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The Pop Music Desk:

 
    • Cylob said...
    • User
    • 10 Dec 2006, 10:55

    The Pop Music Desk:

    Welcome to the Pop Music Desk:



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    • Cylob said...
    • User
    • 10 Dec 2006, 11:50
    My poptastic pick of the week:

    Anniemal (2004)



    Choice Cuts:
    The Greatest Hit
    Always Too Late
    Anniemal

    I don't own much that's likely to have stormed the singles charts, so all I can do is recommend the poppier elements of my collection.

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  • Pick of ... the decade, I presume (well, possibly not)

    I own one album that I thought was immensely likely to storm the charts but didn't, nor the singles off it, I believe. I can actually claim to own it only because I was given a promotional copy in a pretty cardboard envelope and all that because my local record clerk had been sent one and didn't want to play it to his target audience of grandfather widowers - but! I'm glad I have it because it's wonderful.

    It is this:

    How the Mighty Fall (2005)



    The problem I am facing - have been facing for two weeks now in which I've been trying to write a comment on it - is that I can't seem to think of what to say about it. Trust me, though, it really is musically good, not just in an Ooh It's Honeypie Mark Owen way (tragic as it is, I was born too late to ever take notice of Take That while they existed). I'd recommend it to all fans of pop-indie (not indie pop!), the cheerful side of post-britpop, Badly Drawn Boy in a party hat. What Mr Owen does better than a certain former companion of his is that he doesn't try to prove to himself he can do a dozen styles on one album - he's undergone a transformation from the boy group sound, surely (although as far as I can tell he's always had that voice, and a surprisingly un-boy-ish voice it is, quite ... how d'you say it? it has dignity, but not in a humourless or old-and-cynic way), but it appears he sticks with the style he's found now. Or it did appear until Take That reformed (why? why? who needed that? the ones who did killed themselves anyway, right? I certainly hope it won't stop him from releasing more albums like this). Ah well.

    Lovely album. Really.

    Choice cuts:
    Believe in the Boogie
    Makin' Out
    Come On

    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 24 Dec 2006, 18:07
    One of the poppiest albums in my collection, but a damn great one:



    Rio

    Anyone who writes them off as a silly 80s joke is missing some good music. Sure, they had goofy hair and wardrobe choices at times and their videos were rather over-the-top, but they made excellent, catchy synthpop.

    Key tracks:
    Hold Back the Rain
    Hungry Like the Wolf
    My Own Way

  • [spam]

    [spam]

    Aye
    Edited by hjbardenhagen on 30 Jul 2011, 04:33
  • [spam]

    [spam]

    Aye
    Edited by hjbardenhagen on 30 Jul 2011, 04:33
  • Is this were I come to fawn over France Gall?

    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 2 Jan 2007, 00:20
    Marvin the Album (1992)



    I just love the "Accidently Kelly Street" filmclip. Oversized props! Dorky looking people! Dancing like they're having a seizure! Frente!

    Frente! were a briefly lived Australian band who probably only got any recognition elsewhere for their cover of New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle", but actually hand several really catchy songs of their own. This album sums up how pop should be to me: catchy, enjoyable songs that perhaps mean less than they sound if you analyse them, but are great fun to sing or dance along to. Marvin the Album is just varied enough to keep you interested the whole way, but not so far that your head struggles to keep up. A great pick me up listen, and my pick of the week.

    Fave songs:
    ordinary angels
    girl
    Reflect

    • Cylob said...
    • User
    • 2 Jan 2007, 09:28
    acertainromance said:
    I wonder where they got the influence for the lyrics to that ;)

    Sometimes I wonder if the Artic Monkeys actually write their own lyrics.

    That's just one of the many occasions you sit back and think, "Wow, how old are these people? How could they know that?!".

    They're dispelling the myth of youth being ignorant and blind to the past.

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  • DontLetsStart said:
    Frente! were a briefly lived Australian band who probably only got any recognition elsewhere for their cover of New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle", but actually hand several really catchy songs of their own.



    The first acoustic-guitar-and-female-vocal cover of "Bizarre Love Triangle" was Bizarre Love Triangle from the 1989 album The Prince of Wales, by the duo of Allison Statton (ex-Young Marble Giants) and Ian Devine (ex-Ludus). Peter Hook evidently approved, as he guested on their next album Cardiffians. The Frente version of the song sounds very, very much like this earlier version.

    "Just like I knew what I was doing" -- Foe
  • [spam]

    [spam]

    Aye
    Edited by hjbardenhagen on 30 Jul 2011, 04:33
    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 13 Jan 2007, 23:26
    Pop lovers, try out:
    Girls Aloud Chemistry
    Gwen Stefani The Sweet Escape, a lot poppier than her debut
    Dannii Minogue Neon Nights
    Ruby Amanfu Smoke & Honey and
    Rachel Stevens Come And Get It - forgotten electro pop gem!

  • tomstar7 said:
    Pop lovers, try out:
    Girls Aloud Chemistry
    Gwen Stefani The Sweet Escape, a lot poppier than her debut
    Dannii Minogue Neon Nights
    Ruby Amanfu Smoke & Honey and
    Rachel Stevens Come And Get It - forgotten electro pop gem!


    Oh, I adore that Rachel Stevens album! I've been meaning to check out Dannii Minogue for a while, too.

    For fans of that as well as Annie and the likes, even Ladytron, I thoroughly recommend Bertine Zetlitz - I got an album of hers the other week and it's gorgeous:

    Rollerskating (2005)



    A clear, sweet - thinnish if you want to be mean - voice and utterly addictive electropop tunes, synths that are more The Human League than they are themselves these days, a wide, colourful arrey of beats and rhythms presented with a joyful glittering coolness not seen since Deep Cuts - but with a golden pop heart deep inside; If You Buy The Blue One wouldn't sound out of place on Feist's last album. Heaven alone knows why this isn't internationally cherished (by both critics and fans - radio listeners included).

    Choice cuts:
    Fake Your Beauty
    Candy
    Back Where I Belong

    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 15 Jan 2007, 01:20
    thanks Lucie : )
    checked out Bertine Zetlitz, and she seems EXACTLY the kind of artist I've been looking for - now all I gotta do is save a bit of money so I can buy the album on iTunes :D

    pop fans should also check out
    Girls Aloud What Will The Neighbours Say?
    Justin Timberlake Futuresex / Lovesounds - just got it today and it's amaaaazing, way better than his debut.
    All Saints Studio 1
    Jamelia Walk With Me - Beware of the Dog is amazing!
    Sugababes Angels With Dirty Faces
    and no true pop collection is complete without the classics - so add a bit of Bananarama, pure 80s cheese :D

    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 15 Jan 2007, 01:22
    • Cylob said...
    • User
    • 15 Jan 2007, 15:42

    The MAC Rollcall of Great Pop! Albums:

    Copy/Paste these into the next post:

    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)

    Then, add 3 of your own favourites.

    Keep it A-Z, and keep it going (you can jump back in after someone else).

    We'll stop at 100.

    When I say pop, I mean albums that were designed specifically to sell shedloads. I don't mean indie/alternative albums that just happened to become popular (like The Arctic Monkeys).

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    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 15 Jan 2007, 16:41
    *
    * Subscriber
    * 15 Jan 2007, 15:42

    The MAC Rollcall of Great Pop! Albums:
    Copy/Paste these into the next post:

    Bananarama - WOW! (1987)
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (2004)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
    Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (2005)

    Then, add 3 of your own favourites.

    Keep it A-Z, and keep it going (you can jump back in after someone else).

    We'll stop at 100.

    When I say pop, I mean albums that were designed specifically to sell shedloads. I don't mean indie/alternative albums that just happened to become popular (like The Arctic Monkeys).

    • Cylob said...
    • User
    • 15 Jan 2007, 17:00
    Bananarama - WOW! (1987)
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (2004)
    M People - Elegant Slumming (1994)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
    Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (2005)
    Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
    Texas - The Hush (1999)

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    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 15 Jan 2007, 23:53
    Bananarama - WOW! (1987)
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (2004)
    M People - Elegant Slumming (1994)
    Macy Gray - On How Life Is (1999)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
    Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (2005)
    Roxette - Look Sharp! (1988)
    Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
    Texas - The Hush (1999)

    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 15 Jan 2007, 23:58
    Bananarama - WOW! (1987)
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Girls Aloud - Chemistry (2005)
    Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (2004)
    Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape (2006)
    Kylie Minogue - Fever (2003)
    M People - Elegant Slumming (1994)
    Macy Gray - On How Life Is (1999)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
    Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (2005)
    Roxette - Look Sharp! (1988)
    Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
    Texas - The Hush (1999)

    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 16 Jan 2007, 00:05
    Bananarama - WOW! (1987)
    Cyndi Lauper - She's so Unusual (1983)
    Dido - No Angel (1999)
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Girls Aloud - Chemistry (2005)
    Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (2004)
    Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape (2006)
    Hanson - Middle of Nowhere (1997)
    Kylie Minogue - Fever (2003)
    M People - Elegant Slumming (1994)
    Macy Gray - On How Life Is (1999)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
    Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (2005)
    Roxette - Look Sharp! (1988)
    Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
    Texas - The Hush (1999)

  • Re: Bananarama - I missed the chance to see them live last summer literally by sleeping through it. Regretting it to this very day ...
    Ooh, "No Angel"! I need to listen to that again.

    Bananarama - WOW! (1987)
    Buddy Holly - Buddy Holly (1958)
    The Carpenters - Close To You (1970)

    Cyndi Lauper - She's so Unusual (1983)
    Dido - No Angel (1999)
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Girls Aloud - Chemistry (2005)
    Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (2004)
    Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape (2006)
    Hanson - Middle of Nowhere (1997)
    Kylie Minogue - Fever (2003)
    M People - Elegant Slumming (1994)
    Macy Gray - On How Life Is (1999)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
    Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (2005)
    Robbie Williams - Life Thru A Lens (1997)
    Roxette - Look Sharp! (1988)
    Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
    Texas - The Hush (1999)

    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 16 Jan 2007, 09:46
    Bananarama - WOW! (1987)
    Buddy Holly - Buddy Holly (1958)
    The Carpenters - Close To You (1970)
    Cyndi Lauper - She's so Unusual (1983)
    Dido - No Angel (1999)
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Girls Aloud - Chemistry (2005)
    Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (2004)
    Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape (2006)
    Hanson - Middle of Nowhere (1997)
    Kylie Minogue - Fever (2003)
    M People - Elegant Slumming (1994)
    Macy Gray - On How Life Is (1999)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
    Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (2005)
    Robbie Williams - Life Thru A Lens (1997)
    Roxette - Look Sharp! (1988)
    Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
    Spice Girls - Spice (1996)
    Sugababes - Angels With Dirty Faces (2002)
    Texas - The Hush (1999)
    Whitney Houston - Whitney (1987)

  • Bananarama - WOW! (1987)
    The Bangles - Different Light (1986)
    Buddy Holly - Buddy Holly (1958)
    The Carpenters - Close To You (1970)
    Cyndi Lauper - She's so Unusual (1983)
    Dido - No Angel (1999)
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Girls Aloud - Chemistry (2005)
    Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (2004)
    Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape (2006)
    Hanson - Middle of Nowhere (1997)
    Kylie Minogue - Fever (2003)
    M People - Elegant Slumming (1994)
    Macy Gray - On How Life Is (1999)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
    The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
    Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (2005)
    Robbie Williams - Life Thru A Lens (1997)
    Roxette - Look Sharp! (1988)
    Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
    Spice Girls - Spice (1996)
    Squeeze - Argybargy (1980)
    Sugababes - Angels With Dirty Faces (2002)
    Texas - The Hush (1999)
    Whitney Houston - Whitney (1987)

    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 16 Jan 2007, 18:07
    Bananarama - WOW! (1987)
    The Bangles - Different Light (1986)
    Bertine Zetlitz - Rollerskating (2005)
    Britney Spears - In The Zone (2003)
    Buddy Holly - Buddy Holly (1958)
    The Carpenters - Close To You (1970)
    Cyndi Lauper - She's so Unusual (1983)
    Dido - No Angel (1999)
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
    Girls Aloud - Chemistry (2005)
    Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say? (2004)
    Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape (2006)
    Hanson - Middle of Nowhere (1997)
    Kylie Minogue - Fever (2003)
    M People - Elegant Slumming (1994)
    Macy Gray - On How Life Is (1999)
    Madonna - True Blue (1986)
    Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
    The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
    Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
    Rachel Stevens - Come And Get It (2005)
    Richard X - Presents his X-Factor (2004)
    Robbie Williams - Life Thru A Lens (1997)
    Roxette - Look Sharp! (1988)
    Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
    Spice Girls - Spice (1996)
    Squeeze - Argybargy (1980)
    Sugababes - Angels With Dirty Faces (2002)
    Texas - The Hush (1999)
    Whitney Houston - Whitney (1987)

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