PLAYLIST SHORTLIST [Special Edition]: Listen in on the week[end] of May 26th
PLAYLIST SHORTLIST: Listen in on the week[end] of May 26th
Monday is a holiday in the good ol' U S o' A, but the music that rolls out for this weekend prior is ushering in the summer season, delivering a fine reason to do a special edition of the week[end] for the Playlist Shortlist. Yay for you! Read through the releases, cue up your player of choice and enjoy all weekend [and week ahead] long:
JOE GODDARD - 'Home'
The long player ELECTRIC LINES that this tune is lifted from - by the musical genius behind Hot Chip (as one of its founding members) - has actually been out shy a month now. Tracks like this one though are the perfect reason to be introduced to him and a gateway to summer. Breezily reminiscent of classic songs of the last decade such as those from Australian outfit the Avalanches, Bent, and one of the best albums of '15 by Jamie xx (of the band the xx, and if you haven't picked up their latest I SEE YOU, do so immediately for your personal health and well-being), this track blends samples blends samples of '70s soul funk band Brainstorm’s song 'We’re On Our Way Home' with swirling beats and original vocals from Daniel Wilson to deliver peak performance electro results.
From that Madonna-tinged 'Lucky Star' opening, to the hand-off of double-claps between actual hands and its big backing drums to the ridiculously infectious chorus, there is no denying the razor sharp pop Ms. Carly Rae Jepsen is uniquely tuned in on. Now, could care less if this is a soundtrack song or that it was a cast off from a B-sides project, because the track itself screams summer resolute. There seemed to have been a massive burnout on her from that breakout single that would define airwaves five years ago, to then not give debut LP - sadly, nor her follow-up sophomore release, E*MO*TION ('All That' was such a slice of eighties' Hall and Oates inspired pop) - the true top forty global attention that she deserves. Smartly partnering up with producers across the spectrum like Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) and now Sir Nolan to help her craft her songwriting, it would be a crime to not put this song on heavy rotation for maximum seasonal enjoyment.
JOE GODDARD - 'Home'
The long player ELECTRIC LINES that this tune is lifted from - by the musical genius behind Hot Chip (as one of its founding members) - has actually been out shy a month now. Tracks like this one though are the perfect reason to be introduced to him and a gateway to summer. Breezily reminiscent of classic songs of the last decade such as those from Australian outfit the Avalanches, Bent, and one of the best albums of '15 by Jamie xx (of the band the xx, and if you haven't picked up their latest I SEE YOU, do so immediately for your personal health and well-being), this track blends samples blends samples of '70s soul funk band Brainstorm’s song 'We’re On Our Way Home' with swirling beats and original vocals from Daniel Wilson to deliver peak performance electro results. 
From that Madonna-tinged 'Lucky Star' opening, to the hand-off of double-claps between actual hands and its big backing drums to the ridiculously infectious chorus, there is no denying the razor sharp pop Ms. Carly Rae Jepsen is uniquely tuned in on. Now, could care less if this is a soundtrack song or that it was a cast off from a B-sides project, because the track itself screams summer resolute. There seemed to have been a massive burnout on her from that breakout single that would define airwaves five years ago, to then not give debut LP - sadly, nor her follow-up sophomore release, E*MO*TION ('All That' was such a slice of eighties' Hall and Oates inspired pop) - the true top forty global attention that she deserves. Smartly partnering up with producers across the spectrum like Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) and now Sir Nolan to help her craft her songwriting, it would be a crime to not put this song on heavy rotation for maximum seasonal enjoyment.
BLONDIE - 'Long Time (Hercules & Love Affair Remix)'
Speaking of Blood Orange, Dev Hynes is the mastermind behind the production for the truly best song from Blondie's recent LP release POLLINATOR: 'Long Time.' It could stand alone as a seminal example of what this 40-plus NYC Deborah Harry-fronted band is all about. The track itself is such a sonic wonder, there should be no need to touch it. Enter Andy Butler and his Hercules & Love Affair electronic touch, and that assertion falls on its surging bassline. The result deftly grabs the best parts of the original rocker, with newly layered blips and synths through the track that makes it satisying in a whole new way. H&LA already have this listener's heart with the release of 'Controller' at the top of the year, cue up another shining example of why two great things taste better together - delicious!
BADBADNOTGOOD - 'To You'
Riding high of the critical praise of their debut release IV, after already producing the likes of the Odd Future collective, Ghostface Killah and fellow Canadian KAYTRANADA's already praised 99.9%, quartet BADBADNOTGOOD digs deeper into their warped synths, atmospheric samples and jazz-tinged skills to deliver their follow-up, LATE NIGHT TALES this year. The first track - a cover of singer-songwriter Andy Shauf's song of the same name - showcases the group and what they have to offer, by honoring those contemporaries and bands of yesteryear whom they enjoy including River Tiber, the Beach Boys and Stereolab. Consider this the tune heard at the bonfire at the end of the evening or curling up with a fine, long-sipped scotch for ideal mood setting appeal.
RITA ORA - 'Your Song'
Let it be known: love for Ms. Rita Ora is a fleeting thing. Mainly that cause draws from her mercurial leanings towards whatever current genre is 'on trend.' Though she cannot be faulted, as is the audience she works so hard to connect with. This track is an ideal example of, regardless of the artist delivering it, when a song is good, it is rock solid. Written by man of the moment Ed Sheeran and the pop production tunesmith Steve Mac (Zara Larsson, The Saturdays, Kelly Clarkson, Little Mix) the song is a simple one, ripe with a refrain that you can hum along to without restraint. The effect is a grower, not a shower so its sneak attack is felt best on repeat and after many rounds, take that last part for whatever the feeling commends.
Additional Playlist Shortlist adoration should be given over the weekend (and week ahead) to:
Additional Playlist Shortlist adoration should be given over the weekend (and week ahead) to:
- RAYE (vocals behind the Jax Jones wonder that is 'You Don't Know Me') - 'The Line (Offaiah Remix)
- Nick Jonas featuring Anne-Marie and Mike Posner - 'Remember I Told You'
- Sinead Harnett - 'Still Miss You'
- Martin Garrix and Troye Sivan - 'There For You'
- Dagny - 'Wearing Nothing'
- and another round of Joe Goddard - 'Lose Your Love' (shout out to the sample, given the Hammer touch by B Angie B in the nineties, from its gorge original: The Emotions 'I Don't Want To Lose Your Love')
