The Buzz Board
Picks from the Inner Circle
Robbie Daw
Info
RSS
Robbie Daw writes about the U.S. and U.K. pop music scenes daily at his blog Chart Rigger. U.S. and U.K. pop music writer and creator of Chart Rigger |
|
 Is there anything more sublime than good pop music in the springtime? Here on their 10th studio album Yes, British duo Pet Shop Boys don't just deliver "good"...they unleash their best set of upbeat, ahead-of-the-curve tracks since 1993's Very. The Boys won a Brit Award in February for their outstanding contribution to music. And, hearing irresistible numbers such as Pandemonium, Did You See Me Coming? and All Over the World, it's not hard to understand why Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are still being singled out by their peers after all these years. |
Robbie Daw
Info
RSS
Robbie Daw writes about the U.S. and U.K. pop music scenes daily at his blog Chart Rigger. U.S. and U.K. pop music writer and creator of Chart Rigger |
|
In this time of economic crisis, Take That's The Circus is one instance where Americans should be encouraged to buy British. The UK's biggest boy band of the early '90s reunited (sans Robbie Williams) in 2005. Since then, they've issued two top-notch albums full of mature, Beatles-esque pop numbers with the help of Los Angeles producer John Shanks. The Circus, released in Europe in December, is the latest. Key standouts include The Garden, Said It All and the John Lennon-infused title track. Though only available on import, Britain's chief at Universal recently told Billboard the album may just wash ashore stateside in 2009. |
Robbie Daw
Info
RSS
Robbie Daw writes about the U.S. and U.K. pop music scenes daily at his blog Chart Rigger. U.S. and U.K. pop music writer and creator of Chart Rigger |
|
The Sound of The Smiths. After a hasty two-part Best Of and a Singles collection were pushed into the market by Warner Bros. in the early '90s following the demise of The Smiths, the much-belated Sound of The Smiths is a sigh of classic Britpop relief. Be sure to pick up the two-disc deluxe edition. The last thing I ever expected to do was purchase another compilation of cobbled-together Smiths tracks, but the cobbling and remastering of this Rhino set was done by Johnny Marr and Morrissey, so how to resist? In addition to several live cuts, the second disc contains rare B-sides "Jeane" and "Wonderful Woman," while the iTunes version includes instrumental "The Draize Train" as a bonus track. |
Robbie Daw
Info
RSS
Robbie Daw writes about the U.S. and U.K. pop music scenes daily at his blog Chart Rigger. U.S. and U.K. pop music writer and creator of Chart Rigger |
|
I'm In Love With A German Film Star. This hypnotic single by U.K. performance artist Sam Taylor-Wood provides much-needed dreamy escapism...if only for three minutes and 44 seconds! Produced by the Pet Shop Boys (who also did a full Symphonic Mix that's also available on this remix EP), the track is a cover of The Passions' lone British hit from 1981. Here it's reinvented as a mid-tempo pop/dance track that makes feeling like you're slipping underwater sound so good. Danke schön, Sam. |
Robbie Daw
Info
RSS
Robbie Daw writes about the U.S. and U.K. pop music scenes daily at his blog Chart Rigger. U.S. and U.K. pop music writer and creator of Chart Rigger |
|
Make no mistake, American Idol is a schlock factory, musically. But when the show gets it right—i.e., when the artists that launch careers off it are melded with the right material—it's so, so right. Case in point: David Archuleta's Crush, his debut single that conjures up irresistible hooks not heard since the days of '80s power ballads gone by. Cougars of the world (and everyone else): Give in, put it on repeat and start crushing already. |
Robbie Daw
Info
RSS
Robbie Daw writes about the U.S. and U.K. pop music scenes daily at his blog Chart Rigger. U.S. and U.K. pop music writer and creator of Chart Rigger |
|
English trio Keane's last album, the lush, moody Under The Iron Sea, was woefully overshadowed by frontman Tom Chaplin's drug problem and eventual stint in rehab. Since then, Tom's cut his hair, the band members have apparently mended their relationship with each other and, it would appear, they've listened to a lot of David Bowie to make their latest, Perfect Symmetry. That's hardly a bad thing, though. The early '80s Bowie influence—circa "Ashes To Ashes" and "Let's Dance"—is apparent on singles "Spiralling" and "The Lovers Are Losing," as well as other album tracks. One clear standout to download (if you're not gonna go for the whole album) is energetic bubblegum synth jam "Again And Again." Perfect Symmetry features co-production by frequent Aimee Mann collaborator Jon Brion, as well as Stuart Price. |
Partner Sites: Expedia| Hotels| Hotwire| Urbanspoon| Vimeo
