Category: Pop Music

Friday New Releases – May 28, 2021

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Welcome to the last Friday New Release post for May and let me tell you that May was a little of a letdown. There were a bunch of releases, but not a ton I was really that interested in hearing. Let me tell you, June makes up for it in spades. It gets way better in June. That doesn’t mean we have a bunch of nothing this week, there are a lot of great releases. Only a couple I want to hear and I will highlight those in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear this week and what I may have missed so every one knows what is available. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

  • 81Ku6Gi1tQL._SX522_  Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia – (3 Legged Records / Thirty Tigers): The Atlanta boys are always bringing some great Southern Rock, Americana, Country Rock…whatever you need to label it. Just sit back and enjoy their blend of music and smoke ’em if you got ’em!!
  • 91mbFkl4D6L._SX522_ Del Amitri – Fatal Mistakes – (Cooking Vinyl): It has been 19 years since the band’s last album. That is crazy. They got back together a few years back and have been touring, but finally getting around to an album. I am curious more than anything to see what they bring to the table after so long. Here’s to hoping for a great album.
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The Original Vs. The Cover – “I Want Candy”

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For this month’s post on The Original Vs. The Cover, we are going to cover the song “I Want Candy” originally done by The Strangeloves and later covered by Bow Wow Wow. The song was written by Bert Berns, Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer in 1965 and three of the writers decided to release the song themselves and became known as The Strangeloves.

The Strangeloves were really Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer. However, as The Strangeloves, they said they were sheep farmers from Australia named Giles, Miles and Niles Strange who became filthy rich by cross-breeding sheep. They even wore wigs and unusual clothing when being these three outrageous personalities. At least they never took themselves too seriously…I mean how could you.

The song is believed to be about a dancer named Candy Johnson who the guys saw dancing at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City, but I don’t know if that has ever been confirmed. The band was originally going to record the song “Bo Didley” but wanted to make the song their own so they re-worked the lyrics and changed things up enough, but you can still hear the main beat to that song in the final product. Lyrically, the song is supposedly based of the 1958 book Candy by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg which is about naive young girl who has a many encounters with much older men.

THE STRANGELOVES

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My Sunday Song – “Listen Like Thieves” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #249 and the site’s 1,500th post, we are talking about the song “Listen Like Thieves” by INXS. The song is the title track to the album ‘Listen Like Thieves which was released on October 14, 1985. The album went to #11 in the U.S. and sold over 2 million thanks to songs like this one. This song was the final single off the album and went to #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 just missing the Top 40 in large part due to a lack of a video which I am not sure why one wasn’t done as these guys were quite a hit with the ladies and a video would’ve helped immensely.

The song was written by the whole band…or at least they whole band got credit for this one. The lyrics were written by Michael Hutchence as he was learning quickly how the press were shaping his and the band’s image. He new what the media was good for, but he also didn’t trust them. It doesn’t look like he mistrusted them for the band’s image, but it was more along the lines of how the media interpreted the world events. He saw that they shaped a certain narrative and this was back in 1985. Imagine what he would think about the media today. The song is basically a warning that we need to “really” listen to the media don’t trust everything you hear. Question everything. If you listen like thieves then you are stealing what the media is telling you and making that what you actually believe without doing your own research and coming to the conclusion for yourself. It is basically a call to people to stop being sheep. Stop following other people, stealing their thoughts as your own. Be your own self. Your future is yours and that it is all in your hands. No one is going to do it for you. You are all you need to make things happen. Get off your ass and do it for yourself.

Musically, the song is pop/new wave perfection. Opening with a quick guitar riff from Tim Farriss and then Jon Farris does a barrage of drum hits and then song immediately kicks in to gear. It is happy, uplifting tempo and sound that gets you moving with a driving beat throughout. The keyboards from Andrew Farriss are used sparingly for added effect and impact. Michael Hutchence on vocals, sings with a charm and swagger that will make the ladies swoon and the guys jealous. The song is an example of a band that was up and coming and finding their voice both literally and figuratively.

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Friday New Releases – May 21, 2021

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Happy Friday everyone! We have another great list of new album releases for you. The floodgates are open and albums are coming hot and heavy each week and this week there should be something for you. I have a few I want to hear, but aren’t going crazy to hear them. I have marked those in Blue as usual. What albums do you want to hear this week. Also, let me know what my list does not include because I am just one man and can’t find everything coming out. Thanks so much for stopping by this week and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

  • 71IkSyGDGhL._SS500_  Olivia Rodrigo – Sour – (Geffen Records): This is not one I want to hear which is why it isn’t in Blue. However, this is one my kids are going nuts over. With the smash hit “Drivers License” this young lady is blowing up the radio. I am sure I will hear this one, but it will be under duress.
  • A1CZEo7ECuS._SX522_  P!nk – All I Know So Far (Live) – (RCA): P!nk has a live album and that is cool. She’s a major talent and I have to say I enjoy her pop sensibilities. Fun and lots of attitude. Since we still aren’t going to shows, this is the next best thing. The song below is the one studio track from the album.
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My Sunday Song – “Suicide Blonde” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #248, we are tackling the song “Suicide Blonde” off the band’s 1990 album ‘X’. The follow-up album to the very successful ‘Kick’ saw the band willing to stretch themselves even more and push the limits. The first single off the album went to #9 in the U.S. and #11 in the U.K., but it did go to #1 in Canada…way to go Canucks!!. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence as usual as they were the primary writers for the band.

The song title was inspired by Kylie Minogue who was dating Michael at the time. She told him she was going to dye her hair “suicide blonde” for a movie and all that means was that was she was going to color her hair herself. Michael loved the saying and turned it in to this wonderful pop tune. The song is not about suicide so you can get that out of your mind quickly. The only I can figure is the song is about their relationship and let me tell you that was an odd pair has Michael was a little wild and Kylie’s image was pretty squeaky clean.

Musically, the song sees the band push a little more to the electronic sounds. There is a great blues harmonica that was played by Charlie Musselwhite, but he didn’t play it live for the song. He played it and then they sampled it through Andrew’s synthesizer. Jon Farriss’ drums took on a more electronic dance beat almost acid house style. I love the fearlessness they had in willing to try new things. Michael is amazing as usual and makes the song as exciting as the beat tells you it should be. I always want to get up and start dancing when I hear this one. And let me tell you, I can’t dance.

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Friday New Releases – May 14, 2021

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The releases keep on coming and another solid week of new albums for you. Not as many as the prior weeks but still over 20 to choose from. My choices are highlighted in Blue as usual. What are you interested in listening to this week? Let me know in the comments and please add anything that I may have missed so everyone can know what else is out there. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous weekend listening to music!!

  • 81M7TYdfCML._SS500_  Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March – (Napalm Records): Myles is probably the busiest man in the music business and somehow he still found time for a solo album. This is his second solo album and his first ‘Year of the Tiger” was absolutely brilliant. Of course, that makes this one have super high expectations. I have this ordered on a really cool green/white vinyl that was exclusive to his site so I can’t wait to see how it turned out. Plus it is autographed so that will make two albums of his I have autographed!!
  • 91ZiqomKJ5L._SX522_  Sunbomb – Evil and Divine – (Frontiers Records): I was just talking about Myles being the busiest man in the music industry…well, Michael Sweet might be tied in that category as he is constantly putting out new material. This time around Michael Sweet and Tracii Guns team up for their first album. The band is Sunbomb and is another in a long line of a pairings that Frontiers brings together. I am not a huge fan of this unless it turns in to a real band. We will see if this does, but I am sure this will be a one time thing, which is usually disappointing. I will hold judgement until I listen to it though.
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My Sunday Song – “Devil Inside” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #247, we are going to dive in to “Devil Inside” by INXS. Another track off the fantastic album ‘Kick” from 1987. The song was a massive success for INXS going all the way to #2 on the US Charts. INXS was exploding in the States and I was gladly jumping on board at the time as this is one of my favorite albums from the 80’s. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and the late Michael Hutchence.

The song is about excess, but it is also about the battle of good and evil in us all. We have a good side and we definitely have a dark side. The side that wants to come out and be really bad. When we start to wonder how the other half lives and jealousy starts rearing her ugly head, when we want the taste of flesh or lust…either of these things are lying it wait at the tip of our minds ready to explode out and let the dark side take over.

For me, the best part of the song is not the lyrics, but the opening guitar riff by Tim Farriss. It is simple and short, but so recognizable and for a band that always has some cool riffs in their songs, this is one of their best. Also, the other thing I love is the sexiness of Hutchence and they way he delivers those lyrics. The sultriness of the way they roll of his tongue it turns this pop/rock song into a sexy beast…roar!! Okay that was over-the-top, sorry. This album saw a band gel together and become so tight and this song is a perfect example, every guitar note, every keyboard strike and every bass thump and every pounding drum beat came together in a perfect combination to bring us this masterful pop song.

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Friday New Releases – May 7, 2021

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I can’t believe we are already in to May. Time is flying by. This week this is a lot and there isn’t. There is a lot as in I do have over 35 releases for you today, but there isn’t a lot as their are only a handful I am interested in hearing. I will mark those in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear or what I may have missed as I am sure there is something that came out that I don’t have on the list and people need to know. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

  • 81nvDrWhjkL._SS500_.jpg  Weezer – Van Weezer – (Crush/Atlantic): I am not a Weezer fan by any stretch of the imagination, but when you name you album “Van Weezer” and this supposed to be your so called metal album I guess, that makes me interested. I am giving this a try strictly out of curiosity.
  • 71VY-vuhmIL._SX522_  Nancy Wilson – You and Me – (Carry On Music): I am excited to hear Nancy Wilson’s new solo album. Although this ain’t Heart, it is cool she finally is releasing her first solo album. Their are 8 original tracks and four covers and some great guests including Sammy Hagar, Duff McKagan and Taylor Hawkins. We also get a song that is a tribute to Eddie Van Halen called “4 Edward”. I’m expected a good time to be had by all.
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My Sunday Song – “Need You Tonight” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #246, we are going to review the song “Need You Tonight” by INXS. The song is off their massive hit album, ‘Kick’, which was released in 1987. The song was the first single off the album and took the band in to the stratosphere. The song went to #1 in the US and ended at #2 in the year end chart. It became a mainstay on MTV and the band were the new darlings of the time. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence and would boost their confidence and turn them in to the main song writers for the band.

The music was written by Andrew who had come up with the rhythm section of the song while waiting on the cab. When the cab driver arrived he asked the driver to wait as he had to get something from his room. An hour later Andrew came back down. I don’t think the driver was very pleased, but the rest of us are because in that hour, he demoed the song much to the dismay of the taxi driver. When Andrew played the song to Michael, Michael wrote those lyrics in about an hour. Now, the lyrics aren’t real deep as it is basically Michael trying to get a booty call which I am sure was pretty easy for him to get one as they were quickly becoming one of the biggest bands in the world.

The song is mostly an electronic track with a drum machine and a click track with a little cymbal hit every so often. But is that guitar riff that takes the song up a notch. It is very recognizable riff which the band was actually quite adept at coming up with those riffs in their songs. When you take the sexiness of that riff and through in the sultry vocals of Michael, it is no wonder that the women swooned over this band. The song had a bounce to it, a slick groove and was over-the-top sexy and made for a perfect combination to make this a #1 song.

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Friday New Releases – April 30, 2021

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Friday April 30th…the end of another month. And this week, we actually have 30 new releases for you to look over. Hopefully something in this bunch will float your boat. My boat is rocking with a couple killer releases and then my boat feels a little country too with another. My choices are in Blue. Let me know which ones you are dying to hear and which ones I might have missed as I am sure there are some despite the large number here. Thanks for stopping by each week and for all the support. I hope you all have a great and rocking weekend!!

  • 61NQMk7UwhL._SX522_  Royal Bloods – Typhoons – (Warner Bros): This album was supposed to come out last year and I have been waiting a long while for it to finally arrive. Their last album, the 2017 “How Did We Get So Dark?”, was smashing. If you like rock with a little blues, a little garage rock sound and just plain hard, then this is for you!!
  • 81LwZfkaQoL._SS500_  Gojira – Fortitudes – (Roadrunner Records): If Royal Blood isn’t heavy enough for you then Gojira might more up your alley. This French metal band has the goods and delivers all the time. The last album was back in 2016 and was called “Magma” and it was a lava filled volcano of rock. This should be just as good or better…yes, expectations are high!!
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