Diamant (#464)

Hi,

it's been another busy week for me. Almost too busy for new music... almost ;)

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy:

• 257ers : Uhm, yes, I might be late to check out their music from 2016. And the song "Früher war besser" definitely has its flaws. But whatever... that's life. :P
• Mike Singer : As if I needed another reminder of my age. So Germany has a new Justin Bieber ripoff. And once more the concept works. Another teenie music idol was created. And by the way... what happened to Lukas Rieger?
• SDP : New single alert. I know, "So schön kaputt" might not sound innovative, but I find it catchy. It's one of those cases, when mainstream works for me.
• Emma Ruth Rundle : Uhm, so I found this in my library and just had to listen to some songs. But tbh I can't really remember them.
• Ansel Elgort : Another mainstream production that just keeps me wondering. There's this sick beat... but those lines "Call me a thief, there's been a robbery"... and "heart / apart" rhymes. Hm, why didn't they invest more effort in the lyrics?

Most played artists:

• Electric Guest : New album alert. "Plural" is a fun album. A few tracks really shine.
• Vant : New album alert. Once again I recommend "Dumb Blood" to any rock music fans.

Most played tracks:

• Katy Perry - Chained To The Rhythm (feat. Skip Marley) : Okay, after the video release and another live version at the BRIT Awards I'm totally hooked to that tune.
• Yung Hurn - Diamant (Love Hotel Band) : WTF!? Where should I begin? The "soft" melody, lots of autotune, cheesy lyrics - or the fact that the mix took me by surprise.

News?

█ The Weeknd has a new video. "Reminder" features quite a bunch of cameos and ends with... fire. Tbh I have a problem with this song. It's very well produced, but I can't stand the fake superiority the artist shows so confidently. One of the reasons why I became a fan of The Weeknd was his inner struggle with fame and love - and not some kind of "can have them all" attitude.
█ Jamiroquai's new video "Cloud 9" is all retro. It reminds me of "Cosmic Girl".
█ Speaking of a different kind of retro. Lana Del Rey's new video "Love" features epic retro effects. The song sounds like it's been taken from an earlier album, but it's new... and a bit catchy.
█ Katy Perry's "Chained To The Rhythm" again looks like visual candy - but it comes with a cynical twist. In other words: perfect pop!
█ 2017 BRIT Awards. Little Mix? Really? Apart from that there's been some kind of world premiere of a new song by The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay. Yes, Coldplay fans might have a tough time. Katy Perry once more delivered an epic performance.
█ Philipp Poisel's "Mein Amerika" went straight to the top of the German album charts. Bilderbuch's "Magic Life" just landed on number 8. See, that's part of what's wrong in this world :P JK. But hey, Amy MacDonald is at number two - so maybe I should check her album out as well.
█ And the Oscar for best song and score went to... La La Land. Congrats for one of the most iconic modern film tunes, that will surely haunt generations. :)

New in the German charts:

[03] Kygo - It Ain't Me (feat. Selena Gomez) : Oh no! Really!? I've listened to that song once and that was enough. But German consumers must have gotten really hooked on the tune. Idk... at least it's not at number one yet. :D

Hole In My Heart (#463)

Hi,

last week had me listening to lots of new music. Five albums, at least. :)

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy:

• Genesis : Playlist research. I was looking for a song with/by Phil Collins for a radio show. Pretty quickly I was going through my favorite Genesis albums. "Invisible Touch" made it.
• Deefy : Promotion context. "Lights Go Out" sounds interesting. I'll give it a try for an upcoming music editorial department meeting. :D
• Soft Error : Try out time. "Mechanism" features some spheric tunes - but I need to listen to it once again for a more complete impression.
• Philipp Poisel : New album alert. "Mein Amerika" is full of ballads. Too much whiny lyrics. I think the artist could do so much better, but if this is how he would like to sound, I'm more than willing to skip his music.

Most played artists:

• Sam : Promotion context. Coming from Cro's label I had very low expectations regarding the upcoming album "Kleinstadtkids". And that did not help. Most songs are just awful. Maybe I'm just too old for this kind of music.
• Lemur : Concert context. So just in time for a concert here, I was checking out "Die Rache der Tiere". But after one spin it seemed pretty clear to me, that I would skip that concert. And I was told, that it's better to listen to the new songs more than once.
• Vant : New album alert. Because I like the song "Do You Know Me?" I was very curious about the album "Dumb Blood". And it's very good, if you ask me. Strong rock songs.
• Bilderbuch : New album alert. The hype about "Magic Life" couldn't possibly be bigger. And using "Bungalow" as a lead single was a very good move. The album itself is a bit hard to accept because of all the different directions. But I can understand the strategy to go that way and not to let any expectations come in the way.

Most played tracks:

• Luke Friend - Hole In My Heart : Wow, now that's a voice. And a catchy chorus is always a plus. Okay, the lyrics are cheesy... but somehow I like that song. :D

News?

█ Have you ever heard of Jonas Monar? Well, via YouTube suggestion I came across his new music video "Alle guten Dinge". As I watched it, it felt like an accident... I was sort of amazed by all the things I could not stand about it. What a crappy song.
█ A big act from the past is now entering a new promotion phase. Tokio Hotel have started another season of their TH TV series. And it begins with impressions of their lifestyle... photo shoots etc. And I wonder, if they really like what they're doing. But then again.. do you believe anyone would trade that for an office job?
█ Our song for Kiev has now a video. Levina's "Perfect Life" sounds quite similar to "Titanium" (David Guetta & Sia), the visuals also do nothing new. And those lyrics... Can you tell me what it's like to be "amost a sinner, nearly a saint"? :P
OK, putting the sarcasm aside, if I had to chose a German act for the ESC, I would pick

New in the German charts:

[09] Maître Gims - Loin (feat. Dany Synthé) : Oh, a French rapper/singer. At least something exotic. But tbh the tune sounds quite familiar to other big acts like Major Lazer. Anyway... could be worse... and it's French. :)
[10] Martin Garrix & Dua Lipa - Scared To Be Lonely : Well, I can see, how this one's successful. You take a young DJ/producer and add another young upcoming pop singer. Put them in a cheesy (romantic) video and you can't go wrong.

Big Picture (#462)

Hi,

I'm almost late about this week's entry... but I wanted to catch up with the Grammys first. (I call this commitment.)

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy:

• Mozes and the Firstborn : Fan times. You know what? I should start getting to know their first album.
• HGich.T : Promotion context. There's a concert coming up.  I'm not a bit unsure whether I will go. But on the other side... why not?
• Madonna : Fan times! It was such a pleasure to revisit "American Life". I can't recommend that album enough. When it came out, I had a hard time to like it, but a few years later I couldn't be more happy about it.
• Craig Armstrong : Relaxation times. "In Time" might not be best film, but it has one of the best scores, I have ever known.
• John Mayer : Relaxation times. Guess what? If you listen to his new EP on a lonely weekend day, it seems to sound a bit better. ;)

Most played artists:

• Matthias Schweighöfer : New album alert. I was doing some research for a radio segment. But it felt quite hard to listen to all of "Lachen Weinen Tanzen". The best thing about his album are the interludes, if you ask me. :P
• The xx : New album alert. Tbh I was a bit surprised of how nice "I See You" sounds. I'm almost thinking of revisiting the previous album.
• Toothless : Tbh I can't remember much about the latest album "The Pace Of The Passion". But I didn't feel bad while listening to it.
• Leoniden : New album alert. After I've checked out the new songs from "Leoniden" (yes, a self-titled album), I might attend a concert here in town.

Most played tracks:

• Matthias Schweighöfer - Durch den Sturm : Radio context. Yeah, because I wasn't allowed to play any song from the album, I was looking for the right song, that feels just as weak as the rest.
• London Grammar - Big Picture : Oh yes, now that is the kind of LG music I was hoping for. Now I'm curious about a new album. :)
• Ansel Elgort - Thief : New single alert. I'm not sure what to think. There's the thing about a sick beat, but all the nudety gets in the way. At least, the actor seems to feel comfortable about being some kind of beef cake now.

News?

█ The 59th Annual Grammy Awards took place yesterday. And what a show it was. Lovely performances and lots of success for Adele (again) and... Chance The Rapper, who made history as an artist who did not release a physical album. Also the tributes to lost legends felt more right than last year. (Sorry, Madonna)
█ Also part of the Grammy hype was the return of Katy Perry - with a new single. "Chained To The Rhythm" took me by surprise, as it is not only very contemporary, but also quite deep for a pop song. And then there's the feature of Skip Marley. And don't get me started on the cute lyric video. And check out her Grammy performance. Now that is a comeback. Loved it.
█ Tokio Hotel released a new music video. Unfortunately "Something New" doesn't feel like something new. What's even worse is the fact, that you won't see (or hear) a band but just Bill with tons of synths.

New in the German charts:

[09] Vice - Steady 1234 (feat. Jasmine Thompson & Skizzy Mars) : WTF? A pitched voice with a Drake ripoff. And it seems to become a hit. Booo...urns! :P

Automaton (#461)

Hi,

and so it is February now - about time that a new tune gets stuck in my head...

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy:

• Wendja : It's a bit hard for me to explain, why I came back to his music. Okay, there are some epic intros and sick beats, but also some deep lyrics. It's just the fact, that a few tracks feel kind of wrong, which makes me think. And yes, sometimes the rhymes seem too simple. But then there's the part of me, that likes cheesy music. :D
• Genesis : Fan times. Recently it was Phil Collins's birthday. So thought of giving Genesis another chance - and I can tell you, I'm quite a fan of their last albums, because almost every song has its qualities - whether more lyrically or musically. For instance, try "Way Of The World" from "We Can't Dance". :)
• Imagine Dragons : New single alert. If you ask me, the best thing about "Believer" is the cover artwork.

Most played artists:

• Antilopen Gang : New album context. So now I didn't just make it through "Anarchie und Alltag" but also the bonus album "Atombombe auf Deutschland". The latter has much more punk-rock-like versions on it. I have doubts that I will listen to both again soon.
• Elbow : New album alert. I'm no expert, when it comes to this band, but "Little Fictions" seems kind of nice and easy-listening. But I didn't find any highlights, either.
• HGich.T : New album alert. Now with the official release of "Therapie wirkt" I checked out some more new songs. But tbh I'm still sad, that "Superschlau" didn't make it onto the record.

Most played tracks:

• Jamiroquai - Automaton : Wow, what a comeback. If you just listen to one song this week, it should be this one. And don't get me started on the flashy music video. Anyway... I'm so hyped about their new album now. :D

News?

█ So there we have it - the latest Superbowl Half Time Show by Lady Gaga. She clearly performed like a pro. But tbh even though she played hit after hit, I felt that something was missing. Next time more surprises, please.
█ At this point I have to give Ed Sheeran some credit for his successful return to music. He now has his two singles at the top spots (again). I've recently watched the music videos for them - just as with the songs my favorite is "Castle On The Hill".
█ Just FYI: a look at the current German album top 5 makes me sad. :/

New in the German charts:

[04] The Chainsmokers - Paris : Well, once more this duo delivers euphoric escapism in music. The song feels quite similar to that duet with Halsey. Tbh I don't mind, because there is worse pop music out there.
[07] Kaleo - Way Down We Go : A latecomer. The official music video is from May 2016. Hm, I'm not sure after one spin.
[09] Sage The Gemini - Now And Later : Oh no, a mix of Jason Derulo and Flo Rida. In one word: generic.