24 January 2009

Mega Band Return & The Next White Rapper

NMU Update
The Brits have awarded Florence And The Machine (NMU 31/10/08) the Critics Choice Award 09. Following in the footsteps of 2008 winner Adele, 2009 is sure to be a very successful for the band fronted by the amazing singing talent of Florence Welch. She will collect the award at the show on 18th February.
'Walking On Air' by Kerli (NMU 30/7/08) has now clocked up over two and a half million views on youtube.

Chart Update
Previous Song Of The Week (NMU 31/10/08), 'Day 'N' Night' by Kid Cudi (Crookers Remix), shot into the charts at number 2 last week and remains there for a second week. Cudi finally gets the gratification of a successful release some three months since its first radio airplay. 'Take Me Back' by Tinchy Stryder feat. Taio Cruz (NMU 23/12/08) has launched up the chart from number 39 to 3 this week after its second week of sales. Creating the pop media frenzy of the moment however is Lady Gaga who stays put at number 1, making it her third week. Her next single 'Poker Face' is creeping slowly up the charts, up four spaces to 26 this week on downloads alone. The top 10 is likely to see host to the song in the near future with a full release.
In the album chart, new 80's influenced band White Lies celebrate a number 1 as the first new act of 2009 to achieve the feat. Anthony & The Johnsons' fifth EP 'The Crying Light' at 18 and Seasick Steve's 'Dog House Music' at 37 are the only other new entries this week.

This week I bring you...

Song Of The Week


U2- Get On Your Boots
www.myspace.com/u2
Rock

The band dubbed 'the best in the world' by Rolling Stone make a long-awaited welcome return after a surprsingly long 5 years. Record Of The Week for Radio 1's Sara Cox, the rockers have already created a division in opinions. Is the comeback single good enough?
Most notable in this song is the encapsulating, chugging guitars, throbbing bassline and choppy lyrics about forgetting your worries and having fun.
The song has a similar tempo and bassline to 'Vertigo', the first single off the previous album 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb', yet unfortunately lacks the same sort of impact. Staying true to form though is the more than experienced and highly creative Edge on lead guitar, bringing the unique U2 riff. Although this song might not standout on their reported upcoming tour, it will ofcourse still sound good live. Everything they produce always does. You can see U2 give a come back performance of the song as they open The Brit Awards on 18th February, which will no doubt be show-stopping and a highlight to the show. 'Get On Your Boots' is out to download from 15th Febraury and gets it's physical release the next day. The new album 'No Line On The Horizon' follows 2nd March. A video to accompany the song has not been released as of yet.




New Artist
Asher Roth
Hip Hop/Rap/Soul
www.myspace.com/asherroth

Out to proove he's the best white rapper since Vanilla Ice and Eminem is 23 year old Pennsylvanian Asher Roth. Comparisons to Eminem can go slightly further as Asher's expressive rap accent draws upon similar American slurred pronounciation. Signed after he was found rapping in his dorm room by producer friend Scooter Braun, he has now been snapped up by big guns Universal. Top Hip Hop A-listers have lined up to hear his music and he's not afraid to tell us on his myspace that Ludacris, Akon, and even Jay-Z rate him well. Asher's first single 'I Love College' finds him reminiscing fondly about his college days claiming 'I love drinking, I love women, man I love college'. Predictively, the song will gather a big following from both current and past students who can relate to the typical events he recalls of his college days. Whether Asher Roth can succeed in convincing traditional lovers of rap with his music is slightly shady, but with catchy chorus' and relatable, flowing lyrics it seems quite certain the majority will be won over. His first single 'I Love College' is already gaining him US fans but is yet to be accompanied by its own music video as yet. Future international release of his work has not been confirmed, but UK airplay is likely to be heard sometime this year.




Recent uploads to my iTunes:
Lady Gaga- Poker Face
TV On The Radio- Halfway Home
Little Boots- Stuck On Repeat