by Mikey (Gillingham, Kent, UK)
RECORD OF THE WEEK The Rasmus - In The Shadows Already massive in Europe, The Rasmus, hailed from Finland, look like they've got a UK hit on their hands with their latest single, 'In the Shadows'. The track's a real rock anthem, with a funky bassline and sing-a-long chorus.
They more of a goth band, and the tune is quite an addictive number, the rock infused tune of 2004. Easily rivals the material of the likes of heavy weights such as Linkin Park. I like this song a lot, when I first heard it, it just grew on me, and it keeps growing on me every time I listen to it. This song is going to go all the way to the top hopefully at No.1, it truly deserves it, I hope it's not a one hit wonder, looking forward to hearing more music from this band.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Janet Jackson - Just A Little While Well, this really is a treat? Forget the absurd histrionics about Ms Jackson's mammary lapse; the real news is the release of this, her best single in five years. This skipping, giddy, gorgeous little minx of a song is buoyed by a smart guitar riff and a candyfloss melody, which makes the most of Jackson's thin, breathy vocals. Even better, there is absolutely nothing cool about it - where most of her recent albums panted embarrassingly after r'n'b credibility, this has a fun, loose production that smells a little like the eighties. Its keyboards even wink back at her 1990 masterpiece, "Love Will Never Do". What are you waiting for? Get out, buy it and dance around your bedroom to it. Taken from her forthcoming brand new studio album 'Damita Jo', a reference to her two middle names.
Big Brovaz - We Wanna Thank You (The Things You Do) In 2004 Big Brovaz become Film Stars, performing their new single 'We Wanna Thank You (Things That You Do)' in the new Scooby Doo movie, 'Scooby Doo 2 - Monsters Unleashed', out in April 2004. The single, 'We Wanna Thank You (Things That You Do)', released on the 5th April, is a funky track laced with electric guitar riffs and the trademark heavy rapping skills of the boys (Jay Roc, Randy and Flawless) and the sweet vocal harmonies of the girls (Cherise, Dion and Nadia). Check out the video, which features the one and only Scooby Doo himself and mixes from Sam Sneed (Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Ice Cube) and Kardinal Beats.
Honeyriders - Colours London based Honeyrider's produce a quirky folk/pop sound that has drawn comparisons with Fairground Attraction. Built around singer-songwriter Helen Hicks, a veteran of the international jazz circuit who has toured with The James Taylor Quartet, this is a fresh and original debut record. Its quite a refreshing sound and new, a well written inspiration song with catchy lyrics, pretty unusual, it certainly rocks my boat.
Michelle - The Meaning Of Love Here we have Michelle making a return for the second time, this time with 'The Meaning of Love' as the follow-up single to her No.1 smash earlier this year with 'All This Time', it can also be found on her debut studio album of the same name. It's the lead title track on the album, as for the song, unfortunately it doesn't ring my bell, it doesn't sound any sirens off, but it might with some fans. But will Michelle have a second No.1 with this, I doubt it, its not as strong as her first single, as for survival in the future, well only time will tell, as pop reality shows have truly burst its bubble. Alex Parks, Alistair Griffin failed to hit the top 10 with their follow-up singles, probably Michelle will continue the similar pattern.
Shania Twain - She's Not Just A Pretty Face Shania Twain returns with another banging single from her hugely successful 'Up!' album. 'She's Not Just A Pretty Face' contains all the elements that have made Shania the premier female country-pop artist in the world today: catchy chorus, "go-girl!" attitude and enough sexiness from Shania Twain herself to keep the fellas happy. This is one of her best singles to date.
Special D - Come With Me The debut single 'Come With Me' from an German Dance Act, watch this song its gonna be huge. It's catchy, its quirky and pretty addictive, if you listen carefully to the music in the background, it sounds they have knick the music from an old Vengaboys hit 'Up and Down'. A good tune and it will certainly liven up the nightclubs, a real dance trance single to hit your decks, it depends if you like it or hate it.
The Offspring - (Can't Get) My Head Around You Offspring have consistently produced some of the finest punk records of all time. Their new album, 'Splinter', is one of their best yet and '(Can't Get My) Head Around You', is their second single to be lifted from it, is another gem. A raging whirlwind of attitude, it shows the young punk upstarts just what it takes to 'keep it real'. A real good song for all Offspring fans. Best remember for their No.1 single 'Pretty Fly (For A White Guy).
Wiley - Wot Do You Call It? The general garage-MC-led sound is yet to be given a name, and this is addressed in Wiley's debut single for XL. Using his infamous Igloo track behind the witty yet defiant vocals, "Wot Do U Call It?" was produced as a response to how Wiley and his fellow visionaries were being treated by the traditional garage fraternity, as they started to reject this new sound because it didn't sit comfortably within their scene. Something we underground followers may be use to listening to, but it is all new to the mainstream cats who have yet got to familiarise themselves with what they have named Urban music "The Eski-beat".
Amy Winehouse - In My Bed / You Send Me Flying She's just 19, from Camden, and her singing sounds to me like a cross between Billie Holliday and Ms Dynamite (and in a couple of places like the other Miss Dynamite, Brenda Lee). Taken from her debut album 'Frank', with her first jazz & Rhythm infused double A-sided single 'In My Bed / You Send Me Flying. The voice and performance are assured and mature, but then we have come to expect that even from 19 year olds
The Zutons - You Will, You Won't The Scottish band The Zutons return with their follow up single with 'You Will, You Won't' is taken from the Zutons forthcoming skiffle-infused debut album 'Who Killed The Zutons?' and follows on from the astonishing 'Pressure Point' in their bid to join the Coral and the Thrills in the premier league of the indie music genre. As for the song is an above average, depends if you like it or hate it, that's if your taste for indie music is your liking.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
22-20s - Why Don't You Do It For Me?
Amy Winehouse - In My Bed/You Send Me Flying
Belles - Never Said Anything
Ben Taylor Band - Day After Day
Beyonce - Naughty Girl
Big Brovaz - We Wanna Thank You
Blueskins - Stupid Ones
Cassius Henry - The One
Crystal Method - Born Too Slow
Dark Globe - Break My World
Drowning Pool - Step Up
G-Unit - Wanna Get To Know You
Half Cousin - Country Cassette
Honeyriders - Colours
Immune - Elek
Jersey Street - Love Will Be Our Guide
Joy Zipper - Baby You Should Know
Kotipelto - Reasons
Limp Bizkit - Build A Bridge
Lucky Jim - You Stole My Heart Away
Michelle - The Meaning Of Love
My Chemical Romance - Headfirst For Halos
Narcotic Thrust - I Like It
Offspring - Can't Get My Head Around You
Ordinary Boys - Week In, Week Out
Paul Van Dyk featuring Second Sun - Crush
Polly Paulusma - Dark Side
Rasmus - In The Shadows
Robin George - American Way
Sandy B - Make The World Go Round 2004
Seachange - News From Nowhere
Shania Twain - She's Not Just A Pretty Face
Sharlene Hector - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free
Sluts Of Trust - Leaving You Wanting More
Sophia - Oh My Love
Special D - Come With Me
Stateless - Down Here
Stylus Junkies vs UB40 - Food For Thought
Tia - Truth Hurts
Wiley - Wot Do U Call It?
Zutons - You Will, You Won't
Zoot Woman - Taken It All
Zutons - You Will, You Won't
Single Release Schedule
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
Bellefire - Say Something Anyway
Beta Band - Assessment
Brian Jonestown Massacre - If Love Is The Drug, I Want To OD
Bronx - They Will Kill Us All (Without Mercy)
Concretes - Say Something New
Dido - Don't Leave Home
Eamon - F--k It (I Don't Want You Back)
Engineers - Home
Fabolous - This Is My Party/Make You Mine
Hawksley Workman - We Will Still Need A Song
Hilary Duff - Come Clean/Why Not?
Janet Jackson - Just A Little While
JC Chasez - Some Girls (Dance With Women)/Blowin' Me Up
Joe featuring G-Unit - Ride Wit' It/More
KoRn - Y'all Want A Single
Living Things - I Owe
Madrugada - Majesty/7 Seconds
Martin Solveig - Rocking Music
Mountain Goats - Letter From Belgium
Paddy Casey - Lucky One
Polly Paulusma - Dark Side
Prince - Musicology
Riverway - Don't Start Me Off
Simple Kid - Staring At The Sun
Snow Patrol - Chocolate
Tim Wright - Ride
Wolfman featuring Peter Doherty - For Lovers
April 19
Baby Bash - Suga Suga
Bees - Wash In The Rain
Black Devil - Disco Club
Breed 77 - River
Cathy Davey - Come Over EP
Chris Doran - If My World Stopped Turning
D12 - My Band
Dark Globe - Break My World
Franz Ferdinand - Matinee
Fraud - On To You
Gemma Fox - Girlfriend's Story
Grand National - Talk Amongst Yourselves
Hal - Worry About The Wind
HIM - Solitary Man
Icarus Line - Party The Baby Off
James Fox - Hold On To Our Love
Jesus Jones - Culture Vulture EP
Jolie Holland - Sascha
Lasgo - Surrender
Lucky Jim - You Stole My Heart Away
Marillion - You're Gone
Maroon 5 - This Love
Mendoza Line - Before I Hit The Wall
Oceanlab - Satellite
Phoenix - Run Run Run
Pink - Last To Know
Pure Reason Revolution - Apprentice Of The Universe
Seafood - Good Reason
Sia - Breathe Me
Shonagh Daly - All I Want
Stills - Changes Are No Good
Walkmen - Rat
Willis - Take You High EP
April 26
3 Doors Down - Here Without You
Alex Cartana - Hey Papi
Bandits - No Shoes On My Feet
Blakkat featuring Tyra - Another Woman
Bloc Party - Banquet
Boogie Pimps - Sunny
Busted - Air Hostess
David Byrne - Dialog Box
DJ Sharon O Love & 3 Elements featuring Leilani - Fast Car 2004
Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Godhopping
Eyeopener - Open Your Eyes
Fefe Dobson - Everything
Gladiator featuring Izzy - Now We Are Free
Glitterati - Here Comes The Close Up EP
Goldfrapp - Strict Machine
Gunther & The Sunshine Girls - Ding Dong Song
Jaimeson featuring Xara - Common Ground
Josh Martinez - Hard Fall
Lemonescent - All Right Now/Bohemian Rain
Monkey Bars featuring Gabrielle Widman - Shuggie Love
Nick Holder - No More Dating DJs
Pete Doherty - Babyshambles
Plummet - Cherish The Day
Shaun M - Another Man's Language
Stacie Orrico - I Could Be The One
Streets - Fit But You Know It
Tiesto featuring BT - Love Comes Again
Twen2y4se7en - Hide
May 3
Acoustic Love Experience - Painted Pony
Ash - Orpheus
Auf Der Maur - Real A Lie
Buddahead - When I Fall
Charlatans - Up The Lake
Christina Milian - Dip It Low
Doop - Doop 2004
Gabrielle - Stay The Same
Gomez - Catch Me Up
Hybrid - I'm Still Awake
Joss Stone - Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me?)
Keane - Everybody's Changing
Lostprophets - Wake Up (Make A Move)
Natasha Bedingfield - Single
Polyphonic Spree - Two Thousand Places
Rachel Stevens - Breathe In, Breathe Out
Ronan Keating & LeAnn Rimes - Last Thing On My Mind
Sarah Connor - Bounce
Truth - Ready Now
May 10
Alanis Morrisette - Everything
Avril Lavigne - Don't Tell Me
Cassidy featuring R Kelly - Hotel
Deepest Blue - Is It A Sin?
Fabolous - This Is My Party/Make You Mine
Jagged Edge - What's It Like
Jay-Z - Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Katy Rose - Overload
Kevin Lyttle - Last Drop
Morrissey - Irish Blood, English Heart
Scooter - Jigga Jigga
Zena featuring Beenie Man - Been Around The World
May 17
Calling - Our Lives
Chikinki - Ether Radio
Corrs - Summer Sunshine
Emma Bunton - Crickets Sing For Anamaria
Evanescence - Everybody's Fool
Ferry Corsten - It's Time
Ian Van Dahl - Believe
Kelis - Trick Me
Muse - Sing For Absolution
My Red Cell - In A Cage On Prozac
Pop! - Heaven And Earth
Sarah McLachlan - Stupid
Zero 7 featuring Sia - Sommersault
May 24
Faithless - Mass Destruction
Features - A Million Ways To Sing The Blues
Five Star - System Addict 2004
Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Morjac featuring Marly - You Never Know
Speedway - In & Out
Supergrass - Kiss Of Life
V - Blood, Sweat And Tears
May 31
Flip & Fill featuring Karen Parry - Discoland
Lemar - No Pressure
Yellowcard - Way Away
Dates to be confirmed
2Play featuring Raghav - It Can't Be Right
Anastacia - Sick And Tired
Bellefire - You Were Meant For Me
Blue - Bubblin'
Britney Spears - Everytime
George Michael - Flawless (Go To The City)
Jamelia - See It In A Boy's Eyes
Kylie Minogue - Chocolate
Mania - Looking For A Place To Go
Nelly Furtado - Forca
N-Trance - I'm In Heaven
Outkast - Roses
Phixx - Wild Boys
Usher - Burn
Will Young - Friday's Child
