ABOUT LAST NIGHT (#715)

Ahoy,

so this gets posted on the last Music Monday of 2021...

My last week in covers:

Most played artists:

• Arca : New albums context. So I continued my journey through Arca's latest releases - with "kick iiii" and "kiCK iiiii". And I don't feel the need to revisit those.
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds : I was listening to his latest compilation album "B-Sides & Rarities (Part II)", which has some highlights - even for people like me.
  
• Cher : Fan times.
• Nightmares On Wax : New album context. "Shout Out! To Freedom..." sounds more downtempo than I expected for an electronic record.

Most played tracks:

• MONSTA X - ABOUT LAST NIGHT : So this is my latest favorite track by this K-Pop group. :)
• The War On Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore : Definitely a song of the year - even with a disappointing music video.
  

Noteworthy:

• Euroteuro : New album context. "Volume II" continues to surprise. You never know, how the next song might sound.
  
• Ladyhawke : New album context. "Time Flies" seems okay, but I could have skipped it.
  
• Lygo : Promotion context. Their latest album "Lygophobie" got my attention, because of interesting song titles. However, I wasn't too happy with the punk tracks.
  

Scrobble count:  179.775

 

News

[no news this time]

 

New entries

Album charts (Germany)

[01] Frei.Wild - 20 Jahre - Wir schaffen Deutsch.Land : Hmkay. :-/

[05] Neil Young / Crazy Horse - Barn : Okay.

 

Single charts (Germany)

[no relevant changes]

 

Albums Chart Top 100 (UK)

[04] Paul Weller - An Orchestrated Songbook : Okay.

[08] Juice WRLD - Fighting Demons : Okay.

 

Singles Chart Top 100 (UK)

[09] Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under : Wow. A welcome comeback in its 22th week.

 

Billboard 200 (USA) - week of December 25

[02] Juice WRLD - Fighting Demons : Okay.

 

Billboard Hot 100 (USA) - week of December 25

[01] Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You : There you have it. She pushed Adele away.

[09] Wham! - Last Christmas : And also this classic made its way into the top ten.

Cheerio!

Player Of Games (#714)

Ahoy,

I can't say that I'm too busy, because we're on the brink of yet another lockdown - but I am a bit late again.

My last week in covers:

Most played artists:

• Arca : New album(s) context. After "KICK ii" and "KicK iii" I had no interest in another (new) album, because I find those complex tracks hard to understand.
  
• MONSTA X : New album context. "THE DREAMING" really took me by surprise, because it features some great catchy tunes. Highlights include "BLAME ME" and "ABOUT LAST NIGHT". I did not expect a MONSTA X album to sound this good.
  
• LP : New album context. "Churches" has its moments and it might be very authentic, but overall I was hoping for more - in relation to its nice pre-single "Goodbye".
  
• The War On Drugs : Fan times.
• badmómzjay : New album context. Sorry, but "badmómz." is so not my cup of tea.  

Most played tracks:

• Grimes - Player Of Games : Yay. Who would have thought that this artist would dive into retro techno vibes. I instantly fell for the track. :)

Noteworthy:

• Kate Bush : Workout context. I was listening to her (7th) 1993 album "The Red Shoes" - it was okay.
  
• B6BBO : New album context. "Vernunft trocknet keine Tränen" sounds okay, but I did not find any highlights.
  

Scrobble count:  179.458

 

News

█ On December 7 the 47th People's Choice Awards were held in Santa Monica. Christina Aguilera, H.E.R. and Blake Shelton performed. Xtina won the show's first ever Music Icon Award. The most-awarded nominees were BTS and Dwayne Johnson. Other music winning acts include Lil Nas X, Adele, Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny and Blake Shelton.

 

New entries

Album charts (Germany)

[01] Volbeat - Servant Of The Mind : W.

[06] Hämatom - Die Liebe ist tot : Who?

[07] Santiano - Wenn die Kälte kommt : Yikes.

[09] Depeche Mode - 101 | Live : Hmkay.

 

Single charts (Germany)

[05] Ed Sheeran & Elton John - Merry Christmas : W.

[06] Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas : Now this is a classic, that I really like.

[09] Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone : Fun fact: I tend to forget this classic - or I'm getting confused and mistake it with Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody".

 

Albums Chart Top 100 (UK)

[04] JLS - 2.0 : Tbh I have no idea, whether I was listening to a song by this group.

[06] André Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchester - Happy Together : Wow! A top ten success in UK.

 

Singles Chart Top 100 (UK)

[01] Ed Sheeran & Elton John - Merry Christmas : I call this a good strategy.

[06] Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone :

[07] The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York (feat. Kirsty MacColl) :

[09] Michael Bublé - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas : Okay.

[10] Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree : Okay.

 

Billboard 200 (USA) - week of December 18

[03] Polo G - Hall Of Fame : A new peak position in its 26th week.

[08] Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas : Of course, this should not be left out this year.

 

Billboard Hot 100 (USA) - week of December 18

[07] SZA - I Hate U : Wow. A new entry. :)

[10] Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year : I envy those, who don't think of an SNL sketch, when this classic comes up. :P

Cheerio!

Ease My Mind (#713)

Ahoy,

it's beginning to look a lot like... holidays are coming. But so should some more vaccination appointments this year.

My last week in covers:

Most played artists:

• The War On Drugs : Research context. So I finally took some time to discover the previous albums by this band. "Wagonwheel Blues", "Future Weather" and "Slave Ambient" were okay, but I really liked "Lost In The Dream". 
  
• Court Yard Hounds : Workout context. I was listening to their self-titled album from 2010, which still is a fun collection of songs.
  
• CHVRCHES : Fan times.
  
• Laura Lee & The Jettes : New album context. I can recommend "Wasteland" to any indie alternative rock fans.
  

Most played tracks:

• The Faim - Ease My Mind : What a bop. :)

Noteworthy:

• La Roux : New release context. Her EP "Damaged Goods" comes with a bunch of remixes, but none of them could convince me.
  

Scrobble count:  179.274

 

News

█ Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey - each made a new Christmas special this year.

 

New entries

Album charts (Germany)

[01] ABBA - Voyage : It went back to the top, pushing Adele's "30" to second place.

[03] Howard Carpendale & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Happy Christmas : Hmkay.

[05] Deep Purple - Turning To Crime : They have a new album?

[07] badmómzjay - badmómz. : Okay.  

[09] Das Lumpenpack - Emotions : Okay.

 

Single charts (Germany)

[01] Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You : It's the season, you know.

[02] Wham! - Last Christmas : Long time no top ten position.

[09] Melanie Thornton - Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) : Another modern classic for the season. 

[10] Apache 207 - Kapitel IV Sport (2sad2disco) : Okay.

 

Albums Chart Top 100 (UK)

[02] Westlife - Wild Dreams : Okay.

[05] Gary Barlow - The Dream Of Christmas : Okay.

[06] Michael Bublé - Christmas : Just in time for the season.

 

Singles Chart Top 100 (UK)

[02] Gayle - abcdefu : Wow.

[03] Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You : Amazing, isn't it?

[04] Wham! - Last Christmas : It seems like there's no escape.

 

Billboard 200 (USA) - week of December 11

[03] Michael Bublé - Christmas : He can retire, I guess.

[10] Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas : What?

 

Billboard Hot 100 (USA) - week of December 11

[03] Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You : And it just won't stop.

[04] Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree : Hmkay.

[05] Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock : Hmkay.

[07] Burl Ives - A Holly Jolly Christmas : Hmkay.

Cheerio!

We Are Not Alone (#712)

Ahoy,

this week I'm quite early - but research regarding Billboard charts seems challenging these days. I bet, we will soon see the return of Christmas classics among charts entries.

My last week in covers:

Most played artists:

• Ye (Kanye West) : Hyped album context. So I made it through his latest album "Donda". Over 2 hours I got to listen religious chants and nowadays rap sounds. Tbh I wasn't impressed.
  
• Coldplay : Workout context. I was listening to their third album "X&Y", which was released in 2005. I guess that one marks the point, where the band went in a more commercial direction.
  
• Girlwoman : New album context. "Das große Ganze" features some nice downtempo indie pop tunes.

Most played tracks:

• Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - We Are Not Alone : This song is part of a soundtrack. It fits the season.

Noteworthy:

• Dave Gahan & Soulsavers : New album context. Unfortunately I did not like most of "Imposter".
• Jon Batiste : Hyped album context. Because of his Grammy nomination I was listening to "WE ARE", which was okay.
• WALK THE MOON : New album context. "HEIGHTS" comes with a nice mix of pop and alternative tunes.
  
• Pip Blom : New album context. "Welcome Break" sounds nice.
  
• Snail Mail : New album context. "Valentine" has its moments, but could not convince me.
  
• Diana Ross : New album context. "Thank You" tries hard to please everyone. But if the artist wants to sound like that, I can forgive her. ^^
  

Scrobble count:  179.161

 

News

█ The nominations for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards have been announced. Surprisingly Jon Batiste is leading regarding most nominations (11), followed by Doja Cat, H.E.R. and Justin Bieber (8). The show will take place on January 31 in Los Angeles.

 

New entries

Album charts (Germany)

[01] Adele - 30 : Who would have thought.

[03] Shirin David - Bitches brauchen Rap : Hmkay.

[05] Sting - The Bridge : Okay.

[06] Kastelruther Spatzen - HeimatLiebe Weihnacht : Hmkay.

[07] Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concert : Okay.

[10] Heinz Rudolf Kunze - Werdegang : Okay.

 

Single charts (Germany)

[01] Adele - Easy On Me : Back at the top in its 6th week.

[04] Capital Bra & Montez - Ein Jahr : Hmkay.

[05] Sido - Mit Dir : Hmkay.

[07] Gayle - abcdefu : A new peak position in its 2nd week.

 

Albums Chart Top 100 (UK)

[01] Adele - 30 : Who would have thought.

[04] Oasis - Knebworth 1996 : Okay.

[05] Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raise The Roof : Who?

[06] D-Block Europe - Home Alone 2 : Who?

[07] Elbow - Flying Dream 1 : Okay.

[09] James Blunt - The Stars Beneath My Feet (2004 - 2021) : Okay.

 

Singles Chart Top 100 (UK)

[02] Adele - Oh My God : Okay.

[04] Adele - I Drink Wine : Okay.

[08] D-Block Europe - Overseas (feat. Central Cee) : Who?

 

Billboard 200 (USA) - week of December 04

[01] Adele - 30 : Yes, yes, she is that popular in different markets.

[07] Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raise The Roof : Okay. Who?

 

Billboard Hot 100 (USA) - week of December 04

[01] Adele - Easy On Me : And with her album release she topps the Hot 100 as well.

[05] Adele - Oh My God : Okay.

Cheerio!