Lopez Blogs

Top 21 songs of the week - (& the highlights):

• The Saturdays ~ Notorious: England's cheap replacement for Girls Aloud is back. That may be a bit mean but even the best Saturdays song is about as good as a middling Girls Aloud album track. Anyway, this is actually one of their better efforts with a not quite as cheap as normal video to boot! Up there with Up, Ego and Higher. Actually, I do l-l-love this track...:P
• Simon Curtis ~ Superhero: Did you catch my review of this track? I essentially quite like Simon Curtis music. Will this be his 6th fizzypop number one (seventh if you include the Andrea Lewis duet)? Time will tell...
• Lady Gaga ~ Judas: While everyone raves over the best comeback single Belinda Carlisle never got to release (yet) (Edge of Glory), I've found that Judas has got under my skin more and more. PS, continuing her theme of "borrowing liberally" from other female artists (see pop trash addicts), album track Americano has lifted Bette Midler's version of Mambo Italiano note for note in the intro minute...
• Take That ~ Love Love: I've gone from like liking this track to love loving it. As you probably know, a mini album (their Fame Monster if you will) is due for release in June called Progressed. I'm imagining a Gary Barlow release in my lap right now...:P
• Nerina Pallot ~ Put Your Hands Up: The single is officially out on Monday. I've had a sneak peek of the album and it is phenomenal. An absolute triumph. The remix of the single below is pretty nifty too and sounds perfect next to the Pete Hammond mix of Kylie's Put Your Hands Up (which i want her to do a video for spoofing all her 80s SAW vids! Imagine!)...

21 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
20 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
19 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
18 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
17 ~ Take That, Happy Now
16 ~ Scissor Sisters, Sex & Violence
15 ~ Brandon Flowers, Was It Something I Said?
14 ~ The Saturdays, Notorious (NE)
13 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
12 ~ Westlife, I Will Reach You
11 ~ Elouise, Born This Way
10 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
09 ~ Maroon 5, Is There Anybody There
08 ~ Simon Curtis, Superhero (NE)
07 ~ Lady Gaga, Judas
06 ~ Le Kid, America
05 ~ Take That, Love Love
04 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Starlight
03 ~ Nerina Pallot, Put Your Hands Up
02 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story
01 ~ Gravitonas ft Roma Kenga, Everybody Dance (4 weeks)

There will be one million and twenty three blogs (i'm approximating) today that will quite rightly write about the new Lady Gaga single, Born This Way. She's probably one of the biggest pop stars in the universe at the moment and thus, any new single from her is a bit of an event. Lots of people far more clever than me will be extolling it's virtues or telling us why it's Express Yourself 2011. I do quite like it - it's a grower rather than a show-er; a plinky plonky 70s inspired disco tune rather than perhaps the more instant and miraculous Bad Romance. It's a song for the outsiders and I suspect that it will make a lot more sense after she's performed it at the Grammys on Sunday, most likely dressed in an outfit made out of the vomit of blind tibetan monks, sewed together by fingerless, vow of silence nuns. Or something.

So do, by all means, enjoy Born This Way. However - here's an alternative track that might get your juices flowing just as much. MAYBE MORE!! Back in 2006/07, young Simon Curtis (prior to his robot army days, perhaps we were all just alter boys with him back then) put a song together as part of the "create a theme for Popjustice competition). He took the deliriously feelgood, swirling xenomania instrumental and crafted his lyrics around the incessant groove bestowed upon him. This tune ultimately became Put Your Makeup On and remains my joint all time favourite Simon song (along with the brillopants Diablo). It may not be as obvious in it's intent, but for all purposes it pre-dates la Gaga song by a good four years. It was about being accepted for who you are, about pop music being a brilliant genre regardless of how it's perceived, about being born this way (see sample lyric: "little girls know what to do, by the time that they are two, playing dress up in the make up of a mother/what's a mother gonna do, when she walks into the room, and she finds herself not a daughter but the brother"). It's littered with timely (at the time of creation) pop references - a trick Simon has continued with some of his more recent songs - and a brilliant outro that basically (i'm paraphrasing) tells the world to fuck off if you don't like pop music because nothing else is quite as giddy and magnificent on the dancefloor. And this is essentially true - Halfway Round The World (Almighty Mix) by A*teens still gets me in a whirling dervish on a Saturday night.

My advice to Simon - get this track on iTunes right now, get your robot army to purchase it in the droidloads and get a genuine bonafide smash :) Hurrah, etc.

RYAN FERRADA - ROOM 501

I seem to have been waiting for this album forever (indeed I last foretold of its coming back in March this year, and reviewed the lead off single "Dirty In The Club" back in October 2008 and the initial version in April 08). Indeed the lovely Ryan was one of my top tips for 2009. And with a month or so to go, the boy has done good by getting his outstanding album 'Room 501' out there for the public to feast upon. If you are looking for an album with sleek pop sensibilities, lush orchestral ballads and a dirty dance edge that mixes influences of Kylie, George Michael, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Darren Hayes into the pot, then Room 501 is the album for you. It's a veritable hotpot of potential singles, starting with the still sizzling Dirty In The Club, which rocketed all the way to #2 on the Music Week club chart with nary a promotion gimmick in sight earlier this year. The song is still a stomping pop-dance work out that practically oozes seduction and charm through the sultry beats and Ryan's intoxicating vocals. Second single is the title (and lead off) track of the album and continues the pace, standard and lyrical tone set by it's predecessor. Definitely one to get your blood pumping as Ryan sings "3s a crowd; 4s even better, 5,6,7 baby I'm in heaven"! It's not so much that Ryan is being so sexually suggestive - Janet Jackson, Madonna and Prince (for example) have been doing that for decades; it's more that it works because it is delivered with such conviction and excitement. The listener is drawn straight into this titillating situation and frankly I ended up with sweaty palms and having to cross my legs! Don't feel there isn't diversity within the album though, because Ryan isn't afraid to tackle other genres. Chemical Connection is possibly the most out and out "pop" moment on the album with a raucous, beat ridden, in your face singalong chorus that will make a triumphant third single - not only will it cement his popularity, but show people a different side to him. For something completely different, check out the most amazing ballad, Glorious. Drenched in a wonderful string arrangement, kudos must also go to Ryan's co-writer and producer Greg Fitzgerald. It's beautifully produced, with lush melodies and an impeccable vocal delivery from Ryan that is evocative of the best of George Michael. Certainly a highlight of the album and one that totally stands out amidst the more obvious tracks - much the way Is It Any Wonder did for Sophie Ellis Bextor on her debut. For more sumptuous balladry check out the personal and intimate What People Say where Ryan lays himself bare and invites the listener deeper into his world. A raw emotive song that showcases what a capable vocalist Ryan is and his solid understanding of how to craft memorable tunes.Oh, and Kylie fans are going to want to check out Drives Me Crazy - it has a reworked sample of Burning Up baked into the core of the song and it works brilliantly.

So overall, a tremendous effort and one that continues to reward with multiple listens. This could easily be a stand out epic for 2010 and deservedly so.
Potential singles: Dirty In The Club; Room 501; Chemical Connection; Glorious

ADAM LAMBERT - FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT:

Even though I didn't really get involved with American Idol this year (it takes on a whole different meaning I feel when you are somewhat removed from the hype you get from living in the country that airs the show), I certainly knew who Adam Lambert was. Perhaps the most refreshing runner up to the show's crown since Blake Lewis, I have to confess I was less excited for his debut album than I was for Blakes (though that may have something to do with a) Blake covered maroon 5 on the show and b) I sort of wanted to spoon Blake at the time!)... His 2012 movie theme "Time For Miracles" didn't inspire me with confidence and it's only at the enthusiastic reviews from some of my blog buddies and DJ Larry Flick that I checked it out at all. And I'm glad I did - it's an absolutely solid collection of entertaining pop tunes that are instantly catchy, entirely enjoyable although sometimes somewhat reminiscent of other fare. So let me preface this by saying I really like the album. It's a bold opening statement. And for better or worse, it's taken lessons from some of the best in pop over the past 25 years. Let me explain...

Throughout the album, I was constantly reminded of other acts. Sometimes that was The Darkness (understandably, as Justin Hawkins wrote amazing opening track Music Again), sometimes it was Queen (see Sure Fire Winner - and frankly Queen's not a bad template to model yourself on!). Other times, the epic and underrated template of McFly seeps through (they have excellent track record in epic, almost glam rock tunes like the amazing Transylvania and soaring Sorry's Not Good Enough) and some of the more anguished fare reminds me of Pink. Is any of this a bad thing? Not at all - Adam's vocal style, passion and enthusiasm totally make the majority of the album uniquely his. And compared to how derivative most idol/x factor alums albums are, that he has been able to mine some of the best moments of pop as inspiration for his debut makes him a promising new artist with huge potential to develop over the coming years. So rather than a full review (which Nick has done incredibly well here), I'll just point out some of my faves from the album...

• Soaked is by far my favourite song on the album. It's dramatic, engaging, exciting, soaring, epic and wonderful all at once. For me, it's the track that made me stop and think, by god this boy is going to go somewhere...
• The Justin Hawkins penned Music Again is also a complete winner. Fiesty, ballsy, energetic and a confident soaring vocal make this a wickedly effervescent way to kick off the album
• The good ballads - both Broken Open and A Loaded Smile are totally charming, ready for the european market and singable after just one listen. Similarly the Pink track Whataya Want From Me is custom made for a huge radio hit
• Fever! The Lady Gaga demo is transformed by Adam into something quite paletable, partying and pulsating all in one go. Just imagine if the Scissor Sisters came back with something as instant and glorious as this!

There are plenty more sure fire hits on the album (including Pick You Up and If I Had You) which suggest that this album will have legs throughout 2010 and possibly beyond. As I said, it's a confident opening statement from Adam, rich in pop history and diversity. It's the all important second album that will hopefully cement his appeal and clarify his sound for the world. For now, just enjoy because it's hard to do otherwise...
Potential singles: So hard to pick actually from this - any suggestions?

Finally, it's been hard to avoid Lady Gaga over the past week - on Monday my blogroll links was almost 80% Lady Gaga heavy! I've clarified my feelings towards her in Adem's excellent Fame Monster review (it's comment #10) and hope it makes sense :) Let me know what you think!!

Little norwegian stumplet (F)Annie once told me (and anyone else listening) that she thinks I think I'm chocolate, but actually I'm chewing gum. Popjusticers (surely a word fit for the dictionary by now) swooned and the world waited for her (and BWO) to be the next big pop thing. Exhale slowly because nothing really happened. But Annie's back - and probably learned that chocolate will actually help you pile on the pounds while gum will clean your teeth and stop you snacking...

It's been a rather good year for ace pop albums (Infernal, Jason Mraz, McFly, Madonna), very decent pop albums (Alanis, Miley, Ultraviolet Sound, Martin) and pop albums that can be enjoyed when you are feeling a bit charitable (i'm too kind to mention the guilty). Annie's Don't Stop fits in somewhere between very decent and ace (but closer to ace than decent actually). The lead off single represents pretty much what Annie is about. Eclectic music, her distinct voice and a catchy hook. All about a male female best friend arrangement, i'm assuming from the "subtle" lyrics that la girlfriend of the bloke ain't too happy about this little dalliance. Actually that could work perfectly in Secret Diary of a Call Girl... How to describe the rest of the tunes on the album? Well, it's apt that Annie once sang about her greatest hit because this album seems to be a tribute to the greatest hits/sounds of others all sprayed with Annie's own inimitable scent. My Love Is Better is a great Girls Aloud tune courtesy of Xenomania, with some delicious Franz Ferdinand guitar spunking up the backside of the chorus. Oh how i want to see Nicola in a video for this song. The chorus is a smorgasboard of rhyming couplets and how she's better wetter and wearing superior shoes. Really you can't go wrong with some bonkers pop set to a deliriously heady musical back drop can you? Sweet does exactly what it says on the tin. There's guitar, drums, and sliding synthy sound effects - it's a kylie sounding hit waiting to happen, and actually the vocals are incredibly, well, sweet in the chorus. Just lovely. On Loco rhyming "loco" with "no go" and "go go" is a bit dubious, but the song is just another in a line of made for popjustice radio hits so it's hard to get too annoyed (though I am raising an eyebrow!)


Bad Times reminds me of that vibe in Mel C's I Turn To You - almost that Ibiza-esque chill out groove that runs through what is actually a fairly frenetic and energetic dance tune. It's hard not to imagine playing loud on a beach in the fading summer sun swirling around engrossed in the sounds around you. It gets a bit melancholy then with the lost child hood friend song of Marie Cherie which comes across as a more morose Supernatural (Madonna b-side) and When The Night is a lovely midtempo ballad that would actually work very well as a Christmas single. Annie excels at pushing her sadness through uplifting music - she did it to a degree on Anniemal, but explores it further here and it's actually quite a strength. Heaven and Hell isn't the Geri Halliwell song, but this has influences of sixties pop running through it - not in that ubiquitous Duffy was but just embracing the light fluffy melodies that bounced around the charts so regularly back then. It's quite gorgeous.


I've left my favourite two songs until the end of this review. What Do You Want is just the most insane annoying song i've heard for a while - i tells ya if someone one plays this to you while you've got a hangover, you are not going to be best pleased. It's not only the refrain, it's the incessant music drum beat and sounds that permeate the tune. Like Girls Aloud Biology it's a number of different songs in one (though lets be clear, it's not a patch on that four minutes of amazingness) and so utterly insane that I can't stop playing it. However, it's I Can't Let Go that has me hooked. There's some male vocalist trading off with Annie and the song has some urgent synths, elements of Deborah Harry and B-52s mixed with Fuzzbox. It is part pop part rock part theatre and part scary. I like it. A lot.


So there you have it. Annie is back. And actually very very good indeed. I was going to review Lady BlahBlah and explain why I called her that within this post (it's all to do with how boring it is to hear people go "oh it's the album madonna should've made). But i honestly can't be bothered. The album is ok - it's part Gwen Stefani, part Fergie and part Rihanna. I find it hard to get excited over that. And i'd have been devastated if Madonna came back with Just Dance over Four Minutes. Aaron most closely mirrors my thoughts on the album (though scientifically is about 21% more enthusiastic than I would have been) so I'll just link to that instead. On his 3 month bloggiversary! Hurrah!
Potential singles: I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me; My Love is Better; Bad Times; I Can't Let Go; When The Night