Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Singles Serving

Emeli Sande - Heaven. My favorite song at the moment. Spectacularly epic, both downbeat and upbeat at the same time. I don't know who this woman is, but she's fantastic. Can't wait to hear more.

Maverick Sabre - Let Me Go. This first single from British singer/rapper Maverick Sabre is a real gem and I hope it makes the UK top 10 this week. If the song is reminiscent of Portishead's "Glory Box," it's because, like that song, it samples Isaac Hayes' "Ike's Rap 2."

Olly Murs feat. Rizzle Kicks - Heart Skips a Beat. Olly Murs returns! The X Factor runner-up, who by now has surely out-charted the man who beat hit him, returns with the first single from his second album. With Rizzle Kicks adding a nice assist (fresh from their own hit, "Down with the Trumpets"), this is the best single from Murs yet. It's got a '90s hip-hop beat over a vaguely reggae beat. Sounds great on the radio.

JLS feat. Dev - She Makes Me Wanna. JLS's clubby summer single--released to radio like 2 month ago--is finally this week. It's no "Beat Again," but it's much, much better than their last single, "Eyes Wide Shut." I expect it will be their fifth #1 hit this weekend and deservedly so.

Rihanna - Cheers (Drink to That). After three massive hits, Rihanna's Loud has sputtered a bit in the US. "California King Bed" failed to become a major hit, and its follow-up, "Man Down," was only worked at rhythmic radio, so it seems never intended to be big. The perfectly timed release of this breezy, warm track could turn things around for her though. It's a fun song, even with the silly Avril Lavigne sample. I expect it will be welcome in the late summer mix.

The Horrors - Still Life. Do the Horrors always sound like Simple Minds? They do a pretty good impression of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" with "Still Life," the first single from their upcoming album Skying.

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