Better late than never, here’s 20 songs we’ve been loving, these past couple of months.
Tag: hot new songs
Music Monday – Volume Ninety One
1) The 1975 – She’s American
Funky indie-rock ballad which mirrors work by INXS & Duran. Slamming percussion, frantic guitar riffs and skippy synthesiser sounds provide the song’s instrumentation as Matt Healy sings of cultural differences between him and his American girlfriend. It’s brilliantly catchy and very witty lyrically.
2) The 1975 – This Must Be My Dream
Perhaps the best song on The 1975’s new album. The band demonstrate their impeccable synchronicity through layering gospel melodies, silky vocals, slamming percussion, driving bass lines and snarling guitar riffs. It’s a throwback to the new-jack-swing era in the late eighties and early nineties bought to popularity through producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Teddy Riley through musicians such as Bobby Brown, Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson.
3) The 1975 – Paris
Beautiful and mellow electropop ballad which imitates Yazoo’s ‘Only You’ to a point just before being eligible for a lawsuit. Sparse guitars, dizzy synthesisers and a gorgeous honeyed ‘again and again’ refrain makes this another of the album’s strongest tracks.
4) The 1975 – I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it
A proficient, cleverly-created instrumental which punctuates the album beautifully. Pretty and melodic piano particles flutter over driving electronica whilst Healy’s lusciously layered vocals beg his lover not to leave. The track is lengthy at six minutes but is split into two parts, evolving into an uplifting and exquisitely beautiful house track.
5) The 1975 – Loving Someone
Giggling synthesisers and hiphop beats form the backdrop as Matt Healy half-raps his best lyrics to date; a cultural observation on the impact pop culture and celebrity have on youth.
6) Gallant & Jhene Aiko – Skipping Stones
Chilled-out neosoul track which carries a retro vibe. Gallant’s incredible vocals flutter into a rich falsetto over brass instruments, driving bass lines and twinkling keyboards.
7) Joe & Jake – You’re Not Alone
Uplifting and euphoric pop-rock track which is this year’s UK Eurovision entry. Whilst criticised by many for its generic formula and chord structure, it’s a powerful and beautiful track.
8) Laurel – Life Worth Living
Moody alternative-pop track which avoids over-production, instead focussing on using organic, pure instruments.
9) Zayn – Like I Would
Catchy alt-R&B track featuring elastic synthesisers, synthetic percussion and a brilliantly sing-song chorus.
10) The Last Shadow Puppets – Everything You’ve Come to Expect
Quirky and brilliantly written track which utilised genres such as baroque pop, psychedelic pop and experimental rock.
Music Monday – Volume Eighty Nine
1) Panic! At the Disco – Death of a Bachelor
Brilliant brass-infused tune which utilises a range of genres such as jazz, hip hop, EDM, trap and swing impeccably. Front-man Brendon Urie does his best imitation of Frank Sinatra amid hip hop beats, jittery synths and organic brass instruments.
2) The 1975 – Somebody Else
Powerful, emotive and raw song which lyrically tells of dealing with a past over moving onto somebody new. Gentle, tinkling synthesisers evolve into slamming ’80’s-influenced beats on this stunning love song. One of The 1975’s best ever songs.
3) Shura – Touch
Gentle and tentative synthpop track featuring fuzzy synths, pretty piano chords and ethereal vocals from Shura. Gorgeous.
4) Netsky ft Digital Farm Animals – Work It Out
Catchy EDM track with gospel vocals, fierce drum patterns and catchy piano riffs. Much in the same vein as Sigma’s ‘Nobody To Love’ two years ago in terms of repetition, catchiness and the use of piano riffs.
5) Gwen Stefani – Make Me Like You
Gwen Stefani resurrects her solo career with this catchy and funky disco-pop track. Chanelling The Cardigans’ ‘Lovefool’ and elements of Kylie, it’s one of Stefani’s best.
6) Zayn – It’s You
Gorgeous downtempo R&B ballad on which Zayn fully utilises his gorgeous feathery falsetto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoB7c3miDrg
7) MUNA – Winterbreak
Dark electropop track featuring hollow beats, heavily processes vocals and gentle guitar riffs. Absolutely gorgeous.
8) All Tvvins – Unbelievable
Fierce electro-guitar track with a brilliant chorus and reverberating guitar riffs.
9) BJ The Chicago Kid & Kendrick Lamar – The New Cupid
Chilled out, retro inspired R&B/hiphop track with soulful guitar riffs and syrupy smooth vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heRre3KXLGY
10) The Knocks & Walk The Moon – Best for Last
Brilliant electronic infused track with catchy bass riffs and Nicholas Petricca’s smooth vocals.
Music Monday – Volume Sixty Seven
1) Take That – We Love to Entertain You
Electrifying and rousing stadium anthem that somehow managed to escape inclusion on an album. Whilst it did appear as a b-side to massive hit ‘Shine’ and was used in a German commercial, it was worthy of far more attention and credit. It’s a fitting tribute to fans; a sort of predecessor to ‘Hold Up A Light’, ‘Portrait’ and ‘I Like It’.
2) Beyonce – Love on Top
Funky and soulful R&B track; unbelievably catchy with an infectious melody and bouncy percussion. Highly influenced by 70’s disco tracks by Stevie Wonder and The Jackson Five, Beyonce braves FOUR key changes and blasts her powerhouse vocal effortlessly. One of her best.
3) Taylor Swift – Wildest Dreams
Miss Swift proves once again she is currently the biggest female Popstar in the world. Clearly influenced by the moody and breathy production Lana Del Ray is famous for, the chorus is unmistakeably Swift and the melody isn’t far removed from her signature Country-sound. A lovely track full of emotion, crashing beats and 80’s-esque synthesisers. Irresistible.
4) The Japanese House – Clean
Elusive and enigmatic act Amber Bain (better known as The Japanese House) released another enchanting track earlier this week, once again produced by Matty and George from The 1975. Full of twinkling bells, fizzy synths, distorted brass instruments and unsteady percussion, it’s beautifully endearing and cinematic.
5) Tame Impala – Yes I’m Changing
Aesthetic, downbeat and dreamy, this is another lovely moment from Tame Impala’s latest album ‘Currents’. Evidently influenced by ’80’s synthpop, it has a great bassline and hazy vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhlPXa6g4C8
6) Oasis – Half the World Away
Lovely acoustic ballad written and sang by Noel. Whilst never released on a studio album or as a single, this became well known for being used as the theme tune to the BBC Sitcom ‘The Royle Family’. It has also since been featured on two Oasis compilation albums.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK_Mrpjppwk
7) The Blue Nile – Everybody Else
Whilst not the most recognised of bands, Glaswegian adult-alternative band The Blue Nile have received much critical acclaim and have gained a cult following over the years. They purposely never chased fame and are notable for their perfectionist approach to releasing music, releasing only four albums in a thirty four year career.
‘Everybody Else’ is a beautifully simplistic track featuring only a strumming guitar, computerised percussion, sweeping synthesisers and Paul Buchannan’s melancholic but sincere vocals. It is the penultimate track on their final album to date, 2004’s ‘High’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQYn5WgvBqU
8) Kylie Minogue, Garibay and Shaggy – Black and White
Miss Minogue is back on form with this sultry and sensual club banger, produced by Fernando Garibay and featuring a rap by legendary Shaggy. It is a return to Kylie’s club roots after previous album ‘Kiss Me Once’ was a more R&B-led affair and was only a moderate success commercially.
9) Lawson – Love Is You
Lovely acoustic-based ballad by Lawson, released as a free download on their website just days ago. Andy Brown’s voice is sincere as always and the chorus is very pretty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFkw8v8eyvM
10) Duran Duran – Ordinary World
One of Duran Duran’s biggest hits, ‘Ordinary World’ launched the band back into the charts after a period of declining popularity in the early 1990’s. Written about front-man Simon Le Bon’s late friend David Miles, this became a huge hit around the world in December 1992. Emotive, powerful and dramatic, it is one of Duran Duran’s best works.
the-music-box.co.uk 