- by Mikey (Gillingham, Kent, UK)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Jamelia - See It In A Boy's Eyes The third single from her Thank You album, �See It In A Boy�s Eyes� is backed by a cover of Linkin Park's Numb, new song Taxi and an acoustic version of Thank You from Joe Whiley's Radio 1 show. Chris Martin wrote it and also sings backing vocals and plays the piano on this cool R&B track. This has to be my record of the week, a great record that deserves to be No.1. Go and buy it.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Snow Patrol - Spitting Games 2004 has certainly been Snow Patrol�s year. From being perennial indie under-achievers they have emerged, butterfly-like, from the cocoon of obscurity to become one of the most celebrated bands in Britain. �Spitting Games�, taken from their wonderful �Final Straw� album, is an upbeat slice of summery-pop that should consolidate the band as the success story of the year. Exceptional music from an exceptional band.
Bloc Party - Little Thoughts / Tulips The coolest art rockers on the block release their first single proper (after two limited edition singles on Trash Aesthetics and Moshi Moshi) with the magnificent �Little Thoughts�. Bloc Party are becoming the buzz band of the moment and on listening to �Little Thoughts� you can quite clearly see why. Blinding stuff.
Flip & Fill ft. Karen Parry - Discoland Dance duo Flip and Fill hold their stance on dance culture with their new single 'Discoland'. The track features the vocals of Karen Parry and a mix from the guys, backed with one from Cheeky Trax - it looks like another Flip & Fill success!!! And comes with mixes from Flip and Fills' Mark Hall and Graham Turner. This is certainly one dance filler to shake your bootie all nite long.
FYA - Too Hot Kizzi (17), Tenza (19) and Emma (17) prove they are too hot to handle with releases showing FYA do what they do best - mixing pop and dancehall to create one sizzling musical explosion. Discovered in their local youth centre in Slough, FYA were the subject of an intense bidding war before turning down nine offers from major labels to sign with Def Jam UK. And here they release their follow up to �It Must Be Love� with �To Hot�, taken from their debut album �For Your Attention�. They are ready to blow up on the R&B music scene, a girl band, which will definitely make their mark into the music scene.
J-Kwon - Tipsy J-Kwon is a 17-year-old kid who knew from an early age that he was cut out to be a rapper. His debut album, entitled 'Hood-Hop', features the bass-heavy single 'Tipsy', a track that J-Kwon calls a "crazy party joint with an old school feel". 'Tipsy' is pushing the Crunk sound even further this year by taking it out the clubs and into the homes of the head-nodding teenager.
Morrissey - First Of The Gang To Die Probably the best song on Morrissey�s mighty comeback record, �First Of The Gang To Die� is a majestic slice of indie-pop that recalls much of his earlier, highly regarded, solo work. Detailing the life (and death) of anti-hero Hector and his role in Mexican youth culture, this is a sophisticated track featuring an insistent tune and provocative lyric that proves that the mighty Morrissey is back to his magnificent best.
Nelly Furtado - Forca �Forca� is the official song of Euro 2004 and the third track to be lifted from Nelly�s sublime sophomore album �Folklore�. This is a great follow-up to her last single and the chorus is sung in Nelly�s native Portuguese (fitting as the tournament is being played in Portugal) and translates as: 'Don�t give up/Keep on going'. One of her best singles to date by far, and a great tune to listen to.
Rachel Stevens - Some Girls Some Girls� is the red-hot hit for the summer from former S Club saucepot Rachel Stevens. Co-written and produced by Richard X it brims with energy and verve as Rachel�s sublime vocals wrap themselves around an irresistible bass-line and contagious drumbeat. This is the official single for Sport Relief 04 and is Rachel�s finest song to date. It actually sounds like a Goldfrapp single, but it�s not, all credit goes to Rachel Stevens, with a sure fire hit.
ShapeShifters - Lola's Theme Shaping up to be one of the tunes of the year, the track has risen from the underground and caused an unprecedented reaction not seen since Spiller's 'Groovejet'. The tune is the work of Nocturnal Groove creator Simon Marlin and his partner in crime, Max Reich. Shapeshifter's 'Lola's Theme' first set dance floors alight over the Christmas period and continues to gather new fans at an incredible rate. It stands out a mile with its irresistible groove, addictive hook, and epic sound.
Soda Club - Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use) The Soda Club are back with what they do best, re-vamping and re-working classics from yester-year. This time Soda have re-rubbed Sub Sub's 93 classic 'Ain't No Love (Ain�t No Use)', which sits right at home on the dancefloors. Another sure-fire dance hit, which should put dance music back on the music scene after a slow start, along with the Shapeshifters single.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
4 Strings - Turn It Round
Almighty Allstars - Passion
B-Boys - Shake Da Body
Beats For Beginners - Summer Lovers
Beta Band - Out-Side
Cornershop - Topknot
Ed Real & The Coalition - 20,000 Hardcore Members
Hypo Psycho - Public Enemy No.1
International Noise Conspiracy - Black Mask
Kings Of Tomorrow - Dreams
Lenny Kravitz - California
Marillion - Don't Hurt Yourself
Master Blaster - Hypnotic Tango
Michelle Gayle - Don't Want It
Mull Historical Society - How 'Bout I Love You More?
Sigur R�s - Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do
Single Release Schedule
July 19
Alanis Morissette - Out Is Through
Alex Lloyd - Hello The End
Aloud - Sex And Sand
Ash - Starcrossed
Badly Drawn Boy - Year Of The Rat
The Cure - End Of The World
Dios - Starting Five
Eight - Supernatural
Estelle - 1980
Ilya - Bliss
Jackie O - I Believe In A Thing Called Love
Katie Melua - Crawling Up A Hill
Killcity - Bruce Lee
Kimberley Locke - Eighth World Wonder
Little Joe Zero - Just So You Know
Lou Reed - Satellite Of Love '04
Mark Roberts - Cross Of St. George
Marques Houston featuring Jermaine "JD" Dupri - Pop That Booty
Matt Goss - Fly
Minus - Long Face
Monroe - Smile
Music - Welcome To The North
Nic Armstrong - Natural Flair Down Home Girl
Pato Banton - Pretty Woman
PJ Harvey - You Come Through
Rodney P - Trouble
Royal Gigolos - California Dreamin'
Seether featuring Amy Lee - Broken
Skinny Man - I'll Be Surprised
The Shins - Fighting In A Sack
Smuji - K.O.
The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
Styles & Breeze - You're Shining
Tom Baxter - This Boy
July 26
Ako - Last Goodbye
Ana Johnsson - We Are
Anastacia - Sick And Tired
Breed 77 - World's On Fire
Busted - 3AM/Thunderbirds Are Go
Camera Obscura - Keep It Clean
Candidate - Another One Down
The Charlatans - Try Again Today
D12 - How Come
Deeyah - I Saw You
Graham Coxon - Spectacular
Houston featuring Chingy, I-20 & Nat� Dogg - I Like That
Jennifer Ellison - Bye Bye Boy
Kane - Rain Down On Me
Mania - Looking For A Place
Mark Morrison - Just A Man
Minimal Chic featuring Matt Goss - I Need The Key
Moby & Public Enemy - Make Love, F**k War
New Rhodes - I Wish I Was You
Polyphonic Spree - Hold Me Now
Rufus Wainwright - I Don't Know What It Is
Sandra McCraken - Last Goodbye
Secret Machines - Nowhere Again
Timbaland & Magoo - Indian Flute
Vinylgroover & The Red Hed - The Answer
Zena featuring Vybz Kartel - Been Around The World
August 2
Acoustic Love Experience - Painted Pony
Angie Stone - I Wanna Thank You
ATL - Make It Up With Love
Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending
Charlotte Hatherley - Summer
Damien Dempsey - Apple Of My Eye
DT8 Project - The Sun Is Shining (Down On Me)
Grand National - Cherry Tree
Innocence Mission - One For Sorrow, Two For Joy
Jamie Scott - Just
Johnny Boy - You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes...
Killcity - Bruce Lee
Prince - Cinnamon Girl
Sia - Where I Belong
Silvertide - The EP
Sirens - Baby (Off The Wall)
Spiderbait - Black Betty
Stellar Project featuring Brandi Emma - Get Up, Stand Up
August 9
3 Of A Kind - Baby Cakes
Air - Alpha Beta Gaga
Beenie Man - King Of The Dancehall
The Calling - Things Will Go My Way
Drew - You Don't Know Me
Gemma Fox - Gone
Jay-Z - Encore
Johnny Panic - Burn Your Mouth
Kasabian - L.S.F.
The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now
Lloyd Banks - On Fire
Madrugada - Blood Shot Adult Commitment
Marly - You Never Know
The Rasmus - Guilty
Scent - Up And Down
Skandinavia - Never Too Late
Soda Club - Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)
Soulwax - Any Minute Now
V - Hip To Hip
August 16
Bellefire - Spin The Wheel
Deepest Blue - Shooting Star
Dido - Sand In My Shoes
Franz Ferdinand - Michael
Gabrielle - Ten Years' Time
Goldie Lookin' Chain - Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do
Javine - Don't Walk Away/You've Got A Friend
Jill Scott - Golden
Keane - Bedshaped
Kristian Leontiou - Shining
Ll Cool J - Headsprung
Matthew Oliver - I'm Single
Natasha Bedingfield - These Words
NSM - Don't Say It
Razorlight - Vice
Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue
Sugababes - Caught In A Moment
Twista featuring Anthony Hamilton - Sunshine
August 23
The 411 - Dumb
Amy Winehouse - (F**k Me) Pumps/Help Yourself
Black Keys - 10 AM
Candice - Hello
Christina Milian featuring Joe Budden - Whatever You Want
Darren Hayes - Popular
Eamon - I Love Them Hos
Faithless - I Want More
Fifth Avenue - Spanish Eyes
Fountains Of Wayne - Hey Julie
Jet - Cold Hard Bitch
The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
Kings Of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You
Mark Owen - Boogie Nights
Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved
Ultrabeat - Better Than Life
August 30
Beastie Boys - Triple Trouble
Cassidy - Get No Better
David Guetta featuring Chris Willis - Stay
Embrace - Gravity
Kanye West - Jesus Walks
Nelly - Flap Your Wings/My Place
Neo Cortex - Elements
Paul Weller - Wishing On A Star
Prodigy - Girls/Memphis Bells
The Thrills - Whatever Happened To Corey Haim?
September 6
Alcazar - This Is The World We Live In
Green Day - American Idiot
Maria Mena - You Are The Only One
The Music - Freedom Fighters
Scissor Sisters - Mary
September 13
Alicia Keys - Karma
Fatboy Slim - Slash Dot Slash
Jessica Simpson - Take My Breath Away
Kelis - Millionaire
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
McFly - That Girl
