Flashback Friday: Guys And Dolls - I Got The Fire In Me

"Don't walk away from the light"

Guys And Dolls were a UK disco-pop group popular in the late 70's/early 80's. While a lot of their earlier stuff is a little too discofied for me, once they developed more Abba-esque new wave elements, they became much more interesting. I think the ballad Broken Dreams is their classic track, but it's a little too subdued for a Friday. Instead, I'm going to post the excellent (and total Abba rip-off) I Got The Fire In Me. I love the give and take between the female and male vocals and, of course, that glistening cotton-candy production. I do have one request, though. My kingdom to anyone who has an mp3 of their late-career single Glory To The Beautiful People. I can't seem to find one anywhere, and I really love that track. It sounds so much like Scissor Sisters!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their greatest hits here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Swiss Lips - Danz

"When I call you've gotta pick up the phone"

I have the legendary Popjustice to thank for introducing me to this band, as they recently featured their new single on their home page. English group Swiss Lips is the kind of band that first inspired this blog. They've got that rocky 80's pop sound that I just fall heads over heals for. It's a sound that was pretty prominent five to six years ago in Europe, but has since been replaced by a more dance-oriented direction, favoring electronics over guitars. Hopefully, Swiss Lips will be one of the first to usher in a new wave of these types of bands. They've certainly got the tunes to do it. All of the songs they've released so far are excellent.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Listen to more here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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The Top Ten X-Factor Contestants

A little over a year ago, I compiled a list of my favorite ever X-Factor contestants. Now that time's past (and we're nearing the finale of the 2012 UK series), I thought I'd revisit my list, taking into account not only what the contestants did on the competition, but also what they've managed to do in the real world.

Dropping out from last year's list:
Stacey Solomon (UK 2009)
Same Difference (UK 2007)
Alexandra Burke (UK 2008)
Ruth Lorenzo (UK 2008)

10. Rhydian Roberts (UK 2007) - down three places
He barely hangs onto my list, mostly for his most recent covers album and the sheer weirdness of his XF persona.
Big Song: The Promise

9. Amelia Lily (UK 2011) - new entry
I had predicted that Amelia would win last season's UK XF, so I was really excited when she was voted back in towards the end of the series' run. Since then, she's released an amazing debut single. I hope the album is as good.
Big Song: You Bring Me Joy

8. Jesper Nohrstedt (DK 2010) - down three places
We finally got to hear some music from Jesper this year. Both of his singles/collaborations were great and exactly what I'd expect after his excellent XF performances. If an album is looming, he could easily climb back up my list.
Big Song: Take Our Hearts

7. Altyan Childs (AU 2010) - down five places
His performances in the show keep him on my list, but what's frustrating is that he hasn't been able to convert his win into actual post-show stardom. It's too bad, because he really did have some of the best rock performances in the history of the show.
Big Song: Summer Of '69

6. Samantha Jade (AU 2012) - new entry
The most recent winner on my list, and the one with (by far) the best winner's single. I predict big things for this girl. In many ways, she's the "new" Kylie Minogue.
Big Song: What You've Done To Me

5. Jedward (UK 2009) - down two places
The only "joke" act in the show's history that's actually had some staying power. Their Eurovision entries are both fantastic, but the real surprise was their third album that was released this year. It's credibly good pop music.
Big Song: Waterline

4. Olly Murs (UK 2009) - new entry
I didn't fully support him when he was actually on the show, but now that he's wracked up three hit albums and some truly memorable singles, as well as hosting the Xtra Factor, I'm a total convert.
Big Song: Heart Skips A Beat

3. Cher Lloyd (UK 2010) - up three places
From the best series of XF ever, Cher was an obvious choice for post-show stardom. Since then, she's managed to go global, releasing a great debut. Still, I feel like the best is yet to come with her.
Big Song: With Ur Love

2. Reece Mastin (AU 2011) - new entry
Probably the most believable rocker the show's had, Reece rocketed to the winning spot last year in Australia. Since then, he's released four excellent singles and one original album (after the obligatory covers release) that marks him as a very promising new talent in Australia and, hopefully, the world.
Big Song: Shut Up And Kiss Me

1. One Direction (UK 2010) - even with last year
I knew from the beginning that these guys would take the world by storm, but I'm continually astonished at how big they actually are. Their journey on the show was very entertaining to watch, but it's their post-show music that's really cemented them at the top spot.
Big Song: What Makes You Beautiful

Honorable Mentions/Maybe Next Year:

Martin Hoberg Hedegaard (DK 2008)
Leona Lewis (UK 2006)
Wagner (UK 2011)
JLS (UK 2008)
Little Mix (UK 2011)
Kitty Brucknell (UK 2011)
District 3 (UK 2012)
What About Tonight (AU 2012)
Christina Parie (AU 2011)
Union J (UK 2012)
Emblem 3 (US 2012)
Carly Rose Sonenclar (US 2012)

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My Anti-Eurovision Post

So today was supposed to be the day where I jumped on Alienhits to excitedly announce that I had gotten tickets to Eurovision 2013 in Sweden, making the pilgrimage for the first time. It's been a weird sort of dream for me... so random and rare for an American pop music lover. And it seemed like the perfect year, given my familiarity and love for Sweden.

I had researched when the tickets went on sale, set my alarm for 12:55 AM last night (even though I had to get up early for work today), and waited in the online queue to hold my tickets. And there were some great seats available to me.

Then, try as I might, ticnet (the lame service in charge of ticketing) would not accept any kind of payment that I wanted to give it. See, ticnet apparently doesn't take any credit, debit or bank charges from countries outside of Europe. Of course, they couldn't have made this clear before I'd spent hours researching flights and lodging and everything. So if you're a Eurovision fan living outside of Europe, you're pretty much S.O.L. By the time I realized I could "call" them and get a chance for tickets (like I was going to attempt that long-distance phone call), the event had sold out.

So that's it, unfortunately. Barring some sort of miracle, I will not be attending Eurovision this year. For those that will be there, have fun. I'll be watching on TV, again :(

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Samantha Jade - What You've Done To Me

"Feels like my feet can't touch the ground"

Samantha Jade has what might be the best X-Factor story yet. She's the (very well-deserved) winner of this year's Australian XF, despite being in the bottom two in the VERY FIRST WEEK and TWICE after that. For those longtime XF-watchers, this is pretty much unheard of. It's a real come-from-behind story. I assume viewers initially confused her polish (and semi-popstar background) as arrogance or aloofness, but throughout the competition she proved that she is one of the most talented, professional acts ever to grace the XF stage. For those who are fans of Kylie Minogue (and really, who isn't?), you must check her out. I can easily see her being Kylie's successor, as her voice and stage presence are very similar. What You've Done To Me is easily the best winner's single the show has ever had, mostly because it sounds nothing like a winner's single. This infectious piece of anthemic dance-pop could go global. It's that good.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Vin Goodwin - Swim the Wild Water (Bitrocka Remix Radio Edit)

"Let the water crash right over me"

Vin Goodwin is a UK-based singer/songwriter of the indie, acoustic variety. Usually, this would not interest me at all, but one of his tracks has been remixed into a dancefloor anthem and it's actually amazing. There's something about the melody of the verses, sped up against the electro beat, that really gets me. On one hand, it kind of reminds me of the sort of music I liked in the 90's, but on the other hand it's completely revved up to fit with our modern times. I wasn't 100% sold the first time I listened, but now I'm obsessed. Like Matt Cardle's remixed It's Only Love a few weeks ago, this is a really pleasant surprise.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Dangerous Muse - I Can't Help It

"You must have put a spell on me"

Dangerous Muse was amongst the first bands I wrote about in the beginning years of this blog and I'm so happy that they're still at it. Though they've yet to release a full album, they've been churning out singles and EPs for the last seven years. Now they're back with this excellent free track, which has totally gotten me obsessed with them again. I Can't Help It keeps many of the band's sensibilities intact. It's dark, sexy, electronic and ultra-catchy. But, there's something extra in this track that I haven't felt from the band for the past five years. It really feels like a return to form (not that they've ever released anything bad). I don't even know what it is exactly--just that elusive "it" factor.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their music here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Infinite - Nothing's Over

Yep, I'm still all in with this k-pop thing. It's so exciting to have a whole new world of pop music to explore. And now that I've gone past the basics, I can look at more of the up-and-comers. Infinite are one such group. They've been at it for a few years now but have yet to truly hit the big time. They really deserve to, though. They've got the standard dance-pop of the genre down, but where they really succeed is in big pop melodies. A couple of their mid-tempos are just gorgeous. Nothing's Over hit me like a ton of bricks the first time I heard it. It doesn't matter if 99% of it isn't in English. That melody, and the soft-rock/pop production, just transcends language. It's got a real 90's feel to it. I live for these kind of uplifting, melodic pop anthems. If you like this, make sure to check out Paradise, which is in the same vein and equally as awesome. As far as dance songs by the boys, you need to listen to Be Mine, Come Back Again (sounds like Michael Jackson!) and The Chaser, for a start.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their music here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Bjørn Johan Muri - Even a Fool

"Even a fool like me needs a melody"

Norway's Bjørn Johan Muri is back! For those who don't know, Muri broke through a couple of years ago with his excellent single Yes Man and then released an equally awesome debut album. Even A Fool is no Yes Man, but that doesn't mean it's not an excellent comeback. I'm glad that he's kept his airy electronic style, which is really very different than all the other pop music out there nowadays. This is pretty much an extension of his album and would've fit perfectly there. Here's hoping for a full-length follow-up that matches the success, bothe commercially and musically, of the first.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Joywride - 21st Century Love

"When you move, everyone moves around you"

There's something so exciting about following a band for a few years and then seeing them finally get to release their music on a label. For this blog, Joywride (previously known by the name of their frontman, Ollie Wride) are just that sort of band. After so many months of releasing demo after awesome demo, they're finally releasing their new EP (for free!) in about a week. On November 22nd, you'll be able to download this amazing song as well as some remixes and another fantastic original. The band just released their first music video (below), for the great track 21st Century Love. Joywride are unabashedly 80's, unabashedly glam and unabashedly fun. If you like the music of bands like the Buggles with theatrical vocals like Queen, you have no excuse not to listen to this band.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Learn how to download the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Track-by-Track: One Direction - Take Me Home

I write this review knowing that I'm not in One Direction's target market, but I've been a supporter of them since their days on X-Factor and loved the debut album. With Take Me Home, the band have truly entered their "imperial phase," that elusive world-dominating period that happens to the luckiest of pop stars, and usually with the second album. I'm thinking Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, Lady Gaga's Fame Monster, Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad, Nsync's No Strings Attached, etc. With any luck, the right singles choices will place this album amongst those successes. There will be many self-important, "credible" music lovers who will say that this type of transparently bubblegum pop has no merit, but I will continue to push back. I like fun music--music that makes you feel energized. And this is certainly an ample dose of it. You won't find many low scores here. The album's even more consistent than their debut.

1. Live While We're Young - Kicking off the album, I feel like this is actually kind of a misstep as the first single. Not because it's a bad track, but because it's one of the weakest uptempos on the album. 8/10

2. Kiss You - This is a step up, and follows the template of their breakthrough What Makes You Beautiful. It's got that punchy, guitar-assisted power pop feel that makes One Direction such an exciting prospect as a pop band. 9/10

3. Little Things - Probably the most stripped-back song they've recorded yet. Co-written by Ed Sheeran, and it certainly sounds like it. It's the second UK single, and is definitely an interesting choice. 10/10

4. C'mon C'mon - The most electronic track on the record, this has a great 80's vibe to it. I particularly love the middle eight, which really propels the song to that final, anthemic chorus. 10/10

5. Last First Kiss - Despite the overall cheesiness of the lyrics, I just can't get the melody of this out of my head. The chorus is so ridiculously catchy. The sound is midtempo, but the production is so huge that it doesn't sound at all like a ballad. 9/10

6. Heart Attack - Like Live While We're Young, this is one of the weaker uptempos on the album. It sounds slightly too American for my tastes--like something Maroon 5 would record. 8/10

7. Rock Me - Oh, that chorus! At first, I thought that it would be too repetitive, but it just works. The production really shines. 10/10

8. Change My Mind - Many have pointed out that this is too schmaltzy, but I'm not sure that's really an option with a band like One Direction. As a midtempo, it's a great way to break up the big dance tracks and the second half of the lovelorn chorus is particularly striking. These guys' vocals have improved so much since X-factor. 9/10

9. I Would - This track was written by the guys of Mcfly, and if this is any indication, they should write the entirety of One Direction's next album. This is flawless power-pop. Really fun and huge and catchy. I can't rave enough. 10/10

10. Over Again - The second Ed Sheeran written track, and it sounds even more like one of his own songs. Despite some cringeworthy lyrics, it's really a strong ballad with some excellent vocals. 9/10

11. Back For You - Out of everything on the album, this feels the most like filler to me. It's the track I always forget. That's not saying it's bad, but it's just not very memorable. 8/10

12. They Don't Know About Us - This is the complete opposite of unmemorable. If this isn't a single, I'll be really angry. This track is everything that was great about the late-90's teen pop boon crammed into one song. In fact, it sounds a lot like the Backstreet Boys in their imperial phase. The production on this is just flawless. Probably the best track on the album. 10/10

13. Summer Love - A more straightforward, soft-rock type of track and, from the production notes, it seems that this is the song the boys had the biggest hand in creating. If so, then that bodes well for their future, because this is a very effective, very enjoyable closer to the album. 10/10

14. She's Not Afraid - Back to the 80's-inspired power pop for the first of the deluxe edition bonus tracks. This is better than some of the uptempos on the actual album. Nothing revelatory, but a lot of fun. 9/10

15. Loved You First - This is a gargantuan 80's pastiche, all chugging guitars and explosive, synth-drenched chorus. I would have loved to see this on the actual album, because it's incredibly strong. 10/10

16. Nobody Compares - Another strong uptempo with great production and a real earworm melody. Fans of old-school power pop should really give this group a chance, because that's exactly what this is. 9/10

17. Still The One - Just a little too frantic for me to give it one of the higher scores. That said, this would still be a highlight on most pop releases this year. 8/10

Album Grade: 9.2/10

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Flashback Friday: Aviary - Soaring

"Soaring above the clouds"

How about some lush, grandiose pomp rock today? Queen is pretty much the best known band in this category, while Sparks has more of a hold on the indie world in the genre. Aviary falls somewhere in between. They were a band that only released one album in the glam/prog rock era and have since fallen into relative obscurity. But for fans of big-sounding, melodic rock, their self-titled release is something definitely worth searching out. And rumor has it, the band has returned for 2012...



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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JLS - Have Your Way

"Bad girl at night, good girl at day"

From one X-Factor UK boyband that managed massive worldwide success to one that ventured to America too late to make a dent. It's a shame, really, as JLS seem perfect for the American market. And even though they've yet to record a full album that's connected with me, I'm a fan of many of their tracks (especially the singles from the last album). With Evolution, the guys seem to be struggling a little on the charts, and many have said that the song Hold Me Down is their only other hope for a big single from this album. That song's alright, but I much prefer Have Your Way, which sounds like solo Justin Timberlake before he went all Sexyback and lost me as a fan. It's nothing groundbreaking, but I love the old-school funk sound and their voices sound great. I'm not sure if it would work as a single, but it's my initial favorite on the album.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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One Direction - I Would

"Would he love you like I would?"

Sorry for the lack of post yesterday, but I was glued to election results (and very happy/proud with the results). Anyway, before the election, One Direction's new album went up for streaming and, although I haven't had a chance to listen to it more than once, I can already tell that it's the exact kind of glossy, cheesy, wonderful pop album that I hoped it would be--a natural extension of their debut, in other words. The big difference is that a lot of this new stuff sounds bigger and more confident. It's the type of music I hoped these guys would make back when they were on X-Factor. I know it might be too early to say this, but given the team of producers/writers they've aligned themselves with, I could easily see these guys becoming the male version of Girls Aloud. All they need is a bit more willingness to experiment. I Would is one of the early standouts, a track written by the guys of McFly. I'm loving the Mcfly/One Direction alliance. It just feels right. Add to that some flawless, propulsive production and you've got a surefire hit.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Robbie Williams - All That I Want

"The heart has chosen"

Sometimes with Robbie Williams, I can get a little complacent as a listener. He releases albums so often that I just kind of expect them without appreciating them. But this new one, Take The Crown, might very well be his most consistently enjoyable since Sing When You're Winning, and if not that, definitely his best since Rudebox. The opening two tracks are a definite return to form, with Gospel being especially effective, but I decided to focus on the dancier, funkier All That I Want instead. It really shows how he's not content to rest on his laurels. It's vibrant, expertly produced and ridiculously catchy, while of course maintaining the cheeky type of lyrical content he's known for. And I love when he sings in his lower register. It's all very stylish.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Flashback Friday: The Teens - We'll Have A Party Tonite 'Nite

"Let's do some rock 'n roll with a little bit of soul"

Yes, that "tonite" is deliberately misspelled. The Teens were a late 70's boyband concocted in Germany. It's so funny looking at them and extrapolating the formula to the present day. In comparison to today's standards, the music these guys were making seems so innocent and basic, yet the basic meaning (ie: "have fun") is the same. This song is probably my favorite of theirs, with its stupid-fun refrain and clinky, glitter-rock-lite production. The singer's like a mini Harry Styles, though with none of the post-pubescent angst. You'd do well to listen to a few of these guys' singles. Other than that, the albums unfortunately aren't really worth it.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Find out more here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Alexander Rybak - Leave Me Alone

"I'm begging you to stop and think this through"

One of my favorite Alexander Rybak recordings is a remix of his biggest hit, Fairytale, so it's kind of awesome that his new single sounds a bit like that. I never expected Alex to go dance, but if this track is any indication, that's exactly where he's headed. Leave Me Alone is really a bizarre single, but to be honest all of Rybak's songs have kind of existed in a parallel music universe, which is part of their charm. This particular track is a cool mix of classical strings, electro beats and Rybak's trademark croon. It sounds like nothing else out there now, while still managing to piggyback on everything else out there (if that makes any sense). I can't wait to see if this newfound experimentalism extends to the next album.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the song here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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