2006-12-15 00:57:00
SWEDISH FOR BEGINNERS - THIS CITY IS NOT FOR ME "On the bus, I'm enchanted but I don't know where to start"Today's track is hot off the presses... like, literally all finished this week and sent to yours truly. This is made even cooler by the fact that it's really nothing less than a future classic. If you're not convinced by the rolicking classic rock-meets-electronic beat, wait until the inescapable chorus. Like so many great rock/pop acts right now, it rekindles some magical energy from the past and twists it into something current. Swedish For Beginners (from Sweden, as if you hadn't guessed) is primarily Johan Signert, who composes all of the music. Then, he's joined by up to eight people onstage for a true rock symphony. Sounds very cool. I hate repeating myself, but as with yesterday's post, remember where you heard this song first!Listen: Swedish For Beginners - This City Is Not For MeDownload: Swedish For Beginners - This City Is Not For Me(Music posted for evaluatio
2006-12-15 00:44:00
4. Pet Shop Boys with Elton John - In Private (Stuart Crichton Club Mix) (Fundamental B-Side) An update of the Dusty Springfield classic, I have no idea why this song seems to have been brushed from everybody's memory. It's simply massive, especially with PSB and Elton teaming up (a match made in heaven). Plus, this cover has given the original a real dark twist.
3. Scissor Sisters - Almost Sorry (Ta-Dah B-Side)
One of the Sisters' most accomplished ballads, it's really a credit to the quality of Ta-Dah that something this amazing was relegated to b-side status. Co-written by the legendary Paul Williams (of Bugsy Malone/Muppet Show/Phantom of the Paradise fame), it's got the guy's mark all over it. Best part? When the full beat unexpectedly kicks in. Trust me, you'll know when it comes.
2006-12-16 01:17:00
THE CALIFORNIAS - SO IN LOVE
"I'm so in love, in love with you"
Talk about a loaded band name! Calling yourselves the Californias instantly sets up an expectation of sunny power pop, perfect for boomboxes at the beach. Luckily, that's exactly what The Californias specialize with, despite actually being from Georgia. In fact, it wouldn't be totally off mark to compare them to groups like the Click Five or McFly. So In Love is one of those bouncy, disposable summer anthems. And, really... there's nothing wrong with that at all, especially when the results are so catchy. According to the band's myspace, their debut is out next year, though you can buy it digitally already.
Listen: The Californias - So In Love
Download: The Californias - So In Love
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)
2006-12-16 01:06:00
2. The Killers - Where The White Boys Dance (Sam's Town B-Side)
More interesting than most of the stuff on Sam's Town (btw that is not a diss.... I loved Sam's Town, but it is a fact), Where The White Boys Dance throws some funk into the Killer mix, and Brandon sounds like Sparks' Russell Mael at times, which is always welcome. This song really could have been a single itself.
1. Scissor Sisters - Making Ladies (Ta-Dah B-side)
No other b-side this year was as memorable or as fun as Scissor Sisters' Making Ladies. A return to their pre-major label output, the track is pure, unadultered camp, not to mention the funniest song of the year. It simply begs for a music video (a tranny factory, perhaps?... with extended dance sequence, of course) and it's not even on the album!
2006-12-17 00:06:00
myDataBus = not working
If you've noticed recently, many older files hosted with mydatabus have mysteriously disappeared. No clue why, but I am reuploading files now that were previously only available from myDataBus links.
For all other tracks, use the "listen" link if the "download" one doesn't work. And, let me know if there are any problems.
2006-12-16 23:29:00
ZEROELEMENTI - MODERN DANDY
"I found the sound, it explodes in my mind"
Today's post is from an Italian electro-rock group who don't sound all that different from my beloved Ark. Their songs are a mix of English and Italian lyrics, and they are still in their beginning stages as a band. Because of this, I'm sure their sound will mature and become even more polished. Modern Dandy is an incredibly catchy track, though it's a bit difficult to discern the lyrics, as they're a mix of languages. Still, the beat is terrific and this is just the type of glossy, glammy pop/rock that is the common thread through many of my most favorite bands.
Listen: Zeroelementi - Modern Dandy
Download: Zeroelementi - Modern Dandy
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! No album yet, but download more for free here.)
2006-12-16 21:58:00
Honorable Mention: Pink - I'm Not Dead
(but you might as well be)
5. Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape
Not a complete and utter disappointment, and that's why it's the lowest on the list. Still, 4-5 passable tracks does not make an album, especially one befitting a star of Stefani's caliber. Too many cooks in the kitchen, way too much rap (for a girl that doesn't - and shouldn't), and a general feeling of retread sink the few standouts. Early Morning saves the album, but it really shouldn't have needed saving.
4. Justin Timberlake - Future Sex/Love Sounds
Justin's debut was one of my favorite albums of 2003. It had a classic sound, a great selection of songs, and a lot of melody. Unfortunately, FS/LS loses almost all melody about halfway through and instead reverts to monotonous posing. Many herald this album as bringing brave new sounds to pop radio, when really all it is is a subpar Timbaland album sung by Justin the uncharismatic wimpy white boy. A shame. For a whi
2006-12-18 01:16:00
Next Week: Countdowns Shift Into Overdrive
Starting tomorrow, I'll be counting down my fifty favorite tracks of the year, as well as beginning the big one: Top Twenty Albums of 2007.
To wet your collective appetite, I've compiled some stats on my twenty albums:
Groups - 85%Solo Artists - 15%Debut Albums - 35%Second Albums - 30%Male Singers - 75%Female Singers - 15%Male/Female Singers - 10%American Acts - 30%UK Acts - 30%Swedish Acts - 25%Danish Acts - 10%Canadian Acts - 5%Albums that saw a U.S. release - 45%Albums with any substantial success in the U.S. - 10%Released in the 1st Quarter - 20%Released in the 2nd Quarter - 30%Released in the 3rd Quarter - 20%Released in the 4th Quarter - 30%
2006-12-18 01:11:00
December Promo CD Sleeve #1
Here's the most recent #1 Hits Promo Sleeve. Highlighted by a generous supply of dance-rock right off the start, then segueing into one of the most diverse mixes of tracks yet, it's the perfect size for a stocking stuffer!
2006-12-18 00:31:00
THE OOHLAS - TRIPPED"Keep drinking darkness you stupid prick"The Oohlas are a massively blogged-about group that combine interesting elements of pop, rock and roots music. There's something very immediate and catchy about their songs, yet they don't really fit into a neat musical box. Tripped starts with a chugging beat, gorgeous vocals from Ollie Tamale (could there be a better name?), and a strangely addictive middle section that's completely different from the rest of the track. It's a great driving song, especially if you live in an eternally sunny place like Southern California, where these guys are from.Listen: The Oohlas - TrippedDownload: The Oohlas - Tripped(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)
2006-12-19 03:15:00
Johnny Boy
Release Date: April 10th, 2006
Label: Wild Kingdom
Johnny Boy's debut effort may just be the best punk album of the year. And... it's not even punk. Like the bustling city awash with fireworks depicted on the album's cover, Johnny Boy create a busy, epic soundscape of trumpets, air traffic, bells… and that's just on the first track. More importantly, the London duo carry an anything-goes attitude throughout the whole of the record, something that's been sorely missing in modern pop music.
Nothing on Johnny Boy quite reaches the dizzying heights of former single You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve. It is quite possibly the most brilliant down-with-consumerism song that's ever been recorded. From the very first listen it sounds like a long-lost classic, all shimmering doo-wop vocals and instrumental grandeur. It is undoubtedly on the short list of perfect pop songs recorded this millennium. Johnny Boy Theme and All Exit
2006-12-19 03:06:00
20. Nelly Furtado - Loose
Probably the most commercially successful album on my list (worldwide), and the only mainstream American pop release worth a second look, Loose was the perfect combination of pop star and producer. What other album of 2006 opened with back-to-back successes like Promiscuous and Maneater and finished up the year with no less than five successful worldwide singles? Even better, the album manages to be experimental yet not off-putting, a tough quality to find in pop music.
Album Track: Afraid - Opening the album with a suitably funky hip-hop/pop makeover, this is the most immediate sign that Furtado's grown as an artist. Atmospheric and immediate, it could have easily been slated for single release.
19. Sparks - Hello Young Lovers
By far the oldest group on my countdown, this is Sparks' 21st album, and one of their best. Fusing symphonic production with dramatic, hilarious vocals, Hello Young Lovers is unlike anything else out there, and t
2006-12-19 02:24:00
Runners Up: Robbie Williams - Lovelight, Captain - Broke, Dixie Chicks - Not Ready To Make Nice, Pet Shop Boys - Minimal, Fibes, Oh Fibes! - Can't Be So
50. Under The Influence Of Giants - Mama's Room
Late summer soft rock about making love in mama's room... sounds sweeter than it is.
49. Whyte Seeds - Bold As Love
Yearning sixties-style ballad from Swedish rockers... decievingly quiet and meek.
48. Howling Bells - Low Happening
The Cardigans on downers, and twice as fierce... a singalong for the pissed off.
47. Dangerous Muse - The Rejection
Right Said Fred reincarnated as two NYC dance punks... sexy and stupid, a lethal combination.
46. The Feeling - Love It When You Call
Pop classicism shamelessly reveling in its own camp... The Feeling's most addictive single.
2006-12-19 01:40:00
A Bit of a Change...
For the next two weeks, #1 Hits will be momentarily pausing work on bringing you the new exciting bands that this site is known for. In place of daily posts will be double countdowns... the top 20 albums and the top 50 tracks of the year.
Each of the 20 albums will have an mp3 of a track that was not released as a single posted alongside it.
Finally, my rules for the countdown are that an album/single must have had its debut release in 2006. That means that the Similou's UK release and the Ark's US release are ineligible, for example, since both had been previously released in 2004/05. Otherwise, they'd be right up at the top of the charts! Also, all tracks posted in the top 50 must have been released as a single either physically or digitally or have been made into a music video.
2006-12-19 21:58:00
Video Premiere: Eric Prydz Vs Floyd - Proper EducationPink Floyd fans were already pissed off over the Scissor Sisters' cover of Comfortably Numb a few years back... now they've got another one on their hand. As with the Sisters, the track is absolutely fantastic, but it's the video that really makes it. Beautifully shot and brilliantly conceived... this should be shown everywhere.
2006-12-19 19:20:00
18. White Rose Movement - Kick
Definitely one of the most promising of the new wave art rock bands out of England, White Rose Movement succeed because of their ferocity. They simply attack the songs on their debut. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the tracks (especially the singles) are all so strangely catchy. Girls In The Back should have been an anthem this year.
Album Track: Pig Heil Jam - If you've heard the demo version of this song, you really need to hear the finished product. A ferocious burst of guitar, snarls and falsetto, it's a lethal combination and one that should set your heart pulsing.
17. Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental
The second elder duo on the countdown, the Pet Shop Boys had a bit of a resurgence this year with this album. Marred by horrible single choices, Fundamental remains a treasure trove of relatively unnoticed material. Spilt evenly between high energy dance tracks and slow brooders, both styles are more successful than Pet Shop B
2006-12-19 18:50:00
45. The Alpine - Trigger
Stomping glam-power-pop from Danish foursome... pulled straight from another dimension.
44. Goldfrapp - Fly Me Away
Laid-back electronic rumble turned into Target Christmas promo... still transcends sell-out.
43. Muse - Supermassive Black Hole
UK band finds their groove... nearly out-scissors Scissor Sisters.
42. McFly - Sorry's Not Good Enough
Boy band goes all Queen on us... proves that Green Day aren't the only ones who can make pop-punk dramatic.
41. Van She - Kelly
Shimmering eighties pastiche... as lightweight and pleasant as a lemonade in the summer.
2006-12-20 20:23:00
16. Robbie Williams - Rudebox
One of the most polarizing albums of the year, some have written this off as aimless, schizophrenic Robbie, while others champion his dramatic stylistic shift. Either way, the highlights far outweigh the clunkers and the album is all the better for its experimental, genre-busting track list. By far Williams' most interesting album to date, it's like listening to a really good , multiformat radio station (if those still existed).
Album track: The Actor - One of the many synth-styled tracks on the album, The Actor is an addicting piece of bumpy dance floor fodder. Best part? The name-dropping rap towards the end.
15. The Sounds - Dying To Say This To You
Though a bit of a fall from theier brilliant debut, The Sounds are still one of the best dance-rock bands around, with undoubtedly one of the best (and most recognizable) front women in Maja Ivarsson. Turning up the synthesizers a bit this time, the band succeeded in creating the
2006-12-20 20:10:00
40. Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous
The best hip-hop duet of the year… this was Timbaland's triumph.
39. Razorlight - America
Aching Springstein-ian ballad… hold your lighters up and just give in.
38. Sparks - Dick Around
Continually inventive, overblown opera about doing nothing... Freddie Mercury would be proud.
37. Persephone's Bees - Nice Day
Swirling throwback with enormous chorus… too joyous for pop radio.
36. Pink - Who Knew
Her most convincing artistic rebound since Missundaztood... a timeless lovelorn trifle.
2006-12-21 20:00:00
14. Oh No Ono - Yes
Denmark is bringing us a lot of fantastic bands right now, but none are as interestingly alien as Oh No Ono. Sounding a bit like the Muppets forming an alternative pop group, all of their experimentation could have easily fallen apart, except the band clearly knows how to write a tight pop song with hooks piled on top of hooks. Judging from their success in Denmark, it's a winning formula.
Album Track: Victim Of The Modern Age - One of the many plastically funky tracks on the album (if that makes any sense), this one stands out for its indelible (and inescapable) hook.
13. Hellogoodbye - Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!
An American indie band actually worth caring about, Hellogoodbye's mix of dance, rock and emo proved to be irresistible this year. Unlike most of their similar-minded peers, the band presents a huge array of styles on their full-length debut, all of which are completely successful. Majestic synth lines battle with
2006-12-21 19:57:00
35. Protocol - Where's The Pleasure
Shiny pop pleasure from now-defunct 80's revival band... Duran Duran wish they sounded this good.
34. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Massive worldwide single retains most of its luster even after radio domination... the rare deserved #1 hit.
33. Darin - Perfect
Shamelessly catchy funk/pop confection... Sweden still does it best.
32. Bodies Without Organs - Chariots Of Fire
Fist pumping anthem with very strange music video... BWO at their silliest and most over-the-top.
31. Snook - Snook, Svett & TÃ¥rar
Best rap song of the year, and it's not even in English... the chirpy hook leaves an indelible mark.
2006-12-22 20:27:00
12. The Feeling - Twelve Stops And Home
The Feeling best represent the soft-rock resurgence of 2006. This is a genre that can either be welcome and fun, or utterly pointless. Luckily, this album passes the fun quotient (the f.q.?) with timeless melodies and an absolutely joyful sound, even when the subject matter is less than sunny. A consistent album with room for growth, it's the kind of record where literally any song could have been chosen as a single.
Album Track: Kettle's On - A stunning, homegrown ballad, this song is rightly placed along the band's hit Sewn, another fantastic, slow-burning song. This one is notable mostly for its slinky background and nuanced vocal performance.
11. Bodies Without Organs - Halycon Days
This Swedish trio manages the almost impossible: making highly produced, europop and still managing to sound like a credible band. Somehow they find a way to make disposable music absolutely indispensable. Halycon Days is more pop ori
2006-12-22 20:26:00
30. Roxette - One Wish
Triumphant return by top Swedish duo... catchy and gorgeous as ever.
29. Orson - No Tomorrow
Funky fodder for a night out... sure to be remembered as a one hit wonder, but a great one.
28. Cobra Starship - Snakes On A Plane
Silly novelty track by supergroup brought together by an equally silly movie... why is it so good?
27. Sunblock - I'll Be Ready
Didn't love Baywatch... love this... crazy dance around your room track of the year.
26. Oh No Ono - Keeping Warm In Cold Country
Screwy blender of pop elements, each fighting for its spot in the mix... kept aloft by a kaleidoscopic beat and androgynous vocals.
2006-12-23 20:05:00
In a year full of pop gems there's bound to also be some stinkers. Here are six songs I never want to hear again…
6. Justin Timberlake - Sexy/Back
Okay, so it was tolerable the first few times. It even seemed innovative. Then, everyone started quoting it. Everyone was bringing their sexy back, even those who had obviously never had it in the first place. When a song becomes a catchphrase, it's all over for me.
5. Pink - Stupid Girls
A very lukewarm return from a once promising new star. If you're going to try your hand at satire, please don't be so obvious. The circa 1999 hip hop beat didn't help, either.
4. Vincent - Paradise
Proving that not all Swedish music is created equal, this song proudly owns the worse chorus of the year. Infuriatingly spelling out the title (with a "the" in front of each letter) over and over again, I cringed every time I heard it.
3. Beyonce - Ring The Alarm
Clattering, squawking mess that instantly revoked my fan status
2006-12-23 19:34:00
10. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Another surprise entrance into my list, MCR managed to create something that, while not straying completely from their sound, loosened them up and freed them from the confines of a screamo stereotype. I'm a sucker for rock operas, and MCR's is right up there with recent efforts from Green Day and the Killers. Surprising in its scope, The Black Parade finds the band at their undisputed pinnacle.
Album Track: Disenchanted - A more subdued track from the band, this song has one of the best melodies and vocal performances of the year. More than almost any other track the band's recorded, Disenchanted is a classic, epic pop song.
9. McFly - Motion In The Ocean
The fact that this album made the countdown (and so high) surprised the hell out of me. I never thought a McFly album would end up in my top ten, but here we are. A cornucopia of power pop styles, this is a mature yet youthful effort. Each song is its own en
2006-12-23 19:16:00
25. McFly - Friday Night
Schizophrenic sorta-boyband cribs Def Leppard's power metal... bombast never sounded better.
24. The Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way
The sound of a late summer afternoon by the pool... subtle, yet inescapable.
23. Mika - Grace Kelly
Madcap cartoon put to music... music's new hope reincarnates Freddie Mercury and throws in some Robbie for good measure, too.
22. Boy Kill Boy - Suzie
Snarly British version of the Killers at their catchiest... squeaky synths battle with a monster hook.
21. White Rose Movement - Girls In The Back
To the sound of a cracking whip WRM recalled the best of Devo and Adam Ant... shockingly few listeners took notice.
2006-12-24 19:15:00
I'd like to wish all of my readers a Merry Christmas! I hope everybody has a fun, relaxing day tomorrow. For now, I have a few early Christmas gifts for you!First off, my best gift so far has been a short snippet of the Ark's new single "Absolutely No Decorum," over at their website. From what I can hear, it sounds like another future classic from my favorite band. Kind of a cross between Calleth You, Cometh I and One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young... brilliant already.Speaking of the Ark (and really, when am I not speaking of them?), they also released a very old performance video of the Christmas classic Oh Helga Natt (O Holy Night for those who don't speak Swedish). I've got the video and the mp3 for you today.The Ark - Oh Helga NattThird, (even though it's been posted all over the place already) I just had to post my favorite modern day Christmas song (forgetting of course that Mariah Carey's brilliant All I Want For Christmas doesn't exist). Darren's gives us the definitive vers
2006-12-27 02:47:00
In my continuing file hosting drama, all files for the time being will be posted via yousendit, which means that they will be available for one week only. As of this moment I just don't have enough bandwidth to do it anyway else. Hopefully I will be able to find a new host in the near future. Until then, come back often to hear the music!
2006-12-27 01:37:00
9. Whyte Seeds - Bold As Love
The best classically influenced rock album of the year, Bold As Love steals elements from the 60's, 70's and 80's and melds them into a surprisingly potent mix. The songs don't hit you over the head the very first listen, but their melodies quickly become inescapable. The verve of the band's performance guarantees that every track reaches its full potential, whether it's a dance rock hybrid or a gentle Beatles-esque ballad.
Album Track: Hungry - Opening the album with an undeniable riff, this was the song that sold me on the album. More than anything, it's the energy of the track that makes it so irresistible.
8. Linda Sundblad - Oh My God!
The female pop album of the year, hands down, belongs to this young Swede. Like all the best pop stars, Sundblad proves herself adept at a variety of styles, from Madonna-esque dance to more current spare, electronica-tinged tracks. Those waiting patiently for a new Robyn release could
2006-12-27 01:22:00
20. The Sounds - Song With A Mission
Swedish dance-rock group adds Rolling Stones riffs and gospel ad-libs to its sound... a guaranteed party starter.
19. Scissor Sisters - Land Of A Thousand Words
Epic ballad for nonexistant Bond film... a deserving successor to Mary.
18. Revl9n - Walking Machine
Otherworldly electroclash from a group of sexy Swedish aliens... nominee for video of the year as well.
17. The Automatic - Monster
Stadium song of the year... the goofy chorus was impossible to pry from your brain.
16. Bodies Without Organs - We Could Be Heroes
Near perfect cheesy euro-ballad... belongs in a textbook on how to write a hit single.
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