Music Monday – Volume Sixty Two

1) Adam Lambert – The Original High

Impossibly catchy synthpop title track of Adam Lambert’s latest album. Full of thumping beats, squealing synths and a flawless vocal from Lambert, it’s a perfect summer track.

2) Disclosure & Sam Smith – Omen

Disclosure & Sam Smith already proved to be a dream formula with 2013 house hit ‘Latch’, both catapulting each other to fame. As Disclosure prepare to release their sophomore album later this year, second single ‘Omen’ attempts to regain some of the magic ‘Latch’ contained and it doesn’t do a bad job in the slightest. Smith’s vocals are raw with sincerity as always, crooning over Disclosure’s usual scatty production. Not quite as good as ‘Latch’ but a fine follow-up nonetheless.

3) Nicki Minaj – The Night Is Still Young

Nicki Minaj’s musical and artist output is certainly intriguing. Hits such as ‘Superbass’, ‘Fly’ and ‘Pound The Alarm’ were tolerable catchy music hits whereas ‘Anaconda’ slipped into the ‘utter garbage’ category. Still, she is a highly successful and interesting artist who clearly has a strong following. ‘The Night is Still Young’ is her latest release and whilst described by many as a dance-pop song, it borders on becoming a ballad with it’s relatively slow tempo. It’s a great song, however, more so musically than lyrically but certainly one of Minaj’s better efforts.

4) Carly Rae Jepsen – Run Away With Me

One of the most underrated females in Pop, Carly Rae Jepsen has a unique talent in being able to co-write effortlessly catchy and clean pop hits, suitable for audiences of all ages. With her seductive, airy vocals and synthpop hits, Rae Jepsen has carved herself a sucessful global career yet still seems to be largely ignored compared to other female artists such as Taylor Swift and Beyonce. ‘Run Away With Me’ is the follow-up to awesome lead single ‘I Really Like You’. Both singles are from Carly’s forthcoming album ‘Emotion’ and is produced by Shellback with assistance from Mattman & Robin (the producers of ‘Higher than Higher’ by Take That and Adam Lambert’s ‘The Original High’. It’s another fun synthpop track, a little bit 80’s with squeaky synths with shuffling percussion and powerful vocals from Rae Jepsen. One of the best songs around at the moment.

5) John Newman – Come and Get It

The British northern-soul crooner is back with massive hit ‘Come and Get It’, a catchy soul-funk track co-written by John himself with pop pioneer Greg Kurstin. It’s a huge song with powerful vocals from Newman.

6) Jessica Simpson – With You

It may be incredibly cheesy and lack credibility but ‘With You’ is pop music at its best. Pretty pop track.

7) Tame Impala – Cause I’m a Man

Gentle, dreamy psychedelic summer track by Australian band Tame Impala. Reminiscent of slow-disco hits from the 1970’s, this is a breath of fresh air in the current state of the music industry. One of my absolute favourite songs currently around.

8) Blonde ft Alex Newell – All Cried Out

Awesome track of the deep house genre with 90’s house piano riffs and incredible powerhouse vocals from American singer/actor Alex Newell.

9) George Ezra – Barcelona

Soft f0lk-styled track; the latest single from George Ezra’s incredible album ‘Wanted on Voyage’. Ezra’s rich, wise-beyond-his-years vocals really are distinctively beautiful.

10) One Direction – Drag Me Down

The killer new single from the much-loved Boyband; the first without Zayn Malik who departed the band earlier this year. It’s not as good as ‘Steal My Girl’ (lead single from the band’s last album ‘Four’) but it proves the continuity of the band’s maturer sound.

Music Monday – Volume Twenty Nine

1) One Direction – Fireproof

There’s been a bit of a mixed reaction to this track which was made available for free for 24 hours this week. It’s a lot more mature with a soft beat and gorgeous harmonies and I absolutely love it. Such a great song.

2) Favela – Easy Yoke

Found this on a Spotify placement I was listening to yesterday and have listened to it over and over since. Such a beautiful song. Very spaced out and the strings are just stunning.

3) The 1975 – Heart Out

I’ve loved this since I purchased The 1975’s début album almost a year ago but the release of the video last week has given the song a new lease of life for me. So catchy it’s unreal and I love the saxophone break.

4) Ten Walls – Walking with elephants

Been hearing this on the radio a lot lately and I really love it. It’s great to have a classic instrumental club track in the charts.

5) Nina Nesbitt – Two worlds away

Found this completely by accident and have fallen in love. Such a pretty acoustic-based song.

6) John Mayer – Say

One of John’s more underrated efforts and one I feel even he neglects sometimes. This was written for and appeared in the movie ‘The Bucket List’ although I came to know it through the modern re-adaptation of ‘The Karate Kid’ a few years back. It’s the song that got me into John Mayer and it’s so pretty. It’s one of the most inspiring songs and I just love it so, so much.

7) Coldplay – True love

Hauntingly beautiful. Love this.

8) George Ezra – Barcelona

This man is such a talent. Really love this song.

9) George Ezra – Song 3

Another incredible song off George’s debut album. Awesome.

[Unfortunately this isn’t on YouTube]

10) Beck – Morning

I went and saw ‘If I stay’ at the cinema the other day and this appeared in the movie. I instantly fell in love with the soft guitars and the haunting melody. Such a haunting, stunnning song.