Browsing Tag pop
album track
My Baby – Make A Hundred
My Baby is a Dutch band, but they’re playing so many gigs outside their own country, that you probably know them already. If not: go and check them as soon as you can. Preferably live, because they’re ace! From the first note on, they put the pedal to the metal and only after the last note they hit the brakes. And in between? 100% pure groove!
My Baby mixes roots, funk, gospel and blues into what they call ‘voodoo trance’. That, combined with the hippie-like appearance of singer Cato van Dijck, especially, produces a Woodstock kind of feeling (as far as I know it by tradition, that is).
If you don’t know them yet, make sure you listen to the track Make A Hundred off their album Prehistoric Rhythm. I’m pretty sure that My Baby will soon be everybody’s favourite!
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.
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 15)
If you like diversity (and musical diversity in particular), I kindly recommend you to subscribe to the Carte Blanche Music playlist on Spotify; a constantly updated playlist with only the best new music, regardless of genre. Just three months in, 2017 has already produced 17 hours’ worth of great tracks. Only the last week, I added brand new songs by Aimee Mann, Yelle, The Charlatans, Beth Ditto, Jamiroquai and many more.
And then there is Werner’s Weekly, my hand-picked, alphabetically ordered selection of the very best of my recommendations that I published here last week. Where ‘the very best’ is not a description of my prose of course, but of the music that it’s about. If you trust my judgement (and why would you not? ?) that’s the playlist for you to subscribe to.
If you continue reading, you’ll find Werner’s Weekly of this Monday. The audio is to be enjoyed via the Spotify player in the sidebar, the accompanying texts via the links. Have fun!
- Kasabian – Comeback Kid (this week’s Wildcard)
- The Gift – Big Fish (last week’s Wildcard)
- Colin Waters – Change The Game
- Rat Boy – Revolution
- Stromae – Repetto x Mosaert
- The Kooks – Be Who You Are
- UNKLE (feat. Mark Lanegan & Eska) – Looking For The Rain
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.
border breaker, single track
Rat Boy – Revolution
Sooner or later, Rat Boy will break through big time. 21-year-old Jordan Cardy has the same swagger as his musical heroes Blur and Babyshambles (he signed to the same label as well), while he also cites The Beastie Boys and Kasabian as his influences. Personally, I also hear a younger Fatboy Slim in some of his songs. In Move, for example.
Other fine tunes of his are Wasteman and Get Over It (2016’s summer hit that never was), and now, he’s back with Revolution. I expect it to enter the European Border Breakers Chart soon, but today it’s on Carte Blanche Music already.
They also pull it off live, by the way…
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.
single track
The 27 – All The Time
You may have heard of The Beatles. Huge in their own era, but still influential, 50 years later. Like the Fab Four, Oxfordshire-based The 27 are a four-piece male harmony group. Their names? Henry Parker, David Page, Tom Michell and Alex Tschaikowsky. No Lennons or McCartneys there, but their music certainly has the same genes.
All The Time is a great sing-along song in the best pop tradition, echoing the harmonies of The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and The Everly Brothers. Old-school class in a timeless wrapping.
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.
single track
Colin Waters – Change The Game
This 21-year-old young man is currently talk of the town in the Dutch music industry (and soon all over Europe, I bet). People who have seen Colin Waters perform live know he has many hits up his sleeve. Hits with a modern, electronic pop sound, that he writes, produces, sings and plays (guitars, keys) himself.
Change The Game is only Waters’ debut single. It’s self-released, but the labels are already queuing up. The song is about believing in yourself and going for it. “Your dreams and beliefs are always stronger than anybody’s criticism”, he tells Carte Blanche Music. “The power of confidence is invincible and contagious.”
For an artist who calls his music ‘teenage pop’ this is a damn mature song, bound to be liked by adults as well. I mean, I’m 47…
And stay tuned, for there is more where this is coming from!
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.
single trackSparks – Hippopotamus
Sparks – Hippopotamus
After their collaboration with Scottish band Franz Ferdinand, called FFS, the American brothers Ron and Russell Mael return to their core project, Sparks. A band, mind you, that already exists for 45 years! They have never been afraid to experiment, constantly change their style and have been called ‘the smartest and quickest evolving band in the history of rock music’.
8 September, Sparks will give us their 21st album Hippopotamus. It is said to be more poppy than what they released recently, but I’m sure it’ll be as unique as ever. The title track is the first, instantly identifiable single and gives a nice impression, combining equal parts pop, experiment and circus. You’ll be surprised of all the things they find in their pool…
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.
single track
The Kooks – Be Who You Are
Over ten years after their first hit, The Kooks can look back upon a successful career. And that’s exactly what they do with their retrospective The Best Of… So Far, that’s released on 19 May. The collection contains all of their hits (Naïve: check; She Moves In Her Own Way: check; Ooh La: check’; Around Town… hmmm, sadly missing…) plus two new songs: Broken Vow and Be Who You Are.
The latter is the Brighton foursome’s new single. An instantly recognisable (and likeable) The Kooks track with a catchy ‘Ta-ta-ta-ta-tadadada’ chorus. Made for radio.
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.
single track
Bleachers (feat. Lorde) – Don’t Take The Money
Remember fun.? The band consisting of Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost? They haven’t split up, but all members are working on their own projects.
Antonoff has been writing for other artists, like Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, Sia and recently Lorde, while working on his other band Bleachers. That band combines 80’s influences with glam rock, which results in muscular music of Bruce Springsteen-like proportions. Remember I Wanna Get Better or Rollercoaster? Live, especially, their set-up with two drummers and a saxophone player makes for an epic party.
With their second album Everybody Lost Somebody almost ready for release, this is Bleachers’ new single. At the end, Lorde returns the favour by singing a few lines.
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.
single track, soundtrack, wildcardWildcard (week 14):
Wildcard (week 14):
Kasabian – Comeback Kid
Hot on the heels of You’re In Love With A Psycho, Kasabian officially release the track that so far only featured exclusively on the FIFA 17 game. Comeback Kid has a pulsating rhythm, some nice horns and even an organ part.
The song will appear on the album For Crying Out Loud, to be released on 28 April. Although millions of FIFA 17 players may already know the track, there is something new to this version: it was given a new intro. Now that’s what I call a game changer 😉 .
Comeback Kid by Kasabian is the new Wildcard, meaning you can enjoy it the whole week via the player at the top of Carte Blanche Music.
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.
single track
Jack Vandervelde – Trouble
For those who didn’t know (don’t be ashamed, I’m with you): lacrosse is a sport. Jack Vandervelde is very good at it. He is also an indie movie actor, by the way.
Now I can hear you think: ‘So, what’s the big deal?’ Well, this Massachusetts native is a great singer-songwriter as well… A self-taught multi-instrumentalist who caught the ear of Jeff Rabhan (who helped guide and advise Kelly Clarkson, Jermaine Dupri, Michelle Branch, Kelis and Everlast).
After starting this year on a promising note by releasing his debut single Pick It Up Sometimes on 2 January, his second single Trouble is out now. A very promising start of Jack Vandervelde’s career!
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.
