Hits: Radio Is Dangerous 2/09

Sweet bliss! I finally got a new computer, switching to a new MacBook after years of disappointing results with my Dell. Not only is it actually functional (as opposed to teetering dangerously close to death), but the Blogger interface is much more user-friendly for Macs. To celebrate, here is the first installment of Radio Is Dangerous, a new monthly playlist feature including tracks from my personal "radio" playlist. Of course, you may never hear some of these singles on an actual radio station (especially not in America, unless you're lucky enough to have independent or satellite radio access), but it's fun to pretend. As with actual radio playlists, each month's selections won't be a totally new set of songs, but a mix of lingering hits and fresh tracks that have come out over the past month. With each new installment, I'll make a new post to debrief some of the new additions to the playlist. This doesn't spell the end of the "Hits" pages, as I'll keep having updates on new tracks and videos as they come out.

Saint Etienne, "Method Of Modern Love": Featured on the long-delayed hits set London Conversations: The Best Of Saint Etienne (see my preview here), "Method Of Modern Love" is the most dancefloor-friendly Saint Etienne single since "Action." With streamlined modern production assistance courtesy of Richard X, no fan should miss this new gem.
Lily Allen, "Not Fair": Though just announced as her sophomore album's second single, "Not Fair" is already lodging itself in my regular rotation. With a unique twang and bouncy hook, it should keep up her undeniable momentum.
Deadmau5, "Ghosts N Stuff": While not quite as epic as "The Reward Is Cheese" or "Arguru," "Ghosts N Stuff" keeps up Deadmau5's profile as a rising leader in gritty electro-house.
Coldplay, "Life In Technicolor II": Far surpassing the instrumental teaser version that opened Viva La Vida, the full vocal recording of "Life In Technicolor" is one of the era's standouts and a classic Coldplay track.
Britney Spears, "If U Seek Amy": Relying heavily on the title's obvious pun, "If U Seek Amy" doesn't make a whole lot of lyrical sense, but it does succeed as an insanely catchy throwaway pop song. It's a relief to hear that Britney is even capable of still making them!
Kelly Clarkson, "My Life Would Suck Without You": Roaring back to the top of the charts thanks to hit factories Max Martin and Dr. Luke, Kelly gave up some of her last album's rough edges and revitalized her pop side on one of her catchiest singles yet.

Hits: Best Singles Of 2008, Part 2 (Nos. 1-20)

Here we go with the top 20 singles of last year, a bit late of course, but still very much worth checking out. Some, like the top two, are holdovers from some of last year's favorite records, but many are new faces on the scene that have ended up in heavy rotation in 2008.

1. Róisín Murphy, "You Know Me Better" (from Overpowered): The finest track from the premier pop album of 2007 reigned supreme as my favorite single of 2008. The evolution of Róisín Murphy comes full circle on this masterpiece of futuristic disco house, channeling all her years of dance music experience (both as half of Moloko and by her strange self) into a real triumph of pop songwriting.
2. Kylie Minogue, "In My Arms" (from X): Bright, shiny pop music is par for the course with Euro favorite Kylie Minogue, but on the classic "In My Arms" she raises the bar, collaborating with Calvin Harris to craft a hands-in-the-air electro pop rush that is undeniably one of her best singles to date (with a colorful, frivolous video to match).
3. Cut Copy, "Hearts On Fire" (from In Ghost Colours): Electronic music never sounded as accessible as on Cut Copy's power pop anthem "Hearts On Fire," a killer single that will have all lovers of pop and dance swooning.
4. Goldfrapp, "A&E" (from Seventh Tree): A solid contender for Goldfrapp's career best single, "A&E" is a heartbreaking acoustic ballad that shatters all previous characterizations of the duo, transcending their dance roots to create a beautiful, soaring account of human need and suffering that is beyond compare.
5. Yelle, "Je Veux Te Voir" (from Pop-Up): A loud club banger full of pomp and attitude, "Je Veux Te Voir" is one of the best dance songs to come out of France in the past few years.
6. Lady GaGa, "Poker Face" (from The Fame): With lyrics and a video just as ridiculous as her outlandish persona, Lady GaGa's second release is an infectious collision of hardcore club beats and crass mainstream pop and hip-hop sensibilities.
7. MGMT, "Time To Pretend" (from Oracular Spectacular): Psychedelic synth hooks and hopeful songwriting combine for a runaway indie hit on MGMT's near-ancient classic "Time To Pretend," finally gaining them mainstream attention with its wide release in 2008.
8. Britney Spears, "Womanizer" (from Circus): Recovering from her personal trauma and an unfortunate disconnect from the music world (see Blackout), the Britney Spears of "Womanizer" is confident, brassy and sassy, reminding the world of why we ever cared in the first place with its sharp, booming rhythm and ridiculously repetitive (and addictive) chorus.
9. Madonna, "Give It 2 Me" (from Hard Candy): Over a thumping, hip-hop-infused dance beat courtesy of Pharrell Williams, "Give It 2 Me" is everything the dire "4 Minutes" should have been: catchy, fun and sure to fill the dance floor. Sure, it's Madonna on autopilot, but its success lies in playing to both her and her producer's strengths as hitmakers.
10. Santogold, "L.E.S. Artistes" (from Santogold): An arresting, guitar-led melody and Santi White's powerful voice are overlaid with a melting pot of sounds on her highly distinctive, nearly cinematic breakthrough single, immediately establishing her as a new artist worth following.
11. The Killers, "Human" (from Day & Age): With producer Stuart Price's pulsing synth rushes adding some much-needed progression to their sound, The Killers have recorded perhaps their best work to date with "Human." Its borderline-nonsensical, optimistic lyrics and unmistakably pop flavor ensure high repeat listenability.
12. Coldplay, "Viva La Vida" (from Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends): International chart-topper "Viva La Vida," with its soaring orchestration and uplifting songwriting, is undoubtedly the most successful result of Coldplay's new sonic experimentations, and will prove an extremely difficult career peak to top.
13. M.I.A., "Paper Planes" (from Kala): Diplo and Switch provide a lazy, summery beat over which M.I.A. sings one of her most explosive singles to date, with her most accessible chorus ever (gunshots and all). It's done its job of breaking her through to the mainstream, and, if there's any justice left in the music industry, should walk away with Record of the Year at February's Grammy Awards.
14. Hot Chip, "Ready For The Floor" (from Made In The Dark): Though admittedly only a joke, "Ready For The Floor" could conceivably have been meant for Kylie Minogue. It's the most straightforward pop song Hot Chip have ever recorded, with its bubbly synths and radio-ready lyrics giving the track an irresistible charm.
15. Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" (from I Am...Sasha Fierce): Proving she still has those independent women in mind, "Single Ladies" is a fierce, frantic banger that will have you dancing along indefinitely.
16. MGMT, "Kids" (from Oracular Spectacular): Almost matching the sublime rush of "Time To Pretend," "Kids" is a big, arena-ready anthem with an unforgettable chorus and shrill, incessant synth hook to die for.
17. Kylie Minogue, "Wow" (from X): While admittedly taking a few steps back musically into "Love At First Sight" territory, "Wow" is a fantastic pop song, sure to induce smiles and a deep love for Kylie, a true pop queen who knows her strengths and how best to use them.
18. Róisín Murphy, "Movie Star"/"Slave To Love" (from Overpowered / non-album): Perhaps the best single that never really was, "Movie Star" was initally set for release in July 2008, then delayed until fall, with a cover of Bryan Ferry's "Slave To Love" added for a double A-side release. Though ultimately cancelled, its excellent remixes and over-the-top video were enough to qualify this roaring, layered synth monster for the list, not to mention the slinky, throbbing beat of "Slave To Love."
19. Madonna, "Miles Away" (from Hard Candy): Backed by what may the last great production work of Timbaland's career, Madonna achieves one of her most memorable midtempo ballads with "Miles Away," a smooth, universally-appealing tale of displaced love that truly didn't deserve to become one of her most underperforming singles ever (though her total disregard for its release and the lack of a music video didn't help much, either).
20. Kylie Minogue, "The One" (from X): Like the two singles preceding it on this list, "The One" didn't get the full release it deserved, instead scaled back to a poorly-promoted, download-only package, with a low-budget video following weeks after release. It's too bad, since the glittering disco yearnings of the Freemasons-produced "The One" make for a potential crossover smash that's a clear standout of Kylie's recent career.

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Hits: Best Singles Of 2008, Part 1 (Nos. 21-40)

Apologies for the lost momentum in finishing the 2008 round-ups. It took me a lot longer to whittle down the list than I anticipated, and I ended up expanding the list to 40 singles and replacing last year's dance singles list with a countdown of the 30 best remixes of the year (soon to come). Compiling these best-of lists has made me realize some things about our most recently departed year. While it lacked some of the absolute classic albums of 2007 (like Overpowered or Back to Black), the wide variety of great newcomers, and the flood of outstanding singles, made it a worthwhile year for music, despite the rapid, well-publicized decline of the music industry. All is not lost after all, so put on this playlist of (half of) the best singles of the year if you need any convincing.

21. Estelle Feat. Kanye West, "American Boy" (from Shine): Further proof that Kanye West may actually be the future of hip-hop came in the form of Estelle's career-revitalizing "American Boy," a trans-Atlantic hit that had everyone singing along at one point or another over the past year.
22. Rihanna, "Disturbia" (from Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded): Somehow, despite her near-ubiquitous presence across all forms of media, it's hard to get sick of Rihanna, with every limp ballad ("Take A Bow") instantly remedied by a killer dance single like "Disturbia." Saturation airplay aside, it's an impossible feat trying to get Rihanna out of your head.
23. Yelle, "Ce Jeu" (from Pop-Up): A bouncy electro pop treat, "Ce Jeu" is an uplifting, insanely addictive single. French pop never sounded so sweet.
24. The Killers, "Spaceman" (from Day & Age): The Killers are on a roll with their recent singles, with "Spaceman" proving one of the catchiest rock songs of the year, in addition to easily surpassing many of their own finest moments.
25. Goldfrapp, "Happiness" (from Seventh Tree): Simple and dreamy, "Happiness" is Goldfrapp at their midtempo best, with its cynical outlook concealed by a soothing, hands-in-the-air chorus worth chanting along to.
26. Lady GaGa Feat. Colby O'Donis, "Just Dance" (from The Fame): Perhaps not the most instant hit, "Just Dance" is a trashy, fun introductory single that's easy song to love.
27. Kanye West Feat. Dwele, "Flashing Lights" (from Graduation): With its driving, bombastic synthesized beat, "Flashing Lights" is one of Kanye West's unquestionable best, with epic phrasing, and an equally flashy video, to match.
28. Britney Spears, "Break The Ice" (from Blackout): Coming out at the tail end of her last album's promotional cycle, with no input from Britney herself on the video or even really the track itself, "Break The Ice" transcended her personal trauma and upheld her status as one of the brightest stars in post-millennial pop music.
29. Solange, "I Decided" (from Sol-Angel And The Hadley St. Dreams): A soulful, classy slice of R&B produced by the Neptunes, "I Decided" is the kind of carefree, empowering singalong anthem that older sister Beyoncé would kill for, if only she could ever loosen up enough to record it.
30. Duffy, "Mercy" (from Rockferry): A striking breakthrough hit, "Mercy" is a brilliant, immediate throwback R&B jam, infused with all the soul of Amy Winehouse with none of the drug-fueled tragedy.
31. Hercules And Love Affair, "Blind" (from Hercules And Love Affair): A lovingly-curated voyage back to the roots of modern dance, "Blind" is a surprisingly amazing juxtaposition of Antony Hegarty's androgynous croon and DFA-approved disco grooves.
32. Janet Jackson, "Rock With U" (from Discipline): Janet has not been on top of her game for nearly the whole of this decade, but "Rock With U" stands out as a seductive, alluring fusion of R&B and electronica.
33. Vampire Weekend, "A-Punk" (from Vampire Weekend): A spiky, exhilarating taster from their unmatched debut record, "A-Punk" is one of the many reasons Vampire Weekend can claim a spot at the top of 2008's indie rock ladder.
34. Keane, "Spiralling" (from Perfect Symmetry): With its jarring vocals, odd rhythmic structure and in-your-face chorus, "Spiralling" is by no means an instant win, but with repeated listens its complexities amount to an undeniable success.
35. P!nk, "So What" (from Funhouse): Always outspoken, P!nk compromises nothing on the brash "So What," working with pop's best to deliver a powerhouse single that blows competitors out of the water by the end of the first chorus.
36. Ladyhawke, "Dusk Til' Dawn" (from Ladyhawke): Ladyhawke strikes it big with a short but sweet, electro-infused 80s revival single that will have you humming along with just one listen.
37. The Ting Tings, "Shut Up And Let Me Go" (from We Started Nothing): The perfect infusion of pop and punk melodies, "Shut Up And Let Me Go" is another reason to be thankful for the debut of the Ting Tings.
38. Duffy, "Warwick Avenue" (from Rockferry): Taking a distinctly different approach to the blues than her smash "Mercy," "Warwick Avenue" is a stunning, deeply affecting rendition of longing and vulnerability that goes a long way towards establishing Duffy as a standout performer.
39. Katy Perry, "Hot N Cold" (from One Of The Boys): Less gimmicky and catchier than her introductory number one hit "I Kissed A Girl," "Hot N Cold" is a confirmation of the modern pop magic that producer Dr. Luke and team can work.
40. Sam Sparro, "Black & Gold" (from Sam Sparro): Over a sinister, throbbing bassline, Sam Sparro burrows his way into your mind with his distinct snarl. It's too bad "Black & Gold" wasn't followed up by a similarly cutting-edge parent album, but at least we'll have this standout to maintain the genre for some time to come.

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Hits/Covered Up: Womanly Lily Allen

Interrupting the best of 2008 countdown posts, here's my first "regular" music post in a while. As I plan on having more frequent updates (not having to upload music works cuts down the preparation time significantly!), I've gotten rid of the numbering of posts. I'm pretty attached to the categories and labels I've already started, so I won't be revamping those, but you might see some new ones pop up and others fade out. I've been a bit out of the loop as far as updating readers, so some features might be a bit recycled for a while, but bear with me and eventually I'll have my old edge back.

To kick things off, British tabloid darling Lily Allen has at last resumed her musical career, and pop fans everywhere are loving the results. The first single released from her upcoming album, the cheekily-titled It's Not Me, It's You, "The Fear" is easily her best. It may not be a fresh soundclash like her debut smash "Smile," but her lyrics are sharper than ever. Ridiculing the money-fueled, glam-focused celebrity example, it's a hilariously cynical and immediately resonant take on our modern culture. Eschewing her debut record's pop/ska fusion for a slick, futuristic electropop flavor, producer Greg Kurstin (the man behind Kylie Minogue's "Wow" among other pop classics) does an amazing job of updating Lily's sound without washing her sass out of the equation. Out in early February, It's Not Me, It's You is definitely on my list of new music to check out. If you're looking for some quick fun, try playing the online game "Escape The Fear" on Lily's website (see the link below the playlist at the bottom of this post).

Always outspoken, especially for her harsh criticisms of fellow pop stars and celebrities, Lily surprised reporters by recently declaring her love for Britney Spears. Taking her unexpected fondness to a new level, she released an in-studio live cover of Britney's massive comeback hit "Womanizer" online. Stripping it back to acoustics and piling on her well-known, heavily-accented Brit flair, it's a smooth, sultry revision that unmasks the tracks true merits. Props to Lily for the unlikely achievement, and congrats to the song's writers for crafting a track that can hold its own even without the original's high-power production.

Links:
Lily Allen's official website
"Escape The Fear" interactive online game

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Hits 39/Shameless 09: Britney's Back!

Taken from her forthcoming album Circus, due out in early December, "Womanizer" is the return-to-form that Britney promised us last year with the ill-fated "Gimme More" video/performance and Blackout album. While she had the music ready for a big return, her head was all over the place and it didn't go down quite as planned. Now, though "Womanizer" as a song can't really stand up to "Gimme More" or "Piece Of Me," it is an insistent pop track that makes the best of her vocal abilities and backs it all up with an unmissable, if repetitive, title hook. The video completes the package to great effect. Her best since "Toxic," helmed by that video's high-profile director Joseph Khan (who also directed her classic "Stronger" clip). Reuniting her with her big-budget, entirely over-the-top pop persona of years long past, it sees her playing several racy alter egos (including one fully nude one) to the womanizer who did her wrong. It's worth watching and hearing, and definitely makes me excited for her real comeback. While waiting for Circus to drop, check out some of my favorite classic Britney tracks below (a miniature greatest hits from her heyday to the present). Now that she's cleaned herself up and gone back to being "classy sexy," maybe it will be a bit less of a guilty pleasure to listen to her. Then again, there are many reasons why Britney Spears belongs in the Shameless section... Also featured are three more noteworthy remixes of the single (another one was featured earlier), picked from the huge flood that are starting to come out.

LINK: "Womanizer" on YouTube.

UPDATE: The links have all been taken down thanks to a DCMA complaint that Blogger received about some of the songs (I'm not sure which). Sorry for those who missed out, and to whoever was understandably pissed that I posted the songs up. For future reference, I can be reached directly via email to take down tracks and will do it immediately. To preview the tracks that I mentioned, check out this blog on Hype Machine.

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Hits 38/Mixed & Mashed 32: The Great Remix Recap, Part II

Part II of the remix rundown started on Friday features another ten hot mixes, most of which aren't so new, but still well worth listening to. Kicking off with some very laid-back versions, Estelle's "No Substitute Love" gets a fun, relaxed electronic touch courtesy of Treasure Fingers, while Ewan Pearson gives the expansive treatment to Hot Chip's latest promo single "Hold On" in a nine-plus minute mix (check out more of his mixes here). Things heat up with The Ting Tings' forthcoming single "Be The One," in a dark, pulsating dance remake by Japanese Popstars. A huge array of remixers and amateurs are starting to tackle Britney Spears' new cut "Womanizer," but none have really done the trick for me yet. Until some official versions are released, the Loose Shus remix is a decent minimal take that strips it down to a bleepy electro groove. "Sunset Blvd." by Pacific! is great in its Touch remix form, building to a great synth wash halfway through. MGMT have had some ace big-name remixes lately, and the now-aging Soulwax mix of "Kids" is no exception (though it can't match the awesomeness of the Justice remix of "Electric Feel"). M.I.A.'s "XR2" gets a cool mix by Hydroz that doesn't depart too much from the feel of the original, but gives the obtuse growler a nice kick. Ladytron and ADULT. are cut from the same twisted electronica cloth, so it's only natural that the ADULT. mix of "Runaway" is a real widescreen grower. Slowing it down some more, Daft Punk are extended and given an amped-up groove on the EASTAR mix of "Something About Us." Last, but not least, one the Spice Girls' most memorable tracks ("Spice Up Your Life") gets an addictive modern electro makeover courtesy of Burntpiano (who also recently mixed Vampire Weekend's "Oxford Comma," featured in an earlier post).

UPDATE: The links have all been taken down thanks to a DCMA complaint that Blogger received about some of the songs (I'm not sure which). Sorry for those who missed out, and to whoever was understandably pissed that I posted the songs up. For future reference, I can be reached directly via email to take down tracks and will do it immediately. To preview the tracks that I mentioned, check out this blog on Hype Machine.

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Hits 37/Mixed & Mashed 30: The Great Remix Recap, Part I

This has been my first post in a long time (blame the crappy internet at my house and heinous midterms for that), but it may end up being one of my favorites. The last two weeks have seen a literal overload of great remixes, so I'm doing a huge two-part recap. For part one, I picked out the most essential of the new mixes, starting off with a brilliant mix that somehow didn't win the remix contest for Mariah Carey's "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time." Taking the otherwise unremarkable single and adding a heavy dose of synthesizers, the Designer Drugs mix is quickly climbing the list of my favorite remixes ever. It deserves to be heard on a loud, lit-up dancefloor. The Ting Tings get a sharp electro treatment by LAZRtag on a stuttering version of their catchy hit "Shut Up And Let Me Go." Robyn consistently turns out great pop songs, and even better remixes, as on the addictive mixes of new single "Dream On" (the Warren Clarke radio cut is featured here). Kanye West has been getting a lot of very different reactions to his latest track, "Love Lockdown," including heaps of praise for the remix package. The minimal, autotuned midtempo single is transformed into a simple piano house tune on the "Chew Fu Small Room Fix," one of the better official mixes released so far. Hot Chip are also heavily remixed with each release, ranging from laid-back takes to full-on club workouts, like the hard, bass-laden Switch remix of "Hold On." With promotional singles and remixes leaking all over the place, it's hard to avoid Lady GaGa's recent output. "Love Game," from new album The Fame, gets a basic, but still noteworthy, club remix courtesy of Dave Audé. Moby has an extensive history of picking amazing producers to remix his work, and the bubbling new rework of forthcoming single "Ooh Yeah" by Kris Menace (one of my favorite remixers) is no exception. Another of my personal favorites, Axwell, has graced Adele's "Hometown Glory" with an extended, building acid house makeover to great effect, reminiscent of some of his other great slow burners (I'm thinking along the lines of his mixes of Bob Sinclar's "World, Hold On (Children Of The Sky)" and Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous"). Yelle's "Ce Jeu" gets another great bootleg fix-up, with Cool Kids Can't Die turning the track into a dizzying techno cut. Departing from the club-centric tone of the other tracks, Modeselektor gives Björk a minimal, bleep-filled stripdown on his "girls" remix of "The Dull Flame Of Desire." If you're a regular reader of this blog, you're guaranteed to love the majority of these mixes, so don't hesitate!

UPDATE: The links have all been taken down thanks to a DCMA complaint that Blogger received about some of the songs (I'm not sure which). Sorry for those who missed out, and to whoever was understandably pissed that I posted the songs up. For future reference, I can be reached directly via email to take down tracks and will do it immediately. To preview the tracks that I mentioned, check out this blog on Hype Machine.

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Hits 36/Mixed & Mashed 26

As I get settled in back at Berkeley, I'm starting to take advantage of my (working!) wireless connection and downloading tons of mixes. Today's post features a huge 14 tracks sorted into different subsets. The current releases include a great new club mix of Santogold's second full single "Lights Out" and nice dance updates of M83 and Solange. More impressive are the remixes of upcoming singles, including a cool retro remix of Sugababes' brand new track "Girls" and an extended version of the awesome "Dusk Til' Dawn" by Ladyhawke. In the bootleg selection, there are roaring club takes on Goldfrapp's "Caravan Girl" and a hard-hitting Vandalism remix of Ce Ce Peniston's classic "Finally." Adding electronic beats and a sense of space benefit both MGMT and Vampire Weekend on unofficial remixes of "Electric Feel" and "Oxford Comma," respectively. Of course, I saved the mash-ups until the very end. There's a very cool mix of Katy Perry's ubiquitous "I Kissed A Girl" with Madonna's "Give It 2 Me" (utilizing both the album mix and Paul Oakenfold versions). Sophie Ellis-Bextor's "Get Over You" gets another great mash-up, this time with an old Mint Royale track (in remixed form).

Current Releases:
Sam Sparro, "21st Century Life" (Mac Project Mix Main) [YSI]
Yelle, "Je Veux Te Voir" (Club-Club Version) [YSI]
Annie, "I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me" (Feel The Moog Remix) [YSI]
Solange, "I Decided" (Moto Blanco Radio Mix) [YSI]
M83, "Kim & Jessie" (DatA Remix) [YSI]
Santogold, "Lights Out" (Tepr Club Remix) [YSI]

Upcoming Singles:
Sugababes, "Girls" (Fred Falke Radio Edit) [YSI]
Ladyhawke, "Dusk Til' Dawn" (Linus Loves Remix) [YSI]

Bootleg Mixes:
Goldfrapp, "Caravan Girl" (Dead Soul Brothers Dead Soul Disco Mix) [YSI]
Ce Ce Peniston, "Finally" (Vandalism Remix) [YSI]
MGMT, "Electric Feel" (Aeroplane Remix) [YSI]
Vampire Weekend, "Oxford Comma" (Burntpiano Edit) [YSI]

Mash-ups:
Katy Perry Vs. Madonna "I Kissed Madonna" (Prosac's Mash-up) [YSI]
Sophie Ellis-Bextor Vs. Mint Royale "Get Over Blue" (Prosac's Mash-up) [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

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Hits 35

Since it has been around two weeks without new music (until yesterday, anyway), there are a bunch of new singles that I haven't been able to post yet. Today's selection features a wide range of musical styles, kicking off with two more low-key numbers. As I noticed on my trip, Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" has become a surprise huge hit in Germany and nearby European countries. Duffy is undeniably huge across the Atlantic too, and her next single "Stepping Stone" is already getting some airplay while current hit "Warwick Avenue" rules the charts. Ladyhawke are a hot new electronic group coming out with an album soon, the first single of which is the catchy "Paris Is Burning." HK119 also releases a new disc soon, previewed by advance single "Mind." As noted by Popjustice, her ridiculously stylized image puts even Róisín Murphy to shame (she included an actual cigarette in the left panel of her album promo case, with a CD-sized vinyl hidden inside). For the R&B portion of today's singles frenzy, Solange starts us off with her next single, the rather smooth "Sandcastle Disco." Her album just came out (in the UK), so look forward to some tracks and comments on that a bit later. Next up, Michelle Williams ups the pace with the very dance-able "Hello Heartbreak." Brandy is set to make a comeback, though her new track "Right Here (Departed)" isn't among her best. P!nk, on the other hand, is clearly at a career high, following up the excellent I'm Not Dead album with roaring new single "So What." Keane leave their piano ballad comfort zone with new album taster "Spiralling," and Franz Ferdinand preview their upcoming material (set for 2009) with "Lucid Dreams."

Jason Mraz, "I'm Yours" [YSI] (from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.)
Duffy, "Stepping Stone" [YSI] (from Rockferry)
Ladyhawke, "Paris Is Burning" [YSI] (from the forthcoming Ladyhawke)
HK119, "Mind" [YSI] (from the forthcoming Fast, Cheap and Out Of Control)
Solange, "Sandcastle Disco" [YSI] (from Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams)
Michelle Williams, "Hello Heartbreak" [YSI] (from the forthcoming Unexpected)
Brandy, "Right Here (Departed)" [YSI] (from the forthcoming Human)
P!nk, "So What" [YSI] (from the forthcoming Funhouse)
Keane, "Spiralling" [YSI] (from the forthcoming Perfect Symmetry)
Franz Ferdinand, "Lucid Dreams" [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

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Hits 33/Tender Ballads 11: Love Maybe

I just can't resist these hybrid posts! Lately I've just been going for overall song themes, regardless of how they fit the established categories, and then just trying to fit them into the current framework. This time the theme is just as vague as it sounds: songs dealing with the possibility of love, and with the dangers of getting too close to it. Five tracks populate each portion of this post, featuring both hit singles and subdued ballads. Suede start things off with a midtempo rock track about deluded expecations, the late career single "Obsessions." New Order's catalog is full of beyond amazing 12" singles, like the dreamy "Thieves Like Us" about possession and desire. Madonna is featured in remixed form again, this time with her bleak downtempo European single "Drowned World/Substitute For Love." Saint Etienne jumped onto the scene with the sobering yet upbeat "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," included here in its longform Andrew Weatherall dub. Also early in their career, the ever-changing Texas declared their independence from dependency with "I Don't Want A Lover."

The ballads portion of today's feature kicks off with a song that probably isn't actually a ballad, but more of a humorous rant. The White Stripes, a band that I only sometimes tune into, steal the show with the hilarious "It's True That We Love One Another," playing on the storied married-or-sibling relationship of Jack and Meg White. The Pet Shop Boys are firmly tongue-in-cheek as well with "The night I fell in love," a fantasy about a fan who gets a bit closer to their favorite rap star than ever imagined (rumored to be about Eminem as response to his hit "Stan"!). Björk goes too deep with her yearning could-be-love ballad "Possibly Maybe," included here in its excellent Dallas Austin version. Sade can either captivate or lull you with many of her ballads, and "No Ordinary Love" is no exception. To finish, Beyoncé is always a sure bet, as with her showboating ballad of hearbreak "Dangerously In Love 2."

Hits 33:
Suede, "Obsessions" [YSI] (from Singles)
New Order, "Thieves Like Us" (12" Version) [YSI] (from International)
Madonna, "Drowned World/Substitute For Love" (BT & Sasha's Bucklodge Ashram Remix Edit) [YSI] (original on Ray Of Light)
Saint Etienne, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (Andrew Weatherall's Dub Symphony In Two Parts) [YSI] (from Casino Classics)
Texas, "I Don't Want A Lover" [YSI] (from The Greatest Hits)

Tender Ballads 11:
The White Stripes, "It's True That We Love One Another" [YSI] (from Elephant)
Pet Shop Boys, "The night I fell in love" [YSI] (from Release)
Björk, "Possibly Maybe" (Dallas Austin Mix) [YSI] (original on Post)
Sade, "No Ordinary Love" [YSI] (from The Best Of Sade)
Beyoncé, "Dangerously In Love 2" [YSI] (from Dangerously In Love)

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Open Your Box 20/Hits 33: Goodbyes

This post, a hybrid of little-heard album tracks and past hits, represents a lot of change in my life right now. In the past week, and over the next few weeks, I have a whole lot of goodbyes to say. I'm leaving work (my first paying job in a while), and many old friends, to return to school after a summer break. In that spirit, I've rounded up a handful of goodbye songs. It's nearly enough for a full mixtape, but unlike the actual Mixtape series, I haven't picked them out to work as a cohesive set of songs. To start off, a classic standard performed y Ella Fitzgerald is sure to pull on the heartstrings. The Spice Girls follow it up with perhaps their sappiest ballad of all, the entirely appropriate farewell track "Goodbye." Next is one of Elton John's greatest songs, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," a goodbye to comforting dreams taken from his groundbreaking album of the same name. N Sync turns things around with their smash hit "Bye Bye Bye," and Madonna gets the drum & bass treatment with a remix of her subtle ballad "The Power Of Goodbye." Faithless turned out an out-of-character acoustic ballad with their single "Don't Leave," while Natalie Imbruglia stays true to her power ballad roots with the stirring album track "Goodbye," from her underappreciated second effort White Lilies Island. The Pet Shop Boys have an extensive discography full of both exceptional singles and worthwhile album tracks, like the great "This must be the place I waited years to leave," written with a James Bond film soundtrack in mind. Pizzicato Five are as cheeky and purely pop as ever on one of their last great songs, "Goodbye Baby & Amen," while the Smashing Pumpkins ended an epic phase of their career, the unmatched double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, with the sedated "Farewell And Goodnight." There are loads of fitting farewell songs, and these few can't begin to dig in to the many out there, but hopefully the selections below should give you a head start.

Ella Fitzgerald, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" [YSI] (from The Best Of The Song Books)
Spice Girls, "Goodbye" [YSI] (from Forever)
Elton John, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" [YSI] (from Greatest Hits)
N Sync, "Bye Bye Bye" [YSI] (from No Strings Attached)
Madonna, "The Power Of Goodbye" (Fabien's Good God Mix) [YSI] (original on Ray Of Light)
Faithless, "Don't Leave" [YSI] (from Forever Faithless: The Greatest Hits)
Natalie Imbruglia, "Goodbye" [YSI] (from White Lilies Island)
Pet Shop Boys, "This must be the place I waited years to leave" [YSI] (from Behaviour)
Pizzicato Five, "Goodbye Baby & Amen" [YSI] (from The Fifth Release From Matador)
The Smashing Pumpkins, "Farewell And Goodnight" [YSI] (from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness)

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