by Mikey (Gillingham, Kent. UK)
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Jamelia - Thank You One of the surprise hits last year had to be 'Superstar', by this young and gifted female R&B singer Jamelia, her follow-up single 'Thank You' is about to do the same thing. Possibly the best song on the album of the same name as her title track 'Thank You', the song gently moves to a slower pace and the perfect soulful sound. The song sounds different to anything Jamelia has recorded before. The perfect R&B soulful ballad, and my tune of the week, go and buy it, make it a Top 3 hit. RATING 5/5
HOT SHOT RECORD
Lemar - Another Day Ex-Fame Academy star Lemar, should be smiling from ear to ear, he has had the best six months of his career after winning a Brit Award for the Best British Urban Act, and much loved star of the R&B music genre. Lemar is fresh, talented and his new single 'Another Day' is another brilliant R&B sound to add to his vocal talents, on the back of his last double A sided single '50/50 / Lullaby'. This song should shake off his severed links to Fame Academy, as Lemar could become one of the great R&B artists around. Craig David you better look over your shoulder, Lemar is catching you up! RATING 4/5
50 Cent - If I Can't / Poppin' Them Thangs Unfortunately there is one music genre I don't like and that is hip-hop, there is too much of it lately in our British charts. Here, we have 50 Cent releasing his brand new double A-sided single 'If I Can't / Poppin' Them Thangs'. It's the fourth single taken from the double platinum album 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. Well I truly can't listen to this song at all, I'm lost for words, its awful, if there was a category for the worst single of the week, and this has to be it. RATING 0/5
Agnelli & Nelson - Hold Onto Nothing It's been awhile since we had an Agnelli & Nelson single in the chart, their last single 'Hudson Street', did not fare too well for them. Here they return with their brand new release 'Hold Onto Nothing', hoping this time round, they could strike gold. This is a song that's got club anthem written all over it, it certainly going to be big in clubs, here's hoping for some chart success this time round. RATING 3/5
Peter Andre - Mysterious Girl Originally a hit in 1996, it peaked at No.2. This single has been championed by DJ, Chris Moyles of Radio 1 to be re-released, on the back of ITV's reality series, 'I'm A Celebrity� Get Me Outta Here', where Peter Andre participated in the reality game series. Why, oh why, has this single been rushed released, its beyond me, its just awful, somebody please pass me a shotgun. If you ever wondered how to find your way out of a jungle, just follow Jordan with her biggest assets, I guarantee you Peter won't be too far behind. RATING 0/5
Elbow - Not A Job Indie kings Elbow start the New Year with a new single, 'Not A Job' taken from their highly acclaimed second album 'Cast Of Thousands' its completely overshadowed by stellar B-sides. First there's an eerie cover of 'Teardrop' by Massive Attack, which retains the original's haunting quality whilst sounding warmer and more intimate. To top it off, the world-weary interpretation of Bruce Cockburn's 'Live On My Mind that is both soothing and sorrowful. RATING 2/5
JX - Restless JX (aka Jake Williams) returns with yet another smashing dancefloor filler for the masses. JX had a massive hit with 'Bullet In The Gun', which made an impact in the fall of 2000. This time, he has returned as a solo artist with a tune, 'Restless' it has all the ingredients of another hit with its superb memorable vocal that has been skillfully coupled with sublime chords and a lush euphoric riff. So get down to your local nightclubs and dance around your handbags. RATING 4/5
Kelly Llorenna - This Time I Know Its For Real 'This Time I Know its For Real' is the long-awaited comeback single by the one-time N-Trance vocalist Kelly Llorenna. Originally recorded by Donna Summer, peaked at No.3, in 1989. This time its re-recorded and given a dance trance makeover, by dance diva Kelly Llorenna. This does not match the original, but Kelly has reworked the track to bring it bang up to date as a catchy dancefloor filler anthem that you can't resist. RATING 2/5
Lowgold - Same Way Lowgold first charted in the music charts with 'Beauty Dies Young' in 2001. This is their first single 'Same Way', to be taken from their second studio album release 'Welcome To Winners'. After the release debacle of initial first single, 'We Don't Have Much Time' Lowgold release 'The Same Way' with dreams of hitting the top of the charts. A craving yet warm song 'The Same Way' is full of lyrical magic and top-drawer melody, for this hippy indie-rock group. RATING 1/5
Placebo - English Summer Rain The gothic band, Placebo first entered the chart with 'Teenage Angst', way back, in 1996, their biggest hit to date they ever had was 'Nancy Boy' which peaked at No.4, in 1997. Ever since then they have failed to ignite the chart nowhere near the Top 10, and with this new release, it isn't going to do any better. Their new single 'English Summer Rain', seems as if they have taken an occupation change in being weather forecasters, but here they are announcing, "English summer rain/seems to last for ages". Whether this is a criticism or mere remark is unclear, but the tune is hardly going to reach much recognition. RATING 1/5
VS - Love You Like Mad A new band by the name of VS releases their first debut single 'Love You Like Mad'. Their music is heavily based on R&B; don't know much about them, apart from Simon Webbe of Blue manages them. VS are three boys and two girls; their music is in the same vein as Big Brovaz heavily influenced on R&B music genre. The single 'Love You Like Mad' has got a feel good factor to it, but how long will they last their way in this music business, time will tell, in this cutthroat world of the music industry. RATING 2/5
Westlife - Obvious Following on from their No.1 hit of 'Mandy' the boys are back with another ballad this time, with their brand new release 'Obvious'. 'Obvious' is one of those songs that starts off well, then after you heard it so many times it becomes bland. I think this is one of those songs, which could easily get stuck on the shelves; it does not do anything to me, not even pulling my heartstrings to a flutter. RATING 1/5
Zero 7 - Home Three years following the worldwide success of their 2001 debut album 'Simple Things', Zero 7's Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker return with their warm and absorbing follow-up full-length album 'When It Falls'. From it the first single 'Home' is the first single, taken from their brand new album, which features new Danish vocalist Tina Dico. Tina gives the tune a dark and sparse feel as her vocals overlay the cross-eyed melodies and lullaby bass. Very moody, dark toned song that fits her voice pretty well, easy listening to the ears. RATING 4/5
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
Airbiscuit - Lately
Antoine ft. Kirsty R - Forever Autumn
Archie Bronson Outfit - Kangaroo Heart
Autamata - Jellyman
Black Grass - Going Home
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Six Barrel Shotgun
Blonde Redhead - Elephant Woman
Fiery Furnances - Tropical Iceland
Gold Cash Gold - Vultures
Her Space Holiday - My Girlfriend's Boyfriend
Icarus Line - Up Against The Wall
John Frusciante - Shadows Collide With People
Lautrec ft. Terry Hall - Things
Love Inc - Into The Night
Master Blaster - Hypnotic Tango
Republic Of Loose - Girl, I'm Gonna F**k You Up
Rude Rkade - Beautiful
Scott Brown - I Would Stay
Space - Suburban Rock 'N' Roll
Stellastarr - My Coco
Stylus Junkies - Food For Thought
The Cribs - You Were Always The One
Tiffany Gayle - Do You wanna Dance?
Wayne Williams - All About The Sex
Wilshire - Special
Single Release Schedule
March 1
Acoustic Love Experience - Painted Pony
Beenie Man - Dude
Blink-182 - I Miss You
Britney Spears - Toxic
Chicks On Speed - Wordy Rappinghood
DJ Casper - Cha-Cha Slide
Eastern Lane - Saffron
Elton John - The Heart Of Every Girl
Features - Way It's Meant To Be
FYA featuring Smujji - Must Be Love
George Michael - Amazing
Goldfrapp - Black Cherry
Gomez - Catch Me Up
Ilya - Bellissimo
Jungle Boys - Jungle Rock/The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Kylie Minogue - Red Blooded Woman
No Doubt - It's My Life/Bathwater
Open - Close My Eyes
Paddy Casey - Saints And Sinners
Starsailor - Four To The Floor
Tezla - All Night
The Mars Volta - Televators
The Shins - So Say I
Thirteen Senses - Thru The Glass
Timbaland & Magoo featuring Missy Elliot - Cop That Disc
Velcra - Can't Stop Fighting
Weevil - No Harm EP
March 8
Amp Fiddler - I Believe In You
Aquabox - Sweet Clarity
Armin Van Buuren featuring Justine Suissa - Burned With Desire
B2K - Badaboom
Bic Runga - Get Some Sleep
Bronx - They Will Kill Us All
Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance
Chikinki - Like It Or Leave It
Counting Crows - Hanginaround
Cypress Hill - What's Your Number
Despina Vandi - Gia
Enrique Iglesias featuring Kelis - Not In Love
Fountains Of Wayne - Stacy's Mom
Gomez - Catch Me Up
Graham Coxon - Freakin' Out
Haven - Wouldn't Change A Thing
Jamie Cullum - These Are The Days
Jennifer Lopez featuring R Kelly - Baby I Love U
Jet - Look What You've Done
Kurt Nilsen - She's So High
Laura Veirs - Cloud Room
Marques Houston featuring Joe Budden - Clubbin'
Moneybrother - Reconsider Me
My Red Cell - Knock Me Down
Nic Armstrong - Broken Mouth Blues EP
Northern Heightz - Look At Us
Phixx - Love Revolution
Sarah McLachlan - Fallen
Seraphim Suite - Heart
Special D - Come With Me
Tejo, Black Alien & Speed - Follow Me, Follow Me
The Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama
The Vines - Rides
Three Doors Down - Here Without You
March 15
Alistair Griffin - You And Me (Tonight)
Aloud - Bob O'Lean
Anastacia - Left Outside Alone
B3 - Night Fever/I.O.I.O.
Bell X1 - Alphabet Soup
Courtney Love - Mono
Cypress Hill - What's Your Number?
Daniel Wylie - Make Love To The World
Dead Prez - Hell Yeah
Delta Goodrem - Throw It Away
Dido - Don't Leave Home
Four Tet - My Angel Rocks Back And Forth
Frances Rufelle - Smile (from McCain advert)
Janet Jackson - Just A Little While
Katie Melua - Call Off The Search
Keisha White - Watcha Gonna Do
Kid Symphony - Meet You On The Other Side
Kraftwerk - Aero Dynamik
Mark Joseph - Bringing Back Those Memories
Nelly Furtado - Try
NERD - She Wants To Move
Nickelback - Feelin' Way Too Damn Good
Simply Red - Home
Skylark - That's More Like It
The Killers - Somebody Told Me
Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris - Yeah
Will Young - Your Game
March 22
Amen - California's Bleeding
Blue - Breathe Easy
KoRn - Y'all Want A Single
Missy Elliot - I'm Really Hot
Outkast - The Way You Move
So Solid Crew - So Grimey
South - Colours In Waves
Sugababes - In The Middle
The Darkness - Friday Night/Love Is Only A Feeling
The Divine Comedy - Come Home Billy Bird
Travis - Love Will Come Through
March 29
Atomic Kitten - Someone Like Me/Right Now
Basement Jaxx featuring JC Chasez - Plug It In
Beyonce featuring Lil' Kim - Naughty Girl
Hayley Westenra - Wuthering Heights
Lasgo - Surrender
McFly - 5 Colours In Her Hair
Michelle - The Meaning Of Love
Ohm - Forget Who We Are
Pet Shop Boys - Flamboyant
Shania Twain - She's Not Just A Pretty Face
Twista - Slow Jamz
Wiley - Wot Do U Call It?
April 5
Agnetha Faltskog - If I Thought You'd Change Your Mind
Alanis Morrisette - Everything
Big Brovaz - We Wanna Thank You (Things That You Do)
D-Side - Pushin' Me Out
JC Chasez - Some Girls (Dance With Women)
Muse - Sing For Absolution
Narcotic Thrust - I Like It
Ordinary Boys - Week In, Week Out
Pink - Catch Me While I'm Sleeping
Snow Patrol - Chocolate
The Bandits - No Shoes On My Feet
April 12
Ashanti - Break Up 2 Make Up
Busted - Air Hostess
April 19
Fraud - On To You
Scooter - Jigga Jigga
April 26
Emma Bunton - Crickets Sing For Anamaria
Keane - Everybody's Changing
Natasha Bedingfield - Single
The Streets - You're Fit And You Know It
