A kung fu fighter in a disco

Meanwhile, on the Hoar-Pop front...

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:48:35 GMT

Have we talked about Lady GaGa here? Some kinda connection to the Pussycat Dolls, included in the Scherzinger-blitz marketing campaign that Idolator linked to today via a PCD fansite (Girlicious is also part of the package, shocker). Video makes it seem like someone switched the right "I Kissed a Girl" video for a PG-rated one at the last minute.

The song.....yeeeeeah. Not great, pretty standard issue 4/4-pop, Lady G sort of alternates between showy Xtina brass and Katy Perry-esque alto-angst. "Shut my Playboy mouth" moment is pretty gross. Wiki sez she claims credit for a few Britney tracks -- not sure if they're talking about "Blackout" (doesn't appear to be featured there) or the album she just announced she was making.

[EDIT: PS, for moar hoars and even a few non-hoars, check out the accompanying mix to a guest post I just wrote, which you can download here. Started life as a Muxtape, but they're currently dealing with RIAA issues.]

History of Punk?

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:41:04 GMT

I asked this on ILX, but got a volley of idiot responses. Anyway, does anyone know whether a history of punk music from its roots through, say, Hot Topic exists? Something that traces it from being edgy to being mainstream? Either a book, or an essay, or something?

Another Year In Pop: 33

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:08:12 GMT

Katy Perry remains astride the top of the charts, and Solange gets her first taste of the top 40.

View Poll: Another Year In Pop: 33

Inexplicable re-entry watch: Miley Cyrus jumps from 141 to 76 with 'See You Again'. Also, the Fightstar album has entered the charts at number 86, well done there Charlie :)

R Kelly--Son of A Bitch

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:10:57 GMT

He has gotten rid of the baroque strangeness, and the convoluted plot lines, for the most part, which would be disappointing, if it wasn't for this track. An almost cocktail piano, and a talk that turns into an on-note, Sinatra era croon, it is one of the most beautiful songs he has recorded. His voice has always shown potential, the deadpan, the highly ironic and subtly devoted layered over a smooth tenor, but this time, its just the voice, and a list of why sex is good--not good as in pleasurable but good as in a moral imperative.

errbody know it ain't trickin' if u got it

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:44:39 GMT

OMG T.I. IS SO FIIIIINE. Those cheekbones! My knees are weakening just looking at them.

Anyway yes the great thing about T.I.'s amazingly sexy voice is that it works equally well whether he's swaggering hard or doing this singsong romantic croon, this is like a softer flip-reversal of 'What You Know' for the LAYDEEZ and I think I love it.

There hasn't been enough Lil' Wayne talk on poptimists either - he's made probably the best hip-hop album of the year, in a really great year for hip-hop albums (Bun B and Gucci Mane are two other favourites, eagerly anticipating T.I., Lil' Kim and Young Jeezy). Anywhere here is the video for 'A Milli' which has by all accounts eaten America alive, and I really do hope it does the same here.

It looks like the post-'Lollipop' singles off Tha Carter III are going to form some sort of overarching narrative too which is cool - I like the way the 'Got Money' video casts Weezy as, like, some sort of post-Katrina Robin Hood figure redistributing wealth as opposed to just a rapper bragging 'bout $$$$. Anyway as I was saying elsewhere today this track really grew on me, on first listen it's a(nother) cheesy T-Pain club banger but there are so many odd little tics throughout to keep your interest piqued - the handclaps, "I'm a GREAT DANE", the 'Umbrella' riffing, "so much ice they yell SKATE WAYNE", "bitch I'm the bomb like TICK - TICK - BEEYATCH!!!". Sadly half of those tics are in Wayne's third verse which is replaced to no discernibly positive effect on the single version by a Mack Maine guest verse but really you should be going out to buy the album anyway in order to encourage stoopid record companies to release these singles here at all.

Vote For Me! I'm Better Than These Two Losers!

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:22:01 GMT

On the issues, Obama is clearly superior to McCain. On the songs it's a closer contest. In case you didn't already see brak55's journal, Blender asked the candidates to list their 10 favorites.

John McCain's Top 10:
1. Dancing Queen - ABBA
2. Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison
3. Take a Chance on Me - ABBA
4. If We Make It Through December - Merle Haggard
5. As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson
6. Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
7. What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
8. I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra
9. Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
10. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - Platters

Barack Obama's Top 10:
1. Ready or Not - Fugees
2. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
3. I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen
4. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones
5. Sinnerman - Nina Simone
6. Touch the Sky - Kanye West
7. You'd Be So Easy to Love - Frank Sinatra
8. Think - Aretha Franklin
9. City of Blinding Lights - U2
10. Yes We Can - Will.i.am

Frank Kogan's Top 10:
1. Spoonin' Rap - Spoonie Gee
2. When I Hear Music - Debbie Deb
3. Anarchy in the U.K. - The Sex Pistols
4. I Can't Stand Myself - James Brown
5. Search and Destroy - The Stooges (the original Bowie mix, until someone does better, which Iggy himself sure didn't)
6. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
7. Be My Baby - The Ronettes
8. Angel Baby - Rosie and the Originals
9. Nann Nigga - Trick Daddy f. Trina
10. Cum On Feel The Noize - Slade

(Not a very balanced ticket, I must admit: everything from Anglo-America, no country, no MOR, nothing before '62, and only two after '79. Actually think that the Trick Daddy is easily the most interesting music on this list and that popular music is more complex and fascinating right now in the '00s than it's ever been in my life, but the current stuff doesn't consistently touch my heart as much as the old songs do.)

Frank Kogan's Political Platform:
1. I promise to ram a single-payer health insurance system through congress.
2. I will elevate Social Secretary to a cabinet-level post.

Kylie: all is forgiven!

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:28:01 GMT

Here's the video for 'The One':

Man, I have to go back and tick this now. Not only does she look super-hott (esp right near the end at about 3.29) but the love-me-love-me-love-me stuff makes so much more sense when you can see it flashing past you in pink letters...

Another Year In Pop: 32

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:46:13 GMT

For better or worse, Katy Perry is this week's brand new Number 1. Rihanna moves up into the top ten, and in inexplicable re-entry news, Baz Luhrmann's in at no.72 with 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)'. Okaaay.

View Poll: Another Year In Pop: 32

Now 68

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:33:55 GMT

Hello everyone, I've finished camping and frolicking around London, so it's time for MOAR NAO.

View Poll: Now 68

Also, does anyone know how to change text size on Opera? I just accidentally shrank mine twice.

Wow 00s

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:51:07 GMT

I am putting together a set of CDs to live with the DJ decks at Poptimism, so all DJs have permanent access to an emergency (and quite comprehensive) library of the decade's "big tunes". ("big" defined as likely to get a crowd moving at Poptimism)

The exact tracklist must remain a closely guarded etc etc. But here's WHO is on it (maximum 3 tunes per artist, not all acts endorsed personally by me).

50 Cent, A Teens, A1, Aaliyah, Abs, Addictive ft T2, Alain Braxe & Fred Falke, Alcazar, All Saints, Alphabeat, Aly And AJ, Amerie, Amy Winehouse, Andrew WK, Annie, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Ashlee Simpson, Avril Lavigne, Azzido Da Bass

Bangalter and Falcon, Basement Jaxx, Benny Benassi, Beyonce, Big And Rich, Black Eyed Peas, Blink 182, Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul, Blue, Britney Spears, Busted

Camera Obscura, Cassie, Charlotte Church, Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Christina Milian,
Ciara, Conway, Craig David, CSS

Daddy Yankee, Daft Punk, Daniel Bedingfield, Daphne And Celeste, Destiny's Child, Dizzee Rascal, DJ Marlboro, DJ Pied Piper, DJ Sammy, Dr Dre

Electric Six, Eminem, Emma Bunton, Enrique Iglesias, Estelle, Evanescence

Fall Out Boy, Fannypack, Fatman Scoop, Fedde Le Grand, Fergie, Fischerspooner, Franz Ferdinand, Freelance Hellraiser

Girls Aloud, Girls On Top, Gnarls Barkley, Goldfrapp, Gorillaz, Groove Armada, Gwen Stefani

H2O ft Platnum, Hear'say, Holly Valance, Hot Chip

Jamelia, Jay-Z, JC Chasez, Jennifer Lopez, Joy Gruttman, Junior Senior, Justice, Justice v Simian, Justin Timberlake

Kanye West, Kardinal Offishal, Kate Nash, Kate Ryan, Kelis, Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Osbourne, Kelly Rowland, Klaxons, Kleerup ft Robyn, Komatrohn, Kylie Minogue

Lady Stush, Ladytron, Layo And Bushwacka, Le Tigre, LeAnn Rimes, Liberty X, Lil Jon, Lil Mama, Lily Allen, Little Trees, Ludacris, Lumidee

Madonna, Mandy Moore, Marit Larsen, Mark Owen, Mark Ronson, Mary J Blige, McFly, MIA, Miley Cyrus, Missy Elliot, Mis-teeq, Moloko, Moony, MOP, Morningwood, Morrissey, Ms Dynamite, My Chemical Romance, Mylo

Natasha Bedingfield, Nelly, Nelly Furtado, Nina Sky, No Doubt

ODB ft Kelis, One-T and Cool-T, Outkast, Oxide And Neutrino

Panjabi MC, Paris Hilton, Pink, Puretone

R Kelly, Rachel Stevens, Red Hot Entertainment, Rihanna, Robbie Williams, Robyn, Rogue Traders

S Club 7, S Club Juniors, Scissor Sisters, Scooter, Sean Paul, September, Shaggy, Shakedown, Shakira, Shapeshifters, Sisqo, So Solid Crew, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Soulja Boy, Spiller, Steps, Sugababes, Superman Lovers, Sweet Female Attitude

T.I., T2, Tarkan, Tatu, Teddybears STHLM, The Automatic, The Darkness, The Feeling, The Futureheads, The Go! Team, The Gossip, The Killers, The Knife, The Rapture, The Sounds, The Strokes, Three Of A Kind, Timbaland, Toby Keith, TOK, Tok Tok vs Soffy O, Truth Hurts ft Rakim, Tweet

Usher

V, Vampire Weekend, Verbalicious

Wiley

X-Press 2

My question is: who is NOT on this list of artists who has made a banging record in the 00s that should be in the permanent armoury of our club night? I feel I'm weak on the mid-decade where I seem not to have been paying as much attention. Also some subgenres aren't very well represented (does metal do "bangers"?)

My other question is: the 00s - awesome OR WHAT?

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:37:55 GMT

Article from The Age about the link between what music teens listen to and what behaviour they display:

A study, published in today's Australasian Psychiatry journal, found that teens who listened to pop music were more likely to be struggling with their sexuality, those tuning in to rap or heavy metal could be having unprotected sex and drink-driving, and those who favoured jazz were usually misfits and loners. There seems to be some distinction between 'rap' and 'hip-hop' at work here, though, since "teens who listened to hip-hop were usually less troublesome."

The study's author seems very keen to emphasise that the music isn't causing anything, that it's as it were just another symptom of the teenager's emotional situation. It's odd there's no mention of accepted-peer-group behaviour, which I would think of as fundamentally important (kids who like raving take drugs, you say?). But there's still something I don't like about it. I suspect my reaction's not entirely rational: even though I do believe there's a link, my gorge still rises at the idea of adults (adults! as if they could ever understand) trying to read teenagers' emotions and likely behaviour from their musical tastes. It's not, thank tegoshi, on a 'blaming nu-metal for school shootings' level, but it feels like it's - inadvertently - encouraging the school of of 'aha you like emo you are depressed you are part of my chemical romance's sinister cult and likely to commit suicide any moment.'

ANYWAY. Poptimists: any links made by this study which surprise you? Any links between genre-of-pop-listened-to and general-behaviour that they've missed? Is someone going to pull out that hoary old Hornby quote about the relationship between being sad and listening to pop music? Burning questions, I'm sure you'll agree.

My hatas blue in the face like Gonzo

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:22:43 GMT

Bone to pick with this dude for quite some time but haven't said anything: YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE WHAT THE KIDS THINK IS COOL. If they wanna get down to ninnies, as Simon Reynolds calls 'em, then that means that NINNIES ARE COOL. I'm perfectly OK with this.

And it is with this qualifying rant that I link to:

V.I.C. - "Wobble"

Junior, Junior, Junior Spesh

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:09:51 GMT

Robin Bharaj takes excellent photographs, notably of a lot of UK grime/hip-hop artists, and he's just published this wonderful set on his Flickr photostream.

I thought Poptimists might appreciate.

Video Club: Little Jackie - Black Barbie

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:23:00 GMT

Not sure about this really but it's probably one of the more interesting things around at the mo.

History is Bunk

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:24:23 GMT

I have a new Pitchfork column up - if it seems like ages that's because it's been ages! (not their fault or mine - standard skip week plus festival reports pushing things back).

This one is about pop, history, and what a history of pop should or shouldn't include (hint: no actual music).

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/142636-column-poptimist-17

It was born out of listening a lot to the new Girl Talk album, though as is the way of these things Girl Talk then vanished from the piece completely while I was writing it.

BONO SPEAKS (AGAIN)

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:16:53 GMT

This is incredible. Jaysus the Edge! Via HolyMoly: Bono finally speaks out about the Edge's "emotional colour palette".

Bono said: "Edge's genuine genius developing on the blank and bleached photographic paper, avoiding all the obvious blues scales that blind every other guitar player that ever heard Led Zeppelin.

You play guitar on photo-film these days?

"The Edge finds some new colours for the spectrum of rock. Colours he now owns. Owning a colour, wow. Imagine owning the colour yellow, like Van Gogh. Edge owns, well I'm not exactly sure what colours they are... indigo or violet or crimson? But you sense an emotional colour temperature that is unique to him. It's his palette we're painting from."

What the fucking fuck are you on about?!

He goes on (doesn't he always): "Surely this is the most influential guitarist since the great composers Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, Neil Young, but remember he doesn't have the history of the blues to plumb, these are uncharted waters was to the English psychedelic revival we were also inspired by and plundering."

But he sort of DOES have the 'history of the blues' to plumb (there's certainly SOME depths he's reaching)?

View Poll: She comes in colours

FUNKY HOUSE

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:13:14 GMT

OK it's time to talk about the resurgence of funky house! As I see it the UK garage scene is currently comprised of four interweaving but still distinct strands - grime, dubstep, bassline and funky - and I finally got round to dipping a toe into the waters of the last one a few weekends ago. I was absolutely blown away: I remember dismissing funky house as boring wine bar music a few years ago, and I now have no idea whether my ears were wrong then or whether it's changed beyond recognition, because what I'm hearing now is magnificent. Below, youtube links to some of the best cuts and biggest hits of the year:

Wookie ft. Ny - Fallin' Again (I have listened to this maybe 40 times on loop so far? incredible, incredible track)
Perempay & Dee ft. Katie Pearl - In The Air
DJ NG ft. Baby Katy & Versatile - Tell Me
Paleface ft. Kyla - Do You Mind (Crazy Cousins Remix)
Apple - Mr Bean
Crazy Cousins ft. Calista - Bongo Jam

I don't really feel up to talking about the hows and wheres of funky's innovation and importance yet, am just immersing myself in all the amazing music for now - in any case there's loads of great commentary and groove theory on Tim F's blog, Melissa B's Quietus article and the ILX thread. It's oddly hard to find funky mp3s or even Youtube uploads - am mostly relying on radio sets (there are some great Marcus Nasty and Footloose sets linked on the ILX thread) and shonky myspazz rips. Some more of my personal favourites which aren't on Youtube: the Perempay & Dee remix of MA1/Sophia's 'I'm Right Here', Mentor Roska's 'Feeline VIP' (these two are on www.junodownload.com btw), TNT's 'Rumba', the Arms remix of Tawiah's 'Every Step', Delio D'Cruz and Kcat's 'Get On The Floor', Aphrodisiax's 'Unfinished Business'.

What's great is how it's infecting all the other strands of garage, too, in particular adding some femininity and glamour to the notorious sausage-fests of dubstep and grime; check the Geeneus remix of Benga & Coki's 'Night', and also Tinchy Stryder's new single, 'Stryderman', which is amazingly perched at No 74 right now. Wow, I remember when Tinch was the novelty kid in Ruff Sqwad with a kind of annoying, barking voice - he's come such a long way. NB - I still highly recommend his Star In The Hood album from last year, there's so much verve and vitality there - check the banging 'Dance 4 Now' in particular. EAST LONDON MAN DEM A BOK BOK BOK BOK.

Oh wait a minute, maybe I do like this song.

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:40:35 GMT

On the Katy Perry thread at ILM, someone follows through on Tim Finney's question as to whether or not "UR So Gay" would make sense from a gay artist by linking to a pop-emo group covering it, and John C. follows up with a MySpace link:

False Start - I Kissed a Girl
Max Vernon - I Kissed a Girl

What BOTH of these covers do is expose this song as TWEE. I hadn't thought of it that way until the discussion yesterday, particularly girlboymusic's comments; there are still a few purely lyrics-based stumbles, particularly the "experimental game." But I was surprised finding the song CUTE. It's the annoying, mild-crossover-potential indie pop tune that accidentally got halfhearted Max Martin treatment, the wrong singer, and took the world by storm. It's a Frankenstein -- I like it more now!

Securing the future of pop music

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:53:00 GMT

Another Year In Pop: 31

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:15:20 GMT

Some movement in the top ten at last! Kid Rock has turfed Dizzee off the top spot, the Script have whinged their way up to number 3 and Katy Perry's questionable ode to lesbianism is the highest new entry at 4 (its bosh remix is at no.50!), making this week's poll an aptly all-girl affair...

View Poll: Another Year In Pop: 31

The month in pop: July

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:08:51 GMT

Blimey, August already! It's been a bit quiet round here of late - what have you all been listening to?

View Poll: July Round-Up

(remember, 'new' is open to interpretation - if it's new to you, that counts!)

Poptimism needs YOU

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:14:50 GMT

It is POPTIMISM this Saturday - usual time, usual place, details at the link.

But! I can't go! That's OK though, Pete is in charge and the likes of atommickbrane and al_ewing are guest DJing, so you will still have a smashing time.

BUT!! I promised Sarah Brane I'd send her some of my secret library of pop smashes and NOES I was working late and forgot.

So here's what I want all Poptimists to do - RIGHT NOW! Whether they're going to Poptimism or not!

1. Find a MONSTER DANCEFLOOR HIT from this year. It doesn't matter how BIG OR OBVIOUS.
2. Send the MP3 to leagueofpop@gmail.com where Sarah can pick it up
3. That's it! HOW EASY IS THAT??? In no time at all she will have an incredible library of big tunes to wow the crowd with tomorrow.

oh yeah - 4. Go to Poptimism and have a GREAT TIME!

John Revolta Moar Laik (Slight Return)

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:40:28 GMT

A poll that will prove very important for upcoming blog posts of mine:

View Poll: Is The Word

t.A.T.u. and the Imminent Return

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:53:30 GMT

Well, okay, the Russian version of the album isn't even out yet so it will probably be a while before any of this hits the west, but what's poptimists for if not being ahead of the curve, eh?

Anyway, NEW SONGS! The first one, Beliy Plaschik, apparently surfaced a good half year ago, but wasn't officially released till May:

(nb video not entirely SFW)

(Here also is an audio-only of English version White Robe.)

And here is recently dropped follow-up 220:

I can say I'm stoked about whatever may be coming up, at least!

---

Elsewhere, a proper brand spanker: Anna Abreu, as previously featured in Hitz from Finland back here, has literally just dropped the lead for her upcoming second album, and it is FANTASTIC. Kylie-esque electropop, and dear god, I didn't even know pop this polished could be made here! Anna sounds better than ever, too.

Love that chorus!

Video Club - La Casa Azul - LaRevolucion Sexual

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:07:26 GMT

This didn't win Spain's eurovision entrants poll! I'm shocked, given that the song Spain did enter was kinda rubbish. Oh, I hope you don't think this is total indie gubbins, I think it's quite poptimistical!