Sunday 18 November 2012
New Releases 19th November 2012
This week's UK Top 40 was revealed yesterday and the top 3 are all new releases, so it looks unlikely that a high climber is going to pinch the crown any time soon. And since One Direction are currently number one, we are in desperate need of some big contenders to knock them off the top (Please Do). This week's new releases may just hold the answer, despite being a mixed bag not only in terms of taste, but genres as well.
First up, we have Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys, a mid-tempo hip-hop/R&B track which debuted at the VMAs and has had a brilliant reception since, with plenty of airplays and a few of my fellow DJs have started humming it (quite embarrassingly in some cases). It's been released in almost every country except the UK. The only fear with this one is that its been played so much people may be starting to get sick of it... but when has that stopped people before? The single is on an EP with an Inferno remix; a slightly jumpier version with hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj providing 2 extra verses; and the Bluelight mix, which has a much softer feel to it, with vocals that are allowed to stray wildly from the script, less of a punchy beat and a more soulful tone to it. This track is probably going to add to the list of "Alicia's power ballads" which always have done well in the charts, I would not be at all surprised to see this at number 1 next week.
Next, Don't Judge Me by Chris Brown, is currently at number 42 in the chart, but considering it only came out on Sunday morning, that's pretty good going. The track is not what you'd normally expect from Chris Brown, some speculate that it may even be an apology to Rihanna. It's received a critical reception, with some saying it's a tender, heartfelt "Take me as I am" ballad that wrenches your heart from its strings; whilst others see it as a weak and wincing twitter rant with the words of someone who still doesn't quite grasp the extent of what he has done in the past. To be honest, I feel its a song that doesn't have you running to the shops to buy it (unless you're a fangirl/boy in which case why are you reading this?) but is the kind of thing you have to be in the mood for, and I don't see it as reaching the top 10 this week.
Remember Me by Daley featuring Jesse J, and is his debut single. Daley has previously appeared on Gorillaz album Plastic Beach alongside Damon Albarn. The track is light electro with pop elements rooted deep in soul. Reminiscent of early Winehouse, it clearly shows off Daley's strong soulful vocals. Jesse J provides the chorus, backing vocals and stunning harmonies. In my personal view this is a brilliant track to start off what I hope is going to be a long and prosperous career for Daley. This is 100% my belter of the week.
Something New is Girls Aloud's new single. Which has a contemporary new sound, as well a Minaj-esque rap section and a shouty distorted distorted tone similar to that of Beyonce's Run The World (Girls) ; although somehow they still manage to sound like Girls Aloud's previous poppy songs. It's also this year's Children in Need track, that's the issue I have with it. It sounds in no way like a charity single, so it kind of feels like "Yes, this is all about the children and absolutely nothing to do with us re-forming and promoting a surprise world tour in 3 months *nudge nudge wink wink* and I personally think that our charity single is better, but I might be slightly biased. Although, to give credit to Cheryl Cole, she has done a lot for charity, so maybe she deserves it. As much as it saddens me to say this, I think this probably going to be number one next week, just because its a Children in Need single and not because of whatever musical quality it has.
Party's Over Here by Mike Delinquent Project ft Donae'o, MZ Bratt and Kcat. Not a contender for number one, but a brilliant garage track with a heavy bassline with grime and dance undertones. Easy to mix in and out of and perfect for that mid-way point in a club night, when people are not drunk enough to go crazy but tired enough to almost fall asleep. This track will probably be played in a club near you very soon, a DJ's dream.
Olly Murs' new track Troublemaker featuring Flo Rida is the lead single from his new album Right Place, Right Time. Flo Rida provides the intro and the rap bridge for the track whilst Olly performs his usual unique blend of about 13 different genres. This is going down the same route as Heart Skips A Beat and likely do just as well, despite Olly and Flo never having actually met in person.
Finally, but by no means leastly we have Not Giving In from the people who brought you the summer smash hit Feel The Love and that bloke who did the song from the Internet Explorer ad Too Close. Rudimental yet again provides his fresh mixture of jazz, club, dance and almost everything including saxophones; but with a much slower intro than last time, providing an awe-inspiring set-up for John Newman to give his vocal talent to lead up to one of the best drops of the century. But they don't just leave it there, Alex Clare provides strong vocals to what is essentially going to become the non-christmassy feelgood track of the winter. This definitely won't take the top spot this week, but will probably climb its way up the chart in later weeks.
There's quite a few more new releases this week, but I consider these the ones to watch.
All the others are listed below for your listening pleasure:
Years - Alesso
Crash Jam - Dan Deacon
End Of The World - Deap Vally
Hold On - Don Broco
I'm Not The Same Without You - Donald Fagen
She - Laure Mvula
Be Safe - Lulu James
Into The Flame - Matt Corby
I Want You Back - Noisettes
Live & Die - The Avett Brothers
Dope Chick - The Dream ft. Pusha T
I Always Knew - The Vaccines
Another Love - Tom Odell
It's Too Late - Wild Belle
First up, we have Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys, a mid-tempo hip-hop/R&B track which debuted at the VMAs and has had a brilliant reception since, with plenty of airplays and a few of my fellow DJs have started humming it (quite embarrassingly in some cases). It's been released in almost every country except the UK. The only fear with this one is that its been played so much people may be starting to get sick of it... but when has that stopped people before? The single is on an EP with an Inferno remix; a slightly jumpier version with hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj providing 2 extra verses; and the Bluelight mix, which has a much softer feel to it, with vocals that are allowed to stray wildly from the script, less of a punchy beat and a more soulful tone to it. This track is probably going to add to the list of "Alicia's power ballads" which always have done well in the charts, I would not be at all surprised to see this at number 1 next week.
Next, Don't Judge Me by Chris Brown, is currently at number 42 in the chart, but considering it only came out on Sunday morning, that's pretty good going. The track is not what you'd normally expect from Chris Brown, some speculate that it may even be an apology to Rihanna. It's received a critical reception, with some saying it's a tender, heartfelt "Take me as I am" ballad that wrenches your heart from its strings; whilst others see it as a weak and wincing twitter rant with the words of someone who still doesn't quite grasp the extent of what he has done in the past. To be honest, I feel its a song that doesn't have you running to the shops to buy it (unless you're a fangirl/boy in which case why are you reading this?) but is the kind of thing you have to be in the mood for, and I don't see it as reaching the top 10 this week.
Remember Me by Daley featuring Jesse J, and is his debut single. Daley has previously appeared on Gorillaz album Plastic Beach alongside Damon Albarn. The track is light electro with pop elements rooted deep in soul. Reminiscent of early Winehouse, it clearly shows off Daley's strong soulful vocals. Jesse J provides the chorus, backing vocals and stunning harmonies. In my personal view this is a brilliant track to start off what I hope is going to be a long and prosperous career for Daley. This is 100% my belter of the week.
Something New is Girls Aloud's new single. Which has a contemporary new sound, as well a Minaj-esque rap section and a shouty distorted distorted tone similar to that of Beyonce's Run The World (Girls) ; although somehow they still manage to sound like Girls Aloud's previous poppy songs. It's also this year's Children in Need track, that's the issue I have with it. It sounds in no way like a charity single, so it kind of feels like "Yes, this is all about the children and absolutely nothing to do with us re-forming and promoting a surprise world tour in 3 months *nudge nudge wink wink* and I personally think that our charity single is better, but I might be slightly biased. Although, to give credit to Cheryl Cole, she has done a lot for charity, so maybe she deserves it. As much as it saddens me to say this, I think this probably going to be number one next week, just because its a Children in Need single and not because of whatever musical quality it has.
Party's Over Here by Mike Delinquent Project ft Donae'o, MZ Bratt and Kcat. Not a contender for number one, but a brilliant garage track with a heavy bassline with grime and dance undertones. Easy to mix in and out of and perfect for that mid-way point in a club night, when people are not drunk enough to go crazy but tired enough to almost fall asleep. This track will probably be played in a club near you very soon, a DJ's dream.
Olly Murs' new track Troublemaker featuring Flo Rida is the lead single from his new album Right Place, Right Time. Flo Rida provides the intro and the rap bridge for the track whilst Olly performs his usual unique blend of about 13 different genres. This is going down the same route as Heart Skips A Beat and likely do just as well, despite Olly and Flo never having actually met in person.
Finally, but by no means leastly we have Not Giving In from the people who brought you the summer smash hit Feel The Love and that bloke who did the song from the Internet Explorer ad Too Close. Rudimental yet again provides his fresh mixture of jazz, club, dance and almost everything including saxophones; but with a much slower intro than last time, providing an awe-inspiring set-up for John Newman to give his vocal talent to lead up to one of the best drops of the century. But they don't just leave it there, Alex Clare provides strong vocals to what is essentially going to become the non-christmassy feelgood track of the winter. This definitely won't take the top spot this week, but will probably climb its way up the chart in later weeks.
There's quite a few more new releases this week, but I consider these the ones to watch.
All the others are listed below for your listening pleasure:
Years - Alesso
Crash Jam - Dan Deacon
End Of The World - Deap Vally
Hold On - Don Broco
I'm Not The Same Without You - Donald Fagen
She - Laure Mvula
Be Safe - Lulu James
Into The Flame - Matt Corby
I Want You Back - Noisettes
Live & Die - The Avett Brothers
Dope Chick - The Dream ft. Pusha T
I Always Knew - The Vaccines
Another Love - Tom Odell
It's Too Late - Wild Belle
Wednesday 7 November 2012
Tuesday 6 November 2012
Education, Education, Education ... and international views
The first ever pod/vodcast from the ABROADcast. This week's topic is education.
Listen in live every Wednesday 7-8pm on www.lsrfm.com
This week's panel:
Charles Nouveau
Brendon Simon
Felicity Sylvester
Michelle Heinrich
David Tipping
And Special British Guest - Hannah Bowle
Listen in live every Wednesday 7-8pm on www.lsrfm.com
This week's panel:
Charles Nouveau
Brendon Simon
Felicity Sylvester
Michelle Heinrich
David Tipping
And Special British Guest - Hannah Bowle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)