Journal

monthly chart atk!


JUNE '07

Markus Schulz - Progression Album
Markus Schulz - Fly To Colors - Original / Signalrunners Mixes
Unkle feat. Ian Astbury - Burn My Shadow - UNKLE Surrender Sounds Session 5
Petter - Freak 'N Love - Chloe & Deeburn Mix
Calvin Harris - The Girls - Micky Slim Bomb Squad Mix
Tiga - You Gonna Want Me - Tocadisco Emergency Exit Mix
Roger Sanchez - Not Enough - Dirty South Mix
Dave Spoon Feat. Penny Foster - This Machine - Tom Neville Mix
Dragonette - Take It Like A Man - Braxe & Falke Mix
Paul van Dyk feat. Jessica Sutta - White Lies - Original / Dave Spoon Vox Mixes
Groove Armada feat. Mutya Buena - Song 4 Mutya - Sunset Strippers Mix
Super8 & Tab - Suru

David Guetta - Pop Life Album
Chab & J.D. Davis - Girlz - Cut
M.I.A. - Boyz


MAY '07

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Trip The Light Fantastic Album
Dragonette - Galore Album
Roisin Murphy - Overpowered / Movie Star
Rihanna - Breakin' Dishes / Lemme Get That / Shut Up And Drive
Monrose - Hot Summer
Bodies Without Organs - Save My Pride - Radio Edit

Roisin Murphy - Overpowered - Seamus Haji Mix
The Chemical Brothers - feat. Ali Love - Do It Again
Pressure Drop - You're Mine - Tim Deluxe Vocal Mix
Markus Schulz vs. Chakra - I Am - Andrew Bennett Other Side Mix
Headstrong feat. Tiff Lacey - Symphony Of Soul - Tenishia Progressive Mix
David West - Make U Mine - Mike Shiver Garden State Mix


APRIL '07

Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80s - Tom Neville Mix
Chris Lake feat. Emma Hewitt - Carry Me Away - Aston Shuffle Mix
Armand van Helden - Ghettoblaster Album
Armand van Helden - NYC Beat - Mstrkrft Mix
Therese - Feelin' Me - Armand van Helden / Thomas Gold Mixes
The Egg - Nothing - The Egg vs. Plymsole Mix
Özgür Can - Escape - Dumb Dan Mix
Kaskade - Sorry - Dirty South Mix
Carl Cox with Saffron - Get What You Paid 4 - Marco Bailey Mix
David Guetta feat. Chris Willis - Love Is Gone - Fred Rister & Joachim Garraud Mix
iiO - Rapture - Starkillers Dirty Girl Mix
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Me And My Imagination - Tony Lamezma Mix
Sunny Lax - Blue Bird - Daniel Kandi Mix
Ozgur Can feat. Nick Beman - Not Even Winds 2006

Björk - Earth Intruders - Extended Spike Stent Mix
Chris Lake feat. Emma Hewitt - Carry Me Away - Radio Edit
Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80s - Radio Edit
Rihanna - Umbrella

I feel like there has been such a fun array of pop music lately. I just made a playlist in iTunes of my favorite 25 to enter the summer and here is the output, clustered by artist. :-)


Sophie Ellis-Bextor - China Heart

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - If You Go

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Me And My Imagination

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - New York City Lights

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - If I Can't Dance

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - The Distance Between Us

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Can't Have It All

Rihanna - Shut Up and Drive

Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Umbrella

Groove Armada feat. Mutya Buena - Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control)

Roisin Murphy - Overpowered - Radio Edit

Chungking - Slow It Down

Chungking - itch scratch

Dragonette - True Believer

Dragonette - Take It Like a Man

Dragonette - Black Limousine

Bodies Without Organs - Save My Pride

Chemical Brothers - Do It Again - Edit

Calvin Harris - Acceptable in the 80s

Chris Lake feat. Emma Hewitt - Carry Me Away - Radio Edit

Kaskade - Sorry - Radio Edit

Kylie - Excuse My French

Venus Hum - Surgery In The Sky - Single Version

Björk - Earth Intruders - Extended Spike Stent Mix

Trentemøller - Moan - Vocal Mix Radio Edit

The first album from Sophie Ellis-Bextor in FOUR YEARS. Suffice to say the time she took on developing 'Trip the Light Fantastic' did her justice, as it's my favorite unabashed and pure pop album since Rachel Steven's 'Come and Get It' some time ago.

Amazingly, and this almost never ever happens, all but two songs are one's I'm putting on my TOTPs playlist. As in, all the songs (minus two) are worth repeatedly listening to.

China Heart (fast-paced 80's synth) is my fav new track that wasn't already on the album sampler that leaked in early 2007 (which included the album's singles).

The Distance Between Us is also lovely and sits next to Today the Sun's on Us the two best mid-to-downtempo tracks. Her voice lends itself well here.


Certainly her best album release to date, I hope she finds some success with it (?).

Here we have yet another album from Rihanna. I've tried not to like her very much but I did like S.O.S. the other year and now with the new album there are SEVERAL good tracks.

:: Umbrella: Killer chorus, etc. etc. Everyone has heard this by now. Very good video too, which most people have probably seen too.

:: Shut Up and Drive: the new single which is somewhat befuddling as to why Rihanna would record and release such a track. This is the type of song Kelly Clarkson would record if she was remotely cool.

:: Breakin' Dishes: This is pretty ghetto for me but it includes some fabulously campy lyrics that I hope to quote in the near future. "I'm breakin dishes up in here, all nite, uh huh, I aint gunna stop until I see police and lights, uh huh" and then a repeat on the line "Imma find a man tonight." hahaha. Also includes the line "I'm roastin' marshmallows on the fire."

Don't Stop The Music also sounds okay although a little by-the-numbers MINUS the Michael Jackson sample which I can't even communicate textually. The rest of the album is pretty poor as I would have expected (at least, for my taste). But Umbrella and Shut Up And Drive are huge, so that's worth something!

Lots of great new stuff in the past 8 weeks or so! Here are my fav new ones.

Chungking - Itch & Scratch
Groove Armada feat. Mutya Buena - Song 4 Mutya
Kylie - Excuse My French
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Down With Love
Client - Drive
Trentemøller - Moan - Vocal Mix Radio Edit
Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Give It Up
Groove Armada - Get Down
Simian Mobile Disco - It's The Beat - Edit
The Killers - Read My Mind - Gabriel & Dresden Radio Edit

Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches - Trentemøller Mix
Trentemøller - Moan - Vocal / Radiosalve Mixes
Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Give It Up - Hypno Love Mix
Kosmas Epsilon - Lovesong - Dub
Nitrous Oxide - Morning Light
Super8 & Tab - Needs To Feel
Duderstadt & Anita Kelsey - Smile - Duende Vocal Mix
Sound Fiction feat. Kate Cameron - Alive - Mike Shiver Catching Sun Mix
Jose Amnesia feat. Jennifer Rene - Louder - Robert Nickson Mix
Motorcycle - Imagination - EnMass Mix
Elevation - Blinding Truth
8 Wonders - Sex On The Beach - Depths Of My Thoughts Sunset Dub
Airbase - One Tear Away
Ferry Corsten - feat. Debra Andrew - Beautiful - Extension
Simian Mobile Disco - It's Just The Beat
Boom Jinx feat. Thomas J. Bergersen - Remember September
The Killers - Read My Mind - Gabriel & Dresden Unplugged Mix
Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around Comes Around - Junkie XL Small Room Mix
Groove Armada - Get Down - Calvin Harris Mix
Minimalistix - Whistling Drive - Filterheadz Mix
Blur - Song 2 - Eric Prydz Mix
Wink - Higher State Of Consciousness - Dirty South & TV Rock Mix
Spektrum - Kinda New - Dirty South 2007 Club Mix
Mark Ronson - Stop Me - Dirty South Mix
Dragonette - I Get Around - Arthur Baker Mix

December '06 / Early 2007 Catch Up—iTunes Wrap-Up


Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Catch You
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Me And My Imagination
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - If You Go
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - New York City Lights
Dragonette - I Get Around
Dragonette - Jesus Don't Like Me
Kylie - White Diamond
Mika - Grace Kelly
Girls Aloud vs. Sugababes - Walk This Way
Hilary Duff - With Love
Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston - Good For Me - Club Edit
sunfreakz feat. andrea britton - Counting Down The Days - Flower Power Edit
Client - Zerox Machine - Edit

Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston - Good For Me - Club & Darren Tate Mix
Bobina Feat. Elles De Graaf - Lighthouse - Original and Sean Tyas Mixes
Above & Beyond - For All I Care - Spencer & Hill Mix
Above & Beyond - Tri-State - Robert Nickson Mix
Plastic Angel - Call The Galaxy Taxi
Duderstadt & Anita Kelsey - Smile - Duende Dub
Maor Levi - Reflect
Markus Schultz With Gabriel & Dresden & Departure - Without You Near - Alex M.O.R.P.H. Sacred Light Mix
Kenneth Thomas - Achems Razor
Delerium - Angelicus - Morgan Page Mix
Benz & MD - Turning The Curve - Perry O'Neil Mix
Rico Soarez & Andrew Bennett - Light Of Hope
Marc Marberg & Kyau vs. Albert - Megashira
Cara Dillon vs. 2Devine - Black Is The Colour - Coco & Green Mix
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Catch You - Digital Dog Club Mix
sunfreakz feat. andrea britton - Counting Down The Days - Flower Power Extension & Axwell Mix
X-1- Hypnosis - Terranova & Leeds Mix
Austin Leeds & Medway - Reaction - Martin Accorsi Mix
Scissor Sisters - Land Of A Thousand Words - Junkie XL Mix
The Knife - Like A Pen - Thomas Schumacher Mix
Mika - Grace Kelly - Tom Neville Mix
Starkillers - Scream - Kobbe & Austin Leeds Mix
Creamer & K. feat. Nadia Ali & Rosko - Something To Lose - Starkillers Mix
Dave Aude & DJ Dan - Rock To The Rhythm - Starkillers Mix
Static Revenger feat. Duke Mushroom - Round & Around - Starkillers Mix
Terranova & Austin Leeds - Only You - Electribe Mix
Laidback Luke feat. Stephan Granv - Hypnotise - Sweden Tribute Mix
StoneBridge - S.O.S. - Ortega & Gold Mix
Benny Benassi Pres. The Biz - Love Is Gonna Save Us - 2007 Mix
Lake & Leger - Aqualight

I suppose I should do one of these. After all, 2006 seemed to have a decent share of good pop and electronic music.

Here were my 15 favorite pop songs—one song listing per act.

Kylie - White Diamond
Girls Aloud - Something Kinda Ooooh
Jamelia - Beware Of The Dog
Dannii - So Under Pressure
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Catch You
Superjupiter - You Know
The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health
Basement Jaxx feat Robyn - Hey You
Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
Rihanna - S.O.S.
Nelly Furtado - Maneater
Depeche Mode - Martyr
The Presets - Are You The One?
Jamiroquai - Runaway
Sugababes - Red Dress

There weren't many albums I listened to much, although on the pop side one noted exception would be from Venus Hum - The Colors In The Wheel was undoubtedly a standout collection.

On the more electronic side, the debut artist album from Gabriel & Dresden was tops. They are still one of the best production teams in music and the album hardly disappointed! My favorite mix cd came from Bobina. It was called Beautiful Friend and included their biggest remixes and original productions.

How could I forget? The best album of the year was Ellen Allien and Apparat - Orchestra of Bubbles. It's sublime and they're genius.

November '06 iTunes Wrap-up

Girls Aloud - I Think We're Alone Now - Single Version
The Knife - Like A Pen - Radio Edit

Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough - Dirty South Mix
Depeche Mode - Something To Do - Black Strobe Alt. Mix
Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus - Timo Maas Mix
Depeche Mode - Martyr - Booka Shade Full Vocal Mix Edit
Nick Thompson - Deep Level Lines - Elevation Mix
Benz & MD - Turning The Curve
Super8 & DJ Tab - Won't Sleep Tonight - Moody Vocal Mix
M.I.K.E. - Salvation - Plastic Boy Mix
Perry O'Neil - Rush
Vadim Zhukov - Talking To A God - Original & Probspot Mixes
Armin Van Buuren Feat. Justine Suissa - Wall Of Sound - Airbase pres. Parc Mix
Armin Van Buuren Vs. Rank 1 Feat. Kush - This World Is Watching Me
Ronski Speed - The Space We Are - Hydroid Mix
Airbase - Sinister - Airbase Jubilee Mix
Cass Fox - Touch Me - Tom Neville & Mike Koglin vs. Jono Grant Mixes
The Knife - Like A Pen - Heartthrob Mix
The Presets - I Go Hard I Go Home - Club Mix