Ocean (#394)

Hi,
whoa... all those busy times. I can't really focus on a nice intro text right now...

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy: (even without pictures)

• !!! : New album alert. "As If" features good indie tunes.
• Deerhunter : New album alert. I was not really amazed by "Fading Frontier".
• COSBY : Due to a bit feedback by radio listeners I revisited a few songs. Still nice pop music.
• Madonna : Fan times. (as always)
• Lukas Graham : New album alert. I like the song "7 Years" from the new "Blue Album".

Most played artists:

• Nothing But Thieves : New album alert. Great stuff. Reminds me a bit of Muse.
• Zugezogen Maskulin : Concert alert. On Thursday ZM will play at a local club. I revisited their album "Alles Brennt", which grew on me a bit. Also the new cover/remix track "Füchse 2015" featuring LGoony is quite enjoyable.
• Selena Gomez : New album alert. I've listened to the Standard Edition of "Revival"... and I can't recommend it.

Most played tracks:

• Lauren Aquilina - Ocean : Epic dream pop song. Check it out.
• Take That - Hey Boy : It's been a while since I recalled a Take That song to be this catchy. Although I have to admit that "These Days" was also very good.

News?
█ Adele finally revealed details about her next album. "25" will come out on November 20. And her new song/video "Hello" practically ruled Friday.
█ Drake's new video for "Hotline Bling" premiered exclusively on Apple Music. And the clip - while confirming certain hip-hop tropes - is quite simplistic and good. I like that Drake isn't afraid to sing or dance.
█ Oh, I didn't know there was a video for the current Chris Brown single "Zero", which is damn catchy. Anyway, the video is rubbish. So we're even now?
█ Skunk Anansie will release a new album in January 2016. It is called "Anarchytecture".
█ And, of course, there were the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards. 10 minutes in the setup (including performances) alone was quite top-notch. They still seem to put a lot of effort into these shows. I still do not care much about winners anymore. And so might the production team as well. Or what reason was there to limit award parts that much? And what's with that odd Andrea Bocelli performance? (I mean, the Biebz won Best Male once more (plus Best Look). And Rihanna as Best Female once more. Really?)
I can't think of any particular highlight performance, but the medley by Jess Lynne was nice. I guess the biggest plus was Ed Sheeran hosting. A good choice.
█ Speaking of Ed Sheeran. His concert documentary "Jumpers For Goalposts" just was released worldwide for a short amount of time. If you ever wondered, whether he is a great musician or a lovely person, just watch that film.

New in the German charts:
Nothing...

Somewhere In Stockholm (#393)

Hi,
was I busy last week? Uhm, yes. And this seems to be my new default condition maybe? Anyway...

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy: (even without pictures)

• The Bohicas :I've listened to songs from "The Making Of", which are mostly nice Indie stuff.
• Lauren Aquilina : New EP alert. Ooh, and what a nice EP "Ocean" is. The mellow tracks have some epic moments.
• The Weeknd : Hype alert. Or fan times. The album opener "Real Life" has grown on me. :P
• Madonna : Need I say why? Fan times.
• Bleachers : It was mostly the song "Like A River Runs", which hast grown on me a lot during the last weeks.
• Jack Savoretti : I've listened to a few remixes of his newer songs. It's sort of funny to hear a true singer/songwriter with mainstream beats.

Most played artists:

• Avicii : New album alert. I was mostly disappointed by "Stories", because I expected stronger songs like "The Days".
• Hurts : New album alert. Hm, I cannot recommend it. Even though Stuart Price was involved. I even recognized his production without knowing this in the first place.
• Demi Lovato : New album alert. Wow, also "Confident" is a true downer. I only like "Cool For The Summer".

Most played tracks:

• Avicii - Somewhere In Stockholm : This is the only new Avicii song that kind of got me thinking. Although the chorus is a bit weak, I like the sparks of melancholy from the lyrics.
• Bloc Party - The Love Within : New single alert. Tbh at first I wasn't going to give this track another try. But when you've heard it a few times, the melody may start to make more sense.

News?
█ Chances are good that we get new music by the Gorillaz next year. According to Damon Albarn, studio recordings and art are currently in the works.
█ Troye Sivan announced the release date of his debut album "Blue Neighbourhood". It will be out on December 4.
█ Take That will re-release their latest album "III" as "2015 Edition" with a few additional tracks and a live concert. A first single is called "Hey Boy" and very catchy.

New in the German charts:
[06] Louane - Avenir : Hm, I would label this song French teen pop. The tune is very simple. Her voice sounds good. So, eh, it could be worse.

Splitter von Granaten (#392)

Hi,
when I think of last week lots of radio-work-related activities come to my mind. And it even includes special broadcasts that I did not take any part in. But still a bunch of new tracks got my attention, when I wasn't too busy...

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy: (even without pictures)

• Rudimental : New album alert. I've listened to parts of "We The Generation". I'm expected more edginess. I hope to get the whole picture soon.
• Die Orsons : Uhm, I'm not sure if I've listened to much Orson stuff. But, hey, I still want to get my head around there latest album "What's Goes?".
• Madonna : I can't believe it must be more than decade ago now, since she practically ruled the world with her Reinvention Tour. Some of those rearranged songs that you can find on "I'm Going To Tell You A Secret" are near perfection.
• Gabrielle Aplin : Hm, I think it's too bad there wasn't another song like "Salvation" on her new album. :/

Most played artists:

• COSBY : They might not have won the NewMusicAward 2015, but my attention instead. I've listened to their album "As Far As We Can" - and as far as I can tell, it's solid indie music. :)
• Wanda : New album alert. Fans of "Amore" should be pretty happy with "Bussi". And there also was some respectable charts success as well. (Entering the top 5.)
• Avicii : New album alert. The songs from "Stories", that I've been listening to, left me a bit uncertain about whether he tends to repeat himself. But I'm not finished making up my mind yet.

Most played tracks:

• Lady Gaga - I Want Your Love : Okay, it might not be an official single, but it should. This retro collaboration with Nile Rodgers sounds too good to just be used in a fashion commercial. Unfortunately Gaga is kind of busy with filming American Horror Story these days. :/
• P!NK - Today's The Day : My amazement won't stop. That intro tune alone makes me happy.
• Kristopher Carter - Batman Beyond (Main Title) :  Speaking of tunes. I came across this gem from the past. Say what you want about cartoons, they can feature epic intros.

News?
█ Rihanna revealed the cover artwork for her upcoming album "Anti". It is to be expected that her 8th record will come out in November.
█ Emma Stone stars in the new video by Will Butler - "Anna" - not to be confused with the version from January. And wow, what an elaborate staging.
█ Adam Angst really amazed me with his new video "Splitter von Granaten" that looks like Facebook gone wrong. But also the lyrics are very strong, if you ask me.
█ Not only did The Weeknd perform two songs on Saturday Night Live last week, he also took the promo/chance to release two remixes of his song "The Hills" - and those feature guest vocals by Eminem and Nicki Minaj.

New in the German charts:
[08] Sigala - Easy Love : Forget Kygo, Felix Jaehn or Robin Schulz. The latest soft electro tunes is brought to you by Sigala. A video with summer setting and dancing kids just completes the picture. Hm, I'm not sure about the longevity of tracks like that.

Tell Me When (#391)

Hi,
it looks like I will see more live music this month - with at least two upcoming concerts.
Apart from that I still have lots of new music to discover.
And I never would have thought that I could get in the situation of interviewing two upcoming hip-hop artists at the same time... live on air, of course. What a crazy experience. So you may expect some repercussions in my stats because of this...

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy: (even without pictures)

• Empire Of The Sun : I came across a few tracks via shuffle and got curious, if there would be a new release anytime soon. But it doesn't seem so. They are doing live shows these days.
• Troye Sivan : His latest EP "Wild" is growing a bit on me. But he really nails it with his dreamy videos. Can't wait for the final chapter of his "Blue Neighbourhood" trilogy.
• MAX : New EP alert. But tbh I can't say anything good about "Ms. Anonymous"... "Gibberish
• Madonna : Fan times, of course. Seeing all the footage from her Rebel Heart Tour makes me wonder, if I still should try to get a ticket. Hm, but then again... the setlist isn't that great to me.

Most played artists:

• RHODES : New album alert. After a few times that I got to know "Wishes", I think I can say that it's one of the 
• CHVRCHES : New album alert. "Every Open Eye" is a lovely pop album, that may seem a bit monotonous. But if you like the singer's vocals and those oh so omnipresent synths, then you should be fine with those new songs.
• MC Bomber & Mecstreem : New EP alert. I've listened to a few tracks from "Storch oder Affen", which has been released on vinyl only. It's full of strong language - and serves some street hip-hip tropes.

Most played tracks:

• The Human League - Tell Me When : Retro alert. As part for a broadcast research I remembered one of the first songs that made me get to know The Human League. This a nice tune from 1995.
• MC Bomber - Abenteuer Alkohol : Research context. I was asking a friend what MC Bomber tracks he would recommend. And this one got me thinking.

News?
█ Kylie Minogue will release a Christmas album this year - on November 13. She will have feature guests like Iggy Pop, James Corden and her sister Dannii. The title: "Kylie Christmas", of course.
█ Lady Gaga collaborated with Tom Ford for some fashion thingy. That includes a cover version of Chic's "I Want Your Love" (back from 1978). And this week the new season of "American Horror Story" will premiere - with Mother Monster, of course.
█ Janet Jackson's 11th studio album "Unbreakable" is now released... and not a big deal. Maybe it's because of the huge lack of promotion for it.
█ Lana Del Rey released another music video. I guess "Music To Watch Boys To" could not have been more dramatic.
█ Pharrell Williams' "Happy" received the Diamond Award for over 1 millions sales in Germany.

New in the German charts:
[05] Glasperlenspiel - Geiles Leben : Hm, I don't know. Although the song is catchy, I can't help but despise the lyrics about wishing somebody well with tons of irony.