Twostepcub's New Music Roundup 11/26/22...

 
Hey folks, I hope everybody in America had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. It's time for this week's new music round-up, where I run down my picks of the latest singles on the various charts in the U.S. and in the United Kingdom.
 
"Heart Like A Truck" - Lainey Wilson
from the album Bell Bottom Country (2022)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #86


Wilson's current top-20 country radio hit finally makes it to the "big" chart. It's always a good thing when a woman is doing well in that current fuckboi-heavy genre, and Lainey shows vulnerability in this world-weary song.

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"Break My Heart" - Rod Wave
from the EP Jupiter's Diary: 7 Day Theory (2022)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #91


In this bass-heavy new single, Rod isn't singing about a woman breaking his heart, but rather the other people in the music business that either take advantage of him or go off to play the "gangsta" lifestyle that he has no time for with a family. Also, a surprising use of Sam Smith's recent "Love Me More" as the base sample.

"Going, Going, Gone" - Luke Combs
from the album Growin' Up (2022)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #99


The third radio offering from Combs' third album is a nice, simple ballad that benefits from his gruff voice.

"Merry Merry" - Elizabeth Chan
from the album 12 Months Of Christmas (2022)
Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay debut: #24


The musical "David" that defeated the "Goliath" of Mariah Carey in court, when the latter tried to trademark the "Queen Of Christmas" name, is back with a slice of cheesy neo-disco this year but she never ceases to put a smile on my face when I hear her. She chose a niche and dang well she's sticking to it. 

"Kid On Christmas" - Pentatonix featuring Meghan Trainor
from the album Holidays Around The World (2022)
Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay debut: #28


Another holiday mainstay is a Pentatonix Christmas album, and the a-cappella group cheats a little this time out, using an instrumental backdrop and bringing in a rebounding Meghan Trainor for the ride, but it's too cute to pass (since I know it'll be gone after the season).

"Black Rhino" - Royal Bliss
from the single (2022)
Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay debut: #40


Rock radio is pretty slow this week, with this one from the Utah rock band the sole head-banger choice (the new Disturbed is sorryfully lame).

"Forever" - Jessie Reyez featuring 6LACK
from the album Yessie (2022)
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay debut: #48


Canadian R&B singer, who had garnered a Grammy nomination for her 2018 EP Being Human In Public, delivers a smooth bedroom soul track featuring a short but sweet verse from Baltimore rapper 6LACK.

"Skin Tight" - Ravyn Lenae featuring Steve Lacy
from the album HYPNOS (2022)
Billboard Adult R&B Airplay debut: #29
 

 Originally released in the beginning of February, this song from Chicago-based Lenae rides the coattails of featured artist (and current "it" guy) Steve Lacy to urban contemporary radio, where its atmospheric production belongs quite nicely.

"No Love For You" - Regard X Drop-G
from the single (2022)
Billboard Dance Airplay debut: #19


DJ's from neighboring Kosovo and Albania join forces for this deep-house nugget that's smaller in lyrics but big in sound. Great on car speaker on the road.
 
"Spiral" - Lena Leon
from the single (2022)
Billboard Dance Airplay debut: #31
 

 A nice slice of trance music from this little-known newcomer.

"Roll The Dice" - Armin Van Buuren featuring Philip Strand
from the album Feel It Again, Pt. 2 (2022)
Billboard Dance Airplay debut: #35

 
Speaking of trance, here's an optimistic song from the Dutch EDM veteran that sports lyrics perfect for finding love (if only for a night) at a club sung by Swedish artist Strand.

"Black Mascara" - Raye
from the album 21st Century Blues (2023)
Billboard Dance Airplay debut: #38


This British dance music singer has had quite a rough way with her record company, but this single shakes things up from the usual neo-house fare and works so much better. Gives me hope for her upcoming first full-length album that it will follow the path Swedish popster Agnes took.

"Damn (You've Got Me Saying)" - Galantis, David Guetta, & MNEK
from the single (2022)
Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #29


Swedish duo Galantis and French EDM icon Guetta set up singer MNEK with this bop that hopefully will get a bigger audience.
 
"Firebabe" - Stormzy
from the album This Is What I Mean (2022)
British Official Singles debut: #26
 

 The grime rapper shows a softer side with this preview of his just-released third album.
 
"Alone" - Burna Boy
from the album Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Original Soundtrack) (2022)
British Official Singles debut: #32
 

 This lush and emotional Afrobeats song is actually the best thing on the Wakanda Forever soundtrack, even besting Rihanna's tracks.

"Con La Brisa" - Foudeqush featuring Ludwig Goransson
from the album Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Original Soundtrack) (2022)
British Official Singles debut: #75
 

 This one also from Wakanda Forever by the Mexican singer and Swedish composer is a nice counterpart, portraying the other half of the movie's cast equation.

"I'll Be Waiting" - Cian Ducrot
from the single (2022)
British Official Singles debut: #80
 

 
This week's tearjerker from the newcomer from London is powerful but not overbearing (see Capaldi, Lewis).

"The Loneliest Time" - Carly Rae Jepsen featuring Rufus Wainwright
from the album The Loneliest Time (2022)
British Airplay debut: #28


The thinking gay man's pop queen recruits troubadour Wainwright for this smooth as silk slice of drama.

"Same Boat" - Sheku Kanneh-Mason featuring Zak Abel
from the album Song (2022)
British Singles Sales debut: #34


The British classical cellist who got his big break performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, hires on pop singer Abel to collaborate on this beautiful and poignant song. 
 
That's it for today, I'll be back tomorrow with my choices of the albums making their debut on the charts. Cheers!






 
 


 
 

 

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