by Mikey (Gillingham, Kent. UK)
RECORD OF THE WEEK Alanis Morissette - Everything It's been awhile since we had a great record from Alanis and this has to be her best yet for a long time 'Everything' brings the old hallmarks of old Alanis's hits right back, and this song do her justice, with a hit of 'Ironic'. The first taster of Alanis Morissette's 'So Called Chaos' album is a slow burning rocker that is guaranteed to have lighters raised high in stadiums across the world.
Epic, gorgeous and full of emotion, 'Everything' continues Morissette's long tradition of majestic singles. Roll on the new album.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Joss Stone - Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me?) The 16-year-old Devon soul singer will be following up her debut hit - 'Fell In Love With A Boy' - a cover of The White Stripes's 'Fell In Love With A Girl'. 'Super Duper Love' was originally performed by Willie Garner and is taken from her debut album 'The Soul Sessions'. The single will be backed by a cover of the James Brown classic 'It's A Man's Man's Man's World', recorded live at last year's Brown tribute concert in Washington. Stone will be playing a number of UK and European festivals this summer.
2Play featuring Raghav, Naila Boss & Jucxi D- It Can't Be Right After the phenomenal success of 'So Confused', producer extraordinaire 2Play is back with his unique hybrid of RnB, reggae and garage on 'It Can't Be Right'. Once again enlisting Raghav and pioneering new rapper Naila Boss to lend their distinctive flow to the track. Top class dancehall ragga stylee music, in the vein of their last single, sure to keep you on your toes.
ATL - Calling All Girls ATL is: Tre, Danger, Will and L-Rock. These four young men are delivering their smooth blend of R&B and hip-hop to the world straight from Atlanta. From TLC and Outkast, to Monica and Usher, Atlanta has proven that they've got what music lovers want. These four young men are delivering their smooth blend of R&B and Hip-Hop to the world straight from the city with a penchant for unearthing superstars. 'Calling All Girls' is the standout cut and hopefully a one hit wonder for the group and its awful, which is also produced by R. Kelly.
Avril Lavigne - Don't Tell Me The Sk8er girl is back with the first single from her as-yet-untitled second album. The song has all the ingredients of what you've come to expect from the queen of angst - quiet verses, followed by a chorus in which she really rocks out. Despite the fact that her sound has remained fairly consistent, this track is bound to please her legions of fans, and me.
Charlatans - Up The Lake Back at the height of the Manchester phenomenon it would have seemed folly to predict that only The Charlatans would last the course. Yet long after the demise of The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, Tim Burgess and company continue to be one of the most consistent bands in the country. Following on from his solo album I Believe, Burgess has dumped the falsetto vocal and adopted a more gritty approach. The soul and blues influences of the bands' previous album Wonderland have also been discarded, and Up At The Lake whips along at a fair old tempo. It takes a couple of listens to work its magic, but once the hook gets its claws into you, you won't be able to stop singing it.
Frankee - F.U.R.B. (F**k You Right Back) Mooted to be the ex-girlfriend of Eamon, this is Frankee's retort along with what is, essentially, the same backing track as Eamon's but with her own, equally bitter version of their 'break up'. Hotly tipped to be the next No.1, knocking Eamon off the top perch. Frankee has an album, 'The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly', coming out at the end of the month.
Goldfrapp - Strict Machine The re-release of 'Strict Machine' by glam-pop experimentalists Goldfrapp should see the band attain the kind of popularity afforded other crossover acts like Moloko and Junior Senior. Taken from the band's awesome 'Black Cherry' album - this is superior pop for modern times. A pounding drums & bass rhythm anchors typical Goldfrapp synth flights of fancy, with Alison's fabulous voice like a layer of shiny icing on the top. "Wonderful electric / ... when you send me a pulse / feel a wave of new love through me", and it's a great single.
Jay Z - 99 Problems / Dirt Off Your Shoulder '99 Problems/Dirt Off Your Shoulder' is the follow-up double-A single to the massive hit that was 'Change Clothes'. '99 Problems' features the legendary Rick Rubin on production duties. Rick Rubin is to rock what Dr Dre is to hip-hop. Ever since the album hit the streets, people have hailed '99 Problems' as a colossal moment of sheer genius. The track itself features Jay musing about his problems, underpinned by a massive guitar riff and a classic hip-hop beat. 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder' is produced by yet another legend, hip-hop impresario, Timbaland.
Morrissey - Irish Blood, English Heart After a long sojourn in the most un-Morrissey place of Los Angeles, Steven Patrick returns with this single from his first album since 1997's Maladajusted. The break has certainly done him good - Irish Blood English Heart is the best thing he's been involved with since The Smiths' heyday. Those who refuse to succumb to the charm of Moz will be left cold of course, but otherwise admirers of one of England's greatest living songwriters will be excited beyond words at the prospect of an album's worth of this quality. A definite rival to The Pixies as comeback of the year, for sure.
Katy Rose - Overdrive Don't confuse her with Avril Lavigne because although Katy Rose is a teenage singer songwriter she's a long way from the adolescent meanderings of her peers. The product of a musical family (her father played with Crosby, Stills and Nash), Rose has more in common with the alternative scene than chart pop. Her debut single 'Overdrive' taken from her debut album 'Because I Can' is a lyrically magnificent tale of LA life wrapped around a crashing tune of stringy guitars, blistering rhythms and could see her become the new Hilary Duff.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
Adem - These Are Your Friends
Bad Manner - What Who
The Bandits - No Shoes On My Feet
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - If Love Is The Drug Then I Want To OD
Dead 60s - You're Not The Law
DJ Hell - Listen To The Hiss
Faultline - Wild Horses / Biting Tongues
The Icarus Line - Party The Baby Off
The Innocence Mission - One For Sorrow, Two For Joy
Kasabian - Club Foot
Katastrophy Wife - Blue Valient
Diana Krall - Narrow Daylight
Mass - Testify
Method Man - What's Happenin'
Millwall FC - Volare
Modey Lemon - Crows
Mohair - Brown Eyes Blue
Jim Moray - The Sprig Of Thyme
The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
Ron Sexsmith - Not About To Lose
T. Raumschmiere - A Million Brothers (Blahblahblah)
Natalie Williams - Yours Truly
Single Release Schedule
May 17
411 featuring Ghostface Killah - On My Knees
ABBA - Waterloo
Barenaked Ladies - Celebrity
Bikini Atoll - Cheap Trick
Brand New - The Quiet Things That No-One Ever Knows
Calling - Our Lives
Cassidy featuring R Kelly - Hotel
Cherry Falls - All My Sins
Chikinki - Ether Radio
Chingy featuring J Weav - One Call Away
Corrs - Summer Sunshine
Cribs - What About Me?
Feist - One Night
Fraud - On To You
Gladiator featuring Izzy - Now We Are Free
Haiducii - Dragostea Din Tei
Jaimeson featuring Terri Walker - Common Ground
Jason Downs - Shut Up (Let's Hook Up)
Kevin Lyttle - Last Drop
Kurt Nilsen - She's So High
Lene Marlin - Another Day
Marjorie Fair - Stare
Method Man & Busta Rhymes - What's Happening?
Miss Kittin - Professional Distortion
Muse - Sing For Absolution
My Red Cell - In A Cage On Prozac
Nick Drake - Magic
NSM - Heat It Up
PJ Harvey - The Letter
Sarah Connor - Bounce
Stands - Outside Your Door
Sting - Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing)
Story Of The Year - Until The Day I Die
System Of Life - Luv Is Cool
Veils - The Tide That I Left
Vines - Winning Days
Zena featuring Beenie Man - Been Around The World
May 24
Alarm - New Home, New Life
All About Eve - Let Me Go Home
Amy Wadge - Just In Time
Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra - Jumping Jack Flash
Blonde Redhead - Equus
Deepest Blue - Is It A Sin?
DJ Sharon O Love & 3 Elements - Fast Car
Englebert Humperdinck - Release Me
Features - A Million Ways To Sing The Blues
Hinda Hicks - Up, Up
Hoobastank - The Reason
Hope Of The States - The Red, The White, The Black, The Blue
Hybrid - I'm Still Awake
InMe - Faster The Chase
Jagged Edge - What's It Like
Jimmy Johnstone & Shane MacGowan - Dirty Ole Town/Road To Paradise
Jessica Simpson - With You
Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Jody Lei - Just The Music
Junior Jack - Stupidisco
Kelis - Trick Me
Killers - Mr Brightside
Kristian Leontiou - Story Of My Life
Liars - We Fenced Other Gardens With Bones Of Our Own
Mark Owen - Makin' Out
Morjac featuring Marly - You Never Know
O-Zone - Mai-Ia-Hii
Pop! - Heaven And Earth
Sam & Mark - The Sun Has Come Your Way
Scooter - Jigga Jigga
Scout Niblett - Uptown Top Ranking
Signum - What Ya Got For Me?
Space - 20 Million Miles From Earth
Supergrass - Kiss Of Life
Thirteen Senses - Do No Wrong
Twen2y 4 Se7en - Hide
V - Blood, Sweat And Tears
May 31
3 Doors Down - Here Without You
Beastie Boys - Ch-Check It Out
D-Side - Pushin' Me Out
Datsuns - Blacken My Thumb
Drowning Pool - Step Up
Emma Bunton - Crickets Sing For Anamaria
Evanescence - Everybody's Fool
Faithless - Mass Destruction
Flip & Fill featuring Karen Parry - Discoland
Fountains Of Wayne - Mexican Wine
Ian Van Dahl - Where Are You Now
Kid Symphony - Never Been A Rockstar
Lulu - Keep Talkin' I'm Listening
Mario Winans featuring Enya & P Diddy - I Don't Wanna Know
My Red Cell - In A Cage (On Prozac)
Peter Andre - Insania
Stacie Orrico - I Could Be The One
Taz - Can't Contain Me
VS - Call U Sexy
Yellowcard - Way Away
June 7
Angel City featuring Lara McAllen - Touch Me
Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started
Blazin' Squad - Shorty
Brandy featuring Kanye West - Talk About Our Love
Britney Spears - Everytime
Candee Jay - If I Were You
Candice - Hello
Cornershop presents Bubbly Kaur - Topknot
Digital Diva - Heaven And Hell
Future Kings Of Spain - Venetian Blinds
Janet Jackson - All Nite (Don't Stop)/I Want You
Jurgen Vries featuring Andrea Britton - Take My Hand
Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson - All Falls Down
Keyshia Cole featuring Eve - Never
Linkin Park - Breaking The Habit
Loose Cannons - I Like It When Ya
N*E*R*D - Maybe
Razorlight - Golden Touch
Sarah McLachlan - Stupid
Scissor Sisters - Laura
Speedway - In And Out
June 14
Anastacia - Sick And Tired
Belle & Sebastian - Wrapped Up In Books
Ferry Corsten - It's Time
Five Star - System Addict 2004
Javine - Best Of My Love
Ordinary Boys - Talk Talk Talk
Outkast - Roses
Paul Weller - The Bottle
Phixx - Wild Boys
Rob Tissera & Vinylgroover - Stay
S Club 8 - Involved
Shonagh Daly - All I Want
Styles & Breeze - You're Shining
Usher - Burn
June 21
Bellefire - You Were Meant For Me
Beverley Knight - Come As You Are
FYA - Too Hot To Handle
Lemonescent - All Right Now/Bohemian Rain
McFly - Obviously
Rezonance Q - Sweetheart
June 28
Air - Alpha Beta Gaga
Fifth Avenue - Spanish Eyes
Kylie Minogue - Chocolate
Lindsay Armaou - Innocence (What U Got)
Mania - Looking For A Place To Go
Nelly Furtado - Forca
Savana - Pretty Lady
Will Young - Friday's Child
July 5
Agnetha Faltskog - When You Walk Into The Room
Blue - Bubblin'
Busted - 3AM
Hun - Gone Before It Happens
Kimberley Locke - Eighth World Wonder
Shaznay Lewis - Never Felt Like This Before
July 12
Ash - Starcross'd
Darren Hayes - Popular
Jamelia - See It In A Boy's Eyes
Michelle - Emotional
Rachel Stevens - Some Girls
Shape Shifters - Lola's Theme
Sugababes - Caught In A Moment
