Pop Buzz UK

Oh man, this song kicks ass, to say the least. It’s the Kings Of Leon with ‘On Call’ and I adore this track, and did the first time I heard it. Rather than some songs which grow on you, this one hit me straight away, immediately seeping in to my unconscious. I first saw it on MTV about 2 weeks ago and as it’s come out this week, thought I’d share and recommend it to all my readers.

The bassline is awesome throughout this track, being the upmost thing you can hear, and that gives it a very unique sound. I also love the “Be there” that’s repeated all the way through the song, it’s a great hook and instantly means you can jump in and be a part of the track. I do think this is a slight change of direction for the band but in the right way, still on the side of cult and cool but mainstream enough that people who wouldn’t have before, now know of the group. This is borne out by the fact that getting tickets for their tour around the UK has been alot harder than last time.

The video isn’t a classic but does it’s job, and with the Kings Of Leon’s look so unique, it sticks to their strengths well. The album that this track is from ‘Because Of The Times’ is due out on April 2nd in the UK and a day later in the US.

Song Rating: 10/10 Video Rating: 7/10 Overall: 9/10

Kings Of Leon, On Call, Be There, Bassline, Because Of The Times, MTV, Tennessee, YouTube, You Tube

This is the truly great new single from Maximo Park called ‘Our Velocity’. It’s the first single from their new album ‘Our Earthly Pleasures’ which comes out on April 2nd, and I absolutely adore it and the band themselves. The five piece from Newcastle are the leaders of the new North East of England sound, along with bands such as The Futureheads and Kubichek! The whole band gel like nothing I’ve seen on stage before with the main focus of attention being on Paul Smith, the lead singer and Lukas Wooller, the keyboardist who as you can see from this video gets slightly animated and puts alot of energy into playing.

The highest they’ve got in the UK charts is No.15 with ‘Graffiti’ in May 2005 but I can see this topping that. It’s full of energy and clever lyrics and the video is just a great watch, time and again. If you’ve never heard of Maximo Park, beware that they and their influence will continue to grow and there won’t be a hiding place.

Song Rating: 10/10 Video Rating: 10/10 Overall: 10/10

Maximo Park, Our Velocity, YouTube, You Tube, Video, Single, Release, Our Earthly Pleasures, Newcastle, Nort East, England, UK, Futureheads, Kubichek!, Paul Smith, Lukas Wooller, Graffiti, MySpace

Debating: Lewis Hamilton’s excellent performance in the Australian Grand Prix

Reading: ‘The Tenderness Of Wolves’ by Stef Penney

Playing: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 on the PC and xBox 360

Watching On TV: The First Grand Prix Of the Season in Australia

Watching At The Cinema: Eddie Murphy’s new ‘Norbit’

Searching For: Murdered journalist Daniel Pearl after Khalid Sheikh Mohammed boasted of being the killer

Remembering: My mum for being the best mum in the world

Looking Forward To: The Sony Ps3 finally being released this Friday March 23rd

Learning: Mobile phones in large part have little effect on medical equipment, despite bans on their use in most hospitals

Listening To: Sugababes Vs Girls Aloud with the Comic Relief cover of ‘Walk This Way’…

Lewis Hamilton, Formula One, Australian Grand Prix, The Tenderness Of Wolves, Stef Penney, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, PC, XBox, Eddie Murphy, Norbit, Daniel Pearl, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mum, Mother’s Day, Sony Ps3, Release Date, Mobile Phones, Sugababes, Girls Aloud, Walk This Way

This is the amazing new video from Justin Timberlake and as you can see, no expense has been spared on anything! The song has outstanding production values with Timberlake’s usual collaborator Timbaland providing all his silky skills to make this a sure fire number one. Timberlake himself doesn’t disappoint on this track either, the third to be taken from his hit album ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds’ and the third to hit Number One in America. There’s been alot of talk about this being ‘Cry Me A River Part II’ and I’d agree with that to a certain degree, with the same sort of sentiments and lyrics as the former.

The video by itself is obviously outstanding, starring as it does the gorgeous Scarlett Johansson. More like a short film than a music promo, it does it’s job supremely and the fact it was even made like this shows the power Justin now has in the music industry. It was directed by Samuel Bayer and follows the plot of the song exquisitely. The single premiered in the UK charts at number 10 and has now rocketed up to number 4.

Song Rating: 9/10 Video Rating: 10/10 Overall: 9/10

Justin Timberlake, What Goes Around, Comes Around, What Goes Around, Timbaland, Scarlett Johansson, FutreSex/LoveSounds, Future Sex, Love Sounds, USA, UK, Cry Me A River, YouTube, You Tube, Samuel Bayer

This is the new single by the Scissor Sisters called ‘She’s My Man’. The third single to come from their brilliant second album ‘Ta-Dah’, and it carries on where ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ and the slightly less successful ‘Land Of A Thousand Words’. It’s another slice of catchy electro pop, exactly as we’ve come to expect from the band. The video meanwhile is one of the most ambitious they’ve done, with an animated feel as people in black contort and twist Jake and Ana’s bodies until their moves resemble something from ‘The Matrix’!

Song Rating: 7/10 Video Rating: 9/10 Overall: 8/10

Scissor Sisters, She’s My Man, Ta Dah, I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’, Land Of A Thousand Words, Electro Pop, The Matrix, Video, YouTube

This is the new song by ‘Rehab boy’ Robbie Williams called “She’s Madonna”. Despite his absence from the music scene, his mansion, parties and his usual celebrity life, he proves with this latest record that he’s still got it. It’s got a very 80s feel, which is a vibe the whole ‘Rudebox’ album seems to follow. The video fits the song and Robbie’s style supremely well too, proving his campness and metrosexual behaviour more than ever before.

Song Rating: 8/10 Video Rating: 8/10 Overall: 8/10

Rehab, Robbie Williams, She’s Madonna, Video, YouTube, 80s, Camp, Rudebox, Metrosexual

Here is my pick of this week’s new single chart releases in the UK. Obviously this isn’t every song that’s coming out but it gives a cross section of songs, both from home-grown artists and the big American sellers. Here are the videos, as always, courtesy of YouTube. In a new weekly feature, I have also included my ratings of said songs. Enjoy…

Badly Drawn Boy - A Journey From A To B - Rating 3/5

Charlotte Hatherley - I Want You To Know - Rating 4/5

Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape - Rating 3/5

The Killers - Read My Mind - Rating 4/5

Take That - Shine - Rating 5/5

The Pigeon Detectives - Romantic Type - Rating 4/5

Badly Drawn Boy, Journey From A To B, Charlotte Hatherley, I want You To Know, Gwen Stefani, The Sweet Escape, The Killers, Read My Mind, Take That, Shine, The Pigeon Detectives, Romantic Type, UK, Chart, New Release

Debating: Whether Prince Harry Should Be Fighting In Iraq

Reading: ‘The Interpretation Of Murder’ By Jed Rubenfield

Playing: Final Fantasy XII

Watching On TV: Heroes Episodes 1 and 2 on Sci-Fi UK

Watching At The Cinema: ‘Charlotte’s Web’ starring Dakota Fanning and Julia Roberts

Searching For: Britney Spears With Her Head Shaved

Remembering: Britney Spears when she was attractive, successful and happy

Looking Forward To: Brit Success at the 2007 Oscars

Learning: Chimpanzees make their own spears for hunting

Listening To: The Kaiser Chiefs With ‘Ruby’, finally knocking Mika from the top spot…

Prince Harry, Iraq, The Interpretation Of Murder, Jed Rubenfield, Final Fantasy XII, Heroes, Sci Fi, Charlottes Web, Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, Britney Spears, Brits, UK, Oscars, Academy Awards, Kaiser Chiefs, Ruby, YouTube

There’s some great new singles out this week in the UK, so I thought I’d highlight some of the best. Here are my four picks for this week courtesy of YouTube.

We start with Snow Patrol and ‘Open Your Eyes’. From the album ‘Eyes Open’, this is a great slice of pop very much in keeping with their tried and trusted sound. The video is great too, with actual footage from the classic cult film C’était un rendez-vous by director Claude Lelouch.

Next is Corinne Bailey Rae’s new single called ‘I’d like to’. It’s a beautiful song which really shows off her voice to it’s full potential. The video is a live version from a Radio 1 Live Lounge session she performed last year. (more…)

I’ve resisted the hype for 3 weeks but I can do it no more and have to share Mika’s Grace Kelly with any readers who have not had the pleasure yet…

It’s been Number One in the British Chart for 3 weeks now, getting there on Download sales alone until last week when it was finally released on CD. It’s only the second song to manage to make Number One purely on downloads, the first being Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’.

It’s a great tune, with a novelty feel, but with it, still feels like a proper pop song. Beirut born 23 year old Mika wrote the song after a loveless liasion with a record company, where they wanted him to basically be their bitch. It’s an infectious slice of camp pop music, and reminds me somewhat of the Scissor Sisters. Mika’s voice has drawn parallels with Queen singer Freddie Mercury, and I can’t disagree. I think we need to see what the album (which came out on Monday 5th Feb) brings before we give him that much credence. For now though, he is revelling in the new and very quickly found fame he is experiencing, and good luck to him.

Mika, Grace Kelly, Mika Grace Kelly, Number One, British Chart, Download, Download Chart, Gnarls Barkley, Scissor Sisters, Queen, Freddie Mercury

This is the new video and single by new and upcoming British band ‘The Klaxons’. Called ‘Golden Skans’, it’s out now, having been released yesterday Monday 22nd January. The band from London are soon going to be very busy, with 1st album ‘Myths Of The Near Future’ out on the 29th January. From February, they will be headining the NME indie rave tour which completely sold out in a matter of days. (more…)

This is my song of the week, well I’m a week early as it’s not out until next Monday the 15th January. It’s a great single by Scottish band The View, hailing from just outside Dundee. They’ve been around for nigh on 2 years now but haven’t really had much coverage or success until they may do with this potential chart topper. Take a look at the video and let me know what you think. Personally, I find it an instantly appealing slice of indie goodness, which is ultra catchy… (more…)

It’s happened. I can’t believe it but it’s true, Take That are back on top! Yes, 10 years after they initially split up, the former boy band and now man band are back in business and topping both the single and album charts in the UK. This is their 3rd week with the number 1 single ‘Patience’ and their first with the album ‘Beautiful World’. This new album has got rave reviews, and not just from the hardcore fans who have held on to the hope of a reunion since Robbie left all those years ago. (more…)

Green Day and U2 have collaborated on a single in aid of “Music Rising�, a charity set up by The Edge to help New Orleans Musicians in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. “The Saints Are Coming� is a rousing anthemic song produced by Rick Rubin, best known for his work with the Beastie Boys and R.H.C.P.

The song’s lyrics are about storms, drowning and waiting for rescue, and so fit the situation perfectly. One line is “Drowning sorrow floods the deepest griefâ€? which to me is a perfect poetic eulogy on Hurricane Katrina and the resulting chaos. Even though not written in response to the crisis, U2 and Green Day’s choice of song to fit the bill is pretty much spot on. Watch the video and see what you think… (more…)

Singles

Straight in at Number 1 this week is the infectious “Put your hands up for Detroit� by Fedde Le Grand. The Dutch Dance master and DJ has really hit the big time with this slice of catchy dance music. Fedde has been Djing all over Holland and more recently Europe, and now co-owns his own club “Sneakerz�. In the U.K, You can catch him on Pete Tong’s radio 1 show and on Club nights in London, Manchester and Leeds over the next few weeks. Watch the video below…

At number two this week, rising from last week’s number 11 new entry slot is a former Pop Buzz UK recommendation “Yeah Yeah� by Bodyrox. This song and video are so addictive, I for one, can’t get enough of it.

A new entry at 6 is the collaborative effort from U2 and Green Day “The saints are coming�. This is a protest/tribute song about the lack of support and effort given to the victims of Katrina and The New Orleans flooding. But there’s also a strong anti war message running through it. I’ll be doing a full post on this song later this week.

Boy band McFly drop down to 9 this week from last week’s top spot with “Star Girl� while newly reformed all girl group All Saints limp weakly into number 11 with their comeback single “Rock steady�. Did we need another girl group? Especially an old one making a comeback? I can’t see them wrestling Girls Aloud’s crown as pop queens off them any time soon. Depeche Mode are at 13 after their recent MTV awards triumph while the still brilliant Keane only manage a paltry number 19 for new entry “Nothing in my way�.

The Klaxons who debuted this week at Number 29 with “Magickâ€? are an up and coming new new rave band that I’ll be doing a feature on in coming weeks. (more…)