Twostepcub's New Music Roundup 1/28/23....
It's time for my weekly new music roundup, where I feature my choices of the songs making the various radio charts in Billboard magazine, as well as on the charts in the United Kingdom. This week's big chart had two big-profile entries from female pop stars burning bridges with their unfaithful exes - one of them, Shakira's obliquely-titled "BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 53", was featured on last week's roundup since it entered the dance songs chart the week is was released.
"Flowers" - Miley Cyrus
from the album Endless Summer Vacation (2023)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #1
Billboard Pop Airplay debut: #16
Billboard Adult Top-40 Airplay debut: #14
Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay debut: #15
Official British Singles Chart debut: #1
British Singles Airplay debut: #1
British Singles Sales debut: #1
Four years after her separation from ex-husband Avenger Liam Hemsworth, Miley still holds a grudge, and gloriously lets it all out in this dance-pop throwback to the late 1980s. The song's lyrics are basically an "answer record" to Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man", which I noticed right off the bat more than the interpolation of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". The result is her tightest pop single in years, though a teeny part of me thinks this sounds a little demo-ish and would've been helped even more with a flushing out (an orchestra, perhaps?).
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"Human" - Cody Johnson
from the album Human - The Double Album (2021)
Hot 100 debut: #94
After making the big crossover from Red Dirt Country to the big-leagues last year with his anthemic message song "'Til You Can't", Johnson returns to the big chart with the title song and opening track from his sterling album. This time he looks more inward, with the tribulations of being a performer on the road and the toll it takes on relationships.
from the album Here Comes The Cowboy (2019)
Hot 100 debut: #98
Sometimes TikTok viral trends do good things, as in the case of this forgotten nugget from longtime cult favorite DeMarco that has a soft-rock vibe and puts in squarely back in 1982 where it could have been a massive hit.
from the album So Much (for) Stardust (2023)
Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay debut: #12
Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay debut: #39
Billboard Alternative Rock Airplay debut: #21
The kings of snarky rock return, as if by necessity to the people to compensate for what Panic! At The Disco had become last year, and they do so by turning the sound to eleven. The music video even has a nod to their lead guitarist Joe Trohman who is taking a break from the band after the recording of this album to nobly focus on his personal well-being.
from the album True Power (2022)
Mainstream Rock Airplay debut: #28
The nu-metal band that got famous for covering Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" almost a decade ago sort of take inspiration from Fall Out Boy with this hard but reflective track that has a good balance of power and restraint.
from the album Denim & Diamonds (2022)
Billboard Adult Album Alternative (Triple-A) Rock Airplay debut: #28
Alt-country artist Lane rolls out her best late-90s Sheryl Crow with the title track to her album that even has a tip-off to Cher.
"Hungersite" - Goose
from the album Dripfield (2022)
Triple-A Rock Airplay debut: #34
This abbreviated track from the Connecticut jam band (it's still approaching five minutes) wraps around my ears in the headphones with it warm production that entraces me. A great introduction.
from the album Electrophonic Chronic (2023)
Triple-A Rock Airplay debut: #40
Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys is back with his side project the ARCS with this trippy new song that proves why he's one of the most sought-after producers in the rock business. I'm excitied to listen to the new album which came out yesterday.
"I Need To Know" - Ledisi
from the album TBA (2023)
Billboard Adult R&B Airplay debut: 24
Soul songstress Ledisi is back thankfully with this confrontation with an indifferent if also unfaithful lover with a passion that maybe Miley and Shakira can learn from.
from the single (2023)
Billboard Country Airplay debut: #47
The rapper turned rocker turned country star follows off his #1 Nashville hit "Son Of A Sinner" with another slice of flawed man seeking redemption songs that shows off his direction well. But does it make me angry that Rag N Bone Man should've had more success here in the States?
from the album TBA (2023)
Country Airplay debut: #48
On the opposite end of the country spectrum, Young previews his ninth album with this boyfriend country staple that goes down like maple syrup, but still has his charm imprinted. The video's extra cheesy though.
from the single (2023)
Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #28
British Singles Sales debut: #24
I'm a sucker for a well-used sample, and this new one from the Brazilian DJ and X Factor UK ninth-season winner uses one of the best filter disco bangers, Shapeshifters' #1 British hit "Lola's Theme" which itself is an interpolation of Johnnie Taylor's 1982 funk song "What About My Love". That alone is the price of admission, and a worthy addition to your workout of car playlists.
from the album Amelia (2023)
British Singles Chart debut: #23
British Singles Airplay debut: #7
British Singles Sales debut: #16
Webb, who has criminally been overlooked here in the States, offers up a wronged lovers anthem that may do the trick finally. We do have a theme of men are pigs, fry them like bacon, don't we?
from the album TBA (2023)
British Singles Airplay debut: #22
Perhaps whoever produced this electro-pop nugget from the Finnish singer should've taken on Miley's "Flowers", since this has the sonic punch I yearn for in the other.
"React" - Switch Disco featuring Ella Henderson
from the single (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #21
British singer Henderson gets herself on another bop, this time one that interpolates the late Robert Miles' massive instrumental club hit "Children". Non-essential, but a fun workout playlist addition.
from the album Council Skies (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #26
The Britpop veteran has been putting out some real quality work as of late, and the two previews of his upcoming album are just mesmerizing.
from the album Blood Orange (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #31
Fans of Jessie Ware, Goldfrapp, and Florence + The Machine's dance material should really give this song for the introverts a listen. It's epic and emotional in the right spots.
from the album My 21st Century Blues (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #36
Another taste of the upcoming new album from the British artist who is currently riding the good tide for her "Escapism". This one is just as different and strikingly powerful.
I'll return with my picks of the albums hitting the charts from last week.
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