Browsing Category album track
album track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 31):
Wildcard (week 31):
Reneé Rapp – Kiss It Kiss It
Pop’s current landscape is bursting with female singer-songwriters boasting catchy tunes and bags of attitude. One of the future stars in this category is Reneé Rapp, who’s appeared here a few times already.
Her career took off as an actress. In 2018, Rapp won the ‘Best Actress’ award at the Blumey Awards, and ‘Best Performance by an Actress’ at the Jimmy Awards. This landed her a role in the ‘Mean Girls’ musical on Broadway (2019-2020). She reprised that role I the 2024 film adaptation of the play. Rapp also starred in the HBO Max series ‘The Sex Lives Of College Girls’ (2021-2024). Now, more empowered than ever, she turns her attention back to music, which is unapologetically about her own life.
Her sophomore album Bite Me is not a record for tidy emotional resolutions; it’s a unfiltered chronicle of the emotional turbulence following a breakup. It thrives on raw honesty.
Kiss It Kiss It is the album’s biggest pop moment. Although is has a groovy retro vibe, it’s state-of-the-art modern pop. The tune is steamy, vulgar, cheeky, flirtatious, and impossible not to dance to. Including a guitar lick that echoes Garbage’s Stupid Girl, it’s full of quotable lyrics. “I told her I’m from Carolina / I know a thing or two about rodeo”, for instance. Or when the singer, who came out as lesbian, recalls: “I think we almost made a baby / I mean, we can’t, but we came so close.”
Kiss It Kiss It by Reneé Rapp is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Reneé Rapp @ Carte Blanche music
Follow her on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
album track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 35):
Wildcard (week 35):
Pet Shop Boys – Everybody Will Dance (B-side to Feel)
Not long before I starting choosing a ‘record of the week’, back in 1985, Pet Shop Boys released the original, Bobby Orlando produced version of West End Girls. It charted very modestly in Canada, but wasn’t officially released in the UK. Follow-up singles One More Chance and Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money) hardly fared any better. The duo’s decision to re-record their debut single proved to be a good one. At the end 1985, I made this new version my record of the week, and it went on to become a worldwide hit (I don’t claim any connection between those two events 😉).
Fast forward to 2024… To date, Pet Shop Boys amassed 18 of my weekly accolades. More than any other artist. Guess that makes them my all-time favourite act. This week, they add a 19th gong to their name, and it’s an extra special one this time…
Pet Shop Boys aren’t only known for their great singles. Their B-sides are often equally brilliant. In fact, most of their B-sides are better than other artists’ A-sides! Take for instance Paninaro (later a single in it’s own right), You Know Where You Went Wrong, Do I Have To?, Your Funny Uncle, Screaming, We’re The Pet Shop Boys, No Time For Tears… the list is endless.
Forty years into their career, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe never stopped delivering. No disrespect to their new single Feel, but I love it’s B-side Everybody Will Dance. A classic, hi-NRG Pet Shop Boys track, that has waited nine years to be released. It was written and demoed in 2015 during song-writing sessions prior to the recording of their album Super. However, they decided against recording it themselves because they felt it was ‘a little young’ for them. Tennant & Lowe intended to offer it to someone else instead. I’m glad they finally decided to put this gem out!
Everybody Will Dance by Pet Shop Boys is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Pet Shop Boys @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow the duo on Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2024 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
album track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 12):
Wildcard (week 12):
Kid Kapichi – Can EU Hear Me?
Kid Kapichi are a punk band from Hastings, Great Britain. They just released their third album There Goes The Neighbourhood, which was produced by Nothing But Thieves member Dom Craik. It introduces us to their view on the world today, and that’s not necessarily an optimistic one, to put it mildly. More to the point, it captures the zeitgeist of the dissatisfying reality of living in the UK in 2024. Lyrically, the songs denounce ‘grey Britain’ and small-island thinking. Surely, not a message everyone will want to hear.
The long-player was preceded by four great singles, but one album track really stands out for me. This track, with a sound halfway Ian Dury and The Hives, is called Can EU Hear Me? Obviously, that’s not a typo in there. It’s a punch in the face of Brexit. “The worst thing that’s happened to this country in quite some time”, according to the song.
Still, the band manages to address the subject with the dry sense of humour and wit we’ve come to know from them. “You can’t just separate a tectonic plate, mate”, Jack Wilson sings.
On the website of the Union State venue in Washington DC, the vocalist further explains: “The brief was, ‘Let’s write the happiest Brexit song we can’! It’s sad to see it, but we make a big effort to make sure that whoever we meet over there knows that it doesn’t represent the country as a whole. That’s what this song is all about.”
Although it’s not a single (yet), Kid Kapichi’s Can EU Hear Me? is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Kid Kapichi on Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2024 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
album track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 49):
Wildcard (week 49):
Trunky Juno – Death On TV
If you’re a regular Carte Blanche Music follower, Trunky Juno is no stranger to you. Mark Owens (his real name) has been showing up here regularly in the past few years.
He released his first EP Too Many Teeth – containing the singles he put out prior – in June 2020. Now, 3½ years later, EP #4, Call Me Trunky, sees the light. A 5-track opus that sounds like the best version of everything he’s done before. This is an artist on top of his game.
Apart from the three former singles, the EP holds two new tracks. Appropriately, it rounds off with This Is The End, which is preceded by my favourite: Death On TV. The latter combines melodic verses with pounding choruses. A sure fire future live banger.
The EP is entirely self-released, all the more reason to support it to the fullest.
Although it’s not a single, Death On TV by Trunky Juno is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Trunky Juno @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow Trunky Juno on Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
album track, remake
Nothing But A Nightmare – Can’t Fix Stupid [2022 Version]
Nothing But A Nightmare – Can’t Fix Stupid [2022 Version]
*SONG SNACK*
Three-year-old song, re-recorded for their new album, sounds fresher and punchier than ever.
Follow Nothing But A Nightmare on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
album track
Darin – Memories
Darin – Memories
*SONG SNACK*
Swedish superstar ready to score big. This is my favourite of the 2 new tracks on his latest EP!
Follow Darin on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
album track
The Kubricks – Getting On It
The Kubricks – Getting On It
*SONG SNACK*
Swinging stand-out track of their new album Between Antipodes. For fans of Madness.
Follow The Kubricks on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
album track
Mayleaf – Tough Luck
Mayleaf – Tough Luck
*SONG SNACK*
The kicking title (and opening) track off Dutch rock quintet’s banging debut album.
Follow Mayleaf on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
album track
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Wolf
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Wolf
*SONG SNACK*
This dark electro banger is the best track off Karen O & Co.’s new album Cool It Down.
Follow Yeah Yeah Yeahs on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
album track
Dreaming Soda – Green Light
Dreaming Soda – Green Light
*SONG SNACK*
Great pop track off nostalgic duo’s debut EP Just Before The Internet, which comes with a comic.
Follow Dreaming Soda on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
