Lopez Blogs

It's difficult launching a single nowadays, even if you a bona fide popstar like Lady G'Gah or Bertney Spurs. Both tried releasing their music quickly to iTunes to prevent losing sales to leaks - both didn't really perform as well as they should have ('Judas' will probably be between #5-7 with it's first full week of sales; 'Til The End of Time' didn't even crack the top ten) and even video debuts a few weeks later failed to provide much sales boostage. Even Dame Kylie (bow down) has stated she doesn't know how to market singles any more, which is probably why there haven't been singles after the still charming Better Than Today. It's a conundrum wrapped in a riddle, dressed up as an enigma. Here are two artists who have both have different experiences of launching their current albums onto the world...

VANBOT ~ Latest Swedish pop ingenue, Vanbot, has seemingly appeared from nowhere. She hit the blogosophere and twittertown hard and fast with two uniformly excellent singles (Make Me Break Me & Lost Without You), that soon won plaudits from fans and industry hard hitters alike (Steve Anderson & Larry Flick are among fans). Then not a couple of weeks later her debut album was available on iTunes worldwide so that she capitalised quickly on her burgeoning fanbase (and can be streamed here). Now that's how you gain some serious attention. Of course it helps that the album really is a work of art - beautiful music that is full of pathos and passion, dear diary to a disco beat, sounds that are going to make spring so much sweeter. The two free singles give you a good idea of what to expect - insiduously catchy melodies that overflow with 80s musical references, yet firmly understanding the needs of a modern day pop audience. Ignore the comparisons to Robyn, she's more Isabel Guzman before she became Wolfbox - there's less of the teardrops on the dance floor and more mature approach to relationships, life and love that ends up being an incredibly consistent debut effort. It's hard to single out highlights due to everything being so great - it all kicks off with the understated but engaging Ringing and doesn't let up until Bad Day (not a Daniel Powter cover). However, apart from knowing the singles best, I keep coming back to Tired. The delicious middle 8 floors me with it's magnificence every single time. Quite rightly the current toast of the up and coming popstar world. (For more fab reads about Vanbot, do check out lovely Greg's musings here and here)...


SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR ~ I do adore Sophie. I think she remains one of pop's true class acts (William of Young is another). I quite fancy her husband. And her music is always a delectable treat for the ears. Yes, you will no doubt know of how many times Make A Scene, her much anticipated 4th album, has been delayed but it's finally arriving and jolly fine it is too. Some of the songs are already beloved and represent some of Sophie's finest work; Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer is still a scintillating collaboration with The Freemasons that really should have fared better on the charts than it did; Bittersweet is as delightful and fine as beloved Girls Aloud tracks like The Loving Kind & Call The Shots; Not Giving Up On Love is an end of evening chill out magic collaboration with Armin Van Burin. In fact the entire album is packed with worthy collaborations that somehow work incredibly well within one set. It all kicks off with the crashes and bangs (literallly, never have cymbals sounded so good in pop) of Revolution (a fine choice for album opener - makes you sit up and take notice), works through some of the more familiar tracks (including a somewhat reworked Off & On) before we get to next single - the sublime and entrancing Starlight. It's almost like Sophie does the Pet Shop Boys and it has me in awe of it each time I hear it. Magic is also worthy of being a future single with it's dreamy lyrics and undulating beats. It all finishes off in fine style with two gorgeous tunes that close the album incredibly well, leaving the listener a little breathless and desperate for more. Throw in the "The Feeling" duet that will be on their album later this year and this is why Ms Bextor remains one of my fave contemporary female singer...

Sigh. More often than not, I think fans look at their favourite acts album campaigns (ie, what singles are chosen or when the album is abandoned far too early) and just weep in despair at some of the bizarre choices that are made. Usually everyone has an opinion over whether Madonna and Kylie chose the right singles from their albums and how they would have done it better. Here are some of my favourite acts and some suggestions on how to correct the wonky course of an increasingly misguided album campaign...

• Maroon 5 ~ I'm not sure Adam and the boys are a good place to start. It's not that the album campaign has been bad per se, it's just I'm not sure that there is the same level of interest in them anymore. Nice poppy choice of first single in Misery, slightly more aggressive funk in Give A Little More. Never Gonna Leave This Bed is just the type of swoony single that will remind people of She Will Be Loved and Won't Go Home Without You. I would have released it around Christmas instead of the non-single campaign for the album track but better late than never. Follow it up please with a fairly innovative video for fan fave Stutter and then round it all off with that nice Lady Antebellum duet. Oh and Adam, just continue to look sizzling hot. That's the stuff :)
• Brandon Flowers ~ was there an album campaign for this? It seemed to fizzle out after the lovely and enduring Crossfire embedded itself into everyone's hearts. Only The Young limped along and Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts would have been a brilliant anti-Valentine's Day anthem, but it seems it was not to be. On the plus side, The Killers Christmas song (Boots) was quite nice and the band seem to be reforming for some concert action later this year. But don't abandon B-Flo's trashy vegas loving album yet, there are some right gems in there...
• Scissor Sisters ~ It started off so well. Critically lauded. Slightly cooler than Ta-Dah (which I loved) taster single in Invisible Light, then different sounding anthem in Fire with Fire. Any Which Way reminded the world of how filthy-gorgeous they could be. Then - a video for the already well known Invisible Light? It seemed like a bit of a let down. Where was a single remix of Whole New Way? Or a down and dirty reworking of Sex & Violence? Then finish it all off with some Invisible Light remixes? There's still time to salvage the wonderful Night Work, they just need to get on with it.
• Shayne Ward ~ oh dear. Poor Shayne. While no one currently looks better in jeans and a white t-shirt, his music career has seen better days. Even after the x-factor performance of his big comeback single (a Nickelback cover), he didn't quite make the top ten. And instead of rallying for Obsession (title track and should've been first single) to be released as the second track with a slightly naughty video (Shayne in s&m, putting Rihanna to shame comes to mind), he's tweeting about Malteasers. Good god man, have you completely given up?! Closer Than Close has been chosen as the US single and would serve well over here, even if it does veer a little too close towards JLS territory. And why isn't the Darin penned Foolish or the ridiculous but brill Must Be A Reason being considered as a single? WHY?! We may never, ever know. And that makes me sad...
• Joe McElderry ~ poor little geordie Joe. It started off well enough by unfeasibly making Ambitions - a bittersweet melancholy tune - into the perkiest disco number this side of Yes Sir, I can Boogie. Then no one seemed to connect to the equally percolating Someone Wake Me Up, despite it's Narnia themed, better than Carrie Underwood b-side. There's more little pop diamonds that the public should get a fist pumping dance routine for too whether it be the alphabeaty Feel The Fire or the Scisster-like Farenheit. Like poor Shayne though, I can't help but feel that the ship has already sailed. It's all about the Wand Erection now...
• Westlife ~ How could i forget the 'loife? Dwayne reminded me in the comments of this horribly mismanaged campaign. He's absolutely right in stating that the far more energetic Beautiful Tonight would have been a much better first single, but i'm thinking even any second single would be a bonus at this stage. It's been over three months. And if I hear the boys say once more how each new album is the real them and how they want to be like Pink and release four-five singles from it, then do bugger all, I'll have a coniption fit. 
• Sophie Ellis Bextor ~ releasing something would be a fine fine start. Thank you.

Back sunday with thoughts on the delirously amazing new Eric Saade song!

Oh please oh please can someone extend this gem of a day even further? I was up at the crack of dawn to travel to a useless meeting and had a horrible journey back (people on trains really should be forced to take breath mints at a regular klaxon sound). The only thing that perked it up was catching up on some very decent new singles from some of my fave artists. And the news that the new Robbie single debuts in a week. Woo and I am definitely, yup I'm going for a big hoo after making woo. PS, before I get started I've had a lot of requests to interview people this week. Like people actually asking me. I gave up on this sort of shenanighan a while ago because I don't think I'm very good at it (that's not self deprecating, just honest). Would anyone be interested in a weeks worth of interviews while I'm on holiday in ten days time? I won't be offended if the answer is no!!

Maroon 5 ~ Give A Little More:

It's a crazy, mile a minute world isn't it? Barely has Misery had a chance to pervade the charts and already the "five" are onto single number two from their forthcoming Hands All Over album. Still I'll take new M5 where I can get it, and this is a more sensual funk groove than the straight up pleasing pop of this summer's essential tune, Misery. It's an insistent, percussive groove and Adam's vocals are more sultry and sensual in this setting. By second/third listen, it's typically Maroon 5 in that the chorus is firmly embedded in your brain, the middle 8 rocks a bit harder than the rest of the tune and if you are a fan you will love it. It's a solid second single and if the next single could have a bit more Mutt Lange vava voom then I will be very pleased indeed. As it is, i'll be playing this non stop - the more I hear it the more I adore it! Oh - and I so want the super deluxe box set of the album, but I can't really justify the $199 price tag! (Note - the shot above is from the forthcoming video for this track and I think it's just lovely)...

Sophie Ellis Bextor ~ Not Giving Up On Love:

It's been discussed recently on the mighty Vinny Vero blog (and XOLondon) about how heartbreaking it really is that Sophie seems to be suffering from the curse of diminishing returns with each single (which seems to mean perpetual postponement of the fourth album). Let's lay it out plain - it's essentially a bit of a crime that The Saturdays make top three with less than brilliant pop moments like Forever Is Over/Missing You while amazing pop like Heartbreak... and Bittersweet languish significantly lower. Heavy sad sigh. Still, at least (for now) we have another exquisitely gorgeous new track from Sophie that (as XO points out) has uplifting lyrics that are saturated with sadness in their delivery. And that is what makes this track such a strong late summer single. It's a setting sun on the memories of what has passed while remaining optimistic about what will be as the nights turn colder. Absolutely heavenly. Oh and the video (above) is just delicious (for added fragility, check out the acoustic version here)...

Kelly Rowland ~Forever & A Day:

On the one hand, I'm a bit perturbed that Kelly seems to have 4-5 different tracks floating around from her forthcoming album. Does she have a solid plan for it's release? On the other hand, Commander was a corking dance single and Shake Them Haters Off continues to exude a sophisticated charm that I can't seem to escape. Her new UK single seems to be this track and once again is in the vein of her previous David Guetta collaborations. It's quite nice, a bit too ravey for me to be totally in love with it - a more subdued dance tune (as Sophie demonstrates above) can be all sorts of successful. I still look forward to whatever her album finally brings though...

Tomorrow: An X Factor alumni video breakdown extravaganza; Sunday ~ Mcfly!!

This week has been all sorts of horrid and ghastly. Mainly because my mom collapsed on Thurs, is still in hospital and they still don't know what is wrong with her. Plus, when I visited her again on the Friday, the bed was in a horrific state, they ignored all her questions and gave her a limp tuna sandwich for dinner. I was not a happy bunny... It's improved a bit, but you have to keep on at them all the blinking time. Oy vey. Anyway that has pretty much been my life since Thurs, other than work and a much needed night out with the Ace Gang. Prior to all that drama though were some pretty decent things in the week:

The Feeling ~ Live At The Water Rat: The Feeling are all sorts of amazingness and I continue to adore them. I'm eagerly anticipating their third album after the brilliance of 12 Stops/Join With Us, and that anticipation is reaching fever pitch after their immensicles tiny gig on Wednesday where much new material got a preview. There were some rather gorgeous ballads like the heavenly Undeniable (where he got upstaged by a 2 headed teddy bear) which builds slowly into that 70s rock anthem they are so good at, and that sound so wonderful. Mrs Jones (ie Sophie Ellis Bextor) showed up for a tremendously engaging tune called Leave Me Out Of It (above) where her and Dan sounded great together (reminding me of those vocal trade offs Beautiful South used to do) over some lovely layered instrumentation. Another Soldier was a slightly more uptempo tune with a sparse chorus and a militant chant of "another soldier, another soldier/another hit to the heart when he told ya" - however, it was the brilliant singalong feel of future hits like Say No and Seven Years that really stood out. The new album feels like a natural progression from their previous work, yet ensuring they take the brillo bits everyone loves without resting on their laurels. Bring on the new reign of The Feeling...

Simon Curtis ~ Live At The Roxy: I have to say that it's always quite hard to give an opinion on a concert that you weren't at, despite that being made a lot easier by wobbly youtube clips. It's obviously much better if you are there, in the midst of the atmosphere, enjoying the crowd reaction and losing yourself in the music, rather than trying to recreate it scrunched over your laptop. Having said that, while I would have killed (not literally) to be at Simon's big debut show, I suspect this is just a taster of what is to come. The show was Simon and his dancers showcasing tunes from his fine 8BitHeart album - much as you'd find top notch and upcoming popstars doing on a Saturday night at G-A-Y or Nightingale in Birmingham... You can find the full set list here as well as videos to the entire show so you can recreate it in your hallway if you so desire (and you probably do!) My fave (after Super Psycho Love and Beat Drop - I particularly loved the theatrical, almost puppet like choreography of the former, especially the arm moves in the first verse) of course is my top single of the year (so far) Diablo. I've been dying to see a performance of the song and I'm pleased that the dance moves were effective enough yet not overly complicated so people like me can pick them up fairly quickly :) As a teaser of what can be achieved, I'm satisfied but I suspect that given a full band and backing troupe for a solo tour this will just be the tip of the iceberg of what can be achieved. PS, does anyone know if Simon sang live? Apart from some adlibs, I couldn't quite tell...

Christophe Willem ~ Coffee Tour: Another tour I was desperate to go and see is ace French pop star Christophe Willem. A - because his album is an accomplished and exciting piece of modern pop and B - because it was put together by the always impressive Steve Anderson. Oh and because Christophe looks like he is having a rather amazing time in this video preview. The show opened in Lille this weekend and clips have started to surface on youtube, including a rather glorious version of the Kylie track Sensitized. Love love loving the bondage trousers, the riding crop and the pendulating undulating grinding hips! It's sex come alive on stage (particularly when he merges Bombe Atomique into Madonna's Erotica) and makes me so eager for Christophe to be huge in the UK so the show can come here :) He shows that there are smart, gay male popstars out there (Will Young is also phenomenal live) who understand what audiences want and are raising the standards for everyone. Bring it on :)

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Darin, You're Out Of My Life
20 ~ Alcazar, Headlines
19 ~ Neo, Human Frontier
18 ~ Ola, Unstoppable
17 ~ The Candle Thieves, We're All Gonna Die
16 ~ Gravitonas, Kites
15 ~ Donkeyboy, Sometimes
14 ~ JLS, The Club Is Alive (NE)
13 ~ Kimberley Locke, Strobelight
12 ~ Mika, KickAss
11 ~ Josh Dubovie, That Sounds Good To Me (NE/Vid link ~ where's the budget?!)
10 ~ Mariah Carey, 100%
09 ~ Scissor Sisters, Fire With Fire (NE)
08 ~ Simon Curtis, Super Psycho Love (Live vid link)
07 ~ Lovestoned, Thursdays (NE/Vid)
06 ~ DeeDee, Endure
05 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bittersweet
04 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission
03 ~ Maria Mena, All This Time
02 ~ Adam Tyler, Friction
01 ~ Eric Saade, Manboy (2 weeks)

Next week: new music updates from tomorrow's stars (inc Bright Light, Michaela Wright, I Am Noxious and Todd Alsup), lots of top notch Swedish albums and the next segment on Larry Flick (thurs!)PS see my participation in Pop Trash Addicts singles panel here (wk1) and here (wk2)

Hello folksies! Had a lovely weekend away in the north (ie, Blackpool)... had lots of fun birthday/anniversary/cured stuff going on - a bannicursary if you will :) Turned round at one point and there was Darren chatting to Sir Nathan of Moore of Brother Beyond/Worlds Apart/Totally Scott Lee "fame"! How exciting, etc. The most exciting thing about travelling of course is making the essential playlist of tunes. Darren always rolls his eyes because he knows that I am going to subject him to all sorts of things. and I do :P Anyway, here are some of the newer magnificences that made this weekend's list (in between almost non-stop Steps remixes)...

• Tino Coury - Diary: available today on iTunes is this brillo debut single from singer-songwriter-producer Tino. The track has this excellent layered feel to it and is imbued with the type of storytelling that remains timeless through the pop ages, whatever the current trends. Add to that a rather catchy hook of a chorus and lovely vocal delivery and Tino is onto a winner. Plus he's rather good looking and that's always a plus :) Anyway, it's the sort of track that you get from someone who has grown up on loving pop music and wants to replicate that in their work. And that ALWAYS sounds good to me...
• Sophie Ellis Bextor - Sophia Loren: I mean good god! Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer should have been top ten for weeks. Bittersweet is currently 41 (41!!) in the early midweeks which is utterly depressing considering my love for the song and this super b-side. Anyway, this is brill and bodes well for the upcoming album, even if the chart position doesn't :(
• Miley Cyrus - Can't Be Tamed: I had to listen to this a few times because I thought it was a mistake or something. Let's face it, Miley has had a few brillo singles (See You Again, 7 Things, Fly On The Wall, Party In The USA) but not much else. This has rather good verses. It also has a rather good bridge. The only thing missing is a bit of melody from the chorus. Perhaps it will grow on me. It's been known to happen. I just hope she doesn't do a Mandy Moore and reject her back catalogue at some point. it's like disowning a bastard child!!
• Katie Melua ~ The Flood: Essentially this is a bit of a posh person's version of Biology. It's a gloriously sweeping song that then changes into another song, then reverts into something a bit different again. I suspect a lot of this wonderfulness is down to the William Orbit production, but who cares when it is as satisfying as this. When she performs it live, she starts on piano, gets up for a boogie then back to the piano. This is quite impressive, no?! Anyway, do put aside prejudices and check this out - it's a bit Moloko, a bit Madonna Frozen and very very good!
• Kelly Rowland - Commander: Ooo this is getting very "today's pop is presented to you by the letter K" isn't it? This is all sorts of "amazeballs" - very summer smash. The production is brillo, the chorus is appropriately soaring, the verses, well they are not quite as memorable, but the whole thing works as a package most satisfyingly. It will no doubt suffer from being eternally compared to When Love Takes Over, but as a new single from presumably a new album it's rather splendid indeed.
• Nerina Pallot - I Just Don't Want To Go Out (BrightLightBrightLight remix): I'm obsessed with Nerina ever since I bought Dear Frustrated Superstar on the strength of it's title in a Heat magazine advert (back when Heat was good). And i'm increasingly the smitten kitten with the output of BrightLightx2. So having him remix a jolly good Nerina single into something that amps up the pep and danceability is ever so smashing and exciting. Check out both artists. And check out this collaboration. It's immensicles.
• Josh Dubovie - That Sounds Good To Me: Nobody, save for D'Luv, seems to like this. In fact there is quite a lot of vitriol surrounding it. True it's not the best representation of England's songwriting, but it's rather enjoyable in a dated s/a/w-what-would-the-next-One-True-Voice-single-sound-like sort of way... And let's face it, poor Josh has hardly raped a puppy has he?! Plus, again, a bit boffable in a posh lad sort of way...

More things I'm looking forward to...

• The debut album from Eric Saade not only has a rather sordid f***ed-hard-in-the-back-of-a-limo look to it, plus great pop star hair, but a song by Charlie Mason who is fast becoming a rather good pal of mine. it's out May 19th!! Aces
• Charlotte Church has a new single being debuted on that Rainbow show on the BBC on saturday. It's called The Actors and I am quite excited because I still adore Tissues and Issues...
• Finally, Infernal are following up their amazing Electric Cabaret album with a new single called Love is All. You can hear a little preview on their website and it sounds bloody bonkers brilliant and barmy. Can't wait for the full release sometime this month!!

Ooo, this month's fizzypop chronicles is a weird one. On the one hand, it has lots of brilliant songs on it. On the other hand it doesn't seem to flow quite right for some reason. So I'm not entirely happy with it, though I emphasise I think the song choices are - once again - flawless. They are here, presented in no particular order, except the first one and last one tend to be favourites so the playlist begins and ends on the most euphoric of highs with more euphoria on each song in between. Glad that's cleared up then, innit?

• Sophie Ellis Bextor-Jones ~ Bittersweet: It's really all sorts of magnificent isn't it? If this song were a person, I'd want to hug it while shaking a groove thang in glitter-infused hot pants. The chorus is an insane belter of a tune, and Sophie sounds as marvelous and gorgeous as ever. I didn't think it was going to be possible to top the ever so wonderful Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer, but good gracious me, she's only gone and done it. If this peaks outside the top ten, my whole world may implode quite heavily...
• Gabriella Cilmi ~ On A Mission: Tip - I was walking my usually deserted early morning route to work whilst this was blaring out in my earphones and I think I was actually quite audibly strutting along singing "I am a woman, on a mission" whenst I came across these old women and we all gave each other quite a start. I mean I didn't literally come across them, because that would be frightful, but I think you get the gist. The song is excellent, by the way. Love the faux bad girl rap. I sound well 'ard when I do it...
• Michaela Wright ~ Never Gonna Give In: There are multiple reasons to adore this heavily addictive song. Michaela seems rather lovely on twitter. It's a Larry Flick show staple. It has some rather amazing dance remixes of the song that send it soaring to the glitter ball and then bounce like little shards of multi-coloured lights around the dance floor. And whatever genre you hear it remixed into, it still has an ace melody and chorus. Bonus - it features the rather handsome Alex Kordek in the video. Yum yum pigs bum.
• Kimberley Locke ~ Strobelight: I worship Kimberley Locke. I still think that the heavenly 8th World Wonder is one of the best pop songs to come from American Idol. Her Christmas album was just a retro dream. And her last album was a corker that was criminally ignored. So I'm all ready for her new single, which is produced by Cutfather - who apparently has worked with Kylie and, er, the Pussycat Dolls so he's half way there. All of this is a very long way of saying, I haven't heard the song yet because the release dates been pushed back but I'm so eager to hear something dancetastic from l'il kim...:P
• Ke$ha ~ Blah Blah Blah: Hmmm, it seems a bit criminal to follow these classy dames with the dubious morality that is Ke$ha. However, I did quite like Tik Tok (did you hear it blended with Kylie's Love At First Sight? Almost as genius as MaDonna Summer!) and while this follow up single isn't nearly as brillo, it does have me blah blah blahing along sometimes. Though everyone knows Marina blahs better in the Girls song she has :)
• The Bang Bang Club ~ Chemistry: Rather brilliantly, I have heard this track described as Erasure on testosterone. Not much has changed since I last wrote about it - it remains a rather charming little 80s pop synth ditty with an excellent chorus, great production, enticing vocals and yummy boys. For a more grown up opinion than that, why not check out Nick Alien Hits, where you can download the track for free as well! Jonas Bonus - it's released on my birthday. Wizard!
• Adam Tyler ~ Schizophrenic: I actually had another Adam Tyler track which is really out of this world, but I don't think I'm allowed to write about it yet, so I'd rather draw everyone's attention to a down and funky Dirty Dasmo remix of this track which has just surfaced on his myspace page. It's a trip down the rabbit hole (for the overstimulated puppy!) as the remix adds mind-bending beats and effects to the slick electro club banging original. As with all Adam songs it's firmly focused on delivering a chorus so pleasing that you end up pinching yourself to check it's real. It is. Amaze and a half.
• Kyle Brylin ~ If They Only Knew: I wrote about this track quite recently, and quite frankly it's a pleasure to write about it again for two reasons. One is that the more you listen to it, the more the insinuating beats hook into your memory and the chorus creates a heady atmosphere of synth and song that is just delicious. Two - Kyle is quite dishy so any excuse to visit his myspace page as he looks quite nice in a shirt and tie. With good popstar cheekbones and hair.
• Sergey Lazarev ~ Alarm: On the one hand I remain intensely disappointed that this song isn't quite as brilliant as it should be. By Sergey standards, it's not one of his finest and actually rather generic sounding. On the other hand (for I have two), it's such a fun tune that fits in with "today's sound" so jolly well that it's hard to be peeved for long because you are having such rollicking good fun singing along to it. So what's the harm? To be fair the video above (ghastly sound) really enhances it with a fun dance routine and energetic performance :) The album better be superb though...
• Quentin Mosimann ~ Gimme A Break: Ah franglais! Quentin follows up his exciting single Toc Toc with a song that has the chorus mostly in English, the verses in French and tests my translation skills to the limit. He's a rather giddy mix of bonkers electro-pop though and utterly contemporary and fab. It's always nice to sing along in French too, even if you don't know what you are saying. And from SUCH a great album. Go check him out now. Bonkers and wonderful, possibly unofficial clip below - but exuding such fun and energy! Go! Tout de suite...
• Magnus Carlsson ~ A Little Respect: Oh my days. If Bang Bang Club are Erasure on testosterone, Magnus' version of A Little Respect is Erasure doused in perfume and poppers and kept in a handbag for a week. It's more festive than me at age 11 when I dressed action man Julian in a barbie evening gown and stuck him on the Christmas tree. It's totally europop, and fairly faithful to the original but with even more glitter and bells added. If that is at all possible. Too much, yet not enough...

Part two coming tomorrow!

It's barely February, but already I'm looking ahead to see if any of my fave acts have new albums out anytime soon. And hurrah, some of the ones I obsess about do. This is very pleasing indeed and gives me more to look forward to than a sexy countryside break, meeting XO again and new series of Doctor Who & True Blood. Not that those aren't all ace of course. Anyway, here are a few brillo albums I'm chuffing up the spaff over...

Maroon 5: oh Adam LeFine, how you complete me. Love, Actually may have got me to check out your music, but it was your funky tunes and romantic rhymes that got me to stay. It's been three (long) years since the wonderful It Won't Be Soon Before Long and already teasers for a third (and rumoured final, sob) album are popping up on youtube. It's due sometime around April and they've been recording in Switzerland with Mutt Lange. I'm tres excited indeed and really look forward to more quality music from them :) (read my IWBSBL review here)

The Feeling: Oh I absolutely need more sunny 70s style perfectly harmonised to within an inch of their lives catchy pop from the gorgeous Feeling boys very shortly. Currently organising their own Meribal Little World festival (which Richard's wifey Sophie Ellis-Bextor will appear at) in March in the Alps, their third album is apparently called Yes Please. Way to take two Pet Shop Boys album titles and make them into one! The song they debuted live last year (Truth Comes Out as the Drink Goes In) sounded marvelous and will appeal to existing fans. Will it be enough to win back the larger fan base that was around for album one? Time will tell, but i'll always adore. (read my Join With Us review here)

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Talking of the other half of pop's bestest looking couple, people are starting to get rather excited about the comeback of the poshest girl in pop music. Frankly, Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer (video above - see Little Boots? This is how to enjoy yourself!) still sounds utterly stupendous and magnificent; it should have done way way better in the charts (i'm thinking minimum of top 3 for 5 weeks). Luckily, Mrs Jones has a chance to rectify this with Bittersweet which is another collaboration with the Freemasons and so should be absolutely spiffing. In fact, it should be dripping with lusciousness through your radio speakers any day now. And Another Love (the fourth album) drops in April. If any of it is as magnificent as her previous work, I'll be spooning it for months to come... (read my Tripping The Light review here)

Shayne Ward: Myself, D'Luv and John Pop Music Notes could probably individually and collectively discuss how abandoned poor Shayne's career has been to date. As soon as Leona came along, Britain's best hope for a bonafide, exciting, chavtastic boffable ride popstar was cruelly abandoned two top ten hits into his rather good second album Breathless. A third is forthcoming in March apparently (though rumours of a duet with Heidi Sugababe 2-4.0 are not true), though his twitter keeps saying he is recording new tracks as I type (literally)! Should be an absolutely poptastic affair as xenomania are involved, as are some of Sweden's finest. Don't screw this up Simon Cowell. You need to make reparations for inflicting Joe on me... (read my Breathless review here)

Kylie: Talking of xenomania, they can't stop giving Kylie up... and will any album this year be as minutely analysed as this one will be? Everyone had an opinion on what should and shouldn't have been on X and how it should have been marketed. All that matters to me is that Kylie is coming back and it will no doubt feature some ace dance numbers, something penned by the marvelous Nerina Pallot, something that divides fans down the middle a la 2 Hearts and hopefully something deliciously camp. Plus Steve Anderson has indicated in his ace DSTP interview that Kylie fans should keep their eye on the west end of London this year. Oh my. (read my X review here)

Keane: The boarding school boys are back with an EP (when did 8 tracks constitute an EP? Surely that's enough to classify as an album?) called Night Train that was recorded on their Perfect Symmetry world tour. While that album was a somewhat return to form after the disappointing second album, nothing has topped the excellent Hopes and Fears yet. I don't know much about this, other than it's released in May 2010, but Gay Times seems to think Your Love (with vocals from Tim Rice Oxley - rar!) is an epic in the making. Sounds good to me. (read my perfect symmetry review here)

Albums I'd quite like some news on: McFly, BWO, Danny Saucedo, Ola Svensson, Sergey Lazarev, William Young, Hard-Fi, Tom Baxter (D'luv has the lowdown on Boyzone)...

I'm sure there are some people I've missed so a part two might be forthcoming. Prior to that though is first in a "greatest hits I need in my life now" feature...

It's always a bit difficult to subjectively pick your favourite songs of the year. Songs I may have gushed over earlier in the year have had their glow dulled by time; songs I may not be as enthusiastic about in a few months are currently hot stuff for me - so I've put together a list that more or less showcases my favourite songs I listened to this year. So not necessarily released this year (though the majority were) and not necessarily singles, but just what I ended up still really liking as I sit and type this :) Enjoy and let me know your thoughts...

RELAUNCHED SINGLES FROM 2008: Lily Allen's F*** You; Lenka's The Show; Marit Larsen's If A Song COuld Get Me You...

BEST NON SINGLES OF THE YEAR: Deborah Gibson's Already Gone; Scissor Sister's Do The Strand; No Doubt's Stand and Deliver; that choir version of Lily's Chinese...

BEST OF THE REST (in no particular order): Saturdays ~ Just Can't Get Enough; JLS ~ Everybody in Love; Mini Viva ~ I Wish; Sugababes ~ Get Sexy; Miley Cyrus ~ Party in the USA; Cascada ~ Evacuate The Dancefloor; Pussycat Dolls ~ Hush Hush; Kelly Rowland ~ When Love Takes Over; Pet Shop Boys ~ Love, etc; Jason Mraz ~ Try Try Try; Annie Lennox ~ Shining Light; Sound of Arrows ~ M.A.G.I.C; Take That ~ The Garden; Whitney Houston ~ Million Dollar Bill; Mika ~ We Are Golden; BSB ~ Soldier Down; Erik Hassle ~ Hurtful; Leona Lewis ~ Happy; Lady Gaga ~ Bad Romance; Lady Gaga ~ Love Game...

MY NUMBER ONES:

• Simon Curtis/Victoria Justice ~ On The Wings of A Dream (4 weeks)
• Sugababes 3.0 ~ Every Heart Broken (4 weeks)
• Pet Shop Boys ~ Love etc.
• BWO ~ You're Not Alone (4 weeks)
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ Hope and Glory (4 weeks)
• Marina & The Diamonds ~ I Am Not A Robot (2 weeks)
• "Abba" ~ Second Best To None (4 weeks)
• Benny Andersson Band ~ Story Of A Heart (7 weeks)
• Madonna ~ Celebration (2 weeks)
• Mika ~ We Are Golden (3 weeks)
• Robbie Williams ~ Bodies (4 weeks)
• Blake Lewis ~ Heartbreak on Vinyl (2 weeks)
• Darin ~ Viva La Vida (3 weeks)
• Simon Curtis ~ Delusional (2 weeks)
• Pet Shop Boys ~ It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas 2009 (6 weeks)
• Simon Curtis ~ Diablo (1 week)

TOP 30 SONGS OF 2009:

30 ~ James Leon, Purple Heart: Sultry, seductive, a deceptively addictive beat and chorus plus remixes by our very own Worrapolava. What more could one ask for in a rising star?
29~ Alexandra Burke, Bad Boys: Not quite as inventive as Sound of the Underground but a huge step forward for a winners first single proper and even better without the Flo-Rida bit!
28 ~ Mini Viva, I Left My Heart In Tokyo: They went back to the 80s in the best way possible with a Pete Hammond remix, but even in normal guise this was one pop treat to satiate fans during the Girls Aloud year off...
27 ~ Robbie Williams, Bodies: It didn't work for some people because it was a hotch potch of every Robbie single to date but that was exactly why it worked for me - even with his crazy X-Factor eyes!
26 ~ Little Boots, Remedy: Not quite the massive star she was lauded as early in the year, something about Victoria didn't quite click, but she certainly had a way with creating beautiful pop-dance tunes like this one...
25 ~ Jordin Sparks, Battlefield: It caused a near twitter meltdown of excitement when it was first released; six months on, it's a solid enjoyable pop tune that didn't exactly tax Ryan Tedder but is still a belter to listen to.
24 ~ Same Difference, Better Love Me: Sigh, if there had been any justice in the world, this glorious Steps-It's The Way You Make Me Feel homage would have done much better. It's lovely anyway.
23 ~ Same Difference, All Roads Lead To Heaven: Massive pop tune that had this been used as a lead off single, the world might now be appreciating what I already know - Same Difference know pop. Thank God for more from them in 2010...
22 ~ Alphabeat, The Spell: Back to the 90s, back to rave. It was Black Box, C&C Music Factory and faceless dance wrapped up in a charming singalong tune that made the Danish band more appealing than ever...
21 ~ BWO, Right Here Right Now: It may be You're Not Alone that topped my chart for a while, but this classic pop tune lingered longer in mixes and duets that it felt like it was around for half the year without ever overstaying it's welcome...

20 ~ Blake Lewis, Heartbreak On Vinyl: More 80s homage in a year overflowing with 80s homage. However, this tune had glorious lyrics matched to a synthy beat and a passionate charm to the song that made it - and Mr L - a total winner...
19 ~ Will Young, Hopes & Fears: Criminally ignored by the public (was it even released?), at least the album did well. If Annie Lennox were a man, this is what some of her tunes would sound like. Timeless, melody driven pop. Aces.
18 ~ Madonna, Celebration: Not her finest ever moment but a strong entry for Lady Ciccone. Danceable, singalong, feel good, uplifting - it even felt age appropriate for Madonna to be singing it. Ace fan-filled video for it too...
17 ~ JLS, Beat Again: Still the real winners of the X Factor as far as I'm concerned, they have certainly proved it by becoming a massive phenomenon not seen since the early days of Take That. This was sleek, up to date, non-threatening pop at it's best.
16 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Hope and Glory: Gorgeous to look at, effortless to listen to, Mans is what every country needs in a popstar and while people scoffed that this was Cara Mia 2, who cared? It was utterly brilliant and had a rather groovy keychange. Let's not forget the amazing acoustic version too. Job done.
15 ~ Simon Curtis/Victoria Justice ~ On The Wings of a Dream: The standout entry from the Spectacular! soundtrack, this showed for the first time Simon as an out and out pop singer ably assisted by Victoria. Proof that he is destined to be a major major star someday.
14 ~ Taylor Swift, Love Story: I think the Kanye jokes have been run into the ground, but this really did have quite the charming video, great cutesy lyrics, the best country crossover chorus this side of Shania Twain and a key change on a par with Don't Cry Out Loud. Of course it won me over!
13 ~ Lily Allen, The Fear: She seemed a bit more polished this time round and had as insightful lyrics as ever on this credit crunch anthem to modern life. Lush video and a brilliant chorus added to her bonkersosity made this a massive song all year round. Why didn't Stacey do it on the X Factor?!
12 ~ Sugababes 3.0, Every Heart Broken: When I belatedly fell in love with this tune I had no clue there would be a 4.0... If they ever sing this song, I won't be able to listen because everything about this slick, addictive nugget is nigh on perfect and can't be topped.
11 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, I Am Not A Robot: Wasn't she also a big pick for 2009? Whatever - she's rolled over to 2010 and I'm sure that one day this lovely simplistic minimalistic song will get the kudos and success it deserves. Quite quite amazing.

10 ~ Simon Curtis, Delusional: Kicking off 8-Bit Heart with this song (though I would have plumped for the more audacious Pop Messiah followed by this) was a work of genius. It was free, it was brilliant, it was dancey and it was completely what the blogosphere and twitter-ites needed. Smart boy-pop that matched Gaga step for step. And it was going to get even better...
09 ~ Robbie Williams, You Know Me: As I'm writing this in early December I worry that this song got a bit lost in the Christmas Chart deluge. Shame if it did because it's gentle, it's restrained and it's a bit heartbreaking and it definitely shows that Robbie hasn't lost his knack for creating utter magic.
08 ~ Kelly Clarkson, My Life Would Suck Without You: Yes yes, it may be the most audacious rewrite of a hit song (Since You've Been Gone) ever, but it was also one of the years most instant and grabbing ebulliant hits. Massive from the first note, a soaring chorus, it rampaged along at breakneck speed and was totally enjoyable from start to finish.
07 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer: Floating around for a while in demo format, the freemasons kicked it up a gear and while it didn't quite match the chart heights it should have it was a brilliant slice of ice cool pop. Now if Victoria Little Boots could look as natural and confident as Soph, she might be in a much stronger position now...
06 ~ Darin, Viva La Vida: Take one of the best penned compositions of recent years, add one of Sweden's most likeable pop exports and give it a europop sheen and you've got the recipe for an enormously enjoyable tribute number. It takes the magic of the original number and makes it sparkle a little bit for the dancefloor. Heaven.

05 ~ Pet Shop Boys, It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas 2009: I already loved this song so wasn't sure what a remix could do for it. Make me completely and utterly obsessed with it, that's what. Whether it be the addition of organ laden carol melodies or the dramatic "BING CROSBY" or the melting of cynicism in the chorus, everything about this already theatrical number was more more more. Magnificent. If only for 2 months of the year...
04 ~ Elouise, One Night Only: I've only ever heard it sung by her live but I instantly loved this song and her ballad-to-disco interpretation of the DreamGirls classic. Plus she sang it so well, had brilliant but learnable dance moves and made it my go to saturday night anthem. Big things in 2010, mark my words...
03 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo: Yes it was held off by Pet Shop Boys over Christmas, but I've taken into account my seasonal addictions and completely realise that Diablo is perhaps, nay indeed, one of the greatest pop songs of the year. Wry, funny, catchy, groundbreaking and as instant as instant porridge oats, it is just a massively brilliant, brilliantly massive pop tune from someone who eats sleeps and breathes pop and then channels it all into their music. And you can so tell. Amazing, amazing stuff and quite deservedly the last number one of 2009...
02 ~ "Abba", Second Best to None: I still maintain this would have made a much better X-Factor charity single but what do I know? Whatever, the staff at Hotel Rival took the Benny&Bjorn penned track and made it into their anthem, then shared it with the world. Thank heavens they did - ridiculously catchy, moderately cheesy, an completely amazing promo video to go with it (introducing the world to another doable bar man) and filled with pathos and regret. It was totally Abba and the only thing wrong with it was that Frida and Agnetha weren't singing it. Other than that, I drove my friends mad with it for weeks on end.
01 ~ Benny Andersson Band, Story of a Heart: As if the emergence of Second Best to None wasn't enough, Benny then came back with another track he penned with Bjorn and it was perhaps the most affecting Abba song since Day Before You Came or Winner Takes It All. A glorious melody, a wonderful chorus, a devastating breakdown in the middle eight and then a passion filled plea to take you to the end of the song. I could never and still haven't been able to listen to it just once. Quite quite magic, and would have made an amazing X Factor winners single.

What came to pass...

• Top 25 songs of 2008

Good morning all. I am a little worse for wear after a fun night out with the gang. I finally managed to work out twitpic, so you can see one quite nice and one quite awful picture of the shenanighans there. I have a brilliant one of Darren jumping in the air, but i'm too tired to upload it now. (He's looking hotter than ever btw - he has lost 20kg (since Feb 08) compared to my 11kg (since Jan 09) - and (not that he ever wasn't!!) is quite the bounce :P ) OH! New clothes! Bought an ace new purple stripey top (which luckily i didn't wear last night) and saw the same item on a hugely fat man, a lesbian with better choppy hair than me and a lighter pink version on a Jez from Britannia High lookalike. As someone from Gossip Girl would probably say "that's what happens when you buy off the rack". Epic fashion fail :( Oh well, on with the weeks observations...

NEW VIDEOS:

Above is the greatest song I have heard in a while - thank heavens popjustice posted it earlier this week for I have been obsessed since then. They quite rightly pointed out that it's rather brilliant and rubbish all at the same time, which is totally Abba. Abba are my favourite group of all time, hands down and the beauty of their songs is that they have exquisite lyrics, sometimes bonkers English, brilliant melodies, a smattering of novelty value and are always instantly likeable. PJ is again quite correct to say that it's a bit PWL - but then PWL were always a little (lot) inspired by Abba so I guess saying this sounds like them brings it full circle (head explodes)! Most of the nine million people I emailed/telephoned/texted the vid clip too were less enamoured than me with the tune, but it's clearly the greatest commercial since Charlotte Church revirginised. If you have watched the video as many times as me, you actually pick up on many moments of brilliance and a story starts to appear (must stop pausing on hot barman guy though - doesn't matter that i want to spaffle my batter on him, it interrupts the song!). Here are the highlights...

• 16sec - first appearance of "main characters" yellow cardi lass and Nikki lookalike from Heroes
• 22sec - first appearance of hot barman and less hot barman who you would probably end up doing when hot barman rejected you
• 1m12sec - it's hot barman getting down in the background. Bopping along is not really his strong point...
• 1m24sec - when the lyrics talk about fall until defeat, there is a woman sitting on the floor with a tray. In my Hotel Rival soap opera, someone has clearly run off with her wheelchair :(
• 1m35sec - ooo the main story starts. Hot barman starts flirting outrageously yet subtly with Nikki from Heroes. She does not seem to mind. Someone else will though, "mark my words"...
• 2m06sec - ooo less hot barman makes a nice looking red drink magically fill up in time to the beat. Brilliant...
• 2m10sec - two chefs briefly stand by each other and then walk away. They clearly had a bit of a fling and it ended sadly rather than badly :( Sniffle.
• 2m24sec - Hot barman bops along in the background, while Nikki from Heroes ponders their affair. But OH! They have been rumbled...
• 2m26sec - the brilliant Yellow Cardi Lass has rumbled them. She is clearly the lover of Nikki from Heroes but has been forced to remain a secret love. At 2m36 she does this effing amazing eyebrow raise to the line "time at last for my confessions"...

Oh dear lord. Clearly I have far too much time on my hands. I think I would actually get quite weepy if I imagined Abba singing this as one of my buddies suggested. And while I have been playing this umpteen times a day there have been many other cracking videos out this week!

• D'Luv has the new video for the next UK single (The Garden is Australian and European) from Take That - Said It All. They are all sad clowns and it is all very elegant and lovely. The Garden would have been a better UK single, but Said It All definitely has the better clip. Now when does Jase get to shine with the aces How Did It Come To This?
• Sophie Ellis Bextor is back! Proper back! With the Freemasons. Heartbreak made me top ten last year but is rooted back in with the official mixes. The video is a bit epilepsy inducing and the dance routine is a bit half hearted, but it's all designed to make you squeal with glee everytime it's on and quite rightly it does. God bless the DJ at Eden for playing the full Freemasons 12"mix...
• BWO have the sublime clip out for their second "Big Science" single Right Here Right Now out now and it is typical BWO - a little bit arty for the sake of being arty and a little bit watchable. Frankly I have always preferred BWO without the visuals which is a bit bizarre really.
• Finally those lovely The Days boys have the video up over at Aarons for Never Give Up. The song and the video are quite lovely, as are the boys for getting their kit off in the latest issue of Attitude for charity :) Love the concept of the video (playing the same song over and over again in some weird world record attempt), love the over enthusiastic coach, love that the lead singer retains perfect pop star hair throughout the five days and love that the overlooked cute beardy guitarist is the last one standing :)

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

• Lovely Dean Lennon has an ace electro-pop song on his myspace called On The Floor. It has these great hand clapping moments in the background, which are essential for a decent pop song and Dean does a very credible rock star "ow" moment just before the verse starts. It's very 80s inspired but also sounds very "now" - it's quite subdued but not in a bad way. Dean's vocals are quite alluring and the background synths are entirely hypnotic. Love.
• AS every single blog (not literally) in the world reported, Dragonette are back (popjustice did it best). The most amusing ones are the ones who made it sound like Dragonette had written to them personally rather than that they were recipients of a mass email marketing campaign :P No matter, Fixin To Thrill is exactly what you would expect from Dragonette, who hailed as the next big thing a couple of years ago, but never really took off (see Dangerous Muse, who also have an ace new single clip out!) - this is like a more frentetic Gwen Stefani mixed with Infernal with a fuzzy synth chorus that embeds for the night and stays for the week. In other words, quite good.
• Mika's new EP is out soon and I am reserving judgement on the two songs that leaked until the whole thing drops. Apparently there is a song on there called Toy Boy which is very disney ballad with deliciously dark lyrics. Sounds right up my street. Don't forget the barmy pop though meeks :)
• Hurrah! Regina Spektor is also back. She has a lovely new song out called Laughing With and it's an utterly elegant and morose piano vocal affair bemoaning the state of how God is presented to the world. So not really the sunny pop I usually go for, but i've been entirely smitten with Regina ever since The Call in Prince Caspian and this is really quite lovely, and a little bit Nerina Pallot (who needs to hurry back). So it all bodes well for her new album...
• The Shameless finale was quite devastating this week, but the brilliant humour of The Inbetweeners finale more than made up for it. My fave line? "Phil? Phil! I'm sorry sir, i thought it was a fart" - which frankly is more hilarious in context than written down. Oh, tears were shed at the Grey's Anatomy wedding too...
• Hurrah part 2! Red Blooded Women and Star Pilots playing Birmingham Pride (and S Club!! And Pixie Lott!! And Nikki French!! And at eden bar - HAZEL DEAN!!!) :) Only 2 weeks away!
• Final Hurrah! Same Difference concert tonight in their home town, and there is an aftershow party. Clearly I am very excited by all of this (wonder what next week's post will blather on about then?!) And by this. Keep on popping Same Diff :)

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 - Taylor Swift, Love Story
20 - Pet Shop Boys, Did You See Me Coming? (NE)
19 - Neo, Flower Power Super Girl
18 - Girls Aloud, Untouchable
17 - The Killers, World That We Live In
16 - Paolo Nutini, Candy (Vid - Paolo got even more scrumptious!)
15 - Kelly Clarkson, I Do Not Hook Up
14 - Simon Curtis, Things We Do For Love
13 - BWO, Right Here Right Now (NE)
12 - Alcazar, Stay The Night
11 - Infernal, Redefinition
10 - Same Difference, All Roads Lead To Heaven
09 - Alesha Dixon, Let's Get Excited
08 - Annie, Anthonio
07 - Lily Allen, Not Fair
06 - Mans Zelmerlow, Hope and Glory
05 - Take That, The Garden
04 - Freemasons ft Sophie Ellis Bextor - Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer
03 - Little Boots, New In Town
02 - "Abba", Second Best To None (NE)
01 - Marina and The Diamonds, I Am Not A Robot (2 weeks)

Sigh. Another year, another birthday over. I am officially approaching middle age :( Though i am happy to be with someone who will always always be older than me :P It's the best gift a boy could have. Oh and it's our 9 year anniversary tomorrow! Lumme! Anyway the weekend was fun. A bunch of us went to see Singing In The Rain in Liverpool and songs like Fit As A Fiddle, Moses Supposes, Singing In The Rain and of course the aces Good Morning never fail to put a smile on my face. We also had a gorgeous lunch at an "authentic" 50s diner (Best. Milkshake. Ever) and a fun evening back at Ruthies where Darren tragically revealed that he thought Eskimo was the place where Eskimos live!! That is on a par with me not knowing that reindeer were real until a couple of years ago :S On with the highlights and lowlights of the week methinks!!

BOO & HURRAH!

• BOO ~ Pushing Daisies aired it's final episode on Friday in the UK :( It was as bonkers brilliant as anything they had done before. I won't give too much away but there is a brilliant shark related death with crap CGI, some excellent quotable lines and a decent cliffhanger ending - that is then ruined by a rubbishy "lets-wrap-it-all-up" voiceover. Honestly i would have just preferred the cliffhanger. Bring on the zombie-esque DC comics!!
• HURRAH ~ Heroes and Private Practice made up for generally awful seasons with quite good finale episodes. Bryan Fuller is back working his Pushing Daisies magic on Heroes, while the final few minutes of Private Practice were generally harrowing. Naughty Megan from Felicity!!
• BOO ~ Talking of tv, I'm still wary about embracing some shows that I think I would really like for fear of them being one season wonders. Dollhouse surely looks amazing but surely is an outsider for renewal prospects? And what about Fringe? It lures me in but i've never found time to watch it. Ditto Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles... Any recommendations?
• HURRAH ~ At least some of the offerings for next year look a lot better than most of this years disappointing output. Flash Forward could be amazing if handled correctly; Eastwick could be a new sudsy smash (btw the Widows of Eastwick book is challenging me at the mo!) while Masterworks could replace my need for illogical bonkers hi-octane drama that Prison Break currently offers. The Gossip Girl spin off is clearly on my radar, as is the remake of V (though i am already annoyed with ABC over casting for that show. Maybe one day you'll know why!). Anyone else seen anything they like?
• BOO ~ what the ecky thump is going on with Sam Taylor? He managed to wangle himself two tracks on the Beautiful People soundtrack alongside luminaries like Dan Gillespie (Sex)Sells, Kylie & Dannii and SEB, builds up a following on the internet and then uh, auditions for the live stage show of High School Musical? Ok....
• HURRAH ~ The pressure is off for Girls Aloud! While Untouchable will be remembered as the first song not to make the top ten, it had to happen sometime and surely coming off the best selling album to date and a sold out tour is success enough. Singles chart positions are increasingly irrelevant in the world of pop success and it's time to embrace the new regime. Whatever that is... :P (And of course it may go top ten next week!!)
• HURRAH ~ I'm quite looking forward to the return of A-ha and The Lightning Seeds. I was quite obsessed with the latter for quite a while in the 90s...Thanks Kulpop for the info!

TOP 21 TRACKS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Kevin Borg, With Every Bit of Me
20 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Love etc
19 ~ BWO, You're Not Alone
18 ~ The Killers, The World We Live In
17 ~ Taylor Swift, Love Story
16 ~ Paolo Nutini, Candy
15 ~ Kelly Clarkson, I Do Not Hook Up
14 ~ Neo, Flower Power Super Girl
13 ~ Girls Aloud, Untouchable
12 ~ Alesha Dixon, Let's Get Excited
11 ~ Simon Curtis, Things We Do For Love
10 ~ Annie, Anthonio
09 ~ Alcazar, Stay The Night
08 ~ Infernal, Redefinition
07 ~ Lily Allen, Not Fair
06 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer (RE)
05 ~ Same Difference, All Roads Lead To Heaven
04 ~ Take That, The Garden
03 ~ Little Boots, New In Town (NE/VID)
02 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Hope and Glory
01 ~ Marina and The Diamonds, I Am Not A Robot (NE/1 Week)

Sophie Ellis Bextor - Can't Fight This Feeling:
There is something utterly butterly magnificent about Sophie Ellis of Bextor-Jones. Part of it is her wonderfully british pronounciation of words like Darn-sar. Part of it is her effortlessly glittery pop tunes. And part of it is that she has bagged the hottest buffster from The Feeling (in my humble opinion - take a bow, and take your pants off Richard Jones!). So her fall from grace (ish) is quite disheartening. Back in 2001, SEB-J was the toast of the pop world. Single after single nestled in the top ten from her gorgeous debut album. Fast forward 8 years (past when The Feeling were the most played act on radio to their woefully ignored second album) and while she still churns out top notch pop, the public have cooled towards her. Trip The Light Fantastic was THE shimmering disco epic of 2007, but sadly did not reach the sales high of her debut. Last year saw a couple of songs seep onto her myspace, most notably the delightful Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer and a new SEB album has been rumoured ever since. This isn't exactly a new SEB song (a remix of the track has been doing the rounds for a while), but part of the Junior Caldera album - however, it's a return to a more club-oriented sound for LaBex, who indeed launched herself as a featured vocalist on Spiller's Groovejet. It's ever so slightly ravey for my tastes, but I'll take my Sophie where I can get her. She sounds as lovely as ever, and I do enjoy songs about the giddiness of falling in love against somewhat euphoric beats. So not the best Sophie Ellis Bextor Jones single ever, but much like an average episode of Buffy, still miles better than a lot of crap out there...

BWO - You're Not Alone:
There is no denying that once they established their glorious "Steps for a mature audience" sound (is that heresy? Or merely a more polished Hear'say?) on the excellent and brilliantly titled Prototype, that BWO have been stuck in a bit of a rut. But like the ruts you sometimes get stuck in with your partner, which includes satisfying sex at least twice a week (I'm talking metaphorically, not dazpantally here. Our sex is always mindblowing), it's quite a nice rut to be in. The Bods are one of my favourite pop groups of recent years, with an outstanding run of euphoric sounding singles under their belt - none of which have even bothered to tickle the UK charts :( Their newest single, post greatest hits, has been described as an epic gothic electro ballad that marks a new direction for the band. I'm not sure how new this direction is, because the track sounds vaguely similar to Will My Arms Be Strong Enough. However, not very slowly at all, I have fallen in love with the song with it's brillo-as-ever-talky Marina middle eight and an amazing choir at the end, which Martin's voice compliments quite nicely. Plus I always appreciate a good key change, weird strobe light sticks and Marina-ettes as backing dancers (in the melodifestivalen performance anyway). As a ballad, i suspect like Open Door it will work best for me in that format, but when i finally get to hear the uptempo version, I will probably love that equally as much. So not outstandingly different, but much beloved by me all the same. Amazing album cover that looks like they are auditioning for the rumoured V remake. (Darren and I l-o-v-e V). Sadly if that were to become big here, most pop kids would look at it and scoff that it had some old dude on the front :( Cretins!

• Check out XO's view on the single cover...
• For all your BWO needs, there is of course electronordica...

• NOTICE! Incredibly important update to the Same Difference album preview. Miss it at your peril!!
• For the first part in this series, click here...
• For part two, well you might as well click here...

You can so totally tell when Christmas is around the corner, because there is just an onslaught of new pop merchandise heading towards the stores. XO and D'Luv pretty much have the circus that is the new Take That release covered (love Yuri's comment - it's very blue! CLASSIC!), while Mike PTA (the new Harper Valley?!) takes time out from his busy Boyz whoring schedule to bring us the diva classic releases this festive season (my fave? The one where tina turner looks like she has a serious case of botty worms!). And Auspop is pretty much the most reliable place on the web for antipodean releases. Plus they like Same Difference. Ergo I adore them. However, here is what is and/or should be happening in a store near you in the coming weeks (if record companies weren't run by complete nutters. Which they obviously are!)...

• I can forgive McFly a lot of things and luckily covering a song by Evil Harlot Who Cannot Be Named is one of them. Their deliciously winking, almost vaudevillian cabaret romp through I Kissed A Girl is a shuffling two step beat corker of an interpretation that will work nicely on Christmas Party mix cds, and make an excellent flip side to their forthcoming single "Down Goes Another One". Now would it kill them to release a cover of "Sweet Transvestite" for Hallowe'en?
• If there was any justice in the world, Sophie Ellis Bextor would have had a massive early Autumn smash with the marvy Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer and would be preparing On and Off as her festive contribution from a greatest hits album. And as I'm in a covers mood, she should totally put her bluegrassy acoustic cover of Jolene on the flip for added appeal. This "Beautiful People" soundtrack addition showcases SEB-Jones lovely voice and just drips with pathos and hurt. Ah Sophie, why England abandoned you much like they did Rachel Stevens (oh don't get me started! Her second album was near perfection!) is way beyond my powers of comprehension. This is another corking interpretation of hers to stand alongside One Way Or Another, Physical and, er, that other one she did...
• Talking of abandoned pop stars on the Beautiful People soundtrack, The Feeling have not one, not two but three songs on there! Three! It's practically a new album! Of course, two songs are billed as "Dan Gillespie Sells" but they are so drenched in Feeling type piano and harmonies that it is like saying H&Claire was a complete reversal of the Steps sound that made them famous. She's Gone is the Hall and Oates cover that was on the flip of the criminally ignored Join With Us single, while the theme tune (Beautiful People Theme) and another new tune (confusingly called Beautiful People, with a lovely middle 8 refrain of "Don't let them go, dreams may be foolish but don't let them go...") are just exactly what you would expect from Dan - solid choruses, beautifully blended harmonies and so darn catchy they should come with antibiotics. Perfect additional tracks for my suggested fifth single Won't Go Away...
• I'm a little ashamed to admit it but the track High School Musical (from the third in the movie series) stands perfectly alongside Britannia High's Start of Something as an utterly delightful flashback to the halcyon days of S Club and All*Stars perky pop that I just can't get out of my head. And honestly, I really don't want to...
• Lily Allen is finally back. Although GWB was a brilliant way to pass the time while a new official single was forthcoming, Everyone's At It simply can't wait til new year for a release. It is slightly more electro (but only a dusting) than her debut album, but this isn't really a departure from anything else she's ever done and there is no need to depart because frankly she does it so well. Yes, there are some Alanis sized lyrical clangers ("your daughter's depressed get her straight on the prozac/little do you know she already takes coke) and i'm not convinced the world needs a don't do prescription drugs anthem, but i'm just so darned happy for Lily to be back and kick Evil Harlot Who Cannot Be Named's arse from her back to the street corner she came from. Job done.

Oh. It's pissing down with rain outside and I didn't bring a coat to work. Luckily I have my electric youth golf umbrella so I will be ok. My arm has stopped oozing green finally though is still very tender to the touch. I thought you might all be losing sleep over how that was progressing. Anyway, before I get on with the brilliance of McFly and Soph, I have to give "props" (note to self ~ never ever say props again) to the Britain's Got Talent winner. So much better than the So Macho dance routine I did for my sisters when I was his age...

MCFLY ~ ONE FOR THE RADIO:

Ah my beloved McFly. So often "dissed" (note to self - stop saying dissed) by music bloggers, yet beloved by others. Moving on after their greatest hits and split with their record label, the moresome foursome have come up with a big "fuck you" to all the naysayers. Sadly on the radio, they introduced it as "one for the fans" which always makes me cringe (Steps would always say in concert - "we came out on this tour for you guys the fans" fuck off did you. I love steps but they were there because there is more money in touring than record sales!) Luckily the tune is punchy piece of power pop, complete with slightly crackling recording values (radio rip or production intention?) that give a slightly 60s sound. The lyrics are a cheeky way of saying boo you whores to all those people who probably really do enjoy a good McFly song, but are too ashamed to admit it because really they think they should be listening to the Ting Tings or whoever the flavour of the day is. It harks back to the lyrical days of their first album, though still showcases that they can definitely put a decent tune together - and lets face it: A great McFly song (such as this is as opposed to brilliant McFly a la Transylvania or Ballad of Paul K) is still head and shoulders above most other boyband songs (NKOTB take note!) and actually a very fine lead off single for their new album. Welcome back boys...

SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR ~ HEARTBREAK MAKES ME A DANCER:

Oh. My. Days. Is anyone else scared that Sophie Ellis Bextor will turn into one of those artists that people rave about but fail to translate said raves into commercial success? (Roisin Murphy my eyebrows are raised in your direction!) Now that sexy hubby Richard can commiserate at the law of diminishing returns (The Feeling's Join With Us isn't a mammoth seller and Without You missed the top 40 - boo you whores), perhaps Sophie feels zen enough to just continue at what she does best. Whip out brilliant pop-dance tunes that seem incredibly effortless and instantly catchy. This new track, popped on her myspace a couple of days ago, practically has me creating a love milkshake in my undies. It's not that it's particularly innovative or new, but it's just so darn good from start to finish that I can't imagine this not being a huge top 3 smash (though of course I thought that with Rachel Stevens "I Said Never Again" ode to botty burgling and look where that got me!). And of course Sophie returns to using music as a metaphor for her relationship tales, which always works out to brilliant effect ~ the foot stomping, hand clapping, video bitchiness of the magnificent Murder on the Dancefloor; the laid back summer groove of Music Gets The Best of Me. Good times, people. Swirling beats, electro beeps, Sophie cheeps ~ it's all I could want in an early summer smash, and by golly miss molly (not to sound too Mayor of Sunnydale, Season 3 Buffy) it's awfully good stuff. Welcome back missus...

Other songs I'm very fond of at the moment:

• Making April ~ These are the Nights: I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but i do like a nice piano led rock ballad. And some of the band are remotely doable from a distance.
• Enrique ~ Can You Hear Me: Yuri and PPG are oh so right. This is a mega smash of epic proportions - all Darin style background music and soulful Enrique power pop vocals. Marv.
• Miley Cyrus ~ 7 Things: I think I wrote about this before but it's Avril/Hilary rock-pop goodness and now she's all covered up, Hannah M can get back to what she is best at. Milking money out of tweens. And me.
• Rongedal ~ Who Do You Think You're Fooling?: They may look like Right Said Fred and sound like Mika but i don't care. Their new single is europop goodness and infernally catchy.
• Ola ~ Feelgood: And I do everytime I listen to this rather delicious summery pop number from his forthcoming re-released album
• Chris Brown ~ Forever/No Air (acoustic): I totally blame D'Luv and PPG for switching me on to these lovely nuggets. There ain't half some crap on his albums though!

Album reviews coming very soon for the last three artists on that list! And tomorrow! Double flashback for two acts from the late 80s!