Friday, December 31, 2010

Trippin' The Disco Fantastic... New Year's Eve 2010!

Hour 1
One Night In My Life - Cast of Beautiful People
Keep On Dancing - Gary's Gang
Turn The Beat Around - Vicki Sue Robinson
You Should Be Dancing - The Bee Gees
Vertigo/Relight My Fire - Dan Hartman with Loleatta Holloway
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Take Me Home - Cher
Disco Inferno - The Trammps
Do Ya Wanna Funk - Sylvester
Contact - Edwin Starr
Born To Be Alive - Patrick Hernandez
Love Pains - Yvonne Elliman
So Many Men, So Little Time - Miquel Brown

Hour 2
Thank God It's Friday - Love And Kisses
If My Friends Could See Me Now - Linda Clifford
Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You - Teri DeSario
Let's All Chant - Michael Zager Band
Ring My Bell - Anita Bell
Night Fever - The Bee Gees
Work That Body - Taana Gardner
I Don't Know If It's Right - Evelyn "Champagne" King
The Boss - Diana Ross
Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
Come To Me - France Joli
Heaven Knows - Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
I Need Your Lovin' - Teena Marie
Never Can Say Goodbye - Gloria Gaynor

Hour 3
Firework - Katy Perry
Strike It Up - Black Box
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - Indeep
I've Got The Next Dance - Deniece Williams
Dance (Disco Heat) - Sylvester
Midnight Love Affair - Carol Douglas
Love Hangover - Diana Ross
Found A Cure - Ashford and Simpson
Don't Take Away The Music - Tavares
Dance A Little Bit Closer - Charo
Last Dance (The Shane Owen Mix) - Paul Jabara and Donna Summer
The Way Of Love - Cher

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Top 10 Albums of 2010

1. Animal -Ke$ha. She might be the most-successful, yet wildly under-estimated new pop star of the moment. With Animal, Ke$ha has not only put her deft songwriting skills to fine use, she has also been outing a nation of double-standard-spewing bullshitters. How? Well, if we can embrace the hard-partying, sexually-charged fodder of dudes like Flo Rida, Usher, T.I., et al, why are so many folks freaked by a chick getting her swirl on? With each proclamation that Ke$ha is nothing but a drunken skank, naysayers reveal that they probably haven't actually listened to more than the handful of "get-your-freak-on" singles that she's released. Songs like "Blind," "Hungover," "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes," and the heartbreaking "Harold Song" (from the deluxe Cannibal edition) display sensitivity hinting a career that will endure beyond "Tik-Tok." Dear Critics, Bloggers, and Hyper-Opinionated Punters: You don't have to love Ke$ha, even though she makes irresistable pop music. But you should actually listen to her entire album before you publicly denounce her as little more than a fleeting hot-mess. You'll look smarter. Oh... and didn't they say similar things about Madonna when she wore her bra outside her t-shirts, made out with Latino boys in her videos, and rolled around the floor of the MTV Awards about 100 years ago?

2. Progress - Take That. I think I might have been the only Take That fan on the planet who didn't rejoice when my beloved Robbie Williams rejointed the group's line-up. Unlike many, I enjoyed the mature, far-less-fucked-up Robbie displayed on 2009's Reality Killed The Video Star, and listening to the newly four-man Take That felt like putting on a comfortable favorite sweater. With trepidation, I dove into Progress, only to discover one of the most inventive, yet accessible pop music recordings in recent years. The heightened stakes of the world waiting for Robbie to wreak havoc on the band might have initially put everyone on their best behavior, but it also seemed to have inspired Take That to bravely reinvent the concept of a boy-band. With the invaluable aid of skilled producer Stuart Price, the lads swapped the predictability of power-ballads for majestic brotherhood anthems ("The Flood") and sinewy dancefloor fodder ("Kidz," "S.O.S."). If only Americans were smart enough to care. Meanwhile, someone please get a copy of this album to the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block... STAT!

3. Aphrodite - Kylie Minogue. This album gives us Kylie exactly as we want her: Smooth, sweet, and awash in colorful dance rhythms. The intention is clearly not to challenge, but to comfort the listener with warmth and familiarity. In a sea of murky pop darkness, often for the sake of it and little more, tunes like All The Lovers and Looking For An Angel feel like a desperately needed life-preserver. Kylie and executive producer Stuart Price wisely dressed the songs in arrangements that manage to be simultaneously timely and timeless. After countless albums, you leave Aphrodite sated, yet happily anticipating the fact that La Minogue still has more than a few tasty treats up her creative sleeve.

4. Lights - Ellie Goulding. Goulding was HEAVILY hyped in the world music press as one of the most promising new artists of 2010, a designation that is often more an albratross than boon. Seemingly deaf to the noise, Ellie simply went about the business of offering a sterling hybrid of electro-pop and singer/songwriter folk. With a voice warmly reminiscent of Alanis Morissette, Goulding proved adept at darting from playing the sultry couquette ("Under The Sheets") to plaintive storyteller ("Guns And Horses," "The Writer"). The recently issued Bright Lights deluxe edition indicates that Ellie has a good shot at dodgy sophmore slump.

5. Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook - Bettye LaVette. Rock elitists have already written volumes heralding the bluesy lustre of LaVette's voice, as well as her brazenly confident readings of classic compositions by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, among others. But let's break this down into words that an average listener can embrace. This is the album that legions of Tina Turner fans have wanted for decades... and may never get. To that end, show Miss LaVette some love!

6. The Reason Why - Little Big Town. On one level, LBT has long served a purpose similar to Bettye LaVette to Tina Turner fans; they are making the country-flavored soft-rock records that Fleetwood Mac would/should record if they could just pull their heads out of their asses. But The Reason Why shows the vocal quartet finally digging deeper and honing a sound that continues to be reverent to the Mac, but is also notably more soulful and spiritual. Particularly noteworthy is Jimi Westbrook, who manages to break out as a star lead-singer without hurting the band's delicate harmony equation.

7. Happiness - Hurts. If Tears For Fears were to form today, they'd be called Hurts. They deal in the kind of moody poetry and slate-grey tale-weaving that must have Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith gnashing their teeth with envy. There are plenty of unique distinguishing characteristics to Hurts, thank goodness. Most notable is the fact that they wisely do not get too comfortable with '80s posturing, and they know exactly when to pick up the tempo... often right before the temptation to drown the listener in minor-chord sadness has reached the proverbial perilous edge of a cliff. A promising debut that leaves the ear curious for more.

8. American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem. Have old-fashioned, barroom bands become obsolete? Gratefully, NO! American Slang is rife with the blue-collar romance of a classic Bruce Springsteen album, but with none of the workers-unite politics that have marred his later efforts. Quite frankly, this is not music to burn too many brain cells over. It's all about three or four chords, loud guitars, a big backbeat, and a hunky frontman. In other words, it's about rock-and-roll, dude!

9. Recovery - Eminem. Sometimes, you have to live through hell in order to create great art. Recovery is brutal, yet beautiful. It's a vivid snapshot of a platinum star who is fearlessly willing to show his most ugly scars and flaws. In fact, he flaunts them with a bedraggled, yet defiant pride that might make this previously hateful brute charming... in a prickly way, of course.

10. Night Work - Scissor Sisters. It must totally suck to be in this band. You make a beloved, wildly cool first album, and (despite the undeniable charms of subsequent efforts) you then spend the rest of your career living it down. Night Work shows Jake Shears and Baby Daddy throwing up their hands and abandoning the '70s-centricity of their first two albums. In its place is a darkly sweet '80s dance flavor that fulfills the promise never achieved by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Jake is, by turns, a preening sex-god and late-in-life/Freddie Mercury-esque philosopher. They've yet to match the fan ardor of that first album, but it's good to see that Scissor Sisters haven't stopped following their musical bliss.

Top 10 Singles of 2010

1. All The Lovers - Kylie Minogue. This is as close to perfect as a pop song gets. Kylie's vocal is downright angelic, wafting atop a fluttering melody and a groove that is taut and spine-crawling. It's a watershed moment proving that La Minogue's best recordings undeniably still lie ahead.

2. Helium Hearts - Jason Reeves. Simple and infectious, poetic and picturesque. Jason comes as close to capturing the lighthearted rush of emotion that comes during the early days of romance.

3. Love Part II - Bright Light Bright Light. The hi-NRG rhythmic fervor of vintage Erasure and Pet Shop Boys underlines a wonderfully matter-of-fact tale of lads in love. If only this music was this comfortably queer and sweetly romantic when I first came out so many years ago.

4. Stuck On You - Sugarland. It takes the proverbial balls of steel to drop a ragga-pop breakdown in the middle of a strummy, Middle-American country music tune. But that's what Sugarland compadres Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are all about. They have become masters of down-home country songwriting that has just the right amount of stank on it.

5. Kites - Gravitonas. It's taken a hot minute for producer/composer/musician Alexander Bard to finally match the artful sophistication of the late, great Army of Lovers. In frontman Andreas Ohn, he has found the perfect voice to give life to his meditations of life, love, and spirituality in the disco round.

6. Bad Girl - DeeDee Loves Me. On the surface, DeeDee comes off as a sassy, teen-friendly combination of Lily Allen and Katy Perry. Dig deeper, and you'll discover an intensely sensitive and soulful young woman who will make you want, by turns, to be her BFF and bad-boy deflector/protector. This single is the start of something special.

7. Leave It All Behind - Jason Walker. The clubland belter has reinvented himself into a soul singer of depth that belies his youth. This song is more than a "you-can-make-it" anthem. It is a declaration of independence and renewed statement of creative purpose for a singer who has the potential to make a million hearts soar.

8. If (When You Go) - Judie Tzuke. After 30 years as a journeywoman singer/songwriter, it would be reasonable for Miss Judie to simply retread one or two previous ideas, while cruising on auto-pilot. This sterling moment from her underappreciated Moon On A Mirrorball opus reveals the exact opposite. Teamed with pop maestro Steve Anderson, Tzuke has never sounded more creatively engaged or emotionally available. Her performance of the song's gentle, yet painfully sad prose could be a masterclass in emotional subtlety.

9. Sugarbaby - Morningwood. Remember when rock-and-roll was carefree and just a little naughty? Morningwood's Chantal Claret clearly does. From the contagious tribal chants to the sweeping air-guitar chorus, this jam will make you feel like you're speeding in a convertible down Any-Highway USA with your bestie in tow.

10. White Room - The Dirty Disco. Ornery, acidic, aggressive and sometimes downright funny. This is an air-puncher for anyone who has ever felt locked outside of life's mainstream, and treated like a psycho-loser just for being different. Frontman Adam-Boy performs with empathetic venom that is undercut with subtle, yet palpable sadness.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Feel The Spin Playlist, December 26th...

FEEL THE SPIN airs on Sirius 109/XM 98 radio every Sunday at 2pm ET/11am PT/7pm UK, with a replay the same day at 9pm ET/6pm PT/2am Monday UK

Hour 1
White Light Moment - Tove Styrke
The Fear Inside - Frankmuzik
Take Me Over - Cut Copy
Resusitate Me - September
Mirrors - Natalia Kills
Hot Mess - Natalia Kills
Blow - Ke$ha
Hard Enough - Brandon Flowers
If I Were Boy - Reba McEntire
Little Miss - Sugarland
Endlessly - Duffy
Am I Forgiven? - Rumer
Take Me As I Am - Rumer

Hour 2
All You Need Is Now - Duran Duran
A conversation with Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran about their new album, All You Need Is Now
Girl Panic! - Duran Duran
Being Followed - Duran Duran
Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
Since Yesterday - Strawberry Switchblade
Misfit - Curiousity Killed The Cat
Too Shy - Kajagoogoo

Hour 3
Farmer's Daughter - Crystal Bowersox
A conversation with Crystal Bowersox about her album, Farmer's Daughter
Mason - Crystal Bowersox
Arlene - Crystal Bowersox
Farmer's Daughter (Live at Sirius XM) - Crystal Bowersox
Rolling In The Deep - Adele
Betchya Got A Cure - Sophie B. Hawkins
When We Collide - Matt Cardle

Hour 4
Behind The Groove - Teena Marie
I Want Your Love - Chic
No One Gets The Prize - Diana Ross
Love Sensation - Loleatta Holloway
Runaway Love - Linda Clifford
Can You Handle It - Sharon Redd
I Specialize In Love - Sharon Brown
In The Navy - The Village People
Walk The Night - The Skatt Bros.
Don't Take Away The Music - Tavares

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Feel The Spin Playlist, December 19th...

FEEL THE SPIN airs on Sirius 109/XM 98 radio every Sunday at 2pm ET/11am PT/7pm UK, with a replay the same day at 9pm ET/6pm PT/2am Monday UK

Hour 1
All You Need Is Now - Duran Duran
When We Collide - Matt Cardle
Farmer's Daughter - Crystal Bowersox
Holy Toledo - Crystal Bowersox
Whataya Want From Me (Acoustic) - Adam Lambert
Bum Around - DeeDee Loves Me
Sincerely Fearful - Emma Dean
Take Me Over - Cut Copy
Not In Love - Crystal Castles with Robert Smith (of the Cure)
Time - Wideband Network
Sad Eyes (Live at Sirius XM) - Jason Walker
Leave It All Behind (Live at Sirius XM) - Jason Walker

Hour 2
Hopes And Fears - Will Young
Have A Cry - Kina
Cruz - Christina Aguilera
The Good Fight - Todd Alsup
Gonna Be Alright - Levi Kreis
Wonderful Life - Kylie Minogue
Fuckin' Perfect - Pink
Your Song - Ellie Goulding
Rolling In The Deep - Adele
If (When You Go) - Judie Tzuke
Field-Trip Buddy - Matt Alber
Pretty Eyes - Jason Reeves
Best Days - Matt White

Hour 3
Alfie - Dionne Warwick
New World Coming - Mama Cass Elliott
For All We Know - The Carpenters
Baby, I'm A Want You - Bread
Make It With You - Bread
Love Me For A Reason - The Osmonds
Mandy - Barry Manilow
Precious And Few - Climax
I Love You - Climax Blues Band
Maybe Tomorrow - The Jackson 5ive
The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me - Gladys Knight and the Pips
You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics
My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder
Mercy, Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye

Hour 4
Put The Needle On It - Dannii Minogue
Leave U (Club Mix) - Kandi
She Freaks - Shapeshifters
Cannibal (Brian Cua Mix) - Ke$ha
Born The Way (Dirty Pop Mix) - Lady Gaga
The World Is Mine - David Guetta
I Want Your Sex (Freemasons Mix) - George Michael
Better Than Today (Japanese Popstar Mix) - Kylie Minogue

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Feel The Spin Playlist, December 12th...

FEEL THE SPIN airs on Sirius 109/XM 98 radio every Sunday at 2pm ET/11am PT/7pm UK, with a replay the same day at 9pm ET/6pm PT/2am Monday UK

Hour 1
My Boy - Duffy
Well, Well, Well (Low Sunday Mix) - Duffy
Kidz - Take That
The Flood (Loca Mix) - Cheryl Cole
Mirrors - Natalia Kills
Do It Like A Dude - Jessie J.
Low - DeeDee Loves Me
Take Me Over - Cut Copy
I Believe In You - The Black Dub
Gasoline Rainbows - Amy Kuney
Your Song - Ellie Goulding
Time - Wideband Network

Hour 2
Damn, Wish I Was Your Love - Sophie B. Hawkins
A conversation with Sophie B. Hawkins
Betchya Got A Cure - Sophie B. Hawkins
Missing - Sophie B. Hawkins

Hour 3
Fire - Bruce Springsteen
Because The Night - Bruce Springsteen
Dancing Barefoot - Patti Smith Group
Caution To The Wind - Bailey Tzuke
Rolling In The Deep - Adele
Brilliant Mistake - Elvis Costello
Nowhere - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Even The Losers - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Care - Kid Rock with Martina McBride and T.I.
Tonight - Sugarland
Gonna Be Alright - Levi Kreis
Kind And Generous - Natalie Merchant

Hour 4
Love Dealer - Esmee with Justin Timberlake
A Thousand Beautiful Things (Audio Assembly Mix) - Annie Lennox
If I Were You - Boy George
Beating On A Better Drum - Tove Styrke
Come Back - Chicane with Paul Young
Hotel California (Alex Dubbing Mix) - The Eagles
S&M - Rihanna
Indestructible - Robyn
Vulture - The Dirty Disco

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Feel The Spin Playlist, December 5th...

FEEL THE SPIN airs on Sirius 109/XM 98 radio every Sunday at 2pm ET/11am PT/7pm UK, with a replay the same day at 9pm ET/6pm PT/2am Monday UK

Hour 1
My Boy - Duffy
Well, Well, Well (Low Sunday Mix) - Duffy
Kidz - Take That
The Flood (Loca Mix) - Cheryl Cole
Mirrors - Natalia Kills
Do It Like A Dude - Jessie J.
Low - DeeDee Loves Me
Take Me Over - Cut Copy
I Believe In You - The Black Dub
Gasoline Rainbows - Amy Kuney
Your Song - Ellie Goulding
Time - Wideband Network

Hour 2
Fire - Bruce Springsteen
Because The Night - Bruce Springsteen
Dancing Barefoot - Patti Smith Group
Caution To The Wind - Bailey Tzuke
Rolling In The Deep - Adele
Brilliant Mistake - Elvis Costello
Nowhere - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Even The Losers - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Care - Kid Rock with Martina McBride and T.I.
Tonight - Sugarland
Gonna Be Alright - Levi Kreis
Kind And Generous - Natalie Merchant

Hour 3
Live It Up - Lee DeWyze
A conversation with Lee DeWyze, as well as a studio performance the songs:
     Sweet Serendipity
     Beautiful Like You
     Live It Up
     O Holy Night
What Is Love - EMD
Girl From The Gutter - Kina
The Good Fight - Todd Alsup
Boots - The Killers

Hour 4
Love Dealer - Esmee with Justin Timberlake
A Thousand Beautiful Things (Audio Assembly Mix) - Annie Lennox
If I Were You - Boy George
Beating On A Better Drum - Tove Styrke
Come Back - Chicane with Paul Young
Hotel California (Alex Dubbing Mix) - The Eagles
S&M - Rihanna
Indestructible - Robyn
Vulture - The Dirty Disco