It has certainly been a hot minute since the Brand New Heavies released new material. But the band that helped usher in the acid-jazz movement of the early ’90s is back with singer N’Dea Davenport in tow. Easily one of the seven wonders of the world, the vocally gifted Davenport doesn’t just sing lyrics, she […]
While pop-opera quartet Il Divo’s second album, “Ancora,” debuted at No. 1 in the United States, the cheese whizzes have had little impact on adult contemporary radio, and with good reason — there’s a difference between melodrama and over-the-top absurdity. “The Time of Our Lives,” a duet with diva Toni Braxton (whose “Un-Break My Heart” […]
It’s a safe bet that “Deja Vu,” which was leaked online and then digitally zapped to radio June 13, is destined to be a summer 2006 mainstay. Radiating with enough heat (and hype) to make July seem chilly by comparison, the hip-hop chugger is readily identifiable as pop/R&B’s reigning songstress, with a notably loose vocal, […]
With the publicity conundrum surrounding previous single “Not Ready to Make Nice” now an established part of folklore, the Dixie Chicks appear ready to get back to business on country radio. The rootsy “Voice Inside My Head” is a fine reminder of why the trio stormed the format a decade ago: It’s mournful, instrumentally acute, […]
Rock fans might find Snow Patrol’s new album a disappointing move toward anthemic power-pop, but if there’s one track on “Eyes Open” that should not be missed, it’s this one. “Chasing Cars” is a catchy, colossal ballad that succeeds without any fireworks. Giving his dreamy, unhurried best, frontman Gary Lightbody croons a plain beautiful melody […]
The eccentric “Bossy” is another testament to individuality from the memorable Kelis of “Milkshake” notoriety. In this lead cut from her upcoming fourth album, “Kelis Was Here,” the radical songstress reiterates her refusal to concede to pop standards, going as far as to applaud her own trailblazing musical efforts (”I’m the first girl to scream […]
In October 2002, Stone Sour struck multiformat gold with its debut single, “Bother.” The gloomy ballad surprised many because the group includes members of Slipknot, an extreme metal band whose music will never similarly grace adult top 40’s airwaves. “Through Glass” continues Stone Sour’s melodic tradition with another slow-burner, but this time it’s uptempo and […]
The long-lived Joan Jett, whose ’80s signature “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” blared from every radio in the world way back in 1982, returns after a decade’s absence sounding like she’s still digging her scene. “A.C.D.C.” is a playful, gender-bending “is she or isn’t she” fist-waving anthem about a woman who’s got “girls all over […]
Goofball pop is due for a comeback in the United States — after all, things have been all too serious and hardcore on radio for the greater part of the decade. Brandy Moss-Scott’s “Lollipop” is as good a bid for airplay as Cascada’s recent top 10, “Everytime We Touch,” with this song’s irresistible sing-along hook: […]
“Put Your Records On” has already propelled Corrine Bailey Rae to U.K. stardom, thanks to her debut song’s cool, loungy groove and neo-soul imprint: Think Des’ree meets Erykah Badu. Sparse acoustic production furthers a feel-good live vibe — like the entertainment you hired for your summer garden brunch. As appealing as it is, “Records” could […]
Christina Aguilera has come a long way from the youth pop class of 2000. Upcoming album “Back to Basics,” a “modern take on vintage jazz and blues,” may test her core, but first single “Ain’t No Other Man” is primed for radio saturation, with its hip, melodic imprint and the world-class diva’s instantly recognizable vocals. […]
After much critical acclaim in 2004 — and unbridled success everywhere but the United States — a rockier, dare we say, edgier Keane emerges on “Is It Any Wonder” from rousing sophomore set “Under the Iron Sea.” With an intro reminiscent of U2, the track traverses darker territories with a wide range of keyboards twisted […]
“Nice Day” may first come across as a trippy, alterna-pop slow-grow single, but it takes only a trio of spins to recognize this as a clever secret-weapon record that will set a top 40 (or modern rock) station apart from all others. Remixes of this song have already made an impact via Hilton TV ads, […]
“Baby Makin’ Music,” the Isley Brothers’ new album, boasts an impressive roster of hot collaborators eager to jump on the Isley’s five-decade legacy, but it fails to offer innovation beyond the bells and whistles. “Blast Off,” written, produced, arranged by and featuring R. Kelly, begins with a sultry countdown that plays on the song’s rocket-ship […]
