I've fallen into a bad habit recently of starting these long, involved posts and then never finishing them, leaving them lost in the cobweb filled word of "Drafts" for who knows how long, and then rushing out a quick one or two sentence description of each song I'm loving at the moment (though strangely my last rambly long post got finished in one sitting). It's certainly not for lack of good music to write about--it's more a matter of songs that I love so much that I really want to do them justice or multi-part issues or explorations of subjects that cry out for a little more effort and my seeming ADDish inability to finish them.
I'll try to hit that middle ground sweet spot more often, though, because I need an outlet to talk about how much I'm enjoying Martin Stenmarck's new album, how excited I am about the new Adam Lambert album (I have apparently listened to each of the 30 second clips--well, except "Time For Miracles"--fourteen times on my iPod alone), how lovely the Sugababes' "Wait For You" is, how much bounce Anna Abreu's "Music Everywhere" puts in my step, or how hard I fell for Blake Lewis's "Left My Baby For You" (I've said before how much I love "Heartbreak On Vinyl," and that still holds true as well).
In the meantime, there are a couple of projects based around the end of the decade that are worth your reading time: Chart Rigger's 40 best pop songs of the '00s and XO's year-by-year review of the '00s. It's really easy to get caught up in the excitement of now and songs that you instantly love are a hugely important part of pop; having spent all Friday a week ago with that adrenaline rush you get from loving, really loving a new song, I'm certainly not going to knock the appeal of the here-and-now. A bit of distance, though, can sometimes make for a better, more insightful read and can take you back to some pretty special songs (and memories, even if the songs no longer hold the power for you now that they did then).
Showing posts with label Blake Lewis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blake Lewis. Show all posts
Just for fun and nothin' meant
I've given in and joined the Twitter crowd. Even if you don't have your own Twitter account (if you do, I'd love if you'd follow me), popping by to check out my account every once in a while will keep you up-to-date with new songs I'm listening to but either haven't got around to writing about yet or bits of news that feel too short for the blog. Lately I've been mentioning the second single from Najoua Belyzel's new album, the Mylene Farmer-dedicated "M (Hey Hey Hey)"...
...a new Blake Lewis song, "Binary Love" (on writer/producer Carl Ryden's MysSpace), which isn't as good as "Heartbreak On Vinyl" but is still OK...
...and the FANTASTIC, GORGEOUS middle eight to Britney's new single "3." Sweet and lovely, in a slightly "Brave New Girl" way.
...a new Blake Lewis song, "Binary Love" (on writer/producer Carl Ryden's MysSpace), which isn't as good as "Heartbreak On Vinyl" but is still OK...
...and the FANTASTIC, GORGEOUS middle eight to Britney's new single "3." Sweet and lovely, in a slightly "Brave New Girl" way.
I waited for you at the record shop
The title track from Blake Lewis's upcoming album: l-o-v-e it. My fears that this would be an indie-dance album that ditched all pop sensibilities apparently couldn't have been more wrong. The soundscape created is definitely electronica influenced, but the melody and the way the synths are harnessed couldn't be more pop--in other words, it's a perfect combination. We've only heard it in low quality so far, but even at lower bitrates, you can hear how it's going to sparkle. Beautiful and uptempo, it's the sort of song that fills you with energy--yes, it passes the "has me wanting to jump around my room" test--but tugs just a bit, only gently, at those heartstrings, too.(This is usually where I would embed a YouTube video of the song, but it's not there yet. Listen by subscribing to his mailing list.)
My expectations for this album just skyrocketed. Could I actually end up loving it more than his debut? It's hard to imagine, given that I spun that record more than any other of the past few years (well, except maybe Erik Hassle's), but suddenly, hearing "Heartbreak On Vinyl," which just might be the most grown-up sound from Blake yet--and I didn't even realize I wanted any other sound from him until hearing this song and now suddenly know that, if this is the alternative, I do--I'm starting to think Blake might actually do it.
To preorder Blake Lewis's new album, Heartbreak On Vinyl, go here
. It comes out October 6.
Things were so different, now you're gone, I thought it'd be easy, I was wrong
More songwriter notes and random artist tidbits (I really am going to do more in depth posts, less "news bullet"-y, soon):
Johan "Kermit" Bobäck is working with Darin on new music (he previously collaborated with him on "Seasons Fly").
Apparently British boy band a1 are reuniting for some concerts in Norway in early December and will be performing both old and (gasp!) new songs. I am not ashamed to admit I got more than a bit excited listening to the group rehearse modern classic "Caught In The Middle." Speaking of new songs, Ben Adams, who appeared on this blog many a time in its early days, has a new-ish song on his MySpace (listen to it in higher quality on Facebook), "The Dust Won't Settle," which is really pretty pleasant (albeit sad) pop-rock--more like third album a1 than most of what we've heard of his solo album, but it shows he's just as great with a melody and with his voice. Love it. Ben has also (as I think I've mentioned before) written for Alexandra Burke's upcoming album.
Blake Lewis apparently worked with Darkchild for his upcoming album Heartbreak on Vinyl (out October 6). Listen to some beats but no vocals in this video.
If you're a sucker for über-bubblegummy Swedish pop that sounds like it could have come straight out of the '90s--I mean the really sugary sweet, cheesy kind--you might want to listen to Three's "Lucky Number." Who are Three? Three blonde sixteen year old triplets. You can probably already imagine what the music sounds like. Of course, me being me, bubblegum pop is always welcome, especially if it's got a Swedish connection.
Georgie Dennis, sister of Cathy and songwriter in her own right, has a song called "Dirty Drum" on her MySpace that sounds like it's sung by Elin Lanto. There are better, non-Elin songs there, though.
Carl Falk uploaded some new songs to his MySpace a few months ago. I presume they're demos, though I've got no actual proof of that. My favorite is "Shameless," co-written by him, Lindy Robbins, Kristian Lundin, and Rami Yacoub; it's very pop.
Speaking of demos uploaded on MySpace months ago, Tony Nilsson put the demo of Elin Lanto's "Discotheque" on his MySpace. I'm a total demo addict, as I've convinced before, so for me, hearing the substantial differences--though in this case, it's not a matter of voice, since even the demo contains Elin's voice--is really fascinating. The final version is definitely better, but there are some lost elements which, though they probably had to be lost for the sake of the song, I love.
Johan "Kermit" Bobäck is working with Darin on new music (he previously collaborated with him on "Seasons Fly").
Apparently British boy band a1 are reuniting for some concerts in Norway in early December and will be performing both old and (gasp!) new songs. I am not ashamed to admit I got more than a bit excited listening to the group rehearse modern classic "Caught In The Middle." Speaking of new songs, Ben Adams, who appeared on this blog many a time in its early days, has a new-ish song on his MySpace (listen to it in higher quality on Facebook), "The Dust Won't Settle," which is really pretty pleasant (albeit sad) pop-rock--more like third album a1 than most of what we've heard of his solo album, but it shows he's just as great with a melody and with his voice. Love it. Ben has also (as I think I've mentioned before) written for Alexandra Burke's upcoming album.Blake Lewis apparently worked with Darkchild for his upcoming album Heartbreak on Vinyl (out October 6). Listen to some beats but no vocals in this video.
If you're a sucker for über-bubblegummy Swedish pop that sounds like it could have come straight out of the '90s--I mean the really sugary sweet, cheesy kind--you might want to listen to Three's "Lucky Number." Who are Three? Three blonde sixteen year old triplets. You can probably already imagine what the music sounds like. Of course, me being me, bubblegum pop is always welcome, especially if it's got a Swedish connection.
Georgie Dennis, sister of Cathy and songwriter in her own right, has a song called "Dirty Drum" on her MySpace that sounds like it's sung by Elin Lanto. There are better, non-Elin songs there, though.Carl Falk uploaded some new songs to his MySpace a few months ago. I presume they're demos, though I've got no actual proof of that. My favorite is "Shameless," co-written by him, Lindy Robbins, Kristian Lundin, and Rami Yacoub; it's very pop.
Speaking of demos uploaded on MySpace months ago, Tony Nilsson put the demo of Elin Lanto's "Discotheque" on his MySpace. I'm a total demo addict, as I've convinced before, so for me, hearing the substantial differences--though in this case, it's not a matter of voice, since even the demo contains Elin's voice--is really fascinating. The final version is definitely better, but there are some lost elements which, though they probably had to be lost for the sake of the song, I love.
Can't find a reason why I shouldn't try
With a hat-tip to EQ, while we're on the subject of this blog's icons, Blake Lewis performed some of his new songs at LA Pride. I'm pleased to say that, though the instrumental of "Please Don't Stop" does sound dance/spiky electronica-influenced, it sounds like the overall product is much more pop than I thought independent Blake would go.
I can't really judge the song without hearing that backing in higher quality, but this does up the (to be fair, already very favorable despite concerns) odds of me getting the album, due out in October. My fears have not all been allayed, though.
(There's another song, "Rapture Of Love," here; h/t to Yuri. More of a ballad, and less interesting to my ears.)
I can't really judge the song without hearing that backing in higher quality, but this does up the (to be fair, already very favorable despite concerns) odds of me getting the album, due out in October. My fears have not all been allayed, though.
(There's another song, "Rapture Of Love," here; h/t to Yuri. More of a ballad, and less interesting to my ears.)
Put on your brake lights
Big thanks to Conor for the following news, taken from American Idol Extra via MJ's Big Blog: Blake Lewis is releasing his second album in October 6 (on Tommy Boy Records, information that is not new), preceded by a single, "Sad Song" (a "song for the broken-hearted"), in a few months.
He says it's pop-electro, but also everything he didn't get to do for his last album, elaborating on that point by saying that it's edgy and that he's writing all the songs and working with some great producers. As I've said before, I'm not positive that the record an independent Blake wants to and will make without any sort of commercial pressures being placed on him to moderate his personal preferences and push him towards the mainstream will be an album I'll love as much as his debut (which I loved to an almost unhealthy extent), but I can't help being excited by this news.
He also performed a cover of Rihanna's "Disturbia" on the show.
He says it's pop-electro, but also everything he didn't get to do for his last album, elaborating on that point by saying that it's edgy and that he's writing all the songs and working with some great producers. As I've said before, I'm not positive that the record an independent Blake wants to and will make without any sort of commercial pressures being placed on him to moderate his personal preferences and push him towards the mainstream will be an album I'll love as much as his debut (which I loved to an almost unhealthy extent), but I can't help being excited by this news.
He also performed a cover of Rihanna's "Disturbia" on the show.
#30 Blake Lewis, "How Many Words"
Right back where we started,
Falling apart at the seams
You tagged your name on my heart and
I sat there and let it bleed
Please do not read too much into this not be a PG-top-five-smash as it easily would have been in 2007, when I fell madly in love with Audio Day Dream to a degree I've rarely if ever matched with another album. It's by far the most underrated American pop album to come out in the past few years and marked Blake living up to every hope I had for him from American Idol and more. In fact, he could have released any song from that album and easily made it onto my 2007 chart. "How Many Words" is a BRILLIANT Erasure-esque pop sort-of-ballad which I love with every bit of my heart, a heart broken by the fact that most of the world will never know songs like "End Of The World," which, much as I love "How Many Words," should probably have been the choice for the second single. I suppose I shouldn't complain about single choice too much--from the moment we saw the no-expenses-spared music video for his debut single "Break Anotha," it was obvious the label, failing to get quick and easy radio support, had given up on the whole album project, so getting a second single at all was a bonus. "How Many Words" is still one of the album's highlights, and Blake's influences and musical loves, when channeled through a pop lens as they are here and on his album, made him the best American artist going.Find it on: Audio Day Dream
Turning fighters into lovers
(Elements of this post have been sitting as a draft for quite some time, so not all of these links are to incredibly recent posts; that just means that they've stood the test of time, though.)
A few songs I was introduced by blogworld that I think are worth your time:
Poptastic posted "Watch This Space," a song from (the Paul-promoted British High-School-Musical-as-TV-series) Britannia High (watch the scene from the show below). It's a great pure pop song with a dance beat underneath the chorus.
PopJustice featured a clip of a song from Alesha's new album, "Let's Get Excited." It's more up-tempo than most of the sampler. Have I said on here that "Colours Of The Rainbow," the track her website is giving away, is enjoyable, too? It is.
#1 Hits From Another Planet wrote about Norwegian project Karatkorn's "The Distance In A Romance," which is lush dance/electro-pop--absolutely gorgeous. Kind of Kylie-esque, but that beautiful spacey side of Kylie, not the full-on disco rush, though it's not a slow song.
MuuMuse introduced me to the latest music from Blake Lewis--he features on a Darude cover of "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls. Take it for what it is, an opportunity to hear Blake's vocals on something--don't go in expecting something like his debut album.
Fizzy Pop raved about the debut single from British duo Same Difference (and put it in proper pop history context), and with good reason--"We R One" is pure "pure pop" heaven, key change and all. A must-listen, definitely.
Don't Stop The Pop introduced me to Swedish singer Neo, whose song "Flower Power Supergirl"--poppy, uptempo, camp, catchy (not enough men making music like this)--is one I'm eagerly looking forward to being able to buy--album out this week! The same post also included a mention of Rosanna and her excellent song "Gameboy," with a promise to write more about it in the future.
On the non-introducing songs but still excellent front...
Adem wrote a fantastic review of Girls Aloud's "Out Of Control." I'll probably never get around to properly writing up my thoughts on even one of the songs off of it, but "The Loving Kind" and "Miss You Bow Wow" are my favorites at the moment.
Fabtastic Music made me wish Charlotte Perrelli would get to do a tour like a big US or UK act would.
Olga Loves Yuri took us on a tour of Norway with Annie.
XO's Middle Eight gives us more information about Take That's upcoming album, one which I'm very excited for (and I still love the video, cheese and all).
I adore D'luv's personal post about Pet Shop Boys.
Pop Music Notes is such a welcome part of the pop blog scene--you'll read about artists there that aren't really being covered elsewhere (as well as some who are). John's also being making me really jealous by writing about all the concerts he's been to recently.
Gosh, you start on this and you just keep thinking of a million things you want to link to...best to continue later, though, or else no one will bother with any of this.
A few songs I was introduced by blogworld that I think are worth your time:
Poptastic posted "Watch This Space," a song from (the Paul-promoted British High-School-Musical-as-TV-series) Britannia High (watch the scene from the show below). It's a great pure pop song with a dance beat underneath the chorus.
PopJustice featured a clip of a song from Alesha's new album, "Let's Get Excited." It's more up-tempo than most of the sampler. Have I said on here that "Colours Of The Rainbow," the track her website is giving away, is enjoyable, too? It is.
#1 Hits From Another Planet wrote about Norwegian project Karatkorn's "The Distance In A Romance," which is lush dance/electro-pop--absolutely gorgeous. Kind of Kylie-esque, but that beautiful spacey side of Kylie, not the full-on disco rush, though it's not a slow song.
MuuMuse introduced me to the latest music from Blake Lewis--he features on a Darude cover of "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls. Take it for what it is, an opportunity to hear Blake's vocals on something--don't go in expecting something like his debut album.
Fizzy Pop raved about the debut single from British duo Same Difference (and put it in proper pop history context), and with good reason--"We R One" is pure "pure pop" heaven, key change and all. A must-listen, definitely.
Don't Stop The Pop introduced me to Swedish singer Neo, whose song "Flower Power Supergirl"--poppy, uptempo, camp, catchy (not enough men making music like this)--is one I'm eagerly looking forward to being able to buy--album out this week! The same post also included a mention of Rosanna and her excellent song "Gameboy," with a promise to write more about it in the future.
On the non-introducing songs but still excellent front...
Adem wrote a fantastic review of Girls Aloud's "Out Of Control." I'll probably never get around to properly writing up my thoughts on even one of the songs off of it, but "The Loving Kind" and "Miss You Bow Wow" are my favorites at the moment.
Fabtastic Music made me wish Charlotte Perrelli would get to do a tour like a big US or UK act would.
Olga Loves Yuri took us on a tour of Norway with Annie.
XO's Middle Eight gives us more information about Take That's upcoming album, one which I'm very excited for (and I still love the video, cheese and all).
I adore D'luv's personal post about Pet Shop Boys.
Pop Music Notes is such a welcome part of the pop blog scene--you'll read about artists there that aren't really being covered elsewhere (as well as some who are). John's also being making me really jealous by writing about all the concerts he's been to recently.
Gosh, you start on this and you just keep thinking of a million things you want to link to...best to continue later, though, or else no one will bother with any of this.
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