Lopez Blogs

Continuing the discussion from Monday and how the onslaught of social media has changed the way pop careers are launched (and destroyed)... today it's a look at breaking down the barriers between fan and artist and how perhaps now more than ever fans can be intimately involved in the creation and launch of their hot new faves latest release. Many people have used this to their increasing advantage - for example, Simon Curtis built up a huge twitter following by offering free tracks once his twitter followers had reached certain levels. It worked and now 19,000 hang on his every word and eagerly await his next album. But there are other, more cost effective ways to encourage fan - let's see what one young English troubadour has up his sleeve...


I've written about Luke Leighfield a few times. His third album "Have You Got Heart?" (turns out I have) had me utterly enchanted. For those too lazy to click on the link for my review, it's essentially a giddy and enticing mixture of saucy Queen-esque guitar riffs, Billy Joel via Ben Folds piano chords, achingly memorable melodies and a sterling vocal delivery infused with passion and emotion from the singer himself. He's created these songs from scratch and worked extraordinarily hard to get them out there for public consumption and his love for music and melody shine through in each note, each nuanced vocal inflection, each bitingly relatable lyric. Added to this was my obsession with his Christmas single I'm So Confused By Christmas this festive season which made me resolve to be a better person. And it's insightful view of Christmas life would have fitted perfectly onto Have You Got Heart. If you haven't already heard that album you should really check it out now - follow Luke on twitter for details of how to purchase. And do so quickly because it's time to move on. Luke announced today that he is ready to record his next album, New Season. He's written the songs and he promises they will be amazing - i've no reason to doubt him, particularly if the song above (New Season with the We Heart Arts Band) is on the album. I mean, that song alone takes a driving beat, crashing cymbols, some wonderfully intricate piano work and guitar licks that make me tired and exhilarated watching them all at the same time. Sadly, Luke is out of money. I mean it takes time to be a full time musician, marketing yourself, making music and getting it out there. Bring on Project New Season. For an initial upfront investment of varying levels you can get everything a guaranteed copy of the cd to your own song to a show in your living room to Luke being at your general disposal for a day! You don't see Lady Gaga doing this! You can learn all about the different offers available by visiting this website AND watching this video. Viewing of the video is absolutely essential. It not only shows how utterly charming Luke actually is, but evidences thathe scrubs up well in a suit, demonstrates he has a great sense of humour and showcases his tres bon taste in music (there's a bit of Annie Lennox's Walking On Broken Glass as well as Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles). Add to this a cheeky wink from his photographer, a full run down of products on offer and 10% of all money going to Christian Aid and you'll be whipping out your credit card and begging Luke to take your money. And quite rightly so. He's going places and you can help him get there. Now let's finish with his cover of the lovely Nerina Pallot's Real Late Starter which is equally as brillo as Joe McElderry's cover only in very different ways.

Oh my days and a half! It is actually only five days til Christmas! And I am in full festive spirit. The weather outside is genuinely frightful (snow snow and more snow), i've decked my halls, i've hung my stockings with care, etc. I've trudged into work through the (centi)metres of snow and ignored all around me while singing festive faves at the top of my voice, regardless of who else was around (my walk is usually quite deserted)... I've played a fair few of them on Larry Flick's Morning Jolt t'other day, but this weekend decided that there had been such a delightful plethora of brand new Christmas recordings this year, I would kick off my Best Of lists (singles coming Dec 27th, then lists all that live long week) with the best new songs of Christmas 2010. Magnifico!

20= ~ Big Time Rush, Beautiful Christmas: Hurrah! Boy band mania rules. Not content with covering Mariah's All I Want For Christmas as part of their festive episode, the foursome managed to whip out an original tune full of perky rock-pop jolliness and good times.
20= ~ St Etienne, Come On Christmas: Frankly this would probably be much higher up the list if my postman (sort of hot, so forgiveable) hadn't taken two weeks to deliver the Christmas album it features on. Still, it arrived today so I have a full week of playing it non-stop until next year. This track is vair good and DanP76 approved...
19 ~ Todd Alsup, This Christmas (above): Todd is all sorts of quite lovely as it happens. His music has serenaded me all throughout 2010 and then to top that off, he records a cover of the 1970 Donny Hathaway classic This Christmas. With backing singers. And a video. And looking like he's having a rollicking good time around the piano doing it. In amazing glasses. Watch it. Love it. Worship the ground he walks on.
18 ~ Gavin Mikhail, Evergreen: Gavin is frankly one of the most underrated singer songwriters out there, and I've been a fan of his since I heard Brave in 2006. He has released a Christmas EP this week with some covers on, some instrumentals and this soaring piano-vocal only track that he penned himself. Gorgeous piano work, lovely to listen to over and over again. And interestingly, sounding as classic as any of the other tunes on the EP...
17 ~ Wilson Phillips, Warm Lovin' Christmastime: Oh glorious. Wilson Phillips get back together with Glen Ballard (of their debut album fame) and produce a festive album of material that is like a lovely steaming cup of hot cocoa. With marshmallows. Their harmonies are still exquisite and produces an aural alchemy that just keeps on giving...
16 ~ Glee Cast, Baby It's Cold Outside: I wasn't hugely taken with this at first but having actually seen the Christmas episode and my continuing (and growing) obsession with lovely Darren Criss has put the tune in a whole new light. Expect to find my Darren (non-Criss but obviously equally as lovely) and me miming to it at any given point over the next week...


15 ~ Puppini Sisters, All I Want For Christmas Is You: You may think there are more than enough Mariah cover versions out in the Christmas marketplace as it is and you are probably correct in that assumption. However, when a unique take on this perennial fave emerges it's a joy to behold. It's a jazzy-tinged, Andrews Sisters-esque marvel that holds up to many repeated gleeful listens :)
14 ~ Hurts, All I Want For Christmas Is New Years Day: Hurts have had quite a good year haven't they? Duetted with Kylie, covered by Kylie and produced a sombre but elegant seasonal tale which they have generously given away for zero pennies. And it mentions New Years Day which so many people (other than Abba and Sugababes) forget about. Plus they look proper good in suits. (PS embedding disabled by request? Bah humbugs!)
13 ~ Coldplay, Christmas Lights (above): I felt that Viva La Vida was quite festive sounding anyway, so an actual proper bonafide Christmas tune from Chris and the guys has proved to be incredibly welcome. It sounds immense, gets better with every listen and has lovely festive themes such as sadness, sorrow, hope and redemption. Plus an amazing to the power of balls video (as evidenced above). Tremend.
12 ~ The Killers, Boots: And for the fifth year in a row, the lovely Killers manage to whip out an altogether amazing Christmas single to raise money and awareness for HIV charities. And this is their second best of all their efforts to date (Don't Shoot Me Santa Claus still remains their finest festive moment). And the video has an entirely lovely story to go along with it. Absolutely delightful and as charming as anything on Brandon's still quite good solo album...
11 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, December: Mans does big band at Christmas and the results are both surprising and delicious. Mans remains as genetically perfect as you can get and this swinging little tune does nothing to dampen my need to smooch him ferociously underneath the mistletoe. Here's to more Mans in 2011...


10 ~ The Pipettes, Santa's On His Way: I'm still vaguely amused at the text that alerted me to this song "'av you heard that new Pipettes song Satan's On his Way?" marvelous. perhaps they can consider a bit of a downbeat dub remix of the tune to give away next hallowe'en?! This is as perky and bouncy as a ride on Rudolph's back and will no doubt be as essential at Christmasses to come as mince pie and milk left by the fireplace for old Saint Nick...
09 ~ DeeDee, Winter Wonderland: I wrote about this just a few days ago, so I'm not going to go on about it too much. It's brilliant. As is DeeDee. As is the video. It shows that people with swagger can do sweet just as brilliantly as they tackle pop-venom and errant lover bashing. Check out her interview on lovely Dontstopthepop...
08 ~ Mariah Carey, Oh Santa!: Oh it was never going to reach the levels of amazosity that All I Want For Christmas has attained but actually what transpired was a totally fun, quirky little ditty that got better upon each listen, got people hand clapping away (essential for those cold winter mornings) and made me feel like I could go outside and do some skipping rope contests to the tune along with the best of them :)
07 ~ Kylie, Let It Snow: A new version of Santa Baby and a feather coat filled appearance at Rockafella Centre in NYC performing this tune? Could Kylie give her fans a better Christmas present?! The answer to that question is no she could not, though the news that Steve Anderson is working on new Aphrodite tour arrangements is the bow on the present, the icing on the christmas cake if you will :)
06 ~ Indigo Girls, Feel The Christmas Spirit: Perhaps the most surprising Christmas album of the year came from one of my long time faves. Their bluegrass take on Christmas was often fun, often poignant but always excellent and this exuberant tune was a sheer joy from start to finish. Much like the Wilson Phillips song earlier in the list, it's a song that embodies the ethos of the title from first note...


05 ~ Luke Leighfield, So Confused By Christmas: Ok, I'm cheating. it's actually a song from 2006, but it's new to me and it's my blog so nuh! A vividly clever look at the self imposed rules of enjoying Christmas that hit home a little too hard at times (I'm sure I had a strop as a child over the colour of my hat from the cracker) and makes you want to concentrate on actually just being a better person. This song has actually made me do nice things for people so hopefully Luke's sense of hope isn't kicked too much. Do check out Luke's Christmas tour blog. It's rather brilliant...
04 ~ Pink Martini, Snowglobe Christmas (above): Thank you Starbucks for having this album by your delicious polar bear cookies while I was in Florida. This track in particular made me absolutely swoon over it's lovely islands lilting tune, it's dreamy Doris Day-esque vocals and the timeless beauty of it all that will be forever encapsulated in my heart, just like the flakes of snow in the globe they sing about. divine.
03 ~ Owl City, Peppermint Winter: This song basically lists everything that I love about Christmas in a musical wrapping that is so twee and glorious that it makes the already brimming with goodness festive season seem even better. It's just so so me. E.G. "I twirl down the driveway with angelic grace/til i slip on the sidewalk and fall on my face". Happened to me this morning and still i felt no need to complain. If you feel down this season, just listen to this. It's as good a tonic as Love, Actually. Yes, it's that good!
02 ~ Glee cast, We Need A Little Christmas: I initially was quite loyal to the lovely Kimberley Locke's version of this tune, but Glee have worn me down and won me over. There is something so wonderfully happy and innocent about the tune that is utterly in line with the theatrically needed to perform it. What I love about the version is that the backing vocals are as important in the mix of the track as the main vocal, there is actual delight in the voices of the singers (there is no way they were frowning when they were recording this) and some truly edifying instrumentals - particularly that instrumental breakdown before the end that makes you want to leap for joy. Is played every morning on my walk to work and never feels to imbue me with some Christmas magic :)


01 ~ Bananarama, Baby It's Christmas: Sigh. It's just so utterly glorious. Not only have Britain's still premiere girl group managed to whip out an absolutely edible teardrops on the disco floor christmas boogie on down number, but it's also one of the more amazing pop treats of the entire year. Entirely in line with their Viva sound, yet moving towards a new era of dancefloor dominance that absolutely must continue in 2011. Love the juxtaposition of the sad lyrics against a joyous grab the one you love and shimmy soundtrack. A deserved and brilliant number one :)

Back on Wednesday with the 5th annual Myfizzypop Online Christmas Card. It's going to be amazes!

I'm probably knackered from trawling round Disney World/Universal/International Drive/the shops so I'll keep this short and to the point and introduce you instantly to a more alternative, less poppy musical tribute to the time of year that celebrates the birth of Santa...

An Alternative Christmas Choice #1:

• Luke Leighfield ~ I'm So Confused By Christmas: I've been obsessed with this song ever since I belatedly discovered it earlier this month (it's from 2006!!) and even better, you can download it for zero pence (up to whatever you wish to pay) at the lovely Mr Leighfield's website. Huzzah. Basically it's a tune that acknowledges that this time of year should be a jolly good treat, but asks the question of why are people so sad, moody, miserable, dissatisfied, ungenerous, etc... all set to an appropriately magnificent festive soundtrack. As with all of Luke's tunes, it's incredibly singalong and yet makes you have a darn good think about the real meaning of Christmas. Exemplary.
• Pet Shop Boys ~ It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas 2009: One of my favourite christmas tunes was given a smashingly decent sprucing up in 2009 and made it even better - there was more chiming, more pomp, a deliriously good middle 8 and even more choir (BING CROSBY! Are you listening to me?!). It's a vaguely cynical look at Christmas but made all the better by juxtaposing the Mariah-esque backing track to the lyrics and having a wry "merry Christmas" towards the end. Play loud and play often (see also West End Girls version).
• St Etienne ~ I Was Born On Christmas Day: By the time I get back from Florida, I am hopeful that the all new limited edition Christmas album for the Ett will be sitting on my doorstep. This will be very bonza indeed because I am hoping that it will be full of tunes such as this one. An icy cool, yet engaging shuffling gem of a pop tune that just sparkles and shines from start to finish. Be sure to check out another of their tunes - 21st Century Christmas because it is very marvelous to the power of indeed.
• Kate Bush ~ December Will Be Magic Again: Trust Kate to have produced a tune that is as wild, wilful and slightly magical (and a little bit bonkers) as a disobedient reindeer. It's a runaway snowflake of a song that just takes you along for the ride - kind of like a musical version of The Box Of Delights. Utterly nutty but utterly brilliant. Always makes December magic for me.
• The Feeling ~ Feels Like Christmas: Essentially just Dan running his fingers over a piano keyboard (oh to be that keyboard) to create a yearning, sombre ballad that strips back the tune to the bare basics and is still as beautiful as a stark, frost covered twig on a chilly Christmas eve. God I'm so excited for their return in 2011... (see also their thrilling version of the amazing Stop The Cavalry)...
• (see also The Hives and Hurts)

Back on Friday with part 2 of this list and my weekly chart countdown!

I love a good balls to the wall, deliriously gleeful, wonderfully wacky dance orientated pop number I do. What's fluffy and throwaway to one is gold dust to me and I savour every nuance, note, beat and boogie along the way. It makes up much of my listening material to be honest with you. But that doesn't mean I am not completely appreciative of what some may class as a deeper level of artistry - where the song is lovingly crafted by the singer and a composition comes together that is musical poetry. So this post is the first of two dedicated to finding the best unknowns (to me, previously anyway) out there who music makes me soar...

• Luke Leighfield ~ Luke is on his third album at the moment, so shame on me for not noticing him sooner. However, better late to the party than not turning up at all - and I'm taking one of Luke's songs with me on my guest slot on The Morning Jolt radio show tomorrow morning. His latest album Have You Got Heart (click on the title for more info) is full of heart on sleeve pop tunes, built around intricate piano melodies and heady guitar riffs that are reminiscent of troubadours like Ben Folds and Julian Velard. Lyrically, there's little subtlety within the songs and you know exactly what the young fella is talking about - this isn't a criticism; rather it's a rallying call to the masses to share in the musical experience and relate to your own life. I love this type of writing - Robbie Williams excels at it, and he's done all right out of it. For Luke, it seems the message in the music is to share your passion and that's mirrored with his campaign to give the album away (or make a donation - highly recommended option for the quality of work you are going to get). The vocals, the floating piano, the aggressive guitar - it's all pulled together by an excellent production value and draws you fully into what is ultimately a completely rewarding listening experience. Do check him out...

• Joe Brooks ~ I wrote about Joe Brooks about 3-4 years ago, when he was just a young whippersnapper of a lad and he kindly sent me a signed cd. Which i still have. He is currently touring the UK (with one of tomorrow's blog subjects, Jason Reeves) promoting his corker of an album Constellation Me. What you get with Joe is someone who manages to weave an intricate web of melody and lyrical incisiveness that is both painfully aware and candidly uplifting. His musical style is both earnest and engaging, and the fella knows how to craft a tune with his magic guitar fingers that will stay in your head for days. There's a personality that shines through the music and Joe clearly favours craft over current trends as he creates a sound that transcends shelf life. His vocal performance on songs such as Rules of Attraction and Superman make the music emotive, powerful and heartfelt. Definitely one to watch out for and apparently effortlessly charming live (i'll let you know later next month!)...

• The Woe Betides ~ It seems disrepectful to say that The Woe Betides are like a casserole of pop, but I mean it with sincere love and admiration. They take elements of musical styles, such as grunge, electronica, lo-fi folk, mix it all together and produce something that by all accounts should be a gigantic mess, but is actually entirely intruiging. It's the harmonies and handclaps, the infusion of cold emotion or hot passion (dependent on the need of the song) into the vocal delivery and the structure & life within the songs. Their debut album Never Sleep mixes things up throughout the tracklisting and will often exchange instruments and vocal styles seemingly at a whim, but always to the benefit of the tune you are listening to. There's often a juxtaposition within the music too - innocent sounding vocals play off against fuzzy guitars or intense melodies to great effect. If you are just starting to check them out, you could do worse than begin with their catchy single Sylvia - and try as you might, you'll end up singing "sylvia' you're a terrible person/but i'll never love anyone else" all the live long day. Splendid.

Tomorrow: More singer songwriters from USA inc. Jason Reeves, Matt White and Jason Walker!