Lopez Blogs

There was quite a lot of good pop music in the decade that launched the new millenium. But it didn't half evolve over the ten years - at the start of the new century it was steps-esque pop that reigned supreme and now it's a more red-one Lady Cuckoo type vibe that takes over the charts (although frankly Joe's The Climb could have been out in 2000 and not sounded any different)... So here are some of my favourite pop stars born in the 2000s (ie, didn't have any music out before January 1st 2000 - few exceptions to that non-rule though!) in alphabetical order...

A*Teens: Now I'm pretty sure that the A*Teens were going before 2000, but I almost always ignore their first album of Abba covers and delve straight into the original material (littered with more covers) that they recorded. As Steps and S Club were dying off, A*Teens were the best place to go for some pounding, in your face, melodic, singalong, brilliant swedish pop music.
Best tracks: Halfway Round The World; Hi and Goodbye; One Night In Bangkok; Perfect Match

Lily Allen: Who would have thought that an actor's gobby daughter would make such delightful pop? Her debut album was a spunky treat, and her follow up album showed that she had the makings of a fine popstar once her tunes had been given a glossy production. Always outspoken yet strangely charming, I'm hoping she doesn't give up on pop and makes at least one more album...
Best tracks: LDN; Alfie; The Fear; Fuck You

BWO: To me (even though really they were nothing alike), BWO were the mature version of Steps (though I can see Steps banging out a corking version of Chariots of Fire). Their uptempo pop was just insanely euphoric, while the ballads were lush and sincere (and could easily have been shopped around to Mariah, Leona and the ilk). Visually creative as well, this is one pop group that was perhaps too quirky for worldwide domination. Yes it can be a bit samey, but when the bar is set this high, who cares?
Best tracks: 16 Tonnes of Hardware; Chariots of Fire; Bells of Freedom; Destiny of Love

Simon Curtis: Ah the young Mr Curtis isn't even fully formed yet as a pop star yet is still leaps and bounds ahead of many of his contemporaries. I addressed Alter Boy on new years eve, so won't go into that again. His turn in Spectacular was both cute and witty, and showed that he had a pure pop voice under all his love of electronica pop. And this is something that has merged best on the AMAZING 2010 anthem Diablo. I suspect 8 Bit Heart will be just incredible.
Best tracks: Put Your Make Up On; Broken; Pop Messiah; On The Wings of A Dream; Diablo

The Feeling: Bringing together Wilson Phillips esque harmonies (only from dudes, and two of them quite attractive :P), mixing that with a love of 70s pop and rock, focusing on huge melodies and an organic band sound, The Feeling couldn't fail to be amazing. Their debut album was completely massive and although not as big commercially, I thought the second album showcased not only what fine songsmiths the lads were, but that they had a huge knowledge of how to create brilliant pop music. Can't wait for album number three in 2010. Oh and their live shows are just so energetic and fun!
Best tracks: Fill My Little World; Love It When You Call; Without You; Join With Us

Girls Aloud: It seems incredible now that such an exciting, ground breaking and revolutionary pop act would come out of the popstars format (or considering Joe, any of it's ilk)! But yes, One True Voice were just that! I kid i kid! Girls Aloud were a breath of fresh air and really shooed away the last of the turn of the century pop for a brand new era. Finding the perfect partners in xenomania, they weren't afraid to take chances and just throw in completely off kilter out there pop that shouldn't work but did (Biology - one of my top ten songs of the decade). And long may they reign - or at least til Greatest Hits volume two...
Best tracks: Sound of The Underground; Biology; The Promise; Sexy No No No; Loving Kind

The Killers: Well they certainly have been busy since they stormed the scene with the blistering Somebody Told Me back in 2004 haven't they? 3 albums, a b-sides collection; a live album + dvd and numerous Christmas songs and soundtrack donations! And while some say that they haven't matched the giddy heights of Hot Fuss, I disagree. I think their evolution has been quite fun to watch. They haven't rested on their laurels and each album features some great tunes. Plus Brandon was wearing "creative" fashion choices (remember the shocking pink blazer?) way before Lady Cuckoo took her performance art pop. And All These Things... is another of my top ten songs of the decade...
Best tracks: Somebody Told Me; All These Things; Human; Great Big Sled; When We Were Young

Kylie 3.0: well there was S/A/W Kylie, then 90s Kylie and now Kylie that ruled the decade with a mixture of sleek dance pop and fluffy disco tunes. As I've mentioned before, everyone always has an opinion on what should and shouldn't be on a kylie album (partially because most of the stuff that doesn't make it is leaked) but that's just because people love her. She's the Madonna who would hug you rather than slice you with her arm muscles! 4 albums plus change, some great live shows and a dignified and mercifully successful battle against cancer make this a lady to be reckoned with. And she'll be back for more soon.
Best tracks: Your Disco Needs You; Can't Get You Out Of My Head; I Believe In You; The One; Red Blooded Woman; White Diamond

Maroon 5: It wasn't just the allure of the fine fine Adam Levine that kept me drawn to this group; oh no - it was their ability to make great pop tunes by sourcing inspiration from funk, pop, rock and r'n'b and yet making it seem like it was all their idea!! They may only be two albums old, but they were stellar albums, ones I still play quite often and a whole host of other tracks have been released in the mean time. The third album is out early 2010, and I really couldn't be any more excited.
Best tracks: This Love; Harder To Breathe; Makes Me Wonder; Wake Up Call; Pure Imagination

McFly: Although their punky boy pop with guitars (and drums. Harry. Rar.) was the temporary nail in the coffin (til JLS clawed their way out) for traditional sounding boy bands, McFly soon proved they were way way more than a Busted clone by producing some of the greatest pop this decade. Had they been an indie band, they would have had far more favourable press than they did and it's a tragedy that they are so underrated as performers and writers. Motion in the Ocean remains their finest achievement, but don't write them off just yet. Talent like this always resurfaces with something brilliant...
Best tracks: All About You; Ballad of Paul K; Sorry's Not Good Enough; Transylvania; Last Song

Nerina Pallot: Why on earth she has to restart her career with each album is beyond me. Here is a great singer, brilliant lyricist, wry observer of life and creator of some amazing pop tunes, complex balladry and inventive songs; yet she isn't quite the megastar she should be. She's really quite charming and witty in person too as her embracing of video blogs has proved - and I love how she reinvents her songs in different genres for her fans too. Make sure you don't skip her aces debut record, it's got some wonderful tunes on there...
Best tracks: Jump; Watch Out Billie; Geek Love; Sophia; When Did I Become Such A Bitch

Same Difference: The only one album act on here, and perhaps (rivalling Shayne) my biggest obsession to come from the X Factor. There was something about Sarah and Sean that made it ok to love pop whatever the format, and though their debut album Pop was somewhat steered by Simon Cowell, they had some really great original tunes on there that hinted at a longer career than We R One might indicate. Their new image, new record label and some brilliant new music should serve them well in Europe and Asia in 2010 as long as they don't forget to come back to England soon!
Best tracks: Better Love Me; All Roads Lead To Heaven; Turn It Into Love (PWL Mix)

Scissor Sisters: My god, they were brilliant when they came out with their first album. It just seemed to knock socks off everything else pop at the time and was like an icy blast of water in the face - thoroughly invigorating. Another act that were visually creative long before giant pianos and bathtubs, they were seen to go a bit tame on their second album, though I absolutely loved it and could have easily milked it for six or seven singles. And again, another act returning in 2010. Hurrah. PS - their work with Kylie (particularly the ballad White Diamond) was examplary.
Best tracks: Laura; Filthy/Gorgeous; I Don't Feel Like Dancing; I Can't Decide; Just Might Tell You Tonight

Take That 2.0: A documentary about the post take that years (and the massiveness of Robbie) relaunched the group in a wave of nostalgia. Soon the greatest hits album was a top seller and a tour sold out. However, had they not come back with some incredibly accomplised pop that, with The Feeling and Coldplay, puts them at the forefront of composition in the UK, it all could have ended there. Luckily two albums in and some amazing tunes that reflect the talents of all the band and Take That are arguably bigger now than they were in the 90s. And it's not easy to replicate - many reunions have taken place and failed since. Their live shows are a theatrical wonder to behold.
Best tracks: Shine; Rule The World; Greatest Day; The Garden; How Did It Come To This?

Shayne Ward: Poor Shayne. He won the X Factor the year after Steve Brookstein, potentially saving the show from becoming an embarrassing footnote in the history of reality music tv. He was by far the best hope for pop (at the time) that the show had produced and his weekly performances were far more contemporary and exciting than anything recent acts have done. Then Leona happened and being a star in England wasn't enough anymore and Shayne got shuffled to the sidelines. Still two albums of pop - the second being quite good indeed has endeared me to Shayne and news that he is recording in Sweden has me very pleased indeed.
Best tracks: That's My Goal (remains best XFactor winner's song to date); Over The Rainbow; If That's Ok With You; Melt The Snow; Damaged

William Young: Despite not being flavour of the month anymore, Will just plods along like a male Annie Lennox - churning out quality timeless pop that will stand the test of time. He's picked his collaborators perfectly and managed to produce some wonderful tunes. The fact that his Hits album (with minimal promotion) continues to be a perennial seller over the Christmas period is proof that people are just now remembering how very brilliant he can be. The disco album though - I'm still impatiently waiting.
Best tracks: Your Game; Leave Right Now; Switch It On; Hopes and Fears; Let It Go

The five that got away...

And here are five acts from the 00s that only and tragically had one album (or in some cases didn't even make it that far :/)

1. AllSTARS ~ they possibly just came to the scene a little too late to replicate the success of Steps, S Club and the like, but that doesn't mean their debut album didn't have lots of fun moments including the very fine Love Is. Plus Back When was an ace ballad that Cathy Dennis should have been proud of :P
2. Digital ~ they could have been Boys Aloud but it all fell apart :( They had some great pop tunes that were feisty, punchy, filled with electro-dance moments and more importantly memorable. Sadly it was not to be, but I still have a good singalong to Get Your Kit Off in the shower on an almost weekly basis :)
3. Mohair ~ quite simply a brilliant rock-pop act who had some killer tunes that came across like a rockier McFly on their splendid debut album Small Talk. End Of The Line was excellent bombastic pop and Stranded showed their softer, more melodic side but all the tunes were a riot to listen to and managed to capture their live energy in a studio setting. I miss them :(
4. Upper Room - it was really the first act that XO and I bonded over, so I'll always like them for that. However, they also had some quite brilliant melody driven indie pop on their album Other People's Problems. Black and White and All Over This Town could quite easily have been big top ten hits if Britain was paying attention. Sadly Britain was not. Dammit.
5. V ~ ah V. Five lads. Brilliantly camp in your face pop. And yet some more accomplished moments on the album too. Chills in the Evening (with McFly) really showcased their voices while Fools and Earth Wind And Fire showed their cooler xenomania side off. But Hip to Hip, Can You Feel It and Blood Sweat and Tears remain a fine trifecta of singles to make you dance, smile and sing.