Music Monday – Volume Seventy

1) One Direction – Infinity

This week, One Direction announced their fifth album ‘Made in the AM’ in addition to the release of this new track. An emotive pop-rock ballad featuring weeping guitars, reverberating vocals and syrupy sweet harmonies, the song features an epic climax.

2) Carly Rae Jepsen- Let’s Get Lost

Funky track in a similar vein to The 1975 featured on Jepsen’s new album ‘Emotion’. An effervescent affair featuring funky guitar riffs, clinking synthesisers, gorgeous layered harmonies and a rogue saxophone solo, it’s a piece of pop perfection.

3) Carly Rae Jepsen – All That

Jepsen continues her 80’s synthpop vibe on this gorgeous slushy ballad. Giggly synthesisers and whimpering bass lines lead the track whilst Carly’s seductive vocals trickle gently atop. The climax is rather powerful too.

4) Ryan Adams – I Wish You Would

Whilst Ryan Adams and Taylor Swift share a musical background which covers country music, the concept of indie singer-songwriter Adams covering Swift’s entire synthpop ‘1989’ album sounded like an awful idea on paper. Amazingly, however, it works beautifully. Adams turns this into a moody acoustic ballad with wailing guitars and his heavy vocals endlessly reverberating.

5) Ryan Adams – Bad Blood

Adams somehow produces a cover better than the original. This alternative rock interpretation works perfectly, rife with various guitars.

6) Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike & Ne-Yo – Higher Place

Moody club track built around gentle piano riffs and the gorgeous contrast between Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike’s bass, low registered vocals and Ne-Yo’s gorgeous higher-toned vocals.

7) Mariah Carey – Dreamlover

Catchy Pop-R&B track which enabled Carey to break into the pop market. It’s all very ’90’s with its fierce drum machine and glittery piano riffs but it’s impossibly catchy and a lovely feel-good track.

8) REM – Man on the Moon

One of alternative-rock band REM’s biggest hits, this track is lyrically a tribute to performer Andy Kaufman.

9) Mumford and Sons – Believe

Upon release, ‘Believe’ marked a musical departure for the band. Best known for their organic, acoustic instrumentation, ‘Believe’ enters a more electric and alternative territory. A gentle, eerie opening develops into a powerful and energetic stadium-rock anthem.

10) Duke Dumont – Ocean Drive

Duke Dumont demonstrates a different side to him as ‘Ocean Drive’ enters a more funky, electropop territory compared to the usual deep-house tracks he produces.

Music Monday – Volume Forty

1) Sam Smith – Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

A beautiful song in its own right, this is only made even more magical by the incredible Sam Smith. That acapella introduction is just stunning.

2) Coldplay – Miracles

Great new track from Coldplay.

3) Chris Rea – Driving home for Christmas

One of my favourite Christmas songs of all time. Jazzy, laid back, meaningful, it’s a fantastic song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czhZbqpyBm8

4) Greg Lake – I believe in Father Christmas

A song that I love more and more every time I hear it. One of the most underrated Christmas songs around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXCEdrnaFlY

5) Take That – Believe

This keeps growing on me and I really love it! Sounds like something that would have appeared on Mark’s 2013 solo album ‘The Art of Doing Nothing’ but with Take That’s gorgeous harmonies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ailavvxwlS4

6) Sam Smith – Restart

This was one of my songs of the summer. Catchy and utterly irresistible.

7) The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick

The harmonies on this track are just amazing. One of the best Christmas songs around.

8) Robbie Williams – Walk This Sleigh

An unconventional Christmas song, performed in a way only possible by Mr Robbie Williams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LadSwbujAZg

9) Take That – Freeze

Emotive, with a 1980’s pop sound. Love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IkRFAh7LGo

10) Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk

Catchy, fun and everything pop music should be about.