Faltskog - If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind
Air - Surfing On A Rocket
Amplifier - Neon
Ashanti featuring Blackchild - Break Up 2 Make Up
Busted - Air Hostess
D-Side - Pushin' Me Out
Dido - Don't Leave Home
Eamon - F**k It (I Don't Want You Back)
Engineers - Home
Frankee - F.U.R.B F**k You (Right Back)
JC Chasez - Some Girls (Dance With Women)/Blowin' Me Up
Jessica Simpson - Take My Breath Away
KoRn - Y'all Want A Single
Living Things - I Owe
Madrugada - Majesty/7 Seconds
Maroon 5 - This Love
Oceanlab - Satellite
Pete Doherty & Wolfman - For Lovers
Polly Paulusma - Dark Side
Simple Kid - Staring At The Sun
April 19
Boogie Pimps - Sonny
D12 - My Band
Deepest Blue - Is It A Sin?
Franz Ferdinand - Matinee
Fraud - On To You
Gemma Fox - Girlfriend's Story
Hal - Worry About The Wind
HIM - Solitary Man
Jesus Jones - Culture Vulture EP
Kelis - Trick Me
Lasgo - Surrender
Pink - Last To Know
Scooter - Jigga Jigga
Shonagh Daly - All I Want
The Calling - Our Lives
April 26
Ash - Orpheus
Emma Bunton - Crickets Sing For Anamaria
Ian Van Dahl - Believe
Jaimeson featuring Xara - Common Ground
Keane - Everybody's Changing
Louise - Bounce Back
Natasha Bedingfield - Single
The Streets - Fit But You Know It
Twen2y4se7en - Hide
May 3
Acoustic Love Experience - Painted Pony
Avril Lavigne - Don't Tell Me
Buddahead - When I Fall
Joss Stone - Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me?)
The Corrs - Summer Sunshine
The Charlatans - Up The Lake
May 10
Alanis Morrisette - Everything
Chikinki - Ether Radio
James Fox - Hold On To Our Love
Morrissey - Irish Blood, English Heart
V - Blood, Sweat And Tears
