Lopez Blogs

There are lots of brilliant end of decade lists flying around. Some have been particularly amazing (ADH, J Mensah and especially XO & Dluv spring to mind). I didn't have the time or the memory to be as brilliant as those guys so I have stuck with just doing my favourite five albums of the new decade/century/millenium so far. Strange fact: My absolute favourite song of the past 10 years doesn't even feature on any of these albums...(It's Will Young - Your Game)...

5 ~ The Feeling, 12 Stops and Home: I think this has a lot to do with the fact that Ruthiepoos and I saw this band live at a very early stage, watched them blossom and become radio darlings and saw each gig we attended get larger and larger, though the fans were equally as enthusiastic in the early days. Plus it was the very first act that I blogged about back in February 2006. It was a refreshing break from the gloomy indie sounds and thrust a bright dazzling harmonic sunshine sound firmly back into the charts. The songs are effortlessly feelgood - particularly the near perfect opening trifecta of I Want You Now, Fill My Little World and Never Be Lonely. Love It When You Call is possibly the best 70s mor song never released at that time, and even outside anthem Strange (which should have been the 5th single over live fave Rose) seems oddly inspiring. The guys were perfectly in sync with each other during every note and harmony on the album and their genuine affection for what they did shone through in live shows and on record. Also of note: the lovely b-side Sun is Shining which is epic enough to be on the album.
My singles: Fill My Little World; Sewn; Never Be Lonely; Love It When You Call; Strange

4 ~ Maroon 5, Songs About Jane: It was the dulcet, seductive sounds of The Sweetest Goodbye playing in a dirty white van in Love, Actually that had me rushing out to buy Songs About Jane just minutes before the band blew up and became massive. The fusion of rock, pop and r'n'b wasn't particularly unique, but the band did it so well. Frontman Adam Levine positively dripped sex appeal in his lyrics and vocal delivery (particularly in Harder to Breathe) and guided fast songs to an urgent fruition, while showcasing his more tender "let's spoon" side on the slower stuff. Again, a near perfect trifecta of single releases introduced the world to different facets of the band - Harder To Breathe was hard rocking, explosive and dirty; This Love was a great sing a long pop ditty and She Will be Loved because a massive romantic anthem. The whole album had me coming back for more though and i was soon thoroughly immersed into their world. Also of note: Their Spiderman movie contribution Woman and cover version of Pure Imagination, which has a quite terrifying middle 8.
My singles: Harder To Breathe; This Love; She Will Be Loved; Must Get Out; Sweetest Goodbye

3 ~ Kylie Minogue, Light Years: Ah the return of Kylie to her pop roots (although I'd argue she never left them) had fans capitulating with delight. It was an utter delight from start to finish like the soundtrack to some quirky camp cocktail party. And Kylie threw herself into it, without ever giving the audience the impression that this was novelty or beneath her. And that's what made it all so magical. Nearly every track on here could have been picked to be a single and nearly all of them sound brilliant 10 years on. Quite simply it was addictive, fun pop that had no hidden agenda other than to leave you feeling good at the end of it. Just listen to Kylie singing "la disco a boisen de vous" on Your Disco Needs You and try not to shimmy with incredible pleasure...
My singles: Your Disco Needs You; Spinning Around; On A Night Like This; Kids; Please Stay; Light Years


2 ~ Simon Curtis, Alter Boy: It was the album that still hasn't been released (although there are numerous bootlegs out there all with hideous tracklistings!) and perhaps it's time has passed now that the steam of the 8BitHeart campaign is gaining rapid momentum. However, it was one of the most exciting and rewarding albums that I had the pleasure to listen to, and one that gripped more than most in recent years. I've probably written more blog posts about this album than any other, so I won't go on about it too much again now. Simply put, it's an astonishing piece of work that shows a great symbiotic relationship between producer Jadion's music and Simon's lyrics. Challenging, edgy, smart and witty in equal measures, it provided me with great pop music long before Lady Gaga came on the scene. Simon wasn't afraid to tackle current issues on the album either including sending troops abroad - and their behaviour while there (Left Right Left), the intolerance of religious groups (Religion Reduced) and racism/phobias (Sugar Sugar White). Add to this some deliciously malevolent tracks (Vicious) and down right sultry (Casual Encounter) and it all added up to an album that rarely left my earphones. Also of note: The Simon penned Fadyn track Hypnotic and Disney-commissioned tune Flashback...
My singles: Answer; Broken; Put Your Make Up On; Resist; Religion Reduced

1 ~ Deborah Gibson, MYOB: And this was when Deborah the popstar returned. I'm still a bit baffled as to why this didn't set the charts alight - was the perfect companion album to Light Years for example. An excellent collection of pop/dance tunes interspersed with radio friendly ballads and the odd diversion into jazz-tinged torch songs, every single track on the album was strong enough to be a single. The title track was a punchy pop effort with brilliant kiddie-chorus refrain that worked incredibly well against the more adult nature of the lyrics. What You Want and Your Secret are also ace pop numbers with a harder dance edge than people might be used to from the Deb. Down That Road, The One (co-written by Chynna (wilson) Phillips) and Wishing You Were Here are a more subdued but no less enticing pop entry on the album, while the funky What Part of No continues the vibe and lyrical tone of When I Say No (from Body Mind Soul). In Blue and Jaded stand out as bluesy smokey torch songs that showcase a different side to Deborah's vocal and musical arrangements. It's a winning album that really needed a large label behind it to get it the publicity it deserved. Also of note: her millenial ballad (just her and her piano - spinetingling) With All My Heart; Right on Time from a charity album is an epic timeless slowie as is Run To Her (from Memory Lane). Plus a bootleg remix of Wishing You Were Here turns it into a frenetic dance number. Aces
My singles: MYOB; Wishing You Were Here; Your Secret; Down That Road; Wishing You Were Here

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

You know, every year since I was a little boy I've listened to Abba's Happy New Year song at some point between waking up on New Year's Eve and the big ben chimes of midnight. This year will be no different. I do particularly love this song, how it glosses over past regrets and looks to an optimistic future. Plus it was obviously recorded at a difficult time in the abba dynamic and the round the piano video makes me want to weep. So here it is again. Do also check out the A*Teens version - I particularly like how they say decade and make it sound like dickhead!!

21 ~ Nerina Pallot, When Did I Become Such A Bitch? (NE)
20 ~ Natalie Imbruglia, Scars (NE)
19 ~ Alphabeat, Hole In My Heart (NE)
18 ~ Mini Viva, I Wish
17 ~ BWO, Kings of Tomorrow
16 ~ Industry, My Mistake
15 ~ Darin, Viva La Vida
14 ~ Whitney Houston, I Look To You
13 ~ Alexandra Burke, Broken Heels (NE)
12 ~ Blake Lewis, I Left My Baby For You
11 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, A Stranger Saved My Life
10 ~ Simon Curtis, Delusional
09 ~ The Saturdays, Ego
08 ~ Agnes, Love Love Love
07 ~ RyanDan, Can't Help Falling In Love
06 ~ Alcazar, Thank You
05 ~ JLS, Close To You
04 ~ Leona Lewis, Stop Crying Your Heart Out
03 ~ Pet Shop Boys, It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas
02 ~ Robbie Williams, You Know Me
01 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo (1 week)