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...

I had three days off work this week and clearly didn't use the time to blog. Instead I trekked around the country doing various theme parks and got stung by a bee on my face. It has swelled up something chronic (despite copious benedryl, cream and antiseptic cover up) and now I look like a lopsided unicorn. Let's speak no more of this travesty and move on with 3 acts that you should definitely be getting to know this week, shall we?

POP POTENTIAL:

• Oh My ~ There are many reasons you should like Oh My. First and foremost is because they are called Oh My. This is an expression I have been using a lot this year to help me reduce the amount of "swears" I utilise in an average day. Secondly, they follow me on twitter and seem like quite amusing lasses. Thirdly they have bacon butties on a Saturday. Embrace the grease I say (though a George Forman is probably the healthiest way to cook your weekly fry up!). Musically, they are all sorts of magnificent, which is probably why Popjustice has been spaffing their chuff up over them this week. Run This Town (listen here) is a spunky little pop gem that recklessly balances sweet melodic verses with a drenched-in-attitude chanted chorus, set over a percussive beat. It's deliciously more-ish - in fact, you know when people do that invisible lasso dance move and their partner gets pulled closer and closer (with a hip shimmy if they've got anything about them)? Well, this is the musical equivalent of that - it ensnares you, charms you and leaves you giddy for more. It also leaves you with the impression that there is so much more to come from them that will absolutely wow. The involvement of the always entertaining Example is just another massive tick in the "yes, yes, oh god, slightly orgasmic, yes" column. More please and very soon. AMAZING.
• Viktorious ~ I'm shamefully late writing about this Swedish pop gent, but he's charmed me (via poppostergirl & alienhits) with his ever so delightful song When We Were Ten. In a world of Rebecca Blacks, Viktor Norén continues to give me hope with his youthful Mick Jagger looks and pop energy that is far too contaigous for it's own good. Surely there should be a world health warning on this?! As the nights get lighter and the weather gets warmer, this is exactly the type of song you should be playing with your top down (car top, not your top, although each to their own) and wind blowing through your hair. He basically takes everything that makes a good indie tune and throws it into a pop blender to come up with something that is genuinely exhilarating to listen to. Big singalong chorus, huge on melody and quite quite wonderful from start to finish. Excellent stuff!!
• VanBot ~ Due to the heads up from wonderful people like Greg and Damian, I've become a bit obsessed with the swedish sensation to be called VanBot this weekend. I could give you comparisons but at soon as you listen to the music, they become redundant ~ track Make Me Break Me is a sweeping, synth fuelled dance dominator with whirling, dramatic drum riffs that are elegantly framed by a impassioned vocal from the lady herself.  It's a dizzy sing a long trip of a chorus that reels you in and leaves you singing along long after the song has finished. Excitingly, there's a new album coming in April which is practically now, so not too long to wait for more aural satisfaction :) 

TOP 21 TRACKS OF THE WEEK:


21 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
20 ~ Take That, Kidz
19 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
18 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed (NE)
17 ~ Julian Velard, Love Again For The First Time
16 ~ Le Kid, Oh My God
15 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way
14 ~ Danny, In The Club
13 ~ Take That, Happy Now
12 ~ The Moniker, Oh My God
11 ~ Tove Styrke, High & Low
10 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut
09 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army
08 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
07 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
06 ~ Love Generation, I Dance Alone (VID)
05 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
04 ~ Sanna Nielsen, I'm In Love
03 ~ The Wanted, Gold Forever
02 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
01 ~ Eric Saade, Popular (5 weeks)