Iman Lababedi

Midday – Yusef – From the mid-noughts, it survives as his finest post- Islam conversion moment from the former First Cut guy. Roundly disliked in the States, last time he tried to play here he coldn’t get in the country, his religion neother helps nor hinders him on this fabulous slice of Cat Stevens style pop rock replete with horns blowing through the chorus – Grade: A

Part two of David Bronson’s “Story” was released last year and the prog rock album of the year even if it wasn’t really that at all. Part one will have its work cut out for it, but, as it is a prequel, it will foreshadow what we already know, persuade its musical motifs and played whole give us the whole of the long lost story.

Let Her Dance – The Bobby Fuller Four – Murdered because he didn’t pay back a loan from a Mafia type to build a studio, Bobby Fuller is remembered by Marshall Crenshaw and remembered because of the Clash’s cover of a Fuller song. And this song, we remember this repetitive, addictive old time electro pop beat hook par excellence – Grade: A+

Without rock nyc sneering at one of Time Magazines Top websites of 2012, Pitchfork while posting their upcoming indie releases every season, what would we be? We would be like fiddlers on the roof. TRADITION TRADION… TRADITION—

In the UK, DJ Calvin Harris has had 20 hit singles in the past 18 months and over here, it was him who remixed “We Found Love” to such great effect. That doesn’t explain what 18 Months is doing back at the the top of the charts.

Britney is working with Will I Am (among others) on her next album, Brit never lost her touch (it was her marbles she lost) and the success of “S&S” (it is bubbling in the US as well), suggests Will I Am has finally broken thru as a solo artist. It is a fine piece of electropop even if its no “I Gotta Feeling”.

A Lovely Night – Julie Andrews – Off the Rodgers And Hammerstein TV musical from 1957 so, yeah, minor league R&H but how bad can that be? This is a terrific romantic night of the ball song and Julie sounds so young and frivolous and well 22 going on 32 but stills he gets all of this Princess in witing – Grade: B+

Summer is almost here so this Summerstage Showcase is a must see to get you in the mood. Big names abound: Shuggie Otis and People Get Ready at the top of the list but the biggest thrill will be UK DJ-Soul Singer Ofie at Highline Ballroom on Thursday.

Yeah, these are still circa 2012, except for Olly whose new album isn’t released till April. BUT both Free Energy and Black Veil Brides are tasters from their 2013 releases and I promised I’d be sifting through The-Dream the first couple of weeks in the year. Of course, the lack of new releases help.

Bring Out The Bottles – Redfoo – Back to the clubs for one half of LMFAO who uses his click track and bangs out the BPMs with the best out of them and, yeah, throws out a new war cry for the old VIP rooms. However, the child like fun is completely non-existent – Grade: B

In other words, less then buying a tix to a movie on line you can see what sounds like a really terrific set with the sublime saxophonist (bound to be bringing out his Soprano Sax) who began his career REHEARSING WITH JOHN COLTRANE!!!

Winner – Kanye West – Soon after blowing up 12-12-12 and weirding out Atlantic City, West topped off what at first seemed like a disastrous 2012 by announcing his girlfriend, reality star Kim Kardashian, was pregnant. As an inveterate Mama’s boy, West must be regretting his Mom’s untimely passing while being beyond thrilled at a return to a family life.

.One Mo’ Gin – D’Angelo – I wasn’t always scratching my head over new r&b heroes. In 2000, D’Angelo was systematically blowing me away with his album and his subsequent if you weren’t there for fuck’s sake say you were, Radio City Music Hall 150 minute blow out. I was thisclose to going to Jones Beach last year to see the great man opening for Mary J. but assumed wrongly he would be heading somewhere to town. And the new album is nowhere in sight. This song? Grade: A+

Three top of the charts albums later, he is a huge star in the UK and Right Time Right Place is such a great album, mixing Brit pop dance and sometimes (check out “What A Buzz”) English Dance Hall that for his first US release he won’t have to cull a greatest hits the way Robbie did. The album should be dropping in mid-April and I will review it then.

Sure, Taylor was helped by the buck 99 Amazon sale (so was Imagine Dragons and Rihanna) but remember, Swift has exactly one song off Red on subscription sights. If you had allowed her record to be streamed, no Billboard record would be safe.

A bit of a snooze but I am really surprised “Trouble” took off, if ever there was a deep album track that was this. Oh, and I am surprised Bruno took off as well. Surely “Gorilla” is the elephant in that room.

Our Song – Taylor Swift – Off the first album, a country romp replete with violins and toe nail painting as TS’ and boy finds their song in the magic of a romantic day. It’s a shame she can’t find this innocence any more and can’t fake it either. Red is a terrific album but the first one was a magical thing – Grade: A

She left the business with new husband in tow and traveled the US adding children to her family before settling back in the East Coast where she recently replied to my request on Facebook for a list of her favorite music, which I am pleased to dismantle for you

Rayos Del Sol – Jose De Rico – A huge hit in 2012, this slice of dance features a hot glowing beat and a horn punctuating the proceedings. Hand claps and two singers making cheerful odes to the summer in Spanish bring it home. A little beat lite by French House standards, the rhtythm is snappy enough a hook to take it over the top – Grade: B+

The release party is at Best Buy on Friday January 15th, a huge upgrade from Best Buy. Black Veil Bride must be ready for this big time and it could be, finally, their time to conquer the world of metal and beyond. Look at the pix above, they are cute enough to attract tweens with a death wish

Sure, agreed, a holding action plus The -Dream and James Arthur, who is both alright and quite annoying at the same time.

Closer – Tegan And Sara – Lost this one in the shuffle in 2013, and also because these sisters are so irritating, but this is catchy AOR sexiness, “All I’m dreaming lately is how to get you underneath me” the girls heavy breathe, giving lesbian a good name – Grade: A-

330 tracks defined my 2012, all of these, every single one, is worth listening to but not many of them are off good albums, and that seems to be the story of 2012: a year with no sustained vision. As for K-Pop? 2013 should tell the tale. And as for New R&B? Glum bastards…

For a nearly three hour epic nothing all that epic happens, the movie never comes close to transcending itself. “Pulp Fiction” was about SAVIORS as much as it was about anything, Django Unchained is about ultra violence while preaching to the converted.

I truly love this song and expect it to be in my Top Ten Tracks when I get around to writing it up. Congrats to Pop Dust’s discerning readers! Once PSYs novelty value has worn off, if K-Pop is to break big in the States G-Dragon will lead the way without a doubt.

100 Black Coffins – Rick Ross – I’ve resisted this joker for years now but there is no doubting this nasty ass mofo from Tarantino’s new album, a thriller of a mash up of Ennio Morricone and Ross with a cool as hell track for a few dollars more whistling track – Grade: A

I caught just about every major concert this year, including the Stones, the Who, Madonna, Bruce, Coldplay, Jay-Z, something like 250 sets. All these sets were special, all of them were worth the money and worth the effort. All of them made 2012 great. But 2013, I plan to cut back on the concert going!

Winner- Jam Bands – For two consecutive nights in late December, the Disco Biscuits and Phish changed what it means to be a Jam Band. This is it, folks, in 2012 Jam Bands did not mean herb inflicted, self indulgent, meandering noodling. Instead, two simple rock bands, no big nothings except for light shows, spent first sets charging and that canons and the second sets dismantling and putting them back together again.

Emeli holds on tight and Rod and Buble will be gone tomorrow. The problem with New Years Charts is that they are the moral equivalent of the wrapping on Christmas Day on December 26th. Once filled with so much anticipation and now not even in the remainder bin.

The UK X Factor winner James Arthur is a balladeer in the Ed Sheeran manner though with a piano not a guitar and not as good. I really expected the Will I AM single to break pop in the US, I guess he simply isn’t the flavor of the moment any more.

Girl At Home – Taylor Swift – TS held on to a killa track for her deluxe version and not for the first time. This is a whip smart pop rock off the charts catchy obscurity which in its simplicity, no reason to guess who it’s about, reminds you yet again why we all love her so much – Grade: A