Another Year In Pop: 19

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Madge is still at the top, and Coldplay get into the top 10 despite giving their single away for free! Some people have no sense when it comes to economics, do they?

[Poll #1186504]

Comments

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Coldplay - Hahaha Chris Martin has found Phil Collins' old microphone! It's not actually terrible by any means, but I can only assume they want to make as much $$$ as the Eagles have, and are going to achieve this by listening to 'Witchy Woman' over and over again. Best bits: quiet breakdown at the end is a good contrast with the prairie-rock that's gone before. I don't think the riff is catchy enough to Ronson-ise (cf God Put An Smile On Yr Mug) but I am interested enough to want to hear this again and see what I can get out of it. Surprising tick.

Kylie - I like the spoken intro! She should do more spoken bits. Over minimal techno perhaps. I can't help wishing she'd sung that Hot Chip song instead. I can't fault the Minoguester on her vocal, she's nailing every note but the notes themselves aren't v inspiring. At least she looks good in this video, but nothing is ever going to be as good as 'Come Into My World', is it? :-/

Footballism - Oh dear, it's that time of year isn't it? Good rhyme with 'wishing' and 'mission' though! Excellent use of bewildered footballers staring at a microphone in the video + references to team members to help trivia fans remember who was playing in this particular match in twenty years' time. Good 'der-der-der-der's as well! If I had any vague interest in Cardiff City FC I would probably tick this, but as it is, I don't.

Ne-Yo - Hmmm, dunno about this. It starts off really promising, but just when you think Ne-Yo is going for a new bosh direction it splutters and chokes, then takes ages to pick back up again. Are there any decent remixes of this with a nice meaty bassline? I'm not going to tick it otherwise.

Pigeons - Lacklustre start isn't filling me with confidence. I would rather listen to 'What Do You Want From Me' by Monaco kthx.

wideboys - Default Damager Power To The Shaznay! This was good when the Lex posted the video the other month and is still good now. Best bit: milk-bottle echo noise in the chorus, "Hold, tight, think I might be losing my control..." This easily stands up to the awesome Sound Of Bassline stuff, tickety tick.

Santogold - I've heard this song four times now and I still don't get it. 'Creator' has brilliant texture and phrasing and momentum and eye-rolling awesomeness, but this is plodding and uninspiring sub-Hot Chip burbling that even a great video can't save. No tick.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

'This was good when the Lex posted the video the other month '

I am not the Lex!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Sorry dude! :)

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I don't mind really, also worth it to see that maidmarian avatar

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

also it is 1xHONOUR to be mistaken for me :D

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Whoops, forgot Sara Bareilles. Aha, is this the new KT Tunstall? Oooooooooo she has a chorus! This is very much like the Feeling and indeed, I like it. She doesn't have the annoying vocal inflections of Gnash or Thom or whatsherface out of the Pretenders, and this is a GOOD THING as it means I don't get all distracted and can hear the melody and the backing properly without forming an instant dislike based on the artist alone. I think this will a) not go away this summer b) grow on me immensely. Tick.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I actually really like that 'Closer' remains light and untethered - a lot of the new wave of 4/4 r&b does this, it adds to the dreamy lushness of it all, and it fits with that gorgeous guitar. I think too much more bass or boshing would clunkify it a bit.