Monthly Playlist - January 2008

Entering into the New Year, I was full of optimism for the 'new noise 08' frenzy being stirred up in NME, as well as the continued new direction being pile driven into the minds of young Britain by Mr. Zany Lowe. His voice may be annoying and his pace of delivery on Radio One harder to keep up with than Marion Jones on drugs, it really is starting to show that he knows exactly what he's talking about. Especially with allowing Hadouken! to rake havoc on air with tenacious dub-step and grime beats on worldwide broadcast for two hours solid.
After a slow start to the month, the emerging artists of the year to come have become much clearer to those people who actually buy music (if i can be botherd, myself included). I think I'll slip in a little boast to myself for tipping One Night Only to hit the big time, as they showed this week in the charts as the second highest new entry and among a top 10 of gloring veterans. Their album is released on Monday 11th Feb so I urge you to consider checking it out and we'll see come Sunday 17th February, if they really can hold out against the heavyweights of Morrissey and Mr. Jackson, both gracing us with old releases in a 'funky' new format. If One Night Only could pull a debut No.1 out the bag against the 25th Anniversary release of the world’s biggest selling album of all time 'Thriller', then I really will be impressed.

This is a different kind of blog, much shorter and to the point, here are my top 10 songs of January. Basically this list is OBVIOUSLY biased, so don't all get your nickers in a twist and fume at the fact that 'your precious band' is not gracing my chart, just swallow it and move on in life; or you could vent your fury and cream my pants with arsenic in the comments section at the bottom. Your choice.

THE BEST MONTHLY MUSIC CHART IN WORLD HISTORY: January 2008

#10: Lightspeed Champion - Tell Me What It's Worth
The fourth single from the former Test Icicles dude who was voted #49 in last year's NME cool list. This quirky upbeat indie anthem depicts the racial hatred that Devonte received from Black people on the streets of Dalston and Brixton. The irony being that he him is black.

#9: Bullet for My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire
The first single from the hugely anticipated critically acclaimed, thunder of a third album, in which they truly come to life. The Welsh foursome hit top form in the US Billboard 100 this month, making #4, a great achievement these days for a British outlet. This balls out mammoth incest of metal rock will have you "over the top" till the early hours.

#8: Lupe Fiasco - Superstar
First release of the 'self titled' album 'Lupe Fiasco's The Cool' (nice name!) from the American rapper, who gained a top #5 entry in the UK Charts. This is one of my favourite urban licks right now. I'm fed up of Rhianna, Timberland, and Beyonce polluting my ears with the same old lyrics and the same old beats played a different pitch levels. This is a great catchy tune, however it's just another example of a dying urban scene.

#7: Hot Chip - Ready to the Floor
Pipping One Night Only in the charts this week, but just missing out on a top 5 spot, the virgin loners from London are setting the Indie club scene alive at the moment with their feet tapping, ear crunching dance filler. Expect big things from them this year on the road.



#6: N.E.R.D - Everyone Nose
Grace the lord! Pharrell, Chad and 'friend' have returned after a three year absence, sporting a new direction, and more new friends as they've now been confirmed as support to Kaiser Chiefs at this year's Isle of Wight festival; as well as throwing one off gig at the Brixton Academy in June.

#5: The Wombats - Moving To New York
Suprisingly the highest entering song into the UK charts by The Wombats to date. This upbeat indie firebreather will brighten up the most boring or depressing of your days; I just wish they had released this as their first single, and this was celebrating a top 5 entry for 'Kill the Director'.




#4: One Night Only - Just For Tonight
I had the pleasure of interviewing the band last week for my Student paper, they came across as really genuine lads, who really are in it for the music. I think for that reason alone, they deserve to achieve big things this year, a 2009 Breakthrough Brit nomination isn't out of the question.



#3: The Ting Tings - Great DJ
I'm more of a radio person, so rarely can I sit down at watch music videos, this is a great exception. Thumping beats, catchy lyrics, and with the hottest girl to front a band since Debbie Harry they've got a lot going for them. The Ting Tings are only pipped as my song of the month, by some true musical greats.



#2: Biffy Clyro - Who's Got a Match?
Upon the release of Biffy's most critically acclaimed album, I remember playing this song over and over, the perfect example of a thunderous rock ballad. This week it was, and it will surely cement Biffy as one of the most important UK acts around at the moment. This will also be the last single release of their most successful album 'Puzzle'.


#1: Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling into Place
Radiohead have surely with the revolutionary download release of their most recent album 'In Rainbows'. Mature and nurture their unquestionable talent over time and not even Oasis, as good as they were, was ever able to accomplish. find more than one thing to say about the world. This is most exciting Radiohead release since 'No Surprises'.