Twostepcub's New Music Roundup 04/01/23...
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. This week three completely diverse songs enter in the top-40 on the "big chart"...
from the EP The More Lover Chapter (2019)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #12
Official British Singles Chart debut: #11
British Singles Sales debut: #5
As Taylor Swift embarks on her Eras tour, the music phenomenon released four "new" tracks last week, including three reworked songs from her Big Machine days as "Taylor's Version", along with this outtake from the Lover sessions of 2019. The waltz reportedly is about her current boyfriend and British actor Joe Alwyn, and how his experiences with previous girlfriends molded his psyche into the man she fell in love with. In that sense, it is kind weird, but hell a lot of her female (and male) fans feel that way about their own loves, and the spoiler-style look into the beginning of their relationship sure sold the faithful. To me, it's a nice album cut, that may or may not have been missed on the regular Lover release.
(Click below to see the rest of the post)
from the single (2023)
Hot 100 debut: #26
Mexican artist Peso Pluma, who produces music in the Corrido tumbado style, which combines the regional Mexican music of Guadalajara and hip-hop/rap delivery has been getting a lot of momentum, and this week five songs featuring him are on the Hot 100 with this one coming all the way up in the top-30. The fusion is apparent when the production of classic rhythms meets the lyrics which is your hitting on a woman dancing in the club, which is universal to the R&B experience in the last 30 years. It's not for me, but wasn't made for me, so no shade to those who are into this, it's musically solid, even if the vocals are a bit overprocessed.
from the EP Face (2023)
Hot 100 debut: #30
British Singles Chart debut: #30
British Singles Sales debut: #1
Speaking of overprocessed vocals, the latest single from Jimin of the K-Pop titans BTS rockets its way into the top 40 for his first time as a solo artist. It's odd, since he never released a song called "Set Me Free" before, though in interviews he nods to an unrelated track on bandmate Suga's album. Like Swift and Eslebon Armado's song, this is squarely for the faithful, and not particularly for mainstream consumption. Producers Ghstloop and Pdogg deliver what sounds like a cribbed Kanye West track from a decade ago, while Jimin half-raps and half-sings in this distorted recording that evokes trap music. Still, it's the big and brash that K-pop is known for, and in return the fans gobbled it up like fentanyl, though I don't see this lasting long.
from the album Gettin' Old (2023)
Hot 100 debut: #45
British Singles Chart debut: #92
The country bear that rules country radio sends in another preview in advance of his upcoming Gettin' Old album, which came out last Friday and will appear on next week's charts. This is a solid "thankful for what I've got" song, though I believe it's not going to be the radio hit from the set, but rather a teaser.
"Eat Your Young" - Hozier
from the EP Eat Your Young (2023)
Hot 100 debut: #67
Billboard Adult Album Alternative (Triple-A) Rock Airplay debut: #30
British Singles Chart debut; #22
Although the Irish singer/songwriter has been mostly absent to pop radio since his big hit "Take Me To Church" in 2014, he's retained a steady profile in the music world as well as with his fans; his second album Wasteland Baby topped the Billboard 200 in 2019 and his self-titled debut is still on the charts. So it shouldn't be a surprise that his new song may make waves, though I'm happily impressed by its showing on the "big" chart, which seems to be more dominated by niche acts and tabloid chasers. In this song Hozier delves into Dante's Inferno folklore, with a falsetto completely different from "Church" though striding the same white boy funk folk from before.
"Moonlight" - Kali Uchis
from the album Red Moon In Venus (2023)
Hot 100 debut: #92
If you're looking for a jam to provide background music for bedroom antics, look no further than this sensual track that has the right rhythm for the back and forth.
from the album Mammoth II (2023)
Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay debut: #31
Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay debut: #36
With three top-ten rock radio hits under his belt to bust the nepo-baby criticism, Wolfgang Van Halen and his band thrash through his full throttle song that worlds away from his dad's work. The music video is eight minutes of MTV-style bliss as well.
"Those Days" - Nickelback
from the album Get Rollin' (2022)
Mainstream Rock Airplay debut: #32
You gotta give some credit to the most-hated band in the business to take it on the chin so gracefully, and this one will push all the nostalgic buttons for late Gen-X er's.
from the album The Cannonballers (2023)
Billboard Alternative Rock Airplay debut: #40
OK, I've found my car playlist add for the week with this infectious bop that dances around my ears.
"Superglue" - Michigander
from the EP It Will Never Be The Same (2023)
Triple-A Rock Airplay debut: #33
Jason Singer, who fronts the band Michigander, goes all out to poke fun of himself with the music video that turned into another music video about him breaking his leg. But beyond that, the song itself is a sweet whirlwind of emotive rock about the uncertainty of a new love.
from the EP The Valley Of Vision (2023)
Triple-A Rock Airplay debut: #37
I featured this EP (extended play single) in last week's album recap, and now the biting lead single makes it on to the radio.
"Helmet" - Steve Lacy
from the album Gemini Rights (2022)
Triple-A Rock Airplay debut: #40
It seems like Lacy has had a tough time getting back on the radio after the massive success of "Bad Habit", but it's programmers' loss if they don't jump on this nice free-form song that follows his fresh path.
from the album Gasms (2023)
Billboard Adult R&B Airplay debut: #30
The 83-year-old soul legend is still in the game as the single from his hilariously-named album Gasms slips on to the older-skewing format list with its smooth and loosely produced charms.
from the album Religiously: The Album (2023)
Billboard Country Airplay debut: #57
As Bailey's second single "A Rock And A Hard Place" hits the top ten on the Hot 100 and tops the country airplay chart, his new single arrives early previewing his upcoming first full-length album. He has a cadence and melody structure much like Morgan Wallen, without the added baggage.
from the single (2023)
Billboard Dance Airplay debut: #37
American DJ Audien and British counterpart Codeko recruit the singer who won the little-known TV songwriting competition Songland for the affable pulse-raiser for the treadmill.
from the album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #24
British Singles Sales debut: #19
The jovial chap from Scotland doesn't get the props he should for crafting amazingly heartwrenching pieces of music, like this ballad from his upcoming sophomore album.
"Flip A Switch" - RAYE
from the album My 21st Century Blues (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #83
Another great track from RAYE's stellar debut album, proving even the deep cuts are a compelling listen.
from the single (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #95
Half of the pair who brought the world "Messy In Heaven", British newcomer Venbee gets a bit personal with her confessions of a young'n growing up within the pandemic.
from the album Dead Club City (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #97
The British band bring back the dance-rock on this preview of their fourth album. Sounds great on the headphones.
"I Found Her" - Olly Murs
from the album Marry Me (2022)
British Singles Airplay debut: #26
The X Factor runner-up who is now a judge on The Voice UK goes early-80's retro in the synth-rock bop.
"Safe & Sound (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift featuring Joy Williams and John Paul White
from the single (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #16
Swift has been rerecording her Big Machine music to reclaim her ownership, as well as smooth any cracks, and his stunning collaboration which got the Civil Wars to record (albeit separately) is thankfully back out for the fans. If you're looking for a portend to her Folklore/Evermore period, this is it.
from the single (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #18
The lesser of the two Swift songs from The Hunger Games, still is a powerful part of her oeuvre.
from the single (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #38
Another one for the treadmill as the long-lasting electronic alt-dance act return with their first in four years.
I'll return tomorrow with my album chart recap and picks.
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