LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts/ by Jenny McCarthy - Staff Writer)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Flo Rida featuring Wynter - Sugar: At first listen I thought I had travelled back in time to the year 1999 or so, a bad time in this particular instance, where I was at one of those awkward parties after an awkward school dance, where a song called 'Blue', or 'I'm blue' or something along those lines was one of those hit songs that plagued those sort of situations, one of the ones you just couldn't get away from as hard as you tried. This track is light, sweet, and it's another irresistible smash from Flo Rida. Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" has one of those hooks that grabbed everyone instantaneously the first time around...
HOT SHOT RECORD
Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden - Bonkers: Dizzee is proving to the world that he's not 'just a rapper' or indeed a pop star, as he once again pushes the boat out with his latest release and challenges the boundaries of hip-hop. Dizzee's instantly recognisable voice and trademark delivery of lyrics combined with the honed skills of producer Van Helden make for a poppy, yet surprisingly dance-orientated release that despite perhaps being a bit full on for daytime radio, will no doubt prove to be an unbelievable success as bloggers the world over and music fans are already busy doing the PR work for this track and selling it to themselves! 'Bonkers' will surely be the sound of the summer for thousands and I predict that his show at the already infamous 'Ibiza Rocks' in August will see this track at its best.
Graham Coxon - Sorrow's Army: Lead single Sorrow's Army (from new album 'Spinning Top') flickers fantastically into life when the skiffle kicks in. The single has inklings of Elvis Costello and it is routed by frisky folk-blues stylings. The single is a stunning display of virtuosity, with Coxon's voice rarely sounding better! However, this is not pastiche - Coxon is a very mature songwriter, and he manages to sustain a very powerful atmosphere of wistfulness, hope, fragility, pensiveness, sometimes melancholia, but always great warmth and humanity throughout this track, which demands to be heard in its completeness, from start to finish.
Killers - The World We Live In: The song begins, puffs itself up - accompanied by a sympathetic brass band and some 'tasty' lead guitar work - then it makes a tentative trot down the runway and then just keeps on running until it stops. And while it's nice that the band have relaxed a bit and toned down their histrionic edge for a song or two, it's hard to escape the idea that they put more work into making this sound like an anthem than they did making it sound like a great 80s song. "The World We Live In," is again reminiscent of 80s pop, with a beat that I would expect from an Annie Lennox single from the early nineties. Really solid lyrics get lost in the dreary beat and uninspired instrumentation...
Jade Ewen - It's My Time: Ahhh, Eurovision! This song is actually pretty much nothing but a big sweeping chorus that seems to get louder each time it's repeated, with another section of the orchestra kicking in beneath it. "I've got the will, I've earned the right," croons Ewen before the bombast begins, "to show you it's my time tonight".
In Eurovision terms, this is one of UK more impactful songs of recent years. The song is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren. The UK has broken with tradition this year by not letting the public chose its Eurovision song, which is obviously a good thing because, judging by our last few entries, the British public are all medically braindead!
Linkin Park - New Divide: In true summer blockbuster form, director/executive producer Michael Bay has turned to multiplatinum rock band Linkin Park to be part of the sonic backdrop for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The band just completed writing and recording the film's theme song and is contributing to the score with award-winning composer Steve Jablonsky (Transformers, Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and the score's executive producer, Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.
The song, 'New Divide,' is slated for a worldwide radio premiere on May 18 and will be available for purchase on iTunes immediately thereafter. It will also appear on the Warner Bros. Records soundtrack album, which arrives in stores on June 23. "I love Linkin Park," says director/executive producer Michael Bay. "This is the second film we've worked on together and the fact that they're huge Transformers fans makes it all the better. They really delivered with 'New Divide' - it's a great song that perfectly matches the film's intensity."
Paolo Nutini - Candy: A strong first single from Paolo Nutini's new album 'Sunny Side Up', Candy shows influences like Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, and Smokey Robinson and fuses them into something completely original, delivered convincingly in Paolo's uniquely beautiful voice. I really like the song and can't wait for his album Sunny Side Up, which is released on June 1st - Just in time for summer. Paolo Nutini, for all that he can pen a decent song about buying shoes, fell firmly into that category. Or so I thought.
Ronan Keating - This Is Your Song: Irish pop singer Ronan Keating wrote this song for both of his parents around March 1998, a month after his mother's death from breast cancer. 'This is Your Song' will only be available as a download. The song is included on his fifth studio album, Songs For My Mother, which was released by Polydor Records on March 16, 2009 across the world.
Besides recording cover versions of songs he recalls her listening to during his childhood, the Boyzone star also re-recorded a new version of his own track 'This Is Your Song' for the collection.
The video for was filmed in Sydney, Australia around April 2009. Keating is seen visiting a house that appears to be his childhood home, and his flashbacks of his childhood with his mother are projected around him.
Simple Minds - Rockets: 'Rockets' is a Simple Minds original composed by Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Gordy Goudie. 'The song is a sparkling piece of pop music that drove me nuts during last summer when I could not get the various hooks that underline it out of my head,' says Jim Kerr. 'Even when I was asleep I could hear the damn thing play on.'
Whereas their contemporaries such as Duran Duran, U2 and Depeche Mode still manage to put out material that is up to date, relevant and that reaches out to new audiences, for the last decade or so, Simple Minds have struggled without the musical driving forces of Mick MacNeil and Derek Forbes, are still only half the band they used to be, despite the best efforts of their replacements. The Graffiti Soul album will be released a week later on Monday 25th May, and will include eight new Simple Minds original songs, plus two bonus tracks including a cover of Neil Young's 'Rockin' in the Free World' and the Simple Minds original 'Shadows and Light'
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK:
18th May
Absent Elk - Sun And Water
Aliens - The Sunlamp Show (EP)
Black Lips - I'll Be With You
Blackout - Children Of The Night
Daniel Merriweather - Red
Datarock - Give It Up
Dub Pistols featuring Ashley Slater - Back To Daylight
Eels - My Timing Is Off / Fresh Blood
Eg - Broken
Gary Go - Open Arms
God Help The Girl - Come Monday Night
Helena Jessie - Speaking Of Happiness / In These Shoes
Innerpartysystem - Heart Of Fire (EP)
Jukebox The Ghost - Hold It In
Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van
Liz McClarnon featuring Jaime Jay & Blaaze - Lately
Malcolm Middleton - Red Travellin' Socks
Marilyn Manson - Arma Goddamn Mother****in Geddon
Phantom Band - Howling
Phoenix - Lisztomania
Scott Bruton & Daisy Wood Davis - Dreamboats & Petticoats
Scott Matthews - Fractured
Silhouette - Masquerade
Sparrow & The Workshop - Devil Song / The Cold Hearted Twist
Star Pilots - In The Heat Of The Night
Team Waterpolo - Room 44
Toddla T & Herve - Shake It
White Light Parade - Wake Up
25th May
Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
Boy Better Know - Too Many Man
Cass McCombs - Dreams Come True Girl
Cornershop - The Roll-Off Characteristics (Of History In The Making)
Crazy Arm - Broken By The Wheel
Dani Harmer - Free
Dragonette - Fixin' To Thrill
Howling Bells - Digital Hearts
James Yuill - Over The Hills
Jem - And So I Pray
Joy Formidable - Whirring
Kevin Rudolf featuring Kid Cudi - Welcome To The World
Little Boots - New In Town
Magistrates - Heartbreak
Mica Paris - Baby Come Back Now
Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction
Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel '09
Shontelle featuring Akon - Stuck With Each Other
Sonia - Fool For Love
Stunt - I'll Be There
TV On The Radio - Crying
Veronicas - Untouched
You Me At Six - Finders Keepers
1st Jun
Ashley Tisdale - It's Alright It's OK
Axwell, Ingrosso, Angello & Laidback Luke featuring Deborah Cox - Leave The World Behind
Blue Roses - I Am Leaving
Carolina Liar - Show Me What I'm Looking For
Client - Can You Feel
Demi Lovato - La La Land
Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People
Enter Shikari - Juggernauts
Fray - Never Say Never
Hockey - Learn To Lose
Just Jack - Doctor Doctor
Kasabian - Fire
Kelly Clarkson - I Do Not Hook Up
Kissy Sell Out - This Kiss
Matt & Kim - Lessons Learned
N-Dubz - Wouldn't You
Nate Campany & The Serenade - Stockholm, Paris, New York
Opposite Worlds - Feel
Panjabi MC - Snake Charmer
Peggy Sue - Lover Gone
Pet Shop Boys - Did You See Me Coming
Placebo - For What Its Worth
Rakes - That's The Reason
T.I. - Whatever You Like
Wave Machines - I Go I Go I Go
8th Jun
Airborne Toxic Event - Happiness Is Overrated
All American Rejects - I Wanna
Basement Jaxx - Raindrops
Cartridge - The Woods
Hatcham Social - Crocodile
Johnny Bennett - Sailboat
Jonas Brothers - Paranoid
Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
Lemonheads - I Just Can't Take It Anymore
Leona Naess - Leave Your Boyfriend Behind
Mastodon - Oblivion
Mika - Songs For Sorrow (EP)
Neil Sedaka - Do You Remember
Papa Roach - Lifeline
Pixie Lott - Mama Do
Proclaimers - Love Can Move Mountains
Rose Elinor Dougall - Start/Stop/Synchro
Shinedown - Second Chance
Vagabond - Sweat (Until The Morning)
VV Brown - Shark In The Water
Yeah You's - 15 Minutes
15th Jun
Black Stone Cherry - Things My Father Said
Blazin' Squad - Let's Start Again
Busta Rhymes - World Go Round
Depeche Mode - Peace
Dinosaur Jr - Over It
Gaslight Anthem - The 59 Sound
Gossip - Heavy Cross
Jack Pen~ate - Be The One
Jarvis Cocker - Angela
Kid British - Our House Is Dadless
Kid Harpoon - Stealing Cars
La Roux - Bulletproof
Lenka - The Show
Melanie Fiona - Give It To Me Right
Noisettes - Never Forget You
Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober
Patrick Wolf - Hard Times
Script - Before The Worst
Soft Toy Emergency - Critical
Soulja Boy - Kiss Me Thru The Phone
Take That - Said It All
White Lies - Death
Wilco - Wilco (The Song)
22nd Jun
Bat For Lashes - Pearl's Dream
Big Pink - Stop The World
Bombay Bicycle Club - Dust On The Ground
Cherri V - Until The Sun Comes Up
Defend Moscow - Die Tonight
Florence & The Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
Freemasons featuring Sophie Ellis Bextor - Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer
Lazee featuring Neverstore - Hold On
Mando Diao - Mean Streets
Marina & The Diamonds - The Crown Jewels (EP)
Rob Thomas - Her Diamonds
Royksopp featuring Robyn - The Girl & The Robot
Slow Club - It Doesn't Have To Be Beautiful / Wild Blue Milk
Tommy Reilly - Jackets
Wallis Bird - LaLa Land
29th Jun
3OH!3 - Don't Trust Me
Ali Campbell - Out From Under
Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes
Billy Talent - Rusted From The Rain
Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor
Dan Black - Symphonies
David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over
Don Diablo & Example - Hooligans
Fight Like Apes - Something Global
Gathania - Blame It On You
Hannah - Keeping Score
Jamie T - Sticks 'N' Stones (EP)
Jordin Sparks - Battlefield
Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo - Knock You Down
Lisa Hannigan - I Don't Know
Lonely Island - Like A Boss
Rumble Strips - Not The Only Person
Saturdays - Work
Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
Virgins - Hey Hey Girl
Vogue - Twilight
Voluntary Butler Scheme - Tabasco Sole
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll
6th Jul
Benassi vs Bowie - DJ
Filthy Dukes featuring Tommy Sparks - Messages
Frankmusik - Confusion Girl
Jack Savoretti - Map Of The World
Twang - Barney Rubble
White Denim - I Start To Run
13th Jul
Alina - When You Leave
James Morrison - Nothing Ever Hurt Like You
JLS - Beat Again
Mr Hudson - Supernova
20th Jul
Dolly Rockers - Je Suis Une Dolly
Lonnie Gordon - Catch You Baby
MSTRKRFT featuring John Legend - Heartbreaker
September - Until I Die
Coming Soon
AC/DC - Anything Goes / Big Jack
Alcazar - Burning
Alex Roots - Fake
Anastacia - Defeated
Annie - My Love Is Better
Ash - Return Of White Rabbit
Bandito - Rockin' At The Disco
Basic Element - Touch You Right Now
Billy Talent - Devil On My Shoulder (Aug)
Bimbo Jones - And I Try
Blackout Crew - Dialled
Bob Sinclar featuring Sugarhill Gang - Lala Song
Booty Luv - Say It (Aug)
Britney Spears - Radar
BWO - Right Here Right Now (Jun)
Cahill - Sex Shooter
Charlotte Hatherley - Winter
Chicane - House Arrest (Jun)
Chris Cornell - Long Gone
Cicada - Metropolis
Cutback featuring Federal - Rock To The Rhythm
Daniela - Push It Up
Deerhunter - Never Stops
Detachments - Circles
Dolores O'Riordan - The Journey (Jul)
E-Type - Rain
Elin Lanto - Discotheque
Elliott Minor - Discover (Why Love Hurts)
Enemy - Sing When You're In Love
Example - Girl Can't Dance (Jun)
Flo Rida - Jump It (27th Jul)
Fragma - Memory
Friday Night Posse - Before He Cheats
Humanzi - Bass Balls (3rd Aug)
Janelle Monae - Many Moons
Jenny Jones - Don't Walk Away
Julian Velard - Love Again For The First Time
Just Jack - The Day I Died (Aug)
Kanye West featuring Kid Cudi - Welcome To Heartbreak
Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone
Kelly Llorenna - Dress You Up
Lady Gaga - Paparazzi
Laura And The Tears - Love Live On!
M Ward - Rave On (Jun)
Maria Lawson - These Walls
Metric - Stadium Love
Natalie Imbruglia - tba
Natural Born Grooves - Candy On The Dancefloor
Ne-Yo - Part Of The List
Noisettes - Every Now And Then (Aug)
One eskimO - Hometime / Givin' Up
Paloma Faith - New York
Pixie Lott - Gravity (Aug)
Platnum - Trippin'
Razorlight - Burberry Blue Eyes
Regina Spektor - Laughing With
Sean Kingston - Fire Burning
Simian Mobile Disco - Audacity Of Huge (3rd Aug)
Slipknot - Sulfur
Streets - The Edge Of A Cliff
Swingfly - Singing That Melody
Tina Cousins - Sex On Fire
Troubadours - Gimme Love (10th Aug)
Ultrabeat - Starry Eyed Girl
Urbnri featuring Shaun Ryder - Georgy Best
Veils - Three Sisters
DOWNLOAD ONLY RELEASES:
Daughtry - No Surprise (22/05)
Agnes - Release Me (25/05)
Annie Lennox - Pattern Of My Life (25/05)
Eddi Reader - Roses (25/05)
Eugene McGuinness - Wendy Wonders (25/05)
Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain - Blame It (25/05)
Kate Ryan - Ella Elle L'a (25/05)
Laurent Wolf - No Stress (25/05)
Luigi Masi - Armed With Love (25/05)
Melody Gardot - Baby I'm A Fool (25/05)
Snow Patrol - The Planets Bend Between Us (25/05)
Speech Debelle - Go Then Bye (25/05)
Taylor Swift - Teardrops On My Guitar (25/05)
Tori Amos - Welcome to England (25/05)
Blackbud - You Can Run (01/06)
Solange - T.O.N.Y. (01/06)
Chaka Khan featuring Mary J Blige - Disrespectful (08/06)
Skyla - Breaking Free (08/06)
Xcerts - Just Go Home (08/06)
Starsailor - All The Plans (15/06)
Duckworth Lewis Method - The Age Of Revolution (22/06)
Attack! Attack! - Honesty (06/07)
