Tag: hot

Music Monday – Volume Ninety Two

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1) Kendrick Lamar – These Walls

The american rapper throws a curveball on this neo-soul influenced hip hop track. Breezy, light and reflective, it’s a brilliant track and one of Lamar’s best.

2) Mark Pritchard – Beautiful People

Gentle electronic track which drifts effortlessly throughout its six minute duration.

3) Zayn – SHe

Brilliant alt-R&B track with moody guitar riffs, an awesomely catchy chorus and polished production. It’s carried by buoyant beats and Zayn’s syrupy vocals. One of his best.

4) Digital Farm Animals – Wanna Know

Buoyant house track with a brilliantly catchy hook.

5) White Denim – Take It Easy

Soulful and relaxed track with a retro vibe. Utilising little more than organic percussion, bright keys, jazzy riffs, funky bass lines and beautiful falsetto vocals, it’s a lovely track.

6) ROMANS – Silence (ALUNA GEORGE Edit)

Chipmunk-esque pitch-moderated vocal samples, hip hop beats and reverberating soulful vocals carry this brilliant and powerful track.

7) SBTRKT, D.RAM, Mabel – I FEEL YOUR PAIN

Elusive producer SBTRKT teams up with vocalists D.RAM and Mabel on this jittery neo-soul track with elements of alternative R&B.

8) Nick Jonas & Tove Lo – Close

Sultry and moody R&B track which utilises steel pans and thunderous percussion. It’s a powerful track driven by Mattman and Robin’s tight production.

9) Barq – Gentle Kind of Lies

Quirky and brilliant Alternative R&B track with furious guitar riffs, funky bass lines and rock-influenced percussion. Jess Kav’s soulful vocals shine throughout.

10) James Morrison – Need you Tonight

Catchy pop track with funky guitar riffs, skipping bass lines and bright piano chords. Drawing upon disco and soul elements, it’s one of his best songs of his career.

Music Monday – Volume Eighty Two

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1) Busted – Meet you There (Abbey Road Session)

Busted perform a beautiful rendition of fan-favourite ‘Meet You There’, a track originally from their ‘A Present for Everyone’ album. Strong vocals and perfect harmonies blend perfectly with minimal instrumentation provided solely by an acoustic guitar and piano.

2) Raleigh Ritchie – Bloodsport

Dramatic and emotive alternative R&B track from up-and-coming artist Raleigh Ritchie. Ritchie’s deep vocals soar over sweeping strings as he contemplates the many trials of love.

3) James Bay – If You Ever Want To Be In Love

Blues and Soul music are both at the core of this catchy indie rock track by James Bay. Rich harmonies, funky piano riffs and Bay’s powerful vocals all result in a perfect love song.

4) Chris Brown – Back To Sleep

Drawing upon 80’s pop & smooth 90’s R&B, ‘Back To Sleep’ is the third single from Brown’s latest album ‘Royalty’. Sleek and sexy.

5) Chris Brown – Make Love

One of Brown’s biggest successes in his music has always been his ability to mimic 90’s R&B slow jams. This is no exception; a gentle and chilled-out love song and a long-awaited return to R&B by Chris Brown.

6) David Bowie – Lazarus

Made all the more poignant by the unexpected and hugely saddening news of David Bowie’s passing, it’s likely this gentle jazz-influenced track will become Bowie’s epitaph.

 

7) Coldplay – Amazing Day

Gorgeous piano-led ballad from Coldplay’s latest album ‘A Head Full of Dreams’. Wailing guitars and pretty piano arpeggios form the songs primary instrumentation is a similar vein to previous song ‘Us Against The World’ but also sounding bizarrely similar to Grease’s ‘Beauty School Drop-Out’ in places. It’s Coldplay at their best, however, full of power and emotion.

8) Coldplay – Up&Up

Aided by Noel Gallagher on guitar, this epic feel-good rock anthem is the perfect conclusion to the band’s ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ album.

9) Troye Sivan – Youth

Troye Sivan encapsulates both the naivety and fun of teen love in this jittery R&B track. Broken pitch-moderated vocal samples are the basis of one of the catchiest hooks in Pop music ever.

10) Troye Sivan – DKLA

Perfect dark R&B-inspired track from Troye’s incredible début album ‘Blue Neighbourhood’. Squeaky synths, trap-influenced beats and clinking keys provide the instrumentation whilst Sivan declares “I don’t keep love around”. It’s the perfect anti-love song.

Music Monday – Volume Seventy

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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 Sixty Four

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1) Chris Brown – Your World

Verging slightly on Beiber territory, on paper, this shouldn’t work but it somehow does… It’s easy to see why this didn’t make the main tracklisting for Brown’s album ‘Fortune’ (it only appears as a bonus track on the Japanese edition) – it’s a little on the cheesy side but it’s a pretty little R&B track.

2) Liberty-X – Holding on For You

Slushy pop ballad from one of the UK’s best and most underrated pop groups. A beautiful melody leads the track, lined by tight harmonies and catchy production.

3) Razorlight – America

A song too easily forgotten until its occasional re-play on the airwaves. Gentle dreamy verses escalate into a huge stadium-anthem chorus. Irresistibly catchy; one of the greatest indie-rock songs ever recorded.

4) Rita Ora and Chris Brown – Body On Me

Steamy and sensual R&B track with crashing beats and a rousing chorus. It’s a massive track; another success in both artists’ ever-increasing discography. One of the hottest tracks currently around.

5) Sigala – Easy Love

The song of the summer. Cleverly sampling massive Jackson 5 hit ‘ABC’, it’s a huge dance track full of house-tinged piano riffs and synthesisers mimicking steel pans, not too dissimilar to Duke Dumont’s huge 2014 summer hit ‘I Got U’. It’s impossible for this song not to leave the listener with a huge grin on their face.

6) Stylo G & Gyption – My Number One

Catchy reggae track. Depends on mood for the enjoyment of this one but it’s a great summer song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPoHZ-IifZ0

7) Jess Glynne – You Can Find Me

Brilliant Prince styled track full of punchy percussion, gospel layered vocals, funky bass and 80’s synthesisers. SO good.

8) Galantis – Peanut Butter Jelly

It’s hard to determine if this is meant to be taken seriously or as a novelty track. Either way, it’s an impossibly catchy dance track full of sweeping 60’s styled strings.

9) Robbie Williams – Nan’s Song

Beautiful acoustic ballad which closed Williams’ best album ‘Escapology’. Williams croons about the loss of his grandparent, aching with sincerity. One of very few tracks Williams wrote alone, its a well-written and lovely track.

10) Michael & Janet Jackson – Scream

Aggressive and explosive electro-rock track by two of the Jackson siblings. Both Jacksons more or less spit the lyrics in assertion as they demand the press to “Stop f*****g with me”. The fury in the track is understandable considering it was Michael’s first single release since his 1993 child molestation allegations. Awesome, powerful track.

Music Monday – Volume Fifty Eight

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1) Lianne La Havas – Unstoppable

Luscious piece of R&B/Soul with silky smooth vocals. Co-written by Paul Epworth, frequent collaborator with the likes of Adele & Duffy, this soul infused track is oozing with class and perfection.

2) Lianne La Havas – What You Don’t Do

Lianne La Havas is my discovery of the week and I cannot get enough of these two tracks. Her jazz-styled vocals are full of passion and soul and I love the big-band and soul infusion that underpins this catchy track.

3) Miguel – Coffee

Sexy, sultry and sleek. Miguel’s smooth vocals smother stuttering synthesisers and heavy percussion, resulting in a powerful piece of R&B perfection. Awesome lyrics to this too. Cannot get enough of this right now.

4) Miguel – What is Normal anyway?

Effortlessly smooth, with pensive lyrics and tinny guitar sounds. Miguel at his best.

5) Night Drive – Drones

Awesome electro-pop track which clearly uses elements of 1980’s electro and rock music as an influence. Catchy as hell.

6) Royworld – Dust

Irresistibly catchy pop-rock driven song with an awesome hook.

7) Teitur – One and Only

Gentle acoustic track which draws upon folk influences. Beautiful.

8) Jesse Boykins III – Plain

Awesome dance track with slightly off-pitch synthesisers, a throbbing beat, soulful vocals and gorgeous harmonies. SO good.

9) Sam Feldt ft Kimberly Anne – Show Me Love

Based upon Robin S’ massive nineties dance track of the same name, Sam Feldt gives it the 21st Century treatment and makes it more electro than dance. It’s a pleasant update of the original.

10) Shura – White Light

LOVE Shura. This is SO 80’s; imagine a hybrid of Janet Jackson & Madonna and you reach Shura. Fierce tinny drums, aggressive bass lines and funky guitar riffs, it’s catchy as hell.

Music Monday – Volume Forty Two

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1) Lisa Loeb – Stay (I missed you)

Gorgeous acoustic-based ballad which was included in the 1994 movie ‘Reality Bites’. Love this song so much.

2) Lisa Loeb – When All The Stars Were Falling

Another beautiful song by Lisa. Really love her music – very emotive and very chilled out.

3) The Blue Nile – Downtown Lights

Melancholic driving rock ballad from the 80’s, later covered by Annie Lennox. Love this so much.

4) Feist – Brandy Alexander

Jazzy, chilled out, this is just perfect.

5) Jessie Ware – You & I (Forever)

This lady is incredibly talented. Catchy, dreamy track.

6) Philip George – Wish You Were Mine

Irresistibly catchy house track that I’m really loving right now.

7) Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do

Gorgeous, eery ballad taken from the forthcoming Fifty Shades of Grey movie. It’s very catchy and Ellie sounds amazing on it.

8) Coldplay – True Love

Beautiful song from Coldplay with percussion provided by Timbaland.

9) Coldplay – Swallowed In The Sea

Beautiful ballad from the X&Y album.

10) Take That – Higher than Higher

Still cannot get enough of this song. So uplifting, so hopeful and so beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zWJs7PHGaA

Music Monday – Volume Twenty Seven

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1) The 1975 – Au Bord De La Mer

A song by the band before they ‘made it big’. Matty’s vocal delivery is different as is the genre. It’s a bit darker than what the band are known for but it’s a fantastic song. Really love this!

2) Elvin Bishop – Fooled around and fell in love

Irresistible.

3) James Bay – Let it go

Hauntingly beautiful and drifts into Ed Sheeran territory from time to time which is never a bad thing!

4) Mika & Pharrell – Celebrate

Pharrell is a genius and Mika is one of the most talented guys in pop. The album this is off is incredibly underrated as is this incredible song. So catchy, so uplifting and just an awesome song.

5) 2pac – Changes

One of the best rap songs ever.

6) Jordin Sparks – One step at a time

This is a forgotten pop gem! Catchy, inspiring and just a wonderful, wonderful song. Makes me feel like I’m fourteen again.

7) Rita Ora – Been Lying

One of my all time favourite songs, this is a pop masterpiece. Heartfelt lyrics and the infectious, repetitive chorus shows that sometimes simplicity creates the best songs.

8) 1 Giant Leap ft Maxi Priest and Robbie Williams – My Culture

An often forgotten about collaboration between these three acts, this is an awesome song. Great production, thoughtful lyrics and the melody of the chorus is irresistable.

9) Spice Girls – Last time lover

Girlbands these days could only dream of making an R&B track half as good as this. Naughty, catchy and the bass line is funky as hell. Awesome song.

10) Will Young – Good things

Will Young’s Echoes album is a masterpiece. This is just one of the many great songs that feature on it. The production is second to none, it’s catchy and the melody is infectious. SO good.

Music Monday – Volume Twenty Six

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1) Jessie Ware – Imagine it was us

Catchy, irresistible dance track. Love this.

2) Charlie Simpson – Thorns

Great song off Charlie’s début solo album with a catchy, beautiful melody.

3) Charlene Soraia -Caged

Great pop track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPY2QxeU5Ag

4) Stereophonics – Have a nice day

Such an uplifting, catchy song which is perfect to lift your spirits at the beginning of the day. Always reminds me of the summer and always makes me feel great.

5) Ronan Keating – Life is a rollercoaster

Cheesy Pop at its best. Catchy, uplifting and a fine, fine song. One of my favourite songs of all time.

6) Friendly Fires – Hurting

Such a catchy song with a 1980’s electro-feel to it.

7) The Vamps – Smile

Perfect closing track to The Vamps’ début album. A catchy, feel-good anthem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UtVqsF7dFA

8) The Vamps – Lovestruck

A slightly darker track on The Vamps’ début album, this is a great song.

9) Robbie Williams & Brad Paisley – Collision of worlds

A perhaps less known track, this appeared on the soundtrack to the movie ‘Cars 2’. The lyrics are witty and very cleverly written and it’s such an awesome song.

10) John Mayer – 83

A great little song that appeared on John’s début ‘Room for Squares’ that deals with nostalgia and wishing to be a child again. It’s easy to relate to and a fantastically written song.

Ultimate Summer Playlist

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With the arrival of summer, it only made sense to compile an Ultimate Summer Playlist. It’s not definitive, of course but these are a collection of songs which scream ‘Summer’ for us here at the Music Box.

[Apologies for two of the songs being crappy karaoke versions/imitations but they’re not available on Spotify – these are Rizzle Kicks – ‘Tell her’ and P!nk’s ‘Feel good time’.]

 

 

Music Monday – Volume Twenty Four

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1) Mark Owen – Stars

Mark Owen’s solo career is massively underrated. All of his four solo albums have been fantastic but have achieved only moderate success. 2013’s ‘The Art of Doing Nothing’ is probably his best and lead single ‘Stars’ is a masterpiece. Unusual chord structure, electronic sounding, fantastic instrumentation, beautiful vocals and thoughtful lyrics. SO good.

2) Mark Owen – Giveaway

The opening track to ‘The Art of Doing Nothing’. Haunting introduction, Mark’s echoing vocals and a fine way to open the album, building into a catchy track.

3) Demi Lovato – World of chances

I discovered John Mayer had co-written this song with Demi for her 2009 album so decided to check it out. It’s a beautiful song and I can hear both artist’s influences stamped all over it. Such a great track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC3oCfh57BA

4) Republic of Loose – Comeback Girl

Catchy as hell with minimalistic instrumentation. Great summer track.

5) Take That – When we were young

Beautiful song that deserved to fare better in the UK singles chart. A song that returned Take That back to their pop-rock style after the whirlwind that was 2010’s ‘Progress’, it’s warm, heartfelt and beautifully performed.

6) Take That – Happy Now

One of my all time favourite Take That songs and one of the best from their career. An amazing backing track from Gary Barlow with paranoid, robotic and dark verses before a disco, Bee-Gee-esque chorus that’s catchy as hell. It’s an incredible piece of electro-pop with well-written lyrics and the blend of the dark verses with the optimistic, catchy chorus works fanatically and makes it stand out amongst other songs of a similar genre.

7) Take That – What do you want from me

Haunting, heartfelt and emotional. Mark Owen puts his heart and soul into this and Stuart Price’s production is incredible. Awesome song.

8) Michael Jackson – Scared of the moon

Out-take from the ‘Bad’ album which appeared on the 2005 box set; ‘The Ultimate Collection’. It’s simple with just Michael’s voice, a piano and strings but it is absolutely stunning. Michael & Quincy Jones were right to leave it off ‘Bad’ as it simply wouldn’t have fit but it’s an incredibly beautiful song nonetheless.

9) John Mayer/Lawson – Gravity

John Mayer’s signature tune, this is absolute perfection. Silky smooth, Blues-infused and with minimal but heartfelt lyrics. It’s a song John tried to write for a long time before finally getting it right. Lawson are one of my favourite bands who also admire John. They have performed a cover of this song a couple of times, both live in concert and on a live-stream. Their cover is absolutely beautiful so I am including it below too.

10) John Mayer – Wheel

Understated, soft closing track to 2003’s ‘Heavier Things’. It’s a beautiful song with fantastically written lyrics and it has the ability to leave you heartbroken. Gorgeous track and the perfect way to end an album.