A New Decade In Pop: Weeks #1 & #2

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Back by reasonably popular demand, it's the weekly chart polls! Iyaz is the UK's newest #1, and despite humming the chorus all weekend I still keep finding myself calling him 'Jason Iyaz'. If Iyaz ever does a cover of 'I'm Yours' we will be in trouble.

[Poll #1510075]

2004 decade polls will resume later this week.

Comments

[koganbot]

Late on these, but I'll give 'em a shot:

Iyaz "Replay": Pleasant track that has nonetheless garnered my hatred for representing the sweet emptiness that's been clogging up the U.S. top ten for months now. There are good people involved (Rotem's done tremendous work with Paris and Tisdale); this is just one step too far into the sugar vapor. NO TICK.

Sidney Samson ft. Wizard Sleeve "Riverside (Let's Go)": They were fine without the rap, though I suppose it covers for the absence of "motherfucker" in the nonmotherfucker version. This is prime silliness anyway, like toy cars shrieking their brakes in rhythm. TICK.

Justin Bieber "One Time": Ah, Justin's sweetness is natural and doesn't swamp itself in saccharine to get across. Could be great, but needs better songs. This is one of his more not-bad ones, voice double- and triple-tracked but light enough to leave an air-current underneath. TICK.

Florence + The Machine "Dog Days Are Over": She's starched and stiffened but eventually bends at the joints, while sounding every bit as wooden but now knocking into walls and banisters and stuff. NO TICK.

Lostprophets "Where We Belong": They were borderline OK last time; here they're monotonous, layering rock-like gestures one atop another. NO TICK.

Wiley & Chew Fu "Take That": This is as subtle as an attack of giant, man-eating squids, Wiley riding the cephalopods to victory. TICK THAT.

Alicia Keys "Empire State Of Mind Part II": A lovely voice an' all, but the verse is slow and pedantic; there are payoffs in the by-now famous hook and when the drums finally enter, but it's a long time getting there. I miss the sample from "Love On A Two-Lane Street," which only shows for about eight seconds. NO TICK.

[koganbot]

"Love On A Two-Way Street," that is, for those who want to look up the Moments' version, which is fabulous.