by Mikey (Gillingham, Kent. UK)
RECORD OF THE WEEK 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.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Bellefire - Say Something Anyway Bellefire consist of two sisters Cathy and Ciara Newell and their adopted sibling Kelly Kilfeather. They produce pop-rock that is reminiscent of the Corrs whilst looking pretty, pouting in photos and generally fitting the bill quite nicely. 'Say Something Anyway' is there first single in a couple of years with its catchy and infectious lyrics and looks set to see the cheeky threesome become household names in 2004. This song is destined to hit the big time for the girls.
Air - Surfing On A Rocket 'Surfing on a Rocket', the second single taken from their album 'Talkie Walkie, is another classic chill-out Air track with effeminate synth voices and imbued with an innocent euphoria. The melody is simple and charming, and the basic lyrics almost child-like with their fantastical images of surfing in space. But just as the previous innocent-sounding single Cherry Blossom Girl came with a soft porn video, Surfing On a Rocket contains the line "(time for) surfing bombs" - are Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel adding a bit of politics to their songs? Who'd have thought! The track is certainly one of the strongest on the album and will be a sure-fire hit among Air fans.
Dark Globe ft Amanda Ghost - Break My World A nocturnal dancefloor track perfect for the following scene: a girl running through a dark tunnel at night. It's shadowy and dank. Her relationship has gone cold and what she's just confronted him with still rings in her head. Behind a bass-driven industrial drum machine and a high liquidy synth, Amanda Ghost's throaty emotive voice sings lines such as: "After all these years your heart's so cold to me / give me all the things that you don't need". Then it all crescendos into the searing chorus "Break My World".
Dido - Don't Leave Home She's topped the charts around the world with her 'Life For Rent' album, and its huge success looks set to continue with the release of the third single. 'Don't Leave Home' is typical Dido - her distinctive vocals against a backdrop of strumming acoustic guitars and strings, this song is guaranteed to dominate the airwaves over the next few months.
Eamon - F*** It (I Don't Want You Back) This Staten Island twenty-year-old Eamon materialized this year with "F**k It (I Don't Want You Back)," a delicate, profane slow jam in which he throws his cheating girlfriend out on the curb. The remainder of his debut, produced by Milk Dee, is a serviceable R&B track. I Don't Want sounds charmingly low-budget, but you wonder if this modestly gifted kid has something special inside him that perhaps Kanye West or R. Kelly could coax out. Not my average of type of song, but it should do Eamon pretty well on this side of the Atlantic, on our British shores.
Engineers - Home Engineers debut single 'Home' is an epic slice of sky-scraping indie rock that nods towards Spritualized and Mercury Rev. Guitars twinkle, vocals soar and the listener is left waiting to float back down to earth as the final crescendo of sound washes over them. Awe-inspiring, intelligent indie from London's newest four-piece band, keep an eye on this band, they will be making more good music for years to come.
Hilary Duff - Come Clean / Why Not? Following hot on the heels of Avril Lavigne comes U.S. teen sensation Hilary Duff. As fem-icon Lizzie McGuire she became the role model for young girls everywhere and now she plans to conquer the music world as well. 'Come Clean' and 'Why Not' and two exceptional slices of pop rock that promote female power and independence to all the teens. Catchy, fun frolics from the newest hip chick on the block.
JC Chasez - Some Girls (Dance With Women) / Blowin' Me Up Fresh from a starring role on Basement Jaxx's awesome 'Plug It In', JC Chasez (that's right the one out of N-Sync) releases his debut solo single 'Some Girls (Dance With Women)'. This is a funky, fresh r'n'b monster which you either like or hate it, I don't particularly like this song as its not going anywhere, but some fans out there are probably going to buy it because of his link to N' Sync, it doesn't set the room alight, but its bound to chart high for his first debut single.
Joe featuring G-Unit - Ride Wit' It / More This is a collaboration that is heading for the top of the charts. 'Ride Wit U' features three members of G-Unit, including 50 Cent, and is the rare rap/RnB hybrid that meshes well and doesn't sound pandering. It's a credit to the song's producers who are able to so effectively combine Joe's silky-smooth voice with those of some coarse gangsta rappers. Not a bad song at all, considering it's not my type of music genre.
Martin Solveig - Rocking Music Taken from Martin Solveig's forthcoming debut album 'Sur La Terre', 'Rocking Music' is a catchy tune with a funky bass riff and Jackson style vocal which makes this an essential feel good summer player and future classic for sure. Joey Negro provides an uplifting re-edit with added brass sections while Warren Clarke maximises the percussion with a full-blown mix aimed straight at the dancefloor.
Prince - Musicology The last time Prince was in the charts was six years ago and now he returns with his new single 'Musicology' heralding a real return to form. As funky, fresh and frisky as Prince at his mid-80s best, 'Musicology' yet, it's still a decent new Prince song and acceptable funk in its own right. "Don't you hear this old school joint?" Yes, and I swear I won't touch your stereo, with its own funky beats. This will set the return to its creator to the top of the pop tree.
Snow Patrol - Chocolate Now reaping the rewards of years of hard work, Snow Patrol have leapt onto the Coldplay wave with no intention of letting their current acclaim fall by the wayside. But just for a bit of variety and to keep it in the melancholic Brit Rock family, they've gone and torn the heart out of Doves Pounding and spiralled a whimsical melody around a thumping snare.
Wolfman ft. Pete Doherty - For Lovers A wonderfully simple but beautiful song that overshadows many of the NYC bands. Pete is a wonderful talent, English eccentric that we need more of. For lovers sounds like it was recorded in Wolfman's back room, with its simple piano and drum melody. This song swallows you up and wraps in the comfort that there is hope for the lovers. With Pete throwaway tones that hark back too early smiths. The song is a far cry away from the urchin guitar sound we have come to know from the libertines, it's a completely new sound that suits Pete but maybe not the libertines, but it couldn't have been done without the Wolfman (whoever he may be). Anyway it's a beautiful love song and an instant classic.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
Agnetha Faltskog - If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind
Amplifier - Neon
Ashanti featuring Blackchild - Break Up 2 Make Up
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
Hawksley Workman - We Will Still Need A Song
KoRn - Y'all Want A Single
Living Things - I Owe
Madrugada - Majesty/7 Seconds
Mountain Goats - Letter From Belgium
Paddy Casey - Lucky One
Polly Paulusma - Dark Side
Riverway - Don't Start Me Off
Simple Kid - Staring At The Sun
Tim Wright - Ride
Single Release Schedule
April 19
Bees - Wash In The Rain
Black Devil - Disco Club
Breed 77 - River
Cathy Davey - Come Over EP
Dark Globe featuring Amanda Ghost - Break My World
Earth, Wind & Fire - All In The Way
Franz Ferdinand - Matinee
Fraud - On To You
Grand National - Talk Amongst Yourselves
Hal - Worry About The Wind
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
Suzanna Dee - Stay
Walkmen - Rat
Willis - Take You High EP
April 26
3 Doors Down - Here Without You
Alex Cartana - Hey Papi
Atmosphere - Trying To Find A Balance
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
Force & Styles - Follow Me
Gemma Fox featuring MC Lyte - Girlfriend's Story
Gladiator featuring Izzy - Now We Are Free
Glitterati - Here Comes The Close Up EP
Goldfrapp - Strict Machine
Gunther & The Sunshine Girls - Ding Dong Song
HIM - Solitary Man
Josh Martinez - Hard Fall
Monkey Bars featuring Gabrielle Widman - Shuggie Love
Nick Holder - No More Dating DJs
Plummet - Cherish The Day
Prince - Musicology
Shaun M & Abandon - Another Man's Language
Streets - Fit But You Know It
Twen2y4se7en - Hide
May 3
Acoustic Love Experience - Painted Pony
Ash - Orpheus
Auf Der Maur - Real A Lie
Baby Bash - Suga Suga
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
Ingo & Eseni DJ - Scare Tactics/Drifting
Keane - Everybody's Changing
Lostprophets - Wake Up (Make A Move)
Natasha Bedingfield - Single
Pete Doherty - Babyshambles
Polyphonic Spree - Two Thousand Places
Ronan Keating & LeAnn Rimes - Last Thing On My Mind
Sarah Connor - Bounce
Tali - Lyric On My Lip
Tiesto feat BT - Love Comes Again
Truth - Ready Now
May 10
2Play featuring Raghav - It Can't Be Right
Alanis Morrisette - Everything
Avril Lavigne - Don't Tell Me
Cassidy featuring R Kelly - Hotel
Fabolous - This Is My Party/Make You Mine
Jagged Edge - What's It Like
Jay-Z - 99 Problems
Joss Stone - Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me?)
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
411 featuring Ghostface Killah - On My Knees
Bikini Atoll - Cheap Trick
Calling - Our Lives
Chikinki - Ether Radio
Corrs - Summer Sunshine
Emma Bunton - Crickets Sing For Anamaria
Evanescence - Everybody's Fool
Ferry Corsten - It's Time
Jaimeson Featuring Terri Walker - Common Ground
Kelis - Trick Me
Muse - Sing For Absolution
My Red Cell - In A Cage On Prozac
Pop! - Heaven And Earth
Zero 7 featuring Sia - Sommersault
May 24
Deepest Blue - Is It A Sin?
Features - A Million Ways To Sing The Blues
Flip & Fill featuring Karen Parry - Discoland
FYA - Too Hot To Handle
Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Morjac featuring Marly - You Never Know
Savana - Pretty Lady
Signum - What Ya Got For Me?
Speedway - In & Out
Supergrass - Kiss Of Life
V - Blood, Sweat And Tears
May 31
Faithless - Mass Destruction
Five Star - System Addict 2004
Ian Van Dahl - Believe
Kid Symphony - Never Been A Rockstar
Lemar - No Pressure
Lulu - Keep Talkin' I'm Listening
Peter Andre - Insania
Sam & Mark - The Sun Has Come Your Way
Styles & Breeze - You're Shining
VS - Call U Sexy
Yellowcard - Way Away
June 7
Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started
Cornershop presents Bubbly Kaur - Topknot
Fifth Avenue - Spanish Eyes
Kayne West - All Falls Down
Lemonescent - All Right Now/Bohemian Rain
Sarah McLachlan - Stupid
June 14
Belle & Sebastian - Wrapped Up In Books
Jamelia - See It In A Boy's Eyes
Mario Winans - I Don't Wanna Know
Usher - Burn
June 21
Beverley Knight - Come As You Are
Rezonance Q - Sweetheart
Dates to be confirmed
Anastacia - Sick And Tired
Bellefire - You Were Meant For Me
Blue - Bubblin'
Britney Spears - Everytime
Busted - 3am
George Michael - Flawless (Go To The City)
Mania - Looking For A Place To Go
Nelly Furtado - Forca
N-Trance - I'm In Heaven
Outkast - Roses
Phixx - Wild Boys
Will Young - Friday's Child
