Twostepcub's New Music Roundup 2/11/23...
It's time for my weekly new music roundup, where I feature the big entries on the Hot 100 as well as my personal choices of the songs making the various radio charts in Billboard magazine, as well as on the charts in the United Kingdom. Red America poster boy for Morgan Wallen places three new songs on the Hot 100, including one in the top-40, and The Kid LAROI also slips into the top-40 with a song I hadn't even known came out.
from the album One Thing At A Time (2023)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #27
The country singer people streamed for days to "own the libs" returns with a trio of songs from his upcoming 36-track third set One Thing At A Time, and this is the one that made the top-40 on the Hot 100. It's not surprising, since its extra-short length and circular production with a heavy hip-hop tinged bass is tailor-made for TikTok. I mean, it's alright, as Morgan sings about a toxic relationship with lots of nuance, but starting a song of his out with "Last night I let the liqour talk" is just a little too on the nose.
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from the album The First Time (2023)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #40
Official British Singles Chart debut: #18
Man, the Australian has gone full Bieber here, has he whines through not even two and a half minutes of pining over a failed love, and I'd rather sit through Wallen's mediocrity than this drivel. But expect a push from the record company for this too big to fail act.
"Dawns" - Zach Bryan & Maggie Rogers
from the single (2023)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #42
What a song this is. Alt-country artist Bryan teams up with indie rock singer Rogers for this two sides of the coin look at a troubled relationship, as its ending, with Bryan grasping for what material possessions he has while mourning the loss of their bond, while Rogers singing about finally being free and not put into a box in their stifled pairing. This is a real and stunning piece of work that doesn't follow any mainstream musical patterns and deserves all the attention it can muster.
from the album Gettin' Old (2023)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #64
On the other side of the country music likeable coin, Luke Combs returns with a preview of his upcoming album which will arrive less than a year after his previous Growin' Up (a lightning pace in country music terms these days). It's a little preachy, and by the numbers sloganing a tad, but it's more heartfelt than anything Morgan's ever put out, and Luke knows hows to sell his wares. Not essential, but not offensive.
from the album Gloria (2023)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #71
British Singles Airplay debut: #3
British Singles Sales debut: #13
Speaking of the conversation of being "offensive", to be honest, I'm more taken aback by Sam's lipsync not matching the record vocals than the pissplay intonations or costume choices. I do give credit for Smith for embracing their sexuality full-force after the risk paid off on "Unholy". While this is not long-lasting fodder, it's fun, the production input from Calvin Harris makes it a respective club track, and Sam's vocals give some color to the one-note chorus tag.
from the album Let's Start Here (2023)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #80
Even though I don't think the album is the revelation many make it to be, the rapper who brought us "Broccoli" and "Oprah's Bank Account" does deliver moments of inspiration from the set, including this sprawling opener that sounds great on the headphones. He's carried bigtime by the musicians on the record, including the six co-writers on this track, but he Yachty should be commended for reinventing himself from the puerile beginnings to something with a message beyond the "trap world" routine that's got a hold on hip-hop. Worth a listen.
fro the album Changeup (2022)
Billboard Adult Top-40 Airplay debut: #33
I don't know what sparked the resurged radio interest in veteran grrrrl rocker Joan Jett, but it's great to see her on the charts for a second time this year already with a new acoustic take from a nugget from her "failed" album Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth from 1984.
from the album Walk Around The Moon (2023)
Billboard Adult Album Alternative (Triple-A) Rock Airplay debut: #23
After a five-year gap, the most mainstream of the jam bands are back with this eastern music influenced track that's more a statement of sound that is window dressing for a determined message that we as a country are not protecting our children thanks for he lunatic fringe.
from the album Ride On (2023)
Triple-A Rock Airplay debut: #37
Carolina lo-fi band has a charming picture of regular American life in this mid-tempo cross between blues-indie-rock and jangle-pop.
from the album Fever Sky (2023)
Triple-A Rock Airplay debut: #40
"Wilder Woods" is the reincarnation of Bear Reinhart, the frontman for the semi-Christian rock band Needtobreathe, and he fits in the white guys doing soul music niche that Nathaniel Rateliff has already cornered. Skillfully done, but doesn't make you forget Nate exists.
"ICU" - Coco Jones
from the album What I Didn't Tell You (2022)
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay debut: #29
Continuing with reinvention, former Disney Channel product Coco Jones has a stunning turn with this showstopping breakthrough track that fuses bedroom R&B with breakup passion with equal gusto.
"Pace Yourself" - Tanya Nolan featuring Raheem DeVaughn
from the single (2023)
Billboard Adult R&B Airplay debut: #30
The neo-soul pair may be preaching about taking it slow with your feelings, but the groove certainly suggests going full steam ahead with parts down south.
from the album Stereotype Broken (2023)
Billboard Country Airplay debut: #26
The habit of Nashville re-releasing "deluxe editions" of albums tacking on a couple new singles has effectively stopped me from buying country CD's, and Swindell is the latest culprit, with his follow-up to his massive success Frankenstein of "She Had Me At Heads Carolina". This new one is ten times sillier, and I'm embarrassed I'm not abhorring it as much as I feel it deserves, but Cole certainly has a jovial swagger in this drinking song.
from the album Greenbroke (2022)
Country Airplay debut: #54
Newcomer Dean proves he's not a one-note flash in the pan with this re-recorded barnburner from his debut album, which shows a vocal power usually reserved for hard rock singers.
from the album Trustfall (2023)
Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #8
British Singles Chart debut: #59
British Singles Airplay debut: #9
British Singles Sales debut: #3
It's hilarious that Pink's single "Never Gonna Not Dance Again" is kept from Billboard's Dance/Electronic songs but this title track from her upcoming album is. But besides that, the song itself is more serious than "Never" is, intending to be an anthem of self-empowerment, and it's 80% there.
from the album Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023)
Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #12
The most blatant proof of shenanigans going on in the charts department of Billboard this week comes with the debut of eight of the fourteen tracks on Ava Max's new album on the dance/electronic songs chart, including two months-old hits ("Maybe You're The Problem" and "Million Dollar Baby") than suddenly appear on the list. Perhaps someone felt they're making up for the ridiculous choice that kept Dua Lipa's dance-pop singles from the list as well as Beyonce's neo-disco "Cuff It", which has freaking Nile "Chic" Rodgers playing on it! More likely is some petitioning (or possible palm-greasing) to place certain artists and songs in certain "categories" rather than the actual content itself. As for me, Max should've always been here (as Dua and "Cuff It" should have) and the record is full of dancefloor gems including this one. (Alternate shenanigan theory - Beyonce's "team" forced the trade mag to keep it from the dance chart so it could be nominated for the Best R&B Song Grammy which it won.)
"Something's Coming" - Cheat Codes and Lady A
from the album One Night in Nashville (2023)
Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #24
American B-list bro-dance DJs quietly slipped in a new album that's all collaborations with country acts. I'm a little shocked that the track with Dolly Parton didn't make the chart but this pleasant but lesser one with the crossover trio did.
from the album Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023)
Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #25
The title track from Ava's album tries to capture the drama of the epic disco songs of the late-70s, and the result is pleasant enough for the work-out playlist.
from the album Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023)
Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #32
This is one of my favorites from the Ava Max album, a propelling pop number that deserves to be a radio single.
from the album One Night In Nashville (2023)
Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #33
How this is classified as a "dance" song baffles me, but it's a cute adult pop/country number with the James Corden of Nashville Tenpenny (everyone loves to hate on him).
from the album Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023)
Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #37
Another spotless nugget from Max's album is a cool addition to the car playlist.
"Here" - Tom Grennan
from the album What Ifs and Maybes (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #84
British Singles Sales debut: #24
British singer/songwriter continues in the Ed Sheeran meets Lewis Capaldi vein with this belting ballad.
"Woman" - Lady Blackbird
from the album Black Acid Soul (Deluxe Edition) (2023)
British Singles Airplay debut: #18
This is by far my pick for the week, from a phenomenal artist and a stellar song that is a rare track that pulls no punches in declaring her lesbian attractions. Marley Munroe's voice gives such power and emotion to this song that sounds so timeless and fresh concurrently.
from the album Songwriter (2022)
British Singles Airplay debut: #20
Veteran pop singer/songwriter is still in the game, and while his 80s/90s heyday is far behind, this is a charmer that should appeal to the adult-pop crowd. Richard wrote this with his son Lucas.
I'll be back tomorrow with my choices of the albums making the charts.
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