twostepcub's New Music Roundup 4/8/23...
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 a member of the biggest act in K-pop lands the first solo #1 in America from the genre.
"Like Crazy" - Jimin
from the album Face (2023)
Billboard Hot 100 debut: #1
Official British Singles Chart debut: #8
British Singles Sales debut: #2
On the strength of an embarrassing amount of sales from the rabid fanbase who snap up multiple different copies of the single, BTS Jimin has the top song of the week on the Hot 100, despite it having less than 100K spins on the radio during the week (less than 1% of its chart points, as compared to 78%% of its points coming from sales and 22% from streaming). As for the song itself, its a moody piece that is an improvement from last week's "Set Me Free Pt. 2", straddling the line between bedroom R&B delivery and electro-pop production. But in the end it's not something that stuck in my brain, as pleasant as it is. And unless radio gets on board (which an English version does help there) it won't last more than a couple of weeks (these kids only have so much of a budget).
(Click below to see the rest of the post)
from the album Subtract (-) (2023)
Hot 100 debut: #26
Billboard Pop Airplay debut: #20
Billboard Adult Top-40 Airplay debut: #12
Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay debut: #17
British Singles chart debut: #1
British Singles Airplay debut: #1
British Singles Sales debut: #1
Frankly, I was shocked that Ed's "Celestial" was passed over in America - perhaps it was the blatant Pokemon tie-in that turned off people - but now Sheeran returns with a pensive but rhythmic song where he mourns the sudden death of a friend. The track is definitely in the path Lewis Capaldi has been trodding all along, but Ed's congenial tone sugars the medicine, and the music video can be taken to heart by anyone suffering from depression in its many forms.
"Fast Car" - Luke Combs
from the album Gettin' Old (2023)
Hot 100 debut: #44
British Singles Chart debut: #70
British Singles Sales debut: #37
While it doesn't eclipse Tracy Chapman's iconic original (and even he would admit it), Luke does her song justice by not trying to switch up gender and lyrics and sticking to the gripping story at hand. This deserves to be the big country radio hit that Tracy should have had in 1988.
from the album Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale (2023)
Hot 100 debut: #81
In this new track from the expanded version of his 2021 album, Tyler carries on the legacy of Andre 3000 Benjamin with this trippy but smooth single that has come-on lyrics but enough witty lines to grab your attention throughout.
"72 Seasons" - Metallica
from the album 72 Seasons (2023)
Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay debut: #23
Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay debut: #33
Over seven and a half minutes of adrenaline in this hark back to their earlier days when power ruled over radio feasibility. Something to blast in the car as long as you watch yourself from careening over 100 mph.
from the album Self-Titled (2023)
Rock & Alternative Airplay debut: #45
Billboard Alternative Rock Airplay debut: #36
Every now and then we've got a one-off band then serves up an agressively white-boy funky track that rock radio latches on to, and Texas' little image fit the bill this time around.
from the album I Want It All Right Now (2023)
Alternative Rock Airplay debut: #34
The quirky L.A. indie-pop outfit are back with a breezy little rocker that will fit for a Sunday afternoon but not last too much longer.
from the album Wait Til I Get Over (2023)
Billboard Adult Album Alternative (Triple-A) Rock Airplay debut; #40
The leader of the indie-soul group the Indicators goes solo with this gospel-rock-tinged gem from his upcoming solo set. The video is simply stunning and is illustrates clearly what a portion of the South is trying to erase from memory. Please also check out the equally amazing black queer love story "That Feeling".
from the album The Invitation: A Conversation With God (2023)
Billboard Adult R&B Airplay debut: #27
The former member of R&B group Xscape has been all over BravoTV with her feud with groupmate Kandi Burriss, but apart from that this inspirational ballad proves she's still got the pipes from her younger days.
"Still" - Luke Combs
from the album Gettin' Old (2023)
Billboard Country Airplay debut: #57
Nashville has been kind to Combs, with five album tracks from Luke's latest making the only debuts on the genre radio chart (three of which I covered previously). This one is definitely a standout, a nice throwback to the 90's country I crave. It deserves to be a radio hit, as well as in the two-step bars.
from the album Gettin' Old (2023)
Country Airplay debut: #59
And yes, this is another uptempo track that Luke does so damn well.
"No Sleep" - Regard & Ella Henderson
from the single (2023)
Billboard Dance Airplay debut: #28
Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #49
The British singer's lightly sandpapered voice works well with the Kosovan DJ/producer's thumping background, and this is better put together than a lot of the same-same that's been flooding the genre lately.
"With All My Heart" - ILLENIUM & JVKE
from the album ILLENIUM (2023)
Dance/Electronic Songs debut: #12
While the lyrics are a bit basic, JVKE's soft delivery elevates the producer's normal bombastic sound to bring a more nuanced result.
"labour" - Paris Paloma
from the single (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #29
British Singles Sales debut: #28
You know, I've never heard about singer/songwriter Paloma until now, and man, does this blow me away. Paris' seething strummer against the patriarchy is more the real deal that the throngs who have Lana Del Rey's pastiche on repair should pay attention to more.
"Fly Girl" - FLO featuring Missy Elliott
from the single (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #38
British Singles Sales debut: #32
If your looking for this week's R&B jam to bop to, you need to fly over to London for this one from the British girl-group with an assist from Missy Elliott herself.
from the album Meteora (20th Anniversary Edition) (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #81
British Singles Sales debut: #17
Another resurrected track from the Meteora sessions for the upcoming reissue of the band's sophomore album following the #1 rock radio hit "Lost", this one also doesn't seem like a toss-off.
from the album So Much (for) Stardust (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #91
As the band's new album hits high on the charts, this third single from the set pops on early in the UK with a hilarious new music video.
"Make Me" - Borai & Denham Audio
from the single (2023)
British Singles chart debut: #99
Two British DJ's go back to the 80's and tweak the Deborah Allen club hit "Serious" and pass it through a deep house filter that make nice treadmill fodder.
"Future Love" - Lemar
from the album Page In My Heart (2023)
British Singles Airplay debut: #17
The R&B singer from the UK who had seven top ten hits in his home country returns with a great throwback to the 80's, and not in the usual synthpop way, but in the pop/R&B soundtrack fare that doesn't get enough love (think Michael McDonald's "Sweet Freedom" and System's "Don't Forget This Groove"). I LOVE this.
from the album Amelia (2023)
British Singles Airplay debut: #37
Another gem from Mimi's very tight album, with a kiss off to an ex relatable on so many levels to the young people who should seek this out.
from the single (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #8
Canadian newcomer Fine also mines the ex toss-off territory with his hopeful breakthrough nugget I like a lot.
from the album Council Skies (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #18
I'm really looking forward to the new album from the Oasis brother, with his best songwriting in years, coupled with a lush string section on this one that evokes tears in my eyes.
"'Cello Song" - Fontaines D.C.
from the album The Endless Coloured Ways: The Songs Of Nick Drake (2023)
British Singles Sales debut: #23
Another disc I'm looking forward is the tribute album to indie-folk artist Nick Drake, especially with this punchy throwdown that'll startle those only familiar with "Pink Moon".
from the EP
British Singles Sales debut: #38
Gothic synthpop gets a resurgence from this 4-song extended play single that from the entrancing newbie.
I'll be back tomorrow with my picks of the albums making the charts...
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