Here are some of the best new good songs of 2014 thus far:
1. "Magic," Coldplay. No idea why this song seems to be divisive -- it's beautifully simple, very touching, fantastically produced, well-performed. When Coldplay emerged about 10 years ago, I found all their releases very annoying, not because they weren't pretty, but because they were so freaking repetitive. Then when "Viva La Vida" came out in 2008, I had to admit that I thought that was good, even though it too was repetitive. Then I was a huge fan of "Paradise" a couple years ago, as well as "Up In Flames." And "Magic" may be my favorite song by them yet. So in my eyes, they just get better. I think it takes confidence to be melodic and simple, and Coldplay has a knack for both. Good songs can be repetitive if they lift the listener beyond the repetition and into its emotions and themes, and they seem to do that better the more experience they get.
2. "All Of You," Peter Thomas f/ Betty Who. Not sure when I've heard a more engaging lead-in line: "It's a perfect day for a fight." This is rich, lush dance music at its best. Mysteriously, months after buying it on iTunes, I can no longer find it on iTunes. But I'm certain this would be a very big mainstream success in the U.S. if it managed to get any exposure. Betty Who has subsequently released several tracks I find appealing, but this remains my favorite so far. I suggest Peter Thomas adopt a stage name, or a unique spelling of his given name, because his real name is so common that it makes him un-Googleable.
3. "Ride The Thrill," Scenic. Here's one I'm still not tired of, no matter how many times I play it. Fans of '90s alternative will appreciate this very much. It's trippy, but not too trippy. I admit that for most of this song's run on my personal playlist I thought the vocalist was female, and I've only recently begun to piece together that I may have been mistaken. This has been difficult to ascertain because there is no music video, and I can't find any live performance of the song, or by the band. But Scenic has an all-male lineup, and this song is not credited to any featured vocalist, so maybe the singer is a man. Who knows. I wrote to them on Facebook a few months ago to express my love of the song and asking who the vocalist is (not explaining why I was asking), and they didn't reply.
4. "Dangerous," Big Data f/ Joywave. Great song and great video to boot. Groovy bass line, catchy hand claps, fabulous lyrics. Creepy and fun all at once, kind of like "Pumped Up Kicks," but better.
5. "Fancy," Iggy Azaleo f/ Charli XCX. Sometimes the mainstream gets it right. This song proves that simple can be effective, and it's a rare rapped/sung collaboration whose rap is as catchy as its hook. I'm admittedly mildly uncomfortable with Iggy's borrowing of Eve's delivery style, especially in a time when black musicians are watching their white counterparts outsell them (Macklemore, Eminem, Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake, even Justin Bieber). But maybe that's an old-fashioned thought, and we've evolved to the point where music is music. Either way, this is a great ditty.
6. "Chinatown," Starcadian. This is amazing, as is Starcadian's "HE^RT." The vocal manipulation is a little off-putting at first listen, but repeated listens prove out this song's songwriting value. If you like what you hear, look up the lyrics, and when you come to know it well enough you can sing along in the car, you'll find this to be a very addictive song indeed. Cool video too.
7. "(We Started A) Fire," Katie Cole. I'm a sucker for a good bass line, so this song had me by 0:08. It's very catchy. Not sure there's anything overly groundbreaking here, but it's a cute, tightly written, breezy piece of pop-rock music, with sophisticated production. Should have more than a couple thousand views.
8. "Thirsty For My Tears," Joan Osborne. "One Of Us" was a radio staple in 1995, but Osborne never had another mainstream hit, and "Thirsty" will not change that because it's not in line with current trends, and it appears that no one is interested in promoting it. But the lyrics and melody here are very nice, and it's a song that never gets old. I'm also pleased to see her still on the road and putting herself out there.
9. "Rude," Magic! This was on my list last December -- not because I'm ever-so-more evolved than the general American public, but because I pay attention to the UK and Australian Top 40 charts,and was on one or the other or both last year, even though this band is Canadian. Now everyone's jumping on the band wagon, and "Rude" is No.1 on iTunes. Surprised this has become such a mainstream success, but I welcome it wholly. They have another new good song called "Don't Kill The Magic."
10. "Selkie," Tori Amos. Artists who have been around a while, like Amos and Joan Osborne (above), can get themselves into a tough spot when they release new material. We expect artists to change and evolve, but not too much. "Selkie" would sound at home on "Little Earthquakes," now 22 years old, but that's OK because "Earthquakes" itself was both ahead of its time and timeless. So this is very welcome.
11. "First Love," Ayiesha Woods. About once a year, I'll take a liking to a Christian ballad whose lyrics are vague enough that the meaning can be applied broadly. Here's one of those. This song could be about Christ, or any kind of first love -- a romance, a career, a hobby, a parent, a pet. But it's lovely. Reminds me of one of 2012's best songs, "A Little While" by Heather Headley -- also a piano-driven "Christian" song.
12. "Ten Feet Tall," Wrabel. Later remixed by Afrojack, but here's the original.
Monday, June 23, 2014
New Good Song: "Youth," Ben Khan 6.23.14
Here's a new good song: "Youth" by Ben Khan. The video is not good, though. I am particularly impressed by the use of the "Yeah! Woo!" loop, used in a zillion songs, most famously "It Takes Two" by Rob Base.
New Good Song: "All Of The People," Panama Wedding 6.23.14
Here's a new good song: "All Of The People" by Panama Wedding. Reminds me of LEN
New Good Song: "Selkie," Tori Amos 6.23.14
Here's a new good song: "Selkie" by Tori Amos. Here's what a selkie is. The particular version of the song below seems live. The album version has better vocals and richer instrumentals, but for some reason it doesn't seem to be on YouTube. Reminds me of "Little Earthquakes"-era Tori.
New Good Song: "Lemonade," Danity Kane 6.23.14
Here's a good new song: "Lemonade" by Danity Kane. It's fun and has one of the best first 24 seconds of the year. Dawn Richard, who delivers the vocals on those 24 seconds, had the No. 1 best song of 2013 in my opinion: "86," also below for your enjoyment. Very different songs by a real talent.
New Good Song: "Dangerous," Big Data f/ Joywave 6.23.14
Here's a good new song -- "Dangerous" by Big Data f/ Joywave. Good video, too.
New Good Song: "HE^RT," Starcadian 6.23.14
Here's a new good song: "HE^RT," by Starcadian. They had another good song, "Chinatown," also below. Reminds me of Daniel Bedingfield and Pet Shop Boys.
New Good Song: "Jealous (I Ain't With It)," Chromeo 6.23.2014
Here's a new good song -- "Jealous (I Ain't With It," by Chromeo. Reminds me of Jamiroquai, How to Dress Well and SoulDecision.
New Good Song: "Embrace," Goldroom 6.23.14
Here's a new good song: "Embrace" by Goldroom. There are hints of La Roux and Everything But The Girl
New Good Song: "The Great Unknown," Jukebox the Ghost 6.23.14
Here's a new good song -- "The Great Unknown" by Jukebox the Ghost. Has echoes of Marc Cohn, Ben Folds and Fun.
New Good Song: "Nobody But You," Kimbra 6.23.14
Here's a new good song by perhaps the best new artist of the decade thus far, Kimbra: "Nobody But You." It has her trademark swing/horn influence, with a classic pop structure, fantastic vocals, and production that's warm, groovy, retro and romantic. A real head-bopper, singalong ditty. For some curious reason, this is not the "official" first single released to promote her upcoming album "The Golden Echo." That track is this one, "90s Music," which is OK but I don't happen to care for the melody in the chorus.
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