Alicia Keys first single from her new album ‘As I Am’ is titled ‘No One’ and it is this week’s Song of the Week. The new track is a winner largely because it puts less emphasis on Ms. Keys’ piano virtuosity and rely’s on her spectacular, soulful voice. Co-written with producers George Harry and Kerry Brothers, Jr., this is her most successful single to date.
You can catch ‘No One’, and her second single ‘Like You’ll Never See Me Again’ on either he MySpace page or her official website, both of which are solid efforts.
Filed under: Hip-Hop, Just Fine, Mary J. Blige, Music, Song of the Week, Soul, Work That
Mary J. Blige’s new album, ‘Growing Pains’, is due out in stores December 18th, but there are two new pieces of her work that you will be hearing a lot of during the next month. The first is an excerpt from her single ‘Work That’ which has been used in the latest iPod advertisement, sounding something like her 2001 hit ‘Family Affair’. The other is this week’s Song of the Week, ‘Just Fine’ a mellower track reflecting MJ’s more recent maturity and her standard issue outstanding vocals. Either way you can’t lose. Both are uplifting, self-respect oriented tunes with exceptional vocals.
Enjoy both at her website, or her MySpace page.
Filed under: "Alright, Amy Winehouse, Back to Black, Daniel Merriweather, Hip-Hop, Lili Allen, Mark Ronson, Music, Rock, Song of the Week, Soul, Still", Valerie, Winehouse, club, media
Catching up a bit after a crazy week of travel….
Mark Ronson’s single ‘Valerie’ prominently features vocals from Amy Winehouse, though the mock club performance portrayed in the corresponding video shows no sign of her. Probably just as well, since her presence would distract the viewer from Ronson’s music, which would be a shame.
No accident in the choice of singer though; Ronson produced Winehouse’s platinum album ‘Back to Black’ as well as Lily Allen’s ‘Alright, Still’, and it was Ronson’ prowess as a producer and DJ that earned him the label’s backing to produce his own album. The album, “Version” features Winehouse and Allen on vocals and is an upbeat blend of hip hop, soul, R&B melodies and brit punk, all packaged for a club setting.
The next single ‘Oh My God’ featuring Allen is beginning to climb the charts and is an excellent single in a somewhat more mellow arrangement. Similarly “Stop Me” is an arrangement of the Smith’s “Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One Before” featuring Daniel Merriwather and a bit of mashup with the Supreme’s ‘You keep me hanging on’. It’s very enjoyable, but more sober than the upbeat “Valerie”.
Give it a listen at Ronson’s MySpace Page
Amy Winehouse’s Rehab, the second single off her Back to Black album was originally released in the UK last Fall, but in the wake of the success of You Know I’m No Good, Rehab has been climbing the charts in the US with fresh energy, and is into the top 10 this week. The song draws from her experiences with her record label which pushed her to go into rehab as a result of her public behavior in the wake of her successful debut album, Frank (2004).
Her vocals have been compared to Macy Gray and Lauren Hill, but there’s more Aretha Franklin in her voice than either of the two more contemporary artists.
She’ll be touring the US in September with Paolo Nutini.
