News Round-Up

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

TRIUMPH FOR CARSMILE: My Chemical Romance at #1!

Erm, a quick scan of the BBC and Ananova (those twin sources of pop knowledge) suggests there is no other news to report really.

I could tell you what eventually went on the "Diamond CD" for work, but it's so boring it has to go under a cut (thanks to all who suggested!):


1. Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (short version)
2. Shirley Bassey - Diamonds Are Forever
3. Prince - Diamonds And Pearls
4. Solomon Burke - Diamond In Your Mind
5. Vashti Bunyan - Diamond Day
6. The Transplants - Diamonds And Guns
7. The Beatles - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
8. Amy Diamond - Diamonds
9. Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
10. Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson - Field Of Diamonds
11. Julie London - Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend
12. Jet Harris and Tony Meehan - Diamonds


Has anyone heard any good pop music recently?

Comments

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

i'd refer you to the ILM thread discussing same (MCR@1) if it wasn't fuXoRed

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

That MCR song is a bit rub tho, innit? I mean, props for the Queen-a-like intro, but the rest of the song sounds like the fourth single off a boring Green Day album.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Since downloading it I have started to warm to its absurdity a bit.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

I initially harboured a suspicion that my indifference to its charms was partially the result of the even-more-absurd video, but science (ie experimentally not looking at the telly when the song comes on Hits!TV) has confirmed that it still sounds mediocre even w/o daft visual accompaniment.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

do you like 'Helena'?

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard it.

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

I have heard no good pop music recently, but then I haven't been listening out for it particularly -- too wrapped up in work at the moment. That said I did go to an actual young person's indie disco on Thursday. Must have been there about an hour and a half or a bit more, and only heard two things I recognised: Pull Shapes -- The Pipettes, and something by the Knife. Felt a bit out of the loop.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I blame a late surge of support from Popworld viewers.

Good music I am liking at the moment:
- Put Yr Hands Up For Detroit
- new Paris single which >>>>> Stars Are Blind
- the Magda album which I heard on Friday and must purchase SOONEST.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

'Put Yr Hands Up For Detroit' is starting to grow on me which is annoying because it's so ridiculously generic/pandering. i should make it clear that this is nothing to do with the video either.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

dumbed down techno is always grebt IMO, the dumber the better

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I really like the Bodyrox song as well - well I used to until that girl started singing over the top. URGH I can't think of a worse example of where the music has been fantastically good on its own but rendered unlistenable because of some woman who thinks Izzy Neighbours is a good singer.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I have heard pop music recently!

GOOD POP:

- The Amy Winehouse single. I have repped for her since her first EP, and my judgement on her first album was that she was brilliant but didn't quite know how to rein her voice in - it was rather strident at times. 'Rehab' would indicate that she has now learnt the arts of polish and subtlety: hurrah
- The Lupe Fiasco album. Gorgeous Kanyesque opulent samples, that relly grandiose production which makes all the songs seem absolutely massive, plus some REALLY REALLY great lyrics. Loving 'Kick Push', 'The Instrumental' and 'American Terrorist' in particular.
- 'Kino' by The Knife which is this insane banging house thing which they dropped halfway through their gig on Saturday and which sent the place nuts even though it transpired that no one had any idea what it was.
- I also really like the verses of the new Sugababes single. The chorus, less so.

BAD POP

- Come on My Chemical Romance and emo generally are completely indefensible.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

'Kino' is from the first Knife album. I was supposed to go to the gig but could only get 1 ticket and was too tired to go. Offered it to my friend with one hour's notice but too late. Pity.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

The gig was amaaaaaazing. I was feeling ill, AGAIN, but it was still brilliance - loads of dancing, loads of astonishing visuals, Karin wearing a BALACLAVA!

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

she wore that at the Scala gig too - combined with her cute dancing it made a real sight.

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

ARGH I was denied a ticket at one days notice! Though this is obv. not your fault.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

CURRRRSESSSSS

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I have also been listening to 'So You Say' by Honey Pimms (http://www.myspace.com/honeypimms)

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

I'm half-feeling the Lupe album -- I preferred some of the mixtape stuff I've heard of his. And the Jedi Mind Tricks album is good.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I'd only heard him before on the Kanye album - I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I do. (On one listen this morning!)

Rehab

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

yeah, I like this. Reviews of Winehouse's new LP suggest she's as bolshy as ever.

Re: Rehab

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Yes, while also learning when to not sing as loudly as possible.

She's going to get very Lily Allen press - but I like her hurrah.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

Ironic that Amy Winehouse calls her comeback single 'Rehab' given that she's still blatantly a junkie... well she certainly looked like she was on the drugs when I saw her twice recently in separate Camden Celeb Spotting incidents.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Good Pop (Rock):

NEW PAUL SIMON SINGLE

(well, it's really not bad)

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

DO YOU LIKE BOTHA?

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I read that as 'bother'. Is it face mashin' time agane?

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

that wd be BOVVA!!

i quite like p.simon usually

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

worst album cover of modern times howeva

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

GOOD POP:

Yummy Bingham's LP. Best R&B record I've heard in ages. Only one (1) less than stellar track on it.

Aly & AJ. I still haven't heard a bad track from these girls yet either. It's too early for Wobs records obv but they have nonetheless just released a Wobs LP and the lead track (a new song) is wonderful.

SO SO pop:

MCR. Re new single: First listen, hmmm not bad, nice bit of bombast. Second listen, zzzz.

[mippy.livejournal.com]

Wot no Hairy Diamond?

[martinskidmore.livejournal.com]

This week's Stylus singles were full of good things - best week ever, possibly. Best PSB single in ages, a spot-on Weird Al parody of Chamillionaire, good R&B from Beyonce and Cassie, a good C&W single from Sugarland, broken beats from Bugz in the Attic and so on.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

The Weird Al is grebt innit! I saw the video last night. "I'm just too White'n'Nerdy..."

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Kat are you aware that RUFUS HOUND has commented on your FT post??

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

WHAT?

The lights are cool but they burn out

[koganbot]

Aly & A.J. "Greatest Time of Year"
Aly & A.J. "Not This Year"
Aly & A.J. "Chemicals React"
Darin "B What U Wanna B"
Girls Aloud "Models"

older stuff:
Rose Falcon "Up Up Up"
Hoku "How Do I Feel (The Burrito Song)" (written/produced by Antonina Armato & Tim James, the same pair who co-wrote "Chemicals React," "Not This Year," and "Greatest Time of Year" with Aly & A.J.)
Joseph Spence "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
Soul Brothers Six "Some Kind of Wonderful"

Re: The lights are cool but they burn out

[(Anonymous)]

"Models" was my favorite GA track from that album for a while, but now I can't really listen to it.

Someone will have to force me to listen to Aly & A.J. ever since I learned they were fundamentalists.

Re: The lights are cool but they burn out

[koganbot]

Well, I'd hope that Aly & A.J. would read me even if they found out I was an atheist.