Any (#651)

Hi,

imagine a funny introduction here.

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy:

• Sufjan Stevens : New album context. Tbh I had no high expectations of "The Ascension" - and so I can easily live with a bunch of new nice songs - and others I don't like that much. "Video Game" still beats the rest.
  
• 01099 : New album context. "Morgensonne" features some fun tracks with fun lyrics. :)
  
• Giant Rooks : Fan times.
• Bear's Den : Fan times. "So that you might hear me" is such a great album!
  
• Sophia : New album context. I guess I need another spin on "Holding On / Letting Go" for me to get to know it better.
  

Most played artists:

• Stray Kids : Fan times. I started to discover their early releases.
  
• MisterWives : Fun time context. Accidentally I listened to all of "SUPERBLOOM", when I just wanted to listen to "the end".
  
• Roosevelt : Fan times.
  
• Madonna : Fan times. And her 2000 album "Music" turned 20 these days. For that record is a classic.

Most played tracks:

• Palace Winter - Baltimore : For melancholic moments or rainy weather - try this lovely tune!
  

News?

█ Stray Kids have released a video for "Any", which was basically all I needed, because I love that song.

█ Say hello to the newest number one album by Capital Bra ("CB7"), which is followed by Niedeckens BAP ("Alles fliess", 2) and Azet & Albi ("Fast Life 2", 3). Congratulations also to Dritte Wahl ("3D", 6) and Ava Max ("Heaven & Hell", 7).

New in the German charts:

[02] Capital Bra - Einsam an der Spitze : Well, technically this did not reach the top, but I think it is a strong track.

[09] Gentleman - Devam (feat. Luciano & Ezhel) : Twenty seconds - that's the amount of Gentleman you can hear in this track. This well-produced collaboration will be featured on his upcoming album "Blaue Stunde".

[10] Kontra K - Freunde : Hm, one of his better tracks, if you ask me. ^^

911 (#650)

Hi,

long time no post here, huh? :-P

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy:

• Tegan and Sara : Flashback times - plus workout context. Maybe I should give "Love You To Death" another try. So far I only like "U Turn".
  
• Wonho : New album context. At first I wasn't sure about his solo qualities, but "Open Mind" can really grow on you. It was definitely wisely chosen to promote the solo mini album "Love Synonym #1 : Right For Me".
• TAEMIN : New album context. "Never Gonna Dance Again : ACT 1 - The 3rd Album" doesn't convince me.
• Lady Gaga : Fan times.
• 6ix9ine : Hm, yes, he is a difficult artist. But some songs are quite catchy. :-/
  

Most played artists:

• Stray Kids : New album context. Not only did I really enjoy this repackage version of their first album ("GO LIVE"), I also ordered a copy of "IN LIFE". (Can you guess which version?) And it arrived just a few days later. 
  
• Haiku Hands : Research context. Because I took the chance for a little interview, which I had on Friday. It was lovely, but very early. ^^
  
• Bear's Den & Paul Frith : New album context. "Fragments" seems like a compilation, because fans should know pretty much all the tracks already. But the symphonic aspect makes some songs shine in a different light. And overall I'd say the project has a dreamy vibe.
  

Most played tracks:

• Stray Kids - Back Door : Fan times! Of course, the comeback single got stuck in my head. :)
  
• Armin van Buuren & Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Not Giving Up On Love (Extended Version) : Can you believe that I hadn't known about the existence of such a version? This is one of my favourite Buuren tracks. :)
  

News?

█ Lady Gaga's new music video for "911" is full of symbolic images - and just a wild ride - with an ingenious plot twist. And including the instrumental "Chromatica II" was also a good choice.

█ Madonna's album "Music" turned 20. For me that was one golden era back then. (Ray of Light, Music, American Life, Confessions On A Dance Floor)

█ It's absolutely no surprise to me that Bonez MC will top the German album charts with his new release ("Hollywood"). Meanwhile Marilyn Manson can still reach the top 5 ("WE ARE CHAOS", 4) and Eskimo Callboy the top 10 ("MMXX", 10).

New in the German charts:

[01] 24kGoldn - Mood (feat. iann dior) : Cool. At least something different.

[03] Bonez MC - Ihr Hobby (feat. Maxwell) : No, thanks. :( [nice beats though]

[08] Internet Money & Gunna - Lemonade (feat. Don Toliver & NAV) : Hm, okay.

[09] Capital Bra - Berlin lebt immer noch : Okay, another one. :-/

Back Door (#649)

Hi,

oops, forgot about finishing this one (last week) ...

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy:

• Haiku Hands : New album context. Their self-titled debut record features a bunch of nice electro dance tracks.
• Kummer : Recommendation context. I revisited "KIOX", just to be reminded that his style is not my cup of tea.
• Tricky : New album context. I did not have much fun listening to "Fall To Pieces".
  
• Bleachers : Flashback times - plus workout context.
• BTS : Fan times - plus research context.
  

Most played artists:

• Cro : Recommendation context. So I finally made it through "tru" - his 2017 album. And it has some good tracks. But it wasn't able to let me become a fan.
  
• The Weeknd : Fan times. "After Hours" is still a top album - but it doesn't really need the bonus tracks.
  
• Fynn Kliemann : Recommendation context. My second listening to "POP" felt okay - but I still don't think I will listen to this kind of music more often.
  
• lovelytheband : New album context. "conversations with myself about you"  

Most played tracks:

• PLGRMS - Limbs : I can't recall if I had this band in my playlist before. But this song comes with dreamy soundscapes. :)
  

News?

█ Multilingual Mike - a new project by Pöbel MC and DJ Flexscheibe - released a new EP called "Nass vom Bass". The five (multilingual) songs remind me of Russian hardbass acts. 

█ Stray Kids made a comeback - with "Back Door". And what a nice drop that song has.

█ Rock bands rule in the German album charts - Metallica is still on top ("S&M2"), followed by The Rolling Stones ("Goats Head Soup"). Other new entries are Joy Denalane ("Let Yourself Be Loved", #4), Elif ("Nacht", #7) and Hurts ("Faith", #9).

New in the German charts:

[01] Bonez MC - Fuckst mich nur ab : Well, despite its more serious content, the song doesn't convince me of any special qualities. It seems like I've heard such stuff before.

[04] Ufo361 & Sonus030 - Games : One of the stronger singles by this artist wasn't able to top the charts immediately after its release? Well... too bad.

[08] Joel Corry - Head & Heart (feat. MNEK) : Okay, so this one kept growing a bit then.

[09] Elif  - Augen zu (feat. Samra) : Hm, I'm not sure about this one.

Mood (#648)

Hi,

sorry, I am late...

Last week in covers:

Noteworthy:

• Dua Lipa & The Blessed Madonna : New album context. "Club Future Nostalgia (DJ Mix)" was discussed a bit in my Twitter bubble. After one spin I haven't made up my mind yet, whether I like the effort or not.
  
• Bear's Den & Paul Frith : Pre-single context. I'm not sure what to think of "Fragments", because I don't think that their songs need a new version. ^^
  
• Giant Rooks : Fan times.
• Tricky : New album context. I did not like most of "Fall To Pieces".
  

Most played artists:

• San Cisco : New album context. "Between You And Me" features nice pop tunes.
  
• 6ix9ine : New album context. Despite his reputation, I can say that "TattleTales" has a few bops. Simple track, but yeah... ^^
  
• Declan McKenna : New album context. "Zeros" felt okay.
  

Most played tracks:

[nothing to highlight here]

News?

█ BTS changed their promotion game, because four additional versions of "Dynamite" have been released - an Acoustic and an EDM version are among them. They also top the US Billboard Hot 100, which is a milestone achievement.
By the way, BTS are about to release their fouth movie "BREAK THE SILENCE" this week.

█ Michael Patrick Kelly seems to have made his homework well, because his new single "Beautiful Madness" seems like a perfect Ed Sheeran party song blend. The video has colorful visuals, too. I guess it is just a matter of time until this track hits the charts successfully.
█ Metallica enter the German album charts at the top with "S&M2" (with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra), while Giant Rooks could reach number 3 with their debut album "ROOKERY". In fact, Apart from Deep Purple all the spots among the top ten are new entries! o.O

New in the German charts:

[01] KitschKrieg - Unterwegs (feat. Jamule) : Well, this mthanks.
[04] 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior - Mood : Oh, this one's catchy. Let's wait and see, how those artist will evolve.

[05] Kontra K - Sirenen (feat. AK Ausserkontrolle) : No, thanks. There have been better releases.

[08] Shindy & OZ - Morning Sun : No, thanks. :(

[09] Samra - Lebst du noch : Meh, not his best work.

[10] LA Vision & Gigi D'Agostino - Hollywood : No, thanks.