We’re back to doing our monthly mixtape. Here’s 20 songs – both old and new – that we have been loving over the past month.
Tag: Olly Murs
Music Monday – Volume Seventy Two
1) Tove Lo – Moments
Emotive and powerful electro-pop ballad with brutally honest lyrics. Produced by one of the hottest production duos currently around – Mattman and Robin, ‘Moments’ is abundant with crashing percussion, reverberating vocals and eerie sound effects. One of the hottest tracks around right now.
2) Tori Kelly – Should’ve Been Us
Pop perfection with hip-hop beats and a powerful vocal performance.
3) J. Tillman – Howling Light
Gorgeous folk ballad comprised of little more than guitars and organic instruments. It’s refreshing to hear music in its natural form, free of autotune and other programmable effects.
4) The Japanese House – Cool Blue
A gorgeous and gentle intro builds into a shuffling 80’s synthpop-esque track featuring pretty guitar riffs, spacey synthesisers and auto-tuned vocals. One of the hottest tracks in the world right now.
5) The 1975 – Love Me
Yet another pop track which reinforces the return of ’80’s pop. Abundant with detuned guitar riffs, squeaky synthesisers and gated percussion, The 1975’s comeback single is an explosive and effortlessly catchy affair. Healy’s vocals are the clearest they have ever been and the lyrical content is as witty and clever as always. A fine return.
6) Drake – Hotline Bling
Utilising both hiphop and trap, Drake’s ‘Hotline Bling’ heavily samples Timmy Thomas’ 1972 song “Why Can’t We Live Together”. It may be somewhat repetitive and Drake’s vocals may not be the most powerful but it’s effortlessly catchy.
7) Kanye West – Love Lockdown
One of Kanye’s best. The ‘808’s and Heartbreak’ album is often overlooked due to West’s attempt at singing rather than rap but it contains innovation and power that could never have been projected through rap. The song’s power lies in its minimalistic pop style – piano riffs, a Roland TR-808 drum machine imitating tribal percussion and West’s heavily autotuned vocals dominate this repetitive but catchy and powerful synthpop track.
8) Olly Murs – Kiss Me
Catchy pop track featuring a punchy bass line, ’80’s-eque synthesisers, funky bass riffs and an effortlessly catchy chorus. Just try to ignore the fact it is more or less a rip off of Nick Jonas’ ‘Jealous’…
9) James Morrison – Demons
James Morrison triumphantly returns with this powerful, eerie and beautifully sincere pop-soul track. The sped-up/high-pitched “I’ve got demons” refrain which opens the track and appears throughout is heavily reminiscent of Simon Webbe’s pop hit ‘No Worries’ and adds an extra dimension to Morrison’s gorgeous track. ”
10) Selena Gomez – Sober
Gomez wails over jittery synthesisers, reverberating percussion and spacey vocal effects on this great pop track.
Music Monday – Volume Fifty Seven
1) Take That – Hold Up A Light
One of Take That’s best songs in their twenty five year career. So much optimism, so much energy and so much power. Mark Owen’s vocals are on point and the harmonies are perfect too. Since seeing the Take That boys live and seeing this performed live again, it’s completely reinforced what an incredible song this is.
2) Take That – The Garden
Absolutely stunning song, opener of ‘The Circus’ album. I love the little touches of production by John Shanks – from the eerie and soft opening to Howard’s stomping bridge leading into the second chorus. It’s perfect that each member gets to perform lead vocals during different sections and once again, this has to be one of the best Take That songs in their back catalogue. Gorgeous, inspiring lyrics, stunning falsetto vocals from Gary Barlow and so much power in those final explosive chorus’.
3) Take That – Flaws
Gentle but powerful ballad from the ‘III’ album. I’ve always loved this but its beauty has certainly been reinforced since seeing Mark Owen & Howard Donald’s stunning contemporary dance to it on Take That’s current tour. Very raw and very beautiful.
4) Take That – Up All Night
This was never one of my favourites from ‘The Circus’ album but I always appreciated the musicianship within it and what a great song it was overall. As the years have gone by, however, I’ve finally come to love it. I love its energy and it is the epitome of fun.
5) Finley Quaye – Sunday Shining
Heard this on the radio the other day and fell in love. Love its almost grunge-rock feel but it’s also infused with elements of Soul. Catchy with a distinctive vocal.
6) Olly Murs – Beautiful To Me
Probably my favourite Olly single in years! Catchy and emotive with beautiful lyrics, it’s a perfect pop track. Love the stomping percussion and Olly’s vocal is very strong (although the autotune usage could be reduced a little…) Can’t get enough of this right now.
7) Jennifer Lopez & Trey Songz – What You Mean to Me
Beautiful rendition of a stunning song written by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy for the Finding Neverland musical. Gorgeous lyrics and JLO & Trey sound fantastic together.
8) Rixton – Let the Road
This is utterly refreshing. The majority of this track is performed acapella before launching into a dynamic album opener. Like this band a lot.
9) Rixton – We All Want The Same Thing
I know this only featured the other week but I honestly can’t get enough of this right now. Irresistibly catchy. Pop music at its best.
10) Tinie Tempah & Jess Glynne – No Letting Go
Catchy as hell and bound to be an integral part of the soundtrack to summer 2015. Jess Glynne’s voice is just awesome. A winning combination of artists.
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