Simultaneously giving Robin Thicke and Emily Ratajkoswkis career a serious boost and all it took was a lack of clothing and some silly dance moves. Oh, and a genuinly funky and sexy track. Well played.
Second
Foals spewing out a radio-friendly single that finally is gaining them the widespread audience their music has always deserved.
Third
Twerking hard to this.
Fourth
Jessie Ware can do no wrong here at the Isasapla HQ. Love her.
Fifth
For those times when you can use an extra boost of energy.
Sixth
Built from the same bricks that made previous single 'Forever' such a powerhouse.
Seventh
A$AP, Kendrick and Drake rocking it on the same single. Can't go wrong.
Eighth
Singer's particular vocal colour working quite well on this track.
Ninth
Scottish band Chvrches has a knack for writing good synthpop singles, so I have a feeling we might come across them again in the future.
Soulful stuff by Solange, to be perpetuously dubbed as "Beyoncé's younger, cooler, hipper, more underground sister". Yeah right, as if.
Jessie Ware - If you're never gonna move/Sweet talk/Imagine it was us
Continuing my Jessie Ware worship of the last few posts, here's three tracks:
Something interesting about "If you're never gonna move": this track was originally called "110%" and has already been a single in some countries. But there were some legal issues with the sample they used. So they just used another sample that sounds exactly alike and renamed the track.
"Sweet talk" hasn't been a single in Belgium yet, and I'm crossing my fingers it will soon be. This is a tasty slice of soul-pop perfection right here. There was a video for this song on youtube, but it seems to have disappeared a couple of weeks ago. But it'll probably reappear sooner or later.
This bonus track for the deluxe edition of the album 'Devotion' however, proves that even Jessie can't always hit the bullseye, and should probably steer away from cheesy disco tracks and stick to collaborating with dance producers.
Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E - Need U (100%)
Nice little song with a statement for all the couples out there.
Psy - Gentleman
Inevitably less popular (+300M youtube views still isn't half bad) follow-up by our favourite Korean. Geeky dance moves, funny video, catchy song, you can't say they didn't try hard to replicate the success of "Gangnam style".
Drake - Started from the bottom
The eerie piano melody is what makes this track by the Canadian rapper/singer work.
Empire Of The Sun - Alive
Solid comeback single by the Australian duo. I still like the flamboyant costumes, Luke Steele's outfit reminds me of the swan/ice dude from Saint Seiya, so that's cool. I too want a headpiece like that.
Charles Bradley - Strictly reserved for you
Perpetuously dubbed as "the former James Brown imitator". Or you could also call him "the Afro-American Seasick Steve", in the sense that Charles also went through some tough times and only emerged with his musical career in his sixties.
Wankelmut & Emma Louise - My head is a jungle
I have nothing really I want to add here, and even Wikipedia has no mention of the DJ that goes by the name Wankelmut, so yeah...
Gorgon City - We used to be real
My mom hears the chorus as "we used to be rich", but that's probably just a common female Freudian slip.
AlunaGeorge - Attracting flies
Can't really tell what this is about lyrically, but the video features a lot of fairytale characters.
Robin Thicke Feat T.I. & Pharrell - Blurred lines
Whereas "Suit and tie" sounded a little overwrought, this comes across as effortless. Will Robin Thicke finally emerge to the front stage with this one? A little bird told me there are actually two versions of the music video. You decide which one you like best!
Daft Punk - Get lucky
Is 2013 going to be Pharell's comeback year? A lot of people seem to be slightly disappointed in the new Daft Punk record, whereas I'm still pondering why they really had their hopes up in the first place anyway. Some bad-ass helmets to be seen in this video.
Other
Float Fall - Someday
Who'd have thought the ultimate song to facilitate a friendzoning (or even a breakup) mission would come from a Belgian band? As if "someday you'll understand the reason you can't be my man" wasn't enough for a stab in the heart, the incredibly patronising "someday you'll smile" just serves to twist the knife even more. Whoa! Apart from that, it's hard not to see the 'The XX' blueprint here.
The Recorders - Purple and gold
Not too much tracks from my home country this time around, but there's something about the eerie synth in the debut single by this band from our capital.
The 1975 - Chocolate
Staccato melody meets staccato vocals. Pretty much the same recipe as Haim, but with a different result.
The Strokes - Happy ending
Still not entirely won over by Julian Casablancas' vocal register on the new album.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sacrilege
So Karen O. dyed her hair blonde, and wears cowboy-themed outfits nowadays. That and even the gospel choir can't deflect attention from the fact that there's not a whole lot going on here.
Vampire Weekend - Diane Young
Speaking of bands that have totally lost it, Vampire Weekend takes refuge in vocoder experiments in attempt to keep things interesting on their new album. They fail miserably.
Biffy Clyro - Black chandelier
Good power ballad by the Scottish three-piece, that never shies away from some topless action on stage.
The Cat Empire - Brighter than gold
This Australian band has been going at it for over ten years, and are now finally breaking through, mostly thanks to the jubilant trumpet sections of this track.
Bastille - Pompeii
Definitely aiming for a big and pompous sound, this is Bastille from the UK.
Savages - She will
Probably my fave of the last couple of weeks. It's not hard to fathom which frontman comes to mind when seeing the moves of the singer on stage, but musically, this hits all the right spots. There's something brooding, plus this all female band plays the part and they do really try to look like they really mean it.
Peace - Follow baby
This UK band made a concoction of bits and pieces they borrowed from the back catalogue of English (and American) music of the nineties, and the result isn't half bad. I'm definitely hearing a My Bloody Valentine riff, feeling a Radiohead vibe, and seeing a Suede-influenced look on this track and in this video.
Big Deal - In your car
If The Raveonettes had been into the nineties and synths, they probably would've sounded like this British duo.
Foals always was a good band, and this poppy track might propel them to a higher level. They definitely are worthy of a main stage spot on a big summer festival.
Jake Bugg - Lightning bolt
It becomes clearer why the UK press dubbed him 'the new Bob Dylan' when you hear this second single.
Alt-J - Matilda
The voice is an acquired taste, but this single won me over.
Villagers - Nothing arrived
For fans of: Bright Eyes
Gabriella Aplin - Please don't say you love me
What to say about this?
Sound of 2013
Laura Mvula - Green garden
The look reminds me of Janelle Monae a little. Impossible to hate.
Haim - Don't save me/Falling
Forever by Haim was my favourite radio single of last year, and the two follow-ups ain't half bad either. Especially "Don't save me" uses all the same elements that made 'Forever' such a winner. Own, distinctive sound or one-hit-wonder? Time will tell. If cutoffs make a big comeback in 2013, then these sisters are likely to blame for that.
Churches - The mother we share/Recover
Forget La Roux (in case you hadn't already), here's Churches from Glasgow. Instantly likeable elektro-pop with a Scottish Natalie Portman-lookalike on vocals, what's not to like?
Palma Violets - Best of friends
The least you can say about this single, is that it gets you going. In my case, some pogoing and loud singalongs are involved.
Tom Odell - Another love
Hey, don't look at me, it's a good single.
Urban/dance
Frank Ocean - Lost
Smoother than smooth.
Katy B & Geeneus & Jessie Ware - Aaliyah
I can't really explain why, but even though this track has a pretty repetitive melody, I haven't got bored of it yet. Not dissing Katy B, but Jessie Ware's guest vocals are the definite highlight of this track.
DJ Fresh - Golddust
Not going to lie, head boppin' to this song on the work radio has helped me get through some boring mornings and afternoons. Everything just clicks.
A$ap Rocky - Fucking problems
A$ap rocking some kind of cyberpunk Busta Rhymes vibe, gathered some of the happening hiphop artists of the moment on this banger.
Disclosure ft. AluneGeorge - White noise
Another pairing of coolcats, the hippest producer of the moment collaborating with the London elektronic music duo.
Icona Pop - I love it
Leave it to the Swedes to fabricate a genuine party banger about crashing a car into a bridge.
.be
Coely - Nothing on me
Typing this on International Women's day, this track by female Belgian MC Coely is a good fit thematically.
The Van Jets - Broken bones
Singles by The Van Jets rarely disappoint and this one's no exception. Love the spacy synths and the start-stop rhythm in the verse.
Balthazar - Do not claim them anymore
Second single from the sophomore album 'Rats'.
The Happy - 218
Really like the blossoming chorus. Band features the guitar player from Das Pop and Isolde Lasoen on drums.
Bent Van Looy - Shadow of a man
Making a solo album, it's every frontman's dream. Many try, few succeed. But Bent's stab at a debut single isn't half bad.
SX - Graffiti
Has a slight "Last Christmas"-vibe, but maybe that's just me. The song structure 'verse-verse-chorus-chorus' is a remarkable choice. Sometimes you don't need more than one line to make a great chorus, especially if you have a vocalist like Stefanie Callebaut in your ranks.
Kenji Minogue - Nom nom
Kenji Minogue on top of their game. Toe, ètdadup, wanwundreetndanie, enmorgnèdaslicht.
Other
Local Natives - Heavy feet
Not too big on Local Natives, but I can dig this.
Imagine Dragons - It's time
Too bad for Belgian band Willow, this band from Las Vegas has a singer that sounds a lot like theirs.
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
used in a humoristic travel show on television.
Bat For Lashes - Lilies
That "The haunted man" isn't Bat For Lashes strongest effort, that we already established a few posts ago. Natascha Khan seems a bit desperate herself, showing some skin in the video for 'Lilies'.
She & Him - Never Wanted Your Love
Instant fan of this new single by She & Him.
My Bloody Valentine - She found now
Opening track from the new album, the first since the 1991 Loveless.
