In an effort to give this blog some structure, I'm instituting a couple of regular features. First is "5 songs I'm digging right now." I love listening to music, especially Radio 1 and I love to chat with people about it. My hope is that maybe people will search out some of the songs I spotlight and that I can introduce folks to some cool music that they aren't familiar with. So, without further ado...
1. American Boy ft. Kanye West --Estelle
I'm pretty new to Estelle but as I understand it she is a 28 year old rapper/singer from London. Her first album came out in 2004 to critical acclaim and...widespread public apathy as it basically tanked. Estelle then went back to square one and got together with John Legend and some other American hitmakers and cooked up her sophomore album "Shine".
"American Boy" is the second single off the album but it might as well be the first, as lead single "Wait A Minute (Just a Touch)" received almost no promotion. "American Boy" is getting much more support including B List status on Radio 1, likely thanks to Kanye's presence on the track. The song itself is actually plagued by a little too much Kanye, but his somewhat weak rhymes aren't enough to take away from the track because Estelle is at her sexy, flirtatious best with lines like "Don't like his baggy jeans/But I'ma like what's underneath them.
2. That's How People Grow Up--Morrissey.
Morrissey is, of course, the lead singer of the long defunct band The Smiths, who defined an era in British rock and whose influence is clearly seen today in the styles of bands like Maximo Park and the Arctic Monkeys. His solo career has been a bit uneven without Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr's music to match Morrissey's lyrics, but there have been moments of brilliance as evidenced by the recent UK release of a new Morrissey Greatest Hits collection.
This track is a new one included on the album and it more than fits in alongside his best solo efforts. This is more traditional than most Morrissey songs and features a normal verse-chorus structure, but Morrissey's lyrics are cutting as always and nobody, and I mean nobody, emotes like Morrissey. The lyric "I was driving my car/I crashed and broke my spine/So yes there are things worse in life/Then never being someone's sweety" is classic Morrissey.
3. Come on Girl ft. Luciana--Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz is a London based R&B singer and "Come on Girl" comes from his forthcoming debut album "Departure" Most of the "black music" (Radio 1's term, not mine) on the UK charts comes from America, but Come on Girl is homegrown and it shows in its dance influence. This an upbeat song that you just can't help but dance to. Just an amazingly fun record to listen to and Luciana adds some sexiness with her all-too-brief guest turn, vamping over a verse including the lyrics"You wannna take a bite/Come wet my appetite!". Yes, Ma'am!
4. Mercy -- Duffy
Duffy is a 23 year old Welsh soul singer who is part of the post Amy Winehouse resurgence of soul music in the UK. For those that don't like Amy, don't fear. Duffy actually isn't all that much like Amy. Whereas Amy's style is based in R&B and jazz sounds, Duffy seems to be channeling Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield. Moreover, she's not just some record company clone brought in to capitalize on the latest hot trend. She's a singer-songwriter with immense talent who is only getting a chance now to showcase her skills.
"Mercy" is the second single from the album "Rockferry" that was released in the UK last Monday. However, it's her first proper release since the lead single, also titled "Rockferry" was a limited release. It's been number 1 in the UK charts for the last 3 weeks and looks poised to run that streak to 4 on Sunday and with good reason. It has a funky, retro sound that perfectly matches Duffy's powerful voice. The song is actually a bit thin on content, but that's for the best as it allows Duffy to spend the majority of the song dancing over the choruses in all sorts of different interpretations, each one of them exquisite. Duffy is my favorite new artist of 2008 and despite the UK press's love affair with Adele (as evidenced by the special made-up BRIT they gave her) she seems poised to be the breakout UK music star of the year. Let's hope that she catches on as well stateside as Amy did.
5. Something Good 08 (Van She Radio Edit)--Utah Saints
Utah Saints are a UK DJ duo and "Something Good," which features a vocal sample from Kate Bush, was a #4 chart hit for them way back in 1992. Now, 16 years later, they are back with several remixes, a slightly altered song title, and a fresh dose of chart success. Already at #21 and still on its way up, Something Good 08 is a feel good dance song with manic energy. Try not to dance to it. I dare you. It makes you burst into a spontaneous running-man, as evidenced by its video.
The second new feature will be significantly shorter. Unapologetically stolen from Popjustice, the RT almighty will give a ranked list of 5 artist that I'm high on right now and one who has earned by burning hatred.
THE RT ALMIGHTY
1. Duffy
2. Alphabeat
3. Maximo Park
4. Estelle
5. Girls Aloud
666. T-Pain
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