A New Decade In Pop: Week #9

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Jason goes straight in at the top spot, keeping Florence and Dizzee at #2.

[Poll #1532086]

*As usual 'new' could mean 'new to me' or 'new to the world' - either is fine.

'Only' 8 Glee tracks in the top 100 this week and none in the top 10! Maybe everyone's finally getting sick of it?

Voting closes tomorrow lunchtime for Heat #4 of 2005, where FOUR people have voted for a Baxendale remix! Whatever next?

Comments

Best new things

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

The first great pop single of the year is "On A Mission" by Gabriella Cilmi. I also like "Rocket" by Goldfrapp. Both should chart this month. Along with the new Amy Macdonald single, they both embody the first major trend of 2010: the 80s big-haired power pop revival.

On the 'old' music front, I am really enjoying:

Mandarinen Träume: Electronic Escapes from the Deutsche Demokraktische Republik 1981-1989 (http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=7044)

Le Monde Experimental De Michel Magne (http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=6gk8hkj37q&ref=browse.php&refQ=kwfilter%3DMichel%2BMagne%26amp%3Bincl_oos%3D1%26amp%3Bincl_cs%3D1%26amp%3Bformat%3Dall), especially the 'Martial Solal plays Michel Magne' stuff. I've had this CD for a few months now but had only played it once I think on the day of purchase and was only half listening. Jonny Trunk played some of the Solal recordings on his Resonance FM show on Sunday, which alerted to how bluddy brilliant this is.

Re: Best new things

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

'On A Mission' is grebt - "I never miss a trick/just like a magician" <--- very awesome :) Not so keen on 'Rocket', but then I am not really a huge Goldfrapp fan.

S'babes

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

This is the first half-decent single the Sugababes have released since Keisha buggered off, mostly for the 'ah-ah-ah-AH-ah-ah-ah's:

[koganbot]

Lots of potential, lots of disappointment.

Jason DeRulo "In My Head": Immediately pleasing sweetness, just like on his last one. And unlike on that one he doesn't proceed to bog everything down with his boring rapping. Problem with this is that the sweetness gets samey as the song pushes onwards, AutoTune and overdubs unable to compensate for Jason not being a boyband. This needs an extra ingredient. Such as a rap. NO TICK.

Ellie Goulding "Starry Eyed": Quirky infantilized girlie tweeness that I find intolerable in anyone who isn't Marit Larsen becomes triumphantly tolerable when embedded within surroundsound skitter beats. I mean, tolerable for a listen or two. BORDERLINE NONTICK.

Sugababes "Wear My Kiss": Heidi's voice rising up on the word "ring" is the only thing that rescues this from the humdrum. It's not enough. NO TICK.

Chiddy Bang "Opposite Of Adults": Party rap that steps off at an angle from partying, serious intent underneath. Doesn't have the laid back sardonicism that makes Asher Roth's "I Love College" so potent, but I hear promise. BORDERLINE TICK.

Alphabeat "Hole In My Heart": They give the drab-voiced guy most of the spotlight, thus shooting themselves in the foot. Stine puts forth emotion in her brief appearances, but like Heidi's contribution in the Sugababes' track, hers isn't enough. NO TICK.

Pixie Lott "Gravity": "I know that I still haven't found you." Haven't found yourself, either. NO TICK.

Muse "Resistance": Proggy and dramatic, with flamboyant Queen-like interpolations, except none of the voices are up to drama or exuberance. NO TICK.

Got the formula, and I'll reign on all o' ya

[koganbot]

Relatively new to the world:
--Selena Gomez "Naturally" has plenty of charm. Haven't checked her album yet to see if she can sustain it.
--Wiley & Chew Fu "Take That": Fine static. Excellent yammering.

New to me but not the world:
--Faye Wong "Chanel": A boat ride near the beginning of the most romantic movie ever made, with foreboding, but before fate tears the couple apart. The version I've got is Chinese, but here she is in Japanese:



--Pitch Black Afro "Pidipidi": Martial, sly.
--Ayigbe Edem ft. Sarkodie "Give It Up": Gorgeous, nearly still background, lightning quick foreground.