Lopez Blogs

Five Forgotten Faves from days gone by:

1 - Wilson Phillips, Release Me (Above): Perfectly formed, beautifully harmonised, middle of the road power pop from the first children of sixties pop. All the glory seems to go to the sun drenched Hold On, but the radio edit of this US number one is just delicious and just as delightful 19 years on...
2 - The Triplets, You Don't Have To Go Home Tonight: The above track always reminds me that a slightly punchier, and slightly more flamenco version of Wilson Phillips exists. The Triplets track is like a group of harmonious Belinda Carlisles borrowing the WP sound, and brilliantly it works. Also just as ace is their gorgeous album track Light A Candle...
3 - St Etienne, Hobart Paving: Oh. My. God. Talk about gut wrenching heartbreaking pop at it's most beautiful. D'Luv quite rightly convinced me of the beauty of this song in my early blogging days and the greatest hits has renewed my love of it. Can't find an online link to the song but it's utterly devastating each time I listen...
4 - Kathleen Wilhoite, I Wish We Never Met: Talking of gut wrenching pop, this delicate petal of a song came to my attention over a decade ago when it featured in the third season of Buffy, after poor Willow found out Xander had lost it to boista-bonk Faith. Tragic. Just one of those Lilith Fair songs that completely vocalises every break up you ever had.
5 - Luther Vandross, Love Power/Power of Love: After the depressing couplet of songs above, it's time for something a lot more uplifting and Luther's silky vocals of this medley of songs just celebrates how glorious love can be sometimes. To a gently shuffling beat. Excellent.

Best selection of single and album tracks - Mar 09:

1 - PSB, Love, Etc: (Why? Oh like you need me to tell you - yes it seems to have been around forever and it's not even released yet, but these Brit award winning boys are totally on form with this electro-romantic ditty. It's tubthumpingtastic!)
2 - The Saturdays, Just Can't Get Enough: (Why? Because even though depending on your mood, it's either treading water til Work is released or shockingly brilliantly camp, it's totally Comic Relief and not rubbish in the slightest. Frankie is utterly lush, in a gay worship sort of way. Take that Cherevyl!)
3 - Red Blooded Women, Enjoy The Silence: (Why? The more "credible" DM cover version released this month, it's a million miles from JCGE and quite smooth and acely synthy with it too. Should quite rightly raise the profile of RBW and hopefully people will check out their ace original tunes. Cos everyone knows the Keane cover of this tune is the best out there...)
4 - Kevin Borg, Every Little Bit of Me: (Why? Frankly it's the best Idol winners song since That's My Goal - sure it may be songwriting by numbers with it's necessary key change, but it's performed so earnestly that it just melts my heart every time.)
5 - BWO, You're Not Alone: (Why? Um, it's a melodifestivalen special on the playlist this month and my beloved BWO don't disappoint. Yes the piano reminds me of Uninvited at times and it's not quite the gutsy move forward promised, but the gothic synths and swelling choir tick all the necessary boxes for me, and PSB better keep an eye on their current number one slot next week...)
6 - Mans Zelmerlow, Hope and Glory: (Why? Um, just watch that video above - it's Mans. In a tux. Looking handsome. Dancing. And throwing his all into an uplifting pop song that is at once a brilliant eurovision entry and an amazing comeback single. Mans, you handsome devil, i'm totally standing for hope and glory with you love.)
7 - Jonathan Fagerlund, Welcome To My Life: (Why? Because Jonathan is one of pop's adorable ragamuffins - see also Kevin Borg, Martin, Simon Curtis and McFly - and his debut album was a fun set that was grossly underrated. This is a perky little number that should raise his profile. uptempo JF is just aces...)
8 - Marie Serneholt, Disconnect Me: (Why? I'm a life time member of following any one from the A*Teens, even if their debut album was only 2/3rds brilliant. Disconnect Me doesn't quite connect as amazingly as it should, but it's a decent pop tune that slowly worms its way into your brain)
9 - Alcazar, Stay The Night: (Why? Utterly brilliant return to form for the Zar, with a ridiculously camp album cover to follow. Ace chorus, ace melody, ace beats, ace vocals - should be mass-eeeve)
10 - Sound of Arrows, M.A.G.I.C: (Why? I should have really raved on about this earlier, but everyone knew it from popjustice. Spelling in pop always works amazingly. I can't wait to see what their debut album brings!)
11 - William Young, Let It Go: (Why? Hairpiece or not, Britain's original Idol is still the best whether it's the simplistic beauty of heartwrenching tracks like this, or the wonderfully creative video to go with it)
12 - Lenka, Trouble Is A Friend: (Why? The more I listen to Lenka, the more obsessed I become with her - so much more than a Lily clone, this track just sparkles with her own personality and individuality. LOVE HER!)
13 - Marit Larsen, The Chase: (Why? While it's not as dramatic or glorious as If A Song Could Get Me You, it's definitely pretty and ethereal and that's quite enough for me. I'm quite sad that the album didn't do better than it did, so I'm sticking with her. For now)
14 - Laleh, Simon Says: (Why? Um, it's named after the most complicated children's game in history. And other than that, it's a tremendously organic sounding romp that reveals more layers with each ecoute :P)
15 - Pink, Please Don't Leave Me: (Why? Because i'm loving Pink sick at the moment, and totally worshipping this tender plea wrapped up in a seductive mid tempo pseudo rock groove. It's actually quite upsetting if it catches you in a down moment :( )
16 - Madonna, Devil Wouldn't Recognise You: (Why? Because I never give up on Madonna albums and this really should have been a devilishly dark fifth single for her. Alas it was not to be, but i like to pretend...)
17 - St Etienne, Method Of Modern Love: (Why? It's one part The One by Kylie, one part wonderfully seductive Sophie Ellis Bextor type dance groove, and totally Saint Etienne. Should've have been top ten for weeks. Bloody public)
18 - Erasure, Fingers and Thumbs (Soundfactory Edit): (Why? Remixing one of my fave tracks from my fave album of theirs was always going to be risky. This brings it bang up to date without losing any of the magic. Hurrah)
19 - McFly, Last Song: (Why? it's those ragamuffin scamps McFly, ergo I am preprogrammed to love it. On top of that, it's totally anthemic, roof raising, sing a long, fist pumping majesty and slightly touching too. Brilliance)
20 - Jason Mraz, Dynamo of Volition: (Why? I like to work an album for 4-5 singles on these playlists, and Aaron opened my eyes to what potential this track could have. He was right. After I'm yours, Make It Mine, Live High, Lucky and Love For A Child, it's the best track on the album :P)

Fizzypop gone by - Jan09/Feb09

Coming soon: the best one album only acts ever...