twostepcub's New Music Roundup 12/17/22...

 

 

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. We're winding down to the Christmas/Hanukkah holidays, but an "album bomb" by producer Leland Wayne aka Metro Boomin' shook things up, with all fifteen tracks from his new album Heroes & Villains made the Hot 100, though only two of the tracks are ones I'd go back to again. 

 

"Creepin'" - Metro Boomin' with the Weeknd and 21 Savage

from the album Heroes & Villains (2022)

Billboard Hot 100 debut: #5

 

 Well, the big winner from Metro Boomin's set was this song that has The Weeknd and 21 Savage as "ringers", as well as interpolating the 2000's hit "I Don't Wanna Know" by Mario Winans (which itself took from Enya's "Bodicea") for immediate recognition from the late millennial crowd. The moody atmosphere fits the Weeknd's vibe, though this does seem somewhat unfinished.

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"On Time" - Metro Boomin' with John Legend

from the album Heroes & Villains (2022) 

Billboard Hot 100 debut: #48

 

 The second choice of mine from the Heroes & Villains is the album opener, which has John Legend singing his heart out, a string section and choir bringing the drama, and Morgan Freeman throwing in a cameo. 

 

"(I'm Gonna) Run Away)" (Acoustic) - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

from the album Changeup (2022)

Billboard Adult Top-40 debut: #38

 

 It's surreal that the woman who topped the pop charts the week I started to buy and follow Billboard magazine has a new song out forty years later, and it's an acoustic version of a song from that album, I Love Rock & Roll. Jett's snarl is just as fine as ever, and it's a cool end-of-year sing-a-long for the disaffected during this time. 

"Spit Of You" - Sam Fender

from the album Seventeen Going Under (2021)

Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay debut: #41

I still don't know why British rocker Fender hasn't crossed over big on this side of the Atlantic, but maybe a late showing for this song from his second album can spark something in the winter months. 

"Hurricane" - Plains

from the album I Walked With You A Ways (2022)

Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay (Triple-A Rock) debut: #37

A beautiful song from the collaboration between folk veteran Jess Williamson and indie newcomer Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee is a great melding of harmonies between the pair as they sing about being that girl who blows into town for an old love.

"New Body Rhumba" - LCD Soundsystem

from the single (2022)

Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay debut: #39

The alt-dance-rock's contribution to the movie White Noise (although it doesn't appear on the soundtrack) gives off a Talking Heads/B-52's/Devo vibe without sounding like a pastiche of said titans. It's something to shake your ass to while taking a break from the holidays.

"Try Losing One" - Tyler Braden

from the EP What Do They Know (2021)

Billboard Country Airplay debut: #58

Braden was on the ill-fated American Song Contest, the sad attempt to make a Eurovision for the States, but he got all the way to the finals, where he came in tenth (out of 10). His new single from his album from last year has Tyler giving a notable vocal performance in this breakup ballad that swells without being grandiose.

 

"We Got History" - Mitchell Tenpenny

from the album This Is The Heavy (2022)

Billboard Country Airplay debut: #59

 

 The country music version of Lewis Capaldi delivers a can't-let-go confession I and many other people can totally relate to. I admit this wall of sound drama-country gets me everytime.

"Just Words" - DVBBS

from the single (2022)

Billboard Dance Airplay debut: #33

For once a neo-house music jam that's over three minutes so it doesn't feel like a TikTok snippet, this new one from the Canadian brotherly duo thumps while bringing at least some unfiltered emotion into the vocals.

"Need Ya" - Bonnie x Clyde & FOMO

from the single (2022)

Billboard Dance Airplay debut: #40

This non-album nugget from the Virginia duo teaming up with the DJ duo FOMO is a cool blend of Lithuanian-house production and throwback to early 00's trance music vocals from "Bonnie" Paige Lopynski.

 

"You Know What I Need" - PNAU & Troye Sivan

from the single (2022)

Billboard Dance & Electronic Songs debut: #26

 

After doing their magic to bring Elton John back into the top ten on the American pop charts, maybe there's a chance Aussie duo PNAU can do the same with Australian gem Sivan who glides on this groove with ease. Perhaps.

"Pointless" - Lewis Capaldi

from the album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent (2023)

British Singles debut: #20

British Singles Airplay debut: #2

British Singles Sales debut: #1

This upbeat ballad may be a switch for the gruff-voiced Scotsman, but it's really the music video that makes this a stunner, with a simple story of a single mom and her son that if you're not with a tear in the end there's something wrong with you.

 

"People Pleaser" - Cat Burns

from the single (2022)

British Singles Airplay debut: #40

 

 This new song from brilliant British newbie Burns is like a new generation's Lily Allen. I can really get into the lyrics of this song.

"Sailing Home For Christmas" - Little Red Ambulance with the Culdrose Military Wives Choir

from the single (2022)

British Singles Sales debut: #23

This charity single from the group of friends who reunite every year just for a Christmas release brings in a military wives choir for this very British song that would have made my annual Christmas CD mix I used to give out if I were still making them (since nobody has a CD player anymore).

"Last Chance - Christmas Mix" - Soft Cell

from the single (2022)

British Singles Sales debut: #34

For their own holiday release, the iconic British synthpop duo remix a song from their 2002 album Cruelty Without Beauty to add some appropriate melancholy cheer.

 

 I'll be back tomorrow with my picks of the albums making the American and British charts this week.