Browsing Category album track
Halsey – 3AM
Ashley Nicolette Frangipane chose an anagram of her first name as her stage name. Since then, we know her as Halsey. She started her career like so many others, by uploading covers on YouTube. But unlike so many others, she succeeded in becoming massively popular with her own songs as well. New Americana, off her debut album Badlands, was her first worldwide hit, in 2015.
Less than five years later, she released her third long-player Manic. 3AM is my favourite track on it. A tune full of ’90s rock nostalgia and killer drums, played by by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith.
The song, which details Halsey’s insecurities after a night of drinking, ends with a voicemail message. It says: “Your best song is the song that’s currently on the radio. How many people can say that? That their best song was the one that’s currently about to be a massive hit. It’s already a hit. It’s just gonna get more massive. How many people can say it? Not very many. Congratulations!” On twitter, the singer revealed this was a real voicemail, left by… John Mayer. In his message, he predicted the success of her single Without Me, before it was a hit. It went on to become her biggest single yet.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Hayley Mary – Brat
With The Jezabels on hiatus since 2017, it was only a matter of time before frontwoman Hayley Mary went solo. Since her debut single The Piss, The Perfume – last October – the released two other tracks. These songs combined, with two additional tunes, now form her first EP.
The unreleased tracks on this an all-killer, no-filler collection are named Holly and Brat. The first was inspired by Concrete Blonde’s Joey, but the latter, the EP’s closer, is my favourite. Brat is another driving rock song, that suits Hayley’s smooth vocals very well.
Recommended as well:
Hayley Mary – The Piss, The Perfume
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Wildcard (week 1):
Harry Styles – Treat People With Kindness
No better way to start a new year than with best wishes and good intentions. How about this one, then? Treat people with kindness. It’s simple, it doesn’t cost you any money, and it doesn’t hurt… On the contrary. Treat people with kindness, and it’ll come back to you. You get what you give. I’m convinced about that.
When Harry Styles released his second solo album Fine Line, midway December, the track Treat People With Kindness stuck out immediately as my favourite. Although it hasn’t been released as a single (yet), I think it would be a great choice. With a great, universal message, which the world needs now more than ever.
Treat People With Kindness by Harry Styles is the first Carte Blanche Music Wildcard of 2020!
In the Wildcards 2020 playlist you can find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far (but this only being week #1, it’s still a bit empty 😉 ).
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Nasty Cherry – Brain Soup
How many bands with their own Netflix documentary, less than a year after they came together, do you know? Meet Nasty Cherry, a four-women band handpicked by Charli XCX at the start of 2019. ‘I’m With The Band’ is a six-episode series that follows her protégés.
Nasty Cherry’s first EP Season 1 collects three out of the four singles the band put out so far. The 6-track set is completed by two new songs and an interlude. I like EP opener Brain Soup the best. A track that sounds like it was produced by Prince – which is technically impossible, obviously. Also check Fuck Modern Love!
Recommended as well:
Nasty Cherry – Live Forever
Nasty Cherry – Win
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Sorcha Richardson – High In The Garden
Irish singer-songwriter Sorcha Richardson left home for Brooklyn as a teenager to study creative writing. She’d assumed her background as a drummer would lead to her playing in a college band. Instead however, she ended up recording lo-fi demos in her dorm, which gradually picked up traction on SoundCloud. After living in New York for eight years, she moved back to Dublin, where she wrote many of the songs for her debut album First Prize Bravery.
One of my favourite tracks is High In The Garden, which revisits the bitter sweetness of summer. Its vocal melody, bubbly bassline and rhythm section, make for a toe-tappy earworm of a song.
Recommended as well:
Sorcha Richardson – Don’t Talk About It
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Sheila & The Kit – Mike
Following a string of singles and a maxi-single with remixes, Sheila & The Kit just released their first EP. And just to be clear, the Dutch alternative synth-pop outfit called it EP. It contains the past single Ruffhouse and two long tracks: Liar Liar (6’29) and Mike (7’39).
Although I’m a sucker for radio edits and I love a song that makes its point within three and a half minute or so, Mike is a monster track. Made for the dance floor, not for the radio, obviously. In the long, instrumental mid-piece the duo go completely bezerk to great effect. In this case, size does matter (although I’d love to make a radio edit of it, for more exposure 😉 ).
Recommended as well:
Sheila & The Kit – Time Again
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Ana & The Changes – Beneath My Lungs / I Turned 30 Yesterday
When Ana & The Changes started a crowdfunding for their second album, they announced it would be named Beneath My Lungs. As you might have expected from a band called The Changes, they eventually changed the title to Differences.
What didn’t change, was their constant high level of song-writing. Serbia-based Ana Ćurčin must be among the most talented singer-songwriters of her region. To me, Beneath My Lungs (which was once meant to be the album’s title track) is one of the stand-out tracks. A wonderful piece of sophisticated pop, with a lovely piano, an inimitable drum pattern and subtle backing vocals.
For another album highlight, listen to I Turned 30 Yesterday. A lovely song that pairs an infectious organ part with an instrument as unlikely as a kazoo, to great effect.
Recommended as well:
Ana & The Changes – Differences
Ana & The Changes feat. Dan Byron – Take My Hand
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Barns Courtney – Fun Never Ends
If you like your music upbeat, hard and uplifting, this one’s for you! Fun Never Ends is my favourite track on Barns Courtney’s new album 404. It could easily follow in the footsteps of earlier singles “99”, You And I and Hollow.
Fun Never Ends isn’t only on Courtney’s new album, it is also featured on the official soundtrack of the NHL 20 videogame. A great way to reach a huge audience!
Recommended as well:
Barns Cortney – “99”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Feeder – Guillotine
Following their 50(!) track Best Of album in 2017, and after spending the year 2018 making old B-sides available online for the first time, Feeder are back with brand-new material in 2019. They just put out their tenth studio album Tallulah.
Guillotine, which addresses social media witch hunts and climate crisis-era malaise, is my favourite track on the long-player. An epic rock ballad with bells and strings, and an overall Smashing Pumpkins vibe.
Recommended as well:
Feeder – Youth
Feeder – Bruised
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Lizzo (feat. Gucci Mane) – Exactly How I Feel
Born Melissa Jefferson, Lizzo lived in Detroit until she was nine, when she and her family moved to Houston. While growing up, she listened to gospel at home, took flute lessons, and played in her school’s marching band. She began rapping when she was 14. In recent years, she grew out to be a Carte Blanche Music favourite, scoring Wildcards with her singles Boys and Juice.
Lizzo’s third album Cuz I Love You is her major label debut. It sees her combining her musical roots with issues of race, sexuality, and body positivity, always displayed with humour and charisma. One of my favourite tracks on the album is Exactly How I Feel (featuring Gucci Mane). I’d love to see and hear this one pop up on playlists all over streaming services and radio stations!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
