Another Year In Pop: 12

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Tick rate on these polls has been down a little recently but I sense that may change this week as two of the most hotly-tipped new releases share chartspace. Yes, Guillemots and One Night Only are back! Back!! BACK!!!!

[Poll #1160081]

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

YAY

Estelle (she is Estelle not Est'elle now! and has been since 2004, I guess they thought apostrophes would confuse the public even more than her skin tone). I am over the moon about this, Sunday was the first time in ages I actually was really hyped up and excited by the top 40 (er not to the extent of listening to Radio 1 of course: Estelle's PR texted me at like 3pm). It's really out of nowhere, I never suspected it'd be this massive - kind of assumed it'd be another No 15 hit - and I'm SO, SO pleased for her.

Song itself is awesome obv as well! I love the lyrics, she totally gets that feeling of exploring someone's territory as a key part of getting to know them, I love that she plays it cool throughout but still conveys the warmth, love the moment when she goes "tell 'em wha gwaan blud!" because you just know the first time she said that in the studio Kanye was like UH??? Am even kind of charmed by Kanye's rubbish rap now.

Madge - yes, we seem to be discussing it elsewhere (http://community.livejournal.com/poptimists/553268.html) right now. I didn't know it was already out, it was only leaked like last week right? I approve, basically. It sounds triumphalist and all concerned pull it off, though the breakdown at the end is kind of crap; just accept your song is 3.45 dudes, don't pad it out just cuz of the title!

Natasha and Sean - hmm this was borderline for me, I remember liking it when I heard it last year but really haven't gone back to it much. It's...nice, I guess? Sort of swings by pleasantly.

BOO

Gabriella Cilmi and Gnarls Barkley - I dislike these for exactly the same reason, ie they're SO BLOODY BORING. Is there ANY point to Cilmi at all? It's no use saying "there's nothing sweet about me", woman, if you sound like you have no idea what that sentence possibly means.

Sam Sparro - I was kind of like whatever about this - slightly dated electropop, Rachel Stevens if she had no hooks and even less personality, who cares - until I saw the video for his other song 'Cottonmouth' (http://youtube.com/watch?v=OxVq4y-n-0Y) which may actually be the most repulsive thing I've ever seen, and now I think he needs to die.

Didn't bother with One Night Only obv.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

the Cottonmouth video is naff but the production's actually good - can't make up my mind on his voice, poor white man's jamie lidell or something. he looks like a T4/E4 presenter who is trying his luck as more 'pub soul' robbilliams. as it is the productions seem too good for him.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

the production isn't THAT good, we're talking sub-Rachel Stevens territory four years too late!

I think Kat's 'Ben Affleck does Fischerspooner tribute' was pretty spot on. His voice is just blah.