All About The Music
New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE
George Ezra has hit it out of the park again sticking to his formula of catchy numbers designed to be sung along to at summer festivals. This is a really nice mix of pop numbers sung in his distinctive baritone which are sure to be staples of radio and playlists for years to come.
Whew, we made it through. As mentioned earlier it was devilishly hard choosing these Top 40 tracks of the year. We tried to pick ones that have had longevity and that we think will stick around for years to come. We limited ourselves generally to one track per artist – many of these had more than one deserving song. Here is the playlist – from 40 down to Maroon 5 at No. 1.
New Zealand Net Radio features our Album of the Week from 9am to 12pm on weekdays. Each hour we play a track from a ‘worthy’ new album. Listen Now
You’ve spent a year or so touring and promoting a massive album (number 3 in sales in the UK for 2014). If you’re George Ezra (@george_ezra)you understandably take some time out. Last year he headed to Barcelona to an Airbnb owned by the Tamara of this album’s title and spent a month working on these songs. Some critics have described them as “unflinchingly polite” and that this album will “doubtless be huge” whilst venomously making what sound like virtues to us into criticisms (The Guardian). We’ll enjoy these songs on their merits, working through the tracklist during our morning 9am – 12 pm programme. Hope you enjoy them! Oh and the tracklist:
A cyclone is on the way but never fear, we have some fresh tracks getting a first spin, from both new and familiar artists. Every hour on the hour from 9 until 1pm we’ll be premiering a new record. Listen Here or follow us on Tunein .
George Ezra – Pretty Shining People
This is the second single off George’s forthcoming album staying at tamara’s. We’re already playing Paradise off the album from the Bristol-raised lad. Due in a couple of weeks its shaping up to be on a par with his first album (songs like Budapest and Blame It On Me). His voice is just phenomenal – when I saw a photo of him his appearance certainly didn’t match up with my expectation!
Paloma Faith – Make Your Own Kind Of Music
A recurring theme this week – another British artist, this one even more established than Mr Ezra, Paloma Faith’s first album came out in 2009. She debuted this song a couple of weeks ago live in a ‘secret concert’ in Hackney, East London. Its not a new song – it was most well known as a top 40 single for “Mama” Cass (of Mamas and Papas fame) in the 1960s. Faith’s version is enjoyable, and will become well known to UK TV viewers on – of all things – a Skoda car ad!
Jukebox The Ghost – Everybody’s Lonely
Across the Atlantic now to a three piece power pop band from Washington DC. Late last year they announced their fifth album was complete – presumably this single is a teaser. Lead singer Ben Thornewill says the inspiration from the song’s lyrics come from his Grandmother. She asked her mother during World War 2 why all the songs were so sad – she replied “Because everyone is so lonesome”. Love, or lack of – certainly is a universal theme in songs. I like the last verse:
Digging through another playlist
Searching for a piece of art
A Jackson Pollock
Some piece of gossip
Why can’t we tell them all apart?
Willa Amai – Harder Better Faster Stronger
Unusual for covers to make New Music Friday – this week we’ve got two! This is a cover of a Daft Punk song, with an interesting juxtaposition with her sponsor Quickbooks (producers of accounting software). Great number and look forward to hearing more from Willa.
Paul Rey – Soldier
Paul Rey is a Swedish artist who did well last year with a Snoop Dogg collaboration. The 25 year old released his first EP in 2015 and is mentored by the great Quincy Jones (although we don’t agree with his views on The Beatles). There are no signs of an album but with this son’s interesting take on the commitment of love. His fiance (they will marry this year) inspired the idea of her dedication being like that of a soldier who continues to struggle after the war is only. See what you think!