Another Year In Pop: 4

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The official new era of pop back in the charts, as approved of by Radio 1, is here! Let's see how it's doing.

[Poll #1128640]

Well then.

This would seem like a good moment to remind everyone that a tick in one of the last two boxen is better than no tick at all - it helps keep the numbers consistent from week to week. Yrs truly, Mr Stats.

Comments

Disclaimer

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

I've only heard David Jordan once, and its rather intriguing blend of Folkiness / Eastern European ethno-eurovision with a tune that is highly reminiscent in parts of 'Stop the Cavalry' was enough to gain a tick.

I'm also fully aware that after several listens this easily has the potential to 'do a mika' and make me loathe it in a week or two's time.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

- What I wonder does Jay Sean want me to ride? Is it an llama? I had to check Wikipedia to remind me that JS has already had a minicareer here - here he's working a Ne-Yo style blokey smoothey R&B style which, as usual, I quite like without really needing to hear again. Marginal nontick.

- David Jordan is another Brit-soul dude who has gone in a somewhat disturbing CRUSTY DIRECTION on this track. Points for surprising me but no points for delighting me. Less marginal nontick. It's reminding me of something I really wasnt expecting to be reminded of but I cant quite put my finger on what.

- Mary J Blige's video looks kind of cheap, the track is effortlessly a cut above the straining of Jordan and Sean, I wonder though if it's too effortless - it glides along nicely but it's pretty low-impact. Tick, but not an emphatic one.

- I thought BFMV were kind of emo but they're more straight ahead metal. I like the drumming - forceful but clear-minded. The singer isn't obnoxious and hurrah there's a grunty bit. Fills the January MAIDEN slot well enough to get a tick, though a hook or two wouldn't have hurt.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

I've only heard BFMV of these 4, and frankly, it's a bit meh.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

Also, had we already polled the new Hot Chip single? I think it got a physical release today.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Is it in the charts?

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

not yet, only came out today

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Jay Sean - is it now mandatory that there has to be at least one hook-less Enya-rap new entry every week now? This is pretty much indistinguishable from Mario Winans if you took the samples away.

David Jordan - I don't remember this from his Enrique support slot? I remember that scarf though, yikes. This reminds me of 'Witchy Woman' by the Eagles band. No tick.

Mary J - hurrah this is great! Finefinefinefinefinefinefine. The middle bit goes all wibbly and strange! Good video too.

BFMV - Is this another Guitar Hero-based entry? It's pretty daft but not silly enough that I'd want to give it a re-listen.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

Are these polls retrospective? I always thought you polled songs on the day of release, rather than the Monday after they entered the Top 40.

You learn something new every day.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yes! Because not everything which gets released gets to be a "hit"!

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I was wondering what Jay Sean reminded me of! Good call on Mario Winans - I adored that song. Really like this one too, hadn't even known of its existence until today. Also reminds me of Lloyd's 'Get It Shawty' and Bobby Valentino's 'Rearview (Ridin')' - all these lush, emotional r&b dreamscapes, amazing. Once I manage to d/l it I'm sure the lyrics will turn out to be awesome and conflicted as well, because that's how he's singing them.

Mary J is very very good too. By no means a standout cut on the album but probably her most purely joyous single ever? (I always think of 'Family Affair' as possessing a kind of cathartic joy, as opposed than the light-hearted fizz of 'Just Fine'.)

Wasn't feeling the David Jordan, it's on the wrong side of the funky/wanky line.

BFMV - what a horrible name for a band.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

it's seriously awesome, isn't it! It really should be a hit.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

It's fantastic, and I think it will go at least Top 20 if not higher. If memory serves, it's the track that the band described as being "not good enough for Kylie" when the pint-sized Aussie's management asked H.C. to write a song for her. IMHO, it's better than anything Kylie has released since 'Fever' (with the possible exception of 'Red Blooded Woman').

Bullet For My Valentine

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

are the worst, most obnoxious band in the world.

[koganbot]

Everyone on the list except Mary J. sounds like he's trying to approximate a sound that he can't pull off with authority. Very strange.

Jay Sean "Ride It": Pretty voice that's being given a subtle electronic sheen. The sheen, and the good ole r&b prettiness, disguise how kinda not there he is as a singer. Gets over on song and sheen, but just barely. Borderline tick.

David Jordan "Sun Goes Down": This gets points for flabbergasting me. I mean, what's he doing? Celtic folk, clumpy rock, r&b, w/ kitchen-sink reggae horns. But in its heart it's just a bad sing-along, so no ticky, even if I am flummoxed by it.

Mary J. Blige: "Just Fine": This is merely fine. I'm feeling the track even if I'm not quite feeling her. Definite tick, though.

Bullet For My Valentine "Scream Aim Fire": Harmonies are slavishly derivative of Metallica, which is OK, since I like Metallica's harmonies. But the singing is fundamentally dry and weak. No tick.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Yeah I'd heard that Kylie thing - it's definitely better than anything off X. I like that they kept the "you're my number one guy" line! The big singles off the last Hot Chip album went top 40 but they're one of those acts for which I have a totally warped sense of their popularity - in my world they're just unanimously loved. Like, er, those renowned hitmakers The Knife and MIA.

SHAME

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

at Not Heard Any running away with it! Fair enough on three of the four but Mary J's been kicking around since last Oct, which means either

a) poptimists have been aware for three months that Mary J has new material around but not cared enough about one of the greatest artists of our generation to find out what it sounded like
b) poptimists...had no idea that Mary J had new material out? in which case, um, how on earth do you get to hear of new music?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Indie, in other words!

Is the new one "Shake A Fist" or was that the last one? I liked it, but I think his vocals on it are pretty weak.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Hipster-indie I guess. Run of the mill indie bobbins doesn't get the unanimous approval of any social circle I'm in!

'Shake A Fist' was apparently a 12" last year? The new one is 'Ready For The Floor'. His vocals are weak generally I think, and only really work when they commit to a groove. I have to review their album by um today (EEK) - luckily this applies to most of it. And even when it doesn't work their stuff is great remix fodder.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I caught them doing 'Ready For The Floor' on the last couple of seconds of The Culture Show at the weekend and BY GOD his voice was so trembling and cringe-worthy! It's a good tune and quite sweet but DUDES GET ONE BACKBONE.

Re: SHAME

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I guess MJB hasn't been getting much airplay on telly or radio? i.e. media you pay little attention to but that everyone else relies on?

Re: SHAME

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

re b. we wait for you to tell us dear ;)

also we are all r4c1sts, obv.

Re: SHAME

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

but everyone is on the internets surely! I mean, I know I can't rely on TV or radio coverage to actually hear about new music cuz it's so shitty, so I make a little bit of effort - scanning music news sites, blogs, wikipedia entries - every so often, because if I don't I won't hear about ANY new music.

[avv.livejournal.com]

'Shake A Fist' is the one with the talky "a game I like to call SOUNDS OF THE STUDIO" bit, isn't it?

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

yeah. that talky bit is so annoying. if you're gonna switch a song up just SWITCH IT UP, we don't need to be told because we have ears of our own

[poptasticuk.livejournal.com]

Very weak this week. David Jordan is just weird.