A slightly below average week with plenty of immensely shruggable music, majoring with Major Lazer, though even Clean Bandit, a band you’d think would always be a joy on the charts, dollop up more of the same. Disappointing without being a big shocker.
The Enemy – With Fat Joe sampled, I love everything about this song, and this guy, Big L was simply a master, what a ridiculous loss, “what would you do if a vicious enemy was coming at you…”- A
The Separation – Ceremony – I missed this single a coupla weeks ago and catching up now, it is a little quiet for this form of music: more goth than punk, or hardcore. The one time I saw em live, Pissed Jeans blew em off stage (plus they had this weird -Bthing where everybody surged on stage), any way: this isn’t bad but it is a bore – B
Week in, week out, year in, year out, I have no problem finding ten very good new songs, which means by the end of any given year I have over 500 songs I really love MINIMUM. This week is no different: Sam Lewis is a complete revelation, if Alabama Shakes the album needs a little time, this song is an immediate winner, and if Tyler’s album isn’t very satisfying “OKAGA, CA” is a killer track: a little Frank Ocean-y. To underscore all of this, I had to turn it up to 11 if I wanated to shoehorn Jesse in.
Baby, Let’s Play House – Elvis Presley – sexy and violent, and a warning and maybe the single blueprint for John Lennon from “You Can’t Do That” to “Jealous Guy”. Yup, it’s that kinda song – A+
The US Singles chart is the most intensely conservative thing ever. How conservative is it? So far this year there has been a total of two songs at #1. Watching a record break is like watching dripping water on a rock, it takes money and it takes forever and it is the last absolute major label game in town.
I can’t see or, more to the point, hear the pleasure in Shawn Mendes. I thought he was OK but slight at Jungle Ball in December, and, opening for Taylor Swift this summer, it is not possible for him to bring the one band stuff the way Ed Sheeran did in 2013. Amway, what a Halestorm of mediocrity.
Shoegaze – Alabama Shakes – What gives with these guys? This is a fuzzed out indie rocker of the first order and while we miss Brittany Howard really wailing, what we get in return is Shakes go indie with the sort of song TVOTR would sneak by us from time to time – A
Never had It (feat Young Dolph) – Young Thug – He sounds like an Atlanta youngster who has been listening to Rick Ross, but is young enough to still sound like a kid and still carry a grudge – B+
Still Want You – Brandon Flowers – I don’t have much hope for the album but man is the song sticky, it has been on heavy rotation all week and after the disappointing song, the witty, 80s synthful hookiness of it all is a sweetheart of a song – A-
Just in time for his upcoming tour of the the UK with Sting (I saw it when Iit played New York and liked it fine for what it’s worth… at least the Paul segment), this 19 song ultimate collection is Paul’s first # 1 since 1990. It is pretty darn good as well, a coupla S&G for taste and heapings of Graceland. That should do it, right?
England is a different country, they do things differently, which is the only explanation I have for reggae singer Omi’s catchy “Cheerleader” hitting the charts three years after the fact. The “deep and chilly” German DJ’s Felix Jaehn remix is certainly a beauty, and it caught on fast forcing the remix to be rush released. No kick from this quarter.
Tearing Me Apart – Robert L. Ross – rock nyc writer and power pop fiend Ross, gets this Pete Shelley sound alike so perfect, especially the bridge which is almost a blueprint for what the Buzzcock leader has done for years, you’d think (as I did) that there is a song in his catalog you’d misplaced – A
Swimming Pools – Kendrick Lamar – His star making turn and may I just add that the chorus to this track is catchier than anything on Pimp/Butterfly, and his Twista with a hangover verses are a blast – A
A quiet week with both Sufjan and Brian leftover from the week before and two big time country albums and a Christian album leading the charge for this week. Bop English? I like it, not sure it will last. The Michael Jackson latin album? I like it a lot, but wish there was more than one Tito song
American Oxygen – Rihanna – I have this theory where Rihanna and Drake are the same person, they are both 20 something grumpie pains in the neck who can’t stop whinging how good they have it, in an irritating monotone. Do I exaggerate? Sure, some of the time – B
Walk The Moon are a Cincinatti indie pop band who signed to RCA, added synths to their sound, and hit the lottery with this bland sliece of electro pop rock. It isn’t bad, you know, and it is hard to object at Walk The Moon getting lucky. Somebody has to.
Perhaps I am too cynical for the charts… so many albums come on and disappear and it doesn’t seem to really signify very much at all. From last week, Wale, Surfan Stevens and Ludacris are already gone, and I bet All Time Low will be gone before you know it. The moey isn’t in charting, it is in staying. It is Taylor, Ed , Sam and Adam -hanging on from LAST YEAR. As for F7… not a very good album in my opinion.
Yeah! – Usher, Ludacris, Lil Jon, Ludacris – While this was a huge hit for Usher, as was the album Confession, it heralded the end of Usher as great black hope, heir to Michael Jackson’s crown, it crossed over, yes, but only to a white audience that loved black r&b – A
Power In The Blood – Amy Grant – her time in secular music has given Amy a loudness and force here, like getting whacked on the head by the Bible, a country rockers spirituality… and an acquired taste – B
If I Could Talk To Love – Carl Wilson – Some voice and though the material was iffy and some of these arrangements weren’t there, I am glad to have an album of Carl solo. This song is lovely – B+
This ain’t much is it? And much less volatile than the singles chart which is weird, in the States if you get on the singles charts you stay a while but albums fly in and out of the albums chart very rapidly. Nothing against Kanye West, I couldn’t be a bigger fan, but if we expect his new album to change the year around, it’s gonna be a long wait.
I hated “Crossed Stars” when Kiera sang it, I hated it when Levine sang it both acoustic and electric, and I hate this terrible The Voice UK winner Stevie McCrorie’s version . The good news is there isn’t a chance in hell we will have to hear it Stateside, unless we’re dumb enough to follow the UK Charts.
Love And Affection – Joan Armatrading – A 70s masterpiece, the horn adds a flourish on a song that is all dynamic lust and forward motion. To my mind, it is a fit with Bill Withers around the same time. Adult love songs and soul – A
U Mad – Vic Densa – With Kanye West and a trombone hook and a sense of moment that song seems to be signify more than the self-realization and conflict of the lyric reads like a bizarre diary entry. It is yet another direction for hip hop and the gifted Mensa, consider the West verse another gift – B+
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra – It’s not that this is his greatest vocal performance (though it comes from his golden 50-s era) or his best song, but it is his most Sinatra performance, both filled with virility and insecurity, he whips itself into submission, whips himself into submission as well, plus a glorious mid-song orchestral fade in, slams it into the stratosphere. The first time the orchestra played Nelson Riddle’s arrangement they gave it a standing ovation – A+
Two of these songs will end up on my very best of the year, Old Fathers “Old Rock N Roll” and Brian Wilson’s “The Last Song”. One of them is the best political song of the year and the other is a go gently into that night and a weathered and true song of aging and loss. The Death Cab track is one of the better numbers, and all the turks, Conor, Lord Huron, Metz, are on their game.
The Wolf – Mumford And Sons – I didn’t like “Believe” at all and was more than ready to hate on these guys, especially after failing to get a tix to the LPR gig. but it is hard to dislike a hard rocking passionate mover like this. Chris Martin should be so lucky – B
The top of the list is now in its 14th week, a reign that equals “I Gotta Feeling” , and has only been bested by the execrable Mariah Carey and Boys II Men “One Fine Day” -a song so bad they could make it replace waterboarding as a torture. The death song is horrible on just about every single level and it makes “Uptown Funk” sound like a paragon of funk smartness and inspired plagiarism. Which it isn’t. Speaking of death songs -will somebody put a fork in Wiz Khallifa already?
Not a bad top 10… nice to see my fave new album here, nice to see two of my fave holdovers from 2014 still hear, Kendrick didn’t crash and burn, Death Cab deserved some success with this one… there isn’t much I actively dislike. Ah, sweet zeitgeist tis of thee…
Satellite – All Time Low – The best song on an ordinary album, has the thump of anthem and a “lalalalala” hook, but it isn’t good enough to seriously signify as song or anthem, though maybe it signifies as emo as it reworks a Billy Bragg metaphor for no good reason – B-
Can’t Say No – The Tomas Doncker Band – The first time I heard this song was way after midnight at the Blue Note, and Joe Jackson was sitting behind me. It was, instantaneously, the best Rolling Stones song where the writer didn’t know it was a Rolling Stones but it was any way, I’ve ever heard –
What is bizarre and strange about the Prodigy is that they were so unique and cutting edge on The Fat Of The Land and nearly 20 years later they are exactly the same. We call this a Status Quo complex, psychiatrists are fascinated by it, the Prodigy grow older without ever changing in the slightest. In 2035 they will be sound exactly the same.
Wow, Sam Smith is out of the top ten! I didn’t think it would ever happen! As for Sia, after years of saying all she had in her was “Titanium”, her vocal on “Wolves” thrilled me and left my defenses down for this track off her last album.
Fourth Of July – Sufjan Stevens – From a contender for album of the year, Stevens mourns his recently dead Mom and all he can say to comfort himself is “we’re all gonna die”. Cold comfort, right? But I know where he is coming from – A
Sunshine On My Back – The Nationals – I had written that sometimes bands move forward and sometimes they stay in place and this stays in place and then I noticed it was recorded two years ago. Still, damn good, with Sharon Van Etten on backup vocals and sunshine nowhere near anyones shoulders – B+
“Ballad of the Green Berets” Sgt. Barry Sadler – This sounds almost hysterical in its overwhelming and over the top jingoism for murder. Sometimes people have to kill people, and it is many things, but it ain’t a reason to celebrate. And even if we have to hear this stuff, couldn’t they write a decent hymn for us? – D
After a coupla weeks of one great song after another, this one is a fizle, though Anna and Donato are especially worth your attention, the Wale album is the first time I’ve really liked him and Sufjan is a complete revelation.
Across The Universe – David Bowie – It is worth noting how much worse this is than even the Rufus Wainwright take. Botched and a half by Phil Spector, the Lennon unplugged version is the one to go for, Bowie overdoes everything to start with and when the best thing you can do with the song is let it speak for itself, Bowie oversings it at then some – C-
I am all for “I’d rather hear a good song twice than a bad song once” but this ridiculous, the 13 week chart buster at the top is the Rutles of funk and the song at the bottom is a remix of Whitney Houston. Still, La rose is easy on the eyes, and disco is, in fact disco. Call it the Jerimih touch.
Kidz Bop Kids have had there moment and I am now here to officially tell you, it is over so please stop. A karoake strained cover of pop hits doesn’t improve because a bunch of little brats are singing it and by now any novelty at all is completely over with, so knock it off.
Drive-In Saturday – Morrissey – Changing Jagger into David Johansen is one thing, but not quite hitting the melody is a bigger problem entirely. Assume the live setting isn’t happening except, cmon, when is happening production wise for this cat? – B
Vagabond Moon Live – Willie Nile – From The Bottom Line, from 1980, and a welcvome reminder if necessary how great this guy, a Byrdsy folk rock dipped in new wave and never better than this terrific and heart felt version. This guy shoulda been a lot bigger – A
Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye – The Police redux and a huge winner for Gotye who couldn’t really follow it up, and Kimbra, who couldn’t follow it up either. Consider it the “Budapest” of 2012 – C+
Can’t say I am too fond of James Bay, another small town boy way more precious than anybody really needs to be, I prefer Seasick Steve, a blues guy from Cali who is big in the UK because he sounds like an English blues guy and not a US. Because he is white?
You know Jess Glynn, right? She was the voice on Clean Bandits humongous “Rather Be”, as well as their less exalted but pretty great “Real Love”. This solo shot is almost the equal as well, with a gorgeous choppy intro and a typically tasty disco beat
Coolio Gangsta’s Paradise – One hit wonder and a type of harbinger of modern r&b meets pop music in the world of EDM with that crossover violin haunted sample and a superb bg time hook, plus a deadly serious storyline – B+
Loud Places – Jamie xx and Rony – I prefer this to “All Under One Roof Raving” not because it is better but because I am old fashioned and it is a clearer delineated song… a soulful song as well, with a great vocal and a memorable melody, where “Rave” is a weird contraption that works despite itself – B+
Easy Rider – Action Bronson – Drug pushing, pushing Keri Hilson lookalikes in the Hilton, riding easy on Harleys and riding into the sunset or the apocalypse or both , this terrific ending to a pretty good sophomore album justifies a lot of the hype surrounding this guy – A-
That Beatles song? I went back to the anthology album and while it is good, the Weeklings really made it their own. Once you get past that, everything here is good. This is as strong a list of songs as you will get this year. Ps I was thisclose to including the Bala Billy Joel cover… I mean thiclose
