KELLY CLARKSONALREADY GONE [LIVE ON LETTERMAN]
14.7.09
SHAKIRASHE WOLF
When I brought your attention to the Spanish version of this last week, I don't think I got excited enough. This is one hell of a song. It's smart, sophisticated, original pop music that takes a while to set in. Once it does, it's utterly mesmeric. A huge summer hit, surely.
IMOGEN HEAPFIRST TRAIN HOME
Kooky British Electronica Goddess Imogen has been working on a new album for the last (very well documented thanks to YouTube) couple of years. She's let the first single out of the gate, and it's as cool as all the stuff she's released in the past, and it actually sounds more like the stuff she was doing for the Garden State soundtrack.
9.7.09
MAROON 5THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT
Adam and the boys are busy locked away in the studio recording for their third 'more organic' album, but in the meantime they've recorded a Sinatra cover for an iTunes promotion scheme. These are just great, timeless songs.
BILLIE MYERSKISS THE RAIN [1997]
I've been digging out of the 90's treasure trove of minor ballad hits, and boy are there a bunch. This is a song, that is defined, and peaks in its first thirty seconds. It's so good, very evocative, the rest of the song tumbles along with melancholic drama.
8.7.09
7.7.09
JORDIN SPARKSWALKING ON SNOW
A small part of Jordin's much anticipated second album leaked last night (the opening and ninth track to be specific)...both are solid, this is slightly better with superior verses and production, with a slight lack chorus. In any case I've only heard it a couple of times, I'm sure it will grow.
PARAMOREIGNORANCE
If you haven't heard/heard of Paramore, I'd say they were like a poppier Fall Out Boy with a female vocalist. And what a vocalist she is. This doesn't reinvent the wheel, or even their wheel, but it's efficient, safe, and very very good.
6.7.09
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEMI DO NOT HOOK UP [LIVE LOUNGE]
My brother gave me the heads up about this as he listened to it live the other day. Showing not only good vocals but good taste, they shake up Kelly Clarkson's 'Hook Up' almost beyond recognition. The results are charming.
4.7.09
DAUGHTRYPOKER FACE [LIVE]
Face it, Chris Daughtry is one of the best pop/rock vocalists of this decade and his ability to re-interpret songs is stellar. He and his boys served up a thumping feast of rocking delights last time around, and their new album looks to spawn more of the same. Killed it.
WYCLEF JEANMy big hitters from the 90's are still making waves, good to know. Clef was one third (let's face it half) of the biggest hip hop group in history. He may have messed Lauryn up, he may be a bit annoying, but he makes great songs...his last album was an underappreciated goldmine of pop/r&b nuggets.
WHITNEY HOUSTONI DIDN'T KNOW MY OWN STRENGTH
Not really in to my big wailing divas (Mariah, Celine, Christina) but if I had to pick a team, Houston would be on mine. She's got the soul and passion a lot of her contemporaries lacked, and whilst this isn't the most exciting track in the world, it's a classy 90esque Hot AC ballad.
3.7.09
CITIZEN COPE feat. ALICE SMITH107°
I've been holding off on posting this for months. But now it's July and hot as hell (in the UK anyway) I figure it's time to give you your hot as hell summer anthem. Very little to say other than this is a song and a half, I'm borderline obsessed with it. Enjoy the heat.
MELANIE FIONAGIVE IT TO ME RIGHT
Just when I was starting to wear out my Jazmine Sullivan CD someone, dare I say it, hotter comes along. I caught her supporting for Kanye a few months back, and her voice is amazing now as it was then. Love the Time of the Season sample, love her album, we got a hot one America.
CONSEQUENCE feat. KANYE WEST & JOHN LEGENDWHATEVER U WANT
These cats are simply, the coolest in the game. They don't even need to try...well, maybe Consequence, but just because (as Jay would say) they're not playing him on Z100 it doesn't mean he doesn't have alot of important things to say. Check it.
TX: MICHAEL JACKSON SONGSSo the King Of Pop passes on...leaving a legacy no artist will ever match. Michael Jackson had it all, the moves, the voice, the songs, the videos, the shows and the spirit. Here is NixMix's Top 10 MJ tracks. As a quick warning...Billie Jean doesn't feature, I think it's irritating and overrated.
10) Beat it:
A song that's more famous for it's instrumental than it's melody or lyrics, and a chorus that boarders on repetitive, this still smacks of Jackson cool. Great on the dancefloor and lends itself well to interpretation by other artists.
9) Bad:
The lead single from Jacko's album of the same name and the first song I ever heard of his. That leather jacketed MJ will always be my lasting memory of Jackson. He was coming off the monster success of Thriller, needed a big track to answer the critics, and boy did he ever.
8) Black & White:
The irony was not lost on people when this came out...that Jackson himself was unmistakably white by the time this track came out only further escalated the 'acceptance and love' theme of the tracks lyrics. Pop songs are best when they're joyous and socially relevant. Case in point.
7) Don't Stop Till You Get Enough:
Michael's first proper single as 'Michael Jackson' - the pop star, opens with the most amazing rifs and base line, it's easy to forget how good his falsetto vocal performance is here. The whole thing is so effortless...ridiculous.
6) Scream:
With the help of rising star and sister Janet, this was Michael's amazing answer track to his critics to tell them to leave the fuck alone. The video is amazing, the song (melody, vocal, instrumental, lyrics and all) is amazing, and it features the one and only swear word in Michael's back catalogue. An underrated classic that proves Michael's magic lasted long after the 80's.
5) Earth Song:
Part of me really wants to put this higher, I have a real affinity with this track. The epic vocal delivery coupled with the drama of the subject material gives this such a sense of grandeur...and the choral climax with MJ letting lose on the gritty high register vocals results in the ultimate spine-tingling pay off. Breathtaking. Don't get me started on the video.
4) Man In The Mirror:
When I passed my driving test, I spent much my first few weeks with the windows down, blasting this song out of the windows and singing along at the top of my lungs and rocking the car so much so that everyone around would look at us to see what the hell was going on. The intention of this song is beautiful, the choral production awesome, the lyrics are inspirational. They don't make them like this anymore.
3) Thriller:
Michael's most famous song, Michael's most famous video, Michael's most famous album. This one word gives him recognition all around the world. There's so little to criticize with this track, is incredibly atmospheric and strange, all the while being anthemic and commercial enough to be one of the most famous songs of all time.
2) Dirty Diana:
This was real close to becoming my number one, but I figured it was a slightly atypical sound for him, so it lands at the silver. The chord structure of this is so dynamic, again he conjures up an incredible immediacy and epic whirlwind not least because of his raw, rough but endlessly powerful vocal. I could listen to it a million times and never get bored.
1) Smooth Criminal:
Forget the idiotic Alien Ant Farm cover, for me, this in one song perfectly sums up Michael and his music. It's cool, exciting and electrifying. The scaling melody followed by a one two beat punch between the chorus line is a hard combination to beat. The video that goes with the track just happens to be my favorite of his two. Jackson look's like a dude, and the dance routine is off the hook. Or wall.
10) Beat it:A song that's more famous for it's instrumental than it's melody or lyrics, and a chorus that boarders on repetitive, this still smacks of Jackson cool. Great on the dancefloor and lends itself well to interpretation by other artists.
9) Bad:
The lead single from Jacko's album of the same name and the first song I ever heard of his. That leather jacketed MJ will always be my lasting memory of Jackson. He was coming off the monster success of Thriller, needed a big track to answer the critics, and boy did he ever.
8) Black & White:
The irony was not lost on people when this came out...that Jackson himself was unmistakably white by the time this track came out only further escalated the 'acceptance and love' theme of the tracks lyrics. Pop songs are best when they're joyous and socially relevant. Case in point.
7) Don't Stop Till You Get Enough:
Michael's first proper single as 'Michael Jackson' - the pop star, opens with the most amazing rifs and base line, it's easy to forget how good his falsetto vocal performance is here. The whole thing is so effortless...ridiculous.
6) Scream:
With the help of rising star and sister Janet, this was Michael's amazing answer track to his critics to tell them to leave the fuck alone. The video is amazing, the song (melody, vocal, instrumental, lyrics and all) is amazing, and it features the one and only swear word in Michael's back catalogue. An underrated classic that proves Michael's magic lasted long after the 80's.
5) Earth Song:
Part of me really wants to put this higher, I have a real affinity with this track. The epic vocal delivery coupled with the drama of the subject material gives this such a sense of grandeur...and the choral climax with MJ letting lose on the gritty high register vocals results in the ultimate spine-tingling pay off. Breathtaking. Don't get me started on the video.
4) Man In The Mirror:
When I passed my driving test, I spent much my first few weeks with the windows down, blasting this song out of the windows and singing along at the top of my lungs and rocking the car so much so that everyone around would look at us to see what the hell was going on. The intention of this song is beautiful, the choral production awesome, the lyrics are inspirational. They don't make them like this anymore.
3) Thriller:
Michael's most famous song, Michael's most famous video, Michael's most famous album. This one word gives him recognition all around the world. There's so little to criticize with this track, is incredibly atmospheric and strange, all the while being anthemic and commercial enough to be one of the most famous songs of all time.
2) Dirty Diana:This was real close to becoming my number one, but I figured it was a slightly atypical sound for him, so it lands at the silver. The chord structure of this is so dynamic, again he conjures up an incredible immediacy and epic whirlwind not least because of his raw, rough but endlessly powerful vocal. I could listen to it a million times and never get bored.
1) Smooth Criminal:
Forget the idiotic Alien Ant Farm cover, for me, this in one song perfectly sums up Michael and his music. It's cool, exciting and electrifying. The scaling melody followed by a one two beat punch between the chorus line is a hard combination to beat. The video that goes with the track just happens to be my favorite of his two. Jackson look's like a dude, and the dance routine is off the hook. Or wall.
Have you got a top ten Michael list? Post it in the comments section below.
THE-DREAM feat. KANYE WESTWALKING ON THE MOON
Not a lot has changed here. Kanye is still everywhere, still doing it all. The-Dream is still killing the melodies, both doing what they do best. No complaints here.
Last summer I gave you 'Suma' which was a collection of modern summeresque tracks from artists new albums. Well here comes the second collection for you to blast out windows down this year.
LA ROUXTIGERLILY
So what's a band to do, when yet again they dominate the UK charts with another irresistible slice of electronic pop? Well their plan is to release I'm Not Your Toy, but they shouldn't. What they should do is re-release Quicksand, but if they don't, and since I already featured that track months back...they should release this one instead. Then Close your Eyes. The album is entirely immense.
SOPHIE B HAWKINSAS I LAY ME DOWN (1995)
I'm unleashing my inner girl her by posting this sweet gem from the mid-ninetees. In all seriousness, this is a nice song, anyway you look at it. She has a great voice and she's singing a great song, sometimes you don't really need much more.
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